Lordy, Lordy...I'm 40?!

I always write about how much the kiddos are growing and changing, and how I can't believe how fast time goes by. Well, the same goes for me too! As I turned the big 4-0 last weekend, it made me stop and think, "How did that happen??" I still feel like I just turned 16, just graduated high school, just finished college, just got married, etc. The list goes on and on. My mom so kindly reminded me that when she turned 40, her kids ranged in age from 10-17. Mine are 6 months to almost 9 years. Ha! 😂 They will keep me young at heart, right?? When I was little, I thought 40 sounded so old and that when I turned 40 I would feel like a grown-up and have life all figured out. Ha! I still feel like I haven't grown up yet and that Andrew and I are just winging it as parents and taking it one day at a time. And I've decided that's ok. Because I'm happily married with three amazing, happy, healthy kiddos and life is good. I can't sweat the small stuff because life is just too short!

In honor of my big 4-0, my parents came to visit! My dad hadn't met Shepherd in person yet, so it was the perfect excuse to get together. They stayed just under a week, so we packed as much fun into their visit as we could: Ryder's football game, Harper's soccer game, a trip to the apple orchard, a fajita birthday dinner, lunch downtown, games of Rummikub, and just downtime at home. As always, their visit went way too fast! Here's a glimpse into our week together:

Since Ryder and Harper didn't have school on Columbus Day, we decided that would be a good time to go to an apple orchard to do a little apple-picking. Andrew's boss/friend Scott and his daughter met us there, and they also joined us at our house that evening for my fajita birthday dinner. It was a beautiful fall day, and we couldn't have asked for a better day to spend outside. At the orchard we picked a variety of different apples, filling our half-bushel bag in no time!

A full bag!

Dad enjoyed playing lumberjack and using Andrew's log splitter!

My mom made the apple cake I requested with fresh apples we picked that morning. Look at Shepherd's tongue!

My mom, Ryder, and Harper surprised me with these funny birthday posters they made. We've enjoyed eating the candy off of them. :)

I love this picture. 😍 We have several pictures of my dad holding me like this when I was a baby...40 years ago!

Andrew had one more day off than the kiddos, so we enjoyed a grownups only (plus Shepherd!) day. We went to the tri-state landmark that I've read about on a "things to do near me" website, followed by lunch and a stroll downtown. Once again the weather couldn't have been more perfect. Ahhh, how I missed fall. 🍁

Who needs toys? Shepherd was content trying to eat a piece of paper at the restaurant.

Sitting in three states: NY, NJ, and PA.

Harper's soccer practice was canceled later that afternoon, so we decided to go to the park instead so the big kids could run off their energy before dinner. We all walked the trail through the woods first and then watched the kids play at the playground. One of Harper's soccer teammates was also there with his mom and little sister--they had the same idea as we did!

our little monkey!

tetherball with Grandpa

a Grandpa-Harper selfie 😊

Reading, eating, and babbling

This is a good book, Mama!

Hmm...I wonder how it tastes.

Delicious!

Look who loves sweet potatoes! 

Harper loves to help feed Shepherd. 😍

Open wide!

On chilly mornings, Shepherd wears his hoodie and "shawl" (a.k.a. his blanket draped over his shoulders) when we wait for the bus.

One afternoon Shepherd dozed off after some serious play time on his mat!

Shepherd has sure been experimenting with his voice! Lately we have had a few of these conversations every day. :)

Bath time laughs

Shepherd truly loves watching Harper do anything and everything, and she loves to make him smile. At bath time last night, she was gently waving his washcloth back and forth. He thought this was funny on its own, but then she dropped the washcloth on his lap and the giggles poured out! Ahhh, these two are something else! 😍

Shepherd: 5 months

Besides rolling and making all sorts of cute baby noises, I think Shepherd has also started the teething process. He puts everything in his mouth. But not just in a "let me see what this tastes like" kind of way--more in an "attack and chomp" kind of way. Late afternoons tend to be when his gums bother him the most. His little cheeks get rosy, he's irritable, and he really gnaws on his frozen washcloth or teething toy. I know it can take a while for that first tooth to pop through, but I hope for his sake it isn't a long drawn out process!

Shepherd's schedule is getting more predictable each day:

7am- wake and feed
8am- put the big kids on the bus :)
8:30- morning catnap (about 30 minutes or so)
9:30 or 10- feed and then play
11am- rock and read (usually a Dr. Seuss book) before nap time in his crib
*He has been sleeping for about an hour and a half most days, which means I can get some things done! :)
12:30 or 1pm- feed and play
~2:30- short catnap
3:15- head outside to wait for the big kids! We sing as many verses to "Wheels on the Bus" as we can while we wait.
4pm- feed and play
~5pm- short catnap
6:45ish- start bath
7pm- put on clean pj's followed by milk, books, and bed! Usually he's in his crib by 7:30-7:45. Most nights I don't hear a peep out of him now, but there's still the occasional wake-up where he just needs to be cuddled for a few minutes before putting him back in his crib. 😇

Morning catnaps usually take place on the couch next to me. :)

This month's "photo shoot" was the first time Shepherd noticed the Care Bear sitting in the chair with him. It was adorable to watch him interact with it! It really made me realize how observant he is now of his surroundings. He kept tipping over as he tried to hug the bear, so I readjusted him and the sticker multiple times to get the following pictures!

Oh hi there! What's your name?

Look, Mama! I have a new friend!

Mmmuuaaa! 

I'm pretty sure he's now trying to eat his Care Bear friend.

No more pictures, Mama. I'm looking for a book to read.

sweet and happy little boy

This weekend we decided to introduce Shepherd to some real food! I was going to start with rice cereal, but I had a heck of a time grinding the rice to the right consistency; when I cooked it there were still some pieces that were crunchy. I got frustrated, threw it in the trash, and cooked the oatmeal instead! At the last second I stirred in a little mashed banana to sweeten it. The whole family gathered around the table on Friday afternoon to watch Shepherd's first food experience! Andrew had the camera, and Harper and Ryder sat quietly because I told them we didn't want to overwhelm poor little Shep. They did a great job, and Shepherd really isn't sure of this whole food thing! His first instinct is to push the food back out with his little tongue, so we are just going to give him a few bites each day until he gets used to the whole concept. He kept making a "kkkkk" sound in the back of this throat after swallowing, probably because he's so used to a liquid-only diet. 😂

I'm not so sure what is about to happen here.

Ok, here comes Mama!

What....is.....this??

Hmmm...it actually has pretty good flavor. 

Chomp!

Back to school and on a roll!

Well, the big kids are in week 3 of the new school year, and it sure is nice to be back in a familiar routine. 🤪 I’m glad we had two months together at home, but we were definitely all ready for a little separation. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? They have the same bus driver and pickup/drop-off times as last year, so we fell right back into the groove with that. The only difference is that Shepherd is older and more aware, so it’s fun to watch his face when he sees the bus arrive. In the morning he studies it like he can’t figure out why it’s taking his big sister and brother away, but in the afternoon he smiles when they get off the bus and start walking towards him. I know he misses them when they’re gone all day!

How is this possible??

This feels like yesterday...their first day of preschool in 2014!

waiting for the bus!

This is Shep's "wait-for-the-bus attire" when it's chilly in the morning.

Harper started soccer and is loving it! She has practice one night a week at her school, and her games are on Sunday afternoons at the high school. It's a great introduction to the game, and the coaches are pretty much just trying to get the kids to spread out as they run up and down the field. Ha! I've enjoyed taking her to practice and getting to know some of the other parents; it really helps me feel more connected, and there are tons of families up here. (I never would have guessed that in the middle of winter when everyone was in hibernation!)

Ready for soccer practice!

Once the kids started school, I think Shepherd decided the lazy days of summer were over and he needed to get to work too. Within that first week of September, he could hold his head up so much better and started rolling from his back to his tummy!

He likes to sit up in the walker and play when I need two hands in the kitchen. 

Pops' overalls are back! Now Pops, Andrew, Ryder & Shepherd have worn them. 😍

Shepherd: 4 months

My sweet little Shepherd continues to change so much! He has truly grown out of the newborn stage and transitioned into a little person.  Over the past few weeks he definitely went through a sleep regression. He started waking up again at least twice to be fed, and then sometimes he just woke up and didn't know how to fall back to sleep. One night I saw him at midnight, and then again at 3, 4, 5, and 6. Whew! Let's just say I enjoyed some extra coffee the next day! Each night has been different, so I've been trying to go to bed on time because I don't know what time he might need me. Thankfully it has been slowly getting better, and last night the little angel slept from 8pm until 7:30am. He did have his 4 month checkup yesterday and got 3 vaccinations, so that might have contributed to his sleepiness. We both enjoyed a full night's sleep!!

Shepherd likes...

• when Ryder and Harper come tell him 'good morning' when he first wakes up in his crib 
• lying on the floor in Harper's room and watching the ceiling fan spin
• cuddling and being held
• putting EVERYTHING in his mouth (fingers, books, toys, burp rags)
• being talked and babbled to
• bath time and being naked. He is always so happy now in the bathtub and on his changing table. 
• sitting outside with us
• when we sing "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" to him. On the last line I sing, "head, shoulders, knees & toes, knees & Shepherd toes" and then kiss or pretend to eat his little toes. He gives me a huge smile!
• being held upright and sitting on our laps. There is so much to see!

Shepherd dislikes...

• having a wet or dirty diaper
• lying flat on the floor to play
• being in his car seat too long. Sometimes he will cry the whole time we are on our way back home from somewhere, especially if it is around a meal time. This leads to Harper crying too because she can't stand for Shepherd to be so upset. 😢

height: 28 inches, which means he grew 5 inches since his 2 month appointment. No wonder he wears 6 or even 9 month outfits. This boy is long!
weight: 15 lbs. 13 oz.

This is my serious face.

Ok, I'll smile for the camera.

Mama, the faces you are making are hilarious!

😍😍😍😍😍

Poor baby has a band-aid on each thigh from his shots.

They don't seem to bother him too much though!