Pumpkin Patchin'

Last Friday Lauren and I decided to meet up at the pumpkin patch at the last minute. Any chance I get to hang out with her, Ill jump on it! 

In fact, we have even meet down at the trail a couple times in the last month on a Sunday morning--it was Tripp's first time down there! 

Back to the pumpkin patch...we got there and realized it was closed in the mornings, so we weren't able to buy any pumpkins, but were able to go in and run around, aka--follow Judson around,  take some pictures and catch up.

Judson was pretty pumped to see "Baby Tripp," and in fact, even gave him a nickname of Potato Tripp!

 Tripp on the other hand, was not quite as excited! :)

It was the perfect way to spend our Friday morning!

Just Because

Pop and Effie Come To The Ball Field

My mom had a trip planned to go to Maine with some friends. My dad is totally 100% lost when my mom is away. He starts missing her before she even leaves. Ethan, Rachel and I joke that we need to set up a care calendar to check on him and go by the house. So on the weekend she was gone, he and Ethan came down for the boys baseball game. He was certainly missing my mom, but that didnt stop him from being the dad that we know...the one where we have to say to him "Dad, stop it! Your embarassing us, or keep it down!" It brought back so many memories of asking my dad not to embarasse me when we were kids! He cheered for every kid, loud whistles during the game, yelled"great clip!" everytime someone was up to bat,or would say "now, he is a hitter!" and cheered loudly for Owen and Cash. He told the poor 12 year old ref that he missed a spot after he cleaned off home plate--poor kid didnt know if he was joking or not! But it was so great having them there.

Dear Owen

This year you turned 8 years old. You have sprouted up and have just about caught up with Eli's height. You guys get asked daily if yall are twins. Lately yall have been looking more and more alike. You just started 2nd grade, and it is no surprise that your teacher has already e-mailed me with some kind things you did the first week of school. You have such a gentle heart.

You requested these cookies for your "cake for breakfast" on your birthday

And you requested Subway for lunch at school with me

You have become quite the emotional roller coaster these days, but you snap out of it fairly quickly. But geez louise, you have such a kind heart. The other day, I was feeling frustrated and needed to walk away from Tripp for a minute to collect myself. He was in our bedroom, swaddled up in his bassinett. You looked at me and said "are you just going to leave him there crying?!?!?!" I told you that I needed just a second to take some deep breaths. And then the crying stopped. I walked in the room to find you calming him down and ultimately putting him to sleep! I walked in and said "Owen, that is so sweet, thank you" and your response was "I just love him so much." But you do kindhearted things all the time. I am so proud to be your mom.

You have made a lot of  new friends this year, your doing amazing in 2nd grade, and the best of all--you started playing baseball! You were feeling a little lost last year and couldnt find something that you wanted to do/play. But after watching Cash play a year of baseball, you decided to give it a shot. You are doing AMAZING!!! I hope you decide to keep at it, I see so much potential in you. I know you get nervous sometimes when your out there playing because you may not be able to react fast enough with the right reaction, but that will come with time and experience. I just love watching you out there. Not to mention how special it is that you and Cash get to play on the same team this season.

O and your buddy Wyndsor

You are (almost) always willing to lend me a hand when I need help of ask someone to do something for me. You probably haven't figured this out quite yet, but you could get just about anything from your dad. If I get mad at you, he will say "but its Owey" and tells me to back off.

You have been asking me to take you out of school early to spend some one on one time together--tomorrow is going to be our day! I am so excited to be with you one on one and hear everything you want chat about.

I am so sorry I am so late in posting this. Life is a little crazy over here and this blog has taken a backseat!

Five months!

I really do not think I was prepared for how much Tripp would impact the big boys lives. I have to say, I think it has enriched their lives tremendously. It is amazing to watch them with him. To see how much love they have for him. How much they care for him. How much they want to help him, teach him, care for him. They are so proud to show him off to their friends. Right now they are really big into wanting to hold him and get him out of bed. They take turns and argue on whose turn it is to put him in his car seat or who got him out of bed last. They are always coming over to say hi and play with him. We are 5 months into this thing and they still like him! :)

Tripp is officially 5 months old! He is rolling over from front to back and back to front. He loves sucking on his toes (?!?!?), his paci's, sometimes his thumb, is very handsy, incredibly smiley, easy going and calm. We have finally put him on something that resembles a schedule, and even though I was very hesitant, I must admit that it has made things, aka sleep, better.
He talks a lot. Rarely cries. Loves seeing his brothers walk into the room. He is at that phase where he knows when a stranger is picking him up and he. does. not. like. it. He frequents soccer practises and baseball games and loves being outside. Scaring him and tickling him are the sure things to get him to laugh. He loves baths. Hates being on this tummy.

I honestly did not know it was possible to enjoy having a baby so much. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED all my babies and enjoyed them. But this time around is so much different. I only have ONE baby to care for. We are more relaxed, a little more seasoned (who are we kidding--older), and have a slightly clearer idea on how to care for a baby without stressing the small stuff. It has been such a ride these past 5 months.