Ashley Grace - 4 Months

It's hard to believe it has been 4 months already!  At the risk of being redundant, Ashley is a super sweet,  happy, baby full of smiles, laughs and coos.  She loves watching her brothers play, even during their wildest times.  She holds her head up very well when placed on her tummy and often rolls over front to back.  She loves playing with her hands and grabbing at things that are nearby.  Austin gets really excited when she holds his finger.  "Mommy, mommy...finger!"  Ashley really enjoys being outside, probably because there is a plethora of new things to look at and discover.  Unfortunately it has just been TOO hot for baby Ashley to spend much time outside this week.  I'm slowly starting to put her in her crib, but mostly for naps...when we are home long enough for her to nap here.  She still sleeps in the pack 'n play in our bedroom at night.  She has slept through the night several times, but I have to say I don't remember the last time she did.  She gets up 1-2 times a night and after eating goes back down easily, often falling asleep on her own when I lay her down awake.  I still remain firm when I say she has the best 2 older brothers she could possibly have.  I can't wait to see them play together when Ashley is older.  But, let's not rush things...

Oh, and for those you want to know, 

weight - 12 pounds, 2 ounces (18 %), a bit of a slip from 42%

height - 23.8 inches (32%), up a smidge from 28 %

(The pediatrician isn't worried about her weight since her length and head growth are fine.)

Indians Game

We went to an Indianapolis Indians game last weekend.  There were a block of tickets for sale where half of the ticket price benefited the Indy Humane Society.  It seemed like a good night to go, so we bought 2 tickets (for Loren and I) in the reserved block and planned to buy the boys' tickets once we got there.  It turned out Austin didn't need a ticket and we bought a season pass (definitely worth the money) for Andrew.  We knew full well that we would sit in the outfield (as in beyond the outfield in the grass) instead of the stands.  We went to one Indians game last year and had a great time.  There was plenty of space to spread out a blanket, sit next to friends, our boys played with their boys.  It was fun and relaxing.  If you have young kids you almost have to sit in the grass, which is fine by me.  We did the same thing this year, but with the 3rd child, things were a little more complicated.  We knew we didn't have to get there right on time, but we were going to try and get there close to the start of the game.  The game was slated to start at 7:10 pm, I believe.  (Please note that the boys normally go to bed around 7:00/7:30 and Ashley is usually down by 8:00).  We made sure that both boys took a nap earlier in the day...and they did.  We ate dinner, got everything ready and left the house a little after 6.  We needed gas, so we stopped at Meijer across the street and since Ashley was already crying, I went ahead and fed her.  We then drove to the stadium (after waiting and waiting in traffic when we got really close) and, even though we were already late...not that it really mattered, I fed Ashley again in the parking garage.  Phew!  We got everyone together.  I put Ashley in the Bjorn, hoping she would eventually fall asleep.  The boys and the 'gear' road in the wagon and we walked across the street from the parking garage to the stadium.  All was well.  We had been told by a friend, who was already there, that right field was the place to be.  We went to right field....the farthest corner of right field.  There was room, but it was completely in the sun.  The entire grassy area was packed, but we decided to mosey on over to the more shady left field and hope that we could squeeze in.  We ended up finding a spot closer to center field and the people we were squeezing in next to ended up leaving as we were setting up, so we ended up having plenty of room.  Nice. Ashley fell asleep pretty quickly.  The boys began enjoying themselves.  It was the third inning when we arrived and we left during the 8th, I think.  I'm pretty sure the Indians were winning when we left, but I don't know if they ended up winning or if their opponent (the Louisville Bats) won.  It was just cool to be there and enjoy the out of doors.  None of us payed very much attention to the game, but, like I said, it was fun just to be there.

Here are some pictures of our time there...

and just for laughs, Austin got a hold of my camera (and wouldn't let go!)

this was his view as he snapped pictures...

Our 4th of July

We went to a friend's house around 3:30 or 4:00, not knowing what the afternoon/evening/night would bring.  I really wanted the boys to stay up for the fireworks (the first time for even Andrew), but there was a point later on when we just weren't sure what we were going to do.  Stay...or leave.  You see, the boys normally go to bed around 7:00/7:30 and the fireworks were slated to start at 9:45.  Well, we stayed.  We saw the Indy fireworks from about 16th street.  We were far enough away that we couldn't hear them, but we could still see them and appreciate them.  Before the fireworks, Andrew and Austin practiced their baseball skills, the boys and Loren practiced their 'beach' volleyball skills, we hung out with some people I knew and many that I had met for the first time, and I took care of Ashley on the side while taking photos here and there.  Andrew loved watching and playing volleyball, he loved hanging out with a certain older woman, and trying to hit a baseball as various people (in particular, Ott) pitched to him.  He loved the fireworks.  Austin loved trying to hit a baseball while Tim pitched to him.  He also loved playing volleyball with Daddy and Andrew.  When some people nearby later started setting of fireworks, he tiredly pointed to the car and said, "home!"  He eventually got used to the noise and even dozed off a couple of times.  He woke up in time, though, to see the big show from afar.  Ashley was awake to witness some of the baseball/volleyball/hanging out action earlier in the evening, but she slept in the bjorn through most of the hoopla.

To sum it up, it was a good 4th!

Grandpa turns 90!

Grandpa, I hope you don't mind me doing this!  90 years is a big deal!  And it's a 'private' blog so not too many people will see it. :)

July 3rd, 2011 was my Grandpa's 90th birthday.  Wow.  90 years.  And he doesn't look a day over...well, he looks a whole lot younger than 90, I'll just say that.  I can only hope, wish, pray that I will live to be that old  young.  He (for now) still lives by himself, drives himself where he needs to go...he takes care of himself.  He has lived to see 6 great grand children born, the youngest being Ashley Grace (two, unfortunately, couldn't be there that day).  He is a wonderful man and I hope we have many, many more of his birthdays to celebrate!

 

(Ashley, Andrew, Austin)

(cousin Blake, Andrew and Austin)

(Grandpa, my brother Jeff, Blake)

3 of the great grand children playing together

Here's to many more birthdays, Grandpa!!

the museum

We are members of the Children's Museum.  Well, we were up until the end of December when we let our membership lapse.  We used to go quite frequently, but we found ourselves finally going again 2 weekends ago and finally renewing our membership, knowing we would get more than our money's worth in the next year.  I think the last time we went was sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  You know, for the whole Yule Slide experience.

We had a good time as we visited the Dora and Diego exhibit for the first time, visited the "balls" and carousel (Loren took Andrew and Austin on it while I fed Ashley), and then we visited Playscape briefly. It's amazing how little we can see there during a short trip.  You really need ALL day!  I found myself reminiscing, though.  As I pushed Ashley around the museum for the first time, I remembered when I pushed Austin around the museum in the stroller for the first time...

(Ashley: 3 months)

(Austin: 5 months)

I know these seem like another other regular carseat/stroller pictures, but I remember these specifically as 'I was at the Children's Museum for the first time stroller pictures.'

We visited the water table in Playscape, and I remembered when Andrew played at that table for the first time when he was 17 months old...

and now...

 ...a lot taller, a shorter haircut, but basically the same kid in a 4 1/2 year old body instead of a 1 1/2 year old body.  On second thought, not really...he has changed sooo much!!

and just for the heck of it, here is Austin at the water table going on 27 months...

Well, that concludes my brief trip down memory lane.  Thanks for humoring me!

tummy time

I'm not going to lie.  I'm not the best at giving my kids tummy time.  The boys both hated it.  Despised is more like it.  Ashley didn't mind it all in her earlier days.  Actually, she usually fell asleep.  Then she grew to hate it.  A few days ago, I put her on her belly for the first time in, well...awhile.  I thought she would bury her face in the floor and start fussing.  To my surprise (I'm not sure why I was surprised because she is probably the strongest baby of the 3), her head popped straight up and she hung out like she had been doing this every day of her life.  

Yeah, I have 2 older brothers, so it's probably best if you go ahead and not mess with me.

And while looking ever so sweet and graceful,

she....roooolllled

OVER!

I kept putting her on her belly and she kept rolling over, 

and then Austin joined in. :)

7/6

When child #1 begins to take over the pool when he wants to practice his flutter kicks...

A light bulb goes off!  You break out the smaller pool for child #2 (which was thankfully already blown up and sitting in the porch), start filling it up with water, run to the basement (after cursing yourself for not buying the pink kick board for $1 at a garage sale along with the blue one that child #1 was currently using), and bring out the next best thing (but you talk it up like it is THE best thing), get lightheaded while trying to blow it up too quickly, and toss it to child #2 who acts like it is suddenly Christmas morning.

You glance over at child #3 who is at the very same time happy as a clam doing nothing more than staring  at her very own hands...

And then you smile inside and out as you realize, for the umpteenth time, they are each 

oh-so-special in their very own oh-so-special way.

Splash Parkin' Fun

Back at the end of May while in the midst of cleaning and organizing the basement, I received a text from a friend who asked if we wanted to go to a splash park.  I don't know...I should probably finish cleaning.  Sure!  We ate lunch, loaded up, and off we went!  As you can see, Andrew was all about it while Austin mostly observed from the sidelines, but they both definitely enjoyed themselves.  Sadly, we haven't been to a splash park since.  After looking at these pictures, it makes me want to go back!