Ayden's Baptism (He's 3 months old!)

Well, well...our little man is hitting milestones left and right! He turned 3 months a week and a half ago and was baptized on Sunday, April 19. Let's recap LL's last couple weeks... (LL-Littlest Lenninger)

Ayden - 3 Months Old
We haven't been to the doctor since he was 6 weeks old so I have no idea how big he is:) It's safe to say he is growing. He is big. Everyone comments on how big/long he is. I already feel like he is difficult to hold horizontally. Also because he prefers to be upright. He loves to bounce and kick he legs, Dave keeps asking when we can put him in the jumperoo:) He likes to sit in his bouncy seats or play mat and it gives me free time to take care of the others or go to the bathroom - so I love that! He will bat at the hanging toys and focus on them. He grabs the toys on his play mat and won't let go. Pretty cute! He loves to grab his burp rags too and when I'm nursing, I try to give him one to hold on to so he won't scratch, scratch at me trying to get a grip. 

The day he was three months! It looks like he knows a secret:)

He likes to suck on his fingers a lot now. And stick his tongue out at us:)

His eyes are still that dark blue color, he still loves to nurse and still spits up like a mad man. I would have to say that recently it has been a little better (probably just jinxed it) but we are never far from a dozen burp rags, if at all possible. He's still in size 2 diapers, but we've had a lot of blowouts lately, so I may see how ridiculous it is to put him in 3s. 

I pulled out the next tub of Collin's clothes. In Collin's used stuff, he is already wearing 9 month sizes. I don't have that many clothes and Dave reminded me that I borrowed clothes from a friend with Collin and ended up giving back most of it so it didn't pile up at our house. Oops! The way he goes through clothes, I may have to shop a little bit. Oh darn:) Though, living in the Midwest, this is the tricky time to buy stuff...I want to just get warm weather clothes, but we are definitely not there yet. But buy too much winter-type clothes in this new size and he may not wear it! Good thing I mostly buy used:) 

The kids are still in love with him. Hold him even more these days and he is giving them huge smiles. If he is in the swing, Collin loves to push the buttons and pull back the shade thingy. Ayden does like the swing and will often take his afternoon nap there. He will also hang out pretty happily for awhile when he wakes up there. It is my go to place to put him downstairs when I need to run and do something (mostly Collin-involved). I never imagined the changing table would be in such high demand! I feel like I am there for half the day:) In related news, we are going to start working toward potty training Mr. C soon....

He usually takes a big nap in the morning, he gets up between 6:30-7 a.m. usually and is tired around 9 a.m. It is normally a 2-3 hour nap and I love it! If he gets up after only 40 minutes-1 hr, I get rattled. About half the time, he'll take another long nap in the afternoon and then maybe a cat nap in the evening or an early bedtime. Sometimes, he won't stay asleep and I feel like I spend the whole afternoon trying to get him to lay down. He'll sleep in my arms but wakes when I put him down. Those are the hard days. But, since he sleeps so well at night, I try not to let it bother me too much. 

His bedtime is a little late right now, mostly because the big kids' bedtime is a loud production and I wait until it is quiet and peaceful to start Ayden's:) He likes his baths (not getting dressed afterward) and we usually just change into pjs, nurse and rock/hold him. We only bathe him every 2-3 days or if he really needs it:) I have tried a few times to lay him down sleepy but awake. No go yet. And....I like holding/rocking him. So there. He'll be asleep around 9 p.m. and usually wake once around 3 p.m. Sometimes he'll wake twice but that is not super often. 

Car rides are iffy. Sometimes he sleeps like a dream. Sometimes he screams. I have a really hard time when he is crying but often I don't have any options and just pray silently as I drive. If there is someone who can be next to him, it is better. In my van, he is in a bucket seat behind my seat. So that is hard. In Dave's car, he is in the middle and Kate and Collin can attend to/distract him:) It works! He no longer takes the paci and it is in the car that I miss it most. 

He is still struggling to take bottles lately:( Dave says he really has to work with him and it takes a long time for him to take it. Not like when we started early on. Weird, wonder what changed. Dave has tried using a dropper, similar to when we give him gas drops/gripe water, and he took some that way, but it obviously didn't replace a bottle or Mommy!

Ayden is our smiliest babe. The others certainly smiled! but Ayden is so quick to give you a huge grin. At home especially, he loves his changing table and is super happy there. Dave always gets crazy grins and giggles when he comes home. I can't wait to see his little personality as he grows. He is pretty content, quiet and smiley right now. Okay, well that is all I can think of this minute about Ayden:) I'll have to jump on the scale (ahh!) with him soon and get a weight. I guess his next check-up is on May 19.

Baptism Weekend
We had a pretty busy weekend - shocker, I know. We headed back to Burr Oak Friday night and after a long ride (Ayden cried from Hokah on) we put the kids straight to bed (after a bath that I called in from Spring Grove:) and the adults went out to the fire pit to enjoy some wine. We had some tunes,  beautifully warm and wonderful night out there. A lovely way to start the weekend. We stayed up until midnight and the next morning slept in a little (as much as kids let you do) and then got ready and headed to Decorah for the fire department open house. Dave and I grabbed Java Johns and we enjoyed the gorgeous day and big new fire truck. Super fun - props to all the firefighters out there! Then Mom and I peeled off and went to visit Grandma at Wellington. Some of you know, my great-aunt Hazel is actually sharing a room with Grandma right now, so I got to see her and my mom's cousin Duane as well. Anyway, it was a really nice visit. Grandma was pretty chatty with me:) and we helped her get lunch, bought some goodies at bake sale they were having and than Mom and I left to pick up the desserts for the baptism. 

He is still talking about "Drive! Fire Engine!"

Kate loved it but was scared that there would be a loud siren or noise - she is so my daughter:)

Gma knew lots about fire stations! :)

Gpa reminiscing...:)

Future fire fighter?

Fire fighter Sander was so sweet and let the kids put on his hat - heavy!

We ran home, had a yummy grilled lunch and ate on the deck (woo hoo!) and then got ready to go to Lawson's 2nd birthday party in Clermont, Iowa. It was still nice out though you could see some rain coming across the state. The kids were able to play outside the whole time. Ayden was good, Collin was in heaven with the new toys and following Waylon around. Kate had a blast and got up the courage to drive the dune buggy the boys have. It was great to see Cass and her family and celebrate with Lawson. 

All the kiddos at the party!
The other baby, Charlotte, is six months old. Look how big Ayden is!

Fun outside - thank goodness! :)

When we needed to leave, we couldn't get Kate to stop driving...

Cass always does awesome bday parties - Kris made the cake!

Kate and Waylon in the dune buggy

We left the birthday party just in time to drop Kate with Kylie at Decorah High School to watch Kelsey in the Grand March. Some special girl time for them:) We got the kids home to bed and then Kate and Kylie joined us later. After another too late bedtime, we tried to sleep for the big day on Sunday. Unfortunately, Collin wasn't having it. The poor guy could not sleep and so Dave and I did not sleep:(  

Surprisingly, we were able to get out the door Sunday morning and get to church early to run through the baptism. Ayden's sponsors are Andrew, Kylie and Derek & Jennifer Swoboda. A special thank you to Swoboda's for making the trip from West Des Moines with their new peanut, Mason (two weeks younger than Ayden)! Peterson's also came up to church, along with my aunt Kathy, Misti & Madi Shawver, Pat & Roger Huinker and Geoff & Mary Kruse. It was so wonderful to have everyone there.  

Ayden and his Godmomma ready for church!

Up front, we had our family with three little ones, Cass' family with two little ones and Jenny's family with two little ones. They honestly did really good:) Yes, we were completely distracted, yes we were giggling and yes were were cringing when our kids were loud and restless. The service was fine, of course, it felt really long. Fun fact - it was Drive Your Tractor to Church Sunday. No joke. Total bummer we couldn't roll in in a giant green tractor! Okay, possibly that would not have been ideal:) 

Our girls - Kate and Aniyah :) 

We looked over and they were taking "selfies" with my big camera at one point! Oh boy:)

Anyway, when we went up to stand, Kate raced up to join us. Collin sort of milled around the first three pews and came up and back a few times. He chose this moment to have a super stinky diaper which was pretty awesome. At the same time, Derek and Jenny's 2.5 month old Mason decided to start crying as well. Cass and Kris did their best but of course but babes just want their mommas! Collin joined us again up front and I held him for awhile. Ayden fussed a bit and Collin leaned over and gave him a hug. Pretty cute moment. Besides the smell up there:) 

Ayden did great, just stared up at Pastor Matt as he was being baptized. I teared up but didn't cry:) And after Aunt Kathy presented us with his candle and another friend presented Ayden a bible, we were done and back in the pews. Then there was the expected shuffle as people took kiddos downstairs to be fed and diapered. Poor Mom, she handled the diaper. Whew. I tried to hard to find an appropriate dress that I could easily nurse Ayden in, but to no avail. So I had to partially take off my dress to nurse, which meant hiding in the Red Room and of course, Ayden wanted a marathon feeding session. I had to cut him off and go back upstairs to join Pastor at the back of the church so the congregation could meet Ayden. He slept through it all. People blessed him, poked him and touched him, glad no seemed super ill! Then pictures and racing home to get the kids changed into play clothes and get the food ready.

Ayden's godparents are Derek & Jenny Swoboda and Andrew & Kylie

The fam!

The Swoboda, Lenninger, Peterson crew-
Our first full group pic in years!

We had food from U2 Catering (pulled pork, party potatoes, coleslaw and spinach salad) cupcakes from Quillins and a chocolate chip cookie from Beyond the Bar. It was all very good and the right amount of work:) It was supposed to rain, but we lucked out and it was nice enough out and just sprinkled on us. The kids ran around like crazy, we visited and I tried to keep Ayden full and happy. His schedule was totally off, so that was not ideal, but expected. We opened gifts and he received such wonderful gifts from everyone, it was so sweet. Some special personalized pieces and lots of Hawkeye gear! What an amazing feeling to know your child is so loved and supported by so many people. Really, really special. 

Opening gifts

The Shawvers are making sure Ayden looks cool this summer!

It wasn't long before people needed to go. All those with kiddos were wanting naps:) and we actually had to race back to Mauston for Kate's recital pictures. We had some time after everyone left to pack up. Collin, who wouldn't nap with everyone in the house, then passed out on Dave in a chair. He was eventually put in the car and he didn't wake up until we got home! Crazy. 

Look at that happy little guy

Kate's dance studio has their big recital on Saturday, May 2. But they do pictures before then and we were supposed to have her in full costume, hair and makeup that Sunday night at 6:20 p.m. at the middle school. I scheduled baptism and realized this all afterward (fail). But we packed her costume and knew we would possibly have to go straight there from Iowa. Well.....I forgot her ballet shoes. Yeah.....we had to run home and grab them and then go to town. It was out of our way. We had about three minutes to spare. I was kind of a wreck in the car, I didn't want to be late. So, Dave drove and I crawled in the back of the van and dressed Kate en route. By then, of course Ayden woke and was hungry. So we parked, Dave jumped out with Kate and I stayed in the van and nursed Ayden. She made it! Her hair was a mess, but "up" as required and she was still darn cute in her costume:) 

Racing from our house to her pictures...

Dave stole a picture on his phone from her pics...so cute!

Sadness. This is what the leftover cupcakes looked like when we got home.
Don't worry. We still ate them:) 

It didn't take too long to do the pictures and Dave said she did great. We drove home and unpacked, ate leftovers and put the kids to bed. We. Were. Exhausted. Dave and I both went to bed at about 9:30 p.m. and if you know us, we NEVER do that. I had so much fun at each point in the weekend. I loved each thing we did, but the combo kind of did me in! Possibly with a full nights sleep - we both would have done better as well:) So we took the opportunity to get some extra sleep in our own bed and it was glorious. Another awesome weekend - check!

We love you and thank God for you, Ayden!