Two Months

 

Sam turned two months in August.  The first few months are pretty much a whirlwind for me.  They grow and change so quickly.  He had to go in for his two month appointment and he was 10 lbs. 4 oz (18th%), 23" long (50th%), and his head was in the 60th%!  So, he is following suit with his brother and sister...long and lean and a big head! 

 

Poor little thing had to get shots- but he handled it like a champ!

 

He is still napping on his tummy although, his naps are starting to get shorter and he's waking himself up by rubbing his face in the sheets so we are going to have to see if we can find another method for getting good naps! He is still sleeping with me at night- I don't want him on his tummy when he's far away from me and he doesn't really know how to sleep on his back!  Nights are going okay- he usually sleeps about a 4 hour stretch and then up every 2-3 after that.  Hopefully that will start extending soon!!! 

 

 

He is still mostly breastfeeding but we are having to supplement with formula a little more.  It is getting harder to keep him latched.  We are just doing our best to keep it going as long as we can because I know it is good for him.  

 

 

  

He hates the car, but he's starting to get a little better in that he's not ALWAYS screaming while in there.  If he's fed and not tired, he can manage to sit in there without crying but he hardly ever falls asleep in there so we've got to work on that!!!  It makes it difficult to go anywhere when you know he won't fall asleep! 

 

He is smiling and talking and such a sweet little boy!  He loves his brother and sister- they can always get a smile out of him.  We love him so much!!  

First Grade

We started the first grade school year off with Back to School night.  We got to go see her classroom, find out who is in her class and meet her teacher.  The first grade teachers are great and we are so excited and hopeful for a wonderful year!

The next morning was her first day of first grade!  I can't believe we have a first grader.  I still remember being in first grade! I rode over with the carpool so I could walk her to her class and help her get settled (and take some pictures of course)!

 

It was so strange having her gone all day!!  She was excited about eating lunch at school though! She goes from 8:30-2:50 everyday with a few early out days here and there.   It was a long day and it will be an adjustment for her to go for that long every day but she said it was a good day! 

Lets hope it continues!!!!  Way to go Addie!!!  We are proud of you!

End of Summer

Since school was starting in mid-August, the "end of summer" came really quickly for us!!!  Clay and I felt terrible that it had been a pretty boring summer for the kids even though we had big plans for it!  We tried to make up for it in those first few weeks of August but it still ended up being a lot of time at home.

The kids love going to the library- I don't know why we don't go more often!

 

Addie, Clay and I went to see Wicked with Gaga, Ana, Adrian and Livi!  We loved it!

 

Lots of just hanging out at home with Sam...

 

 

 

The biggest thing was going to Cowabunga Bay.  The kids had been asking to go there all summer so we decided that was the one thing we needed to make happen.  Grandma watched Sam and Dad took an afternoon off work and the four of us went and had a great time.  The kids had the most fun floating and swimming around in the lazy river.  Will learned how to swim using just floaties!  We didn't take any pictures inside because we were too busy playing and having fun!  Hopefully it was a fun way to end the summer!

The actual last day of summer we went to McDonalds with our good friends, The Wrights...aka Bennett and Ava. :) 

 

Van

In July we joined the mini van club.  We put it off as long as we possibly could (ok, actually- we should have done it sooner but it was so nice not having that car payment)!

We actually did squish into the Subaru for about a month before we finally found the van we wanted to buy.  It was a little tight and luckily, all five of us didn't really go many places! 

Here is the van we purchased and everyone so happy to have their space! 

We really love it- nice to spread out, love the power doors, bluetooth so we can play movies on the iPad for the kids, great for carpooling, room for three extra kids if needed, tons of storage space, decent gas mileage, etc.  We would have loved some other kind of SUV but they just aren't as practical as a mini van and most cost more so that is the way we chose to go.

One Month!

Sam turned one month old in July! They change and grow so much in that first month! (I'm going to write this post as if it were actually still July- so sorry if it's confusing!)

He started to leave the really sleepy newborn phase at about 2.5 weeks old but he still takes a few good naps on his own on my bed or the couch and then a few being held.  He loves to sleep on his tummy and he already has such strong neck muscles to move his head from side to side when he's asleep on his tummy. At night he's still in our bed with me and wakes up to eat about every 2-3 hrs.

 

He is still breastfeeding but it is a constant struggle to feel like he is getting enough.  He is constantly nursing (I think he's a snacker...not really eating enough to keep him satisfied for long periods) and then still wanting more from a bottle.  He would nurse, have a bottle and I would pump, rinse, repeat every 1.5-2 hrs.  It's all I ever do!  I am taking a lot of different supplements (blessed thistle, red raspberry leaves, and brewer's yeast 3 x a day) to help with my supply and eating a lot of foods that are supposed to increase supply (like oatmeal- YUCK!) Some days it is so overwhelming that I want to quit but for the most part, it's working so I'm trying to trust my body and know that it's doing what it should.

 

 

He's still a long and lean baby just like his siblings but he was already almost 9 lbs. by 1 month so I think he might end up being my "chubbiest" baby.   He passes gas like there is no tomorrow and it SMELLS so bad! He hates being in the car and usually cries the whole time so we don't go anywhere very often!

He is smiling a lot now and is even starting to get his hands up to his mouth!  If he's laying on the floor, sometimes he'll turn to one side...he's obviously ambitious like his big sis!!!  

 

He is so cute and such a sweet and happy baby.  We love him so much!

July

As I mentioned back in a previous post, July was pretty much spent just surviving...mainly keeping kids fed and clothed. Clay went to scout camp for a week and with the help of grandparents and friends, we made it through the week!!

Lots of just hanging out and enjoying our time with Sam...

We did finally give Sam a "real" bath...the bubbles on top of his head were Will's contribution.

We did manage to get out of the house a few times (with the help of Clay or Grandma)...

Grandma's House

Haircuts

24th of July Float Preview and Grandma Cook's house

The movies (just me and the older two)

New Splash Park

We also hit up Butlerville Days...the kids LOVE it there!