Oh what a day and night!

Yesterday was a busy day at our house! I hosted a play date for several moms (7 total) and 13 kids. The fun started at 10 am and by 2:00 we were toast! Even Lauren dropped and had to have a nap. I tried to take one too but wasn't so lucky to have one with phone calls coming in, etc. Plus I never can rest when I have a list of 100 things I need to do when the kids are both asleep which doesn't happen often! I unfortunately have no pictures of the kids having fun with water guns, the outdoor art easel, their craft projects (sun visors) or the bounce house. I was just too busy running after everyone to take pics! Thanks to all the moms that came, it was a great time! I was very proud of Lauren for her behavior at the playdate. It's hard to share all your toys with that many kids but she did great and did not have one melt down! That's a lot of improvement from a year ago. I say it too often but she's really growing up!

Last night was just miserable. I was dead tired from our full day and ready for a full nights sleep. Blake had other ideas though so we were up three times last night and each time was 45 minutes or longer to get him down. I have no idea what is wrong. He acts fine in the day and does not appear to be sick at all. I'm just hoping tonight is better. It's much easier to adjust to frequent wakings when they do it each night than just once in a blue moon! I should not complain though, this doesn't happen often, just always at bad times it seems!

This week we've been playing with Blake self feeding. He started fighting me on feeding him baby food so I decided to try out the real stuff. We'll needless to say he likes it! In fact he likes everything I put in front of him and can't shovel it in fast enough! I think I've broken some of the first table food rules (because I frankly can't remember them) but that's okay. It's just so cute to watch him eat with his hand flat against his face. He's getting better at his pincer grip too so it won't be long before the meals will get neater. Needless to say, smashed avocado is very messy to clean up!

Blake is getting closer to crawling. He's definitely lunging forward now and for the first time today got on all fours. I better get in gear and get some baby gates purchased soon! I also can definitely say he's babbling now. I still can't quite decipher if its ba-ba or da-da but its jibberish to say the least!

Lauren absolutely loves to dance! I think I need to give up on gymnastics and let her try dance instead. Last night there was a special on TV where there were lots of singers. She loves to get up on the hearth and sing along with them. It's just too funny! I attempted to tape it but of course she wouldn't cooperate.

Tomorrow Grandma and Grandpa Wolter leave on their 40th anniversary trip, an Alaskan cruise. They are super excited and we are for them as well. They were out to our house tonight for supper and Lauren just can't stand to tell them good bye. She told me when I was reading to her tonight and we were talking about her day that it makes her sad to tell them good bye so that's why she doesn't. That's pretty precious if you ask me.

Week in review

We had a very busy week! Lauren had her last two days of preschool and her closing program on Thursday night. It's amazing what preschool has done for her. She's definetely matured over the past year which has been great to see. I took my video camera to her closing program but unfortunately left the battery for my camera in the charger at home. So the only pics I have are on the camcorder and since it's a whole 3 years old its obsolete already and I can't get the pics or video from the camcorder to my computer to share with everyone! Very frustrating. Regardless, Lauren did a great job at her program! We're so proud. Just one more year and my baby is going to be in Kindergarten! Scary thought!

Friday morning was Lauren's last day at gymnastics. She's improved a lot this semester and is finally getting close to being able to do a cartwheel on her own. The poor child has not been blessed by getting her mother's coordination and sports skills, which means she has none! She enjoys it though so that's all that matters.

Friday night was a family affair putting up hay. This is our first hay from our new pasture at the new house. Keith and Leslie surprised us by coming up to help with the process! Thank goodness for them! All was well until..... the wagon got a flat tire. Got that fixed, all was well again until.... the baler got a flat tire! We had no chance of getting it fixed until Saturday morning after a drive to the tire store so hay baling was done for the night. I think it was good in a way because we got to spend time with Keith and Leslie that way.

Saturday Bradley and Floyd finally finished the hay baling process and I ran errands with the kids. Then Saturday afternoon we headed to Lauren and Blake's cousin Mason's 4th birthdau party. We got back at 10:00 and the kids were pooped. Bradley stayed back and kept working on stuff at the house. There is always so much to do with a new house!

Sunday morning Bradley and Lauren headed to church while I stayed back to make some food to take to Aaron and Brekin. When they got back we hoped in the car and drove to Monticello to see them. Then from there we headed to Mahomet for a graduation party. We finally made it home at 11:30 last night! Needless to say we were all tired today.

Today I spent most of the day cleaning and getting ready for a playdate at our house on Wednesday. I have six moms coming over and 13 kids so it should be fun. Then this evening I got to run to Sams and Walmart kid free which was really nice. Its amazing how much faster I am. Lauren had a special day with Grandma and Grandpa. They took her to Build a Bear which was special for her.

I finally took time tonight to watch the season finale of Grey's Anatomy from two weeks ago! Wow, what an episode. A great message indeed. So with that I'm heading to bed to tell my husband I love him!

We have a name....

Aaron and Brekin named their new addition on Thursday night. Braden Dale is the newest member of the Bartlow family. We traveled to see him and big sisters Addie and Brenna on Sunday afternoon. I forgot just how little a newborn is and oh, how precious! He reminds me lots of Addie when she was a baby. Now we'll have to see if he follows the same growth curve of his cousin Blake!

Baby Bartlow has arrived!

Aaron and Brekin had thier baby this morning! A little boy weighing in at 7 lbs 8 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. They say he has light brown hair and no eyebrows! He's still waiting for the perfect name which I'm sure they'll figure out soon! They have until Friday noon when he goes home. Aaron reports Brekin is doing well and Addison and Brenna are adjusting to the new addition.

I'm so excited to have a nephew - my first! He's the first Bartlow Boy so it's an exciting one. Blake finally has a boy to hang with now! It's going to be exciting watching Blake, Delaney, and Baby Bartlow grow up together since they'll be the same grade in school.

We're planning to visit this Sunday so I'll post pictures then.

What a weekend!

This weekend we celebrated Floyd and Vernitta's 40th wedding anniversary. It was a great event and everything went smoothly! Roughly 100 people attended the party which was awesome for my in-laws. They are such a great example of "good" marriage and definitely one for Bradley and I to strive to live up to! Somedays I doubt we'll ever make it to 40 years but let's hope for the best. Today we went down to Red Bud to attend church with F & V and then to Keith and Leslie's to open gifts and spend time as a family. Then we had to go to a visitation this evening for Bradley's godmothers father. Needless to say when we got home tonight the kids were ready to crash! Lauren was so tired she could hardly stand it. Blake was overly tired and fighting going to bed but I finally got him down. Now let's hope he sleeps in past 5:30 am! I'm not such a fan of 5:30!

While visiting Keith and Leslie today we went to Keith's firehouse. Lauren got to climb on a big rig and thought it was great! She even wore uncle Keith's coat but was a little scared to put on his hat. Blake got in on the action too.

As an anniversary present we gave F & V a trip to Chicago this summer. We're going to travel up on Amtrak and spend the weekend downtown. They've never been downtown so it should be fun! I'm definitely looking forward to taking Lauren to the American Girl store too! Floyd and Vernitta will celebrate their anniversary on their own with a cruise to Alaska in a little over a week.

This week will be a crazy one again with Lauren finishing up story time at the library and preschool. She has a preschool program on Thursday night. Hopefully she won't be scared this time like she was for the Christmas program. We'll see though! I can't wait for our DirecTV to get fixed! It got hit by lighting Friday night and so we are without TV until Tuesday! Ahhh! I actually don't watch much TV but I like to be able to catch the forecast and the news in the morning and now I'm lost.....Thanks goodness the internet works!

Quote from the Princess

While I was getting Lauren ready for bed tonight she informed me that I needed to buy her more nightgowns. I said why can't you wear the brand new pajamas that have silky pants? She informed me that princesses don't wear pants only nightgowns. Since I'm a princess I need nightgowns only! Well okay then........... Needless to say I'm not going shopping for more nightgowns! I'm hoping this phase passes like all others.

Almost everyday for a month now Lauren has been telling me that when she grows up she is going to be a cow girl expert. So what is a cow girl expert exactly? I've yet to figure that out but I'm asking lots of questions. She's pretty determined this is her profession of choice though.

Blake and Lauren took a bath together for the first time tonight. You know you have tall kids when already at age 4 and 8 months they don't hardly fit in the tub together. I guess that means I need to let them take baths in the big tub in my bathroom instead! The classic question was asked, mom did I have one of those (you can guess what she was asking about) when I was a baby? I informed her no, those are only boy parts. I guess she's starting to realize boys really are different than girls!

Happy Mother's Day! - Blake is 8 months old today!

Blake decided to wish me an early mother's day by waking up at 4am bright eyed and bushy tailed ready for the day. It took a lot of effort but I finally got him to go back to sleep at 5am thank goodness! I was just not ready to start the day at 4 - 6:30 is much more my time of day.

We went to church, Lauren to Sunday School, Bradley to teach SS, and me to my youth group meeting. Then we came home and got ready for our company tonight - Doug Webel one of our friends from Indiana who is staying with us while doing business in St. Louis tomorrow. Grandma and Grandpa Wolter came over for a bit which was a nice surprise. We didn't think we'd get to see them until tomorrow since they were in Red Bud this weekend.

Blake turned 8 months old today. My how the time has flown by! It's amazing how fast he's grown. My little boy is not so little anymore. I just want time to stand still for a little while so I can keep him as a baby. He's babbling, starting to feed himself, and getting close to crawling. It's such a fun age! Here is a picture of him self feeding today.

Each month since he was born I've taken a picture on his changing table with him in his diaper only. Here is the most recent photo and the one from 1 month. What a change!

I got my first Mother's Day card from Lauren and also a beautiful (4 year old art) window hanging. She said today was her favorite day which melted my heart. I will treasure these things forever since they are my first gifts from her that she actually made.

We have another busy week ahead of us so I better head to bed!

A sick little boy....

Blake has had a low grade fever for a week and had two very restless nights so I finally decided enough is enough and took him to the doctor yesterday morning. When his fever started a week ago I thought it was his teeth bothering him but after the two bad nights I knew it was something more. The doctor checked his ears first but found no ear infection -good news. Then he checked his throat - bad news, Blake had toncilitis! I didn't even think it could be his throat! So now we are on antibiotics and hopefully in a couple days he'll be over it. Already today he's much happier and even slept better last night.



As part of the normal routine at the doctor they weighed Blake. I was shocked to learn his is 23 lbs and 13 oz! What a big boy! He's already bigger than Lauren was at a year!




Blake had a first yesterday afternoon when he finally rolled from his tummy to his back. He's been rolling back to belly for a while now and is even sleeping on his belly now. However the tummy to back has been difficult for him! He finally got it yesterday! He rolled all around our hearth room making a big radius. No more laying him just anywhere, he can move now to where he wants to be!

Lauren has been such a sweetheart with her little brother being sick. She's been very concerned and is kissing his feet now to make sure she doesn't get it. Since it was a nice day outside we went out and flew her kite and petted the neighbors dogs. She had lots of fun! She's begging for a dog so we're going to have to give in soon and get her one.

April In Review

Lauren and Blake with their Easter Baskets

In their Easter outfits. Blake is so done - look at his tired eyes!

Lauren and her prized radish - the first one from our garden at our new home! She was so proud! Lauren and Grandpa Floyd have started a garden and are having so much fun with it.

Lauren and Blake enjoying the park. It was Blake's first time in the swing.

Blake is officially too big for his bouncy seat :(

Starting a blog....

I spent the weekend with my closest sorority sisters celebrating 4H House 75th anniversary. It was an awesome weekend to reconnect and revisit our college days. Boy has the U of I changed! I was inspired to start a blog after talking to many of my fellow sorority sisters. I'm afraid I won't be good at keeping up with it but I'm going to try my best! So here it goes!

Today was a challenging day. Lauren slept 13 hours last night after a very long weekend playing with her cousins Addie, Brenna, and Delaney. So I thought she'd wake up happy. Well she did, but it didn't last long! I sent her off to story time then to Kaylee's house afterwards. About two hours later, I get a call from Selena, Kaylee's mom, that Lauren spit on another friend Tori. I was mortified! Spitting - you can't be serious. So I went and picked her up, play date over!

Lauren of course wanted to go to Grandma and Grandpa's but I said no because she had misbehaved and needed to go home. So on the way home we stopped by the local meat market to pick up lunch meat. Sure enough, who do you think we ran into, Grandma! So Lauren ended up going home with her. Little stinker!

My little 4 year old is having great fun testing the waters with me! She refused to eat dinner tonight. I held my ground and finally an hour later she caved and ate. Of course I was told I'm a bad mommy, mean, etc. I feel the love! She also wanted to call Daddy who is in Nashville, TN this week on business. What good was daddy going to do? She finally got over her attitude and is now off to dream land!

Blake had a good day today. He also slept a bunch catching up from the long weekend. He's such a sweet baby. I think I heard la-la come out of his mouth on Friday for the first time but haven't caught it again. I keep trying to get him to say, ba-ba, la-la, ma-ma, but nothing regular is coming out yet. Hopefully soon!

So this is my first post! I hope to continue a few times a week so stay tuned on happenings at the Wolter Household!