Ben's a four month old

We hit the four month mark last week. With Troy being out of town and life keeping us crazy-busy I was unable to post on the exact day. Here's what's up: 1) Ben's a "talker"...I'm thinking he might be my most talkative child. He will just babble and babble and babble. I need to record it because it's just soooooo cute! 2) He's close to rolling over.....from his back to his tummy. He's got his head cocked all the way back and is pushing with all his might with one leg....but so far is unsuccessful. I know it's coming soon which means I can't just leave him on the bed anymore while I run to go tend to another child. 3) He's sleeping through the night. Usually 8:00pm-7:30am. I'll take it. Now, if I could just get Rett to stay asleep all night! Whoever thought their newborn would sleep better than their four year old. We went to our scheduled 4 month old well check. I was surprised that he weighs less than Rett did at this age. Rett was a whole pound heavier. To me, I feel like I am carrying around a sack or potatoes(or bricks). Bennett: Height- 25 1/2 in (75%) Weight- 16lbs 12 oz (85%) Rett @ 4 months: Height- 25 3/4 in (80%) Weight- 17lbs 12 oz (95%) So, here's the most recent picture I took of Ben. It was wih my phone so it's not the greatest quality. Every night when Rett and Ellie take a bath I put Ben in the Bumbo and he watches them and just smiles and babbles. Just look at all that drool on his outfit. Think he might have some teeth comin' in?

Halloween 2011

With a four year old, two year old and three month old we are just entering those exciting halloween years. Rett was Capt Jack Sparrow (aka a pirate), Ellie was Tinkerbell (or the tooth fairy as Rett called her), and Ben was our little punkin'. We ate a spooky dinner and then headed out with some neighbors for trick or treating. Our Spooky Dinner: ( a mummy-dog with Ranch spider-web, orange jack o lantern, and corn on the cob)

Got this cute idea of stuffing grapes in a hallowed out orange from my friend Wendy!

Freshly Dressed

The Maplegrove Kids:

Our cute neighbors, Connor and Kate. :)

These girls had curbside service all night long.

We even got to trick or treat at Marmie and Rockets:

Last pic of the night. Tired, and half-dressed. Rett still had his entire bucket of candy. Ellie had eaten almost all of hers while riding from house to house.

Rett's Halloween Parade

Well this was the year. Rett is finally in the preschool 4's, the only class that gets to dress up IN COSTUME on halloween and parade/trick or treat through the school. The princess' and superhero's visit every classroom, go through the church offices, and around the building. Afterwards the kids have a grand halloween party! Rett's fabulous teachers dressed up as mad scientists and Rett was the most handsome pirate in the school. :) I LOVE Rett's preschool!!!

Sweet Sadie...Rett talks about her ALL THE TIME!

Mrs. Hopkins

Mrs. Kenyon

Fall Catch-up

I know its been awhile since I last posted. I have alot of excuses as to why I haven't posted: We have a newborn, we sold our house, we had a big garage sale, Troy changed jobs, we bought two new cars, we changed health insurance, I participated in two kids consignment sales, my purse was stolen out of our car, my house was a wreck, my kids were wild, and I was just too exhausted at the end of the day to blog. Today however, I had an extra cup of coffee around 1pm enabling me to stay up and post to my blog. Here's the events and fun things we've done since August. Sept 6,2011 Rett and Ellie started preschool and Mother's Day Out.

Sept 8,2011 Ben turns 2 months old

Sept 23,2011 My 30th birthday

Too much partying for Ben:

Sept 2011 Fall day at the Dallas Arboreteum

Oct 2011 State fair of Texas

Oct 8,2011 Ben turns 3 months old (check out those baby blues)

ONE TIRED MAMA!

Ben's one month old

This past month has flown by. Maybe it's because I spent most of it in such a state of exhaustion that I don't really remember it all that clearly. Three kids has definitely been more challenging that I expected/prepared myself for. I can feel ourselves inching towards a daily routine and I can't wait for the day when I can predict nap times, play times, nursing, etc.

For those of you that have children you will understand when I say it feels like Ben's been here all along. He just fits right in. It's like he came home from the hospital and I suddenly can't remember life without him. Rett and Ellie adore him and he is really very tolerant of having them constantly in his face. Rett asks everyday if he can teach him how to crawl, and Ellie picks out toys for him to "play" with and tries to put them in his hand. Very cute!

We've had a little reflux issue so I ended up taking him to the pediatrician on his one month birthday. Low and behold the boy weighs 11.6 lbs!! He gained two pounds in two weeks. Whoo-hoo! Love it when I hear my baby is growing!

Here's Ben on August 8,2011 (his one month birthday)


This is a picture of Rett on his one month birthday, August 20,2007

DO YOU THINK THEY LOOK ALIKE OR WHAT?

Also, it just so happened that we went to my friend Lizzie's house to play on Ben's one month birthday and she did a little mini-photo shoot....here are some of those pics. She did a fabulous job considering he was pretty fussy that day!

Yee-Haw!

Friday night we went with my family to the Mesquite Rodeo. It was SO.MUCH.FUN! We had great seats, sat under cold AC and watched lots of entertainment. Rett watched and clapped eagerly as each cowboy tried to ride the broncos. When it came time for the bull riding he was more apprehensive....and actually got a little scared. Ellie was a little ball of energy and bounced off everyones lap the entire night and Ben slept in the carrier. Definetly an attraction I would take the kids back to....

The group:


Rett riding a pony:




Ellie loves Lauren!

Who knew? They Grew!

About two weeks ago I took all three kids for their well-checks at the peditrician. It was absolute chaos and I even had my mom there to help wrangle kids. When the appt was over I seriously felt like I needed a stiff drink!
Here are the kids stats as of July 22,2011

Rett: 4 years
Height: 40" (45%)
Weight: 46.6 lbs (95%)

Ellie: 2 years
Height: 34 1/4" (60th%)
Weight: 27 lbs (60th %)
Head Cir: 49 1/2" (85th %)

Ben: 2 weeks
Height: 21 1/2 " (75th %)
Weight: 9.3 lbs (60th %)
Head Cir: (25th %)

Splish-splash

The kids having some fun at my in-laws neighborhood pool while I was in the hospital with Ben. They really look like they are missing mommy, don't they?

Rett's 4th Birthday

Wednesday, July 20th Rett turned four years old. To me, four "sounds" so much older than three. Three you are still kinda a toddler...but by four you've turned into a BIG BOY! Rett went to "summer fun days" at LHUMC on Wednesday....and they made his day very special. He got lots of special attention and his class sang him Happy Birthday during chapel.
Later that evening when Troy came home, we opened the presents that he received at his birthday party and I served his favorite meal: hot dogs, corn on the cob, watermelon, and Cheetos! For dessert we made brownie ice cream sundaes. :)
He went to bed that night a very happy boy!

PRESENTS!




Ellie's favorite present (a star wars helmet and laser gun)




Rett's sundae he made ALL BY HIMSELF!