1 month old

I can't believe Hadley is already 1 month old

She still sleeps alot and does pretty well during the day.  She tends to get fussier at night
If I'm out and about in the morning with Kaelyn and Jaxon, Hadley usually will fall asleep.  Overall she's a pretty easy baby the other 2 are more challenging but we are surviving.  She transitions well and sleeps anywhere. When she was about 1.5 month old she started giving me some longer stretches at night.

I'll feed her 1-2 times at night, feed her around the time I wake up, after preschool drop off, around lunch time/naptime, after naptime, at bedtime.  She naps really good in between. They say the 3rd is along for the ride. So sometimes she gets left in the car when we get home if she has fallen asleep.  She's protected that way and the kids can't get her.  I'm surprised she doesn't wake up when the doors open and close and with all the noise once we get home.  The other 2 would always wake up.

I took all 3 kids to the children's museum to meet some friends.  I pushed the stroller and Jaxon and Kaelyn held hands as we walked in together.  He does a pretty good job of protecting her and watching out for her.  We still have to work on him taking things or snatching them from her and using his words instead.

My friends wanted to celebrate Hadley and threw us a shower.  I hadn't registered for much because thankfully we have almost everything we need.  We did get alot of diapers which was a blessing.

My cousin Montana came for a visit all the way from Charlotte

I joined a gym for 3 months using a groupon.  My goal is to go when Jaxon is in preschool and take Kaelyn to the childcare there and wear Hadley, which will add some extra weight and give me a good workout.  They have an indoor walking track that I'll use on these cold days.  Thats about all I can do until I get cleared from my doctor.  She usually sleeps while I get my workout.

We've enjoyed these warmer days.  It doesn't feel like winter.  So we've been enjoying the outdoors while we can.

Jaxon loves to put on Kaelyn's dress up clothes, which kind of worries me a little

He loves his sister

We got creative and made a fire truck out of a diaper box

He loves to build with the little legos.  He's been doing so well pooping in the potty on his own that we've been giving him candy or buying him a few things that he's really wanted.
"Jaxon now you don't have to wear pull ups to bed." He said "Now I can sleep naked like you daddy"

Since Jaxon has been pooping pretty consistently I took him to the toy store to get some more legos. He said "Now I don't have to clean myself up when I poop in my pull-up. Praise the Lord"

Next time we are getting a smaller lego set.  Over 200 pieces was too many for me.

They love each other

I can't keep up with all of Kaelyn's new words.  I know she is learning alot from her brother.
As long as I bring food, Kaelyn does pretty well tagging along at doctors appointments or hair cut appointments.  She usually goes pretty good sitting in the stroller

She loves to hold her sister

Hadley loves her play mat when I remember to put her on it, but Jaxon and Kaelyn love it too

She is pretty content in the ergo and will fall asleep

She has done pretty well at church.  We've kept her with us and haven't stuck her in nursery yet.
She is still sleeping alot

5 Week dr appt.
Weight: 9lbs 12.5 oz
Height: 20 3/4 inches
Head: 38cm

Operation Valentines Day
I was kind of last minute thinking of things to do for Brian and involve the kids.  I cut out hearts and Jaxon and I thought of reasons why we love daddy.  Then on Valentines we showed up at his work and taped them to the inside of his truck.  After work he saw them and said he felt loved.

Jaxon requested we have a picnic lunch

I got some pretty roses and breakfast from the hubby

New outfit from Aunt Meredith, Uncle Michael, Maddie Grace and Cooper

The first week as a family of 5

I was so thankful my parents could be here to help.  They kept the house clean, organized stuff, helped me to get rid of stuff, entertained the kids, let Brian and I get some sleep, and just help us adjust to a family of 5.  Kaelyn ended up with a double ear infection and congestion with a cough.  We had to keep the kids away from the baby and it was so hard.  The kids, Kaelyn especially, wanted to see the baby and hold her.  "Hold baby, see baby" Kaelyn would hold out her hands to tell us she wanted the baby.  I felt so bad when we told her she couldn't hold her.  Hadley pretty much lived in our bedroom.

Hadley's first doctor's appointment and she did great.
Weight: 7lb 5.5oz
Height: 19 3/4inches
Head: 34 1/2

Newborn pics done by Sara whom we love

Hadley has been a pretty easy newborn.  She is more demanding to eat during the day but I have to wake her up to feed her at night.  Sometimes I have slept through my alarm and I wake up and its been 4 hours and she is still sleeping. I try to feed her every 3 hours.

I got the kids some gifts after Hadley was born since they are the big brother/big sisters now.  I bought Kaelyn a baby carrier so she could wear her baby dolls just like I wear Hadley and she loves it.  I bought Jaxon and new video called Bibleman- its a superhero movie, which he loves.

It was nice to have Brian home over Christmas break and then after Haldey was born.  He spent some extra time with Jaxon.  Then we got a huge snow storm and Brian was able to stay home.  They enjoyed playing out in the snow and sledding with his buddy Andrew and Andrews dad.  I stayed inside where it was warm with the girls.

They were supposed to skiing with friend Andrew and his dad while Brian was off work, but the conditions at the ski slopes weren't that great.  So they had a boys day instead and went to Charlotte to a children's museum instead.

Since Hadley has been born, the snow and cold weather, sickness, no school, I feel like we've been hibernating.  I couldn't wait to get out of the house.

So thankful for our church family to bring us meals as we adjust.

Cousin Ally got to meet Hadley

Mom and dad had to leave earlier than expected because my grandmother fell and had a brain hemorrhage and was not doing well.  Thankfully they left when they did because she passed away on the day that they originally were to leave to go see her.
We were all sad that she passed but thankful she is reunited with Papa.  She hadn't been the same since after Kaelyn was born.  She didn't communicate very much and it put alot of stress on my aunt to check on her everyday at the nursing home and my mom and my aunt to visit with her often.
We took Hadley to the funeral in South Carolina and thankfully Jaxon and Kaelyn stayed with Brian's parents for a few days.  It made traveling alot easier and I was able to spend more time with my family.  At 2 weeks old Hadley met alot of people at the funeral.  I wish Jaxon and Kaelyn could have gone with us so they could play with all their cousins.

The first 2 days I was by myself with the kids, Jaxon had preschool, so the transition was a little bit easier.  If I needed to feed Hadley, Kaelyn will sit in her high chair and play with puzzles or color and entertain herself.  Or she would sit next to me on the couch while I fed her.  She has been a little jealous and wants me to hold her all the time.

Jaxon has pooped in the potty 2x now by himself and on his own initiative.  So we had to make a big deal and take him to the toy store.  They came back with a gun that has lights and noise.  They also bought one for his friend Andrew for his birthday.  Now they can shoot each other.  I have many things still to learn about raising boys.  I don't think I can have a gun free house now.  If he doesn't own one he will make one with whatever he can find.

He pooped in the potty for a 2nd time and of course there is not more going to the dollar tree when he knows there is a cool toy store with better toys.  This time he had to use his own money.  I talked him into getting a helicopter lego set.  I think Brian enjoyed helping him put it together.

We had really nice weather one day and I took the kids to the park for a picnic after preschool.  Hadley did great and I wore her in the sling and let the kids run around.  The sling will be a lifesaver.

Jaxon
He sleeps in some days which helps me out.  His wake up time could be anywhere from 7-8
He loves shooting with his toy gun and now has taught Kaelyn
He is learning how to write more letters
He has had some separation issues at preschool and if I leave the house and can melt down
During my pregnancy and now even after Hadley was born he can get jealous for my attention
He loves playing matching games
He has gotten more emotional
He says "I'm mean at you" if he's mad at you
The few times he has pooped in the potty he wants to save it in the toilet so he can show daddy

Never thought I would be having this Conversation with my 4 1/2 year-old son

J mommy I want to bring my gun for show and share at preschool today
M Jaxon I don't think that's a good idea
J why mommy?
M because guns can hurt people and your gun looks like a real gun. They don't want you to bring guns to school
J but mom this gun doesnt hurt people it's a toy gun
M i'll have to ask your teacher

This is only the beginning

Kaelyn
She is putting more words together and has become more independent "I do it"
She continues to be a good eater
She is still sleeping in in the morning until 10:00am which is great.  I do have to wake her up earlier if its a preschool day.
She gets jealous and wants me to hold her if I'm holding Hadley
She loves playing with her dolls and putting them in Hadley's carseat
She will tell me to put Hadley in her bed
She will tell me "baby crying"
"feed baby" "baby hungry"
She loves apple juice, oranges, and crackers and will tell you what she wants to eat
She likes to clean up
She likes to tell you that she farted
She prefers that I put her to bed

She loves putting puzzles together

She can't wait for me to put Hadley to bed so she can reclaim her seat

She loves giving Hadley kisses

my little bakers in the kitchen