6 Months Old

Nathan has been with us for half a year now. How is that possible? It feels like forever but it's gone fast, too.

He is still a happy, easygoing baby. He doesn't cry much and we appreciate that about him! My only complaint is that he seems to be interested in his Daddy much more than his Mommy. Boo hoo! Of course he likes me but he looks at Brian with just adoration and anticipation of what crazy thing he will do today. Ha!

Other than that, he's perfectly on track. He had his appointment today--weighs a whopping 22 lbs, 4 oz. Oh...and he did say "Ma Ma" the other day. I know he doesn't know that's me but it was still cute!

Nathan's Blanket

My 1st 3 children were given cross-stitched blankets by my Grandma--the twins have animals and Samuel has Eeyore. Unfortunately, my Grandma is not able to keep up with the demand anymore--it's hard work! However, my Mom found the cutest pattern in a magazine so my Dad found someone to cross-stitch it for us. Here is the end result. It's the cutest blanket!!

This Is My Daughter

Brian just told Lily: "You are so your mother." It's so true. I asked for someone to pick up the movies (there was a handful on the floor at that time) and Lily jumped at the chance. She then pulled them all out (this is starting to sound like my Mom now) and decided she would organize them by type. All the Barbie movies together, Strawberry Shortcake movies, etc. Ingenious. :) She's enjoying it, too--just like me. In fact, I just finished laminating a blank to-do list...

Oh...and Lily is in pajamas w/uncombed hair because she didn't feel well and even threw up this morning. This is the story of our lives for the past year.

No Lie

This kid here started potty training himself. No lie. I had made some attempts but it was hard trying to balance baby-care and potty training. We talked about it a lot but he was very resistant when we brought it up. His exact words were, "Me HATE the potty.". Then, yesterday, he told me that he wanted to sit on the potty. I was like, yeah, whatever... Hunter was reading me his story so I just told him to take his pull up off and sit down. Well, he did--he went from little potty to big potty repeatedly (stark naked!) for about 45 minutes. Then, I peek in at him (he did NOT want me in the room and I was so hopeful at that point, I was okay w/that) and I see him going!! Wow! I asked him if he went and he said no. I showed him that he did and congratulated him and he wanted none of it!! He finally did pick some gum and stickers (I was ready) but didn't want to tell anyone (I didn't tell him I had already sent out a mass text).

He went again last night and then today, he woke up dry and went to the potty. He is not wearing a pull up right now and I am okay with that because he's been to the potty a couple times and has gone. I can't even believe it. And I was worried--not really but I was feeling the pressure to get him trained. He was the same way w/the pacifier--I didn't think he'd ever give it up but one day he just said he was done. This is even better than giving up the paci, though. He has told me a couple times that he is a BIG BOY. Yeah!!

*Disclaimer: I realize things could change at any second. I did tell him we will NOT be buying any more pull ups. We'll see if we can make this stick.*

Soccer

Here's Lily in her soccer shirt--she's on the Dinosaur team. They had their 1st game last night and it was a lot of fun. Very laid back, which is great. She did accessorize this lovely green shirt with some green earrings, necklace and bracelet. She was disappointed to find out she could only wear the earrings. :)

And Nathan is finally feeling better. It was a tough week for him. He has decided since becoming ill that sleeping through the night is not for him. So he's back to getting up early, early morning. Not fun but I just increased his food so I am hoping he'll get back to where he should be! I did step on the scale with him the other day and he's over 20 lbs so I am going to switch car seats around soon (he gets Samuel's--only backwards! And Samuel gets one of the twins' seats--only with the back attached...lots of car seats packed in our van). Bye bye infant carrier...

Summer Playing

This summer, the kids lucked out. I am not a fan of packing everyone up and taking them to a playground filled w/tons of other kids. Yuck. Usually, Brian does that in the evening or on weekends so they aren't missing out. Anyway, this summer, Hunter is getting some help with math twice a week. That means the other 3 kids and I play outside for a half hour and then he joins us for some more playtime. The 1st half hour goes really well and then Samuel starts losing his ability to stay with us. There are 2 playground, a blacktop and plenty of open field he can play in but he's not satisfied. He would prefer to wander up the sidewalk, down into the "woods" (as the twins call it), try to get into the school, etc. But, we survive and I am glad the kids can do something fun. Oh, and we are usually the only ones at this playground so that's a bonus (for me).

All I heard from Lily the 1st time we played was "Mrs. Yount doesn't let us do this..." as she performed the forbidden stunt. Then she added "...but it's not against the law!". :)

Samuel starting to lose it here. He wanted me to take his picture while he let rocks fall off his head. Good times.

Hunter joining in on the fun (and more activities they can't do when school starts!)

Fun, Fun, Fun

Brian and I got to spend quality time together while my parents kept all 4 kids overnight. We didn't do much of anything but we weren't home so that was fun. I think we both needed that relaxation time--especially after this last week of having a sick baby. We decided we need to do this every year (okay, Mom and Dad? :)).

Speaking of sick baby, he was doing better when I left him w/my parents--not eating normally yet but better. Unfortunately, he did throw up once (in the night, of course) and then start the diarrhea phase of his illness while he was there. :( My poor little guy--it's been rough but, aside from some cranky moments when we had to cut out the formula, he has remained so happy.

The other big news is that all 3 bigger kids stepped up their courage in the pool this weekend. Samuel actually got in the big pool and was just wanting to try it all out--I really didn't think he would do that on his own! Lily and Hunter were getting braver with their swimming in the big pool--Lily with swimming underwater and Hunter with allowing his face to be wet! I think swim lessons may be less painful this year--maybe. :) The twins have pink little faces and all the kids are just wiped tonight but they had a fantastic time with Grandma and Papa PJ!!

10 Years of Wedded Bliss

Brian and I have been married for 10 years today! Wow! Am I even old enough for that?? :) We are celebrating tomorrow and I am so ready for the time away from our little darlings.

Here we are 10 years ago...

This is what I woke up to this morning. I was super impressed because he picked yellow and purple flowers--those were our wedding colors! Then, I noticed the candle on the bottom was lilac--those were the wedding flowers! Wow! He is good. Then he confessed that he had no memory of those things at all--he just happened to get this one (he knows I love lilacs). Ha! Too funny. Now he's trying to take credit.

Recital and Sickness

Today was Lily's dance recital. I just heard her telling Hunter that she was a STAR! :) She did such a good job--I am so impressed. She seemed nervous during practice at the studio but she performed great at rehearsal and today. She remembered every step--didn't smile much but it is hard to concentrate on remembering AND smile. :) We are so proud of her!

In other news, Nathan is sick. We went to my parents' house after the recital to celebrate with some ice cream. Nathan just threw up all over my Mom and the floor. My Mom has just recently been thrown up on by my niece, Kathryn, so it was kind of funny, actually. :) We were hoping it was a fluke but, no. Nathan has thrown up two more times at home. He is as happy as can be when he's not throwing up, though. This has made me reminisce about the other kids. Lily is the only baby who didn't get a stomach bug as a baby. It's so hard to see babies sick--and they just throw up everywhere since they can't warn you! I clearly remember Hunter having his first stomach bug--my first intro as a mom into the world of vomit-clean-up. I made Brian stay home from work and I cried. Ha!

Soccer

Lily decided she wanted to try soccer and I picked the summer session through our city because I didn't want to balance dance and soccer at the same time! It's for boys and girls so I asked Hunter if he was interested in playing. He said yes and I said that was fine but that he would have to listen to his coach and pay attention. So he said that he would rather just watch Lily. Ha! He knows his limitations.

Lily was a little nervous but she got out there and talked to everyone and had a good time. We'll see how the next 5 weeks go! The boys were somewhat impatient but we survived. Samuel found a pet, which didn't live to see the end of soccer. Hunter made mud using his water bottle.




Samuel has been really into the word "Awesome!". Today he told me the children's museum was "awesome" and when he found his "pet" green caterpillar, he went on and on how "awesome" it was. Of course, when I tried to tape him, he wouldn't say it until I prompted him--and he still didn't say it with the same enthusiasm! Still, he's funny talking about him. And, as you can see, he feels a lot better today!

ICM

Today, Brian took off work to go with us to the Iowa Children's Museum. I had gone with the twins' kindergarten class for their field trip and we all had a great time and wanted to go back right away. Well, we ignored the school bus, the long line, the closed area (due to the field trip) and just concentrated on having a good time. We went to the places that were open, ate lunch and then went back to play in the area that had been closed.

Well, Samuel started acting a bit funny at that point. He laid on the floor by my bench and fell asleep. Really, I just thought he was tired. He doesn't take a nap every day but he does have days where he gets pretty tired and fall asleep anywhere. Suddenly, he flipped over onto his back and threw up. Since he was on his back, it spurted up and fell back onto his face. He couldn't open his eyes and he was screaming. Ugh. Thankfully, Brian was right there since I was feeding Nathan. Well, as Brian is trying to clean this up, Samuel throws up again right onto Brian. Then Hunter comes up, hopping around and says he has to go potty. Chaos! A woman sitting behind me stood up and offered to hold and feed Nathan. I hesitated just a second and she assured me she was a nurse. :) So I handed him off and took Hunter potty.

Well, we got things cleaned up and headed right home amidst many tears and disappointed faces. I felt bad for us all! Samuel is still not feeling well--still throwing up. Poor guy!

Samuel flying a plane.

Posing in the "knight's castle", as the kids call it. Samuel said this was his Henley (my sister's family) pose. I don't know why he thinks that but we thought it was funny.

Nathan and I rode the carousel. He wasn't impressed but he didn't cry. He didn't sleep at all but was such a good baby the whole time. :)


The aftermath. Yes, I took a picture. I wasn't embarrassed at all--these are the memories that stick with you!

Here are my poor kids when we told them it was time to go. They asked why. Hello?! Your brother just threw up on the carpet. Ha! Now we have to go back again.