Maternity Pictures

Since this is possibly going to be our last child we decided to get maternity pictures, which were really also family pictures. The pictures turned out beautiful and really captured the boys personalities. We took them at the park behind our house and all they wanted to do was play with the sticks. The photographer basically just followed us around so it was nice not being confined to a studio saying cheese. If we have the resources to afford it we want her to get some newborn pics of baby girl when she arrives, and our family of FIVE!

Kids Update

Hallister
Age: 3 years 1 month
Weight: 28 pounds
Likes: being chased, playing with trains & trucks (especially trucks pulling trailers), to have a job to do (feed dogs, turn water hose on, transport dirt/rocks from one pile to another
Size: 3T shirts and 2T pants
Diapers: Size 5 Huggies. We gave potty training a try but I became stressed and he became constipated. He will on occasion say he has to go and gets a lollipop for doing so. He is smart and when he is ready it will be quick and easy.
Shoe size: 8


Preston
Age: 1 year 3 months
Weight: 20 pounds
Likes: playing in sandbox, being chased, tackling Hallister, opening and closing doors, putting anything in his mouth
Diapers: Size 3 Huggies, about to be size 4
Size: 18 month shirts and pants
Shoe Size: 5


Baby Girl:
Age: 35 weeks (in the womb), 4 weeks to go...if not before
Weight: around 5 pounds
Likes: to move around all the time, especially after I drink something, stretching and scraping a leg across my belly, when Jonathan talks to her & puts his warm hand on my belly
Size: a small roasted chicken
Progress: I have had Braxton-Hicks lately and a lot of pressure. Maybe she is just dropping. It is exciting to know she is getting ready but a little nerve-wracking at the thought that she might come early. We are trying to get the house ready and be prepared. I have an appointment next week, and then start going every week. My doctor will still check to see if I am dilated.

15 Months Old

This last month Preston's personality has really started to develop. He is very quick, loves to open doors and explore....that is where the story begins.....

Jonathan and I are talking in the kitchen. The boys are playing in their room. Hallister comes into the living room to play. I notice that it is awfully quiet and I don't hear Preston. We go to the hallway to find the riding dump truck parked outside the bathroom door. The door has been pushed open and there sits Preston, in the sink, brushing his teeth. I don't know whether to scream or cry or discipline him. He had noticed the door wasn't all the way shut and pushed it open, conveniently used the stool that Hallister uses to wash his hands, and managed to pull himself into the sink. So many things could have happened. This was confirmation that we need to continue to pray daily protection over the boys.

Preston now throws food from his booster chair but is getting better about signing 'all done'. He has also started to throw tantrums. He will go to a part of the rug where no toys are, lay himself down, and kick and whine. If the pacifier is in his mouth he will throw it. At first it was hard not to laugh, but once he started doing it every day....mainly from being told no he can't do or have something.....then we have had to discipline. He also hits, sometimes a table and sometimes us, so that is a big no no and something we are discouraging. The boys are playing much better together and learning to share. Preston likes to race with a car or train around the coffee table behind Hallister.

Preston enjoys Blueberry Eggo waffles or Rice chex for breakfast along with grapes or strawberries cut up. For lunch he likes grilled cheese and yogurt. He has tried french fries and liked them, and also Hush Puppies (that is the Powell in him). For supper he will have carrots or sweet potatoes baby food. He has started to spit though half way through a jar. Now that he has had so much people food he is just not a fan of baby food. His favorite snacks are Graham crackers and Graduates lil' crunchies veggie dip.

Bunk Beds: Take 2

Last week we made the transition of the boys sleeping in the same room, with the beds not bunked. At first Preston just took his morning nap in his new "big crib". Then we tried them both taking their afternoon naps together. Hallister kept getting out of his bed and crawling in with Preston to play and jump. We decided to give the bunk beds another try, thinking if they can't see each other this will help Hallister stay put. After all, we just have 7 more weeks to completely get Preston moved and adjusted into this new set up.

Jonathan, the brilliant builder that he is, lowered the rails from the side railing he had built for Preston's bed, so that we could set Hallister's bed on top and be able to pull Preston out, but him not be able to crawl out. Next, he built a combination ladder/railing for the side of the beds. It is very sturdy and screwed into holes already in the bed, yet it can be easily removed. They have had a successful three nights with this set up. Thankfully even if Preston wakes up at 6am and cries Hallister stays asleep or goes back to sleep once we sneak Preston out. I believe Preston is still adjusting to the size of his new bed and the freedom he has to move around more while he sleeps.

They seem to be adjusting well and even growing closer together as brothers.