Last Day Home....

Well, today is my last day home with Chase, and it is proving to be the hardest transition back to work yet.  Not sure why.  Perhaps because there is a very high chance that it will be the last time I am on maternity leave, or just the age of all my kids and being home with them during such fun developments in their lives...or both.

For whatever reason, I can't hardly imagine getting up tomorrow, putting on my work clothes and heading out the door.  But, I knew this day would come.

Yesterday Addy and Blake were home with us and today it is just Chase and I.  I tried very hard to do nothing but what the kids wanted yesterday.  And today I'm telling myself to only do chores while Chase sleeps (like right now...I should be mopping my kitchen and mud room but I decided to blog.  Therapeutic I guess!)

Hanging in Addy's room with my 'biggest' little man!



Our "Lego Friends" shop that we built yesterday.  Yeah, she hung in her jammies until it was time to change for dance which starts at 5:30 p.m.  That is how we roll on our last few days of maternity leave!

Found this "selfie" they took on my phone, I love these cuties!

 

I can't stop crying thinking about going to work tomorrow!  I have never done that before when returning to work after the other 2 were born.  For the record, I'm calling it before it happens --- tomorrow is going to "suck"

I mean, who wants to leave this cutie?!!!!!

Chase - 2 months

Where in the heck does the time go?  Chase is already 2 months (narrowing the corner to month 3 now...sad!).  Before I know it, I'll be blogging about Chase being 2 years old.  Not going to lie - I'm not looking forward to him being 2 years old. 

I truly LOVE LOVE LOVE this stage.  Seriously.  I love watching that little brain work by starting to show their smiles, react to things (both positively and negatively) and watch them start to notice their senses.  Chase didn't have his 2 month check up until New Year's Eve day.  For being such a big newborn, he's not big as a 2 month old! 

He was 11 pounds, 11 ounces at his check-up, which is just 2 pounds higher than his birth weight and the 26th percentile.  His length is the 79th percentile (just over 24 inches) and head circumfrance is off the charges in the over 98 percentile (approx. 16 1/2 inches)...which is what it has basically been at with every check since he was born!

Like his siblings, Chase likes his pacifier.  Although, I'm pretty sure that if we didn't have that thing around, he'd think his fingers were pretty dang tasty.  I'd prefer a paci over his fingers any day!

I don't have many good pics of his smiles, but towards the middle of between month 1 and 2, he started smiling a lot more and now he is really smily.  He shows lots of reactions with that smile...I love that!

He also shows negative reactions when necessary.  He absolutely HATES it when his bottle is over.  He starts crying pretty hard.  Sometimes you would think that he was hurt!  Even when we increased the amount, he still cries, it usually lasts for a few minutes.  Silly guy!

So serious in this pic!  Wearing his "Anderson Hunting Camp and Lodge" onesie that Papa Lowell sent him right before deer season!!

We celebrated Thanksgiving in this month.  I didn't realize it until I looked back at pictures on Thanksgiving day, but I had chosen the same outfit as I had for Blake on Thanksgiving 3 years earlier.  I only have a few "dressier" outfits so it isn't too big of a surprise, but thought that was sorta cool!

Thanksgiving Day!

Our first family of 5 picture!

Thanksgiving "cousin" pic with the Bertucci's! (back row: Serafina, Andi is holding Chase, and Mira; middle row: Addy; front row Oliver and Blake)

 Chase has really started to hold his head pretty well.  We try and do tummy time daily, but it gets hard.  We do a good amount of it.  He's not too fond of it though, he does better strengthening those muscles when he is laying on your chest vs. the floor.

A good round of tummy time!

First time sitting in his bumbo!

He has basically slept in his carseat this month.  He does SOOOO well in there.  We discovered it after leaving our niece Brynne's birthday party where he had fallen sleep in his carseat since we left pretty late into the evening.  Rather than moving him, we figured he'd be waking soon for a bottle and then we'd move him --- but he didn't wake that night until 4 in the morning!  The next night we were at a friends house and had brought him with us, and the same thing happened. 

So, we started having him sleep in there and he has been doing really well.  Now that I am almost about to head back to work, we've been working on getting him in his pack and play (his room isn't done yet for him to be in his crib)...the first few nights were rough but its' gotten a lot better!

For the most part, he falls asleep somewhere between 7:30 and 9:30 --- it sort've depends when his last bottle was.  He'll sleep typically until about 4 or 5 from there - every once in a while he will get up earlier.  After his feeding, he will fall back asleep until usually 8 or so if we are home and not going anywhere.  I can't complain!  Both Addy and Blake were up at about 6 at this age!

He takes about 3-4 naps during the day, not scheduled at all yet.  It basically depends on how long each nap is.  He definitely fights these most days...meaning he'll fall asleep but wake within 30 minutes or so and I know he is still tired!

My sleepy guy!

 He doesn't like to fall asleep on his own yet, but we keep working on it.  He's still little! I don't know if I've become a softy, or if he is that much more stubborn where he doesn't give in, but I don't think we've had a successful "cry it out" experience yet.  I always have to go in there after a few minutes to settle him down and try it over.  Although I will say it is getting better!!!!

Showing off one of his Christmas outfits!

 Just in the last few weeks, so right at the end of "month 2" he started to notice his animals hanging on his bouncy.  He has staring contests with them!

Animal Stare Down!

Bath time goes pretty smooth with Chase.  As long as I get a nice big wash cloth and keep it on him while he is in the bath to keep him warm, he doesn't usually cry during the bath. 

After bath cuddles with his sister!

All in all, Chase is seriously SUCH A GOOD BABY!  He's still really laid back.  For the most part, I know he is crying for a reason --- he's tired, hungry, or needs a diaper change.  There have only been a few occasions where I didn't think there was something he needed when he was crying.  Unlike his brother who could've cared less, Chase DOES NOT appreciate a dirty diaper so he lets me know when he needs a change. 

 

I was warned by my insurance agent the other day to be careful of the laid back babies!  He has 4 kids and said his easiest baby was his most challenging in the pre-teen years.  I'm sure in a few months or years I'll be saying how stubborn Chase is or something...but for now, he's just my sweet little guy and I am soooo lucky!!!!

 



2 month picture! (and another Christmas outfit!)

And because these are my favs...have to post these following pics!

Me and my boys!

Sigh....love my babies!  Love this pic!

My goofballs (or as Addy says "Goof-alls" --- she doesn't say the b!)

I am loving life as a mommy of 3, that is for sure.  There are days where it is crazy.  There are times where I realize more than the usual 1 day has passed since our last bath night.  Times where all I want to do is clean up my house and sit in peace and quiet.  Times where my patience is more thin than I would like to admit....

Yes, there are those days.

But, there are also days that are like those pictures above, where I am with my 3 babies, and the world keeps spinning around me but all I see is them.  If I could sit in that chair with Addy, Blake, and Chase at the ages they are at and on my lap and have time stand still.  I would. 

I love my babies being little! 

This guy right here is the perfect addition to Team Anderson!

Michigan Christmas

It was a great week in Michigan.  Chase got to meet his grandpa Lowell for the first time along with his aunts/uncles, cousins and great grandma Barb and Teresa...and I got to see the 'Deer Camp' for the first time as well. 

 

We did a lot of just relaxing with the family...but had some good excursions.  The first day we got there we opened gifts with the family, relaxed, and had Congress pizza (one of the best pizzas ever) for supper!  I didn't get pics of the gift opening, but got the boys in this hat from Papa!

 

Blake looks like a mini-Aaron here I think!

 The second day there we went on quite the excursion!  We set out to see their Deer Camp - which I have never been to.  It is not on paved/plowed roads so we weren't sure if we would make it to camp due to the amount of snow.  But, we figured we'd give it a go.

While we were out in the woods, we decided to go off a few beaten paths as we were "hunting" for moose as well!  Once we got to the edge of the paved roads, we all climbed into Lowell's truck to travel through the woods (truly...nothing but trees!)

Here we go!!!!!

Thankfully, Chase did a lot of sleeping on the trip!

The good thing about the slow drive in the woods, the kids got to sit up front to hunt for those moose!

 We did make it to Deer Camp --- but not without some times where there were some butterflies in my stomach.  Twice on the trip Aaron and his dad had to get out and dig the truck out of being stuck...not sure how they managed to pull it off.  On our way out of the woods when we left camp, you could see that if there had been just a few more inches of snow, we wouldn't have made it...as the bottom of the truck was grazing the snow as we drove through, so would've been pushing up snow with just a bit more inches! 

To speak in Yooper terms...."WAH!" --- that drive was fun but I wasn't sure if we were going to make it...and with little cell service, there was a tinge of me that thought "What were we thinking...with 3 little ones in the car!"!!

Safely at deer camp...signing the guest book!

The wall of their "trophy's".

 I will say, other than the out house and no shower, I was pretty impressed with what they have going on out there.   It is literally surrounded by woods, with just a shed, outhouse, sauna, and a pole to hang their deer on around them.  But inside, they have TONS of sleeping room, a couch...and they get satellite set up when they are out there hunting so they have all the sports that a group of men could want.  Sounds rough, huh??!!!

Love this pic of Aaron, his dad and the kiddos!

Papa and Blake!

Just about to leave camp...shot this cute pic of Chase awake!

I had to take this pic from my view in the back seat...this is just as we were leaving camp.  I mean, I'm not exaggerating when I say nothing but trees! 

I mentioned we were moose hunting...if you ask Addy we were hunting for "Muffy the Moose". We drove around the roads for a bit before heading back to our vehicle, and we did end up successfully seeing a moose!  I could never tell the story well enough on a blog, but it is a story that will make me smile every time I think of it.

The moose ended up being not far off the path, but Lowell got so excited that we saw one, he jumped out of his truck and opened the back for me to jump out and take a pic with my camera (although it was close enough, we would've gotten an AWESOME shot from the truck!)

Needless to say that startled the moose, so she took off...in which Lowell started running in the woods after it.  I thought for a moment that this seemed a bit crazy --- however I figured Lowell knew what he was doing.  Well, we turned a corner behind some trees and there she was, with her calf.  I got some good pictures, but this is one of the best of just one of them.

Lowell running through the woods after the moose.  If only you could have seen the motions he was doing and heard the noise he was making to try and get the moose to stop and come closer.  Such a great memory in my head!

 I am not one to usually run after an animal, especially a mama with her baby --- but I'm glad that I ran out there with Lowell.  So cool!

Blake didn't want to get out of papa's truck so he got to ride home in there.  Lowell said they had some great conversation.  I just love how much my kids warm up to everyone in Michigan, especially since there is never enough time and we definitely don't get to see everyone as much as we would love to.

 The next day I was able to see some more of Aaron's family at a baby shower for one of his cousin's...and then we headed off to watch our nephew Jeffrey play hockey.  Addy and Chase stayed home with Tam/Ed because the rink wasn't heated.  But, Blake wanted to join us.  So, he got some one-on-one time with mom and dad...a rare thing!

Watching Jeffrey sitting on Auntie Tina's lap. 

 None of the pics of Jeffrey on the ice turned out...bummer!

__

Just a few random pics of Michigan!

Miss Holly Sue is getting way too big!

Again, just love how well they warm up to everyone.  They cuddle right into their big cousins!!!

Papa Lowell and Chase!

Tarara Christmas

Man, I hate it when I get out of order!  The Saturday before Christmas, we celebrated with my family :)  I'll just post a few pics of the kids to document the day!



Annual cousin pic!

New sled...daddy looks pretty excited!

 

One of their favorite gifts from grandma...handmade corn bags.  These things are great...warm them up and they are a nice little heating pad.  Can also be cooled.  They are soooo cozy to cuddle up in with your jammies one!

Few more....

And this was basically Chase's position for the day...curled up in grandma Bonnie's arms sleeping :)  He was just at the beginning of a nasty cold with low temp that day.  Poor kiddo!

The day consisted of lunch, presents, and playing outside on the rink my dad makes each year.  I didnt' get any pics because I was the only adult out there so was helping out the kids, but Addy got to skate and Blake played on the ice in his boots!