A wonderful man lost...

Dad, I am not sure how to go on without you....you loved this stupid blog...I tried to keep it updated for you. I won't be updating it for a while.

http://karrersimpson.com/obituaries/robert-parniske

Landyn has decided that sleep is for wimps ;)

Well, for the most part, both of my other boys were ok nappers. Not this little guy. He has decided that sleep is no fun. He would rather stay awake and watch his brothers or me. He doesn't cry...he just hangs out and gets bags under his eyes because his is so tired. Ugh. This is really tiring mom out though. I need a maid. Therefore, I have decided to buy 1 lottery ticket every week. You never know right? Well, besides not sleeping, Landyn is really a cutie and batting at things now. He smiles and giggles to himself all the time while he is staring at his toys. He is pretty content most of the time - except from 6:30pm-8pm. Then he needs to be held or sang to. Rob is pretty good at doing stuff one handed nowadays! For now, we have decided that 3 children is enough for our family. I may change my mind years down the road, but for now, we are good with 3!

Gavin's first day of school - FIRST GRADE!

Well, it's official....Gavin is a first grader. I was ok when I took him to school. At least until I turned around to look at him one last time sitting in his desk in the back row. He smiled his nervous smile and did his little wave and I promptly turned around, walked into the hall and burst out crying. I couldn't help it. I played a little mental slideshow of him coming home from the hospital...his first smile...his first word (which was "clock"). All the parents were staring at me but I couldn't help it! He LOVES his teacher and says first grade is better than kindergarten.

We were enjoying the last few days of summer on Tuesday with the boys. Ashtin loves the water and they had a blast. I feel like the summer went too fast this year!
Here is a picture of Rob and I...courtesy of the next door neighbor kid Andrew! He did a pretty good job for an 8 year old!

Lastly, here are some photos of my cutie pie Landyn. He is 2 months old already and smiling and cooing. He loves when I sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and kicks his legs and coos. He is getting more animated every day.

Gavin's 7th Birthday and Landyn Smiles!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAVIN!

Gavin turned seven on the 23rd. I cannot believe it...my little boy is growing up *sigh*. Here is a picture of him as a baby....I get all misty eyed thinking of bringing him home from the hospital and making my husband drive 5 miles an hour so he didn't hurt him.

Here is a video of Gavin saying mama for the first time....also makes me choke all up!

We rented a bounce house for the day and everyone had a lot of fun in it. Ashtin did not want to get out and wanted to play with all the bigger kids and of course follow his brother around like a puppy.

Gavin got a Nintendo DS which he won't put down from Grandma and Grandpa Parniske and a lot of Pokemon cards from friends and Star Wars stuff. He had such a fun day and the weather turned out nice after a little rain in the a.m. He got Indiana Jones for his Wii from us and is playing it as I type. Ashtin watches him intently and talks to the screen while he plays...it is so cute. They are going to be good buddies I think....unless Ashtin keeps demolishing Gavin's Pokemon cards ;)

Finally a litte update on our newest member of the family, Landyn. He is 7 weeks today and is such a cute and calm little guy. He just started smiling and cooing and I am loving it! He may be my last baby, so I am trying to remember all these moments...even the middle of the night cuddles when he falls asleep in my arms and looks like an angel.

Believe it or not, his eyes are still blue as the sky and I keep calling him "my blue eyed boy". They may change still, but the doc thinks they are either blue or hazel. Whatever they are, I feel so lucky to have him. I barely have a minute to myself these days, but it is all worth it.

Happy 4 weeks Baby Landyn!

Happy 4 week birthday to sweet Mr. Landyn! Things are going so great. I am still nursing him (which I am very proud of myself for sticking with!) and he is a happy content guy. He sleeps from 10pm-4 or 5 am and is really predictable. What a gift he is to our family. His brothers are happy his eyes are open more and he sure is trying to smile. Today he made a "coo" sound and scared himself. Boy if all my babies were like this I would have 100 children (just kidding!). Ashtin was a rather "difficult" baby, so I was due for a calm baby. Since he is my third, I pretty much know what the deal is with babies, so maybe he senses that. Who knows. All I know is I am pretty blessed to have 3 different, beautiful and unique boys.

A New Prince!

Landyn Russell arrived at 4:53pm on 7/10/2008 weighing in at 8 lbs 14 oz and 21.5 inches long. I am sooooo in love with him right now. He is a good baby and seems very serene and peaceful. The delivery was very scary and hard, but it was so worth it in the end. Landyn has a huge bruise on his head because he needed to be "vacuumed" out because the umbilical cord was tightly wrapped around his neck and pushing him out was near impossible. His heartrate kept dropping dangerously low and a Neonatologist had to be present at his birth due to all the anticipated complications. Once again, my guardian angel was with me and kept me and my newest prince safe and sound. I am feeling so blessed with my family of "5" and my beautiful boys. Life is good :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHTIN!

Happy 2nd birthday to my sweet baby boy! Seems like just yesterday I was walking into the house for the first time with you in your carrier. Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for you and your spirit. You make my life so much brighter - there is never a dull day with you little buddy. I hope you have a great day and remember that we love you so much - My hope for you is that you always keep your happy spirit and the light in your eyes. XOXOXOXO