We're baaaack!

Well, we're back. 

Our hard drive crashed and so did the thousands of pictures we've collected as a family.  :(  Needless to say, we're starting over.  Honestly, it makes me sick in my stomach to think about it.  But this is just an example of why blogging is so important and OBVIOUSLY some system to "back that thing up."

While we've been away, I've been taking pictures, just have to take time to get them on the blog now.  I thought we'd start off with some photos of Corbin's 6 month birthday and Carter's 3rd year!

I'll be back with more stories and pictures....but you know me and my overwhelmingness about blogging, I had to get the ball rolling.

I tried to be all pinteresty cute.

But I don't even know how to tie a tie.

Carter's Party!  

It was awesome...

1. At a rec center!

2. They ran and played.

3. Someone else cleaned!

Cheeeeese!  Look at that smile!

Take 2!

And another good smile!

Love how he eats cake!

Look at his face.

Look again!  Hahaha!!

Corbin: Laughing

Who has a great laugh and funny mom?

This guy:

3 Months

Dear Corbin,

You are officially a baby and not a newborn.  And to type that is bittersweet.  When I look at pictures from 3 months ago I can't believe you will never be that itty-bitty again.  However, when I'm enjoy YOU as you are now, I'm thrilled with who you've become.

You are the happiest little baby ever!!  You are so smily and giggly it is addicting to play with you.  You seem to be very social, like your big brother.  You are a great eater and are weighing in at about 15 lbs!  Big boy!  You've flown your fist international flight and met both sets of grandparents and all of your cousins.

You still sleep a ton.  But as I remember, that is the life until babies are down to one nap, right?  You sometimes like to fight sleep and trick us by acting super happy and then screaming within the same minute.  Who can blame you?  There is so much fun going on with your big brother in this house!

I hate to post this again, but it's kind of on the short list of what you are doing these days...you are a gassy boy.  Even after cutting dairy, you are just gassy.  Not nearly as bad and you aren't in pain.  But you do just toot constantly.  I'm afraid you are going to take after your uncles.  Once again, I'm thankful God prepared me for boys by having some crazy brothers.

**ADDED Sunday, November 18, 2012:
As I'm wearing you in the Baby Bjorn, I'm reminded of the major progress we've made since our first night together in the hospital up the road.  You are really on a little routine these days.

Wake around 8:00 (give or take :30min).
Morning: Eat, Play Sleep.  Once or twice through, depending on nap length.

1:00 (give or take :30 min).  Wrap you in your swaddle for a big nap with brother. Wake around 3-4:30.

Afternoon:  Depending on the length of your big nap, either just eat, play, bathe and to bed by 6:30.  OR eat, play and mini nap, bathe, bed by 6:30.

6:30 (give or take :30 min) bed.  And this can mean eat then go straight to sleep.  Or eat, sleep, stir/request food off and on for the next 2 hours.

I LOVE routine!!  I know they change.  But I just love having an idea as to why you may be fussy.  It's usually because you are ready to move on to sleeping or eating.  So nice to have a way to communicate with you!

While on the topic of communication, you have a new cry.  Imagine a child fake crying.  That is what you do.  I know it's not a fake, but it's a new version of the sound you know how to make.  And this is your warning whine.  When you do this, it means you are ready for bed.  Thank you!

Your head strength is amazing now!  You love to look all around from the baby bjorn or do some tummy time in front of the mirror.  You love that baby in the mirror!

And finally, while I'm rocking you or wearing you, if you are ready to nod off, you simply turn your head toward me so that your face is covered and call it quits.  I'm guessing you like it super dark.

See, we do know more about you thank I previously thought!!

*****

Here are your 3 month pictures!  We love you so much!

Love,
Mommy, Daddy, Carter and Lucy

Had to Share..

I've just uploaded our pictures from the past month and decided these four couldn't wait.

Corbin sleeps a TON.  But in the little time he's awake, he's so happy!!

(Unless he's tired again.  Ha!)

So glad I caught this.

I LOVE this boy!!!

Brotherly Love

I have lots to blog about but life is crazy.  However, I did not want to forget what happened today.

At the mall, while shopping for a birthday party gift, we made a pit stop at the pet store.  You can't pass the pet store without taking a look, right?  I was wearing Corbin in the Baby Bjorn.  Carter was running from pet to pet.  When he got to the lizards/dragons he needed me to lift him up.  So I one-armed him up on my hip.  While he was staring at all of the lizards/dragons I notice that Corbin was staring up at his big brother, smiling, and laughing!!!  He was so excited that his big brother was joining him on Mommy!  It was the sweetest thing!!

I really think this was the first time he noticed Carter and seemed happy about it.  I think he really knew that was his brother!

While Mommy's Away...

While Mommy has to spend one-on-one time with Corbin, 

this makes for lots of one-on-one time for Carter and Daddy.

Nightly routines of dinner, bath and bed are split up.  I haven't seen Daddy and Carter during these times in weeks.

Well, Corbin has had a few quick nights so I got a sneak peek at how my Big Boy is doing.    I, of course, assumed that routines had been tweaked, as they should!  But didn't expect "Bath Time" to look like this:

Yes, this is how he's bathed these days.  And yes, he is sitting on his excavator. In the shower.  Door closed.  Just digging away.  John said if you turn football on TV, then open the bathroom door all the way, sit on the potty (lid down) you can see the game at the same time.  I about died laughing!!  It was hysterical!

Their night concludes with a game of catch in his bedroom, jumping off his blue chair several times and playing "Oh No Dada!"  Which is Carter-created game, where John lays down on the floor and he body-slams John.   Really??

Hil.ar.ious.

Apparently, Mommy doesn't always know best!  I'll leave them to it because it's great man bonding, as barbaric as it may be!  Right? 

8 Weeks!

I can't believe it's been 8 weeks (and :25 minutes) since we first met this guy!  

Wow, so much has changed in our lives!

He weighs about 12 pounds now!

Sleeps about 10-11 hours at night, with a 6-7 hour stretch at the beginning.

He sleeps a ton during the day and when he doesn't he makes us pay in the evening.

We had a 3.5 hour scream fest Saturday night.

The gassiness is almost extinct with Mommy excluding dairy from her diet.

I love his smile!  And he gets so excited and has a big open mouth smile too...so sweet!

It's hard to remember what it was like before Corbin.  We (John and I) are constantly multi-tasking these days, it just seems to be the norm now.  I really feel like we're adjusting nicely to being a family of 4.  

Today, I took Carter grocery shopping (he ate doughnuts, of course) and Corbin stayed home with Daddy.  Carter kept asking where Corbin was and that he missed him.  Sweet boy!

At church on Sunday, John went to pick up Carter from his class.  The teacher asked if Carter has a new sibling.  John told her he has a new brother.  She asked his name and John told her.  Then she pointed at Carter who was carrying a baby doll named "Corrrrvin".  "Ahhhh!"  She said, "Corbin!"  Ha ha.  Lots of adjusting and internalizing going on!  Makes me feel good.  

I just wonder if he tried to feed "Corrrvin."

Okay, here are a few more pics and a video of Corbin cooing (boring to most, I'm sure).

He seriously looks pretend in this picture!

Carter too!!  Look at Corbin's face!  Ha ha ha!!!

Diaper hanging out!

What are you doing Mom?