5 Months Old

Little Will is 5 months old! He is such a happy little guy. He is really starting to get into a routine. He is eating every 3 1/2 hours during the day and sleeping from 8-4 each night, waking for a feeding and then sleeping until around 7! Not too bad. I think we will get longer night time sleeping when we start some solids in a few weeks. He is trying so hard to roll over. It is just that big head that is holding him back. He loves to sit up and he is chewing on EVERYTHING! He is a champion hair puller just ask Madeline.

Here he is in the middle of a laugh!

His hair is getting a bit red. Especially when you see him in the sunlight. I think he might be on his way to the red hair I sported as a little girl. Sorry Will. We sure love his guy!

Maddie’s Birthday (Again)

Grandpa Ross & Grandma Jenna were finally feeling great and able to come for a visit.  Madeline got to celebrate her birthday one more time! Here our a few pictures from their short visit.

There was time for going to the park! It was a BEAUTIFUL day!

You know we had to squeeze in some card playing. Will loved to point and tell Grandpa what cards to play.

Sometimes the game can get a little bit stressful and you have to bite your nails.

Madeline extended her birthday by opening presents both days! Can we say spoiled? Thanks for coming Grandpa & Grandma. Next time just make it for a little bit longer!

Grandpa & Madeline

So Crazy…

Yep, yesterday was so crazy there isn’t even any photographic evidence! I must type this post because one day I won’t remember all the crazy things that happened! It was our Sunday to bring breakfast which went very smooth. We were even 20 minutes early and had to wait around to drop off the kids. If only the whole day had gone so wonderful! We have been trying to rent a sod cutter to start our landscaping and they keep being checked out. So we hurried home after church and called Home Depot, yep they had one. So Nick attached his new trailer that he assembled to the SRX.  Well…the two trailer pieces were not the same size (this is in girl language). So Nick told me to watch the trailer to make sure it didn’t come off. About 5 minutes down the road there it was. I jumped out and put it back on. This happened 2 more times before we finally reached the Ace and got a new hitch. After 30 minutes in the store Nick finally appeared and we were off again. Thank goodness this hitch fit perfect! At Home Depot it was crazy busy and Nick was gone another 30 minutes. Did I mention Will, Maddie, and I were in a rather warm car playing lots of eye spy?  Finally we were on our way home, of course this is after Nick and I loaded the sod cutter and while he was strapping it down it started to roll off the trailer and I had to shout at Nick so it didn’t hit him in the head. When we got home the kids and I went inside and Nick began the cutting. As I was telling my Dad on the phone to turn on DIY to see how to fix his deck the phone went dead. Nick cut the phone line and we lost our internet too!  So a quick call to AT&T to get a service call for the next day.  A few minutes later a very red faced Nick came in telling a tale of a stuck sod cutter. Out the kids and I went. Will in the stroller and Maddie running around. I started loading the cut sod into the wheelbarrow and dumping in the needed backyard areas. Then Will decided he was done and started screaming. Right when we were all at our wits in..Nick kicking the sod cutter, Will screaming, and me with a tipped over wheelbarrow our neighbors arrived to help! Thank you Lawrence family! They just took over and started loading sod. Just as Nick got the sod cutter and was driving it around to the garage we heard a load pop. It was the wheelbarrow tire!  In steps Ernie Love. He drives on down with his riding lawnmower with the cart attached. What a team! Then they helped Nick load the sod cutter and he headed back to Home Depot. They finished moving the sod. It was at this point I couldn’t find Madeline. A few minutes later while I was searching I see her coming down the street with Kelli Love & her little boy Pierce. She had gone down and rang the doorbell telling Kelli she was hot and needed to come in to cool down! Oh My!!!  So Kelli watched Madeline while I went and put a cranky Will down for nap. As I was coming back outside the Lawrence boys with Ernie’s equipment had mowed the yard, and started to edge. Are you kidding me? What amazing helpers! When Nick returned home we laid the sod in the back while Madeline had a tea party with the Love boys and Ryan Lawrence. What a day. Yep, what would we do without neighbors? What a great example of how to treat others. I hope I remember to be so helpful to those around me!

3 year check-up

Today we took Madeline in for her 3 year check-up with Dr. Doyle. She weighs in at 32 pounds and 38 inches tall! That puts her in the 72% for both!  She had a great check-up and even taught the doctor a new word. When Dr. Doyle asked how the weather was outside Madeline said prettyful (pretty + beautiful).  The doctor did notice that she has rather large tonsils so she is referring us out to a ENT doctor to check them out. We will also be heading to St. Louis Children’s hospital for a follow-up test on Madeline’s kidneys. We are going to see if her kidney reflux has healed up. Here are some pictures of our day.

Madeline getting weighed.

A little blood pressure check. Notice the green paper, it is a letter she wrote to Dr. Doyle.

 

Will wondering why he is not on the table. We did get his shots right after this. He sure is going to hate going to the clinic if he has to get shots every time.

The Party Continues

We celebrated the big third birthday all weekend long. We headed to the zoo on Saturday. The weather was so perfect!

Then we headed to Cheesecake Factory where Will enjoyed looking at himself in the mirror.

Finally the little guy went to sleep!

Then we took our traditional Sunday morning pictures.

Thanks for coming to visit Grandma Linda, Andy, and GG!  Nick and I super enjoyed our day out and about while you watched Maddie & Will!

A Very Clifford Party

Madeline loves tiny, tiny Clifford (Clifford Puppy Days, and Clifford the Big Red dog. We decided to theme her 3 year old birthday party all around that famous dog. Grandma Linda, Andy, and GG were able to come to celebrate. (Grandpa Ross, Grandma Jenna, and Great Grandma Searl are still under the weather so they are going to come visit in a few weeks.)

Very tempting presents waiting for Madeline on her big day!

Then we had a quick photo shoot in the dining room.

Then we let Maddie pick where to have lunch. McDonalds!

Will is taking this birthday very seriously!

Madeline took this picture of Nick & I. Then we headed home for nap time and got the party table all ready!

 

 

Clifford chocolates I made. Thank you YouTube for the instruction videos!

As soon as dinner was over Madeline gathered all the gifts and the family and was ready to open. We were able to Skype with Grandpa Ross & Grandma Jenna and Uncle Eric and Aunt Sally. Isn’t technology fabulous! Hopefully I’ll get some pictures of everybody as the weekend goes!

First Birthday Gift

Our Tablescape

Gift Time

Happy Birthday to You

We love you Madeline Schindler!

Look Who Is THREE!

Today our little Madeline turned 3! These have been the fastest 3 years.

Here are a few pictures from our birthday photo shoot.

Here are some facts about our baby girl…

She LOVES to talk on the phone. She is always the first to get to the phone and very quick to say hello.

Her favorite reward is a little computer time on sprout or Disney websites.

She is finally loving and happily going to BSF, MOPS, and Sunday School.

Her little brother is in love with her and lights up when she comes running.

She is the fastest trike rider. She can really get those legs moving and she is getting very good at looking both ways before crossing the street on the way to the park.

She carries a Bible everywhere and will tell you all about what is inside (although Clifford and Mickey Mouse seem to pop up in a few stories).

She can climb on and off the potty by herself! (One of my favorite skills!)

Her words and phrases of choice are delicious, no way, GUYS!, Oh Nick, Little Man (for Will), I no like _____, I love this guys it is like a party in the USA, I am so frustrated, how many monies is that, & my tummy hurts I need some Dr. Pepper.

She loves to play school with her stuffed animals and a pair of scissors can keep her entertained for HOURS. Every Sunday I give her the newspaper, a paper sack, and scissors. It provides almost an hour of entertainment. She can be a great helper and is getting pretty good at making her bed and helping me put away the laundry. She keeps us on our toes and sure brings lots of joy to our family. She is a chatty little girl with lots to say. We love our Maddie Grace!