Spring 2009 Family Update

April 2009 -J

Wow! I can't believe it has been 5 months since I have posted anything here. That is so bad and sorry to those who keep checking! Soooo...a lot to say but can't remember it all! Kids really do fry your brain cells! =) 

Aaron is 4 now and loves to tell everyone that soon he will be 5 and ride the school bus. Almost every day he asks if his birthday is "tomorrow so I can be 5." Time already flies and he wants it to go faster! Warm weather is starting to stick around a little more so he gets to ride his bike a lot more now. Yes he remembered how to ride with NO training wheels (he learned in the fall and only rode a couple times before snow came). He loves to take a ride with just him and Daddy. Last fall we bought a practically brand new bike trailer (from craigslist..great website!) and so now we can all go out. Jordan has been in it once and seemed to like it with Tyler sitting in there beside him. Aaron is learning more about words and reading and now loves to read books. He has his favorite book (from a box of Cheerios) called Wiggles and has memorized it and so now HE reads it every night. We have to sit with him and let him read to us..we are not allowed to read it to him. But he does recognize some of the words so at least that is helping him to sound words out a little. He has moved up to the next age Sunday school class and loves it. He is with his friend, Brandon, again, and I am sure that is a handful for the teacher! He is learning the Bible verses and remembering them much better now and it is so encouraging to see. He loves to share about the stories he learns as we drive home. I am going to teach preschool at home instead of sending him to one, so that should be interesting. He is very excited about it though and wants to start now. He know his alphabet very well and many of the sounds of the letters also. He can recognize capital and lower case letters in any order. He is learning to write some of them pretty recognizably. He knows how to spell, write and sign his name! He also learned how to spell Tyler, Daddy, and Mommy and knows Jordan starts with a J! He has a calendar and so is learning about the concept of time and dates. We write things on there and he learns the days/weeks/months. He crosses off the days as we go and is very excited to say the next day and date. He is learning about numbers over 20 because of the calendar. Wow, just reading back over this, I realize how much he has absorbed and learned in the past 5 months. He also understands and speaks so much better now. It's scary how old he sounds sometimes! He also has a memory like a trap so don't ever tell him something unless you really mean it!! Some of his favorite indoor games are hide and seek and the board game 'Sorry'. The little stinker usually wins that game every time and Mommy doesn't give him any breaks either. We play by the rules but he is a lucky kid!

Tyler is 2 1/2 now. He is halfway potty trained..by that I mean he only pees in his pullups. He almost always will go poopy in the toilet. So at least that means I don't have very many dirty diapers to clean up after right now. He knows the alphabet song now and can get almost all the letters. He doesn't recognize the letters specifically very well yet but every time he sees a word or group of letters he says "ABC's" and starts to sing! He is very much a chatterbox and extremely independent. He wants to do everything Aaron does and gets very frustrated when he can't. He has learned his colors and loves to color and paint. He loves car and motorcycles like his brother but he also likes to play with just about anything. But one of their favorite things to do is ride their motorcycles around the house. This game consists of putting their hands up like holding onto the handlebars and revving their motors (very loudly with their mouths) and "driving" all over thru the house. They will play this game for quite a while but it drives Mommy crazy!! Usually they get along quite well and can play together fairly nicely. That is, until I am talking on the phone or am rushing around trying to finish something quickly...then they are not so cooperative. How is it that kids always know when it is most annoying for them to fight? Tyler is very friendly and not as shy as Aaron. He also knows how to use his cuteness to try to get away with something. His other favorite game to play is duck duck goose. He learned how to ride his tricycle and likes to. But he gets so frustrated because he can't peddle fast enough to keep up with Daddy and Aaron. He would love to ride a big bike with training wheels but his legs are just not long enough yet. He would rather ride a bike than ride in a trailer but he has to grow a little more. Poor guy, he gets so frustrated hearing that all the time "You are too little" or "You have to grow a little more". He will turn it around on Jordan and tell him "I am bigger so I can do this but you are too little". =) So funny! He loves to do puzzles! We have a huge floor puzzle that is a zoo and he loves to do it. Grandma has regular puzzles for children that have interlocking pieces and he can do them all! He takes after Mommy because I love to do puzzles also.

Jordan is 5 1/2 months. He is such a good little guy! He definitely his own person. He is not a mover like Tyler was but not as quiet as Aaron was. He is very vocal and is always "talking". He is quite laid back and loves to just watch his big brothers. He is very fascinated by them. Aaron will sit with him and make him laugh so hard! When he hears Aaron's voice, he will look all around until he finds him. Tyler is pretty good with him but he just forgets how to be gentle. When we ride in the car, Jordan is in the middle and Aaron and Tyler each hold one of his hands, usually. It is so cute! Hopefully they will all still be best friends when they get older. Right now, they like to share their toys with Jordan but we'll see how it is in a few months when he can grab them himself! I started giving Jordan some cereal about 2 weeks ago and he really likes it. He sleeps pretty good at night and 3 nights in a row, I got at least 7-8 hours of sleep straight! He rolls over both ways but really likes to roll onto his belly. He is now learning to sit. We practice a few times each day and he is learning to balance. No teeth yet (thankfully =) for me) but he chews hard so I think they are not too long in coming.

Jordan Cameron Caballero

Jordan Cameron Caballero was born Nov 8 at 7:06am. He weighed in at 7 lbs 9 oz and measured 20 1/2 inches. Because he kept on turning breech, the dr decided that we should turn him into position and then induce labor to lower the chance I would have to have a Csection. So Friday at 10am we went into the hospital. My sister, Heather, was with us. They did an ultrasound which showed that he had turned into the proper position. So they started by putting a pill on the cervix that would begin the labor. By 5pm, I had some contractions but not much progress was being made so they broke my water. I was sure that would work but no, so they started the Pitocin drip which I had fought against but had no choice now. That really started active labor but the baby didn't like it. Every time I started to get into hard labor the baby's heart rate went down and they dropped the amount of Pitocin, which pulled me back out of labor again. It was awful! He just really did not want to come out!! All through the night, he played these games. I was so tired and just wanted it to be over. Then my body decided to betray me and not dilate forever!! I was so scared that I was going to have to have surgery. Finally, after all night of labor, I was told I could push. I was so glad because with my other boys, once I could push, the pain lessened and it was over. However, the first push I thought I was going to die from being torn in half!! I didn't tear of course but the pain was SO intense, I can't even describe it. So now that made me scared to push anymore. But those of you that have been thru it know that when the urge to push is there it is very difficult to fight against. Anyway, finally he was out and it was all over, thank God! He was not happy to be here. He cried for a good half hour straight (very loudly!!). But since then has not really cried at all. He seems to be very content now so far.

My parents brought the boys in around lunchtime to see their baby brother. Aaron would not get up on the bed- he really doesn't like hospital beds for some reason- so he sat with Daddy so he could hold the baby. Tyler climbed up next to me to hold him next. They loved him and wanted to see all his hands and feet and all. Then it was time to leave and Aaron wanted to take the baby home. He didn't care if Mommy stayed but he wanted the baby to come! =)

Sunday, after church, Wilmer came to pick us up and take us home. He didn't tell the boys so they could be surprised. Jordan was very good and just slept all the way home. He didn't care about being in the car seat at all. We walked in the door at home and the boys were so excited. They had to hold him over and over. Even now, 3 days later, the newness has not worn off yet. They both still love to hold him (although Tyler likes it more than Aaron now). If he makes noises, Aaron runs over to see what is wrong and what he can do to make it better! They haven't really heard him cry yet so we will see what they do when he gets his lungs working!

We are starting to adjust. Mostly, it is just me trying to figure out some kind of schedule but he eats so sporadically still that it is hard. Having 3 instead of 2 is really not that different. I think it was harder to bring Tyler home and adjust than it is with Jordan. Although I keep calling the baby Tyler! I don't know why. So enjoy the pictures and we will keep everyone updated with all the new developments to come!

Halloween

Ok I said I would post a pic of them dressed up so here it is.

Baby Update

This baby has given us more "grief" than the other 2. Aaron was the easiest pregnancy and absolutely no problems or extra ultrasounds or anything. He came 2 weeks early so nicely and easily. Tyler was fine except for moving all the time, until the end. Then he decided he was a tumbler and began to turn somersaults in my belly about 4 weeks before he was due. Every week I was in for an ultrasound and they were concerned about him being born breech because he would not stay head down. They ended up inducing me with him and everything went fine.

Now this baby... early on I had the placenta bleeding and the midnight trip to the ER for that. Since the first moment I felt it move, it hasn't stopped. I think it moves the majority of the time so I am afraid it will not be a good sleeper!! It can't just relax. But I was happy that it was head down...until last week at the dr appt. 37 weeks and it decided to turn around and stand up. So Monday we had to go to the hospital to get it checked again and a possible "version", which is where they attempt to turn the baby back down. Thank God, it turned by itself so we could go home. However, how I have to wear a binder which is just a wide elastic "belt" around the upper part of my belly. It is SO comfortable .. oh just kidding. Actually it makes it hard to breathe, eat, sleep, oh but I should be used to that by now with this kid! So now I have another reason that I am praying this baby comes very soon! I have 2 weeks left but am willing to go anytime! Check back in for the BIG news and pics which we will get up as soon as we can after the event!

Fall Activities

Bike Riding and Fall Activities

Click on the picture to see pics and videos.

Wilmer took the training wheels off Aaron's bicycle. He spent an hour or so just helping him ride around the yard. The following day I helped him for about an hour and he could ride across the front yard which isn't that large. Then Saturday morning, he wanted to ride around the block! So Wilmer rode his bike and Aaron rode his and he has been riding ever since! I can not believe he is already riding like a big boy. He is growing so fast! He even talks older now- it's scary. Now he always wants to be out riding on his bike. I found a bike trailer on craigslist brand new, that we can hook onto the big bike and I can pull Tyler around while Aaron rides his bike. Of course, now I find it very hard to ride with my huge belly! =) So we haven't been riding in a while but Wilmer takes them out after work if its not too cold.

As you can see in the pictures, we got little pumpkins for the boys. We went to a pumpkin farm and they each chose one that they wanted. Tyler HAD to carry his own of course- Mr Independent. Then we came home and I took off the "hats" and the boys cleaned them out. Daddy helped them carve faces and we put little tea lights inside. The following day I let them finger paint their pumpkins so they had fun with that. Then a week later we threw them out because they were rotting already and were well played with! =)

Last weekend we went to Strong Museum. I was hoping all the activity would kickstart this baby but no such luck. They had a new Curious George exhibit and that is the boys absolute favorite TV show. Daddy also took them both on the little train ride, which was Tyler's first time that he remembered. They also had the kids decorate little brown bags to collect different goodies and candy being passed out throughout the museum by different characters.

This Friday night if it is not too cold, we might be taking them out trick-or-treating. I'm not really into all that stuff but since Mom had some outfits for them to wear I thought we might try it just one year. I do not get into all the other Halloween things and I don't tell the boys anything about it. I don't really consider it a holiday so I am not going to teach my boys silly things about it. I will post a picture here of them in their outfits. They are pretty cute!!

Family Update

Aaron really wants to go to school since his friend, Brandon, has started preschool. So we have "school" at our house about an hour or so a day. We are learning a letter one day and numbers the next day. He has done A and B and 1,2,3,4 and he loves it. He is learning the sounds the letters make and how to put the numbers in order. He does very well at night as far as wetting the bed. He went for about 2 weeks with no accidents at night so we took him to the store to pick out a toy. It was great not to have so much laundry from all the bedding and PJs! =) He acts so grown up sometimes and some of the things he says are so amazing. I can't believe that he is only 3 1/2 but acts much older. I thought 3 year olds were still babies but I am amazed at what he knows and picks up. He loves to help Daddy mow the lawn. He sits on the riding mower and steers for him! Aaron loved the pool this summer. He wears arm floaties (called his "muscles" ) and is not afraid to swim on his own with them. He loves to jump in as long as one of us catches him. He likes the water but hates for it to be in his eyes. He doesn't like to go under so that is something we will have to work on next year. But he loves that he can swim on his own now. We are going to close it up next weekend and he is upset about that. We had an aquarium for a few weeks and Aaron fell in love with the fish. I sold it and when the people came to take it away, he actually cried and was very upset. I didn't think he was that attached. I felt really bad but we can't have another one until the kids are older cuz they can't stay out of it!

Tyler is almost 22 months. He acts so much older though and wants to do EVERYTHING Aaron does. We are working on the potty training. He does well one week then goes backwards. He likes to go on the big toilet. I try not to get my hopes up too much. I know that when the baby comes everything will probably go backwards anyways. I know he is still quite young but I am encouraged at how much he really wants to. He likes to wear big boy underwear. (with rubber pants over them) During Aaron's "school" Tyler wants to do everything too. We are working on colors for him and his favorite is brown. He knows brown for sure. He loves to color. We are working on knowing to color ONLY on paper that I give him! He wants to make all the letters just like Aaron and sometimes it makes me crazy. He gets frustrated because he can't do something Aaron is. He is as active as ever. He doesn't stay still for more than a minute!
He has had his own bed now for quite a while. He would not stay in the crib anymore so we decided to just let him sleep on a mattress on the floor and he loves it. He is still up early every morning but at least he can just get up and not cry and wake Aaron now. He is so talkative now. Of course most things are unintelligible but he just chatters nonstop. He will eat anything and everything but is still a skinny tall little guy. I think he will be taller than Aaron.

I am 32 weeks pregnant now. Only 8 weeks to go- hopefully less! No, we still did not find out what it is. We will be surprised when we see it for the first time. Many things are different this time with the pregnancy but that doesn't mean anything. I crave sweets constantly! With the boys I never did. I rarely ate chocolate when I was pregnant with them. Most everything is ready for the baby's arrival. We are working on a name still but will soon have that ready as well! =) Tyler doesn't really understand but he thinks it is funny that the baby "kicked" my belly button out. Aaron is very excited and says he will take care of the baby and not let Tyler be mean to it. =) He calls it a "she" because the only baby he has really been in contact with is cousin Gracie.
I work 3 nights a week still, about 5 hours a night. I will be stopping at the end of October unless of course the baby has different ideas. I am ok with whenever this baby wants to come except Oct 31! Wilmer is still at Paychex but now their department has moved to the other side of the city. Now he has to contend with so much traffic. He is still looking to move to another department within Paychex but right now is just waiting for an opportunity. He has been working at the apartments on the weekends. We have 2 empty ones so we are praying that those will be rented out soon. God had been good to us and provides just what we need when we need it. We have all been healthy this summer and are looking forward to the fall and holiday season with all the changes to take place in our family.

Late Summer Family Picnic

We decided to have another family picnic since Dad and Mom had been away for the July 4th picnic. So everyone came up to our house for a pool party. Of course, the weather had to be chillier that week so the pool was quite cool but the actual day turned out fine. The only person missing was Zeb so we will have another family get together when he gets home (which will be holiday time). All of the kids wanted to go swimming so most of us went in the pool at least for a little bit. Stacey and Heather wanted to have a chicken fight so they elected Cody and Wilmer to be the .."Bottom" whose shoulders they sat on. Then they tried and tried to get each other off. Finally the guys had enough so they just dumped them! Almost everyone got out except Heather, Emily and I. We were just laying on the rafts. Emily fell asleep and then fell off her raft! It was quite funny! A rude awakening that's for sure. Wilmer and Cody were "sunning" oh I mean, laying out on their towels in the yard sleeping. Stacey went to lay with them but... she doesn't understand the meaning of "laying out" because she had jeans, shoes and a sweatshirt on! Check out the pictures here Stacey had made a birthday cake for me with a pregnant woman with a little baby in the belly on it. Aaron wanted the piece with the baby so I gave it to him and he thought he was supposed to eat the plastic baby too! But it was a pretty good weekend. We went to the Strong Museum for kids again with David and Melisa and brought Grandpa and Grandma along this time. It was nice to be together and now that our house is so much bigger we are not so crowded. Grandma helped the kids put on a little play with costumes at the end of the weekend. It was pretty cute and they were proud to get all dressed up. You can see the video here.