A surprise in the wash!

I don't even know what made me open the washer mid-cycle, but I did and this is what I found:

That is right - a DIAPER!!



I know it is kind of hard to see against the white bag, so I highlighted the diaper. This is why I am a die-hard fan of this brand of diapers.

Even after being in the washer, it never broke or came apart!!! This is REALLY amazing to me because it was going through the final rinse when I found it. It had already done the spin cycles, etc., and came out in one piece!

AMAZING!! Heather told me to write the company and I think I might! I am amazed. If I am lucky, maybe they will use the story for advertising in some way and I can get some FREE DIAPERS!!! Okay, probably not, but I can hope!

P.S. This diaper LUCKILY had NEVER been used! I would rather waste a new diaper if one is going to end up in my washer, than have a stinky one end up in there!

Do you know what this is?

Poison Ivy

I am slowly getting poison ivy as bad as I had it when I had to deliver Andrew early because of it! I seem to break out for a couple of weeks after I am exposed to poison ivy. It is miserable! The dr called in the same steroids I took last time and the same cream I used last time. I am conflicted about the steroids though!

I don't want to end up in the hospital with an IV again, but I don't want Andrew on steroids - hey maybe it will help him with his weight!! I can't pump and dump for a week though because ANDREW WON'T TAKE FORMULA!! I would assume that since they said it was okay for me breastfeed on all of the steroids I was on right after he was born, he would be okay now since he is older and bigger, but I just hate taking meds when I am breastfeeding! If I end up in the hospital, though, I will have the same dilemma, except he would have to come get exposed to germs just to eat!

It just hit me that maybe the steroids I was taking when he was born could be the reason a heart murmur was not heard when he was born, then was a couple of days later, and then wasn't a week later! I don't know if that could be, but when the pharmacist said it could mess with his heart rate, it got me thinking!

I guess I need to end this before I end up with hives, so I will take the medicine when I go to bed, after I feed him, so that he won't get AS much, hopefully! So, I guess I will get lots of cleaning done, if the steroids don't make me eat all night!

Wrong Daddy!

We went grocery shopping this morning (fun! fun!). The boys start school next week, so we had to get back into getting school lunch food. I let Isaac pick out what kind of sandwiches he wanted and he said PB&J. He got the jelly, but Daddy had already gone to the next aisle. Isaac was walking ahead of me, and went to give Daddy the jelly. He had his arm stretched up all the way giving him the jelly, but he was looking down. He kept saying "here daddy, here daddy, here..."

IT WASN'T DADDY!! The man was built the same as Daddy and had on khaki shorts and a blue tshirt and a khaki hat like Daddy, but...it wasn't him! The man started laughing and said "your Daddy must be kinda tall and look like me!" Caleb and I just laughed - I apologized to the man and we went to tell Daddy what happened.

Made for an entertaining day of grocery shopping!

Another Zantac Update

I know this is a long post, but I start ranting at the end - SORRY!
The Zantac seems to help, but is not doing away with the problem! Andrew had peaches at breakfast and applesauce at dinner (I probably should not have done that - but I wasn't thinking!). He did fine, no tummy problems (or any others)like he had last time, all day. With dinner I also made some cereal (which I guess I chose the wrong kid NOT to feed cereal too - so he is on it now!) with FORMULA!! He did not care for his dinner much! He loved the applesauce, but Mean Mom was mixing in cereal made with nasty formula with his sweet, tasty, LOVED applesauce! He also had some green beans, which he hasn't had in a while - doesn't really care for them anymore!

But, I digress! He did pretty good most of the day until last night. He started throwing up again. I can tell when he is nearing time for the next dose, because it gets worse. I know it is helping, because he had no problems with the fruit, but it still seems to be too much.

Paul and I got into a little arguement last night because he thinks Drs are ALWAYS wrong. I finally told him to go to med school. I figure since ALL drs are so stupid, and he knows EVERYTHING, he should get through school pretty quick and start making some GOOD money! He says drs aren't any smarter than anyone else (how long do they go to school for?). What makes me so mad about it though, is he is argueing with what I am telling the dr.

He doesn't doubt that he has acid reflux, but he says he is not "spitting up" enough to make him not gain weight. I say he is "throwing up" WAY too much. If I am going through more than one burp cloth - per feeding, and that does not count what is not making it into the burp cloth - I think he is throwing up too much. There are times when AJ and I BOTH go through several shirts per feeding (on top of several burp clothes) because he is just soaking me.

So, I asked him if he thought I wasn't producing enough milk. He says he thinks I am supplying plenty of milk. THAN WHAT IS THE REASON HE ISN'T GAINING WEIGHT? Paul says he isn't getting fatter because he is getting longer. Which he is. He got two inches longer in two months. I AM NOT TRYING TO MAKE HIM FATTER! I just want him to gain weight like he should be.

Paul got on the scale last night by himself and then got on the scale with Andrew. Our OLD scale said AJ weighed...well I say 13, Paul says 13 1/2. Either way, I think the drs scale would be more accurate and definently easier to read. He has been weighed on the same scale everytime we have been there (which the dr said to make sure when we come in a month - they use the same scale again).

Me, I am going to go with what the dr says. I love my husband and I trust him - but until he has that medical degree in his hand... Regardless of if he is fat or long, he should still be gaining weight. He went from being at 50% to 10% in two months (while all other measurements went UP or stayed the same)and that concerns me a little! I was concerned with his weight BEFORE we even went to the dr - that is why I started feeding him food early!

This is just going to have to be one arguement that MOM'S INTUITION wins on!!!

AGAIN...and AGAIN...

It is official! I am no longer allowed in my backyard OR allowed to as much as TOUCH (maybe even look at) our dogs. I have poison ivy AGAIN!! I don't know HOW Andrew has not gotten it. HOPEFULLY, as much as I have had it and the fact that AJ has not broken out (YET) means that he will be immune!! However - I know it gets worse each time you get it! I am calling my dermatologist today to see if I can get a steroid pack without seeing him. It is not near as severe as when I was pregnant, and this is actually the third time I have broken out with it since I had Andrew!

We FINALLY figured out yesterday that I am getting it from the dogs (or pretty sure I am). Saturday night we sat outside in the backyard - we ate dinner out there, the boys played in the sprinklers and I PLAYED WITH THE DOGS! The trees that were covered in poison ivy were cut down, but they ground up the stumps and filled the holes with the wood chips. I did not even think to ask them to just leave a hole, so now the stumps that were covered in poison ivy are chips that are covered in poison ivy. Guess where the dogs lay during the hot part of the day. Guess where teh dogs dig when they feel the need to dig. THAT IS RIGHT!! THE WOOD CHIPS!!!

SO>>>the solution. We are either going to put a rock garden out there (thanks for the idea Mom), if I can find one in these books we have that will look good out there, or Paul has been wanting to put in a pond... If we do the rock garden, we can lay down weed-shield fabric and cover it with rock. If we do the pond PAUL will have to dig up ALL of the POISON IVY!

Either way, until it happens - Mommy stays INSIDE and DOESN'T play with cute little doggies!!

Zantac

It seems to be helping, some. Although he is still throwing up some after he eats, he seems to be doing better. This afternoon, evening will be the real test! I gave him peaches and cereal for breakfast. If he doesn't scream later because of the peaches, I will know it was DEFINENTLY acid reflux!

He LOVED getting food for breakfast this morning. He may be small, but this boy likes to eat (why not - his brothers did too!). I am going to try the formula again today, just in case we need it some, in the future.

We have an appointment with an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat specialist) on Tuesday, just to have him look at the prearicular pits and get his opinion on what he thinks we should do, if anything. If it is something that will likely cause problems in the future, we want it taken care of NOW! This is the same ENT that has seen Isaac and done all of his surgeries (other than his hand, obviously), so I really trust him and his opinion.

God has really blessed us with great doctors, since the day Caleb was born. When we moved from TX, one of my greatest concerns was leaving the pediatrician we had always been with and having to find a new one that was as good as he was. The first dr we visited up here filled those shoes! You hear lots of horror stories from other people, but even the specialist the kids have seen have been great. It is very reassuring - but still, I prefer second opinions on things like this from someone who deals with it on a regular basis!

106 and Counting

That has been our actual temperature and the outlook for this week does not look good! THe seven day forecast has three digits everyday. Really, it does not matter what three digits it is, any temp with three digits is WAY TOO HOT!

We are still tinkering with the air conditioning. The man came and had gotten the bedrooms cooled, but the middle of the house was hot. He came out again yesterday to adjust it and now the middle of the house is cool again and the bedrooms are hot. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A JUST RIGHT!!! He says he is just barely adjusting the airflow, but it goes from one extreme to the other!

I just don't want to see my water or electric bill this month!!!

Preauricular Pits

I did some research because I could not remember the name the dr gave the "indentations" at Andrew's ear. So, thanks to google, I know they are called Preauricular Pits, and now have a little bit of information about them and what to expect. Reading this stuff definently did not make me feel any better about the situation, but as I already said - I am not going to worry about it until I need too. It is nice to know what COULD come from it though!
I was able to get a better picture than the previous one of what I am talking about (just double click on the picture to enlarge it):

Mommy's Little SLUG

I call Andrew my Little Slug (not Slugger - Slug). Because of all the throwing up he does, and to utilize all of the bed and do less laundry, AJ sleeps at the "head" of his bed one or two times and then the "foot" of his bed one or two times before we change the sheets (Remember he is still sleeping the majority of the day - so I would end up changing sheets 5 to 10 times A DAY!! And I layer the sheets and waterproof pads several deep so all I have to do is pull off the top sheet and pad). I used to put down a receiving blanket for him to sleep on because that was easier to change than his sheet, but he had decided to start sleeping in the corners of his bed instead of the comfortable, airy middle of the bed.

The nickname came because I would put him to bed in the middle of the crib. He rolls over (if I don't put him down on his stomach) and "crawls" to the corner of the bed (never the same corner) and falls asleep. Slug came from the wet trail that started where I laid him down and ends where he laid himself down. It looks like a slug has been making a trial (lovely picture I am painting - huh?). Here are some pictures I took earlier. This is the same naptime, but when I iniatially moved him OUT of the corner I took off his overalls to try and make him more comfortable!

I don't know if you can see him, but he is sucking his thumb and his face is against the bars of the crib.


Check out the hairdo after I moved him out of the corner of the crib. He thinks it is pretty funny!


After we take off our overalls and go back down we try out a different corner at the "foot" of his bed.


There is that hand again! When I got him up yesterday morning his hand was sticking straight out of the bars and was ICE COLD!!

Mommy Knows Best!!

LONG POST _ BUT THE DRS APPT WAS LONG< SO WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?

Andrew went for his four month check-up today. Didn't go too great! Dr. came in and was showing me his growth chart, "Wait, she must have not charted this right." He checks his file, "UMMM, are you still breastfeeding?" Yes. "Do you think you have enough milk?" Yes. I told him he was throwing up before he was stopping eating and that I still had milk at that point. Then I told him that he throws up a lot, Dr asked how much and I told him that he was soaking more than one burp cloth PER FEEDING! He is now on Zantac for acid reflux. He has always thrown up bad, but because he gained enough weight at 2 months, the dr was not concerned.

This would explain the not being able to handle fruits. He handles bananas (which are not acidic) but does not do well with applesauce or peaches (which ARE acidic). Dr asked about formula and I told him that I tried giving him formula, just in case I wasn't around and he needed to eat and that after trying three different kinds and four different bottles - he would not touch the stuff!

I DID start adding some cereal to his bananas a couple of days ago because I was not feeling like he was gaining like he should. When the dr was asking his feeding schedule, I told him that I started him on vegetables at around 3 1/2 months. He said that was great and he was glad I went on and did that. I told him he was taking a 2.5 ounce jar at bedtime and then nursing. He said that was perfect. I told him our nighttime schedule and asked if I should be waking him up and feeding him at night. He said that the schedule he is on is PERFECT and he does not want to mess that up if he doesn't have to, so he told me to try and add an extra feeding sometime in the evening.

I asked when to start feeding him food twice a day (I didn't want to push things too fast since he was already eating early)and he said now. If the food and medicine doesn't help him gain, we may have to add margerine (for the fat) to his food (can you imagine his diapers with a greased up tract!!).

Then I asked about these little spots that he was born with on his face. I saw them as soon as he was born and told Paul it looked like he was pressed against something when he was in me. We had not been to concerned about it, none of the drs said anything about it at the hospital, but I decided to ask Dr about it today because one of the spots looked like it was deeper (it looks like you took a pen or something sharped and poked him with it and it left an indentation on his face). He said it is a birth defect. When his tissue was forming there, it just didn't form correctly but usually it will correct itself. Then he added that you have to watch for any drainage because if it is all the way to a sinus cavity it could get infected (and that it would be hard to see drainage because it may be to deep!). He also said that kids that have this also seem to be more prone to kidney problems. Yes, I am VERY SORRY I ASKED!!

I know they are hard to see - my camera doesn't do that close very well but these are the spots. The one closest to his ear (really kinda on his ear) is the one of most concern!

The dr ends by saying "Other than this stuff - he is PERFECT!!" After twenty minutes of discussing possible problems - he is perfect! He is, and these are minor issues that need to be addressed and watched but not worried about. We are still very fortunate to have FOUR VERY HEALTHY KIDS - when you look at what other kids have or do endure.

So, here are the numbers:
Weight: 12 lbs. 5 ounces pounds (10%) - he was 11lbs 3 ounces at 2 months
Length: 25 3/4in (85%) - he was 23 3/4in at two months
Head: 15 7/8in (10%) - it was 15in at two months

He has to go back in one month just to have his weight checked. He goes back in two months for his SIX month :-( checkup. If he is still not gaining weight well, the dr will do an ultrasound on him to look at kidneys and stomach.

God's Choice

While in the car with my kids and one of Caleb's friends today, his friend asked how many kids we had. Caleb told him there were four of them so next time there would be five.

"There won't be a next time - you four are it!" I quickly told him.

"You don't know that - God could send another one to us." he said in his I-know-everyting voice.

"Point well taken!"

What else could I say?

Under Construction: The (Un)man Cave

I told Paul that since I would never have a little girl to decorate a room for - I still want a girlie room and I would just have to do it for myself! Instead of making him sleep in a girlie room - I decided to do our bathroom (which is where I escape to when I need to relax. I am naming it the (un)man cave (you notice how there is always a man cave but never a woman cave!). I told Paul he could have as much say with decorating the rest of the house as he wants, but I want one room that I can do WHATEVER I want with!

His "man cave" is the garage. He was quick to point out that his man cave must be hell (it has been over 100 degrees out and the garage doesn't get much air movement!). Truely though, I have tried not to make any decorating to girlie. The kitchen is done in teapots, but when do I get to relax in the kitchen? Even this blog is as ungirlie as it gets, but it is all about boys!

So, the bathroom is still under construction, but here are some photos of what I have done so far. I think I am even going to go as far as to use boas for the glass block window (use them like curtains to frame the top and sides of the window). Paul says it even smells girlie (might be the potpourri that I hid!). It is a safe bet that the few times the boys have gotten to use my bathtub - they can forget it now!

106 and Counting!!

Do you know what I am talking about?

Family Meals

So, does it still count as having a meal together if you aren't all at a "table" together? I found some barstools on sale and got them. The boys LOVE them!! I do too. It is so much easier to clean up after them when they eat right next to the sink.

We are all in the kitchen together, just not at the table!

Stereo-typical Big Brother

I told Caleb to get his room cleaned up before dinner. Isaac asked if he could help Caleb clean. I told him it was fine with me if Caleb wanted help (who wouldn't).

I walk into his room about five minutes later to see Isaac hard at work cleaning, with Caleb reclining on his bed "delegating"!

Caleb got to finish his room by himself!

I Am a Hamster...

AND MY LIFE IS A WHEEL!!

I saw this on a commercial earlier today: "I am not a hamster and my life is not a wheel."

It pretty much summed up how I have felt the last couple of days! So when I heard this I thought it described me well righht now - and have been repeating it to myself all day!

A Clear Understanding

So, you have heard me talk about Caleb's mock vote last year at school and how he voted for the man he did because he is on tv. I thought he was talking about he had seen him on commercials, until today.

The man's name he voted for was Phil. Today, I was kind of watching (as in had the tv on, but cleaning house) Dr. Phil about wedding diasasters. Caleb walked in and said "there is the man I got the autograph from."

I started laughing and said no it wasn't. He says "they are both bald, they look alike and sound alike."

What do you think?

Toys

Andrew already LOVES playing with toys. He likes to hold them himself and play with them though. He is in his room on his floor playing right now - having a blast.
He has a big soft block that plays music - a different song or rhyme on each side. He is hitting it and making it roll and then going after it.

But, what do I expect - he is not even four months old and already reads!!

I Have the Smartest Kids!!

Not even four months old yet, and already reading!!!




This picture was not set up, I did not pose him. I walked into the dining room this morning and this is what I saw. Luckily, my camera was sitting right there so I could get these. He was looking at the book so intently - it looks like he is reading! I guess Bryce thought Andrew looked bored sitting in his swing.

Relaxation!!

Andrew was following the fish in the tank!

Game Night

We had a busy weekend this past weekend. Paul came home Thursday evening and took off Friday. We did not do much on Friday - a little housework and some laziness! Friday evening Paul washed his Jeep and the boys played in the water. I went out with them and ended up being attacked by wet boys - so we spent about an hour in the front yard wrestling. I think by the end, I was as wet as they were!! When we came in and the boys all got showers, dinner, etc. we played some games. Isaac, Bryce and I played Candly Land. Paul, Caleb and Andrew played dominoes (after Andrew played under his gym for awhile). There are some pictures below - just ignore all of the boys in their underwear!!

Saturday Isaac and Caleb went kayaking. We all went for a little while and when Isaac was done, Paul and Caleb stayed and played and the rest of us went home. Then that evening we had a birthday party to go too. It was a swimming party and when we got home

Bet You Can't Guess What My Newest Food Is!?

GREEN BEANS AND I LOVE THEM!!!

SCHOOL, SCHOOL, SCHOOL!!

I spent the morning trying to get kids ready for school to start. I thought I should call and make sure that Caleb's file got transferred to the new school. I would HATE to drop him off at school on the first day and him not have a class to go too!

I was told at the beginning of the summer that they could just transfer Caleb's file to the new school and get the necessary address proof from Isaac's registration. I discussed this with the woman this morning. She said that was fine, but I needed to come in and get a enrollment form. I load up all four kids, go to the school and talk to the same lady. She asked for Caleb's name and looked it up. She said his name was already in the computer (DUH! I already talked to them at the beginning of the summer!) so I didn't need to do anything!

THANKS FOR THAT!!! Glad I had just loaded all the kids up and gone up there!

I did FINALLY find out about his G/T test. We never got a letter with his results and his new school kept telling me to call his old school. Old school won't answer their phone. I ACCIDENTLY found the name and number of the woman in charge of the program and called her.

He WAS placed in G/T. She WAS NOT notified that he had transferred though. Glad I called and didn't wait to hear from the new school! This means I already know what class he is in though, because there is only on G/T class for his grade (not that I know who she is - but I have her name!)

And so begins another year of school!

Politics

I am not someone big on politics, but Mom introduced me to a candidate today that I am thinking is too good to be true, but here it is! Ron Paul I am not going to say a lot about him, you can read it yourself (because I can praise what I read for hours - I actually have with Mom for the last while).

He is republican, but I read comments from many life-long democrats that are voting for him. Just check him out - he seems to be just what MY KIDS FUTURE NEEDS!!!

Here is a sight with some of his speeches and articles so you can "hear" his feelings from him.

What a Great Big Brother

Bryce has had a little blanket he has used since he was about nine months old. He sleeps with them every night and takes them with us when we go places. Yesterday though, he gave his blankets to Andrew. Not that Andrew NEEDED them, but Andrew was crying yesterday and Bryce went and got his blankets and covered him up with them. Andrew stopped crying and Bryce said that Andrew could have them.

I told Bryce that was very sweet, but he didn't have to give his little blankets away. He said that Andrew needed them more than he did, and he could have them to make him feel better when he is sad or scared.

WHAT A SWEETIE!!!!

Daddy's First Organized Project

In the newly organized garage!! He never came in and asked "where is..."




This is an antique sewing table that had the bird sitting on it for a long time. It was in Caleb's room with the bird, but is room is so small, I decided that the bird could sit on the dresser and the table could come out. So, it was put in an open spot in the kitchen. I have been wanting somewhere to put the kids coloring stuff, that is not out in the open, because they like to color and draw while I am cooking.

I asked Paul if he would take the sewing machine out (it doesn't work) and put a bottom in it so I could use it to store their stuff. Works PERFECT!! He even went a step further and spray painted the handle that was a brass (in not so good looking shape), black to go with the kitchen!!

He did it without messing the table up at all. So, if in the future I want to put a sewing machine in it and use it as it was originally intended!

I have the most awesome husband on earth!! Thank you Sweetie - it looks GREAT!

Daddy's Favorite Part

of the new garage!!



This is an extension cord that is mounted in the middle of our garage. It has been really annoying because there are three outlets in the garage - one on the ceiling at the garage door opener, one on the wall with the shelves that has always had stuff in front of it, and one under the workbench. Between having to get out and untangle extension cords and trying to find somewhere to plug them in where they will still reach - this was a MUST when we were doing the garage. It is mounted to where no matter where he needs electricity, he can easily get it there!!

Boys, when you have your own garage - make sure you have one of these!!

For Papa,

The boys are ready to go!!! The boys kayak came in Monday. Today they got to try it out for the first time!! Enjoy!

Andrew's First Time in Johnny Jump-up

Haircuts

Daddy gave all of the boys haircuts Friday. He gave Caleb an inverted mohawk!!

YUM-YUM!!!

Daddy likes to give Andrew new treats!! Yesterday he came home from work and gave Andrew a Nilla Wafer. Do you think he enjoyed it?

WE MADE IT....

through the seperation anxiety, lack of sleep and just overall long night. But wait, that was my night - my first night with Andrew in HIS bed in HIS room.

Andrew slept in his bed for the first time last night. It was my idea, because he has been constantly sleeping through the night. There are have been times when he has awakened fussing, but when I "rotate the rotisserie" (aka: roll him over) he went right back to sleep and would sleep the rest of the night, but when he takes naps in his crib - he sleeps really well.

So, at bed time last night I decided that I would let him sleep in his room. I went through the "what-if's". What if he stops breathing, what if he crys and I don't wake up, what if... what if...!

Then I realized that it is not like I stay awake and stare at him all night, so all of these what ifs could still happen and I could still sleep through them. What makes it even worse is that he is rolling over so I can't keep him from sleeping on his stomach.

So, I put him to bed, checked on him twice before I went to bed. Then I turned on the monitor, probably loud enough that if he cried the neighbors would hear! I started at the lights on the monitor (the louder the noise in his room, the more lights come on on the monitor). When I would fall asleep, I would wake up and check the monitor, but I would not let myself go in and wake him up to check on him! At seven this morning, I STILL had not heard him. I went in to check on him and he was just starting to wake up (he was doing the fluttery eyes and smiling). I got him up and he gave me his normal huge morning smile!!

I survived the night and it will get easier with every night! Now, if I could just get Bryce to stay in his bed everynight instead of coming into my room and sleeping on my floor in the middle of the night.

Rollie-Pollie

Andrew has just about mastered rolling over! In the past I have questioned whether he REALLY rolled over or if I just THOUGHT I had laid him down one way, but really did another way! Well, I saw it this weekend for my own eyes! He went from his stomach to his back and then from him back to his stomach.

The only thing he is struggling with some is getting his arm out from under him when he rolls, but he is quickly figuring that part out too!

He is suddenly a little rollie-pollie!! You know what comes next....

Another Case of Mommy Brain

This morning I was trying to water the front yard and our tree that is not making it! In the process I turned the water in the back on to fill up the dogs water bucket.

I went back out front and continued watering. About 2 1/2 to 3 hours later, while I was fixing the boys their lunch I happened to glance out the kitchen window and see MUD!! The water was still coming out full blast!!

So, I come in, IM Paul and told him what I did.

Then, tonight he went out to water the front lawn again. I LEFT THE FRONT WATER ON TOO!! Luckily, it had a hose on it and the hose had a sprayer so it was shooting out like the back!!

I will never be the one to water again!!!

FUNNY (and not about the kids!)!

If you remember, I posted something about Paul mowing the neighbors yard Monday night. So, this morning I am out watering our yard (which we usually do at night, but didn't last night) and a truck pulls up with a mower. It is not the people that normally do it, it looks like they hired someone.

He gets out of his truck, stands there with his hands on his hips staring at the yard and then scratches his head. I guess he was trying to figure out why he was mowing a mowed lawn! I really half expected him to just mow the back and be done with it, but he actually mowed the front!

It was TOO FUNNY watching him when he first got here though. I just stood there in the lawn and giggled!

Two Is Better Than One

I put Andrew down for his first morning nap a few minutes ago. I went back into his room to get him dirty clothes and checked on him. He had his pacifier in his mouth - ALONG WITH IS THUMB!! He was sucking on his pacifier and his thumb at the same time!

Another Tooth Gone!

At least he didn't swallow this one! Isaac lost another tooth this morning. Since he is missing A LOT OF TEETH right now people keep asking if he is knocking them out (come on - there would be a MAJOR problem if he has knocked that many teeth out!!). No one can believe that he has actually lost that many teeth and they have an even harder time believing he already has two permanant teeth in.

He has a very gappy smile right now!! I guess we will continue cutting apples, scraping corn off the cob, etc. for a little while longer!

Lying Parents

Somehow yesterday (not sure how we got on this topic) Caleb said something about parents HAVING to lie. I asked what he was talking about and he said parents had to lie and say there was a easter bunny, etc., even though they are really the easter bunny, etc.

I mentioned Santa and Caleb says "Santa is real, but there is a different Santa for every state!"

Don't know where he gets this stuff from!!

John Mellencamp was on tv singing today and Caleb asked if it was The Beatles singing! He didn't believe me when I said it wasn't!

Just looked at the blog. Don't know why it is putting words NEXT to the pictures - it is not showing like that in the preview. Another flaw of Blogger I guess!

STILL!!

Andrew is still sucking his thumb. It is SO cute, but I DO NOT want him to develop this habit!!




This is what happens when you take his thumb out of his mouth:



It has become a game with him. We pull the thumb out, he sticks it back in immediately - while laughing at you! I think now we are making it worse!

Before and After

We never thought our yard would look at this (especially not this soon)when we bought the house, but at our six month mark (next week will be six months since we moved in) here are some before and after pictures of our yard. We had two treatments with a lawn company, but really, this yard is all credited to Paul. His OCD weed pulling, mowing, fertilizing, watering, etc. Notice how much darker and thicker the front is than the back? We had the back look pretty good until they cut the trees down, but between the damage of the trees falling and the dogs - it still looks pretty good! Here are some before and after taken six months ago (right before we moved in)and today.

Not All Aspects of Feeding Can Be Easy

I decided it was time to start getting Andrew used to formula and drinking out of a bottle. He decided it was NOT time to try formula! I tried three different formulas in the Soothie bottles (which has the same nipple as the pacifiers he uses) he kept gagging himself. I decided to try a different bottle...and a different bottle...after everything we tried all three formulas in four different bottles - with no winners!! He screamed! He wanted ME! And everytime I tried to feed him, he looked at me with these eyes like I was betraying him or something!

He finally decided screaming wasn't working so he thought he would try to be cute! He would get a little in his mouth, gargle it, laugh and spit it out (then continue to laugh). It was cute! I decided that may be the best way to go, so now before each feeding, I am going to squirt a little formula in his mouth and maybe he will get used to the taste. If that doesn't work, I may have to make Paul try. Last night when Caleb would give him the bottle he would laugh (even when he screams at me!)

I am not trying to wean him, just want him to accept formula so that if I am not around him and he is hungry (like at church, etc.) he can have a bottle.

I think he just wants to guarantee that I can't get too far away - or maybe I just want to BELIEVE he doesn't want me to get too far away!

AJ's First Bath...

without the newborn sling!!



HE LOVED IT!! He laughed and kicked and played. His little ducky in the picture quacks - which he thought was hilarious!!

Here is the aftermath of his bath:


This is after I cleaned water up several times and the picture does not show the puddle I am STANDING in!

So, the lesson here, AJ LOVES to see how much water he can kick OUT of the tub - so he has to be bathed in the small tub in the BIG tub!!