Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Cole is 6 Months!

Littlest pumpkin has reached SIX months old!


He actually likes tummy time, finally. He reaches for toys and brings them within biting range, but no teeth yet. He is trying to sit up and can only stay sitting for a few seconds before falling on his face or to the side. He gets very excited to see his mama... so much so that he'll grab my face and bring it to his little open mouth for... a kiss? a bite? Who knows, but it's adorable. He can suck on a pacifier and hold it himself and will also try to hold a bottle, though he still hates bottles. I'm breastfeeding, but have started feeding him a bit of rice cereal now and then. He loves it, which is funny, because the other three absolutely hated it. He gets mad if I don't feed him fast enough. Car rides are unpredictable. Sometimes he'll sleep the entire duration, other times he screams. He likes watching the fish and squeals at the dogs. He also makes these weird noises where it's like a shriek, but he's sucking in... similar to a baby dinosaur, I guess. He loves baths now and kicks his feet to splash while he squeals. 

Monday, May 27, 2019

Biloxi

We weren't really sure what to do for Leah's birthday this year since she's only wanted to go to the beach. Many hotels in the Pensacola area were booked for Memorial Day. I put it in Zac's hands and he booked us a room at Margaritaville in Biloxi. The bad news is the beach in Biloxi is literal garbage, but the good news is the hotel has a massive swimming pool with a lazy river. Honestly, I preferred swimming. I could sit in an innertube with Cole and feed him as needed and just relax. There was a splash pad that Elias was obsessed with, but he loved the water slide. I went down it a few times with him. Leah and Jac had a blast and the water was about 3 feet deep, so I didn't have to worry about them. The hotel was great, except for the elevator situation. Four elevators means a LOT of waiting. We had to just ride to random floors until we were able to stop on ours. Zac and the big kids even took the stairs at one point. The pool was fantastic. It was hard convincing the kids to get out so we could eat. We took our baths and headed out for sushi at Ichiban. They offered a sushi platter, which was really cool.


Sunday, we got dressed and ate some breakfast, then headed to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies for Leah's birthday surprise. Zac's planning was last-minute, but he managed to get the very last ticket for a dolphin encounter. Leah has loved dolphins for a few years now and it was perfect. She was so surprised and so brave. She even got to feed one! We walked around the museum for a little while and pet some baby stingrays and fed some parakeets in the aviary. It was really awesome. We finished up because the heat was getting a little intense and headed back to the hotel. We ate dinner at the Margaritaville cafe. Zac ordered us the Volcano Nachos* to split and a margarita before we headed to the arcade for a little while. Jac and Leah attempted the rock wall. Jac didn't get too high up, but Leah managed to climb pretty high, then lost one of her earrings and decided to come down. Leah and I rode in a simulator, which wasn't the best idea (see * at the bottom of post), but we rocked at Mario Kart. Leah got us in first place. The last bit was an obstacle course. Leah didn't want to come down since she was having so much fun, but Elias had to come away from his smaller version course since a kid peed all over the floor and they had to clean it up. Jac was on the bigger course with Leah but he was not having it so they had to escort him down. He's afraid of heights, but forgets, and puts himself in awkward situations. I told him I was more afraid of heights when I was younger, but after being on rollercoasters and Ferris wheels, you eventual get to tolerate them.


The kids had so much fun, though. I'm glad we got to soak up some family fun time with them. However, it feels so good to be back home. I've got so much laundry to wash, it's ridiculous.


*I started feeling a little queasy after we ate dinner. My idiot brain decided to drink about an inch of my margarita on an empty stomach, following it with sips of water until the nachos arrived. I could feel the drink going to my head, and did my best to offset it and ended up with a small headache. We headed down to the arcade so the kids could play for a bit. I played a few games and started feeling better, so I decided to ride the simulator with Leah. She wanted to ride a high intensity level, but I wasn't about to attempt it, so I talked her into a medium one. We went upside down a few times, but it was fun. A bit later, we headed to change into swim suits and get in the pool. I was down there for at least an hour or two before I felt my headache getting stronger. I brought Cole upstairs and sat with him in the tub to let him splash for a while and get the pool water off him. He nursed a bit and when Zac came upstairs, I went ahead and washed my hair before the kids got their baths. My head was still hurting and I was feeling a little off, so I dozed on the bed for a little while. I woke up and my belly was all lurchy, so I told Zac I thought I might be sick and went and sat on the floor in the bathroom with a wash cloth around my neck. I don't know how long I was in there, but decided to stop fighting the nausea and stand up to let whatever was going to happen happen. I ended up purging the nachos about a minute later. They must've been just sitting in my guts all day, plus, we don't usually eat so much from out anymore. Needless to say, I'm probably never eating nachos again or maybe even drinking. I don't miss pregnancy sickness and I sure as hell don't want to provoke the similar nausea from alcohol. I felt tons better and managed to sleep and even nurse Cole off and on through the night. We checked out a few hours early just to get me home in my own bed. I napped on and off, struggling with a migraine, but ended up feeling better. this evening. Zac thinks I may have a hangover, which is silly because I've never had one before, even after drinking a bottle of Malibu by myself once. Whatever it is, I'm glad it's over with and hopefully, it doesn't happen again.

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Leah is TEN!

My favorite girl has been with us a whole decade! We took her to Fernando's for dinner, which was fun for her since she was able to wear the sombrero and get her own fried ice cream. She's such a sweet little miss. She loves her hamster and has been a great big (as well as little) sister to her brothers. She's funny, though still sassy, but brave and kind.

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Eye Exams

Jac and Leah had their annual eye exam. So far Leah really doesn't need glasses, but it's suggested she use hers when she's reading to avoid strain. Meanwhile, Jac needs a new prescription because his eyes are worse than they were before. Poor kid got Zac's eyes.