Amanda Baby Shower

I had such a fun time hosting a baby shower celebrating Amanda, Preston and baby Parker. Many hands made light work with DD bringing most of the food, Susan Hamm bringing delicious oreo cupcakes, Candace bringing balloons and flowers, Aunt Becky Rodick bringing a beautiful fruit arrangement and Teri (Amanda's mom) bringing crafts and party favors. All I had to do was get the house ready and provide drinks. It was a bit of a scramble at the last minute to get everything ready because we are still getting settled in the house, but it all worked out so well! We used the first floor for food and conversation and set up a table upstairs for the crafts. Teri brought the most adorable little craft with wooden baby blocks and tons of markers, stickers and baby for everyone to create a baby block. We can't wait for baby Parker to arrive!

Walsh Family Photo

I love the pictures of us trying to get positioned just as much as the one final good picture. Me holding Cadie, Grant kissing Colton's little bare foot, Whitney and DD loving each other, Jack Ranger hoping he can get away with wearing the spider man glasses, DD gently taking the glasses away from Ranger, Amanda just 2 months away from having baby Parker and all of us laughing because DD had us take the picture in front of the neighbors house. She liked their pumpkins, which didn't even end up showing in the pictures.

Sweet Little Tortured Colton

I feel like every day I yell to the older two kids, "Why is Colton crying?" and the variety of responses is astounding. Good thing that he is pretty good at fending for himself! He goes right back after the kids and lunges for them and holds on like he is tackling them. They scream that they are under a "baby attack!!"

"Why is Colton crying!?"
Cadie: "Maybe because I shut him in my closet with the lights out."

"Why is Colton crying!?"
Cadie: "Probably because I dumped a cup full of dirt down his shirt."

"Why is Colton crying!?"
Jack Ranger: "I think because I am sitting on him."

"Why is Colton crying!?"
Jack Ranger: "It is because I just pushed him off the couch and took his hot wheels car."

This sweet, tortured little man is jabbering away and his favorite words are dada, truck, look, book and uh-oh. He sleeps through the night (mostly) and is pretty dedicated to his "taggy" lovey. He eats like he has a hollow leg and often eats his own dinner and at least some of Cadie and Ranger's. He loves to play trains, cars and read books. He is super mellow and happy. He is go go go go go and I sometimes miss the days when I could hold and cuddle him all day.

Six Flags with the Rileys

We could take friends for free to Six Flags with our season passes so we met the Riley on the Wed. before Thanksgiving and had a great evening. It was chilly, but we stayed bundled up and drank our weight in hot chocolate. All the kids were great and the 4 adults operated like a well oiled machine. We have been friends with Emmy and James for more than 10 years and it is fun to have a family we get along with so well and the kids always have a blast. I hope we can go on a trip with them someday.

Eli and Ranger were pretending to be scared on the Ferris Wheel.

Mom and Dad's Bed

For Cadence and Jack Ranger, crawling into our bed, day or night, results in almost immediate sleep. It is a wonderful phenomenon that I have heavily leveraged since they were newborns. They have both logged their fair share of time in our bed, especially Cadie. And I generously used this technique when I was pregnant with Colton. Most Saturday and Sunday afternoons I could be found in bed with Cadie sleeping on my left and Jack Ranger on my right (this is always their "side"). Being pregnant with #3 leaves a Mama pretty tired, but the fact that some mysterious sleep drug enters Cadie and Jack Ranger's systems upon getting into our bed was a huge blessing. Sadly, Colton seems to be immune to the powers of Mom and Dad's bed.

Sunday afternoon both Cadie and Jack Ranger crawled into our bed at about 2:45, went to sleep within minutes and at 5pm I had to go into my room to wake them up or else I think they may have slept all evening. Colton helped me to rouse my sleeping lovelies. Neither Cadie or Jack Ranger appreciated the "baby attack" but I found it pretty funny to see Colton attempting to wake them up with kisses and pillows in their faces.

Cadie says she falls asleep so fast in our bed because it is warm, snuggly and smells like Mom. I understand because I felt the same way about my parents bed. I only wish they made something larger than a king because our bed does seem to fill up pretty quickly.

What have we been up to?

Life has been normal and busy. We have been loving the fall weather. We are far from settled in the new house, but things are getting a bit more organized every day. I have been working hard at making sure the kids get enough rest and lots of sunshine and that we connect, pray and laugh together every day. Some days those goals are easier to accomplish than others. Thankfully, these sweet little people love me even on my bad days and I can't begin to imagine my life without them.

When Cadie gets tired, she likes to hitch a ride with Colton in the stroller. This picture is from Saturday on our way back to the house after playing for about 2 hours at the park.

Grant and I went to a wedding themed fundraiser for Cadie's school. Can you guess what we are? Ring-bear(er) and flower girl.

I unsuccessfully attempted to cut Jack Ranger's hair myself.

Good thing he is still adorable from the front!

Cadie can READ!!! She and Dad do her homework every night. 

After homework, they like to cuddle. Can you believe how long she is!?

Colton is teething and he has a cough and he just feels crummy.

And since he feels crummy, he mostly just wants Mom all the time. Including from 3:30-5:00am this morning.

The boys wrestle like lion cubs all day long. Grant added some extra padding under the rugs to help cushion the falls.

And I have been so stressed that I have chewed my cuticles to shreds. Gross, I know. Thanksgiving, please get here soon! I really need a break.

Getting Ready for Parker

Amanda and I had a great time getting Parker's baby registry started at Babies R Us. The first time I went to register when I was pregnant with Cadie, I got so overwhelmed that I walked right out of the store. I called my friend Laura Dickinson and she came and helped me with my next attempt and I was so thankful for her help! Amanda is a bit more cool-headed than I am and I know she would have done fine, but I still had a great time hanging out with her and looking at all the cute baby stuff. Congrats Mama Amanda!