Busy...busy...busy...

We are knee deep into crazy at the moment!  We have had fun playing outside:

We have played with Play Doh:

Parker is 5 months old!  He rolled onto his back on October 6th and hasn't stopped!  He has two teeth!!  The second one popped through this past weekend (October 11th/12th).  He is kind of fussy...using a little tylenol, but otherwise, he is a trooper!  He is in 3-6 month clothing...but really is more comfy in 6-9 month pj's!!!  He is eating three bottles a day at daycare...nurses when we get home.  Sometimes one more time before bedtime or around 9/10sh.  Then depends in the night...usually 2sh and then 5sh!  At the moment I feel good about the amount of milk in my freezer...hopefully that stash continues to last! 

Parker had cereal for the first time on October 13th!

Off to bed...will post about UNI homecoming!

4 months!!!!!!!!!

So...Parker had his 4 month appointment...he weighed about 15 pounds, and 25 inches long.  Right at the 50% mark!  This past week he also got his first tooth!!!!!!!  Popped through on Tuesday, September 23, 2014!  He has been a slobbering mess lately but wasn't fussy at all!!!  Parker also got 2 shots on Wednesday.  I spread out his vaccinations so he has a few more next week and will be caught up.  Parker is a talking machine.  I love hearing him babble...so sweet:)  Again...a sweet and laid back baby!  I wanted to get this info in before I forget it...so pictures will get posted next time.  Need to get the camera pics uploaded to the computer!

It's September??

Well...August happened...what!?!?  We made it through football camp, August visit days, the start of school.  It has been a rough few weeks...trying to find a routine.  Getting supper ready at the end of the day when trying to nurse Parker...hungry kids...wowza.  But...we are trying!  Weekends help!  Noah finally made a whole week of preschool drop offs without crying...WAHOOO!!!!  It has been a lot harder on me than I thought to drop him off in an unknown place. Last year's school was with Daddy so I didn't have to worry.  He puts on such a brave face and tells the whole van on the way to daycare...I'm not gonna cry, I got this.  Then...the tears start rolling as pull into park.  He begs to go to work with Mommy.  But...this past week...he is so brave.  I worry about next year, I worry about his confidence level.  I do hope we get moved or open enroll so he can go with Scott.  Transitions are hard for him, but we will continue to take it day by day.  He just started soccer again...LOVES IT and made it through an entire football game with my dad watching Scott coach...getting to be a grown up.  If we could stop the attitude...but I know that is part of the deal of growing up!

Ryder is starting to string words together!  It has been a word EXPLOSION around here for him.  Still some words that are not fluent...but I think we are also turning the tide on that as well.  Ryder still has meltdowns (again...normal) and we are removing him from the situtation and (don't judge) ignoring him.  Not giving him attention seems to shorten the tantrums.  He is his own personality...funny and very independent!  Trying so hard to keep up with Noah...it is exhausting for him.  He continues to LOVE Hulk...and will jump off the coach, the stairs and "Hulk Mash" is what he says.  I am loving the pick up at daycare as he runs to me and throws his arms around my neck:)

Parker is my snuggle buddy.  He is sleeping in the rock'n'play right now...but mostly with me (it helps my anxiety).  He continues to roll with whatever is around him.  He developed a cold over the past week and it just got worse.  So...off to Urgent Care (3 of the 5 have been to Urgent Care in the last week).  He did end up on an antibiotic...and it is finally working.  Parker was so full of flem, hard to breath, choking on it...poor baby.  Wasn't in his ears...so that is good!  He is beginning to chomp on his hands and it quite the drooler.  He still is a cooer and chatterbox.  Big smiles and a giggler.  Not sure if you are supposed to keep track of weeks or go by birth date...so...either he is around 16-17 weeks or 4 months tomorrow!  While I don't want him to grow up too quickly...I am ready to get past the super scary stage of sleep...my anxiety needs a break. 

Work is overwhelming...but I think that is the norm.  New goal...to not bring it home.  I need to tackle what I can tackle and move forward.  The next few months are crazy...not only for work but also weekends (which is where we catch up...which is why I'm nervous about how we will stay caught up).  But...I need to embrace the days...otherwise the weeks fly by and I miss so much with the kids.  Hopefully the weather stays nice and we can be outside and enjoy it. 

We went on vacation with my parents and brother's family at the end of July.  We did the Dubuque waterpark and then stayed at a house in Galena.  It was a good time...but I would do the waterpark at the end...we were all EXHAUSTED from it!!  Here are some pictures from the adventure:

Updates!

I need to post on vacation...but I really want to get in a few updates before I forget!  Parker is a giggling machine!  It is the best noise.  Probably since 12 weeks...his giggles get more and more fun.  He will be 16 weeks this week!  Parker is also becoming a DROOLER!  Funny...Noah was a drooler and Ryder hardly ever...and now back full circle to drooling:)  He started his first week in daycare...did really well.  Only taking two bottles a day this week...about 5 ounces at a time.  Which is an increase from my parents where it was only 4 and not a big fan of the bottle.  I have been trying to pump 3 times a day (sorry if it is TMI...but this is also my record keeping!!...6 ounces each time or close to that).  So...hopefully I can keep up with him.  I think he will eventually move to three times a day of a bottle at daycare.  I try to nurse him as soon as we get home.  Getting into a good pattern of 5:30, 8:30, again between midnight at 2 (which is too late...) and 5-6am.  Still staying swaddled to sleep...but here and there trying to get him used to stretching out.  Parker really only cries when he is tired or hungry or wet!  A champ!  LOVES to wiggle...and is getting really good on his tummy.  He is also getting really really close to rolling over from back to front.  He did today (August 23rd) because he was pretty angry).  He has found his fingers and is begining to grab his feet.  SUPER CUTE!!!  He needs to be strapped into the swing unless you are right there because if he is upset and awake he will wiggle right out.  Parker is also starting to grab onto toys...loves the crunchy ones and is becoming fascinated with patterns!  Quite the little lovebug! 

Noah started preschool...and it is an adjustment.  3 days in a row is different...he is exhausted.  He got used to going with Daddy and really loved his other teacher.  I think he will like this one...just will take time.  I think having Mommy drop off is harder for him (speaking of that...3 mornings a week I have 2 drop offs...I feel like I have run a marathon by the time I am done!!).  His first day...wore his Ironman shirt and jean shorts.  In the morning he said the shorts were tight...I was busy dressing the other two and told him I could adjust his shorts...he said he would be fine.  Took the ritual first day of school pictures and we were off.  At the end of the day...I asked him if he wore his shorts like that all day...he replied yes...hmm.  Well...he wore them backwards...ALL DAY LONG!!!!!!!!!!!  Whoops...MOM FAIL :)  Day 3 was the hardest...had to pry him off and he was crying as I left:(  But he adjusted this way last time.  The teachers told us he learned a new song, met a friend...he just won't tell us that.  We go to a FANTASTIC daycare...and after I called to let them know, they also checked in on him.  I feel better...kindergarten will be a a whole new ballgame next year.

Ryder is his own personality.  Everyday is different.  Somedays...total trooper and a cuddle bug.  The next day...HUGE fits.  Beginning to understand more and more words, which is great.  But I think he gets frustrated when we don't understand him.  Bedtimes have been very rough.  He is getting better with Parker when he isn't so tired.  Loves to read Pete the Cat and Hungry Caterpillar and short books.  LOVES airplanes, cars and is into a John Deere tractor that makes noise.  Loves to give wet kisses...I especially love those!!

Daddy started back in school...Mommy is back to fulltime and advising a student group is very busy the first few weeks of school.  We are EXHAUSTED.  By the time Scott gets home from football which can be close to 7...we are ready for bed by 8:30.  Makes for very very short nights.  We live for the weekends to catch up and slow down.  Next post will be vacation and more recent pictures.

Baptism!

We had Parker baptized on July 14th.  We had 5 sponsors (similar to Godparents)...Erika Halley, Ben Cross, Jordan Cusick, Chris and Steve Morine.  Erika is the closest person I will have to a sister...since we were 9 we have been friends...one of my best friends!  Ben has been one of our close friends since college...10 years!  Our kids LOVE him.  Jordan is Scott's cousin...he has lived with us and he is very special to our family.  Chris and Steve are my aunt and uncle...again...the kids LOVE them and I'm pretty close with my Aunt Chris.  Parker slept through most of it...I nursed him as church started (which turns out in a maxi dress is HARD...had to hike it up in a different room).  Noah and Ryder did well...Ryder did not want to stay put for the baptism...he eventually wandered up to my brother (who was the elder for the baptism and has been for all 3 boys!).  That was great...he came back to me as Pastor Brad poured the water on.  A great day!  We had lunch upstairs in our church (thanks to our mom's!!!).  Very blessed to have such great people in our lives.  Evelyn Boice has made baptism quilts for all of our boys (I need to take pictures!!!) so we know have a cute sock monkey one for Parker.  We wrapped up the busy day with Noah's last tball game (it had been postponed because of the weather). 

I'm back to work...it has been an interesting adjustment.  First 2 weeks were part time...I am wrapping up my first full week back.  Of course my first full week back is 4 back to back visit days on top of Scott's 2 a day football practice.  Ahhhhhh!!!!!!!!  Luckily...it went pretty well.  We are trying to be organized...meal plans, doing laundry on a regular basis.  Dishes and toys are hit or miss.  Trying to pick up on a weekend (Saturday) instead of Sunday night.  Keep you posted.  Thank goodness for friends to vent and play with and family to help!  I do not know how people do it without family help. 

Parker updates--3 months old!  He is laughing...smiling and just a cuddily baby:)  I love getting to snuggle with him.  Still nursing well...not taking a bottle well...but that will come with time.  I am nervous about my supply...so pumping after I feed him when I can.  This is tricky after work...trying to match when he has eaten last or trying to pump with the other 2 causing all sorts of chaos!

Noah updates--Going to start a new preschool.  We will go to the open house next week.  I am nervous...I think he is as well.  I LOVED his first teacher...and he was with Scott...made me very comfortable.  This is a whole new ballgame.  Keep you posted.  He is still LOVING to play catch, be outside.  Loves to read...still loving Little Critter and Pete the Cat.  Trying to get him to like writing his letters...not to that point yet, but does love to read (after we convince him playtime is done).

Ryder updates--a total terror somedays and a total lovebug the next.  He is going to keep us busy!  His speech is getting better every day...I still worry, but Scott and daycare assure me he is fine.  He is LOVING Pete the Cat books and will crawl into your lap to hear every word.  When I am sooo tired at the end of the day and I just want to go to bed.  They ask to read...how do you say no.  You DON'T SAY no...that is the attitude I am trying to have.  So...we read...even if it means staying up a bit later.  Ryder is LOVING outside and tends to pitch GIANT fits when we have to come inside.  And...he loves Despicable Me...the Minions are his fave:)

Well...now it's late...I'm going to bed!