6.25.2012

Our nights–3 years later

One of my favorite things I ever did was take this video of our nightly routine when the babies were 7 months old.  You remember it? 

Boy, our nights are a lot different now…almost 3 years later, HOLY cow!  I thought I would share how our nights are now especially since our nights may change soon (but hopefully not!) as we will be converting the kids to big boy/girl beds in the next couple of months.  Yes, they are still in their cribs.  We have been very blessed that they have never tried to climb out.  Not even ONE of them!  They can climb in all day long, but never try to get out and hey, I’m alright with keeping them in their cages Winking smile

So our nights now…a little less exhausting, a little more fun, a little less routine (just a tad less) and not quite as long (the actual baths and putting to bed part.)  Our basic schedule looks a little like this:

6ish – supper

6:30 – 7:30ish – play time…usually outside at playground or sometimes we swim

7:30-8ish – baths/showers

8-8:30 – family time – reading, playing upstairs, prayers, and tuck ins

Here are pictures from tonight’s family time.  Hey guys show me your…

happyHappy face Open-mouthed smile
(M,S,R,J)

bashfulShy faceEmbarrassed smile

sadSad face Sad smile

madMad faceAnnoyed
Ha!  I’m thinking only Madden has this one down!

sillySilly face Confused smile

surpriseAnd my personal favorite…Surprise face Surprised smile

Tuck in time!  Since everyone has their own room, we actually get a little one on one time with each one before bed, which I LOVE – even if it IS just a couple of minutes…when you have multiples that one-on-one time is priceless!  We put the kids to bed in same order every night and even for naps so there is never any arguing about who gets to go first or last.  It just has to do with the order of their bedrooms – boys first because they are upstairs and Sloan is last because she is downstairs.  It’s just how we do it and it’s all they know!  The kids can be so alike a times but more often they are different.  And with their bedtime habits/routines, it is no different.  I just love that.

Rocco is first.  He and Madden always tries to get the most out of us…”one more song”, “one more kiss.”  It’s always something.  He is all giggles when he gets in his bed.  Everything is funny.  I sing him a few songs and he has to sing me one every night – sweetest music ever!  I just love my Rocco lullabies.  Some of his favorites are Itsy Bitsy Spider, Jesus loves me,me,me, and Twinkle Twinkle little star.  Rocco has a few stuffed animals he sleeps with but the thing that is different about him is that he has to have EVERY blanket (4 total) on top of him…and don’t let any of his feet stick out.  Y’all we don’t keep our house that cool, but it works for Rocco.   Oh yeah, and his baby pillow has to be fluffed and straight – and he let’s me know if it’s not “fixed.”  Just a few OCD tendencies there ;)

IMG_1443SO loveable!

IMG_1442Rocco with his many blankets

After I get Rocco settled, I go into Madden’s room.  He is almost always “hiding” from me in his corner.  There’s always a laugh when I “find” him and I (& daddy) get a big hug and a pat before putting peanut in his bed.  I sing to Madden too.  But I have to make sure it’s not an encore of my set with Rocco.  If I start one, he’ll quickly remind me “No, you sang that to Rocco!”  LOL  or I’ll often get “you sang that last night!”  Geez…tough crowd(although I know this is just another one of his stall tactics)! His favorites are Baa, Baa Black Sheep, Jack and Jill, and Barney’s I love you.  Madden has just as many blankets and animals in his bed, but he crams them all to one end and only sleeps with his small chick and small baby blanket that just covers his back.  He sleeps on a standard sized pillow though.  He also plays with his hair when he is falling asleep.  Madden is also the most concerned about what is happening tomorrow so we usually have a quick talk about the day’s events – whatever helps you sleep little dude! Daddy usually has to go back in with Madden (after we have tucked in Jagger but before we go downstairs) to cure some ailment he has come up with ;)  But after that Madden is good for the night.

IMG_1444Madden “hiding”

IMG_1459Madden’s sleep position of choice

Jagger is next.  He turns into a wild man once he gets in his crib.  I’m talking jumping, rolls, lots of excitement with Jagger!  He likes for me to spin him around before I put him in too.  I know, bedtime is supposed to be a time to calm down, but it hasn’t affected his sleeping and he likes it.  I get to sing for Jagger too but he likes more of the originals than covers.  For the past few weeks, I’ve had to sing a song about Canes' (yes, I’m talking about the fast food chain Raising Canes’)  And man, do I wish they had a clever little jingle because I KNOW it would be better with the tune I’ve come up with!  BUT he loves it!  It’s our little thing.  A second song and old faithful for Jagger is Old McDonald except he likes me to sing “lots of animals” instead of just one animal in the verse and do all the sounds together.  I’m serious, where does he get this stuff?!?  Jagger has a few comfort items in his bed but I’m not sure how much comfort they provide.  A pillow, he can take it or leave it…and usually leaves it.  No blanket to cover him.  Just jagger and the bed.  He has a mobile that plays music – but NEVER wants it on.  The other boys have one too and they like theirs playing and the lights on. 

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Sloan always comes and tucks each of the boys in too! And as you can see, I couldn’t get Jag to sit still to take a good picture!

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Silly boy, he did choose to sleep on his pillow pet tonight though

And lastly, Sloan.  A true sleeping beauty…and a girl after my own heart.  She loves her sleep and by FAR, is the easiest to put to bed.  There’s no silly singing, no shenanigans…just a few giggles, kisses, hugs and she is good.  I LOVE that about her and I especially love it after getting 3 boys settled that aren’t quite as easy.  Now, what doesn’t Sloan have in her crib?  Oh my.  How did this happen?  Try to take something out and the girl will know that it’s missing!  She just sleeps with her pillow, one blanket on top of her, and usually one animal(she’s not partial to one – changes it up each night) even though she is surrounded by a multitude of animals/blankets.  Another different thing about Sloan, she likes to have her “baby blanket” (it never got a nickname in our house, just “baby blanket”) cover her face.  She says “soft side” and we cover her face with her blanket (on the soft side) before walking out her room.  Daddy gets the final tuck in with Sloan while I usually get the final tuck in with the boys.  Isn’t that funny?  Not something that we have ever discussed or planned but just the way it has been.

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Look for Sloan on the next episode of Hoarders!

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Sloan and her “soft side” – btw, this is NOT like her momma…the thought of something covering my face like that…umm, no thank you!

Good night my sweet angels. Momma loves you.

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6.18.2012

A Daddy Day

We had lots of love to give to our daddy today especially since it was not only Father's day but also his birthday!  The day began with donuts with daddy at church.  It is a minor miracle to get us all to church on time (which happens rarely), but to get us there even earlier for donuts...well, we managed but just without pictures.  Here are a couple of pictures after church of the kids lovin' on daddy.

IMG_1227Fathers Day 2012
Rocco - blue
Madden - orange
Jagger - green

IMG_1231Daddy and his baby girl

IMG_1233Rocco giving kisses in a rather unconventional way ;)

Earlier this week, I brought the kids to the dollar store to let the kids pick out their own gifts for Nick.  They were so excited to "shop for daddy" and it was so cool (and very comical) to see their little personalities shine through the experience.  They each had a basket and loaded it up...literally.  Before we went through the checkout line, I had to assist them with narrowing down their selection to their favorites.  I put back things like tupperware, a toy story puzzle, 6 water bottles (the same size and color), a bag of marshmallows, and even a can of pumpkin pie filling.  They also picked out their own father's day card.  Given that they can't read (just in case I had to point that out), they really did pick out cards that suited them (or the gift - in Jagger's case.)

I had to do some major distraction and redirection to get the kids to forget about the gifts that night, but once I had them out-of-sight, they were out-of-mind.  For that reason, I waited until today after naps, to let the kids help wrap and "sign" their cards before we gave them to daddy. Here's the rundown...

Rocco - bought daddy ALL candy.  A bag of tootsie rolls, a snack pack of Snicker bars, Warheads sour candy, and mini Hersey's.  I think Rocco knows that the quickest way to daddy's heart is with candy...which is also is the quickest way to Rocco's.  All that is missing, Rocco, is a bag of Skittles.  BUT Daddy was very impressed and also very pleased. Rocco's card that he chose had a sweet puppy on it saying "Thanks" and "You're the best!" (Rocco is a big animal lover.)

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Madden - There wasn't much narrowing down his choices.  I guess everything he picked out was JUST what daddy needed.  He ended up with a stuffed dolphin(which he said his daddy was going to sleep with), a bag of ring pops, a rubber frog with orange gook in it, a bag of gummies, and a light up yo-yo. Nice Madden.  Daddy liked the variety, buddy.  His card was probably my favorite...had a picture of a daddy and baby goat on the front and said "Happy Father's Day from your weird kid."  :)

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Jagger - Ugh...this dude was the hardest to get to forget about his "gift for daddy."  He ended up choosing a small tonka truck, pez candy dispenser, and a green...ummm...plastic...ummm...chalice?  Ha!  I guess you could call it that.  I guess the gift made his card sort of appropriate because it said something about watching TV and drinking beer! You gave daddy a good laugh, Jagger. 

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Sloan - So this was probably the most thought-out shopping trip.  She didn't just load up her basket like the boys...she was careful in choosing her gifts.  I didn't have to sort through her basket as she only  picked two things.  A box of strawberry pop-tarts --which her Daddy eats almost every day of his life (well he likes chocolate, but she was sold on Strawberry only!) and also a very strategic gift, I think...a small porcelain cat.  This girl LOVES kitty cats and I think she would like her daddy to return the favor ;) Smart, Sloanie, very smart. Oh, and her card, a daddy and daughter...can you guess?...kitty cat!

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Group hug...

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Then we went to visit Grandaddy and Big Pop and wish them a Happy Father's Day.  Two of the greatest fathers anyone could ask for...

IMG_13353 generations of Lambes

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With Big Pop (and one of my new favorite pics!)

Not quite finished...

Tonight we had a birthday celebration for Nick and for my niece, Rylee, who will be 9 tomorrow. 

Rylee was so cute when she would open her presents, she would let out a high-pitched squeal. I love this picture of her unwrapping and 3 of the big boys behind her anticipating the squeal!

IMG_1346Nate, Griffin & Jude

The cake choices...

IMG_1336ooohhhh...

IMG_1338Yummm!

IMG_1358I'd say Sloan enjoyed her cake

IMG_1360Put a smile on Madden's face too!

IMG_1356The birthday peeps, 9 and 39 never looked so good!
Happy Birthday Rylee!

Happy Father's Day and Birthday Nick! I love you!

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6.12.2012

A m♥mma's weekend

I know I’m just a tad late posting about this, but I had such a great mother’s day weekend that I had to share.

So, it started with a night out with my girl…our first real momma/daughter date ever.  My friends & I took our daughters to see Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream.  I had planned the night knowing that she may be a little young and could get a little restless, tired, etc. and fully expected to be leaving early.  Boy was I wrong!  She was the perfect age!  So amazed by everything…completely enthralled by all the princesses and other characters.  It was truly a special night for us a both!

IMG_1021My little princess awaiting her chariot

Before the show, we all met for dinner at Lucy’s downtown.  So much fun!

IMG_1023Heather with Mikalyn & Carli

IMG_1024Sissy & Rylee

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Avery and her momma, Ashley
(Sidenote: Ashley and I have been friends since we were Avery’s age if not younger.  Pretty cool to do fun things with our daughters together!)

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Mary-Kate and her momma, Katie

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Kaitlyn, aka Sleeping Beauty, with her momma, Casey

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The girls
(Sloan, Mary-Kate, Avery, & Kaitlyn)

We got to our seats just in time for the show…perfect planning Winking smile

photo (1)Love this…this is how she looked the whole night!

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She didn’t even want to take her eyes off the rink to take a pic

As soon as I saw the man with the cotton candy, I had to get Sloan some since she had never had it before.  I just knew she was gonna love it!  Wrong.  Not only did she not like it, she spit it out! Ha!   So she was quite content with this…

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Sloan with her tub-o-popcorn.

It was a great night and a late one for us, especially since we had to get up early because we were driving to Mississippi to spend the day with my family at one of the state park/campgrounds.  We got to spend the day with my mom & dad, maw-maw, aunts & uncles, some cousins & their kids, and my brothers & families too.  The kids were excited to go “camping” (even if it was just for the day) because they LOVE to be outside. 

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Sprinkler fun!

IMG_1075Lovin’ on the camp kitty

IMG_1080Jagger – ready to go fishing

IMG_1081Rocco taking it easy

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Down by pier, playing in the water…

Big Pop took them on their first boat ride.  A little unsure at first, but ended up loving it.  I see a lot of boat rides in their future, especially with daddy and Grandaddy since they are the big fishers!

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Jagger & Sloan

IMG_1095Me with Madden & Rocco (& wild hair!)

Another great day with the fam! 

Sunday, we went to church and then took a loooooong nap after lunch – one of my MOST favorite things to do on Sundays.  Then Nick gave me one of the best presents by taking the kids out of the house for a couple of hours so I could get some housework done.  Yep, I loved every minute of it!  Nothing like cleaning with the music cranked up and no kids under your feet Winking smile

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Mother’s day is always a special day for me and a sweet reminder of how far we have come and how blessed I am.  I love this little life of mine.

P.S.  This weekend will be a daddy weekend, especially since his birthday falls on Father’s day this year.  How special is that?!?

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