Christian's Arrival

I had so much fun making my slideshow of the Fourth of July, that I couldn't think of a better event to put in another slideshow. This will give me a chance to write on our little bundle of boy. Oh, Christian is a lovey! I spent a lot of time praying for a laid back, content, happy baby during my nine months of pregnancy and so far (keeping the fingers crossed) that has been exactly what we've been blessed with. Christian has this angelic personality soaking in all the love that Ella and Carter give to him. Christian adores anyone who will hold him or sit on the floor with him and coo with him. He rarely fusses.... that is unless he is in the carseat with no one to look at in the back seat. Just yesterday he cried from the time we left my parent's driveway until we got to our street. I had to stop a couple of times to calm him. Once that little peanut saw my face, he smiled and was fine...until I had to hook him back in. We've tried our own version of "car seat therapy" and that has seemed to improve quick trips around town but the long trips are troublesome. But honestly, he is so good the rest of the day that I really shouldn't complain. He is my most laid back baby. However, he is taking his own sweet time to sleep through the night. He just can't seem to do it. He is 15 weeks today and Ella was 11 1/2 weeks and Carter 10 weeks. I look at Christian and honestly don't mind he doesn't ask for much so waking with him once in the night doesn't seem like any sacrifice. I just hope he can do it before I need to go back to school in the fall. He will surely weigh enough by then. :)

Let's see I should brag a bit about his new tricks, he is gradually discovering those wonderful hands and the fact that they have this wonderous ability to bring things to his mouth. He rolls from side to side on his back. He is great with tummy time and frequently topples over. Grandpa Blackmer lovingly refers to him as his "little bobble head". Christian has a remarkably strong neck but still gets into a speed wobble at times. He is trying out a variety of pitches and "squeaks" oh and the drool...yikes the kid is soaking wet! He is such a lovey and snuggly kid, I hope it lasts for-ever! Despite Carter "never ending energy" he still is my best cuddler. He twirls my hair and snuggles for long periods of time which brings so much joy to me. I have to soak it all up now because chances are my little brute won't think it is cool someday.

Fourth of July slideshow

Welcome Josie!

We couldn't be more tickled! Our first niece/cousin has arrived! Mike and Sarah (Scott's middle brother) just had their baby girl Josie last week. She is a beauty---showing a good mix of mom and dad's genes. :) We are dying to snuggle her up next weekend! Everytime we get new pictures sent to us, I show the kids and Carter calls her "my Josie"! What a great -big-cousin he is already! I can't wait to post pictures of Christian and Josie (they are only 3 months apart)....oh and the other kids too. It is so great to have another baby in the family. Once our other siblings start to have babies (and we are out of the baby stage ourselves) I am sure to be obsessed. I have been very emotional with Christian (poor kid must think it is normal to have a mom that cries often) . I tear up when he wears an outfit for the last time when he does something for the first time; all the while sobbing..."oh this is the last first time". I know I NEED to get a grip or else Christian will be in therapy before he is 2!~

Meet the youngest member of our family

This is Christian! He is exactly what this family needed: he is laid back, go with the flow, happy almost all the time and oh-so tolerant of all the love his big brother and sister shower him with. He loves to ride on the boat, be out in the sun (although he loses patience with the hat quickly if it falls over his eyes or the strap is bugging him), he loves to sit in the shade and coo and ah-goo with whoever likes to snuggle. It is silly that we think we have our hands full this summer because next summer I am going to have three "firecrackers" to keep tabs on in the water. I have had many talks with Christian about how he needs to be Carter's 'voice of reason' when I am not around. Let's just hope he will remember...who am I kidding I still have lots of time to remind him. For now we are enjoying Christian's sweet disposition and the fact that he stays in one spot for very long periods of time!

Tubing fun

Let me introduce you to our adventuresome children. Ella went tubing last summer for the first time at 3, and had no problem going solo again on the busiest day of the year. Once Carter saw her having all that fun; he had to get in on it. Good old Uncle Evan signed up to take Carter on the memorable first ride. He had some choppy waters but loved every minute of it. The next day he was out behind the boat all by himself. If you know Carter it doesn't surprise you at all. Carter has a HUGE personality but he looked so small and far away behind the boat.

The Parade we've been waiting for all year

What kind of mom am I? We've never taken our children to a REAL parade. So in their minds
a parade is a BOAT parade on Townline Lake. She has been waiting for this all year. It is great to see the excitement on their faces as 10-15 boats decorated in balloons, streamers, and flags putter around the lake. Ahh! the joys of childhood.

4th of July

All year long Ella refers to the month of July as "the one with the boat parade". It must be an indication of how poor of a parent I am, because my four year old believes parades only happen with boats on the water. She loves to sport her red, white, and blue, and sit down to watch the parade that putters by with boats decorated in streamers, flags, and balloons. This year Carter was just as excited as she was.