Deployment Month Three

I didn't take near as many pictures this month, you would think I am just a little busy keeping these boys fed and diapers changed. We were in Kansas this month and enjoyed getting back to a little bit of a routine at home. The boys have learned to love their stroller as mom requires a lot of "de-stressing" walks and runs when the weather permits. Matthew is growing so fond of Michael, and vice versa as well. I am loving this season of two sweet little boys. Although I cannot say my house is clean, or I have eaten a well cooked meal lately, but we are making it, one day at a time, and I'd like to think doing well passing the time until our soldier daddy comes home from Africa!

Now an update from our handsome soldier! He doesn't like taking pictures of himself, but is so sweet to oblige in my desires to "see" him every once in a while. Staying busy in Djibouti Africa!

Deployment Month Three

Top Ten Month Three

1. Running at the lake and rootbeer milk make Saturdays a little better

2. 18 month olds disobey a lot

3. I successfully fixed the speedometer in Shane's truck!

4. The boys are becoming such good buds 

5. Learned to cook brussel sprouts!

6. Took a fun weekend trip to Omaha

7. Skyping is still my all time favorite

8. The Lord provides patience and we always survive the day 

9. Michael can roll! 

10. We reached our halfway mark, praise God!

Michael - Three Months!

{at three months Michael...}

...weighs 12+lbs
...is 25 inches long
...wears size 1 diapers
...loves watching his big brother
...smiles sweetly
...nurses once in the middle of the night
...enjoys skyping with daddy
...has very wide (blue) eyes
...lays on his back and kicks happily
...has good control of his head
...started chewing on his hands
...nurses every 3 hours like clockwork during the day

We love you Michael! Although we cannot wait for you to be old enough to play with your big brother and interact more, we really want you to slow down! You are definitely not in the newborn stage anymore, and that makes your mom sad already.  You are the sweetest baby alive, and your smiles and "talking" light up our life!

Michael - Four Months!

{at four months Michael...}

...started talking more instead of cooing
...rolled over for the first time from back to front

...wears mostly 6-9 month clothing

...has a nice bald spot on the back of his head

...loves for you to tickle and talk to him

...found his feet and likes to grab them

...is learning to take a bottle a little better

...still nurses once in the middle of the night
...is quite dramatic with his facial expressions
...laughed for the first time at Matthew
...wears size 1 diapers

...has the brightest eyes ever

...uses his hands to swat at and try to grab things

This was the first time Michael rolled over. I wasn't in the room, but came back and found him like this, very proud of himself. Looking around!

We won't be swaddling much longer!

Loves sitting up so he can look all around the room and watch his big brother play. 

Deployment Month Two

Top Ten from Month Two

1. I can successfully use a plunger.

2. Babies don't break if they fall off the couch.

3. Planned our post deployment vacation! 

4. I don't know how to use Shane's drill, oops. 

5. Getting out the door, between naps and nursing, never ceases to stress me out. 

6. Sunshine, playing outside, and going for walks are some of our favorite things.

7. Daylight savings time threw me off for almost a week.

8. Double digits in our countdown!

9. Successfully did our taxes, alone! 

10. Play dates and dinners with great friends keep us (semi) sane.

This month we just enjoyed getting back into our routine at home. Minus a few cold and snowy days, we've had beautiful weather, which is such a blessing.  Matthew loves playing outside most days, and I love getting exercise and the sunshine. Everyone is happier! 

Poppa and Anne G came in town for a quick trip to meet Michael and spend some time with us. We loved having them!

Michaels first time taking a nap in the crib. He normally sleeps in a pack n play in my room, but I've been trying to get him used to the boys room and crib some as well.  Matthew thought it was so cool to have Michael in his crib! 

I've been really bad lately about only taking pictures on the iPad. Shane and I have our photos synced and so we automatically see all of the pictures the other one takes, which makes it fun and easy to share pictures of the boys and our daily lives.  Although that means I have to be very intentional about getting out our real camera! 

Meanwhile we've also gotten to see some sweet pictures of Shane on the other side of the world. He is staying busy and working hard. Enjoy a few pictures from Africa of our handsome soldier!

Deployment Month One - Texas

 Top Ten Lessons from Month One of Deployment

1.Scabies are no joke and spread like wildfire
2.When you hear moo-ing coming from the crib that just means Matthews awake
3.When everyone in public stares you just say, "yes, they're 15 months apart"
4.Care packages are harder to put together than I thought
5.Ring worm doesn't have anything to do with worms
6.Tricare referrals while away from home are a nightmare
7.Driving cross country with two babies is actually possible in one day
8.Skype is my best friend and what I plan most days around
9.You can keep going even when you think pure exhaustion has set in
10.Carrying a car seat and diaper bag with a 1 year old on your hip is an achievable (and common) task

 

We spent month one of this deployment in College Station, Texas staying with my family, and just trying to figure everything out.  It was such a blessing to be around my loving family for those first weeks that were rough at times.  Combine having a new baby, adjusting to life with two little boys with having a husband deploy was a lot to take in.  Through the tears they loved us anyway, changed diapers for me, held babies for me, and shared a lot of laughs with me.  My family is hands down the best family ever.  Needless to say we had a great time in Texas and knocked an entire month off our countdown!

 

Matthew had no fear of Bobby (my parents Emu), which made this mom a little nervous.  Bobby is huge, but friendly, sometimes too friendly for a one year old!

We were so excited Nonna, Aunt Laura, and Uncle Ross all came to visit and meet Michael!

Watching the animals at Grammy and Pawpaw's was Matthews favorite activity 

Matthew loved getting to run free out on the farm.

We enjoyed some beautiful weather.

My sweet sister-in-law, Laura, and dear friend.

Meeting my first nephew baby Will for the first time!

An added bonus of being in Aggieland in February was the start of Aggie Baseball!

Matthew has yet to meet an animal he doesn't want to touch, follow, watch and imitate! Although the cows are probably his favorite.

 

 The boys enjoyed lots of fun times with their cousins. We loved having all of our family in one town together!

To say that Matthew was obsessed with Pawpaw would be the worlds biggest understatement. He loves Pawpaw, and Pawpaw loves Matthew.  Many days Pawpaw stayed home late in the mornings just to eat breakfast with Matthew, and Matthew was always waiting for Pawpaw to get home in the evenings so they could go feed to cows on the gator together.

All 6 cousins with Grammy, 4 years and under!

 Valentines Day 2014 - Missing daddy!

The triplet cousins - Blair, Will, and Michael

 

We even made it down to Houston to spend a day with my best friend Katie and her daughter Emma!