Two boys in a tub

When we found out that we were pregnant again, one of the things I was excited about was having the kids take baths together. I just love all the horribly embarrassing pictures that people take with their kids in the tub. We haven’t been able to do it until recently because Ben was in his little tub (which he could still be in with the sling thing). Ben can sit up pretty good when supported, and even for a few seconds unsupported so we decided it was time to try the bath seat.
Zeke LOVED having Ben in the bath with him. Ben just stared at Zeke the whole time. It was pretty cute! I can’t wait to do bubble baths with the two of them.

Ben liked his chair

He just stared the whole time

Check out those rolls!

Zeke helped us bathe Ben

Thursday Throwback

Today’s throwback will be in honor of Shelly (or Shellie as she prefers). Shelly turned 18 at the beginning of the month. In May she will graduate and go to college. I have tried to narrow down a favorite Shelly memory for my throwback this week, but I can’t seem to do it. So instead I thought it would be fun just to write about how special she is to me. Shelly and I are 10 years apart in age (and her mom and I are too, isn’t that cool?) Shelly was my baby when she was born. I stayed over almost every weekend. Being a mom now, I am thinking that Susie was a nutjob for taking on a 10 year old as well as her newborn and 3 year old. But I am so thankful for that time because we have a sweet special bond.

I think Shelly was about 8 here and Sierra was 2.

The girls are great candy makers

Even though they fight, they love each other

Me and my girls

A bunch of MC girls

18 months and 4 months stats

We went to the doctor Monday for the boys checkups. My mom went with me because I knew there was no way I could comfort two crying babies at the same time. I had lots of questions for this visit since it was a double whammy of a visit. I so love our doctors because they remember my kids (duh who wouldn't when you have been there as much as we have), they take as long as I need, and they really do listen to me. I have delayed a couple vaccinations and they have listened to why and not pressured me to go ahead if I am not comfortable with it. They listen to all of my crazy worries- does Zeke have some kind of immunity issue, what's up with this waking up and screaming and crying at night, why does Ben only want the bottle right now but only for about half of his feedings. Seriously I am sure the whole office breaths a sigh when I leave.

Anyway, I know what you want to know, here are the latest stats:
Zeke- 25 lbs 9 oz (50%), 32.5 in tall (50%), 48.5 cm for head circumference (75%). YUP still gotta big head :)
Ben- 14 lbs, 8 oz (35%), 24.5 in tall (25%), 42 cm for head circumference (35%). YUP still a little peanut.

She cooks

Can you believe it! I know, right?! I have in the past few months gotten much more into my role here in the home. I take my job seriously and think that it includes not just getting by. I have started couponing to help with our budget and I am working on preparing healthier meals for our family. This week I jumped right out there with something that I have never done, I bought a whole chicken after Lauren told me she had done it. I figured, hey if she can so can I. And after only a slight mishap and one curse word after dropping the whole thing in my oven (UGH, the mess, and sorry Brooke for my tongue slip and then hanging up on you), I roasted it one night Then I made chicken pie another night and chicken and dumplings another! Yes, that is 3 meals for a $5 chicken.
And to make things even better, my boys L.O.V.E.D. those meals. It did my heart serious good to have Spence praise me in my efforts. I have been having a bit of a "poor me" period over all of this sickness/not sleeping for going on 2 years now, but that's another post for another time. And Zeke, oh sweet mercy, just check out the pictures and video. Ben just laid in his bouncy chair, but I am pretty sure he would have loved it too.

You can't even tell I dropped it!

Say what, is that something green that you are going to eat Courtney?

Insert angelic music

He couldn't push in the potatoes fast enough, so Spence found another solution:

Yeah, we are those parents

The reason we had to get Holt to our house

Hanging with Holt

Holt and his daddy came over to play and have lunch. Zeke and Holt had a blast hanging out. Spence and Jason had a blast making fun of their own and each other's kids. When it was time to go we asked the boys to give each other a high five:

Then we told them to give each other a hug, wait for it, this is when things turned awkward:

Child Labor