Josh is 1!!

Can you believe it?  Josh turned 1 on December 9th and I cant believe how fast the time has gone.  It seems like only yesterday that I was trying to figure out how this was all going to work, how I was going to juggle 3 boys, and how I was going to satisfy everyone's needs, and i'm please to say, somehow it has all worked out.

Josh is fun and giggly, rough and tumbly, loud and proud, sugar and spice, and most things nice :)  He is into absolutely everything from drawers to bathtubs, and dishwashers, and opening doors and climbing onto counters.  He is everywhere and the only kiddo that we have needed to purchase baby gates for, its a darn miracle that he is still alive.  I mean, I'm pretty sure he thinks that he can fly.  You know those pictures that you see of someones kid sitting on top of the refrigerator and you think - how the heck does that happen- well, I can honestly say that I can see that picture in my album someday... this one is everywhere!!

Josh loves food, all types!  he eats chicken, fish, beef, loves asparagus and cauliflower, and gets super excited when he sees apples or cheese... you even say the word cheese and he runs to the refrigerator haha.   He is eating crackers and berries... pretty much everything.  he even had some of my pizza the other night, it makes life a lot easier when he can just eat off your plate :)

So, there is this song... Wheels on the bus... You've probably herd of it lol... well, Josh is OBSESSED with it.  he can be screaming bloody murder and you start singing that, and he just stops.  We made the mistake once of looking the song up on YouTube and he saw this video of the song, and he remembers... he knows that it lives inside our phones and he will run around making the "round and round" hand motions and take our phones wondering where it is in there... haha we have created a monster!! Yes, I know that he is not supposed to have screen time... I don't need any nasty-grams!!

Josh loves to go outside and feel the grass :)  He loves to be in either my backpack or ergo and go on little hikes and he loves playing with his brothers... Luke and him could play for hours, but Blake has enough of him after a bit and retreats to the garage to do big boy things haha.  He babbles Momma and Daddy, waves bye and claps.  He runs everywhere, I don't think he ever walked.  He has had one overnight visit with Grandma Tammy and Grandpa Monty... hopefully another one in our future (winkwink)

He weighs in at a hefty and healthy 24lbs and is 33.2in long... only one of our kids to ever be in the 98% lol were working on 24M clothing!

This year has been amazing.  When you find out that you are having a baby when you thought you were finished having children, it gives you a very unique opportunity to do things that you thought you may have missed out on or you didnt get an chance to do with your other children.  I had a natural birth, breastfed, co-slept, and wore this baby in my ergo for the first year.  With every child you learn more about yourself and you adapt.  Josh has softened us all.  In a house with all boys, it can get pretty loud sometimes, but my older boys have learned how to calm down and be more gentle, and we all were reminded that we needed to use softer voices. We have had a great year... Josh is absolutely amazing, and I cannot wait to see what the next year brings!

Fall 2016

It has been a really REALLY long time since I have written in my blog.  But, let me tell you, we have been busy!  Most days, the last thing I want to do at the end of a day is open up my computer, even though I am thinking to myself "I really want to write about that"  Its just the season of life that we are in right now... we are always go go go, and just when I feel like I am  -getting the hang of it- I am instantly humbled. Don't get me wrong, I do believe that I am rocking this stay at home mom of 3 kids thing, but there isn't room for much else.

Lucas has been our little soccer star; he LOVED outdoor soccer this year and he did so well.  I mean, whats better then kicking around a soccer ball in the mud...and rain..and wind... but he loved it, and we had so much fun watching him.  He is sure at a fun age.  He asks me if we can go to the park so that he can "make more friends" haha he loves school and is friends with everyone.  This little guy still likes to dig in the dirt, go hiking, takes care of chickens and he loves being a big brother.  He is such a fun boy!

Blake is our little hockey stud.  WOW, I mean, just wow... he has kicked it into high gear.  I cant believe how good he is getting.  It is so fun to see, and hes one of the youngest on the team but he is even scoring goals, and I'm one proud mama!!  He is doing great in school, and we just recently found out that he needed glasses.  We took him in after realizing that he was holding books and tablets really close to his face... and yep, the kid needed reading glasses!  I wish we would have realized sooner, but its likely that he will always need them, not for sports and everyday stuff thank goodness, but hes going to want them for reading :)  and he looks adorable in them! 

Josh... oh my gosh, where do I begin.  This super smiley, happy kid has been giving me a run for my money.  He pretty much skipped the whole baby food phase, and went straight to solids.  he is eating shredded chicken, fish, all veggies and fruits, anything off my plate that is appropriate and drinks from a sippy cup.  He is 10 months old and is walking... I mean, RUNNING!  He likes to get in the dishwasher, play in toilets, pull clothes out of drawers, bang pots and pans together, climbs up everything, dumps out the dog bowls, and he really likes to find cords and chew on them... just when I think that we are completely "baby proofed" he finds something new to get into... Lord help me!  It is a miracle that he is still alive lol.  I cant believe that his 1st birthday is coming up... can you believe that?  I'm in shock that its already time to plan his party.  When your in the moment, sometimes the hard parts feel like it takes so long to get through them, but now, I think, where did the time go?  Slow down my sweet little babe! 

Next year is a big one... we have a Disneyland trip planned, then Tyler and Liz are getting married!!!  I cant wait, I love weddings!!  Kyle and I also celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary next year too, and are in the process of planning a trip :)  I am so excited for 2017! 

Hopefully, it wont be 7 months before I write again!!

Up-Date!!

Its sure been a while since I have been on here, but I have honestly not had the time.  There are many times in a day where the kids say something funny or we have a big event and I think to myself "I need to blog about that" and it just doesn't happen.  I'm tired, but all for good reason, but I'm still tired.  I'm not trying to complain because I know how truly blessed I am.  Joshua is an amazing baby who sleeps well, smiles all the time and is a great eater... what more could I ask for?  Between the sports (now 5 days a week) and school, and daily chores, birthdays, holidays and oh yeah, I've been working out 4-5 days a week, there just isn't time for much else right now.  If I'm lucky enough to get a lull in events, it is usually used to prep and organize for what's coming up next... but we are enjoying it, and I'm so very very thankful to have such a well behaved and easy going little one :)

I'm starting to think about my garden again... wondering how {grand} its going to be this year.  I always take a lot of pride in my garden and the bounty that it provides for our family, but I think that its just going to be basic this year.  I don't think that I am going to try anything new, just stick to what I know works well, but I am anxious to get that started.

Healthy eating has been a top priority and so has being active.  With all the nasty sickness that has gone through our house, I will admit that we have been watching more tv and playing more games on our tablets then I would like.  The weather has been nicer (not this week) but last week was nice, and we have been playing outside a lot more, and I strap Josh in my Ergo and Luke and I walk to pick up Blake from school.  Since we live about 1/2 a mile away, its a pretty quick walk :)  I look forward to the nicer weather.  I love the natural sunlight and I love how it makes me feel.  Ahhhh sun... please come back!

There have been many sweet moments that I have witnessed with my boys.  Blake and Luke tend to argue and pester each other, but when they are around josh, they love to talk to him in sweet and soft voices and they love to hold him.  Especially Blake.  He picks him up and will bring him to me... yes he is good at it, and he knows that he cant pick him up without asking me first.  lol  Its just really fulfilling to see their sweet side with him. 

Im going to {try} to make time for more blog posts, but I am not going to lie, I think that they are going to be few and far between for a while, but I do know how important it is to me since this is essentially my memory bank...my dear diary...my place for reflection. 

He is so stinkin cute!

 

He borrows my phone so he can listen to music... his new favorite song is Wake Me Up by Avicii

2 out of the 3 don't like to wear pants

Blake's first school concert

"mom, take my picture with Josh"

Hes getting so big!

Mr. Intense

Little hockey stud!

Dear Parents Of Sickly Children,

At this point, I do not care who I offend, I do not care because I am tired, I am sick and tired, literally.  My kids are sick again because of the stomach flu that Blake contracted at school, and brought home and has shared it with Luke.  Those boys sure like to share everything! 

So, I am a parent.  I had my children knowing that either Kyle or myself would always be there to take care of them.  When we chose to have children, we knew there would be sacrifice and hard times.  We have had to make sacrifices with our jobs, our personal lives and sometimes with each other in order to fully be there for our kids.  Which is how it should be... they rely on us... they need us... and we are always going to be here to make the best decisions for them.  with that being said...

I have a little message for all of you who send your kids to school with the flu, croup, fever, bronchitis, streap throat, and so many other sicknesses...

What the HELL are you thinking.  first of all, I do believe that schools should have stricter guidelines about what ailments should keep kids at home, but lets use some common sense people.  If your kid has green snot running down his face, he probably shouldn't go to school... hello!  If your kid is grabbing his stomach in pain and crapping his pants, he should probably stay home.  Have you thought about the consequences of this?  Obviously not... because if you had other small children, and lets just say, maybe an INFANT, you wouldn't want you child to bring home theses nasty bugs. Maybe you live with an elderly person, or someone with health issues, Im sure you would be upset of your child went to school everyday just so they could bring home something to share with everyone. 

I'm just wondering if you have ever seen a 6 week old baby cough and sneeze, and have to have his nose sucked out every hour or have to sleep propped up in his parents arms because laying flat makes him gage.  Have you seen a 6 year old boy sit on the toilet all day because he doesn't have control of his bowels, and puke in a bowl at the same time?  Have you ever seen a 3 year old cry and puke, and shake with exhaustion?  Maybe if you saw all three of these things going on at the same time, you would, because that's what my house looks like.   I know that its hard for some parents to take time off work. to keep their kids home, but like I said, having kids is about making sacrifices.  I've herd the argument "well, they need to be in school to learn"  Let me ask you, how much do you think they are learning when their noses are so stuffed up, that its draining out their eyes, or they cough so much that they cant even hear the teacher.  Your kids aren't learning anything if you send them to school sick, they are miserable, and just extending the sickness cycle. 

I'm not naive, I know that kids get sick, I know that you sometimes don't know your kids are sick until its too late, but sending you child to school, knowing that he or she is sick is simply irresponsible and disappointing.  And, let me just say, for the record, we do EVERYTHING possible in this house to stop the spread of germs and to stay healthy.  My kids eat well balanced meals, wash their hands, they do not share drinks, but unfortunately, they do share a room.  I bleach - Lysol - sanitize everything, but none of that matters when they go to school and play in petri dishes!  This is the first year that both the older boys have been in school, so its hit us really hard this year.  Kyle  and I have only caught their nastiness a couple times, thank goodness.  But my poor baby has been sick for the last 2 weeks.  We have been to the Dr, and he is being monitored, but I am beyond exhausted.  I haven't slept for more then an hour straight in weeks... if its not one kid, its another, and Kyle is up too because sometimes it takes more then just one of us, and then he is off to work at 4:30am.  Im angry, exhausted, irritated, disappointed, and simply just over it... over it all.

Josh Is 1 Month Old!!

Its been one month since our precious little Joshua was born, and I still cant believe that I am a mama to 3 boys.  I...have 3 boys, and its been wonderful.  Still battling the colds and flus of the season, and so far, Josh and I have stayed healthy, but the rest of the family hasn't been so lucky. Is it spring yet???

I was at the grocery store with all three kids the other day and I had a nice older lady ohhing and awwwing over our littlest guy and then she realized that I had 3... and ohh my gosh, there all boys!!  She looked at me all wide eyed and said " well, you have 3 kids, and their all boys... you've got your work cut out for you!!"  I just smiled and said " They have an amazing dad, and boys are always good to their mothers, Im not worried"  She smiled and walked on... HAHA

Adjusting to life with 3 has had its ups and downs... I have learned so much about myself and my kids this last month, and believe me, we have all adjusted much better then I expected.  Blake and Luke absolutely LOVE their little brother... Blake cant wait to hold him and he knows how to carry him too... only when Mom or Dad are around though ;) and Luke loves to find any reason to give Josh a big kiss.  I am adjusting to the serious lack of sleep, which has been the hardest part this last month, and this is the first time that I have exclusively breastfed one of my kids.  I couldn't with
Blake because he was in the hospital for 2 weeks and then we had to measure out his milk, so I pumped for 8 months with him.  So, when we had Luke, my goal was to nurse him, but it hurt, and it was hard, and I was tired, so I just gave up after about a week.  I ended up pumping with him until he was about 8 months too, and I had enough in the freezer to get me through his first birthday, so this time, I was really hoping that I was be able to cut out the pumping, and I did a lot of research before Josh was born, and this time around, everything has been great!  He latches well, and eats a TON, but I produce a lot, so were staying in rhythm,YAY!!

 

 

I have always said, with each baby, that they are going to sleep in their own room, and were going to have a really strict feeding schedule... well I know its a little early for schedules, but he has not spent one night in his room, he usually sleeps with us, or in his bassinette, and I feed on demand... lifes too short right?  HAHA Josh will usually sleep from around 9PM to 1AM and then he's up every 2 1/2 hours for feedings after that, but at least he is giving me a good first stretch, and I have learned to go to bed as soon as he does!  We haven't had a problem with that!!

We love Josh so much, and he is a complete joy to have in our family.  His big blue eyes are staying open longer and hes starting to really look around and follow noises.  He's grabbing my hair and sweatshirt strings, so its now time for the exclusive ponytail, and he's growing!  He weighs 10Lbs 4oz as of Friday and that was also the day of his circumcision... Lucky him...and is now grown out of the newborn clothing.  It was sad to see those cute footie outfits go, there so small, and some of my favorite things. 

We are so lucky, and even with the sickness that invades our home, we still manage to smile and find some joy between the dr visits, coughs, fevers, snotty noses, and irritable kiddos.  We just keep reminding ourselves that they wont be little forever, so in some weird and twisted way, part of me enjoys them needing us so much right now, but I'm not going to lie... being cooped up with sick kids sure gives you cabin fever!  I cant wait for healthy kids again so we can enjoy these cool and crisp days, but for now, its movies and popsicles... and Tylenol :)