Introducing...

Jake Richards Dockter

... August 28, 2011...

... 8 pounds 20 inches ...

We are now a family of five.  FIVE!  Wow.  I cannot believe it, but I am loving it.

Sweet Jake had plans of his own and decided to come a few days ahead of schedule.  I'm such a planner and had things worked out perfectly in my mind of how his whole delivery and timing would go, but life with kids is all about being flexible and Jake's arrival reminded me of that.

Jake's birth was speedy.  Waaaay faster than we had planned.  So fast in fact, that getting an epidural was out of the question.  I about died when I heard the nurses say there was no time for an epidural.  I cried and stated (okay, probably more like screamed) that there was no way I could have a baby without drugs!  The anesthesiologist just stood there helpless and apologized over and over that she hadn't arrived sooner.   And then a minute later Jake was born.  

And he's absolutely perfect.

We are loving him.  

His brothers can't get enough of holding him, patting him. and poking him.  

I can't get enough of snuggling him, smelling him, and soaking up his tiny newborn-ness.

There is just something about a new baby.  

Thank goodness my mom and dad have been in town to help.  Three kids is completely overwhelming to me and Eric.  Can I really be responsible for three little boys? 

We are adjusting well and Jake seems to fit right in.  He seems so mellow and I love that he gets more and more alert everyday.

Life is so good.

Wild Kratts Party

So, I have a confession to make.  Here it goes...my kids have watched more TV this summer than they have their entire lives.  It's been hot, like record hot.  I've been pregnant and hot, like record hot.  And the humidity has about killed me.  So, needless to say, we've watched some cartoons around the Dockter house.  I can't deny it. Cartoons and our neighborhood pool (along with ice cream, otter pops, Sonic's happy hour, and $1 drinks at McD's) have saved us this summer.

We did, however, discover a new favorite show...Wild Kratts.  Have you seen it?

It's all about animals, which my boys love.  Plus it's educational which helps me not feel quite as guilty when I turn it on.   Sam especially loves it!

He loves it so much that he wanted a Wild Kratts birthday party this year.  So, that's exactly what we did yesterday, and it was a blast.  

Sam's birthday actually isn't until the 26th, but with a baby coming and Eric's call schedule we had to party a bit early this year.  Sam couldn't quite figure out why we were celebrating him turning 5 when he is still 4.  He kept telling his friends that this was just his 'fake' party since his real birthday is still about a week away.  I wonder what he's thinking his 'real' party is going to be like!  Hope he's not disappointed come Friday!

You can't possibly have a Wild Kratts Party without Creature Power Suits!  I made a dozen of them and it took all of an hour.  Sam was beyond thrilled and couldn't wait to wear his.  

 

Eric, too, was thrilled.  

He's such a good sport!

Max is a huge Wild Kratts fan, too, and thought the party was just as much for him as it was for Sam.  He was so excited that all of his friends were coming over to play Wild Kratts.  

I was the party pooper and didn't wear a Creature Power Suit.  There's no way one could fit over my giant belly at this point.  (Did I mention I'm due in 11 days?!  Hooray!)

Eric was the party executor.  He took over all of the games and made everything so exciting and fun.  He taught the boys about all sorts of animals and helped them win their Creature Power Discs by playing all sorts of games.  I loved being able to sit back, snap pictures, and enjoy the party.  I think Eric was exhausted after his 2 hours of Wild Kratt entertainment.

Here are the boys showing off their Peregrine Falcon power. 

We played a little Cheetah Tag, did some Draco Lizard tossing, ate donuts like giraffes, did a Peregrine Falcon Hunt, and topped it off with Fishing Remora Fish style.  

Are we nerds or what?!

Phew!  The party was a success!  Sam has such great, fun, happy friends here and loved partying with them.  I cannot believe that he's going to turn FIVE this week! 

Where does the time go?!

Max

Max is a character.  Really, he is.  He is so expressive.  He wears his emotions right out there.  No need to guess how he's feeling.  He WILL tell you.  

Actually, he will tell you just about anything and everything these days.  He chatters, and chatters, and repeats everything he hears, and sings, and talks to his toys, and never seems to stop. 

I love it though.  

Hearing what he's got going on inside of him can be so entertaining at times. 

Here are a few of my favorite recent Max quotes: 

1- While eating breakfast this morning Max looked at me and said, 

"Mommy, I'm so tired of your whining."

Hmmm...do you think he's heard that somewhere before?

2- Sam drew this picture of our family at church a couple of weeks ago.  

He brought it home and told us all about it.  Who was who, why we were holding hands, etc.  Max studied Sam's picture for a long time and then announced, 

"That's not me.  I'm NOT a rabbit.  I'm Max!"

Eric and I have been chuckling about this ever since.  This is a picture that will stay on our fridge for a long time.

 3- We were at church last week wrestling our boys and trying to get them to pay attention to a hymn that we were getting ready to sing.  Max heard the organist play the introduction to the song and loudly announced, 

"Oh!  I hate this song!"

Reverent?  Not so much.

What Eric wished he really did for a living...

I bet you didn't know that Eric is a beautician at heart, did you?  

 Here is proof of some of his work from this week:

Okay, so I begged and begged Eric to paint my toenails for me.  I gave it a valiant try myself the other night, but started laughing so hard at my inability to maneuver around my huge belly that it was worthless.  He was hesitant, but gave in when I demonstrated how hard it actually is for me to reach my toes in my current state.  He did a great job.  I'd highly recommend him.  

And tonight was the perfect night.  No humidity + no heat = heaven.  Eric cut the boys hair and then they played wildly outside...without even breaking a sweat!  

Sam went with the super short and sleek look for the remaining weeks of summer.  He had been complaining about how hot his hair was making him.  I feel like he looks so much like my dad with his new hairdo.  

Max opted for just a trim so that his summer highlights would last a little longer.  Good choice, I think.  

I love these guys.  They are so fun.  I have loved watching their relationship develop.  They are such good buddies and it makes me excited to see them interact with this new baby brother that is coming their way so soon.  

 Max seems to realize that change is around the corner.  He talks to baby Jimmer everyday and likes to pretend to hold him and put him in the car seat and crib.  He's also been a bit more challenging.  Lots of tears and wanting me to hold him.  He still wants to be my baby.  

This picture that I snapped of him tonight reminded me that he is still pretty little.  I love his chubby cheeks and hands.  I know he's going to seem huge to me in 3 weeks when I've got a newborn in my arms.  So for now, I'm going to try to enjoy my 'little' Max for a bit longer.

And I just had to throw this picture in here.  

Look at my disaster of a kitchen!  Does anyone else feel like their house blows up on Sunday afternoons?   We made cookies and frosting and somehow were able to empty our cupboards of nearly every dish and dump every ingredient on the floor and counters.  It was such a mess, but made for two happy kids.