Jake is 4 months old!

This sweet little baby boy is four months old already! He is so happy and content. He loves to laugh and is starting to babble.

He weighs 15.1 lbs (48th percentile) and is 26 inches long (76th percentile). He rolls from his tummy to his back and holds his head up well.

We started feeding him cereal this week and will start with veggies and fruits in another month or so. So many changes!

He still likes his pacifier although he finds his thumb too. He likes to cuddle with his little soft dog too. I have a feeling he will like it for many years to come (just like Lauren with her ducky and Luke with his monkey).



His brother and sister love him so much. They want to be around him all the time and are always arguing about who gets to sit closest to him at dinner. Luckily they each can sit next to him. He truly completes our family.

Thanks for checking in on us.
Until next time--

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Remembering EJ/Mama/Gigi

Justin's grandmother Ethel Jean Wolf passed away on January 7, 2013. She was 92 years old and truly the matriarch of the family. She was an amazing lady and I'm so happy to have known her. She was the mother to three, grandmother to nine and great-grandmother to fifteen. We will cherish the memories we have of her. So happy to have this picture taken in November with all of her great-grandchildren.

We will miss you Mama/Gigi.


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Merry Christmas and Happy 2013!!

Merry Christmas!! We have had a whirlwind holiday season. We truly feel blessed to have three happy and healthy children. It so much fun to see Christmas through their eyes. Lauren could hardly wait for Christmas and had pretty much everything on her list. Luke didn't quite remember it from last year but his sister quickly brought him up to speed. Of course, this was Jake's first Christmas! We celebrated with Justin's family the weekend before Christmas and spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Iowa with my family. It all came and went too quickly but we enjoyed it! The house is now back in order and we're ready for 2013! Enjoy the pictures!



Lauren and Luke telling Santa what they wanted for Christmas.  Luke told him he wanted a football and basketball, but he wanted no part of sitting on his lap!

 

Lauren excited to open a gift from the Chaons during the Mead Christmas celebration at our house.

Luke excited to see his floor piano from Nonny & Boppa!  It's going to be a noisy 2013 at our house!

The day after the Mead Christmas celebration, the Senior Meads, Zorns and Junior Meads went downtown to enjoy some holiday fun!  We had brunch at Millenium Park Grill, watched the ice skaters (although we didn't get to ice skate as it was an hour for skates!), and saw the tree at Macy's!  It was a fun, but tiring day!

Poor Luke missed out on his nap, so he & Daddy got some rest time when we got home.  Having fun can be so exhausting!

We loaded the car to the brim and headed to Iowa to enjoy Christmas Eve & Christmas morning.

 Patiently waiting to go downstairs to see what Santa brought.  (Nick (15) holding Max (11 mos), Steph (9) holding Casey dog, Molly (3), Luke (2), Lauren (5) holding Jake (3 mos.)  Whew!

Santa found Lauren!

And Luke!

And Jake too! 

Woo hoo...Orbeez!  Just what she always wanted.

Max sitting on his present to open it.

Luke loving his new police man and fireman.

Memaw and Papa taking in all the action (and mess!)

Molly opening up a new princess.

Luke's new Bears hat from Aunt Melissa.  How appropriate.

Lauren as a wolf.

Aunt Melissa and Jake!

Max was most interested in the candy canes.

Jakey...3 months old on Christmas.  How time flies.

 

Helping decorate the tree!

 Love it!  This tree is my favorite as it has ornaments from our travels and ornaments the kids have made.  Lots of memories on this one.

 This is our "more formal" tree in the front room.  Yes, two Christmas trees!


We celebrated New Years at our house with the Malsches and the Zorns!  It's always fun to get together with family and enjoy good food and good company!  The kids had a great time too...their countdown was at 7:00 p.m! 

Happy 2013 to you!  We hope the year is a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

 

Thanks for checking in on us.  Until next time-- 

Jake is 2 months old!

Sweet baby Jake is two months old! He is 11.9 lbs (40th percentile) and 23 inches long (50th percentile). He's growing like a weed!

Today was a hard day...Jake's first day of daycare. Sigh. It doesn't get any easier dropping the third baby off. We love our daycare and the teachers but man it is a difficult decision. I've seen my children grow, develop and make wonderful friends but it's still hard to leave. Of course, Mommy guilt ensues...and then work guilt. I'm sure all working mothers deal with the same guilt. Trying to find the right balance is never ending. I just hope my children grow up and see how much I love them and also admire me for the contribution I make to my job.
Here's an interesting article I read today:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/carol-evans/working-moms_b_2158637.html

Jake did pretty well today but had a hard time sleeping during his naps. His new friends kept waking him when they would cry. Hopefully he'll quickly get used to the new sounds and surroundings. I'm sure he will...kids are pretty adaptable. Tomorrow is my first day downtown. Wish me luck!

Thanks for checking in on us!
Until next time-


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Happy Thanksgiving!

We had such a nice Thanksgiving weekend in Iowa. We truly have so much to be thankful for in our lives...three beautiful and healthy children, jobs we enjoy, a cozy home and loving and supportive family and friends. We are blessed!

We spent the weekend in Iowa with my family. We headed to Iowa on Wednesday morning after a fun evening catching up with my friends Katie and Trulie. Because her sister was extremely delayed getting into Chicago, Katie rode to Iowa with us.



Our "four kids". ;)

We only get to see each other a few times a year but we always pick right up where we left off.

As soon as we walked in the door at my parents', Luke and Lauren were begging for tractor rides, so of course Papa obliged.



He even found a little bench for princess Lauren to ride on in the back of the wagon. They loved it!

It was great to spend the weekend catching up with my siblings and aunts/uncles/cousins and grandparents. I love the holidays! My Grandma was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, so this time together means even more this year.








Memaw always has some kind of cooking project for Lauren...this time it was turkey cupcakes.



Luke can't get enough of Papa.



Lauren, Molly and Steph had such a good time playing together.

The car ride home was so funny! Lauren loves to sign and dance. Check out these videos.
The first doesn't do it justice...she wouldn't let me video her:

Lauren was having a contest to see who could sing the loudest...I'm pretty sure she won!

Thanks for checking in on us. Enjoy this holiday season!

Until next time-


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A Nice Spring (I Mean Fall) Weekend!

The weather has been crazy this fall. This weekend it was nearly 70 degrees, tomorrow it's supposed to be a high of 30 with snow flurries possible. WHAT?

Well we took advantage of the warm weather and headed to the Morton Arboretum today. Here's a few pictures.















Jake will be 7 weeks on Tuesday. We all feel well rested today as Jake went almost 8 hours between feedings last night!! Woo hoo!!! It was wonderful. Now, I'm crossing my fingers this is a new pattern and not a fluke. We'll see how tonight goes.



This is how we started our day...isn't this how your start yours as well?? Oh the fun you can have with a few grocery bags and a pair of scissors.

Thanks for checking in on us.
Until next time--


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We have a Roller

Jake is 6 weeks old today! He is changing so quickly and getting chubby cheeks! On Sunday, he rolled over 5 times from his tummy to his back. It seems way too soon for that!

We had a fun cousin-filled weekend. The men went to Crivitz to close the cabin and the women and children enjoyed spending time together. So fun to have all 13 grandchildren together (age 14 to 6 weeks!)



Thanks for checking in.
Until next time-

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