Jess

Our little baby is now a 'toddler'. Well he is walking so does that make him a toddler? He started walking between 15 and 16 months old. He has such personality. Our little ham. He is doing a few sign words to help him communicate better. We verbally understand 'eye' 'nose' and 'mom' and he can sign 'more' 'thank you' 'please' and 'sorry. What more does a kid need? He LOVES to make noise and hear himself yell. So he usually starts a screaming contest with his older brother and sister. We love it when he does that..hmhm. But he is so cute and I still love kissing those cheeks! His hair is growing now, but I love his curls and want to wait as long as I can before we cut them off. I called Katie our character...maybe Jess is more so...

Zane

Zane is so funny! Totally boy! Constantly trying to wrestle with someone! Poor Jesse.
He started preschool this fall and loves it! He asks everyday if today is the day he gets to go. He also turned 4 in November. Wow time goes by fast. He loves ANYTHING BATMAN! So I think everything he got for his birthday this year was batman related; Batman airplane, car, motorcycle, cave, etc.. He even wanted his cake Batman. Now that he has lots of Batman stuff, he needs bad guys and so has been begging for 'Joker' stuff. He did get a Joker motorcycle for his prize because he stopped sucking his thumb!! Yeah!!! We are very proud of him!

Katie

Katie had a fun spring learning new things! She likes her dance class and her softball team. I thought I signed her up for 't-ball' but they put her in 'coach pitch'. For being her first year she did really well. Doesn't she look cute at bat? I thought she looked like a bobbel head with her helmet on, and especially when she ran the bases and her little legs ran so fast! She is my little character!

Update

Wow...Time flies when you have a baby! I thought I had better add some photos of Jess. He is now 1! You shouldn't label children, but Jess has been our hardest baby. Hard because he NEVER sleeps. Still wakes up at least 2 times a night. Ended up with a calcified hematoma on his head, hospitalized with RSV, had mild torticollis and can already throw a bigger tantrum than his older siblings. But he is a cute little stinker and has the cheeks like the rest of us! Good thing he was our last child or we may not have had any more kids....
Katie starts first grade soon and Zane will be going to preschool. Wow...so soon. Right now they are loving their swimming lessons and would stay in the water all day if I let them. Hopefully I will keep this up to date better than I have been....but with three little ones to herd...I can't make any promises:)

He's Here!!

Little "Jesse Gordon Mathis" arrived June 25th at about 4:20 pm. The cord was wrapped around his neck and delivery was a bit "frantic". But he is happy and healthy now. He weighed 6 lbs and 14 oz and was around 2 weeks early--I didn't complain about that. The little chub is following in his brother's footsteps and is gaining weight very quickly. He already weighs over 11 lbs and most of it is in his cheeks:) He has a personality already and wants what he wants when he wants it--hmm..does he get that from his mom or dad? His favorite sleeping position is snuggling on our shoulders. Big sister loves him and big brother always wants him "put down." He is changing so fast..already in 3-6 month clothes. Well, I better sign out and go hold him again before he changes again! I love to kiss those cheeks!

Is It Time?

Technically I still have one month left...well, that's just technically. Physically, I feel like I will have the baby any moment now. It's very true that every pregnancy gets harder...so why do women ever have more than 3 kids? First pregnancy my thoughts were "this is easy..I could do this a couple of times.." Second pregnancy my thoughts were "Oh..this is what women were talking about..oh..that hurts." Third pregnancy and of course a lot older, my thoughts are "Are you crazy? What are you doing? My body never did this before! Never again!" And as I'm writing this, little junior just kicked me hard...can he read my mind? Yes, I have to call him Jr. because we still don't have a name yet.
This last trimester has been a worried one...first the baby's heart beat dips low and so I am having ultrasounds and non-stress tests every week at the labor and delivery dept. But his stats have improved and been almost perfect for the last 3 tests, but then my blood pressure went to 70-something over 40 something and then they were a little "concerned" about me. But yesterday the Dr. gave us both a good report and said I'm at a "4" now...(women, explain that to the men if you want.) So it could really be anytime or 3 weeks. I vote for 1 more week!!

Therapy?

While watching my dog, Meg, just lay around the house and act so bored, I decided she needed a job. I did some research and thought she would make a good therapy dog. My sister, Melanie, agreed to help. I didn't realize that a volunteer position could take up so much time and money. After a 8 hour class on how to be a "handler" and extensive grooming, paperwork and stress, we take Meg to be "tested". A bit stressful for me that someone is judging my dog. Meg obeys commands, greets people, is petted, groomed and hugged. Sounds hard for her huh. She passes with flying colors to be a therapy dog for people in rest homes, hospitals, schools, etc. I now have to take her in to have a physical from a vet, a fecal test, and her teeth cleaned. Then..I have to submit mounds of paperwork to the national organization....Hmm....more work for me (because I have to take kids with me) and money in vet fees and dues. Did I mention this was for therapy? Well..not for me..it is actually stressing me out....but hopefully will brighten the day of someone we eventually will visit and Meg will love every minute of it.