Thank goodness for fall. . .finally!

You might be a redneck if you have a hunting blind in your front yard just so your three year old can "deer hunt"! He also had his fishing pole out, along with his basketball goal and wagon and lots of truck and tractors. . . I bet our neighbors think we are crazy!

Arden enjoyed the fresh air, too!

Stratton's turn with the camera. . .

Arden is 4 weeks old!

Preview pic from the photo shoot last Thursday! I can't wait to see the rest!

What a week.

Thursday was well. . . A lot. I had an appointment with a local photographer, Emily Cottingham, at her studio to have the kids pictures made at noon. My mom came to help me. Stratton was really good, could have been the bribe of a big prize, but it worked! I think she got some really goodones of Arden, we will see if there are any decent ones of both kiddos. Stratton didn't want to participate for long. He was like ok, I got my picture made, I'm done! I'm glad my momwas there to keep him busy while Arden was having hers done. They went for a walk downtown and went to a coffee shop and had a snack!

When Jarrod got home he dropped the bombshell that I'm still unable to really talk about. We lost our cat, Taki. She was outside while we were gone, and some dogs ganged up on her. A neighbor saw the dogs but by the time he got to her it was too late. We don't think they were vicious, they were just playing and got too rough. The neighbor was able to get the dogs pictures and even took pictures of their id tags. We had some friends bringing is dinner so after they left we headed for HR and dropped the kids off at my nanny and papas house since my mom was staying with them that night. Then we took Taki to my mom and dad's house where we buried her alongside our other pets that have passed on. We are just devastated. Poor Stratton doesn't really understand. He asks about her, we told him the truth, so he has lots of questions. It just breaks my heart to have him talk about her. Last night he asked if she went to heaven because God needed a cat since he didn't have one? It's just beyond bizzare not having her around. We haven't really had the time to give her much attention lately, but we sure miss her.

Friday after we took Stratton to school, Jarrod, Arden and I headed for Pocahontas to look at furniture at Dawsons. We stopped in Walnut Ridge and ate lunch at the Pizza Den. We had a great visit with Josh and LeAnn. They were glad we brought Arden and we stayed at the store most of the afternoon. I didn't find anything. I will probably have to order a new couch and chair. We got back to town and picked S up at school, came home and fed Arden and then went back to town to look at the Ashley furniture store, and had dinner at "Tomato's" . . . aka Fazoli's, per Stratton's request. He was very good, surprisingly!

Saturday we took it easy. The kids were both so good and quiet! Jarrod got up with them and I slept till 9! The razorback game was at 11, so we just hung out and we all took a nap! Then we got around and decided to try our luck and Jarrod tried to take S to get new boots, but he wouldn't try any on, so that was a bust, then we went out to eat with both kids again. This time it didn't go as well. I will leave it at that! Then we ran to Target, and back home by 7pm! But it felt so much later!

Sunday we tried, but again didn't make it to bible class. We just haven't found our grove yet! Seems like even when we get up early and prep and prepare we just can't get it together! After church we went to eat with some friends, Arden slept like a champ and Stratton was great! We came home took naps, back to church and then we had dinner with our usual group. Stratton was pretty good. I am hoping that things are going to continue to get better.

Monday, I got out by myself (with Arden) for the first time. We went to Target, had breakfast at Panera, ran to Kohls and then back home all before noon! Then we took a short nap. She had a good might last night and Stratton was also pretty good.

Today I didn't get much done. Arden wanted to be held all day, I'm not sure whats going on with her, but tonight she just screamed for like an hour straight. If it happens again tomorrow I'm calling the doctor! Whew! I can't figure out if she is upset becuase her stomach or if its something else.

Tomorrow my cleaning lady is coming, so Arden and I are going to visit our Friends Erica and Livy! Then on Thusday I am finally getting my hair cut and colored! I think I'll feel like a new person afterwards! I'm glad that I can get out and about a little! I'm so tired of being stuck at home! On the agenda soon is a mani/pedi!

Arden is 3 weeks old

Saturday, September 29th

Aunt Brandye got Stratton an autographed jersey from Ryan Aplin! He was excited to wear it to the game on Saturday! Jarrod's parents came to town and the guys went to the game and us girls went to the mall and then to Red Lobster.

The week went by really fast. Especially considering we are getting by with such little sleep. Arden's sleeping is still very sporadic. One night she'll eat and go right back to sleep, other nights she's up crying for hours?! Its very frustrating! We had an especially hard night on Saturday. We didn't get to bed till late since the guys were gone to the ballgame and it was a rough night being up with Arden. I don't think we got more than 2 hours of sleep. . . So Sunday morning we packed the kids up and headed for the Ridge! We ate lunch with my parents and grandparents and left Stratton there for the night!! We did take Arden by my nanny and papa's house since they hadn't gotten to see her yet.

Tuesday night Jarrod had to work late and it was the first time I had the kids by myself. Stratton was awful. He threw such a temper tantrum that I had to give myself a timeout so that I didn't lose control! That boy is wearing us out. And the thing that is the most frustrating is we don't know how to deal with it. You can't reason with him when he's like that and you can't put him in timeout and spanking him doesn't phase him either. Nothing works! Plus, I'm still not really physically able to fight him and he knows that. He is really taking advantage of the whole situation. Please pray that we can figure out a punishment that works, or that he gets over this phase!

Wednesday, October 3rd- Arden's 3 weeks old

Arden is 2 weeks old!

We had a doctor appointment with a new peditrician on Monday. She was great and we were really impressed. Arden had put on some more weight. She now weighs 7.8 lbs! She was in the 50th percentile for weight, 75th percentile on height and 35th percentile head measurement. She does have a tiny head! I am having a hard time finding headbands small enough! I got some "premie" size ones at a Kiddly Toes that work but there arent many colors and styles.

Anyway, the doctor told us that her tummy aches are probably just a symptom of formula change, or just changes in her GI tract. She said we needed to give a new formula 4-7 days before changing again, it takes awhile for them to get used to it and we need to give her system plenty of time to get used to it. However, its been almost a full week now and she still seems fussy and you can tell that her tummy is cramping. The doc said that we should try a soy formula next. I have a feeling we will be trying that SOON. She isn't sleeping well and neither am I!

Stratton is still giving us a hard time, but its getting to be more in the mornings and at night. He is going to bed and staying in bed now! Small blessings. . .

Yes, both kids under the activity mat. . .

Stratton sharing daddy's lap and his blanket with Arden. . .

We took both kids to church for the first time last night. Its so much harder to get 4 people ready than I expected. I tried to cook supper but then while it was in the oven I had to feed Arden and oops, it burned. So Stratton had a hotdog. He was really clingy and almost didn't want to go to bible class, which never happens. I am not used to all this clingy behavior. So not like Mr. Independent!

I snapped these after church. Stratton wants to hold and love on Arden all the time. He is really sweet towards her. He also wants to kiss her all the time, and wants to kiss her on the mouth. We are trying to teach him to kiss her on the cheek, especially since he has a touch of a cold!

I'm feeling pretty good. Just tired from Arden's uncertain sleep schedule. I am sticking to our 3 hour- eat, play, sleep schdule. . . Arden just skips the nap part sometimes and the other times I can't keep her awake. I try to nap when she does, but it doesn't all ways work out.

This afternoon around 2pm. I was getting ready to take a nap before getting ready to go to my (very much anticipated) hair appointment, and I started having some bleeding issues that gave us a scare, but after talking to an Angels nurse things are ok. She just advised me to rest and stay off my feet for a couple days and let them know if things get any worse. I am waiting to hear back from my doc, but so far this eveing I think its getting better so hopefully I won't need to be looked at. My mom came up this afternoon to help and somJarrod could go back to work. She is planning on coming back tomorrow to babysit me. . .ugh. I hate needing help, but I'm glad my mom lives close enough to be able to come when I need her! Everyone is telling me I am doing too much. It's just hard to take it easy, especially when I'm feeling good. I guess after today I will try harder to do less. . . I don't want to end up back in the hospital.

Family picture

Stratton is supposed to take a family picture to school tomorrow. . .well we didn't have one yet! We went to HR today to church and then had lunch at my grandpa & grandma's house, so I got mom to snap a few of us after church.

Stratton playing with my old "my little ponies"! . . . Their loaded up in the JD trailer! Haha

Grandpa rocking sleeping Arden

Things are getting better. We have switched Arden's formula and got some different bottles and that seems to be helping with her tummy problems. We have a dr appointment with a new peditrician on Monday.

Thursday and Friday both went pretty well. We are just trying to establish some sort of routine again and adjusting to our new reality!

Stratton is still giving us a hard time, but at least he is sleeping better and not getting up in the middle of the night. We were informed that he has been acting out at school (back talking) this past week. They told Jarrod on Friday that he had been better. I know he is just dealing with not being the center of attention anymore, so we are trying to be understanding and patient, but he's not going to get away with back talking and not listening. We are also trying really hard to find ways to have him help. I think if he feels like he has a job to do he will feel less left out.

The boys went to the ASU game tonight. I'm so glad that Stratton is so into football and wants to go, and he is usually on his best behavior so Jarrod has no reservation taking him. It's something that they can do together and they both really enjoy it! I think Jarrod is really proud of how much Stratton pays attention and his interest in the game and players. A couple of weeks ago out of the blue S asked him, "what is Ryan Aplin's last name?" haha. He told me that he wants to be a QB when he plays for the Red Wolves. I asked him if he would blow me kisses from the field and he said yes. . . We'll see! Haha!