Santa Claus is Coming

Funny Story

Eli was sitting on my lap today while I was on the computer. I was logging on to my email and noticed Eli was saying "papaw". I said, "No buddy, papaw is bye-bye."

As usual, he was emphatic about "papaw". I looked up at the computer screen and chuckled when I saw who he was calling "papaw". Dad, you are truly a star in the eyes of my son!

Even as I am posting..."hi papaw!"

Noah Samuel 4 Months 1 Week

Team Horn Pics

Things Mom & Dad do when they are bored :)

Ta-Da!


Not Impressed?
Check this out!!!

Abs of steel!!!

The next day Eli got in on the action.

Nana and her boy

Kami as Indiana Jones and

Austin as a Zombie Football Player

Blog Time, Long Over Due

Blog Time, Long Over Due
I know I have been a big blog slacker, but seriously…we are busy. Between the boys, Kam’s schooling and my entrepreneuring, who has time?! John has been patient, wonderful and supportive through it all. I couldn’t ask for a better husband.
In case you haven’t heard, or kept up with the blog, Noah is enormous! He is rolling, raspberry-ing, smiling, cooing and laughing. We love our Rolly Polly Nolly! Currently, we are working on cereal, although I think he doesn’t like it much. We are thinking about squash for Turkey Day!
Stats:
Length – 26 ¾” (95%)
Weight – 17lbs 9oz (95%)
Head – (90%)
Elijah is amazing. I can’t believe he is 16 months! He has blown past the developmental skills for toddlers his age and impressed the doctor. He is talking and signing like crazy (real and gibberish). He is going to need tubes and we are scheduling his procedure tomorrow.
Stats:
Length – 32 ¾” (75%)
Weight – 22lbs 4oz (15%)
Head – (95%)…I wonder if these were Elmer Fudd’s Stats…
Congrats to the Kessler and Ledbetter families on their newest additions! Abigail and Preston are adorable! Also, congrats to Aunt Lisa and Jeff!

We are very excited to hear that little princess Danielle Mae is healthy! We can't wait to meet her!

Stay tuned...more videos to come!

More Team Horn Videos...

9...REALLY???

I sat here today, in the midst of chaos, and paused to look at my baby girl. Much to my dismay, her baby-ness is gone. I looked at Noah and tried to remember Kameron at that age. Her face, her smells, her sounds, have all but vanished, replaced instead with a young lady.

Gone are the days where I could entertain her by singing along with the Wiggles. Now singing along with the dreamy Jonas Brothers is "embarrassing MOM!” How I long for the days when she thought all boys smelled like poo.

I am preparing myself for the talks that will inevitably come. For the times when life gets hard, and the times when life gets really hard.

In the mean time, I am trying to remember the way things are now. In her eyes, John and I are still her heroes. We may not know everything, but we still know a lot. We are still her confidants. We are still the ones she runs to when she is learning, loving, laughing and even hurting.

My birthday wish for Kameron is one of love. I hope she always feels loved, even when life gets hard and especially when life gets really hard.

Splish Splash

Noah's Stats...2 months and 1 week

It is no secret, Noah is a biggin! At 15lbs & 9oz and 25.5 inches long, our guy is in the 97% respectively. This is in stark contrast to his older siblings. One thing is for certain, our guy is thriving. Much to Grandma Joan's chagrin he will not be put on a weight loss program anytime soon.

Parky's Farm

New Pictures

Multi tasking in the Team Horn house is a must. With babies 2 & 14 months, I have learned I can nurse and simultaneously lift, block or knock down Eli with a foot, leg or arm. Sounds harsh, but it has served its purpose a time or ten. Noah has slept through the night a few times this past week so we are optimistic.
We are looking forward to another homeschool field trip tomorrow. I am sure Kami will blog about it...so be on the lookout.
My husband requested that we update the photos...so here are a few favorites from our mini photo shoot before bedtime.

P.S. Please don't tell Noah he is sitting in a pink bouncy seat!

Another Team Horn Home Video

WOW!

Move over Scotty Bratcher!
This kid is amazing!

And So It Goes

Our chublet is growing leaps and bounds each day. His reflux is waning with the use of Prevacid, but his eczema seems to be an ongoing battle. We are not exactly sure how much Noah weighs, but he is already inching out of 6 month clothing…gulp! He is scheduled for his two month check-up on Monday…keep you posted!

Elijah has been experimenting with taste lately. Everything he sees he attempts to put in his mouth. This has resulted in several, “EW! Don’t eat that!” and one panicked phone call to poison control (1-800-222-1222…POST IT!).

Kami is doing very well in homeschool. She is keeping a blog, which is more of a creative writing journal. If you want to see what she is doing you can get a glimpse into her world.

There are many families in our homeschool group, and most have eons of experience. I have found this to be extremely helpful. I am very “green” when it comes to this homeschool stuff and I am not above asking for help and guidance. We are slowly getting a groove and she seems to be learning and adjusting well.

We have a lot of field trips planned with other families, joined new clubs and have found the best educational resources. I am amazed and at times overwhelmed. I know it is not everyone’s “cup of tea”, but I am blessed to be able to be 100% involved with our children’s education. Trust me we can totally relate to the lines of questioning we get regarding our decision…we are just beginning to answer them for ourselves.

On a sadder note, Jim's father passed away. My sister and her family are traveling to Florida today. Please keep the Calvert Family in your prayers.

John and I are continuing our post-baby workouts. We plan to be buff-er by the holidays. Our diets are as creative as Aldi’s will allow, but all is well so far!

7 Weeks

I still can't believe how big Noah "tank" Horn is! In the pictures, Eli is 12 weeks and Noah is 7 weeks (today!). We can't even button the neck. He even looks big next to Kami. We are anxious to see what he weighs at 2 months (2 weeks from now).

Can You Repeat That

Elijah is learning words and phrases at record pace.

Listen as Eli adds to his vocabulary!

The Good Life

This week was another one for the books.

Don't worry, we didn't trade Noah in (that was for you Grandpa Ott), although it has been discussed when he is having his bi-evening tirade at 2am. We met Mr. Adam today. Although gestationally there is a day difference between Adam and the big guy, he is three weeks younger...we won't even talk about size.

Noah is continuing to "expand", for lack of a better word. During our visit with Baby Adam, Brian did the famous scale trick to find out how much our guy weighed. The scale showed a 15lb difference...I don't believe it! His reflux seems to be getting better. Three cheers for Prevacid. Thanks again to Aunt Christie for the bouncy seats, even the pink one!

Eli is a maniac. We snapped some photos of him. As you can see, he doesn't sit still much so we have to get them on the fly. The bathtub picture will be saved for first dates!

Kameron is doing wonderfully. We have moved beyond summer reading. As part of homeschooling, she has started a blog. I encourage everyone to check it out.

Team Horn has re-joined the Y. John is working the guns, while I am shaking my bonbon in Zumba class. I love my children, but it feels good to get out of the house for a bit. We also had some one on one time with Kameron at the UC game. We saw the season opener as first time season ticket holders. Yea! At least there is one football team in Cincinnati that has a winning record.

Big and Trouble

We have already touched upon how much my Noah has grown. The picture below is of Noah in an outfit that was too big for Eli. We think it fits our chunky monkey just fine!




My other sweet baby boy is capitalizing on mischief while Mommy is busy with Noah. The following took place during a diaper change.
Team Horn Lesson #1287...don't leave crackers on the table.

Little Big Horn

It has been a month since we welcomed Noah Samuel. Although exhausting, it has been wonderful. Kami has been such a great help, and is very doting. Eli is a typical big bother...doesn't like to see his brother cry, but will throw things at him just the same. Out of necessity, I have learned to nurse on the defensive. Noah doesn't sleep well at night, so John and I are still trying to adjust. This is difficult to do since we have been watching the Olympics until 1 almost every night. Hopefully we will get more rest now that Swimming is over and Noah has been given medicine for reflux.

One of the great things about having boys 12 months apart is convenience. Since they were born pretty much the same size, we figured Noah could wear all of Eli's clothes. We are learning that God has a sense of humor. Noah is 11lbs 12oz and 23.5" (95%) and comfortably fits into 3-6 month clothing. This is much larger that Eli, who at 1 month and 1 week weighed 10lbs 5oz and was 22" and in 0-3 month clothing. Looks like we have some shopping to do!

Introducing Noah

Team Horn Party of 5
We are very pleased to announce our newest member of Team Horn:
Noah Samuel
Noah was born July 16, at 10:21 a.m. At 7lbs 11 oz and 20.5 inches long, his arrival was an exciting one to say the least. We are amazed by his luscious blond locks!

Our Birth Story
As you may know, we do not have arduous birthing stories. That being said, we like a good story just as much as the next person. Never the ones to disappoint, we think it is fitting that Noah entered the word with a bang.
My induction was scheduled because I am prone to “rapid” labors. We arrived at Bethesda North at 5 a.m. after a quick stop at UDF for coffee. It took about an hour to get checked in and ready for the big induction.
6 a.m.: 4cm dilated and 80% effaced
*Not in active labor
7 a.m.: 4cm dilated and 80% effaced (I noted to the nurse that my contractions seemed short and were getting farther apart instead of closer together. She assured me this was normal, and cranked up the Pitocin)
*Still not in active labor
8 a.m.: 4cm dilated and 80% effaced (Again, I noted my contractions were not rhythmic and she assured me this was normal, and cranked up the Pitocin.)
*At this point, I try to convince John to take me home and we can try again the next day. He talks me out of it and we take a nap.
9 a.m.: 4cm dilated and 80% effaced (ARE YOU KIDDING)
*We are told the doctor is on her way to break my water *Not in active labor…still!
9:35 a.m.: 4cm dilated 80% effaced (Water broken)
9:40 a.m.: Active labor has started!
10:05 a.m.: John helps me to the restroom. It is here that I tell him, “I think I need to push”. John’s response, “Are you serious?!” (You should have seen his face!)
10:06 a.m.: John runs out of the room and informs the medical staff that I need to push. Everyone comes running in expecting to find me in bed (they are very surprised when they find me in the bathroom!).
10 something a.m.: I tell the doctor I need to push...NOW! She turns to “finish setting up”. The head nurse helps me get into position to push…then she shouts for the doctor to turn around because “the baby is coming!”
10:21 a.m.: Without the set up of the delivery table, Dr. Bare literally catches Noah!

Because delivery was so fast Noah did have a lot of facial bruising from his forehead to his chin. In addition to bruising, he was also jaundice. We are happy to report both have cleared up and our baby boy is healthy and no longer purple or yellow!

We hope you enjoy the pictures of Noah's first week.