Wonderful Weekend

Saturday we spent the day at the A Maze'n Farmyard in Eden Valley. What a cool place!! This place is right up Tayah's alley with all the animals they have. We can't wait to go back. They had every sort of farm animal you could think of, plus some. It is very hands on and they do a great job keeping the place very clean. We will definitely be going back.

Here is the website to check it out. www.amazenfarmyard.com/





Sunday, Ben and I spent the morning and afternoon celebrating with my best friend, Alicia, and her husband, Jason. Their daughter, Hayden Kylee was baptized and they had asked Ben and I to be her godparents. We were very honored that they asked us. She did such a good job and we can't wait to see her grow up and be such a close part of her life. Collin and Hayden are bound to be good friends.

Co-Sleeping: My Struggle with Sleep

I realize that co-sleeping is very much discouraged in America and I too have had my own struggles with this idea. I still try every night to lay Collin in his crib, and Ben says, "Just let him sleep with us", as we are trying to let him "cry it out". I have gotten encouraging words from other moms saying that they too had their infant sleep with them for a short period of time and to enjoy the moment as they grow up so fast.
When Tayah was an infant I very much discouraged her sleeping with me. I did not want to start a habit that would be hard to break. With Collin my thoughts have changed a bit and it started when his pediatrician actually sorta okayed the idea. She basically said to do what works and what gets us both the most amount of sleep. Co-sleeping is actually a pretty common practice in many other countries and a very natural parenting belief by many cultures. Just not so much here.
I had been bringing Collin to bed with me when he would wake up to eat since day 1, and he would sometimes fall asleep in my arms and I too would fall asleep with him next to me. I would wake up and put him back in his crib, next to our bed, only to have him wake up crying a few minutes later. I would go back and get him, bring him to bed with me to try and get him back to sleep, only to have us both fall asleep in bed. Eventually I just gave up in bringing him back to his crib because I found that if I didn't move him he would sleep all night long without even waking up to eat during the night. The other night I did lay him in his crib in his room for the first time and he slept 8 1/2 hours by himself. It was soooo NICE and very ENCOURAGING!! But the last few nights have been unsuccessful in that department and he has moved back in bed with me. The good news is that he is sleeping through the night, as long as he is next to me. I'm just trying to enjoy the moment and hoping that Ben is right when he says he won't do this forever. I'm surprised Ben is so okay with this idea and all I can think is that we may need a bigger bed.

Why Do Some People Choose to Cosleep?

Cosleeping supporters believe — and some studies support their beliefs — that cosleeping:

• encourages breastfeeding by making nighttime breastfeeding more convenient
• makes it easier for a nursing mother to get her sleep cycle in sync with her baby's
• helps babies fall asleep more easily, especially during their first few months and when they wake up in the middle of the night
• helps babies get more nighttime sleep (because they awaken more frequently with shorter duration of feeds, which can add up to a greater amount of sleep throughout the night)
• helps parents who are separated from their babies during the day regain the closeness with their infant that they feel they missed

It all started here. This is Collin and I sleeping in the hospital the night he was born.

2 Months Old

We are a big 2 month old now!! Our newest trick is that we SMILE!!

Golden Birthday Girl!!

We officially have a 4 year old in the house now!! Can you believe it? It was a weekend of parties and a birthday that would never end. Friday, Tayah had her first sleepover and had her friend Ella over for the night. We got a Bounce House for the girls to jump. They loved that and burned alot of energy doing so. Sunday we had some family over for a little birthday party. She got many great gifts. She is a very lucky girl!! Monday, was Tayah's actual birthday so we celebrated by going out to dinner. Tayah chose to eat at Space Aliens. Levi, Steph, James and Cole joined us for dinner. It was a great Golden Birthday!!

What I learned in School

So I am in the livingroom reading a book to the kids. Tayah's in the bathroom and yells down the hall to me.

Tayah: "Mom, Know what starts with the letter P."

Me: "What"....why I asked I could see this coming a mile away.

Tayah: "Pee, pee starts with the letter P."

Thanks Tayah. Thanks for that bit of info.

The Latest with Collin

Collin was baptized over the weekend at St. Francis church in Buffalo. We elected Jason and Katie as his godparents. When Tayah was born Justin and Holly were already a couple with probable future plans of getting married (which they now are) so we had chosen them as Tayah's godparents. We didn't want to play favorites so we promised Jason that he could be the godparent for our next child if he finds a girl who can join him in that role. So, now Jason too found a girl and is married and are happy to be the godparents for Collin. Here are a few pictures from the day.


He did so good! He didn't even cry when Father poured the water on his head. This was about his reaction the whole time.
Jason and Katie also helped us out a couple weeks ago while Ben and I had our first evening out to attend a friend's party. It looks like Jason was alot of help.


Here are a couple more of the latest with Collin:
This is my view of Collin for part of the day. Collin will have a fussy time during the day where he just wants to be held so I put him in his front pack attached to me and he can be glued to me while I go about my day. He doesn't seem to mind.

It's tough being cute.
I have to say we have started a bad habit. Please don't call social services because I assure you we are careful and check on him often. But Collin sleeps incredibly well in our bed, like to the point where if I let him sleep there all night I think he would sleep through the night. We doze off in bed together during feedings but I eventually put him back in his crib next to our bed. We have started a habit where in the morning I wake up about 4:30 to feed him, and then I get up to shower and get ready. Collin goes back to bed with Ben and Tyke. He looks comfy, right?

In Memory of a Special Great Great Grandma

My Great Grandma Lenora passed away this week at the age of 98. She was a very special lady whom my Tayah Lenora is named after. I am so happy that she got to know both of my kids, whom made her a great great grandma. We will miss her greatly.