Happy Birthday Lucia

Today we went to Lucia's Second Birthday. Big sister, Isabelle, and Chandler were born one week apart and we've known the Namey Family since May 2007. Little Lucia is such a sweetie! I can't believe she's already two. We had such a great time that we decided to get together on Monday too. Isabelle was so great with Maverick we considered hiring her part time. She loved showing "the baby" anything and everything and was very good putting his binky back in.

Loving those cupcakes!

Beating the HEAT!

This is definitely one of the hottest summers I can remember. Thursdays when I deliver produce are starting to become unbearable. I'm going to have to see what I can do to make it easier. I'm thinking I'm going to try an earlier start time next week. Since my # 1 helper, Alice (Nanny to the boys) has been in NY these past two weeks it has made for some tricky Thursdays for me. I actually had ALL THREE BOYS with me while I delivered one week. I'd like to avoid that again. Since I had a sitter for today I decided to set up the baby pool in the front yard for the big boys to have fun and cool off in. After dinner we decided to let all three boys get back in. Here's Maverick's first time in a pool. Can you believe he hasn't even been in our backyard pool yet?

He's starting to get BIG!

Oh, and here's another way to beat the heat (if you are under 5)

In a Funk....

I'm in a funk. We are all in a funk. I'm tired of this way too hot weather. Even with the pool we don't last too long in this heat. Not to mention I can't really juggle 3 non-swimmers (well Chandler is almost a swimmer) by myself. We need something to do so we don't all go stir crazy. At least there has been VBS this week at night. Too bad it puts the big boys getting to bed late which leads to some cranky days this week.

So, I'm sure you are wondering why the picture of Maverick in his robe? Well let's just say he pooped this morning and a few (thousand) wipes weren't enough to get him clean. When you only poop every two weeks, this thing tends to happen. That setback threw all my plans off for the day and we didn't make it out of the house until after NOON! I wanted to pick up a small thank you (packs of gum) for the boys' VBS teachers.

At least the cards we plan to make this afternoon will give us something to do. Hurry home Daddy....we need back up!

Finding the Whole Story....

While cleaning out the bathrooms in my grandmother's house I found some things that I thought were worth saving. Here's some Avon Antiseptic Powder. I'm not sure exactly what you would use it for, but the bottle claims it can be used for "prickly heat" whatever that is.

I also thought that this bottle of Maybelline Mascara Remover was also neat. I never knew my grandmother to wear mascara, so I'm not sure why she had this, how old it is, or whose it really was.

Also while cleaning out the linen closet I came across some extra sets of sheets:

As you can see, the sheets are so neatly folded you would think they had never been used. I did know that my grandmother was very particular especially when folding sheets because I've witnessed it. She could fold a fitted sheet better than anybody I know. Well, I never knew that she would store extra sheets individually labeled with the size and kind (fitted or flat). Some sets were even tied together neatly with string. This just amazes me. That type of thing makes me think that if I didn't know this tiny detail about how she kept her sheets what else do I not know about her and her "story".

It turns out, I don't know a lot about her.

While talking with my aunt on the phone and reminiscing about pictures I was looking at in old church directories, I learned for the first time that my grandmother's mother (my great grandmother, who I knew well---she died in 1999) had brain surgery in the late 1970s and that my grandmother nursed her back to health, even teaching her how to feed herself again. How was it that I never knew this?

I visited my grandmother very often as a child, and in turn we visited her mother who lived not too far away. When my great grandmother moved into a nursing home in Durham, NC my grandmother and granddaddy would go and visit her almost every Saturday. How is that for devotion? I knew my grandmother really loved her mother and was always thinking of her and her needs but I now better understand the great devotion that she had to her own mother. A mother that I've heard really did not reciprocate this love at least outwardly with saying, "I love you" to her daughter on a rare occasion. I do remember my grandmother telling me that her own mother did not tell her "I love you" until the years right before her death. Not that she didn't love her or her other 4 children, but it was unspoken.

I was with my Grandmother when she got the call that her mother had died. In fact, I was the one that handed her the phone. I distinctly remember being in her living room, and we were working on sewing flags for my senior year of high school (I was in the Marching band color guard). My grandmother, upon hearing the news, fell to her knees and cried out, "My mother!"

Since her mother lived to the age of 98, I always had in my mind that my grandmother would live that long as well. We would talk about it, and she would always tell me that she didn't think that would be the case. Maybe she already knew that she wouldn't, but I wouldn't want to hear about it and so we'd go on talking about something else.

I really do miss her conversations. Here's hoping that I can uncover more of her "story" to help me keep her legacy alive.

Prayer from the Past

This picture was taken in late July, 2007.

Last weekend, Derek, Maverick, and I traveled to Nashville, NC to begin helping with the process of cleaning out my grandmother's house. I won't lie, this was not something I was looking forward to. I had not been there since her funeral over 3 months ago and knew it would bring up a lot of mixed emotions for me. It was very hard, but I found a few "gems" that I will hold onto and keep her memory alive. The best thing that I found was a handwritten prayer that was on a notecard tucked into a Bible (*note, I tried typing it exactly as written):

Heavenly Father,

Altho we do not expect Jesus to come physically

in our house, help us remember that He is with us

all the time. He said "I am the way, the truth

and the life." No one comes to the Father, except by

me." Help us to live in such a way that we will not

have to change anything when He does come. Help

us to encourage others when they are sick or in trouble

Help us not to be critical of others and above all

help us to love one another as you have loved

us. In your Holy Name, we pray. Amen

Return of the Zoku

Last Summer, my parents purchased a Zoku for my family while at the beach. It was a hit! We made so many different popsicles while we were at the beach. Not so many once we were home. With our beach trip this year, I figured we might as well continue the tradition so I brought the Zoku with us. Well, the week was almost over and we hadn't made any popsicles. I had brought TONS of fruit with us, but somehow it all ended up in cobblers (very yummy too). I had promised the boys popsicles, so finally my dad made some. It was his own creation of half & half, yogurt, sugar, and fresh peaches. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves!

As you can see, Brighton had devoured his by the time I thought to take a picture. Chandler is more of a savorer of popsicles and was slowly licking his. He also likes to tilt his head when he poses. Now that we are home hopefully I can whip some up just as yummy as Granddaddy Bob's.

When you play hard, you nap hard

Brighton still likes his afternoon nap. I try to have him up by 3 p.m. whether he likes it or not. This was taken last week sometime. He was dead asleep when I rolled him onto his back in an attempt to wake him up. See the lovely stitch-like imprint across his face....

Well that's what happens when you insist on sleeping with your new alligator and then use it as your pillow! Here's the culprit!

Notice, Giraffey (the giraffe) was also curled up right under Brighton.

Maximum Efficiency

How many more till we need a bigger bathtub?

Maverick is 4 Months

So let's be honest here, the road from 3 to 4 months has been a rocky one. We were in a routine, and it was working, but that flew out the window and now we have to learn a whole new set of expectations (Maverick's, not mine). This little guy certainly calls the shots around here and he's sometimes hard to please. Such a change from my "easy" baby. Not that he's been that hard, but learning his new sleeping and napping schedule has been a little tricky.

It's hard to believe that 1/3 of a year is over. In my mind the first year is always the hardest, so only 2/3s to go....yeah! Although I like this cuddly, baby stage, you are certainly working for it! So here's the little guy at 4 months old. Apparently it was a hand chewing day, as I could hardly keep his hands away from his mouth.

He had his 4-month check today and did great. We were a little concerned about the flat spot on the back of his head, but the doctor isn't and said it will "round out" once he starts sitting up in a few months. He still only poops about every 10-14 days which makes for easy diaper changes, but some clear the room gas in between. Here are his stats:

Weight 14 lbs, 10 oz, 45 %

Height 25.5 in, 70 %

Head 42 cm, 45 %

So as you can see he's carving his own growth chart. I certainly don't mind having a lighter, longer baby. Chandler and Brighton weighed about this much at two months!

The doctor said I could start solids now, but I don't agree with that and neither does the research so we aren't. I already knew I felt this way before the appointment, so I'm not sure why I let this bother me each time, but it does. Enough about the "facts" here's some fun stuff about Maverick:

This guy loves to be outside. If he's fussy, take him outside and he almost immediately is happy. His big brothers love him to pieces and he loves watching them play. Sometimes they will entertain him by showing him his toys (or theirs) and he really loves the attention. Maverick will laugh for you, but you've really got to be funny. Daddy finally achieved this the other night while talking about tooting. Go figure! He also recently rolled over (tummy to back) and I was able to capture it on video, but no pictures because Daddy was at a photo shoot.

As for sleeping, we are still working on it. He goes down about 7:30 and we are happy if we see 3 a.m. for a feed. Sometimes it's only 1 a.m., and that's hard because then he will wake up about 5:30 for another feed. Although, last night he fed at 1, and is still SLEEPING at 7:30 a.m. I can live with that! It's a work in progress.

Can't wait to see what next month has in store for us.

Our Benefactors

Do you know these two?

Speed Dial # 9

Here's one of the last great pictures of me with my grandmother. This was taken in the summer of 2010 before my grandmother went to live in the mountains of NC with my aunt.

For those of you that don't know, my grandmother left for heaven on April 15th, 2011. Today marks 3 months since she's been gone. Her cell phone is still my speed dial # 9. I know it's silly that I haven't deleted it, but I haven't. Maybe I still like that reminder of her whenever I press 9. It's often, when I'm dialing a local number since I have to dial our area code (919).

I wonder what I would say to her if I could hold down # 9 and talk to her one last time. I guess I'd tell her how much I miss her and how much her being gone has been hard. She was my best friend and the first person I'd tell my exciting news to. I miss her great advice about anything you needed to know. I miss her witty humor. I miss her knowing what to say to me at just the right time.

Some days are harder than others. Most days I can hold back my tears. There are so many things that remind me of her and so many good memories that I have. I'm grateful for those. Usually throughout the day these things will happen and I'll want to tell her about them. It could be something silly the boys are doing, something new that I've cooked, or just what I'm up to.

I wish there was a direct line to heaven, until then I only have my dreams.

Beach Re-Cap

So here are some more pictures from our last day at the beach. It was very overcast, but the pictures look "misty" because Derek's camera lens was fogged up when we first got to the beach. Brighton had a blast digging holes and making piles of sand.

Grandaddy Bob and Mimi took a walk on the beach and then Granddaddy went in the ocean with Chandler and had races back to the shore. Brighton and Daddy soon joined in the fun.

Meanwhile, this is what I spent most of my time doing:

If you can't tell, I'm sitting in a chair and Maverick is snuggled up sleeping in the K'tan. At least I did get to put my feet in (the ocean). Maybe next year, I'll actually get to swim in it! That's the life of a mom, others first and yourself last. That's okay though. Maverick did wake up happy and we were able to get this shot of his first week at the beach:

Lastly, here's our family at Sunset Beach. We can't wait to go back!!

My Beach Bum

I had to post this picture of my little beach bum. Isn't he just adorable in this outfit? Today is our last full day at the beach and we hope to get some more beach time in today after naps. Wish us luck....

Beach Boys

Here are some more pictures of my boys from our beach trip. The trip is winding down as we only have two days left! We sure have been having a great time. Here's one of the three of them from the 4th of July. I think I had the boys yell "Fireworks" and you can see the resulting startled look on Maverick.

Here's a picture of Maverick that looks like he's contemplating something. Knock on wood, his sleep patterns have finally started to shape up on this trip and I hope they can only get better once we get home and have a more predictable schedule. He currently naps in the bathroom here at the beach. I think at some point all of my children have slept in a bathroom. Is this weird?

We got to go see a circus performance here at the beach on the 7th because "Granddaddy Bob" as the boys call him won tickets. That was a nice treat, and the boys all enjoyed it even though 2 out of the 3 were sleeping during some parts of it. We went for the 2 o'clock show which is normally during Brighton's naptime. Poor little guy was about to fall out of his seat he was so tired! Since I was holding a sleeping Maverick, I got my mom's attention who then held a sleeping Brighton.

We've been to Alligator adventure now twice (you pay once and can visit twice in 7 days!). Derek took his real camera today, so he got some neat pictures of all the animals there and this cute one of the boys:

We saw another feeding tonight and Derek got some lovely (sarcasm) pictures of alligators chomping down on raw chicken. Yum! I'll save those beauties for another post.

Yikes!

Today we went to Alligator Adventure in Myrtle Beach, SC. Mommy has been there several times but not in recent years. We decided to go there in the morning and have Maverick hopefully nap in the stroller (which he did). There were Alligators everywhere! I think I heard somebody that works there say they have over one thousand. There certainly were some big ones there. Mommy and Daddy said they were scary, but Chandler and Brighton didn't think so. Here is a picture of some of the larger ones. Sorry for the smaller pictures, we don't tend to take Daddy's good camera with us, so we settle for his I-Phone.


There were also snakes, turtles, lizards, birds, and tigers there. We even saw a camel. One of the cool things we did was watch the alligators get fed their lunch. It was a fun morning, and hopefully we'll go back later in the week to explore more of the 15-acre park.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Mini-Golf on the 4th!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone


After Maverick's first nap of the day we headed out to play mini-golf with the boys. It was hot, but not unbearable and the boys all had a good time. Chandler, Brighton, and Daddy played while Maverick chilled out in the stroller with his fan. The baby rides in
S-T-Y-L-E! I wish I had it that good.

After a quick lunch at Arby's and a trip to Walmart to get some more shovels for the beach we headed back to the the condo for naptime.

First Beach Trip!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone


We had our first trip to the beach this year. We are here for a whole week! We have made it a tradition to be at the beach for the 4th of July for several years now, and only missed it last year. We are glad to be back!

Chandler and Brighton had fun playing in the sand while Maverick decided to take a nap. It was a bit breezy on the beach for Maverick and he was a little fussy before conking out on my lap. We packed sandwiches and ate dinner on the beach. The water felt great. A fun time was had by all!

Sleep Training....

So it begins....

Every baby and every child is different even though people STILL mistake C & B for twins. Really?!? Chandler has always been a great sleeper and required little to no coaching from us on how to sleep through the night. He occasionally needed his binky reinserted, but that's about all it took.

Then came Brighton, and he was quite the challenge. He was nursing round the clock (every 1-2 hours) until about 6 months old. Granted he did most of his nursing at night time and he did seem to have a constant cold from ages 2-6 months. Uggh!

Luckily, both "big boys" sleep great now and require almost no help from us once it's lights out. Now onto our next family member, Maverick.

Maverick was doing quite well in the sleep department until he reached 3 months old. Things started to change with him and it appears that as of June 22, 2011 a switch has been flipped. He used to stay up till 9-9:30 p.m. before going down for the night, but now he goes down from 7:30-8 p.m. and you better follow his lead or you'll be sorry.

After "learning" from our mistakes with Brighton, I refuse to let the nibbler's habits continue and I will not nurse him back to sleep. I will nurse him once he first wakes up (12-2 a.m.) and then again at 6 a.m. (usually I cave by 5:30 a.m. if he's been stirring for a while, and he generally has). He sleeps great until the first nursing, but then starts stirring about 3 a.m. and doesn't really ever settle back down until a great sleep. I'm really hoping that this cycle stops soon. Mommy and Daddy are tired!

Here's my cutie eyeing up his lion to take a bite. He's not the biggest binky fan all the time, and he's learning to bite on other things. We'd like him to take the binky in the night to get him back to sleep and sometimes he does and other times he launches it to his toes by spitting it out of his mouth. Little stinker...

We leave for the beach tomorrow and hopefully he will continue sleeping this good and get better. Once we return, Maverick will finally move into his room and his crib. This move has been delayed by a few weeks since he's turned 3 months and we've done so much traveling. He naps in the crib, and for the most part does well in there. His morning nap is 45-60 minutes. That is usually taken about 2 hours after he wakes up for the day. His afternoon nap tends to be 2-3 hours and if it's cut short, then he takes one more pre-bedtime snooze of about 30-45 minutes. Here's hoping we are all "sleeping through the night" soon!