6 Months

Oh my sweetness, you are half a year old!!!

You are 17 pounds, 12.3 oz (75%)

and 27" tall (90%)

 Sister you are vocal these days. You have found your voice and don't let us forget it =)

 You have got the rolling on your back thing down. Now, if we could only get you rolling back to your belly!

 You have started to sleep on your side most nights. Sometimes you will roll on your belly and sleep, but I think that is because you can't get back to your side!

 You still love your paci. You also looooove to suck on your hands! (And by hands I mean entire fist)

 I'm about to work really hard to get you on a somewhat consistent schedule, seeing how life is about to change with the demands of your sister and brother going to school! This summer you have just grabbed a nap here and there whenever you could!

 YOU ARE STILL EXCLUSIVELY NURSING! That is such an accomplishment for me as your Momma! I would have never dreamed I could have made it this far!

 I guess we will start solids this month! We go to your pediatrician next week and we will get a game plan on that!  I think (and pray) you will be my good eater!!! You watch us all eat so intently! I've got to have at least one person that eats right?!?

 You love all your people so much! Blakely, Parker, Zizi--they are your world! When you hear their voices in the morning you light up!

 Your smile still lights up the room! 

 You have gotten a little dramatic this month, I must mention! Sometimes there is no soothing you! I'm starting to wonder if you are just bored! You don't want to sit (and don't really fit) in the bouncer anymore & the jumper and exersaucer don't entertain for over a couple of minutes! For the most part you are still the most chill of all the kiddos!

 That face. Oh it gets me!

 You still love cuddling your blanket when you nap!

 You lock those knees amazingly great. Hopefully we aren't going to skip crawling...

My sweet Alli Kate, I love you so. You are my heart. I have probably said that every single month, but you keep growing this heart of mine exponentially by the day. You bring joy in the midst of confusion and sadness. You bring hope during those times of darkness. God is working through you to bring me a reflection of him, of this I am sure.

Summer

I cannot believe we are here. 

Summer is coming to a close and my sweet girl will be starting Kindergarten next week. 

At least I still have a couple more weeks of time with this guy.

Parker speaks in high and low voices. It's either really high pitched or extremely low.

We are FINALLY potty trained! Ugh! Honestly, a month ago, I didn't think there was a chance he would be ready to start school without a diaper...and I was beginning to freak out! One funny thing that I've just got to document...P refers to going potty as 'making rocks' and 'lemon-laid'. 

Yay Parkey man!!! This Momma is so proud! (and relieved)

All summer we have been hearing 'Oh I loooove _____'. Really any, and everything goes in that blank there. Popsicles, Monkey, jumping, sand, the beach, chairs, tv, running, balls, Zizi, Daddy....

Also been hearing "NO! I'm Parker" in response to me calling him my gummy bear or any of my other 1000 nick names for him!

I've heard many many times 'it's hot in here' after loading into the hot car.

Parker says 'I happy' all. the. time. 

He really is. All the time. He loves life and it shows every day. He finds joy everywhere he goes. He is our peace maker. He is always worried over Blakely in any of her meltdowns! He will pat her on the back and tell her it is going to be ok! He doesn't like stress and will tell everyone to 'shhhh'. 'be quiet'. 

Boy, you have the heart of so many in this family...It isn't just me that you have under your spell!

So, what all did we do this summer?

Let's see:
Tent making and playing at its best!

Some pre-church photo shoots!

This one is my favorite! Blakely is such a mother hen!

Grocery shopping with 3...and to think I used to get overwhelmed by taking one baby!

we loved when our friends came and visited!

played not only with the baby toys, but also in them!

Splash pad adventures

(all those bandaids were from B's 5 year check up) =(

no zoo trip is complete without a visit to the petting zoo!

Stared at some of my favorite summer pleasures!

played with daddy's favorite, bubbles!!! (not)

had some pretty insightful talks with this little boy.

Zizi took lots of naps =)

we hung out in a lot of bathrooms while brother was trying to get this potty training thing down...

creativity at it's finest! (spaceship Parker).

played dress up everyday. she will be a fashion designer one day!

Chuck-E. Cheese birthday fun!

lots of time being silly....trying to be like her fav-Elle!

Dressing sister up!

'girly cowboy girl!'

Even Parkey decided to take part in the dress up fun!

karaoke fun

flying bug!

 fun play dates with baby friends =)

good summer. one I'll never forget!

Sensory Processing

This summer has been a long one.  I have debated back and forth about sharing this part of our world online. I've decided it is time. I really don't like being negative, or even elaborating on hard times. This is our family blog and I write for future reflection and enjoyment, however, I am learning that this condition we are facing with our sweet girl is not something that necessarily has to be negative. Yes, it is challenging. The days are very long. Who I am growing to be through this, only God knows. The Lord is with me. I feel it some days more than others! Even on those days I don't feel Him, I know he is there--listening, caring, watching...

After all, God is sovereign. he is all powerful and knows every single thing we will face. He has been there before we have. God knows what He is doing when He allows us to face difficulty or suffering. I have, and continue to, build God as my foundation. I trust Him in pain, confusion and loneliness. 

So, what does Sensory Processing Disorder look like for us? Inconsistency. Confusion. Meltdowns. Exhaustion. Patience. Compassion. Empathy. Love. Heartache. 

At about 2, we noticed some stuff that caused some frustration (and I use that word loosely) for Blakely--mainly food and clothes. At about 3, we noticed the meltdowns over those things intensifying, with added frustrations over hair and noise. At 4, the meltdowns continued and we were then comparing what everyone agreed as 'normal 2 and 3 year old behavior' to our then 2 year old Parker. They weren't even in the same ball park. My little princess wanted desperately to play dress up and couldn't handle the way the costumes felt. {enter heartache} All food caused sheer anxiety-Chick-fil-a, mac and cheese, even pizza. She was beyond 'picky' she would shake and panic when she even saw certain foods. When Parker turned 3 and Blakely turned 5, we knew things just weren't right. We needed help. 

After about two weeks of evaluations, what we predicted to be the cause of struggle became our 'diagnosis'. SPD. Overall, the OTs are telling us that B is extremely smart and is very high functioning...She just needs quite a bit of therapy to get her little neurons running smoothly to the brain. At this point things are just misfiring. The thing is with Blakely, currently the meltdown and reactions are only exposed to those people in her 'comfort circle'. If you were to see her out, you would have no idea. She might have a meltdown and you would just roll your eyes and think...that I need to get better control over my kid. I've been told by multiple people that consistent discipline is key to getting her not have meltdowns...Yes, for a normal child--this is true. In our case, it is not. I do wish so much that there was better awareness out there that not all disabilities are physical, but I digress.

So where are we now? We are currently and have been seeing an OT as well as a Speech therapist. Currently it takes Blakely up to 15 seconds to even process a command. At this point she cannot follow two step commands. "Blakely go get your shoes and make up your bed". 15 seconds to process the shoe command and the bed thing--not even heard. So you can imagine, as the mom of a 5 year old, how many times I have disciplined and lost it with frustration. If only I knew...but I didn't and now I do. As for now, scripture is my map, the Holy Spirit is my guide. I am not alone, no matter how desperately the enemy wants me to feel that way. Everywhere I turn in the word I see God fearing, beloved believers feeling trampled by troubles...so may I cry out like David "For troubles surround me--too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can't see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage. Please, LORD, RESCUE ME! Come quickly, Lord, and HELP ME! (Psalm 40:12.} and put a stop to all those lies the enemy loves for me to believe.

The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8

"being strengthened with all His glorious power so that you will have all the endurance and patience you need." Colossians 1:11

"be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

"The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does." Psalm 145:13

"I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep HIS LOVE IS." Ephesians 3:16

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:12

"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord aways, for the Lord God is the ETERNAL ROCK". Isaiah 26

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, and Yes.

So there it is. Our current battle. and boy is it a tough one.

Please, pray with me on our transition to Kindergarten!