Branson Part 4 - The End

We ended at Branson on Friday.  The girls ended up placing 8th out 14, not bad for their first time to the World Series.  We had a great time getting to know alot of the other parents that we had not spent much time with.  Bailey has a great group of girls on her team and a great group of parents who all get along wonderfully.  We have already heard of teams breaking up because parents and coaches did not get along and I am so happy that she hs some great coaches that she will play with for many years to come.  She has already been with them for 4 years.  Blake did wonderful in Branson!  We were so lucky that we had a cool spell that week and temps were in the 70's!  Blake was 3 months old and was the ham of the ballpark.  He was dishing out smiles left and right!

One of our favorite places to go eat at in Branson is the Keeter Center at the College of the Ozarks, they have awesome food!  They make everything fresh.  They grow their own vegetables, make thier own milk and process their own meat.

This was the dessert that the girls got with their meals

Sweet girl!

Campbell and daddy at the ballfields.

Bailey age 9 and Campbell age 4.

Hey lady my name is Blake, aka Mr. Ham :)

Branson Part 3-World Series 2014

On Thursday morning we headed back to the fields for more games.  This was the first day of bracket play.  Our first team was a team from New Mexico.  Bailey pitched this game and was throwing AWESOME!!  I have to say I am very proud of this girl.  It is so amazing to see her improve game after game.  She really takes everything in and tries to learn all she can.  Of course she is 9 years old and sometimes tears will set in or she will become upset, but I try to use those moments to teach her to be strong and to push thru, nothing is ever perfect and you can learn from each experience wether its bad or good. 

Here she is #1, always watching the game, love her!

I had both Blake and Campbell with me so taking pictures was kind of a struggle, as it is all the time these days!  Here Bailey is up to bat, she has a very confident presence in the box.

Once again my picture taking was laking but I did snag these of her pitching on their final game.  They fought hard in this game.  They came back from being benind and lost by 2 runs.  They had some terrible umps this game and I think if a few plays were called as they should have been they would have won this final game.

Branson Part 2

On Wednesday the team headed back to Silver Dollar City.  They had the day off from games so they spent the day having fun together.  I so wish I could have been there for this day the girls had a great time!  Plus I will admit that I like the roller coasters!

From what I am told this is the only meltdown moment from Campbell.  She was upset about not getting her way so she was a bit unhappy for a while.  So glad Tim documented this moment for us to look back on one day!  This looks like typical Campbell, arguing until she gets her way!

This is Jay, he is one of Baileys coaches, he is also her basketball coach.  Bailey is actually on the other side of him riding the roller coaster with him.  The coaches were really great, they rode all the rides with the girls, which the girls loved!

Bailey and Lexi :)

And there is good ol Grandma B!  Don't know what we would do without her. She had to ride around the park on a scooter since she will be having a hip replacement in August.  She was a trooper though.  She rode the kiddie coaster with Campbell and Campbell had a blast!

2014 Softball World Series-Branson Part1

In July Bailey and her softball team, Tulsa Elite, played in the 9-under World Series in Branson.  It was their first visit to the World Series and they ended up placing 9th out of 15 teams.  This was a week long experience and the girls had a great time.  Mommy and Blake stayed at home for a few days while Tim, Grandma Becky, Bailey and Campbell headed to Branson together.  These pictures are from opening day at the park.  It was a chance for games, food, and pin trading, something that is very big in the world of softball!

Tim had my camera for 3 days before I got there so I am working with the pictures that he took.  This is Baileys team against a brick wall, not sure what was going on there, but a cute pic!

Opening ceremony was held at Silver Dollar City on Tuesday.  The teams met to sing, dance, and introduce themselves as teams.  Campbell was involved in everything and she loved every minute of it.  When she is with this team she thinks that she a big girl like them and they are all her friends.  Chloe on the right and Addie on the left are two of her favorites.

The team in there matching tanks and hair bows, a girl must always accessorize!

Bailey dancing!

The team up on stage for their introduction.  Please remember Tim took these pictures and it was slim pickings for blogging!

 

 

A Softball Summer

We have been very busy with softball this summer.  I cant imagine how things will be next year when Campbell starts to play, crazy!  Bailey is doing awesome!  She is pitching and loves every minute of it and she also plays outfield.  She loves to catch fly balls, usually kids are scared of them but Bailey loves them and is always asking for someone to throw her fly balls.  She has caught quite a few in games and she just amazes me with all her abilities at just 9 years old.

These pictures were taken at a Tournament in Fayetteville, AR a few weeks ago.  The weather was very nice and we were able to take Blake with us.

This is Campbell and her friend Carson.  Carson's sister Kyliegh also plays basketball with Bailey so we see them all year round.  Carson and Campbell have grown up together at the ball fields.

When she is not playing she is practicing or lifting weights.  Her coach keeps them very busy and Bailey is growing a nice set of arm muscles this summer.

 

Blake's First Smiles

Blake's first smile was at 7 weeks old.  He was over at his Grandma Becky's house.  He gave a little coo and then popped out a smile for her.  Bailey then decided that she could make funny faces and this just kept the smiles rolling.  He thought Bailey was the neatest thing and just kept smiling and smiling.

Once Blake started smiling he hasn't stopped.  He is such a happy little boy and he loves to give everyone a smile.

My favorite smiles are those that I get from Blake when he first wakes up.  He looks right at me and then his face lights up with this great big smile!

So in love with this sweet boy!

Blake is 2 Months Old

On June 10, 2014 Blake turned 2 months old.  This little boy just keeps growing and growing.  He is moving into 6 month clothes and 9 month clothing is not to far off!  He is such a sweet handsome little guy and we just love him to pieces.  I have always said that the girls were easy, but Blake is the King of easy!  He is just very laid back and just goes with the flow.

Campbell and Bailey wanted to go with me to take Blake for his 2 month checkup.  They said that they wanted to be there to make him feel better because they knew he would be getting shots, which he got a total of 4.  He took it like a champ and calmed down very quickly after mommy picked him up.  He had no major side affects from the shots but was very sleepy for the next 2 days.  Blake's measurements at his 2 months check-up are: 

 

Weight -14.3 lbs. (95th percentile)

Length -25 inches ( 97th percentile)

Head - 41.3 cm (80th percentile)

He still likes to sleep in his rock-n-play which is just fine with mommy and daddy.  He started sleeping thru the night at 6 weeks old.  He really likes the cuddly feeling that it provides and it seems to help him sleep longer. 

Blake loves to held and we love holding him.  I guess knowing that this will be our last baby makes it really hard to let some things go.  He is starting to like the bouncer and swing more.  He has fallen asleep in the swing a few times but it is usually for short cat naps.  Blake is a cuddler and we all love to cuddle with him!

Male Bonding

Tim has waited and waited to have another male counterpart in the house, and he is enjoying every minute of it.  Blake is not even 2 months old and they already have a favorite activity to do together-watching t.v.!  And they don't watch just anything they like to watch car shows together.  I don't know what it is about these shows but Blake will sit in his daddy's lap and just watch and watch. 

Ballgames and Graduation

We have been busy with many ballgames this spring and summer.  Blake has been such an awesome baby at these games.  I have been lucky that I have been off work for all of Bailey's spring season so it has made things a lot less stressful.

Campbell started attending Immanuel Lutheran Preschool in February.  We made the decision to put her in a younger class since she had never been in that kind of environment before.  She has done fantastic!  It is amazing how much she has learned in only a few short months.  Since she was in the younger class she did not actually graduate from preschool but she did attend and sing songs with all the graduates.

This is her teacher Miss Rachael and Campbell just loves her!  I could not have asked for a better teacher and she has made this transition for Campbell such a success.  She has been very patient and understanding when she is upset or crying and just makes her feel very comfortable at school.  Campbell will be starting Pre-K next year at Aspen Creek which is the same school that Bailey attends.  Life will be so much easier with the two of them in the same place.

I love this picture!  Campbell has always had one strong suit and that is that she follows directions really well, or as well as a 4 year old can!  In between songs while all the other kids are being loud and moving around there is Campbell, sitting and being calm waiting for the next song to start.  I just pray she keeps this little trait and it is not lost with age.

One Month Old

Blake turned one month old on May 10, 2014.  Mommy hadn't quite gotten with it yet and she had no cute outfit or scenery for Blake's picture, but she promises that will change.  Being older this pregnancy has been really different for me and my recovery has been a lot slower than in the past, but we are getting there.  Blake is such a wonderful baby, he is just so calm and easy going and I am praying that doesn't change.  He loves to eat, be held, and sleep.  We are still up several times a night but its all worth it to see this cute little boys face.  Daddy is a great help and we usually work as a team with one doing the changing and one doing the feeding.   Blake is quite the cuddler and he mommy are enjoying our time home together.

Blake sleeps in mommy and daddy's room in a rock-n-play, which he loves!  I think its because it feels so cozy and is not a wide open space like a crib.  He is eating 3 oz's per feeding and eats about every 2 hours.  He is wearing 0-3 month clothes, and growing like a weed!  We don't really have a schedule at this point, jut taking things as they come and I think it makes Blake a happier baby.  He hardly cries unless he's hungry, he is just an all around good baby.  Mommy is loving being home with him and very thankful that we will have these next few weeks together.  I'm getting to take Bailey and Campbell to school each morning and that is something that I really enjoy doing.  Even though our lives have changed in so many ways I just couldn't imagine not having Blake with us.  I always knew that I wanted to have a 3rd child because I always felt like there was something missing from our family, now I know why!

Bailey's School Project

The last week of 3rd grade Bailey had to do a project.  They were told to pick an animal and research it.  The teacher gave them some specific information that she wanted them to collect and then put it on a poster board.  Bailey picked a chinchilla, love that she always wants to do something different!

Sleeping With Daddy

Love these sweet pictures. Two boys doing what they both do best!

Blake's First Bath

I never realized how different carrying for boy parts was compared to girl parts.  I remember when they took Blake to have his "business fixed" before we left the hospital, I was horrified at how it looked when he returned.  No one had warned me that I was going to care for a wound like that!  So it took a little over 2 weeks until he was able to have his first real bath.  So mommy was pretty excited when this time finally came!

Their were no cries or screams, he really seemed to like it. 

Bailey loved watching!

Mommy got him all soaped up and he was still loving every minute of it!

Bailey didn't miss a minute!

As we were all done he was still a happy camper.

Bath time complete!