5 months!

Height: N/A
Weight: 17 lbs. 2 ounces (last week)
Food: Enfamil A.R. for babies who Spit. Rice cereal in the a.m. and a vegetable in the evening. He drinks 4-6 ounces of formula every 3 hours or so during the day.
Sleep: He is sleeping through the night. Our schedule has been a little more lax lately due to the holidays so his bed time has changed each night. One night it may be 7 and the next 9. Last night he went to sleep at 6:30 and woke at 7:00 this morning. He usually sleeps 11 hours or so. But maybe he'll start sleeping 12 hours like last night! :) He has been waking up some because he's been a little sick with a sinus/ear infection. But he always go back to sleep easily. Still loving his nap nanny! Such a good baby!
Clothes: 6-9 months and size 3 shoes.
Favorites: He loves big sister! He loves to just sit in his car seat by the window and play with a toy. He likes to try to pull things apart! This is hilarious! It's almost like he's working out! ha! He gets sweaty from it! He enjoys Praise Baby and Baby Einstein. Loves his swing now! PTL! ha! He likes his exersaucer and sit and play. He has started going for toys during tummy time. He can roll from back to belly. He has rolled from belly to back but nothing consistent. He's just pretty darn easy to please! Such a laid back boy! He loves to squeal! and we love hearing him squeal! Oh and he loves loves loves giving open mouth kisses on the cheek! Mommy loves this too! so so sweet! He loves to stand while we hold his hands. Wow! He's came a long way from an itty bitty newborn babe!

God is good! Can't wait to see what new things he'll do this month!

*Went to Children's Hospital this month to have his bump on his forehead checked out. Dr. said it was either a dermoid cyst or another hemangioma under the skin (both very common). Will schedule a CT scan to check and see which of the two it is. Either way, not a big deal at all and no rush to get it seen about. Very thankful for this!

4 months...

So, I'm a little behind on the 4 month post (considering I'll be typing the 5 months post as soon as I wrap this post up!) but didn't want to leave it out.

Height: 25 inches
Weight: 15 lbs. 13 ounces
Food: Enfamil A.R. for babies who Spit. He drinks 4-6 ounces every few hours. We also introduced rice cereal about a week before he turned four months. He was pretty excited about that! During the month we began introducing green beans and peas. So far he's loved everything. We haven't really been consistent with the solids though. It's been busy around here!
Sleep: He is sleeping through the night. He usually sleeps 10 1/2-11 hours. He wakes every now and again but goes back to sleep. He's such a good baby! Usually ready for bed around 7:30 each night.
Clothes: 6 months in everything
Favorites: He loves talking to big sister, mommy and daddy! He loves trying to grab for things. We introduced his sit and play and exersaucer this month. He loves them both for a bit but when he gets tired he's ready to get out and is sure to let me know about it! lol! He especially loves it when sister plays with him while he's in one of those toys! He's such a smiley happy baby and has such a big laugh! We love, love, love making him giggle! :)

hospital gown...

Oh Spicer Beth! This kid seriously cracks me up! Lately she has really been pretending a LOT! Her absolute favorite thing to pretend is "house!" Just about every time she plays "house" she is pregnant or "pregant" as she says. lol! She is the mommy, there is a big sister and she's going to have a baby at the hospital. (you know just like mommy did recently! ha! she's played this since then) When daddy plays he's her husband! I love it! Jared and I are always getting a kick out of it! We love listening to her "pretend." It's the best thing ever! Yesterday, during her pretend time she got the idea to make a hospital gown with a blanket and ponytail holder. She knew exactly what to do just asked me to help her make it a success! Naturally, I had to snap a picture of it! In this picture she has her piggy (which by the way is her favorite stuffed animal that she has recently been inseparable from!) in her belly! She always has something in her belly when she is "pregant!" Love her!!

a few pictures...

I've been too busy to blog... so here are a few recent pictures of my sweet little family! I love them very dearly!

these two adore each other!


could they be any cuter?!


beauty shop with daddy... he's the best!


painting Christmas ornaments... :)


SB with her sweet little friend from gymnastics...


God is great and we are enjoying this Christmas Season being a family of four now! Children truly are a blessing from the LORD!

A princess turns 3!

Well... it happened... my sweet little princess turned 3 years old yesterday! It seems almost impossible that we have had 3 blessed years with this precious child! I look at Axl and think "wow, just the other day Spicer was that size!"

Spicer is all about the disney princesses. So, this year she had a princess themed birthday party at the Adventure Zone. This was her first "big" birthday party. She invited all her sweet friends and family. She had an absolute blast! :) Yesterday, on her actual birthday we had dinner and cupcakes and daddy and I gave her presents to her from us. She just gets so very excited about everything! We just love seeing the joy on her face when she opens a present or gets excited about seeing someone or doing something.

Some things to remember about Spicer at age 3:

She loves bedtime stories. She always wants you to make the story up and say, "all of the sudden!" She wants daddy to tell her scary monster stories (i know, right?!) and mommy to tell her princess stories. She sleeps in bed with me so we tell stories and talk every night until we fall asleep! I absolutely love it and cherish this precious time in her life! Each night when we pray she tells me something to pray for or she will pray for it. Lately she has wanted to pray for Madison and Natalie. When she prays she always thanks God for her family. So sweet! I love hearing her pray to Jesus! It's the best thing ever! She calls her preschool, "preschool baptist." She calls flame gymnastics, "gymnastics arkansas." She can tell you where she lives and when her birthday is. She knows her ABC's and 123's. Ha! She can recognize most letters and numbers but we're still working on that. She is a devoted friend! She has her best friends and let me tell you she absolutely loves them! She loves her brother dearly. She loves going to church, preschool, cubbies and choir. She is one excited kiddo! She loves "roughin" with daddy and older boys! haha! Her favorite things to play are: dress up, hospital (have a baby), house, and anything outside. I could just go on and on about her awesome personality!

Momma and daddy love you so so much sweet Spicer! God has taught us so much through you and we are very thankful! :) You're the best!



last year...


and this year... big girl!

3 months already?!

Little Axl Joe turned 3 months old a few days ago and I can hardly believe it! He is such a happy little booger and we love him more and more each day!
Height: N/A
Weight: 14 lbs.
Food: Enfamil A.R. for babies who Spit. It really has made a huge difference! He eats 4-6 ounces every 3 hours during the day.
Sleep: He is sleeping through the night. He usually sleeps about 9 hours. One night he slept 10 1/2 hours! :) the other night he decided to wake up a few times but I think it was because he had pee all over him! lol!
Clothes: He is wearing 6 months shirts and jammies and 3 months pants. He has the longest little arms! He wears size 2 shoes.
Favorites: He loves talking to big sister, mommy and daddy! He loves trying to grab for things. He is rolling over now but i'm not sure if he likes it or not! ha! He doesn't really like riding in the car for very long. Hopefully this will change soon. He likes to face forward in the baby bjorn and get totted around (this helps me get some stuff done around the house!).

This little guy has a ton of strawberry birthmarks so this week we get to go have one scanned to make sure it isn't growing to fast and doesn't need to be treated. We also have to have some blood work done. This momma is not looking forward to that but I know it will be just fine. He had a little bump pop up on his forehead this month. Took him to the doctor and its a cyst caused by his tissue forming. So, in about a month we'll see a specialist to keep a check on it! Guess he's going to keep me busy with doctor's visits!:) We are blessed and thankful!

Spicer Beth!

This post is all about my dear sweet precious big baby girl! Oh how I love my daughter! She is growing up way to fast for this post pardem hormonal momma! ;)
Spicer Beth is Full. Of. It! She is one big huge bundle of personality! From the moment she wakes in the morning until the time she shuts her eyes for the night she is one busy busy bee! Each morning when she wakes she says, "Mommy, did you have a good night night?" I love this because this is what I have asked her each morning since she began conversing and now she asks me! So so sweet! We are one busy family these days with keeping her involved and active. On Mondays she takes a gymnastic class. On Tuesdays and Thursdays she goes to preschool for part of the day and on Wednesdays we go to bible study fellowship together. Spicer loves going to preschool! She has made a great friend at preschool named Madison. We are finding that she is quite the little "follower." If her friend does something then she usually does the same thing! It's cute until her friend does something she isn't supposed to! ha! We are working on this little personality trait. We are striving to teach her to be a leader and do what's right no matter what. Jared and I are like, "man, you have to teach them everything!" ha! Who'd a thought! lol!
SB loves loves loves her baby brother! Now, don't get me wrong, she does have her ornery moments with him but what sibling doesn't?! Axl adores his big sister too! There have been times that Axl has been crying and I couldn't calm him down but SB could! He just smiles, talks and laughs at her! I have to admit this has been my greatest joy as a parent thus far... seeing the two of them love on each other and interact.... it's just sooo precious and such a blessing from God!
God is teaching me so much about motherhood through Spicer. She has such a strong willed, spunky free spirit and my sweet Savior is helping me, by the power of His Holy Spirit, be a better mommy to her. Every stage of development for her is a new stage in motherhood for me. I guess it's a first for both of us! I'm so thankful that she is forgiving and still loves me when I mess up. She's the best daughter I could ever ask for!
Jared and SB have been playing some fun games lately. Since I had Axl SB has wanted to play hospital almost every day with Jared. He is the doctor and she is having a baby. She also has an older child who she calls big sister. The baby she is "pregat" with is named Charlie. I crack up every time I watch them play. Jared asks her is she has high blood pressure and she says, " yes, like my mommy." lol!! She always sticks a baby in her shirt for the game! Before Jared "delivers" the baby he prays with her and says, "Are you ready to have this baby?" My oh my! Hilarious! After she "delivers" the baby she asks "Dr. Jared" to take the baby to the nursery. I'm telling you, it is hilarious! Spicer and Jared have always danced together but lately SB has been wanting to break it down even more! She likes for Jared to turn his radio on fast music and she dances to it outside. And let me tell you, this girl can dance! :)
Spicer is loving choir and cubbies. I'm helping out with both this year so she can be a part. She just loves singing to her choir CD in the car. She has also learned some songs at preschool that she loves to sing. I absolutely love hearing her sweet voice sing! Oh and she learned the pledge of allegiance at preschool one day! love that one too! :)
Well... these are just some recent happenings in the life of my sweet Spicer. Things daddy and I don't want to forget! Oh and one more thing... I also love at night when we are in bed. She says, "Have a good night night mommy, I love you!" precious, precious! I'm sure there are many many more wonderful things about my daughter right now but these are just the ones that popped into my head. God is good!

2 months old!

Little Axl Joe Steven Fowler turned 2 months old yesterday! He has really started talking to us and smiling a lot more often! I love it! His sounds include /agoo/ /i/ and /oh/ and they are absolutely precious to hear. He talks to daddy and SB the most! He's been a little frustrated with mommy because I had to stop nursing him to switch my blood pressure medicine. Bless his little heart! He has been such a trooper. He had to stop nursing cold turkey and did a great job with the switch. Anyway, he's a growing healthy little two month old and I'm one very thankful mommy!

Height: 22 1/2 inches (40th percentile)
Weight: 11 lbs. 5 oz (40th percentile)
Food: breastmilk until 7 1/2 weeks and now Infamil newborn formula (He eats about 4 ounces every 3 hours, around 24 ounces a day)
Sleep: We are getting better at the eat/wake/sleep pattern but not totally there yet. He usually naps about an hour and a 1/2 after he eats. He sleeps pretty good at night. He usually goes to sleep around 8 or 9 at night and then wakes up one time to eat around 3 a.m. He usually starts his day around 7:15 or so. I'm ready for him to sleep all the way through the night but guess he isn't quite ready because he sucks his bottle down at 3 a.m.! Guess I can't complain, he's going 7 hours at night without needing to eat. :)
Clothes: He has outgrown his newborn stuff (tear) and is wearing 0-3 month and 3 month stuff. He still wears newborn shoes.
Favorites: Axl loves to just lay on big sister's bed and look around! He also loves it when daddy makes smacking sounds in his ear. He always tries to kiss Jared when he does this! I admit, I'm a little jealous of his love for daddy, but thankful all the same!

Big Sissy (as she wants to be called) loves her baby brother!

1 month old!

loving his nap nanny on his 1 month birthday! :)



Yesterday my dear sweet baby boy turned 1 month old! Wow! He sure has been a blessing to our family! He's just such a sweetie pie! He's definitely got his momma wrapped around his little finger! lol! We all adore him, especially miss Spicer Beth. Sometimes she might adore him a little "too much" if you know what I mean! haha! She has adjusted well to having him around. Of course we've had our moments, but all in all it's been such a great transition welcoming Axl to our family!

I had heard from several different people how difficult it was going from one to two kids, but for me it was easier going from one to two than from going from none to one! ha! God truly has blessed this time for us and I'm so very thankful!

Some stats about Axl: I think (not totally sure) he weighs around 8 lbs. I have no idea how long he is! But his arms and legs seem long for him. People say he's going to be tall! (Guess we'll see!) He's rolled over from his belly to his back about 5 times for Jared. He will not roll over for me! Guess he just knows that's what he's supposed to do for daddy! lol! He'll be a great workout partner for Jared some day! He can raise his head about 90 degrees. Still a little wobbly though. Did I mention, his head is perfect! He's just so little and cute! I know, I know... I can't stop doting on him! :) He had a little play date with his friend Charleigh yesterday. She was due about 5 weeks before him but is only 10 days older. She was a week late and he was 3 weeks early. She is such a cutie! and so very sweet! love those little smiles Charleigh! By the way, I'm still waiting for a "real" smile from Axl! he will look at me all day but not give me a single smile. Little Stinker! Axl loves looking around. He also loves looking at the ceiling fan and sticking out his tongue! :) He's not too fond of the swing. He only wants to swing for about 15 minutes and he's through. Just yesterday I started putting him in his nap nanny for nap and he slept there last night and he loves that thing! I'm so glad! He's a big spitter so it makes me feel better having him on an incline while sleeping. Axl is starting to get on a 3 hour eating schedule and after most meals he stays awake. He's getting good at the "eat, wake, sleep" cycle from baby wise. PTL! He'll be sleeping through the night before we know it! Right now he will go 5 hours between feedings at night so this gives me a good 4 hour stretch to sleep at once. It's been great! The boy loves to eat and I'm so glad! Such a great nurser! I haven't pumped one single time since he's been born, compared to constant pumping with SB. God is good! :) Little mister is pure joy and we're a 100% blessed family!

hard to believe...

Today my sweet precious baby girl started her very first day of preschool! Also, she turned 2 years and 9 months old today! Unbelievable! She will be 3 in 3 short months! How did this happen?! Now that little Axl is here it really seems like time is passing by way. to. fast! He is 4 weeks old today! Again, how did this happen?! I'm trying to cherish every single moment with my newborn son because I know he won't stay a newborn forever, unfortunately! haha! I'm loving this stage with him. God truly is blessing it!

SB looked so cute this morning with her little backpack and lunch box in tote! We went back and forth on whether or not to start her in preschool this year. I have always said I wouldn't send her until the year before kindergarten, but this girl just needs more than I can give her right now! She is super social and a go-getter! Always wanting interaction, and with a newborn I can't always interact with her. We chose a wonderful preschool in our area and she goes 2 days a week! She walked into her class today like she had just been there yesterday! I love her confidence! So, while she's enjoying herself at preschool Axl and I will be getting groceries, cleaning and playing! I think it will be a good fit for all of us! I love how God leads you and lets you know that what you are doing is the right thing. :)

Some things Spicer loves right now: Playing with her babies... she likes to pretend she has an older daughter and she is going to the hospital to have her baby sister! it's so cute! I think she uses Axl's swing more for her babies than I do for Axl! She loves to cook things up for us in her kitchen. Spicer loves to play beauty shop! She says "Welcome to my beauty shop! What can I do for you today?" Oh, this is so so cute! I love playing this with her! My sister is getting married soon, so Spicer loves to play like she is a "wedding girl." She always has me or Jared humm the wedding song so she can walk down the isle. One day I asked her who she was marrying and she said, "daddy!" How precious! I love her imagination!

Oh, and little 4 week old Axl rolled over from his belly to his back 2 times on Sunday and then again 3 times last night!!! What in the world?! Maybe this is totally normal but I don't remember SB doing that this early! He is a miniature Jared, so maybe he's made of muscle like him! haha! So very thankful for a healthy growing newborn boy and a healthy growing spunky little 2.9 year old! God is so good!

4 weeks old!


All ready for preschool! :)

little Axl...

We welcomed our sweet little Axl Joe Steven into the world on July 26, 2011. He weighed 5 lbs. 14 oz. and was 18 1/4 inches long. He is such a precious little guy. Axl joined us a few weeks early because I had high blood pressure. God blessed me with an easy delivery. Dr. Bell broke my water at 9:25 a.m. and Axl was born at 12:19 p.m. I had already dilated to 4 cm when I was induced so it was a pretty quick process. Dr. Bell recommended I go ahead and have an epidural to keep my blood pressure down, so I had a completely pain free delivery! God is good! This is compared to 14 hours of hard labor with SB! haha! Axl has been a little doll baby. He nurses great and is a great sleeper. For the most part he is very easy going. As long as his belly is full he's pretty much good to go! I'm absolutely in love with this little guy! At his 2 week check up he weighed 6 lbs 10 oz. and was 20 1/4 inches long! Like I said, he loves to eat! ha! :)

36 Weeks!

How Far Along: 36 Weeks
Total Weight Gain/Loss: 28 lbs!
Size of baby: about 6 lbs and 18 1/2 inches long
Maternity Clothes: Yes! But I mostly wear regular summer dresses. That's the most comfortable right now!
Gender: Boy... Axl Joe Steven Fowler :)
Movement: Big stretches! Very big movements. I think he's really growing!
Sleep: It's ok. starting to have quite a few contractions at night. but it's ok because they are making progress!
What I miss: Working out, laying on my belly and flat on my back.
Cravings: Still not wanting to eat much... just little things here and there.
Symptoms: pressure especially after I've over done it and contractions. The contractions are beginning to get more intense! I'm also just starting to feel huge. it takes me forever to walk anywhere! lol!
Best Moment this week: 36 week check up! I'm dilated to 2 cm and 70 percent effaced! I'm super excited about this! When my water broke with SB at 38 weeks pregnant I had only dilated to 1 cm. So being dilated to 2 already is very motivating! :)

* I've got some last minute projects to tackle this week... that's if I can muster up the energy! haha!

35 Weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights---

How Far Along: 35 Weeks Yay!
Total Weight Gain/Loss: 28 lbs!
Size of baby: Almost 5 3/4lbs and about 18 inches long
Maternity Clothes: YES! I have been wearing my BeBand some with shorts and absolutely can't believe it's still fitting. ha! I wear these shorts a LOT! ha! I also wear summer dresses the most. They are the most comfortable!
Gender: Boy... Axl Joe Steven Fowler :)
Movement: Big stretches! and some jabs here and there. I think it's getting pretty snug in there for little man!
Sleep: It's ok. Last night I didn't get to sleep until around 1 and then woke up at 5. I did some things around the house and went back to sleep until SB woke up around 9:30. Guess my body is starting to get geared up for a weird sleeping schedule!
What I miss: Working out, laying on my belly and flat on my back. Sometimes I'll sit and watch a complete infomercial about a workout program. I'm so ready to work out again! I'm hoping to order the new "turbofire" workout! It's like turbo kick, which I love, just amped up a bit!
Cravings: Still not wanting to eat much... just little things here and there.
Symptoms: pressure especially after I've over done it and some contractions. I've really felt pretty great the past few weeks! God is good!
Best Moment this week: Getting tested for "fetal fibronectin" (or preterm labor) and the test coming back a negative! This is what put me on bed rest with SB. :) Dr. Bell did the test because we were headed to Branson last week and he wanted to make sure I wasn't going to go into labor (I'd been having some pretty good contractions). Not only was the test negative but I hadn't dilated a bit! Now that I'm 35 weeks I say, bring on the dilation! haha!

We are getting so excited to meet our boy! :)

the 4th!

We had a great 4th of July weekend! On Sunday night we headed to our church's annual "night at the park." There were all kinds of fun things for SB and we enjoyed an awesome fireworks show at the end of the evening. Last night we headed to Jared's grandma's house to pop some fireworks with little miss. She loved them! Her favorite thing was to help daddy light one and then run away as fast as she could. She also really liked the sparklers! We went to 3 different fireworks tents to track down some snakes. Finally got some. lit them. SB hated them! lol! She didn't even want to walk by it! Just like her momma, does not like snakes a bit!










*Note: SB wore pig tails and braids in her hair this weekend for the very first time!!! She loves the braids and just had to have me wear braids too! love it!

swimming lessons

This was SB's second year for swimming lessons. She took them from the same teacher at the same place as last year. She did pretty good with her lessons for the most part. All she really wanted to do was jump in the water to me. I explained to her that we had to do what the teacher asked so we could practice. ha! Oh, and she didn't want to have anything to do with her teacher. Her teacher would try to get her to practice something with her and she would scream something awful!!! Oh that kid! Never seen anything like it, well, maybe in myself! lol! btw her teacher is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet! Spicer just didn't want the teacher to make her go under water. But she would go under water with me and Jared. funny girl! It was a 2 week class and most days it was just me and her. Jared joined us on a couple of days, my sister came and watched her one day and Janet and Lora had to take her one day (I wasn't feeling well.) Maybe with some more practice at home she'll get the hang of it! She does love the water though! :)