Three Amigos

Carter's preschool lets you bring in siblings for their spring photos, so I figured, why not, it doesn't cost anything unless you want to purchase prints. Some turned out so cute, I've scanned my favorites, which to purchase?!?

My Favorite Girl

Braden at Carter's School Pics

Carter's Spring pictures from School

Virginia Air and Space Center

Today we met up with Christian's (one of Braden's best friends) family at the Air and Space center---what a great place for future pilots and/or astronauts!

Star Student of the Week

Very exciting week for Braden...finally he's the Star Student! Usually it's the birthday week, but for a few summer babies like Braden the teacher picks a week. On Monday he brought in pictures to share with the class, Tuesday was his favorite toy, Wednesday was his favorite book, Thursday his miniature airplane collection, and Friday I sent in his favorite snack for everyone in the class.

PS. He wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up, apparently his favorite color now is black and his favorite food is pizza :)

Hats Off to Reading

Today Pat got to read a story to Carter's class---so special for him to have her there! Awesome Pat!

Happy St Patrick's Day

My sweet cousin Stacy sent me this cute St Patty's day skirt for Stella---had to share pics of my green family!

Telly’s Second Visit With Carter

I had such a fun visit with Carter. Things we did together: We jumped on his trampoline in the back yard. Carter jumped SO high with me. It was quite thrilling. Carter took me to a birthday party for a friend at an ice skating rink. The whole family went. It was very exciting to watch the ice skaters. Carter didn’t try it this time, but maybe he will next time. I watched his brother, Braden, go around 2 times! And, it was so cool to watch the Zamboni clean the ice. It was SO big. I would like to drive one someday.

Carter’s Grammoo was visiting from California and read to me, Carter and his brother and sister. She was very nice to me I got to meet Carter’s new sister, Stella. She’s pretty close to my size since she is only 6 weeks old!

First Skate!

So cool that Braden went around twice on the ice rink with our family friend Ryan Royal! Fun to see him trying new things!

Art Party

Today Braden went to a classmate's birthday party at Michaels...what a fun idea for a party! He had a great time making a birdhouse :)

Grammoo Bonding Time

Stella really seems to love her bath time! Thanks Grammoo for all your help this week!

Grammoo Meets Stella

This week my Step-Mom is out to help me with the continued task of taking care of three children on little sleep, and, as you can see, everyone is happy to have her here!

Newborn Photo Shoot

Snow Day #2 Playdate

Not a lot of snow but very icy driving conditions, so the York County School District cancelled school AGAIN! Today I called Ashton's Mom (from Braden's class) and had them over, along with Ashton's baby brother, to help pass the day.

Snow Day Training

"OK Stella, no school/snow days are good for lots of time playing at home with toys and IPADs...here's how you do it:"

Stella Grace is One Month Old!

One month already!?!  It seems simultaneously like she's been part of our family forever but also that she just arrived!  Funny how that is.

Statistics:  Stella is approximately 8.5 lbs and 20 inches long.  The doctor actually measured her just under 20 inches at her 2 week appointment, so apparently she shrank from birth!  Just kidding, obviously they didn't measure her very accurately, not a big deal.
Accomplishments: Stella is eating like a champ!  It IS a big accomplishment because that means I'll be able to nurse her for several months like I want to; if she had too many problems or hurt me too much I wouldn't have to time to constantly pump like I did for Braden.
Schedule:  Standard newborn schedule, which means alternating eating and sleeping, usually 2 or 2.5 hrs between each feeding.  Which means I get up either get up two or three times each night with her (and it does make a difference--I feel much more rested w/ only two wake ups!).  Also like the boys, she tends to get fussiest at night and cluster her feedings then, hopefully in preparation for longer night sleeps!  We do think the nighttime fussiness is also related to the antibiotics I have had to take for two weeks---I developed an infection from my C-section, which sent me back to the hospital and back on pain medicines as well--so all those medicines are now coming to an end and hopefully whatever effect they are having on Stella will come to an end as well.
Overall, she is an wonderfully pleasant baby and pure joy to have in our family!  I can't stand to hear her cry, so she does spend a lot of time being held!  So, I'm sure she's getting a bit spoiled (if that's at all possible) but that's OK, she's our baby and we just want her to be happy!