Aubree at 3 months

Aubree has hit the magical happiness mark of 3 months. I think she has hit a growth spurt since the last two days she has been more fussy and eating ever hour to hour and a half. She is a happier baby hallelujah. She has been taking Zantac twice a day for a couple weeks and that seems to help. However, she still spits up and has to sleep in the bouncer seat. Several times she chokes on her spit up and it scares me. A couple time I've hit the panic mode when she has swallowed down the wrong tube and then cries in the moments of air but isn't breathing normal yet. I hate it and will happy when this doesn't happen any more.

She loves to smile and talks A LOT!

She is rarely content to be on her own and likes to be held.

She sleeps one stretch of 5-6 hours for me at night but then cat naps all through the day. Without a real routine in naps and eating every 2 hours it's hard to know what to plan for during the day.

Life is very busy with 5 kids. School is back in full swing with home work, the 3 older kids are in soccer, Jake is doing piano and Tess is doing Running Chics. So Aubree just has to be flexible and spends a lot of time in her carseat.

Dan's First Ever Birthday Party

Dan turned 42 this year. I finally got to throw him a birthday party. We kept it low-key, since that is all I could really handle with a colicky baby. I did simple refreshments of a veggie tray, crackers and cheese and some fruit. Shauna Bastian, my very talented friend, insisted on making Dan an ice cream cake. The kids helped me decorate. I printed pictures of Dan over the years and posted them on the balloon strings. It looked festive and was fun for everyone to look at. I made up a quiz for the guests of "how well do you know Dan". I arranged to have our next door neighbor, Brooke, come babysit in the basement while the adult only party happened upstairs.

It was a fun night. The quiz was a hit and the questions a great conversation starters. We had the Howell's, Bastian's, Kigin's, and Taylor's attend. Bonnie and James had planned to come but their babysitter never showed up.

I think Dan enjoyed it. It was fun to just focus on him.

Summer 2016 Wrap-Up

August was a difficult with Aubree. The kids stayed busy despite all the crying and a Zombie like mom. Tess did a sewing camp that she loved! Abby went to POM camp and was the cutest little bootie shaker there! We made trips to the library. Oh, and Dan and I had marked 14 years being married. Whew!

Middle School Open House (figuring out his locker combo)

I spy something hiding under a blanket...that feel asleep. TESS

Jacob trying to get screaming me-me to settle while I whip up a qick dinner. Love him and his help!

 Jacob's 11.5 year old well visit before Middle School starts.

Pool time with Mom!

 Took my girls to the Temple Visitor Center and Tess finally got her CTR ring she paid for all on her own!

Hershey Park FUN!

Aubree at 2 months

Weight 12.15lbs (80%), 

Height 23.75 inches (91%) 

Head Circumference 41.75 (99%)

 She eats every 2 hours taking 30 minutes now (sometimes 1.5 hours) and at night she can do a 5 hour stretch but isn't consistent. She is agitated throughout nursing and usually pulls and comes on and off. At her appointment this week Dr. Cagle was certain that on top of the colic she has acid reflux. We have started her on medication and are hoping to see a difference, at least in her feeding. It hurts to nurse her still. Im anxious to get to the point where she is eating every 3 hours so that I have more time in between. I feel like I don't get much done in between caring for just her. I've really wanted her to take a bottle but we haven't been consistent enough and now she really fights it. I'm not ready to give up yet though. The best time to feed her a bottle is during the day, not at night during her fussy time.

No real sleep schedule yet.

The Negative: Aubree is fussy. You can tell she doesn't feel well and passes a lot of gas. She prefers me and Jacob. Unfortunately she isn't a fan of Dan. He has been so busy with work, hearing prep, bishopric stuff, and home upkeep that he doesn't get much time to hold her or bottle feed her. So, now she doesn't feel comforted by him. That will change just not soon. In the mean time, my back always hurts.

The Positive: Coo's, Smiles, legs straightened more and can follow with her eyes. She loves looking at the fan and Jacob!


Though it is really hard, having experience in this and knowing she is our last gives me a better perspective on things. If I could hold her all day I would but I have 4 other kids and a husband and home that need things from me too. Unfortunately I don't have a lot to give them. I wish all I had to do was to just hold and care for my beautiful little baby because she will grow up too fast!

Aimee, Emily and the Handsome Boys

Aimee, Emily, Evan and Dean visited us for 3 days during their vacation. They went to NYC ad upstate NY and then drove down to hang out with us. We had a great time playing, eating, swimming, and eating some more! Aubree had lots of hands to hold her and I didn't cooke! Win win! Abby and Clara fell in love with their cousin Dean and man did Clara boo-hoo when they left! Dan took Monday off to go downtown D.C. with them in sweltering heat. Other than that we were here playing and swimming in the neighbors pool. It was so fun and just what I needed to look forward to!

Emily, Evan, Dean and Clara all fit into Clara's princess tent!

 Gaga Fun!

 Aimee jumping with Clara.

 Ellie getting some love from Evan. Lucky dog. 

 Emily working with Tess on keeping her nose plugged without her hands.

 Saying goodbye at the airport. 

 Clara said her heart hurt. She missed Aimee and Dean so bad!

 We loved having them. It was definitely a highlight of our Summer. Now for Ella and Bryn to come out!