Journal: well hello there

So I took a little hiatus.  See sidebar for the big little addition to our family.  :-)
TODAY

Out my window: Hot.  Summer.  There is a piece of masking tape across the sliding door to remind people to "mind the gap" when they walk out, as we're having the siding redone and there is a plank out of the deck so they can get to the siding below.  No one in my family knows what "mind the gap" means so they look at me like I'm psychotic when I say it.  I think it's funny.  My potted flowers are staying alive as long as I water them, and I really like how they look on the deck this year.  The purslane has gone crazy.  As has the "tiny" tomato plant that our neighbor gave us.  It is almost as tall as the Japanese Maple (which is admittedly a smaller tree) and has started using the deck as a trellis.

Around the house: New siding is the big thing now.  And then Aaron will be painting. Gulp.  We ordered new chairs for the dining table as ours look like kids have been using them for the last 10 years.  Sigh.  We can't have nice things.  Weighing options for bedrooms once the baby gets older.  Right now she's in a bassinet in our room at night and a pack and play in the basement for naps.  She will grow out of the bassinet soon though so we'll probably bring the pack and play upstairs to our room since we have ample space and set the crib up in the basement for naps.  After that who knows.  The plan is to have a girls' room, a boys' room and a homework room.  Still debating who will use what rooms and which beds.  We have a year or so.  I got a new laptop about a month ago, so that's been pretty great (the other one was going on 7 years and, how shall we say, showing its age) and found a new purse that can fit a small diaper clutch and lightweight blanket (which is all we ever need, amazing how much lighter I travel with four than I did with one) along with my things I need.  I have found TJ Maxx to be a great place for quality purses (even nice label ones if you care about that sort of thing) at a fraction of the price. I also got some shoes for work and updated my Sperrys. 

The kiddos:  Not gonna lie, this summer has been kind of awful.  The fighting.  The loudness. (I think it is amplified and I become hyper-sensitive when there's a sleeping baby in the house.) Kolbe broke his arm so that put an abrupt end to baseball and swimming.  And a lot of other outdoor things that require throwing, catching, running, riding or climbing.  Which is pretty much everything.  The fighting.  Did I mention the fighting?  Holy moly, people.  We need the school year.  The structure brings us order and balance.  Or at least it cuts down somewhat on the insanity. Clem recently celebrated his fifth birthday, he had a great day.  He had been gearing up for his birthday for months and it didn't disappoint.

The baby: She's pretty great.  After 3+ months, guilt or sentimentality or something won out and I decided to order a baby calendar like the one I did for Clem.  Not a baby book, but a nice keepsake for milestones and such.  Hopefully I can fill in the holes in the first three months between my Facebook feed (lol) and a few notes I've kept on my phone.  Maura is an easy baby.  She's had some more restless nights the past week or so, but often only wakes up once or twice, which is unlike any other child I've had.  She naps pretty well, nurses well, burps and spits up a ton, smiles all the time, likes her hands, is growing out of the bouncy chair (she wants to sit up. ACK, slow down girl!!) enjoys the stroller and likes being worn.  She is easy-going with all the coming and going and even does decent with the noise (even so I still tend to get pretty psycho when the kids are loud while she is sleeping).  We love her.

In the kitchen: Sushi night (homemade) tonight and steaks out for our 11th anniversary last night.  Up this week: lasagna, hamburgers, some other sort of grilled food, probably a salad night.  I have some potatoes I need to use for a starchy side with something, for vegetables I am so boring and just steam a bag of something frozen nine times out of ten.  I realized how lazy I was when I was towards the end of my pregnancy and absolutely bemoaning the fact that I had to tip and tail green beans.  Hashtag lame.

Learning:  I downloaded summer packets for all three kids from Teachers Pay Teachers.  And that's as far as I got.  Didn't even get around to printing them.  Sigh.  They really loved them last summer and even worked on them some during the school year so maybe I will get around to it?  They have done lots of reading.  It's really cool having TWO very independent readers, and Clem really likes CD books.

Reading: I've been in a rut.  Currently making my way through Chiara Corbella Petrillo and Middle School General Music: The Best Part of your Day as I will be teaching a section of sixth and a section of seventh this year.

Watching: mainly MLB.

Bringing me joy: I am pretty excited about my work schedule this year.  I am still cooking for Father (even though he moved parishes, it was still neighboring enough to where we live to work out!) and I will still be teaching, albeit a scaled back schedule, as referenced above.  I will teach between 2-3 hours on a rotating schedule of two mornings one week, three mornings the following. I think it will be just right, and it brings me joy to be able to keep a foot in the working world (which I LOVED last year) while still being primarily at home with the baby and a half-day kindergartener, and my other kids after school each day.

Thinking about: Paths to holiness.  Keeping my patience in check.  Priorities.  

Pictures to share: 

The family on  July 4, after the annual parade.

birthday boy with his loot

happy girl

monthly couch pic!

Journal: quick update

TODAY

Out my window: Dark.  It is unseasonably warm this past week and weekend.  Looks like Autumn returns on Tuesday.

Clothing myself in: jammies.  

Around the house: I finally put an art-line up for the kids.  Fridge-door space just wasn't cutting it.  Gemma has so many things from school, plus the things she makes at home, and now Kolbe likes to make projects plus his speech teacher will do little crafts with him.  Even Clem painted a paper plate pumpkin today!  So I got some twine from the dollar bin at Target and some clips and strung it across the fireplace on the two end-hooks where we hang our Christmas stockings.  It is sweet.  Definitely looks like children live in our house, but I like it.

The baby/toddler: He has this little swagger he does sometimes when he walks.  Cracks me up.  For whatever reason he hates having to go to the bathroom before his bath every night, so every night, without fail, I hear him tell Aaron, "but I ah-yeddy MAKE my pobbies!"  Even if it's been hours.  He is such a funny kid!

 

The kiddos: Lots of time outdoors lately.  Everyone is happier when we are outdoors.  Gemma has had a good week.  Kolbe tried to sharpen his finger in the pencil sharpener.  They have played together really well (mostly) this past week.  I record these things so I can look back and actually believe they happen.

In the kitchen: Tostadas, Breakfast Casserole, Spaghetti and a big 'ole pot of Halloween chili on the menu this week.

Crafting: The kids made paper plate jack-o-lanterns today, so I'm claiming that along with aforementioned art line, thank you.

Learning:  the usual.

Reading: I picked up The Mitchells series for Gemma and we started Clare's Costly Cookie tonight.  I have ordered used copies of The Children of Noisy Village and its sequel.  And I have The Family Under the Bridge from the library, but think we will wait on it until closer to Christmas.  I also picked up a couple used hardcovers for our Advent/Christmas library at home and have requested our November books from the library (I thought we'd take a break from our [formal] Virtues and discuss gratitude, aptly).

Watching: The World Series, of course.

Bringing me joy: The kids.  I love them.  They  make me nuts and test my patience in ways I never dreamed (or hoped) possible, but oh I love them.  They are each so unique and special and delightful in their very own ways.

Thinking about: The Ebola outbreak.  It didn't really have me too worried, until the few cases in Texas.  Even then I knew I was being unreasonable worrying about it, a.) because it wasn't incredibly likely to spread, and b.) if it was going to spread, there wasn't a whole lot I could do about it anyways.  But as I thought about it, it really hit home how many people, people...moms and dads, sons and daughters, sisters and brothers...are dying in Africa.  And how scared, and sad, and lonely and horrifying that must be.  I can't even imagine.  It is hard for me to fathom, or even think about for too long.  But it has made me pray more consciously for those directly affected, on my own and with the kids. 

Pictures to share:  

I like this little montage of Clem, at the park one day last week.  He was so focused on balancing.

Clement is TWO

I thought I would break from the usual Journal posts and give Clem his own little post for his second birthday.

Likes:

• the word "nooooooooooo" (in his defense, when he does say, "yes," it is an adorable "UHH-huh")
• eating strawberries and raspberries
• doing whatever the big kids are doing
• reading books, he will happily sit on my lap and listen to long picture books, by himself or when I am reading to the big kids
• bananas
• giving kisses
• swinging at the park
• daddy.  he is aaron's most enthusiastic greeter when he gets home each evening.
• waving bye-bye to daddy from the front yard.  he stands there waving and yells, "bye-bye daddy-O"
• the color blue, he is very adamant about wearing his blue jammies and blue shirt if they are clean, and is rather irritated when they are not
• trains, he especially likes the little Thomas ones that stick together with magnets (he got a stuffed Thomas, a "James" take-along, and some train books for his birthday)
• his stuffed kitten
• playing Kolbe's "Let's Go Fishing" game

Dislikes:

• being contained
• he used to not really care for black beans, but I think he is eating those now
• milk.  i can not get this child to drink cow's milk.

Things he is doing at two:

• he will repeat almost anything, has probably 3-4 dozen words he uses regularly to communicate, and has starting to string together 3-4 word sentences
• he loves to jump on our little work-out trampoline in the basement
• he can climb and run and slide at the park quite independently
• he has been sleeping on the floor in his room (and still co-sleeping some as well) since March, soon he will move to a big boy bed in the same room as Kolbe.  he still nurses to sleep.
• he recently moved from his high chair to the big table (we had to put another leaf in).  after about a week of this we have decided that a booster seat at meals/snacks is a must. 
• I will come in and add his weight and height when I've taken him in for a well-child visit here soon.  I am guessing he ways around 23-24 pounds.
• he wears size 2T clothing
• he poops on the toilet exclusively and has started showing some interest in potty.  not enough for me to want do any intentional potty-learning with him, but I will continue to encourage.
• he is much less scary on the stairs than he was just a few months ago. I have actually started letting him go down un-accompanied.  But apparently going down head up on his belly is for the birds.  He likes to hold the rail and step down (like a big kid, go figure) or go down on his bottom.
• he has started showing more interest in the television the past four or so months, and will sit down and watch a show with the big kids.  he often holds one of his feet while he is watching tv.
• when I get the camera out he yells, "CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE"
• he is still nursing during the night, some nights only twice, but a lot of nights many more times, for quite long periods sometimes.  it is getting frustrating and uncomfortable for me, and disturbing my sleep (and his) more than I think is necessary at the age of two, so I have decided to night-wean.  we are going to go cold-turkey.  I anticipate several rough nights, but I think if I am empathetic yet firm (vs. being wishy-washy about it and sending him mixed messages) we will make this transition and both come out happier and well-adjusted on the other side.  wish us luck on this journey.  I'll continue to let him nurse at naptime and bedtime as long as he asks, but I may transition him out of that as well when he moves to the big-kid room
• he occasionally skips his nap.  when he does nap it is only for 45 or so minutes.  he goes to bed between 7:30-8pm and gets up between 6:30-7am (typically)

climbing UP the slide at the park

with his backpack, just like the big kids

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR CLEMENT!  WE LOVE YOU!!!

Journal: Ten minutes

Going to see if I can get through this in ten minutes...
TODAY

Out my window:  It was h.o.t. today, after a very cool last week.  This weather.  Spring would be nice.  But I'll take this over the cold.  Currently the kids are in bed, Aaron is mowing, I'd rather be reading but thought I'd update.  Quickly.

Clothing myself in:  Jammies.  It's after 8 people, that's what you get.

Around the house: We have a family of Baltimore Orioles that lives, I think, in our neighbor's backyard.  They love our deck.  They eat at our hummingbird feeder and knock on our windows (for real, it woke us up one morning).  Territorial much?  Makes for some fun bird-watching.  We've seen numerous hummingbirds already.  Don't think we've ever seen them this early. 

 

The baby/toddler:  He climbs.  Today I found him up on his changing table and asked Gemma why she had put him up there.  She hadn't.  I also watched him climb all the way UP the big slide at the park.  The big slide that, at before 2, our other kids were just starting to go DOWN.  I watched him do it the first time and he struggled at the top.  I stood by, but did not help him, hoping he would get frustrated and give up.  Nope, he figured it out and scaled it another 5-6 times quite quickly.  He keeps me on my toes.  He loves to yell "cheeeeeeese" when he sees a camera.  If I say, "one", he says "two".  And "ready, GO" is a favorite phrase.

 

The kiddos:   So much outdoor play.  Makes me happy.  Makes everyone happy.  They've been fishing a lot.  They can both get a fish off the hook and toss it back in the water on their own (we removed the barb from Kolbe's hook so he wouldn't injure anyone, himself included, too badly).  

Gemma's last day of school is Thursday.  Really looking forward to having her around more and the change in pace this will bring.  Apprehensive about lunches.  That is always a batty time of day for my kids.  So much food to prepare in a day, sometimes I feel like I barely finish one meal and it's time for another.

In the kitchen: Speaking of food...  I made a yummy seafood alfredo last week with homemade alfredo sauce.  It was pretty tasty.  We have found these bags of seafood at Kroger that have octopus, squid, mussels and a little bit of shrimp.  I used a bag of it and added about another half bag of straight shrimp and OH it was good.  Honey Chicken last night, leftovers/black bean quesadillas tonight.  Meatloaf and baked salmon coming up later in the week.  And some salads. 

Crafting: Sewing autograph pillows with the kindergarteners last week!  Lots of fun!!!

Learning:  Got a rough summer "learning" schedule made up for Gemma.  A few Kumon workbooks, math facts, reading (summer reading program starts this week!!), computer time and handwriting made the list.  Divvied stuff up with her so she just has 2-3 activities per day.  Still debating about doing stuff in mornings or afternoons.  Leaning towards morning.  Not sure whether to take a little break once school is out or just jump right in.  My kids like routine...

Reading:  Finishing up Unbroken.  It was really good, I learned a lot about WWII, at least the war on the Pacific Front anyways.  I'd say more, but I know one person who is planning on reading it and don't want to spoil anything.  Started All of a Kind Family Uptown with Gemma. tonight.  Kolbe asked me to get him some books about tornadoes and volcanoes from the library so I did, and we picked them up Saturday after swim.  The kids were sitting around the living room looking at them and he hollered in at me, "mommy, these books are AMAZING!"  Made my day.

Watching:  Some Royals MLB.  A couple episodes of Survivorman: Bigfoot.  Most compelling sasquatch evidence I've seen to date.  Nothing much else of note.

(I am already past ten minutes and hubby just came inside, I need to wrap this up.)

Bringing me joy: My family.

Thinking about: Some of the punky things I have done in the past.  If I did or said or posted something punky to you (directly or indirectly), I am sorry.  I don't know why I've been thinking about this lately, but I have.  My communication skills suck sometimes.  I'm getting better.   I hope.  ;-)  Anyways, communication -- and my ability to do so appropriately and in a Christ-like manner -- has been on my mind.  I am a work in progress. 

Pictures to share:  

Journal: Chicken Pox part deux

TODAY

Out my window:  It. Is. Hot.  The landscape around the neighborhood is kind of depressing, so many big trees were lost in the windstorm.  It looks so different and this won't be remedied anytime soon.  Bleh.  

Clothing myself in:  Meh.  I did get a fresh haircut which feels good!!

Around the house: Our garbage disposal quit working yesterday.  It actually ended up being a short in the switch (which caused the dishwasher to be without power as well).  Thankfully it was a relatively fast fix, the electrician was out this morning and got the power back up and running.  Dishwasher is humming as I type.  Creature comforts...it is odd for me to think that 50 years ago probably no one had dishwashers or garbage disposals.  I should be more grateful.  While the electrician was out, Aaron took the opportunity to have someone help him hang new light fixtures in the kitchen and dining room, and so the kitchen renovation begins!!  We've picked out our counter-tops and backsplash, and have a pretty good idea on appliances, sink and faucet.  Looking very forward to getting started here in a couple months!!

 

The baby: Would be the 'part deux' of the Chicken Pox mentioned in the title.  He took them pretty well up until last night which was incredibly rough.  Like, he would sleep for 5-10 minutes and then be restless for 10-15 minutes.  Back and forth.  All. Night. Long.  It was a long night, and he's pretty clingy today.  Hopefully he will be on the mend soon, he has a BIRTHDAY on Thursday!!  I don't like to see him sick, but part of me is really glad he ended up getting the pox and we can just be done with it for these three.

 

The kiddos:  Are a little stir-crazy, being in quarantine mode again but not having the edge taken off due to being sick themselves.  Lots of basement play, and they've been playing in the backyard some too.  Their latest favorite outdoor activity is Easter Egg hunts.  For real.  They take the parade candy and gum they got from the Fourth of July parade and put it in the eggs and hide them all over the yard.  So funny.  Keeps them entertained though.

Firecrackers made a big impression on Kolbe.  Lately he has been building and lighting pretend firecrackers made from random toys and kitchen items.  It is very cute.  

Gemma seems to have turned a corner lately.  We still have our issues, but she has been doing better in the listening and sass departments, and actually showing some contrition when she does get sassy and angry.  Baby steps.  This makes my heart happy though.

In the kitchen: Pork Cutlets and Quinoa Black Bean Salad; Spaghetti and greens; Cheesy Chicken Tostadas; Baked Salmon, rice pilaf and veggies.  And probably some sort of tasty birthday treat for the big ONE year old. It will definitely be a quiet birthday with him still being contagious.

Crafting: I mended a hole in Gemma's blankie....

Learning:  I have some telling time stuff all ready to go for Gemma, and some watermelon books and a paper plate watermelon craft to do with both kids.  Gemma read most of Hop on Pop last week.  The big kids both reached their reading goals for the library's Summer Reading Program so the two of them and I took a trip to the library together to hand in their charts and get their prizes.  It was fun doing something just the three of us.

Reading: I am getting behind in my Catechism and really should be finished with St. Francis by now.  Sigh.

Watching: My uncle was telling me about a show by the name of Zero Hour that I'd like to check out OnDemand.  Anyone else seen it?  Some Royals baseball.  That's about all.  

Bringing me joy: Reminiscing about the past year with our sweet Clem.  I can not BELIEVE it has been a year since his birth.  Watching the kids play, especially Kolbe and his firecrackers and listening to Gemma with her ponies.  Good friends.  Chatting over the fence with the neighbors in the evening.  Gemma and kindergarten.  I have made peace and I am getting really excited for the school year, I think she is just going to love it, especially getting to learn so many new things.  I am excited for her and excited for this new stage in our family.

Thinking about: How old Gemma seemed at a year.  Clem still seems like such a baby. I think your perspective must change the more kids you have??

Pictures to share:  

The kids went to their first parade on the Fourth of July.  We all had fun!

Journal (14th edition)

TODAY

Out my window: Sunny.  The wee bit of snow we got is almost melted, and it is actually pretty mild out.  It is supposed to get colder than cold around Christmas though.

Clothing myself in: Sweats, tank, sweatshirt.  Really that is about the only thing I wear during winter unless we're leaving the house, and then the only thing that changes is jeans instead of sweats.  I am beyond help.  I do dress up for Mass though, I just never happen to blog on Sunday mornings. 

Around the house: Cleaned (vacuumed and dusted) the basement.  Even though I have a regular rotation for cleaning chores, I usually only clean the basement once a month (or more likely every 6 weeks).  I also took some extra time with my kitchen cleaning today, and we cleaned the deck doors, which were quite nasty after wind and not enough moisture.  And fingerprints, and face marks, etc. etc. etc. 

 

The baby: He's sooooo cute.  Have I mentioned that?  Some days I feel like he is my little slice of sanity in our crazy house.  He is quite the napper, some days he will nap for close to a four-hour stretch in the morning.  He's gotten pretty regular with his sleep, with a nap in the morning and one in the afternoon and is fairly predictable about his bedtime (depending on how late his last nap is).  Nights are a little much less predictable.  Some nights he only nurses 2-3 times.  Other most nights I lose count.  Co-sleeping keeps me sane and (mostly) rested though so I can't complain, but boy can he be the milk-monster (that's what I call him on his particularly "nursey" nights).  I really shouldn't knock it though, he is such an easy baby during the day, and honestly I look forward to his nighttime snuggles (for the most part). 

 

The kiddos:  Gemma and Kolbe have started going out to play in the (gated and locked) backyard by themselves in the afternoons and this has been a new-found joy for all of us.  They've actually been doing this since late summer, but I am grateful they will still go out on the colder days, bundled up in coats and such.  It is so nice to be able to send them out...good for the mental health of everyone in the house, especially in that 3:30-5:30 PM time range.

Gemma has developed a recent attachment to "Baby Lamb", a stuffed lamb that Clem got from my aunt when he was born.  She is very affectionate and loving with it, errr "her."  She is constantly putting her down for a nap, doctoring her, or pretending she was just born and I have to come visit them at the hospital (Gemma's bedroom).  She also has to sleep with Baby Lamb every night.  It's cute and sweet.

Kolbe has recently discovered his spit and is quite fascinated by it.  He doesn't actually spit (yet) thankfully, but he likes to blow bubbles and do other gross things that I don't feel like talking about with it.  Ugh.  Boys.  I guess I better get used to it.  ;-D Kolbe is typically pretty indifferent about reading stories, but he has requested this one incessantly this week. 

In the kitchen:  Christmas feasting mainly.  Hubby is making sushi to take to his parents' on Christmas eve.  I'm planning on making some Mexican Chili on Wednesday as our friend Fr. Nick will be joining us for dinner.  Just kind of leaving the rest of the week up in the air.

Crafting:  We finished the salt-dough ornaments and their gift-bags this week (picture below, don't look if you want to be surprised ;-D)!!!

Learning: See "crafting", this has been our main project this week along with our regular Advent chain daily activities.  Still hitting reading lessons here and there with Gemma.  Once the new year rolls around (and we get past birthdays too) we'll get back to more regular reading and handwriting lessons, etc.  I sure have enjoyed our Advent though, it's been good.

Reading: We finished Little House on the Prairie today.  I actually found myself crying as the family packed up and left the little house.  And I don't even have pregnancy hormones to blame that one on.  I also found it rather difficult to explain to Gemma the conflict between the Indians and the white people (she had some questions), and to be completely honest it really gave me a lot to think about myself.  I hadn't remembered that being such a prominent part of the story (and I probably read that series a good 8-10 times as a child), I guess we perceive things differently as kids.  We're going to skip Farmer Boy (I think that will be a good one for my boys here in a few years) and begin On the Banks of Plum Creek next.

Bringing me joy: Texting with my sister.  Reading with the kids.  Advent.  Classical Christmas music all day every day this week on NPR.  The O Antiphons.  Anticipating Christmas.  Taking the kids to visit our friend Bertie in the nursing home.  Classical Christmas music all day every day this week on NPR.  Time with Aaron in the evenings after the kids are in bed.  Oh, and the Christmas music on NPR.

Thinking about: Salvation History.  Looking forward to reading this book in more depth.  There's so much I feel like I don't understand about humanity in general I guess.  "Lord I believe, help my unbelief." 

Pictures to share: 

Snowy day (their awesome daddy took them out to play)!

Gemma and Kolbe after making popcorn ball snowmen with our sweet neighbor Miss Jo.

 
This year's ornaments!!

Clem riding around with Daddy (I love Kolbe peeking out of the bathtub in the background).

CHEESE!

One month

These pictures were taken exactly a month apart.  Seriously, almost to the hour.  My MIL offered to take the first one, as she thought it would be nice to have a picture of me with Gemma and Kolbe before "baby" was born.  Little did we know we would meet baby Clem less than 9 hours after the photo was taken.  I was leaving my inlaws' house on the 10th of August at about the same time in the evening and looking at my monkies children hanging off the tree and realized the timing, so we snapped another pic in the same spot a month later.  Amazing how much things can change in just a short month's time!!

Oh Clement!

...and if you are Catholic, go ahead and admit it, when you saw that you immediately thought: "oh loving, oh sweet Virgin Mary."  ;-D  Gemma giggles every time we pray the "Hail Holy Queen" now.  One day she asked me, "If we had a girl, would we say a different name in that prayer?"  I love the way her brain works. 

But I digress.  Good grief!  I can't believe baby boy is going to be a month this weekend.  Seriously?!  I mean, the newborn phase went fast with the other two.  But this time?  Oh my heavens.  A blink.  Nothing more.  Absolutely ridiculous I tell you.  I've made peace, and I'm cool (now) with him getting bigger and all.  But wow, unbelievable.

Clem is such a good baby.  He fits right in with our family and does a great job at putting up with the crazy shenanigans his older siblings pull on an hourly (or more often) basis.  As mellow a baby Kolbe was, Clem is every bit as mellow if not more-so.  It's like he knows he's just kind of along for the ride at this point, with two others under the age of five in our house.  He is just so sweet, we all love him very much.

Some things about him:

• He smacks his lips very sweetly when he is hungry.  Typically during the night I wake up to lip-smacking beside me, he usually doesn't even escalate to a cry. 
• He is loooooooooooong.  His 3-9 month size onesies are already a stretch.  Part of that is the cloth dipes, but still, he is just a longy everywhere...arms, legs, torso, even his TOES are long!  I need to weigh him as well, I know he has gained a lot since birth, and he wasn't particularly small then.
• He likes being worn and is often happy in his bouncy chair as well.  
• Still not a super huge fan of baths, but he likes having warm water poured over him.
• He's given us a few sweet smiles, but nothing incredibly "meaningful".  He definitely gets more interactive every day though.  When he is awake he is very quiet and alert, just taking it all in.
• His sis and bro really like holding him.  Gemma can actually be quite helpful in this department...it is interesting (and exciting) getting a taste of the help she will [hopefully] be in years to come.
• He wrinkles his forehead the same way Gemma did when she was a baby.  Soooooo cute.

That's about all I suppose.  I could gush more, but maybe I should just save it for the baby book.  ;-D  Here are a few pics to share from the past month.

SMILE!

We like our cloth diapers!!

After bathtime

WE LOVE YOU CLEMENT!!!!!

Baby is here!

Our sweet baby boy arrived this past Wednesday!  Clement Paul was born on July 11 at 1:58 AM, weighing 8lbs 6.5oz and 19 inches long.  I had an inkling I might be in labor that evening, but honestly still wasn't sure.  I even painted my toenails around 9pm!  We called my mom to come over with our sleeping children around 11pm, and I still wasn't even sure if they'd keep me if we went in.  I need to learn that when I'm in denial, that's a sure sign it's the real thing.  We got to the BirthCare Center at midnight, and he was born just two hours later.  It was intense but good, I am so blest.  We were able to go home that evening and are slowly but surely settling into life as a family of five.  Here are some pics of our sweet little guy...we love him sooooo much!!

Our family of FIVE!

Meeting brother and sis for the first time!

She is captivated by him!

Brand new baby boy

Dressed and ready to head home

First day at home

Sis and bro

BROTHERS!!!!

Cute cloth diapers . . . and a sleepy little smile!!

Two days old, awake and alert