Ten on Tuesday

I am copying Jamie's idea of Ten on Tuesday. I think you are supposed to write about the things going on in your life or even just in your head that past week. I am hoping to get some stuff written down once a week at least since I have been getting worse and worse at blogging. So here we go....

1. Colt is sleeping through the night!!! That probably deserves its own post but here it is. I have wanted to just let him cry it out for a while but we were always at the lake or going to NY where I would have to undo all my work of letting him cry because we sleep in the same room with him when we travel. So when we got home from NY I used a new monitor that night, the same kind I have in Rachel's room. I had it on the wrong setting and listened to Rachel's quiet room all night. I thought he was just so tired that he slept but I guess I will never know how much he screamed that night. I felt terrible the next afternoon when I discovered my mix up, but like Eric said he's fine now. So that got us going. The past two weeks have been great finally not getting up to feed him. He has cried a few times but I let him cry and it only lasts a few minutes and then he is back to sleep. I am so happy!!!
2. Hannah was here with us for the past two weeks and we miss her already. She was such a great help with the girls and with Colt. They all love her to pieces and are so sad she is gone. It really is so nice having an older kid in the house. She was so helpful and made my load a bit lighter. Thanks Hannah!
3. One day last week I felt like my old self. I had energy, we were productive, we were out and about, and it didn't seem quite as hard as it had been feeling. I am sure there are many things that all added up to finally give me one day that I felt like that and I enjoyed that day. Too bad it was only one day. I am sure sleep had a lot to do with it. I think that night before was the first time in over a year that I have slept all night without waking up from a child needing me. Maybe soon again, when I can get all these kids to sleep through the night!
4. Rachel and Livy can whistle, or their own version anyway. They saw my dad put his fingers in his mouth and whistle in NY and now they do it all the time. It is hysterical though. They put their finger of choice (Rachel is thumb and Livy is pointer) up to the lips and then make a high pitched squeal in the tone of a whistle.
5. Colt can crawl a little. He is just getting into moving. He can crawl a few feet at a time but eventually gets where he wants to go. It is so cute and I love watching him try and get so excited to get there.
6. Rachel found out what the word allergic means. Now she has used it twice already today when she doesn't want something. When she wanted Colt to go away she told me "You know I am allergic to babies mom."
7. I really hate living so far from my parents and siblings. I wish we could live near them and Eric's family and my family. They are all awesome and it just stinks sometimes not being close to them or not being able to run over to show them something. But I am grateful that we can travel when ever we want. They are healthy and able to come visit and now that I can fly by myself with all the kids it's even better. I just miss the day to day involvement that I know would be different if we lived closer.
8. The girls start preschool tomorrow!! I just decided this a few days ago and luckily there were still spots available for them. They will go two days a week for 4 hours. I'm excited and nervous. I hope they love it. They have loved getting backpacks and new shoes and clothes. They enjoyed the meet the teacher day and their classroom. I think Livy will be less nervous tomorrow morning than Rachel or I. I can't believe they are old enough to go to school. They were just born, right? I'm gonna miss them but I hope it helps me be a better mom. I get frustrated a lot because there are just things I need to do around the house and I can never get anything done when they always need something or want me to be with them. So hopefully I can get most of what I need to do done while they are at school and devote more attention to them when they are home, making us all happier. That is the plan, we'll see how it goes!
9. I am ashamed at how bad of a dog owner I am, or we are I should say. Poor Pebbles had a hair band around her neck for who knows how long. She never whined, barked, got cranky or anything as it dug into her neck. She just kept playing with the kids and doing what she always does. The girls always put hair bands around the necks of their stuffed animal dogs to use as collars. So I guess one of them or both of them together decided to put one on Pebbles neck too. I don't know when it happened but it was there long enough to cut her neck right open. the slice is about a 1/2" deep on the top of her neck behind her head. I saw the blood all goopy in her hair and thought that one of them got ketchup on her, when I went to wipe it off I saw the huge gash. How did I not see it? I obviously don't pet her enough. I feel absolutely horrible. I know she is definitely a pain sometimes and some days I am thinking why do we have a dog but right now I just feel so terrible. I hope she can forgive us. She already seems like she has. She's happy, wagging her tail, and wanting to play. Amazing little spirits they have those doggies.
10. Stuffed animals still rule the house. The girls both play with them all the time but especially Livy. It is not just dogs now but dogs and cats and one cow and everyday they are doing something different. Riding a carousel, a plane, train, eating, climbing, at the doctors, etc. Livy loves those stuffed animals and every time we see my parents the pile grows. I think Rachel doesn't really love them that much, she just plays with hers because Livy is doing it.
11. They girls are doing great swimming. Definitely at different levels but improving in their own way. Rachel will now swim around the pool by herself with her wings on and put her face in. This is a huge step for her. She was so scared to swim without holding on to Eric or I even with her wings on and now she will. Livy is an intense swimmer, just like everything else she does. Very focused and eager. She swims without her wings under water out to some one and back to the steps. She loves wearing her goggles and will jump in off the side with or without her wings on and go under and come up. She is learning now how to come up for breaths and keep going. I am so proud of both of you girls for all that you have accomplished in the pool!  It so fun watching you learn and progress.
12. I love my family. I missed Eric while he was gone at the lake this weekend. I had my parents here so I was kept great company but I still missed him. I love him for who he is, for loving me no matter what (even if I never cook), and for this life we have together. I am amazed by Olivia and Rachel each day. I am so happy to be their mom and get to experience every day with them. I can't believe how fast they are growing up and the mixed emotions I get from that. I am happy to see them achieve more but sad that they are getting bigger. They test my patience and some times drive me crazy but they are funny and sweet and there is nothing better than their hugs and them telling me they love me. They know how to melt my heart in an instant. And Colt is a dream. He is so happy and such a good boy. I don't want him to get any bigger. I love this age. He is my constant companion and I don't mind at all. I love this little boy like I didn't even know I had in me. He just brings an instant smile to my face. 

OK so my first attempt will be called Twelve on Tuesday instead of Ten. I had a lot to say this week!

Some More NY

Some more pictures from our family reunion in NY this summer. It was great being there with everyone. We missed Becky, Doug, Tucker, Julie and Mark. Everyone else made it at one point or anther.

Here is Addy and Colt. Two of the three newest in the Rathgeber clan.

Colt trying to pull Uncle Dave's hair!

A little visit with Cindy.

It's always a pleasure Alli!

Painting some sea shells.

Rachel and her buddy Richie.

Colt filling in for Tucker with Grandma Lo until he could get there.

Snoozing in the car.

Hanging on the beach.

Playing with Aunt Katie. Everyone was awesome and helped out with Colt. There were only two babies here this year so everyone wanted to see them.

The girls both liked the beach this year. They didn't stay for hours at a time but they played in the sand and the water and loved collecting sea shells.

Rachel burying Jen like the good old days.

Alli toting Colt on a beach stroll.

Colt loved the water and the sand.

What we typically look like. A line of chairs and towels, people sleeping, reading, a few dogs, some fishing and group of others standing by the water chatting.

The girls loved the bay. We only went this one time but they had so much fun. There were no bugs and they loved the calm water. And the mud, they loved throwing it at each other. And as you can see they stripped off their clothes to enjoy the bay.

Livy playing with the killys.

Rachel getting a shower from a bucket.

Using the long net to drag for killys. (Small fish we use for bait, I thought everyone called them that but then Eric had no idea what I was talking about.)

Playing in the mud.

Colt having an ice pop with Grandpa. Grandpa made Colt do lots of tummy time and got him prepped for crawling. He was getting up on his knees and rocking when we left.

To be continued...........

Home

We made it! We are home in Houston now and I am happy to say I did my first solo flight with all three kids. (Erin flew with me on the way there since she was going to NY from CA.) Well four really because Hannah came home with us too. But she is self sufficient and I didn't have to do anything for her so really three kids. It didn't go bad at all. Pretty much exactly as I pictured it. Rachel slept for half the flight, Colt slept the last 30 minutes, and Livy didn't sleep at all. And they weren't interested in the movie really. I'm glad I have done it now and I am not so scared to do it again. Except for next time will probably be when Colt is walking and that might be even harder to contain him. The only incident we had was that in all the nervousness and craziness of getting out the door to the airport on time, I forgot my suitcase! I really don't know how that happened. How do you leave without your suitcase? We got all the kids luggage though so that's good. But the good news is I'll get it back when mom comes to get Hannah soon. It's been great having Hannah here so far. The girls love her to pieces and they are all playing so great together. Eric put her on the payroll, a quarter a day for her services! Poor kid needs to up her prices! She did good bargaining to get a dollar from him for a 5 minute back rub. It's great having an older kid around. Kind of makes me think we could have more when the girls get a bit older!

Some Family Pictures from New York

We have been in NY for almost three weeks now and I am just getting some pictures up. These are some family pictures from Grandma Ede's house and when we took family pictures at church. Of course there are many more to come when I get a chance.

It has been a great trip. We always love coming home to New York and hanging out with everyone. The girls really love having all their aunts, uncles, cousins, and Grammy and Poppy around.

Aunt Patti, Silken, and Fletch.

The Rathgeber siblings with Grandma.

Colt enjoying some food. He has really started eating lots of food since we got here. He wants everything and always ends up messy like this. He really loves bagels, which he has had plenty of since we got here. He has been so good and so happy. He goes to everyone and is a happy smiley baby all day. He isn't sleeping great so that's a bummer but at least he is happy while he is awake.

Enjoying the traditional yoohoo at Grandmas. For as long as I can remember every time we went to Grandma's house we had yoohoo. She always has a supply on hand for kiddos. I got to go to the cemetery with Grandma to put flowers on Grandpa's grave on his birthday, July 27th. I didn't remember to bring my camera so I didn't get a picture of the head stone but hopefully next time. It is always nice to go and

Hannah in her beautiful baptism dress. We are so proud of you Hannah for the awesome decision you made to be baptized.

Playing on the phone at Grandma Ede's house. She was obsessed with the phone there. We would have one of us call the house phone from a cell phone and she would love to answer it and talk up a storm, mostly about puppies of course!

And Rachel still can't get enough of her uncles. She wanted to marry Rich and then found out he was already married to Erin. Before he got here she would tell everyone he was a liar because he said he would marry me but he already married Erin. She didn't want to talk about him because she was mad at him. After he showed up she forgot all about it and was attached to his hip again. She then said she would marry Charlie! She loves playing with all of them. Josh and Katie have been really busy working on their new house so we have missed them at home lots of times. When Josh was around she loved hanging on him too. And not to leave out their aunts because these girls love their aunties too. They always have so much fun with all of them and love being with them, they just want to marry the boys! Rachel knows you marry boys, Livy sometimes wants to marry Grammy still!

Danny is so happy to have everyone around. He loves having all of his brothers here especially for the bus in the morning. All of the cousins came to our house for a few nights to hang out and Dan loved it. He walked around and said hi to everyone and was so happy in all the noise and commotion.

Colt loves the water. He didn't get to spend enough time in the water this trip but loved any time he did get. He loves just hanging out in it and splashing around. And of course loves watching the other kids jumping a swimming around.

 

Best buddies Katie and Hannah. These two did everything together including lots of sleepovers. When Silken came the second week then all three of them were always together.

I love the bangs girls. Makes me want to try some!

Livy!

Prayers Needed

I am putting a request out there for prayers. My sister in law Jenina had her water break earlier this week. She is only 33 weeks today and they are keeping her in the hospital until her baby girl Adelyn is born. They are trying to get her to next Friday so we are asking everyone to keep her and baby Adelyn in your prayers that she will get here safely and as healthy as can be for such a young baby. Check out Williams Highlights on my blog list to read more about whats going on. Thanks everyone.

Swim Lessons

The girls took swim lessons this year for two months. The both had private lessons for a while in an effort to get them some swimming skills quickly since we have the pool in the backyard now. Well the skills didn't come as quickly as I had hoped but it definitely picked up toward the end. Rachel was very picky about her teacher and would only work for certain teachers. Others she would cry for or just say no and not do anything. The last session of classes I put them together with one teacher and she did well. He got her comfortable with the water again and she started doing her work again.

This is their teacher Mr. Jeff, as they called him. Livy had him the whole time except for the first two weeks and this is who they had together at the end. He did really well with them and we are sad that he won't be there as a teacher any more when we get back from NY.

Working on super glides. Kickers, scoopers, fun jumps, Sammy starfish, monkey crawls and super glides. These were all terms they used at this place during swim lessons. The girls make their barbies do this stuff in the tub.

Livy was doing good the whole time but not moving forward much until we finally got her to put her face in the water a few weeks ago. Since then she started swimming more underwater and by herself a little. I am afraid she will lose it quickly since she hasn't practiced much in NY. We went three times a week so we didn't do much else besides go to the lake for the summer so far.

Rachel jumping in without crying!

Livy and her "doggles."

By the end Livy never wanted to get out of the pool. She loved it. Rachel did it but wasn't thrilled. She did enjoy herself a few times each class though. I'm so proud of you girls for doing something you were scared to do. Watching you learn and progress is so awesome to see.