1st Bottle for Coop...

I head back to work next week and Coop needs to be able to take three bottles a week.  With the other two boys I have tried a bottle, at a month old,  just to make sure they would take it and they both did fine.  I have been putting off the bottle test with Coop (just because it is a process - lazy). 

 

A week ago, I took Graham shopping for big boy decor for his room and ended up running late so Mike was left to figure out the breast milk bottle situation at home with a wailing babe.  Mike was able to find the breast milk, measure the ounces, find the bottles, assemble two nipples, warm it up and feed it to him...#1 Dad, especially since both of us have actually only done this whole process 3 times now (G, T and now C)...otherwise it is a nanny or grand mom - never mom and dad.

He struggled for a bit (likely because he just wanted his mom) but ended up taking 4 ounces with success.  Darn.  Off to work with my cool breast pump back pack I go! :)

 

Let's Hear it for Pumping Easy Eaters

Experiments...

I have always tried to have "special" one on one time with each baby when the others are asleep.  Most days I am successful at having at least 30 minutes to an hour with each boy.  Graham loves this time and thinks it is so fun when I have something planned.  Luckily one of my best friends is a teacher (shout out Carie Jean), so today we did an experiment she sent me.

 

Baking Soda, Food Coloring, and Vinegar = Fine Motor Skillz and Cool Chemical Reaction

 

 

 

 

Adding the vinegar...

 

The shock and excitement of bubbling... 

 

I love this age - his joy in seeing something for the first time and his love for spending time with his mom.  It's really sweet.

 

Let's Hear it for Time

Fathers Day...

This year the boys and I worked in advance for Fathers Day and it was a big success.  We made Mike a big sign...it actually says "Happy Fathers Day Bert".  Graham insisted on the Bert part and thought it was just hilarious.  He knows his dads name is Mike, but that is not nearly as funny as Bert.  PS.  It is not a walk in the park to get infant and toddler hand and foot prints.  This project went on for days.  Graham really wanted to put it in the hall so Mike could get out of bed, run down the hall and bust through it (like at a football game), but the logistics were not in our favor.  The image of Mike busting through it is enough for me. 

 

We did a sweet interview for Graham about Mike.  He was fairly accurate and really serious about his answers.

 

I had a friend come over and install outdoor speakers for Mike a week early as a surprise, but Mike ruined it by coming home EARLY even though I told him to STAY AWAY.  They are amazing.  Then for a little gift on actual Fathers Day a very talented friend of mine sketch our old house.  I thought it would be a sweet memento, seeing as how we started our family there.

 

After church and lunch we headed to the flight museum.  Both the big boys are into airplanes and frankly so is their dad (nerd alert - sorry uncle B).

 

 

Everyone in the control tower, including my Indian son.

 

 

The kids were so excited we couldn't contain them.  We walked into the giant hanger with all these planes and they FREAKED out and started running... it was adorable.  We stayed for an hour or so - it was fun and inexpensive.  They have a great play place for kids and lots to look at.

 

My husband is a good dad.  One that knows when to push a little harder and when to offer grace when someone is melting.  The boys run after his car when he gets home from work.  They regularly body slam him and help him with man stuff.  These children love him and so do I.

 

Let's Hear it for Bert

Blazing Prize...

About a month or so ago the boys and I found this "gem" around the corner while we were on a walk.  I casually mentioned to Mike that there was a "burb" around the corner for sale and I thought the price was good, so we took a second walk to scope it out.  The guy selling it is an Aggie (1 pt.), he goes to Watermark (1 pt.), and he is our neighbor (1 pt.)...so with 3 whole points how could it not be fate.  We took our existing truck to CarMax to see what we could get for it (which was more than we thought) then we turned around and sold it for thousands more on the open market...thanks for the free info CarMax.  Any who, the extra space is awesome - especially the extra nursing seat - since that is what I seem to do the most in the car.  If you are worried about your carbon foot print, rest assured that I am not.

 

 

After purchasing the Yukon we put Graham in a booster seat in the very back, which he loves (likely because he doesn't have to sit shoulder to shoulder to pesky little Trackers).  However, it has been hard for him to learn to buckle himself and getting back there to help him with the other two car seats in the middle row is a challenge.  Mike told him if he could buckle up eight times (fuzzy ball reward every time) he would take him to the toy store for a special treat.  Leave it to Mike to come home with something super fun and a little more than $10. :)

 

I was in Track's room playing when I see this zoom (ok, wobble) by the window.

 

I thought to myself, "hey, another little boy in our neighborhood".  Then I realized it was my big boy.  Tears start to come as I rush out to see my first born so proud of himself riding a bike.

 

 

 

And of course in true Mike fashion he HAD to bring something home for Trackers.  He is still trying to figure out how brother is making his go.

 

Daddy is how you make it go apparently.  This tiny trike is a back breaker.  Hopefully Track will aquire the skillz to pay the billz soon.  Until then this tiny trike is hidden in the garage.  Good parenting.

 

My big is buckling himself still, my middle forgot he got a trike and I am shocked that Mike didn't come home with a bike for Coop.  He is an equal opportunity dad and I really love that about him, because I would have bought a $10 special thing that I wanted instead of Graham.  Silly and Stoopid as Kels would say (to our boss).  Pfffttt.

 

 

Let's Hear it for these Babes Riding Big Boy Bikes in the Blaze of June

Brave...

Summer in Dallas equals hot hot hot, swim lessons and the usual pressure to "do what everyone else is doing".  Ugh.  So I knew Graham needed to learn to swim and all of my girlfriends rave about a specific swim school.  I dragged my feet, had a pit in my stomach for no real reason (or maybe the Holy Spirit - der) and timidly hit the pay online button and immediately regretted my decision.  I got into bed feeling the buyers remorse of a non-refundable bad decision. 

 

Graham's first lesson was on Saturday, which my girlfriend warned me it was going to be a zoo, and it was.  We got there late (no shocker for this nursing mom), we walk in to an indoor facility with no less than 75 kids and a ton of instructors all talking at the same time and doing various activities.  I was instantly overwhelmed and so was my mini me.  I rushed him over to his teacher who was a sweet high schooler, maybe college student who wasn't super equipped to handle this child's crocodile tears and massive melting.  Who would be at that age?  Graham tried very hard to obey me and get in, but you could tell he was in over his head with fear and a new environment...there was no "getting it together" at this point. 

 

I was sweating - could have been the humid/ crowded indoor environment or the weight of trying to console and instruct my sweet boy while the walls seemed to be closing in on me.  I tried being with him, I tried being in the waiting room, I worked the stern angle, I worked the grace angle... No response.  We were both DONE by the end of his 30 min lesson.  We left and he was a giant pile of mush for about 30 more minutes. 

 

Mike and I decided it would be better next week and we would try again - even though we were both dreading it.  I asked a dear friend of mine about private lessons that I knew she taught at her house.  She jumped at the chance to have me and the boys over.  So two days later we went and I was nervous, pacing, texting her non-stop, wondering how she was going to handle these kids and how I was going to handle Graham's fear.

 

We get there...the boys march outside with her.  I stayed inside and out of sight at her request...to which I say THANK YOU for just telling me what to do - that's what I need.  She proceeds to directly tell these boys what to do and miraculously they are doing it.  I will take any opportunity for these guys to work together, so it was a major bonus that she was going to have them both at the same time.  The environment was quiet, really even peaceful.  It was apparent to me and to them that they had all of her attention.  There was still some A LOT of crying, but instead of not knowing what to do she asked Graham to quote Joshua 1:9 - be strong and courageous.  She prayed with him to ease his fear...she had him gaining self control by earning his trust.  She is a mom of four and these kids LOVE her.  I have no doubt that she loves me and my kids...this is the place for me.  This was more than swim lessons for me - its a chance to hang out and love her kids while she teaches mine.  It's a chance to spend time with her oldest son (who I have known for 5 years now), who has a tender and kind heart which I have always admired...I imagine Graham will be similar to him in teenage form.  It's just where He was leading me.  It's right and I can feel it.

 

We have been twice now...the moral of the story is not that the swim school was bad (we might even try it again at a later date), but that I KNEW KNEW KNEW it wasn't what I should have done and I did it anyway.  The instructor we got at the school was as sweet as could be, but not what my kids needed.  We could finish the school and Graham would be fine, but at this point I am brave enough to quit and go a better route for him today.  I pray that I am always brave enough to follow my gut for my kids, brave enough to not be pressured by Dallas, brave enough to be different when I feel called.

 

This story is not about swim lessons, but about a desire to know them and to honor Him.  A good reminder to listen to my Savior, especially when I know (in hindsight) he is talking to me and shepherding these kids through me.

 

My friend and swim teacher, Angie Cooper, sent me these sweet pictures of my boys swim lessons today.  Underwater camera = swim instructor BOSS.

 

I love that this one captures the essence of what they are feeling during the lessons.  She swears by Friday these guys will be her best friends.  I believe her.

Blowing bubbles.  Don't mind the sunscreen curd on T's face...the non-chemical natural stuff doesn't rub in well.

 

This morning I read a  chapter in a book about grace and this has stuck with me...

 

"Believe that HE is strong enough to save your children no matter how you fail.  Believe that HE is loving enough to bring them all the way into relationship with HIMSELF, whether you understand "grace parenting" or not.  Believe that HE is wise enough to know the right way and the right time to do it."

 

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. Acts 16:31

 

I can't believe for my kids and I won't always make the right choices, but thankfully their salvation has NOTHING to do with me.

 

Let's Hear it for Jesus Who Came to Save and a Loving Friend

Fort Hummel...

I made the big boys a fort to wait for their dad to come home, so they could "scare" him, which is typical "wait for dad to come home" behavior over here.  Is either scaring or hiding or bolting in front of his car (we discourage the 3rd option).

 

Anywho...I lifted the sheet to see what they were doing...

 

This calmness lasted all of a millisecond, but the sweet picture I snapped made me smile and walk away quietly so they could continue to play together. 

 

These boys have different strengths, but their brothers and they just go together.

 

Lets Hear it for the Boys

New Pool...

My friend Laura donated her "big pool" to us when she got another for her three boys.  I had mike "pump is up Chris" for the kids this week.  It's pretty awesome for the days we can't make it to the city pool. 

 

(ps. please ignore the play set graveyard - it is officially dead and can not be revived - now if we could just get it to the curb...  Also, please don't talk to Mike about it...I made him transport the thing from our house to duplex to here and then decided it was a "piece" and we needed to free ourselves from it - whoopsies)

 

Here is what Coop thinks...cute, huh?

 

Graham so excited - no time for trunks... 

 

T is either unsure or peeved about the picture taking... (why yes we do have a green house that was here when we bought the house... along with a hot tub room and a sun room - bizarre)

 

Best thing Track does lately...gets super super excited and screech's "duck duck duck" into the ducks face.  Pure JOY! 

 

 

Lets Hear it for Summer

Giant Artist...

My 1st born, at Track's age, preferred to be civilized and mostly clean...eating with a fork, painting with a brush, brushing his teeth inside his mouth...you know reasonable things.  I think my middle boy was made to be DIR-TEE at all times.  On any given day the soles of his feet are black, he balances all meal items on his head (weird), and he just goes hard ALL. DAY. LONG.  And he is just about the cutest thing I have ever laid eyes on.

 

I thought since Graham was with my Mother in Law we would paint for the first time...

 

He's interested...

 

 Still pretty clean...



 

 Tasting the paint...who does that?

 

He has just about figured out that the paint doesn't really "have" to stay on the paper... 

 

He's up...

 

 He's looking for something to destroy...

 

eyes locked on mom, paint brush held like a jousting stick...

 

Whoops...stopped to trance out for a minute... 

 

Back to chasing mom... 

 

In usual Track form...the fun always stops too early...

 

I literally LOVE this child and all of his spunk.  He's the one that's going to have us rolling in laughter and push us to do more than we thought possible.  I. LOVE. THIS. CHILD.

 

Let's Hear it for My Teeny Tiny Trackers

Swimming with Three...

I woke up this morning and decided I was going to take my three to the pool.  I figured if it didn't work and we ALL left crying then I would rethink my strategy.  In reality, I have three kids and I want these three kids to have fun experiences so we are going to make it happen.  I threw some stuff in a bag - stuffed everyone into last years swim suits (including myself) and off we went.

 

Coop slept for an hour (insert perfect baby)...

 

We only had one near drowning experience where Trackers got out to far and went face first in the water and couldn't get his feet under him.  I "bay watched" myself to him in a matter of seconds, but it was still terrifying to all parties...he is "done" with the pool at this point.  (still cute even while acting like his swimming career is over- dramatic).

 

You would never know by their expressions that we had a great time and it was really relatively easy to get all three there and back alive.  I mean really anything is easier than being pregnant and keeping up with these guys.  It's all about perspective I guess.  Or maybe I just love a challenge...I really like to take these guys places.  And yes, Track really is almost as big as Graham...giant baby.

 

Lets Hear it for a Summer at the Pool

Cooper - 2 Months...

My third born is already two months old.  He is the biggest of my boys and possibly the sweetest baby yet.  This month he started cooing, smiling, blowing raspberries, sleeping through the night (8 hours once, only once) and speaking in full sentences - complete with please and thank you.  I read on a blog that NO baby learns raspberries until 4 months and the sentence thing is early too.  His mom thinks he is advanced.

 

I like the sideways look...

 

Coop is about 14lbs of solidness...big hands and huge feet. 

 

He is losing all of his brown hair.  I think it might be blond like his brothers. 

 

 Coop and Mama while the other boys sleep...

 

 

 I think he is so cute...

 

 Hanging in his Bumbo...

 

 Proof of cooing...

 

 and smiling...

 

 and raspberries...

 

Lets Hear it for Cooper Seth...Boy Genius.