Saturday, July 25, 2015

Kade’s 5th Week

Hi Kade! You celebrated 1 month on 7/14 and turned  5 weeks old on Sunday,7/19. …I can hardly believe it! This is all about your sweet fifth week.

Weight: You were 9 lbs and 13 oz at your checkup. Dr. Carey joked that you would be 40 lbs the next time we brought you in! Really though, they are happy with your weight gain and it’s a good sign you are eating well.

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I also want you to know that I prayed very specifically that you wouldn’t be too big to be born vaginally (only because VBAC), but that the Lord would let you grow big and strong after you came out. I reminded your Daddy about that the other day and he said he remembered me praying that. We are celebrating that the Lord is continuing to honor the prayers we have prayed over you.

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Health: No more “clicking” in your hip and all checked out well at your appointment! Praise the Lord!! We are so thankful for a healthy boy. We go back again at 2 months.

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Sleep: You are totally going to be a tummy sleeper when you’re big enough to roll over. We are still swaddling and started using the Miracle Blanket they gave us in the hospital for Jase because you can roll yourself onto your side in the Woombie and Swaddle Me. You are still in the pack n play in our room, but we are probably going to move the Angel Care monitor soon and put your in your crib. That was a tough transition for me with your brother (I slept on his floor the whole first night) so I’m interested to see if I handle it a little better this time. We are currently doing an eat-wake-sleep routine and you take some pretty good naps, but we aren’t on a solid schedule yet. We are traveling soon and your Grammy and Granddaddy will be watching you and brother, so we are going to wait to implement a regimented schedule till we get home so they have some flexibility.

And you hands down sleep best when you’re being held, of course. Aunt Jade snuggled you for a while so I could take a {long} shower. I’m not sure who enjoyed it more.

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What Kade is up to: We moved you to a size 1 diaper and your newborn clothes are getting tight.

You were in a fun little Wonder Week this week. That is such a neat app and the leaps are always spot on. It is so interesting to read how your brain is developing and how learning new skills can affect your mood.

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You are probably going to have a mullet like your bro. Business in the front, party in the back. Seriously, not sure why y’all have so much hair in back but it’s pretty thin and fuzzy on top.

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You look much older than a one month old- especially with how well you are holding your head up! You have already lost that newborn look. (Hah- this picture cracks me up! You look like a little turtle.)

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You are very alert & very content. Sweet angel baby! Even if you look like a little grump…

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You breathe pretty loud when you’re sleeping and always have boogies. Dr. Carey told me to avoid using the aspirator because that could inflame your nostrils and make it worse. I’m pretty sure you have Daddy’s nose & I’m praying you don’t have sinus issues.

You’re getting a little bit of baby acne and cradle cap, but nothing too bad. We are using Ava Anderson baby wash and I LOVE it!

Also love comparison pictures and seeing how you and Jase favor.

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PostPartum: I worked out once this week but bled a tiny bit after so decided to hold off another week. And I spoke too soon about the night sweats going away.I woke up the next morning in a puddle of sweat (so gross!). I have been washing the sheets and showering more than ever. (Hahhah- that makes me sound so raunchy. I promise I have good hygiene.)

Big Brother Jase: Jase ADORES you. He talks to you in the funniest little voice and says “Hey brudddder! Paci, brother? Blanket brother? Hold you brother. Heyyyyy brudder!” He loves to lay his head on you, kiss you on the head, and hold your hand. He is always so excited to see you first thing in the morning. If you are crying in the car he says, “Mom, brudder needs paci!” I have a feeling he’s going to look out for you as you grow. Can’t wait to see you guys become best buds.

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And I’m sure there will be a few wrestling matches too. You’re already throwing a mean right hand.

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Thoughts: My sweet, sweet boy. You are so easy going and such a content little guy. I love laying with you on my chest and kissing your sweet head nine million times a day. We thank the Lord for you and can’t wait to see more and more of your personality develop. You are PRECIOUS and so very loved.

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Love this picture of you and your Granddaddy.

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Friday, July 24, 2015

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies are made without butter and flour, and even the chocolate chips are soy and dairy free. They are super quick and easy and you probably have all of these ingredients on hand anyway.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Jif Natural peanut butter
  • 2/3 cup old fashioned Gluten free oats (I use Red Mill)
  • 2/3 cups brown sugar (packed in tightly)
  • 2/3 cups chocolate chips (I like Enjoy Life. You can find them in the organic section at Kroger.)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

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Directions:

(I’m going to post the “real” directions, but FYI, I just mixed it all together at once with a mixer and they came out fine. Ha!)

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2.  In small bowl, mix oats and baking soda.

3. In a large bowl, beat peanut butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla with electric mixer until smooth.

4. Add in dry ingredients and gently fold in chocolate chips.

5. Roll into 2 in balls and place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. I had to use an entire cookie sheet plus 2 more squares of tin foil to fit it all. They are really gooey, so this is a fun one for the kiddos to help with…or you can use an ice cream scoop to dispense it out so your hands don’t get dirty. (They come out the perfect size that way too.)

6. Bake for 9-11 minutes (until a fork comes out clean) & let cool.

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It makes a lot, so be sure to share with someone you love. Enjoy!!

Monday, July 20, 2015

Jase Update: 2 years & 2 months

Hey Jase! Your last update was at 23 months, and I honestly feel like you are a totally different kiddo since then! It seriously blows my mind how much you have grown and changed and learned! I feel like this has been one of the biggest growth phases yet. You are a full blown toddler/little man now.

You turned 2 on May 8th. We had a blast celebrating at your 2nd birthday party!

You are talking in sentences. It started when we took you to get your haircut and you put together some phrases. You don’t like anything around your neck, and when you saw her coming towards you with a cape, you said “No don’t want it. Put it up.” Your vocabulary has just exploded since then and you are saying all kinds of cool & funny things!!

Daddy loves for you to say “Wook, Daddy…wook” when you want him to look at something. I love when you ask him to pray.You also holler from us upstairs sometimes and say “Hey Mama, can you hear me? I’m ready to get up!”

You do a great job saying please, thank you, and you’re welcome. We are still working on yes/no ma’am/sir. We are also practicing asking “May I be excused please” when you are ready to get up from the table.

When you don’t want something, you shake your head and say “No, don’t want it.”

When we are reading and get to the end of a book, you say “Aaaaaaa-men.” I think you mean “the end,” but it’s so cute.

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Your favorite book is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Your favorite part is when I say “The whole alphabet up the…Ohhhhhhh nooooooo! Chicka chicka BOOOOOOM BOOOOOM!” You say it with me & giggle like crazy. PRECIOUS!

You also love your new train book from the Kohler’s. I HAVE to video you saying “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” with your nose scrunched up and in the CUTEST and SWEETEST little voice!!! I seriously want a mental snapshot of that to remember for the rest of my life.

You can identify all of your letters. You like to watch a Youtube video that practices letters, and we practice with a puzzle Kade got you and some foam letters in your bedroom.

Still working on your colors. Whenever I ask you what color something is, your answer is always red.

You are obsessed with cars and lawn mowers. That might even be an understatement.

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But you sure are the CUTEST little lawn boy!

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You hit a big time growth spurt & I feel like you shot up in height overnight. You LOOK like such a big boy now & you’re as tall as most 3 year olds.

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I’m pretty sure you could be potty trained by now, but I didn’t want to try it with Kade coming. I thought that would be too much of a transition, but I have a feeling it’ll be pretty quick when we do start trying. Hopefully I’m not jinxing us.

You finally started wearing a hat and sunglasses. You like to wear my running hat I’ve had for forever.

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You love playing with Braylon & always do the funniest little happy dance when you see him. You like for him to hold your hand when we’re walking somewhere. Buddy system!!

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You have started going in the nursery at church.

You are very helpful!! I love that about you.

You L-O-V-E “wortin” with daddy & Papa. You especially love playing with tools now & can name them off (hammer, screw driver, tap measurer, wrench, etc.). We finally got you your own play set with some money Papa gave you.

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Your favorite thing to do right now is play outside. That’s why we are getting our backyard fixed- we have to have somewhere for you to play. You LOVE playing in the water!! We really need to take you swimming.

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Daddy turned your car seat around after we brought brother home from the hospital and you were pretty stinkin excited about it! Now you want to watch “Bobby” (Veggie Tales) every time we are in the car.

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Bubbles!! Grammy bought you bubbles & they are the best (cheap) entertainment. You love playing bubbles with Zachery & Carsyn.

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You sure do love your family, and they are all just crazy about you too!

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You make some crazy funny faces right now. Daddy & I both think you are hilarious and bust out laughing when you do your silly faces and voices. You are going to be a funny guy like your dad!

You like to play in brother’s chairs.

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And speaking of brother, you are the sweetest big brother! You always give him kisses on the head, get his paci for him, and talk to him in the sweetest little voice. You never call him Kade- always “brother.” You’ve adjusted really well. We had a whiney week or so when he first come home, but I think that was partly from you not getting as much sleep.

You went to your first Vacation Bible School and seriously had the TIME OF YOUR LIFE. It made my heart so happy to watch you dance and sing and play and learn about Jesus. VBS is a ministry that is very near to my heart because I accepted the Lord as my Savior when I was 8 years old at Vacation Bible School. I still enjoy it to this day, and I had so much fun watching you. The singing and dancing was DEFINITELY your favorite part. You were getting down!! (You must get your “moves” from your daddy.)

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You like to jump on the couch and on our bed, and it scares the snot out of me. I am so afraid you are going to get hurt! We have had to discipline more in the last few months. The biggest two issues right now are throwing things (food, toys, whatever- you love to dump everything out) and whiny fits over food. Your appetite has changed and now you really like sweets and bread. You also love bars. I know it’s our fault and I wish we had never let you have any of that. You still drink green juice when I make it and you take your vitamins, but you don’t eat many veggies right now. We are going to work on that.

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Sweet Jase-

You might look and act more grown, but you are still our angel baby. You have brought so much joy to our entire family and everyone who knows you. You were a light when your Grandma unexpectedly passed away, and every day you continue to make life so much sweeter. Every new phase is our favorite! We have our challenging moments for sure, but we know that’s part of being a toddler and us learning to be parents. (Thankfully God is full of grace and mercy.) Watching you learn so many new things & continue to develop your unique little personality that is all “Jase” is so much fun. You warm my heart, sweet boy. And just like I’ve told you every single day since you’ve been born, “I am so proud to be your mom.” Love you more than words and more every day.

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