A trip to feed the ducks

A trip to visit Grandma Rene wouldn't be complete without feeding the ducks. We brought a whole load and I'm thankful it wasn't moldy this time as Sage's moto was... some for you and some for me.

One day

One day someone is going to marry this little man for those lashes. Until then I will cherish them!

My boys

Potty Training

I mean have a baby and potty train a child...why not, right? 

Well lets just say I should have attempted when I was prego instead I think. 

Somedays I'm all in and we have definitely had some success and other days - well I just say go ahead and pee in your pull up. I mean I didn't even use those things with the other two. 

I was chatting with another mom of four today about how our standards in things like potty training just seem to lax a bit. Its just that we know they will get it and if it takes a bit longer who cares. 

Well the days of staying in the kitchen are over. I mean how do you keep a 2 year old in the kitchen with a busy body 4 year old and an infant.  So we have accidents sometimes - like brown logs on white striped rugs kinda accidents and puddles at the library kinda accidents but I got a sweet little helper and a great encourager (ells) and an eager little guy who likes to say he is pooping when he is actually peeing and vice versa.

Sager likes to stand and aim into the small potty which makes more messes for me but if success is what we are after well by all means - go for it little dude. We have a sticker chart and some ice cream treats but really just taking it day by day.  And sometimes just wearing a diaper and just relaxing.

As of now definitely not potty trained but by next year he will be. And I am perfectly okay with that.

Z - 1 month

Well Z man turned 1 month on the 11th. (couldn't decided not the picture - love the face of both too much)

So a bit late but hey at least blogged about it before he was two months right? 

So whats new?

He loves to sleep on his tummy. He is a snuggler. He takes some really solid naps sometimes and others not so much. As far as night goes he takes one longer stretch at the beginning which is my harder sleep and then is up about every three the rest of the night. If I don't fall asleep in the rocker in his room. Thankfully d usually takes the early morning shift so I can sleep in a  bit and has been a rockstar at making lunches for Shadd and breakfasts for us all. He is the best!

He loves to stretch out. He can only be cooped up for so long.
He is super strong. Holds his head up easily.

He weighs about 13 lbs already.

He's getting better at being content when awake. Still not a huge fan of just hanging out for extended periods of time without moving, being held or loved on.

He rolls over. Here is the sequence. Only when on his tummy. Yes its early I know. But I first thought it was just incidental. However he does it every time he is on his tummy on the floor. Like every time. Crazy I know.

He loves bath time. We don't take many...more or less because we kinda forget to give them. But he loves the water and all the attention from the bigs squeezing in and around me.

He loves the moby (thanks Elizabeth). He was a pretty fussy baby at first. Not wanting to be put down much at all but he loves to be in my arms and I love my arms free yet still snuggling this sweet pea. Perfect for outside play with the bigs. He loves the Ergo too so I'm so so glad I have both to use.

He still is pretty fussy - or relentless as D calls him - for a couple hours before bed each night. A little challenging as that is usually D and I's time to veg and catch up on the day with one another but he is slowly getting more and more settled. Here is a picture of how desperate D got one night while I was away. 

He is just growing up way too fast. Time just flys by when they are tiny. 

His faces crack me up. Some smiles and some scorns but every time I just see glimpses of each of his siblings and his daddy so I just laugh as I wonder what he will be like when he is big like his siblings. 

Life with 4 littles

Well life with four is a bit...well chaotic.

Sometimes its grand and I'm loving and well sometimes its just plain and simple survival.

Wouldn't trade it for the world though!

These special littles are definitely SPECIAL!

Our Star Student

Our elementary picks star students each month of the school year and they honor each student at a special assembly. Every child gets picked throughout the year until they are all honored. 

Shadd was honored along with two of his classmates at the Sept 8 assembly plus others from each class. Thanks to Grandma Darcy I got to attend the assembly solo and it was a surprise to Shadd. 

When they called his name it took a couple seconds for him to get up. I think he was a bit shocked! 

We are so proud of him and that he got selected as a Star Student this month. He is loving every moment of school.

Of course as we left that day I got to take the classic photo I didn't get to take on the first day of school. Still in shock I have a kindergartener. Seems like yesterday I was snuggling him on the couch and in the middle of the night like Z.

I'm so proud of you Shaddy. You were honored for your hard work. Your teacher commends your responsibility in the class room and she says she can always count on you to make good choices and be a leader. 

Wow. Talk about make a momma's heart soar! And daddy's too! 

We love you big guy! 

Special Grands

We are so so very blessed to have a lot of great grands still living to love on our littles. 

In fact...one very special couple of grands are my grandma joyce and papa don as the kiddos call them.

They are truly the best. 

And lately I have been reminded of that at every turn. 

When I was admitted for my second stay at the hospital and little Z was a visitor, he had to have an adult with him. Well D needed to get into the office after a week of not working so who to the rescue...these two. 

I just love this picture.

I enjoyed every moment I got to spend with them as they hung out in my hospital room from 8 to 6 that day. They changed diapers, gave bottles, snuggled, brought lunch, and we even had a hot game of poker.

I am the oldest of their grandchildren and I think I'm the most spoiled.

My grandpa always saves me barn wood (cutting and delivering it to size) and he even taught me to drive. My grandma shares all her secrets in sewing and cooking. She always remembers my favorites and is always thinking of the little things I tell her I'm in search of.

The two of them searched and prepared elderberry juice for us to make into jam. They love to share their goodies from the farm like sweet corn, apples, and grapefruit from down south.

We are just so blessed to call them ours.

I have so many great memories of all my times with them and I am just so so thankful that my littles get to know them too.

I love you grandpa and grandma. Thank you for loving on us anytime we need you and even when we don't! We are blessed!

Baby Z's birth pics

One of my besties took some amazing shots of little Z man. He wasn't super cooperative. Since we had to move the photo shoot back a week due to my little extended hospital stay. But I think she captured some pretty special images of our newest sweetie.

Thanks so much Ali.

Of course...there are way to many but these are some of my favorites. Love the chubby cheeks and sweet rolls of skin.

Another Tooth

Shadd lost another tooth. This time it was top one. Thats 3 teeth now. And mommy pulled this one after school (something that is a big accomplishment for this momma..yuck)

Oh the famous toothless grin. He says it tickles. He even put his straw through to drink his smoothie the other night. Oh dear! 

Quick Random Photos

Just some photos on my phone that I want to remember...

So no particular post and in random order.

Our new loungers...that is what happens when momma takes daddy shopping!

Oh the joy of dress up clothes. Silly silly kiddos.

The giant pre go lady...look at the double chin. Oh my. Its nice to see my face again. And that side angle as I tried to exercise him out on the elliptical. Didn't work obviously. 

A visit from our sweet friends and there new adopted crew. The girls had a blast. And the boys well its hard to tell those red heads apart.

A trip to Monkey Joes on my due date. So thankful for our friends that love to do crazy things with us. To bad most of my pictures didn't turn out. But they had a blast.

And why not run in the sweet corn festival race and have the best spectators around support you. Go Dad! Plus catch the parade when you are 40 weeks plus prego. At least it wasn't hot out!

Haircuts on Sunday night prior to baby Z's arrival.

Baby Zeph- 3 Weeks

I can't believe this guy is almost a month old.  It literally seems like we just got home from the hospital but we are already into September.

Well this little dude is a little high maintenance. He loves to be held and snuggled. And sometimes that isn't even enough. He is also a burper. Like 45 minutes after a feeding kinda thing. A bit annoying in the middle of the night. 

But he is changing. He looks different all the time. Sometimes I think he has red (orange) hair and other times it looks darker. I do think he is gonna have blue/green eyes instead of brown though as they are dark blue and the other boys were brown from birth but only time will tell. 

At his 2 week appointment..

Weight: 10lbs (90th)

Length: 21.5 in (80th)

And head circumference was 90th too. Oh those big headed boys of mine. 

He is growing that is for sure. 

We went to the chiropractor today and she said he is really tight in through his neck and she adjusted him so I'm hopeful he will lay down at evening and throughout the day better. Maybe then I can get some things done around here. I doubt it.

Of course, he is loved by all his siblings. Shadd is such a great helper when he is home. Ells loves on him and helps me out a ton but retrieving things and even carries him some. She really wants to feed him so a bottle might be on the docket tomorrow evening with Dad.

But then there is Sage. He is constantly up in his face, tickling him, rocking the swing or bouncy seat. His famous words as of late... "he is lookin at me". And of course in true Sage fashion the phrase is repeated multiple times over and over. If Z is on the floor, you will find Sage right next to him. He loves his brother. And if you can't pronouce Zephen, well ask Sage because he does a great job and I think the number seven will forever be Zephen to this big brother.

And then there is the snuggle only daddy can provide. So so thankful we have the BEST!