No More Naps For JB (?????)

JB, at nearly 4.5 years old, still rocks his afternoon nap. He loves it. He asks to go take his rest as soon as the lunch plates are cleared. While this seems wonderful, there are downsides. He also stays up as late as his Daddy!  (Not as late as his Mama - she's the family night owl.)

At his four year appointment, the doctor suggested that we try and cut the nap.  The thinking is that the nap keeps him up too late (930ish) and with his early wake up (6ish) he isn't getting restorative nightime sleep.  Makes sense right?

So far we've had good and bad days. Some days, when he's busy with friends, he forgets about the nap and then goes to bed early.  Easy peasy (plus all the kids are in bed by 8pm - woohoo!)

Other times...

Bless it.  Maybe we'll push the nap issue again at 5 years!

Good Times with Grandmothers

The kids were blessed with both of their grandmothers this weekend! They had known for a while about the planned trips (for Wesley's "first bath at church" as JB called it), and asked me daily "do Grammy and Gia come today?" 

Grammy flew in Thursday afternoon and we got into all sorts of shenanigans on Friday. (I took a vacation day - best idea of the week.) It was JB's day to take a treat to school, so Grammy and I stopped by with rice crispy treats. 

I made Grammy a hair appointment with my stylist, and Wesley and I hung out during the appointment (with Chrissley, the standard poodle who I want to dognap - sorry, Enda!) 

I ran and grabbed JB after school ended and brought him back for a trim and a lunch. During our lunch outside he told me "I just love spending time with you, Mama".  HE MELTS MY HEART!

Saturday our Gia arrived and the excitement level in our house went up another notch.  Grammy and Gia took JB to the movies and ice cream.

Since we had two grandmothers to wrangle all the kids, James and I had a date night!!!! We went to dinner, saw a John Conlee concert here in town, and then grabbed after dinner drinks.  SO MUCH FUN.

Everyone attended the baptism on Sunday - such a special day!! 

Although I had to work on Monday, Grammy hung with the kids all day. Back/forth to school, grocery run with JB, then music class with Maryn and Wesley. 

Can you see why we were all blue yesterday when everyone had left us!?  :( 

God Bless Baby Wesley

We baptized sweet Wesley this past Sunday, wearing the same baptismal gown that his Daddy wore 40 years ago.  What a special day, full of special memories! Our senior paster, Reverend Tyler, performed the service with Rev. Bob (who baptized Maryn) during the 11 o'clock service.

I worried a bit about the children - this is the later service and normally when we're eating and getting ready for a Sunday rest - but they did great.  Mama only had to threaten with her eyes a few times... :)

I love our church family, and it meant so much to see them smiling and waving as Rev. Tyler and Wesley walked up and down the aisle, introducing him to his new brothers and sisters in Christ. 

We were blessed to have so many of our family attending - Grammy, Gia, Aunt Wyllene, Uncle Chris, Aunt Nicole, cousin Addison, and Ms. Therlon. 

 

After the service we had a lovely lunch at the Country Club, although I failed to get one single picture (I'm disappointed!) My bible study leader - one of the most influential ladies in my life here in our new town - happened to attend our church that day and joined us for lunch.  She held little Wesley as he snoozed, oblivious that all the fuss was about him.

Wesley Robert - you are an absolute blessing in our lives.  The Psalms tell us that "children are a gift from the Lord" and we know that is true! This act is a profession of our faith and loyalty to Christ, and our prayer is that we give you and your siblings the solid foundation to seek God for your own life as you grow into a young man. 

Through the Sacrament of Baptism we are initiated into Christ's holy Church.

We are incorporated into God's mighty acts of salvation

and given new birth through water and the Spirit.

All this is God's gift, offered to us without price.

Wesley Robert - 5 Months Old!

Wesley's fifth month of life went by at warped speed!!  After a January that lasted 75 days, it seems February has lasted about 90 minutes.  I can't believe this sweet baby boy is getting so big!!!

What a fun month.  Wesley is content to go, go, go with us, all the time, and barely misses a beat (or an event).  He takes his best naps in his carseat out in public, which I guess is a good thing for a third child.  Dark, quiet room = 30 minute nap.  Busy hair salon, crowded museum, or wild toddler birthday party = 2 hour nap.  We just go with it.

He is such an easy little baby.  Everyone comments on how happy he is, all the time. The other day at music class he finally let out a little fuss (after 6 weeks of all smiles) as I put him back in the car seat. All the mamas and grandmamas exclaimed "oh, the child does know how to cry!!"  He still has a fussy period as the sun starts to set, but usually will calm down if someone picks him up and cuddles him. I can prepare dinner, set the table, and get two toddlers in their seats with just one arm.  James is a master of cutting his food one handed.

Although not much has changed this month in terms of eating, sleeping,  or physical "firsts", we do see Wesley's sweet personality come through more and more.  He smiles - the biggest, gummiest smiles - all the time!  Still no signs of teeth, and still losing all his hair.  With some of his expressions I call him my little old man. 

So here we go -  his five month stats!

Wesley's Measurements:

• Weight: 15 lbs 7 oz

At 5 Months Old,  Wesley...

…Still eats every 3 hours during the day, normally at 7, 10, 1, 4, 7 and 10.  Still needs a 3AM feed, but now it's about 95% of the time. The 4 month sleep regression is real, yall! Still 100% BFed, and easily takes a pumped bottle now, too.  We haven't even thought about solids (and probably won't for a while).

…Still sleeping about the same - 3 naps a day, with 1 catnap at the end of the day. (Although sometimes those 3 daytime naps are as short as catnaps!) Wesley is in his crib for naps and in our closet pack-n-play for night time, completely off any type of sleepsuit/swaddle aid (except the sleep sack).  I can't decide if we should implement some sleep training.  Maybe at 6 months?

...Wears some 3-6 month clothes and 6 month clothes. I am about to wash the 6-9 month clothes, which seems crazy to me!  Size 2 diapers are very snug, and I suspect I'll select Size 3 with the next Amazon order..

…Loves when you talk to him!!  He will laugh and giggle and squeal with delight.  He also loves to chew on his hands.  He likes to grab teethers and Sophie, too, but can't quite grasp them yet.

…Still not a huge fan of the car seat, but tolerates it more.  When new people pick him up is causes a bit of concern.  

Month Five -  can't remember what life was like before you, Wesley!  You're the sweetest little guy.  

Previous Updates on Wesley:

• Birth Story
• One Month
• Two Months
• Three Months
• Four Months

How does he compare?:  JB - Five Months Old ; Maryn - Five Months Old

Author's Note: I am not loving the props I got for the monthly updates this go around.  Now that W is so active his little hands and feed cause the blanket to twist and turn when I'm taking pics.  But, I'm committed!  

A "Mama" Day

My company gave us President's Day as a holiday this year, which I did not complain about at all.  (James' company also gave it as a holiday, but James, as the President, did not give himself off.) :)

This holiday led to a "me" day.  Ms. T still managed the children like a normal working Monday, and I took advantage of 9 unscheduled hours to unwind a bit.  Nine hours where I didn't have responsibility for anything but myself - sometimes it's needed, y'all!

Here's a recap of how I spent my day (in pictures, instant filter).

First, the boys woke up crack of dawn and gave me lots of good cuddles and hugs.  That makes up for the early rising - this Mama is not an early bird.

JB and I made pancakes for the family, particularly for Sis who requests them each morning. I only put a few "weird" things in them (i.e. flax seed meal).

My latest batch of kombucha had sat brewing for longer than recommended, but still tasted good as I bottled it up.  I even had time to prepare the new batch immediately.  (It looks grosser than it tastes, trust me!)

Around 9AM I poured another cup of coffee - that I got to drink hot!!  I re-read my bible study chapters for the evening sessions to refresh myself on the content.  They were just as powerful the second time around. Highly recommend Max Lucado's Anxious for Nothing book.

After a quick rendezvous with the ole pump, I left the house for my SPA APPOINTMENT!!!!!!!  The weather delivered lots of sunshine with perfect temps.  I drove around with the top down all day.  

I left the spa uber-relaxed and met James for a day date.  Sushi!  I forgot and ordered Nigiri instead of Sashimi, receiving a lecture from the owner about "wasting rice".  (Seriously????)

I arrived home with the intention of a streamed 21-Day Fix workout, but the weather (and vizsla) beckoned me outside.  First walk of the year where I arrived home hot.  BRING IT.  I'd much rather sweat that shiver, any day of the week.

During my walk I listened to two sermons from Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City. Their pastor, Adam Hamilton, just finished a series on World Religions.  I highly, highly recommend.  As he explains, 2/3s of the world are not Christian, but we, as Christians, are called to love our neighbor. How can we love all our neighbors if we don't understand them?   

I underestimated how much time I had left in my day, which left me scrambling to feed Wes, shower and get ready for music class!  Maryn, Wesley and I attend every Monday after work, and it's a real highlight of the week.  

On the way home from music I declared that I could not hear "Skip to my Lou" one more time (especially on my "me" day), and turned it to 90s on 9. Massive protests from the backseat.  

We got home with just enough time for me to hand 2 of the kiddos over to James, kiss the third kiddo (who played with Ms Kari, our little nighttime helper on Monday/Wednesday nights), wrap a baby afghan, and get in my car again.  Normal Mondays are my bible study night, but we also threw a baby shower for one of our girls this night.  Baby Walker is a much prayed for little man, and we can wait to meet him!

(I love this group of girls!!!  I'm so blessed to have this bible study and to learn from and be inspired by the women in it.)

I got home at 9PM to find a quiet house...and one little guy hiding out under the covers of the couch. Guess he thought I wouldn't see him??  I couldn't be too mad, since it meant I could put JB to bed (a good 30 minutes after his bedtime.)  

Not pictured - me staying up way too late to watch the Olympic finals in Ice Dancing!

WHEW, what a day!  I'm really grateful that I have people in our lives (including my very hands on husband) that allow me to step away from the chaos every now and again.   I'll admit I felt guilty some during the day (is this a woman thing?), but I also know that feeling relaxed, happy, and focused helps to make me a better Mama.