These days....

These days can be long, but I already can't believe Zeke is 3.5 weeks old! Because sleep always wins out for me right now, I'll post a bunch of recent pictures and go to bed. Ha!

We are back in the swing of things around here.....Zeke naps while....

 the other kids play outside and act crazy. :)

All of a sudden, Mae is a 'big kid' now.

And Arabelle is once again, a super big sister.

Last week, the oldest 3 went to church camp during the day. The theme was Weird Animals. They each made animal masks.

I got a new baby wrap (hey, 4th kids need new things too!) and Zeke LOVES it! It's stretchy and breathable, so not too terribly hot and I can get him high enough for me to sit down once he's asleep.

Mae was saying "cheese".

Every now and then Bo will be still enough to want to hold Zeke.

Sunday morning was Zeke's first time to church. He seemed unimpressed to be dressed to go.

This week, our wonderful baby sitter has been coming from 9-1ish and the kids have been thrilled. It allows them to get outside to play, play games, do crafts, cook treats, etc. It has been SO NICE!!! I can focus on Zeke and also do one on one things with each of them while he sleeps.

Big Brother and Little Brother shirts. Zeke was hungry here, so we made it quick for pictures.

 Thankfully, Mae still takes great afternoon naps!

She wakes up ready to play. She just had to wear Bo's helmet....safety first!

And that's what we've been up to the last couple of weeks! :)

Big kids vacation

Arabelle, Bo, and Mae had a few days of 'vacation' at Papaw and Mamaw's last week.

Do you think they had fun? ;)

Thank you Papaw and Mamaw for a few days of rest!

Zeke's first weeks

Zeke has had a busy first few weeks here with us! Lots of visitors and lots of snuggles.

Zeke had his two week check up today at 16 days old. He weighed 11lb 1oz and was 22 inches long. I can tell he is chubbing up nicely. ;)

So far, he is eating every 2.5-3 h during the day and usually twice at night. Sometimes he will wake up with gas pains, so we have had some long nights. 

He loves to be swaddled and bounced and hates the car seat (what's new? All 4 have hated it).

His sisters and brother still LOVE him. Mae is always asking, "Where's Zeke?" when he is down for a nap. 

Zeke's Birth Story, part 2

Zeke's Birth Story, part 1, in case you missed it.

Right after Zeke was born, weighed and nursed, it was time for the kids to meet their baby brother! They were all excited, but Mae was extra interested in baby Zeke! She wanted to be close to him and even hold him by herself. Ha!

 Bo also wanted to give him kisses.

 Then he got bored with the baby and decided to play with the curtain. ha!

Arabelle was thrilled with another sibling. She already has talked about another baby in the future. That girl.....

They had the rule of only 5 visitors at a time, so Jared took Bo and Mae out and sent the grandparents in. Arabelle stayed and got in almost all the pictures. Ha! 

Grandchild #9 (grandson #7!) for Mamaw and Papaw

Grandchild #7 for Sambo and Leigh Leigh

 Great-grandchild #12 for Connie (I think that's right!).

Grandpa and Grandma came to visit that afternoon. Their 9th great-grandchild!

I was TIRED after being up almost all night, so Zeke spent some time in the nursery that afternoon, while I dozed a bit. Then the kids came back for another visit. 

Mae really wanted to hold Zeke all by herself and was NOT happy that I kept my arms under him too. I guess she thinks he's a big baby doll!

Zeke spent the night in the nursery, except for when it was time to eat, so I got A LOT of sleep that night! 

Monday was our going home day! I was way too tired to shower on Sunday, so I got on up and showered after the Doctors came around. I was actually excited for my regular Dr to come around so I could ask him about that u/s estimate of 8.5lb several days before. ha! Needless to say, he was surprised at Zeke's size! 

Bo and Mae had a couple more days of preschool, so Jared took them to school and went to work a bit, while Arabelle and Mamaw came to visit.

Soon after lunch we were set to go home!

The kids were so excited when we got home! We told them his name, which Arabelle kept forgetting and Bo quickly declared that he didn't like. Ha!