Easter

    This year's Easter was extra special because we had a new family member to celebrate it with.  It's crazy that last Easter we didn't even know about Graceyn, and just a year later she is here.  Since Graceyn is still so young, we had a very laid back Easter.  The kids were so excited for the Easter bunny to come.  He is kind of a big deal around this house.  The Easter bunny tends to really go all out at our house because he realizes that these kids are only this young for a such a short time and the joy they get is priceless.
    The night before, the kids always leave out their baskets for the bunny.  I didn't get around to getting Graceyn one with her name on it yet.  Ashlyn took it upon herself to make a special sign with her name on it so the Easter bunny would know it was hers.  Ashlyn also left out the sweetest picture that she drew for the Easter bunny to take with him.
    After the baskets and carrots were out, it was time for bed. Both kids spent a lot of time playing outside that day, so they were asleep very early.   I was up around 3:00 a.m. to with Gracie.  I could have sworn I heard Ashlyn, but i thought maybe I was hearing things.  About 30 minutes later, she came bursting into our room with excitement.  She told us that she had scouted the whole house for eggs.  She even went out into the backyard to see if he left eggs out there.  She even counted how many eggs were in the house.  She was literally talking a mile a minute and I have honestly never seen her so excited before.  Joey went and laid with her and she fell back asleep.  It was one of the funniest things she has ever done.  I got a really big kick out of it, because my brother is the oldest and he used to do the exact same thing.
     Around 6:30, the kids woke up for the day.  They ran downstairs to check out all the Easter bunny had left them.  They were so excited with all they got.  They were literally jumping up and down.  After they checked out their baskets, it was time to start looking for eggs.  The bunny left a lot of eggs throughout the entire house.  Ashlyn already knew were most of the eggs were from her adventure in the middle of the night, but she was really good at letting Dawson find some too.  Dawson really enjoyed looking for eggs.  I carried Graceyn around the entire time and she just watched the kids.  Giggles, laughter, and smiles were abundant!
     After all the eggs were found, the kids ate breakfast and played with all of their new toys.  They had a great time.  Around 11:00, we headed to my grandma's house for Easter lunch.  She hosts every year and always does an amazing job. How that woman makes all the food with no help, will always amaze me!  The kids had a great time playing with their cousins in the backyard at my grandma's house.  After lunch, we headed home with very fully bellies.  We spent the rest of the day playing outside and relaxing.  What a great Easter we all had!

On Friday night, we went to dinner at the restaurant at Bass Pro Shops.  They had the Easter bunny there and they took your picture for free.  I loved the way the picture turned out. 

The baskets all ready for the bunny.  The white paper says Graceyn's name on it. 

This is the picture that Ashlyn made for the Easter Bunny.  I love that she wrote "This picture is for you"

Coming down the stairs ready to check out her loot

Dawson looking at his basket for the first time

Getting a better look

Ashlyn trying on the hat that she got

Graceyn was very festive in her bunny pajamas

Ashlyn on the hunt for eggs

Dawson was a pro

Look at all those eggs!

Eggs everywhere!

Dawson wearing his new hat

All the excitement really wore Gracie out

The handsome little boys in their matching shirts

My three angels.  I love this picture

Our attempt at a picture of all the kids.  Jameson has a new fear of the camera so he didn't cooperate too well.  Dawson looks awesome in this picture. 

Ella in her pretty Easter dress

Love that smile!

Graceyn in her pretty dress.  It's the same dress Ella wore for her first Easter. 

A little better picture of her dress

Daddy and his baby girl

Daddy and his big girl

Graceyn changed into her other outfit

The kids all eating at their kids table.  They all decided that they love sparkling apple cider.  Dawson was calling it spider apple.  It was pretty funny. 

On the car ride home, Dawson was very quite.  We later found out why.  He had gotten into his chocolate bunny.  This is the mess he made!

Easter Fun

  The day before Easter, my sister and I planned some activities for the kids to do.  I have been wanting to make Rice Krispie Easter eggs for years, but have never gotten around to it.  This year I decided we were going to make some!  Ella and Dawson came over to join in on the fun.  The kids had such a good time helping to make the treats.  Once we made them and put them into plastic eggs to make the egg shape, the kids got to decorate them with sprinkles.  Once they were all beautiful, they all got to have one.  I definitely think we will be making these again next year.
       Later that afternoon, the kids dyed eggs.  Egg dyeing is always pretty messy, but the kids really like it.  Jameson even got to dye some this year.  My mom and I found some plastic eggs that you could dye.  We got out the markers and they decorated those too.  What a fun day we had getting ready for Easter. 

Measuring the cereal. 

She wanted to try some

Dawson pouring in the marsh mellows. 

Stirring it all up

Filling the egg molds

Time to decorate!

Dawson had a fun time

Ella and Ashlyn definitely had more fun decorating then the boys. 

Ready to dye some eggs

Waiting for the eggs to be ready

Some of the finished eggs

Jameson dyeing an egg

Dawson showing off the egg he decorated with Ironman stickers

Ashlyn loves any project that involves art

4 Weeks

  
    On Friday, Graceyn turned four weeks old.  I can't believe that four weeks have already gone by!  The last four weeks of my pregnancy seemed to drag on, but now that she is here time is just flying.  I would give just about anything to freeze time right now.  I just absolutely love the ages that all my children are at.
   Graceyn continues to be one very, very loved little girl.  Her brother and sister are just smitten with her.  They love her to pieces.  Ashlyn continues to be so nurturing and caring with her.  She reads her books, gives her kisses, dangles toys for her, etc.  Dawson is really starting to take more notice of her. He often will give her his very beloved blanket.  This morning, he picked up a book and began to read to her.  She is already showing how much she loves them.  She will lay for a long time just watching them and listening to them.  She is always looking at them when they are near.  I love to see their relationship blossom!
     Graceyn continues to grow and grow.  On Friday, I took her in for her one month appointment.  Our girl now weighs 9 pounds 7 ounces (70%).  She grew almost 2 1/2 pounds in a month! I think she wins the award between all three kids for the most weight gained the first month.  She loves to eat and is such a good little eater.  She is now 21 inches (52%) and grew about 3/4 on an inch in a month.  The pediatrician said she looks just perfect and is doing great.  I had to pack up all her newborn clothes this weekend, and it broke my heart.
     Graceyn's personality continues to show a bit more each day.  She is a very sweet girl.  She loves to be held and doesn't much like it when she is put down.  She is a pretty content little girl unless she is hungry or has a dirty diaper.  She is becoming much less fussy then she was about a week ago.  I am still not sure what was causing the fussiness, but I did change a few things.  I am just very happy that she seems much happier now.
    Graceyn loves sit in her swing and watch the little animals that move above it.  Ashlyn used to do the exact same thing.  She also loves laying on her play mat and just looking around.  She is staying awake more during the day.  She is starting to take a pacifier more and it really makes her happy when she is upset.  She also loves when you talk to her.  The other day, she laid on my chest and I read aloud to her from the book I was reading.  She laid there absolutely quiet and just listened.  I loved it!   She did give us a few smiles last week, and I can't wait for all the smiles to come. 
    Sleep is still a bit of a challenge, but that is expected from a 4 week old.  None of my children have been good sleepers until much later, so I guess she's right on track.  She sleeps so much during the day, and not as much as night.  She kind of has her days and nights switched.  That's okay though, she will get it figured out eventually.  At night, she doesn't cry, she is just wide awake.  Most days I feel like a zombie, but this time is so short and I wouldn't change it for the world.  I am truly cherishing every second of her our precious little girl.
   Here are some pictures from the week. 

Doing some tummy time

In her Easter bunny pajamas

Daddy cuddling his girls

Gracie gets a bottle each night, so when I go back to work I know that she will take one.  Ashlyn loves feeding her. 

Just relaxing

The other night, I was upstairs while Joey gave Gracie her bottle.  I came downstairs and she was holding her bottle all on her own.  Joey said she did this ally by herself.  Pretty impressive for a 3 week old!

Sister time

"Talking" to Ashlyn

I had forgotten just how much fun it is to dress a baby girl.  She wears all of Ashlyn's and Ella's old clothes.  There is just so much adorable stuff, that I literally change her outift multiple times a day so she gets a chance to wear it all. 

She had just taken a bath and was wearing her bunny shirt for Easter.  It used to be Ashlyn's.