Days with Daddy

The past two weeks Burt took off Thursday and Friday to be able to spend time with the family. He wasn't able to take time when Zachary was born so this was perfect timing considering the boys don't start preschool until September. They (and me) needed something to break up the weeks.

The first Thursday I took Zachary to the Dr. while Burt took the boys to the pool. They swam and swam to their hearts content. I didn't see them until 3pm I think. Can't really remember what the rest of the day entailed, but it was fun. On Friday we were going to go to the pool in the morning and take Zachary, but the boys really wanted to go to the "big purple park". They had been talking about it for weeks, but it has been so hot and I wasn't going to go out there, especially with Zachary, for hours on end. Since it was a little overcast we decided to hit the park. The big boys went first while I stayed home and cleaned while Zachary napped. It was nice to get some things done without too many interruptions. We then headed out to meet them for a little bit. After playing some more we headed to Chappy's for lunch and then home for naps. After naptime we headed to the pool. It was still fairly nice out which was great for Zachary. The pool water still felt like bath water, however, but this was probably why he didn't mind being in it. We managed to stay for a couple of hours and he looked so cute in his bathing suit. Hopefully we will be able to go again soon.

Passed out from the park.

Pool time!

Joshua needed a break apparently to eat Doritos.

Hmm...what to do with the cheese on my fingers?

Guess I should lick it off.

Chillin in the pool.

Saturday and Sunday are a blur now, but I think the boys had fun with water balloons and got wet and then played in the rain at some point and got wet again. Fun times.

This past Thursday I had to go to the dentist and left Burt home with all three boys. He had it easy since Zachary slept the whole time I was gone. :-) I can't remember what else we did that day, but it might have involved the pool. Who knows. My memory comes and goes. Friday morning we all went to the zoo. It stayed overcast for most of the time we were there which was super. Our favorite animals of the day were the elephants that were bathing themselves with mud. Fun times. We then hit the playground for awhile before heading home. It is nice to have a season pass so when staying only a couple of hours you don't feel so bad. The boys had a great time and so did the parents.

She was out doing her morning exercise.
Joshua is our little monkey for sure.

Enjoying the wonderful playground.

Zachary slept almost the entire time we were there.

It was so much fun having Burt home and it has made the time fly by before the boys are back in school. I know we have weekends to be together, but they always seem so busy. It was nice to have two extra days to just be as a family and play and have lots of fun. There was much laughter, eating, watching movies, etc. Lots of good times. Then we had a friend over yesterday morning and went to a neighbors this morning so this week has been good too. Now if the weather would just start letting up we could go outside more and all would be even better.

Okay, that's the update for now. Gotta go get Joshua down for a nap before Zachary wakes up. Juggling routines is so much fun don't you agree. Oh, but I do have to say this praise.....Zachary is sleeping through the night!!!! It has been a full week of 10 or 11pm until 6:30am. So, I think I am safe to say he is sleeping through the night. This is terrific, although it doesn't mean I am any less tired, even though you would think so, but it does make it easier to get through the day without my eyelids closing on me. I am so thankful for his sleeping habits and that the older boys are doing pretty well too. Sleep makes everyone happier.

Our sleepy head :-)

Oh and I am trying to get him to use the pacifier, but as you can see his thumb is winning out. I do think it is super cute, however, a pacifier is much easier to get of then the thumb. We will keep trying, but I think we might just have another one in the family.

Brothers

Not much commentary here. Just wanted to share some cute pictures of the boys together. They are precious and I love how much Nicholas and Joshua dote on their little brother. Too cute.

Nicholas reading to Joshua

Too bad Nicholas was moving.

Crazy hair, but that's normal.

I think Zachary is wondering why I am allowing his brothers to torment him.

Joshua loves to give out kisses.

Big boys showing off their school bus crayon boxes.

2 months old

On Thursday I took Zachary for his two month check up. Technically nine weeks, but who's counting. All was well, except for the fact that he had to have three shots. Dr. T was very pleased with his weight gain and everything else. While he had him on his stomach he actually rolled over which scared all of us. Of course I was there to catch him so he wouldn't fall off the table, but still. Caught us all a little off guard. Zachary cried a little bit from it even.

He weighs 11 pounds 11 ounces (55%), is 22 and 1/2 inches long (45%) and has a head size of 15 and 1/2 (35%). He is chugging along that's for sure. He is smiling more now, cooing, kicking his feet and is trying to find his thumb. I have tried and tried to get him to take the pacifier instead, but it has failed many times. I will keep trying though as getting rid of the pacifier is much easier than the thumb that's for sure. He slept most of the day, between feedings of course, due to having a fever from the shots, but he was a trooper through it all. We are still giving him his medicine for reflux until his next visit. We will wean him of it a couple weeks before hand and see how he does. Hopefully he will be all better by then. Until then we will keep on doing what we are and watching him grow and grow and do more things everyday. Gotta love this stage. Oh and even better is the fact that he is starting to sleep longer through the night. Many nights it is till 4:30am, but the past two days it has been 6:30am! Even with brothers coming into our room and making noise he has stayed asleep, very impressive. Love him.

His first go at a bottle. He did okay. Maybe this means I can get out once in awhile for more than two hours. :-)

LOL!

After feeding Zachary this morning Joshua wanted to hold him. I sat next to him as he prepared himself and held his hands together waiting for his little brother. He talked to him a little bit and then said he wanted to feed him. He rolled up his shirt exposing his stomach and said, mommy I want to feed Zachary from my stomach and tried to position Zachary's mouth in that direction. I wanted to laugh really hard, but held it together and said that was nice of him, but that only mommy's can feed babies. He was satisfied with that answer and rolled down his shirt. Now, the reason this is extra funny is because Joshua tells people that babies drink milk from bellies. I haven't told him otherwise. Not sure how to tell a 2 and a half year old the truth so I just go with it. It was too cute. One for the books.

How to play nice.....

Can anyone give me any advice on this situation????? Here's the scenario: Nicholas builds a design with legos, Joshua wants to destroy it, Nicholas gets upset, fight ensues, mommy breaks it up, repeat. Joshua really wants to play with the legos too, but Nicholas doesn't want him too. So, Joshua decides to get out the dominoes and make his own creations with them. Boys are playing happily, but then Nicholas wants to "help" Joshua make the "correct" shapes he says he is making. I try to get Nicholas not to help him since Joshua wants to do it on his own and doesn't mind that the shapes aren't really correct. That's the learning process right? So, Nicholas then decides he will make his own creation with the dominoes, but Joshua does not appreciate him taking the dominoes from his creations, so a fight ensues again. Why doesn't Nicholas understand why Joshua was upset? Didn't he get upset when Joshua tried to take the legos? Now, I appreciate him trying to help him learn, but at the same time he shouldn't take the dominoes away when Joshua says he doesn't want help. Oh the joys of parenthood. Anyone know how I can combat this? Burt says to put them in seperate corners with their toy of choice. Hmm, maybe.