Clark turns FIVE

OK. He actually turned five two months ago, but I'm just catching up with the blog, of course...

 We did the same type party that Dex had last year, set up in the park by our house- but this time there was a hitch, one of the park rangers, Norman, tried to shut us down?!?  Even though two rangers came by, were super friendly, remembered us from the year before etc... this guy wasn't having it, poor thing was on a power trip... you go park ranger.  We made the best of it though, just couldn't put up some of the super cute decorations that Aunt Traci made.  Above are some of her cupcake toppers.  Check out her Facebook page HERE.

 Anyway- at the park we had dinos and doughnuts, and Clark was in heaven... two of his favorite things.

 And we tried a pinata for the first time.  Although this particular one was indestructible-

 It eventually broke off the tree and Rich just held it... and when that still didn't work Miles just bashed it repeatedly with the bat on the ground until it broke open.  Awesome.

 Candy free-for-all.  As if they needed more sugar on top of the doughnuts :)

 Grandma and Grandpa were in town from FL and got to share his day with him!  They haven't missed one of his birthdays yet!

 And all the grandparents with baby Margot- who was not enjoying herself.

 Dex kept sneaking bites of doughnuts, and then putting them back.  Awesome Dex.

 Clark and his cousin Perry.  

Growing Girl

 Ahhhhh, I never have time to post anymore.  Maybe it's having three kids?  Haha.  Anyway, our baby girl is growing so fast, I can't believe she's 5 months old already!  I added her 4 month pic above since I never posted that.  She's obsessed with her brothers, and loves watching them run around.  Clark knows exactly how to make her laugh and is such a big helper.  She's starting to talk a lot more and belly laughs when she's tickled.  You can tell she wants to be more mobile she's just not quite there yet.  Right now she's learning to go to sleep by herself in her crib, which is quite the process.  Hopefully once she gets the hang of it, she won't wake up quite as much at night.  Sleep deprived parents can hope, right?

Brotherly Love

Finally pulled pictures off my camera card and this one was on there.  They're so cute with each other... sometimes :)  Love my boys!

Baby girl was ready to go home!

Rawr!

First day of school! First day of school!

 My handsome dudes started their first day of school last week.  They LOVE their school and talked about their teachers all summer, so they were thrilled to be back.  This was Dexter's first official day of preschool since last year he was just in the early childhood room.  Needless to say they did great, and have been having educational fun there since.  I'm also enjoying the little "break" I get while they're in.  Juggling two kids at a time is vastly easier than all three :)

Three Months Already!

HOW is my baby girl three months old already?  She's been so amazing so far- sleeps pretty great, likes to snuggle, has an adorable smile and has started giggling.  It's the cutest thing ever!  She loves watching her big brothers, and they're SO good with her... happy three months baby girl.

Big Brothers

Our boys have been killing it in the big brother department!  They're SUPER loving with their baby sister, haven't had any *jealous* moments so far, and either are loving on her or ignoring her- which works out really well.  I'm glad Dex has his brother Clark to buddy around with, because I think this adjustment would have been much more tough on him without that... here are a few random cell phone pics from the past three weeks.

 This was the expression on Clark's face the first morning we were home from the hospital, and he realized Margot was here to stay.  SO cute!

 He LOVES holding her and loving on her.

 And helping her take a bath-

 Sometimes we do living room picnics when it's too hot outside to eat there... Margot wanted to join in on the action.

 Clark asked if his sister could snuggle in bed with him :)

 They keep asking to "pet" her which I find hilarious.  They're so nice about it though... occasionally I've had to tell Dex not to squeeze her head, or poke her in the eyes, but he's learning!

 Look at their precious little faces... SO sweet!

Sweet baby girl

I can't get enough of her sweet little face!!!  And I haven't had it in me to do any kind of newborn pics of her, but the other day she looked so adorable, and fell asleep with her bow on so I snapped a couple quick ones.

 She's been a dream with her sleep.  She nurses a TON during the day, but then gives us a solid 5 hour stretch at the beginning of the night- I honestly don't feel nearly as exhausted as I thought I would at 2.5 weeks out.  Talk to me next week when school & camp is over and I have all three solo, haha.

 I love it when she smiles in her sleep.  I can't wait for the *real* ones to come soon!

 More sweet smiles.

 And this is one of her "I want to eat faces" which she makes in her sleep... and then wakes up and INSTANTLY wants to be eating.  

 Wait, I'm not being held?

 MOM!

Margot's first day of life

June 11th, 2012 Margot Vivan was born.  We went in for my induction at 7 in the morning.  At 8:30 they started the pitocin, 9:30 they broke my water and at 12:30 she was born.  This time around I decided against pain meds, after a bad experience with Dexter's epidural, and that was quite the experience.  At least it was a fast labor, but of course I'd go med free with the one that was almost 9 pounds!  Everything was pretty manageable until that last half hour and... wow.  It was certainly the most painful experience I've ever had, but one of the most amazing too.  Thankfully everybody made it into the room in time because when it was time for her to arrive she wasn't waiting!  She came out perfect, and has been the most amazing little baby so far!  It's heavenly, this feeling of family completion.  I love looking around at my three little ones and knowing it'll be the five of us from here on out.

 Here she is weighting in at a whopping 8 pounds, 15 ounces.  Crazy!  The boys were 7 pounds 11 ounces and 3 ounces respectively, so to have one that big was a surprise.

 And my awesome OB Dr. Super smiling with Miss Margot before heading to the room next door to catch another baby.

 I couldn't stop crying and staring at her.

 Margot meets Gramme Marie

 And the boys!  They were SO excited to meet their baby sister... they even wore their "I *heart* Baby Margot" shirts that Aunt Lisa made them.

 Our first family picture... all five of us.

 Leah and Margot.  She was such a help on Margot's birth day...

 Uncle Marc & Miles came for a visit

 And we had a little birthday party for Margot- cupcakes, party hats and all.  The boys were super excited- and the cupcakes were delish!  Rich even delivered cupcakes to the OB offices that he calls on at the hospital I delivered at.  It was a perfect day :)

 Margot meets her Gramme Pamme.  She's so lucky to be surrounded by so many people who love her.

 Lisa and Perry came to visit.  Perry is going to be the BEST big cousin!  Finally, another girl in our family, and she'll have Perry to show her the way.

 Brian came for a visit too!

 Rich looks SO cute holding his daughter.  Seriously cute.

 She lets us know when she's hungry!  Even her cry face is adorable.

 Clark giving his baby sister kisses.  Her big brothers have been SO incredibly sweet with her.  There hasn't even been one jealous moment, which amazes me.  I'm so proud of my boys!

 Clark showing off his Star Wars "dino shark" that Margot gave him.

 Margot on her first play date with Nicolle & Brian's daughter Adalyn.

 Love this precious little face.  I can't get enough of it!