Today

October 15, just another day in the October calendar right. Well not for those of us who have lost a child in pregnancy or infancy. Today is the National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the United States. I didn't even know that this day existed until last year when I was reading through a blog I read regularly. I invited you as I do on Jackson's birthday each year to spend some time in prayer remember those who have lost these precious babies. Share your stories with me, know that I am praying for you each time I remember Jackson and baby #4 for us. Jackson would be 6 1/2 now and baby #4 would be almost 3. Though this isn't something that any of us just think about on one day, know that you are remembered today. A tradition with this day has been to drive with your lights on all day. So when you are out and about turn them on and when you do say a little prayer.
Michal Kate and Noah with baby#4 pregnancy test

Catch Up

Okay so this is an Emorie catch up post. She has changed so much. Today marks her 6 month birthday!!! She is officially a 1/2. She is most described as a "happy baby", "poster baby", and "gerber" 's next baby! She loves to smile and likes to be entertained sometimes. So let's get you caught up!
On September 18 she had her first ponytail.


Then this last Saturday, October 10 Eme sat up! She likes this position and does it well most of the time.
Because she sat up, that meant it was time to go to bible class at church. So on Sunday, October 11 she went to cradle roll for the first time.
Here are her 6 month pictures. I decided to take them myself and am pretty pleased. I may do a little more tomorrow. This is the tutu that she will have with her Halloween costume.
Have a blessed day.

This and That

Well at the beginning of the month we went to Paul and Adria's to celebrate Cambri's second birthday at her party. She had a baby doll theme that was precious. Here is the birthday girl looking pretty!

We were blessed that Aaron, Cindy and the boys were able to come up from Houston to celebrate with us followed by Kirk and Linda coming down from Kansas.
Here is Collin with Carlee Jo and Aunt Cindy with Emorie
Aunt Cindy and Carlee Jo
On the 13th Emorie celebrated 5 months. She has changed so much in the last month. She is trying to sit up, though she isn't there just yet, she sleeps in her big bed, rolling over both ways, FINALLY takes a bottle when needed, and eats cereal!
Happy Baby
Emmi with her cow
With her "E"
Her favorite toy
Rolling over
Hope you all have a blessed day!

Soccer Time

Wow, I know it has been about a month, but it has been crazy just getting into the swing of things. About two weeks ago Noah began soccer practices and today was his first game. He is picking it up a little at a time and does very well on the drills by themselves at practice, but hasn't quite grasped the concept of the game setting yet. He has two amazing coaches that Richard and I are very impressed with, both their ability to teach the game to the kids and their effortless enthusiasm and encouragement for the kids. So here we go...every Saturday, nearly between now and Thanksgiving at 9 o'clock. Today was a rainy one so I used my little camera.
Between quartersWaiting for the ball to be kicked in on a corner kick

Noah's kick from the line
Noah's first throw in with Coach Jimmy
In the mix

If nothing else it is going to be fun and he will learn something doing it. Hopefully they won't all be rainy but at least it wasn't hot!

In the words of Nemo...

"First Day of School, First Day of School"

As you can see Jack hadn't been up long!

Well today was the day! Michal Kate, Noah, and Jack all went to school today. After what feels like months of preparation, the day finally arrived and they all got to school on time. A miracle non the less.
Here are the before school shots.
I can't believe that Michal Kate has started Kindergarten. I don't think I am old enough to have one in kinder. She did so well. She walked right in, found her seat, and didn't even look back. I wanted her to want me or need me or something, but something about this big girl...She said she had a great day and loved being back at school with her friends. She also reiterated the fact that starting next week they will have homework every night. WHAT HOMEWORK! I thought I had another year before that started.
Noah has been looking forward to today since last year when Michal Kate went, and he went in like a trooper. There were multiple kids in his class screaming, but Noah couldn't wait. I told him how proud we were of him for being a big boy and being brave. We have the wonderful blessing of Noah having the same teacher that Michal Kate had last year so Noah already knew her which helped I am sure. He has spent the last couple of days hearing from his big sister how Pre-K works! It won't be long and he will be doing all the things that Michal Kate does. His favorite part was that he got to play alot and got to go to two playgrounds! That is a boy for ya!I can't really say that Jack has looked forward to today but he did well all the same! We have enrolled him in a 2 day a week Mother's Day Out program in Mt. Pleasant. I think he is in need of this to help him with some of his attatchment issues. Because he was with us when we dropped the other two off he walked right in and started playing with the kitchen and the train set. He looked so cute walking in the school holding all his belongings. Though he dropped them as soon as we walked in the door even though we weren't at the MDO spot yet.

Pictures inside just like year.
Noah and a little bit of spider-man!
Some shots in their classrooms!
I couldn't help but post this picture of him with all of his stuff!
I am so thankful for an amazing school system that my kids get to be a part of. I pray this year is a blessing for my kiddos and their teachers, friends, and parents.

Emorie Elizabeth 4 months

Well today is Em's 4 month birthday! She is so fun and for the most part a VERY happy baby! She had a stint this month where she didn't feel good and we ended up in the ER. She was just in pain every time you touched her and would scream out of a deep sleep! The didn't find anything wrong and she got over it through a lot of prayer and a couple of days! I love to watch Emorie smile, she doesn't just smile with her face it take her whole body. She is an observer. She watches everything, especially the members of her family. She has such a contagious laugh, but it is hard to get her to that point, she'd rather smile. My saying is she thinks people and things are just "mildly entertaining." This month she became a big cousin! Hard to believe, but I am willing to bet that she and Carlee Jo will be best friends! She wants to sit up all the time, but can't without the Bumbo, and is enjoying her tummy time mat (for as much has she hates tummy time) and her mat with toys that she lies on her back to play with! So...all that said here is a bit of Emorie Elizabeth at 4 months!!!


With her cow
Much to mommy's dismay, she is trying to suck on her finger, but I try very hard to get a "happy" in her mouth whenever this happens.

August, so far

August isn't even half over and it already it has been a filled month with lots more to go. Last Friday I took the kids to Idabel to meet baby Carlee Jo for the first time and give Noah and Connor a last play date before school starts since they are both attending Pre-K this year.
Of course the oldest Castleman girl and the youngest! A proud big cousin!

All the Castleman girls and all 5 and under! Michal Kate 5 Cambri 23 months, Emorie 3 1/2 months and Carlee Jo 10 days
Sitting in the bumbo! One of her favorite spots most of the time!
And of course as the proud Aunt Dana I had to take some pictures of Carlee Jo.
I love these tiny hands
When we got home from their house we eagerly awaited the arrival of our dear friends from Levelland, Sandra and Lezli! That night out of no where and unprompted, Jack took off his diaper and went potty in the potty for the first time. After successfully doing that on demand after that, on Monday I unsuccessfully tried to do the whole underwear thing. Here he is for the first time in underwear! I think once school starts we may have a week or so where we work on this, and I think he'll have it. On Tuesday night he took off his diaper again and ran to the potty and was trying so hard to teetee he pooped in the potty!!!
Proof that playing Spider-man and pirates on the playground can be dangerous. They were just playing, but ya know!
And on Friday, Michal Kate began reading. I bought some sight word cards by the Post It note company and so far she can read 20 words! There are only a couple that she stops on but she is doing great. When I am confident she has the ones currently up I add at least too more. I am so proud of her, she will probably be reading the level one book by Christmas! (If not before)
Sandra and the kids
Lezli and the kids (as good as it gets at 8:30 in the morning)
Sandra and Michal Kate still best buds
Tuesday night I tried to move Emorie into her crib. Thankfully it didn't work, I don't think I was ready. She slept here for about two hours and then woke up screaming. We will try again soon. I am working with her trying to get her back sleeping through the night after the whole ER thing. She is so big, 4 months old today and weighs over 15 lbs! But in this baby bed she looked so tiny!
We are headed to OKC this weekend just for Friday and Saturday and then we are back with one week left until school starts.

Case of the missing Jack Jack!

Okay, so yes, I know we have been here before, but not quite like this. Today I was working at my computer and the older three kids were playing. Normally not a big deal. I looked up and could find everyone but Jack. I got up and began looking around the house and still couldn't find him. Started to get worried, I began checking the doors to make sure they were all still shut and locked, and they were. I of course was calling his name the whole time and when I checked the back door to the car port, I heard giggling, so I left the room still looking. When I turned around this is what I found...
I had to get my camera and get him to peek at me again so I could capture the moment. The first time Jack got in the dryer, I knew about it and he wasn't hiding from me, so this time though his face was precious, it made me a little nervous that he got out of the house of something. At least we know he will keep me hopping!