Oh Yum.

So a friend of mine turned me on to Aden + Anais before Baby Goober was born.  They have the coolest swaddle blankets.  They are nice and big and made out of muslin and were perfect for wrapping a brand new Baby Goober during the heat of the summer last year.  We swaddled with them, used them to cover the couch or floor when we put him down, used them as a cover in the stroller... We still use them, even though he outgrew being swaddled months ago.  Then I saw on Facebook they were coming out with a new line of skincare mum + bub.  They had a webcast and the first 50 to RSVP got to try them out.  And we were one of the first 50! 

Anyways, I was so excited when I opened a random box on my porch (I had totally forgotten that they were coming!) and found this: 

Squee!  We got a lotion, a hair and body wash and a soothing ointment.

I immediately opened up the ointment and put some on my chapped lips...bliss!

It smells yummy and it works!  I've also used it on Cute Boy's lips...he's a bottom lip sucker...and he loves it too.  A little bit goes a long way.  I haven't used it on Baby Goober yet-but *knockonwood* he hasn't had diaper rash in a long time.  It says on the jar that it "works wonders on diaper rash, cuts, windburned, cracked or chafed skin, insect bites, chapped lips and more"  Ohhhh...I'll have to try it on Sweet Boy's skeeter big bites when he comes home from his dad's.  I'll let you know how he likes it.

Then there's the lotion and the hair and body wash.

These we have used on all the goobers.  We haven't had any issues with "THERE'S SOAP IN MY EYES" from Cute Boy...which would happen even when we used Johnson and Johnson.  The big boys and Baby Goober haven't noticed any difference.  Again, soap wise, a little goes a long way.  It takes less than quarter sized dollop to do Baby Goober whole body and hair.  It's nice and sudsy which Sweet Nut and Cute Boy like.  Their only complaint is that Lightning McQueen isn't on the bottle.  But they'll live.  I actually haven't tried the hair and body wash on myself yet...I have issues with leaving my shampoo behind-it's one of the few that doesn't make my curly hair a rats nest-but I'll get up the guts to try it.

The lotion, all of us have used.  Even the Chef.  And we all love it.  And Cute Boy hasn't had any issues breaking out with it-we have to be careful with him sometimes.

Anyways, here's the DL on mum + bub.  It has pawpaw fruit in it.  And it smells like Australian Sandalwood. The pawpaw fruit apparently is known for its soothing and hydrating qualities.  I'm taking their word for it because mum + bub works for our family.  

They have also recently come out with crib sheets.  We're definitely getting some of those for Baby Goober.  And stocking up on blankets.  Since his brothers steal blankets if you're not physically holding them :D

Disclaimer:  All opinions in this post are my own.  I did receive a set of mum + bub as part of the webcast promotion.  And I really do love them.  I was not asked to write this blog post, but I wanted to share the awesomeness with you.  And I really think you should get some mum + bub even if you don't have a baby.

The Baby Goober gets a car...

So my last post, I told you all how Baby Goober has been sick the last few weeks. Right in the midst of him being sick, he got a car in the mail.

I love it!  We've had some wooden teethers for him and he seems to like them...banging is a popular pasttime.

But seeing as how he spent most of the day like this:

or like this

(I was mean and sat him in his high chair while I made the big goobers their lunch...)

there wasn't much time for playing.  But the other day he started perking up and so I busted out the car.

He had to check it out first.

and the other side, just to make sure it passed his taste test...

I'm thinking it did.

I've been getting him more wooden toys and such because of the questionable things found in plastics.  A friend of mine has done lots of research on the topic (you can read what she's found out on the topic and how she's dealing with it at One Little Word She Knew) and while I haven't totally banned all plastics from my house, I do try to be more aware of what the goobers use everyday, and what Baby Goober sticks in his mouth.  Baby Goober doesn't seem to mind since wood makes a very LOUD noise when banged on his highchair tray and is a good weapon when his big brothers insist on bugging him when he's eating or steal his puffs. 

Go germs go!

So I know the last time I posted, I told y'all about our plans for Lent...

We've done some of them, but haven't gotten very far...Baby Goober has been pretty sick.

He started out with a fever that we assumed was from his 9 month shots. That quickly turned into a stuffy nose, a nasty cough and a fever of 103+. We upped his nebulizer to include albuterol every 6 hours and called the dr.

He had some nasty lung congestion. They added an antibiotic into our medicine lineup and upped his albuterol to every 4 hours around the clock.

2 weeks later he still has a little cough and a bit of a runny nose hanging on. But for the most part, he's over it. But, he was nice enough to share with Mommy, Daddy and his brothers. Sweet Nut went down first. Then we found out quickly that winter was over. I mean, yeah, sure, days and days of 70* weather could have clued us in, but Sweet Nut has broken out in hives, found poison ivy-which he's very allergic to and has numerous mosquito bites already. He can look at poison ivy and get it, so we're trying to find out where in our yard or the sitter's yard it is that he got it already...he knows to stay away from it, but we need to know where it is so he can avoid it.

That and I've had to pick up some extra shifts at the diner to cover some people who are out on spring break...so we haven't gotten as much done as we'd like but we're getting there.

Hope you all are healthier than we are!

Learning about Lent

So, since we're returning to the Catholic Church, the boys have been having a ball learning about the faith.  I've been scouring looking for resources to help them learn more...and of course, it's Lent, so there's TONS of things to learn.

The first thing we're doing is the Lenten Adventure from Holy Heroes.  Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we get an email with the link the the next lesson.  Included is a video of KIDS teaching the lesson-they
re not very long and the boys love them.  Then there's different printables for each day.  Spawn can do almost most of them, with some help.  Sweet Nut and Cute Boy and I work together on the puzzles and they do the coloring pages alone.

The second is the Jesus Loves Me this I know E Book from Royal Baloo.  This is awesome because it's geared more towards Sweet Nut and Cute Boy's age, where as Cute Boy can do some of the Holy Heroes activities, but some are too hard for him.  I like that they tackle a different part of the Easter Story each week and there's a craft.  I just found out about this and we'll be starting it tomorrow.

The other helpful tool the big 2 goobers are using are the Mass Response Books from Holy Heroes.  We won them, and they used them for the first time today and they were a lot easier for them to follow along.  I like that the book covers the Mass in one half and in the other half covers the prayers they need to know.  We have started praying the Angelus daily as well, and even Cute Boy is picking up on the prayers.

I'll be back with some pictures of our activities this week!  The goobers are so excited!

Why hullo there.

I know, I've been neglectful.

We've been busy here.  School, work and battling germs.  You know the usual things in a family with 4 goobers.

On with the updating!

Spawn:  We're still dealing with problems in school.  Our ped wants the school to evaluate him to see if meds would help.  His teacher thinks he's doing ok without them.  Although we have been getting notes home about behavior.  He's doing better, but is still just below where he should be.  Chef and I have been talking, as well as some conversations with Spawn, we're going to be pulling him after he finishes 3rd grade this year to homeschool.  We're in the process of going through different materials and figuring out what will work best for us.

Otherwise, he is doing pretty good.  He loves helping with Baby Goober and often disappears to hide and read...he says as long as he hides that his brothers can't find him and make him read to them.  He does love to read to them, but I get needing some time to read alone.

Healthwise, we had another long function test a few weeks ago.  The last one, they upped his inhaler to 2 puffs 2x a day.  While his lung finction isn't perfect, he did the best on the test that he's ever done since we started back in July.  They're keeping him on the same regimin for now, and he goes back in March for another check.

Sweet Nut:  Loves first grade.  He finished all 120 sight words before Christmas and is working on the second list now.  He moved up in reading again, I'm not sure where he is because by the time I figure it out, he's moved up again, LOL.  He has a love/hate relationship with Math.  Depends on the day.  And he's loving spelling.  I'm not sure where we got this kid!

Healthwise, he's been the healthiest of the bunch.  He's taken it upon himself to watch what he eats...he's been watching me.  He's been picking fruits and veggies over other snacks and drinks a TON of water.

Cute Boy:  Loves his prek.  I love that it's not as harsh as the one Sweet Nut went to.  It's a daycare run in a private home, but she has it scheduled day like a prek.  He's looking forward to turning 5 in less than 2 weeks.

Healthwise, he's been pretty good...a bit of a fever ad cold a few weeks ago that knocked him down for a bit, but nothing major.

Baby Goober:  Is almost 9 months old...and I'm wondering where the time went!  He's thisclose to crawling, although he's got the army crawl down, and he's pretty fast.  He's got 4 teeth now, and he's loving food.  And he's got the Mama down when he feels he needs attention or something isn't going his way.

Healthwise, he's been battling a cold.  Even with that though, the last time we were at the doctors he said that Baby Goober's lungs sound better than they have in months!  Yay!  He's still on the nebulizer 2x a day for his pulmicort with albuterol as he needs it, and we haven't used any albuterol in over a month!  Yay!

As for me, thigns have been ok.  I've moved up at work to marketing director.  It's perfect because I'm dealig with graphics which I love, and I can do it from the office or from home.  It's played a big part in our decision to homeschool Spawn.

We're also heading back to Catholicism.  It's been a big decision for me, but it's the right one.  So right now, I'm in the process of getting some things ready to teach the boys about Lent.

Anyways, that's what's been going on here...I'll be posting some of the Lenten projects we do hopefully really soon.

Trials and Tribulations

When it rains it snows.

Haven't posted much because I'm working some things in my personal life.  Also I've taken on more responsibilities at work...although I'm still part time, I'm being pulled 3 different directions from 3 different projects I've taken on.  I know that will calm down once I get it all settled and get into a groove.

Goobers are goobers.  We're working through stuff with them too.

Hopefully life settles back down soon.

And Spawn turns 9...

9 years ago at this time I was in a hospital bed...hoping that the little boy that had already made us wait over 2 weeks past his due date would decide to make his appearance soon.

Now, 9 years later that little boy is still just as stubborn as then, but he's grown so much-physically and emotionally.  He's big brother to Sweet Nut, Cute Boy and Baby Goober-as well as a baby brother from his dad.  He's an awesome big brother-although he has a quick temper.  But he's learning to be patient.

He's struggled a bit in school, but between getting his diagnosis of ADHD in June and having a great teacher this year who's very proactive in getting Spawn the help he needs.  We had a great teacher conference a month ago, which was a big turn around from second grade last year.

Anyways, Happy Ninth Birthday to my biggest goober.  I love you just as much as the first time I saw you 9 years ago.

And now on to the sappy sentimental pictures, :D

enjoying the snow...

getting ready for first grade

 turning 7

getting ready for second grade

bungee jumping into his 8th birthday

celebrating turning 9 at 12am.  First time he's ever stayed up on New Year's Eve!