Life with 4

Vivian is now 2.5 months old. She is super cute, fun, and smiling often. She sleeps quite well at night getting up only once or twice and sleeping for about 12 hours total. She still prefers sleeping on me in the ergo carrier during the day. For the most part that works out well. Sometimes it makes it difficult for me to clean or want to clean or play with the other kids. Sometimes I still feel like I'm pregnant but with a detachable baby! Our biggest struggle is that she is sensitive to me eating dairy. My doctor says he doesn't put much stock in that, but she is definitely much fussier the day after I've eaten dairy. I've been almost 100% dairy free for a month and a half, but sometimes I just give in and eat a little on my taco or a small piece of pizza or just a slice of cheese. I will be happy when I can go back to eating it again.  I absolutely love holding her and talking to her. I love hearing her coos and happy sounds. Her face always lights up when I repeat back the sounds she's made. She is such a lightweight compared to my boys at this stage.  She was 10 lbs. at her 2 mo. check up. I think Walter was 14 or something like that. Edward is still in love with her and she really brightens his mood.  Sometimes he'll even take her pacifier out so he can comfort her! haha. She does have a little dimple but I have yet to capture it on camera.

This priceless gem of a photo reminds me so much of the pics I'd get of Dean. He'd have the funniest faces.

How her hair looks if I don't comb it after a bath...

I love this one because you can see her cute little neck.

His poor little swollen face.

Edward had kind of a scary thing happen this week. Last Monday I noticed his face swelling near his eyes. He looked like a little alien, poor guy. It was a holiday so we took him to the ER (Urgent care was closed) and they gave him a steroid shot. The next day we went to the pediatrician and he got a perscription for an oral steroid as well as an antibiotic for a double ear infection. We're still not sure if the swelling was a result of the ear infections or if he had an allergic reaction to milk. He's had a rash hang around the past week on his arms and legs, and he's been scratching his head and dumping water on it to give him relief. Hopefully we can get in to do allergy testing soon.

Last week while I was feeding Vivian, Edward decided he wanted to do his hair. He got a chair from the kitchen and pulled it into my bathroom all by himself. With the help of about half of a bottle of bedhead manipulator and lots of chunks of my deodorant, he achieved this look. He was so proud of himself. I got there right in time to intercept the toothpaste. =)  He is such a helpful and happy boy. He really brightens my days.

As I was writing this Edward took it upon himself to get a snack of applesauce. He ate nearly half a bottle of applesauce and I think the rest ended up on the floor and his body. He's currently "skating" on the applesauce. Guess that needs to be cleaned up. haha.

One morning after we dropped Dean off at school (the last week of kindergarten!), we went for a little walk with Ed and Walter in the stroller and Vivian strapped to me. When we passed a house with 3 cars Walter said, "that house has 3 cars! Now that is unexpected." I don't know why, but that just made me smile. He's really hitting a good age. 3 - 4.5 was pretty hard, but he's mellowing out and not nearly as angry. He's taking more responsibility with getting himself dressed and using the restroom by himself. He even asked to hold Vivian yesterday for the first time!  He's really quite a sweetie.  He graduated from preschool at the end of May.  We just loved his teacher Ms. Ellen. Dean had her his first year at Little Saints. We loved the staff and administrators there. I will miss seeing them every day, though I won't miss driving into McKinney twice a day, 4 days a week!! I will be happy to have Walter and Dean at the same school next year.

At muffins for mother's day

The girls were oohing and ahing over Vivian.

 

They did a special dance.

Field day sponge throwing

And Field day ball bouncing with a parachute

The lovely Ms. Ellen.

One of the moms made these awesome custom cupcakes to match each student's face, eyes and hair. Amazing.

 One day after dinner when Matt was mowing, I had the boys out doing chalk drawings of trucks. They decided to take a break and roll down our hill. It was so funny and reminded me of rolling down the hills at Pioneer Park when I was little. Something magical about turning in circles.