Living on a Prayer

Praying our little Saint can help the New Orleans Saints make a turn around and fast! 

 

 

Grandpa

 

A few weeks ago Molly and Grandpa came to visit and the kids had nothing but fun.  Ashton has been telling me for months that he wants to be the "Red Power Ranger" so when the target stock boy was unloading Halloween costumes and I saw just that, I quickly grabbed it from him before he even had the chance to hang it up.  When I showed Ashton the costume (he had a minor meltdown due to the fact that it did not come with the sword pictured on the cover) he quickly put it on and went into Power Ranger mode....his competitor was none other than Grandpa.  Looks to me like Ashton won!

 

 

Grandpa and Eli...these two hadn't been together in two months!  Sweet reunion!

 

And of course, Ms. Reese who is still keeping us on our toes.  In this picture she helped herself to the whole container of cool whip....I really am thinking of getting a padlock for our fridge!

God doesn't give you any more than we can handle....

and then he sent us REESE!  Please don't get me wrong, she is a gift from God that I would never want to know life without, but as her mother, she tests me as well as her dad, daily now.  Since I am using this blog as somewhat of a family journal to remember stuff when I am too old to do it on my own, I figured I should write about not just the good, but the trying times too.

Ever since Eli was born when people come and visit I get the same question, "So how is life with three?"  And I think once you have kids it is fair to say it is eventful and then after you have more than one, it just becomes that much more eventful.  Now I know I haven't made it to the teenage years and people will tell me that I have no idea what is to come and I don't know hard yet, but I think it is fair to say that each age has its struggles.  Eli for example, being 10 weeks old, he I think is my easiest at the moment.  Aside from him being dependent on Casey and I for everything and not understanding concepts about how great it would be for him to sleep 10 hours at night, he is our easiest child these days. 

The second "easiest/hardest" kiddo would be Ashton.  He has his moments and can make you want to die of laughter and in the next breath pull your hair out, he is a pretty self-sufficient kid.  He is capable of doing so much on his own and sometimes just needs that extra push to remind him that he can throw away his trash, he can dress himself, brush his teeth, pick up his toys, etc.  But that is just it, he can do all of those things and really just wants/needs his mommy and daddy to do school work with him or explain something to him or just to hang out.  When I put Ashton and Eli together, it is amazing.  Ashton is so nurturing to Eli and will sing songs to him, hold his hand, and just love on him.

And then there is Reese.  The "trying twos!"  Lil Ms. Thing is a fireball in the making.  She is in to everything and this week she has just thrown us a few punches that all we can do is laugh at because it is not even worth getting upset over.  Here is a recap...

Wednesday afternoon Reese, Eli and I went to pick up Ashton from school at 2PM.  Between the hour of 2-3PM the following happened...kids ask for a popsicle as a snack, I agree and the color of choice is red.  Eli procedes to spit up his afternoon snack all over me.  I wipe it off and notice he needs a diaper change as well.  I turn on Max and Ruby (Not a fan of that show but that is another post) and leave Ashton and Reese in the kitchen eating their popsicles.  I take Eli to his room to change a dirty diaper and remove said diaper, only to be peed on...not on the already puked up shirt, oh no, in my hair.  What do I do?  Put my hair in a pony tail and just move on, oh well right??  I then walk into the kitchen to no longer find my kids, instead they have thrown away their red popsicles in the trash and moved onto the couch to watch tv.  I notice their oh so red faces and tell them they need to wipe their faces off as I am getting a paper towel and Ms. Reese decides to wipe it on the couch leaving a lovely shade of red.  I then start to clean up red popsicle off of the tanish couch (or what used to be) and the kids decide to start coloring at their table.  Perfect right?  Now I can start a load of laundry.  I get Eli settled on the activity mat and go start a load of laundry only to come back to reese coloring....with a GREEN marker on our stone fireplace.  Magic Eraser to the rescue!  I begin cleaning that only to then find Reese now coloring with a pink marker on my Iphone case, which is pink, at least it matched right?  And then I looked at the clock and it was only 3 PM....really???

Moving on to Saturday morning where Reese and Ashton asked to paint and did so outside.  Only Reese decided the paper wasn't as much fun as her blond hair.  Once again, Green was the color of choice.  So by 8 am she had green hair.  Later that morning Casey asked me if I had given Reese some lotion and I told him no, he just said hmmm.  I then walked out into the den and commented that it smelled really good and wasn't sure what that was.  "Oh, that would be pumpkin hand soap you smell"  said Casey.  Reese decided to take it out of our guest bathroom and fill all of Eli's bottles that were sitting on the counter.

Then we get to Sunday.  I started a load of laundry and stood there and folded the other load that was in the dryer.  I then threw the wet clothes in the dryer and went to feed Eli.  Sweet baby boy decided to pee on himself and me so I took my shorts off and went to the dryer to get another pair I had just washed.  I pull out my Khaki shorts and notice a little green and and then purple spots.  I start digging....thank you Reese, she oh so sweetly put in four markers, two purple and two green to go for a spin in the dryer marking all of the clothes in with it.  Thankfully they were washable markers and everything came out.

I know this may not sound like a lot but in a short time a short little girl made me want to pull my hair out more than once.  All I can do is look at those dimples and just love her and laugh because I know that this too shall pass and need to remind myself again, God will never give us more than we can handle and he created Reese so it must apply!

Lake for Labor Day

 

We spent the holiday weekend at the lake and for the first time all five cousins were there together.  With six adults, five kids, one dog, one motorized car, two walkers, three nap nannies, one play mat, one pack n play and oodles and oodles of diapers and wipes we were prepared.  We had a great weekend and on Saturday we actually managed to have four out of the five kids asleep for a nap AT THE SAME TIME!!!!  That alone was a huge accomplishment.  Looking forward to a lot more of these trips in the future. A lot of pictures....

 

Mother Reese....this is just the beginning of her role as the care taker for all of these boys in her life

 

She walked behind each baby and kissed their heads, so sweet!

 

Showing those kissable lips!

 

Forget the motorized car, daddy is a better toy!

Sweet Mr. Walker, poor guy is cutting his first tooth and wasn't feeling up to par this weekend but nothing can stop him from being as cute as can be

 

Baby Kent stopped by for a visit

Cash!  Such a comedian and sweetheart at the same time

 

My big boy with quite the tan

 

Family Picture!

 

 

How cute is he???

 

I just LOVE this picture.  Cash, embrace those rolls!

 

Sunday afternoon....

 

Eli, just so sweet and laid back!

Two Months!

Another month down and life can't be better!  I have loved every minute of being your Mommy in the these last two months and you are such an amazing little person that I am loving getting to know better and better each day we spend together.  Here is your two month breakdown....

 

 

Nicknames: Eli, Peanut (from Daddy), Little Man, Booga Bear, E.I. (from Reese...this I don't see changing anytime soon)

 

Likes: Mommy, Daddy, Ashton, Reese (you really smile at your siblings), Mo, Mimi, Molly, Grandpa, Uncle Chris, Aunt Amber, Nan, Nannie Marge....haven't met anyone you don't like yet...this stage is great when it comes to people as you don't have that stranger danger complex yet.  You also like your activity mat, being outside, laying on your changing table, looking at fans, looking out any window, being held, and your nap nanny, baby bjorn (not for too long), bath time

 

Dislikes: carseat for extended time periods (soothing you in the car isn't really an option at the moment), being in a room alone...you prefer to have people around, having your hands confined...we are swaddling you at night even though you prefer to have your hands available but you sleep better swaddled and we like that, dr. brown bottles (refused these twice...need to break this as mommy is about to go back to work), pacifiers...you know nothing comes out and make the funniest face when I try to give you one

 

Milestones: You are sleeping in your bed!  This is momentous in this household as anyone who knows us knows that sleep is a cherished gift that our other children have never been fond of.  Third times a charm right???  I moved you in your crib at 6 weeks and did one night, then you got a snotty nose so back in my room you came, but we tried again at 7 weeks and haven't looked back!

 

Feeding:  You are still exclusively breastfed but not sure how much longer we will just be on breastmilk as I am about to return to work.  You have had a few bottles here and there of breastmilk and have taken them well, just need to work on the amount you drink.  You probably eat roughly 8-9 times a day and on average take about 2-3 oz at each feeding.  At night you tend to cluster feed but I don't mind as long as you sleep more.  You are a major burper though and need to do this often or whatever clothes I and you are wearing we won't be for long as you will spit up everything on us soon after.

 

Sleeping:  We have made great strides in this last month...a typical day starts around 6-7am when you wake up and eat, up for about two hours and play then depending on the night will take a 45 min to hour nap if you slept a lot the night before or a two to three hour nap if you slept less the night before.  Then get up and eat and play and take another nap, usually a short one if you took the longer one earlier or vice versa.  At night you tend to go down between 8-8:30 and will sleep anywhere from 5 to seven hours from then.  Usually go back down and will get up about two hours later for a quick snack, then back down and then our day will begin.  And as I mentioned before you are sleeping in your bed for the first stretch of sleep at least which means anywhere between 1:30-3:30 roughly.  I haven't been able to get you to go back in your room after that but that is our next goal...baby steps right???

 

Behavior:  Such a pleasant and easy going child so far.  You just go with the flow (you don't have much of a choice) but you are a super good baby.  The only time that you get fussy is when you are hungry really and occassionally when you are just wanting a change of scenery, oh and when you poop (you don't like staying a mess but I can't blame you for that)

 

Clothes/Diapers: We have finished up newborn diapers and if I find one here and there it still will fit but you are really in size 1 and they fit great.  Still can wear some newborn clothes and haven't had to pack anything away yet but can also wear 3 month stuff which has expanded your wardrobe.  We go this week for your official stats but I am guessing over 9 lbs

 

"Firsts": You got to meet your Nannie Marge, Nan, Unlce Chris and Aunt Amber this month.  You were baptized!  You got big enough for the baby bjorn which means you get to work out with Mommy some :)  You started "talking" and will giggle occassionally

 

Looking forward to: You recognizing people more, cooing/talking, holding your head up on your own, and sleeping a bit more (wishful thinking maybe) (Not looking forward to going back to work and not having my whole day with you) but looking forward to you spending more time with your siblings

 

Eli you are the missing piece to our family and you are the perfect fit.  You brighten my day even if it is during the wee hours as I know "this too shall pass" and it will, all too quickly.  We love you little man and look forward to what's to come!

 

XOXO

 

 

 

Warming up for the camera

 

Baby steps right...

 

Starting to smirk

 

There is a smile in there...



 

FOUND IT!

First Day of Bridge 2012

 

School is back in session and this year is a bit different.  Ashton is going to a "bridge" program this year which is a perfect transition between Pre-K and Kindergarten.  Last year he went to school Tuesday and Thursday but this year he will be going from 9-2 all five days a week.  This is a big change for all of us...me, with making lunches (I honestly stress over this as I have a very picky eater) and for Ashton who doesn't always like change.  I love that I am still on maternity leave and have been able to take/pick up Ashton these first days.  Here's to a great year!

 

 

Cheesy picture for me to look at when he is too big!

 

 Hamming it up for the camera

 

After school after we completed Ashton's homework (yes it has already started) we played a game that thanks to Pinterest helps Ashton work on his upper and lower case letters.

Baptism and Celebration

This weekend Eli was baptized which is something I have been looking forward to since he was born.  I know different churches have different times when they have baptisms or dedications as some may call it, but with all three kids this sacrament was so important to me that I wanted this sooner than later.  So at not quite 8 weeks old, Elijah Hayes Lee, was baptized on Saturday August 25, 2012.  A cool little fact is that Ashton was baptized on August 25, 2007...so five years to the day my two boys shared their first sacrament. 

 

Just like Ashton and Reese, Eli wore my baptismal gown that my grandmother had made for me.  I know it is a dress and Casey just said "Ok" when I told him that Eli would be wearing it but I love the fact that this is a tradition and hopefully someday maybe I will have a grandchild baptized in it as well, in like 20 years I am talking!  For both Ashton and Reese we had private baptisms but those are hard to come by now so with Eli we did it with the rest of the church and I have to say it was wonderful.  There were 23 children baptized and it was amazing.  Of course five minutes into arriving at the church Eli spit up all over my SATIN shirt down both the front and back leaving nice stains, and then proceded to poop sending me running for the bathroom and the nice Deacon saying he was waiting for a diaper change to begin.  Those were the worst things, which I consider small issues in a near perfect day.

 

Deacon Al with Casey, Eli and I and big Brother and big Sister Ashton and Reese and then god parents Chris and Jacqueline there for the "sprinkling" of holy water...Eli shed a few tears but nothing bad

 

My God Mother with her Great Godson

 

 Uncle Chris with Ashton...he has been a favorite visitor in our house

Ashton and Me...oh how I love him

 

Daddy soothing his youngest one

 

Molly with her grandkids, celebrating

 

Jac - Godmother to all my kiddos!

 

This was the first time Mo and Mimi were together with all FIVE of their grand kids...this first shot shows you how a photo shoot goes down with five under five

 

I consider this a success!

 

Uncle Chris and soon to be Aunt Amber...very excited to have her as my sister in law

 

Mo and Mimi with their girls and our kiddos

 

This girl keeps me laughing all the time...oh how I love her

 

After a very eventful day the guest of honor finally went down for a three hour nap...so sweet

 

Molly and Reese...just beautiful

 

This picture cracks me up...Reese did not want anything to do with Uncle Chris even though she had been asking for him for hours the day before...things changed again the next day

 

After a busy day it kept going...a Birthday party to go to at 5 that night

What a great day/weekend!  Love all the family that were there to celebrate.