Cereal

 We tried Norah on some cereal the other day.  She was excited.

 But then was a little upset it wasn't the same as when mommy gives her a spoon dipped in yogurt which is what I've done a few times so I can get my breakfast in.

 Joel wanted to see what the baby food was like.

 And then he tried to give her some.

 Somehow I think she likes the fact that Joel will let her taste his lollipops when Mommy isn't looking. 

I think we'll skip on the cereal and start right into some pureed vegetables. 

6 months

 Half a year.  Amazing. I am morning the fact that I no longer have a squishy newborn but it is really fun seeing Norah's personality come out.  She is so fun. I love six months when you see them almost start to discover the world.  Such a sweet girl and still pretty laid back.  She has gotten into this only wanting mommy phase which I don't mind.  Poor Brent doesn't cut it if mommy walks by.  But if mommy is holding her she is perfectly content and very happy.  She is a horrible sleeper - almost every 2 hours she is up.  She slept better as a newborn.  Teething, growth spurt, not sure but poor thing is having trouble sleeping lately. 

 My favorite thing she does is rest her head on my shoulder.  All the time.   Whenever I hold her.  She likes to snuggle close, put her head on my sholder for a minute, then put it up watching the boys and then put it back down again. She does this over and over.  I aboslutely love it. 

 She loves her brothers. They can get her laughing so hard.  She lights up when Joel or Colin are near.   

 Baby girl is starting to love all things girly and sparkly.  She is very happy to walk by the girl isles in the stores and loves to vocalize her happiness. Its really cute. I think we need to start adding some girly toys since the trucks aren't cutting it for her.  The only way I can put her down without her crying and melting down is to give her some necklaces to play with. 

 She will lunge for things and end up on all fours and will start rocking back and forth.  The boys were crawling by now.  Part of me doesn't think it will happen soon since after a few minutes she is like this:

And will then be very happy when you help her sit up.  She desperately wants to play with the boys legos and will throw her body towards their box of Legos so maybe if she gets desperate enough she might start crawling.  I'm in no hurry. 

And baby girl says Mama.  She will start getting upset and say mama, mama, mama until I pick her up.  I'm pretty sure she knows what she's saying.  Its no wonder thats her first word - its all she hears all day from the boys "mommy!!!"  Its fun she is beginning to talk but how did she get this old so fast....

Its hard to picture life without her.

Happy Monday

This picture just makes me smile. 

Pooch

Meet Pooch. 

He was given to Colin one Christmas by Uncle Opie and Aunt Angela.  Colin and Joel bring their "friends" with them when we go visit people and Pooch came along when we went to visit Ant Ant.   Pooch was accidentally left so Ant Ant started taking Pooch on adventures.  And texting us the pictures.  So far Pooch has been to Ant Ant's work, Dollywood, Virginia Tech twice, a football game, and much more. We all rush to the phone when we get another Pooch sighting. He even snuck in for a football game last weekend.  The hokies are his favorite team - smart dog!  I think Ant Ant is going to make a book for the boys this Christmas of Pooch's Adventures.  I can't wait. 

Today Colin had a minor surgery to remove a skin tag he was born with.  Its ironic in some ways that we went to a plastic surgeon when he was 3 months and decided we would wait until he was older and they wouldn't have to put him under - since its basically two cuts.  We didn't feel it was necessary to take the risks for something that simple.  But then we just did it to our 6 year old.  He wanted to take it off but he needed to be put under because they weren't sure if there would be more they had to remove once they started (and it turned out he had some extra cartilage that needed to be removed as well so its a good thing he was asleep when they did it)

But Pooch came with us to the doctors.  And it was a great distraction.  Colin was excited that this time we were the ones sending the pictures. 

The nurses were great.  They gave Pooch his own hospital tag and Colin said when they took him back to the operating room they gave Pooch his own breathing mask and then made Pooch laugh and laugh with the "laughing gas" they gave him. Colin did great. Poor kid has been to a lot of doctors this past year.  With his asthma he is used to getting lots of tests done while we are waiting in another room.  Back in early March they thought he might have cystic fibrosis since his chest xrays were so bad but thankfully all those tests came back negative. His lungs have been much better with his medication - we've even gone down to a lower dose on one. (and a random story - I got the call about his xrays one day while I was in Target with the boys. I was surprisingly calm for being 37 weeks pregnant and learning my son might have CF but the boys did walk out of there with a new Lego set and a box of cookies.  I had tears streaming down my face the minute we walked out the doors and was pushing a car with two happy boys excited about their new toys and never noticed their mommy crying. Norah's due date was march 20. We had a really important doctors apt for Colin march 21 that we couldn't reschedule. God worked it all out and she was born the 19th and we came home the 20th)  But after all his tests this year it was no problem for him to just walk down the hall without us to the operating room. 

I can't imagine what it would be like if it was a life threatening procedure.  I kept thinking about my friend Abbey who has spent a lot of her sons lives in the hospital with them.  It was so hard seeing him in that hospital bed.  Colin was excited to ride in a wheelchair.  He's been asking me to get him one for over a year so he can be wheeled around.  (I know he doesn't look excited but he had just woken up and was feeling dizzy.  And then threw up in his barf bag on the way home)

I thought it was really sweet of the nurse to put Pooch right next to Colin so it would be the first thing he saw when he woke up.  We did have one scare tonight- Colin was in the bathroom brushing his teeth and I heard a thump and ran to the bathroom.  He was laying on the ground not moving and I screamed to Brent that Colin had fainted.  Brent ran to the bathroom and then Colin started smiling.  Apparently he was pretending to be bone-less and wanted to see what it felt to not have any bones in his body.  Silly boy. Mommy's heart can't take much more of those experiments. 

I am not sure what adventure Pooch will have next but hopefully Pooch will stay out of the hospital for a long long time.  And thank you Pooch for helping Colin not be so scared.

Joel

Joel has been playing with Playdoh a lot this week.  Maybe because he misses his Bubba.  Poor thing is a little lost without his Bubba.  I miss Bubba too - and am also a little lost without Colin.  But I am enjoying getting to spend some good time with Joel.  The other day I was cleaning up the playdoh so it wouldn't dry out and I hear from the other room,  "YES I HEAVY!!!!! I THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!" So I come around the corner and see this:

I guess he thought Norah needed to have a change of scenery so he picked her up and carried her around.  And was extremely proud of himself.  And I would be too - when you pick up someone who weighs almost the same as you I think you would feel like the strongest man in the world. 

 Joel has also likes helping me cook.  On this day he wanted to make muffins.  All by himself. Its a little flour, milk and then some frosting.  Then he asked for fire to be put on it.  (fire=candles) So I sang him happy birthday and my heart just melted at the look on his face.  Sometimes I think everyone needs to feel a little special and sung to on a day that really isn't their birthday...

Brent came home early one day last week when it rained and was there when Colin got off the bus.  A few minutes before we walked down Joel walked into the room and asked us "where is Colin?"  Brent and I looked at each other and I saw Brent a little teary eyed. Joel has always called Colin Bubba. He named him.  we aren't ready for him to stop calling him Bubba.  Thankfully Joel has said Bubba ever since.  These kids.... don't they know they need to stop growing up so fast. 

oh and one more Joel story:
Colin wasn't too excited about going to school one day last week and we talked about how maybe this year he will get an actual snow day from school.  Colin is now praying for lots of snow but Joel heard snow and that if it snows Bubba can stay home from school that day.  So he went into the closet and picked out his heaviest sweater to wear and wore it the whole day in 90 degree weather fully convinced it was going to snow.  Sweat was dripping down his face but he never wavered.  Sadly it never snowed :)  But it was so cute how badly he wanted his brother home. 

First day of First Grade

 This morning started off good.  Joel is in Jedi training...(I think trying to stop Bubba from leaving today. He did not want me to take Colin to school)

 Colin was little excited.  And a lot nervous.  He did really like his teacher at back to school night. And so did I.  Two boys that were in his kindergarten class are in his first grade class so that made it fun for him and also gave him something to look forward to. And I didn't cry that night - I'm making some progress I guess.

I took him to school and he was really talkative. And then we started walking into the school and Colin said very softly, "mommy I'm a little scared" So I hugged him and said it was ok to be a little scared and then we went into school. I dropped him off at his class and he never looked back.  Watching him I just wanted to go give him another hug but its also really amazing to see your children face their fears and almost grow right before your eyes.  I did cry a little in the car on the way home but not anything like last year.

We came home and Kelly, Lucy, and Ellie  came over so Kelly and I could pretend we weren't watching the clock the whole morning :)  Thanks Kelly!  It really helped to have you there and feel the same way and also for Joel to be distracted from not having Bubba there. 

 (I took this picture when we were praying for Colin's day. I just quickly snapped it and love how his hands are the only thing in focus)

It was hard for me when the time came for when I used to get Colin from his kindergarten bus and to know that there were several more hours in the day for him at school.  Joel and I were more than ready to go get him from the bus stop. Colin was ALL SMILES.  Such a difference from last year where the poor kid could barely talk because he stuttered so bad and never said much about school the first month.  He hasn't stopped talking about it all night.  During dinner he said that he just wanted to go right back to school right away.  I am so glad.  It made me so happy to hear that.  I think its going to be a great year for him.  He is one happy happy boy today. 

The day just got better too when I went to get the mail.  Brent usually gets it when he gets home since our mail comes around 5:00 but for some reason I decided to go get it.  There was a letter from our insurance in there and I quickly opened it with a sinking heart since nothing we've gotten from them has been good. BUT it was a letter stating that we won our appeal and that our coverage was accepted.  I started crying - and I'm not usually such a crier but with the whole first day of school and then the whole summer trying to get this appeal ready - the tears came and I couldn't stop them.  Its been this weight on me all summer. 

Its been a wonderful wonderful day full of many answered prayers for school and our appeal. 

Goodbye Summer

Summer - you were good to us and will be missed.

 



Sprinkler

 Colin got one more Botanical Gardens trip in before school started.  I think the sprinklers are on for another month so Joel, Norah and I will be going back.  If anyone wants to come with us let me know. 

 Amazing what difference a few weeks makes - Norah can sit up now on her own.  And the water was warm today which made a big difference. Dont worry baby girl - your mommy doesnt like cold water either. She wasn't sure at first why I would bring her back here and plop her down on the water.

But she actually liked it this week and warmed up to it pretty quick.

 It was really fun watching her play with the water. 

 At first she wasn't sure what to do with it.  But then just sat there and played.

 Sweet kisses from Joel.

Norah wasn't the only girl who enjoyed the sprinklers 

swimming

Just watch what happens when I ask Norah if she can swim. She's got one arm down.  Now just need to work on the other arm!

Paddle Boating

 Brent took Colin paddle boating back in July when they went to Baltimore and Colin has talked about it ever since.  So this week I decided to take the boys.  In high school I would come to this reservoir and go canoeing and paddle boating with friends all the time. 

 My mom came and met us there. We had a picnic lunch and then went out on the water while Norah and Ma-ma-maa stayed on shore to watch.

 After about 5 minutes into our hour with the paddle boat I was soaking wet with sweat and wondering how I could last a whole hour.  Its a lot harder to make it go fast when you are the only one with legs long enough to paddle.  But it was still a lot of fun and nice to be with my boys.

 Joel didnt go overboard but he kept standing up - good thing we did the paddle boat and not the canoe.  The boys had been told by Uncle Jeff that morning to look for animals.  They were convinced they saw 2 eagles - it was either eagles or hawks.  And Joel kept looking for the giraffe's.  According to him, Uncle Jeff told him to look behind the trees for giraffes. Unfortunately the giraffe count was zero. 

A fun day.

school

In a few short days my firstborn goes off to first grade.  It was hard last year to send him to school and seems just as hard this year.  I thought it would be a little easier but its not.  I've loved having him home all summer.  I've been having trouble sleeping thinking about it this past week.  Instead of half day my sweet boy will be gone all day.  I told Brent that I will only see Colin for 5 hours each day when he gets home from school until its time for bed.  And while that seems like a lot  its not the same when you have to get dinner, homework, baths (sometimes) and bedtime stories in.

And I have no idea how Joel will handle it.  He and Colin have been insepearable all summer. They go into their room and I just hear them talking and the rustle of legos for several hours until they get hungry or want to show me what they have created.  Sometimes when Norah is napping and they are in their room I like to stand outside and just listen to their conversations.  I have a feeling Joel will be a little lost next week without his Bubba. 

 There is some comfort in that we really like the school but I still dont like him gone from me.  At all.  I would still love to homeschool but God keeps confirming sending him to school.  And Colin thrived last year.  Really thrived and it was so neat seeing how he matured and grew just in kindergarten.  It is such a great school and I only have great things to say about it.  So I'm praying and hoping that this year is even better.  I have complained a few times that if they just took out PE, lunch, recess, art, music then he could only go half day again but those are the things he's really excited about.  And so am I.

  It is going to be a little bit of a challenge to figure out what to put in his lunches since he doesnt eat the typical lunch stuff.  We've been practicing this week with different lunches in his lunchbox for him to open.  I can't wait to leave notes for him each day.  I'm also looking forward to taking him to school each day.  We are never on time for the bus stop so we are going to take him and then have him ride the bus home.  We started a tradition of praying together each morning before I drop him off and became one of my favorite times of the day.  And its really fun to see him walk into school - backpack bouncing up and down and he walks. 

Colin is getting a little nervous. He has started stuttering a little bit so I know he's getting nervous.  His one worry is who to sit next to in the cafeterria.  We have back to school night tonight so I'm really praying he knows someone in his class. That will make next tuesday much more fun for him to look forward to. 

At the same time I'm looking forward to that extra attention I can give Joel.  Poor middle child gets lost in the shuffle sometimes.  I feel like Colin gets attention with swimming, school. sports, and then Norah gets a lot just being the baby and diaper changes, being fed.  And then there is Joel.  So I think this time will be good for him. 

For the first time in a few years we aren't doing a sport this fall.  I'm looking forward to it and just allowing the kids to just play on saturday mornings (and sundays now that we are going to a sun night service) without hurrying to get out the door for a game. But for now I'm going to take it one day at a time until we get into the whole school routine again.  I wonder if it will ever get easier sending them back to school - maybe when Norah is in school and I have an empty house?  (although that will probably make me cry even harder)

Feet

She likes to chew on her feet.  Its pretty cute.  Although anything she does it cute to us. 

Daddys Girl

Dress up

First time playing dress up.  

I think Norah liked it.  Now just need to start adding girly dress up clothes to our collection.

zoo

 The sad thing about living in a military city is that people move away.  The good thing about living in a military city is that a lot of them end up moving back :)

 This picture was 3 years ago when Kelly and I were pregnant with Joel and Lucy.  Look how little RJ and Colin were. 

This picture was taken this week.  Colin looks huge in this picture but I think RJ is only just a little shorter than Colin.  We've added a few more kids to the group.  Thanks Kelly for going with us and for taking this picture.  Colin now feels a little better about starting school after knowing RJ is going all day too.  And now that school is about to start it'll just be Joel and the girls going on playdates for a while. 

My favorite part of the day was when Joel reached over to hold Lucy's hand. Especially since when they were babies he would do this and this. He still loves her :)

(only click the word this for the links. for some reason something keeps putting these links on other words. not sure how to take that off)