Game Day!

How about that for a home opener??

NC State:  40

Louisiana Tech:  14

GO PACK!!

Aiden is 4!

Today we went to Aiden's 4th birthday party.  There were lots of fun water activities including a blow up water slide, slip and slide, several pools, and water squirters!  Owen had a blast playing with all of the kids.  He also enjoyed playing with Aiden's presents!  It seems like yesterday when Amy and I were in high school together, then college roommates at Meredith, and now we are watching our boys grow up together!

Closet

A few nights ago, I tried to open my closet door and realized it wouldn't move.  It scared me a little because I knew there wasn't a lock on the door, I knew Owen wasn't in there holding the door closed because he was in bed, and I knew there was NO way it could be stuck.  I was finally able to push the door just enough to stick my head in the closet.  I was shocked at what I found!  All of my clothes on the right side of my closet were in the floor, along with bags, hangers, random board games, and the actual shelf.  The only thing that was left were big holes in the wall!  I freaked out and closed the door so I didn't have to deal with it.  I recently just went through all of my clothes and organized them when I took the maternity ones out.  Pat kindly moved everything off the floor and into the bathtub.

After we got everything cleaned up.  You can see how small my closet is.  What you can't see is the shelf that was on the wall behind the door to the right:

 

holes in the wall:

Now we are patiently waiting on someone to come measure for a custom closet.  Until then, I'll be living out of the bathtub...

 

Sleep...

it's such a beautiful thing!

We are SO thankful Emery loves to sleep (at night...not so much during the day!).

The night before last, she slept continuously from 9:00-6:00.  Last night, she slept from 8:00-8:30!  We joke and say the princess needs her beauty sleep :)

 Owen thought she needed a teddy, so he put one of his old ones in her crib!

Good morning sunshine!

Backpack

Owen has been dying to get a backpack for school!  It's not a bad idea, really, considering all of the stuff he carries back and forth (including a change of clothes since he is wearing underwear now!).  After looking at numerous places, I finally found a small one from LL Bean.  He was so excited to look outside yesterday and see it on the front porch!

Here he is playing in the playroom with his new backpack on:

Off to school today:

Who's Who??

Everyone tells us how much Owen and Emery look alike.  Now I see it...

O

E

 

O

E

 

O

E

 O

 E

 O

 E

 O

 E

O

 

E

Wordless Wednesday

sleep, maternity leave, underwear, and change

Sleep.
Knock on wood, Emery is a great sleeper.  She finally put herself on a schedule.  Her last feeding of the day is between 8 and 8:30.  Shortly after, we put her in her crib and she dozes off to dreamland.  When we started this little routine, I tried rocking her to sleep, singing to her, everything.  She was squirmy and never closed her eyes.  Finally, I decided to just put her in her crib awake and see what would happen.  That was the key to success!  She would rather put herself to sleep (which is great since we had to do the cry it out method with Owen).  Emery usually wakes up between 2 and 3 to eat, and then again around 6 or 7.  Last night, however, she didn't wake up until 4:30..an eight hour stretch!  We are SO thankful she loves her sleep!  :)

Maternity leave.
It's half way over.  Even though I'm still on leave, I have work functions to attend.  Today was my first one- a faculty meeting and Hawaiian evening social.  Thankfully, Emery stayed asleep so I could get ready this morning!  I'm not sure how the whole getting ready will work out once I get back in the swing of things and have two kids to get dressed, and be at work by 7:50.  I guess I'll be waking up before the rooster crows!

Off to work for my first "unofficial day"...

Happy to be home! 

Underwear.
Owen has worn underwear all week!  Yes, he's had accidents, but that is to be expected with this whole potty training experience.  Hopefully, we are done buying diapers!

Change.

Part of me feels bad for the amount of change happening in Owen's life right now.  He has a new sister, new classroom, new teachers, and potty training.  We think, as a result of all this change, he is regressing with eating.  The only thing he wants to eat is fruit, yogurt, and crackers.  He'll tell us he wants pancakes, chicken, or a burger, but when we give it to him he refuses to eat.  He used to be such a great eater until recently.  It's to the point where we dread mealtime.  I've been researching this on the internet, and one philosophy I found was the fact that children, especially toddlers, like to have control of their lives.  Since many things in Owen's life feel unstable and uncontrollable right now, he might be regressing with eating because he knows he has control of that.  Who knows.  Whatever it is, I hope it ends soon.  As our pediatrician would say, if he is truly hungry, he will eat.  

Wordless Wednesday

Emery Jane is one month old!

I'm about a week late on this post, but better late than never, right?

Emery Jane, you are now one month old! We have enjoyed every minute spent with you!  I will be honest, you are a bit more challenging than your brother was at this age, but people always say boys and girls are different!  That's what makes you special :)  You have made our hearts, lives, and family complete and we love you so, so much!

During your first month of life you have been a busy bee.  We pretty much started taking you out in public from day one (it was hard not to with a 2.5 year old).  You love to ride in the car, play on your play mat, take a bath, watch your big brother, and stare at the ceiling fan!  You wear a size 0-3 months in clothes and a size 1 diaper.  Here is how much you've grown:

At birth:

-weight:  7 pounds, 6 ounces

-height:  19.5 inches

-head circumference:  13 inches

One week:

-weight:  8 pounds, 2 ounces  (at two weeks old, you were 9 pounds, 2 ouces!)

-height:  19.5 inches

-head circumference:  14 inches

One month:

-weight:  we are guessing about 11 pounds

As far as eating goes, you nurse about every two hours during the day.  At night I feed you around 11:00.  You don't get up again until 3:00/3:30, then again around 6:00.  

You are really a great sleeper!  You take several naps throughout the day- some in your crib, some in the rock and play, and some in your car seat (if we are out and about).  You are still sleeping in our room at night in your rock and play.  This has worked well for us because as soon as you wake up at night, I change your diaper on our bed, nurse you, and put you right back down (I don't even have to get out of bed!).  You always fall back asleep on your own.  Over the next month, we will work on sleeping in your crib at night.

Here you are on your one month birthday:

 all done with pictures:

neighborhood walk:

 Owen feeding you for the first time:

Fun facts about your big brother:

-he calls you "Emery James"

-he likes to help change your diaper (he mainly wants to see if you have poop)

-he tells us when you are "squeaking"

-he kisses you goodbye every morning

-whenever you cry he says, "It's okay.  Your big brother is here"

-He kisses you non-stop

your first tummy time:

 hanging out in your crib:

 talking with mommy:

 tears!

 success!  your first nap in the crib:

Emery Jane, we are so thankful you are a growing, healthy little girl.  We love you more than you will ever know!  It warms our hearts to see those big blue eyes light up when you hear our voices!  We look forward to the days, weeks, and months to come with our little angel!

xoxo,
mommy, daddy, and Owen