life at home…

It’s a plane, it’s a bird, it’s … SUPER MATTY!!!

At least once a week, the kids play Superman/Supergirl with David, and it would only be fitting to have Matty join in on the fun!!  The kids thought it was the BEST thing ever that we put a cape on Matthew and flew him around the room!  The game consists of David tackling Connor and Audrey and Super Matty swooping in to save the day! : )  I actually made him a Matty-sized superman cape that adorns his crib when it’s not being used …

The three kids planning their attack on Daddy…

*****

Bathtime is one of Matty’s favorite times during the day.  He is so unbelievably happy and sweet!  If he is at all fussy, stick him in the bath, and he is as happy as he can be!  He now is running little marathons in the water!  He gets so excited! Audrey loves to help me give him a bath!  She washes his little tummy and legs and talks to him in the highest voice imaginable! : )  Matthew loves it.

*****

This is one of my favorite ways to talk to Matthew.  He is becoming so aware of things now and the smiles are flowing!  I’m loving it!  I keep telling him that he is flirting with me! : )

You’ve got to wonder if he smiles cause he loves me or I’m making a fool out of myself to get him to smile! : )  I’ll take either!

*****

Last week Connor and I went on our first “Mommy date”.  It was such a wonderful time.  I came back just appreciating Connor so much!  He is a delight.  I told him before Matthew was born that as soon as Matthew would take a bottle, that we would go on our date.  Connor has been patiently awaiting this one.  Connor chose to eat at McDonalds, which he calls “Ah-McDonalds”, and then we watched Toy Story 3 in 3D.  I had such a sweet time with him – we held hands, he opened the car door for me, we laughed, ate sour straws, hugged, took pictures with our phones, told each other that we loved each other – perfect first date!

*****

Audrey loves to talk to Matthew and Matthew loves to talk to Audrey.  This is one of the many times that I catch Matthew smiling at Audrey.

Loving his big sister!




happy 6 weeks!

Today Matthew is 6 weeks old, so in the “we love to take pictures of our kids” spirit, we thought we would document the day!

Pretty cute if you ask me! : )




Big smile!

I don’t know that a smile ever gets old… especially on a chubby, toothless, dimpled baby boy…

*****

Things have been going good for us as we have been adjusting to life with three.  Granted, we were getting meals these past 2 weeks, so it’s not quite normal yet!   This next week will be the big test.  And as of yesterday, the test just got a little harder – actually WAY harder.  Connor, out of nowhere, spiked another fever and complained that his throat hurt.  So after describing it to our Dr. on call, Michelle, we have concluded that it is probably not strep, but another form of hand, foot, mouth… ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!  For those of you who may not know, that is what put Matthew in the hospital for 10 days, so needless-to-say, I’m pretty nervous.  We tried to isolate Connor in the office, but that just was not working.  He felt like he was being punished and he’d come out and I didn’t feel like it was effective.  We decided to go the other route and isolate Matthew.  He has been in our room since then.  No kids are allowed to come in our room.  It is working now cause I have David to watch the older two while I feed or tend to Matty, but come Monday, it might be pretty hard.  So, I would appreciate all prayers for our family – Connor would get better quickly, no one else will get sick – especially Matthew (do NOT want to go back to the ER), patience during this next week of trying to keep it together and keep kids apart, and wisdom.  It makes me scared to have to make decisions about my kids health by myself.  As I am typing this, I’m getting more anxious thinking about next week… I’d better stop.  I will just continue to pray!




Growing up fast…

Matthew is almost 4 weeks old!  I really can’t believe it!  Here are some pictures from last week and today.

Smiles, smiles, smiles…

almost a smile…

Connor and Audrey giving lots of love to Matthew.  They truly have been a delight and have, for the most part, played AWESOME together this past week!  I could not ask for a better welcome home week!

Most mornings Audrey gets some cuddle time with Matty.  She normally points at all of his facial features – nose, dimple, eyes, ears – and then sings sweet songs to him. : )

It’s been pretty hot out, so we have had to figure out how it is going to work with a newborn. The big kids play here…

and Matty stays here!  The tent behind Matty is a great contraption that my Grandmother got for him – not only is it really cool (especially for the older kids) but also protects Matthew from the UV rays!  When the shade ran out, Matthew went inside his tent! : )

This was our first family bike ride.  The kids loved that we were able to take Matty for a ride.  I think if they had their choice, they would want to ride in that cool trailer too! : )

Looking at some old family photos from when David was a boy.  Connor particularly liked the picture of David and Papa Adair camping.  : )  I love watching David with his kids – now so fun that there are three in the picture!

Matthew being introduced to Daddy playing the piano.  He was so alert and just staring at David the whole time.  It was a sweet moment!

This was taken today.  He is just getting so stinkin cute! : )

We are just in love!

Gotta love those baby crossed-eyes!

Studying his new friend – “Frankie” – from Mimi and Papa Adair.  So cute!




last pictures from the hospital…

I am writing this from the comfort of OUR HOME!!! Praise the Lord for bringing all of us back together again.  It has been a wonderful reunion for our family, and situations like this make us all the more grateful for each other.

Here are the rest of the pictures from the hospital visit.

Whenever Aunty Michelle holds him, he ends up with a mohawk… : )

His little sponge bath that he was NOT a fan of at the hospital!  Poor third child – one bath (sponge bath at that) in 10 days!!

David snuggling with Matty on this crazy 1970s chair!! David called it “his throne” – but I’m not sure it shouldn’t have been called “David’s ‘Piece of Junk’ ”  - in the nicest way of course!  : )

Such a sweet little boy.

Looking as if he were really thinking about something or contemplating joining the mob or becoming a monk… or wondering when he was going to eat again!

Right before the nurse took the IV out.  A final look.  Also final weigh in – 9lb 10oz!

We are taking you home, baby boy!




not what we had planned…

As most of you already know, we have spent the last week in the hospital with Matthew.  After a horrific night in the ER due to a high temperature, Matty was admitted to the hospital to get started on IV antibiotics to treat meningitis.  We thought we were going home on Monday, but after a few spiked fevers on Sunday and the spinal fluid cultures inadvertently thrown away, we were advised to stay for a complete round of antibiotics.  So here we are.

I haven’t really wanted to have the camera in Matty’s face, but after thinking about it, this is who Matthew is right now.  So I got my iPhone, and started snapping pictures.  They are not the best quality, but you can get a glimpse of Matty’s life right now.

This is the sweet face that we love!  The foot with the splint has the IV in it, and the other foot has an oxygen/heart beat monitor.  Everywhere we carry him, we have to make sure the cords, tubing, and IV pump contraption stay close by.  Changing a diaper is fairly tricky these days.  David holds his legs and cords up, and I do the dirty part!

The few times Matthew was actually laying down by himself.  I think we cuddle and hug on to that boy as much as we can!

Sweet cuddle time with Aunty Michelle.  Michelle has been an amazing friend through this whole ordeal.  As soon as she knew we were on our way to the ER, she met us there (actually beat us there), and basically has not stayed far away.  Every time the Doctor would explain something, I would nod as if I understood, and then when he/she left, Michelle would explain it again.  SO helpful to be able to ask questions – even I had to ask 1000 times to really grasp the answer.  Not only has she offered her medical advice, but also she and Joe have taken our kids off my Mom’s hands so she could come up and visit and they have brought us tons of food and snacks.  I cannot say thank you enough for all you guys have done!

Krista also brought a fun bag of goodies/snacks to eat in between our meals from the hospital.  When Krista was a baby, she spent the first 6 weeks of her life in the hospital, and her Grandfather brought her a puzzle to look at while she was in the incubator.  So in the bag of goodies, there was a brightly colored puzzle for Matthew to look at during his awake time.  So thoughtful.  She also took the kids so my Mom could come visit.  Thanks so much!

Matty getting some good cuddle time with Mimi Connors.  She has been such a HUGE help with our kids.  Many of you guys have offered to help, but thanks to my Super-Mom, she has taken care of Connor and Audrey the whole time.  My Dad drove up on Monday to help her corral our rascals until we get home on Friday.  It has been such a blessing to not worry about Connor and Audrey while we have been so emotionally involved with Matthew.  Thanks Mom and Dad!

This is what I get to gaze upon every day.  Sweet baby boy.

When Matthew takes a nap on me, this is my view.  He is my little hot water bottle!

This morning David had a few meetings, so I had some sweet alone time.  Matthew was the most alert that he has been to date, and I was really getting some smiles.  I know, I know, you are not supposed to smile for 6 weeks, but this is quite the sweet, half-smile! : )

And then the REAL smile!!   (Seriously, how cute and chubby is he right now???  He weighs in at a hefty 9lb 6.5oz!!)

Thank you all for your prayers, emails, texts, gifts and love.  It is so wonderful to know that so many people out there are praying for Matthew.  His name means “gift from God” and truly that is how we feel about him.  He quickly became a perfect part of our family, and we are so thankful for him and the joy that he brings us.  We love you Matty and can’t wait to bring you home!




Our lives of late…

So we are LOVING having our new baby here!!  We just absolutely adore him!

After 6 days of getting to know Matty, we have figured out that he hates being on his back and loves being on his tummy.  He has found his thumb on more than one occassion, so we are wondering if this is going to be his paci… we’ll see!  The nights have been pretty rough.  Because I can’t put him on his tummy the way he likes, laying him down on his back makes him cry, cry, cry… So in the little vibrating chair he goes.  Last night was actually pretty good, only up a couple of times, but the other nights, up almost every hour… It’s a good thing he’s so adorable! : )

This past weekend was great – my mom, dad, sister and niece, Aiyana, were here to welcome Matthew home.  I don’t think he was put down one time!  : )

Aiyana was a GREAT help as she played with Connor and Audrey a lot.  She also got up with them and entertained them until about 8:30 each day she was here.  I’m thinking I’m going to need to hire her over the summer!  She thoughtfully brought nail polish and dress up clothes for Audrey and her bike to ride with Connor.  So sweet!

She did snag some cuddle time too!

On Saturday, we had an official welcome home Baby Matthew dinner!  David cooked an awesome meal on the Green Egg – Ribs, corn-on-the-cob, rolls, and asparagus!  He is quite the chef!

Finally on Sunday, Connor was able to kiss and hold Matty.  The day before Matthew was born, Connor came down with hand-throat-mouth disease, so we had to keep Connor from hugging and kissing Matty – which was SUCH a bummer!  Connor had been so excited about Matthew being born, but it was too risky for him to hold Matthew (considering every kid that came in contact with Connor got sick…).  Connor had a great attitude about it, and when he finally got to kiss him, he exclaimed, “My first kiss!”  He was so excited!

On Monday, the kids, my Mom, and I went on our first little family walk/bike ride.  We rode over to the little park by our house, had snacks and rode some more around our neighborhood.  We had a mission to get Matthew some sun for his jaundice, but after we got back, we saw that he may have had too much sun.  Poor little thing got a little sunburned on his cheek.  Sorry little baby!

Last night we took the kids to chick-fil-a for dinner, a craft, and free ice cream.  Matthew was too fun to dress in his little khakis and layered shirt!  He has completely surpassed any newborn clothes that we bought for him as he is now comfortably in 0 – 3 month clothes.  He seems too big already!

My mom has been such a huge help with everything!! As I’m sitting down to write this, she has made cookies with Audrey, done a load of laundry, set a tea party, cleaned the kitchen, killed flies, sent pictures to Walmart and who knows what else !!  So needless to say, what am I going to do without her???




A little video for you

Here’s a sneak peek of Matthew at about an hour old.

Visitors are welcome if you’d like to come by tonight. We’re at Northwest in Bentonville.





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