This is what happens...

When you have big sisters...

Joshua was their prince ;)

Joy

I had a girls morning Saturday, and it was so wonderful to spend quality time with my girls. We went to a tea party. I didn't know what to expect, and it was perfect. So many activities for the girls, and they loved every minute of it. I loved every minute watching my big girls have so much fun.

The baby is doing so many new things these days. He's an early bird like his big sisters and lately is up between 4-6 to start his day. We are trying to put him to bed later since he only sleeps about 9 hours at night and takes an hour nap in the morning and 2 hour nap in the afternoon. He's SO different from my girls. My girls were awesome sleepers, scheduled eaters, ...so maybe this means since they are opposites that Joshua will never whine ;).

Joshua now waves!! It is the sweetest thing!! He's very aware of everything going on around him and constantly looks like he is trying to soak it all in. He can sit and play with toys for long periods of time, but seems to have no interest in moving. When on his tummy he can rotate in a circle with his arms, but doesn't get his belly off the floor. The girls crawled at 9 months...so by mid-summer I'm expecting to have a movin' babe. Trying to enjoy this time of being able to do things without him being everywhere. Joshua is such a laid back baby. He is absolutely content being held, and watching his sisters. He has started babbling all the time, and Nelson swears he's heard 'dada' a couple times. When he gets mad I think it sound like he's yelling 'MOM' ;). He's yet to look at us and say a word. That's my favorite milestone...so I'm excited to see hear my sweet boy's first word.

What a day...

Last night my boy woke up at 9, and was fussy and not taking his paci. Nelson brought him in our room and he was burning up...101.9 :(. His first fever! Even when he had RSV he never got a fever. His first time taking tylenol (don't worry got the generic, also got my $4.99 back from Target for my recalled stuff). Anyway, so ALL day he's been so clingy-thank goodness no fever today. If I put him down he looks at me like I'm deserting him, and cries if I am not facing him. So, a very long day. Gotta love how much he needs his mama though. Then, Brianna comes home from school and said her ear hurts. I was ready to go through the roof. She can't sleep when her ear hurts she screams in pain...so we called the pedi. Nelson took her in this afternoon and NO ear infection...THANK GOD! She has swimmers ear. My little fish needs drops everytime she goes in the pool because of her sensitive ears. I'm exhausted....and tomorrow I'm watching my kiddos plus the girls' besties...praying lots. I'm glad I can help in this way, but wishing I knew what else to do....

Off to get sleep...another busy day tomorrow. Super stoked for Saturday. The girls and I are going to a Mother-Daughter tea party. SO excited!

What a weekend...

Friday, I got to see Alison and Colton and have some one-on-one time with Joshua during our fun visit. Wish it could have been longer, but that's how it always is when I'm with my favorites...never seems long enough. I'm so blessed that I have the people in my life that I have.

Saturday, a birthday party...a friendship restored for my husband which I know means a lot to him. Then a quiet night at home which included ghiradelli chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven, Nels and reruns of Parenthood! Fun night :). Plus a sleeping-all-night babe. Doesn't get much better.

Speaking of Joshua's sleep...I took some pictures of him in his crib. He's so funny. He LOVES to snuggle when he sleeps, and alone in his crib is no exception. He snuggles his head against his sheet and cuddles his ted...he didn't want the paparazzi bothering his snooze ;)...

Sunday, we were suppossed to go to Epcot. But, we changed plans to the zoo because my dear friend, Theresa, needed to be home with her Mom. Her Mom needs lots of prayers and their family really needs you to keep them close to your heart right now. So, we went with Andy and our Goddaughters to have some much needed fun for them. Then, after VERY short naps ;) we headed over to their house for a swim. Their pool is heated and it was oh so nice. Our pool is 84, but feels SO cold. Brianna is such a fish, and was going from one end of the pool to the other. Mikayla on the other hand, prefered to be out of the water squirting everyone with her water squirter. It cracks me up how different these look alike girls are. Joshua LOVED the pool and was so upset when I took his pruney little body out. I dried him off and he got to sit with Elijah and they were just too cute together. The girls all giggled and talked through their pizza dinner, and it makes me so excited to see them grow up together. They love each other so much. So fun to watch the excitement on their faces when they see each other.

Now here it is Monday...it reared it's ugly head with a downpour...quite appropriate :). Zumba tonight though, hopefully it's as fun as last Monday. Wishing weekends could last longer...but hoping for a wonderful week...

SLEEP!

I don't want to jinx myself...BUT...

Joshua slept IN HIS CRIB from 7-6:30!! I woke up at 5:30 and ran to his room and sure enough sound asleep. I think he would have slept longer, but his big sisters ran into his room at 6:30 so excited to see their brother. He did wake up happy since he loves them so much :). We let him sleep with his ted which gives me some anxiety...but he just needs something to cuddle with to sleep. It was the first night we let him have the ted all night long and he slept...Fingers crossed this continues!

Mother's Day...and more :)

This past Sunday my children and husband celebrated me as a Mother. It was so special. I've wanted to be a Mom my whole life, and I've always cherished my kids. However, I appreciate them even more since going through my partial molar pregnancy. I feel for women who suffer from infertility, or in my case, a miscarriage. When I had to get my blood drawn weekly after my loss I hated walking into the OB's office to see big beautiful bellies, or husbands and wives holding hands anxiously awaiting their trip into the sonogram room. I was so jealous. That was suppossed to be me. God had other plans, and blessed me with Joshua 3 months later...but those 3 months...they changed me. I thought about women who were moms to angel baby's a lot on Sunday and how this was their day too, and how they weren't celebrating like I got to celebrate. I pray that each mom who truly wants to be a mom gets to experience the amazing joy of Motherhood. I'm so blessed to have such amazing loveys.

I awoke to my boy giddy that I was awake and able to hold him after Daddy had whisked him away from my embrace to give me some quiet sleep. That look in his eyes of pure joy that I'm his mama and his favorite person (well, next to Daddy) is just wonderful. It's like breathtaking every time I see it....and I'm lucky enough to see it many times a day! Then, my beautiful girls raced in (yes, racing each other...EVERY.THING. is a contest these days) and wished me Happy Mother's Day and gave me hugs, kisses and the sweetest creations they made at school (painted gift bags, handmade rose soap, rose sugar scrub, picture and picture frame) and then Nels gave me a Vera Bradley bag I've been wanting (Hope Garden villager) Chocolate chip pancakes in bed were awesome...and then brunch with our families and then a family filled day was just all I could have hoped for. AH....so in love with my family of 5 :)

ANYWHO, after a wonderful Mother's Day the week has been following suit...

I have lost 3 lbs. this week!!!!!!! Which is just craziness, and awesome. I weighed myself tonight. I admittedly weigh myself every day. I've been stuck at the same weight for awhile...and we've eaten at home a lot the past couple weeks, and I did a zumba class on Monday, and went walking today....oh, I SO hope I can lose this baby weight. Zumba class was a lot of fun, and I'm doing it again with my sis next Monday. Still haven't been able to cut sweets out :). I don't see that happening...but, maybe, I can cut 5 cookies down to 3 ;).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMMG1hUo6WI

Here's a video of Joshua...I was trying to get his belly laugh, but no such luck. You can, however, see him sitting up, looking for his Daddy who he is so in love with...so cute!

Here's another video from today...the girls' best friends came over...and Joshua loved Becca...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvMXWL-5sLY

Enjoy!

Loving our life...

Had a great weekend celebrating my brother's college graduation. Boo to 3 FSU grads in my family. I was hoping there would be another bull, and now it seems Joey is following their footsteps...so we're looking at 4 FSU grads. Anyway, great trip :). Joey was the perfect host, and we loved staying at the townhouse and I absolutely love seeing how much my kids love their Aunt and Uncles. It makes me SO happy to have given my children siblings. I absolutely love knowing that they will have each other like I've had my siblings. I know I can turn to them at any time and that they'll be there. I'm so grateful my kids have that. The girls already are such doting big sisters to Joshua (well, except when Brianna is in a bad mood and the baby is crying and she tells me "take care of your baby already" LOL. So so glad that my children have one another.

I am so so excited about Mother's Day. Last Mother's Day was bittersweet. We found out we were having a boy, and we were grieving the due date of our baby that we lost. This Mother's Day we would have had a one year old if our baby had made it. I am so very thankful to have my almost 7 month old healthy baby boy here with me this Mother's Day. My girls are so excited about it which is so unbelievably sweet. They told me today that it's my day to sleep in and get my chocolate chip pancakes for my breakfast in bed ;). Then, laughed at how I always get chocolate chip pancakes on my special day. Mikayla was put in time out earlier and yelled out the secret she made me at school---gotta love a four year olds way of getting even. By the way, she said flowers ;). My girls are getting so big. My first Mother's Day with them is clear as day and feels like yesterday. We enjoyed a morning at the park and their first time in swings, and then went to Island Way Grill with my Mom and family and Nelson's Mom and family. This year we are going to Safety Harbor Spa for brunch and a pool day. What a lucky Mom I am ...blessed...very blessed!