Noah 5 months (Late)

This cutie turned 5 months old on Halloween.  We were busy eating candy and recovering from illnesses the past week so we got a tad behind. He was 5 months and four days in these pics! I apologize that Instagram has smothered my blog with a blanket.  It is much easier to post snippets of my daily life than it is to update this blog when my computer is very finicky and slow not to mention I'm missing the IKU letters on my keyboard. :)

But back to Noah... He's so stinking cute and calm.  Sweet and squrimy. Easy and predictable.  I'm a blessed mom of three.  He weighs in at more than 15 1/2 lbs and is over 27 inches tall.  He is chewing and slobbering on everything.  He likes to roll around on the floor and play with wooden chew toys.

He is getting much better about being in the car seat except when he wants to take a nap or is hungry. But hey, thats understandable!  We are all a bit cranky when we're hungry or tired.

He is currently recovering from a right inner ear infection.  It was difficult to tell the difference between teething symptoms (whiny, clingy, runny nose, diaper rash, low grade fever, eating less/frustrated eating) so when he finally started pulling on an ear, I took him in. Sure enough, pink amoxicillin for a few more days. Phew, glad he's starting to feel better. We've had someone sick in our house for 21 days now!  Seasons like this are great birth control.  :)

He is starting an amazing new trick and I'm so thrilled to watch him grow. He's mobile! I will set him down in one area and a few minutes later, through a series of rolls, scoots and crawls, he will be on the other side of the room!  He's "advanced" for his age in that he wants to keep up with his sisters!  Video below!

Noah Daniel: 4 Months

What? I'm four months old already? I've experienced life and I'm pretty happy about it!

 We traveled to Ohio last week and I got to meet Gigi, who celebrated 97 years! I hope I can live to be 97! It will be the year 2110! Whoa. That is frightening. 

 I am one happy duder. I sleep great, eat well and like to play. I love to watch my sisters run around like the wild chicks they are and I love to hear my mama talk and make me laugh. I am around 15 1/2 pounds and am pretty lanky. I have my check up next week so i'll let you know.

 Still like to sleep on my tummy and suck my right thumb. I have rolled over a  few times from tummy to back and that makes me wake up at night (boo, for mom).  But I'll figure it out soon enough. I like to chew on rings and toys and I slobber; man do I slobber.  Maybe I have a tooth coming, I'm not sure!

 I coo, make sounds and talk to everyone who listens. I am still cautious around certain people and like to be as close to mom as possible.  (She's happy about that, for now).  I hate my carseat. I don't like to be strapped in sitting up and unable to cuddle (which made for a fun 9.5 hour drive to Ohio).  We made it though and haven't been in the car for a few days now.

 I'm growing up!

Here's a pic of me and my big sisters:

Daily Routine

I am a routine lady. I like lists, post-it-notes, calendars, schedules and watches.  When I traveled in Kenya, they nicknamed me the Swahili word for clock: kuangalia.  I was the only person on my team who wore a watch! And then, I married Dan, who is notoriously late or tardy or in a rush... but THAT patience is a story for another post.

There are 12 or so waking hours here. I have to DO something with our time. School, library, outside play, inside play, food prep etc...I'm a planner, type A, whatever you call it. It makes me feel like myself to be this way; I don't thrive in chaos. I can't go to the store without a list. I get giddy about planners and calendars and magic erase boards.  I like to plan a week in advance what we eat. I'm not a 'fly by the seat of our pants' gal. So each day or week, I write out what we'll do and try to stick to it. I dont feel guilty if we don't, I just try harder the next day. Sometimes I only get the laundry put away. Sometimes I have to wait until 8pm to sweep or do other chores. If you'd like to read a blogger who said it better than I can. read this post.  I'll quote my favorite section:

"People love to tell new moms to slow down, to soak up those fleeting moments that don't last. This is great advice, and it's true. But after a few children, I've found that I can't follow it to the letter. When I let go of my busybody personality, I lose a little bit of my identity. When I can't check things off of my to-do list, I grow resentful towards the thing (or tiny baby) keeping me from the other things in my life and family and home."

Because I like a check list and a sense of 'accomplishment', I started the girls on a school schedule.  I plan to homeschool for a bit and also plan to put them in school too eventually. Maybe a co-op, maybe a shared school program, maybe something completely different. For now, we have school time, in their room, following a Letter of the Week curriculum and my modifications.  If we don't have school time and we just play inside or watch shows, I feel lost and the day seems to go on way longer than necessary. 

So, we head upstairs after breakfast and work on letters, counting, shapes, colors, writing, coloring, memorizing things (Pledge, Fruits of the Spirit, Lord's prayer, Bible Verses, The Constitution, etc ;) )
You know what? they LOVE it. Ari especially. She begs for 'more school time' and I try to find something fun for them to do over and over.  She's improved in listening and in writing and counting skills since we started 4 weeks ago. It is amazing, how quickly she learns!

And here's Noah along for the ride, sucking his thumb constantly!

Noah Daniel: 3 Months

This kid... such a stud muffin blessing.  Flying through the weeks with warp growth speed and making us smile every day.

He is eating and sleeping great! Most nights the whole time (such a reward after the two girls who never did well their first year). He sucks his thumb really sweet and likes to sleep on his tummy.

Not much to update! He is strong, adorable and fairly easy! 

Here's a dizzy video of him laughing!