.four months.

12.25.2016

Axel is four months old.

He has had another growth spurt. I know, not only because he has actually taken a few good naps, but it's like I lay him down for a nap weighing 12 pounds, and he wakes up and he's all of a sudden 14 pounds. He actually weighs 15.7 pounds and is 26.5 inches long (as of 1.9.2016).

It's hard for him to concentrate on eating, especially when his sisters come into my room while he's eating, or if he catches a glimpse of my phone.
He gets surprised easily. It doesn't take much to almost scare him, but he usually thinks it's a little funny! 

He has rolled from his front to his back multiple times now. I have not been awesome about doing tummy time with him, but it seems like he is still getting the hang of things! He's really good at holding his head up with his arms almost straight. He wants to GO so badly! He lays on his tummy and swims, trying so hard to reach the things he wants. He has been able to spin himself so he can get to the things on the side of him!

He has rolled from his back to his front, but it helped that he was half swaddled one time and then he was on my bed the next time.

He has a great laugh, but so far he's been really inconsistent about when he'll let us hear it. What works one minute doesn't work the next. He usually will laugh at his sisters while they are playing, though.

He has found his toes and LOVES to try to get them in his mouth. If he's not playing with his toes he is eating his fingers and drooling all over everyone and everything.

He's really good at aiming and grabbing his toys.

He's found a new noise. Yelling. He just yells at Matthew and I. He's not necessarily mad or sad, he's just exploring this new sound. I hope it's a phase that passes quickly.

Axel had his first sickness this month. Just before Christmas he was diagnosed with croup. Poor thing!! And through it all, he's still so happy!

He still takes 30-45 minute naps, so after Christmas I think we are going to start sleep training. Wish us luck!

{12.19.16 - 12.25.16}

All smiles all the time.

Axel has found his toes and he can't get enough of them! 

All these two wanted was sparkly chapstick from Santa. He did not disappoint and I think they liked all the other stuff he brought as well! 

I love when the girls want to pose for pictures. I just wish you could see their faces a little better.  

Merry Christmas! 

The girls loved their new dress-up clothes from Nana! I think they wore these dresses for about a week straight!

{12.12.16 - 12.18.16}

I don't think anybody can make this boy laugh like his sisters can! (Lyla & Axel) 

The girls got these ear muffs for Christmas last year, and lately they have become an obsession for my little hoarder. Lyla keeps these with her at all times...she even sleeps with them. Not on, mind you! She just wants to hold them. It was fun when we got our first real snow fall of the winter for her to use them for their real purpose! 

I had a minor surgery this week, so my mom came down to help with the kids and she brought with her some fun gingerbread houses! 

The girls had a lot of fun decorating them, and they did such a good job! 

They especially liked to eat the frosting. 

Axel is trying out some new toys! He actually loves this, despite how it looks in the photo.

{12.5.16 - 12.11.16}

Honestly, most days, I feel like I am not very good at this mom stuff...my girls spend WAY too much time watching TV and not enough time outside or even just inside without the TV on. But sometimes, we have moments like this, where they play so cute together! Tucking each other into their "beds" and singing lullabies while they cuddle. Or times when they run up and down the hall pretending to be the "pittiest sairy" (prettiest fairy) or unicorns or Anna and Elsa, or Jake and Izzy from Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Those times are good times!  

I kind of wish that some of their pretend play consisted of something other than characters from their favorite TV shows...)

Mr. Axel is figuring out his balance! #pleasefreezetimeforaminute 

He is such a happy baby!! Even though he still only naps for 30 minutes at a time!  

So on our way home from Salt Lake one night, I decided to stop in Provo to see Santa. The girls knew exactly what they wanted for Christmas this year (sparkly chapstick) so I thought they would be so excited to ask him for it. On our way there, the girls both fell asleep in the truck. I debated on just letting them sleep and continuing our drive home, but I was worried that they would be so disappointed that we didn't stop...so I woke them up! They cried and cried. The whole time. I didn't realize it was an outdoor Christmas village thing, and we didn't have coats...just jackets and blankets. So they were cold and tired and ornery. I kept threatening to leave and not see Santa and Lyla said, "otay!" which was not the reaction I expected! Haha! They refused to even go near Santa - who was not a very good Santa (but maybe I was just frazzled...) and they cried some more. It was a terrible experience! 

At least I got a picture of Axel with Santa! 

We later had a chance to see Santa at our Walmart. Alya was still too shy to have her picture taken with him, unfortunately.

Ultimately, I have decided that next year (and probably every year after that) we will be sending letters to the North Pole!

{11.28.16 - 12.4.16}

The girls sat for quite a while one morning snuggled on the couch under a blanket reading their favorite Louis L'amour books!  

Axel loves to look at himself in the mirror! // Drool for days. 

We put up our Christmas tree and the girls had a hard time not playing with all the ornaments, so we set up their very own tree that they got to decorate! I couldn't decide which of the two pictures was my favorite, so you get both!  

Mo cuddled up with the Christmas puppy! // Alya and her duckies. My girls love rubber duckies! 

I think I post this a picture very similar to this every year, but I think it's safe to say this is one of my favorite ornaments that we own. I love nativities and I love that I can have one on my tree lit by beautiful Christmas lights. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas and the spirit that is felt when I sit in a room lit only by the lights of the tree. I am glad that I can look at this ornament and be reminded of the reason for the season in a time when we can get so caught up with the business and the gifts and Santa. It's easy to get distracted so I am thankful for that spirit and these little reminders!

.three months.

11.25.2016
Axel loves to suck on his fist and fingers, and he drools a lot! He hates tummy time and his naps are kind of all over the place. He still only naps for about 30-45 minutes, but sometimes will sleep longer if we hold him. He has slept through the night (from around 8:30pm to around 7:00am) but he is very inconsistent about it. 

He doesn't seem to mind his car seat as much as he used to. We were in the truck for four (or more) hours for his first Thanksgiving and he was a champ!

He is pretty good at sitting up with support. He likes to be in his Bumbo for a little while. It's still kind of a workout for him to hold his head completely steady so he doesn't like it for longer than 5 minutes or so. He still loves to lay on a blanket and kick and he likes to watch his sisters while they play.

When it comes time to eat, sometimes I feel like I am forcing him to eat just because he normally eats at this time every day. He just doesn't always seem hungry.

I am rarely in trouble with Axel when it comes to things like hunger, or needing a diaper change. He does get grumpy when he is tired though. It doesn't take him long to fall asleep usually, but he fights it hard!

He is wearing mostly 6 month clothes, but can still wear some 3 month.

He is SO smiley! Everyone comments on how happy he is because he smiles at just about everybody! He has giggled but it's really hard to get him to do it!
He likes to be in his Moby wrap, especially when we are out and about, and he doesn't seem to mind his car seat as much as he used to when we go on walks or in the shopping cart-as long as we are in motion.

This little man is just so amazing! We love him so much and I feel so blessed to have him in our family!

Happy 3 months, Axel!!

{11.21.16 - 11.27.16}

Axel is getting pretty good at balancing himself. He loves when he gets to sit propped up, in his Bumbo chair, or on pillows, or even on Mo! 

Doggy pile piggy back on Daddy! 

Everyone loves holding the baby! But who can blame them...or rather, us! It's usually Alya that wants to sit and hold Axel, but this time it was Lyla! 

Happy Thanksgiving from my three little turkeys! The girls thought it was the best thing ever for me to paint their feet for the turkey bodies!

Lyla and Grandpa. Someone actually managed to get her to sit for a few minutes!  

Great Grandma Barnes! She never thinks my kids like her...hopefully Axel showed her how loved she is! // My beautiful Lyla. 

It's tradition to go Christmas tree hunting after Thanksgiving! The girls had a blast! I think their favorite part (besides the snowball fight with Dad afterwards) was trying to shake all the snow off the trees that were just their size!