Sleep (Aowyn 5 months)

From day one, Aoywn Grace (meaning: age of Grace) has been fulfilling that name. What a grace her presence in our home has been. She is overly sweet, calm, and good natured. She has even slept well at night since the beginning! (Not all the way through, but goes to bed easy after 2-3 wake ups). I have felt very rested and it was my quickest recovery to date. This could be due to a mix of the labor/delivery, using essential oils, and a peaceful babe. 

Recently, Aowyn has been a fussy baby at nap time and bed time, not wanting to do anything: sleep, nurse, play, potty. 

So today, after I had tried all my tricks and given her some teething medicine, I laid her down in bed and told her to go to sleep. She put her head down for 5 seconds sucking her thumb then lifted it and started crying at me; she now says "momma". So I made a shushing noise and pointed to the bed and said "lay your head down". She did. Then after 5 seconds we repeated this. After about 4 times she finally gave up and went to sleep! This is great progress for learning how to communicate for me and her. She is in that in between stage of infant and baby but I am learning that she knows some key phrases like "go to sleep" and "let's go potty" and "no more crying". It is also good that it didn't take too long for her to go to sleep because the other two were already out and I didn't want them to wake up! She still sleeps for a good long while when she finally goes to sleep, so no complaints there. 

These early steps are so helpful when facing the hills in toddlerhood. They pave the way for me to know what to expect and which issues can be dealt with earlier rather than later. 

Clock

Drakeford's drawings amaze me. Maybe because he's my first child. He is so smart!

Little Mexico

We went to an indoor shopping mall that really is like little Mexico! And at the center of the food court is a huge play place and arcade. The kids liked the fountain too. We will have to go back sometime for the play place with daddy. 

"Mom, will you get that money for me?"

Orange coconut cake

Note to self, when the directions say to wait until the cake is cooled completely before putting icing on...wait till it is completely cooled! If not, expect a puddle. 

Kevin tried it! Was too rich for him. It reminded me of zucchini bread which is always better the next day, so we will try again tomorrow :)

Library visit

I just finished a book that inspired me to get some field guides to further our learning at home. We made a trip to the library, and for some reason it was so fun! I think it was because we went to the adult floor :) While we were there I picked up a bird, insect, and mushroom guide book. We learned about cardinals and how they mate for life, sing duets, finish each others sentences, fight over food (momma usually wins :), and daddy feeds the brood so that momma can start another (very active dad!). They sound like an old married couple! We look forward to learning their song and spotting this state bird when on walks. 

Drakeford likes dragon flies a lot (possibly because of the word dragon) so we will be learning our local kinds. It is hard to look through that book when trying to search for a specific insect because some pages just gives the creeps!! Especially when I am trying to encourage learning and respect for Gods creation and Drakeford wants to linger on the centipede page! 

We collected a dead wasp from the drive way and found out that it is an ensign wasp and a very beneficial house guest as it's young feeds on roach larvae. They do not sting or bite. All wasps scare me because I don't know which ones hurt. But now I know this one that is common around our house does not! 

No to figure out what this is...

Nature sketches

Daddy missed us!! It was great to be home and together again. 

Drakeford Blue waterfall

Marlow's rainbow waterfall

Daddy's visionary masterpiece in chalk

Going to the mountains

I was packing for our trip to the mountains and Brevard with Grandmommy when Drakeford asked what I was doing? Are we going on a trip? I told him the plan and he was so excited he could hardly go to sleep! The next morning when daddy came to get him early from his bed to get in the car, the first thing he said was "do we get to go to the mountains?" And "am I wearing my swim suit to the mountains??" His two most favorite things. Although he has never really been to the mountains, apparently they are high up on the list :)

After swimming in the waterfall, we stopped at Caesars head to look at the range. What a sight. 

I had no idea he would be this thrilled to see the mountains! As soon as they were in sight in the car he pointed and said "we are in the mountains!" And as the road began to be inclined as we climbed the hills he was amazed. 

"There could be someone else on that mountain just like me!"

Then to the soda shop for a treat. Yum!

Outside of O P Taylor's toy shop where we got our first pop guns 

Then to looking glass falls. The weather was perfect. 

We were all worn out! Such a fun day. Marlow slipped and fell playing in the water fall and there were some potty accidents but thankfully we had an essential oils medicine cabinet handy and plenty of change of clothes. And with two potty training toddlers, of course always the baby bjorn potty in the car. 

We learned that God is powerful. Watching the mighty waters rage over the falls, feel the wind and mist fall to the bottom and then settle in a sweet calm is such a wonderful picture of God's power and love. And it never ends, it just keeps coming and coming. How much more powerful is the God who created it and sustains it. 

 

Waterfall

Guess where we're going??

To swim in a waterfall!!

And throw some rocks in of course

Wish daddy was here!! 

Sand time!

Lets go for a stroll...

This beach sure is sandy mom

No swimming! Sand castles it is. 

When can I go touch the water?

Tea for Two

Marlow's Two year tea party with family. I thought for marlow's birthday we would do the same as Drakeford and have family over for some food and gifts to honor the blessing that they are from The Lord. But as I got to thinking, what did Marlow really like to do? Drakeford was easy - outside and lots of balls! Base ball, soccer ball, tennis balls, foot balls. And wrestling with grandpa and granddaddy. 

As I thought and thought, Marlow likes to serve others, feed people, and get dolled up. What a lady! So a tea party was very fitting. She loved it and enjoyed everyone wearing special tea time hats. Thank you Grandmommy and Granddaddy, Grammy and gramps and Austin, and Nani for a wonderful time!

Back at the ranch...

Aowyn helping us to garden inside...

Thanks Little A!

Marlow's first hair cut 2 years

We arrived in style. Very excited to see Grammy and carry her purple purse in. 

She sat still as Grammy got to work

"May I see in the mirror please?"

What a beautiful young lady :)

Fever virus

We must have caught some fever virus from church this week. Drakeford was layed up in bed with a high fever for two days. No other symptoms. I could tell it was the kind that made you think you were ok when you stayed laying down but when you got up to move around, it all came back to you. Drakeford would hear Marlow and I folding clothes in the hallway and come sit with us. Then after a couple minutes he would ask "may I go back to bed mom?" So I would say yes and off he went to bed for a few more hours. It was difficult to keep him hydrated so Grammy brought some watermelon over. Thank you! It opened his appetite again. He was so hot, I didn't think he could get any hotter. I was praising God that the fever broke the next day! He is still low on energy but is 75% recovered. I pray it doesn't spread. Especially since our thermometer broke! Yes, the thermometer works only until the dangerous fever illness...naturally. 

Essential oils Training Day

What a great training day Sera Johnson of Young Living gave to us on Saturday! Sarah, Bev, nani, aowyn, and I traveled to Spartanburg SC to learn more on the benefits and how to use God's medicine that He gave to us. She is a believer in Jesus and the Essential oils of the Bible lesson was nothing short of a gospel presentation! We were all so blessed that she shared her love for The Lord along with a love for His truth. 

Aowyn was wonderful and slept most of the time - whether in the stroller or in my arms. 

The older two children stayed with daddy and had quite a productive day of activity and filming and hiking. (Blog post coming soon, maybe)

Thank you ladies for a fun trip! Now let's go bless others by anointing them in oil and prayer!

Music lover!

If it's not a pair of drums sticks he's playing around with, it's his new surprise from Grammy and Grandpa. 

I got my hands

Dad: Marlow, do you have pockets in that dress?

Marlow: Yes!

Dad: Is anything in there?

Marlow: No. But that's okay, I got my hands. (Stuffs hands in pockets)

EC Update

Aowyn is doing better than I imagined with EC. She is dry all through the night and all she sleeps in is a footie pj. No diaper. She is also staying dry even if I put her in the exersaucer. This is great progress. And I have found that even when she is in her diaper for too long and I go to change it, she is still dry and goes when I take her! She communicates so well.  

Aowyn at 4 months

My sweet Aowyn's personality it beginning to show through! The high pitched shriek that was present at birth was quickly addressed and after day two, she chose a much lower pitch :) But now it is back with a vengeance! 

Current trial is the night time fussiness. The way she nurses is very odd (and painful) and she is giving me lots of conflicting signals. We have addressed the teething issue but she is arching her head back as far away from me as she can. This looks like heavy let down to me but I actually think I am low on milk! 

She seems hungry and fussy before bed and tries to nurse for a long time while getting mad and not swallowing a lot. She could be teething on me and not want the milk, thus the arched back, soreness, and no swallowing. We have also been battling yeast. So all in all, just the normal baby things :)

She can roll over and is working on sitting up. She is rolling everywhere!