Ari's birthday party

Ari wanted a Thomas birthday again this year. He also wanted to go on a picnic with mommy and daddy, so I left Lauren, Franklin, and Miles with their grandma, took Ari to Target, so he could spend his birthday money, picked up a pizza and Coke (this is very special!), and headed to the park. He had so much fun! We did, too!

Pictures!!!

More of Ari

Ari's four year photo shoot

Ian--Sixteen Weeks

My little chubbers is sixteen weeks old! He is a happy and content little baby. He knows how to tell me when he is hungry, tired, or wants to cuddle...he even has tears sometimes. :-(

He loves to be in his swing. He is becoming more active. When I walk in his room to get him in the morning, or after naps he smiles and his arms and legs go crazy. It is so cute! I still have to support his head when I pick him up, but when I hold him he supports his own head, and doesn't bobble as much anymore (a little still, though).

He drinks a bottle at 7:30 am (sometimes a little earlier), 10:30, 1:30, 4:30, and then 7:30 pm and goes to bed. He goes to sleep quickly when he goes to bed for naps and at night...he doesn't even fuss. He typically goes to sleep about 1.5 hours before it is time for him to eat again and wakes up when it is time to eat. Sometimes I will give him an extra 30 minutes to sleep if he is still sleeping when it is time for him to eat. There have been a few times in the past week that he wasn't too tired between feedings, but then would take a long nap at some point in the day. I watch his cues and go from there.

Ian--Fifteen Weeks

Last week was busy, so I didn't do Ian's weekly update. The main reason I do a weekly update is to keep a journal for myself, and for any other new moms who may want to know what their baby may be doing at certain weeks and months. And, if we have another baby I can go back and read about Ian as a reminder of what I was doing...and what he was doing.

Ian spent his first night in a hotel on his fifteen week birthday. Roger and I spent a night in Orlando and went to the homeschool conference. I don't think we have had a night away since I was pregnant with Franklin...that was 6 years ago! Ian did pretty well. I learned that he won't drink a bottle unless it is warm, so I had to figure out ways to get his water warm throughout the night and following day. He had a hard time going to sleep in his hotel crib, but after I warmed another bottle he finally drifted off to sleep and slept until after 8:00 the next morning. I carried him in my baby wrap during the conference, so he got a lot of mommy cuddle time, and comfy naps.

Now, onto where he actually is today...Sixteen weeks!

Ari update...

My sweet little Ari is 4 today! I was induced 9 days late with Ari. It was a long 15.5 hour labor and we had many friends and family at the hospital to witness his birth. Labor stalled around 7:30 pm, so I began getting Pitocin, which kicked things up a notch. Ari was born around 11:30 pm and weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces.

Ari has the biggest, brightest smile of anyone I know. His smile lights up his entire face. He is a very handsome little boy and looks a lot like my dad and his family.

Ari is a pretty happy-go-lucky kind of kid. He will play what everyone else is playing and doesn't have a strong opinion. He is so laid back that we sometimes have to give him a little extra push.

His favorite food is chicken legs. He doesn't have a favorite TV show, and he isn't really into anything special. He LOVES his bears (blue bear and grandma bear), his bunny, and especially his blankies!!! He sucks on his tongue when he gets tired...he has done that since he was a little baby. Ari is a thin boy weighing only 35 pounds. He is a very special boy!

We love you so much Ari! You are a wonderful, precious gift! Keep smiling!

Happy 4th Birthday to Ari!!!

Happy Birthday to Ari!!!

Sickness abounds...

Lauren was sick last week with a sore throat, fever, earache, and pink eye. (Thurs-Thurs)
Then...Ari got pink eye. (Wed)
Then...Ari got a sore throat...and Franklin, too. (Sat)
Then...Miles got pink eye.(Sun)
Then...Franklin got an earache and still has a sore throat...and Ari's throat still hurts, too, and his pink eye is back.(Mon)
Then...Lauren said her throat hurts again.(Mon)
Then...who knows?

Roger and I are supposed to go out of town (with Ian!) this Thursday for the night...hmmm...
maybe not. (?)

MIles is officially potty trained!!!

I am amazed that Miles is completely potty trained...through the day...and night!!! He did it in a little less than a week! He pood on the toilet for the first time yesterday, so we partied hard! We went to 7-11 for an Icee!!! Ari stood on one side of the toilet and said, "That's so great Miles. I'm so proud of you!" Franklin stood on the other side of the toilet and said, "Good job, Miles. I'm so proud of you!" What great little boys I have?! And when he did it again today Ari was there to congratulate him again by saying, "That's awesome, Miles! You're doing such a great job!" Gotta love Ari! Good job, Miles!!!

"This is the life..." ~ Lauren

Miles...a success story...almost!

Miles did really well again today. He actually woke up dry this morning!!! I was completely shocked! He still didn't poo on the toilet, which really bothered him. I think that is a good thing because it may encourage him to go on the toilet next time! He also did not make it through his nap dry, but I'm okay with that. Other than those two incidences he told me every time he had to go potty. Go Miles!!!

Potty training...success?

I have to admit that Miles is doing much better potty training than I expected. (I just heard Ari say, "I'm so proud of you for going potty on the toilet!" How great is that?!) We just started on Monday. He didn't go on the toilet once! Then Tuesday came and he finally went on the toilet once. Then Wednesday...he went on the toilet several times, but still had a few accidents. He has had a hard time releasing once he sits on the toilet. Yesterday, he did pretty well, but still some accidents and then he went to bed...Franklin came out of his room and said, "Mom, Miles is yelling for you. He needs to go potty." I went to get him out of his crib and he went straight to the toilet, went potty right away, and then went right back to bed. I was shocked!

And then today...I could not be more surprised by this little guy. He has pottied in the toilet every time today!!! AND, I don't even have to ask him if he needs to go. He tells me when he needs to go potty! I'm amazed! Now, if I can just get him to poo on the toilet. Maybe tomorrow?

Ian--Fourteen Weeks

My baby is 14 weeks! I wanted to show him in pictures with two of his favorite things. He loves to lay in his bed and look at his mobile. He also loves the swing we borrowed from a cousin. He sits and coos and smiles at the mobile on the swing and at some fabric on the side of the swing.

A lot has changed in the last week. He drinks about 6 ounces every three hours during the day. He doesn't always finish his bottle and thrusts the bottle out with his tongue when he is done. He gets his last bottle at 7:30 pm, goes straight to bed (he prefers to go to bed rather than me rocking him), and he sleeps until some time after 7:00 the next morning. That's right...he is sleeping about 12 hours every night...give or take a half hour. He wakes up with a smile on his face and goes to bed with a smile on his face. He is quite the little prince!

It's Potty Time

This is what we do while we wait for Miles to go potty on the toilet. We sing and read books, too! I have to do whatever I can to keep him on the toilet until he goes. He has been holding it for a long time and even stayed dry for 2.5 hours during his nap this afternoon! We just finished our third day of potty training, and I think he is going to get it! He did much better today, but still leaves his mark here and there, and left a big mark in the bath tub today...yuck! If things keep going the way they have the past few days Miles may end up being my easiest boy to potty train, which would be nice since he has been the most difficult in every other area! He's a cutie!

Dedicating Miles and Ian

We had wonderful service at our church this morning! We had a dedication ceremony for Miles and Ian. They were both so good during the service. I sang...and made it through without crying! Dedicating our children does not ensure their salvation. The purpose is to show our church family that we desire to raise our chilren for the glory of the Lord, and to ask them to hold us accountable!

Today was extra special because we found out our dear friends, Tracy and Kaley, are expecting their first baby. We have prayed for them, daily, for years and are so happy/excited/thrilled/overjoyed to rejoice with them! I actually shouted in church this morning when we heard the news! I couldn't contain myself!!!

Baby Dedication

I made this video for our baby dedication at church. The song is Masterpiece by Sandi Patty. I will be singing along with the video, so you won't hear the words on my blog. Check out YouTube, or do a search for lyrics on Masterpiece...it is a very special song and perfect for dedicating our children to the Lord.

Ari vs Ian

Ian looks so much like Ari in the eyes. He has Lauren's nose and mouth, though. What do you think?

Ian is three months old!

Ian is three months old today! These past three months have gone so fast! I still think of him as a newborn because he can't hold his head up completely, but he is so big! I weighed him using my scale this morning and he was 15 pounds. Lauren didn't weigh that much until she was at least 6 months old! She and Franklin were only 19 pounds at one year!

I moved him out of my bedroom two nights ago. (I cried going to sleep the first night! He is getting too big...too fast!) He was getting too long for the bassinet. He now sleeps in a pack n' play in Lauren's room. He is doing really well in her room. He gets his last bottle (6 ounces) at 9:00 and woke up this morning at 7:30. He usually gets up a little earlier, but his nights have certainly extended. He still eats every three hours during the day, eating 5-6 ounces, and letting me know when he is done (he'll stick his tongue out when I try to put the bottle in his mouth).

We were loaned a swing this week and he LOVES it!!! I wasn't too worried about getting one, but Roger's cousin offered, and dropped it off and now I am so glad she did. He smiles as soon as I put him in it! It's a really cool swing, too!