Checking In

I have not updated in awhile and really don't have much to say. The kids are doing great and getting BIG! Jackson is getting so smart and asking so many questions. We were looking at photos and he wanted to know why Ava was in my tummy. I tried to explain God put her in my tummy and planned for her just as he did for him. I told him he was in my tummy too and he jumped and his eye got real big. It was so funny. He came up to me about 30 minutes ago and patted my stomach and said what's in it Mommy, another baby. I said no it just looks that way ;). He said maybe God put another one there. Today he wants another sister (too bad he will be wanting for a couple years at least). He is still loves his train table and plays train 80% of the time and the other 20% he has found a passion for play dough.
Ava is getting so big so fast. Yesterday I had her belly laughing. No one was here, but me. I called and left a message for Greg so he could here it. It was the most adorable sound my ears have ever heard. It looks like four teeth are on the way. You can see them right under the gums. She is such a happy baby. Today she only slept for maybe 45 minutes since I had a lot to do and she never cried and never got fussy. She is eating cereal twice a day and loves it! I wish I could say she was sleeping through the night, but makes it until about 3:00.

It's Friday again and my husband ROCKS!

We are still working on The Love Dare and Day 8 was: Share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he or she recently enjoyed.

My husband sent me this email:

I am really excited for you that you are starting to lose weight. I know how important it is to you. I see how hard you work to lose the weight and I am proud and excited for you. I just want you to know that I love you no matter what. My love has no conditions.



Love you

How many people can say they are 100% comfortable with who they are around someone else? I can! This is the nicest thing anyone has ever said/done for me! You ROCK babe!

My husband ROCKS Friday

This week has been great for Greg and I! We are doing The Love Dare and I can tell in just one week it has been great for our relationship! I would love for us to keep doing it over and over every 40 days!

This week Katy Lin posted a Questionnaire, so I'm going to play too!!

1) Where did you meet?
Cat Daddy's
2) How long did you date before you were married?
2 years
3)What does he do that surprises you?
His soft side with our daughter
4)What is your favorite quality?
His devotion to our faith
5)What is your favorite feature of his?
His smile
6) Does he have a nickname for you?
not so much
7) What is his favorite food?
He is a LOVER of most foods!
8) What is his favorite sport?
baseball I assume since he played for many years
9)When and where was your first kiss?
2003 in the parking lot of The Hideaway
10) What do you like to do together?
spend time with our kids, go out to eat, travel, spend time with our family, go to church
11)Do you have children?
2 amazing and beautiful kids!
12)Does he have a hidden talent?
not that I can think of. I will say he is a very smart person and wish he would finish school
13) Who said "I love you" first?
oh I did for sure! He always said he would never get married or have kids ha!
14) What is his favorite type of music?
classic rock
15) What is your favorite thing about him?
That I never ever have to worry about his loyalty or faithfulness to our marriage, that he is a great father, and the spiritual leader of our family!
16) Do you think he will read this?
Considering it gets emailed to him, yes!

T-Ball and more

Jackson is officially signed up for T-ball! The first game is March 28th so mark your calenders and come out to Katy! Greg is going to coach and I am Team Mom. Jackson is loving school and learning more daily. His speech is has improved so much and his self confidence is amazing! He loves to go spend time with his buddies at the Y when he is not in school. They keep them busy in the gym and take them outside for activities. He adores his baby sister and takes on the role as big brother with pride!

Ava oh Ava. Funny how things can change in a few days. She is now eating 1.5 tablespoons of rice cereal twice a day and LOVES it. She is teething and hopefully those two teeth on the bottom will pop through soon! She is doing this bite, chew, and pitch Mommy's arm fat while nursing. I have decided to start weaning her at 6 months. I have so much stored and I pump so hopefully I can keep her on breast milk for a little longer. She is holding her head up so well. She assumes the crawling position and wants so bad to move. I am praying for a few more months before that happens!

Well that is all the updates for now :)

SWEETNESS

Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet. ~Vietnamese Proverb




Jackson you are so in love with your baby sister. You always want to know where she is and what she is doing. You loved her from the moment we brought her home. You never had an jealousy, regression, or hard time adjusting. You took on your new role as big brother with pride. I hope and pray that you will always be this close, that you will always take care of her, and protect her even as adults. You are angels!

5 months

Jackson Thomas

Ava Elizabeth

Evicted

Ava Bear has also been evicted from our bed. I have learned as a parent to NEVER to NEVER! I said I would NEVER nurse a baby in public, ha! I said I would never cosleep, ha again. I am sorry if you nurse a baby and you want sleep for your self, you learn to co sleep. I adore having my sweet baby girl cuddled up next to me all night. I could do it forever, but it stopped working for us! I was not sleeping well and neither was she. She was waking up every two hours to nurse, but not because she was hungry. It was just out of habit. It dawned on me when I realized she was just wakeing up and nurseing maybe 5 minutes every hour or two. Once I moved her to her own bed she now goes 6 whopping hours! That is great to me considering she is not getting any solids yet. I also realized that it was not fair for me to sleep with her at night and not during the day. She did not understand she only gets to sleep with me sometimes. I felt I had to teach her to self sooth unless I was willing to sleep with her 100% of the time and that is not possible. So I am a little sad, but I know it was best for all of us. She is still in my room since walking up stairs in the middle of the night is not something I am ready for.

5 months

My sweet baby girl you are 5 months old today! Ok so I don't have a ton of time since I made a deal with Greg and I have to make lunches for tomorrow. I just wanted to give a quick update on The Hamilton Team. Ava Bear is 5 months and doing great! I caved to much pressure and tried to feed her some cereal mixed with breast milk and I can now say, yes I have tried and NO she is not ready! She hated it, spit it out, and does not have the ability not push out her tongue yet. I also caved and gave her a bottle. My Dr has been telling me since 4 weeks just to make sure she will take one in case of an emergency. I finally decided at 5 months it was time to give it a try. I can now say, NO she had NO problem sucking every last bit down. She even held her own bottle. I will not be using the bottle again until 6 months and 100% using it by 8 months. At 8 months I am throwing in the towel with breast feeding. Well at least that is how I feel today! Since when is it so "abnormal" to breast feed a baby anyway?