First month as a Family of 5

Well, we survived our first month as a family of 5, I'm sure it's all down hill from here! HA! Our lives have been busy, hence the month late update, but hopefully I'll be a bit better about keeping up...we'll see, I'm probably crazy to even think that!

We certainly enjoyed all the extra visitors we got this month thanks to Kate's arrival!

Drew...he is a happy boy! He is loving his new school, and is generally excited about it. He is a little upset still that Noah doesn't have to go to school all 5 days and really misses being home sometimes, but we are making the best of it and I know this is a good transition for him. He comes home singing songs he learned in class or chapel. This is the most I've heard him sing on his own accord, and just will break into song...I absolutely love it!

I've also heard him quite frequently talking like Yoda, not necessarily the voice, but the order of words, on purpose. It's pretty funny to hear and curious to hear him playing with the language like that...oh my, I'll no doubt be up to my ears in Star Wars for a very long time with Matthew's strong influence on these boys!

Speaking of, Drew's love and interest in Legos continues to grow! He's actually gaining more confidence in what he can do or try before he asks for help, which we love to see - not just because we are tired of it, but because it shows him growing and learning. He can be pretty dependent on us to help him, so this is awesome to see him move in this direction. He's starting to follow the direction booklets with a few cues needed here and there, but there are times he is just consumed with taking them apart and putting them right back together. I see my perfectionism in him too while he does this...he is not willing to substitute pieces of shape or color, it has to be just right!

Drew is really enjoying his reading lessons and is progressing quite well. He loves to play games with letters and spelling, and is very curious about his sounds and words. It's been fun to see him enjoy this challenge!

He's still an emotional and sensitive boy...he got in a little bit of trouble at school one day and you could see the fear in his eyes - he really didn't want to tell us, he didn't want to disappoint us. It was a small thing that we weren't much concerned about, but he just was so disheartened by it all. I think the biggest thing we talked about was making sure he could always talk to us...not about the actual event...he's such a perfectionist, so hard on himself, and a people pleaser.

Our first venture out as a family of 5 was to church at Drew's school...the school kids sang 2 songs in the church service, so we all made it to church! Granted, Mommy and Kate were a little late, but only missed the first part of the first song...not too bad! Drew did great singing, knew all the words and for the 2nd song at the end of the service, was being a little playful! Both boys did well sitting/playing quietly in a different church service and Kate slept the whole time! Success!

Things the boys enjoy...super heroes, light sabers, video games, throwing parachute men high in the sky with Grandpa, castle toys, playing the "Hot/Cold game" to find something hidden, chase, running around outside with some story or game behind it all, swimming, the alligator/monkey game Daddy made up (monkeys run from couch to couch while the alligator on the floor tries to get them!), playing "Rock, Paper, Scissors" (Drew just giggles with delight playing this game, it's hilarious!).

Noah...Mr. Independent, and slow as molasses about it most of the time! This kid wants to do everything his way and on his own, but he sure gets distracted and takes his sweet precious time, even when he does stay on task...oh the patience this child requires! I'm glad he wants to do more on his own, but he still needs supervision for most things, otherwise he ends up making a bigger mess no doubt, and there are other kids to tend to! Neither of those things seem to bother or motivate him in the slightest! You would think with this independent spirit might come the desire to potty on his own, but not so! He is pretty good about staying dry during the day, but there's a mental block with the other...he just won't do it! He'll talk all about it, and sounds sincere, but just won't initiate...but can tell us right after, though it's usually in Noah code, like "Mommy, I didn't poop, don't check" and then run the opposite direction of any adult presence!

He's also either very focused, or very good at ignoring us! We can ask him over and over again to do something, to come to us, whatever, and it's as if we've been silent. I'm sure I'm mostly to blame for all of this behavior...I've caved to him for so long now, I've created a monster! Here I thought I was being tolerant and patient, but really, I've just given him the idea that he can do and have it how he wants it whenever and no need to listen to our way! Ugh! This one's going to be hard to break it feels! I'm starting to realize more and more how much trouble he has potential for. He's so stinking cute, but more than that, he knows how to manipulate in a way you almost don't realize so that even when he's doing something he shouldn't, you almost start to forget...that sounds like a bad combination to me! Pray for us all...seriously!

Noah also is enjoying playing with Legos, though his time is frequently consumed with breaking things apart, much to Drew's dismay. His other favorite thing to do is to take all the heads off the Lego people and stack or sort them. His insistency on the decapitation is slightly disturbing, but also humorous!

Noah continues to enjoy puzzles, playing with trains (loves to line them all up!), and still loves the outdoors! If someone goes outside without him, you will hear about it! He likes to play with cars (which Drew has completely lost interest in), Ninja Turtles, tickle monster, and will sort just about anything! He enjoys being read to, and I don't do it enough, but he makes sure we get some in when he needs it!

Noah is really fighting his afternoon nap when he's home. Not sure what he does when he's at school, I guess we should ask, but when he's home, only 1 out of 4 times will he actually sleep I bet. And he's a stinker at bedtime too...getting out of bed, leaving the room, requesting as many things possible to delay or come up with excuses for Mommy or Daddy to come back...oh, it's so tiresome. And Daddy's the one that has to deal with it most now that Mommy is mostly consumed with Kate. Oh Noah!

Now for sweet Baby Kate. Well, the boys just love her...they are very sweet to her, and a bit curious as well. Drew especially just can't seem to get enough of her! He can hardly leave for school without giving her at least one or two hugs or kisses, regardless of whether or not she's sleeping. They both like to snuggle up to her, and as one would expect for their age and personalities, Drew's just a bit softer and lingers longer than Noah. But both have done great with her and have shown little animosity or jealousy toward her or Mommy, so praise God! Drew is already being a wonderful helper, jumping at any opportunity to help her when needed...fetch the pacifier, sing to her, play and smile with her, he absolutely adores her! Noah has already attempted to pick her up a few times, both have actually, so we are keeping an eye on that. That, and they will forget that horseplay and babies don't mix and all of a sudden they are jumping all over the place while she's on the couch with someone...not ok - you never know when you'll get hit with a flying foot!

Kate is a precious little girl and as her Mommy, I didn't know how much I was missing having a girl in my life! She is just darling! She has smiled for us since day one and soon we know they'll be on purpose, but for now, I just love catching her with a big grin on her face! She makes some of the cutest expressions and I just love watching her! I love our days together just the 2 of us...such a sweet treat and blessing! And I have to admit, I've enjoyed dressing her up as a cute little girl much more than I expected...all in moderation, but yes, it's fun!

thought the Aggies would like this one

from a Longhorn family (kind of)

Overall, she's been a pretty great baby! She has quickly increased her time between feedings at night, and as any mom will tell you, that can make all the difference in the world! By the end of the month, she was going ~5 and then ~4 hours between feedings! Incredible! The boys took FOREVER to stretch out their feedings it seemed. She is funny though, and different from the boys, in that nursing does not always put her to sleep. There have been several nights where we've spent hours rocking, walking, trying to nurse to get her to sleep with little success...she's just wide awake! And then in her own sweet time, she drifts off to sleep. Thankfully it's not like that most nights and we do ok. As for napping during the day, for the first several weeks I had to wake her up to eat so she wouldn't sleep too long...gotta get that circadian rhythm lined up with the sun! But towards the end of the month, she started doing that on her own, which oddly I was happy about...it's so hard to wake a sleeping baby!

She really likes to go outside, which we also do quite frequently, even if just for a bit. Gotta get that Vitamin D, some fresh air, new surrounding, and don't forget the circadian rhythm! She's NOT a fan of the bouncer, which hugely unfortunate. She only lasts about the length of a quick shower and she's ready to be held again! And that time gets shorter as the day goes on, so dinner time is usually with some loud background noise while Mommy scarfs done her food! We are learning the awesomeness of the Moby Wrap and are hesitating less and less to use that, especially in the evenings when she's at her fussiest. I still can't help with the boys baths, but at least I can be around and help with a few things while she cuddles and naps on me!

She is gaining head control quite quickly it seems, which makes carrying her around nicer without her being completely floppy. She does NOT like tummy time...does any baby? None of mine have...but we still do it a little each day most days. She waves her arms around randomly and Noah says she's punching when he sees her doing it...he will grab her fist to keep her from hitting him if she's near...some learning opportunities there! Drew gets excited when she gets a hold of his finger or some toy too. But her expressions and smiles are just captivating...such a sweet girl!

Never a doubt God has blessed us countless ways...my favorites are these three healthy, happy children He for some reason granted us the pleasure and duty of raising and watching them grow!