Happy Birthday!

Jacob, you are 6 years old today.
Happy birthday, my sweet biggest boy!

At age 6, you love riding your bike, trains, reading books, eating pizza & chicken, fruits & veggies and noodles, "doing something fun", adventures, watching and learning how machinery works, asking questions, God, singing, leading, coloring, making "decorations", swimming and anything to do with water, your cousins, your grandparents, school, your brothers, Sunday School, and playing baseball.
You don't care much for sleeping in, eating cheese, waiting, basketball, being hot, or being still. 

I can't believe how fast this past year has gone.  You are nearly done with Kindergarten and have grown in so many ways.  You have learned and led, you have taught and followed.  You continue to be such a great big helper to me and your brothers; you have the biggest heart a mama could ever pray for.

Jacob, you are sensitive and sweet, kind-hearted, and generous.  You are always wanting to play with Everett and Nate, and constatnly simultaneously loving and butting heads with Wyatt (and sometimes Nate too!).  I've enjoyed watching your relationship with each brother grow in different ways.

Yesterday, you asked to take the training wheels off of your bike.  After a few practice runs, I'm not so sure you felt it was the best decision, but you gave it a good go.  It was an amazing thing to watch you try two wheels with your Daddy.  It's something a parent thinks and dreams about, but when it comes time to actually do, it truly is a breathtaking moment. 

You have been reading for a few months now - which is another Major Life Event for us.  (I guess some days I still feel like I'm 17; I find it hard to believe that I'm an adult and I'm old enough to have kids, let alone kids who can ride without training wheels and read books to me.)  You love school and have thrived and excelled in Kindergarten.  This week you received an award at school called the Leadership Wall of Fame.  You were one of 14 students who were nominated by their teachers for your leadership skills.  You were recognized by the principal, and stood to receive your award in front of the whole school.  Daddy and I got to attend the ceremony and could not have been more proud!  Our hearts were bursting that day.
We are so proud of you, every day, J. 

I am looking forward to the end of the school year (8 days!) and having our schedule back, and having some time to just relax or do lots of things ahead of us.  I'm mostly looking forward to some more time with you!  It's still hard to 'give you up' for 7+ hours a day, 5 days a week! 

6 years ago I was given one of the sweetest gifts: you.  The chance at being a mother.  You have been one of the greatest gifts a mama could every hope for, pray over, dream about.  You are my love, my joy, my heart.  I thank God for you every single day.  It continues to be an honor to be your mom!

I love you, today, and always, Jacob.

Happy Birthday.

Mom

New Beginnings...

He did great!

It was his Mama that struggled...

Happy first day of Kindergarten, Jacob! 

Kindergarten Eve

Wasn't he just born? 

June 7, 2006 - Jacob 3 days old



How can he be going to Kindergarten tomorrow?! 



Jacob, 5 - 2011



My mama heart is thrilled (for him), and breaking into a million pieces (for me) at the same time.  I know he'll do great ~ it's just that I want to protect him from The Big Ugly World.  I realize that it's not possible though, and that this is a big step in a long growing process. 

Jacob, on this night before you begin school, I want you to know how proud I am of you.  You have a great big heart and a strong head on your shoulders, and I know that you are going to use both of them for so much good! 

I pray that God will guide your footsteps, and that He will keep you safe and use you for the good of His Glory.  I look forward to hearing all about school, your teachers, your friends, your adventures.  Know that no matter where you go or what you do, your Daddy and I are always here for you.  We love you, and we look forward to watching you continue to grow!

Now can someone please pass me a Kleenex?!



Brothers, Friends

It's amazing to watch them grow...

from babies into toddlers,

and toddlers into preschoolers and Kindergartners,

and all the while,

from brothers into best friends. 


It makes me excited to see what's up and coming for these guys!

5

My dearest Jacob,

Today you are 5 years old.  I say it every year, and I'm sure I'll say it again next year: where did the last 5 years go?  You are growing up so much!

You are at such a great age - I enjoy having conversations with you about this 'n that, you asking "why?" a few (hundred?) times, and your growing independence.

You have such a great heart, Jacob.  You love your brothers and you have recently started to help them out (you give Nate a hand to get up and down stairs, or ask him to play with you; you get diapers for Everett & "talk" to him - he gummy grins right back at you!  You run around and belly laugh with Wyatt) and care for them in such a brotherly way.  It's a beautiful thing to witness your growing relationships with them. 

You love trains, playing baseball, going outside, building with legos, and the mechanics of how things work.  You also love to read and have recently started spelling words on your own.  You love to get dirty but also love to take a bath - and more recently, showers.  You are a great listener, and are so helpful to me if I'm busy taking care of something (or somone) else. 

You are just like me - sensitive, and when you're tired, you cry!  When you're mad, you cry too....;)  You are very social too, which amazes us all of the time.  You'll walk up to other kids on the playground and say, "Hi I'm Jacob, who are you?"  You're always waving and talking to everyone who walks or rides their bikes by our house; you love our neighbors Miss Carol and the girl next door, Shelby.

You still have a great belly laugh that usually ends in hiccups (a common trait among all four of you boys!), and Wyatt can get you to laugh the loudest and longest, though Daddy follows by a close second. 

Jacob, 5 is such a "milestone" to me.  You are well on your way to becoming a young man, and again I ask, how can that be?  I honestly feel like you were just born.....and now headed to Kindergarten, already?!  (you are thrilled about it, by the way.  Me?  I'm having a much harder time with it!)

And - just because I'm trying to get better about "documenting" everything: you wear a size 5 or 5/6 pants and a 6 or 7 shirt; size 11.5 shoe.  You weigh around 41 lbs, and must have only grown up recently instead of out, because you're as skinny as a rail!  But...you love to eat ~ most fruits, cucumbers, carrots &; broccoli; yogurt, cereals, PB&;J, mac 'n cheese, and chicken nuggets.  You will often try new things when asked to, but don't want to have a meal of something "all new" to you. 

Jacob, today we celebrate you.  We are so proud of the lovely boy you are becoming, and we pray that God will use you in mighty ways as you grow. 

Today, and every day, I'm honored to be your Mama.

I love you.  Happy fifth birthday, my firstborn baby!

Love,

Mommy

It's the Little Things

There is so much I want to write, to capture the moments of my life as it is right now.  How there is so much craziness, but also?  So much love!  So much life!  And oooohh, so much laundry.  Which I should currently be folding....I digress.

Jacob - is learning to spell words, can sound some out on his own.  It is neat to see how the wheels in his head are turning, and the "ah-ha!" moment when he gets it right.  We have been watching a small fair being built at the church down our street.  Yesterday was the first day it was open.  We stood in a parking lot across the street, and he just soaked it all in.  He was enamored by the lights, sounds, and how each ride worked.  He LOVES to play with Wyatt, and they giggle so much together ~ especially at rest/quiet/bed time.  Ha.  They have bunk beds and goof around for a good half an hour before....silence. 

Wyatt - potty trained in a few days about a month ago.  The first two days, he had a few accidents.  Then, he flat out refused to have anything to do with the potty, and held his pee for more than 6 hours from waking up in the morning until I put a diaper on at his nap time.  I was getting frustrated with the process, and said to him, "You're totally gonna pee in this diaper as soon as I put it on, aren't you?".  His response?  "No...I'm gonna wait until you leave (the room), then I'm gonna pee".  I walked away ready to explode, but then after I closed the door, I busted out laughing.  S.T.U.B.B.O.R.N boy, my Wyatt.  After that first week, he has totally ROCKED potty training.  Now he wakes, pulls off his own diaper, and uses the toilet right at the beginning of the morning.  He is also diaper-free at nap, as of about 10 days ago.  All in his own timing!  And someday....he'll wear underwear, instead of just going commando.  Again...all in his own timing :)
I also love the way Wyatt says banana.  He calls it a "ba-man-a". 

Nate - his language has just exploded!  He talks all the time, in mostly complete sentences, and has been pretty adamant about expressing what he wants/how he feels.  He is our "spit-fire" ~ going from 0 to 100 mph in seconds flat.  He wakes up jabbering, and goes to sleep much of the same way.  He is always on the move.  Might explain why he is still so little for his age.  At 20 months, he weighed in at 21 lbs and was 33 inches long.  He is falling off of the growth chart.  I've heard two different peds toss around "failure to thrive" a few times, if he continues to stay at the same weight, or loses anything.  So for a few days following his most recent dr. visit, I made myself crazy with trying to force him to eat (high calorie stuff with additives: smoothies made with whole milk and whole yogurt, with all kinds of stuff in it - fruits, wheat germ, flaxseed, butter, in addition to avocado.  I've also given him a supplement drink for kids right before bed, added butter to everything, etc...) and eat more times during the day.  But I was starting to get stressed about all of it, so I had to let some of it go.  He eats, and eats a LOT all.day.long.  He eats fruits and veggies, he eats proteins, and fats, and whole grains.  He drinks milk and water, and asks for more when he wants it (likewise throws everything when he is all done....how do you break that habit in a toddler?!)  We don't have a lot of junk foods in our house, so he doesn't get much of it.  What more can I do? 
Nate is wearing 18-24 month clothes, some 2T stuff, size 5 shoe, and size 3 diaper.  He still takes a pacifier for sleeping (loving called his "Nigh-Night") - and at nap he takes three Nigh-Nights (one for his mouth, and one for each hand!), and loves to play ball.  He throws overhand, and can catch too - most of our friends/family agree that he is "abnormally good" at ball for his age.  I'm all for that ~ scholarships, anyone?  :)  He is so.darn.cute, and we say that often.  He says things like, "Oh, Papa" and gives a hug when he does.  He gives kisses and hugs freely.  Most of his words start with G's.  Guck (truck - sometimes it comes out like he's got a hairball, it's hilarious!  Guuuccccck), Goggy (doggy), and Gub (bug) are a few of our favorites.  He also says "bussssssss" whenever he sees one.  He narrates life as he sees it too, which is both amazing and so funny all at once!

Everett - is 7 weeks and growing like a weed!  He is around 14 lbs, and reminds us so much of Jacob as a baby: rolls in the middle of his forearms, a hot & sweaty-boy, receeding hairline, not to mention his looks!  I'd better caption/label my pictures of my guys!  Everett has the most intense, dark blue eyes.  He just stares into mine, and I often wonder what he is thinking about, or learning.  I remember looking into those same, intense eyes the moment he was born.  He loves to be held, and loves nurse side-laying.  He just started smiling and cooing regularly.  He is wearing mostly 3-6 month clothes, but can make do with a onesie extender for some smaller things.  He is wearing a size 2 diaper (catching up to Nate! ha!) but when I'm home or out at the grandparents, I cloth diaper the younger two - prefolds and covers for E and BG 3.0s for N).  He has a fussy period in the evenings, usually between 7-8 PM, right when we are trying to get the Big 3 in baths and down for bed.  Recently, his screaming can be curbed with nursing and sleeping.  He is pretty "scheduled" ~ but all in his own doing.  He sleeps at night from about 8 or 9 PM until 1 or 2 AM, then wakes every 2 hours or so to eat after that.  I'm hoping I can push back this time to get more of our sleep lined up together...might be wishful thinking ;)  He is taking naps in our bed now ~ he much prefers being swaddled loosely with his arms out, rather than being rocked in his swing (again - so much like Jacob!).  He is by far our most "pukey" baby.  Yesterday was a first for me in motherhood: I got baby puke in my hair (and pretty much all down my shirt and his - we were a mess).  I guess that's not too bad for our fourth, huh?

::

We have some exciting things happening in our lives, and coming up this summer.  I can't wait to post more about it, soon! 

38.5 weeks

I am finally feeling heatlhy enough for labor - I got a Zpak and an inhaler, and I am about 90% recovered from the upper respitory junk at this point, hallelujah!  My primary care doc thought my right lung sounded a bit "junky" and wasn't clearing when I coughed (probably due to there not being an incredible amount of space in there currently).

I have definitely felt a lot more contractions this week, mostly in the evenings, but sometimes throughout the day too.  The baby is definitely lower, so maybe I've "dropped"?  Never noticed that with the boys, and can't say that I can this time either.  I think I've started to lose my mucous plug over the last 2 days too (also something I never noticed with the other three).  Dr. L is right ~ I'm definitely more in tune to things, and how we're progressing toward delivery.

I had a 38 week appt with Dr. T this week (one of Dr. L's several partners) and she thought I am around 1 cm and 30% effaced.  I'm not worried nor am I surprised ~ 'I'm usually a 40-weeker' is my mantra to myself and to others.  But Tim and I both feel that this baby will come a bit early.....of course I'm writing that down, and I'll probably laugh at my words later :)

My bag is packed, minus a few last minute things - but my list is made for those.  I have a few small gifts to wrap for the boys, and I will pack a bag for them as well.  I also would love to clean out the van, rearrange seats, and add the baby's in there, but if that project doesn't happen prior to the birth, I'm okay with that. 

:::
Every day the boys wake up saying, "We have to go to the hospital to pick up the new baby!".  Jacob asks "what number are we on?", meaning what date is it ~ so that he can organize how close we are to the baby/Spring/going up north with his grandparents/going to Chicago with my mom on the train.  I love to see how his brain works!

:::

Nate turned 18 months this week ~ and he is SO much fun and yet SO ornery at the same time!  His favorite words are "Papa" and "NO" currently.  He is talking in concepts and short sentences ('There's a car' and 'where'd Daddy go?') and can follow directions fairly well.  He is sooooo very busy.  His newest experience has been to pull chairs over to places - countertops, kitchen tables, light switches, things hanging on the walls, etc and climb or see how the items work, turn the water on in the sink....you name it, the kid is doing it!  He is into everything.....no wonder he sleeps 15 hours a day!  (12 at night, 1in the morning, 2 in the afternoon).
He loves to eat, but doesn't care to sit in his high chair much.  We call him "no butt" because he is so skinny, his pants fall off of him!  He loves to run after his brothers, and one of his favorite hobbies is throwing everything.  He calls my belly a "bah-boo" (combination of belly button and baby, I think?) and will lift everyone's shirt to look at their bah-boos too....
He is still very much a Mama's boy, though he loves when his Daddy comes through the door from work!  He LOVES his Papas to pieces and will screech their names for hours when we are at their houses, or if we are in church (my dad is a pastor and sits in the front on Sundays....very convenient for Nate, who is always looking for him, but not so much for those of us who are trying to worship/hear/pay attention/not laugh during service!)
I am excited to see him as a big brother.  I know he will do great, and I am praying that the transition for him is an easy one ~ that he will know his parents still love him, that he will not feel 'replaced' or that we don't pay enough attention to him.  In fact, this is my prayer for all of my boys in the upcoming days/weeks/months/years to come....

:::

We had a "dance party" at church yesterday, and one of the memories I want to tuck away is dancing with each of my boys. 
Wyatt and I slow danced ~ and all I could think of was how I will do that with him again some day at his wedding reception.  My sweet three year old boy, in my arms, twirling around to 'Lady in Red'....with his little diapered bum, and sweet soft skin, long eyelashes, and belly laugh as we spun around and around....oh my heart! 

I love my family.  (even when it doesn't always seem so), I am thankful, every single day.

The Sick

Our family has been hit hard this week with The Sick.  Coughs, runny noses, sinus pain/congestion, fevers, and generally feeling icky has had us all down and out. 

Jacob has had fevers on and off, and now a yucky cough.
Wyatt has a yucky cough, a runny nose, and a sty in his eye.
Nate, oh poor Nate.  He's had it the worst: fevers on and off for a week, runny nose, horrible cough that doesn't let him sleep, pink eye, and knock-down lethargy.  Plus he's popping some molars and a few other teeth through that I'm sure are adding to his misery.  There were several days this week when my poor littlest dude just laid on the couch, propped on a pillow with his eyes half open, trying to partake in some semblance of life.  He even fell asleep at one point, on the couch, while I was running the vacuum next to him.  He has been wanting and needing lots of cuddles, and has spent many-a-nights/naps/whenever with his head down on my or Tim's shoulder or chest, attempting to reserve some energy and/or breathe through his poor nose.  Nate - who is our Go-Go-Go Man, has been down and out for the last week. 

We have done a lot of TV and movie watching, some game playing, and some cleaning and laundry ~ but minimal activity at most.  What a way to spend some time off, huh? 

I see the light at the end of the though - today everyone has been up and about, playing, and attempting to run around (inside)....only to find ourselves purely exhausted from a few extra loads of laundry or taking down the Christmas decorations, or a simple game of tag among brothers. 

While I love the pure simplicity of holding and loving on my boys whenever they need me, I would give anything to see their good health return!  It breaks my Mama heart to see them so sick, and me not be able to do a thing about it. 

Happy New Year.  May 2011 bring you much peace, love, joy, and GREAT HEALTH! 

Ahh, the baby and the boys...never a dull moment!

It's a very busy time of year, but I wanted to write a few things down while I'm remembering them.

Last week, at 27w 2d, I had some bleeding.  No contracting, lots of fetal movement (although my mind was definitely playing tricks on me, and I felt the movement was less-than-normal), no other symptoms or cause for concern ~ but this Mama was trying very hard not to freak out!  I was seen for an unscheduled visit in the office by my OB - who thankfully did a quick exam and announced that Baby was perfect, and everything was well.  My cervix was irritated, but long, thick, and closed as it should be.  The bleeding continued on and off for the next 24 hours, but was gone just as quickly as it appeared, and hasn't returned since.  Whew.  I have not experienced complications (aside from Placenta Previa with Jacob) with any of my pregnancies, and this was definitely ucharted and very scary territory for me.  I am so grateful for the outcome, and will patiently wait for this Little One's arrive ~ preferrably in March, please!

The same day, Jacob swallowed a penny.  Yes, really.  He was home with our babysitter while we were at work, and he played in the bathroom at rest time, and somehow placed a penny in his mouth (one of two pennies I'd been meaning to place into piggy banks...argh).  At first when I heard the story, I didn't believe him ~ he's four, and tends to embellish things from time to time....but as he described how he placed it on his tongue, and it fell down his throat, I couldn't help but stare at him in disbelief.  I confirmed the story by finding only one penny in the bathroom.  He proceeded to talk, act, play, and eat/drink normally, and following my ER Pediatric NP friend's instructions, as long as he was doing all of these things, the penny should pass on its own.  Thankfully, two days later, the penny arrived ~ in our toilet!  We have been having many conversations about not ever putting anything besides food or drinks in our mouths thankyouverymuch.
I truly thought Nate would be our first to put something in his mouth and actually manage to swallow it, but I was wrong!  My next guess is that Wyatt will be our stitches guy, and Nate will be our broken bone boy.  Or maybe some combination of the above.  One can only guess as a mother of three boys (and possibly one more!  Ack!  How did my MIL survive those years?!)...

We are all hitting some major milestones this week - I'm 28 weeks, Jacob is 4 1/2, Wyatt is turning 3, Nate 15 months....time is going by so fast!  I find myself enjoying each of their ages so much. 

I am happy to have the next 11 days off from work ~ for only 3 of my own vacation days, along with our holiday schedule.  It's been too long since I took time off for "no reason" - aside from vacationing or maternity leaves!  We plan on seeing both sides of our families (from out of state and not) and then having a couple of stay-in-our-pajamas-drink-coffee-and-play-with-our-toys days between Christmas and New Year's.  We'll see how that all pans out too - as we will be in "contagious cousins" contact most of the weekend!  (two have colds, runny noses & low grade fevers, another has strep throat -- what would the holidays be without sick kiddos?!  aaggh!)

Off to wrap presents, tidy up the house, do some laundry, and mostly...enjoy my family.  Ahhhh....

Merry Christmas and Happy 2011!

21 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights  -

How Far Along: 21 weeks (alternatively speeding right along, and crawling by at a snail's pace, depending on the day of course!)

Size of baby: 10.5 inches and almost 13 oz. ~ approximately the size of a carrot

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  I don't know exactly, doom-day is tomorrow.  AKA "The weigh in after all this horrible Halloween Candy has been sitting around".  Should be fun times, just wait for it!

Maternity Clothes:  Yup, mostly completely made the switch-over to elastic waistbands and stretchy material.  Seriously, more wardrobes should be made in buttonless, zipperless fashion!  I know I will be singing a different tune in February though...

Gender:  Can you believe we didn't find out for our fourth baby?!  We're TEAM GREEN!  And it's making everyone who knows us absolutely crazy!!!   For what it's worth, I am feeling "BOY" and the Chinese Gender Predictor test-thingy agrees.  I also had a dream the other night about delivery, "It's a BOY!" included...I do realize I have a 50/50 shot at either gender, and my heart will be happy with whomever we're blessed with! 

Movement: Yes, indeed.  Nothing predictable or anything, but probably good enough to feel on the outside.  But the Little Stinker quits any time I even think about putting my hand out to feel.  Let alone teasing Tim for the same - nothin'!!  Ah well, soon enough.  It's fun to have this shared secret between the two of us...especially while at work!
Sleep: Yes, please.  And dish out more of it, if you could?  I get 8-10 hours a night, depending on my schedule, so I can't complain.  If I wake at night (one of the boys wakes, I have to pee, or just randomly awake), I have a difficult time falling back asleep.   Doesn't happen too often, but Zzzzz....I'm wondering if it's just working full time and mothering 3 small children vs. pregnancy?

What I miss: Not much....occasional glass of wine, maybe.  Eating red sauces without having heartburn.  Not having to wear a pantyliner every.single.day.   Oh, was that TMI?  Sorry 'bout that....

Cravings: Meh...nothing really, I guess.  Fresh fruits are delicious (apples!  strawberries! grapes!  YUM), and I'm liking odd combinations of things.  For example, I sprinkled peanuts all over my leftovers of beef stew and (separate) sauted vegetables last week.  And the week before that, I think it was leftover sloppy joes mixed with leftover butter noodles.  I'm also loving LOTS of protein. 

Symptons: mild heartburn, feeling bigger all around, some mild swelling in my feet after a long day of work, and first stranger to ask when I'm due.

Best Moment this week: spending time with all of my boys, and daydreaming about how this New Little Person is going to affect our lives, and someday doing things together as a family of 6. 
Jacob also spelled the word "LEFT" all on his own.  We were sitting at a red light, and he was looking out the window, searching for things to start sounding out.  The turn lane sign was there, and he said, "L-l-l-eh-eh-eh-fffff-ttttt, that spells LEFT" - and I was clapping and cheering, I'm sure I scared the crap right out of him ;)  It was a very cool Mommy Moment - I'm so proud of my boy! 

Individual Time

Wyatt is up north with the in-laws.  Jacob and Nate are home with us.

We are enjoying some quality 2-on-2 time (and 2-on-1 time at times when N is napping) with Big and Little...

But oooooh, how Jacob misses Wyatt.  He was tearing up several times today, talking about him, and a time or two during our Sk.ype session together this morning.  Poor guy.  But the distance makes them appreciate each other that much more!  I'm happy that they get the opportunity to do separate things ~ I am a big believer in "individual time", something that we strive to do with our boys as often as possible - either with us, or their grandparents.  Now, it may just be a quick trip to the store (or for example, Jacob and I ran out to go through the drive thru last night for dinner, HA!) - but it gives us a chance to spend a little time with each of our kiddos, and have uninterrupted conversation.  I treasure the time. 

Tim and Jacob are doing Guy Stuff in the basement tonight - "camping" - Jacob in a tent from I.KEA and Tim next to him with his booklight (because no...Tim doesn't typically go to bed before 8:30 PM...maybe I should have been the one to sleep down there with him...?  I digress...).  Such a Big Boy thing to do!  We'll see if Tim agrees with that in the morning ;)

Four

My darling son,

4 years ago on this day, you made me a mother.  It was a beautiful sunny late Spring Sunday.  It was the most amazing day of my life up until that point.  It was also a little (or a lot!) scary.  But I wouldn't change anything for the world ~ it made you you, and made me ready to face the world of motherhood head-on.  I know there is nothing I would not do for you, to keep you safe.
You see, Jacob, before you were born, the doctor's machines told us that your heartrate was too low, it wasn't coming back up like it should, and you were in what they called "distress".  By God's grace, and the amazing medical professionals He entrusted us to on this day four years ago, you were born alive. And I am forever grateful.  To say those sentences and re-read them still gives me chills; even four years later I am remembering how different out story could have ended.  There is not a day that goes by that I don't look at you, or think of you, and give thanks to Him and to them.  For what He gave me is such a gift: you.  And it is an honor, every day, to be your mom.

******

Jacob, this has been a big year for you!  You had a lot of "firsts": Big Boy Bed, Big Brother times two, Sunday School class, and potty training, just to name a few.  And you have mastered them all flawlessly.  Every day, I feel like I blink, and you've grown an inch and gained a pound.  Your wardrobe would agree - currently you wear size 4, 4T, or 4/5, and your feet are an 11.  And of course, your appetite has to keep up: you eat a LOT!  You continue to love yogurt, most fruits, eggs, peanut butter and jelly, cereals, and oatmeal ~ and you are starting to expand your tastes and interests - hamburgers, bean salads, pork, soups, and different kinds of pastas.

I can see you learning more every day.  You like to ponder, and think about things, and you have a memory of an elephant: you forget nothing!  You tell me directions when I'm driving in the car, you watch the traffic lights and tell me when to "go".  You know when we're headed to the bank, car wash, the Grandparents' houses, the store.  You recognize all of your letters, shapes, and colors, and you can spell your name, Go, Start, and Stop.  You love reading books, and can even "read" a few of them on your own (this is especially fun to watch when you read to Wyatt!).  You are like a sponge; I love to watch you soak everything in!

You are outgrowing your naps, but some days you still seem like you need them - until bedtime rolls around and you're keeping Wyatt up until 8:30 or 9 PM or sometimes after!  You are still an "early riser" ~ waking most days at 7:30 AM, or just before.

It's been neat, and I'll admit a little sad too, to watch you transition from toddler to preschooler this year.  You are my firstborn, and I have loved all of our "firsts" together!  I will miss your "baby days" ~ but at the same time, I am enjoying watching you grow and learn.  I will continue to do so, as we experience life together as Mother and Son, and as a family of 5 too.



Happy Birthday, to my sweet firstborn. 

Jacob, I love you today and always!

celebrating today

Happy 9 month birthday, Nathaniel!

Today also marks my last day to say, "I have 3 boys, 3 and under"!

We've all survived. 

And, truth be told, I'm gonna miss it!

More Potty Talk

...this post is simply for my note-taking self, so feel free to skip or view.  But be warned - we Mamas are always discussing everything poop-related! 

Jacob has been potty trained since November - one month shy of age three-and-a-half.  He has been wearing pull.ups at nap, and over.night diapers at night.  (heavy wetter). 
Just this last week, he has been staying dry at nap time - age 3 years, 9 months. 
He also (mostly) uses the toilet without being prompted.  Sometimes he uses the seat adapter, sometimes not.  He is a trooper!

Wyatt asked to get down from dinner the other night because he "had to poop" (his words, not mine).  We grabbed his current favorite book at his request, and went on to read it while he sat on the seat adapter.  We read the whole book, and he announced he "was all done".  Nothing in the toilet, but he went on to go in his diaper, not a few minutes after coming off the toilet.  He is truly starting to recognize his own cues and urges ~ something Jacob never did, or at least never verbalized.  I definitely see this as a good sign, and a step in the right direction at potty training at an earlier age for Wyatt.  Or at least I can hope for that anyway.

At least this time around, courtesy of my pre-potty training days with Jacob, I'm armed with the knowledge,

"There's never been a groom who walked down the aisle in diapers".

~ Friend of the Family

The Bigger Picture

Just playing catch up at, ahem, documenting our lives.....

Jacob is starting to phase out his afternoon nap.  I'm torn about it, because I know that he needs this rest time during the afternoon and honestly...because I enjoy the respite too!  But, giving up a nap means an earlier bedtime, and possibly less messing-around-time-when-they-should-be-sleeping for the big boys in the evening.  Oh, and an earlier bedtime.  I experimented today: giving J "rest time" in our bed with a few books.  He read for a while, and when I checked on him at one point, he said, "Mom, could you get out of here so I can sleep?"  Hah!  Point taken.  It might be a while before naps are phased out completely....

Wyatt is sick, again.  Just runny nose ick and cough ~ definitely the kind of sick I'll take over that nasty stomach bug any day!  But I still feel bad for my sweet boy, he looks like he feels miserable at times. 
We met another Wyatt yesterday.  He was playing at the museum with his parents and baby sis, when I thought I overheard his mom saying Wyatt.  I asked the little boy if that's what his name was, and proceeded to introduce th family to our Wyatt.  The three big boys enjoyed running around together briefly, and well, just being boys.  It was a nice reminder that my boys are just that: typical, rough and tumble boys who don't always like to share, but certainly love to shriek, take, and head-butt!  The other mom even said, "oh, we're beyond the head-butting phase, we're now on to biting".  So nice to know I'm not alone.

Nathaniel is my sweet-as-can-be gummy-grinning Love.  (Don't be confused: I know his day will come when he is two, three, four, etc...but for now, relishing him as INFANT!).  He is plowing his way through his first half of a year.  Sniff, sniff, sniff.  He started solids on January 31.  He has tried rice cereal, avocado, and sweet potato.  I'm attempting again to make my own food.  I have to get to the store for more produce in order to maintain the goal!  We go through produce like it's water around here - the big boys can devour a whole container of strawberries in almost one sitting.  Not that it's a complaint ~ for the most part, they truly eat healthy! 
Nate is a rolling baby boy these days - he can almost travel the room, with the occasion pit-stop at an arm pinned beneath him or simply being too tired to continue.  He is napping well these days (2-3 naps per day, mostly scheduled...woot!) and last night he woke only once for a pacifier insert @ 2 AM.  Can we please all take a moment to say AMEN?!  That is huge for us - and I hope it's a trend that continues.  My trick was shoveling rice cereal in him, letting him play longer than he really needed to (eye rubbing was in full-force, woops), and then taking a quick bath with him, quick lotion massage, and a large nursing session - bedtime was at 7:00 PM. 

***

I screwed up big time with a work e-mail today.  Long story short,  I included my boss on an e-mail I only meant to send to a co-worker, and it's something I meant only for my co-worker.  I tried in vain to retract it, to no avail.  It's the "first big screw up" I've had probably ever in my 6 + years working at my current job, and I'm definitely being overly paranoid about it....but still.  I feel like a schmoe about it, and I am having a hard time letting it go.  Probably doesn't help that we have yet to hear one word from our boss about it ~ I'm assuming she's in meetings or a training and can't address it yet.  Or, it's not a top priority of hers, and we're greatly over-thinking it.  I'm hoping for the latter.  Except we've more or less owned up to our mistake, and are trying our best to be transparent about that from this point forward.  Oiy vey.  I was all worked up this morning about it....and in taking a step back, is it that big of a deal?  Probably not.

*****

We attended Michele S's Celebration of Life service on Saturday, February 20.  It truly was that: a message filled with hope, and a chance to join her family in celebrating all-things Michele!  Prior to the service, I had found myself thinking: "It isn't right to have to bury your baby" (no matter what the age), and the pastor addressed just that.  My belief is that his message was no coincidence.  Rather, that they were God at Work.  The Pastor's words were ~ "It seems more 'acceptable' when someone has lived to be 80 or 90 and they go on to be with Jesus, but in a young person's life, it doesn't seem 'quite right'".   But he painted such a beautiful image of Michele being healed, whole, given sight, the ability to walk & dance, and ride horses (her passions in her younger years) and being with Jesus that it was impossible to think of it as "not right" - it only seemed perfect, joyous, and redeeming.  Yes, we are sad to be without her on this earth, but we have been given a great Hope that we will one day be reunited with her again, if we believe in and have a relationship with Jesus. 

The phasing out of naps?  The little cold that is plaguing my second baby?  Complaining about not yet sleeping through the night?  That "big work screw up" from above? 
No - they truly don't mean much in the grand scheme of things....

Adventures

My Face.book status last night: "4 nights, 3 small boys, 2 long car rides, and 1 hotel room equal an amazing (and crazy!) wedding weekend. Congrats Steve & Ashley!" Many of my friends replied to my status that I'm impressive, amazing, etc. SO not true ~ I just have really low standards, ha ha!!

We took the boys to (west of) Chicago this weekend for my cousin Steve's wedding. We all survived (and enjoyed!) 3 nights in one hotel room with our many small boys. It was exhausting, yes, but lovely to just focus on one thing: our family! No dishes, laundry, work, cooking, or housework were needing attention. Just babies. Just visiting. Just having fun!
The wedding was awesome. Jacob flirted with the bride the entire night, and she was more than accomodating to his doting ~ she stopped what she was doing many times to wave or smile at him, or to come over and give him a hug. She is an amazing young woman!
Wyatt was eyes-half-mast before the end of dinner, but seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere (even half slept in Tim's arms ~ unheard of!) and Nate was his smiley, charming self. I managed to nurse him standing up in the handicapped bathroom stall (charming, huh?) and he managed to puke all over the inside of my dress for the second wedding in a row (first was my other cousin, Kelly's wedding, that I was in).
It was sweet to see my little men all dolled up (in vests! and ties!) and enjoying the excitement of the day and evening. They were starving, and therefore ate great dinners, and exhausted by 10 PM, and it took all of about 23 seconds for them to fall asleep in the hotel following the reception.
All in all, a great weekend. But oh, is it also great to be home!

::::

Milestones: Nate is sleeping in his own crib tonight. He slept in the bassinet in our bedroom for the first 12 weeks of his life, and spent the next several weeks on and off in the swing and pack 'n play in his room. We recently purchased a third crib/toddler mattress and assembled his hand-me-down crib tonight. Here's to hoping & praying that it helps him to learn to sleep through the night. I've missed several hours of uninterrupted sleep terribly! If not, then let the sleep training boot camp begin...Happy 4 months, Little Man!

Potty Training, Take 2

We are on Potty Training Boot Camp, Take 2, Day 1. (I tried a few days this summer, if you remember). It was, and is time. Jacob is ready. I am ready. Now or never.

Day 1 = success!
Jacob peed in the toilet 3 times successfully, with no accidents. He wore a diaper at his nap time ~ and pooped during the time he should have been sleeping, and therefore didn't ever sleep. Regardless, he was in good humor the rest of the day (surprising, actually, as it's usually a tough night following no nap).
It was an exhausting, but awesome day. I set the timer on the stove for every 15-30 minutes, depending on how long it had been since the last time he tried to urinate on the toilet. I kept feeding him pretzels and water (in a "big boy cup") to fill him up and make him have to go. He did the first time without hesitation, the second & third times he was wiggling, and asking for a diaper to be put back on. With a little coaxing and encouragement, I (and later we - Tim was gone for a majority of the day) was able to get him to sit on the toilet, and he peed with success!
We celebrated each time with hugs & kisses, and cheering, and a "prize" after each success - pretzels (from Halloween stash), and a toy football (from Big Brother present, leftover still - I save things periodically for such occasions, as to not overload them with goodies all at once, and to be able to reward the boys at times such as this), and a chocolate covered strawberry (yum!).


Jacob - we are so proud of you! We love you so much, and look forward to continuing to celebrate every goal you set out to achieve. Keep up the great work! All of our love, Mommy & Daddy

Bumps & Bruises

Jacob had his first bloody nose last night, due to injury. His nose and Daddy's palm collided during evening play. Ouch! He wailed and wailed ~ and I soothed him the best that I could. When I went to get a cold washcloth to put on his nose, I heard him still crying, "I want my Mommy!".

Be still my beating heart.

I am a Mommy. And I know how to make boo-boos all better. Wow.

3 years, 18 months, 30 weeks

Summer is here! It has been hot-hot-hot for the past week, making it interesting being pregnant. Regardless, we are enjoying time as a family and fun summer activities.

Last week, we spent a week in Nashville, TN, with Tim's brother, SIL and nieces. We had a blast! It was about 90 + humidity every single day, but it was pretty tolerable with breaks in the A/C and getting into the water (pool, sprinkler, misting fan, etc) daily. We went ot the Country Music Fest on Sunday, June 14 and saw: Jack Ingram, Montgomery Gentry, Miranda Lambert, John Rich, Sugarland, and Kenney Chesney. (I'm sure I'm missing one or two in there.....I'll have to look it up!). AWESOME show. Sugarland was a surprise guest, and they stole the show! We had a blast. Tim turned 30 on the 15th, so we continued the celebration with a low-key day, and cake with candles, of course.
The boys did great on vacation, but didn't sleep nearly as much as they should have. Due to the time change, they woke around 6:30 (or earlier) daily, and were up 'til around 9 PM or so every evening.....with a nap or two in between there, but still. YIKES. They did travel really well, as did the new van - very comfy!

I have said several times recently that I love the ages the boys are currently at ~ 3 years and 18 months (aside from a few tantrums here & there, of course). They are playing so well together, able to run and do things together, both indoors and out, and overall are so cute! Don't get me wrong - they are busy and exhausting, but well worth it!
Jacob has the memory of an elephant. He knows song lyrics, books, and remembers things that happened weeks ago! We are still approaching potty training (I think it's me that's not ready, not him) cautiously, but he is showing more interest in sitting on both the big toilet and his little potty. So is Wyatt, so maybe this will be a two-for-one deal :)

Jacob got a tricycle, a T-ball & batting set, a little card table and chairs, and a baseball mit and ball for his birthday ~ Tim said it was his best birthday ever! (not sure if he meant Jacob or himself, haha). Jacob is just about fearless when it comes to water ~ he will swim in large pools with floaties on, and can dunk himself under the water. He loves fountains and wastes no time getting wet. He would honestly stay in water (with the exception of the shower...not a fan!) from morning until night if he had anything to say about it!

Wyatt is Mr. Funny Man. He knows how to make you laugh, and loves performing for a crowd. When he is tired, he runs around in giant strides, then will stop and start turning in circles until he falls over. He is starting to get interested in books (and actually reading them!), loves to brush his teeth, and anything sweet (or food in general, he honestly acts like he never gets fed!). His hair is lighter than Jake's and is curly ~ and eyes just as blue as his big bro. He is interested in babies, and recently, has proven himself to be more gentle around them. Whew! Wyatt is also more cautious around the water. He had a few dunk-under instances on vacation and has since not been as interested in submerging himself, even in the bath. He does, however, love the shower!

I am feeling relatively good these days ~ today I am 30 weeks and 2 days. This little boy seems relatively calm, though he is pretty active throughout the day (and occasionally the night). He has hiccups about 4 times a day. He reminds me, in many ways, of Jacob. No. 3 is waaaaay low in my belly, sometimes it feels like he is almost kicking my thighs. I have some swelling (especially at the end of the day), heartburn almost always, and am often out of breath. I am also exhausted much more recently ~ but who wouldn't be chasing after these boys? :) I am finding myself wanting to get things done (i.e. moving the boys in the same room, ordering diapers on sale, and putting the basement back together after the plumbers' work) ~ but all in the same day, weekend, and basically right.now. Nesting much? Hmmm....I am also anxious about being able to care for 3 young boys and give them all the attention & love they need. But I know those feelings are typical for this point in pregnancy, and that soon I will feel more confident & emotionally ready. At 30 weeks, I am close to the end, but can't quite see the light at the end of the tunnel =)

Okay, off to get myself & Jacob breakfast, while Wyatt continues to sleep. Better get a move on early, as today is gonna be another hot one!