Trick or Treating and Liam is 4 months!

Pumpkin carving!

Ok, am I a little crazy to be wielding a camera, sharp knife and juggling a two year old and baby? 

Probably! But we had fun! ;-)

Scene 1: getting cute outfits on the boys..."I wanna wear monster trucks!!!", "Nathan, if you wear the pumpkin shirt, your monster truck shirt won't get dirty" "uugghhh!" "Ok, momma" (Two year olds!)
Liam happily giggles as I put on his baby's first halloween outfit...he has already outgrown it, but we are wearing it anyway!
I cut the top off the pumpkin and we look inside.
Me: " Nathan can you get all the seeds out of the pumpkin?" I hold up a seed.
N: "OK"

Scene 2: scooping out pumpkin...."look momma, look momma, Nate got a seed!" Gingerly puts it into the bowl.
Oh boy, just another hundred or so left!
Me: "Nathan, let's use our hands!"
N: " ewww, yucky" "Nate use momma's spoon... Nate got another seed!"
Me: "Good job sweetie"
Liam holds up his clean spoon. It is now in his mouth. He rolls to his side and plays with a toy while watching his brother.
Now Nate has lost all interest and wanders off.
I finish cleaning out the pumpkin and draw the face on with a sharpie.
Me:  "Nathan, can you see the face on the pumpkin?"
N: " Nate sees a nose!"
Me: "Good job! Do you see anything else?"
N: "Uh huh"
(that's the best I got out of him)
Liam is happily playing and has managed to rotate on the towels 180 degrees since I set him down.

Scene 3: Kitchen, I am carving the face now...Nate pulls on the locked pantry doors,
N: "Nate want breakfast!" 
Me: "Honey, we are going to have lunch in a few minutes"
N: " Nate want doughnuts!" Heads off to the table picks up a pear, " Nate want pear!" 
Me: " I said we will eat in a few minutes, you can have a pear with your lunch"
N: "OK, Momma, Nate eat doughnuts in just in just a minute" wanders off again

Final scene: pictures of final product...Nate is playing with his toys
Me: " Honey, come sit by your brother and take a picture for Momma!" No response... 
"Liam is going to get his picture taken without you?" 
I start taking pictures, Liam is smiling and posing quite well. I hear a yell from accross the room...
N: "Noooooo! Nate take pictures too!" he sits down and looks at the pumpkin and we talk about the different parts of the face. He is disturbed that his "hair" falls off...
Me: " OK Nate, smile at the camera!" Nate makes a huge cheesy grin. Liam just watches his crazy brother.

DONE.

Liam is 3 months & A fun filled October!

What a month it has been! 

There have been lots of good things as well as bad, but we are so blessed! First off we have had lots of ailments; colds, allergies, sinus infections, ear infections, stomach bugs, poison ivy reactions & pink eye...etc.... The only one who seemed to stay the healthiest was Liam, thank goodness!

Nathan while you were sick it was different seeing you as a quiet, snugly boy. Your daddy and I would have enjoyed it more, had it not been for you feeling bad. :(

Nathan: Your vocabulary and sentences are becoming more and more defined. Your daddy and I are shocked how well we can communicate with you sometimes. And you are funny as well! Some of your thoughts are quite funny to us. Plus you are recognizing emotions in others. You love it when we are really really happy and ask us when we smile if we are. The same is true of sad & mad, but you don't like it if we are sad and mad and ask us to be happy again. You are my sweet boy. 

Liam: You are getting so big! As I write this now that we are ending October, you have grown out of your 3 months clothing and are wearing more 6 month clothing. I think any day now you are going to fully roll over, you only roll to your side currently. You still don't like being on your tummy, and your brother didn't either. But I know it will be old hat to you soon after you start rolling over, if you are anything like he was. Another thing I love is how vocal you are and your agreeable disposition. You started laughing last month in September and its the sweetest sound! 

Back in September, Momma started designing again for her company and it's been an adjustment having both boys to take care of and work some each day. Gotta love the extra money though! We took a visit to my office and showed off the family to everyone. Nathan you were quite the handful, but most everyone laughed at all your shenanigans! You especially loved Irma, she gave you lots of candy and a sweet little flower toy to take home.

Family picture time!

Our family is growing up so fast so we decided to get some professional photos done of the four of us. It was such an experience, especially getting everyone to look at the camera at the same time. Nathan, you were so excited to travel to the city of Denton where we met our photographer and long time friend, Michelle. We ate square puff pastry with all kinds of yummy toppings and ran around the park outside the courthouse. Nathan, you were unable to stop moving and didn't look towards the camera, but we got some great shots despite the challenges!

Spending time together!

You've been spending more time with your grandparents lately. We love dropping you and your brother off One Sunday we left you at your Gigi and Grandpa's house for a couple hours. You and your brother got to go to their block party. While you were there you had fun playing with some boys about your age and even rode a scooter! Liam - you had a difficult time and ended up ruining 2 outfits and Gigi's outfit before we even walked out the door. Oh well! At least you look cute in a diaper, which is all you wore to their party.

There were many other visits to Mimi and Bum's house as well. Nathan, you love playing with the frogs and cars. Liam, you love being held by Mimi and playing games with her. 

October festivities!

We had so much fun attending the Calloway's Fall Kids Fest. Nathan, surprise, you loved running around the nursery and wanted to pick flowers for Momma. It was hard to make you understand that those were not the flowers you could pick. I enjoyed following you around and watching you discover things. You were not interested in the crafts but they let us take a small pumpkin  home that you hastily scribbled on for decoration. We will carve it later! Liam - you are still kinda a bump on a log. Not quite ready to sit against pumpkins and take pics, but we tried our hardest. You loved watching your brother though!

The next event was a visit to Hall's Pumpkin Farm. It was loud, crowded and both of you boys weren't up for pictures. We muddled through a half hour and got done what we could. Next year we will try to go on a less busy day like in years past. Nathan, all you wanted to do was the push pedal tractor ride, but you are still too little for it. I'm hoping next time you will be able to enjoy yourself more.

  This year Nathan - you are a frog. Its an animal that you love to imitate, so I thought it would be perfect.

Liam - you are a spider. You do not like your costume, it scares you to be wrapped up in it. So the few pics we have of you in it were hard to get. However, you don't mind being next to it! Your daddy this year is a ghostbuster/pest control guy to fit with our small animal theme. 

First two months with 2

As Liam is nearing his two month milestone I thought I would record all that's been happening since we brought our newest boy home from the hospital.
Nathan-you have been such a good helper and loving big brother. It took you a while to understand where the baby went! It wasn't in momma's belly anymore! Liam thinks you are a riot! He smiles & grins at you and all your craziness! You are still learning being gentle and ways to be helpful. You grab things for momma when I need them and throw things away and take care of putting away your toys and other chores. I think that for the most part you are adjusting well.
It has taken a while, but you are getting more affectionate with your little brother. You have started to initiate a soft kiss on the head or belly without us telling you to! I love watching you with Liam, it makes me see y'all when you are both a little older and are good pals.
Liam- I am so impressed with how well you are doing. You have to put up with a boisterous older brother and have done well! I already am seeing how different you are than Nathan. Besides your appearance (brown hair&olive skin like your momma) you love to smile and you have the cutest, goofiest grin! I love it! You sleep best when swaddled and dislike pacifiers in your mouth. You have steadily been growing and you are much bigger than Nate was at this age. You do look a lot like your brother though! I am so lucky to have two little handsome boys!
You started sleeping thru the night the last couple of weeks, thank goodness! You have to be in a swaddle, but I will take it if it means more rest! We think you will be ready for your crib in a few weeks. We just need to get a new baby monitor since we lost part of the other one. You took your first bottle last Thursday and did wonderfully! I am glad that I was able to give it to you and learn how to use them again! It took more patience on my part. But it's nice to know I can let someone else feed you while I go out and get a break once & a while.
We have had many visitors to the house. Nathan, you loved showing off your room & toys or just your endless energy as you run throughout the great room! Liam, you were held in so many loving arms. Everyone was excited to meet you and share in the joy!
We had Nate's birthday party, I can't believe that you are 2!!! Lots of friends and family came to celebrate with us and eat some delicious grilled and smoked meat. Nate, you received lots of cool toys, snazzy clothes and great books. You also got your very own tool set with home depot apron to boot! Then we all watched you get soaked playing at the water table and in the swimming pool outside. We had lots of fun swinging and drawing with chalk as well. What a fun celebration!

Next was Natalie's birthday and you had so much fun playing with her at her water table and mini kitchen. Y'all get along so well, its been fun watching you & her grow up together!
Life with you two boys so far has been interesting, fun, frustrating, wonderful and a learning experience- but we are making it! I love you both so much and am honored to be able to be home to raise you into the men you will become. It's all flying by so quickly!

Liam is here!

 

 Liam is here!

Our family has grown by one more sweet boy and we are so excited to have him. It was a more physically taxing pregnancy on me. But I feel amazing now that Liam is out in the world 

and being loved on by everyone!

Big brother Nate- you surprise me, son, by how well you are adjusting to this huge change in your life. You are still wary of your baby brother and aren't quite sure what to do with him, but that will change soon. While we were in the hospital you got to stay at home with your Gigi and Grandpa. They remarked at how well you did and how loving you are. That's my sweet boy! Gigi bought you new Lightning McQueen  sandals and your very own monkey backpack! Now you can carry your own things around and help us out. I love that I have my lap back and I think you do too. It feels wonderful to have you lay across my torso as we read and read and read.

Liam- you are already doing a ton and are sooo strong. Tummy time is frustrating to you but you can lift and turn your head side to side as well as lift your feet and legs off the floor! You took to feeding like a champ, all the nurses were impressed by how well you latched and how long you fed right off the bat. Hungry little buddy! Sleeping is evening out I think and you are staying more awake during the day. It was all mixed up at first, but I think you are getting the hang of it. You sleep the longest if you are in our arms, but we are putting you more and more down in your pack & play or bassinet. Soon, I think, your crib mattress will arrive and we can transition you to the bedroom. You have already stretched the bounds of newborn footed pjs and are growing and working up to 0-3month size. Your dad and I look at you and can't help feeling a sense of déjà vu. You look so much like your brother did when he was an infant- aside from different color hair and eyes. You could be twins!  

So your birth was quite an event!
There was a baby boom at the hospital right when we arrived and we had a hard time getting a room to start your induction. After a couple hours of waiting we had a room and I got started on all the fluids and drugs to start labor. Contractions were already doing their job and my body was readying itself for your arrival. Shortly afterwards we were visited by the doctor and she broke my bag of water. We requested the epideral at this point and waited for the anesthesiologist to arrive.

Now it gets interesting! Your dad was doing great helping me through the tough contractions & the uncomfortable feeling of the epideral needle insertion. Reminding me to breathe and stay slumped, head down and still while the doc did the work behind me. All of a sudden, WHAM! I heard a crash and the doc and nurse assisting us start calling people into the room. They were talking about your dad, lying unconscious on the floor and checking his head! Oh my goodness, I couldn't do anything or even move.  I was so worried as they got him onto a gurney and went to the ER. The doc had to redo the epideral and pump me with antibiotics since, in all the commotion, sterility of the site was broken. Now I was left in bed wondering what to do, should I call anyone, I was by myself. Meanwhile, your poor dad was having a cat scan, IV and waking up somewhere not sure what was real or if he was in a dream. Once I figured out after a confusing phone conversation that he didn't know we were at the hospital to have you I called my mom, your Gigi and your dad's mom, Mimi. I told them what happened and everyone got there as soon as they could. Your Uncle Robbie came to the ER and brought him back up to the room. Still disoriented, he started to realize what was going on shortly before your birth.

It was so special to be surrounded by family during this time. Your Aunt Shannon brought your Mimi and Aunt J dropped everything to make it there. Your Gigi took pictures for us and a little video beforehand just in case for your Dad. At 3:05 we all welcomed you to this family and you were perfect! 10 fingers, 10 toes, weighing a whopping 8 lbs 1 oz and 19-1/2" long. Dark brown hair and deep blue eyes, you were quite handsome! More family including your Grandpa, Bum, Uncle Scott and Aunt Erin, Aunt Jen-Tulip, cousins Hayden & Harper and your big brother Nate were all waiting outside the window to see you. What a welcome you received! We are so glad you are here!

Last few months as a family of 3!

Nathan, you have grown up sooo much in the past few months! You are getting smarter and learning so many new things everyday! We are about to have our lives change in just a few short days when your baby brother Liam gets here. Your dad and I are anticipating with excitement your reaction to meeting him in the hospital. We know through watching you with other kids and your stuffed animals you are going to be such a loving big brother. You have a sweet nurturing side and its adorable to watch. You are also such a conscientious helper. I love that you help me around the house pick things up or dust or sweep. You run and retrieve things for me and know where most stuff goes. I can see you being a big helper with your little brother. Even though its been rough since I got bigger and had to be more careful not to lift or move things, you've shown a more understanding grown up side. It's been hard to stop myself from picking you up especially when you've been craving being held. We sit on the couch together and that's how we can snuggle or I can hold you. You are getting much more independent through this whole experience as well. You have learned to climb into your car seat, high hair and stand on a stool to wash your hands and face or brush your teeth. You also help me by climbing on the couch onto a changing mat for our diaper changes.
You are learning your abc's and can count mostly without help to 12. You love your alphabet blocks and astonish me and your dad by knowing the pictures on the blocks just by seeing the letter on the other side. Not even we have memorized that! You still love cars, helicopters, planes, construction trucks and play with them constantly. You either visit the places on your car mat (mmmm ice cream) or drive them over my legs or belly. We make vroom vroom noises and beeping and of course crash when they fall off.

If you aren't watching tv (Super Why is your favorite show and Thomas the Tank Engine is your favorite type of movie) or playing then you have a stack of books ready for us to read to you. I hear "mama, read! daily if not hourly. We slowed down our visits to the library since things became too physically demanding for me. But you love getting books and movies whenever we go. You can tell us the title of the books you want to read after just a few days of borrowing the books. Your favorites right now are the Biscuit the dog books or anything by Dr Seuss and comparable authors. I am so glad you love to read!

Well a lot has been going on since we sat in the bluebonnets on the last post. Just a quick summary of  all the events.
We got your big boy bed and room all fixed up. You are going to share a room with your brother and the theme is a combo of monkeys, cars and other transportation decor. We have moved you into the bigger guest bedroom and the office is now where your nursery was. It looks so great!

We acquired from some friends a new outdoor play structure with a big slide, small slide and a pipe to crawl through. We also have fun tools to dig in the sandy dirt by the patio and your water table. You love playing back there and get filthy dirty, just like little boys should!

Mother's Day was so much fun! You made me a beautiful bud vase with a single pink rose inside. We also made your Mimi and Gigi and Gigi Cates cards. We got to treat Mimi and Gigi to a yummy dinner at cotton patch. You loved having all your family at the table and everyone knew our names throughout the restaurant by the time we left.

We celebrated a fun day with Uncle Scott and Aunt Erin swimming and eating by the pool for Father's Day. You still talk about Grandpa splashing in the blue water! You made a wonderful gift for your dada at church.

We went to your Uncle Mark and aunt Shannon's house to welcome home your cousin Courtney from her year abroad in Russia. There was lots of family, kite flying, s'mores and fireworks!

Fourth of July you had a ball playing in the garage and helping Dada wash and vacuum out the cars. We went to a party later that day where you got to play with your friends Annalise and Kepler and see your first Independence Day firework show! You were a little unsure at first but then you enjoyed  the bright colors and loud booms the fireworks made.

Bluebonnets!

Bluebonnet time!

Its that time of year again! The bluebonnets are out and gorgeous 

and everybody is plopping into them to take pictures, including us! 

You are now 21 months old and Liam is getting bigger inside momma's belly. 

July isn't too far away!

Your favorite part of our trip was running, full out running, through all those bluebonnets. 

You made sure you told us they were flowers and that they were blue.

 No worries about you eating them this year!