Smilin' Sixteen Weeks

The babies have come alive!  Not to say they haven't been here, but they are now really becoming babies.  Goodbye preemie and newborn days!  We have babies that kick and wave their hands.  And smiling, oh my goodness, I'm not sure I've seen anything cuter in my life!  Each of the Fab Four has always had quite the personality.  It's amazing to see their personalities coming out more and more every day!  I promised myself I'd blog more often to remind myself (and the babies in the years to come) what milestones everyone has reached, so here goes!

Being held by G.  She used to be the size of his hand!

Kathryn:  You are our bitty-bit!  Our petite and powerful one, you came home just shy of four pounds after being born at almost three.  It's hard to believe that you've almost doubled your weight.  You were the first one to find her thumb.  I was happy because you weren't really a pacifier fan and with four siblings, you need a way to self soothe.  You were the last one to smile, but it was worth the wait.  You're precious!  I love that you've started talking and you don't sound like a newborn anymore!

Early morning smiles

I found my hands today!

Elliott:  Oh, Elliot, you are Mr. Personality!  You kicked the whimpy white baby boy theory out the window within 24 hours of your life.  Ever since then, these sisters have nothing on you.  I guess you were the last one to work on putting your hands in your mouth because you were busy smiling at the world.  This week, you've started to laugh with your whole body.  It's pretty funny.  You inadvertently roll over if you are leaning on your arms just right.  I love that you thank me for your bottle and changing your diaper with a sweet smile AND that you found your hands today!

Sweet girl Thompson

Thompson:  Sweet Thompson!  You are too funny.  You came home a grunter and quickly became who we called our nanny goat.  I didn't know babies could make those sounds.  But lately, your sounds sound more like a baby and your smile is so genuine.  You do lots of smiling with your eyes, even in the middle of a bottle--which is funny because you used to have your eyes closed for your entire feeding!  Your hands don't interest you too much, but you love black and white patterns and sticking your tongue out.  I love that you make yourself laugh like the ceiling fan just told the funniest joke!

Happy Emerson

Emerson:  You're my big girl!  With your piercing blue eyes (which, let's face it, just might stay that way.  Who knew your brown eyed parents would end up with you?!?) you've become so much happier.  You have acid reflux, but your eyes tell me that you aren't in as much pain anymore.  Sometimes you smile right before you spit up which fools me, but I secretly think you think it's funny.  You're working hard on putting those hands in your mouth, but you don't like when they disappear.  You let us know that for sure!  I love that you have a head full of crazy hair--none of your siblings can compare!

Boat riding!

Ta-da!  I dressed myself to play outside.

I love my 3 sisters and 1 brother!

Mason:  You are the best big boy there ever was!  You've done such a wonderful job of becoming used to "your babies" as you call them.  You introduce your family to everyone--the perfect Masters of Ceremonies.  This summer, it has been so fun to watch your mind come alive.  I have never known a more creative, imaginative three year old.  No wonder the doctor says you're verbally advanced!  I love that you have made up entire activities like campfire with pillow marshmallows in your bed and the treat trip with your named stuffed animals.  I love when you tell me that helicopter starts with H--you know all of your letters which pleases you and me alike.  You've moved on to working on the sounds also.  I imagine reading will make your world an amazing place.  Thank you for learning to be patient and for filing up my snuggle bank!

Playtime!

Our life is full and God is GOOD!

The Shortest and Longest Fourteen Weeks of My Life!

Really, has it already been 14 weeks?  Really, has it only been 14 weeks?  It is hard to believe that the Fab Four are 14 weeks today.  So much of our time has gone so quickly and some of it slow as well.  For some perspective...

Two Weeks Old

Twelve Weeks Old and Mommy can barely fit us all in!

Fourteen Weeks Old!

It's hard for me to believe that it's been 14 weeks.  I looked back on some of our first pictures right after the Fab Four were born and I myself--though I lived every minute of it--found it hard to believe what a miracle occurred.  Four HEALTHY miracles to be exact.  

Although I've been building up to this, today was the first day I really felt like I could sit down and type out my thoughts and emotions.  I don't think I could have done it before now.  That has been the long part.  I felt like for so long, I've had to literally take care of business.  Feed babies, change diapers, give kisses, make sure Mason was adjusting, shower (maybe), feed the rest of the family, actually talk to Shawn Thomas not over baby sounds.  It's been a business around here.  Several times I broke down, finding it hard to remember that the Fab Four were 7 weeks early.  Perfectionist April came out to play and wasn't always the one you wanted on your team.  

But now, the Fab Four are 14 weeks old and are acting like thriving as babies.  For so long, they were small babies (I never felt like they looked like premies until I went back through pictures.  It's amazing what you will do to mentally get through those early baby days!)--not even newborns yet.  Most days they ate, slept, and pooped--that was all.  I think I took for granted that that was all and yet it was EVERYTHING.  These babies got to eat, sleep, and poop in their own home after a shorter than I could have imagined NICU stay.  We were even there a month.  

They've grown so much and they are are acting like babies now.  They interact, they smile-oh goodness do they smile, they love the ceiling fan.  It's almost like now, 14 weeks later, I can stop and enjoy these four amazing human beings.  I wasn't holding my breath, but now I feel like I can breath easier if that makes any sense.  They are on an schedule I love (and stressed over to get working for everyone in the family) and they are sleeping 8 hours a night (working to get to 9 so the schedule will be amazingly perfect).   By no means is our life slowing down.  But, it feels like we are managing (with an amazing amount of help--more on that later) better and better everyday.

I posted the last picture from above yesterday on Facebook.  The caption stated:  "Oh my goodness, look at these big babies!  I am in love!" 

I am in love with these babies.  I am in love with my family!  I just now am able to say that without breaking down in a post partum frenzy even thinking about it.  Yes, our life won't be an easy one.  But it is our life and we are going to live it to the fullest--and yes, that includes road trips!

So, I've decided that I'm going to do my best to blog weekly about things that the babies have picked up on in the past week.  How else will I ever have time to remember to document all of these lovely baby firsts?  And, of course, Mason will be included.  Duh!  

But, that blog post will have to wait until tomorrow.  It's family nap time--yes that's constitutional around here. And I'm going to power nap before our afternoon round begins. :)