John Parker is ONE month old!

And just like that he's one month new. Time, you are no mother's friend. It was a fast first month but such a rewarding one.

John Parker-you are one month old today!

• You were 11 pounds 6 ounces (80th percentile) at your one month checkup. You have passed your brother and sister at this market despite Jack having a half pound on you at birth. You were 22” (60th percentile). We knew you were going to be a bruiser when we took you for your first checkup at two days old and you were already back to 8 pounds and then over that weekend you gained 9 oz putting you over your birth weight in just five days! You are wearing size 1 diapers and 0-3 month clothing.
• You eat every three hours during the day and you give me one five hour stretch at night which is a dream. Thank you, son! You nurse exclusively but I have offered you a few breastmilk bottles and you weren’t phased! 
• Your hair is blonde (you have less than Georgia or Jack), your eyes are still blue and you are a very round baby :) 
• You like to eat, sleep on someone’s chest or in their arms preferably, ride in your carseat and look at lights and ceiling fans.
• You don't like changing clothes, being hungry and poopy diaper changes.
• Laying on your mommy's chest is your favorite place to nap. You sleep in your bassinet by me in your sleep sack.
• So far you are a very happy and easy baby. You smile often when your belly is full and laugh out loud sometimes. You are so easy to take places because you typically sleep in your carseat the whole time. 

Big brothers had to join in on the picture action. 

Side by side comparison of all three babies. You have your sister’s nose and Jack’s lips. They both love you so much and help with you all they can. You are the luckiest baby boy to have them as your forever protectors!

Happy one month, baby boy! In a year of so many unthinkable lows, you have been an incredible high for us. Thank you, God, for our perfect boy.

School Days

My kiddos have sweet teachers that have sent and posted pictures of the kids from our school days this year. I also have a few other school-related ones that I wanted to share.

The night before the first day of school and baby brother checking out his crib for the first time. I didn't realize when I bought those school pajamas how valuable they would be with so much school happening from home in our actual pjs!

We have a slew of back to school and the night before school books we read every year. John Parker was able to join the tradition this year!

Jack and his Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Cindy. We think the world of Cindy and just love her. She was also Georgia's kindergarten teacher. We feel extremely blessed that she is the first teacher for both of our big kids.

Ms. Haley is student teaching in Jack's classroom this semester and we love her too! She is going to be a fantastic teacher and hopefully she will be able to stick around at NBES.

On the first day of virtual school, the kids were able to go to school with Marcus and meet with their teachers. He took this sweet picture of them working on Jack's "About Me" in his classroom. Big sister is sure to hold him accountable :)

Even though these are not ideal times, class sizes are smaller (especially K classes) and lends to more one-on-one time with each student. As a parent, I'm very thankful for that!

Mom bought the kids blue light glasses and this boy thinks he needs to wear them all the time ;) They are too cute to tell him any different.

Ella Kate and Jack. These two have been together since they were two years old. They are in the same kindergarten class and the mommies are very happy about that! I hope these two always stay close and look out for each other. 

Ms. Haley, Jack and Ms. Cindy. I pray they have the best year together!

Georgia and her second grade teacher, Mrs. Gleichauf. She also has a student teacher, Ms. Katy, that we need to get a picture with. We love them both and Georgia is already loving being in their classroom.

A luau theme in Ms. Cindy's class! Every child's desk is their own island for social distancing.

Hard at work on his island gluing and coloring

Can't you tell this activity was right up his alley!?

Painting time

Marcus looked out his classroom window and saw our sweet girl reading a book during a mask break outside. I'm so glad she gets mask breaks now and then!

I have been able to pick up the kids from school while I'm on maternity leave (they usually ride home with dad) and they like being pickups. They just look so big to me here :(

Jack's kindergarten class (A group, last names A-J). This picture is taken behind the school on a nature trail and I think it is just the sweetest! He has friends in his class and he has already made new friends.

Working on shapes. I love how proud he looks in this picture and he loved writing on his desk.

I'm not sure how his teachers are getting some genuine smiles out of my boy but I need to know their secret!

A big accomplishment! He works on Lexia at school and at home. Lexia really helped Georgia with learning phonics and I'm hopeful Jack will benefit too.

This was some of Georgia's work she brought home one day. It made me chuckle.

Back To School 2020

It's 2020 which means nothing is normal, including school. Coronavirus continues to disrupt our daily routine and way of life.

School officially started on August 26th with at-home virtual learning. Obviously this is not ideal for a second grader and kindergartener, but we did our best to make the most of it. Oh, and throw a one week old in the mix and we could have starred in an entertaining family reality show :)

Our girl has made the biggest growth spurt she has ever had! I've completely had to replace her wardrobe. I'm excited to take her to the pediatrician for her check-up in a few months so they can see her progress. She's always been low (except when she was a baby) in the percentiles but I think she has made a mighty climb!

No way is this how I envisioned the start of his school career to go. Bless his heart he doesn't know any different so he was just as excited for whatever school looked like. Kids are so resilient. 

Second grade and Kindergarten. This happened way too fast for my liking.

I like using the porch rail as a measuring stick for our school pictures. I think her beauty and confidence shines through in her school pictures every year.

My middle baby went from a precious little boy to a big school kid.

And now to the main event...in-person school! Our district began in-person learning on September 14th with each class split into two groups. Georgia and Jack go to school on Mondays and Tuesdays only, and do virtual learning from home on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (they are allowed to go on Thursdays and Fridays some since Marcus is in the building). It's not what we are use to but it's better than nothing. 

Two excited kiddos at 5:45 am waiting for daddy to go to school. They arrived super early on the first day but have bumped it back now thankfully! Adrenaline was pumping on the first day so the early alarm didn't bother them :)

So excited to see their friends (with last names A-J ha!) and teachers!

"Bye mama and Johnny boy" :)

I snapped these after school on the 14th because that day things finally felt right. We were in school, backpacks were needed, friendships were rekindled and first impressions were made on their teachers. It was one of my favorite days of 2020. I hope I never take for granted the simple act of going to school.

Matching backpacks! Georgia is determined to pack hers her entire elementary career because her daddy told her that's what LL Bean backpacks are meant to do. She will do anything to please him!

Finally real second grade!

Finally real kindergarten!

Marcus's 11th year of teaching. I feel like the years are moving quick, he probably doesn't-especially this year ha! I'm proud of him and his commitment to his career and students.

Daddy and his girl. These two are a pair.

Dad was tasked by mom to take pictures outside of the school and he did a good job!

Year #3 at NBES-she moved to the big kid hallway this year

Year #1 at NBES-he loves school so far

We developed a loose routine and everything seems to be running smooth. They both love their teachers. I'm hopeful we can go to five days a week soon. Mama is not a teacher :)

Hospital Pictures

I had forgot how fleeting the newborn phase can be and I'm doing my best to savor every moment. I'm sure knowing this is our last baby even amplifies the desire to soak it all in.  

I'm trying to keep our virtual family scrapbook as up to date as I can. I've also noticed the older I get the quicker I forget details, this is not a good thing in the life of a procrastinator! I hope I can post pictures on here regularly so I have a memory bank of these days. 

Here are the rest of the pictures from our hospital stay:

My sweet friend, Susan. Ironically, she has been working for all three of my babies' deliveries. She was actually the first person I seen as I walked through the L&D doors the night of the 18th and I instantly felt a sense of relief. She is amazing and I'm so glad she could be by my side every time!

His first selfie with mommy. Those first few hours after delivery I wish I could bottle and keep forever. You completely forget about what you've been through for the past nine months and most notably the past several hours. 

Since no one could be with us due to COVID, our awesome nurses grabbed my phone and took pictures for us! It was a small gesture that meant so much to me.

First picture with daddy. Look at him locking eyes with him. I loved this moment.

 

You know that nasty, just delivered a baby and haven't showered feeling? That was me in this moment but I had my boy and couldn't of cared less about it.

The virtual sibling meeting at 2 am! They had waited a long nine months and couldn't wait any longer. Another favorite moment of mine and I'm so proud of our big kids for making the most of a hard situation. 

A few pictures Daddy took after he came back to use clean from his first bath. He is just like his brother Jack and LOVES to be swaddled!

Our little butterball. I love his chunky newborn legs! 

Just living the eating-every-hour-the-first-few-days life :) Another memory I wanted to capture, even though I was very sleep deprived and exhausted. It's worth it.

We snapped a few pictures of him the morning before we headed home.

The miracle of your baby being inside of you one moment and in the world the next moment will never be lost on me. I'm forever grateful to get to experience this times three. 

The best snuggle buddy. As everyone has pointed out, he has my lips. 

Daddy and John Parker. We are still trying to wrap our mind around the fact we have two sons now!

Look at that proud Daddy smile!

Another sweet picture by Daddy. I love this one. I love all of his perfect features. Thank you God for our perfect boy.

A fun fact-we were in the same suite all three deliveries. Granted my hospital is small with an eight bed OB unit but I still think it's neat we were able to make the same room our home away from home for about a week of our lives!

Headed home with our boy! He was cozy in his car seat and rode home without making a peep just like his siblings. 

This is as truly as good as it gets on this side of heaven. In a year of unthinkable lows, I'm thankful for this unimaginable high through the gift of our son. I pray that everyone who knows John Parker can experience the same joy and love we feel!