phone dump fun

Going anywhere with my our 2 youngest littles is cumbersome. I always need a hand for Miles because he's not super car-conscious yet--meaning he could decide to dart out into the street at any moment. Actually I'd say 3 out of 5 days (just making up numbers here) he'd walk down the sidewalk, right beside me, without holding my hand and be great. It's just those other 2 days, that he'd think he's hilarious by running away from me. And no one wants those 2 days. So back to it, I need a hand for Miles. I'm carrying Way and his big car seat carrier on my other arm, and usually I have my purse and a diaper bag with me. Not a big deal, but it's just cumbersome. Soooo, I'm usually not carrying around my big camera/and camera bag. (Unless it's a big occasion). That leaves me with my phone camera, which leaves you with these. . .(and despite the picture I just painted of me lugging all my stuff around, most of these are from home anyway! Ha!)

 Baby Way mesmerized by the pics of Miles when Miles was a baby. . .waiting to change those out for smiles of Way!

 

A little face-timing with my parents while they are off at the lake. . .they had to check in on their grandbabies!

 New Years Eve date night!

2 handsome fellas sportin' some style!

 A birthday blowout!

 Chad and Chuckles--cutie pies!

5 fire engines blaring, lights flashing--a big hub-bub next door, and LOTS of fun for our kiddos!! Luke and Charlie were invited to climb aboard after the danger was gone!

Luke was caught "drinking and driving!" We had a lesson about keeping both hands on the wheel and never EVER drinking and driving---unless of course, it's a Coke from Chick-fil-A, or Luke's fave, an Izze!

Heh! A-d-o-r-a-b-l-e!!

snow love

All out of brain power for an FYI Friday, but thinking about friends who are in the bitter cold and getting lots of snow! We've had one day of snow this winter--the day after Christmas. Not sure I ever posted, so in case more snow never comes (a very sad thought for this super snow lover), I'll post some pics now! Oh, and if we don't get anymore snow this season, it's all because I bought my boys some snow boots this year. I probably jinxed us! Boo.

Baby Way's first snow and Christmas lights!

Charlie is frigid, but Luke is loving eating the snow!

Love Miles' smile here---just following big bro and having a blast, until he takes off his gloves and plays with the snow----major meltdown after that! :)

FYI Friday--fiction books

I'm pretty positive I haven't read a fiction book since last February, when I read The Hunger Games. I never followed up with book 2 or book 3 after that, not because I didn't thoroughly enjoy the book, but because I needed a break from the intensity and because I was moving, having a baby--you've heard it over and over by now. Ahem. I did, though, pour quickly through Bloom by Kelle Hampton (after reading The Hunger Games) and I really liked it. It resonated with me, particularly because I knew we were having a baby with Down syndrome, but also because I like her writing and her photography and read her blog! **My great aunt also read Bloom, but it was a touch racy--too many curse words for her! But if you can get past that, it's a touching, cry your eyes out, but inspiring and encouraging story!

Anyway, these books are ones I'm hoping to tackle this year. Take a look.

May be a little on the heavy side, a light one or two in the mix, but no fiction. Zero. Although, I will have a fiction book to add to my list in September, when my talented cousin, Jody Casella, releases her very first book, Thin Space, a young adult novel that I can't wait to read! I thought Jody was the coolest, growing up! She was so smart, knew everything about literature, hilarious, let me visit her in her college dorm and would play Barbies with me anytime! She even wrote and illustrated a book for me using my toys as the main characters. And now, all grown up, we even have our oldest boys sharing October birthdays, only 12 years apart! So happy for her that her first book is on the way!

But back to it! I need some fiction suggestions. . .anyone?? What are you reading? Help!

oh little Baby Way! an update. . .

I promised an update on Baby Way and here it is!! So many people ask how he's doing and check in on him--we are so thankful!

Baby Way is fantastic! He's babbling and cooing up a storm--particularly when he has a wet diaper or just wants to be noticed in all the chaos going on around him! :) He's always smiling most when I go to put him down for a nap or bed and it makes me want to cuddle him forever and forget naps, but we all know what would happen if we tossed sleep to the wind! He had a problem for a couple of months with waking too early due to dirty or ultra wet diapers. It wasn't fun for him, or for Mommy and Daddy. Seems the past few nights he's done okay. Keeping our fingers crossed! I think his recent addition of oatmeal cereal for breakfast has helped! He eats it right up--even thicker amounts only a week and a half into it! We were told early on that babies with Down syndrome are prone to having problems with sucking and/or eating. Obviously, it's early on in his life, but was our best nurser out of our 4 boys and he's better so far with his oatmeal than the other boys were too. No big deal either way, just something I am thankful for!

Lukey wanted to help give Baby Way his very first bites of solid food--oatmeal!

Baby Way is busy too! He is getting physical therapy, occupational therapy and developmental therapy every week to every other week depending on the therapy. Soon, speech therapy will be added too! Why all of these therapies? Well, babies with Down syndrome (remember how I mentioned the people first language here?) are likely to have delays in certain developmental areas, so they are provided with these services via the federal law, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Early intervention is designed to help babies development and research has proven how helpful it can be! Right now, thankfully, we are getting his therapy at home--convenience-wise, it's just lots easier (especially since I have Miles at home with us almost every day too)! At some point, we may venture out if we choose a different program to use. I'm about 75% satisfied with the services we are receiving, so we will see!

Things we are working on with Baby Way right now. . .
--tummy time (lots of it) because this strengthens his core muscles, which basically helps do everything he's supposed to do now and in the future
--getting him to try and reach for things and grasp items
--laying him on his back for playtime also helps his core because of his kicking and hopefully eventually rolling from his back to his tummy
--helping him try to sit unassisted---we are far from this, but working on it by holding his hands out in front of him, while he's facing us, helps the core too
--basically, anything that helps strengthens his core, we are working on! (I think I need to work on my core too!!!!)

He's now 5 months old, but I'm not sure I ever posted his 4 month pic, so here are both!

It is really hard to capture his smiles on camera, but they do happen. We finally got a laugh out of him when he turned 5 months. SUPER. Big. Happy! Moment for Mommy!! Here's a smile--a tad blurry from my phone, but we were hanging by our window watching some rain fall and he sure does love special attention!

Oh Baby Way!!!! How we love you so!!!!!! You are growing so quickly--I want to soak you in, our last little angel! I am beyond thankful for you!!

this and that

Ohhh boy! Or boys! It's hard to even know where to begin this post, but I have to, or want to, because blogging refreshes me, it's an outlet, it's a memory keeper and because my hubby pesters encourages me to do so (wink,wink, Honey)! I think I may just bullet point this though. . .

1. A friend of mine a couple of years ago tried to get me to watch those healthy food movies that were popping up everywhere, like Food, Inc and Super Size Me. I just couldn't do it because I didn't want to have to change our eating style. Thought it would be too hard. Thought it would be too expensive. Thought I wouldn't have time. Well, with attitude issues and health issues around here, and OH that my little Chuckles told me my tummy was getting bigger (and no I'm not preggo again), I'm a WHOLE lot closer to making some big changes around here! You should see my pantry. Lots of boxed foods. Lots of everything. We're not horrible eaters, we lots of fruit and some veggies, but I need to wake up to some healthy eating that can be had out there and join 2013. For my family! Another friend shared a link to Chris Beat Cancer and he's a motivator! Anyone wanna join me on a new quest? Or at least ask me how I'm doing on it in the next month or so? We'll see if it's just a bandwagon/new year thing. . .I still think it will be hard. And expensive. And I won't have time. . .

2. I'm feeling really overwhelmed by 4 kiddos right now. Love them beyond belief. Don't love their lack of discipline. Just trying to manage our family, get food on the table, clothes washed/dried/folded, littles bathed, lunches made, homework sorted/signed/encouraged, praying with them, devotionals---the basics is tough! Add to that, reading to them, playing with them, being intentional, doing therapy homework, doing therapy, practices, games, all the things I'm leaving out, well that's even tougher! But we've been encouraged lately and one form of encouragement (among many yesterday) came from our new minister over our CC (Sunday School class). He reminded us yesterday that in Psalm 138:8 it says, "The Lord will accomplish all that concerns me." Whatever I am concerned about, the Lord is already there. Whatever energy I need, He will give it to me. Our children's hearts are of big concern to us. So we are on our knees and pray for them daily. We pray for us as parents, that our kiddos will be protected from our mistakes as parents and we pray for wisdom to know how to lead them. Praying is our biggest tool we have! I'm more encouraged than ever from our messages at church yesterday! So thankful!

3. So badly want to update everyone on baby Way, as he's quite the popular topic of conversation these days! BUT, since he's piping up from nap right now, I'll save it for later! Promise!

FYI Friday-- 2013 word of the year

A few days into January and the new year seems like a good time to write about my word of the year for 2013! Ohhhh, how I've thought on this for a while now. I've thought on how I can really focus on my word of the year, this year. See, last year, my word was focus. I must admit, I didn't do a whole lot of focusing last year. I tried, just like people try to keep up with their resolutions, by hitting the gym and living out that gym membership they signed up for at the beginning of January. Oh no, I didn't sign up for a gym membership, but you get my point. Life happened last year, and I got caught up in the whirlwind of finding out we were pregnant with baby #4, showing our house, Chad having major surgery, selling our house, finding out our little baby has Down syndrome, moving, renovating our new house, giving birth, adjusting to life with 4 (which we are still doing!) and so on. Focus, was definitely not happening--rather survival!

Ahhh, but now, we have a new year! Couldn't be happier for a new year!! I've learned a lot over the past year. Lots about myself, which brings me to my word of the year (enough babbling already). . .

 expectation(s)

(as defined by dictionary.com)

the act or state of looking forward or anticipating 

I get easily excited about events, things, people in life. I also set myself up for things. I set expectations and sometimes, they aren't met. Cue disappointment. I can't stop thinking about the scene in Christmas Vacation when Clark Griswold and his wife are in bed talking and she says to him, "You set standards that no family can live up to." and he replies, "When have I ever done that?" to which she says, "Parties, weddings, anniversaries, funerals, holidays, vacations. . ." I think (and I've been told) that I am just like Clark Griswold! In the end, you gotta love him (thank goodness), but I don't want people around me or myself, to constantly have to live up to these expectations! So, when it comes to setting expectations, I'm going to try not to. Or, at least I'm going to try to manage my expectations! It's fantastic to look forward to events, things, people, but not to set standards that cannot be met! We have four children now and not everything is going to happen in the magical way my brain thinks it should! Agreed?!

On another note though, I do plan on waiting with expectation on the Lord! I want to keep my eyes and heart open to what He's going to show me and teach me! I am anticipating good things--and that will not disappoint because Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

Happy New Year!

Anyone have a word of the year out there? Verse of the year? Resolutions?