Partying: Another Year

Wow.  It's been a long time since I blogged.  Like this is over a year and a half old.  But I found this in the drafts and wanted to go ahead and publish.  Will be posting much more updated info soon!

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All my babies are officially one year older!  Things have been busy.  So busy that it is March and I haven't acknowledged any birthdays or Christmas.

My excuse (and the truth) is that I've been busy.  All at once we fixed up a mess of a rental house and started working on our own (which we had to move out of while they work).  Then throw Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all the usual busy-ness, and you might understand why blogging had to take a back seat.  But never fear: let me give you the recap!

We celebrated Paul's third birthday with another tractor themed party.  It was very low key, but almost all the family came out to celebrate, so we had fun.  Leah surprised us all driving a big tractor from the farm and gave Paul a ride.  

Hays and Clara had a joint birthday party.  The theme was "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star / A Celestial Ball."  Basically we decorated the house with stars of various kinds.  I liked the Twinkle Twinkle theme, Hays really didn't care, and Clara was happy as long as she could dress up as Sleeping Beauty (so it became a "Ball").

So, here's my Sleeping Beauty.  Sewn the DAY OF her party.  Why I didn't just buy a Sleeping Beauty dress?  I don't know.  Well, I do know.   But I'm not going to get into that. 

It was twirly, and that's what she wanted.  Hooray again!

My man Hays was delighted when everyone sang Happy Birthday to him.  Other than that, opening presents and even blowing out the candles wasn't on his radar.  My mom was a big help in getting all the decorations and food put together right at the end.  We had lots of balloons  - some helium, some regular - that really helped to transform the space.

On Paul's birthday, I did manage to get one photo worthy of framing (and Christmas card-ing).  Hooray!  Merry (belated) Christmas!

Growing: Hays update

What has been going on since I last posted?  Well I can happily say we have been enjoying Hays' many laughs and smiles.  Hays may be my best baby yet - he's a good sleeper, he enjoys people-watching, and he smiles all the time.  He's been called "Happy Hays" more than once around our house.

Of course, he's a healthy eater, too.  In fact, Hays at four months is larger than Clara and Paul were at six months.  Longer and heavier.  Whoa.  He was 19.9 pounds on his four-month birthday.  I'm sure he's well over 20 pounds by now.

He is trying to gnaw on anything he can get his hands on.  Literally.  There's a bottom tooth that I know will pop through almost any day now.

Still working on rolling over.  He's trying pretty hard and has done it a handful of times, but not repetitively, so I wouldn't say we've crossed that milestone off the list.

Hays enjoys putting weight on his legs, which besides just holding him (and I just told you that he is HEAVY) means he spends time in the Johnny Jump-Up and Exersaucer.  Thank goodness!

Hays: One Month

It's hard to believe that this little man is already one month old!

Well, it is and it isn't.  He's already outgrown the newborn clothes.  On to the 0-3 month stuff!
And tonight I put him in a size 2 diaper... whoa.  This guy is growing fast.

There's been a few nights of colicky crying, but a little "Colic Calm" (yes, that's literally the name) before symptoms arise, and me cutting out the gas-a-licious veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, kale) seem to be helping.  We had one night where he slept six hours straight!  Scared me half to death!

And if you can't tell from the above picture, that's Hays saying, "Okay, enough pictures, Mom.  Get some clothes on me!"

Enjoying Hays

Clara and Paul are being so sweet to Baby Hays.  Clara calls herself, "Little Mama."  She's told me that he likes her more than he likes me!

Today I saw Hays smile at Clara - his first "real" smile in my opinion.  He did it more than once and had a genuine happy, content look on his face.

Paul loves Hays too.  He doesn't really want to hold him, but he likes shake his hand and give him little hugs.  I'm proud of Paul for being so sweet to his little brother.

It was wonderful having my parents here for over a week.  No child lacked any attention, no belly rumbled for lack of food.  Thankfully our house didn't lack heat!  It was 9 degrees here one night -- the coldest it's been in 9 years at least!

That did mean that we had a bit of cabin fever that week, or should I say Clara and Paul did.  They NEED to get outside and run!

 Hays has been a very good baby.  Very sleepy - both day and night.  No real bedtime routine as yet, but surely that will come soon.

He's growing well, weighing in over 9 pounds at his two week check up.

We are all adoring this new little boy, and adjusting to all that a baby requires.  And having fun taking pictures of him, too!