Easter Sunday!

Jesus has risen!  It's Easter Sunday and what a great day!  We woke to donuts from daddy and fun baskets then headed to church in Cedar Falls.  Who can resist these sweet faces (and the top of Austin's head).  Easter continues to be my favorite holiday.  It amazes me that God gave his only Son to die on the cross for us.   I can't imagine giving up one of my kids for anybody.

Here we are at my parents' house.  What a blast having an egg hunt!  It was such an amazingly beautiful day.  I think we had well over a hundred eggs (I can't remember the exact count) filled with candy and money.  The kids had so much fun!  Emily (my sister) had a giant egg just for Austin and only 5 minutes after hiding it couldn't find it anywhere.  That picture on the bottom is Austin looking for it among some brush.  They ended up looking for it for at least 15 minutes before they found it.  It was pretty funny to watch them (slowly everyone joined in to look).

My sweet sweet family!  Love these guys to death!

So cute!

If you are having a bad day, just take a good look at this sweet face...you will smile the rest of the day!

Easter Egg Hunt

Here we are at the annual New Hampton Easter Egg Hunt!  The girls always have a blast.  You stand behind the flags and when the firetruck sounds you have to take off and grab as many eggs as you can.  There are a couple in each age group that contain a ticket for a big prize and the rest contain candy.  I think the girls ended up with about 4 eggs each!!  It's over before you can blink!  Afterwards you can climb in the firetruck and pet the real bunny and even get your picture taken with the Easter Bunny!  It's great to have friends like Abbi, Beau and Gracie to do fun things like this with!  A great start to celebrating Easter weekend (even if it was really cold)!

Gymnastics

The girls started gymnastics tonight and absolutely LOVE it.  It's so much fun to watch them too!  The downfall is we have to drive to Waverly for it, but it's only once a week so it's not so bad!  They do a lot of stretching, rolling and jumping.  They both do really well, but I must say Keziah is so much like her dad in the way that he is really good at sports.  She is a natural!  Adah is young still, but tries her best and follows directions very well!  The rest of the week they spend much of their time doing the same stuff at home because they like it so much!

A great weekend...

We started out the weekend with a baby shower for a great friend of mine.  I originally went to it by myself (with Eden) but when I got there, she had her daughter there that is Kezzie's age so I went back home and got the two girls.  While at the party the girls got to play with a kitty, have a picnic and play with friends.  And I got to have some adult conversation. 

That evening we headed to CF to spend some time with my sisters and their kids.  We had a nice supper at I-Hop even though the kids got a little crazy and were wrestling in between the tables!  We kind of wondered if we were crazy to be there with 9 kids, 8 of which are 5 or younger!  We then headed over to the crossroads mall where we planned on going to the teddy bear connection shop but it closed.  Jamie had gotten all the kids gift cards to that place for Christmas but unfortunately they went out of business.  We did however see the Easter bunny and play in the climbing area and ride the carousel, so it wasn't all a loss!  I think the kids just enjoyed being together and I certainly enjoyed hanging out with my seeesters!  Brian, Keith and Adam were having some fun of their own playing cards at Adam's brother's house.

On Sunday we went to church and then went back to mom and dad's for lunch and Easter egg dying and ice cream sandwich eating!!

On Sunday night I stayed at mom and dad's because Emily's babysitter was having surgery so she wasn't taking kids and Emily really needed somebody for the two younger ones for Monday.  I said of course I would do it!  Austin headed home with Brian and I stayed behind with the three girls...I had so much fun with those kiddos and the day just flew by!  Alanna LOVES to put on shoes!  The girls really enjoyed playing with play dough.  And Bennett just couldn't get enough of Eden!

A funny thing Kez and Benne said: They were playing with some sort of building thing (like knex or something) and they had one long red piece each.  They kept carrying them around in their mouths.  I asked them what it was supposed to be to which they responded saying, "it makes us talk like a man."  Not sure what that meant, but it was pretty funny!

Algae

This is Austin's pet turtle Algae!  He found him at his pond that he likes to fish at.  He said he had to dive for him so he's pretty special to him!  There's some algae growing on the back of his shell, hence the name!  He peeks his head out like this quite often and looks around.  I am pretty sure he is just planning his escape, but it is cute none the less and the girls think it's pretty hilarious!

Bumbo

Eden isn't the only one getting use out of the bumbo seat these days!!  She is getting much stronger and is able to sit up in it for about 15 minutes at a time.  Gotta love these two and their silly faces!

Coyle/Uglum clan

Left to right: Henry (2 yrs.), Adah (2 yrs.), Austin (13 yrs.), Eden (3 mo.), Keziah (4 yrs.), Brady (4 yrs.)  This is quite the group.  When we all get together, there is a lot of fun to be had!!!

My cuddle bug

I know these cuddles are few as she is getting older, so I have to capture them on camera to try to always remember these moments!  So little and sweet!!

More pics!

Eden has started noticing the dogs more.  It's pretty cute to see her follow them from across the room.  I will just bet that she loves them as much as the other girls do!

3-20-12

I am pretty sure this isn't the first picture I have of her looking at me like this.  I just think it is the sweetest how she looks at her momma!!

3-21-12

Look at this big girl!  She is getting stronger and stronger!

3-22-12

Austin's minibike!

With GREAT hesitation we actually did let Kez and Adah have a ride on Austin's minibike.  He loves getting them into the things he enjoys.  He's only allowed to go about 5mph but they still enjoy it.  And I typically try to keep them in the yard...just in case!  This is at my parents' house so at least it doesn't happen everyday!  So cute!!

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L DAY!!

The weather around here has been amazing lately so another day was spent outside.  Adah did get to enjoy some of it with us but I put her down for a nap and Kez and I headed back out with Eden for a bit.  I put a blanket out for Eden and it was so bright for her but she enjoyed it.  She is still really startled by wind so that was kind of annoying as it was pretty windy.  Kezzie looks so big standing there on the slide.  She is just so much fun!

Sisterly love!

Adah has really taken to Eden.  Their bond is so sweet!  Adah always likes to know where Eden is and checks in on her frequently!  They are going to be best buds!

Eden is 3 MONTHS!!

Eden is such a little miracle.  She is laughing, cooing, smiling, reaching!  Doing everything a 3 month old should!  It's amazing!  Eden has been sleeping through the night practically since she was born.  She went through about a two week period after she got over her jaundice at birth that she was wanting to get up in the night, but after holding her off for those two weeks, she sleeps wonderfully.  I typically feed her around 10 before I go to bed and she makes it until around 6:30/7.  She is eating about every 2.5-3 hours (totaling 6 feedings/day).  She is getting on a pretty good schedule.  She usually lays down for a nap about 1.5-2 hours after waking in the morning.  She will sleep about 1.5 hours and  then wake to nurse (around 10).  She will stay awake about an hour and then back to bed until she nurses around 12:30/1pm.  She will go right back to bed until she wants to nurse between 3 and 4.  She then stays awake a couple more hours and then is down for an hour nap before waking to eat around 6/7ish.  She will stay awake another hour and then go to bed for the night.  I then wake her for a 'dream-feed' right before I go to bed around 10/10:30.  This works so well and I am so proud of her for establishing such a great schedule at such a young age!  During her awake time we love to play on the floor.  She almost always giggles when I grab her hands and raise them above her head and say 'so big'.  She also loves it when I use my chin to tickle her under her arms when they are in the air!  She particularly loves this bear that she got during her stay at the NICU.  It was a 10th anniversary beanie bear that is bright yellow and has specks of sparkling confetti on it.  She loves looking at it and practicing her grabbing skills!  When we aren't playing we are working hard at her physical therapy that AEA recommends every month.  This month Eden seems to have some tightening on her left side (torticollis) so we are working on strengthening and stretching that.  They also have us working her on her tummy, trying to get her head/neck stronger.  She is doing very well at this but still seems to be slightly behind.  We also have to account for the fact that she was born early so I am not too worried about that!  Eden is such a joy and we are just enjoying every day we have with her and taking it all one day at a time!

Here is my third little owl!  Click here to see my other two!  Someday I will get a picture of all of them together!

Oh sunny day!!!

It was about 70 degrees today so we had to take advantage of it.  We started the day out with a long walk, had a nice picnic lunch outside, then another long walk after naps!

Eden loves long walks in the stroller!

She is so snuggled in all those blankets!

My beauty queen!

I just had to share this photo of Eden all frilly!  She looks so adorable!

(almost 3 months old)

Sweet loves!



These are from 2-29-12

These are from 3-1-12

Our Climber...

I don't know if you can see Adah there climbing the outside of our stairway railing...she climbs everything!  She is such a monkey. And although she gets a time out for doing this, she insists on doing it (and I just had to let her so I could snap a picture).  And if you look carefully she is even practicing safety...the medical kit bag is serving as her helmet!!

Sleepy time...

I always love pictures of a daddy and his baby sleepin' together...how sweet!  These are the best naps!

Big Girl Bed!!

Here is Adah in her big girl bed getting ready to take a nap!  She is so big!

Here is their new bunk bed.  Keziah LOVES the top!  I hung a blanket from the side so that Adah can't see Kez coming out if she wakes up before Adah or if Keziah gets up in the night to use the bathroom, etc.  Adah really likes having it there and actually we have since this picture hung a twin sheet and it makes it like a little hideout for her!  She begs to have it closed even though she wakes up in a pool of sweat because it doesn't get any of the fan blowing in there!  Silly girl!

When did she get so big?!

First night they were up until 9, second night it was 10...we are going to have to do something about this...suggestions welcomed!!

Adah is 2 years + 3 MONTHS!!

Adah, Adah, Adah!  My sweet and very curious little girl!  Adah is talking so much now.  She uses complete sentences and is using words to express herself a lot more. In the morning I will ask her what she wants for breakfast and she says, "Cinnamon Coast Trunch" (yes, she eats that occasionally!)  When Adah is "eating" something she doesn't like (or thinks she doesn't like) she will purposely hold it in her mouth for a long long time.  We have a really hard time getting her to eat like a normal two year old (what is normal?) and struggle from meal to meal to know the best way to handle it.  We have started sending her in time out for sitting with food in her mouth.  She will seriously go sit in time out and make herself gag and then eventually puke so she doesn't have to swallow her food.  This has happened on a few occasions!  Any advice?  The kid just wouldn't eat for a lot of meals if we never made her or she would just wait until it was something she likes.  So frustrating! 

Adah has taken a little reverse on her pottying (#2) since Eden has been born.  I am sure that is what did it and we are working hard to correct the problem.  Another frustration we have!!

Adah is officially in her big girl bed (2-26-12).  We gave this a try when we were all just starting to get sick and ended up putting her back in her crib, but as of last night she is sleeping in her big girl bed, no turning back.  This is a bottom bunk set up in Keziah's room so this also means they are sharing a room.  The first night they were up until 9 and then in the middle of the night Adah woke kind of scared like she didn't know where she was at. The same happened at nap time today.  I just go in and put my hand on her back and shush her and she goes back to sleep.  We will see how late they will be up tonight...it's already later then last night!!

We are soooo blessed by this girl.  I can't get enough of her sweet smile, cute little laugh, scrunched nose and most of all her tender hugs and kisses (she is my cuddler)!  God is so good to me!

A visit to Great Grandma!

Oh how I love my grandma!  I'm not sure how old she is but she is into her 80s and still going strong.  I am so thankful to have her around for my kids to get to know.  They always look forward to a visit to great grandma!  She enjoys all my sweet girls because she had 5 boys.  She is a tough and sweet lady, I love you grandma!

Bouncy House!

Today I met a friend that moved away to southern Iowa.  I finally got to meet her second born and she finally got to meet my fourth!  I really enjoy time talking to her and it was great to let the kids play while we talked.  My mom wanted to do something special with my sister's boys so they came too!  I had to take that picture of Bennett and those sunglasses because the kid takes them EVERYWHERE with him.  Thank goodness he hasn't lost them yet...it would be tragic!  Emily said they are a permanent fixture of his wardrobe!  I just love these kids!

We all got it...

Kez was first to get it starting on the 12th, then Adah and Eden, then mommy and Austin and lastly Brian on the 17th...We had to take Eden into the ER on the 18th because her breathing was so labored.  Her lungs sounded clear but they could tell there was inflammation so they prescribed a steroid.  We gave her that for only two days and she dramatically improved!  We are going stir crazy not able to leave our house.  Hopefully we will be able to go back to church tomorrow.  It's been two weeks since the start of it all and WE ARE NUTS!!!  I think the doctor in the ER called it acute bronchitis but a different doctor called it RSV.  Whatever it is/was, I hope we never get it again!  My poor babies...I have never seen them this sick!  Austin didn't get it very bad at all so I am thankful one of us was spared!

Eyes for her mamma!!!