Zoo Trip with the Stacks

Jessica and I had been wanting to take the kids to the zoo for a while now and a few weeks ago we finally got the opportunity to go.  We went early to try to beat the heat and although it wasn't as hot as it had been the days leading up to this day it was still pretty warm!  The boys didn't mind it at all... they loved walking about the zoo with their buddies and seeing all of the animals.

We went early enough that we were able to see almost everything before lunch time.  By about 11:00 the boys had just about run out of fuel so we stopped for a picnic lunch and it gave them time to eat and refuel.

The babies did so great!!  All of the big boys walked and the two little ones enjoyed riding around in their strollers. As soon as they started to get a little bit fussy we fed them lunch and then they were good to go until we finished.  They both are such good babies... they go with the flow and don't seem to mind, even when missing a nap!!  I guess neither of them really have a choice being the third child in the family. :)

As soon as we were done seeing everything we bought the boys some ice cream and then headed home.  All of my boys stayed awake in the car on the way home and as soon as we came in the big boys went potty and climbed in bed.  All 3 of them took great naps that day... and so did the big people!

Fun with Aunt Anna & Uncle Jake

A few weeks ago Aunt Anna and Uncle Jake were in town while they were apartment hunting in Florence.  Uncle Jake got a job just outside of Florence so we were all so happy to hear that they would only be an hour down the road.  That Sunday they came over early and went to church with us.  The boys loved showing them where their classes were and loved walking out of church with them.  I had already planned for the boys to wear their bow ties to church that week and it was an extra bonus that Anna and Jake were there with us to see the boys dressed up since they were the ones to give them their ties. 

That night Aunt Anna & Uncle Jake came over to hang out and spend some down time with the boys.  The big boys loved having them over... Jacob did a lot of snuggling while Chase showed off his baseball skills.  Uncle Jake & Daddy took turns pitching to him... he hit baseballs for a long time and he may have even put a few dents in the walls! :)

Aunt Anna gave Luke his bedtime bottle, with the help of Jacob.  As soon as Luke was in bed we started movie night.  The big boys loved eating popcorn, snuggling with Aunt Anna & Uncle Jake and watching Finding Nemo.

 It was such a special night for the boys and they loved every minute of having some special attention from Anna & Jake.  I love how the simplest of things can make them so happy and mean so much to them!!

First T-Ball Game

Chase had his first t-ball game this morning.  It started at 8:00 which meant that we had to have everyone up, fed and ready to leave by 7:30.  It was definitely early but this big man was so excited and ready!!

He had two practices leading up to today where he learned some new things and practiced what he already knew.  We were all very excited to see how he would do in the game and he did so great!  He listened really well to his coach, did what he was told and impressed everyone with his hitting and fielding skills.  

While some of his teammates were begging their parents to be done with the game in the middle of innings, Chase was determined to pay attention to the batters so he could stop the balls in the field.  I don't think the idea of being bored or not wanting to play anymore even crossed his mind and I think he is really going to enjoy every second of his t-ball season.

A few things from Chase's very first t-ball game that we don't want to forget:

* I think one of Chase's part to the morning was lining up on the white line and removing his hat, just like the big guys do it before each game.

* Chase's team batted first and after watching the other team "field" the balls the first thing Chase asked when he got out into the field was "When are we going to dog pile?"

* Chase played second base the first inning and then the second inning Coach Jeff moved him to the pitcher position.  Chase was so intent on staying in his position that at one point I saw him bend over, draw a line in the sand and put his toes to the line.  After each play he would make sure to get back to his position in the field and have his toes on the line.

* In the middle of the second inning I hear Chase yell out of no where "Boo Gamecocks!" as loud as he could.  It wasn't until after the game that Charles told me that one of his teammate's parents was sitting in a Carolina chair.  The boy cannot contain himself any time he sees a Gamecock ... I hope we didn't offend anyone!! :)

* Chase could not wait to get home and call his Nana & Pop-Pop and his Ginga & Jupe to tell them about his game.  He was so proud of himself and had a few stories to tell them.  The most important story he wanted to share was how he and all his teammates put their hands on coaches hand and after coach counted to three they all said "Astros"... I think he is going to love the pre-game and post-game huddles!!

Chase is a baseball player through and through... he loves the game, he loves hitting the baseballs and he loves learning the right way to do things.  We can't wait to see how much he will grow this season as a ball player and how much better he will get by the end of the season. 

On the Move

When Chase was a baby I pushed him and couldn't wait for him to do the next thing... whether that was crawling, pulling up or walking I couldn't wait!!  Then when Jacob was a baby he was a little later in doing those things and I remember asking Dr. Shrouds about it at the time.  His response was that he'll do it when he is ready and to appreciate and enjoy the time where he wasn't able to do those things because before long I would be chasing him around and wishing he was immobile again.  I thought to myself that he was right but I don't think I got to the point where I appreciated his lack of mobility.  Then the third time around I have to say that I have taken full advantage of these months where I could put Luke on the floor and know that when I went back to pick him up he would be pretty much right where I left him... even once he started rolling to get around he wasn't one to roll himself to a completely different location.  Well, that has all changed now.  He is E-V-E-R-Y-W-H-E-R-E!!!  And by everywhere I mean down the hall and into another room before I realize he's gone.

I took this video the day he started really crawling... I love how slow and methodical it is at the beginning.  It didn't take long for him to put it all together into a fluid motion and when that happened there was no stopping him!! 

I also love this video because it kind of shows what our evenings have been like lately... Chase's normal time to write and work on his letters is normally after dinner so he was sitting down with Daddy after finishing up his writing and they were going over his words.  Jacob was hitting the ball with his bat and running around.  Luke was happily playing on the floor and I took a quick break from my normal (dishes, laundry, picking up around the house) to take this quick video.

After Luke started crawling everywhere I realized pretty quickly that I no longer had to only worry about keeping the carpet clean but I now needed to worry about all the crumbs that are dropped at each meal time by the big boys.  If there are crumbs to find, he is going to find them!!  The big boys thought it was so funny to come in the room and see Luke under the table!

This is one of his tricks... he started doing this long before he started crawling.  At one point we wondered if he would learn to stand up and walk before crawling.  He gets up on his tip toes and will then walk his legs up towards his body until he can't go any farther.  Thankfully he hasn't gone head first into anything... yet! :)

Luke loves to be on the floor and will play so happily for a very long time!  At times he will lay propped up on one arm and watch a little bit of what the boys are watching.  One his favorite toys to play with is his strawberry teether... it vibrates when he bites down on it and he loves it!  I don't think these were being made when the big boys were teething ... I think it would have come in handy.

Again, he finds a way to spot every piece of lint, trash, food or dirt laying on my floor.  I guess when your whole life is spent on the floor and you're up close and personal with everything down there it's fun to try to pick up as much as you can! :)

And this is the face I get when I either move him away from whatever it is that he has found, when I take it from his hands or when I have to dig something out of his mouth (which happens more than I care to admit)!

Life is so rough for a little guy sometimes.... thankfully we don't see this face very often.

Today Marks the First of Many :)

Tonight after dinner Charles and I changed Chase's clothes and got him ready for his very first baseball practice.  We have been talking about it for a while now and Charles has really been working with Chase leading up to his very first baseball season.  We went out a month or so ago and bought him his very first glove, a bat and a few balls that they use for t-ball.  He was so proud of his very first glove!!

Then on Saturday Chase and I went out to find some baseball pants.  He was so excited to have "real" pants to wear for baseball and loved trying them on.  When we got home we had to put them on for Daddy to see and then Chase had to get his hat and glove to complete the ensemble.  You can see just how proud of himself he was!!

The crocs had to be put back on.... but tonight for his very first practice he wore his tennis shoes.  I looked for little cleats for him to wear but the stores around here didn't have any small enough for him!  I think I am lucky to have found some pants that weren't falling off. :)

He definitely looked the part as he walked out the door tonight.  Daddy took him and is volunteering as a "parent helper".... Charles doesn't think he would do well as a coach but I think he is wrong, very wrong!  He is so good at helping the kids learn and is so patient with them.  Aunt Anna, Uncle Jake, the two little boys and I went out to watch the last half of practice tonight and Chase did a great job listening and doing exactly what his coaches asked of him.  The only thing we noticed that he needs to work on is staying in line when waiting to have batting practice.  He kept stepping out of line to see what the batter was doing and instead of getting back where he was he would go to the back every time!  I guess he didn't want anyone thinking he was cutting them in line! :)

So, I sent Chase out to his very first baseball practice tonight... as they pulled away I thought that this is probably the first of many, many baseball practices in my future!!  And a week from Saturday will be our first of many baseball games ... and honestly, I'm perfectly fine with that!! :)

9 Months Old

On May 17th Luke turned 9 months old and went for his 9 month well visit.  The appointment went well.... he weighed 15.10 (off the charts small... seriously, not even registering on the charts - it said <1%).  He was 28 inches tall (the 49th percentile) and his head measures in the 22nd percentile.  Tiny all around... not surprising in the least because that is just how Chase is built.

He's a little peanut but I love it!  He still fits very comfortably into his 3-6 month clothes and I'm a little ashamed for him to admit that there are a few 0-3 month things he can still wear.  We definitely get lots and lots of use out of his things!!  I have a few size 2 shoes that I've been dying to on him but they still look ridiculous because they are so big... I think he's going to be in newborn/size 1 for a good while.

Just before he turned 9 months old he completely weaned himself... I worked so hard to not let it happen but it happened and there wasn't anything I could do to prevent it.  I was sad but am over it now.  Kind of nice to be free again! :)  He started getting around right before turning 9 months old... he would pull his knees up tight and then lunge forward, then repeat those steps.  If he wanted to go faster he would roll and rotate, roll and rotate until he got where he wanted to go.  I knew he had the skills to crawl but he just hadn't put them together.  Now, just a few weeks later he is crawling every where... there are no limits to where this child can go now.  Because of that we have now completely cleaned out all of the boys toys from the living room and we're just days away from having to put our gate back up at the bottom of the stairs.  We lowered his crib mattress down to the lowest level because he is also just moments away from pulling up. 

He has learned how to use a sippy cup but still loves snuggling to take his bottles.  He is a master at his pincer grasp and loves to feed himself.  I have not found anything he won't eat.  He went through a short phase where he did not care for peas and every time I would feed them to him he would cry and cry.  I was determined that he was going to eat what I gave him and sure enough, after a few times of him fussing through his meal he realized he was not going to win that battle and now eats peas just like he eats sweet potatoes.  I've started giving him more and more table food and he loves it! 

These smiles make me so happy!!  Charles and I were just saying a few days ago just how good he is... he smiles and laughs at everything, is so easy going, sleeps so great and loves riding in the car.  We certainly have been so blessed with such a great little one!!  Right after he turned 9 months old he was put on his first antibiotic... well the first one since the ones he was given in the NICU.  He had been congested and had a nasty cough for a few weeks and when he just wasn't getting any better I took him to see Dr. Shrouds.  Sure enough, ear infection and sinus infection.  He has done great with the medicine and seems to actually like it!  Even through having those infections you would never have known it... he is so happy!!

All of these things just remind me of how quickly he has grown up... he really is no longer a little baby!  The summer is here now and before I turn around it is going to be time to plan his one year birthday party.  I don't think I'm ready for that but ready or not it's coming and he's growing up. 

New Beds

A little over a week ago we were given some bunk beds from Charles' Aunt Amy and Uncle Robert.  During nap time Charles went over and loaded them in his truck.  As soon as the boys woke up I dropped them off with Ginga & Jupe so we could get the new beds set up without them under foot.  They were super simple to set up... I did however quickly realize just how much of a pain it is going to be to make that top bunk!  At the time I thought it would put me over the edge to have to do that on a daily basis but in the short time we've had them up I've figured out a few tricks to make things a little bit easier!  Anyways, by the time we went to pick the boys up they were so excited... normally it is so hard to get them to say goodbye because they love being with Ginga and Jupe so much but this night was different.  They were giving kisses left and right as they were running to the door... they wanted to get home and see their new room!

Their faces were so great as they walked in to see a brand new set up.  It has been a year almost exactly since we moved them into a room together and they have come so far in a year's time.  They love being together... it's so fun to listen to them laugh together and talk to each other when they are in their beds.  Just recently they have gotten really in to wanting to put themselves to bed... Charles would read their Bible story, he would pray and give kisses and then walk out of the room.  Chase and Jacob would take turns praying, give each other kisses, Chase would turn out the light and then get in bed.  It was so cute!  With the bunk beds they haven't done that yet but Chase loves giving Jacob loves before climbing up in his bed... he feels so big to be sleeping on the top bunk!

Jacob also feels so grown up to be sleeping in his "cave"... he likes sleeping under Chase and it has helped a little with them getting out of bed when they are supposed to be going to sleep.  When they were in the twin beds they could see each other and there wasn't a whole lot keeping them from getting in bed with each other.  They were just a few steps away... with the bunk beds we've set the rules that Jacob is not allowed on the top bunk (for now at least).  He would be the one to fall and get hurt so it's easiest just to keep his feet on the floor.  At bed time now he rolls over and is fast asleep within seconds!!

We had to rearrange the things on their walls and we found a few new items to add.  Jacob saw the stop sign at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago and had to have it... he loves his new sign and even though there's not a fire truck on it, the color matches and it goes if you use your imagination enough! :)  I'm going back later this week to get the outlet covers that I saw... not sure why I didn't buy them when I bought the switch plate cover but they are too cute to pass up! :)

I love their room... we have found some really cool things over the last few years to make this room what it is today.  I'm not quite sure what I will do with all the fire trucks when they outgrow this room and are ready for something different.  Maybe Luke will like fire trucks too!! :)