Brotherhood: defined

I love my little men and they love each other... most of the time.

It has been interesting to watch their relationship grow and develop.  To watch them try to figure out where each others buttons are and how to push them just enough without getting into trouble.  But in the same breath, be the one they turn to when they do.  

When I lay in bed at night and think of them I picture them as they are above. 

Holding hands.

Looking to each other for guidance.

Laughing together.

However, when I wake up and am actually in the throws of life with them this is how it R.E.A.L.L.Y is...

I will take it.

It is real.

And it makes me giggle.

So there you have it... 

Brotherhood in real life.

Capri: Month 3

Can you believe it... 3 whole months!!  Time is going so fast I just cannot believe it.  I am not sure if it is because she is my 3rd and I am into "mom grove" or because she is my little girl but I am so happy, content, and in love with this little baby.

She just makes my heart happy.

 -you love to smile.  especially at mom... and I love it!

-you just discovered your hands and are constantly fascinated by them.

-you are always holding onto your shirt with your right hand.

-you just started to giggle a little bit.

-you sleep about 8 hours at night.

-you do not like the camera.  You smile and smile until the camera comes up and then the smiles are gone.

-your eyes are still blue... and absolutely beautiful.

-you love your blanket by your cheek when you fall asleep.

-you take most of your naps in your car seat... Guess it comes with having older siblings that are always on the go.

-you made your first "sick trip" to the doctor.  poor baby!

-your arms and legs are constantly moving but yet you still remain so calm.

-you always want to see people.  you can be screaming your lungs out and if we just walk into view you are fine.

-you love your tongue and are always sticking it out.

-you eat about 5 ounces per feeding.

-you can calm anyone who is holding you.

-you are all girl.  even your cry is sweet and dainty.

-you love to keep eye contact with whoever has you.

We L.O.V.E. you our sweet little Capri.  You have brought so much peace and happiness to our home.

Christmas 2010

 Santa made it to our house and it was truly a success.  I gave myself a gift this year.  I decided to allow myself to enjoy the moment rather than spend all of my time trying to document every second of what happened.  It is always such a struggle to know when to just stop, put down the camera, and enjoy my children being children and this year I decided that the first few moments would be documented in print and the rest as memories I will carry with me forever.

 We had the pleasure of having my cute sister and her adorable family with us for Christmas.  Alli and I couldn't help but laugh when we realized that we had unknowingly put all the boys in the same jammies. What are the odds that we would not only have bought the same ones but also put them on them the same night... we must be sisters or something :).

We also were able to have some good friends come over to join in the Chaos of Christmas morning with us and we also had my mom and dad with us via skype.  So it was a houseful.  So fun!

Cade loved everything he opened and wasn't afraid to share his excitement with all of us.  He is truly one of the most fun kids on Christmas morning.  So far the most played with gifts have been their Harry Potter wands and their remote control cars.

 

Beckam on the other hand had to be Convinced to open A.L.L. of his gifts.  He was so focused on all the candy that surrounded him that he had a hard time paying attention to anything else.  He was so worried that Cade would take his candy {and rightfully so} that he wanted to put it in his pockets to protect it.  Only problem, jammies don't have pockets.  That didn't stop Beck.  He shoved all his candy in his "pockets" anyway and carried it around in his pant leg all morning.  It was quite the sight to see him try and get it out.

Maddux was such a sweetie.  He wanted to just hang back and take it all in.  I can't blame the poor kid.... the Nielson boys can be rather overwhelming on a normal day let alone Christmas morning.

He was such a trooper.

And Miss Capri was an angel as always.  She slept most of the time and the boys took turns opening her gifts for her and then attempting to show her what she got.

Although I put down my camera and lived in the moment there was one that I just couldn't miss.  Jared and I have been so excited about having a backyard so we could get the boys a trampoline and it has been one of the best things we have ever bought.  The boys L.O.V.E. it.  They jump at all times of the day and night.

I love that I can look right through my kitchen window and watch them play, jump, and do whatever they can to get my attention.

It was truly a wonderful Christmas.  It was so nice to be surrounded by our family and to join in the excitement of childhood with them.  We feel so blessed.

Capri: 2 Months

...2 months...

10lbs 1 oz

22.5 inches

39cm head circumference

- you are the sweetest little thing ever.

-you are full of smiles.  you can always see your smiles coming before they show up.

- you average 4oz per feeding.

-you eat every 4 hours.  you are awake for 1.5 hours and then sleep for about 2.5.

-you cannot fall into a deep sleep unless you are wrapped up nice and tight.

-you always manage to pull your bows over your eyes when you are in the car seat.

-you spend a.lot. of time in the car but love it {thank heavens}

-you sleep for about 6 hours at night but made it to 9 hours once you hit 9 weeks.

-your brothers constantly smother you with kisses.

-you are a noisy sleeper.

-you have blue eyes. {crossing fingers they stay blue}

-you took your first vacation to California with mom and dad and were amazing!

-you did not like getting shots and let the whole doctors office know it but were totally fine as soon as they were over.

-you are so calming.

-you are finally fitting into 0-3 month clothes.

-we love you to pieces.

Just for Grandma...

You asked and I delivered.  

Love you mom!!

6 weeks old

Side note:  I do love her brothers too... they just don't hold still for the camera as long as she does :)

Capri: Month 1

It has been 4 short weeks since she was born but it feels like she has always been with us.

Amazing how things you love fit perfectly into your life.

A few of my favorite things about you...

-dad and I could watch you for hours... and we often do.

-you love to be swaddled...tight.

-you just barely grew out of newborn clothes and can almost fit 0-3 month sizes.

-you get hiccups all.the.time.

-you eat almost 4oz every 4 hours.

-you are a patient little soul.

-you will go from dead asleep to an ear piercing scream... when a girl wants to eat she wants to eat.

-beckam calls you Pree and smothers you with kisses and hugs constantly.

-cade always wants to hold you and thinks he is way cool when he can stand up with you in his arms.

-i cannot pick you up without kissing you.

-purple is the color you look best in.

-you always burp twice in a row.

-you love your avent binki.

-you love to sleep. 

We all love our sweet little Capri and are so thankful to have her here.

Love you baby girl!

8 lbs 13 oz

21.5 inches

37 cm head circumference

Life

  There is nothing like fall trees.  I love them.

The color.

The crunch.

The memories they stir within my heart.

Not very often, in Las Vegas, do you actually get a glimpse of real fall trees.  As enchanting as palm trees can be at first sight they don't exactly lend much to the fall season.  So when I saw these trees my heart practically skipped a beat.

I was rather impressed with myself.  I had all three kids up, bathed, dressed, fed, and on location by 8 a.m. I wont tell you what I looked like or how Beckam really acted but lets just say neither were very pretty.

Life is finally starting to get into somewhat of a routine.  I still feel a little out of sorts that I have had to replace my normal, leisurely, 10 a.m. workout for a 5 a.m. sleepy eyed run, my enjoyable, quiet shower time with a speedy, chaotic rinse (if I am lucky), and laundry... well... hmmm... lets just say there is a lot of it.

However, how lucky I feel to have these 3 little monkeys.  They have all grown, evolved, stepped up, given a little and loved a lot.

Being a mom is good.  It is amazing.  It is tricky.  It is hard.  It is everything.

I have recently gained a new perspective.  A view from the other other side, if you will.

I had the incredible opportunity of photographing my dear friend Camille as she brought a beautiful baby into this world.  

 

The mom feeling never changes... it just deepens...always