Three Under Three

My niece Macie recently stayed with us for ten whole days. She will be three years old in September and has always held a special place in my heart. Although she's my niece, she will always be like a daughter to me. I was looking forward to having her with us, but was also a bit anxious about caring for three kids under three years old for ten days. It was a busy, exhausting, memorable time.

 

Of course the time Macie spent with us was the HOTTEST of the summer so far. We spent a lot of time outside. The girls loved the water table and soaking each other from head to toe!

 

We spent a day in Tillamook with Greg's family. Naturally we went to the Tillamook Cheese Factory.

 

 We went to the beach while in Tillamook and it was absolutely beautiful! I stood ankle deep in the ocean for the whole two hours we were there and my feet didn't even go numb! Now that's warm for the Oregon Coast.

Macie LOVED the water and sat, swam, splashed, and ran it it the entire time (the reason I was in the ocean the whole time as well, keeping an eye on her). She truly is a little water baby toddler.

 Alexis opted to be held by Nana most of the time and also play in the sand with her shovel.

 

We also spent a day in Florence. It wasn't as warm as our day in Tillamook, but there were rocks and shells everywhere! The girls loved it.

 For the most part, the girls played pretty well together. Or course everyday had it's disagreements and difficulties with sharing, but these cousins love each other so much. I had a great time watching them play and interact with one another each day.

 

It was a long week and a half with three kids under three. But we made some great memories and these three cousins had a great time together. 

Ryder at 3 Months Old

 Ryder at 3 Months: I can hardly believe our "little" guy is 3 months old already! Ryder weighs in at 19lbs! He wears size 3 diapers and 6 month clothes. Alexis weighed 19lbs at her 12 month check up and is still in size 3 diapers, we anticipate little brother will catch up to her in size in no time. Ryder is all smiles and coos these days. He still sleeps in his bassinet in Mommy and Daddy's room, but is outgrowing it. This weekend, the big transition to crib and sharing a room with big sister will happen. I think Mom is much more nervous about the transition than either child is. Ryder has been on Alimentum formula for nearly two months now. He's breast fed at night, but when breast fed during the day all of his colic symptoms return and he is not a happy camper. For now we will continue him on formula during the day so that we can have him be the happy, smiley, content baby that he has been. Ryder has started sucking his thumb in efforts to self soothe and he is getting very close to rolling over from back to tummy, but can't seem to roll his body completely over that bottom arm. Excited to see all of the changes and development this next month will bring!

Basketball and Babies

Every summer, I coach for one week at a basketball camp for kids K-8th grade and I referee and keep score clock for another week at a team camp for high school aged kids. This year I knew it would be a bit different with children in tow. The first week of camp, I coached with Ryder strapped on me in the front pack and we hired a high school girl to babysit Lexi and her cousin Macie. After one day of working the Team Camp, we all realized three kids under three was too much for me to handle while keeping score clock at a game, so I ended up staying at my parents' house for the week with the kids. All in all, it was a great and exhausting time with family.

Alexis and Macie had a blast
 playing in the gyms together...

 They also did a lot of Disney movie watching...

 

They snacked on A LOT of cereal...

 They spent a lot of time outside...

Some of that time was spent getting into mischief...

  

This guy spent most of the time being super cute and charming his grandparents... 

The three cousins enjoyed their time together...

Even though Ryder's face here doesn't show it...

 I am so grateful to live close enough to family to visit often, but I can tell you what, taking care of a 2 1/2 month old, 1 1/2 year old, and 2 1/2 year old is  EXHAUSTING. Good thing they are cute :)

Ryder at 2 Months Old

Ryder at 2 Months: This post is a couple weeks late, life sure is busy with two kids under two! Our 16 lb,  24.5 inch long, "little" boy is growing daily. Early on, he was incredibly fussy and seemed to have colic. After supplementing with formula over the past month, he is much more content which makes Mommy and Daddy much more content! Ryder has begun smiling and cooing when we talk with him and he tracks us very well. He still is not much of a fan of tummy time, but is demonstrating quite a bit of head control when he is held by someone. Ryder wakes up around midnight, 3am, and 5am to eat still. I have a feeling he will outgrow his bassinet soon and be forced into the crib and therefore forced into sharing a room with Alexis. Ryder is into size 6 month clothes and is comfortably wearing size 3 diapers (the same size as his sister).

And... Another Road Trip!

I might be crazy to be traveling so much and so often after having a little one, but I think that since we moved back from Idaho we are eager to spend time with family when we can. This past weekend we traveled up north to attend my cousin Janell's graduation from Graduate School and for a surprise birthday party for our sister in law Nikki. The surprise was a success and our kiddos got to spend time with grandparents and aunts and uncles again.

With the Graduate!

Greg and his dad keeping an eye out for the birthday girl

The birthday girl/expectant mommy celebrating with a Virgin Strawberry Margarita

My babies with their grandmas and Uncle Brandon photo bombing

With Grandpa and Grandma Teune

4 Generations of Marlows

Greg's grandparents' home is filled with gorgeous antiques and beautiful furniture. I couldn't resist capturing our precious girl hanging out and exploring their home.

 We are so thankful that God had plans to bring us back to Oregon at this time in our lives. How special to have family within driving distance so our children can really know their grandparents and other relatives.

Road Trip!

Two weekends ago we took a road trip to Tillamook to visit Greg's mom and family as well as attend a bridal shower for his sister. Alexis had a blast at Nana and Papa's and Ryder got a lot of snuggle time in with loved ones.

I had some anxiety about the long drive (it only ended up being two hours) because I didn't want a screaming baby in the backseat or to have to stop on the side of the road to nurse. With coffee in hand, we started our drive and both of our children decided to sleep the whole way there. Praise the Lord!

Riding Cooper around Nana and Papa's house

Snuggling with Uncle Brandon

Getting into trouble in Nana's bathroom

Spending time with Great Grandma

It was a great day spent with family. The ride home went well until the last 45 minutes when a little boy decided to scream bloody murder the rest of the drive home. But it was nothing a pit stop at Burgerville and listening to the Blazers beat the Rockets couldn't fix.

Ryder at 1 Month Old

 Ryder at 1 Month: Our 12lb "little" guy has had quite the month! He had a thrush infection in his mouth and needed medication which wasn't much fun, but he has been very healthy ever since. Ryder has a very strong set of lungs and uses them to cry and scream often, especially when we are in the car (not a lot of fun for anyone). He grew out of newborn diapers within his first week of life and is now wearing size 1 as well as 0-3 month onesies and 3 month sleepers. Alexis has been adjusting well to life as a big sister. She didn't want to be left out of the photo shoot, which I imagine will happen each month. She doesn't seem to be too jealous or bothered by little brother. I think the sweetest thing  so far in this first month is that she has found out how to say her own version of his name, "Rydee". It seriously melts my heart to hear her say his name!