4 Months Old

I completely forgot to take Sydney's 4 month picture today!! I remembered after I put her to bed tonight. I'll have to take it tomorrow and we can all pretend that it was taken today.

In my defense, we have been battling the stomach bug this week. Not a fun task when a three-year-old has to be rushed to the potty every ten minutes and a four-month-old doesn't understand that mommy is a little busy!

Here are some pictures of Sydney while we were at my mom's house on Monday.

At four months, Sydney is:

1. holding her head and chest up when on her tummy.
2. trying to roll over. She doesn't care too much about it, though.
3. testing the beginnings of a laugh.
4. sleeping 10-12 hours every night and taking three naps during the day.
5. LOVING her big brother.






This last picture is of our nephew, Jude, at four months. Don't you think they sort of look alike?

Slip 'n Slide

We had a big slip n slide party on our BIG hill today! My friend Sarah commented that I didn't need to join a gym to work out...I could just walk up and down the hill!! I completely agree. There were eight moms and fifteen kids (two of which were babies). The big boys, Camron and Cade, were quite impressive slip-n-sliders, while the little boys would make it about five feet on their bottoms.

Of course, we moms had a great time hanging out and watching the kids play!

Precious Maddie eating her popsicle





The whole crew taking a popsicle break





Jack and his friends with their popsicles





Syd hanging out inside...




The boys with Becca's awesome beach ball





Sarah and Cole




When the day started, Syd was wearing a cute dress with a green bow. It all came off!




Abi and Owen




Shelly and Maddie




Stacy holding Sarah's baby, Caleb

Too Big for a Nap?

I knew this day would come. I would see mothers with older children and think, "One day that will be me. How in the world do they do that?"

No nap.

Not a minute.

About a month ago Jack started dropping his nap time. He would lay in bed and talk and sing for up to two hours, but never sleep. I would let him get up after he lay down for at least an hour, and he would be happy and easy to deal with until bedtime. That's when I realized that he may not need a nap anymore. If we go swimming or bike riding in the morning, sometimes he will nap for a while, but if we don't do anything strenuous, he just doesn't need one!!

I tried making him take a nap, but after two hours of spankings and frustrations on both ends, I gave up. It's not worth it. (I would give him a spanking for not laying on his pillow...I would never spank him for just not going to sleep...)

Yes, I have mourned the loss of nap time. It's a little overwhelming, knowing that I will not have one.single.minute of quiet during the day. Even if I make him play in his room by himself or lay on the couch for some rest time, he's still awake. He still needs me.

So, today we went to Target to look for a Father's Day gift and I noticed Jack being very quiet....
Stinker.



Sydney was wide awake after her 3 1/2 hour nap (and her 11 hour night of sleep) I told you she's an angel baby.





Also, Jack and I have been playing tennis together! He is starting to get the hang of hitting the ball with the racquet. I joined the Courtyard for the summer and after I run on the treadmill, I go get Jack and we play tennis or swim while I leave Sydney for a while longer. It has been perfect!

Rockin' the Bumbo

Yes, I do kiss those cheeks all day long



Jack being good...




Jack acting cool...




Perils of being a little sister





We finally have success with the Bumbo seat! Sydney loves to sit up and look around, especially at Jack.

Have I mentioned that Sydney is the most low-maintenance baby I have ever known? Get this: She eats only 4 or 5 times a day, and sleeps a solid 11 hours every. single. night. It's amazing! She has not taken one single bit of cereal or anything else besides good ol' formula. And no, I have absolutely no advice or suggestions for all of you sleep-deprived mothers. Jack was the most awful sleeper (and still is) and we have done nothing different with Sydney. What can I say? My baby girl loves to sleep and loves her thumb. We'll probably get payback with kid #3 :)

Cinnamon Rolls Gone Wild

I had a grand plan to make cinnamon rolls while the kids were sleeping. They both went down super easy, and my baking began! Oh wait....I forgot the dough needed to rise for an hour. So, right as the dough is ready to be rolled out, Jack wakes up! Just what I needed, a three-year-old helper :) We had flour from one end of that kitchen to the other. After we were done and I was starting the massive cleanup, Jack said, "Mommy, this house is a MESS!" Yes, Jack. Yes, it is.
This is the REAL helper, Sweet Sydney, who took a long nap!!

This evening we ate with the McCullin's at Logans (yum-o!). Jack had a great time clowning around with Uncle Bill and Hal. Uncle Bill is having knee replacement surgery tomorrow and we had a "last dinner" together! Praying for you, Uncle Bill!

Sydney was getting tired and she and Clint looked so sweet together at the table. Sorry the pictures is blurry. Isn't she just a doll??

Go Taylor!!

Taylor @ Yahoo! Video

Taylor Mathews just graduated from ASH and is a youth at our church. Such a wonderful young man and we are SO proud of him!