Gus is no longer a new born

So Fall, so good. Trick or treating was good fun, Ted in Max's last year's costume and Max in an original "Max Twit". He is Laser Hero, complements of Grandma Diane's handiwork. Gus did Halloween in his sling, where he resides for at least an hour every afternoon when we hike up to school to collect Max and hang out while he and Ted convince other children to play batman, spiderman and "idiada jones". The pic at the park is after school. It was pajama day as well as library day. Some of the others are sent from Grandpa after a recent trip to Kearney. The boys are doing well. Max is geared up for the Holiday season, ready to decorate and invent toy ideas for Santa. Ted is swell, his imagination becoming bigger and grander by the day and Gus has reduced his night sleeping, much to my dismay. However, what he's lacking in sleep he's making up with HUGE and easy smiles. He loves to talk. I'm back in the classroom after Thanksgiving, and TJ is working hard.

Two months with Gus!

Gus is thriving. He's sleeping "through" the night, with 7 hours being a common event. Yay! He likes to talk, take baths and make lots and lots of bubbles! He looks so much like the other two that it seems like he's always been here. I'm absolutely loving having three; I can't explain why it seems easier than two, except maybe my priorities are shifting a bit? However, having three kids has really taken a toll on TJ!

The quintessential middle child

I hang my head in shame that I have to look to Grandpa Mark for photos of Ted. He's doing great, but he's very often doing his own thing when the camera comes out. He's enjoying whatever he's doing at the moment he's doing it, whether he's playing batman with his brother, playing cars, pirates, spiderman, castle or tending to his flock of baby animals. Here he is in Kearney at a pumpkin patch with Max and Grandpa Mark and Grandma Diane.

Max update

Max is doing well. His little leg is healing nicely and he's enjoying learning to read and doing a million "projects", most of them science illustrations and super hero designs for bikes, playgrounds and motor vehicles to send to Santa as Christmas requests. He's loving an art class at Josyln where he's making a Mexican mask, and his devotion to his new baby brother is only growing.... He about broke my heart the day he excitedly dressed up for River City Round Up celebrations at school, but upon arriving and seeing no one else donning cowboy gear, shed his outfit and traded shoes with Ted. Does he have to worry about what everyone else is doing already???? He further proved he's growing up by losing his first tooth.

What we've been up to...

I went on my first outing with all three boys on Saturday. We went to the farmer's market. Luckily, Jessica was home and met us down there as we had a really long wait for the candy store to open...

The next day we did some painting in the front yard.

One month

Gus is now spending more time with open eyes and listens to his brothers play and read books. He has rolled over a couple of times by accident but will soon realize how important this skill will be for avoiding his brothers.

Two week update

So far so good. Gus weighed in today at 10 1/2 lbs. We shouldn't have expected anything less-- if he's awake, he's eating. Max is liking kindergarten and is psyched to finally be in a walking cast, and Ted (aka frog, dog, monkey, cheetah, shark etc.) is liking his new preschool as well. I am totally digging my time at home, walking Max to and from school and spoiling myself with Gus. TJ and I are learning ever so slowly that we need to go to bed earlier to compensate for Gus's many night time feedings, but we forget every time we get a new disk of Mad Men, Season 1. We highly recommend the show. Peace.

Hats Grandma Diane made for her grandchildren

Pics from Grandpa Mark

First photos

New addition

Gus Thomas Twit arrived Saturday, August 22 at 3:34 a.m. --two days after his due date and many days after we expected. He weighed in at 8lbs, 13oz and didn't seemed too shocked changing his habitat. TJ and I were only at the hospital a couple of hours before he came, but it seemed like much longer as I tried for most of it w/o drugs. Maybe next time... :)

Max is completely enamored and Ted seems pretty pleased to have him here too. I'm feeling great physically-- however I forgot about all the emotional rides that come with having a new baby and not sleeping-- always exciting. TJ is happy and sleepy too.

Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers.

Love love love,

Katie and family