Ellis

Ellis Grant was born on July 5 at 11:30 am and was 7 lbs 3 oz! He was almost named Grant Ellis or Elliot James. But I couldn't stop feeling like his name was Ellis! The boys love him. He is the sweetest baby. He looks like Nolan but likes to be cuddled and held by me. 

His first month was great. I recovered quickly from my c-section. Josh got 3 weeks off for paternity leave and that was great! I teased him he thought it was "project leave" because he wanted to build a coffee table...So I at least made him take the big kids to his moms when he went over to build. Melody took Nolan and Bennett to Phoenix for 3 days and it was amazing for them and for us! 

ONE MONTH OLD

Josh's cousin Lisa made the boys these cute matching sloth shirts. <3 p="">

We went to Patagonia Lake over Labor Day Weekend and had a blast! My dad let us borrow his kayak. We had a great time! I love water and beaches. The boys played happily in the sand. They both loved riding in the kayak. We forgot one life jacket so we only had one so they could only go one at a time. Ellis happily slept in a carrier. We got ice cream on the way home!

 

In other big news, Nolan and Bennett started school at Copperview Elementary! Nolan loves his teacher, Mrs. Rodriguez. I love her too. I am on the PTO Board and I get to work with her. She has the reputation as the best kindergarten teacher and she got "Teacher of the Year" last year. Nolan loves doing handwriting in school .She's also taught him cute songs and ways to sound out words. He loves "Discovery time" and has made lots of friends (mostly girls). He likes riding the bus and buying hot lunch (only when it's chicken nugget day). He has already improved so much at reading and writing! He has about 40 minutes of homework every day. It's kind of a lot but he is a trooper. He has gotten only "green" marks for behavior and has gotten many "bark paws" for good behavior too. I am so proud of him!

Bennett also loves his school, Early Childhood Center, right next to Nolan's school! His teacher is Ms. Sylvia but he has two aides helping him too. He gets speech therapy every day with Miss Tricia. He has improved at coloring, knowing his colors, making two more letter sounds and loves being "big". His speech teacher has suspected VPI like his other two therapists. She also thinks he might be colorblind but I don't know about that...

In other news, before school started, Nolan did a bake sale to raise money for the zoo to save endangered animals. He ended up giving the money to help tigers specifically. I am so proud of him and we had a lot of fun doing it and lots of support from friends and family! He raised $50!

Other pics:

Nolan loves to build things! I love his creativity.

Nolan wants to hold Ellis all the time. He asks me if he's peeing or pooping first though, haha.

Nolan on school picture day.

Playing mini golf. With socks, no less!

The boys like to play "the defense game". They put all the piilows and stuffed animals into the pack n play and jump in it and wrestle.

Nolan's creative way of eating noodles. Oh yeah-ANOTHER big thing happened. Bennett got his g tube out!! He hadn't used it in a year and he still has growing and eating to do but he can do it by mouth! He is still small but is following the curve for weight!

Painting a birdhouse

At the zoo

Josh is busy with working full time, three kids and in graduate school!

Bennett has become quite difficult at night.  He does not go to sleep easily and gets out of bed repeatedly. Nolan never did this so this is new for us. We put him in the pack n play for a while but climbs out of that too.

2 months old!!