july happenings: week two

So the other day I'm vacuuming and I hear a *thunk* noise that doesn't sound good.  Naturally I'm concerned and flip my vac over looking for...I have no idea what.  Just hoping I'd sucked up something offensive that would be easy to remove.  Turns out the belt was still on, but juuuust about to blow.  I read the manual and apparently I'm supposed to replace the belt every 6 months.  This vacuum is 5 years old.  Whoops.

While I was cleaning (and fixing my vacuum) I realized that Noel had been so patient and quiet while he was waiting for me.  Turns out, this happened.  Bless his heart!!

Oh man, this cute face does me in.  

My sister got me this amazing cup for my birthday.  I put ice water in it at the beginning of the day and after hours at 90+ degrees in the sun it still had ice.  I was stunned!  Two thumbs up from me!

Babies snuggling other tiny things ranks up there on my Top 10 most cute list.

There was an unfortunate incident with my mini chopper so I had to bring out the big food processor for the first time since we received it as a wedding gift in 2004.  Sadly, I don't know how to use it because we no longer own a VCR.  Umm...

Hello.

Noel has been showing off his flexibility by sucking on his toes but every time I tried to get a picture of him doing it he'd stop.  This time I snuck up behind him and stayed down wind - National Geographic style photography at its best.

I like my bellies with a side of baby.  You?

I made Hadley a new 'mingo dress and she was so excited.  She's in a dress phase right now and every morning asks me "Can this be a dress day?" - sure hon.  :-)

Noel doesn't sleep in the mamaRoo anymore so we moved it into our room to make more space in the nursery.  I put him in it to hang out for a bit while I made my bed and was struck by how big he looks in it now!  Slow down there friend!

20 weeks old

2 days old

noel august {five months}

Noel August, you are FIVE months old!

You turned five months while we were at the beach this year and celebrated by dipping your toes in the sand.  

At five months old you're still exclusively breastfed and eating every 3 hours during the day.  Night time has been rough lately with several wake ups every night.  I'm not sure if it's leftover 4 month sleep regression or just that you need to transition out of the swaddle, but either way, when we get home I think it's time for some sleep training.

Noel, you love to play and the Jumparoo is a favorite!  You get in that thing and just jump, jump, jump like crazy!  You also grab at the toys and in general have a great time.  :-)

You continue to be an easy going baby (unless you get too tired) and are happy to be around people.  You've just started to have a little separation anxiety and always give me the biggest smile when I enter the room.  That feels good.  :-)

You seem to be a deep thinker and I think you might be an old soul.  Sometimes when we're together late at night I'll look at these peepers and get lost in the depths of your eyes.  You have such a nice balance of silly and thoughtful.  It's fun to see more and more of your personality come out as you get older.

You don't want to see him angry.  (don't worry, it hardly ever happens)  :-)

At 5 months, Noel...

* weighs 15.6 pounds 

* wears size 3-6 months clothes and size 2 diapers

* sleeps from 7pm-???  These days we never know, but you're up a few times each night

* naps 3-4x each day, depending on how long each nap is

* loves baths and has started splashing and laughing at his antics!

* loves his big brother and sister - if they are in the room, he's watching them

* is still exclusively breastfed and eats every 3 hours during the day

* puts everything in his mouth and has been drooling a lot (no teeth yet though!)

* has rolled from belly to back a bunch of times - tummy time is a thing of the past

* is still swaddled in the Miracle Blanket for both naps and nighttime 

* uses the paci for sleeping but not any other time

Noel August, this month Hadley started insisting that we call you Gus.  She heard us say that once and fell hard for it.  We think it's a fun nickname and a great match for your personality.  You are the sweetest guy and have a big smile for friends and strangers alike.  As the last little baby I tend to try and keep you a baby a bit longer.  You're growing by leaps and bounds and I'm so grateful to be here day after day to see it happen!  We love you Noel!  I mean, Gus.

heading to the shore

Every year we take a beach vacation week with Drew's family.  The past few years we've gone to South Carolina, but this year we stayed closer to home and visited the Jersey Shore.  Getting a family of 5, including one little baby, ready for a week at the beach is no small feat.  Between packing clothes, swimsuits, towels, toys, bouncy chairs, Boppy pillows, diapers...and on and on...and making some food to bring and share with 20+ people it took me a good part of the preceding week to get ready!

One of my favorite things to do is to make a little personalized something for each of the kids.  I didn't make shirts this year, so it was shell bags instead!  They turned out really cute and is something I hope they'll be able to use from year to year.

I was scrolling through one of my favorite sewing pattern websites and Hadley saw this maxi dress while looking over my shoulder.  She gasped and asked if I could make her a "boo-tiful twirly dress" - so I did.  :-)  I think it will be perfect for beach pics!

We also rearranged the car seats to maximize the back packing area.  Asher was thrilled to be squeezed in between his siblings.  "Oh I love it!  It's so cozy!  Can we keep my seat here forever??!"

After we got everything ready it was time for the fun to begin!

july happenings: week one

Asher randomly asked me if he could hold Noel for a picture and I jumped at the chance.  Noel was clearly THRILLED with the attention and close contact to big brother.  Oh how I love these boys!

Later that same day Noel decided to roll over from belly to back for the 1st time!  I feel like tummy time will be a thing of our past now.  As soon as I put N down on his belly he immediately flips over and smiles hugely, so proud of his accomplishment.

Papa Gene and Grandma Linda took a trip to the Baltic at the end of June and brought Noel back this awesome Viking onesie.  Look out for the fierce Viking loose in our house!  He's so scary!  :-)

We had a fun 4th of July this week too - it gets its own post!

fourth of july

We celebrated a casual 4th of July this year.  The kids were gifted some fun patriotic clothes so, of course we had to wear them!  Asher hasn't even had a tank top before and he wasn't sure what to think.  He kept saying "Mom, my shirt is missing the sleeves.  Why doesn't it have sleeves?  I don't think I like this"  ha!  He got over it, but was pretty concerned for awhile.

The kids have been asking for a fire outside with marshmallows so Drew and I decided that the 4th was the perfect time!  Asher really wanted to go see fireworks, but we just couldn't this year since neither Hadley or Noel could handle being out until 9 or later.  A fire with s'mores was a good compromise.

After a very successful round of s'mores the bigs got to catch fireflies for the first time and had a ball. It was an old fashioned 4th of July, full of childhood classics!

I served in the church nursery on Sunday, so Noel and I wore our patriotic best.  His selfie game needs work, but we'll get there.  :-)

All in all, a great first 4th for this sweet guy!!

my whole heart

june happenings: week four

I went in to get Noel this morning and found his little hand peaking out of the swaddle.  Look at that smirk - so proud of himself!  

Noel tried the Bumbo seat for the first time and loved it!  I think he's much too small to be doing such big boy things, but he clearly disagrees.

Everyone always says how much Noel looks like Drew, so I thought a little baby sitting up comparison was in order.  I see similarities for sure, but they aren't twins.  Not like Drew and Hadley were!

Here's Asher and Noel at the same age in the Bumbo.  They aren't twins either but I see some similarities between these boys of mine.  Both of these pictures were taken with the phone I had at the time - can we all just take a minute to appreciate how much phone cameras have improved in the last 6 years!  Whoa.

I've had this fabric cut out to try a new sewing pattern for Hadley for months now and finally got around to sewing the top together.  I love it!  So many possibilities and options!!

Speaking of the craft room, I spent a lot of time in their this week!  I was able to make this "Family Birthdays" sign for my mother-in-law's birthday gift.  Now I just need to make one for me!

june happenings: week three

Now that Hadley is done with school, we've had more time to do things just the two of us (plus Noel).  Today we checked out a splash pad that I'd heard about and she really loved it!  I always wish these parks had more or any shade - it was hard for me to keep Noel was overheating so we couldn't stay long.

"Look mommy, I have my smart glasses on." 

Minnie mouse - check.

Mr. Potato head "smart glasses" - check.

Hello Kitty lunchbox - check.

She keeps me on my toes and I love it!

Look at this BIG boy sitting up on my hip!  He's growing too fast.

These crazy kids had their 12th wedding anniversary today!  Wow, we were young.  And thin.  And well-rested.  ha!  Love you Drew!

I'm hoping to keep some order and learning going on this summer so I made these chore charts for the kids.  They earn a checkmark for every day that they do all of their jobs and a prize once they earn 10 checkmarks.

Asher's jobs:                                        Hadley's jobs:

make his bed                                       make her bed

get dressed                                          get dressed

brush teeth                                          brush teeth

reading                                               brush hair

homework                                          homework

Bible devotions                                  Bible devotions

help with the dishes                           eat all of her food

clean up toys                                     clean up toys

I was going through my photos and found this gem of Hadley and Noel on the day we brought him home.  Love, love, love.

Hadley with her "getting married flowers" - this girl :-)

All three kids on the swing set = fun!

asher's last day of kindergarten

We have a kindergarten graduate!  Didn't he just start Kindergarten, like yesterday?  And preschool the day before??  Wahhh - time really does fly with these kiddos.  

Just for sentimentalities sake, here's 2 year old Asher heading to his first day of preschool in 2012.

Being new to the area this year we weren't sure what the best choice was for kindergarten.  After looking at a few options and praying about it Drew and I took a chance and enrolled Asher at his school.  I'm so grateful we ended up there!  His class was very small - only 10 kids - which was wonderful for a kid like Asher.  He never had anything bad to say about anyone and genuinely seemed to get along with all of the other kids.

Those little caps and gowns though.  

I can't handle how old he looks here.  I'm grateful for the apple around his neck to remind us that he's still only 6.  It's a tradition here for the high school graduates to wear their Kindergarten apples so it's my job to keep track of that apple for the next 12 years.  

His class did a presentation for all of the parents and grandparents - they recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang a couple songs.

After that Asher's teacher, Mrs. Hahn, said a few words about each child and presented them with their certificate.  She had the sweetest things to say about Asher - "he is loyal and a true friend" - we couldn't wish for more for our guy.

Asher had such a great first year of "real" school and a lot of it is due to his teacher.  We are so grateful to have been placed in her class!

Asher Thomas, Daddy and I are so proud of you.  This year was full of changes for you - we moved, added a baby brother to our family, and you started Kindergarten.  Through it all you rolled with each new thing and did an amazing job.  We know this is just the start of a wonderful school career for you - we're excited to see what happens for you and through you in the coming years!  We love you!