To the zoo we go

Field trips.  Aren't they fun?  You get out of the normal everyday school routine and do something different.  Ford's little class (I'm pretty sure he wouldn't appreciate the word "little") headed to the zoo last week.  My whole motto with my kids is "if I'm able to go then I will".  Now I successfully missed the entire week of Easter festivities because death was knocking on my door, the stomach bug, so I refused to miss this.  Is it easy to go to the zoo with three kids?  No!  That's when you call in for backup. Gran and BoomPa are retired, sometimes they might wish they weren't, so they got suckered into going.  

There are large animals at the zoo entrance with signs posted that read "Please Do Not Climb On The Animals".  No one can read, apparently.  Folks were all over the critters!!!

There's my helpers.  The trip wouldn't have been possible without them.  I was rocking two strollers and one child who is solely dependent on me for all meals. She demanded food once and we had to hide in the corner. 

The Bit doesn't always cooperate for pictures.

Ford and Anna Lauren

Ford and Cooper

Naturally the boys wanted to ride the camels.  I mean why wouldn't you want a camel???  John Brantkey said he wanted to ride the "donkey" aka camel.  So donkey riding we did.

The zoo is highway robbery.  As if it isn't enough to pay to park, enter the zoo, get drinks, ride a "donkey", then my kids want to ride a carousel.  That was fine, but this momma doesn't ride.  They make me sick.

That's when your helpers come into play. 

Zoo field trip- 2015

Thanks Gran and Boom!!!!  I couldn't have done it without you!

She can foam at the mouth, it's talent

Last Thursday we made a quickie trip to Jackson. My father in law, aka Pops, aka John Lamar, was being honored. Pops was selected as one of the few attorneys in the state to be inducted into the Mississippi Bar Foundation. They honored the "fellows" with a reception, dinner, and ceremony at the Old Capitol Inn.   Justice Puddin, aka my mother in law, aka Ann Lamar, was inducted several years back.  Now Fancy better step it up so he can join the elite club!!!!

We are proud of you, Pops!!!!

The trip to Jackson was quick, as in we were in town less than 24 hours.  No trip is complete without seeing my Grandmother.  She recently moved from her home into an assisted living facility where her two sisters live. It's like an old ladies country club!!!!

Grandmother and "the sisters" hadn't met Annie yet so it was a special day. 

They had a lovely time, and it did my heart good to see my Grandmother so happy.  For almost the last 2.5 years she and my Granddaddy have lived apart.  She's in Jackson and he's in the Oxford VA.

And speaking of.... Here he is. The kiddos (so hard not to write "the boys") and I headed to "God's Country" after lunch so my sweet Granddaddy could meet his sixth great grandchild. Annie was in a sweet mood so I laid her up there with him. Now if this isn't the sweetest picture I don't know what is!!!

My Grandfather and Ford's namesake, is 90 years old. By that time some of your parts don't work like the use to.  He can't hear very well at all, but he sure enjoyed holding this baby girl for 20 minutes as they exchanged smiles. This visit made my heart so happy. He's the sweetest old guy I know!!!  I'm his Jill Baby!

Representative Fanciful (new nickname) played in a golf tournament last weekend. Saturday night they hosted a crawfish boil.  Now I don't eat mud bugs, but I jump at the chance to get out of the house and have some adult interaction. Now with the first two chaps (my dad's word for kids) I probably wouldn't have gone out at supper time to such a function. I decided sister can just live in her car seat because we gotta go sometimes.

We stayed until about 8:00. This was wasn't my best parenting idea because it was meltdown city for the youngest two. Annie was furious, and by the time we got home she was foaming at the mouth. No lie!!!!  Must get that from the Lamar side!  We got in the house and the question came that I was hoping I wouldn't hear. "What's for supper?"  I wanted to throw my hands up and say, "WHY WHY WHY must you eat supper???  It's 8:00  Skip it.  Go to bed."  But since I am "super mom" I told them to find something in the pantry that I didn't have to help with.  They ate Cheetos.  No one call DHS please!!!

Yep, I still have more blogs to come.... playing catch up.  And thanks, Kara.... I put the blogger app on my phone!

Sweetums got shots

Hate is a strong word, but there is something that I really hate.  I really hate "shot days" and seeing my babies in pain.  Last week, it was time for Annie's dreaded 8 week shots.  She woke up in such a sweet little mood, and it made me sadder that I knew what was ahead.

 

I refused to go by myself on this terrible outing.  I told Trey, didn't ask him, that he would accompany me to the doctor.  Naturally, I got teary eyed (did with all three kids) and he filmed the spectacle.  Annie was actually highly ticked before a needle even went in her leg.  She doesn't like people messing with her, especially her head, and the nurse quite frankly ticked her off.  She was pulling her legs to get her height and messing with her head to measure her head circumference, and she was feisty by that point.

 

The shots were bad.  She got three in her legs and cried and cried.  Broke my heart. 

STATS:

 

Weight: 11 pounds = 25-50th percentile

Height: 22 inches = 10-25th percentile

Head Circumference: 16 inches = 75th percentile

The nurse messed up the last two.... I will add measurements tonight.

 

Ford's stats at 8 weeks: 

 

Weight: 25th percentile

Height: 30th percentile

Head circumference: 75th percentile

Sadly enough, I didn't record his stats on my blog.

 

John Brantley's stats at 8 weeks:

 

Weight:12.7 pounds 50-75th percentile

Height: 23.75 inches- 75th percentile

Head Circumference: 40.5 inches- 50th percentile

 

These boys honestly couldn't love this little girl anymore.  Ford keeps asking if she can sleep with them.  I told him she has to get a lot bigger.

This sweetums is smiling and cooing a lot.  She loves to be talked to and tries her best to communicate back.  It's soooo cute and sweet.  I do have a fear that she is going to talk as much as her brothers and I'll need earplugs. 

 

She's eating once at night around 3:30, then about 7:00, 10:00, 12:30-1:00ish, 3:30 and maybe a 5:00 quick feeding and bed about 6:30-7:00.  I feel like a glorified mother cow, but I wouldn't have it any other way. 

 

She is a napper. About an hour after she wakes up she needs a morning nap. This is anywhere from 1-2 hours. We also take a nap for 2 or more hours after lunch and usually a late afternoon cat nap for 30 minutes to an hour. The girl likes to sleep. 

I would rock the boys until there were in a nice coma-like state. Not sister.  She's on her own. I put her down to nap in her rock-n-play and she goes to sleep. Usually there's some crying, but she figures it out!!!

Annie gets upset if she is tired and wants to go to sleep, is hungry, or has a dirty diaper.  She has also started showing her dislike for the 5,000 kisses her brothers give her a day.  She can handle about 2,000, but a girl's got to draw the line somewhere.  When she gets upset or if someone hold her head against their clothes this happens....

I wash her body in Johnson and Johnson's baby wash and I use Dreft on all the kids' stuff.  Thoughts?  Suggestions?

 

Sarah Suzanne "Annie" Lamar

Piggy is screaming to eat

Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!  I'm behind again on my blogging.  Not having internet access in my home is driving me crazy.  Comcast is our issue, and this too shall pass.  I have so many pictures and so much to say that it'll take me several posts to catch up.

Last weekend Ford was invited to a birthday party in Oxford.  This was about a 40 minute drive from our house.  The boys played "Who can talk the most and ask the most questions" on the way over there.  Between that and Annie squeaking I was a bit frazzled.  On the way home Ford started in on his questions yet again.  Finally, I told them to just ride and be quiet.  Apparently that was too much to ask of Fordman.  He couldn't do it.  He talked and questioned me.  So I got him back.

My baby boy is OCD to the max like his momma.  The fact that I turned the AC on two different temperatures almost sent him into orbit!!!

 

The sweetness of Bitty....

The other day we were playing outside, and when that fun was over I went to go open the door to our house.  It was locked.  Bitty was the guilty party.  This was not the first time he had locked me out.  We had to call Representative Lamar to rescue us.  This time I was able to get in the house.  I explained to John Brantley yet again that we DO NOT lock the doors.  He got to sit in time out.  Do you see him through the fireplace in that chair?!?!?!

John Brantley still cries to "go home".  He is referring to the house we rented for 10.5 months.  This was our rental, and he needs to go back there every time he has a meltdown.  

Miss Priss is getting hefty.  I took this picture when she was 7 weeks old.  Today she is 8 weeks.  

Remember I told you I had simplified my life and made the boys sleep together... here it is.  They basically share a pillow too!!!!

Obsession at it's finest.  This big brother LOVES his sister.  I am so thankful too.  He prayed for this baby for at least a year before I even found out I was pregnant.  I sure hope the love continues and it'll be mutual forever!

Baseball is going great.  Ford usually plays pitcher (which means he wears a face mask and stands behind the coach who actually pitches).  He has gotten more aggressive and has actually gotten some people out at first!

If you plan to do anything you better bet your bottom dollar that Bitty will come with you.  Our driveway is pretty long.  Taking out the garbage requires a hike.  The other morning I reminded Trey that this needed to be done.  Fear not, his trusty side-kick was right with him!!!

Sweet baby napped in the car and woke up all pouty.  

Ford is basketball obsessed!!!!!  We currently do not have a basketball goal so we opted for an afternoon playing at the church.  We brought our friend, Leland, to play.  He isn't quiet as infatuated with the game as Ford is.

Annie slept while they shot hoops.

Bitty climbed the bleachers.

The late afternoons can get tricky at our house.  This time is also referred to as the "witching hour" by most.  We have been going on lots of golf cart rides around the country club.  One night we ran into our friend, Maggie, out riding too.  Annie and Maggie are two weeks apart and are destined to be BFF.

More posts to come this week.  Piggy is screaming to eat.