Sweet Pea

Well, Sweet Pea only grew 2 ounces since we left the hospital (5 days ago). It is hard to believe she's 8 days old! Yesterday I'd told the kiddos it was her birthday (a week) and Booty Shaker asked when she was going to get her presents! Sometimes all she wants to do is sleep, sleep, sleep! I will strip her down and she still won't wake up! She sleeps pretty well at night. Most of the time she's in her cradle next to our bed, but sometimes I end up falling back to sleep with her. Last night she was in her cradle the majority of the night and she did great- either she or I would wake up every 3 hours (once it was 2 hrs.) and she'd eat. I think I've been dealing with drug withdrawals or something. I usually took Percocet at night (more so than in the day) and the past two nights I wake up with chills or sweating. I don't think I'm sick or anything like that and during the day I don't feel as bad. I have been taking advantage of Zach being home and I've been napping at least twice a day. It sure feels good to get that sleep in that is disrupted at night. Of course this little girl is worth some sleepless nights! I'll try to post more pictures soon.

Mornings are so special. The kiddos all crawl into bed and we'll just admire the baby as she lays there or nurses. It is so sweet having that time together. So far everybody has adjusted real well.

Oh, and Booty Shaker has slept in his bed for 2-3 nights in a row!!! I am so proud of him! Keep it up my boy! It's funny...he always seemed like my tiny boy until Sweet Pea came along. Now he seems like a giant!

Birthday Boy through the years

Yeah! I found these pictures on our normal computer and thought I'd better post them! Here's my boy after he was first born:

1 year

2 years

3 years

Today: 4 years old!

Happy Birthday Booty!

I can't believe my 'baby' is 4! Time has just flown by! I look at him and see a boy growing bigger and bigger yet I also see my precious Cuddly Boy, the sweet baby I first held 4 years ago. He has brought so much joy and laughs to our lives. He's the smartest little boy I know, but he's got two older siblings to keep up with. He loves to help out in so many ways and to do 'big boy things' yet he's also still such a little guy. He still drives me nuts staying up late at night but who can resist when he climbs into bed close to me, plays with my hair and is soon asleep. I wish I could do a picture collage like I've done the other two this year but many pictures are buried or not on this computer and I just don't have the energy to locate them (I'm sorry my sweet boy). I look forward to seeing him grow into a young man. Happy, happy birthday my precious, cuddly Booty Shaker!

Celebration

Tomorrow is Booty Shaker's birthday. Today we allowed him to open a gift and we celebrated a bit. We took them to the Splash Park (the pools were closed ALREADY), went to get ice cream at The Marble Slab and ran to the store. He wasn't too keen on the toy that was picked out for him, plus one of the wings didn't work, so we returned it and let him pick out what he wanted. He's a much happier camper! Now they're watching Batman. A simple yet fun day. Check out pictures from their water fun here.

never a dull moment...

The other night while Daddy read the Bible this is what Booty Shaker did:

He was one tired boy!
And just a bit ago he put this on his head and asked me to take his picture.

He's so silly! In this last picture I think he looks so much like his Uncle Adam for some reason!

How did he learn that?

The other day the boys were drawing in their notebooks on the floor. We go through so much paper in our house! I had just walked into the room and Booty Shaker goes, 'Mom, look I wrote my name'. I walked over and there were the 4 letters of his (abbreviated) name!!!! They weren't in any order, but written all over the paper! We haven't worked on letters in quite some time and I was amazed at how he remembered!

He will be 4 in less than a month and I keep questioning if I'll be teaching him this year too:) He's so ready to learn!!! My little guy is growing up....good thing there's a baby coming or I'd be itching for one!

My Boys

Upon seeing this picture Booty Shaker said of himself, "I look cool like that"

another interesting item found

In Booty Shaker's pocket this morning:

Seems he's taken a liking to 'stealing' price tags from Wally-mart! Stinker.

So, So Tired

I just want to go to bed! But I've got rugs washing and need to wait to stick them in the dryer. Last night I took Cuddly Boy to the ER. He is fine during the day, doesn't cough a whole lot, but at night he wakes just coughing away, trying to release phlegm (which is weird because during the day he's not stuffy nor does he have a runny nose). Of course it was a wasted trip and I didn't get home until after midnight! But at least I was reassured it was nothing serious (like fluid in the lungs or something). I had given him some nighttime cough medicine and so he was out the whole time there, so of course the doc thought he was fine (but it was the medicine). As soon as we got back home he started to cough again (but not a cough out of him while there)!

Today I ran all day and didn't get home until after 2. Then I went out and cleaned out the Suburban. Even though I took it in it still wasn't clean. And they supposedly snapped the door back into place but its not fixed right (and I REALLY have run out of time to deal with it, but I'll let my insurance know). So, I was outside in 90 degree weather dealing with that mess. I'm also trying to get our clothes organized that we're going to take with us but its hard when there's still some in the laundry! Hopefully I can finish that tomorrow morning so that the rest of the day can be spent figuring out what will fit where in our vehicles. It feels like crunch time now. I will be relieved when Wednesday is here and all I have to do is watch them pack my stuff (and make sure my kids stay out of trouble). My bed will be so inviting tonight. I just pray CB sleeps well so I can too.

Go Figure

Monday Cuddly Boy awoke with a fever. He sat around all day, was in alright spirits but just not himself. Yesterday he didn't wake with a fever. He had a few meltdowns but nothing horrible. Last night rather than watch a movie with Dad he came up in bed with Princess and I (we were reading). He fell asleep. At one point it seemed like he was shivering but he had no fever. Before I went to bed I gave him Motrin anyway, he just seemed 'weird'. This morning he's waken up SO cranky I am already miserable. Now I feel terrible saying that, considering he probably doesn't feel well, but no matter what I try to do to make him happy it makes it worse. I wish I knew what was bothering or hurting him. The other day he said his head, but now he hasn't said anything (at this point). My friend's son has a case of pneumonia and I'm praying whatever CB has isn't leading to that. He did share his ice cream with the boy last week... It doesn't help that his brother is egging him on a bit. It will be a LONG day. I just pray he gets better. I really want to be trying to get together with the few friends I have that want to see me one last time, not dealing with a sick, cranky boy. If nothing else I'll get a lot of rest today and be able to read the book I started last night. I'm flying through the books I have.

Clam Catcher

I forgot to post these pictures the other day from the beach. The kiddos caught a clam and tried so hard to pry open the shell! As you can see Cuddly Boy, aka Booty Shaker, was busy at work!

For the record they did manage to get it open.

Cuddly Boy & The Pledge

I was finally able to capture him doing it! He was being pretty shy about it for a couple of days! Pretty good for a 3 year old I must say!

He's Fine

CB is fine...I guess its a sprained ankle. He wouldn't walk on it until they put on an ace bandage. Now he thinks he's all that.

Oh, and our AC doesn't work downstairs...I had the windows open all day but now I'm overheating with them closed! What's next????

A New Place to Lie His Head

The other night while I was in the midst of being sick Zach checked to make sure Cuddly boy wasn't on the stairs. He does not stay in his own bed but rather comes downstairs often. I hadn't heard him that night, but this is where he fell asleep. It was hilarious! And I hope the video works too...that is the funniest of all!

Speaking of lying our heads somewhere....we will be lying ours in Iowa in only 4 short months! Yikes! I'm excited though- I have been ready to leave here for quite some time now!