Jack Ranger at 4 Months

Jack Ranger went for his 4 month dr. appt. on Feb. 28 and on his report card Dr. Denison wrote, "Great looking baby!" and we definitely agree! Grant took him to his appt. since I was in New York and Grant said he was well behaved and recovered quickly after his shots. His stats:
- Weight: 15 lbs, 51%
- Length: 24 1/4", 25%
- Head: 16 1/4", 25%

Even though I (and almost everyone else) feels like he is a little brick, he apparently is on the average to lower end of height and weight. My arms still hurt after carrying him around all day!

He is sleeping through the night which is wonderful! Every once and awhile we put him to sleep in his crib upstairs, but for the most part he still sleeps in the cradle in our room. He seems to be fine with either location, but I often like him in our room for ease of feeding if he wakes up at night and in the mornings before I leave for work. Jack Ranger on Dad's new sketch app.

Sleeping in his crib upstairs.

Jack Ranger is still having a hard time with me going back to work. I honestly thought it would impact Cadence more, but she is taking it in stride. Jack Ranger often cries during the day and sometimes won't eat his bottle. I pray that he adjusts soon and in the meantime I am giving him as much attention as possible when I am home. He is such a little lover that it is very easy to hold and cuddle him all day.

Splish Splash

Cadie has been a bit of a free-range chicken lately. We have stopped putting the baby monitor and since our rooms are so far away, we open her door at night and she can come downstairs and get us if she needs anything. She is very good at staying in her room and just coming to get us in the morning or if she needs something in the night. However, recently during the snowstorms we had marshmellows in the house to use for hot chocolate. I heard a noise very early one morning and I drowsily wandered out into the kitchen where I found a little jammy-clad munchkin sitting on the kitchen floor eating marshmellows out of the bag.

One more funny story... Sometimes when Cadie is tired I say, "Cadie, you are barely hanging on. Let's go to bed." I came home from work recently and was sitting with what was probably a glazed look on my face and she walked up to me, put her hands on my knees and said, "Mommy, you are barely hanging on!" Oh my amazing daughter, you don't know how right you are.

Things are actually starting to fall into a bit of a rhythm. I still feel like there isn't enough of me to go around, but the kids are doing great, Grant is a huge supporter and help and Mary takes awesome care of us.

New York

I am headed to the airport in about an hour for my first business trip with PepsiCo and since I have been back to work from Jack Ranger maternity leave. I am so thankful that I have had a wonderful few days with my family to send me off with happy thoughts. Jack Ranger has slept through the night every night since Thursday, Grant took the kids out for dinner on Thursday evening and let me rest and relax in a quiet home, I worked from home on Friday and was able to get a lot accomplished plus see my kids a bit more since I didn't have to spend time commuting, Grant and I watched a move together on Friday evening ("The Firm" - an oldie but a goodie) after we put the kids to bed, we had a fun Saturday with lots of playing outside and being together, Saturday evening Mary spent the night (sweet Mary slept on the couch so she would be sure to hear Jack Ranger in the night!) and Grant and I had a date night at the Sky Ranch Cowboys & Cowboys fundraiser and then a night at a hotel afterwards, and now I am packing while the kids take a little rest before taking me to the airport.

Cadie and Jack Ranger on the red chairs in front of our house. I am sure they are looking at a plane. We have lots of airplanes that fly over our house and we love to spot them.

Jack Ranger meeting Eirik (I hope I spelled that right!). They were so cute together! Eirik is the son of my good friend and neighbor Giselle. They came over to play with us on Saturday and enjoy a snack picnic in the front yard.

Jack Ranger getting crazy! He is squeeling and laughing now and it is adorable. Sometimes he wakes up in the night just laughing. Grant and I listen to it and laugh ourselves because it is the cutest thing. He just laughs for a few minutes and then goes back to sleep.

PS: Shawn, I SOOO wish I had time on this New York trip to see you, but it is going to be jam packed. Happy Birthday and I will catch you next time I come through. Miss you!!!!

Slept Through the Night!

Jack Ranger turned 4 months on Feb. 18 and he continues to be the sweetest baby. My sister and nanny have said he has been fussy during the day while I am at work, but I feel like I barely even hear him ever cry. I think he may be missing me and as long as I am around he just doesn't seem to fuss. He slept through the night for the first time this week! About 10pm to 6am for two nights (not in a row, but still I am thrilled). I will be in New York when he goes for his 4 month dr. appointment next week, but I feel like he is a brick! Wonder what he weighs now.

In other Walsh news:

- My sister Courtney is moving to Austin! She just found a job there and is moving this coming weekend. I am so pumped to have some of my side of the family in Texas - it has taken them a long time to wise up, but finally they are coming!

- Getting back into the work routing is just about killing me. I am really liking my job and the people, but getting into the routine and dealing with commuting, work travel, childcare, missing my babies, lack of sleep, etc. is taking its toll. I know this is a transition and I will get through it, but I am taking it day by day for now. There was one point his weekend where Grant was gone and all three of us (me and the two babies) were just crying - hope it gets easier soon.

Back 2 Work

It was sure hard to leave these sweet little ones to head back to work this past week. We all made it, with LOTS of help. Jack Ranger and Cadence didn't seem to have any negative reactions and honestly may not have really noticed that much of a change. They had a good time with Kristie and Mary (thanks ladies!), and were happy when I got home from work. It was a rough week for me getting used to a new company and being back in an office after a couple of years working from home. I think it will take me a little time to get my "sea legs" back and feel like I have a good balance, but I am excited about my new role and so thankful for all the help and support.

Pros: The people are so nice, I know I am going to really like my role, the first time I have ever had my very own office (I have always been in cube or traveling), PepsiCo is a great company.
Cons: Leaving my sweet little ones, commuting pretty far, waking up early, the water up in Plano is icky! I am going to take a Britta Water filter to work next week to see if that helps.

Keep up in your prayers as we all adjust.

Imagination

Cadence's imagination is blossoming...
- She informed us last week on the way to church that there was a baby Tickle Monster riding in the back seat of the car with her, but that we shouldn't worry because she told him to put his seat belt on.
- I went into her room after a nap and there were little balled-up wads of paper all over the floor around her bed. I asked her why she tore up pieces of her book and threw them on the floor. "For the tickle monsters to eat. They live under my bed."
- I was putting her to bed and she told me there was a brown owl that flies around her room at night to check on her.
- She was packing her little suitcase and I asked her where she was going. "I am a monkey and I am moving to the jungle." I told her I would really miss her.
- She likes to play "little bitty baby" and have us feed her food and burb her. This game is likely caused by some baby brother jealously, but I like to cuddle with her anyway so it is fine.
She makes us laugh (and sometimes want to cry) daily and our lives are so much more full just to have this little precocious bundle in our family.

Superbowl Superfreeze

After being couped up all week due to ice, it was so fun to get out this morning and play in the fresh snow. It is still snowing outside so maybe a snowman is in order this afternoon. Uncle Ace and Big John came over earlier with plans to make a snowman, but the snow is still too dry, plus Cadence would knock it over every time it got over about a foot tall.

We found the cutest little reindeer in the snow and we agreed to bring him home.