5 months old!

Five months has just come and gone.  Mikey doesn't even seem like a little bitty baby anymore and I'm not sure how that happens.  I was talking to my SIL the other day that has a little man 2 months older and it's just crazy how the first year literally flies by - even though this is my third time through the first year of a little one's life, it amazes me how much they change and grow in just a short amount of time.  The development of a child is fascinating and they learn SO much in just a year or two - it's amazing!  But also bittersweet because that means that little baby has to grow up.

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We had a great month #5 with lots of milestones and fun.  Whenever there are holidays, you know it's a good month too - with first Thanksgiving in there, you got to see family more and spend some quality family time at home with our crazy crew.  

Milestones:

• You are so happy (still), which is amazing and I hope it keeps up!  People comment on it a lot because you sure are smiling a lot and very calm
• Still LOVE the Johnny jumper and exersaucer.  Sometimes I feel like you're in that most of the day when we are at home - but it's so much better than having you lay on the floor!  
• Still a good sleeper and in the Dock a tot - at school, you're just in a crib and you are rolling ont your tummy and Ms Marie says you're a tummy sleeping lover.  We did try to take you out of the dock a tot one night at home and it didn't go well...so I guess you can keep sleeping on your tummy at school until we get brave enough to break the dock a tot cycle here!
• You're such a great and consistent sleeper, that I feel bad how frustrated I get when you won't go to sleep or have trouble going down.  I have found myself reminding myself what your older siblings were like and that a few nights here or there are a blessing (they were much worse - you're amazing!)
• Loving the 6 month clothes from Charlie - I must have done some serious shopping with him for that size of clothes because they are super cute!
• Size 2 diapers still!
• You make yourself known when you want something - but for the most part are still pretty quiet.  Sometimes at home I even forget that you're hanging out because you're so quiet!!!
• Ms Marie is your favorite - we have been sending 3, 6-7 ounce bottles each day - you take 2 at day care with her and then one right when we get home from school/work.  Then after that bottle, you eat some baby food (you have had sweet potatoes, carrots and green beans so far).  
• You're rolling both ways - and do so like immediately when you lay on your stomach or back (you roll the other way).  Awesome milestone, but slightly terrifying because we can't leave you unattended at all anymore!
• Here is a whole post on some of your milestones this month (I was somewhat on it, right?)
• First time in a big kid high chair at a restaurant!

Things you like:

• You love breastmilk and now you LOVE baby food - it makes me excited to look forward to the more food exploration to come.
• You have the BEST little giggle and are so ticklish - I freaking love it!
• Can finally carry you around easily with you on my hip and you seem to really like that view and that I involve you in lots of stuff (you know, cooking, cleaning, etc!  You're a baby pro!)

Things you don't like:

• When you have a dirty diaper (DUH)
• When you're overtired (but really, who doesn't??!!)
• You get HANGRY sometimes - especially if we are not feeding you food fast enough
• You are still not the best/fastest burper and that causes for some screaming and tummy pain immediately after eating (especially if we try to lay you down!)
• Still not a fan of screaming - in particular the girls at daycare and your sister.

Special memories:

• Your first Thanksgiving is in the books!  We have a lot to be thankful for this year - especially you, Mikey!
• Tony the elf came and you got to experience the first Christmas season at our house (which starts early because your dad LOVES Christmas!)
• 
• Your first of many Carter Christmas Classic (you weren't originally going to attend - but it turned out just the way it should have right?)
• 
• Your second visit to Santa, first neighborhood hay ride --- man was it COLD!
• 
• Your first snow! (no pictures - trust me it, it was TOO cold for you!)
• And finally - you got baptized!!  It was an awesome day - December 18, so just right before you turned 5 months old.  Such a special day my little love!

A note to our sweet boy:

The holidays (and really life...) is so much better with you, sweet boy.  We love having you here and all the fun you bring.  I always felt like adding a baby to mix would be so stressful, but you've made it anything but that.  While it is some extra work, you seem to fit right into everything and go with the flow.  You did get your first cold (and it's miserable to see you like that!), but for the most part, it's been business as usual.  You seem to ebb and flow with all the changing things that we do as a family and we couldn't appreciate that flexible spirit more.  We love your laugh and sweet snuggles.  Can't wait to see how much fun this next month will be and can't believe it will be your HALF birthday in January!!  Time flies and we fall in love more and more

Love,

Your mom (and dad)

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Just for fun - here is Charlie and Maddie's five month side by side picture.

Some outtakes - hands ALWAYS in the mouth.  Such a huge drool monster!

Oh Charlie!

Big brother couldn't get enough of him and wanted to join in!

Selfie with mama before bathtime.  This is my FAVORITE with just me and you and I'm so selfish and don't want to move you into the big bath because of it!

Your big sister loves you SO much.

Chiefsss!!!!!  Hopefully you'll be a good luck charm for the Chiefs this year!

First time bowling with our church small group!

Kisses after momma's work out (you love to watch!)

Oh you and this guy - best of friends.

Maddie rubbed marker all over your face - oops!

After the hayride you were POOPED!

More sister loving!

My world!

Here's to another fun month!

Merry Christmas {cards!}

Merry Christmas Eve to all!!!

Wanted to share our Christmas cards this year!! Instead of doing professional photos (the timing is off for the ones we already have for Mikey's first year pictures- since we will do his 6 month ones just after the first of the year and he's changed so much since July I didn't want to use his newborn ones!), I had my sister come with us to our cliche neighborhood waterfall and snap some pictures of our family - and really of our kids.

She got some good ones-- cheesy smiles and all!! Hahaha. I love these kids!

And we did get a good family one too- the waterfall was a bit cold with the water splashing up on us, but they turned out great.  Thanks Lyndsay for taking these for us!!

I ordered 100 cards from my go to Costco this year thinking that would be plenty and I still have like 10 people that sent us one but I ran out to send back to them. Dang!!! Next year order more??!!

I LOVE this time of year and getting cards- of everyone's beautiful family's!  So thank you to all that sent one to us!!

Also, I actually have enjoyed the elf this year and made it less stressful on myself--- and the kids loved it!!!  But tony said goodbye today with one last trick!

Can't wait for Santa to come tonight and for church and dinner and all the goodness of family time that comes with this season!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!

Mikey gets baptized!

Last Sunday was a pretty special day for our littlest man.  He got baptized!

It was a SNOWY morning - we had the first big snow/ice of the winter season in Kansas City the day before and pretty much most of the city was shut down, so we were thrilled that the streets were cleared somewhat and all of our family still made it out to our church to witness Mikey's special morning!

Of course as a mom, always nervous at how your kids will behave on stage - and I'm happy to report, everyone did great!  Maddie even took directions from the pastor and got the towel when he asked!!  We had our family up there and Mikey's godparents, Pat and Trish on stage with us.  We are so lucky to have an amazing family on both sides and blessed that Pat and Trish are willing to take on the responsibility of being that godly example that he needs.

I will mention that it was ugly sweater day at church - which was quite hilarious and we stood out a TON with our fancy clothes (we normally just wear jeans/leggings to church).  But it was a fun event and I did love seeing everyone's ugly sweaters - and even one of the pastor's dressed up as Cousin Eddie!  

After the service, it felt a little like a wedding because I had everyone take pictures.  I know pictures are annoying and we were in a bit of a rush because everyone was coming over for lunch after the service, BUT I'm always so happy that we captured these moments and the people that were there. And family pictures like this.  So thank you to everyone who stayed and took pictures with us (and of us!!)

Mikey with Grana and Pops!

Mikey with great grandmother and great grandaddy!!  So happy they could make it out to see Mikey get baptized (great grandkid number 6 for them!)

Mikey and his Godparents - Uncle Pat and Aunt Trish!

The whole "Bruns" crew!  And doesn't my sister's hair look amazing?  Haha - that's the first thing I said when I saw this picture!!

After we got home, I rushed around to get lunch set out because we had some HUNGRY people.  I ended up not doing anything fancy and just got a meat and cheese tray from HyVee, some Hawaiian buns (YUM!).  I also made a double batch (thank goodness because it was all gone!) of instant pot macaroni and cheese for everyone. My MIL brought some veggie and fruit trays and my mom brought ramen salad and my grandmother brought deviled eggs!

The dessert and stocked bar (Jimmy's only job that he took very seriously!)

The man of the hour was sleepy and stayed asleep just so I could get everything ready before it was time for him to eat!

You know you have a big family when just one side of your immediate family is almost 25 people...but I wouldn't have it any other way and can only pray that someday Jimmy and I are this blessed to have such a wonderful family on both sides.  Love that both sides are so close to us.

After we ate, it was time for some good old fashioned cousin fun!  These Carter cousins are the best and our kids just LOVE playing with them and cannot get enough.  It's so fun!

The next day, Libbie sent me these selfies that Kenlie (who is 10) snapped of her and Mikey.  haha.  And I had to capture the amazing card that Kenlie made for Mikey.  I just love her and her creativity - she puts her heart into it and it's amazing!

Love this little man and so happy to welcome him into the church and start his own journey with God.  Our church just added on a HUGE addition for kids and I love that he will get to experience that and all the amazing people there and learn from us and his big siblings!

Five things that are so random

This week was filled with lots of stuff.  The weekend was busy and I had something two nights this week, which I'm not a huge fan of - because I like putting my kiddos (really Mikey) to bed.  And I don't like leaving Jimmy alone to do the solo bed times.  He can totally do it, but I know first hand it's exhausting!!  Did I mention he's the best?  In addition to this week (and some Christmas fun) - there were some AMAZING stuff that I found that I must share.

{ONE}

I'm postive you have seen Amanda Bell's video from snapchat about Kohl's cash.  If not, you must watch.  If you've seen it, just watch again.  I literally laugh out loud the whole time.  I love this and it's soooo true.

{TWO}

And this one.  Oh my.  If men breastfed instead of women.  SERIOUSLY.  Can I have a lounge like this at work??  #forrealz

"what are you pumping?" - oh my!

{THREE}

In other random news - I literally HAVE to stop buying stuff on the internet.  AHHH!!  My porch literally looks like this every other day.  No more Christmas presents please!  (In good news, I think I'm *almost* done shopping!).

But in the meantime, I have also purchased random/awesome stuff for our house - like this new ottoman that I'm so excited about.  Vanessa has it in her house and I've loved it for a long time and it was on super sale on Black Friday - so DONE.

Maddie likes it too.  And I was hoping to get a picture when it's not pitch black outside - but #reallife is that I'm never home during the week when it's light outside except for like 10 minutes right at 5:00 when we all walk back in the door.  So you get this crappy photo!  Plus don't you love all the random kids in it? HA.  #mylife

But I think it's a hit!

Oh and these matching mom/daughter dresses to wear on Christmas Eve (hopefully they actually get here in time!)

{FOUR}

Need some meal prep tips/recipe ideas?  Seriously, I found an amazing recipe that I made on Sunday for lunch everyday and it was DELICIOUS.  I shared with my challenge group and everyone has loved how good and easy it was.  Check it out on my health and fitness blog!

{FIVE}

Christmas parties and Christmas mania!  Tis the season, right?  We had two parties last weekend and one this weekend.  We have already been to visit Santa (yeah!), our elf, Tony, came back and we are gearing up for our neighborhood holiday hay ride this next week.  I still need to finish addressing our Christmas cards that I have had for like a month and get stuff ready for Mikey's baptism lunch next weekend.  SO.MUCH.FUN.  Exhausting, but fun.

Pics from my work Christmas party at the Intercontinental hotel on the plaza!  Love my finance team and my Pi Phi work ladies!

Neighbor progressive dinner fun - love Kaiser and MacKenzie's sequin skirt!  

TONY is back!!!!  And Christmas PJs - duh.

Tonight we are going bowling with some friends for our small group - Charlie has only tried it once at a friend's birthday party, so I'm excited/terrified to see how it goes!  Wish us luck and happy weekending - only TWO weekends before Christmas!!!  Hope you have a great weekend ahead and thanks for stopping by!

Linking up with:

Sept Farm | Oh hey Friday!

A. Liz Adventures | Five on Friday

Momfessionals | Friday Favorite

Mikey's milestones: month 4

You GUYSSSSS.  Mikey is growing up WAY too fast.  Please tell me how to make time slow down.  What's crazy is that I don't even feel like it's going THAT fast day by day - but then I look back and the weeks and months have literally flown by since he's arrived.  It is so fun because I feel like I really enjoy these baby stages so much more with him - and the milestones are just piling up. 

So instead of waiting until his monthly post - I figured, do it now!  AH - how is it possible that I am ACTUALLY on top of documenting things for a third kid?  Oh right - because my Christmas cards have been begging to be addressed for like a month.  Oops - but really, Mr. Mikey deserves this blog attention!! He's been doing some rock star things!

First up:  ROLLING

Ok, so he did this a few weeks ago.  But really, he did it three whole times before I ever caught a glimpse of it.  For real.  Every time, I would walk away I swear for like 10 seconds and BOOM.  He would do it and Jimmy would be like - you missed it again!  So I finally caught him on video when it was just me and my boys one night (Jimmy and Maddie were on a CVS run + McDonald's date).  I was so excited!  Such a big boy.  Proud of him and slightly terrified that I cannot just lay him wherever now!

Charlie loving on (kind of!) him after his big roll!

PS - are you curious what Charlie says at the end?  Haha - he is saying "Miguel Almaguer".  Oh yes, that is the NBC Reporter's name.  You guys - this started as Jimmy calling Mikey, Miguel.  And we watch NBC nightly news where he is on it  - and not even kidding, Maddie and Charlie (and Jimmy) legit say it ALL the time to Mikey.  And they even have like a 3 minute thing after it (they say "greetings and salutations, my friend." and then like 5 other things that I know, but cannot remember).  It's weird but hilarious all at once.  I guess it is better than Pot Roast (Maddie's nickname!)

Next milestone?  EATING!  

Oh yeah baby.  So at his 4 month check up, he dropped from 71% in weight down to 38% (his height spiked up to 96% from 88%), so the doctor wasn't super concerned, but suggested that if he was already good at sitting in his high chair and holding his head up (which he was), to start feeding him cereal and see if he likes it and that might add some extra calories.

So we came home and tried it and BOOM.  It was a complete success.  Not kidding.  I was worried because Charlie and Maddie both took a while (I feel like) to get a hang of the whole eating thing and what the heck to do with their tongue.  He was just like - I got this.  The second time I gave him the cereal, he literally kept like all of it in his mouth and his bib was barely dirty!  I was so impressed.

I will tell you that it's not easy feeding this kid...because Charlie and Maddie like always want to be touching him.  Constantly.

Just watch this video of the first time I tried to feed him.  I started in the highchair and it went ok - but then Maddie wouldn't get away from him.  So we moved to the bumbo on the floor.  Poor kid just wants to EAT!!!  And Maddie is all trying to shove a pacifier in his mouth and wait - did you hear his older brother having a 4 year old tantrum in the background.  It's always something with someone!! 

I will say - if Mikey can thrive in all of this - he can do anything!!  Perks of being a third kid I guess!

This week, we moved on to sweet potatoes and guess what!?!  They were a HIT.

This baby food stage can be so hard and kind of annoying because it's just extra stuff to take to feed them and then I'm guessing I'll forget most of the time, but I'm for sure trying to make it interactive and fun and not stressful.  We tried some avocados too mashed up and those were a hit.  Just trying different foods to make sure no allergies and then I feel like he will be eating regular food in NO TIME.  Like how the heck does that happen!  Still taking plenty of breastmilk from the bottle and the boob, so he's loving all the calories he can get.

But there you go - a mid-month, milestone update.  Oh Mikey, he's just the cutest little thing!!