Happy Easter 2012

I decided that since most of the kids' birthdays are right around Christmas we would use Easter as another opportunity to give them fun toys instead of candy. And hopefully remember the TRUE reason for the season - Christ has Risen! Will got an electric 4x4 to replace the one that never worked at Christmas and Alivia got a Razor scooter. John got a tool box with real tools in it and I have been frantically trying to hide the screwdrivers that are incredibly sharp ever since. ** Note to self: when the package says 8+, it is best to not give it to your 2 year old.**

We skipped church because 2 out of the 4 kids were sick with coughs and runny noses which was disappointing to Matt and me. But we headed to Mimi and Grandpa's for a spectacular Easter brunch complete with great food and an Easter egg hunt for all of the kids that were there: my kids, Avery, Paige, and Aubrey and Henry Baumhover. My parents have the most perfect yard for an Easter egg hunt and it was so fun to watch them collect the eggs. Paige and John got lost in the excitement of eating the candy along the way. . .

It's been a long week

Daddy has been working very hard lately. Getting up early and coming home later than normal (6 pm). I know he would probably work until 8 or 9 pm if his wife were not anxiously awaiting his arrival every day. :-) Matt just landed a big contract today - it was a huge answer to prayer. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Matt and I continue to pray that God would help him to be a moral businessman, a leader, mentor and role model to his employees and everyone else that he comes in contact with and that God would bless his business. Risinger Homes has been in business over 5 years now and it has been amazing to be part of the journey.

Matthew is 8 weeks old!

Time is flying by. Matthew continues to sleep through the night (about midnight - 8 am). He nurses like a champ and is really fast (thank goodness!) because I often do not have much time to nurse. He can go easily 4 hours between feedings and I occasionally wake him during the day once we get too far past 4 hours so we can get enough feedings in daily.

We recently had our 2 month appointment with Dr. Dawson and all looked good. He received 3 shots and his oral polio. He was so so so sad later that day. I was really surprised because I don't remember the other three having much reactions to vaccines. His poor little thigh was swollen and bruised and every time you touched him there he would cry real tears. Once we got the pain controlled with Tylenol he did much better. I will have to remember to give him Tylenol BEFORE the shots next time.

Here were his stats:

Height: 22 3/4 inches (40%)

Weight 12.1 pounds (50%)

Head: 39 1/2 cm (50%)

I think he is going to track along with John in terms of height and weight.

Matthew Giggled!

Matthew giggled for the first time tonight when I tickled him under his chin. :-)

Best Baby on the Block!

OK, I may be a little biased, but Matthew is a GREAT baby. I think Alivia was probably just as good, but I was a new mom and could not appreciate it at the time.

Matthew hardly cries, and when he does all you have to do is hold him, feed him, or wait a little while and he will stop. I think he is officially sleeping through the night at 7 1/2 weeks. I had heard about babies that did this but never believed it would actually happen with one of my own children! Alivia, Will and John all slept through the night at 7 MONTHS and I was fully prepared to get up at 4 am to nurse until November 2012!

Funny quirks about Matthew: he loves to sleep in the swing, we still swaddle him everytime we put him down to sleep, he has the strongest suck of all of the kids while nursing - I noticed it the first time he nursed in the hospital, he prefers those ugly green pacis that you get in the hospital and spits out any other paci you give him. He never spits up - I don't even have to carry around a burp cloth, and he is really hard to burp after nursing. He makes a funny clicking noise while he nurses and looks like he has so much to say when he locks eyes with you. He has just started to gurgle and coo which I LOVE LOVE LOVE! He is now solidly in 3 month clothing - I feel like he hardly even wore the newborn stuff. He is growing like a weed.

We go for our first round of shots (sniff sniff) next week and I will be interested to see how much he weighs now.

Sleep. . . ahhhh. . . .

Matthew slept from 11 pm until 7 am last night. No kidding. Then he immediately went back down again until 10 am after I nursed him. Matt took care of the older kids in the morning, so I got almost 10 hours of consecutive sleep. It was heavenly.

Matthew almost exclusively sleeps swaddled in the swing in his room. Is that OK? I never let the other kids sleep during the night in the swing, but I have to admit that Matthew has been a better sleeper so far. Hmmm . . .maybe there is a connection?

At this point, I just don't have the strength to transition him to the crib just yet. I guess when he starts rolling over I will have to do that.

Spring Break 2012 - continued

Mimi just gave me the pics from her iPhone from the adventures over Spring Break in San Antonio and Carrizo.

Swimming at the Hotel in San Antonio - Will never got off the steps!

Lookin' good Grandpa!

Riding the trolley in San Antonio

Riding the "Mule" in Carrizo

Exploring the property in Carrizo