Big sister love

After an afternoon of being away from her little brother, Ella Beth just had to get in some one-on-one time. She was filthy from head to toe, but how can I deny her a little sweet time when she loves him this much? My heart literally feels as though it could burst some days. :)

  

I absolutely love, love, LOVE how Ella Beth is just staring at Porter in complete awe in this picture. The littlest fella is very well loved around here.

I am so blessed.

3 months

Porter turned 3 months old yesterday. I can hardly believe it. That means in just 9 months he will turn a year. Sure it's 9 months away, but we all know how quickly time passes. Sigh.

Landon rarely asks to hold Porter. Not because he doesn't like him - NOT at all. But he's a little afraid that he will hurt Porter. He's a sweet big brother. However, when I told Landon I was going to take pictures of Porter in his room he asked if he could take pictures with him. Of course this mama said YES!!

Porter weighs 8 1/2 pounds.

He typically nurses every 3 hours. More time lapses if he's sleeping, and less if he explodes. Just in the last few days he has started being very fussy while he's nursing. I haven't quite figured out why, but I'm working on it.

His wake times are pretty consistent right now. He wakes around 7:30ish most days and is ready to go back down for a long nap between 9 and 9:30. He will usually sleep until after we have all had lunch, which makes lunch time a whole lot easier. ;) So he wakes around 12:30 or 1, and will stay awake until around 3 - maybe 4, but he will get fussy. Then he takes a nap in the evening, around 6:30 or 7. We make sure he's awake by 8:30 so he will sleep at night!! :)

He is still in newborn clothes mostly, but some 0-3 months are starting to fit a little - especially in length!!

Porter has such a sweet little personality. Maybe it's because I have finally figured out all of the newborn cries/signs with baby number three, but I can really "read" him. I know when he's tired, hungry, needs a new diaper, etc. So when he's happy he is all smiles, coos, and laughs. And when he gets fussy it's for a reason. Like being done with pictures and ready for a nap! ;)

He is still very well loved by his big siblings. Sometimes a little too much. ;) Although Ella Beth and Landon are still excited for him to be more active and play with them, his "newness" hasn't worn off yet. That makes me so happy!! So far, our kiddos have such a tight bond and I pray that it is never broken.

Multitudes on Monday

1129. a sweet 3-month-old 1130. Porter's fingers that still wrap around my finger while he's nursing

1131. Landon asking to take pictures with Porter.

1132. fried squash and zucchini

1133. CHOCOLATE Zucchini Bread

1134. grilled squash and zucchini

1135. our garden over-flowing with - you guessed it - squash and zucchini

1136. taking Ella Beth and Landon to see a movie they've been looking forward to for months

1137. financial people who are friends that can help get us ready for retirement; some day

1138. chasing fireflies

1139. burp cloths

1140. pacifiers

1141. great summer sales

1142. Hobby Lobby already having Christmas decorations out in June as a reminder that the weather WILL cool back down

Psalm 118:28 "You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you."

Multitudes on Monday

1115. Tums - I don't have heartburn, but since I cannot eat/drink dairy I need an easy way to get calcium. They don't taste bad and they are a LOT cheaper than dairy supplements. So glad the Porter's GI specialist told me to do this!

1116. watching Ella Beth swim like a fish after months of not swimming

1117. seeing Landon walk right up to the diving board and jump off - he didn't make a big deal out of it, he just walked right up and did it :)

1118. the pride on my kiddos' faces as they swam all over the pool - Landon without floaties in the shallow end, and Ella Beth without hers ALL over the pool

1119. seeing others hold Porter - he's still so little so he still gets passed around a good bit, and watching others' faces makes me smile b/c it's just fun holding a new baby

1120. quiet mornings in the kitchen - a rarity

1121. a baby who is getting on a good sleeping routine

1122. celebrating the best Daddy I've ever known and thanking God that I married him

1123. Ella Beth reading library books that she chose for her Summer Reading Program

1124. a heart monitor that alerts us if/when Porter's heart rate or lung rate drops

1125. baby foot prints

1126. "big" kid handprints

1127. shiny lip gloss

1128. Landon chasing butterflies and grasshoppers in the yard

Psalm 107:8 "Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind."

12 weeks

Porter weighed 8 lbs, 0 oz on Thursday, and he was 22 1/2 inches long. He is still in newborn clothes. I never thought I'd get such use out of his tiny outfits. ;)

He has started taking very good naps.

He goes to bed around 9 p.m. after I feed him, and he will sleep anywhere until 3-5 a.m. I definitely prefer the 5 a.m. feeding, but since he's down to just one feeding during the early morning I really won't complain.

He still spits up explodes multiple times a day. He is ALWAYS on his third outfit before lunch. Sometimes it's before 9 a.m. Those are fun mornings. Porter really dislikes having his clothes changed, so all of his wardrobe changes make him really happy. (Insert sarcastic chuckle.)

He also really, really, REALLY dislikes having a dirty diaper. He screams this scream I've never heard from a baby as soon as he's finished making it. His face gets so red and he will wail until his tushy is clean. Once his tush is clean, he relaxes and you'd never know the drama that just unfolded.

Porter's favorite time of the day is bath time. He will stay in his bath for 30 minutes each night just kicking, splashing, and jabbering away. He always has an audience because it's just too precious not to watch and enjoy. Taking him out of the bath is another story! He screams a scream that rivals his dirty diaper scream. He absolutely does not want to get out of the bath tub. We have even put him back in the tub just to see his reaction, and he calms himself right down and goes back to splashing away. Apparently the boy knows what he likes and what he doesn't. :)

He nurses every 3-4 hours. If he is awake at the 3 hour mark, you'd better believe he will be hungry. However, if he's snoozing, his tummy will hold out for 4 hours. Of course, if he's had one of his famous explosions...he can only make it about an hour. It's really just hit and miss and all depends on his reflux "episodes."

Speaking of reflux, the GI Specialists have now given Porter's reflux a name: Severe and Severely Complicated GERD. Seriously. That's the actual diagnosis. It's just kinda funny to me.

He's a very sweet little baby boy, and he's generally a happy fella.

Oh, and he does have his Mama wrapped around his finger. OK, all 10 fingers really. :)

The Boys, part 2

My boys. Do you think they look alike?

Landon - 1 month (almost 5 weeks)

Porter - 11 weeks

It's definitely fun to compare whether they do or not. :)

Multitudes on Monday

1102. a short hospital stay with Porter

1103. a heart monitor to give peace of mind to Porter's mama and daddy

1104. whole wheat pancakes

1105. turkey bacon at IHOP

1106. consignment stores for an emergency run

1107. nap time

1108. smiles during the middle of the night when the baby wants to stay up for 2 hours

1109. car games with the kiddos

1110. watching and listening to Scott and Landon work on "projects" together

1111. encouragement during difficult seasons

1112.  a nursing room at church

1113. Meredith's out-of-the-way visit to brighten my day and keep me company

1114. singing a new song for Porter as he falls asleep

2 Corinthians 9:11, "You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."

Castleberry babies

It seems that Porter decided to fit the mold of a Castleberry baby. Read: Not Easy.

Porter is the perfect mix of his big sister and big brother. The perfect mix of their "challenging" baby qualities.

Ella Beth had horrible, explosive GERD. Porter has horrible, explosive GERD. And unfortunately it's worse.

Ella Beth had colic for 13 weeks. I don't know if Porter has colic, but he cries a lot. It just started recently, so it's hard to know.

Landon had to be swaddled every time he went to sleep. Porter absolutely must be swaddled. His little arms just never quit moving unless they are pinned down to his sides. Thank goodness for the miracle blanket.

Ella Beth was never a self-entertaining baby. She always needed an audience. Porter will cry if he thinks anyone has walked away from him. He can even tell when my voice moves a farther distance across the room, and his screams give way.

Landon always wanted to be toted around. As soon as Porter is big enough, he will be riding around in the baby carrier. He hates to be put down, but I am so looking forward to having my hands free. (Especially now that Porter is on a heart monitor and I have to tote that thing around every where we go, too.)

Ella Beth had a hard time "lasting" between feedings. Porter is the same way. Unfortunately, it all stems from GERD because of the quantity that they spit up. The amount of milk that shoots out is staggering. However, it's hard to create any type of schedule. I can feed Porter at 7:30 a.m., but if he has a huge explosion he will be hungry just an hour later. Since this scenario happens multiple times a day, getting on a schedule is nearly impossible.

However, as difficult as many days seem to be lately, it's not all difficult.

There are smiles and coos.
Porter typically takes decent naps.
He is very adaptable to being out and about.
He will take a paci.
He loves his bath each night. (Yes, he gets a bath every night. I know it's not typical for little babies, but after his daily, multiple explosions the little fella stinks.)
He is super cute, and very sweet when he's not crying.
He has blue, blue eyes that are easy to get lost in.
And I know that he is a gift. Not a day goes by that I don't remember the pain it took to get him here.

A song comes to mind often these days. A very simple song of promise and hope.

He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the whole world in His hands.

He's got the little tiny baby in His hands.
He's got the little tiny baby in His hands.
He's got the little tiny baby in His hands.
He's got the whole world in His hands.

Though these times are tough, though I fail to give everyone the attention they want and need every time they want and need it, and though I think I may not make it through each day when I'm going through it - I am thankful. I truly am.

It is through my children that God has taught me the most about myself and His unconditional love. He brings forth my own weaknesses daily that I may further rely on Him for strength. He fills my heart until its seams almost burst with love for my children in order for me to understand how much He loves me. And I am so thankful that He's got the whole world in His hands.

Multitudes on Monday

1089. a reflux baby sleeping - because it's rare these days

1090. a 5-hour stretch of sleep at night

1091. little boys who sleep through crashing thunder storms

1092. a little girl who still needs comfort through the storms

1093. a hair cut to "freshen up"

1094. beautiful drives through beautiful mountains

1095. board games for family time

1096. days without humidity

1097. baby owls

1098. buy-one-get-one-free deals

1099. fingerprint art lessons

1100. recipes with only 3 ingredients

1101. grilled dinners from the bar-b-que

Ephesians 5:19-20 "Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,  always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

FUN times with friends!

Over Memorial weekend, our friends the Kinseys went with us up to my mom's house. My mom lives on the lake, and it is always a blast to have great people to enjoy the lake with! My mom spoils us with delicious meals, the kiddos wear themselves out, we all get a healthy dose of Vitamin D, and smiles abound. :)

Porter took his first two boat rides.

The kiddos caught fish...of course!

Landon caught the most, but Ella Beth caught the biggest. Not that things are ever a competition in our house. ;)

Andy baited the line for Elliott.

My hands were almost always full, but I wouldn't have them any other way. :)

So were Andy's.

LOVE this picture! So thankful Ella Beth has a "grown up" friend (of 8 years old) who is so kind and respectful to look up to. :)

It's never a complete weekend at the lake without juicy watermelon. This watermelon was seriously the best I've ever tasted. Didn't last long!

Arms full, sweet little tongue, and I'm thankful that Jenn was there to capture a couple of pics of me. :)

Snack time after swimming.

Then it was time for tube rides. The kiddos (except for Landon this time) couldn't get enough!

And neither could the daddies. :)

  As always, Landon falls asleep on just about any boat ride. Makes me smile every time. 

We had such a GREAT time, and are looking forward to going again. Landon has literally asked every single day since Tuesday (we left Monday) when we are going back to Mimi's lake. I guess we'd better go soon!