Shanilie's Moments

No Longer Blog Here

2011-03-16T03:58:00.000-05:00

With the help of my brother, we were finally able to get my new domain up and running!

THANK YOU RICH!!!

I am still doing some editing and things will continue to be tweaked over the next few weeks.

I will no longer be blogging here.

After a couple months I will permanently delete this blog but I want to keep it up for now as a reference to fellow followers and occasional visitors.

Please let me know if everything is working on your end. Don't forget to re-add yourself as a follower. It helps me find your site to re-visit.

Looking forward to keeping in touch with you via Wordpress! http://www.shanilie.com/

Riley In The Box

2011-03-15T09:44:00.000-05:00

Having fun getting ready for bed last night. Our toy box gets completely emptied out quite often :)

Little Feet

2011-03-14T10:26:00.001-05:00

I thought it was so cute seeing Cole's feet braced on the buckle part of the swing. None of my boys enjoyed the swing as much as Jacob has, but Cole still enjoys it for the occasional reprieve from the floor. At the rate he's growing, his days of using the swing are quickly coming to an end.

Cole has the smallest feet. They look like Ryan's with the cutest, longest, slimmest little toes you've ever seen.

Milestones

2011-03-12T08:18:00.003-06:00

I have been blogging for a LONG time now. Almost six years. I even had blogs before this one but messed up the html coding and had to start all over (the way it used to be before they got the drag and drop system) Blogging was all new to me, and at the time I only knew a handful of friends who even blogged. I am glad they introduced me to it!

Anyway.....

It's been quite a while. I knew this day would come. I am not prepared for this at all. The way blogger works is that you're allowed 1 gigabyte of space - and I've reached my max lol. It won't let me add any more photos :(

So, I have 3 options:

I can pay yearly to stick with blogger - how about noooo

I can use my flickr account to host my pictures. (I already use flickr for my photography business). I had to do this option for this post and my previous post. It's fine for some things but it really is a LOT more work having to upload pictures two different times. Once in flickr and then into my blog.

The great thing with flickr is that it keeps the full quality and size of the photo. Blogger uses downsized low quality resolution. I LOVE flickr. There are thousands of photographer help pages, you can meet other photographers, learn what settings they use on their camera, and how to achieve certain effects, you can even purchase your prints via flickr and SO much more.

I will have to continue to use flickr for now.

third option,

I can switch to Wordpress that gives you 3 times as many gigabytes. You can read here on some advantages of Wordpress vs Blogger.

This is what I have decided to do. I don't know when, but once I figure out how to transfer everything I will direct you to the new url - yes I am thinking of another url again haha.

My first was A Mom's Love - actually, I think I had one before that with Ryan's name in it

then,

Shanilie Moments

and now...... I guess we'll see. What do you think? I'm not that attached to either of the previous two but I do want something with my name in it......maybe even just shanilie.

I'll keep you posted. Since I am making the switch I am also going to have to switch my photography site. It's also under this blogger account but wordpress allows flash photos and blogger doesn't and I can eventually have my own domain name. Until then, here are a few pictures from my very first post on this blog.

Jacob at one year old

It's Tough

2011-03-11T09:34:00.003-06:00

.... To get them all looking at the camera - at the same time.

.

But we'll keep trying! Plus, It is so wonderful to have these memories. It will be really neat seeing how they have grown and changed together over the years.

Unique

2011-03-10T08:00:00.001-06:00

I know it's not difficult to figure out who's who, but I think it is fun to look at just their eyes and see the uniqueness of each of them.

* As you have probably noticed I have been tweaking my blog code. I was using times font now I'm using arial. The background is now grey instead of white and the title is pink instead of black. In the next few weeks I will be working on a new header. My blog never stays the same for very long. Any suggestions?

I am trying to get a more feminine look without making it look too girly. I want it to still be 'boyish' enough for the three boys this blog is usually about.

Righty or Lefty?

2011-03-09T09:24:00.001-06:00

This has been something that has always intrigued me. Ryan and I both have members in our families who are left handed. I'm not, but my youngest sister is, and Ryan isn't either but from what I gather his Grannie was the only left-handed person in his family.

With Jacob I knew early on that he was right handed. It was never really something that crossed my mind. He had great fine motor skills and by age two was writing his name perfectly and holding a pen perfectly and always with his right hand.

Riley however is a mystery. It has only been the last couple weeks I've noticed or even started thinking about it. He is almost 2 and is doing things with both hands 50/50. In light of this new experience it has led me to do what I always do......

Google. hehe

Here's what I have learned so far:

- Talk to your doctor
- Do NOT attempt to influence your childs preference. Doing this won't work in the long run and will only confuse or frustrate your child along the way.
- Many children may be ambidextrous (using both hands equally) until they're 5 or 6, before they finally make a choice.
- It can most commonly be determined by observing which hand is predominantly held close to the mouth.

I am not making any conclusions yet, and by the time he starts school he may not even be a lefty so we'll see what happens. Till then I will just continue to offer him things like pens, pencils, forks and spoons and toys so he can choose for himself which hand he will reach for things with.

Loving Locks

2011-03-08T09:05:00.000-06:00

If you were to visit my home you would find several different kinds of baby locks. We've got one for keeping the fridge shut, one for drawers, one for the tv stand, and one for keeping cupboard doors closed (like the white one in this picture). This cupboard is the one under the sink where I keep our cleaning supplies like vim, bleach, dish soap etc. So it needs to be kept shut.

There is one corner shelf I do keep open. I keep canned goods, mixing bowls, pots and pans and a few other things. One of Riley's favorite things to do is stack. He stacks the bowls, and the cans. Then, once he has emptied everything out of the cupboard he crawls inside and sits there hanging out. This keeps him entertained for quite a while.

It's so much fun 'getting into things'. Children love to explore and play, so now he can safely and I don't have to worry about a big mess. The next thing I have to invest in is a door nob cover. He is now able to open the door to the bathroom - and just think of all the things he can get into there. For now we just keep it locked from the inside.

Book Review

2011-03-06T10:02:00.000-06:00

I don't think I have ever done a book review on my blog before. Today will be my first.

As you all know we love reading in our home. We have read to the boys every day since they were born.....even read to them while they were in the womb. This love for reading can be instilled in your child as even by their first few months.

The book: Just In Case You Ever Wonder
Author: Max Lucado
Overview: "There are certain words that every child longs to hear . . . words of unconditional love, promises of support, prayers of encouragement. No child ever grows tired of hearing a parent's powerful reassurance to always be there for them . . . just in case they ever wonder. Just in Case You Ever Wonder wraps your children in its tender message of love, comfort, and protection, showing them that as they grow and change, you'll always be there for them-whether it's "monsters in the closet" or times when other kids are mean. Beloved author, Max Lucado, helps you express unconditional love for your child, simply, powerfully, and forever." (Quote from this site)

To read the book click here.

The message given in this book is what I have always wanted to show to my children. So that they may never doubt my love for them at any stage of their life. LOVE this childrens book.

Here are some benefits of reading to your child:

Reading to your kid makes you bond with him, and this gives your child a sense of intimacy and well-being.
The intimacy of reading to your kid is such a pleasurable experience to him that he will have a positive attitude towards reading as he grows up.
It calms your child, especially when he is fretful and restless.
It promotes increased communication between you and your child.
Pre-school children who are exposed to language by hearing words that are read to him and in conversation tend to do well in school.
It promotes longer attention span, which is an important skill for your kid to be able to concentrate.
It builds listening skills and imagination.
Your young child learns about colors, shapes, numbers, and letters, while your older child discovers an expanding chain of knowledge. His interest in cars, for example, will expand to his interest in trucks, and other transportation like planes and rockets, and soon he will be reading about outer space, science and technology, and so forth.
Books teach your child about relationships, situations, personalities, and what is good and what is bad in the world he lives in. Fantasy books provide material for his imagination and free play. Fairy tales fascinate your kid, and help him distinguish between what is real and what is not.

The Chipmunks

2011-03-04T10:43:00.004-06:00

Jacob has often referred himself to Alvin. Saying Alvin has two brothers. It has really caught on, I find myself even calling the boys 'my three chipmunks'.

*Picture taken last summer*

I don't know if I would say Jacob is Alvin. In terms of personality they all, to some degree have a little of each character. Alvin is the one who gets into everything, and has all the energy. To me, that best describes Riley. Jacob is more the studious one - aka Simon and Cole....well it's too early to tell. But we'll just say he's Theodore. He's more shy and timid.

All I know my three little chipmunks keep this mommy busy - and constantly entertained.

Home Organizer

2011-03-03T11:28:00.003-06:00

Lets face it. Everyone's busy. Maintaining a home is a full time job. With school events, church activities, sports, spending quality time with family members, husband, children, time with God, work and so much more. It can be a chore to do it all. It takes time and energy to keep a home running peacefully and harmoniously. I found this Home Journal idea on youtube. There were several. I haven't heard of such a thing before, but as soon as I saw it, I knew this was #1 one my project list.

What projects/crafts are you currently working on?

I started a 'CRAFTS' list on the mid/bottom section of my right sidebar. This was inspired by a fellow friend and blogger – Drea. I love to do crafts of any kind – sewing, crocheting, cross-stitch, scrapbooking....the possibilities are endless. I have a few of the projects listed started but I will not blog about them until the project has been completed, then I will cross each off.

Anyone who knows me knows I like to be organized. I am always making very detailed lists. Lists for what I need to do each day, who I need to call or visit, and making grocery lists. I have little pieces of paper scattered all over the place. I collected everything into one home planning notebook and although it does initially take a big chunk of your time gathering everything together, it does save time in the long run. So much more peaceful :)

My tabs are:

To Do

Shopping

Menu
Chores

Bible/Hospitality

Goals

Finance

Holiday

Contact

Notes

Resources

Here is a peek into my home planning organizer.

Looking for printable pages for your organizer? Take a look at the links below:
Spring Planning Pages - A free download of spring planning pages. (This is where I got most of mine)

Weekly Chore Checklist - Free printable pages for managing the home.

The Intentional Planner - This one costs $5 for TONS of miscellaneous printable daily planner pages. Including bible study pages.

Home Management - Free download of several pages. Including Contacts, birthday list, and a master to do list.

Passionate Homemaking - This site doesn't have many available pages, I used it mostly as a reference. She has a gorgeous Home Planning Organizer that inspired me to make mine. She also lists a few other helpful resources. I'm just showing you the resources I used.

Do you have any ideas or resources on becoming more organized with a home planner?

Wordless Wed. - Changes

2011-03-02T11:25:00.003-06:00

It is hard to believe about a year and a half ago this was taken. Jacob just barely turned 4. It doesn't feel like it was that long ago but boy, do they ever look young!

*Picture taken with my old point and shoot. Pictures quality sure is different with an slr.

Middle Guy

2011-03-01T12:07:00.003-06:00

I realized I haven't done a post about Riley lately, or as often as I would like so here is a quick pic. He's oh so cute, rambunctious and cuddly - we just love em! Such a blessing being a mom.

The Stash

2011-02-28T08:15:00.005-06:00

I want my children to grow up thinking it's normal to eat several different fruits and vegetables each day. It is my responsibility to cultivate my kids taste buds. I can very clearly notice the distinct difference between jarred and fresh food. The fresh home made food tastes so much better. Have a bite:) Taste the difference for yourself. Making your own baby food is also a good way to get your child used to different textures. Plus, there is a very limited selection of foods available in the jars.

It tastes better, costs less and there's much more selection!

I know making baby food isn't for everyone. It has always been something I enjoyed doing and making baby food is easier than you might think. No different really than preparing yourself a meal, except this stash will last for quite a while. Spend a morning preparing and then you're set.

If you have any questions on how certain vegetables are prepared, or at what age you start introducing each kind let me know. I'd be glad to help in any way!

*You might be wondering what the blue dark block is, it is stewed blueberries. I didn't mention it in the video.

He's Hiding

2011-02-27T11:41:00.001-06:00

Cole found a new hiding place. Crawled right under the exersauser. He seemed pretty proud of himself.

Dating Poll Update

2011-02-26T11:59:00.001-06:00

Thanks to all who voted on my dating poll. Makes me want to find another topic and add a new poll to my sidebar again soon.

One flaw with my dating poll was my choices. After people started voting I realized that maybe the numbers we set a little too high. Most of my readers go on dates every couple of month, but what I did was went up from one. (1-4 times per month.) Maybe I should have put as options:

Once a month
Every 4-6 weeks
Every 6-8 weeks etc.

9 out of the 11 votes were one per month so the main thing is most of us are all in the same boat. My goal for the upcoming months is to try and have some time with Ryan without the kids at least once a month. As much as I enjoy sitting in front of the tv together after the kids are in bed, I think it is still good to do things outside of the home.

Thanks for all the dating ideas!

Going for a walk
Dinner
Movie
Scenic Drive
Sharing a sundae
Going out for a coffee
Bowling

Or check 101 Ideas for a fun date.

I hope this has inspired everyone to try to spend a little more time together with their special someone.

Picture above taken with Ryan at Prov's Christmas banquet. (2002)

Fine Motor Skills

2011-02-25T09:59:00.000-06:00

Cole has incredible fine motor skills. He is quick to grab, pick up small things, and even helping me feed him by pulling the spoon to his mouth faster. Here are two videos of Cole exploring with his hands. I found it cute when he started peeking at himself in the mirror. I remember when Jacob was that age his favorite toy was a small toy floor mirror. I also keep one by my change table. A great form of entertainment.

You can probably notice how Cole squints his eyes. He does this whenever I have the camera in hand. It's like he's posing and saying cheese hehe

Decorating Cupcakes

2011-02-24T10:27:00.001-06:00

After Valentine's Day Jacob helped me make cupcakes. I have to admit, this is the first time I had ever made them. In my house, a typical 'dessert' consists of a piece of fruit or on a special occasion they may have some banana bread.......and that's about it. Any snacks we have around the house are usually muffins. I love almost any kind of muffin. I'm always adding bran, flax, whole wheat flour and honey or apple sauce for sweetening. To me, muffins are supposed to be healthy.

So this is a very rare thing for us. It wasn't even for a birthday party! I had a craving.

Jacob is always my 'sou chef' in the kitchen :)

Jacob added the sprinkles on a few after the cupcakes cooled off. I don't really like sprinkles because it makes food feel gritty.

Wordless Wed. - What I Woke Up To

2011-02-23T07:56:00.001-06:00

When I look at my three precious boys, it continues to remind me of the things that matter most in life.

Brothers

2011-02-22T10:11:00.001-06:00

I don't take pictures of the boys cuddling nearly often enough. I hope to change that this summer. I'll never put the camera down.

Rides

2011-02-20T08:05:00.000-06:00

While my parents were visiting there was never a dull moment. Jacob and Mom took turns taking Riley for shopping cart rides. As you can see, Riley doesn't go anywhere without his blanket. Jacob was exactly the same and sleeps with his baby blanket still - almost 6 years later! They are faded, pilled and Jacob won't go to bed without it.

New Poll: Date Night

2011-02-19T07:17:00.004-06:00

I wanted to ask my readers how often you go on dates. (How many times per month) The poll is anonymous.

I am curious. I know with young kids it is more difficult to get out often. It could be the smallest of activities......

Anything that you do without the kids. Whether it be as little as getting groceries, coffee, going for a walk or drive, or as big as dinner or movie. Anything you consider to be a 'date' with your special someone.

This has absolutely nothing to do with the post, besides maybe the title, but there is a new movie available for rent with Steve Carell called Date Night. It is quite funny. Though, just to warn you........ I admit, there is language, and inappropriate scenes. Rated PG 13.

I will leave the poll on the top/right of my sidebar for the next week or so. I'd also be open to some date ideas. (bowling, mini-golf.....What do you like to do?)

Ryan and I had a fantastic date last night. First time in months. We didn't do a whole lot and we didn't have to spend much. We just enjoyed each others company and shared an appetizer of nachos.....so no over eating either lol.

It Still Fits

2011-02-18T07:40:00.000-06:00

Cole wore his baby knot hat the day he was born and it still fits! The great thing is that you can adjust the knot to make it fit better. One size fits all :)

100th Day of School

2011-02-17T08:50:00.000-06:00

Jacob celebrates his 100th day of school today. I have been hearing of schools all over acknowledging this day and didn't realize that Jacob's school did too. Plus, I haven't been counting so I had no idea that it was today until his teacher sent home a notice.

The kindergarten class is making a '100 Day Soup' where each of the students bring a snack with 100 pieces. His teacher suggested things like Smarties, raisins, marshmallows, pretzels, fish crackers etc.... We chose Smarties. Then we had the fun of counting out 100. Who knew counting could be so fun!

I am glad Jacob is excited and that he can have a special day acknowledging all his hard work. As Jacob says "I've been at school lots of days." Thank goodness he doesn't know to the fullest extent just how many more he has to do hehe. But he enjoys it. He is looking forward to mixing his smarties in the 100 day soup. I can imagine it will be a pretty big bowl filled with lots of goodies.

Super Mom

2011-02-16T10:02:00.002-06:00

I came upon this list below from 'Confessions of a homeschooler' and had to share it. I admit there are too many times I do what I can to be a super mom but want to strive to be a more abiding mom.

Super Mom	Abiding Mom
Does	Is (Psalm 46:10)
Tries to impress others	Pleases the Lord (Eph. 5:10, Proverbs 29:25)
Is controlled by an agenda (curriculum, schedule, etc)	Is controlled by the Holy Spirit: (Gal. 5:22-26) (Uses curriculum & schedules as tools for orderliness so she’s more free to follow the spirit)
Her self worth is found in her accomplishments (clean house, perfect kids, the perfect bulletin boards, etc.)	Her self worth is found in an accurate view of who she is in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:10)
Her peace is found in the “perfect” environment	Her peace is found in Jesus in the midst of any storm (Is 26:3)
She is discouraged by failure	Failure reminds her that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
She expects perfection from herself and others	She practices grace with herself and others (Eph 4:32)
She teaches her kids to be good	She teaches her kids to be Godly (Proverbs 22:6)
She is frustrated with her lack of spiritual fruit	She abides in Christ and bears much fruit (John 15:5)
She does things with her children	She builds a relationship with her children (Deut 6:6-7)
Her perspective is based on what is seen	Her perspective is based on what is unseen (Col 3:2)
She chooses quantity of activities	She chooses the most excellent Way (I Cor 13)
Her kids may recall how busy she always is.	Her children rise and call her blessed. (Prov. 31:28)

I enjoyed looking up each verse and reading he entire passage. I really have to make a point to make daily devotions priority in my life. Sometimes a little daily bread reading is just not enough.

My dad helped Jacob build a snow fort. It is HUGE! They were outside for quite a while building it together. One thing that makes MB snow different from NS snow is that it is constantly melting and cooling with the sun so the snow has a hard ice layer which makes it great for using as 'building blocks' for making forts or even igloos :D NS snow is more wet and packey - great for making snow men.

Visit

2011-02-15T10:34:00.004-06:00

This will be just a quick little post seeing as I haven't blogged for the last week or so.

My parents came out for a visit this last week. They flew in from NS and had a whirlwind of a time. Our days were filled with sledding, swimming, ice - skating, snow fort making, and a lot more. It's always a lot of fun and the boys get spoiled.

I love that the public pool is only 10 minutes away. We go quite often, and haven't been going as much since Cole was born. But now we hope to start up again.

There are a ton of other photos I will probably add later this week. I am just getting over a chest cold and ready for a nap. Thank goodness for 2 boys who sleep at the same time giving me a few minutes of quiet time. Napping is almost non existent for me this last year and a half, so it is always a treat when it does happen.

Riley is my water baby. He isn't cautious one bit. He has had less experience as Jacob and yet has no reservations. He was putting his head under, kicking his legs and not clingy at all. Jacob used to be a vice. :) Jacob spent his time going down the water slide over and over again.

Come summer Jacob will be back to taking swimming lessons. I am sure he will fly through his level this year.

'Play Room'

2011-02-09T08:33:00.000-06:00

A few Christmas' ago we got Jacob a little cars tent. It hardly ever got used because it took up so much room every place we lived. I think it has finally found a permanent place for the first time. It has been packed away, but we put it up over Christmas as a place to keep all of our toys. Even though I still hear every sound clear as day, I love that the boys will sit in there and play together. Other than a toy box, and a few stuffed animals, Riley's Car's chair sits inside. There isn't room for much more. It works as a good play room when other boys are napping in their bedrooms.

Reading Program

2011-02-08T08:54:00.001-06:00

Since the new semester of school began, the kindergarten students started a reading program. They come home with a sheet of paper with 15 new words every time and they have to know them all by sight. Words like:

See, we, this, you, go, the, and, here, said, can is, like.

There are many basic words they are expected to know. When they have learned them all they send him home with another sheet to learn. They encourage reading together at home - which we have always done every night since Jacob was born.

They have a form sent home and he has to fill it with 10 books he can read all on his own. Also, they go to the library and bring home a book that they have to learn. I think the reading program is GREAT! Jacob is loving it and does whatever he can to hurry the process. All he wants is to fill each form as fast as he can, bringing up piles of books saying I can read these too. You can see the effort he puts into it. I am so glad he has a love for reading. We hope to take him to Chapters as a gift for all of his hard work.

We also have a Word Whammer that was given to us last year - just like new. He loves making 3 letter words with it.

*You can see it up on the fridge as well as his reading chart (the green sheet of paper)

He posed for this picture all on his own lol. I can hardly take pictures of Jacob without him making some funny pose. hehe He's showing off his muscles ;)

I Miss Sleep

2011-02-07T09:27:00.000-06:00

Recently Cole has started teething. Cole slept better as a newborn than he does now. We go to bed early and then get up at midnight, 3 and 5. Plus, getting up at least 5 times throughout the night to give Cole his soother that dropped out of his mouth. I just need for this little guy to sleep a little more at night. He sleeps in our room with us, and even if he didn't I don't believe a child should be left to cry-it-out all night. It has been proven fact about the psychological and physiological effects on a baby left to cry himself to sleep. Many studies have shown that it can lead to post traumatic stress and panic disorders in children which can carry on into adulthood. I won't go into a ton of details as this isn't what this post is about. Sometimes it does take Cole a few minutes of crying to fall asleep, but I am looking forward to the days where I can start sleeping longer stretches.

My Marshmallow

2011-02-03T08:51:00.002-06:00

Last winter felt like it was never ending. It went on and on and on ...... lol Maybe it was getting used to the extreme COLD. I don't know what the difference this year is, but I am really loving winter. When it snows, I know the snow is here to stay. A beautiful, fresh, new blanket of snow - gorgeous! God's wonders never cease to amaze me. Getting physical activity at the gym most evenings probably helps too. It feels like I just blinked now Feb. is here. WOW! Where did Jan. go?

Within the next 2 months I may even have a chance to sun bathe ;) I remember at Prov. By mid April we had a couple very warm days where we would lay on the grass enjoying the first warm days of the year. Love it! But until those days I am going to enjoy my last short months with my little marshmallow. He looks so cute all bundled up. We have a good system. Ryan bundles Riley up, I bundle Cole up and Jacob can bundle up by himself. It doesn't take too much extra time, but oh how nice it will be when we can sit in the car with our t-shirts on!

Wordless Wed. - The Littlest Brother

2011-02-02T08:59:00.000-06:00

Camera Love - Why I love My Nikon D90

2011-02-01T07:20:00.004-06:00

I have been talking for a while now about doing a post on why I love my camera, so here it is.....

*This post is not comparing Nikon to Canon or to bash anyone's camera.
Both brands are great, and each has MANY cameras to choose from.

I have always had a passion for photography ever since my first year of college 99/2000 working on the yearbook. Taking photos, then developing them in the dark room. My love for photography took off after I had my first son Jacob.

I first had a Kodak Easyshare DX4530 camera that I LOVED! We got it for free from Ryan's Petro points. He worked there a LOT during his teen years. Over time and wear, and Jacob dropping it, it finally died. Eventually, Ryan and I invested in a basic used point-and-shoot Canon SX10 IS. Sadly, the picture quality was not at all what I was hoping for.

Then I started using a borrowed Canon Rebel XT. My first time handling a digital SLR camera. I would recommend this camera to anyone. If you're looking for an affordable, quality SLR camera - get this one! I have many photographer friends who just use this camera. The next step or 'upgrade' from the Canon Rebel XT is the Canon Rebel XSi. Whether you're interested in taking every day photos or being a amateur photographer that is the way to go! A great choice if it is your first time using a digital SLR camera. If you prefer Nikon, the comparable basic SLR beginner camera in performance and price is the Nikon D40 or Nikon D3100 (which costs a little bit more).

Then Ryan and I decided it was time to invest in our very first SLR. We did a TON of research. At first I wanted to get the Nikon D300. It is a top of the line camera, great for experienced professional photographers. It had many bells and whistles......but the drawback was, it cost almost tripple the D90.

I could go on and on and compare this camera with a bunch of others, then start comparing Nikon with Canon - I won't. Since at the time I wanted the D300, my comparison will just be between the two.

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D90

Here is a quote from this site:

"The Nikon D90 is a fantastic camera. It's Nikon's newest and best DX format DSLR. I prefer it to the D300, which costs twice as much. That's the way it goes with digital cameras: new is almost always better, even for much less cost. The D90 has identical, or slightly better technical image quality than the D300, the exact same rear LCD, and adds several very useful ergonomic features for faster handling compared to the D300. These handling improvements will let you react faster to conditions, meaning you're more likely to get better pictures by being better prepared.

If you're considering a D300, forget it. Get the D90 instead.

The Nikon D90 is Nikon's newest and smartest DSLR. It has the same or better technical image quality as the D300 that costs much more, and it handles better and it makes movies, too!

The D90 is newer and better than the D300, for a fraction of the price, so long as you prefer the D90's lighter plastic body. I don't see any reason to pay more for a D300's metal body unless you're shooting sports all day. All these cameras have metal lens mounts and are built to very high standards. "

The biggest difference between the two cameras is the titanium body. I am very happy with my plastic camera - I just won't be banging it around! lol Maybe if I was a world renowned sports photographer or mountain climber, I might invest in a ridiculously priced camera. This camera best suits our needs.

You may wonder why I wouldn't just go ahead and buy the Canon Rebel XSi. With family members who have a Nikon I knew that is what I wanted. I love Nikon's picture quality, and I especially love Nikon lenses. Now we can all share ;). Another reason I went with the D90 is because it was just as affordable, and is the ONLY digital camera that takes HD videos.With having three children; two babies back to back, we knew we wanted to be able to take short clips of the kids. This way I didn't have to invest in a video camera. I don't have a bunch of gadgets to fumble around with

Also, I have been learning SO much about photography....lighting, editing, Photoshop etc. I wanted a camera that could serve both purposes - professional photography, and every day photos of my boys. The D90 gave me that flexibility as my business grows and I didn't have to invest in two different cameras . AND I won't be needing to upgrade my camera any time soon. I am learning so much every day, but there is still SO much more I have yet to learn.

With a little $ gifts and two photo sessions, my camera had more than already 'paid itself off'. My first purchase after starting my business was the Nikon 50mm 1.8 lens. I could go on and on about different lenses, but I will try to keep it short. For those of you curious about this lens check out this site. I also have the 18-55mm II zoom lens that came with purchase of the camera body.

My suggestion to those of you who already have a digital camera. - keep it. It is better to use an old camera and use your $ to invest in a good lens. There is no comparison between an old camera body with a fantastic lens compared to a brand new camera with a crappy lens. The best thing about the 50mm 1.8 lens is that you can't beat the price - $100. It is a fixed lens so you have to get used to not having the zoom. I love its sharpness. I doubt I'll ever spend money on a more expensive camera.....but, I can see buying another lens or two some day. Many lenses cost more $ than some camera bodies lol. Most of my photography friends use only the 1.8 lens. It really gives me the nice bokeh artistic photos that I am looking for.

Here are two other lenses I would eventually like to get:
Nikon 50mm1.4 - great for low light
Nikon 85mm - it's a larger lens and it costs a LOT

Yeaaa .... You made it through this long post :) Feel free to email or comment if you have any questions.

Thomas Table

2011-01-31T08:43:00.001-06:00

This is Riley's favorite place to sit. It was part of Jacob's Thomas The Tank Engine bedroom set, but we found it got more use upstairs. If we have company, that is where the kids will eat. Riley will go around the house and find a couple trains, stick them together and ride them around the track on the table. It is probably a better size for Riley, now that Jacob is growing like a weed.

*Do you think it's time for Riley to get a hair cut? I can't bring myself to do more than a trim lol

Smiley Face Pizza

2011-01-30T07:44:00.003-06:00

Over the weekend we all made smiley face pizza. It was a recipe that was in Jacob's Highlights magazine.

Lately I have been blogging a lot about food lol - not intentional. But this was so much fun I had to share.

Believe it or not, it was a LOT more work than I thought it would be. I made the pizza dough a couple hours earlier that day so that it would be ready to roll out.

Olives for the eyes, broccoli for the nose, and a slice of red pepper for the smile. You put whatever toppings you want on the pizza, add cheese then the face gets baked on the top. I ended up just doing one pan full - so no over eating!

It was VERY tasty. Well worth the effort. Jacob did most of the work all by himself. I just worked out the dough and he cut the circles.

*For a family who doesn't like olives, you could hardly notice them with all of the other flavors.

Every Baby Should Have One

2011-01-29T07:33:00.003-06:00

Cole's favorite thing ....other than his soother, is his barbell rattle.This was Jacob's when he was little. One of the few things that was passed down from child to child. We donated almost ALL of Jacob's things (given to family/friends and self-help). At the time, we didn't think we'd have any more kids, and if we ever did it would have been wayyyy down the road. lol I love how God had other plans for us.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Ryan and I still talk about the possibility of having more children in our future. Whether natural, surrogate or adopted we do not know. What I do know, is that we will not be getting rid of any of our baby things. You never know when they may be needed :)

Some benefits to having a barbell rattle compared to others is:
-The shape makes for easy grip
-Vibrant fun colors
-Encourages Dexterity
-Explorative play
-Auditory Development
-Light & Balanced

Cole has been playing with this since younger than 4 months. It has a thin bar to hold onto and is a perfect 'first toy' for a baby. There really wasn't any other rattle/toy small enough for him to get his small fingers around. Lately his new technique has been to bang the rattle against his soother. haha Another fun new noise.

Riley Loves Cars

2011-01-28T09:13:00.004-06:00

"Riley is looking so much older lately :( slowly losing his baby look. He's always got a dinky car in hand. For some reason his hair is looking red in this photo, but it is more blond."

This post is a bit of a mishmash. I have been searching for some new healthy recipes and came across this one. It is SO GOOD! We all enjoy meatloaf, and this really spices it up into a one casserole dish meal.We substituted the ground beef and used ground turkey instead. Riley only ate the zucchini off of the top. He picked the most healthy part! haha

Ingredients

cup

(250 mL)

quick-cooking rolled oats

1/3

cup

(75 mL) tomato paste

1/2

tsp

(2 mL)

1/2

tsp

(2 mL) salt

1/2

tsp

(2 mL) pepper

1-1/2

(680 g)

extra-lean ground beef

Topping

1zucchini

cup

(250 mL)

1/2

cup

(125 mL) pasta sauce

1/3

cup

(75 mL)

1/4

tsp

(1 mL) salt

1/4

tsp

(1 mL) pepper

cup

(250 mL)

tbsp

(25 mL) parsley

Preparation:

In large bowl, lightly beat eggs; stir in rolled oats, tomato paste, onion, carrot, garlic, herb seasoning, salt and pepper. Mix in beef. Lightly pat into 8-inch (2 L) square glass baking dish.
Topping: Cut zucchini into 1/4-inch (5 mm) thick slices; place in bowl. Add mushrooms, pasta sauce, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper; spread over meat mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven for 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until meat thermometer inserted in centre registers 170°F (75°C). Sprinkle with parsley.

Ready To Get Started

2011-01-27T09:19:00.005-06:00

'Picture taken on top of my freezer'

Here is what I have so far for my first batch. I still plan on making:

Green beans
Corn
Peas
Eggplant
Pumpkin

Then I will start on fruits:

Apple sauce
Plums
Watermelon
Peaches
Pears
Bananas
Blueberries
Avocado

*As he gets older I can do combination foods with: lentils, brown rice, cottage cheese, goat cheese, grilled chicken, or beef.

Highlights

2011-01-26T09:18:00.002-06:00

Back in the fall Jacob had a school magazine fundraiser. Ryan and I chose Highlights. I am glad we can do this for Jacob, and it really was the most affordable choice compared to other magazines.

When I was young I got a Highlights magazine every month. I just loved it! .....if I remember correctly, I think Ryan also got this magazine when he was little. It is filled with stories, craft ideas, recipes, and hidden pictures - that was one of my favorites.

(CAN YOU FIND ALL THE OBJECTS- I have haha?)

It is a great motivator and learning tool for helping kids learn to read and recognize familiar words. Jacob's kindergarten class has started a reading program. They get to take a short book home with them and when they have learned to read it cover to cover we sign and date his reading chart, then they give out another book. He is whizzing through. I want to start a reward system for every level of reading he goes up, he'll get a small gift. I have friends who do this and said it works really well, so I decided to do it as well.

Project - Baby Food

2011-01-25T10:16:00.008-06:00

Ever since Cole turned six months, we have started introducing solids. We started with rice cereal, then barley and now oats. He is doing SO well. I am hoping to start trying him with a few vegetables by the end of the week

I have always had a love of baby food making. I find it looks, tastes and smells so much better that the jars you buy at the grocery store. I made pureed vegetables for my first two boys. Now it's Cole's turn.

Not only is it quick, it is cost effective! I can buy one large squash and it makes several ice cube trays. Babies start out eating one cube at a time so it lasts and lasts. A jar of baby food is almost $1! You get barely 2T of food. You can buy a large squash for a dollar more and it makes TONS.

It's not hard.

What I use:

Magic Bullet for pureeing
Pot for boiling vegetables
Spatulas
Strainer
Freezer bags
Ice Cube trays

I find the most difficult part (time consuming) is the peeling/chopping
of the vegetables.
Really, boiling a vegetable isn't that hard lol.

Come meal time you grab 1-3 cubes and defrost in the microwave for about 1 minute.

This is a list of what I hope to make:
Carrots
Avocado
Squash
Sweet potato
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Chicken
Zucchini
Pumpkin
Peas
Asparaguus
Green beans
Roasted red pepper

I introduce one at a time and wait 3 days to make sure there isn't a reaction. As he gets older I hope to add rice, lentils and other meats to make combination foods. Then I will start thinking about adding fruits.
I am quite excited to get started! The exciting thing is that we now have a freezer! A little apartment sized one that tucks in our dining area without taking too much room. Can't wait to stock it :)
* I will take a bunch of photos when I'm finished to show you what I come up with.

Here are a few good online resources:
Wholesome Baby Food
Age-by-age Feeding Guide
Simple Pureed Baby Food Recipes

Riley - 19 Months

2011-01-24T10:00:00.002-06:00

Since I had Cole I haven't been able to keep up with Riley's growth and development. But It is is never too late to start!

Riley's name suits him well. I know I have mentioned it before, but we always do a play on words and have joked about how we now use his name as an adjective. Riley's being Riley......or Riley's getting riled up. Or O'Riley. He is SO expressive. He uses his expressions and vocal cords to communicate very well. Isn't that what kids are supposed to do? Yes. BUT he takes it to a whole new level. He's expressive like his mom ;) jk But we love all of his little quirks. He is constantly making us smile and laugh.

He ranges perfectly on his growth and development charts. He eats pretty much anything. I still like to avoid sugary/fatty foods. He lived on milk and pureed foods till he was one so to keep going with that (not pureed) is the best plan in my books. We eat a lot of chicken/veg. soups. Rice, fish, grilled chicken, and vegetables of all kinds. On occasion he has had pasta. He enjoys dill pickles, oatmeal porridge and cream of wheat. Broccoli and cauliflower are his favorite veg's so far.

Riley and Jacob still share a room and it has been working out great. Hasn't ever been a problem. They both go to bed around 7:30pm and wake up at 6:30am. Couldn't ask for any better! He naps just once a day now and will usually sleep for two hours.

Riley is such a joy to play with and watch. We just love him!
He loves bath time.
Loves playing with his brothers.
I will find out his height/weight at his appointment tomorrow. His LAST needles till he starts school!!! Woohoo! So glad to be done with that. 2 boys down - 1 boy to go (Cole gets his 6 month needles tomorrow as well) then it's just the 18month and one year needles left.

He loves to sing and be sung too. He says amen after we finish praying. Even when I sing to him when he's tucked in bed he'll say amen when I'm done "amin". It's so sweet!

Push-Ups

2011-01-23T17:46:00.002-06:00

Cole's getting ready to take off.

Tongue

2011-01-22T06:45:00.001-06:00

Lately he's been constantly sticking his tongue out. It's so cute!

Color Shifters

2011-01-21T08:16:00.066-06:00

One car changed from blue to brown and the other changed from green to white

As you all know, Jacob's biggest love has always been trains. No other toy we have ever bought for him has brought the same excitement. This is a close second. It was kind of funny timing too. A few weeks ago I was talking with Ryan about playing with color changing cars when I was young and how sad it was that a lot of the toys we had 'way back when' aren't being made anymore.

So I checked e-bay and found a few that were WAY more $ than I was willing to pay for. Especially for one little dinky car.

Then, that EXACT same day I was browsing the toy section of the Superstore with a friend and there they were staring right at me for $2! I didn't even know they were even available.

I had to grab a couple.....one for each of the boys lol. Jacob has been playing with them constantly. In the kitchen sink, bathtub, and separate bowls. He has a little piggy bank where he is saving up to buy another one :) Every time he sees pennies kicking around he'll put it in his bank. We also give him small change occasionally when he helps around the house. It is fun teaching him about managing his $ haha.

Fish

2011-01-20T07:30:00.000-06:00

Over the years I have had several pets. Cats, dogs, rabbits, my sister   had a hedgehog, hermit crab, goat, sheep, chickens....quite a lot.    Though I don't know if a chicken could be considered a pet if it was    later used as food.

Anywayyyy lol

I hope to do this one day with our family. We can't right now with    where we are currently living, plus I would like to wait till the boys are    older and can appreciate it more. By then they can learn    responsibilities, enjoy walks with the dog, or even have a companion.

There are so many good reasons to own a pet. It really does initiate    more family time together. Currently we just have a fish tank....that I    LOVE!

Check this link for all the benefits of owning an aquarium.

We used to have Mollies, Tetras and Guppies. I thought a variety of    fish would be nice. Later on we decided to just have Guppies. We    have had hundreds of little guppy fry born in our tank. Many we have    kept,    and many we sent back to the store with their return policy.

We have always had an Algae Eater. I grew really attached to this    guy. Sadly - he didn't have a name. Over time he got so big for the    tank we had to take him back.....I'm assuming it was a male. It was good timing too, because when we took him in there was a customer looking    to buy a large one and there wasn't any available in the size they wanted and instantly fell in love with mine.

I'll have to open up my own little fish store:) jk.

I love the bubble machine. It makes it prettier, entertains the fish, and gives more oxygen

Who's Who

2011-01-19T11:09:00.005-06:00

I was going to ask if you could tell which one was Cole and which was Riley, but since they were taken with two very different cameras it is clear which one is Cole. Plus, you know that Riley has brown eyes and Cole has blue eyes lol

I only have good things to say about Nikon, especially their lenses - Best in my books. I specifically love my Nikon D90. Not having to hold a bunch of different gadgets and having one thing to hold for both taking pictures AND being able to take short video clips of the kids in HD is so handy. I will write a longer post on why I love my camera for another day.

With having two boys so close together they share clothes, toys......and Bumbo Seats :) Pretty much everything. Cole has been growing like a weed and is now into more of Riley's old clothes. He was sitting in the Bumbo this morning wearing the exact outfit as a picture I took last year of Riley. It wasn't even planned.

Deja vu

Cole Riley

I still find that Cole looks more like Jacob did at that age, but I've been seeing a lot of Riley too. All three are too cute so I can't really compare. The funny thing is that Cole is 6 months in this picture and Riley was 4 months!!!!

I Love Kindergarten

2011-01-18T13:35:00.005-06:00

Jacob's school shirt

Jacob came home with his very first school shirt. I thought it was a sweet keepsake to remember his first year of school. All of the his classmates signatures are on the back. I got it a size bigger because since it's winter I figure he'll need room for an undershirt and by summer should be fitting perfectly.

Can you find Jacob's?

I am so glad he he enjoys school and excels. So fun seeing him build friendships and creating lifelong fond memories.

6 Month Picture

2011-01-17T07:23:00.000-06:00

Bundled Up

2011-01-14T10:18:00.001-06:00

Today is a pretty quiet day. Ryan was throwing up last weekend and today it seems to have hit Jacob. I sent him off to school and he didn't mention he wasn't feeling well. Then I get a call from the school saying he threw up and they were sending him home - poor guy. Everyone is napping now and I'm signing off for the day.

So tired :s. I may need a nap myself, that almost never happens.

Cole & Riley getting ready to get groceries last night

What I Woke Up To

2011-01-13T09:32:00.002-06:00

Cole laying in his crib at the end of our bed

When The Big Boys Are Gone

2011-01-12T09:31:00.002-06:00

When Jacob heads off to school around 8:30am, it is just Riley, Cole and I at home for the day. I can't even begin to count the number of times people have said

"Wow, you must have your hands full"

or

"You must be busy"

Both of which are obviously true. BUT, I admit I look forward to the week days. With Jacob and Ryan at school during the day, this is the most calm I see all week. I love watching Riley and Cole interact together. I love the way they make each other smile and the way I smile watching the two of them learn.

Kids smiles are so contagious!

I love the baby/toddler stage and I want to enjoy it as much as possible. I am so lucky to be able to stay at home. There is never a dull moment and I can't even count the number of times they make me laugh out loud. Bad days are extremely rare ..... though my definition of a bad day is if they go down for a nap at 1pm rather than 11am. Or when they have a cold. So even the hard days aren't too bad.

When the two big men/boys get home, the time together as a family is savored even more. Plus....by then I have an extra pair of helping hands :)

Solids

2011-01-11T08:56:00.001-06:00

Cole had his first experience with solids last night at supper time. I am just noticing now how nice and dirty Riley got the high chair moments before. I need to invest in another seating option for Riley. Now that the high chair is being used by Cole. I have been looking at getting one of these (HandySit) It doesn't cost much more than a high chair and it is good till up to the age of 5! Plus it is durable, portable and we can take it with us for outings etc. With having two kids so close together you almost need doubles of everything. One thing I love about it is that it still allows us to push the chair under the table which helps when you have a small space to live in.

Cole has been acting ready for solids for several weeks now by the way that he starts 'licking his chops' so to speak. Especially how he watches us so closely as the fork goes into our mouths then we start chewing. Also, a bottle doesn't seem to be satisfying him, plus I like to wait till the recommended 6 month mark.

He opened his mouth right up and couldn't get enough. His mouth was opening wide before I even got the next spoon full. He did SO well. He ate the entire tablespoon portion I gave him.

Cole - 6 Months

2011-01-10T09:08:00.006-06:00

I am just going to go ahead and say

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

To my youngest. I'd say half a year old is quite a milestone. Cole turned six months on the eighth.

It still feels just like yesterday I first held you in my arms, wondering how in the world I was going to add another one to the mix. Three boys. All who are so unique.

Not only just in their looks, but in their personality. Cole's personality comes out more and more. In his laughter, in the expressions of his eyes. He tracks SO well. You can just see him taking everything in around him. He pulls himself over to whatever Jacob and Riley are doing. It looks like he wants to join in.

He is almost holding the bottle himself - woohoo!! He still gets up once at night anytime between 1-3. I can't wait till he can make it to 6:00AM.

Now it's time to start solids!! I barely just did this with Riley less than a year ago and I still have to re-learn everything. All I know is that I am going to start with some rice cereal. I have one where you just add water, then another that you can add breast milk or formula. Then I get to start making a variety of pureed vegetables. Can't wait! I have always loved making home made baby food. The store bought food in the jar just doesn't look, taste or smell appealing and it really adds up!

I will write a future post on what all I will be making.

Biggest Loser

2011-01-09T08:42:00.000-06:00

I have never heard of this before other than the television show - which I LOVE to watch. So when one of my University Prov. friends said they were looking for a Facebook group I was immediately interested. No, it's not the show lol.

It is a group of men and women striving to make healthier choices. Supporting one and other in reaching our goals. It is an 18 week period where we send in our goals and each week respond our progress. Don't worry, it's all confidential if you want it to be.

Another one of my Prov. friends Erica put together a Biggest Loser Blog where all the contestants have the opportunity to write about their journey along the way. A place to share success stories, encouragement, or even share a few healthy recipes. So, today is the start date. I'm SO excited!

If you're interested, feel free to talk to Andrea or Erica via their Facebook page for more info.

Cole's Contagious

2011-01-08T15:23:00.000-06:00

His smiles and very blue eyes make me melt every time.

Decorating

2011-01-07T09:38:00.001-06:00

I have lived so many different places throughout my almost eight years of marriage to Ryan. We haven't ever lived anywhere for more that two years. Our first home we spent two Christmas' in and where we currently are we have also spent the last two Christmas'. Other than that it has been a few months here and a few months there. We are anticipating staying here at least one more Christmas so that's a record for us lol!

When living in a place that you know you're not going to be in for very long, a lot of things don't get done. Things like nice curtains on the windows (why buy them when you're going to move and have completely different size windows), decorating, and putting pictures on our walls. There are a whole lot of other things. But, I look forward to being able to make a cozy homey place for my family one day, but until then I am trying to make things as comfortable as possible at the place we currently are. I don't want to invest money on something that will only fit a temporary place.

I am pleased for the three photos of my boys that I have up. We rarely ever put anything up on our walls in past places so - progress is being made :)

It isn't much, and I do have a very different idea of what I want to do once we're some place larger. But for now I have three little dollar store black frames that I think work together rather well. I have no idea how to arrange pictures, so if you have any tips on decorating a small space let me know! I don't have one speck of home design expertise. Sadly, that is all I have up in my entire house other than maybe one other frame.

The pictures in the frames are even getting old lol. I still have yet to get an updated picture of Riley and Cole and I still need to order Jacob's school pictures that will end up in the frame eventually.

Laughter

2011-01-06T13:19:00.003-06:00

I am so glad I was able to capture this on video. This was taken last night as I was getting the boys ready for bed.
I had to quickly tippy toe to the closet to grab the camera. Any distraction will interrupt their play. Once I heard the laughter, I bolted. I almost need the camera attached to me at all times lol. Usually, when I see something fun to record, it ends before I even get a chance to pick up the camera.

I love watching Riley and Cole interact together. They are almost Irish twins, like my brother and I are. I am confident they will be very close and great friends when they are older.

Jacob On Ice

2011-01-05T16:16:00.003-06:00

Jacob got some ice skates from Grammie for Christmas that he was very excited to use. We have a skating rink almost right in our backyard. There are children/families from the community skating there all hours of the day. I don't think I have gone out during the day and not seen anyone there.

I thought Jacob might complain that the skates were too tight, or that he was tired, or stay out for 5 minutes then want to go in, but he didn't at all. Ryan carried him on to the ice and the fun began.

Ryan and I held each arm and skated together for the first while, then Ryan took Jacob on his own. Little by little Jacob worked up to standing all on his own, then to skating on his own. He did GREAT! He continues to surprise me with his determination, excitement and concentration.

Riley's Snow Pants

2011-01-03T10:47:00.000-06:00

Riley looked so cute and grown up in his snow pants. Ready for a cold MB day.

I'm Flying!!!

2011-01-02T18:07:00.000-06:00

I can't believe Cole will be a HALF A YEAR OLD on the 8th. Time to get his photos again. Cole loves to be on his belly. I will lay him on his back and within seconds he will flip over onto his stomach. He can roll back on to his back as well. While he is on his belly he puts his arms and legs up and wobbles himself back and forth. It is so funny to watch. Then he will start kicking his legs trying to move himself. He is on the verge of crawling.

I will have a more detailed post about Cole on the 8th.

Snow Fort

2011-01-01T11:39:00.000-06:00

Jacob has been asking for ages to go out and make a snow fort. That's all he talked about - tunnels. The trouble was that we didn't have a hill piled high enough. So Ryan and I went out with our shovels and piled up the snow the best we could. If only we had a snow plow lol.

What I would love to do some day is pile up our own hill large enough that all the boys can slide down. Sometimes sliding down on your bum can work just as well or better than a sled!

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T12:11:00.001-06:00

We have these two figurines that I think represent our family really well. We got the first one 'New Dad' when Jacob was born. Then last Sept. for my b-day Ryan got me the one called 'Quietly'. It was the perfect age difference. Jacob always stands at my side while Riley sat on my lap reaching up to my face. But now, since Cole was born, the two figurines together picture our little family of five.

2010 has been a whirlwind of a year. Here are just a few of the things that went on this year: Having two children back to back, opening up a new photography business, Jacob starting public school, visiting family out East and Ryan starting a new teaching position, first Christmas as a family of five, and so many more adjustments and changes along the way. I am so thankful that through everything our family is close, and we are all so healthy. I am counting my blessings.

Going Shopping

2010-12-29T19:16:00.001-06:00

Christmas Day

2010-12-28T14:19:00.011-06:00

Jacob's main gift was his scooter

Riley's favorite was the stuffed dog

Jacob is the only one who had any clue what was going on. The other two are definitely a little young. Jacob keeps a calendar next to his bed and every morning he would cross off a day. He did that for the whole month of Dec. and never forget a day, it was the first thing he wanted to do when he woke up.

I thought he might get too excited to sleep (like I did when I was young) but I guess he is still a little young yet, considering he just turned five. Everyone slept till 7:00am.

Riley was enthralled with everything, and as I expected, he went straight towards the large stuffed dog. He is my most rambunctious boy, but also the most cuddly boy and loves squishing soft animals... but never one quite as big as the one that was under the tree.

We took our time, then we Skyped with my family so it took several hours to finish everything. Plus, Riley and Cole didn't seem interested in unwrapping more than one thing. Jacob was only too happy to help.

Cole - My little elf apprentice

Before the kids woke up

Live Outdoor Nativity

2010-12-26T19:39:00.006-06:00

Every year our church does an Live Outdoor Nativity. We live in a community (1000pop) with 6 VERY large evangelical churches. It is difficult for each church to have a program over the holidays that doesn't all land at the same day and time as the others. Plus, with various friends and family all attending here and there, sometimes we want to go see them all!

Our Church decided 4 years ago to do the Outdoor Nativity. It is in the yard of the church for everyone and anyone in the community to drop by and see. There are even live animals (horses, goats and a donkey)There is always a huge turn-out. Jacob has been a shepherd boy the last 2 years (ever since we moved out here)

There are hot drinks and sweets available inside afterward. Outside we have horse drawn sleigh rides, congregational singing and a short message. A fun time had by all. Jacob loves doing it and tries his best to do it very well.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T22:48:00.000-06:00

Concert

2010-12-22T10:14:00.019-06:00

Jacob had his very first school Christmas Concert. It was so wonderful seeing him up on stage and doing so well.

I am so blessed to be able to live in a predominantly Christian community. Because of this, the local school try to incorporate themes that are important to the community. Every song the children sang were about Jesus and the nativity. It sure wasn't like this when I was in school! I remember singing Up On The Housetop (a song about Santa)

Jacob is in the front row in the brown striped sweater.

Cole Is 5 Months

2010-12-08T10:17:00.025-06:00

I can't get over the fact that Cole is already FIVE months!

It is going by way to fast. I wish it would slow down. This is one of my many favorite ages, but I do wish I could have a full nights sleep some day. With having children so close together I haven't had that for almost 3 years. I had a hard time sleeping while I was pregnant too.

Cole has already reached several milestone these last few short months. There are so many he will soon hit as well.

Here are a few:

He is rolling on his belly then back onto his back.

He is putting his legs up under his chest and moving himself forward. I can see him crawling within the next month or so.

He doesn't have any teeth so far, but lately he has been in discomfort and drooling a LOT so I imagine his first tooth will pop through very soon.

He still only drinks one 4oz bottle at a time. Jacob was my only baby who drank out of 8oz bottles....I wonder why it is different? You'd think there would be a standard ammt for all. Though, I think it may be because his bottle nipples were fast flow and Riley and Cole prefer taking their time with slow/medium flow.

He hasn't eaten any solids yet. I want to wait till Cole turns 6 months. He still loves his soother, and is the only one of my three boys who takes one. I didn't bother trying to re-introduce it to them months later.

Cole is very vocal

Laughs so loudly

Loves his red and white barbel rattle

Lays on the floor pulling himself to wherever Jacob and Riley are.

He is in size 2 diapers

Some days I wonder if each of my children all get the same ammt of cuddles and attention each day, but I like to take the time and spend it with all three of them at the same time because some times one-on-one time gets to be challenging. Jacob goes off to school and I spend most of my time with Riley while Cole is napping, then Cole gets lots of hugs and cuddles when he gets up for a bum change and bottle. So I think it is all working out quite well.

Christmas Baking

2010-12-07T09:50:00.002-06:00

We just love baking together over the holidays. There are just so many goodies to chose from and we don't like to leave it in the house so we make assortment plates for neighbors, family and Ryan's staff. We made Unbaked cookies, shortbread cookies, coconut cheery almond balls, peanut butter balls, fudge, date squares and rice crispy squares.

We are using a $1 kit from the dollar store. It came with frosting tubes and sugar eyes for making snowmen. So affordable and a fun family time!

Twins

2010-10-10T08:29:00.002-05:00

Seeing double? I love how Riley and Cole are close together, so when there is a good sale at a clothing store I get to buy in twos! You will be seeing a lot of this in the future because I plan on dressing them alike a LOT! Or at least while they are young.

Thanksgiving

2010-10-09T18:05:00.003-05:00

We decided to have our Turkey dinner today (Sat) because the rest of the weekend was completely FULL. Family gatherings, three photo sessions, church etc. and three boys who will not get one nap. I am one of those moms who HAS to put my kids down for naps every day right on schedule. They love their routine - AND their rest.

Anyway, we had a FABULOUS Thanksgiving dinner. It couldn't have been any better. It was our first family turkey dinner in over 3+ years. Plus, last Thanksgiving we were in Ryan's parents house for a couple of months. And one other special thing about this year, was that it was our very first Thanksgiving as a family of 5. As much as I love to entertain and love having people over often for meals, we decided this year would be just the 5 of us. Plus, we're going out tomorrow to Winnipeg for another turkey dinner with Ryan's side of the family. Always a crowd and always good to see everyone again.

It was such a beautiful day we decided to spend it outside, and we all sat together saying all of the things we were thankful for, prayed, then went inside to eat. Ryan's favorite words "the best food he's ever had :D"

I always like to do a new recipe every year. This year I did cornbread instead of buns. We all LOVED it. It will definitely be a traditional dish in our home. I find it so fun incorporating both mine and Ryan's childhood traditions as well as new ones along the way. I was looking on google for traditional Thanksgiving dinner and I was quite surprised to hear that cornbread is a popular dish at Thanksgiving in the south.

Next year I would love to try green bean casserole. Have a deep fall color table cloth and work on making my own centerpiece.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Prayer Request

2010-10-08T08:18:00.000-05:00

As a family, we have been praying for Ryan's cousin Jessica. She recently found out, after 2 years of being missionaries in China that she has a brain tumor. She has since had surgery and is now undergoing chemo and radiation. If you think of it, please remember her, her husband and their two boys in your prayers.

She has a beautiful blog here of her experience as a missionary. Since she is now back in MB with her family, her blog is now mainly used to share with others her journey through cancer.

http://mainlandmessage.blogspot.com/

(She gave me permission to post this)

In Case of Emergency

2010-10-05T09:40:00.000-05:00

We have bath night almost every evening before bed. The kids love it, it helps entertain them, gets the evening to go by faster and obviously it cleans them.

It is baffling how dirty three busy boys can get just in a day! Playing in the yard, playing with their cars in the dirt on the driveway, the sandbox, and not to mention messy when they eat.

But occasionally, there are accidents that happen throughout the day.

Rather than spending ages in the tub, they go in the kitchen sink. It lets me keep an eye on the other kids, and it is quick!

Riley is a professional mess maker.

The sink gets a good scrub every time.

Saying Hi

2010-10-03T09:45:00.005-05:00

I turn my head for a second and Riley ends up moving as fast as he can and climbs on the chair, up onto the kitchen table. Every time he sees Cole he will say "bebe" acknowledging that Cole is a baby. Riley says many words. "mama, dada, hi, up, all done, yum, no (that's one of his favorites), baby, uh oh. There are others, but these are the words he uses daily.

I guess he climbed up to say hi to Cole :)

He reaches out and gets as close to Cole as he can and surprisingly - he is very gentle.

Riley's favorite foods are: sweet potato, squash, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower & grilled chicken. He also loves yogurt, bananas, grapes, pears, and oatmeal porridge. He loves bread, so I like to spread it with apple sauce or yogurt rather than using butter.

Currently, his favorite toy is Jacob's geo trax. I want to get a second remote control train for Riley for Christmas, that way they will each have one to use. He uses it like a pro, making the train go forward and backward. He plays with cars and will make the vrooming sounds. We also want to get him a Fisher Price car. Jacob had one at that age. We don't usually get a lot for Christmas. One main gift and a second item. Plus our stockings (which is my favorite part). That, along with the gifts they receive from others is plenty. I hear people talking about starting Christmas shopping already on Facebook. I haven't even thought about it yet. I don't even know where Sept. went.

In the evenings as we are getting the boys ready for bed, it is our routine to clean up their toys that were used during the day. It is so nice to go to bed in a clean room. Riley will pick up anything and everything off of the floor and help us put it into their toy box. He likes to imitate and be a little helper.

Personality

2010-10-01T09:38:00.008-05:00

I know it seems as though i have been making a lot of comparisons between each of my boys. I love them all completely -their similarities - and their differences. I find it enjoyable to make note of it all. As you all have read before Riley is quite feisty. Maybe it's because being one of the younger siblings?

Whatever the reason, I like to think he was born this way ;) Jacob has always been the cautious, serious, sensitive boy. When he was little, a stern look or a firm no was all he needed to stop whatever he shouldn't have been doing. But Riley, if you take him away from something he shouldn't be doing he will laugh. He finds it funny when I get serious. I have to hold back laughter sometimes because I find it so amusing. I hear myself saying 'ta ta' allllll the time. I think he just gets so excited sometimes that he gets all fired up and plays quite rough with Jacob.

So far there is no sibling rivalry to speak of and Jacob is quite understanding that Riley is learning and that being older does carry responsibilities to look after and teach the younger ones. I am SO glad my boys love each other and love others. It is when they start playing with others who haven't learned that, that makes me want to be really careful who they hang out with. There are a lot of bully's out there. And while I can't protect them from them all, I will do what I can to monitor and limit contact. Some kids just don't play nice - and it's a realllllyyyy big peeve of mine and something most moms feel when their children are being hurt. Like a lion protecting their young.

Jacob was fine when this picture was taken. He just gets tired of having to smile for a million pictures :) The picture to the left really says it all lol

Fall Colors

2010-09-27T11:18:00.001-05:00

I love fall. I would like to be able to pick a favorite season, but fall and spring are really tied for first. The colors of the changing leaves are gorgeous - but the blooms in spring are breathtaking as well. The only trouble with these 2 seasons is that you never know if you're going to need summer clothes, or a winter jacket and hats and mitts. Just yesterday was +20C but a couple days earlier it was hovering around 0 and we were all bundled up.

Laundry Baskets Are Fun!

2010-09-26T07:46:00.001-05:00

Jacob and Riley are really two peas in a pod. It is difficult to get Jacob to do anything. His usual phrase "I'm playing with Riley because he's my brother".

We have had a lot of fun with laundry baskets in our house. Sometimes Jacob will slide Riley across the floor for a ride. As hard as I try, and as many changes of clothes they go through in a day kids sure find a way to get dirty. Spills on their clothes, dirt from playing outside a hundred times a day. But, I'll keep trying, you never know whose going to drop in and visit at any moment.

Thumb Sucker???

2010-09-24T13:01:00.001-05:00

Ever since Cole was born he has loved to suck. He will suck on his fist, his upper lip, his tongue, his soother ...... and yesterday I caught him sucking his thumb. It is not hunger. He is a happy, healthy, large growing boy haha. He is very content and full of smiles.

I don't know if it will continue till he is older, and I don't mind either way. I guess we will see as he gets a little older......

Throwback Thursday - The Blog & Me

2010-09-23T09:46:00.000-05:00

..... yes, it is true. We are not one and the same.

The blog will only ever be a picture of what we choose to show others.

A lot has changed since I started blogging in 2006. I lived in NS and wanted my family 4 provinces away in MB to have a way to see Jacob's growth and development. Since I moved back to MB my blog now offers the same benefit for my family back east. But it quickly became more than that.

I have met so many wonderful people through blogging. Moms, photographers, teachers, other Christians and the list goes on. When I started blogging in 2006 I started joining blogrolls, groups, Friday Follow, Blog Hops etc.... you get the picture. I wanted numbers. I would spend hours a day visiting other blogs, commenting, - doing whatever I could - and it worked! It was amazing how fast it could consume my time. But with Ryan at school, it was the perfect hobby.

I love how we bond with people with the same interests - environmentally friendly moms, cloth -diapering moms, photographers, hobbies & crafts, weight loss blogs, there are groups of people who home school, some who don't, some who vaccinate, some who don't, some who breastfeed, some who don't, some who don't shower, most who do (yes it's true!) :) - really, you can find any number of eccentric and not so eccentric people who can agree with you on almost anything. People tend to flock to those who agree on the same things, and if you think some bloggers are a little 'far out' you accept peoples differences.

I don't lean too much on any one hobby, I sort of dabble in a little of everything. I love to be eco-friendly, but yes, I admit there are days I do not recycle, days when I have to use Pine Sol because I love the smell so much and no natural cleaner will give me the same scent satisfaction. Sometimes I use cloth diapers, some days I use disposables. Some days I use the baby carrier, other days I use a stroller.....

Since 2006 the way I blog has changed a lot. I don't spend hours a day following hundreds of others. I don't really spend much time at all on my blog anymore. I will make a post that takes about 10-15 mins max to type and load pictures (always in the morning when the kids are napping) and that's it. Then when Ryan gets home at 4 we spend all that time together as a family. We go for a walk to the park every day as soon as he gets home, eat supper together, clean together, read a book together, tuck the kids in bed together. All the boys go to bed by 7:30pm and then it is time for Ryan and I. We both desire us-time every day. We go to bed by 8:30PM every day.

I still have my close blogger friends who I email and follow on Facebook regularly. Many of whom I have met and more I hope to meet some day. I will never win the Pulitzer Prize on most followers or most interesting posts, but I will always be filled with joy looking back on the posts of my ever growing family & recording their milestones - where we've been & how we've grown - me especially. I am filled with joy at the people I have met, I am filled with joy of the things I have learned, I am filled with joy that because of my close friends and blogger friends I was encouraged to open my own photography business.....something I would have never had the courage to do before, and joy watching the business grow.

My blog may not look like much to others, but to me, it is my own masterpiece.

About the 3 men in my life who I love more than anything!

Who knows where my blog will be as my boys grow - or if it will still be around. Before you know it I will be posting about their grade 12 graduation. Till then, my focus will always be real life - not my blog life. But I will enjoy the ride with those who have viewed my blog from the beginning, and those I have met and will continue to meet along the way.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-22T10:16:00.000-05:00

I love this man!

Cole - 2 Months

2010-09-21T10:40:00.002-05:00

Cole had his 2 month needles on Friday. He did really well. It went so fast that he cried only for a minute after the last one was done. I am so glad he is young enough that he doesn't remember times like these. They get their last needles at 18 months and by then they know what that needle is going to do! My doctor said a few people don't start till later then and it ends up being so much more difficult to do. Plus, I find it difficult watching as they get older. Thankfully Ryan is always there with us.

He now weighs 13 lbs. He checked out average in all of the measurements. Right on track!

Still happy and content. He lets you know when he is hungry, at least with my kids they only ever fussed when they wanted more to eat.

He started seeping till 5!! I was so glad.....the only drawback is that we all get up at 6:00AM so it doesn't leave much time to feed, then go back to sleep.

He is smiling all the time, my most smiley baby at that age. He is starting to coo. I love listening to his baby sounds. Still uses his soother, still loves being swaddled in his miracle blanket and loves when we sing to him.

He has very strong neck muscles and is already pushing his body up. So far his eyes are still very blue. Riley's and Jacob's were like that for months, then gradually turned brown like their dad's. I am hoping Cole's stay blue because then at least one of my boys will have blue eyes like me. But I am convinced it will change over time.

Some people say he looks just like Jacob did at that age - and I agree. Others think he looks like Riley. I guess he is a mix of both......but I still think he is a Jacob clone.

My Little Rascal

2010-09-20T13:26:00.006-05:00

The last week or so has been a zoo. With Jacob starting school and walking him over, Cole still up every night and three boys to look after every day, it can get BUSY! I am excited that as of this past Friday, Jacob walked to school for the very first time all by himself. I was adamantly against him walking by himself at first as he is barely just turned 5. But with all the kids walking over, neighbors that walk with him, and the whole school yard visible from my kitchen window I changed my mind. He did GREAT! The double stroller we have doesn't fit Cole till he gets bigger so Riley and Cole still need to be in separate strollers or Cole in the baby carrier. Some days I would send Riley and Cole to our neighbors, or I would have someone stay at the house, but then the boys would have to go down for their naps, and before you knew it, I was back at the school to pick Jacob up.

Now I have a sinus infection, and a major chest cold that I'm afraid is turning into bronchitis...like it does almost every time. It completely drains all of my energy. It is days like this that makes me wish we still lived in our one level. Running laps up and down stairs to get 2 kids up and down all day is a good work out - when you're not sick.

Anyway - that is how it has been as of late.

Onto other things.....

Out of all my boys - so far, Riley has had the most energy. He is constantly a comedian. He will do anything to get a reaction. He has so many facial expressions - such a personality! We have several nick names for him. Scamp, rascal, fire cracker, ham and a lot more. I love his spunky personality, and how he loves to make others smile.

**Even though he is too big for his Bumbo, he still loves crawling all over and sitting in his old seat - I wonder how he'll react once Cole starts using it? That day is coming very soon.....

Cole

2010-09-13T10:05:00.000-05:00

A few of Cole's one month pictures. Now to get his 2 month pics done.

1st Day of School

2010-09-09T12:08:00.002-05:00

Jacob had a fabulous first day of school. Well, morning anyway. They only go till lunch time. I had to get a picture of him standing at the end of the driveway.....even though we didn't have to wait for any bus. I am SO glad he is close enough that we can walk over together.

The classroom is filled with a bunch of fun activities, toys and tables. It reminded me of his pre-school but even better. I can't imagine him not having this opportunity. Kindergarten is so much fun and he gets the social aspect as well, and will be able to make friends.

He wasn't nervous one bit. We were the first ones to arrive and the teacher showed him where to put his indoor shoes, where to hang his jacket and book bag. The parents go on the first day as well, so I got to watch him get everything sorted.

I look forward to seeing all that he will be learning in the months ahead.

Surprisingly enough I didn't feel too choked up about it. More just amazed that my baby is in school, but mostly I am really excited for Jacob. He has been excited to start school for a long time and I know it will be so great for him. Then the other side of me was cheering WOOHOO!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-08T14:06:00.001-05:00

All Set For School

2010-09-06T13:31:00.001-05:00

On Saturday we went into Winnipeg to get the last few school things for Jacob. The school sent a list of things that he will need for kindergarten. Things such as - a bookbag to hold 10x13 sized paper, glue sticks, white soled, non-marking sneakers and all sorts of other things. It was SO FUN! I remembered all the fond memories I had as a kid getting all my school supplies and organizing everything in my book bag. Everything was all new and exciting.

We wanted to make it a special day just for Jacob. So, we dropped Riley and Cole off to be babysat and off we went. I don't think Jacob has had a day out with us by himself in a LONG time. We went to McDonalds for lunch then to WalMart for most of our list.

While we were eating lunch Jacob says out of the blue "I miss my brothers". It made me melt. It's like he knew they should have been with us too. I am glad he feels that way.

Both Jacob and Ryan were trying on clothes on in the change room. Jacob would jump out of his stall with a huge smile on his face saying how much he liked his outfits. He really enjoyed the day, acting all grown up doing whatever Ryan and I did.

Here are a few pictures of Jacob showing his new things.

He made the funniest poses.

He's A Climber

2010-09-04T12:27:00.005-05:00

Riley climbs over everything. On tables, chairs, his toy box.....he's even climbed into Cole's baby swing. We had to take down our baby gate at the top of our stairs because he's mastered going up and down all by himself. Though, the gate will have to go back up once Cole starts crawling all over the place.

Frog

2010-09-03T09:45:00.000-05:00

Jacob was so excited to find a frog in the back yard. He wanted to bring it in the house to live in a box. I had to tell him that the frog would jump out and go home with his family. He seemed alright with that explanation then he took it back outside and watched it jump away.

He Has The Cutest Curls

2010-08-31T07:51:00.007-05:00

Riley is the only one of my three boys that have had curls. I don't know if they will last till he is older, plus eventually he will need a hair cut, but I will enjoy them while they last!

I like to wait a LONG time before giving my kids their very first hair cut. Jacob was almost 2 when he finally had his. You can see Jacob's first hair cut here.

He also has the blondest hair with a little bit of a red tint to it. I come from a family with a lot of red hair. Even my hair has red tones in it, but I usually get a TON of platinum highlights. I wish my natural hair color was like Riley's.

His hair is starting to get into his eyes, so I think I may just start with a trim of the bangs. There are people already wondering if we are growing his hair out like his dad's.

Ryan has long hair past his shoulders, plus that, along with his beard his students at school have nick named him Jesus.

**For now I put up a temporary header that I threw together. People were starting to wonder if I had Cole yet and it is better than nothing as I still am brainstorming ideas**

Cole - 1 Month

2010-08-30T12:07:00.002-05:00

Actually, Cole is 6 weeks, but I wanted to get the update in before he turns 2 months.
Cole eats really well - every 3-4 hours. We put him to bed after his last feeding at 10PM then he will sleep till 2-3AM. It isn't too bad, but I am SO ready to sleep longer stretches. In a couple more months I am sure I won't have to do the night feeding. After his night feeding he usually sleeps till 6 or 7AM. He still sleeps in our room at the end of our bed.

I am loving how he smiles at everyone. He is so observant and tracks really well with his eyes.

Cole is the only one of my three boys that absolutely loves his soother. Jacob and Riley wouldn't touch it as hard as I tried. It would just pop out. I find them helpful, but not when I have to keep putting it in his mouth when it falls out. I figure it is better than ending up sucking his thumb till he is 8 like I did.

He has been such a joy and wonderful little addition to this family. He is filling out more and more, gradually looking less infant-like. I will find out on his 2 month needle appt. how much he weighs.

The Meeting Place

2010-08-29T16:23:00.007-05:00

Here they are again sitting at their meeting place. Jacob has been reading level one books for a while now, and learns more and more every day. As a special treat we buy him levels one through three Thomas, Cars, and other themed books.

All on his own he will sit and read with Riley. I love running across the house to grab the camera for some funny happening. Those are the best and turn out better than anything I could pose them for. It always bring a smile to my face.

Riley even opens the book and pretends he's reading. The cutest little gibberish. He also has the cutest bunch of baby curls in the back of his blond head. (I'll post a pic of that too).

You can see Riley's hair blowing from the air in the vent. Who knew a breeze could be so fun.

Ever since Jacob was born it has always been our bedtime routine to read a book after teeth are brushed.

Brotherly Love

2010-08-28T08:05:00.004-05:00

Jacob and Riley are like glue to each other. They both do everything together. This is one of their common play areas. They love to sit on top of the register and feel the air blow. They were there again last night right before bed time.

I have several pictures of Jacob and Riley just hanging out over the living room register. I am sure things may change as they get older, but for now I am loving how much they adore each other.

As you can see a bunch of fir needles are piled up beside them.....leftovers from our Christmas tree last year lol. I guess a few fell inside the vent and blew out.

Small Spaces

2010-08-27T17:45:00.003-05:00

Riley just loves small spaces. It doesn't faze him a bit. Whether it be hiding behind the living room rocking chair, or climbing under the rungs of the kitchen chairs. I have had to child proof the entire house, but I do like to leave one or two cupboards open so that he can play with whatever is inside. In this cupboard I leave the mixing bowls. He likes to stack them and put them on his head like a hat. This is what he did while I was getting lunch ready.

Meal Time

2010-08-26T10:06:00.009-05:00

I know, I know. I still don't have a blog header up. I am still coming up with ideas of how to get all three boys in. That is my goal in the next week - finish header!

Now that I have three children I need to figure out how I am going to post about each child. I mean, I don't want to end up blogging mainly about one, but how am I going to equally post about each child? Any ideas? I suppose I will have to do more family posts - outings, playtime etc.

Here are a couple of pictures taken of Riley last night during supper time. There is usually a smile of amusement and sense of satisfaction when I sit at the table looking around at my three boys. One in the high chair, one in the bouncer and the other in a kitchen chair beside me.

How did this happen? haha I know how it happened, but I never thought I'd have such a FULL kitchen table.

I love that whatever I make for supper Riley can eat. I used to prepare him a variety of pureed concoctions and freeze them. But now I don't have to - at least for the next four months till Cole starts solids.

It is also incentive for me too cook healthier. I still usually keep squash, sweet potato, grilled chicken and lentils in the fridge as back-up just in case I don't feel my meal choice is one year old friendly. I think one year olds should have the healthiest meals possible and it is a little impossible for him to eat spinach (one of our usual's).

Riley is eating Kommst Borscht. Cabbage, chicken, carrots, potatoes with a variety of spices. He devoured it. The only thing is - he wants to do it all by himself. It is a fun mess to clean afterward.

He's Like A Bird

2010-08-25T16:53:00.001-05:00

It has been great being home and enjoying what is left of summer vacation. I love to spend that time with Ryan when he is home. As much as I have a ton of things I could blog about, it just didn't make sense to me to be in front of the computer when there are countless other things to be doing. As I am sure you have noticed, my blog doesn't take priority. Especially during the summer months, I am lucky if I get a post in here and there. I hope to remedy that once school starts. Even if I could keep up once/week! Wish I was a little better at keeping it updated.

Cole has been such a happy baby. So content and - just plain easy. I figured I should update about him because babies grow SO fast!

Whenever Cole gets hungry he opens his mouth in the cutest point. I know all babies make that motion when they are hungry, but Cole's lips are thinner and pointier than Jacob's and Riley's were. He just reminds me of a little baby bird. It makes me laugh every time.

A Little Friend

2010-08-14T17:07:00.003-05:00

We went to the lake yesterday. The temperatures have been SO warm and in the 30's. It is surprising how even with three kids it doesn't seem more difficult going places. It is one more car seat to buckle, but that's about it. I am so glad I can go out without it feeling like too much of an exhausting chore.

While we were there Jacob found a little friend. He didn't seem scared at all. In fact he wanted to keep the little leach on his finger. When he started to pull at it and it didn't come off he found it funny and waved it in front of me. I DO NOT like leaches, and tried my hardest not to flip out. I didn't want him to get scared, so I just smiled and said cute. hehe

This all happened in a matter of seconds so it didn't stay on his finger long. Just long enough for me to capture a picture, then I got Ryan to deal with it and take it off his finger

One of Those Days

2010-07-17T20:30:00.007-05:00

Today was just one of those days. Not that it was a busy day. We actually had the whole day to rest and be at home. Jacob had a play date at our neighbors house and Cole and Riley had great naps. I also had a good nap.

I don't know if it is changes in hormone levels, or just complete exhaustion but I have had a splitting headache for 2 days straight. I have been told it is normal after giving birth, but I haven't had anything like this with my other 2 pregnancies.

My incision is almost completely healed and looks great. Abdominal pain isn't really bothering me much compared to my headache. I didn't think I would feel much different after having Cole, considering I just went through this with Riley. But wow, after day nine I am feeling all the same things as I did with my first two. Yawnnnn...... I hope this doesn't last long.

How long did it take before you felt like yourself?

I always found the first month quite exhausting regardless. Were there any outings or hobbies or you time that you enjoyed to help you get through?

Cole has been enjoying his baths in the kitchen sink. I never liked fussing with the baby baths. The water always cooled off way too fast and never covered more than just their legs. And it made such a mess.

New Baby - Week 1

2010-07-15T19:01:00.005-05:00

It has been quite a week. It still feels like I just had Cole yesterday, but it has been a week - a whole entire week. CRAZY!!! The boys are adjusting so well. Jacob loves being a big brother and is his usual happy, helpful self. Wanting to hold Cole and take pictures of him. Riley is content as ever with something else to look at to entertain him. I am glad they are closer together in age because there is no big change for either of them. They don't really know anything else.

Other than being COMPLETELY tired ALL the time, the only complaint I have is just soreness. I just want to not be sore. The incision is healing up nicely. They used sutures this time rather than staples so the scar is half the size and barely noticeable.

The public health nurse came today and weighed Cole. He is now 7lb 4 oz. He is back above his birth weight. It is an encouraging sign that he gained this much and back to his birth weight in a week.

Other updates:

He sleeps 3-4 hour stretches.

He loves his baths.

Latches on great.

Out of all three of my boys he is the most content baby and I have yet to see him really cry. Yup, i'm 100% serious - I'v gone a whole entire week with a baby who hasn't cried. He will make baby coos and rooting sounds when he's ready for a feeding. Mostly I just have to look at the clock to know when it's time to eat again. No need to wait till he's screaming to finally come with food.

Overall, the first week hasn't been much different than before. I am kind of just waiting for the huge BANG of craziness to start that so many people experience after having a baby. Praise the Lord for a sweet, gentle, loving husband whose pretty much taken over absolutely every chore, all meals, both boys and me. The 2AM feeding is probably the most difficult part of everything. Ryan and I will watch old episodes of scrubs while Cole eats then we sleep till morning.

Cole's Name

2010-07-13T18:30:00.008-05:00

As you all know we tossed around a ton of baby name ideas. In the end we finally decided we wanted a one syllable name. A name that could tie all three of our sons names together.

Cole : It is middle English and means 'people of victory' It is a short form of Nicholas (which we also considered but figured people would call him Nick for short rather than Cole)

Plus it sounds great with Jacob and Riley. I also just noticed Cole has the co in Jacob and the le in Riley.

Of all 8 of the boys names that we chose for our sons, Cole is the only one that doesn't have a family tie to it. We love baby names with meaning. We made up for it with our middle names.

Grayson: My family has several generations of girls names/middle names with the name Grace. Including my mom and myself. I figured if I ever had a girl that Grace would be her middle name. So we decided to use the male form.

Henry: Ryan's dads middle name is Henry and we knew right from the beginning we wanted Cole to have the middle name Henry. Ryan's great-grandfather also had the first name Henry.

If you're interested you can look back and also read the meaning of:

Riley's full name

and

Jacob's full name

Cole's Birth Slideshow

2010-07-12T18:41:00.006-05:00

Meet Cole

2010-07-11T07:35:00.005-05:00

Cole Grayson Henry