to compare

 i think its so fun to look back and compare the three kiddos at the same age...what do you think?

 Alex was close to 4 months here but the resemblance is so cool. They are so much a like but so different! I didn't even realize I had a picture like this when I took Jacob's.

family vacation

We planned a last minute family vacation over Memorial day. We were thinking somewhere close, fun, and easy. Sea World was a great option and we had been wanting to take Alex for a long time. A friend suggested the resort- The Wild Oak Ranch- and it was perfect for us! With an infant and then kids with food allergies, it is way easier for us to cook meals than eat out so a full kitchen is so nice! Well, not that it was easy to cook food with these crazy kids and a break from cooking would be more of a vacation, but it is actually easier. This place has the benefits of a condo but also a hotel. Its also a part of the Hyatt Hill Country so you could ride the shuttle and swim and play over there if you want to.  But it has great amenities itself!

the night we got there, after a quick swim, dinner and sunset dessert

 our view- you could see the roller coaster at Sea World

 this lil guy was a trooper the whole trip!

The first day we stayed at the resort and had a pool day.
Gotta start off with a cereal buffet! The kids had never seen lil boxes so they were super excited to try them all!

 Travis might kill me for this but I just love the kids!

 first swim, I dont think he cared for it too much, would rather be sleeping :)

 gotta love all that chub!!!

 lunch break! they served hamburgers and hotdogs poolside

 After dinner we went to get slushies and enjoy the pretty campfire sites. Would have stayed for the outdoor movie if it didnt stay light so late- boo.

 she was not in the mood for pictures

 Day 2 Sea World
We decided to go hard and make it a full day and do as much as we can! And go hard we did...it's a miracle we all survived but Travis especially gets a gold star for being our pack mule all day. in the extreme heat mind you!! It was stinking hot. I knew it would be but wasn't really prepared. Should have brought a fan for the baby carrier and an umbrella to shade the big kids. Maybe one of those spray water fans too. And really it was kinda coo coo to take Jacob. We admit that. But at the time it felt like the only way to go. Next time Grandparents are invited for sure! :) We had so much fun but it was a lot of work.

We saw all the shows we wanted to see and got in the extras too! The only thing that didnt work out is that we didn't spend as much time in the Sesame area as we would have wanted to. I know that sounds backwards since we took the young kids but we really wanted them to see the "sea life" being at "sea world". We will go back in the fall and play more! :) 

 Shamu was a hit of course. I love that Ellie's hand kept going up and blocking my shot. :) I am still so amazed at this huge jumping animal! I will add that I am not a fan of the new show....maybe I am old school but I miss that they don't have the trainers talk and explain and teach about the whales. And for the little kids there was just too much going that it makes it hard to know where to look.

 Jacob had a good seat! :) and right after this shot, he lost it and I nursed him during the rest of the show. To think of it, I nursed him at almost all of the shows. It was so hot I knew I had to.

 classic sea world picture....I love it! Ellie was fussing because the rocks were hot under her legs even. I shouldn't giggle, but look at their faces. I mean, they were not excited.

 The ONE family picture we took all day. Not at the front with the pretty background and us looking all cute like I dreamed but I will have to take it. I actually think I like this one better because it shows the truth. We were hot, tired, and just a mess. Good times.

 Did I mention that Ellie cried out in terror for mommy in all the shows? She is ridiculous. She wouldn't let us get any closer to the divers here, and I had jacob in my arms, hence the blurry shot. I think she was just so tired with no nap.

 My favorite quote for the day "why is this whole place up hill?!"

 and a quick bath before a movie and bedtime

 Day 3 Daddy took the kids to the pool one more time so I could pack up.

Can you tell Ellie liked the car?

 Not only was the resort great but our room was great too! So spacious and nice!

Jacobs "room"...yep the closet right in the middle of the living room/kitchen with a blanket over the pack n play- slept like a champ!! 






















I will give you a sneak peek in our messy room...

 

the bathroom was awesome! huge!! 

working...

 at the carwash, yeah

Baby Jacob 1, 2, 3 months!! recap

The first month was a blink. really, not sure where it went! I do know that I wasn't sleeping a whole lot and was sick off and on, on top of just recovering from the delivery and getting used to the new life of three. I had some intense pain in my side/back that we were trying to figure out what it was. It took a trip to the ER, a few trips to the doctor and even a CT scan to conclude it was nothing. Well, it was something....but it went away on its own. Dr. Vinnie (bro in law) said he saw a collapse in my lung that could have caused the pain but ??? it was weird. Anyway, it put me in bed several different times and then to top it off I got bronchitis. Coughing in the middle of the night sleeping next to a baby was not ideal in the least. I have said it before and I will say it again, thank goodness for grandparents!! We couldn't have made it without them! Jacob was doing well, eating, sleeping, looking cute, as he should. He liked to be held and had to sleep in his chair upright- hated the bassinet and hated being swaddled.

how he slept at night for the first 6 weeks, right by my bed
 

 

how I got dinner on the table a lot of times...my peanut chef

After 6 weeks, I finally started feeling like myself again, got over the bronchitis, and Jacob started sleeping longer at night! It was an overnight wonderful welcomed change! Travis might have been the most excited! ;) We also got Jacob in his new room and bunked Ellie up with Alex. I think that Jacob loved getting a bed and sleeping in his own QUIET space. The kiddos were starting to get to him. So at 2 months Jacob was sleeping about 8 hours at night, feeding, and then going back down for a good 4 to 5 hour stretch. He quickly made that a 10 hour stretch! I am telling ya, I wouldn't have believed it myself. My best nighttime sleeper!! Hallelujah! I am so glad he seems to roll with the punches and can keep up with us as we are always running around town. It was the Mother's Day tea, I realized that he was not keen on being in the car seat though, like I thought he did. Likes to go, but not those pesky red lights I tell ya. He started smiling and cooing- ie. the sweetest stuff in the world! just makes ya want to kiss him all over and all the time! Can't keep my face off of him! His first coo was for my Uncle John (aka. the baby whisperer. too funny! but he is great with babies and kids!)  I believe his first smiles were for Alex.  He can't get enough of that big brother!  Jacob is a very happy baby and so content looking at his "friends" hanging down on the toy bar in his bouncy seat.  Unfortunately, he gets left there a lot as I tend to the others. It also allows me to keep him up on the counter so that he is safe. ;) I can't blame the kids, he IS the cutest thing in the whole wide world.

jacob is mad because we squeezed him in this outfit one last time but it really did NOT fit

lil whoop, auntie jo got him this in the hospital

 on Alex's birthday (so 2 months old)

 Alex really is a great helper and loves to watch him. They get special bonding time during Ellie's nap sometimes and I know they both love it!

 Nobody loves him like big brother!

 well, this one does too, but a little love/hate

the BOYS watching basketball

 As for the latest, 3 months old!!, yikes! he has rolled over from his tummy to his back, took his first road trip to San Antonio (and second!), has been sleeping 12 hour nights!! (I still pinch myself every morning!), was baptized, had his first fever bug and therefore first sick doc visit, can sit in the bumbo, and is kicking and batting at the hanging toys like a pro! (I have a lot to catch up on on the blog!)
He is growing like a champ! Out of clothes so much faster than Alex was! He was 12 lbs 3 oz at his 2 month well check. The doc said she could tell he had big "paws" that he would be growing into! 
Time is flying by!! It's a constant circus at the house and there is never a dull moment. Jacob is just a precious precious doll that we all adore! Everyone, even strangers, can't get enough of his cute big open mouth smile! I love to ignore the others and just stare in his eyes and rock away all the rest of the world. When I come back to reality, I have to clean up the mess, and there is always a mess, but it is so worth it!!

 

one month

 

two months

  

three months