My Big Three Year Old

These big smiles pretty much sum up the love of life that this little guy demonstrates!  We just celebrated his 3rd birthday!  There is truly never a dull moment with him and he is truly making his entrance into the "threes" known to us all!  Nate always says whoever coined the term the terrible twos had not yet had a three year old!  That has proven true with HK & Nolan and looks like Liam is not going to let us down!  He is so very opinionated and just says whatever is on his mind.  He is oh so pushing the boundary of authority in our home as well.  Yet his love of just everything is so contagious you cannot stay upset with him too long.  

Above he has proudly worked one of his puzzles he got for his birthday.

He likes to run around in his new "underwears".  

We pretty much talked all of July, August, and September that he would start wearing underwear on his birthday because they no longer made diapers for three year olds.  We seriously talked about this almost every day.  So come September 20th, he knew that the big boy underwear were going on and the diapers were going bye-bye.  He asked for Jake, Micky Mouse, and Batman underwear.  He got some of each and then some.  He is well stocked in the underwear department.  

His birthday was on a Friday.  He had about 3 or 4 accidents between Friday and Sunday morning.  There was so much going on all weekend it was hard to be thinking about potty training.  Since a week ago Sunday morning, he has not had an accident.  He has peed and pooped in the potty every time. He has stayed dry during every nap and every night.  He even got up at 4 am one night to pee and went back to bed...all by himself.  I was honestly prepared for the biggest battle because back in June when we tried it was a disaster.  Though he knew what to do, he showed no interest all summer.  So when he pretty much just started pooping, peeing, and staying dry all on his own, I was shocked.  Thrilled to no end, but honestly surprised.  Everywhere we go he tells people that he pees in the potty.  He told the dermatologist last week and Rachel Durham when we saw her at Wal-mart.  He does so quite proudly!  

So our big three year old marked his entrance into this year using the potty like a pro!  What a relief!

I also love this picture!!!  He bought this Iron Man outfit at Wal-mart with his birthday money.  He had to put it on as soon as we got home.  He stuck his chest and hands out making the sound that whatever it is he is doing makes.  On any given day, he is either Iron Man, Batman, Jake, or Mike the Knight.  On some days, he changes personalities many times.  I love to watch his imagination at work!  I am think these boys might play make believe and dress up more than HK did at their age.  It might be a toss up.  Either way, it is so entertaining to watch!

He is just getting too big!

Two Months Old - DJ

Dathan Jude weighed in at a whoppin' 12 lbs 12 oz at his two month old check up!

His head also measured in the 90th% keeping up with our history of big Oldham baby heads (which comes from me and thus the Wilson line of big heads).  

The doctor said he was an extremely alert baby and had all kind things to say about him!  We really liked his new doctor.  Guess we will go back again in two more months.  

Had to document the first time he wore his first Cubs gear!

Town & Country Days can take it out of a little guy!  It wore him out!

 

Dathan Jude (which is all Liam calls you), you are starting to smile so much at us this month.  Liam also loves when you smile at him.  He gets so excited.  He just can't keep his hands off of you!

You can sleep up to 8 hours at a stretch at night.  You usually go anywhere from 6-8 hours for which Mommy is very grateful!  You do so well at just tagging along sleeping when you need to.  Thus is the life of the 4th baby when there are places to go and things to do.  You adapt quite well my little guy.  

We look forward to seeing your personality continuing to grow and develop over the next few months.  

We love you Dathan Jude!

Figuring Out Four

We are slowly but surely starting to figure out four.  Some days are better than others.  Some days are great.  Some days are disasters!  Some days are fun and some are just out right exhausting.  

By the end of this day...I was exhausted!

Conquered Aldi and Kroger

Thank goodness for the Mobi Wrap!  The ability to have your hands free, have two kids with you that need restraint, and still have room for your groceries is a good reason to have a Mobi!  It makes me hotter than all get out...but the job got done!

Almost Three

This little mouse is getting ready to turn three...

Yes, only 4 more days.

I told him today that his birthday was in 4 days.  To that he replied, "I know dat Mommy."

He also knows that his birthday is September 20th.  

He is pretty excited for Friday!

Boy Wonder

Any given day any given child could be any given superhero!

That's how we roll around here:  The Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Batman, Catwoman, Iron Man, Superman, Hulk, Spiderman, Captain America, Super Liam...or sometimes a combination like Captain Bat.  We also like to mix and match superhero wardrobe pieces.  

Dathan Jude got to have his first superhero experience last week.  Liam decided that he needed to be Robin...a.k.a. Boy Wonder.  Then Batman proceeded to smother Robin with kisses.  I told him that I didn't think that was how this whole superhero gig thing worked...

I think Dathan agreed.  

Cutest cheeks I've ever seen Boy Wonder have!!!

Just a Simple Picture

I wanted to get a picture of all four kiddos in their coordinating Big Bro, Big Sis, Little Bro shirts that we made for the hospital.  Dathan is about to outgrow his onesie so my time was running out!!!

I finally remembered to get them all in their shirts...

And I got them on the loveseat...

That's about where the success ends.

To get Liam to cooperate I had to use Dathan Jude as the bargaining chip.  He wanted to hold his baby brudder.  At that point, Dathan chose not to cooperate and began crying loudly.  He continued to do this until Liam started crying because, "Baby Brudder is so loud".  It was actually a humorous moment.  

So to get Liam to stop crying and please HK I moved Dathan to her lap.  Well Liam was not happy that he was not holding Baby Brudder.  So of course...he pouted.  

I think Nolan just has a fake smile frozen on his face!

Dathan decided to cry again.  It didn't bother Nolan as much.  I used this opportunity to get a picture of his shirt!

He finally calmed down.  

Nolan finally decided to give me a genuine smile...maybe Dathan helped with that.

And Liam....well just continued to be Liam.  He is now getting very upset that he is still not holding Baby Brudder again.  

There you have it.

All I wanted was a simple picture.

Guess I had better get use to a simple picture requiring a lot of work!

A Liam Moment

You have special moments when one of your children says something that you want to remember forever.  You say you are going to write it down, but then you forget.  

Well I am not going to forget this Liam moment!

8/24/13 - A Liam Moment

Dathan was asleep while HK and Nolan were at school.  Liam and I were eating lunch together just the two of us.  We were sitting on the bench seat at the table when Liam said, "Momma you are my best friend." 

Pause for hear to melt.
Then I looked at him and said, "Ahhh buddy that is so sweet."  I leaned in to kiss him when he pulled back...

and said, "No your face is dirty."  Guess I must have had some ketchup on my face I was saving for later.  Then I laughed and replied, "You are a rotten egg."

To that Liam said, "I DON'T WANT TO BE A ROTTEN EGG!"

Liam just remember that there was a day when Mommy was your best friend and a dirty face actually bothered you!  You have such an opinion and am most of the time I am quite entertained by what comes out of your mouth!  I hope you will always have this joy and zest for life!

Chunky Cheeks

This picture is to document his very first U of I apparel.  

 Can you show me some chunky cheeks???

How can you not want to kiss and squeeze those things!!!

We weighed last Thursday and he was 10 lbs 11 oz.  Hopefully will get him weighed today or tomorrow, but I am guessing he is all of 11+ lbs!  

Stay tuned to watch those cheeks get chunkier!

Big Brothers Can Be Big Helpers

Side note:  all of my pictures recently have been taken with my phone.  So they aren't the best, but they will work in a pinch!  

Well okay...maybe not so helpful but pretty funny that he thinks this pillow is for him to veg-out in while playing with Nolan's Leapster!

Nolan is pretty good at making his bed on the top bunk.  This morning he was doing it without being asked and was showing Liam how to make his bottom bed at the same time!  It was pretty sweet until...

Liam began getting very frustrated and started having a high speed come apart because "it's not working"!!!

The boys (especiallly Liam) like to give Dathan his paci.

Liam will just leave his finger in there for the longest time.  

I had to ask him to pull his finger out.  

Liam also likes to help burp Dathan.  One day he smacked Dathan's back instead of patting it and DJ started to cry really loud.  It upset Liam so much that he had done that.  He went and hid under the table and was crying.  Liam also likes to crawl up in my chair with Dathan and I.  We talk to Dathan and sing him songs.  Liam kisses him at least two dozen times (no exaggeration)!  This kid LOVES being a Big Brother (and cousin for that matter).

Imagination @ Work

I love their imaginations, but sometimes all three of them combined are enough to make me crazy!

Lately, all they want to do is empty all of the blankets out of the hall closet and make "hide-outs"!  This definitely makes me crazy though I do admire their creativity.  

This day after school they opted for something different.  This day was actually my birthday. 

They used the benches from the table and the piano bench.  These were their horses.  You can see Nolan's head of his horse is Spiderman and Liam's is Iron Man.  HK has made hers a bit more abstract.  

Also notice the ribbons coming off the back for tails!  

They also have raincoats on because it is raining "outside"!

I loved watching them play like this (even though it still makes me a little crazy I try to let it go)!

Letting go is something I am working on more and more all of the time!  

Slow Down

Oh My Goodness...

I was looking for another picture when I came across this one.  I am having a little trip down memory lane.   Big sigh..teary eyes... this was Nolan's 2nd birthday!  I cannot believe that he will soon be 5!!!  That little face is so precious and sweet just like his spirit.  He truly has a tender and sweet heart.  Oh yes he has his ornery testosterone filled moments, but in the end he is such a kind-hearted little boy.  He is actually alot like his Daddy!

Looking at this picture makes me realize how fast time is passing and how I need to slow down and treasure these moments.  I recently shared a link to an article on FB about needing to refrain from  using the words "hurry up" and instead slow down the pace.  I invite you to go and read it.  It was so convicting and humbling.  I don't want them to hurry up too fast.  I want to slow down and treasure the wet sloppy kisses and oh so sweet hugs that my boys are so good at sharing.  I want to slow down and listen to what she has to say even when I feel like there are so many other things to do.  For all too soon, all these little years for all four of them will only be memories!  So tomorrow I vow to snuggle more and listen more!  

Puzzles are the Key

Puzzles (and sometimes Disney Junior) are the key to how I manage to get a shower without Liam bothering Dathan!

We bring a huge stack into the bathroom and Liam works them like the amazing little puzzle solver that he has become!  

That my children is how your Mom manages to get her shower in these early days of four children.  

My Big Helper

I am going to have more help then I know what to do with...

We were down helping Nana with a job yesterday around lunch time.  Nana was getting ready to feed Jaxon his baby food.  Liam pulled the bar stool right in front of the high chair.  We thought he was getting it for Nana.  He preceded to crawl up into it and looked at Nana.  He said, "I want to feed Jaxon."  So Nana let him.  It was so adorable!  He actually did a really good job.  With every bite he would open his mouth really big like Jaxon (you can see it in the picture).  Then he was upset because some baby food got on his hand.  Nana was cleaning it off for him while he continued to hold the jar of food in the other hand.  He wasn't paying attention and his other hand was spilling the baby food all over the floor.  That's when I jumped in and decided he was done. He had done a great job but it was probably enough for the first endeavor!  

I believe he will be ready to change diapers in the next six months!

A DJ Update

Here are some sweet pics of the first few weeks of Dathan's life at home.  

Snuggle time with Daddy!

I have managed quite a bit of sweet snuggle time myself!

His precious monkey toes!

It's a tough life

So I can pretend that it's a real smile...not just gas!

This is his picture on his due date!

We have been having weekly weight checks at Daddy's office

Four Days Old:  6 lbs 15 oz

Week 1:  7 lbs 

Week 2:  7 lbs 14 oz

Week 3:  9 lbs (on his due date)

Week 4:  9 lbs 10 oz (this was on 8.14.13)

He is packing on the ounces!

Speaking of...time to go feed the little guy!

The Honorary Daughter

 Sometimes people walk into your life and end up feeling like a part of your family before you even realize it!

That's what happened with Jessica.  We have known Jessica almost all of her life growing up in church with she and her family.  However, when we moved back to Eldorado three years ago she became a regular babysitter for us.  We would joke and say she was our teenage daughter.  She became more than just a babysitter.  She was like a big sister and role model to our children.  She was someone we could completely trust and rely upon.  That is huge when you are talking about leaving your children with someone.  When we would get home from an evening out, she would often just sit and chat with us for quite awhile before going home.  She went the extra mile in caring for our children and our home.  She would often go with the kids and I places just to help me so whatever it was we were doing would be more enjoyable (especially this past summer while I was pregnant).  She even went on vacation to the beach with us this summer and that was fantastic!  

Needless to say, our kids adore her!

On vacation the kids would argue over who would get to sit by Jessica at meals.  

Yet, she had to go and graduate high school on us!  She left last week for Union University, my alma mater.  We jokingly tell her that the only reason we let her go away to school (and leave us) is because she is going to Union.  Though we miss her dearly, we are so excited for the journey that lies ahead!  

We went by the night before she left so we could say good-bye and have FUN!

HK hugged and hugged and hugged.  We told her to make her hug last for two months!  She almost did.

Liam gave her a signature smacker of his!

Nolan gave his sweet hugs too!

We LOVE you Jess and though we miss you, we are so excited for you!