CSI

Case # 21467

Unexplained: Adorable picture of young male, approximately 5 months of age, 18 lbs, 26 inches on Mother's Iphone. Time and Date of photograph unknown. Furthermore, photographer unknown.

Forensic Report: Picture immediately following on Mother's phone contained snapshot of alleged suspect. In fact, the next 22 pictures were similar in nature.

Motive: Intrigued 2 year old mind over-active and unsupervised.

Sentence: 12 months of mandatory supervision while using technology based product with the ability to take pictures.



Last weeks in Ohio

So we found out we were moving back home for sure, for good, while we were in NC for Christmas/New Years. When we drove back to Ohio in January - most of the month was getting the game plan / final timeline finished. February was a BLUR because we were trying to sell some furniture up there, pack up the house, Ryan had to go to France for a week, my parents and sister came up to help pack as well as squeezing anything else we wanted to do in Ohio in our last month there. February was chaos! I did a horrible job at taking any pictures,  but wanted to document our last few days/ weeks up in Ohio. Still can't wrap my mind around the fact we were there and now we are back!

Most of our fun memories came when Papa T, Gigi and Aunt Robin came up to help me pack up the house. We were all going crazy by the end of the week due to cabin fever. It snowed two days that week - one forcasted, one not of course. Brrrr



I told the kids we won't have to bundle like this much longer!



Moving boxes became the picture-background of choice



Ryan had to fly to France for work during prime-packing time. I was tracking his flights and connections to make sure he got there ok. Right before I went to bed, this is what the flight tracker showed. HELLO!? Slightly paniced wife? yes. How are you supposed to go to sleep with this image in your mind and no way to communicate with the hubs? Who knows what it was - they got there fine, Ryan knew of nothing. ha!



Gigi, Papa T and Aunt Robin came to help me pack up the place. Look at this newly-retired-couple teamwork! haaaaaaaaaa

You just can't find good, free help these days...can you?



Again....where is the good help? Looks like alot of packing going on here...



This is how he was after Aunt Robin put him down for a nap....??? No pants today? There is only a snow storm outside...no biggie I guess.



At night, we had fun playing with what toys were not packed up already! That is a GOOD Papa T right there.

 

I tried to take Daddy's place as Mr. Horse but fell short significantly...

 

Papa T could frequently (almost exclusively) be found taking care of Easton instead of packing :)

.....until there was a blowout, then Papa T passed him up in a heartbeat!

We went to Skyline Chili because every raved about it in Ohio. We went to mark it off the "must do in Ohio" list. Here is what you need to know. It is disgusting. Gross. The "chili" is hot dog chili! Not scrumptious, filling, bean and meat or chicken chili! Their signature dish is spaghetti noodles with this "chili" on top. Gag.The best part was getting the twins' pics in the huge bibs they provided.

Ohio was hard. No doubt. But God ushered my path to meet this group of ladies in the local MOPS group. They were such a blessing to me! In my same stage of life, kids everywhere, trying to find time and ways to love Jesus. I told them (and meant it if your reading!) that they were a part of Ohio I would truly miss. It only seemed appropriate to do something with the word "frozen" in it my last week with them - Frozen Yogurt it was!



One of the ladies in the pic above watched the twins for us TWICE in one week so we could use giftcards we had received up in Ohio before we moved. It was nice to be able to sit down with Ryan and reflect on the past year and the future!



The DAY we were driving home to Ohio overnight, we decided to take the kids to the Columbus zoo one more time during nap time in hope they would sleep thru the night while driving. It was a balmy 30 something degrees, but NOT snowing so we went for it. C-bus Zoo gets a million thumbs up. Awesome. Will miss that activity for the kids too!

 

Rhino in front of the rhino! ha!



Quadruplets!

Back in February (around 28 months old), one day we heard the twins each using a new word we didn't recognize. They seemed to be saying it often and purposefully but we couldn't figure it out. After a day or two, we noticed that they were calling out to each other using these new words. As weird as it sounded, we thought to ourselves..." I think they have renamed each other!?" Then, while pointing to Jenna, I asked Caden "who is this?" and he confidently and clearly replied "Chori." Then I looked to Jenna and asked her the same question about Caden to which she replied "Taiya" (pronounced tie-ya). I couldn't believe it. When Ryan got home that night I asked them again and in pure crazy-twin fashion, they each said the new name. We laughed and laughed so hard thinking about how quirky these kids are.

A few days later, we stepped it up a notch. I asked Caden and Jenna what their own names were and to my surprise, they said the new names! Jenna said her name was Chori and Caden said his name was Taiya. (!!!!)

That was back in February....you can ask Ryan, my parents, anyone who has been near us....not ONCE have they reverted back to "Jenna" and "Caden." They call out for each while playing using Chori and Taiya. When you ask them what their name is....Chori and Taiya. They will still respond if WE call them Caden and Jenna, but they refer to themselves and each other as Chori and Taiya. I'm chalking it up to a cute, precious twin thing. I think it is hilarious! We will certainly be talking about this for a loooong, loooong time. And since they show no signs of reverting back, looks like I have quads on my hands: Jenna, Caden, Chori and Taiya. :)


Chori and Taiya from Casey Little on Vimeo.

2013: March

So here is the long-explained reasoning behind each goal if you care at all. I, for one, don't want to type it each month so I'm sure you don't want to re-read it. This is my measely report for March :(

1- Memorize scripture each month

- Everyone to whom God has given wealth, and possessions, and the power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil - this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. - Eccl 5:19

(I had to cheat and look up the reference.oops. And if your wondering why in the world this verse - read the last chapter of the book I talk about below. It is exactly what I needed in my stage of motherhood right now!)

2- Drink more water

- after figuring out that adding my crystal light in the water was giving me horrible headaches, we are back on track with regular water intake. Got some new things to try to change it up thanks to my cousin Jamie!!!

3- Read 4 books in 2013

- Finished my first book. check! Love, Love, Love "Loving the Little Years" by Rachel Jankovic. Highly recommend it.

4 - Get to Pre-Easton weight. Get to Pre-Twin weight.

- got very discouraged this month. Packing up our house, moving to NC, getting settled back in all through me for a loop. Only down a few this month. ugh. Down 13.5 total.

Easton : 4 months!

Easton: wowza. Your 4 months old somehow! Your 4th month (February) was a blur. I don't remember too much of it. Probably because we were packing up our house to move back home to North Carolina!!! And because Daddy went skiing one weekend and France for a week and because Gigi, Papa T and Aunt Robin came up to help us pack up the house. Whew! It is a good thing I had extra eyes to help me remember you or you might have been packed up in a box!

You continue to be nothing but a bundle of joy for our family! You are becoming so interactive with us, smiling, cooing,  and playing. You started reaching out for your toys at 3.5 months and enjoy trying to reach out and grab them. I love watching the determination on your face as you try to make your hands and fingers do what you want them to!

You went to your first Super Bowl party and slept through the entire thing. Our friends couldn't believe it. They joked with us that you are a babydoll - not real - since you are never awake and every time they see you, you are sleeping sweetly in your carseat. Mommy thanks you for that since I am running around trying to keep up with your siblings!

For Valentine's Day, you were the heart throb...hands down. Oh my! Look at that sweet smile. Sweeter than chocolate!

You also surprised mommy by showing me that you will be a thumb-sucker. You take your paci in your carseat, but in your bed you get quite mad most of the time if I try to stick it in your mouth. Instead, you role to your right side and stick that thumb in to soothe yourself to sleep. Every.Time. Fine by me! It is ridiculously cute.

Speaking of soothing, you are a champ at it. You really hit your stride leading up to your being 4 months old. You sleep 12 hours at night - from 7 pm - 7 / 7:30 am! I feed you every 3 hours from noon on. You seem to need more sleep in the morning, so I give it to you! Your schedule is like this: 7 / 10:30 / 2 / 5 / 8??. I put you to bed for nap 1.5 hours after I feed you. I go lay you down, you roll over, stick that thumb in and go to sleep. I say this not to brag...I take no credit except following Babywise principles and the mercy of Jesus! (I know Babywise doesn't work for everyone, but wow, it has worked for all of our kids.) Anyway, we put you to bed at 7 with the twins and then when I remember or have a minute, I go up and feed you real quick before I go to bed...thus the ? behind the 8 pm. Sometimes it is right on schedule with 3 hours (8pm), sometimes it is closer to 10 when I go to bed, either way, I get your 5th feeding in after you are down for the night. It is a real quick up and down - you don't even wake up.

I'm not naive enough to think this schedule will continue unchanged...we have growth spurts and the transition to solids coming up so I know things will change. I'm sure you will have times of not being able to soothe yourself,  but I am sooooo thankful for this season of easy baby schedule!

Your cradle cap has gone from bad to worse. I'm sure you will be so mad at me for putting this picture up one day, and although I don't think I will forget it was you that struggled with this so bad, I must document it for my poor memories' sake. Most days it is painful to look at - super dry, scale, looks like it would drive you nuts itching! (and this picture below is after GLOBBING lotion on multiple times a day and brushing.) We have tried every "oil" out there: coconut, olive, shea, and baby oil. Then, one day it turned very bright orange/red, swollen and a horrible smell. I was worried you had some infection happening. I was about to take you in to the doctor when they told me another treatment to try (mineral oil soak/hydrocortisone lotion and toothbrush scrubbing) for a night or two. It seems to work if we do it consistently. I'm sure ready for you to outgrow this stage! yuck!

I LOVE snuggling with you my sweet boy. Since you do not have a twin brother or sister, I don't have to rush to put you down to tend to the next baby in line. It has been a very joyful, sweet time to just enjoy YOU. Mommy would get alot of other things done if I didn't snuggle as long, but everything else can wait! I have no problem with that priority situation.

You really seemed to continue on the explosion growth rate! Your not slowing down one bit. Your starting to outgrow Caden's clothes that match the season we are in. This should not be since you were born a month after him, silly boy! This outfit was a one-n-done. :(



Mommy needs to be honest with you and the world: I am horrible at putting you down for Tummy Time. Just horrible. It is a shame too, you are so strong, I bet you would have been rolling over both ways by now if I had given you the practice. Shoot, you may have been maybe pushing up already. ha. But the few times I have stopped everything to put you down, you are so super strong, lift right up and even started rolling over from stomach to back. Your not consistent yet ( b/c mommy doesn't give you a chance to be!) but I'm sure it will come quickly.



I took this picture because I looked at you one day and couldn't believe how big you were. Look at how much you have grown in less than 20 short weeks. sniff sniff. 



3.5 months

2 weeks

You enjoy sitting in your bumbo seat watching Caden and Jenna run around you. One day, I asked Jenna to give you some more toys to play with on your tray - she did exactly that. :) I'm sure this is not the last time you will be given something bountifully by your brother and sister. Enjoy it, bud!

At your 4 month appointment, you continued to shock your mama. Between you not looking like your brother or sister (in my opinion) and being at the top of the charts, I just look at you and wonder WHO ARE YOU!? I think it is hilarious that we have children at each end of the chart : 2% in height and 90%. Funny. Funny. You were so sweet and only cried for 30 seconds or so when you got your shots. The poor nurse had to jam the needle in to get it through your thunder thighs :) I was worried you might have an ear infection because your ear smelled, but turns out it was just a crazy amount of wax that the doctor had to clean out and told us to put some cream in there to keep it healthy. Dr F said you would be needing solids before your 6 month appointment for sure since you were such a big boy. I'm going to hold off as long as I can since I have searing memories of how life went downhill for your brother when we started solids. Now, for the stats:

Height: 25.75in (65%)

Weight: 17lb 13oz (85%)

Head: 43.25 (85%)
 

You are precious, Easton. I truly can't imagine our family without you now. Love your sweet smile, laugh and demeanor.

Easton: 3 months

Dear Easton, your 3rd month (January) was a HUGE month for you! We came home to Ohio after spending 3 weeks in North Carolina with family for Christmas. I hated coming back to the cold and snow but was eager to get you on a  good schedule, in your own bed. I had a suspicion you were really a good sleeper, but you just hadn't been in a place to give you your routine yet. And boy, was I right! At exactly 9 weeks..just like your brother and sister...you slept thru the night and never turned back. Basically, you were waking every 3 hours all Christmas break, then went to 8-9hrs in a matter of 2 nights of us letting you cry it out. I'm so proud (and thankful!!!).

You fell right into a predictable routine which was nothing but a gift to your mama cooped up in the house week after week! You now wake up between 7-8 am, get fed every 3 hours/six times a day. The last feeding is usually 2 hours from the feeding prior so mommy can go to bed earlier :) You are such a good, efficient nurser. You might be starting to burp a little easier...but it's marginal :) Sometimes I put you down to bed for the night without burping - and you STILL sleep thru the night! I would not have dared do such a thing with your brother and sister!

At 9 weeks old, you started cooing to us at night and it is precious!!! I love talking to you and working on our sounds together :) Your smile is full-on contagious and brightens the entire room! Your skin is still sooo sensitive. Your cradle crap is becoming rough! I'm trying all sorts of oils and lotions and brushing to get it under control.

The past month you have become so strong! Holding your head up and doing great at tummy time. Maybe the reason this is so is because you have EXPLODED in growth. Oh my mercy! Your outgrowing clothes faster than I can get them out of bins. Your 3 month sleepers are screaming for mercy and your 3 month onesies have no room to breathe. Your legs are seriously thicker than Caden or Jenna's! Your still in size 2 diapers but I have a feeling you wont be in them for long. I did something I never did with the twins : gave away diapers to a friend! You outgrew size 1 so fast! Normally, this mom of 3-in-diapers would squeeze you into them to make them work, but you started blowing out your outfits and I surrendered. :)

Your brother and sister have dialed in on your ability to melt your mama. They come up to you and talk in "baby voice" and come running over when I'm talking and kissing on you :) There will be many fights and quarrels in the coming years, but you three have already shared some precious, precious moments! I am blessed to be able to be at home and watch them.

Other happenings your 3rd month:

The bumbo...son, I have to jam your thigh in it to fit. You are so strong for about 5-10 minutes then you get tired and want out. Your gradually getting stronger and stronger though!

I love putting the three of you in coordinating outfits. One Sunday it was snowing so I put you all in your snowflake outfits that Gigi made you. You were quite the stud :)

I'm so thankful for you sweet boy! You are really the most precious, happy, easy going, smiling baby I have ever been around. Your so interactive! You go with the flow of being forgotten about in our loud house and you seem to be calmed by the noise, not bothered by it! I love you my little E-Stud!