The sweetest of sounds

Last night, I grabbed and squeezed Griffin's knee just to feel how chunky his legs are getting.  Out of nowhere I got a big smile and a little laugh.  I couldn't believe my ears so I tickled under his chin and he got tickled and laughed again.  Oh my, there is nothing sweeter than hearing that first laugh.  It totally made me forget that he refused to nap all day.

A preview of March

It has been a busy month so far full of activities.  Here is what is going on with the crew:

Hayden started soccer and had his first game.  He played awesome and scored four goals.  He is roller skating during PE class at school.  That was one of the funniest things I have ever witnesses.  The poor guy looked like a baby calf trying to learn to walk.  i cant wait to go back at the end of the month and see how much he has improved. He also got his hair chopped off and WOW he looks so grown up.  He really is becoming a big boy.  He is long and lanky and not on ounce of fat on his little body.  His pants are all too short and I still send him to school them.  He is obsessed with Skylanders and that is all him and his friends talk about.  He makes crazy noises and talks "potty talk".  Too sum Hayden up, he has become a silly, goofy boy.  Though he is getting into that awkward stage , he still is as sensitive as they come.  You can break his heart if you barely raise your voice.  He still kisses me before the bus arrives.  He still ask after choir and soccer games if he can have an extra treat for Emerson. He still has me wrapped around his fingers.

Emerson started taking Gymnastics and is having a blast.  She is wide open and not afraid of anything.  She is usually the first to try anything whether it is the super slide, trampolines, zip line or rope swims.  She's my brave one with no fear.  We have also started potty training.  She peed on the potty immediately and then on and of the next few days.  Truthfully, I was not ready and fully motivated to dedicate days to working on it.  Well, she pretty much demanded that she was ready.  The past two days she has kept dry and is going in the big potty all by herself.  She even used the potty at Panchos and gymnastics.  She is doing great, but now we need to work on #2 in the potty.  The 2nd day of attempting PTing, we had bee BFF, Wyatt for most of the day.  They played hard until 4:30.  At 5:30, she sal on her little potty and fell asleep.  That's right, she fell asleep in the potty.  It was classic to watch the poor girl nodding off an almost falling off.  She sure is dedicated!  I got her signed up for Pre school net year at the church and am so looking forward to that.  I hope she will love it, but most of all hope she will excel and behave.  She is smart as a whip, she knows her colors, shapes, can count to 14, sing her ABC and knows M,E,H,G, and D.  Must be because all those letters are special to her.

Griffin pretty much just goes with the flow.  He smiles and talks more than ever and is content pretty much all the time unless he is hungry.  He is just happy to sit in his bouncy chair and hang out. He gets lots of kisses, hugs and high fives from Emerson and lots of belly rubs from Hayden.  He is definitely loved on A LOT.          

David has had a huge month being promoted to a GM/VP role within his company.  He really deserved it and I am so proud of him.  Not only did he get his promotion, but also received a trip from work, so we will be headed to the Dominican Republic in May.  I can't wait!  Then the week after that we head to Pebble Beach for another getaway.  Mays is going to be super busy and my first time away from Griffin.  I'm sure going to miss my littles, but can't wait to get some sun and relaxation.  David and I both need it.

So that's what's been going on lately in our lives.  We sure are blessed.

2 month check up

Believe it or not, you have been in this world for two months and I can say you make my world better.  I often wondered what life would be like with three and right now it seems pretty perfect.  Thank goodness you are a go with the flow type of guy.  You eat like a champ, pretty much every two hours or less.  Your sleep fluctuates every night.  You go to bed (in your swing) around 10ish and will sleep to around 3:30 am or on a good night to 5 am.  When you get up, I pull you into bed to cuddle until we both fall back asleep.  You melt my heart with your little smiles, coos and baby noises which you started doing this month.  I can't help but stare at you and wonder who you are going to favor.  You are getting strong and doing a starting to hold your head up while on your tummy.  You also have taken interest in your thumb, so I wonder if you are going to be a thumb sucker.  You are filling out and starting to look more like a baby and not a newborn.  Right now, you are Griffin, I don't see Emerson or Hayden in you at all.  One things for certain, your eyes are a beautiful blue, just like your brother and sisters.  I know those are here to stay.  So I actually took you for your 2 month appointment and you were up to 10lb 12 oz and grew 2 inches coming in at 23.5 inches long.  The Dr. Said that you are just perfect and I couldn't agree more.  You took the shots like a little trooper and only cried for a second.  That's always the hardest for me to watch you little ones get shots.  So, all in all, this was a pretty big month for you.  I can't wait to see what you will amaze us with this month.

Playing catch up

Today is Griffins two month birthday.  It's been a fast and furious 8 weeks.  Actually, it's been pretty calm as we have not been out much as I don't want to risk Griffin or Emerson catching anything.  The flu and stomach bug are awful this year, Hayden and Daddy caught it and I quarantined them upstairs so they would not pass it on to the rest of us.  Poor Hayden, i would spray him with Lysol anytime he came down the stairs.  After they were better, we took a quick trip to Memphis so Griffin could meet Uncle Michael who just got home from Bahrain.  I am so glad Griffin was able to meet him before he heads over to Guam for his next assignment.  I'm glad we all got to spend some time with him.  When we got back from Memphis we actually had two snow days, nothing major, but enough to get out and play in. Griffin was not impressed so I took him inside and left the two big kids outside to play. Well, It took about 30 minutes getting three kids dressed and about 5 minutes before Hayden and Emerson came in fussing.  They both decided to take off their gloves and pick up the snow.  Hands were frozen.  Oh well, I'm sure they both learned their lesson.  That's about all that's been going on around here.  Griffin has his two month check up on Monday so I am excited to see his stats, but broken hearted thinking about him getting shots.  That will not be fun.

One month

One month ago today, we headed to the hospital not knowing that it would be the day we would meet you.  I really can't believe you have been here for one month, it seems like just yesterday, but it also seems like you have been here and part of our family forever.  You really have not changed much since you were born.  You are still in the newborn phase where there is no schedule and you pretty much sleep, eat, potty and go back to sleep.  You might even cry a little, but only because you are a gassy child.  Even your little sister says "Griffin have stinky gas".  You already fit in with your Daddy and brother.  You are pretty laid back, but you much prefer being held as opposed to sitting in your bouncy.  I am okay with holding and looking at you all day long.  You have good nights and bad nights as far as sleep.  You even slept a seven hour stretch in your swing the other night.  The good thing is you eat and go right back to sleep.  I have never been a co-sleeper, but since you have been home you have taken over your Daddy's spot in bed, except for the past two night, you have been in the swing.  It so easy having you in bed and waking up with you cuddled up with me.  You really have been such a sweet, easy baby.  As much as I want you to stay in this newborn phase, I also look forward to seeing you smile and coo and come into your own personality.  Until then, I am going to enjoy you just the way you are.

Spaghetti Toes

Oh, this girl, she is a mess.  Whether it is eating spaghetti or throwing a fit, she does it in style.  It has been a big change for her with Griffin here.  In many ways she has adjusted well and in others not so much.  She is giving us fits going to bed and waking up in the middle of night (poor David get to deal with that), throwing major fits and just plain fussy.  I know this too shall pass so I am trying to be as patient as I can and give her extra loving.  As quick as she can throw a fit, she can also be the sweetest, loving little girl ever.  It is really to hard to be mad at her for long, she just flashes her smile and says sorry and its all over for me.  So even with spaghetti all over her 10 chubby, little toes...she is a perfect 10 to me.

Griffins first three weeks

I can't believe it has been over three weeks since Griffin was born.  It really seems like just yesterday they wheeled me and Griffin out of the hospital and sent us on our way.  Its a weird feeling this time, knowing he will be the baby in our family.  I was sad leaving the hospital knowing I will never get to experience that process again, I was sad when his umbilical cord fell off, I was sad giving him his first bath...just knowing it will be the last time I ever get to do that.  All these moments are bittersweet and I am so lucky that I got to do it not one time, not two, but three times.  I don't recall feeling this way with the other two, I guess because I never really thought about them being my last.  But this time, I am taking it all in and enjoying every moment like I never have before.  I rub his soft head of hair, its the softest I have ever felt considering Hayden and Emerson did not really have hair.  I smell his baby breath and want to bottle it up and keep it forever.  I rub his soft skin and wish it would stay that soft forever.  I stare and his skinny arms and legs that have yet to grow into his wrinkled skin and am in disbelief that just a few weeks ago he was tucked up in my stomach.  I love the peach fuzz on his shoulders and his tiny blonde eyelashes.  I love the noises he makes when he eats and the hiccups that give him fits.  See...I told you, I could go on and on about him.  But what makes me most happy, is watching his sister and brother love on him.  I know soon Griffin will light up when he sees Hayden and Emerson.  They will all be best friends and worst enemies at times.  They will hate each other one minute and and love each other the next.  In the end, they will always be brother and sister.  Hayden, my first, sweet baby boy.  Emerson, the middle child, but she will always be my only, baby girl.  And Griffin, he will always be the baby.  They all have their own special place in our family. And they will always have each other.