Play Dates and Fun with Friends

We were very lucky to have some great play dates over the last few weeks with some great friends. First, Cooper Baby, Cayden, and I met with our MOPS small group for some park play. Cooper loved it although seemed a bit confused as to what to do with out his big brother there coaching him on what to do but soon he got the hang of it and was running around the playground like he owned the place. His favorite things were the slide and the horse! Later that week we had the pleasure of having Christen and Miss Kinley A.K.A. Cooper Baby's future girlfriend over for a play date. Before we played, we headed over to Target. I think we may have scared Christen a bit with the ratio of 3:1 on the kid count but nonetheless it was a good time! After, Target we headed to our house and all the kiddos played together...it was nice to sit and talk with Christen and watch our kiddos play. I'm looking forward to many more play dates with the Young's! Finally, yesterday we headed to the Children's Museum with Jackie and her son Parker. We took a quick stroll through the dinos,played trains, enjoyed playscape, and finished it all with a carousel ride! It was a great day and the kids and the mommies really enjoyed it! I feel so blessed to be able to have play dates and be involved with other mom friends! Looking forward to many more play dates with many more friends!!

Cayden is 4 months old

Cayden had his 4 month checkup this week and a cardiology appointment last week. He now weighs 12lbs 9 oz and is 24 inches long. He is in the 10th percentile for both. His big noggin is off the charts but that is perfectly fine since he has had it all checked out and is perfect in the noggin department! He is my tiny little baby bug but he is working really hard to grow. The cardiologist says he is doing well and that most likely he will have his second surgery this spring to repair his ASD. Such a positive and negative with this...on the positive he will be "fixed" and should not have any future problems...on the negative two open heart surgeries in a year is rough! We are preparing for the winter...trying to stay super sanitized and healthy...Cayden should stay out of the "group" daycare situations such as church nursery, MOPPETS, etc. Luckily, MOPS is super supportive and we are trying to figure out a plan for church since he is getting a little chatty for service these days...but its all in the interest of keeping him healthy during cold and flu season! He is hitting all his marks developmentally. He LOVES his big brothers and they LOVE him! He "talks" and makes funny faces, he is holding up his big noggin amazingly, and hopefully will be rolling over soon...he also loves to scoot himself across the floor using his legs. He is still only about 4 ounces in a feeding but hopefully he will pick that up too...he isn't sleeping through the night but it's only because he needs to eat but he usually goes right back to bed...thank goodness! Looking forward to many more milestones with my tiny baby bug and loving every minute I have with him!!

Relax??

I realized today that Cayden will be four months old tomorrow and I never took his 3 month pictures! I have heard it from many moms that the more kids you have the less pictures you will take...well I told myself that I wouldn't do that...I would continue scrapbooking, photo taking, and I even started this blog so that I would not "forget" our memories of even the little things. I think that because of Cayden's heart condition I have forgotten to relax and enjoy him. As I just typed that it breaks my heart...it is very hard to admit it to myself and to all who will read this...but it is true. I am so focused on his color, breathing, medications, tempermant that I am not enjoying the "babyness" I don't feel like I am neglecting him or Chase or Cooper...I have my special time with each of my boys everyday but my time with Cayden is full of analysis...making sure he is okay. So, I am starting tomorrow on his 4 month birthday to one take some pictures and get back on track to documenting his growth for memory sake not medical! I also am going to try to relax with him just a bit...I do not want to look back and all I remember is heart problems...especially since this will eventually be taken care of and he is doing well today. I am handing it over to God and enjoying the beautiful family He has blessed me with and will continue each day trying to be the women He has created me to be.

Preschool!!!

Last night, we got Chase's backpack ready and packed his lunch. He went to bed right at 8pm and was super excited for his first day of preschool. This morning he woke up and was ready to go immediately. He ate breakfast with Cooper Baby and then Daddy helped him get dressed. Chase and Daddy both wore their Cubs polos today. He put his backpack on, grabbed his lunch out of the fridge, and headed out to the car. When we got there we took some pictures and headed inside. He turned his lunch in and hung up his backpack and took a seat and started coloring...he didn't even say goodbye!!! I called his name for a quick pic and said goodbye and we left...no tears :) I picked him up along with Miss Emily (she and I will be tackling the pickup together that way neither of us have to get all the babies out of the car...thank goodness) and he told me all about his day. Needless to say, he LOVED it!!! Looking forward to all that this year has to offer him...

We are not kids anymore...

Christopher and I headed to Cincinnati, OH last weekend to hit Kings Island for our anniversary. We were both looking forward to a fun kid free weekend of roller coasters and water slides. It may seem like an odd choice for and anniversary but neither one of us could remember the last time we did anything at an amusement park our water park where we weren't attending to our kids or when I wasn't pregnant! So we left Indy in the afternoon and hit the park from 5-10pm, we had a great time. It wasn't busy at all...we rode everything we wanted to some even twice...with only one problem...WE ARE OLD! After the first ride, we both look at each other and said "we are not teenagers anymore!" The rides were rough but well worth it. We had a great time...we cant wait to take the kids next year...well at least Chase since he will be the only one tall enough to ride!

It's Rough...

So we have been having some rough weeks...Christopher has been traveling for work. Chase and Cayden are having some sleep issues...Cayden is just restless, I think this is a side effect of one of his meds. Chase has just decided he isn't going to sleep or if he does sleep he wants to be in our bed...ugh! Needless to say, Mommy and Daddy are exhausted! Preschool orientation was last night, Chase LOVED it and the school is awesome. Mommy, one the other hand, is having a tough time. I didn't think I would react this way but it is really sad to me that he is starting school because I know this is the beginning of me not having my babies at home with me anymore and I feel like I just got started! I did sign up as a Room Mom and I hope to be able to help at times. Tuesday is his first day and he is really excited and I'm hoping I will keep it together...we also had our first day of MOPS today. I am excited for this year and what the Lord will bring through this experience. The boys had a blast and I am looking forward to the friendships we will make. This weekend is Labor Day weekend and we have very little plans other than visiting with friends and family...we are looking forward to a low key weekend!