Hanging in there

We have been "hanging in there" at my house. Of course, the first two weeks of Evan's life were great, and now he has decided to wake up a little more and cry a little more, but overall, we are doing really good. He had his one month check up yesterday and he weighed 9 lb 3 oz. He is really growing and changing before our eyes. He loves to be held and talked to, of course! Most all of his pictures you will see in this bouncy. That is where the other two grew up and I don't see changing the routine. They love this seat and seem to sleep well in it too!

Aiden and Allee have been really good. I think they are adjusting. I feel like all I have been saying is "stop" "don't" or "paddle". The other night I decided that it really didn't matter what my house looked like or even if they do wake the baby. They are toddlers and they need their time. After the death of Bronner Burgess and the testimony from Rick Burgess, the little things just don't seem to matter as much! With this weather, we haven't been able to go out (which is killing me and them) so indoor play is getting boring to them. They love to pillow fight and "jump" on the couch (I told daddy we should get a trampoline, but he is terrified of the injuries that would come with), so I captured this moment of them getting to have a little uncontrolled fun the other night.

Rick's parents got us a gift card to Cypress Inn and offered to keep all three babies so we could use it. Our plan was for last Friday night and as you all know it was sleeting. We decided to go anyway. It was so nice to sit down to a wonderful meal without having to fix everyone elses food first and then try to keep them entertained when they get finished eating before you do. We had a blast! Of course, we had to end the evening with a trip to Wal-Mart for milk and storage bags for more breast milk, but hey, at least we were alone for a few hours. Thanks Nana and Pop. When we got home, I don't know who was more exhausted, Nana and Pop or Aiden and Allee. Pop did bathtime and informed us that Aiden didn't wash his hair b/c he didn't want to! Can we say, "wrapped around his finger?"

This is as close to a posed smile I have ever gotten from Allee. She usually frowns at the camera or focuses on trying to get the camera from you when you are taking pictures. This day, she decided to say, "CHEESE."
NOW, this is typical Allee. I got the camera out to take her pic and she wanted the camera. As she was getting closer and I was backing up, she starting whining and I snapped. This was the result. That is her look about half of the day when she doesn't get her way. The child gets up and asks for chocolate for breakfast. She will ask for a sucker until she drives you insane.

Aiden has always had a fasination with babies. The more Allee gets into baby dolls, the more Aiden does as well. Daddy hates it, but he, Allee and Shelby when she is there play MaMa/Daddy all the time. I just caught him holding Dora and thought it was cute. Their new thing is to sit in the bouncy and take turns pretending to be Mommy or Daddy and usually the "baby" is sick and needs medicine or bandaids. It is the cutest thing to watch them interact together with their imaginations.
Allee has been spending too much time with MiMi. MiMi has been painting nails and rolling hair and Allee loves it. This from a child who usually won't let me comb her hair cause "it hurt mommy." She loves to get her hair rolled. I wish I had an after picture. This is as girly as my little tom-boy gets!
Allee and Aiden playing Mommy/Daddy. Look how big Allee is in that thing.

Funnies from the kids:
I have tons written down at home, but I can't remember them, so I'll just tell a couple of cutes.

Aiden was in the bathroom the other day and I ask if he was finished and did he need me. He said, "Mom, I need a little privacy please."
We were in the grocery store before school the other day getting medicine. I had to ask the lady where the chapstick was. I still was overlooking it after she told me where to look. I said, "Man, I don't see it, do you see it Aiden?" He said, "Mom, let's just go to another store. I don't think that lady knows where it is. She was just carrying on." (Rick says "carrying on" to him all the time.)
We were leaving church to go down to the FLC for a baptism. Someone brought Aiden to me and said that he was in the back swinging all by himself. I was giving him the lecture of how he has to tell me or daddy where he is going even if we are at church b/c he could get ran over or lost and we wouldn't have him anymore. He said, "Yeah, then I would be dead. But if I am dead I would be with Jesus and Jesus would make me alive again cause Jesus is in our heart and he could just make me live." WOW----I know he says stuff all the time, but if we could just grasp that as adults. You know, Jesus did make it simple enough for a child to understand, so why don't the adults get it! It's that simple...if we are spiritually dead...JESUS CAN MAKE US ALIVE AGAIN!!!

Allee has been singing "You are so beautiful" from The Little Rascals (which we can't watch b/c of the language). It is the cutest thing I have ever heard. I hope to get it on video soon! She is hilarious, but I can't really write what all she does. We would be here all day!

Hope it isn't so long until my next post. Thanks for looking.

Funnies from A and A

I do remember a couple of funnies...

Allee has decided that she likes to wear few clothes...I mean...NO clothes. Crystal and Shelby came over after church the other night and the three kids were playing well together, so the adults were not paying them any attention. When Crystal went to get SLT to leave, she started laughing and told me to come and look at Allee. When I went to Aiden's room, Allee was sitting on his bed playing....completely naked! She had pulled off ALL of her clothes and was just as content as could be. She also did this the other day with Rick. He had her and Evan and had just got her out of the bath tub and fully dressed and was in the process of bathing Evan. When he turned around, she was standing in the bathroom compeltey undressed. She told him she didn't like the clothes and she was not going to wear a diaper! What to do with this stubborn, strong-willed 1 1/2 year old!

I picked Aiden up from school Wed and on the way out of the drive I saw Lane, Mattie's mom, drive up. I said, Aiden, there is Mattie's mom. He said, "My girlfriend Mattie." Yes, I said. So I persued the conversation. I asked him what was a girlfriend and why was Mattie his girlfriend. He said cause he liked to talk to her and "all that stuff." I said, but Shelby is your friend too. He said, "yeah, but I just like to play with Shelby. She's not my girlfriend." Then I got a little concerened when he said, "Allee is my girlfriend, too." It is so funny to try to put yourself inside thier little minds.

2 weeks old

This is a picture of Evan at 2 weeks old. Of course he is 3 weeks old now, but I can't keep up with my blogs with wonderful dial up. We seriously have got to figure out a way to get cheaper high speed internet at home or I am going to go crazy. He looks more like his daddy every single day...and from what I hear about daddy's baby days, he is acting more like him too. Rick's mom said that he screamed from the time he entered the world until he was about 2 years old. Evan isn't that bad, but he has began to realize when you aren't holding him or in a room with him.

We have had a very tiring, but wonderful week. We had a missions revival with 5 different missionaries sharing the gospel with us. I was blessed each night. Aiden loves to fellowship with new people, so he was able to go out to eat and get to know some of the missionaries. Each missionary really touched my heart and made me realize how inadequate I am at sharing the gospel with others in the convenience and comfort of my own country and home. I have really been challenged and I hope that I can do a better job on my own mission field.

I am sorry I haven't posted many funny stories lately. There certainly has been a lot of them, I am just too scatter brained right now to remember them by the time I get to blog. I will start trying to write it all down at home so that I can share with you.

Bye Bye Pacy

It's official! Allee is pacy free!!!! Last Monday, she lost her last pacy and so we decided that we would suffer through. She went to sleep fine, after asking for it about a hundred times, and actually slept all night. Well, the next morning, she found it in her room! Once I got it away from her I decided we would just hide it an continue with the lie that she lost it. We have stood firm and not let in to give it back, but there has certainly been lots of whining. It's like she just can't find a way to comfort herself when she gets mad or upset...which is quiet often. She has started screaming bloody murder every time we get in the car to go somewhere. My theory is that is when she ALWAYS had her pacy, and now she don't know what to do. I am so proud of her, though. She seems HUGE compared to Evan now. She used the potty twice yesterday. I hope we can get that under control. Having just one in diapers again would be nice! Please continue to pray for us!

This morning, Aiden was being a good big brother and trying to put Evan's pacy in while I was getting ready. He had his hand laying on Evan's face and I told him to be careful not to cover his nose or eyes. He said, "Mom, I am just praising the Lord for him."

Aiden was in the shower with his dad this morning, (we just couldn't to baths after church last nigght) and I overheard him saying, "Dad, I am so glad I am your son and I am mommy's son and a big brother." It was so sweet.

Allee is still calling Evan "Mommy's baby". It's almost like she doesn't recognize that he belongs to the entire family. They have both had a ball with all the cool baby things laying around the house.

Doctor visit

Evan had his first check up at the doctor yesterday. Dr. Rob says he is perfect. He weighed 7.4. He is eating really good and seems to be sleeping well. He usually has his fussy stage after his 3 a.m. feeding (of course) and I end up falling asleep with him on my chest until around 4:30. Other than that, he has been a really good baby. Aiden and Allee got to visit with Shelby while brother went to the doctor...thanks a bundle Crystal! Rick and I were able to grab a bite to eat (in peace) and she even had the kids bathed and fed when we picked them up. I can't tell you how helpful that was!

Aiden and Allee seem to be sleeping better, praise the Lord, and thanks to all those who have been praying. Please continue to do so. Aiden went back to school today, which was actually a relief for all of us. Allee was very good during her stay with Mommy and Aiden was excited to show off a picture of his new baby brother at school.

I went back to church and teaching my class tonight, while MiMi kept Evan. It was tough trying to study today, and though the house is a wreck, we got it done.

Being a stay-home-mom is definately a full time job...but thus far...two weeks in...I LOVE every CRAZY minute of it.

Am I awake?

Shelby Lynn came over the other night for a visit. They were all cowboys and cowgirls at one point, but Shelby lost the hat. It was too cute!
He looks just like his daddy to me!
Aiden is a proud big brother!Two weeks old tomorrow!
Sleepless nights have begun. We had an AWFUL night Sat. Aiden and Allee decided that they wanted to get out of bed continuously in the middle of the night and Allee ended up getting 3 spankings by Daddy, none of which broke her will! She still got out of bed and NONE of us got ANY sleep. Well, yesterday, MiMi watched Evan for me during preaching so that I could go to church. It was very nice to be back in the service. I guess Rick probably shared with several people (when they asked) about our sleepless night, because both kids slept like logs last night, much due to many prayers and my trip to the altar I am sure!!!! However, Evan decided he would have a tummy ache (I guess) so he slept on my chest most of the night.



I actually came to the office for a couple of hours and left Rick with ALL THREE BABIES! I did leave them all three sleeping, but I know it will be hectic when they wake up.



The kids are doing great with the baby. Allee really doesn't pay him much attention. She is so funny lately. She told me she wants to wear her Dora panties, however, she refuses to sit on the potty. I can't make her understand that you can't wear panties if you won't tee-tee in the potty. She is driving Aiden crazy playing with his toys and mocking every single thing he does. She told her daddy this morning that he gave her a spanking. It was the cutest thing. The other day, I had to spank her for something and she and Rick were talking about it. She said, Mommy spank me, daddy. He said, Yes she did. You are going to have to act better aren't you? She said, Mommy paddle me...that funny! Apparently, the spanking didn't affect her too much!



Aiden has been singing Away in a Manger to every tune possible for the last few weeks. He ask me today was it time to put the Christmas tree back up. Kids have no concept of time. He is very inquisitive about everything. He really notes when I am pumping (though I shut the door)and I can't wait to see what conversations take place about things at home when he returns to school on Wed.

Surviving...

No, really...we are doing well. I can't believe how much better I feel after this delivery than either of the other two. I feel like I haven't stopped since he was born. We have taken him to town twice for a weight check because he was early and a nursing baby and had lost weight, they were a little concerned, but he got a good check up today. He has gained back almost to his birth weight at 6. 12 oz. By Tuesday, my other two were about to go stir crazy. They are used to going and being outside and the weather has not cooperated. Janet and I took them and her boys and Kendall (neice) to the movies on Wed. just to get mine out of the house. We saw Alvin and the Chipmunks. (Really cute). Aiden did well, Allee got a nap about half way through while Daddy babysat Evan and studied for Wed night church in the peace and quiet.

Today, we took Evan for his second weight check, so NaNa Taylor came to the rescue to get the other two. They were excited to be going with her and I was able to clean house when we returned from town. I am only getting to blog b/c I am waiting for the kids to get home and Evan to wake up to eat.

I can't believe we have another baby in the family. He is SOOOO precious if he is mine.

More later...company arrives.