Happy Birthday Tyler!

Today is our nephew's 4th birthday! Not only is he our nephew, but he has always felt like our other child. He and Lily are only 5 weeks apart, and they are really good buddies :) Ty is such a funny, bright young man. We can't believe he is so grown-up! Thanks for letting Lily "love" on you all these years. She can't wait to hug and dance with you today for your birthday!!

Cereal

This week, we decided to start cereal with Parker. There are mixed opinions about cereal. He is plenty big enough and doesn't have to have it, but it is a good introduction to using a spoon before we start other foods. Secretly, I was hoping it would help him sleep better, but that hasn't been the case. He is doing great feeding off the spoon and seems to enjoy this new taste!

This first picture is blurry, but he will only smile with the flash off!

Then, he gets that startled look with the flash! BIG EYES!!

And for giggles-here is Lily at 5 months old the first time she tried cereal :)

Parker's night sleeping has still been awful. He is ready for bed around 7 or 7:30 and goes down easily. He only last about three hours, and he can't seem to get settled after this. He sometimes will sleep a couple more hours with me, but even in our bed he is restless and irritated. A lot of nights he is up every hour, and I barely get any sleep. These stomach issues/gas pains have been present since birth and I have talked to his doctor about it. He still wanted me to stay with breast milk only, but I have been afraid that it what is hurting him. I try not to feed him during the night because that seems to make him worse in the long run, but usually it is the only way I can calm him for even a short span. I talked with my sister-in-law today (thank goodness she doesn't mind me bothering her for advice) because she works at the hospital. She actually saw PQ's pediatrician today and he recommended me giving up dairy. I have been thinking this is the best thing to do but have been hesitant because giving up milk, cheese, etc. is going to be hard. I am going to at least try and see if it helps. So pray that I can find foods that work and that soon we may be getting a good night's sleep. I know my students are probably praying for this too because, by about noon, I am a walking zombie! I just hate that things dealing with babies are trial and error. I will keep you posted with any progress!

Happy Birthday Caitlyn!

Today we are wishing our niece, Caitlyn, a very happy 4th birthday! We are sorry we had to miss your party, but hope to see you soon. Have a wonderful day!!

5 Months Old

Parker is 5 months old today! WOW! Just this week he started rolling over from back to belly and belly to back. I thought he never would roll over because he is pretty low key! It is fun to watch him play with toys, grab them, and put them in his month. He found his feet the last couple weeks too. He is still the happiest baby during the day. You can't help but love his sweet smile and pudgy cheeks. He loves to interact with us and thinks we are pretty funny (he has a contagious little laugh). He has also started blowing raspberries with his lips. Lily continues to LOVE to be in his face and touching him, and he seems to be okay with that most of the time. Sleeping is still a sore subject :) He wears 6-9 month clothes and size 3 diapers. He is eating about 5 oz every three hours still. I have tried cereal twice, but am not too worried about it yet. Parker continues to add joy to our house!

I realize I always say what a happy boy Parker is but he is never smiling in my pictures because the camera freaks him out! I promise, he is so happy!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! We never do anything super big or romantic on this day, but it is nice to take the time to remember to hug and kiss the ones you love. Here are a couple of my loves this morning...

They love me so much that they were both up at 5 am-that is why they were already decked out and getting a v-day picture at 6 am!

Parker and I attempted a picture before I left for work! Isn't he a doll baby?! I just love him to pieces!

Lily loves cards these days so this day was super exciting for her! She got a card from Jeff and I this morning and a lip sucker. She also had a preschool party and has been looking at all of her cards from there tonight (she is actually asleep with them right now!).

Sarah and I made special valentine's this weekend while she was here. I got the ideas from pinterest. The moms/grandmas go a bag of Teddy Grahams that said "Bear hugs for..." and the dads/grandpas go a bag of M&Ms with a shovel that said "We dig our..."

And because Hannah spends so much of her time playing with and entertaining our children, she got a special bag...

And I attempted and failed at getting a picture of the four kids :)

A special I love you to my parents and in-laws, brothers and sisters and brothers and sisters in- laws, nieces and nephews, grandmas, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends! Thanks for being a special part of our lives. And, if you are reading this, I love you Jeff! Thanks for bringing me Penn Station tonight so I didn't have to cook. I enjoyed our romantic dinner with two screaming kids. I wouldn't have it any other way :)

Remembering Papaw

On Thursday afternoon, on his 80th birthday, my Papaw passed away at his home. Five of his six children (my mom included) were able to be there with him. He has been battling lung problems for many years, and I know the last few months have been especially rough. I didn't have the closest of relationships with him, and I am sorry for that. I wish I would have seen him more, but I am thankful for my visits with him. Most importantly, he spent time with both Lily and Parker. You can see him in his favorite kind of shirt in the above pictures with Parker, Ty, and Lily! He loved to talk to me about hunting and using deer meat to make meals (he liked that Jeff was into that), and I was happy that I remembered to bring him deer jerky at Thanksgiving. I am praying for my mom and her brothers and sisters as I cannot imagine losing one of my parents. I hope that Papaw is now at peace. We love you!

Lily and Parker Stats

Lillian Marie

3 Years Old
Weight: 32.5 lbs.
Height: 37.75 inches

4 Years Old
Weight: 37 lbs.
Height: 41 inches
(She was average weight and slightly above on height)

Lily continues to become more independent each day-which is great and frustrating all at the same time. She loves to play with toys and make believe with them. She likes Tom and Jerry cartoons and can work our ipad and iphone too well :) We enjoy hearing her preschool stories and she is getting really good at writing her name. She loves Parker, and it is great to see them together. She is growing and hitting milestones perfectly!



Parker James

BIRTH
Weight: 8 lbs, 3 oz
Height: 21 inches

5 Days Old
Weight: 7 lbs, 8 oz
Height: 19.5 inches (somehow is got shorter!)
Head: 13 inches

1 Month Old
Weight: 9 lbs, 15 oz
Height: 20 and 3/4 inches
Head: 14 inches

2 Months Old
Weight: 12 lbs, 11.4 oz
Height: 23 inches
Head: 15 inches

4 Months Old
Weight: 15 lbs, 6 oz
Height: 25 inches
Head: 16.5 inches
(Height and weight are between 50-75%)

Parker continues to be a very happy boy. Despite cat naps during the day and VERY little sleep at night, he is so smiley when he is up. That makes up for our long nights. He isn't rolling completely on his own yet, but if you get him on his side, he works really hard to get on his belly. He grabs everything and likes to bat at toys. He is eating every 3 hours during the day (around 5 oz.) He usually eats once at night. He makes all kinds of noises and loves when Lily kisses all over him. Today, I had him cracking up at the doctor's office because he didn't have clothes on and is ticklish under his neck and arm. It makes me so happy to have such a sweet, healthy baby. He is pretty cranky tonight from the shots :(