Friday, November 30, 2012

Houses

This morning before we left for the sitters, Caden was playing with a livestock hauling semi in his room.  As I noticed he was playing again instead of getting dressed, Caden told me he was going to have one of those trucks for real when he grew up. 

He is going to make it into a house and build stairs where the humps (wheel wells) are. 

I love his imagination.  I love him. 

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Elinore - 20 Weeks

Dear Elinore,

You are learning, growing and developing daily, and I'm so happy I get to watch you advance.

Since I last wrote at 16 weeks, you have learned some fun new things. 

You fuss every so often because you're laying down and can't see enough of what's going on. 

You were getting frustrated you couldn't reach the mobile hanging on your bouncy chair, so I sat you bouncy seat up a bit higher.  You were so happy to be able to reach them and you can pull the one that makes music now too.  You get excited when we put you in your bouncy chair, but sometimes you get very wiggly in there quickly and want our to roll around!

You are rolling more and more.  You lay on the floor a lot to play with mommy and daddy and your brothers and often times we'll look back after turning way for a moment and see you have rolled onto your tummy and are looking up and all around. 

You're starting to really enjoy time in your tummy and it usually generates big smiles! 

When you're on your tummy you have learned to get your butt into the air but haven't made much progress on movement.  The other evening you had your face in the carpet, but your legs were way into the air! 

When you're on the changing table you are active and have learned to use your legs to push yourself up on the changing pad. 

In other events of the last month, you had your first Halloween!  We took you to your Aunt Katies Halloween party and we took you to Boo at the Zoo in Akron.  You wore you elephant costume to the zoo, but you slept through most of it.  Your brothers had a swell time though!  You got to see your brothers' kindergarten Halloween parade at school too. 

You'll have your first Thanksgiving this week, and Grandma Nancy gave you a cute little first Thanksgiving onsie to wear.  Let's hope you don't spit up on it right away and you can wear it for the day!

You love to play with your brothers and after often watching what they're doing.  I remind them to teach you good manners as you're watching them.  I'm sure they'll teach you lots of good and no so good things; they are very protective of you.  I love watching you develop relationships with them. 

I love the way you sigh after a sneeze.

You are still breastfeeding very well and things are going smoothly for us both there.  You've been nursed to sleep almost every night since I went back to work, but in the last week or so you've stopped that some.  When you don't nurse to sleep we've started putting you down in your pack-n-play in mommy and daddy's room to put yourself to sleep.  This has only happened a few nights so far; your Daddy is a big fan of the cry-it-out method, but it's much harder for Mommy!  We've been blessed though and without too many cries you've put yourself to sleep in 10 minutes or less the few nights we've done it.  If you get too worked up we change you diaper and kiss and cuddle you before putting you back down. 

You've got some big excitement coming up with your first Christmas!  And shortly after Christmas we'll have some big changes for you too as you turn 6 months old.  We're planning on introducing solids at that point and moving you into your nursery and your crib. 

There is so much to look forward to with you, but I am in no hurry to get there.  Elinore, take your time, move at your pace, and we'll be there for you always. 

Love,

Mom

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Pronunciations

The boys, while they are learning a lot and I can see them developing there are still a handful or words they just can't get right.  I know they will in time, but I"m in no hurry because they're so darn cute.

In our house marshmallows are smarshmellows.

While Caden was in preschool, his teacher was Ms. BJ; however, he refused to call her BJ and regularly called her PJ.  He could say BJ, he just refused.

Willy Wonka is better know as Winkie Wonka in our house.


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Expirements

Caden is fascinated with experiments.   Today he described one to me he wants to try.

These are Caden's experiment directions:

Put hot water in first.

Microwave it for awhile in a bowl.

Put some hot milk in from the microwave and put some melted butter in it and some food coloring and a little soap in it.  Put the soap on toothpicks. 

Microwave it a little and stir it with a spoon.

And then put some flour in it and stir it again. 

Then you have to stir it again, one more time.

Put some more hot milk in; then you're done.

Thursday, November 08, 2012

Elinore's Four Month Check-up

Caleb and I took Elinore in for her check-up yesterday. 

She's doing well and moving right along.  She's 24 inches long and 11 pounds 8 ounces. 

She's moved up a bit on the percentile charts for height and is now closer to the 30th percentile than the 15th where she was before.  Her weight has dropped down below the 15th percentile.  Her doctor said at this point it was nothing he was concerned about; it was just something he would watch with her next appointment or two. 

She received another round of vaccinations and things went a bit more smoothly this time.  I think I was more prepared for what to expect this time which helped.  She was hungry before nurse gave them to her, so as soon as she was done, I nursed her and she calmed right down. 

She seemed to do better at home in the evening after the shots this time around too.  She was much less fussy and uncomfortable than the last time.  At two months we ended up calling the nurse on call that evening and giving her some Tylenol for her discomfort.  She was very sensitive to the touch in the area last time and extra fussy.  She seemed a bit warm too, but didn't have a temperature when I took it that evening.  We are thankful that she did much better with this round! 

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

Baby Smiles

Almost every day during my lunch hour, I go to the sitters and nurse Elinore.  I love that the timing and location work for us to be able to have that time together.  

Most of the time I'm waking Ellie when I get to the sitters, and I feel so bad for waking the baby, but it's certainly worth it!

One day last week, she was awake, and she was so happy to see me I had to capture it. 


That is a great mid-day pick-me-up!

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

The Pumpkin Patch - 2012







We went to the pumpkin patch this year and had a lot of fun!  We played int he corn, walked the corn maze, took a hayride, played on the playground, rode pedal bikes, saw the goats, drank cider, and of course picked our pumpkins. 

Monday, November 05, 2012

2012 Pumpkins

Caden, Daddy and Caleb Carving

Caden was really into the carving this year and did a lot of it with little help from Daddy!

Mommy helped Elinore wit hers.


Elniore's Pumpkin, Caden's Pumpkin and Caleb's Pumpkin


Sunday, November 04, 2012

2012 County Farm Tour

Caden

Caleb

Caden, Daddy and Caleb

Caden & Caleb at the OSU-ATI Equine Center
 
Caden at Lowe & Young

Caleb at Lowe & Young

Caleb & Caden with Brutus at OSU-ATI Equine Center

Thursday, November 01, 2012