4 Months Old

If I could freeze time, I would do it now.  

Mataya Hope at this sweet, "squishable," content, and cuddly stage is pure bliss.

Mataya's 3rd Month

Since I no longer have time to post photos as I take them, be prepared for photo overload!

In the last month, Mataya has gone from fragile to squishable!  I just love, love, love this squishable, smiley, and very content baby!

 Mataya was born with VERY plugged tear ducts.  Her poor little eyes watered and watered.  They were often caked with "goop" almost like when you have pink eye.  The corners of her eyes would get raw because the skin was always damp.  Krissy had a plugged duct as well, so we have experienced this in the past - but Mataya's eyes were much worse.  I was nearly convinced they would not clear up on their own.

Then one morning she woke up with clear eyes!  Just like that - both eyes cleared!

So thankful for the Lord's healing!

 Since all the big girls prefer mix-matched socks - Miss Mataya dresses the same way.

We call it "baby swag!"

 This shirt was a gift from Jamison's girlfriend and her mom.

It makes me smile every time she wears it.

More baby swag!

 This month Mataya started to giggle!

Oh, I love, love, love baby giggles!

The most sure-fire way to get her giggling is to kiss all over her right cheek, just like daddy is above.

She also as a very tickley tummy!

 She is SUCH a snuggler.  We all LOVE it!

 Joshua has most certainly NOT tired of her.

 Mataya loves to snuggle wrapped in a blanket - but since it has gotten warm out, we try substitute these tiny ones.  I've nicknamed them "night-nights."  In actuality they are burp cloths that Krissy sewed; however as Mataya never spits up, this purpose is much more appropriate.

 I think I mentioned her big brother is smitten?

 Joshua is usually the first of the kids to get up in the morning.  That is his favorite time to snuggle with Mataya.  Many mornings he allows me to snap a picture and send it to Krissy.  Since he HATES photos, these are treasures.

 Mataya, being very content, is not in a hurry to do anything!  Though she has rolled, she does not know how - nor does she really want to learn.  Laying flat on her back is OK with her!

She is starting to enjoy sitting upright though.  She thinks the Bumbo chair is fun for short periods of time.  It is fun to watch her try and use her hands in it.  They just do not work quite as well when she is sitting as when she is laying on her back!  Her very favorite toy to grab is this little pink teddy.  Even with toys, snugly is best!

 This is how we buy groceries for our family of 8!

2 carts and 1 stroller get the job done!

 Mataya has found her feet.  She LOVES to play with them!

 One challenge we have with Joshua is that he continues to think he and Brenna are the same age, and thus should have the same privileges.  We talk many times every day about different ages having different rules - and he is FINE with that when it comes to everyone BUT Brenna.  Sigh.  Because of this, we have not allowed Brenna to carry Mataya until this last week.  We were concerned that if she were allowed to carry her, Joshua would sneak and do the same.  Now that Mataya is able to better support her head we feel like if Joshua sneaks and tries to carry her, there is less of a chance he will hurt her.  So after waiting for nearly FOUR months - Brenna can FINALLY carry her baby sister around the house!

She is thrilled!

And for the record, she was so patient waiting.  She knows exactly how Joshua thinks.  She was willing to sacrifice to protect her baby sister.   I am so thankful AND so proud of her!

 One day last week Brenna and I were home alone.  I was cleaning the house.  Actually. . . first I was napping while she cleaned - yep, I am crazy spoiled like that with my Brenna girl.  She is my domestic.  She likes to cook and clean.  She often surprises me by taking care of a cooking or cleaning chore without me even asking.  Anyway, once I woke up - I took over the cleaning duties while she played with Mataya.  At one point I peaked in on the girls and found the scene above.  Brenna was singing to Mataya as she swung.  Mataya had her eyes locked on Brenna and was so totally content.  Sigh.  It was a mommy moment to treasure.

 Sierra continues to be the baby whisperer.

She has even taught me a new way that Mataya likes to snuggle!

This sister bond is so very sweet.

It melts my mommy heart.

 One morning Joshua insisted I let him rock Mataya to sleep.  I was skeptical - but he proved me wrong, he was able to snuggle her to sleep all by himself!

 More baby selfies by Joshua Gubs!

I love when I find these on my phone.

 This was taken today.

Mataya was watching intently while I put together her new toy.

 I can not believe I was the one who bought this contraption!

I think I have gone "grandma" with this one!  I have been joking that since Mataya is too little to go on rides at the State Fair we bought her a baby size one for our family room.

I hope she likes it as much as I do!

 For now, it is slightly overwhelming!  LOL!  I did not even consider showing her all the toys behind her!

 I might have posted these before, but since they melt my heart, twice is OK!

 I am trying to be a good sport about camping this summer. (Last year I had no interest after living in the campers the year before.)  I am still not passionate about it - but it is OK.  Since Mataya needs to stay out of the sun, I bought her this cute little tent.  She loves it!

 Where does she sleep in the camper?  Why in the closet of course!

Her rock and play fits perfectly in the closet right next to momma's side of the bed.

Generally speaking, I am the family photographer.  That means I am rarely in photos.  Which is fine. . . except that if you check out our family photo albums I seem non-existent.   With this baby, I have worked at being in a few photos!

 The ring sling continues to be a favorite!  She and I both love it.

Chest to chest, heart to heart is such a beautiful feeling.

Perhaps the best thing about this past month is that Mataya is finally growing appropriately.  Until the last month, she felt scrawny and fragile.  After a bit over a month on formula, she is squishable.  She has rolls on her thighs and a milk gut.  I am very thankful.  In all honesty, I am still grieving that breastfeeding was not successful with Mataya.  If I could be I would be, but since it did not work, I am so very thankful for formula.  I think often that if I lived in a Third World country she would continue to be scrawny.  It makes my heart hurt.

Before Mataya, the idea on NOT nursing for the first year NEVER occurred to me.  Breastfeeding my oldest four was easy.  I expected the same with Mataya.  Sitting on this side of nursing has made me very aware of the pressure non-nursing mom's feel.  I get a pit in my stomach almost every day when I see or read or hear "Breastfeeding is best. . ."  I feel almost ashamed shaking up a formula bottle when we are out and about.  It has been hard.  It is funny how a perspective can change.  I want to explain to everyone all the time that my pediatrician TRULY felt that nursing was not the best thing for my baby, when really it is none of anyone's business (plus no one cares outside of me).  The up side is that any struggle we go through makes us more compassionate and aware or how others may feel.  As my daughters start families (years from now!), I think this experience with Mataya will make me more open minded and careful when I react to all sorts of decisions they make with their babies.  (My life even cracks me up! I just had a baby - but I am saving all my baby stuff for our grandkids.  And I don't think it will even be totally outdated!)

Even on formula Mataya is tricky to feed.  She is just not a hungry baby.  As she has become more roly-poly, I am becoming less stressed about her lack of interest in food.  She still only has 3 ounces of formula at many feedings - but then there are the times that she insists on 6 ounces.  She is unpredictable to say the least!  BUT she is growing - thank you Jesus!  In the last month she has gone from being in the 2% for weight to the 40%! She weighs 13 pounds 7 ounces as of this week!  She is 25.25 inches long - which is 94%.  So at long last, she is measuring like a typical Dietrich baby. . . long and lean!

Perfect Summer Mornings

I have long been a morning person.

This did not come naturally.  As a teenager, I slept until noon every chance I got.  When Chad and I first married, I would beg him to sleep in on the weekends.  He rarely made it past nine.

As we began having children, I learned that if I got up very early, I could have a bit of time to myself - and thus my love of the early morning hours began.

Even when I was working full time, early mornings were important.  If I got up in time to have some quiet time before the Lord, everything went better.  It was HARD to peel myself out of bed at 5 am, but it was so very worth it.  Calm before the storm is a beautiful thing.  And mornings were certainly stormy!  Getting 7 people up, fed, and out the door by 7:15 am was pure craziness.

That is why this summer is so divine.

For the first time is many, many years mornings are not rushed.

Sure, I get up bright and early - but there is no rushing.

Only quiet.

My Bible and devotion book.

Coffee.

Then my computer and bookkeeping tasks.

Around 8:30 am I hear coos sing-songing from Mataya's room.  I walk toward her door, singing "Good Morning! How are you?"  And when I open the door, I am greeted with the biggest full body grin in the whole universe.

 After "talking" a bit with my little smiler, I turn on her mobile for her.  She watches it and kicks while I gather a diaper and clothes.

 She has discovered her feet, so she loves to lay naked in her crib and play with them.

She wakes up ready to talk and play - not a bit interested in food.

After she is changed and dressed, we move to the rocking chair and read a stack of books.

About 8:45 we say hello and good-bye to Jamison as he heads out the door for summer cross country practice.

Soon after, Joshua wakes up.

He comes down stairs ready to play and snuggle quietly.

Eventually, Mataya is ready for a bottle.

A brief morning nap soon follows.  Many days I put her in her stroller and Joshua and I go for a walk/jog/bike ride while she naps.  He jabbers while I puff and pant.

By the time we return home, Sierra has surfaced.  She enjoys a bit of "Taya time" while I shower.

And then it is time to get drag Brenna sleepy-head out of bed, make lunch, run some errands, drop off a kid or three. . . eventually the day becomes busy - but the mornings are precious.  They are, more often than not, calm and quiet.  Peaceful and unrushed.

I am cherishing every minute.

It will more than likely be the ONLY summer like this.  Next year I will be back in the office - but that only makes these short months that much more special.  Each day is precious.  Each day is a gift.

I am so very thankful.

Special Introductions

This weekend Mataya was able to meet several very special people for the first time.

Above she is being snuggled by her Great Grandma!

Chad lovingly calls his Grandma an 85 pound tornado.

She is tiny - but MIGHTY.

I hope I have her energy and enthusiasm when I am a Great Grandma 13 times over!

Witnessing our tiny ones in her arms was a total joy!

 Mataya was also able to meet her Grandpa Lyle.

Lyle and his wife, Mary, moved to the DC area 7 years ago.  This weekend was the first time he has been able to visit us at our home in all those years.  (We have seen him once or twice since the move though - just not here.)

As evidence of just how long it had been, Lyle shook the hand of Jamison to introduce himself.  He did not recognize Jay at all - he assumed he was a friend of Sierra's.  I guess that is evidence of just how much Jamison has changed in the four years since he has last seen his Grandpa!

It was good to see Lyle.  And I sincerely hope that one way or another we will see him more often in the future.  (Mary, too!  We missed you this trip!)

Here Mataya is pictured with both her Great Grandparents.

I am feeling happy-sad tonight.

So very happy to have had some time with Chad's family.

Also a bit sad as I wonder how long it will be before we meet again.

Family is a gift I cherish.

Moving. . . our Business That Is!

The very first property that Chad and I purchased was an OLD, decrepit home in Mandan.  It was, truly, the only home on the market that we could afford.  It had been built in 1886 and it had not been well maintained.  Krissy, who was 2 at the time, said 'It is pretty yucky - but I think Daddy can fix it!"

And Daddy DID fix it.  (Mommy helped.)

That once stinky house, became our home.  And the equity we worked hard to build helped us to start our business.  The purchase of that "crummy" house has been such a blessing to us. 

Last week, for the second time in our marriage, we bought a stinky building in Mandan that needs A LOT of TLC.  This time, it is not a home for our family, but for our business.

I am truly excited about this purchase.

My husband has a knack for transforming beaten down buildings into beautiful properties.

It will be very fun to see him work his magic again.

All Grown Up?

A momma can't help but be sentimental on a day like today!

(Chad, Krissy, and I on July 9, 1996.)

Today our very first baby is legally an adult!

Krissy is 18.

That is craziness!

 Pure craziness!

I will forever be grateful for Krissy.  She made me a mommy for the very first time.  Being a mommy had always been my deepest desire, and her arrival was absolutely a dream come true.

Mothering - no matter how hard the day - is my deepest joy.

Thank you Krissy, for making me a mommy. You are a treasure. I love you so very much. Always. Forever. No matter what. Your on your own now, and that is a happy-sad fact.  I'm so proud of your bravery, independence, and determination. I love the way you dote on your littlest siblings. I'm so excited for you as you journey through this next year with Basic and AIT! (I'm also going to miss you like crazy!) As your daddy said today, we know God has amazing plans for you. We will always, always be praying for you, always, always be rooting for you. Always. Always.

(Krissy and I on April 20, 2014.)

July 4, 2014

 July 4 began bright and early!  We woke up all three of the youngest kids to head to Mandan so we could watch Jamison race and then enjoy the parade.  I thought Joshua would be GRUMPY - but he woke up happy and ready to go.

We drove to Mandan, set up our chairs in an ideal location, and then proceeded down Main Street to watch the race.

 On our way down Main Street, we found our favorite Private.  It was very special to see Krissy in uniform on the Fourth of July.

 This photo was taken by a friend.  I love it since it is both a photo of Jamison running and a family photo!

Mandan has a 5K road race each year on the 4th.  It was the first time Jamison has run it.

Jay is normally fairly conservative in his wardrobe, but with his running attire he is bold.  I thought he would have the best July 4 look.

I was wrong.

He was "owned" by a girl!

Ha!

Miss Mandy, his girlfriend, raced in the super-hot patriotic "deuces" hat.

They make a pretty cute pair!

After the race, we headed to a restaurant for breakfast.  Mataya has been plucked from her crib fast asleep.  She rode to Mandan, watched the race, and took a quick cat-nap before downing her first bottle of the day.  She is one patient, and very social, little peanut!

Our plan was to watch the parade after breakfast - but due to bad weather the parade was canceled.  So, we headed home for naps.  Mataya and I slept snuggled up together for hours on my big bed.  It was heavenly!

We headed over to the Ault's for food, fellowship, and fireworks in the evening.

Mataya and I skipped the fireworks.  We came home early and went to bed.

Though I do not have photos of the fireworks, or video footage of Tom's annual "Roman Candle Ballet," it will live in the memory of Joshua and Brenna forever.

I am so very thankful for friends that feel like family.