6 months old strong willed

its been way to long scince an update and finally today I have time to sit down and fill you all in on life on Baywood Dr.

Jacob, has turned 6 months old, time has flown. I cannot belive how fast it went. He is so precious and I love all the new things that he is learning every single day. He has his offical check-up next monday, but I sat him up on the bathroom scale and he weighs 24 pounds!! its crazy, Elaine was over 15 months old when she weighed that much. HE is learning how to crawl, he gets up on all fours and rocks,He can also spin himself around on his stomach and reaches for things. He enjoys playing with toys that make noise, and LOVES jumping in his exersaucer. He is eating 2 meals a day of baby food and LOVES eating food. He also has figuared out the sippy cup and enjoys that as well. He currently sleep almost 12 hours although napping during the day is very difficult for him.. not sure why but he hates doing it and is often very crabby by late afternoon. Jacobs smile and interest in his surrounds is so fun to watch and makes me try and stop daily to see what he sees, because he loves it!

Elaine is my super strong willed child.... She is truly a handful in many ways.... she will be 3 in december and hopefull we can start walking out of this no listening, refusing to potty train,temper- tantrum throwing phase. Because Elaines birthday is 8 days past the cut off for 3yr old preschool, we are doing preschool at home 2 days a week for an Hour. She loves it! right now we do it during the hour in morning when Jacobs naps. I have the office set up with preshool stuff that I brought out and we have a schedual we follow, songs to sing a theme and project to do. She is starting to get the hang of doing things and tells Josh all about it in the evening. We also go to MOPS at our church and we have story time once a week at the library. We keep busy and she enjoys it. Her other favorite thing to do is play outside, she enjoys the outdoors and is having a really hard time adjusting to cooler weather and the fact that she needs to dress warmer. Grandma taught her a new game, hide and seek and she plays it all the time. We are still trying to potty train her... it will be 1 year in January... and we are getting no where. She has no remorse about pooping in pants, other than she does not want to sit in it. she WILL not use the toilet for BM's and she still is working on going potty. This for me is so frustrating, i dont like to potty train.

Josh and Sara..... I was able to go with Josh this year to a conference in New YOrk. IT was my first time away from both kids and for more than a day. We were gone 4 days. I had a hard time at first but then learned to relax. I slept in every day, and watched the Whole TOday Show, ate my food slowly and enjoyed beverages and hanging out with adults. It was a blessing and very much needed for both of us to get away together. Josh spent the day in conferences, in the hotel. and I went with him to a Yankee's game on my birthday, and to a dinner with family, and spent time with his Grandparents that live in NJ. I missed my kids, but WOW not having to worry about anyone but yourself is really refreshing.

I have been really busy raising 2 kids!! im exausted all the time! and ready for this baby weight to come off!! I NEED THE ENERGY! MOPS just started back up this fall, so its been nice to go back and spend a couple hours with other moms. Im going to try and get more involved this year and meet some more ladies. We moved to Wixom in August to a family friendly area, and that has helped big time with my mood. Im still very homesick and want badly to move back to my friends and family. My sister just found out that she is pregnant, and due May 21. This makes me even more homesick, and I cannot be there to watch her grow and go into motherhood. my prayers are daily to help me adjust and bring us back home someday.

Josh has been very busy this summer and Fall with Softball. HE has learned the Hardway that he is not playing in the fall ever again. Its 2 days a week, double headers and he is never home. he comes home long enough to change and is gone until 10pm or later. HE is not allowed to play anymore. He can play during the summer one game a week!.
Work is keeping his VERY VERY VERY busy, long hours and long days. thats all I have to say about that. :) ( Iam very proud of him and he does a great Job at his work!!)

Vacation and life!

Last week we went back to west michigan for a week long vacation. IT was interesting and Elaine decided to go through a phase of no naps and not wanting to sleep at night. IT was a very stressful first part of the week.
We enjoyed the week by spending lots of time with family and friends. We had dinner with our pastor and his family. Went for walks on the boardwalk, ate lots of ice cream and went to the parks and zoo with friends. Josh was able to go golfing a few times and catch up with some friends. I had a couple days alone too. I had a girls day with my friend Brea, we went to see the Proposal and had some quality girl time with out kids. some highlights of our vacation were:

* norman ran into a HUGE nest of bees and was stung many times, poor guy was tired and licking his wounds for a couple days.

* family picnics!

* Jacob blew out his pants a few times! one even made it onto Aunt Lindsey!

* we bought a Wii!

* I took Elaine to the beach for some girl time,we had a blast building castles in the sand :)

* Norman and Fiona went the beach in muskegon too! Elaine loved chasing them in the water and Playing with Aunt Lisa in the waves!

* we discovered Aunt Lisa and Uncle Jon has Noggin!!

*the Zoo
* mommy also got to sleep in a few times and take a couple naps!! YES

It was a very fun and relaxing time, only next year we want to come a week later and have some fun with Coast Guard too. Now that we are back home we have found a place to live for the rest of out time here, we will be renting a house in a subdivison called Hidden Creek in Wixom, Michigan we are going to be moving in the next week or so. It is a nice 2 story home with 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and a finished basement with another full kitchen. I have been busy packing the house up again. Its hard to pack during the summer though when its nice out and all i want to do is play outside with the kids. Its been a busy few weeks!

4 Months Old

man, time has flown by, my little Jacob is 4 months old already. here are some things he is doing now.

* He smiles and giggles like crazy! He is a happy baby unless he is pooping or hungry.

*He is eating cereal now, he loves it and drinking pear juice because he is so constipated.

* He is starting to like being on his belly which is wonderful!!

* Loves is exersaucer, he is spinning himself around in it!

* He is reaching for toys and grabbing them from the floor or when handed to him.

* takes wonderful naps and sleep through the night 9:30-7:30 am!!

* he is wearing 9 month clothing!

Jacob goes into see the doctor for his 4 month checkup and shots on Tuesday, we are anxious to see how much he weighs, He is a big boy and we love him so much!!

Jacob is 2 months old!

WOW time is going so fast. Jacob is 2 months old already. He just had his check-up. He weighs 16 lbs 4 oz and 24 inches long. He is in the 90th percent for height and 95th for weight. As the Dr. says he is ONE BIG BOY!! He is doing great in all areas except eating, Funny I know. He still wants to nurse every 1.5-2 hrs. I told the dr when i pump and give him a bottle that he eats more and goes longer. She said its sounds like his latch is not that good, because he should be going at least 3 hrs between feedings. She said give it a try with bottles and see what happens she also suggested to mix some formula in with breast milk. We have been doing that and life is wonderful!!! he does so great, he goes 3 hrs between feedings, he is not as fussy and he is much more content. He drinks about 6-7 ounces of breastmilk and sometimes I add formula. Its tough pumping I usually pump 4-5 times a day including one time at night. But its so worth it to have him be full longer and more content. I have also been staying away from dairy and his stomach and gas seems to be much better!! Overall he is a really good baby. He has been sleeping from 11-6:30am and eats and goes back to sleep for about another Hr. He loves playing with his sister, she shows him toys and he smiles at her :) He takes one really long nap from 1-4 and cat naps a few other times during the day. He enjoys his bouncy seat and because he has such good head strength the Dr. said we can start proping him up in the exersauser. He loves it and looks all around. He is such a blessing and life is starting to get a little easier now that we have him some what figuared out for the time being.

Elaine is growing up so fast and loves being a big sister!! She likes to show him toys and lay on the floor by him. He smiles and she gets so excited. She has been being nicer to him and does not mind that he is part of our family now :) Elaine has started potty training. She has been wearing BIG girl underwear all day(except when i go out she wears a pull up and bed time) she goes potty and enjoys getting tinkerbell and princess stickers. Going Poopy is another story, she knows she is doing it and goes everytime in feeding Jacob so its hard to catch her. She then comes to me and tells me she pooped. Im not sure how to get her to go on the potty, but at least she pees on it. She enjoys going to MOPS with me and I love the time to be around adults. She plays well with other kids. Her speech is incredible and she loves exploring her world,she is curious and asks lots of questions about everything. She enjoys playing with her babies, going to the library, playing at the park and spend a lot of time outside. She loves running when we go on walks. She is so sweet yet a huge handful she is VERY strong willed and its a challenge sometimes.

Josh is busy,busy with work. He has some new projects in the works for one of his clinics that will keep him busier. He just got back from GR with 2 days of meetings, I spent my first time alone with the kids. I missed him. He is playing on a softball team with one of the Doctors. He plays games every weds night. He is getting old as he has already pulled both hamstrings. One was really bad with a huge bruise for a week. The kids and I have gone to watch him, Elaine loves it!!!

I have been doing ok. Parenting is a challenge and I have been exausted. The best times are when Lainey comes to me and says"hug me mamma" and when Jacob wakes up at 6am and smiles and talks to me. It makes it worth it as I smile back between the tears. I wont lie I have been really down lately. I Miss home even more as the challenges of parenting arise everyday. I miss my family I miss spending time with my sister and I miss terribly date nights with my husband and just being able to go out by myself. I feel really alone at times. I find myself praying that our time here would pass as fast as possible. Its not all bad I learned how to come out of my comfort zone and I have been involved with MOPS at the church we have been attending I went in knowing no one and left for the summer break having made some new friends. I will go back again in the fall. I have also made a couple other friends through Josh and My friend Andrea back home. I have play dates with Them it helps out alot. thanks Emily and Carrie!!

We are looking forward to spending lots of time in Grand Haven for the summer and comming back for a couple weddings as well.

Time is flying

WOW!! Jacob is already 5 1/2 weeks old!! He is growing so much. He is wearing size 2 diapers already and is wearing mostly 3-6 month clothes. He enjoys watching his sister and playing with his mommy and daddy. He is still working on this nursing thing, which is new to both mom and him. He wont latch on and nurse with out the nipple sheild. It makes it really hard to just sit down and nurse, i have to make sure i have that thing washed and ready to go. At night he gets bottles with breastmilk. He is a big eater when he is given a bottle. He eats 5-7 ounces at a time. he is starting to get into a sleep pattern for night time. He takes a 6 ounce bottle at 10-11pm and then he sleeps until 4-5am, eats another 6-7 ounce bottle and goes back to sleep till about 7:30-8:30am!! Im also getting close to having Jacob nap at the same time Elaine does. I have been working on his day time eating schedual and getting him to eat right before Elaines nap, and then he will sleep too. He is so different from Elaine. Elaine was a very content baby and not much bothered her, I could take her anywhere and she was content to just sit in the car seat. Jacob is totally the opposit. he fusses alot more and does not like to just sit in the seat. He is a very sensitve little boy. I also had to cut out all dairy and milk products. He was just screaming after each feeding and would arch his back and his belly would get hard. The Dr. said to try and cut all the milk products out, Jacob seems to be doing much better the screaming is down to a couple times a day and not all day long! I hate not having milk, cheese etc... I ate it daily and often so its been really hard for me to not have anything good to eat :)

Elaine is doing well, she is having a hard time adjusting to life with Jacob and not being the center of attention all day every day. She is also in those terrible twos !! defiant when ever she can. She has just been naughty. She has good days and bad days. We are trying hard to spend one on one time and do special stuff with her. But i guess its just going to have to take time.

Josh and I are adjusting, both very tired and realize how much we miss having help around when we needed a break, being here in Detroit does not allow for that at all. Its been the hardest. I have been struggling with how to juggle all the daily tasks and caring for two kids and giving them the attention they need. Some days I feel like a huge failure and wonder what I can do to improve. I feel very worn out and sad at times. But I continue to plow through and know it will (hopefully) get better with time.

We have been in Farmington hills almost 6 months!! time goes by fast. The weather is starting to get nicer out. I went out today and mowed the lawn for the first time in almost 10 years. I moved to a condo when I was 18 and never had to do yard work again, until today!
Josh is doing well at work and has also joined a softball team with one of the Doctors. He has his first game this weds, I think Ill take the kids and watch him play.

Jacob Peter Troast

Thursday morning we went to the hospital at 7 am and at 854 am Jacob came into the world. He weighed 8 pounds 15 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. Sara and Jacob are doing well at Mercy General Hospital in Muskegon. Jacob has been attempting to breast feed. Today he had his man surgery (circumcision). We have had many visitors and we are thankful for all the visits and gifts. We feel very blessed and loved. Lainey is also excited to be a big sister, she likes to hold her brother and give him kisses. I think she is just excited that she is getting presents. It was great that Sara was able to have a term baby and that we were able to return home where many of our family and friends are. I am posting some pictures from Jacob's first couple of days.

2 days until Jacob is HERE!!!

YEAH!!! We are 38 weeks today!! Thursday morning we will be holding our sweet baby Boy!! I had my last check-up today. things are going good. I had mentioned to her that last night I got no sleep and felt a ton of pressure and kept having to go to the bathroom. When she checked me she said well its because you have dropped and his head is right there. so that explains the waddle and almost slight pain ive been having the last 24 hrs. It felt like the last day of school before summer, this being the last baby check-up. Im super excited to be going back to muskegon to have Dr. McDonald deliver.

Tonight Elaine, Josh and I ran some errands and then we took Elaine to Mc Donalds for a sunday!! She sat so cute and ate her ice-cream. towards the end she got so cold she would not stop shaking, but would not give up on finishing the icecream either. She ended up with it all over the table at one point because she was shaking so bad. We all had a good laugh!! I will miss these alone times together, and will have to make a point to take her out for one on one time.

The house is cleaned and ready for the new baby. All the baby stuff is out and cleaned. We will be leaving tommorow afternoon to go back to muskegon. We will be staying with Joshs parents. We are going to have a family evening with his family and mine, just hanging out and visiting.
Im so thankful to everyone for their prayers through out this pregnancy, and very thankful to God for pulling me through. I want to thank Joshs parents for helping out during all those last minute phones calls to "please Come" and to Josh esspecially for all his support, We both have had a hard time and havent always been the nicest to each other, but we pulled through. This pregnancy was once again tough on us. But he always has helped out and held out an understanding arm to lean on or cry on or yell. Thank you baby!! and to everyone eles too!!!!!

9 More Days!!!

Time is flying by. Im 37 weeks and still going. Im huge, bloated, hurt all over, and cannot sleep at night. Despite it all Im still pregnant and forever greatful to be so. Last night while I was reading in bed, I had my hand on my belly, bracing myself for the very strong braxton hicks contractions I was having. and suddenly I felt this weird body part, and I realized I was feeling the bottom of his foot completly pressing out at me. It was magical, and wonderful to feel a body part and know what it was, its so fun!!!! it makes it all worth it. I have felt it several times today usually right when i think i just cannot be pregnant anymore, he pushes his foot out to remind me of the reward. Seeing my sweet baby boy that despite the many challenges over the last nine months, I managed to carry him full term. thank you Jesus!! and thank you to everyone who spent much time praying for me, Jacob, and our family. My doctor visit went good today, i think i have an infection again, 3rd one this pregnancy. Ill know by tommorow. Im not dialated but am softening more. I go back Friday for a non-stress test, and then on tuesday for my last doctor apointment!!!!!!!! Thursday the 26th he will be here!!! Its only nine days away and I cannot believe its here!!!! We are so thrilled!!

Life here has been busy, ive been really tired but still have nesting going on. Ive been running errands, trying to get "supplies" before next week. Taking Norman to get a bath and nails cut tommorow. Spending alot of time with Elaine, preparing her for the BIG change next week. We have been to the library to get books on bringing home the new baby. We have also spent alot of time outside playing together while the weather has been wonderful!!! She knows her "brother" Jacob is comming and she loves telling people she is going to be a "Big Sister" This weekend we will be doing alot of cleaning and washing so things are in order. And yes Josh knows about this, as he is going to be washing all the floors by hand. He has accepted this challenge:) I LOVE YOU JOSH!!!!