Making circles

Poor little Matthew slept on his pacifier the other night. He woke up with it suctioned to his face. When Brad went to pull it off, it literally made a huge suction noise. This picture was taken about 30 minutes after he woke up...and the circle stayed in tact for the remainder of the day!

Enjoying the snow!

Sam, LOVED the snow.
Matthew, just hung around for the picture.
Daddy showed Sam all the big "mountains" of snow piled up way so high. It was hard to bring Sam inside. I also think we've exhausted these snow pants. They are size 6 months, and he couldn't even walk in them. I wondered why he kept falling over. Poor guy. He'll have to pass them along to his brother for when we visit in the winter. The 4 seasons is truley what we are going to miss the most about WI.

What shall we eat...

is always the question that is asked at Great Grandma Trudy's house. I just love this picture. This picture reminds me of when I was little staying the night. She would always pull up a chair so I could help her cook or just get something! Grandmas always have the best stash of candy!!! I actually don't even think there is anything healthy in there!

Great memories!

6 Month photos-MJT

And the bruises on his right cheek he can thank his brother for~

AAHH HAA!

We have officially SOLD our Port Washington Condo, and have proof! Last night we received an offer and we close February 22nd. Needless to say, we are excatic! This means we will only have one house payment come March. The best part about the offer, we got our asking price.

Matthew checking in at 6 months

We've finally got the 6 month check up done this morning!

Weight: 17 lbs 2.5 ounces (40%)
Height: 26 1/2" (40%)
Head: 43. 5 (40%)

...and the Doctor passed him a clean bill of heath and admitted us to warmer temperatures down south! Dr. Paley was impressed with his capability to sit up with no assistance and his awareness of the world around him. She also said that his handsome blue eyes will probably stay blue because of the shade!!!

The shots this time were awful. The nurse even commented that he had a good set of lungs on him. I can honestly say I've never heard this type of terror in his scream. He had 3 shots, one of which was his flu shot. Poor little guy is now snoring peacefully on the couch on his back...you KNOW he had a hard morning when he sleeps on his back. Thankfully Brad met me at the Doctors office to take Sam so he didn't have to be locked up in the exam room. The two of them went to Kohls and came back with a little gift for Matthew to cure the tears.

As I left the office with Matthew I realized that our next well check with be in Orange Park Fl. Next week the house is being packed and next Sunday we're off. Where has all the time gone?

Potty report #1

I can honestly say we had NOTHING to do with this one.

The other day I was at a friends house and we were talking about potty training and how we were dreading the idea as the video Elmo Goes Potty was playing as background noise. I said because of who Sam is, I was going to let him drive this milestone. Well, out of the clear blue this morning he came to me and said, "mommy, go poppy on the potty". So, we walked to the bathroom and there he sat. NOW...we did get him a little Bob the Builder child toilet seat that sits on top of our toilet. When we purchased it, about 6 months ago (with wishful thinking) he loved Bob the Builder, but was deathly afraid to sit on it.

Today, totally different story. So, as I was sitting there on the ground with Matthew, I heard it!!!! Sam went pee pee and poo poo on the toilet with GREAT enthusiasm. I had to just laugh as this 1st time session lasted for about 25 minutes and in between doing his 'business' he would whistle and sing just like Elmo did in the video. I think I scared Matthew with my excitement!!!

So, just before I put the boys down for nap I asked Sam if he needed to go and he said "yes mommy". Sure enough, he went again and again, I scared Matthew!!! When I was changing Matthews diaper Sam stated, "mommy, diapers are for Matthew!"

(Is this really happening?)

stay tuned....

Still snowing!

See you all VERY SOON!

Eden and Matthew!

The kiddies!


These pictures bring tears to my eyes. LOOK how much our children have grown! Do you remember the first few days we all met, singing songs at Gymboree when our children could barely crawl? Now we sit back and laugh at Gymboree and our group has grown with our wonderful 2 newest additions, Eden and Matthew! Thank you all for all the great times we've all had. When you think about it, we've done a TON of things together and experienced the best and worst of our children. Yesterday when Sam abrubtly decided that he needed a nap as I pulled out of the driveway Sam said through his tears of tiredness, "mommy, I love playing Nico's house"! I know he will miss you all but we already know you have a date to visit!!! AND..best of all, we have another Girls night out next week!

Little too big

The donations of clothes to the Sam and Matthew fund have been greatly appreciated! Thank you Aunt Heather and Uncle David for your kindness. As you can see, Sam had a ball trying on all the shoes and some of the clothes. Everytime he looks at the bins he says, "try on Joshies clothes". Thanks again!!!

Matthew's first get away & Sam in WI

Matthew, he did EXCELLENT! Much to our surprise, he was on his best behavior. He had a great time on the plane, enjoyed being schluped all around Jacksonville and slept and ate very well.

He did throw us for a loop when he jumped from eating 4 ounces every 3 hours to all of a sudden eating 6 ounces every 2 hours! We were unprepared and went through 2 bottles on the plane. AND...much to our surprise he had a poopie every day!!!! A HUGE success for the tushie! AND...slept through the night!!!! It could of been the humming of the hotel sounds or the exhaustion of boredom as we drove through almost all of Jacksonville, but whatever it was it was GREAT! One morning we had to wake him up because Brad and I were hungry.

Sam...well he had a blast with his Mimi. They hit almost every McDonald's in a 25 mile radius, played at the park, baked cookies, ventured to our local marina to watch the birdies and hung out at home playing 'Doctor' 'Shopping' 'Tunnel' 'Dinosaurs' and 'Playdough' over and over and over and over again and also hung out with Great Grandma Trudy. We did get a report that Sam had a few breakdowns and wanted us, which was hard to hear, but it's good for him to miss us, something that a little distraction took care of the tears.

He is struggling a bit today because now his mommy and daddy are home and now it's back to our rules and routine and I believe he is ultimately bored with us. I said to Brad today that it almost feels like we just brought Matthew home from the hospital all over again. Sam acting 'strange' so we say and just not wanting anything to do with us, or Matthew. But, we know he loves us, but he loves his mimi more!

Thank you Mimi for staying with Sam. As you can see, he had a blast and woke up this morning and said, "where's Mimi?".

1161.59 miles we go

The 4 of us are off on our new Teplin Family adventure. Tentatively, we will be departing Milwaukee February 4th to our new destination, Jacksonville FL. This past week, Brad, myself and Matthew ventured down to pick out our new home. We found it, with great luck on the last day. We love our new Florida home. It is nestled in a great new lifestyle community of Orange Park called Oakleaf Plantation(click here for the website) . We fell in love with all the great amenities it has to offer. Community pools, spray grounds, parks, fitness centers and lots of people to name a few. We had a week full of fun, along with a lot of decision making. But, on Thursday evening, we were very happy with the week we had and are very anxious to make the move, but sad to leave behind all the people we love. But, we will have a 4th spare bedroom and a 3rd bathroom for ALL visitors!!!

Our new home on Acorn Chase Drive

One of Sam's new get aways!

And another get away! They even supply the lifeguards!!!

We're off!

Our journey to find a new home in Jacksonville starts tomorrow! We're leaving Sam behind with his Mimi Sue and we're taking Matthew along for the ride. The boys are going to miss each other terribly, but absence makes the heart grow fonder...right? Matthew will probably be able to sleep w/o a headache as Sam LOVES to push him over and throw things at him.
Wish us luck as we will hopefully come back with a new residence....in a new state.

Since everyone always asks what my feelings are, here they go. Very excited and nervous. However, ever since July when Brad received this news, we kind of feel as though our lives have been on hold. We really haven't had Sam involved in many activities because the memberships run for a few months, and it would of been a waste. We've been so consumed with doing research, we're drained. SO...with that said, we are excited to get on with our lives, find out what is inside the boxes that have been packed now for over a year, open christmas presents and call Jacksonville home for how ever long we decide to stay.

I'm already having Sam withdrawls, but we know he's in good hands! So the picture is for what we call, brotherly love! Do you sense it?

Sleep Wondering, benedryl and hinder tap

It's been a busy past few weeks around here but sleep wondering has been the story of Sam's night the past few months. However, over the past week, it's gotten even more funny. He used to just wonder at all hours of the night into our room, bring his stool and climb into our bed. It was scary when he would appear in our bed all comfortable and cozy and neither Brad nor myself had gave him a lift. It wasn't until Matthew would wake up and I would trip over the stool that was strategically placed at the foot of our bed to give himself a little boost.

The sleep wondering has gone to the next level. The other night I was up around 3 a.m. feeding Matthew. My eyes were very heavy as they started to close and then I heard a little someone opening his door. Sam had no idea I was with Matthew, but basically had no idea what he was doing. Sam came out of his room, bumped the wall in front of him, tripped over a cord, fell on his hands and knees, picked himself up, collected his blanket, dog and pacifiers that he dropped and continued onto our room by the light of the nightlight. Moments later I heard loud footsteps as Brad swooped him up and put him back to bed. NO WHERE in his journey to our room did his eyes open.

This happened again last night. BUT, it didn't happen the night we gave him benedryl. So, in an effort to help out Mimi next week while we're away, we may make the Benedryl available for her to make him stay in his room, peacefully!

Little Matthew has turned on us. We want to believe it's teething, but how long does teething last? If Matthew is anything like Sam (which we believe he is) we should STILL be blaming poor sleep patterns on teething. So, we're being patient with Matthew as he needs us many many times throughout the night, mostly to do the famous hinder tap. All he needs is a few soft taps on his tush and he drifts back off to sleep. Sam it was the darn pacifier he needed all night, Matthew it's the little tap.