Kyle & Crew Come Through

 

The Kyle Tobler Family came through KC on their cross country move to Idaho and gosh darn it we were excited! Kyle's birthday was the following week, so I though it would be fun for Gretta and I to decorate a cake together.

Gretta did it almost all herself and I was so impressed with her! Look at the drip!!

 I wish that we lived closer together so that we could have all sort of of culinary adventures.

 

 Happy Birthday Kyle!

 

 Duke was super exited to have Charlie to play with. There was an epic battle, some nerf gun battles and some war. Duke was in heaven. 

The girls were in craft heaven. E pulled out her fuse beads and they made all sorts of creations. 

 I think the saddest part of COVID this year is the fact that we won't be having a Tobler reunion. I LOVE watching the cousins together!

 

 These Tobler boys are always good for a laugh too. I married into the best family.

We only got the Kyle Tobler crew for 18 hours but we were thrilled to have them! Good luck on your adventures to Idaho. We sure do love having family come to visit!

Mother's Day

  

Once upon a time I was in a grocery store. I had E, Duke and Sprout with me. I was also pregnant with Redd. We were standing in the check out line when a woman looked at me and said "Haven't you had enough. Do you know how hard we have worked so that you don't have to do this? How can you waist your life like this?"

I looked at her shocked. I didn't quite know what to say. I responded with a "Yeah, they keep me on my toes." She proceeded ask me if I worked and to say other things to me which I don't quite remember but it essentially summed up to be I had betrayed my sex by being a stay at home Mom.

I have thought about that woman a lot and while it may surprise you, I look back on that conversation and smile. Little did she know that THIS is the life I prayed for. Ever since I was little ALL I have wanted to do was be a mother. 

I know that this role is not for everyone and that is okay. But for me, there was never any other goal I wanted to achieve more. Never have I ever been so loved, needed or stretched. 

I love the sticky hands, the dance parties and the snuggles. I love my chats with E, playing battles with Duke, shooting hoops with Sprout and showering Redd with kisses. 

I love the crafts, the knock-knock jokes, silly conversations and the messes. Not every moment is glamorous or happy. The hours are long and some days I end up crying in the shower but this is everything to me.

This tiny humans are my whole world. They are the reason I get up every morning (most days before I'm ready) and they bring such JOY into my life. 

 I am so grateful that I get to spend all day every day with them and that they call me Mama. 

My Mother's Day was perfect. All I wanted was to get some pictures with the kids and that is what we did. We set up the tripod and Jakob clicked the button and we ended up with some pretty cute shots!

The rest of the day was spent relaxing and loving on my babes. Jakob made some dinner and I felt so loved.

 E colored me a picture and she worked really hard on it. It was beautiful!

We took a selfie with our matching glasses. I just love this girl. It was a beautiful day. Happy mother's day to you and yours. I am so thankful for the women who helped and continue to support me.

Vaccinations

 

 Doctors appointment when they are so small are SO HARD. Poor Redd got five leg pokes at his 6 month check up and it was brutal. Breaks my Mama heart every time.

 This boy is all sunshine. Even though you knew he didn't feel the greatest from his pokes, he was so smiley. 

Those dimples get me every single time.

He just glows. Oh Reddy-Roo you are so loved!

6 Months

 

 - I put the teething necklace on Roo to try it out and Daddy immediatly said that it didn't suit him and asked me to take it off. It is Sprouts thing. It made me laugh. 

- Little man is starting to rock out a routine. He is doing an up for two hours and down for two hours. I think we can start setting up "nap time" soon. 

 

- Redd is waking up around three times a night and Mama is TIRED! He gets really mad when Daddy goes in and tried to sooth him. It's the boob or bust.

- He can roll both ways now which means he's officially mobile. It takes him a minute, but he can roll around to get things he wants. It has opened up a whole new world for him!

- Little man is pooping once a week. It kind of freaks me out, but at the same time is completely normal for breastfed babies. He is my first baby not to poo several times a day and to be honest... it is glorious. But when it's poo day, watch out!!!! It's intense!

- Reddrick is the happiest baby and is smiling all. the. time. He is so good natured and just makes me want to have 5 more babies just like him. He has us all wrapped around his finger!

- Roo loves E! She just looks at him and he GLOWS! Every. Single. Time. E will "babysit" when I need to start dinner or get something done and he loves having all her attention focused on him. It's adorable!

- Redd loves to do tub time. Daddy makes it shallow enough that he can lay down in the water. His eyes light up the second he's in the tub and he starts swimming and kicking around. This baby is a fish. He also loves going to the pool and swimming there.

- Speaking of fish, Roo still love Dory. He will sit in his Rock n Play and watch the whole movie just happy as can be. 

- This boy LOVES to get his bum changed and get dressed. He loves being naked and laughs and laughs when you change his diaper. He also knows exactly where his penis is and his hands are QUICK! Sometimes it takes two people to help distract him.

- Redd is high energy. He is not a snuggly baby but likes to be held. He's just so so so wiggly. He reminds me a lot of Sprout in that department. The only time Mama gets snuggles is when we nurse and even then his hands are flying around. He's always moving.

- Roo is not great at playing on his own. If I leave him on a blanket with toys around him he gets really mad. If I sit and play with him he's just fine.

- He is slllllllllllowwwwwly sitting up and I'm pretty excited. I love the sitting up but not yet crawling stage. 

- He does a very cute stutter laugh.

- Redd's hands are so fast! He is always reaching out and grabbing my plate, or my phone, or anything that is in reach. His world is expanding at a rapid rate!

- He really likes to chew fabric. I come into his room after nap or bed and he is sucking on his blanket or he is sucking on his shirt.

- He was officially evicted from Mama and Daddy's room. It took up a while partly because that meant I had to kick Sprout of out the crib and I wasn't exactly ready for that. Partly because this is our last baby and I wasn't exactly ready to face the fact that we will never have a newborn again. Redd slept in our room the longest of our babes and it was time but its was really emotional for me. Every milestone comes with joy and a bit of sadness. The grow up and the baby stage goes by so dang fast!! Hopefully with this new transition, Roo will sleep better at night.

- EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING goes in his mouth. Hands, feet, toys, alllll the chockables. He is definitely, exploring the world through his mouth.
- Roo started SOLID FOODS this month and it was a big deal. He tried rice cereal and he was HERE. FOR. IT! He's had a few other foods like puree and banana and he is a really bit fan.

Six months is such a fun stage and I am completely obsessed with this little man. Here are a few more pictures just because.

Backyard Camping

 The weather has turned just perfect. I really wanted to go camping this year, but with baby Redd and COVID it didn't look like that was going to happen this year. I bought a tent on clearance at Aldi last year for $25 and so the kids and I set it up with plans to camp in the backyard. 

 All of the fun, none of the packing!

 E was trying to read and block out some of the boys noise with her head phones. Poor girl. 

Wouldn't be camping without peeing in the yard. Not that he doesn't do that on the daily. 

Daddy came home from shooting and he started a fire where we roasted hotdogs and made smores.

 Done to perfection!

Graham crackers are delicious!

Mama went outside and snuggled until everyone fell asleep. Then Mama and Redd slept inside while Daddy went out. Everyone was very snuggly. 

 This was just what the doctor ordered. I feel like adventure is calling. maybe next year we will all be able to go camping.