Recently...

• My computer took a permanent holiday which makes uploading picture and updating the blog difficult.  And my 5 button isn't working on my cell phone so I can't use 'jkl' in any of my text messages.

• Shiloh turned six months old.  He is such a beautiful baby and his sweet little personality is emerging more each day.  He's still laid back and now that he can sit unassisted he's much happier in the evenings.  He can roll both ways and has gotten onto his knees several times but still isn't crawling.  He loves his older siblings, especially Hannah.  He's our snuggliest baby by far.  At this point he still doesn't have any teeth but I think they're coming soon.  He's started rubbing his tongue over his bottom gums so maybe they're on their way!

• Sweet Amos James turned 3 years old last weekend.  I can't believe it's been three whole years.  He is unbelievably smart for his age but I think it's because he has Hannah & Samuel to talk to and play with.  He is very very verbal and such a little comedian.  He loves tortellini, bubbles, Skippyjon Jones and anything Toy Story related.
  
  
  
  

          Just two days before his birthday he had a near drowning experience at a friends pool.  He   

          wore his puddle jumper all evening until we got out for dessert.  Then he got back in the pool 

          but  just sat on the steps, playing.  He stood up to get out and slipped off the steps and went 

          under -butt and head toward the bottom of the pool.  My friend, Rebecca, and I were standing 

          nearby and she immediately jumped in and pulled him out.  He swallowed so much water that   

          he vomited twice -all over me.  I spent a sleepless night keeping an eye on him for dry 

          drowning.  Thankfully he was completely fine and went back to the pool the next week and got 

           right back in.

•  Samuel & Hannah have been so helpful with Amos & Shiloh.  They're growing entirely too fast for this mama!  Right now they're both in a tumbling class -separate classes- and are having so much fun.  Hannah is getting better & better each week.  Samuel just started last month and he's almost as good as Hannah because he is such a natural athlete.  They've been enjoying their summer vacation since we go swimming each week and then have tumbling.  
  
  
  
  

• Bobby has been working super hard at fixing our house so we can sell it.  He's been painting our porch and storing all of our belongings in our storage building.  Our house is starting to look empty- which I rather enjoy.  He's doing all of this and working three jobs!  He's super husband! 

• In June we all went to Indiana because one of Bobby's (many) cousins got married.  We stayed with Ryan & Bethany and there three kids.  It was a fun, crazy visit for sure.   And they were kind enough to watch all four of our children for us so we could go on a quick lunch date.  Thank you so much Bethany!!!

• We've been trying to do something fun with the kids each Saturday.  No technology, just getting out of the house and spending time together as a family.  So far we've been to Caesar's Head State Park, Sassafras Mountain, Tallulah Gorge, and today we saw the Minion movie.  They are loving it! 
  

Random

So many things have happened lately but I've not had the chance to get it all documented.  I'm sure there is something I'm forgetting but...

Bobby's brother & his family came for a visit at the beginning of April.

I hardly took any pictures because I spent the entire time talking to Karen while the kids played.

I have the cutest nephew in the world!

The best of two attempts.  Why try more than that right?  This was on Bobby's birthday but he had to work so we celebrated without him.

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Spring arrived and brought with it tons of pollen but some beautiful flowers as well.

My azaleas are gorgeous!

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As I mentioned in my last post, I'm going to be a great aunt!  

My oldest niece is expecting a baby boy in June.

A few weeks ago we celebrated with a baby shower.

Once again I didn't take nearly enough pictures b/c I was too busy having fun.

I did make this Ducky Punch and it was cute and delicious!

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Sammy finally lost his other front tooth.

I love when kids are missing both of their front teeth!

Shiloh @ 4 months

MILESTONES
- rolling from his back onto his belly
- finding his voice and chatting loudly
- starting solid foods (home made baby food from locally grown sweet potatoes)
- sleeping through the night
- easily grasping objects
- recognizing voices.  He will stop nursing if Bobby walks into the room & starts talking.

Please ignore my dirty rug in the background.

LIKES
- his siblings, especially Hannah
- sleeping on his tummy
- sweet potatoes
- being held.  All.the.Time.
- bath time

Shiloh with Granny Jordan.  His face in this picture cracks me up.  He looks a little scared and like he's yelling for help.

DISLIKES
- sleeping on his back
- being in his swing or bouncer for more than 5 minutes
- waiting more than a second between bites of food.

TO REMEMBER
- drool.  Lots and lots of drool.  But no teeth yet.
- grabbing everything.  And everything going into his mouth.
- his pudgy little self, squirming and smelling so sweet after a bath.
- first baby shower (for my niece Jessi -I'm going to be a great aunt!)
- reaching for my face when I'm changing his diaper.

STATS
- weight is 15 lbs and 5 oz (70th percentile)
- height is 25.5 inches (70th percentile)

Best Friends

Sweet little Collin is just nine days older than Mr. Shiloh.  His Mommy & I have already decided that they're going to be best friends forever!  Whether they like it or not.

My Boys -1

I had to share this picture that I took of Sammy & Shiloh this morning.  I was in the process of getting Shiloh dressed when Sammy woke up and came into my room.  He wanted to lay with Shiloh and talk to him so I went to get breakfast ready.  I turned around and there were two of my boys looking so stinking adorable that I had to snap some pics.  I just love Sammy's grin in this picture!!  He's such a sweet, handsome, little boy and he's growing too fast for this Mommy.  

And just look at how fat Shiloh is getting!!  His little legs are like loaves of squishy bread :-)

Three

Mr. Shiloh Jordan is three months old and has already changed and grown so much.

Our sporadic sleeper has finally settled into a good pattern.  He lays day around 8:00pm -8:30pm and normally wakes around 3:00am -3:30am.  He'll nurse and go back to sleep until around 7:00am - 7:30am.  Lately he's been shifting to 5 or 5:30 am and then waking again at 8 or 8:30am.  I like knowing when I lay down about what time he'll be waking instead of trying to guess about how much sleep I'll be getting.  Since he's settled down at night he's become a sporadic napper during the day.  Some days he may take a good three hour nap and then another smaller nap later on.  But normally he cat naps and isn't very consistent.  This is annoying when I'm trying to get school work done with the kids but good if we have errands to run since he doesn't need to be in his crib to sleep.

Shiloh is smiling more and more and is very happy first thing in the morning - just like Amos.  I get the best smiles at 7:30 in the morning.  He's laughed out loud twice.  And it's been a job to get him to laugh those two times.

I believe he & I will both be glad when he finally learns to sit unassisted.  He's constantly straining to sit straight up if I'm holding him in a reclining position.  I guess there's just so much going on that he doesn't want to miss anything.

He's moved out of 0-3 month clothes and into 3-6 month.  I can't believe how much he's grown in these three short months.  I was nursing him the other day and looking at how much he's filled out.  He's exciting and fun but sad all at the same time.  I look forward to the days when he's more independent but it'll be sad that he's not a little bitty baby too.

The kids still adore him and hold him every chance they get.  Now they join us in working to make him smile or laugh.  Even Amos will sit and talk to him if he's starting to get fussy.

Other milestones have included finding his hands and soothing himself to sleep w/o a pacifier.  He will suck on his fist with one hand and rub the back of his head with the other hand to comfort himself.  I really need to get a video of him doing it b/c it's just too cute!

There are a ridiculous amount of pictures, but when there's this much cuteness and everyone is willing to pose it's hard to not take pictures!

Bittersweet

Upward is over until November.  It's very bittersweet.  I love that Sammy gets exercise, that he gets to participate in something he loves, that he makes new friends and most of all that he gets to spend extra time with Bobby (since he coaches Sammy's team.)  But we don't miss two trips down the mountain each week and half a Saturday spent at the games (since Bobby coached two teams.)  At least we're moving towards summer!