August with the Starkes

Trying to beat the heat and wear the little munchkins out. We ran the sprinklers and let them try their hardest to avoid getting wet.  Besides, we didn't really want to give them a bath and we needed to wash off the Popsicle somehow.

It actually rained!!  We got over 2 inches of rain and it was a good soaker.  I decided the girls needed to play in the rain and get some good puddle splashing in. Yes, they are wearing their PJs. 

Good times were had by all at a friend's birthday party. Ever since we left, Megan has been asking if she can have her birthday where we went for Amber's birthday.  SOLD!  That was easy planning and the party won't be until December.  They had a little train to ride as well as some robotic animals. They also had a ball pit and climbing structure thingy as well as mini-golf and a few play tables with trains and ships and dollhouses.  It was a cool place. We are actually going back for a playdate next week. The girls will be so excited! 

Above ^^^  On the train.

Pics below are on the animals. Em rode an elephant and Moo rode a zebra.

I have to admit, when they put on those hats my first thought was "that sure is a great way to spread head lice" but they were cute and I figured it is too damn hot for lice, right?

They sure loved the ball pit. I shudder to think what kind of germs were hanging out in there. Nobody got sick after the party though so I guess I'm just lucky I didn't have to go in there.  Remember when Chuck E Cheese had those huge ball pits? How gross were they? Didn't your feet always get wet?  What was that?



And a pic of Matthew in the Bumbo. He doesn't quite love it yet but we have a little Bumbo time every day, if I remember.  He's so smiley. I have to remind myself that he can't entertain himself yet. Silly baby is so selfish and time consuming!  Geez!!  ;)



3 Months Old

I snapped the cutest pictures of the cutest little boy yesterday.  I can't believe he is 3 months old already. Time sure flies ...

A Night in the Life as Matthew's Mommy

When is this child going to sleep? I have spent 10 weeks seeing more of the middle of the night than I really want to and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. Last night, he had his last bottle at 8:00 pm and he ate about 7 ounces, so he had a full belly. He was awake for a while so I put him to bed at 9:00. He was up at 1:30, having busted out of the swaddle. He wasn't hungry, just a little fussy, so I wrapped him back up and gave him his paci and ... Had to go back in there about 3 MORE TIMES before he was asleep again. He woke up again at 3:15 am with only one arm out of the swaddle. I gave him his paci again but figured he was hungry since he typically wakes to eat around 3:45-4:00 am. I only tried once to soothe him before making his bottle and getting him up. He was sleep eating for half the bottle so I burped him and he promptly passed out. He wanted nothing to do with the rest of his bottle. He was out! He ate half his bottle,money 3 ounces, which is what he was eating at about 3 weeks old. I held him upright for a while hoping to curb the spitting up and put him back to bed a little after 4:00. He woke up again at 5:30 soaked in spit up and out of his blanket. I wiped him off, rewrapped, and pacifiered him, which lasted about an hour before it was time to do it all over again. Finally, on my second trip in there at 6:50 am, I had already decided to get him up when I found him ON HIS TUMMY with only one arm out of the blanket. So my sleepless nights are about to go from bad to worse because it is time to break the swaddle habit. He DOES NOT nap well in his bed when he isn't swaddled so I'm not expecting much out of him at night. I think I will just make a bed on his floor tonight ...

I guess what I meant to say was ... YAY! My kid rolled over!

*yawn*

Starke Summer - July Edition

Snacking poolside!

They just saw their first movie: Cars 2!

Two thumbs up, I think.



Carousel ride at the mall after the movie!



A little outdoor painting on July 4th!

July 4th Neighborhood Parade

Ready for a hike Grandma!

Take us with you next time!

All 3 of my babies snuggled on the sofa.

Megan is even sharing her (stolen from Matthew) Thomas blanket. 

Em's new talent.

Matthew's new talent (a hint of a smile).

Sprinkler play with new Princess dolls.

It was about 104* outside but they were bugging us for some outside time.

Playing dress-up in Christmas dresses.

2 Months Old

Matthew had his 2 month check-up on July 25th.  He got an A+ from the doc (Actually, we saw the Nurse Practitioner because the doc was on vacation.)  His is doing well and the only things we were concerned about were his umbilical hernia, which just looks really bad but apparently is normal, and his reflux which really seems to be resolved if it was ever really there.  For now, we're keeping him on the Zantac but I have recently "forgotten" a few doses and haven't noticed much of a difference.  He took his shots like a champ and didn't have any sort of reaction at all.  A little tired and cranky but I would have been too.  I didn't have to give him any Tylenol ... which is good since I'm pretty sure we don't even have any in the house. The only hiccup of the day was when he peed all over the exam room after the nurse left.  He rarely pees when exposed - or maybe I'm just too quick - but that day he just let it flow.  It's funny, you don't realize it until you're trying to figure out what that sound is.  OH ... it's pee hitting the table and floor!  HA HA!  I think he just hit a growth spurt the week after his appointment so I'm sure those numbers are way off by now. We don't go back until he's 4 moths old. That's September!! We'll be a little less of a circus by then too since the girls will be back in school and it will be just me and the little guy.

Weight:   12 lbs 14 oz    (80%)

Height:    22.8 inches      (60%)

Head:     16.0 inches      (80%)