rice cereal and some randoms

Last week we started rice cereal with Brooks.  

Our doctor suggested starting right away with 2 servings a day to try to put a little more meat on his bones! Once again, NEVER EVER thought I would be saying that about one of my boys! 

He did a pretty good job for his first time eating solids! It was a mess of course and he just kept trying to put his hands and bib in his mouth. 

But we just kept shoveling it in! 

After a few minutes, he had had ENOUGH! Poor guy! Packing on the pounds is hard work apparently! 

Here is a video, that probably only the Brooks enthusiasts will love, but worthy of documentation none the less...

And just because these 2 cuties deserve a little face time too...

The other day, Nolan shouted from the deck, "Mom, hurry, bring the camera!" 

When I came out with camera in hand, this is what they were doing! 

One minute they are the best of friends, the next they are smacking each other! That's brothers! Silly boys! But love them so much! 

Patty's in town...

Last week we had our good college friend, Patrick, and his wife Kristen, and their daughter Reilly come visit from Philadelphia. We had a very nice visit with them, catching up, getting to know each other, watching our kids play, laughing, and exploring this beautiful state we live in. 

It's sad that it always takes having guests to get us out of our normal routine and into the amazing creation so close to us! Friday, we drove just 15 minutes from our house over to Daniel's Park. It's one of our favorite places to do a little low key hiking and rock climbing. The view of the mountains is amazing! The boys had so much fun exploring and hiking around. We packed a picnic lunch and spent some time in the sun! 

 Nolan was proud of himself as he made it to the edge of "Pride Rock" as he called it! I love this picture because it shows how he pulls up his underwear and pants after going to the bathroom. They are ALWAYS bunched up. It drives Mark BONKERS! He always wants to fix them for Nolan. I always just let them be. I think it's funny and cute and shows his 4 year old independence! 

Parts of Daniel's Park were burnt in a fire. It's sad to see the devastation. That's Mark and Heath down there. 

The Sanctuary Golf Course is down below. Just a few minutes after I snapped this picture a huge wind storm came through and we hurried back to the car. When I took Brooks out of his carseat later he had sand and leaves in his hair! What a trooper he is! 

The next day, we drove down to Colorado Springs to explore Garden of the Gods. 

Patrick is an adventurer and loves being outside. He was great with the boys and had fun doing what Nolan does best- using his imagination and exploring. He was teaching Nolan how to hunt rabbits, you know for when you are lost in the forest and need to find your own food! Ha! 

I loved watching the boys run in-between these HUGE rock formations! 

Checking out the "caves"! 

Lots of kids were carried at different points throughout our trek. 

Nolan did a great job and hiked the whole way. Right about here we had a melt down due to a much needed lunch break. But as soon as we all ate, everyone was happy again! 

We had a picnic lunch and did some more exploring in the rocks and down in a dry river bed. 

That's Pat up on the rocks! 

Heathy looking down over a ledge. 

It was so fun to spend a week with the Crawfords, but that also meant that we got to hang with the Krauths all week too! Our boys had fun with their girly friends- Reilly and Ella. They all really play so well together. The boys are going to go through withdrawals over not having their girls around anymore. We should really think about arranged marriages some day! Ha! 

I am just so thankful that Brooks is so easy going. I carried him in the Snugli all day as we hiked around and he slept and looked around and barely made a peep! He was happy to get out and have some snuggles with Daddy though just before we left. 

After this week, we were just reminded once again how God has continued to bless us with amazing friendships throughout each stage of our lives together- college, newlyweds, and now married with children! We couldn't do this crazy life of ours without them all! We need to laugh, have adult conversation, cry, get advice and encouragement and so much more and our great friends provide that for us! 

Thank you Pat & Kristen for spending the week with us. It was so much fun and we love you tons! Looking forward to future East Coast Beach Vacations with you!!! 

four months

Our little Brooksers is four months old! And {little} sure is the perfect description! We had his well check this morning and he is doing great, but he is a tiny guy! He weighs 12 pounds 8 ounces, which puts him in the 10th percentile for weight! Although, at 25 1/2 inches he is in the 75th percentile for height. His head circumference is 41.5 centimeters (30%). It's crazy to think that Nolan was over 4 pounds heavier than Brooks at this point! He sure was our little "Sumo Baby"! And Heath was about 2 pounds heavier at 4 months! Brooks just isn't as big of an eater AND this is the longest that I've been able to solely breastfeed! With Nolan and Heath I was already supplementing with formula at this point, due to low milk supply! I've been trying REALLY hard to keep my milk up and it's been pretty good so far. I definitely have lower days, but Brooks always seems to get enough and seems to be happy and healthy! 

He is still such a joy! He sleeps awesome through the night and wakes up flashing the biggest smile! He loves his brothers, laughs, coos, talks to himself, and can't seem to get enough fingers in his mouth at one time! The swing has really grown on him and he enjoys spending time in there, playing on his play mat, batting at toys, and sitting in the Bumbo. He drools a ton and makes bubbles too. Recently he hasn't been loving his carseat. The second we put it in the car he starts to cry. He is easy to calm down and once the car gets moving he's just fine. But I hope it's just a phase! He wants to be "out and free" as Nolan says. He doesn't really love standing or putting much weight on his legs yet either. So we'll work on that. Time to break out yet another large baby contraption- the exersaucer! So he can practice standing and bouncing a little. He has rolled over 3 times from tummy to back. And he rolls up on his sides when laying on his back, but just can't seem to get over his arm to roll onto his stomach. We have been so busy with friends lately and Brooks is such a trooper. He's carted around everywhere and just goes with the flow! He's super flexible and easy going. 

And now, at four months a whole new world will be open to him- food!!! We'll start rice cereal today and will start right away with 2 feedings a day to try to fatten him up a bit! I really NEVER thought I'd have to say that about one of MY boys! Ha! 

Our hearts are just so full of love for our little man. He brings such sweetness to each member of our family. 

P.S. If you ever sneak a peek at any of the blogs on my side bar, then you'll know Kelly's Korner. If you haven't read her blog before, you should. She is just a normal mom, but with an incredible heart and love for the Lord. Anyways, she wrote a great post today that I think is so important for us MOMS to remember. Check it out here! 

Hippity Hop

We had such a fun Easter this year! Holidays just seem to get better and better as the boys get older and able to really enjoy all the fun traditions! 

We decided to go to church on Saturday evening. It was a nice service and the boys loved making a craft in their classroom and getting an Easter egg filled with jelly beans! Since we went to church the night before, it made Easter morning relaxing. The boys woke up and raced downstairs to find their Easter baskets! 

They were thrilled with their little goodies! Nolan has looked at, organized, and read his baseball cards over an over again. He loves to hear all of their stats and put them in order of his favorites. 

After they opened their baskets we ate breakfast and they got to watch their Veggie Tales Easter DVD while Mommy and Daddy got ready. 

This is Brooks' new Easter basket that my mom made! I know I have posted before about our AWESOME Easter baskets that my mom made us all for our first Easters. I still use mine 30 years later! They are such a fun memory! 

After I baked some Monkey Bread we were off to Mark's parent's house to celebrate with the fam. 

We told the boys that they needed to take some nice family pictures right when we got there, before they could start to play! They looked so handsome in their ties. 

 Oma & Opa got a pic with 7 grand babies...one more is on the way! (And not from me this time! Ha! Praise the Lord!)

After our little photo session the boys had a blast running around in the yard. The weather was perfect! Sunny and in the 70's. 

 The boys must have felt really cool in their new clothes because they actually liked posing for pictures! We got some great ones! And they didn't want to take off their ties or dress shirts all day either! 

 After way too much good food, it was time for the annual Easter Egg Hunt! 

 Heath did awesome and had so much fun running around finding his eggs! He knows all his colors and even helped others find the color they were searching for. 

 Nolan is an old pro now! 

 He liked any of the candy he found inside: jelly beans, circus peanut bunnies, and even Peeps! He gladly traded away his Snickers to Uncle Wes for the (unpopular with the adults) Peeps. 

 Oma led the hunt this year. And it was the first year in her backyard. Oma Bosch was definitely missed, but I know she was smiling down on us all as we hunted eggs, one of her favorite traditions. 

Brooks was, as ever, an angel baby. He slept, hung out in the bouncy seat in the sunshine, and snuggled with any willing snuggler! 

 When we were finished hunting, there were only 4 missing eggs this year, which is actually pretty good considering there were over 300 hidden! Nolan enjoyed emptying his eggs and sorting them back in their cartons by color. 

 Auntie Sue had a little gift for each of the kids. Sock bunnies that she made with her clients. The boys thought they were pretty cool! 

At the end of a long, fun day with no naps, we came home to Skype with my family. Grandma & Grandpa gave the boys little Easter treat bags. They loved opening them up while Skyping! 

Then we ate dinner and put them down for an early bedtime. They did great all day but were EXHAUSTED! 

When we were leaving Oma & Opa's house, Nolan asked Oma if we could do this again tomorrow. In your dreams bud! It was a whole lotta fun, but you'll have to wait until next year! It is just the best thing ever to see your kids so full of joy! And it is so simply sweet to see them know and understand God's ultimate sacrifice and redeeming love for us! 

Happy Easter!

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!

Living He loved me, dying He saved me
And buried He carried my sins far away.
Rising He justified, freely forever.
One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day
Glorious day, oh, glorious day!