Big brothers loving their little sister!

Ava was hanging out on the bed with me when he brothers came in and started loving her a bit too much! They are pretty good with her, although, I do have to keep on eye on Jack as he will just smother her to pieces!

Our silly Jack!

I haven't posted as much or taken very many pictures the past couple of weeks due to a nasty cold being passed around our house. Two weeks ago Samuel got sick with croup, then a few days later Jack got it. After the croup cough was gone they both got bad head colds. About a week ago I started not feeling well and now I have a cold. I tried so hard to keep Ava from getting it.....I washed my hands a million times a day, used hand sanitizer all day and wore a mask over my nose and mouth. Even after all that she still got sick.......so while Sam and Jack are almost over their colds, Ava and I are still suffering! I just hope it doesn't turn into RSV! Here are a few pictures of our cute Jack over the past couple of weeks. This kid makes me laugh....he pulls the best faces sometimes! We caught him sitting in the bin full of play food......sleeping with the pillow over his head, and falling asleep in his little red chair We love you Jack....you always bring excitement into our home!

Some more cute things the boys have said/done

• I heard Samuel one day say...... you go to time out for 5 minutes.....I assumed he was talking to Jack....then I hear him say, you need to say sorry.....good job paint horse. He was talking to one of the many horses we have!
• We were looking for one of Jack's horse, we finally looked in the boys room. Sam says to me, the horse is not behind my back. He was lying down in bed on his back. I took him seriously, but when Jake came in and Sam told him "the horse isn't behind my back"Jake looked behind his back and sure enough the horse was right there. Sam was laughing and said I got you!! That little stinker was teasing me!
• Jack got a hold of Jake's scriptures....he said he wanted to read Jesus. I told him to put them away so that he wouldn't rip the pages....he protested and said "no no I want to read story to Ava...I want to read Jesus!!"
• We were eating dinner and Sam was playing with Ava, he was eating an egg noodle and asked if Ava could have one....I replied....no not yet....remember Sam she can only eat mommy's milk......he says to me, that's not eating that's drinking!
• We were getting ready to start the dishwasher......Jack closed up the soap dispenser and they both closed up the dishwasher door. As they closed it up Sam replies happily....good teamwork!!
• I was playing camping with the boys and Sam says to me...... check this out mom!! He was so excited to show me a trick....I don't even remember what it was I just thought it was so cute to here him say check this out!!
• Jack saw a picture of Ava on the computer where she was sad and he looks at the screen really close and says "its ok sweetie, don't be sad
• Jack was crying I asked him what was wrong he said his friend mickey mouse scared him
• I catch the boys playing around at nap time......under their beds, in each others beds, on the floor......I go in to tell them to go to bed and every time Jack saysto me....you scare me mom!!
• We were playing hide and seek.....Jake and Sam were hiding and me and Ava and Jack went to find them. Jake and Sam tricked us by going back to where we were counting. I asked Sam where they were hiding and Sam wanted to tell me but Jake tells him not to tell cause its a secret....Sam just was smiling and laughing he wanted to tell me so bad but he also wanted to listen to his dad. I asked him again and agin where he was hiding and Sam finally pointed to the spot they hid at. He didn't say a word just pointed. It was so funny. So he did what I wanted and showed me where and he also listened to his dad by not telling me where they had hid. Sam is such a smart boy.
• Ava was sitting in her chair starting to cry. Jack goes up to her and says its ok sweetie..... monsters are just pretend. He loves to look out for his little sister.
• Sam comes up to me and tells me something is cold in his tummy and says there is ice in my tummy that's why its cold!
• We were getting ready to watch a movie....Sam said he wanted to watch cartoons on tv and jack wanted to watch a movie. Sam says he doesn't like movies only cartoons. Jack yells that he wants a movie so Sam says FINE we will watch a movie then!! He says this like he is all upset because he doesn't get his way.
• Jack wasn't feeling good, lays down on the floor and so Sam comes up to him and says do you want me to sing you a song jack...so Sam and I sang songs to him as we rubbed his back. Sam is such a sweet boy!!
• Jack was singing happy....stomp feet...clap hands......I realized he was trying to sing if you're happy and you know it! He is so cute when he sings songs. He loves to sing and dance and knows a lot of primary songs!
• Jack was praying one night at dinner time....here is how it went.
• Dear Heavenly Father.....thank you for the prophet ( he says this at the beginning of every prayer.....it is really cute) he goes on to say thank you for my horsey cup......thank you for my apple......in name of Jesus Christ Amen
• We were playing hide and seek......Sam wanted Jake and I to hide together and Samuel and Jack would find us. Jake turned to me and asked are you going to hide with her.....I said yeah.....I do it all the time when you're at work. Sam then turns to me and says with his arms extended out.... here.....I'll take her!! He is so sweet, always trying to help out!
• Sam turns to Jack one day when Jack was sick and asks him " here, do you want me to sing you a song to make you feel better?"
• Another one of Jacks prayers.....Dear Heavenly Father....thank for prophet.....we will watch Beauty and Beast.........We will cuddle with mommy......we will cuddle with Ava......name of Jesus Christ Amen.
• Jake was getting ready to leave for work one morning......Jack asks him "are you coming back?" Then he asks him you going to buy me a new horse?" That kid loves horses.....I don't think we will ever have enough!

Sick Boys!

Can I just say I am so tired of winter, being stuck indoors and all the sickness we have had! It seems like someone in our family is sick every other week. This past week we have had the nasty croup cough that lasts for a few days and then turns into an awful head cold. Luckily, so far, it has only hit Sam and Jack.....we are praying little Ava doesn't get it! I cannot wait until everyone is all better again! It is the worst being a parent and seeing your children so sick. Every time Jack coughs he tells me he doesn't feel well and then he wants to cuddle with me. Poor little boys!! Here are some sweet pictures I took of the boys cuddling with their daddy! You can tell they are not quite feeling themselves!

Happy Valentines Day!

I decided it would be fun for the boys to make Valentines and cookies for their grandparents this year. The boys had so much fun making a mess with glue and glitter not to mention cutting out and decorating cookies! We have truly been blessed to have so many family and friends who we love and who love us! Happy Valentines Day!

Ava at three months!

Our sweet baby girl is three months old today!! Time sure does go by too quickly! Even though I do miss her being a newborn it has been fun to see her personality come out.

At 3 months.........

• We call her Ava bo bava, cutie wootie, sweetness, love and Jacks favorite..... baby Ava
• She loves hearing her voice and loves to hold conversations with us
• Kicks her legs and raises her hands when she is happy or gets excited about something
• She loves the changing table.....from the moment I put her down on the table she starts smiling and cooing at me. I'm not sure why she likes it so much but she does!
• She does not love a binky....we have tried the hospital soothie ones and the gerber nuk ones hoping she would take one of them but nope, she won't have anything to do with it! If we do try to give it to her it just makes her more mad as she gags and chokes on it. I know in the long run it will be nice that she doesn't take one but sometimes I wish she would at times like in the car, at church or evening fussy time.
• She spits up a lot thanks to reflux. We go through tons of burp rags, bibs and outfits throughout the day! Babies are so yummy after a bath but it's not long before she has spit up on her neck and smells sour again!
• She loves to be held by mommy in the sling and daddy at night before bed
• She is sleeping5-6 hours at night and then 4-5 hours again after eating
• Likes to sit in her bebe pod to watch her brothers play
• She loves her brothers and they love her!
• Wants attention all the time.....if she is ever sitting in her seat and gets a little fussy, we just pick her up and talk to her and she is in heaven again
• Has grown out of her newborn clothes and diapers, is wearing number one diapers and 0-3 months clothes and some 3-6 but those are still a little big on her.
• She is definitely a redhead.....at least for now! When she was born we coudn't tell if it was red or blond but it is red just like Samuel's hair. I love their color of red as it isn't so bright red.
• She really doesn't like tummy time....she can tolerate it for a few minutes but then after that she starts to get really fussy and seems to spit up several time while on her tummy.
• Hold her head up really well
• Loves to look at herself in the mirror
  
• Loves to try to stand up while holding her on my lap
• Loves to play pat-a-cake
  
• Not sure how much she weighs...somewhere between 9-10 lbs as she was 9 lbs at 2 months old
  

Can I cuddle with you?

One night after putting Jack in bed we heard him come out of his room and come into our room and this is what he had in his hands. He had brought everything that he sleeps with and was saying he wanted to cuddle with me. When Jake told him it was time for bed he pulled his famous frown face. So of course I gave in and cuddled with him in his bed for a few minutes. Oh and all this stuff in his hands is usually what he carries with him up and down the stairs. He always has at least four or five things in his hands. I am surprised he has only fallen down the stairs once and that was when we first moved here and the boys didn't know much about stairs!

In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes
I am a hero I am strong and wise
And I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I want to be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes
Everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light
And the world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me
Gives me strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand
Around my finger
Oh, It puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about
It's hanging on when your heart
Has had enough
It's giving more when you feel
Like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes
I can see the future
A reflection of who I am
And what will be
And though she'll grow
And someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see
How happy she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

I love this song by Martina Mcbride......the words touch my heart. I finally have my daughter.......Ava you are so special to me.

Come sit on my lap Jack!

We were getting ready to read a book together when Samuel asks Jack if he wanted to sit on his lap and of course Jack sat down on his brothers lap!

Could we have any more horses?

I found Jack lining up all his horses today.....and he didn't even have out every horse we have!! Everytime we go to Target he thinks he gets to pick out a new horse. I have a hard time saying no while it isn't so hard for Jake to say no. I don't realize how many horses we have until I see them all lined up....I am sure we will be getting more over time!