Easter 2015

Collins' was so in to Easter this year.  She would have sat and colored eggs for another hour if we hadn't ran out of egg and although she wasn't very quick, she loved finding eggs.  Lucky for her, she got to experience 2 Easter egg hunts.  What she didn't love about Easter? The Easter bunny himself.  I can't blame her though, their always a bit creepy looking.  Brooks wasn't phased though.

Saturday my brother hosted an Easter egg hunt for his clients.  There were 2,000 eggs (I'm not even lying.  He even said he wanted 4,000 next year), donuts, the Easter bunny and it all took place at our favorite park.  Couldn't have asked for a better morning, complete with cousins.  Collins ripped her tights about 10 minutes after we got there but luckily it wasn't too cold.

For the second year in a row, Collins got to wake up and find her hidden Easter basket with Paxton and Harper.  As if one Easter basket wasn't enough, nana Jana loaded them up with a second Easter basket. 

We hosted actual Easter at our house.  It was tight but we fit all 24 people in here.  It was nice enough that people could be on the deck and the kids spent a lot of time playing outside.  Derek smoked his first turkey and my mom took care of the rest of the food.  It was all so delicious.  The kids got to do another Easter egg hunt after lunch and Collins' proceeded to eat her weight in candy.  Brooks' was a little overwhelmed with all the people in our house but aside from a couple meltdowns, he hammed it up and was ok being passed around. 

 

 

Bromance

 

We were so happy my moms side of the family could make it for Easter.  It was another holiday that we deeply missed my uncle but my aunt gave us all wind chimes as a thank you gift from the funeral and we all kept thinking of him each time we heard them. Wonderful weekend!

 

 

 

Lifestyle pics by auntie

When auntie Amy says "lets go take your pictures," you go get your pics taken.  That's the great thing about lifestyle pics. No fancy outfits, no props and trying to pose a wild 2 year old or a 6 month old that just wants to play with his feet.  Just my babies, in our home, doing what they love to do. 

Let's start with Mr. Brooks.  Clearly he's "not quite on the growth chart.". Baby rolls make me weak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collins was in heaven getting to jump on her bed. I can't get her to take pics but she always turns it on for auntie

 

 

 

Let's be real, these 2 had a lot to do with the smiles coming from my kids. They love their cousins big time. Swoon.

 

 

As always, thank you sister for capturing our family.  I don't feel as bad only capturing pics through my phone because I can always count on you to get the best of pics. 

Brooks at 7 months

This is all happening way too fast.  Although I don't wish to relive those first few months, I would like him to stay exactly how he is now.  Ridiculously happy, content and such a lover.  I could just squeeze him all day long. 

Stats|  16lbs and 9oz and I'm guessing around 25.5 inches.  We had his weight check today and he's still not up on the growth curve.  We just don't make big kiddos so I'm not all that surprised.  We'll keep pushing solids and our pediatrician said to try some table foods for more calories.  Wearing 6-9 month clothes and moved up to a size 3 diaper. 

Eating|   We introduced formula this month and he is taking 1 bottle of formula a day.  He needed to gain some weight and I had hopes that formula before bed would keep him fuller throughout the night. HA! He nurses 4-6 times a day and has solids 2 times a day.  I've given him a couple table foods like pears, apple, banana, green beans, peas, etc.  He can pick up the peas but can't quite get them to his mouth.  Big lover of fruit and big hater of green vegetables.  I give him a Sippy (my computer won't stop capitalizing that word. ggrrr) after he eats and he can drink from it but mostly chews on it.

 Sleeping| Sleeps from 7:15pm-7:30am waking 1-2 times to nurse.  We try to make him put himself back to sleep if he wakes before 2am but I usually cave after an hour because I just want to go back to sleep.  His eyes always pop open at 7:30am on the dot and he's ready for a morning nap about 2 hours from waking up.  Morning naps are usually on the go but he takes an afternoon nap at 1pm when Collins does.  Naps last 1-2 hours.  He goes crazy with excitement kicking his legs and moving his arms when we peek over his crib when he wakes up. See below

Play| Officially a sitter.  I put a pillow behind him just in case but he can sit and play all on his own now.  He's very content to lay on his back and play with his feet and has no desire to crawl.  He'll wiggle and push with his feet when he's laying on his back and can move a little but nothing when he's on his stomach. Fine by me, I'm not looking forward to a mobile baby.  Pulled out the older baby toys that are more interactive (loud) and I'm not sure who looks them more, him or Collins. He can shake his head no, pulls blankets off his head for peek a boo and almost has the wave down. 

 Health| Just needs to keep working on adding some weight

Likes|  We've had some great weather lately so we spend as much time outside as we can.  He's so happy outside and loves going on walks and swinging at the park.  Still always wants to jump, watch sister, take a bath, sing songs and dance, grab and chew on anything, his feet and watching TV.

Dislikes| I really can't think of anything.  He's just a very happy baby that hasn't shown any signs of separation anxiety or stranger danger. 

You make me so happy Brooksie bear.  Love you big time. 

Boston recommendations

Calling all travelers and Boston peeps! Me and the kiddos are flying solo gulp to Boston next week and I need tips and advice.  Derek will be there 10 days for training so we're going to meet him there for a couple days.  We are well aware of the 100 feet of snow and cold temperatures they have but if it means seeing daddy and getting away for a few days, count me in!  So here's where you come in...

 

  I think I have a plan for the airport.  My mom or brother will be taking us to the airport so they can help me inside and getting the luggage and car seats checked.  I plan on wearing Brooks in my ergo, diaper bag back pack on my back, Collins in stroller with carry on bag under that.  I need all ideas for keeping 2 small children happy on the flight.  It's during nap time so I pray they both sleep but I'd like to plan for the worst.  I've got Collins favorite sticker book shipped to our house to surprise her with on the flight and I'm going to pack a ton of snacks for her.  Food is the way to her heart.  I need some preschool app recommendations and anything else you got for me.  Brooks will hopefully nurse and pass out but I'll have the carry on full of toys and teethers for him.  Think he could have those mum mum teething biscuits at 6.5 months?? It's an almost 3 hour flight and I'm checking our car seats so Collins will have her own seat and Brooks on my lap.

 

Collins' last (and only) flight.  She is ssooo excited to go on an airplane

 

b.  The biggest stress is when we get there.  Derek will be in training so we're going to have a car service pick me and the kids up and take us to the hotel.  I'll have to get the luggage and car seats myself and get them installed in the car.  My sweet friend Ashley is letting me borrow her car seat cover so Collins car seat will be in that which turns into a backpack I can wear.  It might weigh me down but hopefully Brooks on the front of me will keep me grounded.  It's going to be quite the sight, I assure you. 

 

c.  So hopefully we make it to the hotel and then I'm sure I'll be ready for a drink.  We are staying in Marlborough but have plans to go into Boston on Saturday. We need restaurant suggestions and things to do.  Keep in mind that it will be cold so probably not anything outside. I'm so sad the whale watching doesn't start until April because we ALL would have really enjoyed that.  No baseball games this time of year either :(

 

Please say a prayer for a safe trip, that I keep my sanity and that the kids behave.  We have a car rented for our stay and Derek can take us back to the airport and get us checked in and my mom will be waiting for us at the KC airport when we get back. I can do this, I can do this, I can do this...

 

Brooks at 6 months

Stats| 15lbs 14oz (25%), 25 1/4 in (12%) and head is 17in (25%). He dropped below the curve in weight and height so we're going to push the solids more and possibly do 1 formula bottle before bed. Something I was considering anyway in hopes of him sleeping better. She wasn't too concerned with his weight but he didn't gain as much from 4 to 6 months as she'd like to see. We go back in a month for his 2nd flu shot and weight check. She's pretty sure he wasn't measure correctly at his 4 month because there was a big jump from 2 to 4 months and then a drop from 4 to 6 months. The 4 month length just isn't adding up quite right. He's short no doubt, but I don't think he shrunk. 

Eating| Apparently not enough but he hates baby food so it just seems like a waste of time to me. Pears have been the only thing he's actually eaten all of and I tricked him one night and added peas to them and he ate that as well. I have a feeling he'll be more of a table food eater and not so much baby food. He grabs our food so I had the genius idea of letting him gnaw on an apple the other night, yeah he bit off a piece and choked. My mom, sister and me were all freaking out at Chick-fil-A We won't be going the baby led weaning quite yet. I better brush up on my CPR first.  He nurses roughly 7 times a day and drinks 5oz from a bottle before bed. 

 

Sleeping| He was doing decent and then his 2 bottom teeth poked through-- Um what? Didn't expect those pearly whites for a couple more months. And then he got a cough and cold and that has him waking all freaking night. Morning nap is about an hour, afternoon one is 1.5 hours and we let him take a 30 min cat nap before dinner.  Sleeping 7:30pm-7:30am with multiple wake ups. Sometimes just giving him his pacifier puts him back to sleep and sometimes I just cave and feed him so that I can go back to sleep. 

Play| He finally rolled back to stomach this month. We were at my sisters and I went to check on him and he was asleep on his stomach! Not how I had left him. He continued to do it every night for about a week but wouldn't ever do it during the day for us. Little does he know that we have a video monitor and could see him do it during the night. Stinker. He can sit for several seconds but prefers to stand up or lay down. Doctor even said today that she thinks he'll be an early walker. Let's just hope it's not as early as Collins walked.

 

 

Health| Thanks to an older sibling, he's just now getting over a pretty nasty cough and cold. We made a doctors visit when he spiked an almost 102 temp and Collins was battling a fever/cough/cold as well. The fever was short lived and he was a pretty good sport about being sick. I didn't complain about the extra cuddles either. Ok maybe once when I had to sleep in the recliner with him all night. So we'll pack on the lbs and everything else checked out great at the doctor. 

Likes| I have a feeling I'll say this every month but he is truly in love with Collins. Always has his eyes on her and smiling. If he's standing up he's jumping, has way too much liking for the TV and loves kicking and splashing (and peeing) in the bath. 

 

 

Dislikes| when he rolls onto his back while he's sleeping and baby food. 

Oh how I love this baby boy.  His open mouth kisses, the way he's started to reach for us, his blue eyes, tiny feet and contagious smile. He will never grow up, he will never grow up... 

5 on Friday

 oh hey Friday! 

1. You can thank me later for these recipes. Someone brought these cookies to the super bowl party we went and I could have ate them all. I hardly knew the people so I stopped after 2 but I made them Monday and they are long gone.  So easy and so good. We also had this soup this week and it's now filed under 1 of my favorite soups. I added ground sausage at the end because we like a little meat with our meals.

2.  Miss Collins has been acting like a baby recently. Literally. She'll lay on the floor and make us shake a toy in front of her like we do with Brooks. She makes us feed her an empty bottle and then burp her. She's feeling a bit jealous lately so we're doing our best to give her as much Collins and mommy or Collins and daddy time as we can. She's still obsessed with Brooks, just wanting extra attention. 

3.  I don't do as many learning activities as I should with Collins, but we did manage to get a fun one in this week.  She does great pointing at the right color and correctly put almost every heart candy on the paper heart.  I think her favorite part was eating them.  Those candies are so sick.  

4.  We've got a tooth.  Collins didn't get a tooth till she always almost 8 months so I was shocked to find one in Brooks' mouth.  Explains the buckets of drool.  He hasn't been his always happy self but not too cranky either.  Let the months and months of teething start again.  

 

And also...sitting!

5.  Derek starts a new job on Monday and we are so excited for this next chapter.  He won't be traveling much and it seems like a really great company.  Yay! I just gotta survive his week of training in Florida next week.  I'm slightly jealous that I don't get to go and that I have to keep the children alive by myself for 5 days.  Who can I convice to come stay with us? Any takers?

Brooks at 5 months

 This boy has completely stolen my heart.  Every time I look at him I just want to smother him in kisses and eat his cheeks. He's just so easy to please and constantly smiling. I would have never believed you that he'd turn out this great 3 months ago.  Now I'm just going to need to bottle him up and keep him like this forever. 

Stats| We were just at his 4 month appt a couple weeks ago so I'm assuming he hasn't gained much.  Maybe closer to 15lbs now and probably still 25 in.  Mostly wearing 3-6 month clothes but the 6-9 month ones are washed and I made a few 9 month purchases today. Gulp. Size 2 diaper seems to still be fitting.  If you want to buy diapers in bulk, go with #2's.  I think babies are in this size the longest.   

Eating| Milk only for this guy.  Rice, oatmeal (even banana flavored), sweet potatotes and squash are disgusting according to him.  Bite goes in, horrible face, spits it out.  Repeat.  And if you keep trying to shove it down his throat, he WILL puke.  He nurses roughly 7 times during the day/night and drinks 4oz when he has a bottle.

Sleeping| The sleeping needed to change and the 4 month sleep regression is our "this baby has to learn to put himself to sleep."  We did it with Collins too.  We waited till after our travels for Christmas and dove in the week after.  There wasn't much training to do though, he has done so great with being swaddled, sang twinkle twinkle little star and then into the crib he goes.  He'll rub his head back and forth for a bit (forever gonna have a bald spot) and then off to dreamland.  Occassionally we have to go in and give him his binky or re swaddled throughout the night.  The breaking of the swaddle is where we are having issues now.  We are down to 1 arm in and 1 arm out but he hates being swaddled and usually gets the other arm out.  But he can't sleep with both arms free so it's a vicious cycle we are trying to break.  He sleeps 7:30pm-7am usually waking around 1:30am and 5:30am.  I probably go in and give him his pacifier 1-2/night as well.  Ideal sleeping? No.  But so much better then the past. 2, 1-1.5 hour naps and a 30 min. evening nap.

 Play| He rolls stomach to back and is sssooo close to rolling back to stomach.  He'll kick his legs into the air and roll to the side and really arch his back in attempt to roll over.  I love when he puts his tiny little feet in the air and grabs them.  I am a-ok with him not rolling over.  Makes things a lot easier on me when I know he isn't going anywhere.  He can sit for a couple seconds on his own and is a jumping machine.  He's starting to figure out how to jump in his jumper and he cracks up when Collins jumps around trying to get him to jump.  He grabs everything within reach (including sisters hair and although she doesn't like it, she doesn't get upset with him), and puts everything in his mouth. Omg the drool! We need a new Amber teething necklace for his ankle stat.  I am a total believer that it helped Collins.  She never drooled. 

Health| Most sensitive skin ever.  Absolutely no smells for him or he will break out with eczema.  

Likes| Finally a silent passenger in the car!!! Pushing himself up to the top of his crib.  I can have his feet touching the bumper and within 2 minutes he'll have his head to the top of the crib.  Just by kicking and pushing with his feet.  Loves bath time, his mommy, daddy and sister.

Dislikes| Sudden noises, solids, he's had a couple instances where he's pouted his bottom lip and cried with my mom and Amber.  I think we're treading the stranger danger phase even though he's around other people almost every day. 

Brooks, you melt me into a puddle every day.  Your smile is contagious and I adore when you get bashful and hide your face in my neck.  You're such a good sport about your sister always being in your face. You don't mind when we get bored and try headbands on you (ssshhh, don't tell daddy but you make a cute girl).  You have mommy's blue eyes even though you look just like daddy.  Maybe one day your hair will come in but I'll keep kissing that bald head until it does.  You really are the best, bubba.  Hugs and Kisses!

Day he came home vs. 5 months