Catching Up

We just finished the second week back in school, and the time flew by like usual. We started Sunday full of activity- I took the two babies to church while Daddy and Tuttle enjoyed a baseball birthday party. 

Monday Maggie started her second year at Atlanta Ballet. While she is disappointed that her bestie, Lily, is not dancing this year, she was excited to see some old friends and her dance teacher, Ms. Alera. 

I am relieved that we are slowly adding in the new activities because life is about to get CRAZY. Maggie has ballet, gymnastics (twice a week), and will start piano in October. Tuttle starts soccer soon with a weekly practice and Saturday games, attends karate (twice a week), and continues piano. We all like to stay busy! :)

We could not be luckier that our sweet third baby is just so darn happy. Jacob never gets a good nap due to his brother and sister's schedules, and he never loses that huge grin!

Maggie and I had an opportunity to make a library trip this week. I am thrilled that all three babies get excited about new books! It was like Christmas morning!

Maggie only has two more weeks before Pre-K starts, so I have tried to sneak in some last minute summer fun. This week we visited to zoo with Ms. Kristen, Lily, and Alice. 

The highlights of Maggie's visit were feeding a giraffe, riding the carousel, and running around in the splash pad!

Have a great weekend, Matey!

Jacob Turns Seven Months!

Jacob Corbitt Thorne has been a part of our family for seven months now.

Jacob still eats 6 ounce bottles every three hours and has really taken to food in the past month. He will eat soft table food or baby food mixed with rice cereal. Little Boy eats 2-3 meals each day with snacks while we are on the run with Tuttle and Maggie's activities. His favorite foods include Greek yogurt, squash, sweet potatoes, blueberries, bananas, and eggs. 

Jacob takes 2-3 naps each day. He loves his bed, but he will sleep in the carseat while driving or in the Ergo if we are outside at the park. He goes to sleep between 6:30 and 7:30 depending on how long he napped and wakes once to eat during the night. He has been waking up at 6:45 this week since Tuttle started school, and our day begins earlier. He is ready for his first nap around 8:30. Typically we are at home for his morning nap, so he sleeps around 1.5-2 hours. The remaining naps are hit or miss whether he gets to snuggle in his crib. 

Little Boy is still army crawling all over the house and can now sit up independently. He is the most happy when he is playing near Tuttle and Maggie. When he is sitting up, he likes to have a basket of toys in front of him to pull out and chew on. If he can grab something and put it in his mouth, he will. He is by far my mouthiest baby. I warn others not to put their hair too close to Jacob's grasp! :)

We have been walking a lot more recently, especially to take Tuttle to school and pick him up. We alternate between the stroller and the Radio Flyer wagon. After starting off hating the stroller, I am so happy that Jacob enjoys going on walks now. 

Jacob wears 9m clothing and 12m pajamas. He still fits in a Size 4 diaper. I have bought mostly 12m clothing for fall and winter, so I am going to need him to slow down with the growing a little bit!

Our last baby is all of a sudden a real little person. He is always smiling and continues to be so easy. Our entire family loves this little boy!

A New Year

Tuttle headed back to school yesterday as a first grader!

Despite it being way too early in the morning, he was excited to get to class. Maggie, Jacob, and I stayed to help with "Coffee and Kleenex" for new parents to the school. I loved seeing so many of my sweet friends with kindergarten students at the event.

After the school day was over Tuttle was eager to tell me about all the new things in first grade, especially the behavior system. He has the ability to earn coins for good behavior, and each afternoon the teacher pulls a winner from all the coins to earn special rewards. Tuttle told me he wants to choose a "No Homework" pass. :)

Maggie still has another month until preschool starts, but we went to the doctor last week for her four year checkout and to pick up preschool paperwork.

Maggie remains our teeny tiny peanut with a big personality. She is 28 pounds, 12.8 ounces (5%) and 38.75 inches (28%). Our brave girl had to get two shots and a finger prick, but she told the nurse as she walked in with the needles that "she liked shots." Her eyes might have welled up with tears, but Maggie refused to let herself cry. I bet she was the easist patient of the day!

With Tuttle in school, I get some time with only Jacob and Maggie. I know we will fill the month quickly with fun activities! You cannot get bored with these two babies around!

First Grade

We are almost done with the last week before school starts, and yesterday we ventured to school for Open House.

We put together a cute (and super easy!) little gift for Tuttle's new teachers. Tuttle reminded me to write Frau Ingram's note in German. Google Translate to the rescue! :)

Tuttle was an old pro at school now, so we explored his room and chatted with old friends. His homeroom teacher, Ms. Stokley, helped me tremendously by holding Jacob while I filled out paperwork and labeled supplies. I volunteered to be the room mom again, and I am so excited to help out the class!

Our summer break has flown by, but I am looking forward to watching Tuttle grow in first grade!

Even Little Boy is ready to celebrate the start of another school year.

Now everyone has to agree to sleep in LATE for the remaining days of summer! Deal?

Packing It In

We only have one more week of summer vacation for Tuttle, so we are trying to soak up as much fun as possible! I cannot believe the summer is almost over. I have loved having all three babies at home, and I wish we had more time before school started. 

We have visited the zoo, swam at the pool with friends, celebrated birthdays, and even learned to sit up! Daddy set up the tent in the front living room for an indoor camp out. I agreed to let Tuttle and Maggie sleep there all week to end summer break with a bang! Below are some of my favorite pictures from the past week:

Life sure is sweet.

Giving Back

Tuttle has been DYING to host a lemonade stand all summer, so I promised him we could set one up at his kindergarten playdate at the park this week. We agreed that it would be nice to donate the money to a charity since his piggy bank is stuffed, and Tuttle immediately selected Feed My Lambs. 

During Mission Camp we volunteered at Feed My Lambs which a free school for underprivileged children with a big focus on Christian education. We spent one morning teaching Bible stories and serving the children lunch with our church group. I am thrilled that the experience had such an impact on Tuttle.

We picked up supplies for the lemonade stand on Thursday morning, and Tuttle set to work designing his sign.

When we arrived at the park, the skies were ready to pour, so we set up under the roof of the rec building. Luckily the shower only lasted a few minutes, and then the customers started arriving. :)

Tuttle collected $23.80 (with $10 of that from Ms. Kristen- we agreed that free refills were available for Jack and Lily!). Tuttle and Maggie both loved serving lemonade to their friends!

Yesterday we delivered the money to Feed My Lambs. Tuttle was proud to tell the director about his lemonade stand and was so excited when she told him that the money would be used for the school's next field trip! I explained to Tuttle in the car that these children do not get to visit all the fun places that we go on a regular basis. I think it was extra special that he knew the children would have a fun time because of his hard work.

I just love my sweet and generous boy.

Happy 4th Birthday, Maggie!

We had a blast celebrating our little Moo's 4th birthday this weekend! I let her choose the location for her party, and she has been committed to Chuck E. Cheese for months now. (I think her decision was based mainly on the fact that Tuttle loves Chuck E. Cheese!)

Despite it being summer with so many people out of town, Maggie had nine of her closest friends attend the celebration. It was several friends' first time at Chuck E. Cheese, and I think everyone had a blast! (Hopefully no parents hate me for introducing this location to their children! Haha!)

Chuck E. Cheese is not solely for children!

Jacob loved the lights and action, but finally passed out in Gram's arms for a nap. We were shocked that he could sleep through the noise!

The party would not have been complete without Maggie's bestie, Lily!

Pizza, cupcakes, and a performance by Chuck E. Cheese made the afternoon a complete success! Maggie did get a little shy during the singing, but that is pretty typical when the spotlight is on her in a large setting. :)

Thank you to Grandmommy, Grandaddy, Aunt Peach, Uncle Drew, Holland, Gram, and Grumps for coming to celebrate our FOUR year old! Maggie cannot wait to attend Disney on Ice (compliments of Grandmommy and Grandaddy) and visit the zoo with our new membership (compliments of Gram and Grumps). She is one lucky girl!

Happy 4th Birthday to our sassy, macaroni and cheese loving, gymnastics cartwheeling, big brother obsessed, nail painting, puzzle assembling girl! We love you and cannot wait to laugh through another year with you!