3 months

Today is Nathan's 3-month birthday.  I can't even remember him not being here.  At 3 months, he is getting up early morning for a feeding and then sleeping until 7-8am.  He loves to suck (noisily) on his fingers.  He takes a pacifier when he falls asleep but spits it out right when he's out.  He hates the "snot sucker", as we call it, and I can't blame him.  I feel like I've used it continually for months because he's had one thing or another.  He has his moments (cried nonstop recently for about an hour!!) but he is, overall, a very easy baby.  He is happy and quiet most the time, goes down easily for naps (most the time--and when he doesn't, I have fits) and puts up with his siblings pretty well!!  :) 

 He is working on rolling over.

 Samuel had to jump in on the photo shoot.  He held Nathan today and said to him, "Me like you, Nath-y.  You're mine."  :)

Boys Dorm

3 boys in 1 room.  What could go wrong?  :)  Actually, Nathan isn't up there yet--I am not ready for that!  I love how this room turned out and it's very spacious even though there are too many toys.  :)

You can tell it was a work in progress in this picture.  Still, the orange wall is there and the beds are in place.  Nathan's crib will go next to Samuel's toddler bed.

This is the room that used to be storage--not really a separate room.  We will be painting in there but for now, it's set up with a dresser, a mirror, a hamper and the much-anticipated Buzz light.  :)

Pink Palace

You get a glimpse of this room and you have never seen so much pink in your life.  Which means I LOVE it.  :)  Lily picked her own color--it wasn't me!!  :)

 

You can see the end of the chandelier in her room--this is what took Brian most of a day.  He said it's staying up forever.

The butterflies on this wall were something I had to get and they turned out great.  Good job, Brian!  :)  There's a little piece of paper taped to her wall and that's something Hunter drew for her and put up in her room.  It's Lily in a tutu with hearts and lips.  I thought it was so cute and knew he must have been inspired by the PINK.  :)

Room Changes

We have been in the process of moving kids around.  I was starting to think back and realized this is the 5th (and FINAL!) time that we have rearranged rooms/kids.  Lily is now in the traditional bedroom since she is the only girl.  The boys now have the upstairs to themselves.  Both rooms turned out awesome!!  I love them both and the kids love them, as well.  They aren't finished--curtains need to be hung (or made first), waiting on a dresser to come for Lily and the boys are getting more drawers/cabinets for their clothes but they have to be put together and who has time?!  The important thing is that the kids are all sleeping in their own beds again!

  Look how helpful the kids were!

Nathan in his pink bouncy seat in the pink room.  Too funny!

This is what made Lily tell Grandma that Nathan likes pink.

This is where the kids had been sleeping.  On an air mattress in the living room.  Chaos!!

One More Picture

Frost Photography

Brian's friend and coworker, Patrick Frost, took some family pictures for us when Nathan was 2 weeks old.  How time flies!  We just got the pictures back and there are some great ones in there.  I may now be able to do birth announcements--is it too late??  :)

Eyes and Cheeks

When my friend Steph saw Nathan today, she laughed.  What on earth?!  She said she couldn't get over his cheeks and his eyes.  She asked if I had put eyeliner and mascara on him.  Um, no.  Then she dared call him "pretty".  :)  What can I say?  He has great lashes.

Friends

Today was the playdate that we have been waiting weeks for!  :)  We had to reschedule because of busyness, RSV and a stomach bug.  Samuel has come such a long way with playdates--he used to just cling to me but now really enjoys the other kids.  He just loves his friend, Kenzie.  Her mommy, Stephanie, and I both have kindergartners and we met when we were expecting Samuel/Kenzie.  They were born 3 weeks apart.  Now we both have baby boys and they are 3 weeks apart.  It's a lot of fun to get together and see what's happening since we have kids so close in age.  But Samuel and Kenzie are just a kill.  Kenzie may be the funniest child I have ever met.  I hope they continue to be great friends--it's so cute!  (This is not Samuel's best picture, I know, but here they are having a tea party...)

School Carnival

Last night was the school carnival at INCA.  I somehow thought that I would take pictures there.  Not.  It was busy, crazy and the kids had a blast.  There is a sad part, though.  Samuel was super excited all day long to go to school and play games.  Well, the 1st thing we did when we got there was the maze.  Big mistake.  Samuel and Brian came out 1st but it felt like they were in there for hours--Brian was ready to bust out the top (the maze was made of cardboard boxes).  Samuel lost all interest in doing anything else and fell asleep shortly afterward.  Brian and I worked putt putt golf for a half hour and that was fun (my parents were there to watch the kids run around and play games).  I had Nathan in my wrap for almost all of the evening and he did great--slept most the time. 

Hunter said his favorite part was the maze and Lily said her favorite part was everything so Hunter then changed his vote to "everything".  Lily: "We saw the 8th grade buddies in the maze and they scared us!  I screamed and not with joy."  :)  I got these pictures when we got home:

 As you can see, he was still in a mood when we got home--but he did enjoy some of that cotton candy!

Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl

Lysa TerKeurst asked for some comments regarding her book entitled "Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl".  I read this recently and I have told most, if not all, of my friends that they have to read this book.  Every time I picked it up, it was relevant to what was happening in my life.  I treated it like a journal and wrote tons of notes in it. 

Specifically, what I loved about this book is that it is so practical.  Every chapter had something I could put to use in my life.  My devotional life took off once again after I read her chapter entitled "Devotion Time Blues".  I had been feeling regret over snapping at the children when I read her chapter called "When My Ugly Comes Out" and the concept of praising God when I feel like I want to blow up has changed my life.  I am not perfect at it but it helped me even to get up in the night with my newborn--instead of focusing on my fatigue, I was thankful for this child and God's blessing.  Lysa just shares so much in her book that made me write "Yes, Lord, that's what I want!".  I think the teaching of how to take Truth and live it out every day is a topic that we need.  I have finished the book but kept it out because it's something I want to flip through again and again.  I can't say enough great things about it, really.

Sick of Sickness

Yes, we have a bug again.  Samuel woke up this morning saying his tummy hurt but I dismissed it because I hear that all the time from one child or another.  I told him to eat breakfast because his friend, Kenzie, was coming over today.  We had to reschedule our last playdate because of RSV.  Well, he ate and still complained so I was starting to get worried.  He then climbed up on the couch and threw up--chocolate milk.  Nooooo!!!!  So I had to call and reschedule the playdate--again.  And then clean the child and the couch.  Since then, I have been thrown up on, as well, so I am now in my pajamas.  It's not like I am going anywhere.  I am tired of illnesses and tired of not being able to see friends and tired of this long winter.  :(  But I know it could always be worse and I feel bad for my little guy, who looks so miserable.

*And at the doctor yesterday, the two younger boys were opposites.  Samuel was in 25th% for weight and 50th% for height.  Nathan was in the 90th% for height and 95th% for weight/head.  14.8 lbs at 2 months!!  He's so cute and chunky.*

Daybook

For today, March 9, 2010...

Outside my window...dreary, rainy

I am thinking...that I don't have time to do this right now but oh well...  :)

I am thankful for...this makes me think of my email to Nichole today.  We email our "thankful list" every day and I included oatmeal on mine this morning.  She was grossed out, I guess.  I was just happy to eat something for breakfast that had to be cooked first. 

From the learning rooms...the twins have homework to do this evening but just rhyming, cutting, coloring, etc. so it should be uneventful!

From the kitchen...have pork roast in the crock pot--trying new recipe.
 

I am wearing... real clothes for once!  Jeans and a sweater.  I think my love for pajamas and other comfy clothes is wearing off on Samuel because he loves his pajamas and resists getting dressed.  Although, he does enjoy changing his pajamas repeatedly in one day.

I am going...  to take the 2 younger boys to the doctor today for well child checks.

I am reading..what am I reading?  I have no idea.  Been slacking on reading, which is rare for me!

I am hoping...that Nathan does okay w/all his shots today.  :(

I am hearing.....the kids' movie playing.

Around the house...have a playdate tomorrow so must get things in order.  Mainly kids' stuff to deal with.

One of my favorite things...e-mail.  I really love it.

A few plans for the rest of the week: The twins' school has a carnival on Friday night.  I am looking forward to that (I think).  Brian and I will be working "putt putt golf" so that should be a blast.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

 Kind of a hard picture to see but the kids were painting with these new paint/marker/dot things I picked up months ago and they were having so much fun, I had to record it.  As soon as Samuel saw the camera, he shot me his grin.  So funny!

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Progress

 
 

It's been one day so it might be extreme to say we've turned a corner but this day is starting pretty good.  There is no coughing in the house.  The humidifier seems to be working wonders for Nathan's nose so no need to pull that horrible "snot sucker" out.  Plus, Nathan is now sleeping so well.  Last night, he went down around 8ish, I fed him a couple ounces at 10:30pm without waking him and he slept until 5:10am, took a couple ounces and was out until 8am this morning.  AND, when he woke up, he just laid there, looking around.  So sweet!  Just one day but I will take it.  :)  Nathan has been starting to wear his 3-6 month clothes now.  His toes were straining to get through in the 0-3 month sleepers and some of the pants were a little tight around his tummy.  :)  He has his 2 month check up tomorrow, finally, so we'll see what his growth looks like on the charts.  Actually, Samuel has his 3 year check up tomorrow, too--I feel really bad we've waited so long on that!!

Daybook

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For today, March 2, 2010...

Outside my window... bright--not super sunny yet but I hope we have some sun again today.

I am thinking...that sleep and sunshine make a big difference to me.  Nathan went 7 hours last night between feedings.  Awesome.

I am thankful for...sleep and sunshine (it's a theme today).

From the learning rooms...the twins are learning about Dr. Seuss and I just remembered that Grandma PJ got the kids Dr. Seuss books for his birthday so I better get those out!

From the kitchen...something easy--thinking the parmesan tilapia frozen fillets.

I am wearing... sweatpants and a Bears shirt.

I am going...nowhere today.  It's a great thing. 

I am reading...The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen.  It's pretty good and it's a longer novel, which I like, since I go through books quickly.

I am hoping...the phone calls I have to make aren't too painful--have to call businesses for the kindergarten basket we are putting together for a silent auction.

I am hearing...a child repeat my name over and over and over...

Around the house...not sure what all I have to do and I hate feeling disorganized.

One of my favorite things...can I say sunshine and sleep again?  Ha!

A few plans for the rest of the week: parent teacher conferences on Friday, nothing out of the ordinary besides that. 

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...I shared enough pictures yesterday in my 4 or so posts so I was going to skip this today but I like this one.

2 Months Old

 

Technically, Nathan did not get a 2 month birthday because there was no Leap Day this year.  That kind of ruined the baby calendar but whatever...  

Anyway, Nathan at 2 months old.  Well, it's hard to get a good idea of who he is because he's been sick for almost all the month of February.  Poor little guy.  I really think he's a pretty easy guy to figure out but that makes his fussy times more stressful to me because I worry that something is wrong.  Ha!  But, no, sometimes he is just fussy.  He loves to be talked to and he's really getting into laying on his activity mat and kicking around.  Nathan has the most amazing eyelashes--such a little guy to have such long lashes!  He is inconsistent in his nightly sleep--sometimes he's up every 3 hours and sometimes he goes 5-6 hours.  He was eating around 5 oz. before he got sick.  He still loves to be swaddled and is a pretty good napper so far!

 When I was pregnant, I had planned on naming the baby "Blake" for a long time.  I soon decided that I liked it better for a middle name so the hunt was on.  I looked in baby name books, the Bible, the internet and would report to Brian on what I found to get his vote.  There wasn't a whole lot of boy names we really liked (and could agree on).  Finally, we decided Nathan was something we could live with.  I was sharing this with my friend Karen one night and she asked what Nathan meant.  I said I saw a couple things like "God Gave" or "Gift from God".  She said, "Well, you have to go with that name then.".  :)  And she was right.  It's a big reason why I chose the name.  Getting pregnant (by surprise!) after 2 miscarriages was a scary and exciting thing.  Having the chance to look at his smiling face and hold him just makes me think back to what his name means and makes me so thankful!

Cousins and Friends

Knights in Shining Armor

A Fun Time at PJ's

I just borrowed my Mom's memory card to copy some of her pictures and I enjoyed the following photos.  These were taken on Valentine's Day, which is when we celebrated Samuel's 3rd birthday with that side of the family (side note: Samuel was due on Valentine's Day so it was very fitting!).  :)

 

Woo Hoo!  We know how to have a good time.  Ha!