boys boys boys...

Just wondering what all of you parents do with your kids at night if you don't have a couch where the cushions come off or if you don't allow your kids to use your couch as a launch pad. Here's some photos of my boys having themselves a great time.

Sam just chillin'. Imagining when he'll be able to join in the fun.

Yeah for Jake!

Big news of the day...

I was talking with Jake today at naptime and caught a glimpse of his fingers. He has fingernails that someone could cut! Now, to most of you that may not be a big deal but I've been after Jake for at least a year to quit biting his nails and can't remember the last time we used a fingernail clipper on him. I said, "Jake you quit biting your nails!" and he got the biggest smile on his face. I asked him why and his answer was "because I don't want to get sick anymore."

I am very proud that my 4 year old managed to kick a habit by himself. Constant nagging didn't help for a year so I know that I can't take any credit for it - seems to be similar to the way he potty trained!

Pictures

Jake, Ben and Sam enjoying a project one afternoon at home.

Our form of stadium seating...

Jake with his friend Eli at their Halloween party.

Jake's preschool class.

Enjoying the cookie that he decorated at school.

Sam on Halloween. We were going to put a costume on but I decided it wasn't worth it since we had to get in and out of the car every time. He didn't think Halloween was that great anyway.

Jake as Optimus Prime.

Ben as Ben. He was supposed to be Thomas the Train. I also offered the monkey costume and clown costume that I had at home but he didn't want anything to do with them.

Here are Grandma, Jake and Ben having "Happy Birthday Cake" in honor of Uncle Mike. Ben loves birthday cake, well at least the idea of it (especially the candles), so we decided that we'd celebrate Mike's birthday even if he couldn't come to the party.

This is Ben relaxing while reading the paper. If you can see it you'll notice that it is the Truck paper - the classifieds. He looks at them often.

Finding Time

Sorry for my lack of updates. It seems that finding time these days is hard to do.

Sam is changing fast. He is 10 weeks old now and has been smiling and cooing for about 4 weeks already! He really loves to be talked to. The two older boys try but they seem to think he can hear them better if they are only 2 inches away from his face. I can't seem to convince Jake or Ben that he sees much better a little further away!

Ben is doing great too - he still hasn't mastered 'gentle' when it comes to Sam. I don't think that he really WANTS to hurt him but he is really pretty rough most of the time. He always apologizes when he does something not so nice, but it would be a lot easier if he just left him alone. The worst one was in the car when he grabbed the side of Sam's face and pinced him. He even drew blood!

Ben is talking non-stop and busy learning about everything. He loves to do whatever his older bother is doing and rather enjoys destroying whatever it is that Jake might have just created. He's my challenge but he's also the one that everyone else call a 'cool kid'. He has been enjoying some combine and tractor time as well, he's been waiting a long time for it. Our lovely Minnesota fall made the wait even longer.

Jake is getting so big. He is STILL loving school and is ready to go every morning. I noticed today when he and I were playing Chutes and Ladders that he is starting to recognize some of the numbers. This is a big step for him since he's never been interested before. He has one really good friend there - Eli.

I'm going to post some pictures of various things. I didn't take many at Halloween - Ben wouldn't wear his costume and we got going pretty late. Next year Jake wants to 'walk' trick-or-treating so I guess we will find some friends to go with. That isn't something that I've ever done before.

I go back to work on the 19th, I'm not ready but I guess it is time. The boys are going to start going to daycare on Friday - we are going to work back at it slowly. Jake says he is ready and excited and sick of me, another sign that it's time for work.

The Boys

Yesterday I tried to get some pictures of all the boys together - I wasn't all that successful. Ben isn't the most cooperative. I did get a few interesting ones.

All three boys - shows how fast you grow from baby to 2 - not quite as much from 2 - 4.

This is Sam's foot with Ben's foot - Sam is 5 weeks and Ben is 2.

This is Jake's foot with Sam's foot. Jake is 4 3/4 - amazing how much kids grow!

Jake talking to Sam after his bath. He always wants to help but there isn't much a 4 year old can do - it takes all of my will power to stay calm and not get upset that everyone is constantly in my way!

Ben watching Sam take a bath. I had to stay on my toes - he wanted to help, to give Sam toys (by throwing them at him) and was constantly splashing him.

Sam enjoying his bath, as much as a person can with a bathroom full of chaos. This was the first time that I used the infant tub and he really seemed to like it.

Happy Fall!

The kid's attire tells it all - Fall is here. The "pumpkin-man" in the middle is a stand-in for Sam. It was too windy to bring him out with the boys. As you can see, picking pumpkins in Grandpa's pumpkin patch has its benefits - the boys got to take a ton of them along home.

Time is flying by – I can’t believe it. Not only is it nearly October but Sam is almost 5 weeks old already. You can’t tell by looking at me (I wouldn’t say I look pregnant but it isn’t much better) but you sure can tell by looking at him. He has changed soooo much already. He’s already managed to get his double chin going. No more newborn clothes (clothes that Ben never had a chance to wear). Sam LOVES to be talked to, definitely knows his brothers voices, and is a really good baby. Oh don’t get me wrong he still gets me up at night 2-3 times but he always goes back to sleep well.

We really haven’t been doing much of anything. The days go by pretty fast most of the time. Our house is not always so peaceful but we are starting to figure things out.

Ben is my biggest challenge at the moment. He’s 2 – that’s part of the problem and he is very strong willed. No matter how many times you ask him not to do something, he just keeps on going. He gets in trouble a lot and I feel terrible for him. He instantly says, “Sorry Mom” or “Sorry Jake” or “Sorry Baby Sam”. I have 7 more weeks at home; hopefully we can find some peace for Ben. Other than that, he’s been doing great. He’s an energetic fun filled kid (with an attitude). He talks a ton and definitely wants to be like his older brother. Out of the 2 he is far more interested in Sam than Jake is. He is always ‘helping’ with the nuk, blanket, etc. and often throws in a little shove or pinch for a sign of true love.

Jake continues to love school. Totally amazes me since he was so against it. I’ve never heard him sing a song that he’s learned anywhere else but last night he was singing one from school to Curt. He even repeated it for me to hear. I absolutely LOVE that he likes going. School mornings are WAY better around here than regular mornings. Now, if he still feels like that in high school we’ll be doing great.

Curt is busy as usual for this time of year. We don’t see a whole lot of him but Grandma Marilyn and Grandpa Ken are keeping us company. Grandma stops by to help and visit quite often and Grandpa makes us supper now and then. We’re not sure how we would have made it through the summer and now fall without them. Tonight we went out to the farm and picked some pumpkins and then spent a little time at the lake trying out Grandma’s new toy (cousin Gabe, don’t look – we don’t want to ruin the surprise for when you come). Jake and Ben both loved it but Jake drove it like a real racecar. It gave me a vision of what is to come. The seat was a little too far back for Ben but he still managed to get it cruising.

Hope everyone is well.

The picture of the turkeys is just to show all you hunters that they really aren’t that hard to get!

Labor Day weekend

We had plans to spend Labor Day weekend out at Lake Maria. I was very undecided about going with a 1 week old baby. I decided what the heck, we’ll give it a try, home is only a few miles away. Everything went surprisingly well. Camping with a week old baby is almost easier than camping with a 2 year old. Sam slept most of the time and I found it easier being in the camper than at home since there wasn’t anything looming over me for me to get done. Jake had a great weekend playing with Brent and Luke. Ben had a good weekend too but the darn mosquitoes like him so much that he couldn’t be outdoors anytime close to dusk. Ben was shot by the time we came home on Monday – he took a 4 ½ hour nap.

Here’s a few pictures –

Playing water balloons.

Sam slept in the wash basket next to our bed.

Boys hanging out in the camper.

First Day of School

Jake had his first day of preschool on Wednesday. We all knew it would be an ‘interesting’ day. He’s been resistant about going to school but didn’t want to leave the classroom at open house (I took that as a good sign). Wednesday morning started just as I would have predicted, not well. I woke him up and he didn’t want to go. After some soothing talk from his dad (mom isn’t very good at this when it comes to things you HAVE to do), he got out of bed. His attitude continued and my frustration increased. Then all was well. Why I don’t know, but he ate a bit, took some pictures for me and we headed to Melrose. It was a family event, everyone got to go along.

Drop off went well, other than the fact we were the last ones there and late (Jake didn’t care in the least bit, I asked him on the way in if that was o.k. and his response was, “I don’t care, I don’t even want to go.”) He was all smiles when we picked him up and was even willing to tell me some of the things they did. This is HUGE since he rarely is willing to tell me about anything. He even said he’d go back – we’ll see how he feels on Monday morning.

It is his turn for snack and sharing on Monday. We’ll have to get that ironed out this weekend. I’m sure he’ll like the snack part but he’s having a hard time with the sharing. “Sharing” is show and tell, so he doesn’t really have to ‘share.’ He wants to bring a plant (it’s really a weed) that grows in our yard. I don’t know what it is but he likes them because they have soft leaves. I’m not sure about bringing a weed for show and tell, especially since I have no idea what it is. I’m sure one of the grandpas will know.

Ben's 2!

Ben celebrated his 2nd Birthday yesterday. It is amazing to think of all the things that he has learned in the past year. I think it is one of the biggest years in a child’s life. They go from being a baby to being a small human being. His vocabulary and speech are growing every day. If I can’t quite understand what he wants, Jake always seems to know. He loves to do whatever it is that Jake is doing – usually mimicking him exactly. Most of the time that works out because that means they are actually playing ‘together’ but sometimes it means that he’s doing something that he shouldn’t be.

We spent most of the day at home, not doing much of anything. Just before supper we headed out to the lake to visit Grandpa and Grandma Bergmann. Jake and Ben spent some time in the lake and playing outside. Sam spent some time hanging out in the house, it was his first voyage to Big Birch Lake. While Ben napped Jake and I made chocolate cupcakes and a small birthday cake. After supper Grandma and Jake decorated them. We had birthday day cake and headed home. I think Ben had a good day.

Jake , Sam and I headed to Sauk today to get Ben his present (we didn’t have time before and Ben really doesn’t care what day it is as long as he’s getting new trucks and loaders). It was Sam’s first trip to Fleet Supply and to WalMart. We all survived quite well. Ben got to spend the time with his Dad – hauling cows. He was very happy about that.

We are adjusting around here. I think the biggest adjustment is Ben and Jake spending so much time together at home. We have a lot of conflicts – we don’t get out of the house as much either since it is a little tricky with Sam.

Sam is changing every day – his facial bruising is almost gone and his jaundice is almost gone as well. We lucked out and didn’t have to do photo therapy for him since it started coming down on its own. He still spends most of his day sleeping but there are times now where he’ll be awake for a short time. He’s feeding pretty much every 3 hours – doesn’t leave much time for sleeping for Mom but who needs sleep anyway?

We are heading out to Lake Maria camping this weekend. I haven’t decided is Sam and I will spend the night out there or not. I think I’ll play it by ear. Once it is dark and the campfires start we really can’t be outside anyway. Sounds like the weather is going to be awesome.

Mama's Boys...

Brothers bonding.

Sam sun bathing - we were working on his bili count.

Aunt Heidi gave Jake and Ben an inflatable jumper for their birthdays. It is a hit! A little tricky for me to keep them under control.

Sam chillin'

Celebrating at Big Birch Lake. Grandma and Jake decorated the cake and cupcakes.

Brothers together on Ben's birthday.

Ben opening his present from Jake and Sam. Jake wrapped it all by himself.

Ben's cake.

Sam Kenneth Feldewerd

We’d like you to meet the newest member of the Feldewerd family – Sam Kenneth Feldewerd. He was born on August 27th at 10:22 am. He weighed 7 lbs 14 oz and was 19 ½ inches long.

Everything went great. His delivery was very very fast so his face was extremely bruised when he was born – that’s why his face still looks so dark on many of the photos. It is A LOT better than it was originally.

We’re back home and he’s getting to know his brothers.