Monday, October 31, 2016

Halloween 2016

Thanks to my amazing and generous Mom and sister Aimee my red heads were Marida from the Disney movie Brave and Abby was Repunzel from Tangled. Jake chose to be a "stick man" with glow sticks. They were all really happy with their costumes and loved trick-or-treating.

We joined a bunch of friends at the Windsor Knolls neighborhood and had a great time. Aubree lasted all of about 5 minutes before crying for 30 and I took off to put her to bed. Hopefully next year she'll last a bit longer.
Ward Trunk-or-Treat





 Perfect night for a bon-fire. Dan and I hardly have any pictures of the two of us.

 October 31st My Cutie Pie

Hannah and Abby at the school parade.




Thursday, October 13, 2016

Aubree at 4 months





We've made it to the 4 month mark with little Miss Bree! A friend asked me who she is most like of our other kids. I think she looks like Abby, is a chub like Clara, and has the temperament as a baby like Jake.

She had her first ear infection 2 weeks ago and weighed 16.5lbs! She is 90th percentile for weight and height and 99th percentile for her head. Everyone loves all her chub!

She is on acid reflux medicine but still spits up a lot and continues to be really fussy. She has gone back to waking every 2-3 hours at night, even with eating every 2 hours during the day. She won't take a pacifier or suck her thumb so her only comfort is nursing. Poor girl won't sleep for more than about 30 minutes at a time so she is always tired! My exhaustion has hit an all time high. Because we only have 3 rooms she sleeps right next to me in the basinet and I hear every peep she makes. I got mastitis (that's never happened this far along in breastfeeding!) and then a week later developed a stye in my eye. After two days of waking to a puffy sore eye it turned into pink eye. Clara told people we knew and at random, "Don't look at my Mommy, she has an ugly eye!" Awesome. I asked my doctor why I would get two infections back to back...she replied, "you're a worn out Mama right now that's why".  I've been struggling with head aches that develop to migraines often. This week I accidentally bought Motrin PM and took it! I was driving Jake to get his allergy shot and felt like I was going to pass out or vomit on I-270! It wasn't until I was fighting sleep at the allergist that I looked at my bottle of Motrin and realized what I'd done. That was a miserable and kind of scary drive home from Rockville. I tried to get Aubree to sleep next to me but that didn't work so well. Then that night Aubree woke at 830, 930, 1030, 1130, and again at 1230. I finally set up the pack'n play in the "dungeon" room downstairs and she cried on and off from 1-2am. She slept until 630a.m. Hallelujah. So now my nights will be spent in the basement until she is sleep trained. I'm trying to be home for her to get on a good nap schedule this past week. Sleep makes such a big difference for the both of us! It's funny that with each baby I have to get to my breaking point before I can handle hearing them cry it out. I sure wish she'd take a pacifier!

The best news is that she finally likes Dan! She smiles at him and doesn't scream any more. She still prefers me when she is tired or has a tummy ache but at least now Dan can hold her when she's happy.





(peaceful sleeping baby...only time I can get a picture usually)

Saturday, October 8, 2016

The beginning of a tradition...

For the General Conference before the kids turn 12 we have decided to take them out to Utah for some one-on-one time and a chance to be in the Conference Center.

So, as crazy as it feels to have my baby boy passing the sacrament, Jake turns 12 soon and took a trip with Dan to be at priesthood session.

Highlights of the trip:
                                     Going on an airplane
                                     CAMPING with a lot of hiking!
                                     Spending time with Vernon and Brandon.
                                     Rollie-ups and time with Grandma and Grandpa Breinholt.
                                     Attending priesthood session with Grandpa and then ice cream.
                                     Seeing Grandpa Harm (the last time before he died).
                                   

Dan will have to add to this post.