Transitioning

There has been lots of transitioning the past few months for Reid as well as for the rest of us. It's not only clothes that are getting too small for our boy; he just seems to be outgrowing everything these days. Now that he's crawling and trying to pull up to standing, he wants nothing to do with the saucer or jumper he has. I went ahead and packed away the bouncy seat too, because there is no chance he's going to stay put in that thing. He's not staying an infant long...that's for sure.

Back in May our chubby baby, who was only seven months old, outgrew his carseat carrier. Though Hadley stayed in hers for almost a year, Caleb outgrew his at six months old and his little brother followed in his footsteps. Reid was over the weight limit and needed an upgrade!

I put him in the carseat carrier today just for perspective. Look how big he looks in there!

We were involved in a car accident this past January, so actually all three kids got matching carseats when we bought new ones. Our whole back row is stuffed full.

A seat change has taken place in our kitchen as well. Hadley's been promoted to a booster seat (which she's very proud about), and Reid has taken over the high chair.

The shift that I'm most thankful for though is the one from this seat:

From about the time he was two months old (around December), Reid had been sleeping reclined in his rocker instead of in a bed due to his acid reflux. This was not what we preferred, but every time we tried to let him sleep flat, he would wake up multiple times throughout the night, terribly congested and choke up. This was the only way all of us could get quality sleep.

We tried to transition him a few times, but right around the time he turned six months, finally he was able to move to the PackNPlay.

It wasn't long after that before we had to lower the playpen all the way down to the lowest level because he learned to sit up and we caught him trying to pull himself up on his knees using the side.

Since we still haven't figured out what to do about the bedroom sharing situation, Reid is currently hanging out in our room. Hadley is a light sleeper and Reid wakes up a lot at night so they don't mesh well. We tried Hadley in Caleb's bed but that just makes her too excited to sleep. Sadly, there really isn't room for a crib in Caleb's room; plus, Hadley still is using her crib and I'm not in a hurry to switch her out since she will sometimes play in there contained for awhile when she first wakes up.

We'll get it all figured out eventually, but for now I think we've had enough shuffling. Why is my youngest in such a hurry to grow up?

Goodbye Spring...

The heat wave has begun. Spring slipped away from us last week and now those cool breezes have turned to humidity. I love summer and opportunities to bake in that hot sun as we play outside in the pool or sprinkler, but we'll also miss the more moderate spring weather that allowed us so much time throughout the day to enjoy a little fresh air without slathering sunscreen all over us or sweating as soon as we walked outside. 

So, this post is to reminisce on those beautiful outdoor opportunities March, April, May, and the beginning of June allotted us. 

Here is Hadley taking a little stroll in her floral shirt and with a spring purse Aunt Courtney gave her. We were supposed to be getting in the car to head to MOPS, but I wanted to get a few cute shots of my sweet girl before she covered herself in pizza sauce or PB&J at preschool.

Every lady needs a few rocks in her purse.

We had a long winter, with big snows even in March, but when those warm days hit, everyone was ready for to put that swing set to good use.

What a handsome hubby I have! (And, the little guy he's holding is pretty cute too.)

Reid can slide.

She's getting so good at climbing.

One day we even got the opportunity to get out with Natalia, Max, and Nick. Play dates have been few and far between since Hadley was born and almost none existent since Reid's arrival, so we were excited about this. The kids played great together and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect morning weather wise.

Hadley and Nick

Nick - What a cutie pie!

There she goes climbing again.

Caleb, Nick, Hadley, and Max

My kids may need a lesson on how to use the swing.

Caleb was mesmerized by the sand. Though it makes me cringe, knowing how disgusting playground sand is, I let him enjoy it. 

We couldn't get all the sand off and I tried to strip him down before putting him in the car, but his carseat still ended up full of it.

At least he had fun.

Reid just cruised in the stroller. We were in such a hurry that morning that he ended up wearing his pjs to the park.

Someone likes Max.

We have  lots of play dates with Granny and NaNa though. Thankfully, Granny has a great yard to play in and lots of outside toys to enjoy.

This little daredevil found a skateboard and took off on it down Granny's paved driveway. I saw him wipe out and scrape himself up, so in a panic I scolded him not to try that again. Rather than crying over the injuries, Caleb just laughed with delight and responded, "What's wrong, Mommy? That was awesome!" BOYS!

Hadley took a topple too while just running. Battle wounds on both knees didn't upset her too much, but when I tried to put bandages on them, she had a fit and was disgruntled for probably an hour. Just leave well enough alone, Mommy!

No bumps for Reid.

It amazes me how good little ones can hold onto those swings.

Granny was giving everyone a lesson on filling up the water gun.

Oh look, NaNa is here!

Time to swing, NaNa.

Will you kiss my boo-boos?

Uh-oh! Look at little mischief-maker climbing up there with his water gun.

Go NaNa Go!

Sometimes all that fun just wears you out.

We didn't get to NaNa's much as we'd have liked to, but we still got some fun at her house this Spring. One of the highlights of these trips being that she had the water table out and ready for splashing again this year.

Aunt Brenda stopped by for a visit too.

And then there's the playgrounds! The kids love to go to the park and Caleb's personal favorite is a wooden one built when I was in elementary school called Fantasyland.

One evening when Caleb had a special night with Daddy, they went to the park together  and Caleb came up with a game where this wooden fellow would eat them and then spit them out. AHHH now everyone's getting munched!

I am not sure how she is managing this in her oversized Crocs, but leave it to Hadley Jayne.

The downside about spring were the ticks! I picked up another at the playground. I didn't know ticks could hurt, but when this thing latched on, I really felt it and thought I had a splinter. Upon closer inspection, I found this tiny terror.

Goodbye spring but hello summer....Now let's hit the pool!