Happy Birthday Preston!

Happy Birthday my little baby boy!  I now have a house full of kids.  No babies here anymore.  What a great little boy Preston is.  We're so glad to have him in our family and to celebrate his birthday! 

We had an easy, relaxing day.  Hanging out and playing together.  Preston loved his new birthday bouncy ball.  I mean LOVED!  I forgot about boys and throwing balls.  The girls didn't do that as much.

He is a sweet and handsome boy.  He is always getting into something, but we love him anyway.  He is trying to say things, but I'm not sure what they are yet.  He loves to bang on things. And lately his favorite activity is going up and down the stairs, and up and down, and up and down....

Preston is eating most things with the family and was quite ready to dig into his own birthday cake. 

He even ate half of the candle....

Happy Birthday Prestomonious!  We love you!

Swingin'

Preston went swinging for the first time today.  He shared a swing with his sister and they had a great time!  If you know me, then you know I HATE pushing swings!  They usually get about 10 pushes and I'm out.  But, how can you not keep pushing when you get to see these little faces light up?

They were so so so happy!  I wanted to push them forever just to see those big smiles and hear those little giggles.  Even in the 90 degree heat.  I love those cute kids!

9 Months

Preston is 9 months old now!  He's growing into quite the little boy.  He loves to eat and chew on things.  He LOVES to hit things.  We think he might be a drummer, he is always pounding on something. 

Sometimes it's your face.

He claps and waves and crawls around like crazy.  He can stand by himself for a few seconds.  And I think he knows and says "mama" for me, and maybe says "hi".  He loves to play with his siblings, especially Noelle.  He likes to knock down blocks and play with anything electronic.

He just recently got his hair cut and he is all blonde now.  The dark hair has officially all been cut off.

He had his first ear infection when we went to his 9 month appointment.  So strange, though.  He'd actually been much sweeter those last couple days.  So, hopefully he wasn't in pain.  Here is how he was looking at the Dr.'s:

Weight: 20 lbs. 2 oz. (50%)
Height: 30 in. (95%)

Crawling

We be crawlin' up in here!

Preston Being Big

I'm not sure how it happened, but Preston grew up today. Yes, all in one day. He turned 7 months today and overnight became a big kid. I really can't believe it.

Preston learned to sit up a few weeks ago, but today he sat up and played at the park with the kids.  He just played in the sand like a real kid. 

Preston standing up in the shopping cart after cleaning the playroom today.  No, he didn't help clean, but he has been with us all day and seems to be more aware of what we are doing.  And he's standing up!  Yes, holding on, but STANDING UP!

Preston playing in Ethan's room with Legos today.  He seems to really enjoy being with the other kids.  Also, today he graduated to 2nd foods baby food and ate 2 whole containers.  Maybe I've been starving him with those tiny 1st food containers, because he gulped those down.

Anyway, I know these aren't major, significant things.  But I just all of a sudden had this feeling of him growing up today.  Of the baby floating away, and being left with this BOY!  I sure will miss having babies around, but if it's possible, I love him even more now.  I can't wait to see who he turns into. 

6 Months

Preston is 6 months old!  We've had him for half a year, not even as long out as in, but I already can't remember life without him.  He is the sweetest, best little baby.  And when I say best, I mean BEST!  He hardly cries, sleeps through the night, and is always smiling.  He has definitely been the easiest of my kids.  

If you see Preston, he may look like this.  He often has at least two fingers in his mouth.  Usually those middle two.  He won't take a pacifier anymore, but those fingers keep him happy.  He's growing up.  Almost all of his dark hair is gone and he's starting to look like a little boy.  He could probably sit up, but he's the squirmiest child alive.  So he can't balance sitting, with all that rocking and wiggling going on.  He is getting in crawling position, but so far no movement.  He can scoot a little, mostly around in a circle.

Preston is eating baby food.  He loves to eat.  He screams when the food is gone.  So far, he seems to love it all, unless it's green.  Then he spits it out all over his bib.  He is starting to be okay if I just sit him in the highchair while I get stuff done in the kitchen.  Not too long, though, or he'll expect some food.

He loves to go on runs with the stroller.  He always seems happy and doesn't cry.  Noelle, on the other hand....  Well, let's just say it's better when she's asleep.  But she does love to look at Preston next to her.  She loves him so much.  They are my closest together.  I hope they'll be good friends.

Preston, at 6 months:
Weight: 17 lb. 1.5 oz. (50%)
Height: 27.75 in. (90%)

4 Months

Preston is 4 months old now!  At his Dr.'s appointment he was doing well.

Weight: 15 lbs. 8.5 oz. (50%)
Height: 27 in. (97%)

He's rolling over and being a sweetie pie.  He loves to laugh and smile.  He is still sleeping great and is good tempered.  I've had pretty good kids, but Preston is awesome!  Such an easy baby!  I may regret saying that.  We'll see what he's like as a teenager....

First Haircut

Preston had his first haircut yesterday.  We didn't take off much, but it doesn't look so crazy now.  Also, I'm loving this picture of him and Avery.  She loves him so much.

The Amazing Presto!

What a great baby Preston is!  Since we moved him to his crib, he has been sleeping great.  He hasn't cried for a minute when we lay him down in the crib.  He just lays there and stares until he falls asleep.  And last night he slept 13 hours straight without waking up to eat.  And 12 hours the night before.  And I had to wake him up both times, so that I could feed him before taking the kids to school.  A-MA-ZING! 

He's every parent's dream and just what I needed for the 5th child.  We sure love him to pieces!

Thrush

Raise your hand if you hate thrush!

Preston has had thrush since he was two months old. He and I (because I'm breastfeeding) have been on Nystatin for a month with no improvement. Someone recommended Gentian Violet. Has anyone ever used this? It's supposed to clear it up within a couple days, using once a day instead of four times a day. Here's hoping.

In the meantime, my poor baby looks like this.

And if you think that's funny, you should see me.

***UPDATE:  Gentian Violet is the way to go!  Two applications and we're done!  I now have a whole bottle of it if anyone ever needs some.

Preston's Blessing

Preston's blessing was Sunday morning.  It was a beautiful blessing and we were so glad that most of our family was able to come.  He looked very sweet in his little white suit.  I thought he looked like the little old men in the temple.  So cute!

All 5 kids!

Here is our adorable little man.

And this is actually our very first ever family picture with all 7 of us.  7?  Good grief!  We're 7 now!

And a family picture with all those that were able to come.  It's so great having our family close by.

2 Months

Preston is two months old now. He is getting bigger and growing up. The last week or two he has been getting crabby, so I think he's really not my sweet sleepy newborn anymore. He's turning into quite a baby.

His two month stats:

Height: 24.5 inches (95%)
Weight: 12 lbs. 13 oz. (75%)



We love to see his sweet smile and hear his little coos. Two of my favorite baby things. He is still eating all the time, and likes to sleep with Mom and Dad. His dark hair is growing out and there is blonde coming up underneath. He is loved to death by his siblings and is mauled daily. But he is mild mannered and takes it all in stride. What a sweetheart!

Happy Smiling Kiddies

Preston with an "almost smile". The kids love him so much and are so happy to hold him.

Preston's Birth Announcement

One Month

Our baby Preston is one month old today. It doesn't feel like it's been that long, but it also feels like he's always been here. I have felt so at peace lately. I can only attribute it to knowing that our whole family is here. I really feel like our family is complete and now we can start living the life meant for our family. I am so thankful for Preston and the sweet addition he has been.


He is such a good boy. He doesn't cry very much and sleeps really well. I guess that's what you need for the fifth one, right? I love the little half smiles he gives and when he will cuddle up to me at night. He's in our bed most of the time right now. No matter how far into the middle of the bed I put him, within minutes he's pushed up against me. By morning I'm pressed against the edge and Preston and Bryce have two feet between them.


I just love this boy to pieces, and life feels so wonderful right now! I am so thankful for such a great blessing!

It's Not Easy Being a Big Sister

Oh, how sweet!

This picture was taken about 30 seconds before Noelle took the block in her hand and whacked her brother with it. Good and hard, too. On the head.

It's hard adjusting to being a big girl. We'll keep working on it.

Hospital Pictures

These are some pictures they took at the hospital and some fun birth date statistics.

Announcing the arrival of a beautiful new baby boy born at Banner Gateway Medical Center, Gilbert, Arizona....


Preston Kent



12:53 p.m.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
21 inches
7 pounds, 13.5 ounces

Delivery Doctor: Eric Huish, DO

Origin of the name Preston: English
Name's original meaning: the priest's village

This day in history

Population:
Gilbert: 208,453
U.S. population: 310,748,818

Sunrise and sunset:
5:32 a.m.
7:35 p.m.

Local weather:
Gilbert high: 108° F
Gilbert low: 84° F

The nation's weather extremes:
High: 115° at Bullhead City, Ariz.
Low: 31° at Stanley, Idaho

The day's Dow Jones close:
12,587.42

Your dollar's worth
Loaf of bread: $2.49
Gallon of milk: $3.85
Gallon of gasoline: $3.78
First-class stamp: $0.44
New car: $21,750.00
Average new home: $201,000.00

Other interesting people born on this date:
1919 - Sir Edmund Hillary - New Zealand adventurer who, with the Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay, became the first to achieve the summit of the world's highest mount, 29,028 foot Mount Everest.
1894 - Errett Lobban Cord - American automotive innovator who produced the exceptional Dusenberg cars and the first popular front-wheel drive car, the Cord L-29.
1836 - Sir Thomas Allbutt - English physician and inventor of the modern clinical thermometer which replaced the foot-long unit that required 20 minutes to record a person's temperature.

Other notable events on this day in history:
1985 - Treasure hunter Mel Fisher began to reap the rewards of years of searching as his team began recovering more than $400 million in coins, jewels, gold and silver from the wreck of the Spanish galleon "Nuestra Senora de la Atocha" off the coast of Key West, Florida in 1622.
1969 - One of history's great adventures culminated as astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the moon .
1942 - A new branch of America's armed forces was initiated as the first member of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACS) began basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.
1841 - Edgar Allen Poe's Murders in the Rue Morgue, considered to be the first modern detective story, was published.

Preston Kent Dopp

Our little boy is here!

Preston Kent Dopp
Born July 20, 2011 at 12:53 pm
7 lbs. 13.5 oz. and 21 inches


We are so glad that he is here safe and sound. The delivery was pretty uneventful. Everything went well. He did have a knot in his cord, but it was loose enough that he was okay. He spent his first day with us pretty sleepy and quiet.

It was a trick.

He has found his voice and opinions already and is keeping us hopping.


This is the very last picture of me pregnant ever! Right before we left for the hospital on Wednesday morning.


We love this sweet little boy. We recognized him immediately. He looks a lot like our other kids, but also a lot like his dad.



The kids were so excited to meet Preston. They love him so much. Even Noelle is turning into a great helper and big sister.

You might remember this side by side of the kids from when Noelle was a baby. Well, we added Preston onto the end. Peas in a pod, those kids!


We love you Preston! We are so glad you are part of our family!

It's A Boy!

It's official, number 5 is a boy. We had our ultrasound today and there was no mistaking. We are so happy and excited and really feel like this little boy will complete our family. And even the score around here a little bit.


Everything else looked great. He seems healthy and normal in every way. He is about 10 ounces and I'm measuring about the same as my due date. He is a little stubborn, though. It took about 10 minutes to get him to turn for a profile shot. He was very comfy the way he was, thank you.

Now comes the hard part...boys names.