Baby Shep 3 Months Old

What our life is like:
Yea so how about that schedule... We are pretty much doing the eat play sleep thing. You have been very consistant about waking up at 6:00am no matter what time you go to bed so we just started putting you to bed at 7:30/8 to see how it works. 6:00am is early but you also head back to sleep until 9 so I can't complain! You're a good overnight sleeper and consistently give us 8 hours.

I stopped pumping pretty much all together. I think I'm going to start adding in a night time pump just to keep my supply up and give us some frozen just in case we need to be apart! You are almost exclusively nursed and it makes it really really easy. I have to learn to let you control how much you eat... if I force you to eat more it just ends up back on me. You always do a good burp when you're done. If you take a bottle, it's around 5oz.

You have had a BUSY 2nd month. You visited the beach and Michigan and survived a 13.5 hour car ride. That has really made scheduling difficult. You were waking up once a night around 3:30/4 but I put an end to that when you slept in my room in Michigan. You're Dad didn't arrive until 4 days in and this mama was tired! After a little cry it out you've been good to go! All this traveling also wreaks havoc on your routine. Right now you eat at 6, sleep until 9, eat, and then we head to workout and you sleep the entire time. I feed you again at 12 and you seem to take a natural nap from 2-4. You eat again at 4 and then again at 7:30/8. It's bath time at 7:30 and then off to bed! You have been lucky in that you've got mama and daddy all to yourself at that hour. We put you to bed a little drowsy but not completely out. The minute you cry we run to your rescue... not any more! We started doing a 5 minute cry it out, then checked on you/gave you a paci and you went right to sleep.

You are SUCH a strong baby. Everyone comments and your head control. I have been really nervous that you'll get a flat spot on your head because you hang out in your carseat a lot. I ordered a new head thing for you to put in your carseat (it's made by boppy) and you seem to love it! We also started you in the exersaucer and I know it is SUPER early but you LOVE it and your brother and sister LOVE interacting with you while you're in there. It's fun for me to watch the three of you play together. 

Shepherd:
Nicknames: Pherd (as in she-pherd... everyone makes fun of me when I call you that!) Shep, Sheppie, Shep Shep, Sheppie Beppie, Beppie, Chunky Monkey, Monkey, Mon-kiki, kiki, keeks, (like that progression there....!) Emma Cate calls you sheppie sheppie sheppie sheppie
Weight: not sure
Height: not sure
Hair:  dark blonde. It's grown in a little! Probably the most even of all your siblings
Eyes: very dark blue
Clothes: your sweet 3 month smocked/kelly's kids/shrimp and grits are all to small to wear with your cloth diapers. We had to put you in disposables for you to wear that stuff. About 1/4 of your closet contains clothes that are too small... slow down buddy!
Diapers: We are in bum genius 4.0 or kawaii newborns all the time. You are on the tiniest rise in the BGs and we leave two columns of snaps showing.
Eating: Nursing every 3-4 hours and longer at night.
Likes: being held/sitting upright, the boba carrier (you nap in there a lot), being swaddled ( YOU LOVE being swaddled.. I try naps without it but you fuss until I swaddle you), being naked, laying on your playmat on the couch (not as much of a fan on the floor), being sung to, being tickled, you do like about 15 minutes of tummy time and then you are DONE. You also LOVE your exersaucer and the time you spend one on one with mommy and daddy talking baby talk. We get the biggest smiles, coos, and giggles. You love to pull mommy's hair. 
Dislikes: falling asleep without the swaddle, gas (oh man, I started eating really healthy with lots of greens and this did not agree with your tummy... we are working on it but gas drops are your friends!)
Development: You are a champ at holding your head up and lifting your upper body. You can also roll from belly to back. You are VERY strong. You are alert and bright eyed. You can follow me around the room and turn your head to hear my voice. You are smiling like a champ and give mommy the BEST smiles! You started laughing this month in these cute little baby giggles. I talk like an idiot just to hear you!
Words: not yet!
Teeth: not yet but man has that drooling increased!

Extra:
You are on the go! We put you on your tummy on your mat and you are off of it in seconds. You like to scoot mostly but sometimes rolls from tummy to back to get where you need to be. You are already a TV watcher like your brother. I tried not to let the twins watch tv at this point but with you being the 3rd I don't think that's possibly. You may suffer from ADHD when you're older but at least I'm helping you out in the strength department because you love to lift yourself up to see the TV.

You are easy going and I love it! We went to eat with some first-time mommies and their babies and you were just so chill (probably because I am way more chill this time around). You eat, smile, play, and go back to sleep really easily when we're out. I'm loving your personality... chill with lots of smiles and laughs. 

Your brother and sister are so sweet with you. Emma Cate freaks out when you cry and starts to cry herself and says "no cry sheppie", "mama sheppie no cry... mama!". They also think that your drool is spit and I hear "Sheppie pit" a million times a day! They are always concerned for you. They are obsessed with you in the exersaucer. They play games with you and sing to you while you're in there. Holden can't wait for you to grow up and be rough and tough with him. He is still using your little head as a road for his cars when I'm not looking. Both he and Emma Cate love to give you kisses and hugs and always ask about their "baby shep". When I get them out of their cribs in the morning I always have you with me and they say "hey baby shep!" with such excitement. I wonder how long you'll be called "baby shep".

You are just still the sweetest little guy. You are long with just the right amount of baby rolls. You are almost always in a good mood (unless it's been awhile since you went to the bathroom or need your medicine). You are still on Axid every 8 hours and it is a miracle medicine! I love the few hours we get to spend together everyday while your siblings are asleep. It is such a wonderful time for me! Sheppie Beppie, we are all so happy you came into our lives. You make our family slow down a bit and hang out together. We love you so much buddy! 

Sorry for the abundance of pictures but I think you're pretty cute beppie! 

hanging out after our friend Libby's birthday party

loving the rolling part of the saucer

loves to sit up! We turned your boppy around because I found you face in the couch a few times!

this swaddle from pottery barn kids is your favorite (of course only my child wouldn't like the normal ones from target)

Emma Cate holding you. I think she's only got 9 lbs on you!

hanging out with pop po at the lake house in michigan

I've got lots of selfies with you because everyone else is always off chasing your siblings! Thank goodness for the carrier and selfies!

visiting sleeping bear dunes in michigan

cousin erin held you almost the entire time we were in michigan... cousin Erin, can you move to nc?

loving the cool weather in MI! perfect for outdoor naps!

first time at the lake!

your GAB

Arthur Shepherd meeting Arthur Lewis. This is your great grandfather. He was sooo excited to meet you!

baby's first fourth with daddy

sheppie and your 3rd cousin (my cousin matt's baby) Walt. he's two weeks younger than you but totally killing in in the hair department!

these are the smiles I love so much (especially after 6 straight hours of sleep!)

wine tasting with great aunt barbara (GAB) and aunt boey

vino and baby

on of our favorite Charleston restaurants, fleet landing

hanging out at Bohikit marina while your siblings participated in the fishing tournament

check out these guns

oh the rolls... how I am loving a chunky monkey (aka totally normal sized baby)

this is how you spent most of your time on your first trip to Seabrook

it is too freaking hot in here mama!

you and gigi at bohikit

I have to remember to put you in these pics with your siblings! hopefully i'll be able to trust them holding you one of these days. This was out to eat at Bad Daddys.

I took you all three to run errands for the first time. That's your little head on top!

oh i just love you to pieces buddy!

Another Lately

Warning: This post is all over the place! 

I have really missed blogging! My kids do something cute/funny everyday and I wish I was documenting it! I love looking back on this blog and remembering these little details of our day. I'm going to try and keep my computer near my bed and fire off a quick post before I go to bed each night. 

We spent this morning at the twin's 2 year doctor appointment. They are both doing well! Both in the 50% for height (EC at 33.5 inches and H at 35 inches). Holden is in the 50% for weight at 28.5lbs and EC is in the 9% at 23lbs. We got the ok to move them to 2% milk. No more buying two cartons of milk in this house! EC still has to stay on full fat yogurt but not H and I can share fat free greek! 

I am determined to lose weight. I've been working out for a week and haven't lost a single freaking pound! I am trying to watch what I eat but need to be better at eating breakfast so that I'm not famished by lunch. 

The kids have been hitting the Y with me everyday. The teachers in child watch know them now and Holden is totally comfortable there. Emma Cate still cries at drop off but she is fine a few minutes later. Shep attends a baby class with me on monday/wednesday/friday and I love seeing his little face during my workout. The other days he heads to the nursery. Today was a nursery day and poor baby was so upset that they had to come find me on the track to come pick him up! Ah! He had a bout of constipation and once it cleared (um yuck) he was an entirely different child. Sooo happy!

We are back from vacation and the kiddos are finally getting back on a nap schedule. I am so thankful. They didn't nap at all last week but have napped the past two days. Thank the Lord. I am pretty exhausted from starting to work out and taking care of three kids is no joke. I am loving being at home but this stay at home mom stuff is tough. I miss the alone time I got while working. I don't need an entire 8 hours of it but 1 would be nice :) 

We got back from Michigan last monday morning at 2:30am and Jay left to work out of town for the week at 5:30am. I am trying really hard to be more independent from my family's help. I love them so much but after being with my kids for two weeks straight, I know they needed a break. I know that I can handle my three but it's so nice when I have someone to be there with me :) In the past, I haven't been really into playdates because I had so little time with my kids and I loved hanging out with my family. I've recently started getting together with friends and am loving it! It's so nice to be around people that are in the same place as you. 

Last week was rough with Jay out of town. Emma Cate learned to crawl out of her crib and open her bedroom door. I ended up having to lock her in her room because I was worried about her getting out and falling down the steps. The first night she was in there she cried for 45 minutes at the top of her lungs. It was really really hard. My mom came over to sit with me so that I wouldn't have to be alone. Finally, she climbed back into her crib and went to sleep. We haven't had any issues since but boy was it tough!

I had a fun wine date with some of my college besties the other night. I have missed these girls so much! I'm hoping and praying that one ends up back in Charlotte soon! (wink, wink!) 

Whew! Hopefully I won't wait as long to blog again. I've got lots of catching up to do!

2 Years Old Holden

Holden you are two!

You are my sweet buddy. You are chatty, fun, sweet, and rough and tumble all rolled up into one precious little toe-headed boy.

Let's start in the morning. You have been waking up at 6:30 and it is killing me. You'll stand in the corner of your crib and scream daddy forever. Sometimes you'll go back to sleep but a lot of times we go in and get you. Of course, when I walk in and get you, you are not happy that it's not daddy and will lay down and whine until I peel you out of bed. Even though you've been up screaming for an hour, you aren't truly awake and are a little bear. You've recently hated getting your diaper changed and it's always a fun struggle in the morning. You LOVE your construction site jammies and hate taking them off in the morning. You are very good about putting your clothes in the dirty clothes hamper and cleaning up the items that you throw out of your crib.

Every morning you are excited to find your trains. I keep a set upstairs and a set downstairs because you love them so much. Once you're finally awake you light up with excitement and run through the house. You are one hungry boy. You're pretty easy going about what you eat and aren't as demanding as your sister. You love bananas and applesauce for breakfast and eggs are a favorite too. You are a pretty fast eater and when you are done, you are DONE. You still throw your food and drink on the floor when you are done and this leads to lots of time outs. You are pretty good about doing time out in the corner and we don't have to do a lot of sleep sack time outs with you! You get up and always say "sowwy mama" and give big hugs before you are off to the next activity (which your normally run to). I don't ever want to forget your little body running/skipping in just your diaper from the kitchen to the family room. You are full speed ahead until you crash into something (usually your anywhere chair) and burst out laughing.

You LOVE your TV and I really have to monitor how much you watch. If you get up really early on weekends we grab you quickly before you wake up Emma Cate and plop you in our bed. You always request choo choos (Chuggington) and we happily oblige to get a few more minutes of shut eye. You are so sweet when you're in our bed. You put your head on the pillow and curl up under the covers.

You have found your voice and love to use it. You are a little parrot and repeat everything we say. You are stringing together words to form sentences and it amazes me they way your little brain works. You are one  very smart boy. You observe everything. You are great with rhyming words, you love the wibbly wobbily blank an elephant sat on blank game. You know all of your colors. You can memorize any song and you love for me to sing to you. I love that you are musical! I love music and know the words to tons of songs and love that you have an interest in this too! You can join me in killing your Dad in the lyrics game!

You wake up from nap much earlier than Emma Cate and I grab you and we have some one on one time. We normally cuddle on the couch and watch TV because you're still sleepy and need a bit more rest. You are very tactile. You'll rub my arm or shin (you especially love the prickly feeling when I need to shave) or play with the hair tie around my wrist. You do this subconsciously and it's pretty cute. You also love to pet boomer. You are OBSESSED with all things that move! We read "Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site" and the Trucks book over and over again. I just love hearing your little voice; Read mama Read!

My favorite phrase is "oh yeah, oh yeah". You say it with a little accent like you're from Minnesota. it's hilarious. You know that you are funny and you smile bashfully when you say something that gets everyone laughing.

You are really good at independent play. You can push your choo choos/cars/planes around for hours. Every now and then you run up to me and give me the biggest bear hug. I love that you are independent but still show your mama some love. You are intelligent, funny, and caring. You are going to make some woman very happy someday!

We are working on your cleaning up and listening skills. You LOVE to dump toys but aren't so great at picking up. Emma Cate normally cleans up after you. We've got to work on learning to put your toys away because your little cars are EVERYWHERE in our house!

You are very sensitive. You are rough and tumble but then cry easily at random things. You don't like to swing very high. It really scares you. You love the thrill for a minute and then freak out. You don't like super loud noises or when mommy is upset with Emma Cate.

You are such a sweet brother to Shep. You are learning to give gentle kisses but then I also catch you driving your cars on his head. I have a feeling this is what I'll experience throughout your brother relationship.

When we drive, you are so observant. You notice every police car, motorcycle, ambulance and fire truck. You love to point them out, watch them move, and imitate their sounds. You also notice when mommy drives fast and we hit bumps. You scream WHOA from the third road.

Holden, it is so fun having a little boy. You've taught this mommy about diggers, trucks, planes, and cars. You are a sweet mama's boy but can also get CRAZY with the boys in your class. You have a TON of energy and watching you run through the house makes me smile just as much as our couch cuddles. Your dancing is one of my favorites. You have such a sweet spirit. I am so glad I get to be your mommy! Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Lately

It's been so long since I've blogged! I owe Holden a 2 year old post and it's on my to do list for tomorrow! I actually opened my computer for the first time in a few weeks today but only to get addresses for invitations for my sister's wedding!

The summer is flying by! We just returned home from 2 very full weeks of vacation and I can't wait to document it! You may have noticed that I switched my blog to private recently. I was going through the interview process for a new job and wanted to remove my internet presence. Not that there is anything wrong with my blog, I just like to make the first impression in person. The interview process is over and I'm back online :) Big changes to come this year! 

I'm so glad to be back at home and excited to settle in to our summer routine (once I get us all unpacked and get the mountains of laundry done!). Baby Shep is growing like crazy! I still haven't taken his 2 month photo and he will be 3 months next week! He started rolling over and sleeping through the night while we were on vacation. I'm already missing my newborn but excited to see him reach all the milestones that are coming up! Holden is speaking in sentences and I love seeing my active little boy grow up while still remembering to hug mommy every few minutes. Emma Cate is sassy as ever and just learned how to climb out of her crib with her sleep sack on. Say a prayer for me with that one!