The Elves Have Arrived.....

and they are already making a mess. The boys love seeing what things Leroy and Fletcher get into. And now this year Sue has joined them.

Stationery card

With Love Christmas Card

Click here to browse our Christmas photo card designs.

View the entire collection of cards.

Thankful Thursday

Molly's Stats

At her one month check up this baby girl proves to be a big baby girl weighing in at 10 pounds 10 ounces (86%) and 23 1/4 inches long (98%) and a head circumference in the 90th percentile. She like her brothers was diagnosed with reflux and colic and started on prevacid which will hopefully make her more comfortable but she really still is much better than her brothers but she is coughing, gagging and choking so much the pediatrician fears she may aspirate and advised starting medications. She got her second Hep B vaccine and Hayden got flu mist and Landon his flu shot and everyone was so well behaved at the doctors office and the only tears was literally 5 seconds from Molly. I was shocked Landon didn't make a peep when he got his vaccination.

One Month Ago Today...

Happy Halloween!

What a great Halloween! Hayden enjoyed a variety of costumes this year thanks to Grammy's birthday gift of a box of dress up clothes. He was Mr. Incredible at school, a cowboy for trunk or treat and a fireman for actual Halloween. He was excited to wear costume paint for "soot" to complete his fireman's costume. Landon was cute as can be dressed as a dalmatian and quickly caught on that people would place candy in his bag when he opened his bag. Molly was dressed as an adorable baby girl (how original). We didn't make it to the zoo this year but are looking forward to returning next year but between Hayden's school party, trunk or treat and walking the neighborhood we weren't lacking for candy.

Family of Five

So far so good. I hate to put that in black and white for fear that I will jinx how smooth things are going. Molly is an easy baby and Hayden and Landon have welcomed her into our family lovingly. Hayden loves to rub her head and kiss her forehead and give her "gentle hugs" as he calls it. He really wanted a sister and so far hasn't changed his mind. He comes home from Dede and Pawpaws and greets her first telling her how much he missed her and then at night he tells her he loves her and will see her in the morning. Landon was curious taking glimpses of her but not to interested at first. He would go up to her cosleeper and smile at her. If she lost her paci then he would get it for her and the same goes for those little socks that are oh so hard to keep on. He had told us to "shh" and then signs "baby sleep" when she is napping. I was worried how he would be with a baby and he has been just fine. His life continues pretend playing in his kitchen and vacuuming the floors when he isn't busy making music with his guitar.
The first week Jeff and I got to spend alot of one on one time with Molly as Hayden was sick and so Grammy and Peepaw kept the boys until fevers were gone. Landon still has a cold or allergies which he hasn't been able to get over in the past month. It seems to come and go and he has been so kind to share with all of us including his baby sister. So after getting into a routine with just Molly the boys came home and things are going well. Hayden and Landon are staying in the routine of going to Dede and Pawpaws three days a week which is great for them and for me. Hayden is a child that NEEDS routine and structure so this has been good for him. Landon will go with the flow but enjoys library day on Wednesday and playing with dede and pawpaw so he continues to go as well. This then allows me to be home with just Molly on these days and allows for me to catch up on some sleep during the day and get things done around the house. I actually have my Christmas decorations up and even have cooked some meals and cleaned the house. Mom and Dad came and painted the nursery and slowly I am getting my trucks and trains blue nursery converted into a pink polka dotted room accented with some cute owls. Not that Molly will be in her room anytime soon. She is sleeping in my room with me and Jeff continues to sleep in the boys room as Hayden still refuses to sleep alone although he has Landon in there now. Speaking of sleep... Molly is my first baby that will actually sleep without being held. That in and of itself is a miracle. She likes sleeping in her cosleeper and will go longer stretches in her swing. She actually passed out just laying on the floor after I changed her diaper. I couldn't believe that she didn't need to be held and shooshed and bounced and nursed to sleep. She doesn't appear to have reflux or colic... yet.... and I pray she doesn't get either. She did have 5 days of a bili blanket and bili tanning bed for jaundice which was a first in our house. She therefore got a paci much sooner than either of my other two as she wasn't a fan of the tanning bed. Daily heel sticks for the first 8 days of her life left her little heels red and sore but other than that she has been good. She wakes every 3 hours at night to eat and does let me get some sleep in between feedings. She eats great and keeps my little helpers busy with fetching diapers and filling up diaper pails. Did I mention she already has a paci? This has been the greatest thing along with swaddling. I wish I had allowed Hayden and Landon to have a paci sooner. There would have been alot less crying from everyone had I given in to the power of the paci. Again, we are thankful all went well and continues to go well with our newest addition and so thankful that her big brothers seem to love having her here and aren't ready to send her back yet.

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

Molly got her first bath at Grammy's house by Grammy. Her umbilical cord fell off in the first week but the poor thing didn't get her first bath until she was 10 days old. She didn't care for the first bath although I think it wasn't warm enough although it felt warm to me. I have since discovered Molly is much like her mommy and likes her baths very hot. No more tears since discovering that. She is like her brothers and loves bath tim.

Another Day at the Fire House

Big Brothers, Hayden and Landon, showing Little Sister Molly the Fire House for the first time.