Christmas 2017

Was Christmas really a month ago?  Not that I'm complaining that January is almost over (cold weather sucks), but really how was it that long ago.  Anyway, I really want to document our first Christmas as a family of five. 

Warning: This is a picture heavy post.

Our first celebration was at Nana and Papa Ted's house in Oklahoma the weekend before Christmas. The weather was perfect and the kids were incredibly spoiled. 

Our second celebration was on Christmas Eve with David's extended family.

Christmases 3, 4 and 5 all took place on Christmas Day.

Milk and cookies for Santa.  Carrots for the reindeer

Christmas #3

Home

Before and after

 Kaitlyn was super excited about her art sets.

Madi loves her Calico Critters.

Christmas # 4

 Gram and Papa Chuck's House

I forgot to take my camera to my mom's house and was too busy to use my phone.  Thanks to my sister, we have pictures from this celebration.

Christmas #5 

Grandma Kathy and Papa Dave's House

I was a slacker and didn't take any pictures of the kids opening their gifts.

And in case you're wondering, this is what three Christmases in one day looks like. We were all spoiled.

It was so nice to get to celebrate with all of our family.  We truly had a wonderful Christmas.

Jack David - 7 Months

This was a big month for Jack!  

Weight: 17 pounds

Sleeping: For the past two weeks, I have been semi trying to sleep train Jack.  I've been using eat, play, sleep, a zipadee zip and a sound machine. It seems to be working during the week.  However, it’s a little more difficult on the weekends when everyone is home.  He usually naps for an 1-2 hours in the morning and afternoon and then about 30 minutes in the evening.  He’s ready for bed between 7 and 8, but usually has to wait until after I finally get his sisters to bed (usually around 8:30).  I know that I should be laying him down awake in the evening, but we just aren't there yet.  So, we nurse and rock for about 30 minutes and then he’s out for a few hours.  Jack still wakes up at least once, but usually twice during the night.  His wake up time varies depending on how many times he got up during the night.  

Eating: Jack nurses about every three to four hours during the day and at least once (if I'm lucky it's only once) during the night.  He took a little step back with solid food this month.  I stopped giving him rice cereal because it gave him really bad gas and things are getting back on track.   We're using a combination of baby lead weaning and purees.  
Giving him chunks food makes me a little nervous, but he really seems to enjoy it.  So far he's tried apples, carrots, eggs, and a bread stick and liked all of them.  In the puree form he's had sweet potatoes, peas, squash, apple sauce, and carrots.  He is not a fan of squash.

Clothing:  3-6 months   

Diapers:  As soon as we run out of size 2 he will switch to size 3.

Eyes:    Brown

Hair: His hair is really starting to grow.  It's fairly thick in the middle and sticks up in the back.  I'm seriously going to be sad when it finally lays down. 

Teeth: He doesn't have any teeth yet and I don't expect that to change until closer to his first birthday.   Neither one of the girls had teeth until at least 11 months.  

Milestones:  This past month Jack celebrated Christmas four times and New Year's Eve.  He can now sit unassisted and is extremely mobile.  I see baby gates in the near future.   He is finally too big for the swing so we replace it with the exersaucer and he loves it.  Last weekend Jack spent the evening with his grandparents while we went out with friends.   He drank his bottles like a champ and went to bed for the first time without nursing.  He also sat in a restaurant high chair for the first time. 

Merry Christmas as home

New Year's Eve

First restaurant high chair

Likes:  Jack loves his mommy!  He loves daddy and his sisters too, but mommy is the best.  He can be having a meltdown while someone else holds him, but as soon as I take him he gives the biggest smile.  It's almost like he's saying "ha, ha I got what I want."  He still loves nursing and is starting to enjoy solid food.  He loves playing/rolling all over the floor, his exersaucer, giving and receiving raspberries, and being sang or talked to.  Overall, he is the most relaxed, go with the flow baby around.  He is almost always happy and only cries real tears when he thinks he’s starving or tired.

Dislikes: Jack had recently starting hating baths. As soon as he sees me filling his tub he grabs on tight and starts crying almost immediately after he’s in it.  Hopefully, he goes back to enjoying baths again really soon.  He also does not like dirty diapers, wet clothes, being hungry, tired, or being left alone.  He is terrified of the vacuum.

Sisters: They're still just as crazy.  They are always messing with him.  Trying to hold him, setting him up, giving him toys, getting in his face.  The majority of the time he is okay with it, but sometimes it’s too much.

Happy 7 Months, Jack David!!  We love you!

10 Random Facts about Me - 10 on the 10th

I said in my last post that I want to blog more this year.  One way to encourage that is to participate in monthly link ups with other bloggers.  Today I'm linking up with Erin from Perfectly Port Family and sharing ten random things about me.  This was kind of hard for me, so I'm sorry if you already know these things.  I think it will be fun to see home much I have in common with others.  

1.  I was a band geek.  I started playing the saxophone in fifth grade and played on a scholarship in college.  I loved playing it, but I haven't played it since Kaitlyn was born.  

2.  My favorite part of watching high school or college football is watching the half time show.   I could care less about the actual game.  Once a band geek, always a band geek I guess.  

3.  I can't sleep in.  Even if everyone is still sleeping, I rarely can sleep past 9 am.  My body just won't let me.  Unless I'm sick I usually can't take a nap either.

4.  I am horrible at buying new clothes for myself.  I really want to be trendier than I am, but I have a hard time putting outfits together.  I really need to see the outfit on a mannequin or someone else first.

5.  I can't stand my house being messy.  Unfortunately, everyone else in my house can.  I’m constantly picking things up because I feel like I am a better mom when {almost} everything is picked up.  

6.  I love to read, but haven't read a book in over two years. 

7.  I hate onions so much that if I see one I can't finish my meal.  I have always been this way.  My mom says that I would ask if dinner had onions in it.  If she said yes, then I would tell her that I had a big lunch and wasn't hungry.  I only recently started cooking with them.  

8.  I will not embrace my gray hair. My mom doesn't, so why should I!!

9.  My middle name is Noel, but I was not born close to Christmas.  My sister and brother picked it and Noel was the only thing they could spell. (They got it from a Christmas decoration.). Kaitlyn and I share our middle name and she was born five days before Christmas.

10.  My vision drastically improved with each pregnancy.  I’ve worn glasses since I was 8 and before Kaitlyn I wore a -4.00.  At last appointment (post Jack) my prescription was -2.00.  

TBB Asks - January

Happy Monday!  This year I'm hoping to do a little more blogging.  I started 2017 off with a bang, but got behind once we moved in August.  I still need to write a recap of Christmas and 2017 in review, but this seemed like something fun to do.  I enjoyed linking up with The Blended Blog in December, here I am back for some fun.

1. Resolutions or No Resolutions?  I've made them in the past and had a hard time sticking to them, so no more resolutions for me.  I think I'll choose a word instead.  My word for the year is enjoy.  We're in the thick of parenthood and to be honest, it's a little rough right now.  I feel like I really need to just enjoy the stages that each of my children are currently in.

2.  Love snow or no snow?  I love snow when it's fresh, but after a couple of days I'm over it.

3.  Name a new place you want to go this year?  Destin, FL.  If everything works out, that is where we will be vacationing this summer.

4.  Would you rather have a new hair cut or hair color?  New cut.  I've tried going all dark a couple of times, but never could get used it.  I'd much rather keep my highlights (to cover my gray) and do something different with the length.

5.  Name one special thing you want to do for yourself this year?  Find and enroll in a Master's program.  I want to teach high school or middle school science once Jack is in school.

6.  Least favorite thing about January?  Being cooped up because of the cold

7.  Most favorite things about January? Decluttering my house

8.  When do you take down you holiday decorations?  We usually wait until after New Year's, but this year we couldn't wait to take it down.  

9.  Do you diet in January?  I rarely diet.  However, I am trying to limit my sweets a little and work towards getting back my pre-Jack body.

10.  What area of your home do you want to organize the most?  The garage.  We moved things around enough to park in it, but it could use some organization.  I really miss hooks, shelves, and peg boards in our old garage.

11.  Favorite winter comfort food?  Chicken pot pie

12.  Favorite guilty pleasure?  Any kind of sweets.  

Happy 6th Birthday, Kaitlyn!

Happy Sixth Birthday, Kaitlyn!!  This has been one crazy year for you and you handled it all better than expected.  This year you gained biggest sister status, moved to a new house, and started kindergarten all within two months.

Kaitlyn, you are one of the sweetest, yet sassiest girls that I know.  I see so much of myself when I look at you.  You are shy and reserved in new surroundings, but can become wild and crazy once you are comfortable.  You enjoy school and it is no surprise that your favorite class is art.  You love everything related to it (which probably explains the 8 different art sets that you got for your birthday and Christmas).  You are an awesome big sister (most of the time) and have a big heart.  I've loved watching you mature this year and can't wait to see where this year takes you.  

This year you birthday fell on the last day of school before winter break.  That meant that you got to party all day.  A special breakfast in daycare, lunch with Gram and Papa Chuck, class holiday party, cupcakes in daycare, presents, and dinner with daddy's family.

First time having someone join her for lunch at school

Dinner at Jalapenos

Presents from Grandma Kathy and Papa Dave

Make up set from Madi

Presents at home from Mommy and Daddy 

 

 For the first time ever, we had your birthday party after Christmas (next year we will have it after New Year's) at an ice skating rink.  This was your first time skating and did awesome!!  By the time left, you were skating without a walker.

"Even though the horn doesn't look like the one in the video, I still like it."

Candy filled cake per request

Happy S I X T H Birthday!!!  Your daddy and I are so so proud of you and love you more than we could ever put into words.