March is about done...

 Last UNI home game. 

 Parker is 10 months old!!!!  He likes to stand up and walk along things.  He eats bucket loads of baby food, likes crackers, cheese, yogurt, pizza, noodles and fruit.  He is in 9-12 month clothing...mostly 12 month clothing.  He is starting to sleep longer stretches.  Had a rough February as he got tubes...then had a fever of 104 (and we ended up in the ER), double ear infection/pink eye...and now new teeth!!!!!!!!  Slept here and there in his crib!!!!!!!!!!!!  Parker is a crawling monster...he gets everywhere SO FAST.  He is using the walker a lot (even the one that is free standing)...I think he will be walking soon! 

 So big!!!!!!!!!!!

 Puzzle time!!!!!

 Kindergym time!!!!  The only time the two big boys would be in class together.  Noah LOVED every minute of it.  Ryder really enjoyed it...kind of clingy towards the end of each session (I think he was tired). 

 First Saint Patrick's Day!

 1st stroller walk of 2015!!!

 First ride of the big kid bike!!!!!!

 1st time in the swing!!!!

 Tackling Daddy...favorite thing EVER!!!!!!!!

 Rod Library (at UNI) Comic Con...boys had a riot!!!!

Being silly!!  March has been a busy month!!!!  Hoping for healthy family and gearing up for a CRAZY April.  Scott starts back to track...I'm swamped at work.  Weekends...I think we have something every weekend in April.  So...here is to quiet family time whenever we can sneak it in!

9 months!!

Our sweet, serious little babe :)  Parker is 9 months old!  Wearing 9-12 month clothes (more comfy in 12 months), weighs 17-19 pounds depending on the scale and which Urgent Care we are at!!!!!!!  He is currently battling a double ear infection (#5&6).  Going to see Dr. Hart on Tuesday with Daddy for a referral for tubes.  Been a long week for sleep and he is pretty fussy because it hurts!  We did try the chiropractor for him as well.  He is a crawling machine!  Starting to pull himself up on things.  Babbles a lot.  Eating lots of baby food...likes the fruit mixes the best.  Parker has tried peas, green beans, cheese, noodles, and puffs for real food. 

3 of the 5 of us ended up with the stomach flu and then 3 of the 5 ended up on an antibiotic for colds!  Winter needs to wrap it up :)  Work is getting crazy for Mommy because of some huge visit days, but hopefully everything goes off without a hitch as we have a great team.  Daddy is about done refereeing so we get a little break until 8th grade track.  Starting to figure out the kindergarten thing for Noah.  STRESSFUL!!!!!!!!!!!  Ryder is a pistol...we are going to start some checklists to get moving in the morning.  But...then he gives the sweetest snuggle hugs...I love those.  Off to watch our Panthers play bball on TV!

Finding a groove...

Well...I jinxed us!!  I told quite a few people we were healthy so far.  And guess what happened...the stomach bug :(  Lots and lots of clean up later...we are on the mend with the littles.  Parker also is getting over another ear infection (need to call the doctor about tubes...).  Hoping the grown ups avoid it and the baby!!!!!!!!!!!  But...I am not going to brag anytime soon.  Parker is getting to be in quite the routine.  He is a great eater of food and with me.  He takes good naps and is a moving machine.  Growing into a more of a crawler everyday!!!  Big part of me is sad knowing his baby stage is over.  But watching him become so independent is so great!  He is a babbling machine!!  Ryder is starting to play more with Parker which is very sweet to watch.  Noah sometimes just wants "alone" time to watch TV or play by himself.  All three are going to keep us on our toes if they continue to go at each other!  Still thinking of a 4th babe...but no concrete plans at the moment.  Taking in every day as it comes.  I know we are blessed and need to relish these moments.  I took the day off today to be with the kids as they are still getting over the bug (not cool to send kids to daycare unless they are 100%!).  I've done laundry, made supper, painted and played.  I love my job, but I love having these moments as well.  Here is to another 4 day work week and a busy rest of the week playing catch up.  But for now...phone, computer and iPad going away to play!!

Army crawling!!

Parker started army crawling on January 13th!  He has been scooting all over and rolling...but when his pacifier was placed in front of him...he got determined and went for it!  He rocks back and forth and gets really close to going fully forward.  Other times he will get on all fours.  Not quite ready for a totally mobile kiddo!!!  He is eating 3 times a day...and starting real food!!!!!!!!!!  He has had peas, green beans, puffs, broccoli and will have carrots today.  We are trying to avoid the nasty flu as much as possible...washing hands as much as possible.  Parker has another ear infection...waited 1.5 in Urgent Care...4th one so far.  Ugh :(  But I think we are on the mend!  We had our first, "did Ryder break his arm??" moment this week.  Noah and Ryder were messing around and Ryder tried getting out of his grip.  Cried and cried and cried...Scott got to Urgent Care as they were locking up.  Did xrays...not broken but a twisted radius.  Boys!!!!  Got outside this weekend...the kids needed that!  We looked at another house in Dike...no go as it has had cats.  AND THEY ARE BUILDING A FERTILIZER plant in Dike.  WHAT!?!?!  This house was right down the street.  So...keep looking:)  Got out the Wii (we had not touched it in a few years!!).  The big kids LOVE IT!  Enjoy:

8 months old!

Our happy...sly little 8 month old!  Parker you weigh around 18lbs.  You are eating all sorts of baby food!  Just started eating 3 times a day with food, everything from bananas to sweet potatoes to apples!  Also starting the combos as well.  Still nursing pretty well, drinks about 3 bottles a day at daycare.  Getting really close to crawling.  You would rather scoot on your bottom than crawl!  Or...spin on your tummy or roll on your tummy!  Parker likes the "walker" as well.  Still likes to use the jumperoo!  We have also started giving you puffs and pancakes (little pieces).  You have also had rice krispee's!  Still our happy guy who loves to smile, giggle and you make this great little scrunchy face where you sniffle your nose!!!  Happy 8 months Parker Rokes!

Funny sayings!

Jingle Bells---Ginger Bells or Gingle Bells

Merry MissMass--Merry Christmas

Ho,ho,ho---super deep and laughing the entire time:)

Funny little Ryder sayings!!!!!!!

January...catch up!

Here are some pics from November:

 Stopped by Nana Lisa and Papa Tom's before heading to Strawberry Point for Thanksgiving on my side. 

 3 little turkey's!!

 Thanksgiving outside at Uncle Kirk and Aunt LuAnn's!  We had a riot in their insulated garage.  Lots of food and fun!!

 Wrestling Nana Lisa before we left!

First thing of babyfood for Parker!  November 27th...carrot baby food!  He made some funny faces!

Christmas (Pictures kind of got out of order):

 Bearcare Daycare Holiday show!!  Noah and Layla rocking out!

 Cookie decorating time (Ritz crackers, peanut butter, almond bark and sprinkles!!)

 DECORATING!!

 Ryder and Conner at the Bearcare show!!

 Writing to Santa!!

 Santa stopped by the show.  Noah asked Santa for a crossbow...what!?!?  How does he know what that is!?!?

 Ryder asked for Ninja Turtles...

 Parker said hello :)

 Mailing our letters to Santa on Main Street!

 Silly faces!  We had Christmas at Nana and Papa Rokes on the 20th!

 Christmas Pageant at church!  Annual family picture after!

 Best little lambs around!  Noah, Jackson, Ryder and Jackson.  Brian playing the guitar!

 Annual matching PJ's for the night before Christmas!

 Reading the Night Before Christmas with Daddy (annual tradition).  Then watching the Polar Express (another tradition)!

 After presents!!  So many pictures...but I am overwhelmed and want stuff up!

 Mommy and Daddy at Alicia and Skippy's wedding!

 Mommy's birthday!

 Andrea and Brittany brought treats!  The "3" broke...so 3 candles and a two!  So fun!!

 Noah was a ring bearer for Alicia and Skippy.  He did GREAT!  He was pretty nervous the night before...in fact he threw up at the rehearsal.  And...when the priest asked if there were any questions, Noah raised his hand and asked, "Do you talk about God and Jesus?"  Love it!  He did great the day of...and when they got announced at the reception...he totally busted a move to the "Happy" song!!  We all had  RIOT!!!

It has been a GREAT break.  It was exactly what the Connolly family needed.  Goals for 2015...healthier family.  This means better food, lots of hand washing, naps, saying no to things and just being home.  I want to update weekly...maybe not a lot written, but pictures and tidbits.  Maybe it won't be so overwhelming.  Scott has done a TON of sorting.  Hoping to keep up with it all!  Happy 2015!!