Cousin Shaye

So we love that cousin shaye lives so close now! We actually were spoiled enough to spend a good portion of the week with her!

These two are exactly 3 months apart! We laugh at how much these two don't look alike - well thats because they both look like their daddys.

Sage = 1 Month

Sage is 1 month today. I thought I would have his stickers made but my silhouette is buried in a box somewhere and Ells birthday stuff is one my top priority so maybe next month right.

Just a few little tidbits on this little guy...

He rolls over every single time you put him on his stomach. At first I thought it was just a fluke but he continues to do it. I tried to get a video but he just didn't want to perform.
He is super super strong. From birth this little guy has lifted his head up all by himself.
He loves to snuggle up and dig his feet into my stomach too.

He is a good sleeper (except last night), a great nurser, and pretty easy to please

Chatting with Sis

A love for the Ipad

Best invention ever...

We moved

Its official. We moved. Yes. We are now living permanently for the time being with my parents.  In fact, both my sister and my brother are living with their in-laws right now too. Kinda funny really.

We packed up the house a couple weeks ago and with 3 little ones when things are packed there sure isn't much to do. So we decided to get some stuff moved into storage and to our new place and if you know my hubs, well once you get started you just keep right on trucking till the job is done. So we are moved.

Still need to wrap up a few things at the old house like cleaning, mowing - as the new people don't take possession till May 1st.

Even though we are on to new adventures I still tear up when I leave each house. I mean our first little itty bitty house (yes. little. 1 bedroom 1 bath - need I say more) had tons of memories. We spent our first wedding night there, had an intruder (my bro in law can give you those details), got locked out, did our first major overhaul remodel and the list could go on and on. Now this house was quite a step up from our $50k first little guy. We had a huge master bath, extra bedrooms. It holds a ton of memories too. I mean I brought up three babies to that house. So needless to say - D laughs as I tell him I cried leaving.

Of course, there are a ton of reasons but the main one is all the great people that we just won't see each day. We have the best of friends and it just won't be the same.

Okay. On with the pictures right. Well, lets just say our kiddos were worn out. Shadd fell asleep in the middle of all the commotion playing the ipad in the living room. We did end up moving him and Ells didn't last a whole lot longer. So my 3 sleep in the middle of the living room as everyone carried things by. Plus if you have a few kids you will have a ton of crap! A ton!

Tea Party

Since we are gradually packing away all our kids toys and it has been raining and we have been sick - well I have been racking my brain for things to do to keep these guys entertained. Of course, we have watched our share of movies, tv shows and played the ipad. But the other day we had a tea party.

It was so much fun! Next time we decided we need to invite some friends (aka dolls and bears)

It was kinda messy but their laughter and chatter was worth the spills. Plus we used water.

Voice?

Shadd - "Hey guess what, the other day my voice went out"

Dad - "What do you mean, buddy"

Shadd - "You know, I didn't have any volume"

There you have it. A 3 year olds lingo on losing his voice. 

Ells turns 2

Ells turned 2 on Tuesday. Kinda hard for me to swallow. Late in blogging but I have been trying to pack up this joint as we are moving a majority of our stuff this weekend. And of course trying to squeeze in some naps as interrupted sleep through out the night never seems to keep you as rested as a full 8 hours. No complaining though - Sage is a great sleeper.


Well the birthday girl spent a good majority of the day hanging out with Grandma Darcy while my mom and I tried to pack up this place but Shadd and I managed to get her some balloons and a couple small gifts at Dollar Tree the night prior. Her birthday party is next week so we will do more celebrating then. Let's just say - Shadd isn't quite certain he likes celebrating Ells birthday as he wanted candles on his pancakes and the special attention. I kept telling him that his birthday will be here soon enough - then the two of us would plan for the big angry bird bash. More to come later on that...

The birthday girl blowing out candles

I tried a new pinterest recipe - birthday cake pancakes as this little girl loves her pancakes. Daddy and Shadd weren't too thrilled with them but momma and sis enjoyed the sprinkles.

Here are a few things this little birthday girl loves...

-Movies - Lion King is a favorite. In fact, her line each morning is, "watch movie?"
-Pancakes - She can eat quite a few. Breakfast maybe her favorite meal.
-Fruit snacks and laffy taffy (and I love the way she says it)
-Shadd - pretty much everything he does she does, don't get me wrong they fight like cats and dogs too
-Daddy - her favorite line "i need my daddy"- she spent an entire day in the nursery with me at church saying that one
-Shoes - just like her momma - now if only i could get her to wear the pair that matches her outfit
-Painting her nails and toes - its actually tempting to take her for a pedicure (she would love it)
-Playing with her dolls - she is a great momma
-playing the ipap (ipad) and watching Curious George

Other little tidbits on this sweet girl...
-she is extremely loud - her voice carries just like her momma and she gets in trouble a lot for it too
-she hates to be in trouble but she is really stubborn
-she is a dare devil - in fact, today she practically gave my grandma a heart attack as she jumped off the side of the chair and fell head over heels. And she just laughed about it
-she has the best giggle in the world
-she loves to say "watch this mommy"
-if you ask her how old she is she will tell you "3" - I guess she is kinda right as that is how she act
-she has the biggest vocabulary ever - not that you can always understand her
-she has entered the terrible 2s and has been there for a little bit - tantrums are her favorite way to express her opinion on matters
-she loves to snuggle especially with momma when she is upset
-she has to have her tears wiped away "wipe my eyes"

Overall, she is one energetic sweet girl and we are so thankful that God gave us her. Ells we love you so much! Can't wait to see what this year brings. Thank you for bringing so much joyful noise into this home! We love you.

Easter - At our House

Usually we hunt nests at our house - a Livingston tradition. Well, this year with all the craziness I told D to forgo cutting up paper and get some shredded paper from my dad (something banks are known for).  Of course, we forgot it. At least we remembered our 3 children uh? Needless to say, we just hid their Easter gifts this year minus the pile of paper.

Getting ready to hunt...we sent them upstairs 

I can buy new Ips (Aps)

 This year I really didn't have time, energy or the thought process to even come up with anything fun for Easter. But Shadd is addicted (yes - completely) to Angry Birds. I will post pictures of his two favorite shirts soon plus his jammies and the many pics I have of him playing the game on the Ipad.

So he got a itunes card so he could get some new ips as he calls them. The first thing he purchased was the Angry Bird space game and he has really enjoyed it. I'm hoping to talk him into purchasing a couple educational games but only time will tell.

Now...Ells got a bubble machine. It ran for two days and then we decided to fill it with sand and I am not sure it will be salvageable but it was fun for the two days it ran.

Now this fun thing is another score from Pick Your Plum. Its kinda like groupon where there is a deal each day. I got the kids personalized stamps with their names on them for Valentines Day and these little fun straws for Easter. We had a blast connecting them to drink our apple juice the other day. I think they will be a fun little activity as they get older too.

And of course, Sage Man is 3 weeks old tomorrow. Plus its Ells 2nd Birthday!  Wow. How time flys.

Sage: 2 weeks

Sage is officially 2 weeks old - well he was on Tuesday. I keep thinking I will get a great picture of him and get this post written but now its Friday and he is napping but I will get one when he wakes up here shortly.

My mom's friend Linda made his hat...we have pics tomorrow

2 week Stats
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Weight: 11lbs 6 oz (97th percentile)
Length: 22 in (97th percentile)
Head: (99th percentile)

Things Sage is up to:
Pretty good sleep schedule - I think the kids routine has started to set its way into Sage's system as well. He usually goes to bed around 9 and it up about every 3 hours or so to eat and sleeps in till about 8 (which if he would keep that up that would be amazing).

Awake in the morning a lot. Loves to play peek a boo with Ells and Shaddy.
Loves his brother & sister - spends time just soaking up their voices
Can't wait for Daddy to snuggle with when he gets home
Napping at least a portion of when the kids do (Yeah for Mommy)
Loves the swing and sometimes the bouncy seat
Really strong - can just sit supported and hold his head up
Loves to lay on his tummy and pick up his head

Overall...we are all transitioning to our new family of 5. Plus getting ready to pack up the place, head to the rents and build the new house. By the way...just got the finalized drawing of the floor plan. Once I have the details I will post. Super excited and not at all overwhelmed. Oh yeah..by the way my little girl turns 2 next Tuesday. Yes. 2. Do I have any presents for her? NO. Nor can I really think of anything to get her that will just knock her socks off. If you have an idea - would love to hear it!

Easter

Easter: what an amazing holiday. Aside from all the festivities - who doesn't enjoy celebrating the day that Jesus was RISEN from the dead. Wow. We didn't get to a whole lot of easter fun around here in fact we didn't even decorate eggs but we did make sure that our kiddos know the real reason we celebrate Easter. I mean how could we forget  - Jesus was beaten and bruised for my sins and yours and died a brutal death only to be resurrected on the 3rd day to prepare a place for all those who believe in Him to join Him there someday.

We watched clips of the Passion of the Christ (the movie) at church on Sunday and I can't help from tearing up right now as it hurts me to think about the pain Jesus endured for me. He gave himself up for me because I am a Sinner and fall short of His glory (Romans 3:23). Yet He gives eternal life in heaven to those who believe in Him (John 3:16).

Wow. The gospel message is so powerful and it is alive to those who earnestly seek HIM.

Of course, so fun pics from our crazy weekend!

Yes. Shadd was pretty pumped about the Angry Bird PJs

Hunted for eggs right after nap - I guess I should have combed Ells hair

Snuggle Bunny

playing with bubble wands

Aunt Em & Shaye

Blakes jumpin

The cousins on the hunt - too bad it was wet outside

our attempt at a cousin pic - a little too windy for Shadd

Look - I got candy

Showing me their buckets

4 generations

Guess Who?

I didn't think these three looked too much alike till I started to compare some pictures. Of course, to accurately do this they should all be naked pics or something but I still think its kinda fun. So who is who?

scroll down and I'll give you the answer...
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ells, shadd, sage

Lots and lots of visitors

So we are blessed beyond measure by those around us whenever we have had a child. We have meals coming every day for a few weeks. Which if you have ever been a new mom this is such a blessing not only to me but especially my husband and family. We also were blessed to have visitors in the hospital and lots of help when we got home to transition to a family of 5.

Here are some pics from the hospital. Of course, D started to slack on the job so some didn't get their photos taken with Sager.

Frama & Papa Tim

Uncle Justy

Aunt Karrie, Hannah & Adam

Grandma Darcy & Papa Greg

 Of course...my favorite pic of all my children is snuggling with their Daddy...

Add caption

 And me & Sager. Of course, I look a little tired.

and the sager getting ready to go home. not exactly the outfit we planned but newborn clothing was a bit snug.

1 week old

I'm a little behind as I still have some pics from the hospital but Sage has been awake more and more each day and enjoying the sounds of the bigs playing around him. 

1 week old

Of course, I had to snap some photos of Ells and Shadd and the giant mess they make of the back room at Frama's house. They do have a blast though!