Decorated

Nosy was so proud of his good behavior during errands that he decorated himself with reward stickers. He even shared a couple with me. "You are a pretty good cooker of dinner, Mommy." Thus I was rewarded with three scratch and sniff stickers. Those are the good kind, you know. This kid makes me smile all over!

3 Months: Stinky Reflux

Sweet Jones, I don't think I have ever been more in love. You get more amazing and wonderful and charming every day. Your individual personality is really starting to shine. You are sweet and interactive and happy.

You coo and ooh and aah and grin and squeal. You love being talked to. Some of your very best conversations are with the ceiling fan.

Because you are such a laid back, easy baby, I really started to get worried when you started becoming more of a crabby, fussy Guy. It just wasn't like you. As the days passed, you got crabbier and fussier for longer periods of time each day. After a weekend of almost zero smiles from my usually smiley Boy, I made an appointment with the pediatrician. I had a sneaking suspicion...the dreaded reflux.

Sure enough. Dr. Daniel agreed, and we started you on medicine. That stinky ol' reflux was making your tummy and throat hurt so bad. No wonder you were crabby! I could tell a difference almost immediately. My Smiley Jones was back!

While at the doctor's office, we weighed you: 14 pounds, 8 ounces! Chunky Monkey!

This is how you hold your hands when you are relaxed. So funny.

You are getting so strong, Jonah. You can hold your head up for long periods of time while on your tummy. Your favorite way to be held now is up on my shoulder so you can look around. No more tiny baby cradling for you! Thankfully, you still enjoy a good cuddle when you are sleepy. You can bear weight on your legs, but you don't like too much yet.

You are truly a beautiful baby, Jonah, inside and out. I am one proud Mama! You have such a sweet disposition. You bring so much joy to your whole family. You are already growing up so fast, but each stage is so much more fun than the last as you grow and change.

I still look at you sometimes, Baby, and marvel that you are my very own. God has been so very good to me! I pray I am a good steward of your little life that I have been entrusted with.

Alternative Venue

School is so much more fun on the driveway!

How We Enjoyed Hurricane Hermione

Jonesy Has a New Trick

And he is not too happy about it!

My little belly sleeper gets most annoyed when he accidentally flips over onto his back!

Parade Day

More commonly known as Labor Day to the rest of the country. Once again, we could be found proudly waving our flags at the Garland Labor Day Parade.

Excitedly waiting for the parade to start

Oliver and brand new Daisy. This boy loves his puppy! I asked him if I could have a tiny turn holding her. Oliver's response? A sweet smile and, "Maybe tomorrow!"

A bunch of Boys!

Nosy was so excited to get a wave from the firefighters!

When did Clayton get so grown up???

Newbies at the parade this year: Lowell's sisters Diane and Jennifer and family

O really was enthusiastic as the bands marched by. Still his favorite part: the drum kits. I can so picture him as a drummer with a 'fro in about ten years!

Flag waving cousins

There was no shortage of snuggles for tiny Jonah

Looking just like his Papa in this picture!

Elliot and that orange chair! When given a choice of seat, he picks it 100% of the time. If you want Elliot to stay put, just place him in "his" chair and he will not move. So funny!

Mouths stuffed full of candy and a multitude of Mardi Gras beads=a good parade

Happy Longhorn Day!

You know the first UT game of the season is a huge deal around our house! As part of our school craft time all week, we have been secretly making Longhorn decorations. We decided to surprise Daddy with a Longhorn party!

The Boys worked so hard on crafting football collage posters to decorate our living room. How did I manage to forget to take pictures of their artwork? Oh well...

Next on the craft list: party hats!

We all had one, even tiny Jonah. He seems pretty tickled about Game Day!

What a great surprise! Uncle Joel joined our party! Noah donated his hat to Joel so he wouldn't feel left out.

After everyone sat still for my photo shoot, I rewarded them with Longhorn cake. It was so yummy!
Here's to a great season, Longhorns!

Pump It Up

Nosy's super special day, the day he had been counting down to, had finally arrived.

Pump Class Day!

Jeremy and I have been praying about getting an insulin pump to better control Noah's blood sugars. We have been researching, weighing the pros versus the cons, and praying for clear direction. Once Noah heard that there were much fewer "pokes" involved with having a pump, he was sold! We were the most interested in the Omnipod, a wireless, waterproof, disposable insulin pump that gets changed out every three days. It could seriously change Noah's life! When Children's informed us they were having a class where we could come check out the Omnipod, along with several other options, we signed right up. Noah was to go with us so he could check the pumps out too.

With O and Jones dropped off with Gramps and Yaya, we decided to make it a really special day for Nosy. Gigi joined us for a special lunch at Baker's Brothers to kick things off.

Can you tell he is so excited? Love that big grin! He had to bring along his puppy "pack-pack" just in case he was in urgent of any Hot Wheels or snacks while we were out and about.

Daddy got to put Noah's special hospital braclet on.

Little did we know that there was about an hour of lecture before we actually got to see any pumps. Nosy did really well, but after an hour of sitting super still and quiet even the best boys get a little antsy. Thankfully Gigi could bust out her iphone which is loaded with fun things to keep boys entertained.

At last...The pump rep passed around an actual Omnipod for us to hold and inspect. Noah was thrilled! There were even "parkles" (sparkles-actually the circuit board) on the back! When it came time to pass the pump on to the next family to inspect, he started crying. "That's my pump! I want to hold it porever!"

Noah's pump-love was short-lived, however. He soon discovered that the rep was going to actually insert the pump on his arm so he could try it out for three days. We wanted to make sure that the adhesive didn't irritate his skin and that the pump didn't interfere with his very active lifestyle. Oh, the wailing that resulted. He cried the most pitiful alligator tears, and when that didn't work, he started hollering. Since he was the fist kiddo to get the pump put on, I was afraid he'd scare the other kids off! But when Noah was distracted, the rep popped the pod right on his arm. Noah barely noticed! The insertion takes 2/100ths of a second, faster than I could ever give a shot. It was basically pain-free. I just wish the silly thing didn't make a loud clicking noise when the insertion happens. Otherwise, I don't think Noah would even notice.

Right after the pump insertion. Can you believe that tiny little thing can not only keep my boy alive, but also make his life worlds easier? I pray this works and is an option for him.

So proud of our Boy and all he endures each day.

Daddy's turn! The rep let all three of us sport the pod for three days so we could know exactly what Noah was going through. I appreciated that thoughtfulness so very much.

Daddy was brave, but Nosy made sure we held his hand.

Noah and I both also wore this pump called the Animas. It was really cool too, and much tinier on the skin, but it had tubing attached to a pump worn on your waistband. I just don't think that's very practical for a three year old, crazy-active boy.

O was so sad that he didn't have a pump like the rest of us. We had brought home an extra one that the rep let us have. I taped it on Owie's arm so he could experience the pod too. Now we are a pumping family!

I just pray that God continues to give us wisdom about what is best for Noah. He has so mercifully walked us through every stage of this disease, so I know He is faithful to guide us here too.

Jonah Talks!

Three Guys on the Couch

Just a few random pics of my guys bonding on the couch. I never get tired of watching how they interact. I pray they will always be as close as they are right now.

O loves his daily snuggle with Jonah. At some point pretty much every day, he will stop what he is doing and ask to hold Jones. O whispers sweet baby words to him and Jonah coos right back. One of O's favorite things to do while holding Jonah is to imitate his many baby faces.

If Nosy is anywhere near Jonah, you can guarantee he is touching one of Jonah's body parts. Whether it's squeazing his tiny foot, holding his baby hand, stroking his fuzzy head or patting him on the bottom, Noah can't keep his hands off his baby. Noah shows his affection through physical touch and this baby is loved A LOT! We do have to focus on loving gently...

When did his baby feet grow so huge???????

Shy grin from a silly Boy

LOVE them!