Saturday, January 18, 2020

Bode is GROWING!

My poor 4th child. He is not getting monthly or even bi-monthly updates like his older siblings. He is now EIGHT months old, and not a word from me since he was 3 months. Oh well, he is a wonderful addition to our family, even if it means I have less time for baby updates on the blog.

4 months!

This was actually 5.5 months.

Six months.
Love that smile!

7 months.

8 months.
Never stops moving!


Usually army crawls, but every now and then he does a little of this.

We love our baby Bode, and the sweetness he adds to our family. We are now feeling like we are keeping our head above water most days, especially since Bode has become a reliable sleeper and napper. Bode has a happy personality. He loves smiling and making his eyes twinkle. He has very expressive eyebrows that are a dead give away on his thoughts about you. He still loves being around his siblings, and tries to interact with them. He is still quite the wiggle worm, and never stops when he is awake. He has lost some of his hair, but it's still brown. His eyes are big and blue, and very Barlow-esque.

As far as his likes and dislikes go, he loves being on the go, being held facing out, all of his siblings, taking baths, most baby foods, drinking from the bottle, sleeping, and the pacifier. Things that he doesn't like include missing out (he has major FOMO), breastfeeding (except right away in the morning), being stuck in his car seat, and being tired but not in his crib.

Bode has become a predictable and reliable baby. It is wonderful! He is sleeping well, eating at consistent times, and it's helping to keep us all sane. He wakes up in the morning around 6:45am, and eats at about 6:45am, 10am, 12:30pm, 4:00pm, and 7:00pm. He also eats solid food around 12:00pm and 5:30pm. My breastmilk supply seems to have decreased a little bit, as he stopped gaining weight at about 6 months old. I have now been supplementing 2-3 feedings each day with formula, for about 6-8 ounces total each day. At 7:00pm, he goes down for the night with a bottle and a couple minutes of cuddling. The cuddling is for my benefit! :) He sleeps all  night long and it's amazing! He's gone down for sitters multiple times, and it's so nice to have a little freedom every now and then!

Bode has reached several milestones over the last few months. He starting rolling over, both directions, pretty early, just before 4 months old. He has been army crawling since he was about 6 months old, and pulling up to his knees for a few weeks now. He spends a lot of time on his hands and knees, but goes down to an army crawl when he wants to move. He just started saying, "ba," and "da" consistently, and it's super cute! He was an early teether too. He popped his first tooth through at 4.5 months old and had 8 by the time he was 7 months. He's eating lots of baby food, and some table food. He seems to prefer baby food to table food so far, but hopefully that changes soon because table food is so much easier. I don't know his exact weight, but I do know that he is up over 18 pounds, wearing size 9 month clothes, and size 3 diapers.

BoBo has completed our family perfectly! We love him so much! 

Merry Christmas 2019!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from our family to yours!

We had lots of fun doing many of our Christmas traditions and activities this year. It's such a wonderful time of year, made even better by the excitement of our children! Here's a quick recap:

Christmas tree hunting over Thanksgiving break.
This cute little tree farm is just down the road from us, and we've made it our go-to place since moving back to Rochester.

Decorating the tree in matching PJs.

The final product!

We love visiting the "real" Santa each year. 
All 4 of the kids gave us a smile!

Special delivery!

We were a sight for sore eyes at the Orthopedics Department holiday party this year.
Andy and Heidi Sems gifted the OTS team and their wives these festive ensembles!
It was a blast!
L to R: Jon and me, Woodie and Nicole, Kristen and Brandon, and Heidi and Andy.

We had Ninjabread Men on our outfits!

The guys were a hit!

Kylie and Brooks performed in a Christmas musical at school.

Brooks was an angel! :)
He has the silver halo on.


Kylie had a singing duet, and one speaking line.

The kids wrote very sweet notes to Sweet Pea, our Elf.


We spent Christmas Eve with the Barlows.
Grandpa Doug, aka "PeePaw," with Bergen and Quinn.

Quinn with Great Grandma Darlene.

She was very proud of her tower.

Annual cousins gingerbread building.
L to R: Bergen, Brooks, Espen, and Kylie

Kylie and Espen's creation!

All dressed up and ready for church!

The Barlow Bunch!

PJ Tradition!
L to R: Bergen, Brooks, Quinn, Espen, Kylie with Bode, and Elias.

On Christmas morning, we opened presents at our house.
This was the only picture I took!

Quinn and Tori.

The King Crew!

Happy 7th Birthday, Brooks!

Happy 7th Birthday to Brooks!


Brooks is a kind boy with a tender heart. He is still pretty shy, and I'm learning that he's extremely introverted as well. He loves just being at home spending time with his family rather than being out and about. He actually gets a little feisty sometimes when he can't spend as much time at home as he would like. He is continuing to come out of his shell and is seeming to be less anxious in new situations. He is sweet, creative and hard-working. He is also a great helper with Quinn and Bode. We love watching him learn and grow!

Here are some of his favorite things:
Favorite color: red
Favorite animal: tarsier
Favorite TV show: "Mr. Rogers"
Favorite food: spaghetti and meatballs
Favorite toy: beanie boos and pokemon cards
Favorite lunch: pancakes
Favorite outfit: not fancy stuff
Favorite snack: popcorn
Favorite song: "Head Full of Doubt" by The Avett Brothers
Favorite book: the Bible
Best friend: Bennett and Blair and Austin, Boston, William, Henry and Finn
Favorite holiday: Easter and Christmas
Favorite season: winter
Favorite sport: wrestling 
Favorite school subject: PE and reading
Favorite thing to do outside: run around
Favorite thing to do at school: Fun Friday
What do you want to be when you grow up? shoulder and elbow doctor
Birthday dinner: Spaghetti at home

Some more of his favorite things include...playing at home, building with legos, learning about animals/dinosaurs/aliens, watching Mr. Rogers and Ninja Warrior, reading books, doing science experiments, hanging out with Jon, running, wrestling, football, skiing, exploring in the woods, playing in the snow, all kinds of fruits, playing imaginative games, playing catch, exercising with Jon or me, and visiting his cousins!

A few things that he dislikes...new social situations, unexpected transitions or activities, playing alone, being told no, admitting he was wrong, saying sorry, practicing things that are hard, picking up his toys, corn (he still has a true aversion), nightmares, wearing pajamas, swimming without goggles, and disappointing anyone.

As far as milestones go, Brooks has become and excellent reader. He is reading basic chapter books with little to no help. He likes to do basic math problems, and is learning fractions, basic multiplication, and time. He is now self-sufficient and can brush his teeth, get dressed, put on all of his outerwear, make himself breakfast, pick up his toys, and get himself water. He still seems to be fairly athletic. He likes to wrestle, and works hard to not get stuck on his back. He loves to go fast - running, ice skating, sledding, skiing, you name it, speed is his thing!  

Brooks weighs around 51 pounds, and is about 48 inches tall. Brooks wears size small or 6/7 clothes, and size 13-1 shoes. 

We are so blessed to be Brooks' mom and dad!

Happy 9th Birthday, Kylie!

Happy 9th Birthday to Kylie!


Kylie is the sweetest girl, and best big sister. She is so helpful to me with Quinn and Bode, and she and Brooks are mostly the best of friends. She loves to hold Bode, and snuggle with us on the couch. We love our biggest girl, and can't believe that she's already half way to eighteen!

I asked Kylie about some of her favorite things again. Here are some of her answers:

Favorite color: sapphire blue
Favorite animal: cheetah 
Favorite TV show: "Spirit"
Favorite movie: "Lady and the Tramp"
Favorite food: corn 
Favorite drink: water
Favorite toy: Roscoe (beanie boo)
Favorite lunch: pancakes at school
Favorite outfit: t-shirt and athletic pants
Favorite snack: chocolate peanut butter bars or popcorn
Favorite song: "Dibs" by Kelsea Ballerini
Favorite book:  "Warriors" series
Best friends: Annabelle, Halle, Hannah, Lauryn, Addison, Anna, Tori
Favorite holiday: Christmas
Favorite school subject: reading and writing
Favorite thing to do outside: play in the snow
Favorite thing to do at school: Friday Fun
Favorite thing to take to bed with you: Roscoe
What do you want to be when you grow up? a baker
What did you eat for dinner on your birthday? Chester's

A few other things she likes...Reading,  doing math and computer programming, playing board games and card games, playing make believe games with friends, basketball, tennis, volleyball, gymnastics, eating dessert (especially chocolate), making crafts, drawing, helping out around the house, and playing with her friends.

A few things that she dislikes...Saying good-bye to visitors, getting in trouble (which doesn't happen too often), brussels sprouts, raspberries, blackberries, and most melons, wearing jeans, and having her hair combed.

I'm trying to think of a few milestones over the past year. They are harder to track now that she's growing up. She loves to read independently. According to her teacher, she is reading at a fifth grade level. She taught herself computer programming using Kahn Academy. It is fun to watch her learn and grow. She works so hard and rarely gets frustrated.

As far as gross motor skills, she is working on becoming better at different skills through sports and activities. She is currently playing basketball and tennis. She will continue with tennis and start volleyball and swimming again this spring. She is growing in her skill in all of those sports. We also have a family ski pass again this year, and she has been enjoying downhill skiing. She is still playing piano, although we are taking a break this winter, but enjoys that as well.

Kylie still likes to sleep, and sleeps from about 8:00pm-6:45am. She goes to school from 7:35am- 2:45pm, and then stays at after school child care at school until about 3:45 until I pick her up. She eats well, and willingly tries most foods! She likes both school hot lunches and cold lunches from home. She has lost at least 8 teeth. They are all grown in. We're waiting for a few more to fall out in the next few years before she gets braces closer to middle school. She is a teeth grinder as well. The dentist thinks she may grow out of that, so for now, we're just letting her grind away.

She recently weighed in at 71 pounds, and she is about 56.5 inches (4'8.5") tall. She is wearing mostly size large or 10 clothes, and size 3.5/4 in shoes.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Ninja Warrior Birthday Party!

This year, Kylie and Brooks both wanted to have a Ninja Warrior birthday party. So we decided to combine it again! We were scheduled to have it mid-November at JETS, but then a pipe burst and we had to reschedule for the following week. A day before the party, I got a call that the gym was still not completely put back together. We decided to still have it there even though they couldn't use a lot of the equipment. It still ended up being a good time, and they didn't charge for it, so it was cheap too! :)

The birthday kids!
Kylie turned 9, and Brooks turned 7.

Quinn was so cute in Kylie's old leotard.



The whole group!

Halloween 2019!

This Halloween we did another family costume. We went as some Harry Potter characters. Bode was Harry, Kylie was Hermione, Quinn was Crookshanks (Hermione's cat), Brooks was a cornish pixie (a mythical creature), Jon was Dumbledore, and I was Mrs. McGonagall. For the 3rd year in a row, we trick-or-treated in the Camp's neighborhood. Erica made soup and chili for dinner, and then the kids and dads headed out for a couple of hours of trick-or-treating. The moms stayed back to hand our candy. It was so fun!
Annual Barlow pumpkin carving contest!
L to R: Not Jack (Brooks), Owl (Kylie), Cat (Quinn), Heart Eyes Emoji (Kylie), Funny Face (Brooks), Skull (Jon)

Carving!


Happy Halloween!

Trick-or-Treating at Grandma and Grandpa King's.

Little baby Harry Potter.

Kylie, Halle and Annabelle.

Emme, Quinn, and Meredith.

Cute little Crookshanks.

The family ensemble.