Sweetness

Kids, I have to write this down, so that I can remember some of the sweet things that you do for each other....

The other day you guys were playing outside all day, and left most (all) of your toys out on the patio. It rained that night (we are having bi-polar weather right now) and your toys and shoes, and clothing - yes, you managed to strip down to nothing in the time you were out there - got drenched. I was a little upset, because some of your toys are electronic, and I am pretty sure they will never work again, and I had you all line up at the sliding door and look outside while I lectured you. (I always told myself I would not be "that" kind of mom, but never say never - right?)

After I was done, you went outside Brynn, and picked up all the toys that Cannon had left out, and brought them carefully into the garage, and laid them out so that they would dry. I didn't know that you had done that, until I went out later. It was really sweet and caring of you honey!

And Cannon, right now, as I type this, you are sitting on the floor making a parachute for your sister. She really liked the one you made yourself, and so you got the idea to make a surprise for her and give it to her when she gets home from school. It is truly the sweetest gesture!

Maeve, you are still just 2. Still in your own world, not concerned about others, but I love it that you will walk up to Brynn, or Cannon and give them a hug for no reason. You adore them, even when they try to leave you out.

Nolan, you are not really concerned with anything other than eating, sleeping, and being held, but I love it that you "talk" to the kids, and watch what they do. You smile at them, and really seem to enjoy all the attention that they give you.

I love you guys! The baby is crying now, so its back to reality, and I am asking in advance for your forgiveness for the times that I will yell at you today. I can tell its going to be "one of those days".... (at this exact moment I hear all the crayons - hundreds of them - being spilled on the kitchen floor...)

Love you to the moon and back,
Mommy

4 months

Height: 27 inches
Weight: 15lbs, 4oz
Percentiles: 50th in height and weight
Current nicknames: Nollie, Hot Dog, Mr. Man
Working on: Sucking your thumb

Things you love: You love to suck on your fist. You love to be held...all the time. You love baths, and you love it when your siblings pay attention to you.
Things I love: I love it that your eyes follow me wherever I go. I love it that if you are crying when someone else is holding you, you immediately stop when I take you in my arms. I love your little noises when you are nursing, and how you "talk" to me during feedings. I love it that when I look down at you while you are nursing, you will stop and smile at me and then eagerly go back to eating.
Things You Can Do: You mastered rolling over 2 weeks ago. I put you down, and when I look back at you, you have rolled far from where I set you. I don't think you have a plan, but you certainly could get somewhere if you wanted. You have yet to really discover your hands. Sometimes you grab stuff, but you seem to be as surprised as the rest of us that you have a hold of it. I am trying to get you to take a binky, but you still don't. Maybe I should give up??? It sure would be nice if you had some sort of soother though. I think as soon as you figure it out, you will be a thumb sucker.
I love you my little (big) 4 month old!

Date Night

My daughter went out on a date the other night. She got all dressed up in her best dress, brushed her hair, and had me put a clip in it. Her date was courteous, arrived with flowers, and took her out for hot chocolate and some Zamboni watching. Apparently they had a great time. She was chattering up a storm when he brought her back home that night, and I got to hear all the details. To be honest, I was a little jealous, but since he took me out a few days later, I got over it.....

Tooth Fairy Pillows

Brynn announced that she has her first loose tooth. I got kinda queasy and had to sit down, and then figured since I was sitting I might as well start googling ideas for Tooth Fairy Pillows.
I hate teeth.
Oh gosh, I really hate teeth.

I whipped up some pillows thinking that if indeed the tooth was loose it would come out soon. Turns out that my poor kid might not loose them the "traditional" way, and might have to get them yanked out instead. The new ones are growing up behind the old ones, and the old ones are not budging.
Did I mention that I hate teeth?
*shiver*



When I made Brynn's pillow, Cannon demanded one too! And of course, since I ALWAYS do what my children demand, I made him one as well.

Silly Maeve

Maeve is my little fashion forward 2 year old. She picks out her own clothes (pure survival technique on her part, since I barely have time to get myself dressed, and she would be in jammies all day if she didn't get herself dressed), and puts together so pretty cute stuff. She also changes her clothes 3-4 times a day, which drives me BERSERK because of all the extra laundry.
She is obsessed with dress up, and spends a lot of the day prancing around in princess dresses, or costumes, depending on her mood.

We recently went up to Clearlake, and I told the kids to pack a bag to bring. My oldest two know that I take care of their clothing and toiletries, and they just have to bring toys and lovies. Either Maeve didn't know that, or she didn't trust my judgement, but these are the contents of the bag that she packed.
Two full outfits, complete with shoes and a diaper!! I laughed out loud when I saw it, and realized that Rich and I just *might* have our hands full with this one and her clothing habits.....

Pnuemonia

We just got a hospital bill in the mail.
Eek.

Added to the cost of Nolan's delivery, is the new adjustment for Brynn's recent bout of Pneumonia.
Another "eek".

It wasn't going to be too bad of a bill, until she was admitted to the Emergency Room for treatment. The first appointment and antibiotics only ran us about $200..... "Only".

The second appointment was an urgent care appointment, followed by a few breathing treatments, followed by an emergency room admittance, followed by blood tests, and IV, more breathing treatments, and a new prescription. I think they even charged us for the graham crackers that she ate. (I am not sure of where that would fall in the itemized sheet, but I am pretty sure its there.)



Basically we are going to meet our family deductible pretty quickly here. I guess, on the bright side, that means that we have 9 months of "free" health care coming our way. Lol - I just spit out my tea laughing at "free".

(And don't think that I wasn't a "wee" bit upset at having to pay for antibiotics two times! I am totally tucking that first HUGE bottle of meds away for the "next time".)

Nolan, 2 Months....and 3

This poor kid. No baby book yet, no pictures in the hallway, no updates on the blog. Sad.

Nolan is almost 4 months now, but here are the pics from 2 and 3 months.

His smile is the cutest, crookedest, sweetest little smile that there ever was. I can be flaming mad at him, and he will smile at me, and it just makes my heart melt!



At his 2 month checkup he weighed in at a whopping 15 lbs. I think by now he is 18 or so. We will find out next week at his (eek) 4 month appt.

Here is Nollie at his 3 month mark....


His dark hair is slowly falling out, and growing in is a layer of blond-ish fuzz. It doesn't seem as light as Brynn and Cannon's was, but I am always surprised at what hair color my kids have. He also doesn't have the bright blue eyes like the others. They are blue, but a more grey/green color. He does like his swing now (thank goodness) and gives me a little more sleep at night. I put him down between 10 and 11 pm, and he is usually squawking for food in the crib around 4am. From that point on, he stays in bed with us, partially because I am too tired to walk him back, and partially because our house is FREEZING cold at night. We all usually get up around 7am, so it works out fine. In general he is a good baby...if he is fed, changed and being held. He loves to cuddle, and is now crying every time I set him down and walk away.
Fun, real fun.
He also has his first stuffy nose...maybe that has something to do with it *insert big sigh here*.....