Good Eats

So, the babies have been eating baby food about one month now. You both took to eating off the spoon like champs. So far you've had green beans, sweet potatoes, both acorn and butternut squash, pears, apples, and bananas.


I'm recording this now to show you all the delicious fruits and vegetables you eat when you say that you don't like something.

Big Sister Love

Breakfast with Santa and lots of Photos

We went to breakfast with Santa at the YMCA. I knew that we had to get up extra early because it started at 8 a.m. I showered at 5 a.m. and still it was not enough time to leave the house by 8. I'm always frustrated trying to leave the house because we are mostly not on time. I'm hoping this is a "I have small kids" phase and will pass once Camden, Grey, and Rylie are a bit older. Good news is, the day started out frustrating but it turned out great. We got there at 9 and they were able to go right up to Santa. Cailin and Rylie were able to deliver their Wish List to Santa. Cailin also got to ask Santa a very important question that she has been trying to figure out. She wanted to know how does Santa make it to everyone's home in one single night. Santa told her that it was magic and he was able to slow down time. She came away very satisfied with that answer. Thanks Santa!

The babies were able to take a photo with Santa and with Mrs. Claus.  

Then they had breakfast- pancakes, sausage, and orange juice.                                   

Then when we were leaving. We had a few moments to kill, so mini-photoshoot it is!                                  

  Then the karate chopping began.....                         

Followed by magic! I love these next set of photos!

My Baby Cakes are 5mos. Old

Camden- I love your squeal of delight when you are happy. I love your calm and serious demeanor. I can see that you are a thinker. We'll see if I'm right. You are such a laid back little baby! Though you hate to be put down sometimes. You found your thumb and you suck it. It's the cutest thing. You like my singing. I sing "Rockaby Baby" and "Pat-a-cake" and it gets you cooing. You have eaten sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and bananas. Though you get a little impatient that the spoon is not always full I think you really liked the bananas best. You are sleeping through the night (you did this starting at 4mos.)

Ha! You always have those arms stretched out like this!


 Grey- I love your laughs. You are tickled when I sing and talk to you. You are becoming more aware. You cry when we walk away from you. You kick when you see a bottle of milk. You love nursing and need to breastfeed to sleep. You suck on your thumb, though you don't do it consistently. You love your sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and bananas. I love your feistiness. You know what you want and don't have any problem letting us know. You still refuse to ride in your car seat if you're fully awake. You are determined to get your way. You cry and cry. I get your big sisters to give you a pacifier or hold you. 

 I want to hold on to you both and never let you get any bigger. We love you sweet boys. 

Happy 4th Bithday, Rylie

Today we celebrated your 4th birthday. You were so excited.


I love your full smile with all the teeth showing grin. The white stuff on your face is flour. We made pizzas.

I look at this photo and it makes me sad that you are loosing your baby face.
Daddy bought you another princess dress. You are the girly of all girls. You love dresses and skirts. You wear Cailin's old Princess Tiana dress just about everyday. I have to wash it often. You change clothes, seemingly from one dress to another. It drives me a bit batty.
We finished by singing "Happy Birthday" with cupcakes and ice cream. You really enjoyed your special day. Happy Birthday, sweet Rylie!

Could It Be?

Could it be that we have another thumb sucker in the family?

Thumb Sucker

No matter how many times I take that thumb out of his mouth, he just finds it again. Daddy is not going to be pleased.

Champion Eaters

I've been waiting patiently for the right time to feed you all from a spoon. Well that time was today! Grey you've been not exactly satisfied following your bottle or breast feeding. So I went to the store and picked up the largest sweet potato that I could find. I roasted it and added water to make it the right consistency. And you know what?! You guys gobbled it right up! If I didn't know any better, I'd say you all have eaten from a spoon before. You did amazing! 

Petting Zoo

Back in August, we went to Saddle Up Riding Club. It was a hot, messy, and muggy mess.   
But we had fun
.Note to self: Only go to the zoo if it is 80 degrees or less.

Littlest Ballerina

My last little ballerina. Ariel and Cailin participated in a ballet and tap dance class. Now, it's my little Rylie's turn. She is so excited and so am I.

 

 I absolutely adore their relationship. They are the best of friends (when they're not fighting). Rylie looks up to her big sister.

3 Months Old

 Camden is 10lbs 2oz and Grey is 11lb. You both are growing so well!

9 Weeks

 

 Camden and Grey, you are nine weeks old. Camden, you have started to smile. Every once in a while I hear a coo. You manage to scoot quite a distance from where I originally lay you. You are a good eater. And you sleep pretty good too. You are a mellow and laid back baby.

Grey, you are bigger than your brother. You are a mighty eater. I have to supplement and give you a bottle or two of formula to keep you content. Though you like to nurse and some times need to breastfeed before you will settle down to sleep. Once you go to sleep, you sleep soundly. You don't like your car seat. We have to pull over quite frequently to calm you down. You are a very temperamental baby. You arch your back and cry. I think you're colicky and I hope you'll grow out of it. You've started making eye contact and really looking when we talk and sing to you. You get this peculiar look on your face. Or if your pacifier is in your mouth you will stop sucking. We love you my sweet boys. Oh how you round out our family. 

Curly Beginnings

NICU Day 28~ We are Homebound

Life was a bit of a whirlwind once Grey overcame his eating issues and Camden was able to finally hold his own body temperature. 28 days later and we are leaving our little suite in the NICU and going home. It's a bit surreal. We've been operating on autopilot for so long.... What will we do now that you all are home?! We are all so excited to have you home. Especially the big kids at home waiting for you. They haven't been able to see you much in person, but they have given you plenty of virtual kisses through Facetime.

Cailin The 6yr Old

 

Cailin. My little social butterfly. You are willing to be friends with every child. You talk and approach kids nearly every place we go. You're my extroverted and strongly opinionated child. You are a girl that knows what you want and how it should be done. You think you should be engaged and having fun 24hrs of the day. You ask lots of questions and are a thinker. You reason and express your opinion a lot. "Rylie shouldn't get in trouble if it was an accident." You asked your Dad to take you to the library because you needed to take your movie back. When he couldn't because he had to go to work. You asked, "Is him having to work more important than the fact that you could lose your library card if you don't take the movie back on time." You smart smart girl! You shared with me you want to read but just don't want to take the time to actually learn too. Ha! Brilliant and honest to a fault! I'm expecting you to literally take over the world. We love you sweet Girl!!

Bittersweet

 

 Today is the first of school. And its bittersweet for me because on one hand I'm excited for you. I'm happy that you have this opportunity. I'm optimistic about your peers and the future friends you will make. But, and it's a big one, I'm sad that our homeschool journey has come to an end. I'm sad to watch you grow because it all feels so soon that you'll be on your own to discover the world. I also am confident that you are ready. I have watched you prepare for this day and it made me happy the way you took charge the day the summer reading list came in the mail and read every single book. Even the boring ones. I knew then that you were ready. I watched you sort and organize your school supplies in nervous anticipation of your first day. I watched you try on different clothes looking for that "first" day of school outfit. I like the way you humored me and let me take photos and videos even though you thought it was useless because you're not a little kid anymore (those are your words, not that in actually believe it).

You are 15! I called you 14. Ha! Where the heck did that extra year go. You are kind, conscientious, and over all a great kid. You are a good big sister. You adore your sisters, as well as your new baby brothers. Your are very quiet and introspective. You are very responsible. You are respective (most of the time). 

This year we have seen you step up and really help our family out as we went through a crisis of my sickness and pregnancy. We wish you the absolute best big girl!!

She humors me sometimes and lets me take photos. Ha! But she drew the line at taking photos on campus. I was only able to snap this one. When I really wanted to follow her around with camera and record her day!

Crazy Silly Faces

Two silly girls and the faces they can make!

 The End.

NICU Day 11

Camden you came out of the Isolette again. But because of a puking spell and the stress of your increased feeds, you were again put back in the warmer. This time they will slowly wean the temperature down inside. Camden you are 4lb 3oz.

Grey you are doing wonderfully. You lost a little weight in the beginning but now you continue to gain. You are 4lb 13oz.

NICU Day 10- The Day We All Came to Visit

Cailin was so excited to hold you! All day she was practicing and asking questions. Oh the anticipation!

 Me: Rylie what's the baby's name?
 Rylie: Person

 Rylie you were surprisingly gentle with the babies.

 Look at Rylie's latest smile. She closes her eyes and smiles really big when you say cheese.