Five Months

Another month has passed, and O is five months old now.  No appointments this month, so no stats.  He is doing great, and in one month has grown so much.  He has become much more aware, following and studying everything.  Besides when he is hungry, tired, or in his car seat (which he despises), he is a happy little guy.  He has the sweetest smile, and his laughs crack me up.  You can really get him rolling when you start tickling him on his sides.

Speaking of rolling, he still rolls from tummy to back for several days in a row and then go weeks without being able to do it, and then another several days of rolling, and back to being unable to do it.  He's been like this for a couple of months now, and I keep waiting for it to stick.  Very different from his sister who was rolling much earlier.  I think that goes along with his laid back attitude.  I did it once, what's the point of doing it again?!  He's gotten pretty close to rolling from back to tummy, and I'm sure that will come soon.  He is getting really good at sitting up though, and is going longer and longer sitting by himself.  Today he sat on his own for about a minute.  Will be great once he gets that mastered and we can get him sitting in shopping carts, and highchairs while we're out, because he will not stay in his car seat.  That means whenever we decide to go eat out, Nick or I end up with him in our laps the whole time!  He is starting to bear weight on his legs and loves to pull up with our help and stand.  He looks so proud when he does it and holds that head up high with a big smile.

He was doing really well with sleeping, but this past week he's been waking up several times at night. Not sure what's going on there, but I think he's ready to be back in his bed, in his own room, like all of us!  He still loves his playmat and will lay there for quite a while having a blast touching and playing with all the toys.

He is really just a joy, and I can't imagine our lives without him.  His smile melts your heart, and we're all in love with our little guy.

Life with a big sister:

Season of change

Its been a little over three weeks now since we made the move down here.  We have had ups and downs, as expected.  I'm getting to know the area more now, especially since I was on my own for our first week here with Nick gone to a conference!  While difficult at first, I can say that I am starting to see why everyone here loves living here!

Mady is the one who has had the hardest time with our move.  The first couple of weeks were very difficult on her, and she did not like her room at the apartment, didn't want to do any of the activities I took her to, and was acting out more than usual.  It broke my heart to hear her say "I miss Euless".  While I still hear her say that sometimes, and she still doesn't like her room, I do see more of my old little girl coming back.  Everyone told me that 3 years old was much harder than 2, and I completely agree.  Throw that in with a move, and taking away most everything familiar to her, and it makes for an interesting storm.  We still have a ways to go, but I do feel like we are making progress, and I'm sure she will do much better once we are in our home with all of her stuff back.  She loves going to see the new house, and the last time we went she did not want to leave.  It's looking like we could close in 3 weeks, and I couldn't be more thrilled!

Owen is taking things in stride.  His new sleeping grounds are a pack n play in our walk in closet.   Yes, our baby is sleeping in a closet!  But he doesn't know the difference.  The first week or so was a bit difficult but he settled into a routine.  Lately, his sleep has not been great, but I think that could be the loud neighbors above us that moved in a week ago, or teething, or both!  Less than 3 weeks.  We can do this, we can do this, haha.

While this has been a season of change and with it come challenges, it has also been a time for me to press deeper into God.  Trying to handle this on my own was proving fruitless until I remembered I'm not on my own.  I've handed it all over, and while I still try picking it back up, I'm learning to let it go into His arms.  We can pray for difficult circumstances to be taken away from us, but His job isn't to make our lives more comfortable.  These circumstances can be used for good, and can mold us and grow us, and challenge us to be better.  That's what I'm allowing this time to do.  Yes, we've had challenges, but we have so much to be thankful for.  We have been having fun exploring the area, and there are so many things to do around here.  I think the kids will really enjoy growing up here.  Nick is doing really well at his new job and likes the new office.  I think we've found a new church home which is exciting as well.  This has also been a time where we've grown closer as a family, and that has made it a sweet time.  Here are some pictures of our latest adventures.

 Fun at Landa Park:

She loved riding the train

Feeding the ducks

Pool time at the apartment:

New House Progress:

Cypress Bend Park:

I could get use to these views

Enough with the pictures

4 Months

Owen turned four months old on our first day in New Braunfels.  We were able to do his four month check-up a couple of weeks before we left town so that we wouldn't be in a rush to find a new doctor for the kids.  Here are the stats:

Height: 24.5 inches (30th percentile)
Weight: 15 lbs 12 oz (80th percentile)
Head: 16.5 inches (65th percentile)

So he dropped in percentiles, for both height and weight, since the last appointment.  Not too surprising considering his parents are not very tall themselves!

The last part of the month was pretty crazy which threw any type of schedule out the window.  I didn't even try real hard with that because I knew it would all be for naught.  The days the movers came to pack us and load us, naps were had in the car seat, our bed, or my baby carrier.  He was a champ though and did a great job with it all.  Now things are back to normal. for the most part, and he's taking regular naps again.  He still fights them and does not like napping during the day.  Many times he is screaming his lungs out before he finally gives in.  As for nighttime, for the past week or so he has been sleeping through the night.  He goes to bed around 8 and sleeps until about 6 in the morning.  So thankful for that, but I need to start going to bed earlier so that 6 does not come around too quickly.

Shortly after turning 3 months old, he started rolling over again.  He did it for about five days straight and then lost it again.  But today he decided he remembered how to do it, and rolled three times!  Let's see if this keeps going.  Bath time is still his favorite part of the day.  I love his smiles and excitement the second he hears that water come on.  Another favorite these days are his hands.  Most times you will find him with a hand in his mouth just gnawing away.  When he gets his thumb in there by itself you can see the excitement as he goes to town sucking on his thumb.  He also loves being tickled and we can get some really good laughs out of him when we do it.  So sweet!

This month he's started paying more and more attention to Mady.  Sometimes it just takes his sister coming around and playing next to him or talking to him to calm him and keep him entertained.  He is more alert now and follows you around with his eyes, and he loves to sit in the Bumbo and watch the water as I wash dishes.  Just like his sister did.

We're really enjoying him as he gets older and more alert.  A favorite of mine is watching these two together, and it's something that still doesn't get old.

Last week in DFW

Our last week in DFW was a crazy one.  Mady had her first school program, we spent time with friends saying goodbye, had Nick's farewell party at work, and of course, packed.

A little playing in the rain

Enjoying church at the lake

Brinker girls

 Mady had her first school program, and it is one we will surely remember.  They kids all entered holding little American flags and singing "God Bless America".  She was waving her flag and doing great.  As her class got on stage to sing their two songs, I noticed that she is walking on stage holding herself like she has to go to the bathroom.   So the class is singing and Mady is standing there crossing her legs, holding herself, squirming because she needs to potty.  The auditorium had big screens on both sides of the stage that was zooming in on the kids and it just so happened that it zoomed in on Mady right as she lifts up her dress and shows everyone her undies!  The whole auditorium is laughing.  I look at Nick and say "You realize that is our kid everyone is laughing at".  Right as we were about to go up and get her, one of the teachers takes her off stage finally.  Poor thing did not make it back for the last song.  So her first program wasn't necessarily a success but it sure was funny.

Last day of school with her friends :(

Loved her teacher, Ms. Amanda.  Will definitely miss having her!

The last week was full of a lot of emotions, and ups and downs.  Excitement, sadness, frustration, and exhaustion to name a few.  Saying goodbye to our lives in DFW, and closing the door to our home for the last time was really hard.  It was our first home and we filled it with so many memories, good and bad.  It's where we grew as a married couple, brought home both of our babies, and watched Mady grow.  It's where she learned to walk, made her first friends, and learned to ride a tricycle.  Those are memories we get to bring with us, and while it is hard to say goodbye, I am looking forward to

what this new chapter holds for us.  So onward we go!