Spitting image

One of these things looks a lot like the other...

Chase

5 months

This little Chaser boy is so much fun!  He is so active, alert, and growing so fast.  He has been doing so well with all the changes in our family.  He enjoys being around kids and handles the mauling very well.  He loves his rice cereal, and I am guessing he will be thrilled when he can have more.  He tries to grab our plates, and everything else too.  He wants to be bigger than he is, and his momma wants him to stay little!  He still sleeps with me and not being with him during the day, I cherish that time-usually... : )  I just wish we could figure out how to get him to nap better and go to bed a bit before I do so I can get something done.  

We sure love this little dude! 

Quick update

Yes it has been almost a month since I last posted. We are still alive and well, just busier than ever, and that is the truth!  But, here is a little of what has been going on in our neck of the woods. 

School started, and not just for the kids, but for me as well.  Bailey started 6th, Elli 4th, and Carter 1st, and I took my first job as a teacher in Kindergarten.  I am teaching at Elli and Carter's school which is a huge blessing.  I feel like it must really be what I am supposed to do because it is hard to get jobs in Alpine District right now and to get one a block away and where my kids are is really lucky.  It has been so busy and crazy but some how I think that isn't going to change for a while so I might as well get used to it!  The kids are loving their teachers and are adjusting again to the school life.  Elli and Carter love to pop their heads into my classroom a few times a day.  Their teachers say they have to go to the bathroom an awful lot- quite convenient that the bathrooms are located in the Kindergarten hallway : )  I am sure that will pass though.  Leaving Chase has been by far the hardest thing about this.  I still cry nearly every night but I am thankful that Steve can be home most of the day with him and work nights and that the rest of the time he is with a good friend.  My heart aches just talking about it, but I somehow find strength each day to go on.  My Kindergartners are very sweet and I am glad I can be part of their lives as well.

We started giving Chase rice cereal a few nights a week. He loves it and does really well with it. 

Chase loves his baths. The other kids enjoy it when I let him get in with them.

For Back to School night we let the kids pudding paint. It ended up being more of a "lets make the biggest mess we can night".  Chase had no clue what was going on. He just sat and watched them.

4 months

Chase

4 Months

Stats:

15 lbs 10 oz (70%)

26" (90%)

At 4 months Chase is getting much more content. For a while there I didn't know how I would survive!  He is happy and smiley most of the time and has just started to enjoy toys. My only complaint is that Chase is a terrible sleeper still.  He sleeps with me at night, and take terrible naps. The only way to get him to take a nap longer than 10 minutes is to put him on the dryer.  I try to time my laundry loads just right so that I am not running an empty dryer.  We need to break this habit soon but I am not good at solving sleep problems- obviously as my other two kids were terrible until very recently and they still can't go to sleep without songs and snuggles and being checked on a million times. I was hoping this kid would get Steve's sleeping genes, but unfortunately he got mine and takes after Elli an awful lot!  Chase has a great relationship with Elli.  She is a huge help to me and she adores him like nothing else.  All the kids are very protective of him and so far jealously hasn't been an issue.  We have recently discovered that Chase is ticklish on his tummy, pits, and neck.  It is so cute to hear him giggle!  He also likes our dog Zoey. She is a hyper spaz and he loves it.  Good thing for her, because I was about to get rid of her when no one was looking! (not really, but I wanted to!)
We are so blessed to have this wonderful, adorable, sweet little boy in our home.  A mothers love really is an amazing thing. It strengthens with each child and is so deep it's indescribable.  What a blessing to be a mother! There is nothing better! 

Growing up

Chase has graduated from the bouncy chair and moved to bigger things.  He looks mini in it still and his feet barely touch the bottom. At this point I think he is more confused than anything, but he will get the hang of it!

 Yep, doesn't daddy wish- future Seahawk champ. The kid was born into it. I know the feeling- I married into it.  (the fan team I mean-not the future champ part! That would be the day!)

#11 for Bay

Our beautiful Bailey turned 11 this month.  She is going into 6th grade, which is weird for me because that is about the time that I really start remembering things from.  I can't say they are very good memories from middle school time, but whose are right!? 

 Bailey asked for rollerblades for her birthday. Her and Elli are going to have a fun time learning together. I used to be good but would likely cause some serious damage to myself if I attempt it now.

 

Of course she had to get some "fancy" clothes. These girls love to dress up and be all glam. They even have a sign on their door that says, "Caution, high fashion.  Only in style clothes allowed."  I guess it was about 6th grade that I started really wanting Girboughs (sp?) and Doc Martins.  I even remember getting my first pair of Silver brand overalls that were super cool about that time.  I remember one of my friends wearing two different colored socks (red and yellow) with black dance jazz shoes to school and I thought she looked so cute. I wanted to copy her but she would have gotten mad.  Sad thing is, I probably had more style back then than I do now. My girls LOVE when I wear something other than jeans and T shirt and pony tail.  You would think it would motivate me to dress nicer when I get the, "Wow mom, you look so pretty today!" But it doesn't. I'm too lazy.  

Wow, that was a tangent.  Back to Bailey...

Bailey requested mud pie for her birthday cake.  She wanted specifically "Nana's recipe".  Good dessert choice for a hot summer day!

Virginia

Steve, Chase, and I were able to spend a few days in Virginia with Steve's family.  Unfortunately it wasn't all for fun.  Steve's uncle Howard passed away and we went to his funeral.  It was a wonderful celebration of his life. Although I didn't know him, I had the opportunity to meet his three darling daughters and nice wife.  After hearing them speak at the funeral and being there while siblings reminisced, I felt I did know him somewhat.  He proved to be a great guy and many looked up to him.  He will undoubtedly be missed by many.

Steve's extended family has a summer house right on the creek.  Every summer growing up his family would spend time out there. This was my first chance to do so.  I can honestly say I have never been so hot in my entire life.  But we survived and even had a good time!  I love Steve's family.  I am so lucky to be part of it. 

I was especially glad I got to meet Steve's Papa.  I have heard so much about him and it was great to meet him and see Steve with him. 

I think Chase handled the heat better than I did! He was such a trooper!  Lucky for us, because we have the youngest baby, we were blessed with the use of the ONLY room with A/C.  It was a nice escape at night to cool down and after a day in the heat.  Because it was such a hot summer, by the middle of the trip they ended up purchasing another A/C unit for another room.  There were many more happy people after a good nights rest in a cooler room.

I admit the idea of an outdoor shower made me a little nervous at first but I tell you what, it was very refreshing!  It was a break from the heat and sweat and nothing else mattered.  (Steve was thrilled about this picture! )

The house sits right on the water of the Rappahannok River, part of the Chesapeake Bay. (I hope I got that right!)  The small town called Irvington is a beautiful, old waterfront town.  Not something you see very often anymore.

I have been hearing that blue crab is the best.  Now I got to try it. 

Here is my 1st crab. All cooked up.  I got a personal lesson on how to break, clean, and eat it!

 I only managed to eat 3, but everyone else downed a lot more than I did! 

The next day, we ate some delicious crab cakes.  I do like crab, but I think I had my fill for a while!

 Chase had his first experience swimming.  First try he only lasted about 5 minutes, next day he took a naked dip to cool down, the 3rd try we put him in a little floaty and he enjoyed it much more.  Pretty dang cute no matter what!

It was a hot but fun trip that I am thankful I was able to go on.  Steve and I are so blessed to have such wonderful families, near and far. 

Summer is here

Time for St. George, swimming, family time, and relaxing!

Dance Recital

 

Bailey had her yearly dance recital this month. She is getting very good at dancing. They performed to "Cooties" and she did excellent!  I still think her favorite part is getting dressed up and wearing make-up.  I guess they should enjoy it while it lasts! My pictures struggled this time. It was dark and we were juggling a fussy baby.  But you can still tell how pretty she looks! 
We all enjoyed watching and are so proud of her!

Last day of school

 

Elli and Carter finished up the school year, 3rd grade and Kindergarten, the end of May.  For the last day of school at Harvest Elementary they have a school wide dance festival. Each grade learns a dance and performs it for parents and the rest of the school on the field.  Carter's this year was Tony Chestnut and Elli's was Boot Scootin' Boogie. They were both very excited to share their dances and spent time practicing at home.  They both did great and I had a fun time watching them perform.  On the way to school Carter told me that he was supposed to wear red.  He was wearing green and gray.  We didn't have time to go change, so needless to say, he was easy to spot on the field!  Elli picked out her own clothes too, as close to "cowboy" as she could find.  I can't believe another year is gone! 

2 months

Chase

2 months

12 lbs 1 oz (70%)

23.5" (75%) 

Blessing Day

We blessed Chase over Memorial Weekend and it was wonderful. Steve gave him an amazing blessing and the Spirit was really strong. We had a yummy lunch after (thanks again to my mom), and had a relaxing afternoon with friends and family. 

 

3 months

Chase

3 months

Milestones:

-spits

-laughs (although only a few times)

-sleeps 4-5 hours straight at night

-moved to his crib (but doesn't use it very often)

I cherish every minute with this boy!  I know he is probably my last baby and it makes me sad to see him growing up so fast but I am loving every new thing he learns and every smile he offers. 

The rest of the best!

I thought it probably seems that I am neglecting my other children as I have blogged about Chase so much.  So, here is an update on the rest of the best kids in the world!  

 Bailey- The last few months have been busy for Bailey preparing for dance recitals and end of 5th grade testing. She loves to play on her ipod, ride bikes, and play barbies.  One day Elli and Bailey were playing Barbies and they got in a fight.  Turns out the fight was that Elli wanted the barbies to date in their game, and Bailey said that wasn't right cause it might make them want to date and they are too young.  It was so cute.  It is already pretty clear that this is one kid who has her head on straight and we wont have to worry about her!  I asked her if she ever fights with her friends (Elli does constantly) and she said no and looked at me like I was dumb for asking.  She is very even tempered and easy going. We have only very recently started to see small signs of the pre-teen sass, but so far, nothing we can't handle or laugh about!

 Elli- This little girl thinks that she needs to grow up much faster then her momma would like her to.  She is all about being fancy, wants a cell phone SO bad, fights like crazy with her friends, and is very worried about passing her 3rd grade tests.  It seems to me that the things that she is experiencing right now are things that I remember from about age 13, not 8!  Sometimes its hard to remember that she is only 8 because in some ways she truly acts older.  But in other was, she is still just a sweet innocent little kid.  My singing and snuggles comfort her above anything else.  She is very good with Chase.  Very protective and proud, however she does not handle his crying well at all. Elli loves boys, seafood, high heels, reading, ipod, doritos, and her school teacher.  I am impressed with Elli's testimony.  She is very interested in the second coming, hates hearing bad words, and is good at apologizing when she makes mistakes. 

Carter has been loving his little brother so much. The last few months he has been so good. He is suddenly happy, obedient, and cooperative.  He has his moments of course but he is just so happy all the time it is wonderful.  I have been really stressed about my milk supply as it has been too low for Chase. I have had to supplement with formula and been trying everything I could find to increase my supply.  Anyways, Carter and Elli heard me talking on the phone about it and asked what I was talking about. I explained it to them saying I was frustrated cause I had tried everything and nothing was working.  Carter said matter-of-factly, "Have you prayed about it mom? If you pray about it I know Heavenly Father will give you more milk." At that moment I felt like a real idiot.  I told him the truth, I hadn't really prayed about it.  I thanked him for thinking of that for me and told him I thought it was a great idea.  He said, "I will pray for you too mom."  I saw him praying several times during the day, and he included it when we said family prayer as well.  So cute what we can learn from our kids.  Makes me want to be a better person every day.