updates from Nate

Nate is doing Great! He is about 15 lbs!!!! (and killing my back!) Just about 4 months and is so interactive. He goes to sleep at night without much intervention- put a pacifier and a white noise on and he's out! He's been sleeping really well in his car seat- so that's where I put him to bed- He just loves his brothers and is able to hold his head up pretty well. He's reaching for objects and has been batting at the toys he likes. Here are some pictures that have been taken over the last couple of days.

Family Pictures

These were taken after Nate's Baptism on Sunday.

Harvest party

We had a fun time rolling in the hay/grass, making caramel candied apples, going on a scavenger hunt, a bonfire, of course roasting marshmallows and making s'mores and eating chili and pigs in a blanket! The adults had a good time too!
Zack and Sammy had been counting the days down to their party and enjoyed their friends coming to enjoy a perfect fall evening!

Monarch butterfly emerges

As promised here are some great pictures by JBC that show the emergence of our butterfly. Thanks Mumsy- you got here just in time!

weekend

Mumsy got some good pictures of some of the activity...

Fence

Tim's been working on putting a fence up so we can get some animals. Mainly for grass and weed control. But this has been a project on the list of things to do and it's exciting to see some of the fence up!

Like Father Like Son

Zack has an ancient laptop that we've had for years! He loves it.

Farewell

Here are some picts of the Farewell we had at the Squadron.









We had quite a bit of clean up after our boys enjoyed the chocolate cake!

Mom and her boys

Here are some pictures of Mom and boys together this past Friday. We had a blast enjoying a beautiful day outside. The weather has been absolutely perfect. Fall is here!
The boys were such good sports about changing their clothes after our pictures! We made a dash to the house and changed. A few minutes after being outside Sammy was covered in dirt. I've nicknamed him "Pigpen"- you know from the Peanuts! When he plays outside dust literally is all over him and it seems that there is a dust cloud around him most of the time- or is that him and/or Zack throwing the dirt? Well, they aren't supposed to throw it, but does it count if it flies in the air from your shovel?
No, I don't care if the latest fashion is dressing your kids in all white- I want my kids to have fun being kids. Plus I already have enough laundry!

Stitches

Sammy got three stitches last night on his first trip to the ER. Daddy and Sam got home around 12:30 am. Sammy was drugged. They drugged him so he wouldn't remember the incident. It was scary when they got home. He hardly made sense and could barely hold his head up. He wanted to watch Go, Diego,Go. So we watch an episode of Diego and Sammy the Sloth save mommy and baby Sloth. He thought it was daytime since the outside light was on.
We put him in bed with us, since he was "drunk" to keep a closer eye on him. He was literally caressing my cheek calling me Baby Nate. We told him several times that Baby Nate was in his bed, it was Mommy.. Finally after he saw a lite and said, "Moon." and pointed to the ceiling fan and said "Cow" And tried to start climbing around in our bed, that I decided to put him in his bed. He cried because he did not want to take a nap. Poor kid.
Finally I told him I'd be right back and left him for a few minutes. As I closed the door, I heard him cry softer and then about 30 sec he was quiet. It was 1:30 am and I was climbing in bed.
9:30 am and he's up and doing fine. Tiredly wound up, but doesn't seem to remember those stitches(and those holding him down).

Family?

Today I went to the dentist. While waiting I noticed a mom with two boys that came in. Her boys were around 12 and 9. One was getting a tooth pulled and the other for a routine appt... The mom walks in with the boys and says I'll be right back, she leaves and isn't back for 20-30 min when she does return she was on the phone. The boys were very well behaved, one had a cell phone or some other game playing or texting gadget that occupied the oldest while they other looked at a magazine.

Maybe it's the age of my young children, but I was surprised by the fact that that the mom didn't interact with her sons at all. She carried on her own life oblivious to the fact that her oldest son was a little unsure of his tooth extraction. They could have been strangers, mom didn't even pause to reassure or check her son as he went to the exam room, she just chatted away on the phone. How sad to be so caught up in yourself.

Maybe this is one of the reasons teenagers want to hang out with their friends rather than family. Hopefully not our boys.

First Shots?

That's what the tech said when we brought Nate in to have his first shots today. Then he asked how old he was-- he thought he was much older since he was so big. We told him that Nate just turned 2 months, he was just our grand champion baby!

Nate did really well. Nate cried just as they gave him the shots and then it was over. He only had to get two shots and the rotavirus vaccine (an oral vaccine). He will get fewer shots than the other boys since they have some combined shots. Plus there is a different schedule for a few shots (Nate will get 3 shots to Zack and Sammy's 4 shots to complete a series.)

Also Mom and Dad got shots too. Whooping cough is going around here so we got our Tetanus booster to boost our immunity. The Pediatrician told us that children around here are getting whooping cough because the adults are not completely immunized and are giving it to the kids- babies are very susceptible. And the boys got to watch Nate and their parents get shots. And it was not traumatic even for Baby Nate. Hopefully they will remember this so when it's their turn it won't be such an ordeal. Plus they realize that it's not just they that have to get shots, adults have to get shots too!

Sammy was very concerned for all of us before we got our shots. He rubbed my leg and stood right next to me before I got my shot. "Mommy, you okay?" I love his concern and his thoughtfulness.

mommy and Nate

Sammy!

Zack and Grandmother are enjoying little Nate.

Grandmother asks, "Sammy what are you wearing? A sock cap?"

Now, what are you up to?




Sam thinks Grandmother would look grand in this hat...if only he could get it on her! As grandmother said a few times "That Sammy is a rascal!"

Nate is two months!

I wanted to upload these picture from when Grandmother Reese came to visit. We had such a nice time. Nate really enjoyed the extra attention plus the extra holding and cuddling. He loved his first visit with his great-grandmother! ( I think she enjoyed it too)

Nate

has started opening his hands and grabbing things. Mainly your shirt or face and he doesn't let go!
Also he has been holding his head and chest up. That is a feat considering that he is putting on lots of weight. At his appt a few weeks ago he was in the 75% for weight, 50% for length and 25% for head circumference. He was 11.3 lbs. He gets so heavy. But for all that weight he sleeps alot. Last night he went to bed at 10:30 and was up at 5:30! Then back to sleep till 9am--

I've been sick so I've appreciated the long sleeping periods.
We call him our grand champion baby.