Bye Bye School! Hello Summer! (Beware: Pic Overload)

With the end of May we finished up Brooke's spring soccer season and kindergarten.  I can't believe we have a 1st grader in the midst.  Brooke did fabulous this year.  She loves school and everything about it.  She really excelled in reading and math.  Maybe we have another actuary on our hands.  Wouldn't Troy be proud!  Spring soccer went better than the Fall but I don't think we've got a soccer player in our family...yet.  She did manage to score her first and only goal.  I'm so sad that I missed it too!  I was teaching piano.  Troy promised her a dime for every time her foot touched the ball.  I think she walked away with $2.

Once school ended we headed up to Breckenridge to spend some time with Troy's parents, Taylor, Shane and Heather and their family.  Right before we left Brooke managed to sprain her ankle during dance.  Too much slipping and sliding in her tap shoes.  Luckily it didn't put too much of a damper on our weekend.  She kept the splint on for a few days and by Saturday she was as good as new.

 

The weekend was spent walking downtown, playing in the park, and hanging out at the condo.  The weather was perfect.  We even got a dusting of snow Sunday.  Snow in June!! 

  

(Fun flashback to Oct. 2010.  How much these girls have grown!)

  

Connor could spend all day swinging...as long as there is someone to push him.  Any takers?

 

The guys even had some good tetherball matches.

 

Taylor teaching the kids the true way of playing Go Fish.

  

We even had a visitor every night.  There were 2 foxes that hung around the condo.  They showed no fear at all.  Our neighbor says that they like to eat eggs.I think that's telling.

  

Dylan took his first sink bath.  He didn't mind it too much but I definitely had to keep a good grip on him.

  

We celebrated Easton's 3rd birthday complete with minions and mustaches.

 

 We are going to miss this family when they take off for Japan.  Luckily a trip to Japan is in the works for Winter 2015.

The week we got back from Breckenridge was crazy busy.  I was still teaching piano preparing for my recital at the end of the week and Brooke had her first dance recital.  Thankfully her ankle healed just fine.  Both Troy and I weren't sure how she would do performing in front of a crowd but she did awesome!

 

She also loved getting all dolled up and sat perfectly still while getting her make up and hair done.

Once the piano and dance recitals were done it was on to CA for a family vacation with my family.  We spent a few days at my parents' house.

We were able to meet up with a couple of my cousins for lunch.  Brooke and Connor were so excited to see Coco.

We hit up a place called Underwood Farms.  The kids loved it.  They fed the four legged animals, drove tractors, rode ponies, and picked strawberries to their hearts' content.

Connor even got to ride on the cow train all by himself.  He's the little orange dot in the middle of the train.

After spending a couple of days at my parents' house we all headed down to San Diego to meet up with Will and his family.  

First things first was to hit up the beach.  We found a great spot along the marina.  No waves but plenty of sand and water to dig in.  The kids loved it!  I loved it even more because I didn't need to stress about waves toppling the kids.

Thursday and Friday were spent at Legoland and Legoland Waterpark.

Once again, Brooke showed her need for speed.  She loved all the roller coasters.

Connor, on the other hand, loved the slow and steady rides.  We forced him to go on a mini roller coaster and did not like it at all.

 Dylan spent majority of the time either in his stroller or hanging out in the Bjorn.  He was such a trooper and rarely fussed.

Now we're back home...for 2 weeks before we head out again.  The kids just started swimming lessons and are doing great.  The rest of the time, the days are spent playing and horsing around with each other.

Other news...Dylan just turned 3 months!!!  I can't believe it.  3 months?!?!?!?!  I meant to blog about his 2 month appointment but time got away.  Here's the quick update:
Weight: 12 lbs. 3 oz.(50%)
Height: 23 1/2 inches (58%)
Head: 15 3/4 inches (40%)
I must admit that it's kind of fun to compare Dylan and Connor.  Connor definitely had the more compact look whereas Dylan is longer and a little leaner.

At 3 months Dylan is sleeping through the night.  Hallelujah!!  I finished up nursing about a couple weeks ago due to Raynaud's Phenomenon.  It was awful and very stressful not knowing when I would experience pain.

Dylan is still working on his hairline.  This was taken around his 2 month mark.  Thankfully his hair is starting to fill in and he doesn't look too much like an old man!  Now he has more hair than Connor did at a year old.  He smiles and coos all the time.  His demeanor is similar to Connor - chill and relaxed.  I suppose that must come with being the third child!  Brooke and Connor are great older siblings.  They love to talk and play with him which comes in handy when we're out and about in the car. 

I think that about covers everything until now.  Here's hoping that I can be on top of things and post more often!

Connor's B-day

 Happy birthday big guy!!!!  I can't believe he's 3 years old.  The time has gone by way too fast.

We started the morning off having him try to run through the crepe paper. He would have no of it.  Instead, he pulled a Brooke and crawled underneath it.  Silly kid.  This is the first year that I haven't baked something for a birthday.  I felt really bad about it but life with 3 kids including a newborn is a little hectic.  We decided that making pancakes and putting candles in it qualified enough.  The funny thing...I flipped back to one of Brooke's birthdays and we had made her waffles and stuck candles in it.  Totally works.

Later in the morning, we opened presents.  He thought that one of the presents from Grandma was a giant lollipop.  Thankfully he wasn't too disappointed that it wasn't and has spent many afternoons galloping around.

I tried my hand at sewing and made Connor a cape.  I think it turned out really well and I did it on my own...with the assist of my friend, Stacie. 

Connor also got a handful of cars courtesy of Gong Gong and Po Po (my parents) and from Brooke and blocks to add to his ever growing pile.

Connor is a great kid.  He likes to think he's a big kid like Brooke and forgo his afternoon naps.  There will be times where I'll find him crashed on the couch. 

He loves playing with Brooke.  Lately they've been chasing each other in circles pretending to be monsters or super heroes or Anna/Elsa.

 He's mostly all boy...

But is in touch with his feminine side.  Just tonight as Troy was tucking him in he exclaimed that he was a mermaid.  He definitely hangs around Brooke a lot!

Since he turned 3, he's finished up with his in-home speech therapy.  He's come a long way since a year ago and we're so thankful for Jennifer and her weekly visits.  We're also looking forward to the fall when he starts preschool.  Seriously!  I can't believe that he'll be going to school.  He is thrilled beyond belief and can't wait to follow in his big sister's footsteps. 

We love you Connor!!!  Thank you for being so patient, kind, happy, chill, silly, etc.  The list could go on and on!!!!

Who's Who?

So many people have mentioned how similar Dylan looks like his siblings.  The funny thing is...I completely disagree.  I think Brooke and Connor looked a lot alike as newborns but I think Dylan looks completely different.  What do you guys think?  Can you tell the difference between all the pics? They are in no particular order.

In other news...Dylan had his one month check up.  Here's how he falls:

Weight: 10 lbs. 1 oz.  (42%)
Height:  21.5 inches  (31%)
Head: 15 1/4"  (47%)

After Dylan was discharged from the hospital there was slight concern about his weight due to being jaundice.  At his 2 week appointment he was still under his birth weight (8 lbs. 1 oz) so they had him come in at 3 weeks.  At 3 weeks he weighed in at 8 lbs. 9 oz.  The Dr. is happy with his progress.  He still doesn't compare to the other 2.  Brooke weighed 6 lbs. 6 oz. when she was born and was 9 lbs. 1 oz. at her month check up.  Connor weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. at birth and 10 lbs. 8 oz. at one month.  Go Connor.  He's beat them all.  I was reading past blog entries and read that Connor was sleeping 4 1/2 hr stretches at night.  If only I could get Dylan on that program.  It would be nice.  He's still pulling strong with the "every 3 hour" schedule.  Who needs sleep anyways?

One Month Down

 We've survived our first month!!!!  I don't know where it went but we survived!!!

I guess it helps that we always had something to look forward to.  Troy's mom was here our first week.  The following week we were on our own but I knew that there would be help the following 2 weeks.

Troy took paternity week then my parents came.  Now we're officially on our own.  Our first 3 days have gone pretty smoothly.  Troy may say differently but I think they've been pretty good.  Dylan is a pretty good and content baby.  He only fusses when he's hungry or has a wet diaper.  Not too shabby.  He's awake a lot more than Connor was.  I'm still surprised at how often I see his eyes and how often they're open.  He is like clockwork when it comes to feeding.  During the day it's every 3 hours and he's on top of that.  Luckily he stretches a little longer than that during the nights.  His last night feeding is usually somewhere close to 10:00 then he eats again around 2ish and then, with Troy's help, we stretch him to 7:00.

Brooke and Connor have done pretty well.  I think Brooke has taken it a little harder than Connor or maybe it's because she's more verbal about it.  Although we've had a handful of meltdowns she has been an awesome helper.  Before Dylan was born, she mentioned that anytime the baby cried, she would be there to help...morning and night.  I have yet to see help during the night feedings but she has been a great big sister.  Brooke tends to gravitate to wherever Dylan may be.  Anytime he's chilling on his playmat or in his bouncer she's pretty close by.  It's sweet.  Connor is starting to step up to his big brother duties as well.  Although he's not quite as gentle when it comes to giving Dylan his pacifier.  I'm excited to see how their relationships will grow as they all get older.     

Troy has been a huge, HUGE help and support.  I don't know what I would do without him.  Well, maybe I do.  I'd be a wreck and I most certainly wouldn't have the 3 cutest kids!  :)  It's been a whirlwind of a month but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Introducing...

Dylan Kent Ware

Born 3/20/2014 at 5:25 pm

Weight: 8 lbs. 6 oz.

Length: 21 inches

Head: 15 inches

Let's back up to 2 weeks ago.  Tuesday, March 18, I started having contractions in the morning. I even remember exactly when...8:45 am.  Connor had just had his very first accident in bed and I was rushing to get him washed and Brooke off to school.  From that moment on the contractions never stopped.  They weren't painful so I wasn't too concerned.  Troy called me later that morning about something and asked how I was doing.  I mentioned that I had been having contractions all morning and that I wasn't concerned about them but Troy said that he would feel better if he was home working and ignoring me instead of an hour away not working and worrying about me.  The rest of Tuesday proceeded on.  We made a quick trip to the Dr. just to check how things were going and to have some sort of peace of mind.  I hadn't changed from my previous Dr. appt.  That was kind of disappointing but I wasn't ready to have our little guy yet.  Wednesday morning, I woke up around 3:30 and I couldn't go back to sleep.  The contractions were still regular and they were just starting to get crampy.  I decided that I was going to walk the baby out.  We walked at Target, walked to the small park, walked 2 miles on the treadmill at 6-8% incline, then walked at Costco.  Nothing!!!  In fact, by day's end, it felt that my contractions were getting farther apart and not quite as intense.  We went to bed feeling like maybe, hopefully, Thursday would be the day.  I woke up that morning at 1:30 and couldn't fall back to sleep.  Around  5:30 I started timing them.  I had talked to a nurse the previous day and she said that my contractions would need to be 5 minutes a part, lasting 1 minute each, for over an hour.  My contractions were 3-6 minutes apart.  I have no idea how long they lasted but I did know that they were getting more and more uncomfortable.  I had a Dr. appt. later that morning at 10:30 so we headed there after dropping off Connor.  By the time we made it to the office my contractions were definitely getting more and more uncomfortable. We met with Dr. Oster and she announced that today would be the day.  Yay!!!!  Finally!!!!  She had a nurse walk us over to the hospital and we were admitted around 11:30.

Dr. Oster came and broke my water around 1ish and I got the epidural shortly after.  I think I managed a quick cat nap before it was time to push.  5:00 rolled around and it was go time.  I pushed through 3 contractions (3 pushes during each) and out he came at 5:25.  He was perfect!!!!  First thing out of Dr. Oster's mouth was how big Dylan was.  8 lbs. 6 oz!  Who knew?!  She didn't think he would be that big.  I didn't think he would be that big.  They even have an acronym for babies that big...L.G.A-Large for Gestational Age.  I really don't think he's that "large".  Reminds me of The Princess Bride and the R.O.U.S.s Thankfully my body cooperated with the delivery.  Recovery has been great and possibly the best out of the 3.

Brooke and Connor came to visit us the following morning.  Brooke's reaction was better than when she came to meet Connor. 

She is thrilled to be the BIG sister to 2 little brothers.  She's already mentioned that she's the queen of the house.  I don't know what that makes me but I'll let her think that..for now.  :) 

Connor, on the other hand, was more interested on what I had to eat in the room.  He zeroed in on a box of cereal and didn't even acknowledge that he was a big brother. 

After finishing off the cereal, he decided to come over and say hi.  Aren't they sweet!

We found out Saturday that we would need to stay another night.  Dylan was jaundiced and spent the rest of Saturday and all of Sunday hanging out under the lights.  He was not a fan.  You would think the lights offered some heat but not really and he HATED the little goggles.  Poor guy was a champ though.  Even through the heel sticks.

We got to be discharged late Sunday afternoon.  I would like to say we came home to a happy, healthy home but boy was I wrong.  Troy had woken up Sunday morning puking his guts out.  We came home Sunday evening to Brooke puking her guts out.  Troy's dad left to go back to SLC and puked his guts out at his home.  It was great fun.  Add to that my major sleep deprivation and we were all pretty miserable.  Thankfully that lasted only half the week.  If it weren't for Troy's mom being here, I don't know how we would have functioned.

Now 2 weeks in, I think we're all doing great. Brooke and Connor have been doing really well.  I think they've enjoyed their freedom a little too much.  I'm looking forward to Brooke going back to school next week.  It's funny...coming home and watching Brooke and Connor interact it seems like they grew up over night.  Brooke is a great big sister.  She loves to help and get the pacifier whenever Dylan is crying.  Connor likes to hang around me when I'm feeding Dylan.  In fact, both of them are pretty intrigued by the whole feeding process.  It's a lot of fun...

Dylan is such a sweet baby.  He's a lot like Connor and seems to be pretty chill.  One thing different is that he's much more alert than Connor was.  Connor slept for the first 6 weeks of his life.  Dylan has wake periods a couple times during the day.  One day I'll catch a good picture of him with his eyes open.  Can't believe we're a family of 5!

Before And After

It's amazing how much can be accomplished in 2 short months!  After switching Brooke to her new room we tackled painting her old room.

I must admit that it was somewhat bittersweet.  I remember getting her room ready before she was born and can't believe that it was almost 6 years ago.

A quick paint job and it seems like the room was never her old room. 

Now, it's the waiting game.  Everything has been washed and I think we're ready.  Troy and I were talking the other night and I expressed how I wish I knew at least what time of day this little guy was going to make his debut.  I don't care about the day (as long as it's before March 24th) I just want to know the time.  Are we going to have to get up in the middle of the night or will it be during the day?

Brooke enjoyed Valentine's Day. She assembled all of the Valentine's of the deconstructed Olaf by herself.