Wheaton College

Last weekend we headed out to Wheaton College, and it brought back some really fun memories for me!  My parents were supposed to be in town and Micah had been talking FOR.EV.ER about going to a football game with Papa C, but unfortunately 1/3 of the way in the trip I got a call that my dad was sick.  After accepting what they had been denying for 3 hours, they turned around and drove back home.  It turned out to be a smart move, as my dad had a 101 degree fever and was not doing well, but we were definitely all sad to not spend time with them, as the boys haven't seen them since end of July!  Oh well, such is life, and thankfully they'll be back up in a couple of weeks for Gemma's dedication.

We decided to try and go to the football game regardless, but to not impact nap times too much. Well, that turned in to a later afternoon that we planned and ended up getting to the football game with 40 seconds left on the clock in the 4th quarter.  Oops!  Oh well :)  The boys had a great time going on the field afterwards and then we headed in to the Todd Beamer Center and warmed up with some hot chocolate.  After that we toured the campus for a bit, even grabbing a picture with me and the kiddos by the infamous "Wheaton College" sign, and then back to the car to head to dinner.  It was a fun afternoon and brought back lots of memories of my time there 16 years ago.  WHOA.  Even just writing that makes me realize how old I've become.  Wow.

Best part was Christian being asked if he was a professor at the college, lol

Loving some hot chocolate!

Love this picture with me and the kids!

Sweet baby girl.

Gemma Jam is 5 months old!

Five months.  Already.  Next month will be half a year!! Time...SLOW.DOWN!

This has been a fun month and I feel that I'll continue to say that each month from here on out.  The teething may throw a wrench in those plans, but aside from that, I just feel like the months get better and better as babies are more and more interactive.  Gemma's big skill this month was learning how to roll both ways, making her quite a bit more mobile when she's lying on the floor now.  I'll put her on her play mat and she'll end up rolling and getting stuck by one of the cross bars, oops!  Teething has not been too enjoyable, and while there are no teeth, Gemma is drooling like crazy and loves chewing on my fingers, so much more than her pacifier!  Micah continues to fawn all over her and Reid's started saying in the sweetest voice, "Hiiiii Gemma" and it's just heart melting.  Hopefully these boys always love their little sister like they do now!

Dr. Stats:  15.5 pounds (65%)

Things to remember:

• how you started rolling from back to tummy and can now move around the room, rolling both ways!
• how much you love to put my fingers in your mouth (hence the above pictures) and are drooling like crazy, but no teeth are making their appearance any time soon it seems.
• how you have become much more vocal this month
• how much you love to look at faces and try to grab my face and bring it close.  I love it, Gemma!!
• how I am still able to get you asleep in the Ergo, but it's becoming harder as you're much more aware of the world around you now
• how well you're doing in the car.  I'm so proud of you Gemma and so glad we're at this point now!
• how you get a death grip on any hand in your grasp
• how you really enjoy sitting in your bumbo watching Mama work in the kitchen
• how you love your brothers but aren't quite sure what to think about the crazy attention they give you
• how much your face lights up when you see your Daddy
• how you smile with your whole body
• how you are making gains in the nap department...not enough to call it done for me, but you're definitely making progress.

We love you baby girl.  You're beautiful and we're blessed.  Can't believe next time I write this it'll be for 6 months!  

Silly Selfies

I decided to take some selfies with my boys last week.  We were just being goofy, but I love them and love the pictures documenting our fun moments together!

I also just had a couple of random pictures to include.  Reid in his crazy yogurt eating, and Micah loving on his baby sister.  Oh, how I LOVE THESE KIDS!!!

Happy Halloween

Well, Halloween was quite different than last year, and that I am grateful for.  Last year Christian was in London (I think - international at least, I know that) the boys were both really sick, as was I - both nauseous from pregnancy and weak and sick with a horrible cold and/or flu.  I had called in Grandma and Grandpa for reinforcements, and I seriously didn't know how I was surviving.  That week was the worst I can remember feeling, ever.  And to top it all off, it was stormy and rainy Halloween night.  Grandpa ended up taking Micah out for 15 minutes of trick or treating around our townhouse community, and called it a night.   What a downer of a Halloween!

This year had to top last year.  And that it did, though the weather was still abysmal.  It was 70 degrees on Monday, and then last night it was a real feel of 34 degrees with 35 mph wind gusts!!  Seriously??  This is what we were entertained by while eating breakfast:

Yes, that's snow!!  We couldn't believe what we were seeing and seemed like a perfect but not perfect way to start Halloween.  Reid didn't even get to see it because he was still sleeping and it had melted by the time he woke up!  The snow disappeared but the wind did not.  The evening came, Daddy came home, and the boys trekked out to get some candy.  Due to the craziness of timing and weather, I never did get Gemma fully dressed in her costume and only have pieces of her for Halloween.  Oh well!  Next year will be a different story, I'm sure :)

Gemma in her cow outfit.  Not her costume for Halloween, but I felt it was a nice and warm outfit for the day!  I'm loving her facial expressions right now!!

Love this pic!

Picture 1 of 2 of "Super Gemma"  She's missing her cape and bow here.

Captain America. The one picture I got with his mask on.  Micah's head's a bit on the large side for it to fit comfortably, lol.

Captain America and Pooh.

Sweet baby girl.  

The boys got all dressed and were waiting for Daddy to get home, so they began wrestling. Thankfully they had a good wrestling session and worked up an appetite, so I fed them some sandwiches while they calmed down and watched a show.

Finally Daddy's home from his 2.5 hour commute from Chicago, and off we go!!

The day could've been a little warmer, making for better trick-or-treating conditions, but the boys had fun and that's all any mom could ask for :)