A little rest

After the last few crazy months, Ben and I felt like we needed a little family refreshment.  Ben just started his last 3 classes of seminary (hurray!) and we thought what better place to sit and read than on the beach.  So when some friends invited us to join them for a couple of days at their beach house, we were excited for a little getaway.

Colin sleeping on the beach

Have I mentioned that Colin hates his carseat?  or that I get carsick?  or that Eli is potty training?  Our supposed to be 3 hour car ride consisted of nonstop crying, my hand arched behind my seat trying to find something to calm the screaming baby which resulted in feeling carsick, and stopping every 30 minutes because Eli is crying, "I HAVE TO GO POTTY!" and would not pee in his pull up under any circumstances.

 

I admit I had hesitations the days leading up to leaving.  Colin still has been pretty fussy and I was nervous that he would just make everyone miserable...just like Eliot did when we took him 2 years ago.  Ben encouraged me to not set expectations on the trip and just enjoy being with our family.  I prayed it would give us uninterrupted time to just play together-time that I wouldn't be preoccupied with thinking about my to-do list.  I thought for sure the sound of the ocean would keep Colin calm the whole time.

Little did I know that the calming sound of the ocean would come from an Ap on my iPhone and not the actual ocean.  It rained every single day that we were there.  Alison kept saying, "it's not supposed to rain at the beach".  You're telling me!  We played candyland and ping pong, did a puzzle and watched movies.  But I think we only made it down to the beach a total of 2 times.

building a sandcastle with Megan

 

Eli very sad that daddy went down to the water without him

The time we did have at the beach, the kids had a blast.  We buried eachother in the sand, collected seashells, ran to the pier, and jumped in the waves.  It made me look forward to the day that we can stay down at the beach all day long.

short family walk on the beach...in the rain

I was thankful to have some time away, but after a couple of days, Colin made it clear that he was done sleeping in the pack n' play and we were all ready to come home.  And as we packed up to leave, I realized how thankful I am to have a home I'm excited to get back to.  What a comfort home can be.

On our way out, Ben took Alison and Eliot out on the pier to do some sight seeing while I fed Colin, in hopes that it would make the car ride home a little quieter.  It worked for awhile-the boys slept for a good hour while Alison played the iPad.  Then we hit some traffic and Eli started wailing for the potty.  I don't understand how the boy will poop in his pants every single day, but tell him to pee in a pull up and he looks at you like you're crazy.

Check Ups

Alison and Colin had check-ups last week.  For some reason I thought it was a brilliant plan to schedule them at the same time, but just for the record, 2 kids getting 4 shots each + a potty training toddler=not a brilliant plan!  Plus I used fruitsnacks as my ploy to keep everyone quiet, which only resulted in crazy kids all afternoon.  Have I mentioned that fruitsnacks are like crack to my kids?  They are banned from the house and only given on rare occasions.  Anyway, I'm happy to report that we have 2 healthy kids.  Colin has stopped taking Zantac and while I wish there was a solution to his fussiness, I'm thankful that there isn't a real health problem and hopefully in the next couple of months he'll grow out of his colic.  He does have a herniated bellybutton and some thrush in his mouth, both of which should go away on their own.  What I found funny about the visit were my kids statistics: 
Alison-3ft 9 in (94th percentile) and 41 lbs (58th percentile)....i.e. tall and skinny
Colin-22.5 in (26th percentile) and 11 lbs 11 oz ( 42nd percentile)...i.e. short and stout
Alison's stats have always been about what they are now and Eliot's always been about 50/50, but it makes me wonder if Alison will be taller than her brothers.  And I've never had a chubby baby, but Colin is definitely starting to get little leg rolls. 

Aunt Sophie's Visit

Sophie flew Alison home and then stayed a few days so she could spend some time with Colin.  While she was here, she sang with Ben at church, watched the kids while we went out and took me to get our nails done.  It was so much fun having her here and was just what we all needed.

I can't remember what made him cry, but this picture just cracks me up

Just the Boys

Colin started sucking his thumb

Alison went back to Tennessee with Mimi and Poppy for a few days
It gave Ben and I time with Eli and Colin and that we've never had before and I feel like Eliot came out of his shell a little more.

playing "camping"

Eli quieting Colin while watching Thomas

testing out the new play mat

  Alison got a chance to do some new activities that I wouldn't be able to do with her right now (bowling, rollerskating, bungy jumping and going to the zoo)

Now for a little clip of my firstborn for a week:

*first part: he's pretending Colin's baby toy is superman, until the cat joins in on the chanting and scares him.

*middle: he whistles by squeezing his cheeks together and screaming then summons Colin to the bath by shouting "bath time!" and clapping his hands (I wish I could say I have no idea where he learned this)

*last part: boys tucked in bed.  I hear a tinkering noise in the dark, only to discover Eliot playing with his train in the dark in the hallway...boys.

2 Months

2 Months old

He's just getting too big

 before I know it, he'll be as big as this

At 2 months, Colin is still a pretty good baby, but is going through his classic Shear fussy stage.  I'm starting to believe it's not really reflux, but I couldn't tell you what is wrong.  I think he definitely has some tummy issues, but he's sleeping well unlike his siblings.  He still hates the carseat with a passion and would rather be put in his bed to sleep than being held or rocked.  He's holding his head up really well and I'm looking forward to the next couple of months when he can start sitting up.

Mimi and Poppy meet Colin

 Rick, Rachel, Madisyn and Cierra all made the long drive here to meet Colin.

Yes, the Olympics are on in the background...they were on all week and I miss being able to sit and watch them.

Our kids are so blessed to have some amazing Aunts who just love on them.

I don't want to say my kids have favorites, but Eli has especially bonded to Aunt Madisyn.  From sun up to sun down he asks for Aunt Madisyn when she's here.  Poppy on the other hand, he had a little trouble with...he kept calling him Grandma.  We all thought it was pretty funny, but I'm not sure Rick was laughing too hard.

We spent a lot of time just hanging out, watching the Olympics.  It was refreshing to be able to just sit.

Yep, I was one happy momma.  Extra hands to hold the baby and play with the kids, Ben cooked all the food and Rick always cleaned up the kitchen.  I pretty much had it made.

 

While they were here, we had our second Adventure Days at Hope.  Unfortunately I wasn't feeling well and Colin was super fussy, so I had to stay home.  But Ben took Alison and she had a blast.  It was Olympic themed and this is Alison attempting the long jump.

 

Alison went back to Tennessee with Mimi and Poppy for a few days and we're getting a taste of what life would be like with just 2 boys.  So far, it's pretty stinkin' quiet!

chillin' with Mimi

Looking at pictures with Poppy

Saying goodbye to Aunt Cie

the boys testing out the blanket Mimi made for Colin

Things I will never understand

• Why strangers feel it's necessary to say "Wow, you've got your hands full!" and why I hear it ALL the time.  Really makes me want to say, "Wow, you're hands are empty and your just standing there starring at me.  Why don't you help a momma out?  P.S. I like my "hands full"!"

• Why Alison begs for food she doesn't really like (i.e. lunchables and Chick-fil-A)

• Why I always ruin the first crepe of the batch

• Why I can never remember when the recycling comes

• Why Ben gets so much grief over wearing sweatbands...I think it's cute

• Why mini muffins are so irresistible.  Same recipe, bigger muffins, no one eats them.  But put that batter in mini muffins and they're gone in less than 24 hours.
 

 
• Why people at the commissary are notorious for standing right smack in the middle of the aisle

• Why little boys can be sitting on the potty and still get pee ALL over the bathroom

My boys

Colin 7 weeks

Eliot 2 years

Happy Birthday Alison!

We celebrated just as a family on Alison's birthday.
Ben took the kids to get Ringo's donuts first thing in the morning and then we opened presents.  Top on Alison's wish list was a Dream Lite.

 Another top present was bubble gum.  Many years ago, I told Alison that she wasn't allowed to chew gum until she was 5.  At the time, I was just trying to put off the event for a very long time.  Time flies by too fast and I had to keep my word...so for her 5th birthday, Alison was allowed to chew gum for the first time.

Now Eliot thinks he should be able to chew gum too.  Things were much easier when it was just Alison.  On that list of easier: presents.  Now we can't just buy presents for the birthday kid, you have to have compensation presents.  So Eli got a Thomas toothbrush and vitamins.  Thankfully Colin is still happy with just staring at the pretty paper.

We spent the morning at the Y and then Alison picked out a deepdish pizza lunchable for lunch.

Ben took Alison to see 'Brave' in 3D in the afternoon.  Although it was slightly scary, I think she had the time of her life on a date with her daddy.   Then they went shopping to spend her birthday money.  She picked out this vest and bow.

After the boys were up from their nap, we all met at Fort Fun to play.

It started to rain, so we headed to Chick-fil-A  for a birthday dinner...Alison's choice.

 

 We let the kids play on the playscape and heading home to skype with Grandma.  

Our first family picture

The day Alison was born

1st Birthday

2nd Birthday

3rd Birthday

4th Birthday

5th Birthday