candy goblins

Thing one, Thing two & Cat in the Hat

our cute little cat

with Emma & Jackson at trunk or treat
Sheridan's trunk or treat
Texas Road House armadillo
loving the ride
one of the many times people asked to take photos. the boys were not thrilled

Halloween fun started last week for us. We went to a neighborhood party at a local church that had games, food and trick or treating. Carter's favorite part was the bounce house of course. I made their costumes this year and was pretty happy with the results. I even got refreshed on my sewing skills (yay for 4-H). We got a ton of comments on them, thanks for the idea Erin! Then this week on Wednesday night we went to trunk or treat at Sheridan Lutheran church. It was really cold and windy and Camden was not a fan. The two oldest have found a love for candy, and I think this is their favorite holiday because of the candy. Camden yells "canee" a lot. Tonight we have several stops but I am sure the night will be filled with fun.

Does he look like me?

Except the nose I think he looks like me.

6 weeks

It's true, he is 6 weeks. I see him developing a little personality as he is turning into a more alert baby. He is really interested in peoples faces and I think I see a smile coming on. For the first time yesterday I really heard some cooing and noises coming from him. He is still a chubby bubby. I feel like he is a three month old. He is holding his head pretty well and really likes being forward facing as much as possible. We are working on a napping/sleeping schedule. He hates sleeping in his crib during the day but we have had a few good times where he falls asleep and stays asleep. Why are kids so difficult some times? I tell myself everyday that this won't last forever. Please God have mercy on my soul and let him learn to sleep good during the day and night. Sometimes I feel like this is my first child. I should know what to do now that he is my third. On a good note, when he sleeps well he is a happy baby and fun to be with. He loves to cuddle which makes me so happy. He is such a sweet boy!

crazy days

a typical moment/day at our house

enjoying the candy Tasha got us when we had Callan

bath time

sleeping sound for at least 20 minutes

tummy time tired him out

grandparents

loving on Tatze

holding his baby brother (one of 1,000 times)

helping me fold laundry

hanging with his boys

Matching, thanks aunt Erin!

hanging with uncle Brian

his favorite place, the sling

I haven't done a big update on all the other two boys lately and felt like I need to write a couple of things down before I forget. The days are flying by and have no idea where September went. Anyway I am posting a bunch of random photos and just writing about what the boys have been doing lately.
Camden is so funny and stubborn lately. He is a parrot and is repeating all kinds of words. The cutest thing he says now is Callan's name. When you ask him or when he is looking for the baby he says "baby Calleen" It is so cute. It isn't lasting though, because he is starting to say Callan better now. He has even started to say some sentence fragments. He really likes to play independently and has been an amazingly easy child when Carter is in preschool. He just plays on his own and reads books to himself quietly. It is crazy how different he is when Carter is not around. Now that being said he loves his older brother and has a blast playing with him, until he gets hurt. They are like two peas in a pod. They get into a lot of trouble these days. Carter has learned the art of making Camden do all his dirty work and Camden willingly does it. He also does this really funny thing where when you ask him a question and the answer is yes he actually shakes his head yes. But because it is a little difficult he uses his whole body and the head nod "yes" is exaggerated. So cute! He is Mr. Stubborn and refuses to eat most veggies, some fruit and other random food items. Not coaxing, or bribing works for this kid. NOTHING! He also sat in his high chair the other day for 45 minutes after a meal because he refused to say down please. He would say down just not please. He eventually fell asleep in his high chair. He still takes good 2-3 hour naps a day and has been filling in holes in his mouth. By the end of the month all of his eye teeth should be in. He also likes to sing with us and will say the end of phrases. He will also do the actions to several songs and is very proud of himself when he does it. The best story of all happened tonight. The boys were all reading before bed and Camden was reading the "Jesus Loves Me" book and flipping the pages. As he was flipping he was singing and even got some of the words. He was in his own little world singing the book like daddy does to him.
Carter has been a handful. Those who said 3 is worse than 2 were exactly right. He is testing any and every boundary he can. He wants to do his own thing and doesn't like to be told no. He has a permanent butt print in time out. We know he is trying to get a rise out of us most of the time but it is hard to not react. He has good days and bad. The thing is, is that he can be such a sweet boy. He can be very helpful and sweet to his brothers. The first thing he does in the morning is look for "new baby" and talk to him. He will put his binky in any time he cries and asks a million times a day to hold him. He loves him and is such a good big brother. He also helps Camden and can play so nice with him. He just wants to do what he wants to do when he wants to do it. This kid is a master manipulator and politician. He works us like crazy when we say no. It is pretty amazing. He is still loving preschool but hates sunday school and cries every week. It is really weird. Outside is still his favorite place to be and I see him imaginary playing a lot now. He tells me amazing and outlandish stories!
That is about it. Well actually I need to go feed the baby so I need to go.

Sunwest Farms

Camden enjoying the weeds

Carter loved climbing on the pumpkins
first trip to the pumpkin patch (last year I had Camden in the sling)

playing with dad

on the big hay spider

this was a little old and rickety

my little sunflower

loving on the grandparents

a family picture (it was the best we could do)

This last weekend we went to Sunwest Farms for a little pumpkin picking and fun. We took Al and Karen with us and the kids had a blast. They playing in the bounce house, in pumpkin piles and Al and Carter launched apples with a sling shot. It was a beautiful day out, and even Callan enjoyed himself.

5 weeks

My baby seems like he is 3 months old already. at his month appointment he weighed 11lbs 2oz! He is huge! He has great head control already and can push his head up pretty far with tummy time. He is tracking things and really turning to voices. We are trying to get him into a routine now which has had its ups and downs. He is eating about every 3 hours and waking up once at night. We tried him in his crib the last two nights and the first night wasn't the greatest but last night went well. I am just hoping he will start to space out that night feed soon. Otherwise he won't fit in 0-3 month onesies much longer or 3-6 months for that matter. He still has his fussy days/hours but he seems to be getting better. If I held him all day he would be super happy. I might just be being optimistic. He just needs to learn to sleep in his crib or somewhere other than someones arms for longer periods. (he does great at night though, very weird) I just have to share a few things about my baby so I don't forget later. First off he has my weird pinky toe, and I am so sad to say that I think he has my yucky pastey white skin tone. :( the other boys have Chads. He is growing a small mullet as his head grows. He has a love hate relationship with his binky. He is super chubby and squishy with a double chin and big cheeks. He is looking more and more like Carter every day. It is amazing to me how fast he is growing and how my arms are already sad to loose the little baby.

Callan's Baptism

Being baptized by Pastor Sarah

The newly baptized

God Parents Faith and Tanner
all of us
The amazing quilt Judy (my God Mother) made for Callan
Callan in his new blanket made by grandma Ellen

We had Callan baptized on Sunday 10-10-10 and the 8:30 service. It was a really nice baptism and Callan was really good during the service. We had family over for brunch afterwards and it was delicious. Thanks to all of our family that helped bring food and helped watch our kids. We couldn't have done it with out you!

Happy Birthday Tatze

Happy Birthday Tatze!

Today is Tatze's Birthday! She turns 5 today. She is getting old and gray but is still as feisty as ever. Happy Birthday Girl!

4 weeks

Callan is four weeks today! He is getting so big! I am amazed at how fast it is going. He has a really strong head and is starting to track and find voices. He was baptized this weekend and that went well. He is still eating and sleeping about the same. He is going a few more 3 hour stretches with feeding and still doing one 4-5 hour stretch at night followed by another 3-4 hour stretch. Not to bad. I am pretty tired but I keep telling myself that it won't last forever. I am already a little sad that this is my last baby and it is going so fast. On the other hand I dream about the day that all the kids are self sufficient. Callan has been pretty fussy this last week and we are not sure why. He has good days and bad. He likes to be held and lets you know when he has been put down for too long. His favorite position is to be held forward bent over. We think that feels good on his gassy belly and he can sit up and see the world a little bit. The other boys are adjusting nicely and love on their brother as much as they can. Carter is SO good with him and loves to hold him. We are so proud of him for being such a great big brother. Camden does well too but is less interested in him than Carter is. The first thing Carter does in the morning is find out where "new baby" is. We wonder how long he will be "new baby" . They both call him Callan but Carter prefers to refer to him as new baby. Maybe it is because we prayed every night for the "new baby" that he just can't let that go. We go in later this week for his one month appointment so I will let you know what all the stats are. He is a porker that's for sure!

3 weeks

Little Callan Reed turned 3 weeks yesterday! I feel like he is getting so big so fast. My other babies were so much smaller that it seemed like it took them awhile to get to the size that Callan is. I feel like he is turning into his own little person with a personality. I will say my easy going baby has been a little more difficult this week. He tends to have a fussy time in the evening that can be mild to severe and we have no idea what makes it worse some nights than others. Last night he did great. He had a great evening and slept really well. But the past two nights, the evenings have been tough with lots of crying and the nights were only ok. He prefers to be held or at least given attention during the day. When he gets bored of being in his chair he will cry just to be held. This would be fine if he was an only child but since he is not it can make for some difficult days. He is really starting to recognize and track things. When I have him on the floor he looks and tries to follow his crazy brothers as they run around and bother him. Other than that we are getting along nicely. I think the transition from 2 to 3 hasn't been as hard as I thought. (but I did have a lot of help the first few weeks) There is not enough time in the day to get all the things done that need to be done but I think we will adjust and I keep telling myself that none of this will last forever and that I need to enjoy while it's here.

2 weeks

Callan is two weeks today! Time is flying by as usual. Luckily this time, time is flying by and I am not wishing the time away. Callan has been such a good baby so far and I have enjoyed this first few weeks with him. With all the help I have had I have really been able to enjoy him and spend some good time with him. I haven't worried as much this time around about weight, bili, spit ups, and sleep. Things have come together pretty nice. He has his fussy moments and has had a few rough nights but overall I couldn't have asked for a better experience and what a nice way to go out (since we are not having any more kids). I took him to the pedi today and his weight was 9lbs 2oz! He surpassed his birth weight by 2 weeks. That means he is feeding well and doing what he is suppose to do. The boys are still adjusting to a new schedule, but I think they are doing well. They both "love" on him a lot and Carter is still very interested in making sure Callan is apart of all the things we do. Callan is most happy when being held or close to someone but is content in his bouncy seat. He is has a love/hate relationship with the swing and is not fond of being left alone in his bassinet unless he is sleeping. He still has the hiccups multiple times a day like he did in the womb. He is eating anywhere from 2-3 hours during the day and is going anywhere from 3-5 hours at a stretch at night. He is awake a decent amount during the day and is usually content.

1 week

Callan turned 1 week old on Monday. I can't believe a week has already gone by. Things are going really well and I couldn't be happier. Just a little update on how things are going. Callan left the hospital weighing 8lbs 3oz last Wednesday. On Thursday he was 8-2 in the office. Then on Friday he gained weight and was up to 8-5. On Saturday I took him to milk works to weigh him and he was 8-6. Then after may days of no pooping he finally started and it was quite the show. So needless to say on Sunday he was down to 8-3. I was started to get a little worried but I skipped Monday and went in today he was up to 8-9! I am happy that feeding him every 2 hours is working. He seems to be happy and my milk seems to be keeping up. He is a GREAT breast feeder which I am ecstatic about. I can feed him anywhere without 7,000 pillows and just the right place. I have been blessed. He is sleeping pretty good at night too. He will go 3, 4 and 5 hour stretches. He has his fussy times but he is super cuddly and overall been a pretty good baby. It only gets tough when he is fussy and other boys need us for things like getting meals ready or getting ready for bed. I am feeling awesome and so glad I did VBAC. I feel like I have my body back (minus some pelvic pain still) and I don't have painful incisions or limitations. We have been blessed with lots of help from friends, family and MOPS people. Thank you to all of you who have brought us a meal, helped with the older kids, or have been around to help with anything and everything. We are grateful for every little thing, because every little thing helps us out a TON! Feel free to stop by anytime for a visit, we are almost always home.

Brothers

This is as good as I could get

They both took turns leaning down to kiss him

here are a few extra pictures...

Sunbathing

Sleepy baby

Home Sweet Home

Our New Family

Going Home

asleep in the bouncy seat

big brother watching over

Well we made it home safe and sound today about 11:30. We are all adjusting to our new life and I think it is going to take a little getting use to. The delivery went so well and we are so happy to have a big term baby. He is a great breast feeder, but not a good sleeper. He wants to eat all day and fusses when you put him down. I was hoping we would catch a break and get a calm easy going child, but no such luck. He left the nursery doing well. His weight was down to 8-3 and his bilirubin level was 11 so we are going to go get it checked tomorrow. we did put him in the sun today so hopefully that will help. I think my milk is coming in so maybe, just maybe that will help him calm down as well. If you want to visit, come on by. We should be here.