7-25-14

This little lady thinks bath time is the bomb. Until you get her out, that is. she shrieks and howls until she is fully dressed and being comforted. 

Happy girl! We had a follow up appointment with the lactation consultant, and she weighed 10lb 4oz!

Last Sunday night we went to Busy Corner with my family for my birthday, and then back to mom and dad's for root beer floats, my dessert of choice. 

I turned 27 on Tuesday. Whoot. :-)  we hung out at home during the day, and then went to Pizza Ranch and care group in the evening. I got sang to, and Elise made a big cookie.

Yesterday was my mother in law's birthday, so the daughters and in law's, plus a few granddaughters headed to Arthur, IL for the day. I ended up coming home with a 10lb box of blueberries, a random assortment of candy, and some preschool workbooks.  :-) Alison went with, and thankfully she was excellent, minus the major poop blow out during lunch. 

Tractors!

This past Saturday, on my way home from Target I saw a sign for an antique tractor show on Main street. So after a quick supper we headed to dairy queen for some ice cream (smore's blizzards are like the best thing) and to the show, which actually ended up being put on by the church on the corner (can't remember the name).

It wasn't a huge thing, maybe like 20 tractors with some concessions and live music. The kids had fun climbing on the tractors, and Alison loved being outside. 

7-21-14

A few nights ago I caught my little toe on the leg of the bouncy seat and broke it.  :-(  Ouch! 

About 2 weeks ago Carter started having low grade fevers about every other day, coughing, and not having much of an appetite. This went on for a week, and gradually got worse. A visit to the Dr gave no answers as his ears, throat and lungs all checked out fine. Wednesday night about 11:30 he started coughing and just couldn't stop. For almost 2 hours he coughed constantly, throwing up several times, and nothing would stop it. He finally slowed down, and he and I spent a fitfil rest of the night sitting up in the recliner. 

Thursday morning we headed back to the Dr, where his lungs sounded crackley this time, and he tested positive for strep. They also sent us to the hospital for a chest x ray to rule out pneumonia. By the time we got back to my Mom's to pick up the girls, it was way past nap time, and Carter totally crashed. 

His chest x ray came back clear, so he apparently just has a nasty and long lasting virus. He's doing much better now, although his cough still sounds nasty. 

Trying to get another smile on camera - it wasn't happening. 

And another "I love my auntie" shirt from Aunt Wendi. :-) I'm pretty sure all three have had one.  

Lovin' these summer days

Another swimming session at the neighbors

We usually wake Bridget up from her nap after 45 min to an hour so she'll go to sleep before 11pm, but this day she just couldn't stay awake after coming downstairs and fell back to sleep in the chair. 

My little girls :-) 

Saturday the Gingrich's and Grimm's came over for pizza. We commented on how we used to have such quiet relaxing evenings - now there are 9 kids under 5. But we had lots of fun, despite the kids having a sand war and getting sand EVERYWHERE.  Like in their hair, diapers, swim suits...They all got sprayed off in the shower when coming in.

And now, for the first time in about a year, my blog is caught up.  :-) What a great feeling! 

Smiles and goofy faces

Alison makes some pretty great faces! Her smiles are also the sweetest thing, but getting them on camera is next to impossible, because as soon as I get it out, she's busy looking at it and won't smile anymore. 

Finally got a halfway decent one the other week! 

Creepy picture, and doesn't even look like her! 

4th of July

Morton always doors their fireworks on July 3. We've never gone before, but decided to this year. It was kind of a last minute decision, so we just took the kids in their pajamas, and parked at the firehouse, with the intention of staying in the van the whole time. But they had a fire truck out that the kids could go in, and were giving out fire hats, sticker badges and pencils, so we took our kids over, pajamas and all.  :-) Then we went back to the van and waited for forever for the fireworks to start. They didn't start till almost 9:15, and by then the older two were tired and going stir crazy. We didn't watch for very long before we headed back home. 

This is what Alison thought of the fireworks. :-)

On July 4th we headed to my mom and dad's for lunchwith all the Pfaffmanns. It was nice afternoon, although not exactly relaxing. After supper we came home, reorganized, and then headed to Eureka for fireworks. We have day in the same spot for the past 3 years, and it works so well with kids! We were joined by Wyss's, Hangartners, and Witzigs. We ate lots of snacks and then snuggled under blankets when the sun went down. 

3 squirts

Sweet baby

Eating snacks. They're probably asking for more cookies.  :-)

Sweet corn and other randoms

This year our neighbors got a big pool, and the kids have had a blast swimming in it. I'm already checking out end of season sales to get one for next year. Now to convince my husband...

Wide awake after her middle of the night feeding. 

Sadly, this is the only picture I have of Brad and Jenna's wedding. Alison was great the whole time, and got passed around a lot since it was freezing at the reception and everyone wanted her to keep them warm.  :-)

We had a cook out with our care group (small group from church) a few Sunday afternoons ago. Our group had grown a lot in the past year, and now has 18 adults and 31 kids! We rented a huge bouncy house, which the kids (and adults) had a blast in! 

I picked up some sweet corn at the store one day and we had it for supper that night. Luke had Bridget convinced that she loved corn on the cob since we have picture of her eating some when she was little. We were cracking up at the above picture of her taking a bite, because it perfectly shows her "I really don't like this" face with her nostrils flared. Carter, of course, loved it and cleaned his cob completely off.

Almost got a smile on camera, but not quite. 

Shiloh loves Alison! All night she kept asking to "hold you." Hopefully these two week be great friends someday! 

We finally moved Carter to a big bed. This was the first night he slept in it, and when I went up to check on him before I went to bed, I noticed he had taken his pants off before going to sleep. :-) He has done really well with the transition and sleeps just fine! 

She makes the greatest faces! (And I think my toes are in almost every picture I have of her)

Out and about

After a few weeks of staying home, we were all ready for a change of scenery. Our first big outing by ourselves was to a play date with Alissa and boys. We actually made it out of the house by 9:45 and headed to Tremont. We took a bit of a detour however, because just as we were getting off interstate and into the ramp I heard a loud pop/bang and then something dragging. I could see that something was hanging off the underside of the front bumper. After a phone chat with Luke, and a quick nursing session on the side of the road, we very slowly proceeded towards Tremont and to the repair shop. Half an hour later we back on the road to our play date. 

This sweet lady turned 4 weeks! 

Hanging out outside, in my desperate attempt to get some sun. 

Riding scooters and bikes fills up the majority of Bridget and Carter's time outside. On this day, Carter went outside fully clothed, and wearing shoes. When I came out about fifteen minutes later, he was stripped down to his diaper.  :-)

Sweet, sleepy baby

 

Riding around in the moby wrap is one of her favorite things. 

Alison's first two Sunday's at church I forgot to take a picture of her. So I finally snapped one the third week, of her in her cute little dress from aunt Tammy. 

Bad picture, but this was Alison's first bottle! Luke was gone, so I was trying to hold her, feed her the bottle, and take a picture at the same time. She did a great job drinking it all down!

Summer days

We were cracking up laughing at Alison raising her hand like she had a question. 

Horsey back rides with uncle Luke. He is such a fun uncle and plays so good with the kids. 

Morning snuggles

All snuggled up and sleeping in the moby wrap. She loves being in it, and will usually fall right to sleep. 

Little buddy loves his popsicles. Unfortunately they make a huge mess so he doesn't get them too often. 

On father's day we went to my mom and dad's for a delicious steak dinner. Uncle Adam have the kids rides on his motorcycle.

Also on father's day, my mom tried to pawn off all mine and Wendi's old clothes. Bridget feel in love with this dress and begged to bring it home. The next day she wanted to put it on, and told me "mom, I can't wait to wear this dress to church on Sunday." Um... sorry honey, Mom has a strict no collar policy.

Out of order... Carter's turn on the motorcycle.