First Day of Preschool

Evan started preschool last week on Tuesday, August 14.  He was super excited as you can see from the picture above that we captured right before we left to go to school.  He is holding his school bucket.  All the kids bring a bucket that acts as their backpacks.  Evan decided to bring a Spider-Man bucket (mainly because that was what was left in the store, but nonetheless he liked it a lot.) :)

Here he is below with his teacher Miss. Netty.  He agreed to take a picture for me because other kids were taking pictures too, but this is the best look I got.  He mainly just wanted to jump right in and play as you can see the firetruck in the picture too.

He took a picture with Mommy too, but again was more interested in playing.  Who could blame him really. :)  He didn't even look back when me and the girls left.  I was so proud of my big boy!

Here are all the names of the kids in the class.  On their first day they each made flowers.  Can you see Evan's below?

Evan had a wonderful first day and wanted to stay longer.  He asked me why all the Mommy's came so soon. :)  He is loving preschool and all of his new friends.  He can't wait to have play dates with them after school too and really wants me to set those up for him.

Preschool is amazing and we are feeling blessed to be able to be apart of Miss. Netty's Preschool.  I will leave you with the weekly email that Miss. Netty sends all the parents of the highlights of the week.

Hi Parents,

Wow what a great 1^st week back! We didn’t have any tears until today and they only lasted a few minutes! We focused on learning the school rules, the routine, and getting to know our new friends. We talked about how to be a good friend and by today the children were holding hands with their new and old friends and working together very well! We were able to have an obstacle course relay race today and all of the children participated! In circle time we introduced our friendship necklaces. You get to wear the friendship necklace when you get caught being a good friend like sharing, using your words instead of your hands, encouraging a friend. We made sharing bags this week. Your child may bring sharing each day to school but it needs to fit in their sharing bag. Please limit your child to one item so we have time for all the children to share. We read the story The Kissing Hand. You may make a kissing hand and send it in with your child if they want or need you to. In your child’s buckets I sent home the Zoo Phonics hand signals sheet and a sheet on starting conversations with your child. I use a curriculum book here at school that goes along with it and helps to use language to link to beginning reading and social skills.  We will be having All About Me week next week. I sent home a paper quilt piece. Please have your child put a few things about themselves on it cut it out and return it to school next week.

Happy weekendJ

Netty

One Month Old

Elaine turned one month old on August 8, a day after he brother's 4th birthday.  Elaine and Evan have a fun connection.  Her birthday is on 7-8 and his birthday is on 8-7.  Gotta love numbers!

To date Elaine is one of the sweetest babies in the whole world.  We feel so blessed!  She has brought such joy to our family.  Elaine's accomplishments at one month old include:

-She is a fantastic sleeper.  She doesn't sleep through the night yet, but since birth she pretty much goes right back to sleep after feeding her, changing her, and burping her and can sleep in good chunks of about 3 to 4 hours.  She is awake more these days and has a few fussy evenings, but really we can't complain.  This child has by far been our most content baby yet.  She also will continue to sleep when you lay her down which is awesome.  Evan and Evie both used to be a challenge in this area, especially Evan.
-She is a solid eater (she does like to eat in clusters, but again can't really complain).  Nursing is going really well this time around.  I have to give credit to Lansinoh HPA Lanolin.  This product was a lifesaver in getting conditioned back to nursing again.  She is growing like a weed.  It is exciting and sad at the same time.  It is true after having more and more children how quickly time flies by with each one.  I am working hard to make sure she wears all of her clothes before they don't fit anymore.
-She is smiling a lot now too.  It is adorable and sometimes she does this precious little squeal when she smiles.  Priceless!  One of her favorite things to smile at is the fan in our front room.
-Elaine enjoys bath time, especially when she gets to bathe with big brother and sister. They think it is so cool to all be in the tub together.

Overall, Elaine is amazing and baby number three is an adjustment, but she has helped ease us into the craziness of everything by being such a good little girl.  Also, I think it helps a great deal that Jim and I are more seasoned now as parents.  We also can't forget that Evan and Evie are super duper helpers too.  Sure do love our family and can't image it without our newest little bundle Elaine Grace.  Thank you God for blessing us with her!

Two Weeks Old

At two weeks, Elaine got to go on her first big adventure.  A visit to Old Sacramento and the Railroad Museum.  We all had a real nice time getting out on Sunday, July 22.  It was a super hot day so we only stayed outside for a bit and then enjoyed the comforts of air conditioning in the museum.  Here are Jim and the kids watching as the train came through Old Sacramento.  We had a front row view as you can see from the pictures.  Evan thought this was super cool! :)

 

Here are Elaine and I enjoying the train too.  However, Elaine slept through everything on our adventure.

Here she is at the museum.  She hung out with Mommy most of the time, while Daddy and the big kids explored the trains.

 

At two weeks Elaine also got to meet her pediatrician for the first time, Dr. Doan on Friday, July 27.  This time Mommy and Daddy took Elaine without the big kids.  This made for a much calmer doctor's visit. :)  Here is Daddy with our little super star.

In this picture she and Mommy get to pose together with the scale showing off her fabulous weight gain to 8 lbs. 4.5 oz.  Dr. Doan was very happy with her progress.

He thought she looked fabulous and congratulated us on our newest little addition.  He wanted Elaine to work on her tummy time in order for her to work out those neck and arm muscles, but besides that he said to keep doing what were doing and he was happy.  Elaine will return to the doctor when she is two months old.  For now she was able to leave shot free.  Which is always good for the little ones and Mommy and Daddy too. :)

Swinging Away

Elaine loves the swing just like her big brother and sister did.  Here she is her first time trying it out on August 1.  This first ride she actually was put in when she was asleep so Mommy and Daddy could get a few things done in the evening while the big kids slept too.

Her second time in the swing, and first time actually being awake in the swing was on August 3.  I just love how she is checking out the fish.  Jim and I totally remember both Evan and Evie doing this too.

 Hi fishy! :)

Some pictures of our newest little Princess

Elaine in the morning after waking up for the first time at our home on July 10.

Taking a rest in her bassinet also on July 10.

Now cuddling with Mommy and Evie on the same day.

This time she is cuddling with Daddy and Mommy got a picture of all of her beautiful brown hair.

July 11 she wore her strawberry outfit sitting with Evie.

Here she is on July 12 in her car seat.  I love her little crossed feet.

Now her she is sleeping in the pack n' play with brother and sister admiring her on July 13.

On July 14, she was pictured sporting her adorable hat to match this outfit.  So cute, just look at that pose.

Here she is that evening resting in her pajamas.

Here she is at one week old on July 15.

Elaine sleeping again in her pack n' play and looking so little and cute on July 17.

Here is Elaine looking very stylish in her pink strips on July 18 and showing us her little smile.

...and then look at this adorable face with matching hair-bow!  We are in love!

On July 19 our little cutie pie sleeping again...she is such a good sleeper!  We are praising God for this.

Growing up so fast already...I feel like she already looks so much older in this picture on July 21.

Elaine 2 weeks old on July 22 in her cherries outfit and matching red bow.

On July 23 looking so cute sleeping again.

Elaine in her heart pajamas on July 25.

We love her cute little pose here in this picture on July 26.

Here is Elaine at four weeks old on August 5.  Again, I think we have a little poser on our hands.  Gotta love her position in this picture too! :)

These are just a small taste of what we have been up to with Elaine since her arrival.  More pictures and updates to come. :)

Forever Footprints

On Sunday, July 29 Elaine was able to get her footprints and handprints molded into clay just like her big brother and sister with Forever Footprints.  The cool thing this time was they actually came to our house.  It was fun having Evan and Evie see the process and to be able to show them their plaques that were made when they were babies too.  

Here is Lauren working to get Elaine's prints pressed into the clay for our keepsakes.  Similar to Evan and Evie, Elaine wasn't a big fan of this process either.  Just look at the picture below.  She especially disliked getting her hands done.  She did not want to open those fists.  Good thing we only had to get those prints once.

Here are Jim and I pictured with our hard little worker of the evening, Elaine, and the imprints.  She looks like she has had enough, doesn't she?!?! :)

Can't wait to receive the final product in a few short weeks.

Elaine's Visitors

Elaine is already so loved by family and friends.  We couldn't be more blessed by the outpouring of kindness and generosity to our family.  A special thank you to my amazing MOPS group, LifeGroup, several friends and family who have specifically brought us delicious food/snacks, gift cards, etc. to help sustain our family during the adjusting period.  It has been fantastic and such a huge blessing to not have to cook and shop! :)  Thank you to everyone from the bottom of our hearts.  Here are pictures of some of the special people Elaine has been able to visit with so far (There are also tons of other people Elaine hopes to meet in the near future that are out of town. Thank you all so much for you love hope we can get together with you soon.).

At the hospital she got to meet for the first time Grandma and Grandpa Thompson.

Aunt Debra and Uncle Rhett (They also came to help capture some fabulous newborn pictures of our little Elaine and pictures of our family with her.  Thank you guys!)

 Grandma Knight cuddling her newest granddaughter.
Pops with little Elaine.

We also got to see our friends the Moons at the hospital too.  They came in shifts though, Jeremy and Brittney came first and brought Jim some delicious In-N-Out (he was so happy...Thank You!) and then Jenn came after to visit.  They were all going to come up, but Brooklyn wasn't feeling too great that day.

Grandma Shirley got to meet little Elaine on her birthday, July 10th.  The very cool thing is that Elaine shares my Grandma's middle name Grace and their birthday's are right next to each other.  Originally, Elaine's due date was on my Grandma's birthday, but it got pushed up a little earlier as we did ultrasounds, etc.

 

Natalie pictured with the the adorable outfit she got Elaine on Wednesday, July 11.

Here is Larissa with Elaine on Wednesday, July 11. 

Pam pictured with Elaine on Thursday, July 12.  The whole family came, but the boys stayed in the car as Pam brought us our delicious snack basket.  We took Elaine outside for them to see too since she was just sleeping in her car seat. :)

The Cunningham Family with Elaine on Friday, July 13.  Bethany is pictured still pregnant with Elaine's friend Avery.  She was recently born on Tuesday, July 31.  Bethany made the adorable blanket featured on Elaine in the picture below too.

Paula came on Monday, July 16 with Eli.  She also brought her a sweet lullaby CD gift.  Thank you so much!

Melissa smiling pretty with Elaine came on Friday, July 20.

Brandy came on Saturday, July 21.  By the way Elaine really did like her, I made her hold her when she was totally hungry.

Karianne and her boys Benjamin pictured below and Jackson came on Monday, July 23.

Lois came on Tuesday, July 24 and spoiled the whole family.  She was so sweet and bought my big kids gifts too!  They were totally jazzed!  Thank you!!!  Elaine also really likes Lois too, but again is hungry in this pic. :)

Katie with Elaine, I just love how Elaine is checking out Katie in this picture.  Too cute!

Angelica with Evie...yet again Evie is looking at Angelica so adorably. :)

Finally, Evie with Kelly and Mark (special note, Mark is usually dressed he just happened to have a blow out right before we took this picture and was already wearing his back up clothing, but what a cutie he is with that huge smile.) :)

Elaine also got to visit with Carrie Gerry, Kristina Rhodes, Traci Davis, Carrie Avakian, and Dan and Sara Risdon but Mommy didn't get their pictures with Elaine.  Sorry friends...I know Elaine has loved meeting all of you though and hopes to get pictures with you soon.  Thanks so much friends!