Itty Bitty Witte Family: January 2012

#21 - Learn to Quilt

Check!

I followed this tutorial - Diary of a Quilter and made a quilt for Mr. Mason.

It matches his car seat cover, and bibs, and burp cloths.

It wasn't hard, in fact - I am afraid to admit ... I want to make another one! I can hear Nathan smacking his head on the table right now (NOT ANOTHER OBSESSION) haha.

I learned that I am a fabric junkie. I went wild with this particular set.

I also finished/made a bumper and crib bedding for him...
I am becoming a pro at bumpers. This was my 6th one!

I have made several for friends, so this was less than 20 minutes!

This matches Lucas's room perfectly - and once the boys move to the basement this summer - I am going to turn this bumper into throw pillows for their beds. Don't worry - Mason won't be in the basement until he is 2...but his room will be ready for him! :)

I am kicking butt on the 30 list! Which is good because I only have 71 days left!

I also need to post this for Gwamma Joyce! Today is her birthday!

Happy Tuesday!

Specials - January

We decided that we were going to spend individual, quality time, with each family member, once a month.

Nathan had January.

Scarlett got to go first, since she never gets to go first on anything. :)

Nathan took her on a walk to the park and they played at the playground.

Bridget went to the Library and read books, played games, and did puzzles.

Lucas went on an errand and then went to McDonalds for a parfait and chatted about life.

Juliet played in her room with toys and such, and then practiced walking.

Mason got to come home, so we counted that! :)

Each "special" is an hour.

No cameras, nothing "flashy", little to no money, just undivided attention,
and we try and get them out of the house.

There is no fighting, or crying from anyone - because they know their turn is coming up the following week.

This was one of our family goals this year on strengthening relationships.

Nathan and I are good about going out on dates once a month, but the kids needed a "date" too.

I am EXTREMELY excited I am next month, and stressed because there are less days in the month.

Mason, week 8/38

Time is flying by, it seems.

Mason is off the oxygen 75% of the time. Partly because - he pulls it off, and partly because - someone (ahem Juliet) pulls the tubing off of Bertha Lynn! (the massive oxygen tank)

Oh well, it doesn't seem to bother him. :)

Mason got some fun mail this week from his friend, Big Mason.

So cute! :)

Little Mason, or Mini Witte, :) Is getting bigger. He is now 7.2 pounds!

He is awake a lot more now. Almost like a "termie" 8 weeker. I love when the physical therapy lady comes and tells me that he really isn't much like a preemie. He is cueing and acting just like a typical 8 weeker...not a 38 weeker. I shrug and in my head say "I know, he's a Witte" hahaha

He is still a loud sleeper, so when he is awake, we all can tell because he is so quiet.

Here is a shot of his auburn hair. :)

I can't tell you how much I love this little guy.

Usually when I am loving on him...Juliet will walk up and beg to be on the bed too. She wants to see what all the fuss is about.

Or she wants her hair done. Haha.

When Lucas is at school, the girls ususally play babies. Bridget is a master swaddler. :)

Nathan has been at school Tues and Thurs (LAST semester! Whew!)

So when he is home we make the most of it. This particular night was movie night.

Scarlett has been changing so much, I will post more on that later. The cord is part of Bertha Lynn. :)

Today was Crazy Hair day at school. Lucas did this himself. Hahaha.

It has been a great week, and so glad this month is over...practically.

I.Can't.Wait.For.February!!!!!!

A Bittersweet Moment

Lucas woke up vomiting around 1am. He was extremely calm about it, walking in telling us, "The upper portion of my body is hurting, I might need to throw up." Which he did several times. We had him sleep in our room on the floor near the bathroom so he could just get up and go if he needed to, which he did at 3am. He woke up at 7:30 and we all decided he wouldn't go to school. He was upset, but understood that he could "contagious to other people."

One of my FAV pics of Lucas - 1 year, and he was sick that day. :(

That whole day he spent reading, coloring, playing Lego's in his room, and watching a movie in the basement. He took a 3 hour nap and requested a popsicle. He chose a lime fruit bar popsicle and then went right back to bed.

Lucas at 9 months

Around 4pm, Lucas came to me and asked if I would hold him. His exact words were "will you let me sit on your lap and just hold me for a little while?" I did. He told me he would say a prayer so I wouldn't get sick, because Mommy getting sick would be unfair.

Lucas at 14 months

We talked about Paris, France. We talked about freckles. We talked about the water cycle.

Mason woke up and I needed to take care of him, and Lucas said "go ahead, make sure you wash your hands." I laughed a little.

Around 6pm, Lucas ate 3 pieces of toast and an entire bowl of plain rice. He told me he was feeling better. We watched a movie together because Nathan was at school and we needed some quiet time. Lucas fell asleep on the floor, so I carried him back to his bed. He is really heavy. It made me tear up a little because I couldn't remember when this happened. When did my red cheeked, orange haired baby, get so big?

Lucas at 7 months

He is so special. Caring, kind, considerate, smart, thoughtful. I feel lucky to have him in our family, and grateful that he will forget my parenting mistakes. I was so humbled at that moment, lugging his huge, gangly, body up the stairs that this boy is a part of my life. He is an old soul, wise and calm...and in that same sentence, still such a young boy full of curiosity, wit, and a love for all things Lego's. :)

I needed to write that out. He is feeling so much better today, but that vulnerability he had yesterday, made me miss his first year. He is a great brother and friend. I love him so much.

Mason, week 7/37

Tuesday we had another check up.

This was supposed to be another 20 minute appointment, but it ended up being 2 HOURS!!!!

I had ALL the kids with me. They weren't terrible, I'll give them that. It was just hard to be in a little boring doctor's office exam room for 120 minutes.

They decided to take him off 1/16 oxygen to room air.

Dr. Campbell was surprised that the preemie hat she crocheted him was too small. TOO SMALL!

He was 6lbs 15oz and 19.5 inches long. This kid is growing like a weed! He passed the room air challenge but because he isn't "term" she wants to wait 2 more weeks on 1/32 oxygen. I was sad, but it's cool, he will get his 2 month shots and hopefully get off oxygen all on the same day!

It's not like he uses it properly anyway! LOL

Here he is during his "awake time"

Aaaand back to sleep. :)

He is only supposed to get a bath every 4 days, until he is term, and until the oxygen comes off.

Sticker Free!

Hello!

Juliet said her first word this week. "BeBe" right after she said it, she smacked Mason.
So it was time to have the "gentle talk"

She understood...for now.

He was so pooped from the bath, Juliet time, and being awake, all he needed was a good swaddle and he was out...

Then he left a load for Nathan. Haha.

He is doing great. He only gets up at 2am to eat and then he is back to sleep.
We love this boy sooo much.

As for me, adjusting to 5 kids hasn't been too hard.
I have learned that getting everyone in the car and buckled takes a little longer, but other than that, I love having 5 kids. :)

11, 5.5, 6/36

Today Juliet is 11 months old! Lucas was 5.5 yesterday, and last Friday Mason hit 6 weeks/36 weeks.

Let's talk about Ju-geeena first.

She has 2 mommies. Me, being one, and Scarlett being the other.

Scarlett always makes sure she is getting enough food, water, toys, etc.

It can be nice - at times. :)

Her hair is coming in like crazy and is blond. Like a dirty blond, but it is blond.

Juliet is a little character. She has a crazy weird laugh and is just so fun to have around.

She is so pleasant and happy to do things on her own.

She claps at everything. This means she likes something. I will say "Juliet, do you want some crackers?" Her response is usually clapping or she will just crawl/walk to the kitchen and wait for me to get them.

She is enormous. At Mason's appointment last week she was 24 pounds 9 oz.

She is off baby food and formula and is pounding 3 cups of milk a day.

Her favorite food is ham. In any form, in anything.

She is a hoot.

I was telling her a story in this picture. She is such an attentive listener. Haha.

***

Lucas is so happy he is finally 5 1/2. Tomorrow he is bringing snickerdoodles to class to celebrate.

Mason was/is 6 weeks/36 weeks.

At his appointment last week he was 6lbs 8oz - one oz shy of Scarlett at birth.

We talked about adjusted age and actual age. Mason is considered "unborn" still, so its fun just telling people he isn't at his due date yet. He is doing well, and it is so nice to have him home. :)