Lucky 7

Babykins is 7 months old now.
Facts:
She sleeps from 8pm-5am.  Then nurses and goes back to sleep.  Sometimes (like the past few nights) she wakes back up at 6:30am (way too hard on momma), but sometimes goes back to sleep until 8 or 9am.
In the crawling position she can scoot backwards.  And can get to a seated postion.
She can pull to her knees.
She eats people food in tiny amounts.
Her dexterity is awesome. Can pick up puffs and cheerios with her hands and get them into her mouth, no problems.
She loves momma.  Loves.  Will let others hold her for a few seconds.  Then mommy.
She can say Dada.
Still is a pretty crappy napper.  Though on occasion we get a 1-2 hour nap out of her.
Her plugged ducts in her eyes are now open so no more crusties! 
Her hair is getting longer and can be put in a clip or tied up with a tiny elastic.
The big girl finally got a crib of her own!
She loves bath time, chewing on everything, and going shopping with Mommy.
She is not a fan of anyone besides Mommy (or Daddy if Mommy isn't around) holding her.
...oh, and she's the most beautiful girl in the whole world.
She is!!

Now for pictures of our Neve:

Hats On!

You know sometimes you hear the same stories from your parents about when you were younger?

...I do anyway.
One of my favorites I hear is about how the 3 of us siblings would all wear different hats.

And by hats I mean: buckets, placemats, actual hats, waste baskets....and the like.

My boys are no different.  Especially the twins.  They are hat lovers right now.
And it is fabulous to see how a hat can define a mood. :)

6 months

Busted!
Wow.  I'm way behind here.
Lil miss is almost 7 months.
But better late than Neve-r. (get it!?) ;)
At the 6 month mark - where was Neve?

Sitting up for sure.  Started that at the end of her 5th month. 
Now she can go from sitting to belly, then back to sitting.
She is ever-so-close to crawling as well...when she has belly time.

Mommy is still a sucker and holds her all. the. time.

Probably why she's super attached to me..... 
Last baby - hard to watch her grow up.

I painted her toenails for the first time this month, and even though I didn't think I would - it was super cute.  (Sheppy also got a manicure thanks to Grammie. ;)
We are considering getting her ears pierced soon.  Despite my hoping, she most definitely has Cale's super sticky-uppy hair. Not that people say she's a boy or anything...but the mini mohawk that just naturally forms is a little less than feminine. 

Neve is sleeping through the night like a champ.  Sometimes it takes her a long time to get down, but I usually don't hear much more than a peep until at least 4 - sometimes even 6am.
Naps are still crappy.  We call her no-nap Neve.
Oh well.  Can't win it all. :)
Gosh...my timeline is meshing together so 6 months will end with the above (albeit short recap).


Now on to pictures:

time and place

okay.  the place stays the same.  here.  in our house.
but the time of their lives change.

Currently the boys are all very interested in train tracks.  Cale is quite the skilled builder.  Our train table has some busted legs, so until screws can be found and attached, it'll stay unused.
But the basement floor is large and the track is getting more and more complicated as the days go on!
It is pretty cool.
Trains are one of my favorite toys for them to play with.
The twins fight over certain trains, but not because of the character on it, but because of the size or color.  They're pretty good lil builders too.

The other theme that has run our house all spring and summer is "bad guys."
No one particular person in mind - fictional or otherwise (our boys dont care for any of the "real" superheros)...just, "HEY!  LOOK AT THAT BADGUY!  LET'S GET EM!"
And the weapons of choice vary.
Sometimes it's light sabers, sometimes sticks.  Other times it's a squirt gun, nerf gun or a lego creation.  They usually all can play that pretty nicely together.
Shepherd is the most disinterested in that game, but does participate from time to time.
The other three really get going.  Cale's got the biggest imagination, but M and T follow along happily.

Shopping with my girl.

Honestly, I know someday she won't really wanna grocery shop with me.
I also know someday she won't FIT in a grocery cart.
But gosh, I love spending time with her.
Sure, it's a hassle to get any kid packed up in the winter.
And to be truthful, she's often a pain in the butt during the ride to and from a particular place.
But my Neve LOVES to be out and about.
She's friendly and flirty with anyone and everyone. (in the future I WILL be glad if this changes...)
A delight.

30 things

Yup, I'm old now.
30 feels old.  Literally.  Cale asks me to do certain things -
"Can you climb up the firepole?"
"Can you do a back flip on the trampoline?"
"Can you run as fast a cheetah?"

Okay, maybe even in my prime I couldn't do the last thing... ;)  But I digress.
I suppose I COULD do the first two even now if I really tried, but I know I'd probably either break something, or be insanely sore the next day.
Pregnancy really wears a body out.

And old age. ;)
I've been working hard to become stronger so I hope that by 40 I won't feel like I'm completely falling apart.

Anyway, just for fun, I'd like to state the top 5 things that bug me. ...because 30 is just too many.
(in no particular order - but chances are if they're the first few, it was because they instantly came to mind and are more annoying to me.)

1. When people say they are their animals "Mommy" or "Daddy."  No...just no.
2. When someone says "I seen" this.  Having this hammered in my brain as a child I will correct you if you are doing this....it is I HAVE SEEN. 
3. Did we forget the difference between numbers and letters?  two four zero...is that so much harder than two four O?!  Come on.  It's really just one additional syllable.....
4. While we are on the subject.  Texting?  Wen r u comin over?  I cringe just looking at it. With the hi-tech phones we have that learn the way we type there should be no excuses.  You'd have to cancel out the auto-correct in order to teach your SMART phone how to be dumb.
5.  Sexy selfies (specifically posted to FB) You know what I'm talking about.  When you look off into the distance with your body angle "just-so" - giving you the perfect profile pic.  Um... WE CAN SEE YOUR ARM!! And there is clearly no other human being in the grass at that angle taking your pic as you look pensively to the sky!!  ...I'm not saying I don't use my own camera for self portraits, but if they are sexy I only send them to Tim.  Otherwise, they are goofy, or have one of my goofy kids included.

Okay, enough complaining about fluff.
Ready or not - into the new decade I go...

another dot.

remember the dots I talked about updating?
1st
2nd

Well, it's that time again.
For one, we added another child since my last update, and second...
EVERYONE. KEEPS. CHANGING.

Longer, leaner, more talkative, more adventures...more mischief.  ;)
Gotta update each descriptions again!!

October of 2012 vs July 2013

Cale - LOVES school days, drawing jellyfish, wearing jackets w/ the hood up, hanging out with the church teenagers and salt.  DISLKES when there's no dessert, missing the bus, obeying the first time, and putting dirty clothes in the hamper.   IS EXCELLENT AT: folding laundry

Megersa - LOVES singing "Day Camp" songs, babying the twins, tattletailing, sandwiches with peanut butter and wrestling with Daddy.  DISLIKES: cleaning his plate, when a show is over, his age restrictions, and getting his hair washed. CURRENTLY WORKING ON: buckling himself in.

Thaddeus - LOVES running, climbing on things he shouldn't, the taste of juice, electronic gadgets and undivided attention. DISLIKES the doctors office, sharing, when he doesn't get what he wants, and being left with "strangers." IMPRESSES US: how well behaved he is at the store

Shepherd - LOVES eating fruit, repeating words, puppies, playing with "choo-choos" and drawing.  DISLIKES being scolded, when his "toy" is taken away, climbing down the steps, getting "help" while brushing his teeth. WHAT SETS HIM APART: a clear Momma's boy

Neve - LOVES: Mommy and Daddy, nursing, sleeping, and being a girl.  DISLIKES: diaper changes, being cold, waiting on meals  IS SHE SPOILED?  YES!

Old things are gone...
While Cale still love his school days he doesn't draw jellyfish anymore.  Now he writes checklists of his day.  I really should take a pic to prove it:
Now he and the twins love to have their hoods up.  Fashion statement or not, they must now realize that it IS actually warmer with them on.  No more church teenagers to hang out with..but never a shortage of friends.  He makes instant friends wherever he goes. ...I'm not sure I can recall the last time he asked to have salt on his food, but he has started this new kick of saying something is "too sweet for him."  Interesting.
I'd say all of his dislikes remain the same if not more intense (minus the bus...now we drive him to school), but I had to change it up for the new season...give you a little more insight into where he's at in his 6 year old mind.

Megersa doesn't sing as much anymore.  A phase that passed with the maturity that comes from being able to successfully hold his bladder and bowels and take care of "business" all on his own.  He no longer babies the twins, but gives that role to Neve.  Still enjoys wrestling and any kind of peanut butter sandwiches.  Most of his dislikes remain the same with him as well: doesn't like cleaning his plate (though this is usually tied to dinner time meals), and is bummed when a show is over.  Age restrictions are tricky.  He likes to announce his seniority over the twins (no doubt getting this big head passed on to him from the firstborn now that said child is in school)...announcing things that are not always true, but "should be" because of the 18 months he has on the twins. BUT if given the opportunity to be babied, he will jump on it asap. Washing his hair has gotten easier now that he finally realizes it's actually quite simple to just look up.
....buckling himself in - still in the works.

Thad has always been the epitome of "all boy" so I would bet good money that you'll never hear me say that he's uninterested or doesn't excel in physical activities.  He still loves the taste of juice too...above all other drinks.  Electronic gadgets?  Hm... can't say I see him play with them much anymore.  Guns he likes...legos...trains...  Oh, and undivided attention?  Yes of course...but more often than not, he's asking where Sheppy is.
He hasn't been to the doctor since he turned 2, but I would venture to say that he still has a fear.  Maybe not as intense as it once was because his fear of church nurseries has turned into a love and a confidence in himself (so long as his twin brother is coming along).  He's still bull-headed.  Wants what he wants...but is better about sharing (provided the portions are even) ;).
It's been awhile, but he is still very well behaved at the store.

I can't say that any of the first 4 above state things about Sheppy are pronounced anymore.  He does love to draw though.  Love love loves it!  He's quite good too.  I am asking Gramie to get him a magnadoodle for Christmas.  He still doesn't like being scolded, but his protesting "plank" turned into a "silent Indian" squat. While I would bet his intention isn't to make us laugh and take pictures of him as he throws his 'fit' - that's what we do.  Because it's super funny.  ...But most things Shep chooses to do on his own make us laugh.
I can't say he's as much of a momma's boy as he once was.  But he'll always be my little baby boy.

Despite actually being a girl, Neve shows that she can hold her own already with the boys.  She has this awesome snarly face that she uses at her disposal.  Whips it out for a laugh, when she wants to be recognized (as if she ever isn't) or to "play" with her brothers.  She is more of a momma's girl than Sheppy was a momma's boy.  But she and I have a special bond.  We hold all the estrogen for this family, so we gots to stick together!  While initially she started out sleeping well, she went through a rough stage, followed by an impressive one, then rough again... It's a normal Nester baby sleep cycle.  Nothing really to brag about. 
She's okay to get changed, though is mainly upset at having to remain still for the duration. The cold must not bother her much anymore because she is always pulling at her clothes - hats, socks...things that are disposable.  She loves to eat, and eats all day long, but is still a tad impatient waiting for me to share my meal as well.
Still spoiled....ain't gonna try to wiggle out of that one.  ...I believe she always will be.

And here's me a few months back:

Katie, Mommy & this blog's author - LOVES God's mercies that are new every day, my husband, the fact that my boys are going to have a sister, and naptime. LIKES hand-me-down clothes for the kids, take out foods, and Hulu. DISLIKES sickness that spreads, stinky garbage cans, anyone's disrupted sleep. MOST COVETED PRAYER REQUEST: daily patience

I'd go ahead and say all those things are still true.  Well, I am no longer pregnant...baby girl is here.  That's pretty obvious...but to mix things up, I have to continue to let people get little snippets of who I am.  Strange enough, I still get perplexed when I talk to someone (attempting to tell a story I thought hadn't been told), when someone (and not necessarily even a friend) already knows the ending.  It usually stops me short for a little while, and then I quietly think "Oh...they must read my blog.  Cool."

 And then last but not least Tim: Worship Pastor & Daddy - LOVES God, spending time with his wife, his unborn daughter, wrestling with his boys, and Penn State football. LIKES his new computer, eating peanut butter, playing video games and burgers with bacon. DISLIKES putting his clothes away, whiny kids, being sick and not having access to football. WILLING TO ADMIT WHEN ASKED: "I don't know how I got my wife to marry me." :)

He's got a new line of career, his daughter is born...but still loves to wrestle and will always love Penn State.  His food likes will most likely never change either, but video games aren't seen very often and his computer is my computer. :) (Sharing is nice, right?!)  Tim's dislikes remain the same as well.  But lets add on that he also dislikes when his kids are sick...especially with the flu.  
Not dislike...more like LOATHE.
...but who doesn't.... :/ 

 
We're always changing, always surprising me. ...Always giving me something to blog about.