Aleksi and his Zippy

Sadly enough if there is a sleep product that promises good results for babies, Troy and I have bought it or seriously considered it.

Zippy is one of them. And while it has not brought magic into our nights, it has become a part of his routine and I think it does help him sleep better. It helped him not wake up when he wasn't swaddled anymore but would still have some of the startle reflex. Plus he looks pretty darn cute in it. Now that he rolls all the time, his zippy often is backwards by the time he wakes up. 

Saku's Kindergarten Promotion

Saku had his Kindergarten promotion today. We honestly think that they are kind of ridiculous, but it was pretty awesome to see him standing there with his classmates and know of all the things he has learned this year. They had a musical program and Saku knew each of the songs and sang loud and clear. 

Troy took the picture so I am not sure what is going on here but I am thinking "sad face because Kindergarten is over".

And then excited face for being a 1st grader?

Saku's self portrait 

Eerika and Layla enjoyed many afternoons of playground together

Ms Hu. Saku loved learning chinese from her

Mrs. Bohnsack

Proud momma with the big 1st grader to be

Silly siblings

I have said this so many times, but I feel like Saku had the best teachers for him this year. They truly knew him and cared about him. I will miss them and knowing that when Saku was in class, he was in very good hands.

Another major blessing was Saku's best friend Zane. They became friends during the first week of school and they have loved hanging out this year. Zane's personality has been a good balance for Saku and I think that friendship has helped Saku mature a bit, but most importantly, it has made Saku love school and have a good friend there. 

Saku has excelled in school. While I honestly don't think it is the most important thing, it has been made the school year easier as we didn't have to spend too much time on his spelling words or homework. He has learned to love reading and that is the biggest gift that I feel he could have academically.

As I complimented Eerika on her good behavior during the program, she said "I wanted to cry". I think she felt proud of Saku, just as Troy and I did too.

Mr S got skills

Saku has an ability to learn coordinated skills well; swimming, biking, skiing and doing tricks on the razor. 

He also wears helmet most of the time. He must have gotten distracted after we took some pictures and these pictures were taken before I demanded the helmet to be put back on.

While I don't have aspirations for him to become a skateboarder, I think these types of skills build his confidence and teach him to relate to his peers as he tries out new things at the skateboard park.

Last week Saku finished two chapter books on his own at bedtime. He kept reading after lights were supposed to be turned off... I am very strict about bed times, but if he has to be doing something after he is supposed to be sleeping, I guess reading isn't a bad option. Plus I just love that he loves to read.

I am obsessed with this baby:)

I LOVE this stage. Aleksi is happy just watching the world go by. Or should I say he is happy watching his siblings do crazy tricks and noises around him. 

He loves all the attention. He loves rolling around in his crib.

Eerika loves to run to his room when he wakes up and unzips the zippy and talks to him until I get there. It is cute and helpful because it can give me few minutes to get something done while they spend some time together. 

Aleksi has tried a bit of ice cream and yogurt and loves both.

As pictures will show, he does not love green beans and pears combination. 

Mother's Day 2015

Troy surprised me with breakfast in bed. I didn't expect it as we have 8:30 am church. French toast and sausage.  Aleksi's present was the fact that he slept in so I could eat breakfast without holding a baby and get ready without holding a baby. 

Saku had made a card in school and Eerika drew a picture for me that morning. She was a bit upset that Saku's card was "better" (her words, not mine).

Troy smoked Salmon, grilled some baked potatoes and I didn't do a thing. It was awesome. 

We enjoyed a beautiful evening in the backyard and took some pictures of the kids. They turned out great. I am so happy to have updated pictures of them. 

I feel very happy as a äiti right now. The challenges are different then they were few months ago, but I feel happy again. I feel more stable emotionally. I feel like myself again. I love Aleksi's age. Eerika blossoms more and more and Saku has matured so much.  I just feel happy and it feels like such a blessing. 

Eerika just loves to be in her brothers' space. And Aleksi is a bit defenseless so he has to put up with it...

I finally got smart and started putting bibs on Aleksi to protect his poor skin from all the drool.

Baby model?

We are in trouble in 10 years...

So grown up

No fancy clothes for me. Leggings and a comfy shirt are a perfect outfit for me. They accommodate all the sweets I ate this weekend:)

. 

Saku LOVES reading. He will now read on his own, silently in his bed. He even goes as far as to inform me that "reading makes his headaches go away" so he should be allowed to read extra long at night.

Eerika is awesome on her bike; she just hasn't figured out how to brake yet. It gives a good work out to whoever is running next to her.

Aleksi continues to be the happiest baby. He loves sitting in the bathtub and scooting his little bum around. 

Adorable Aleksi at 6 months

Dear Aleksi

You are six months old. We celebrated your big six month mark by dragging you to the Pima County Fair. You were your usual self;happily chilled in the stroller while Saku and Eerika petted animals and explored tractors. Isi, especially, is always amazed how content you are when we go and do things. You really just go with the flow of our family. 

You are so close to sitting all on your own. It is fun to put a box of toys in front of you and you go to town with picking them up and putting them in your mouth and then moving onto the next one. Your attention span is about two seconds. 

You like the boob. You would probably nurse 10 times a night if I let you. However, I am finally putting my foot down and now you eat twice a night. It is still probably too much as you are a big boy and I am sure you could go without a feed, but it is sort of nice to snuggle you for few minutes and then go right back to sleep.

You have learned to put your tutti back into your mouth when it starts falling out while you are falling asleep. It is pretty handy. 

You are getting a bit more wary of strangers but you are still okay as I pass you around at church or at the school play ground. You do seem to prefer me over others, but really isn't that how it's supposed to be??

You have started eating some solids but I am not feeding you on any specific schedule with solids yet. I think it is the third child thing as you get solids when it is convenient for the rest of us...I promise when you really start needing it, I will be consistent and I won't let you starve. 

You are mostly nursing but I give you a bottle here and there for the sake of convenience. 

I read the six month posts about Saku and Eerika and they were moving a bit more at this age; however, I think I tend to carry you more or you are in the car more as you accommodate the schedule of your siblings so I don't think you have gotten as much of a chance to practice your skills. I better become a better PT.

You love the swing. I often put you in the swing when I make dinner. You are okay in the car seat now. Such a blessing. 

You don't really like to be cuddled which is ironic as we spent many nights patting and holding you to sleep. Now that you don't sleep swaddled, it can be quite challenging to soothe you unless I give in and give you the boob...

You take two naps on most days, which means an early 6 pm bed time for you. I think three naps works better, but sometimes the third nap just doesn't happen. Also I have had to wake you up from your second nap because of school pick up. It is awful. 

Everyone says that you look like Saku and Ukki.

This is how our feeding sessions usually end up looking. And then he seems to get a bit of rash as the drool/food touches his skin.

OK take the picture already as I am getting more messy by the second!

I am so glad you are mine. Third kid has made a bit more unraveled than I expected but I would never give up what you have given me and our family. You are treasured and loved each day.