3 Years Ago Today

I married my best friend, the father of my children, my soul mate, my high school sweet heart, my first love, etc etc. Somedays it seems like just yesterday that I was sitting there while he read the letter I wrote asking him to be my boyfriend on the day before Valentines day. Other days it seems like we've been together forever, after all it'll be 13 years Feb 2013. I love Joel more than I've ever loved anyone. He's had my heart long before that day I gave him the letter.

2000 when we started dating

engagement pictures

Pray Request~Issac

I found out this week that my cousin's 5 year old son Issac was diagnosed with leukemia.They live in SC. He has a little sister name Silvia. The Drs said they caught it in time for treatment outcome to be a positive one.

*Pictures borrowed from my cousin's fb page*

Christmas Is Coming

Yes my friends it's that time of year again. CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

I'm not sure why I've been having such a hard time over the last year or so keeping up with this blog. I used to do so good. Dunno what it is....I mean sure the 3 boys keep me busy and all but I find time to Facebook...Sure I've had to stop writing twice since I started this post, once to save my 1 year old that got stuck in the kitchen cabinet and again to pour the sleepy 4 year old some milk. The boys have been awake since before 6:30am and are in need of naps or maybe its mama that needs a nap. Anyways......The kids are doing good. We've been in NY for almost a year now.

Alex is doing great in school. His teacher just loves him. He needs to work on not yelling out the answers and letting others have a chance but his teacher said he's always right lol. He's learning to read and doing good at it. He says he loves math and he learned to tie his shoes (thanks to Mr Paul making him sit and practice till he learned). He told me he wants to spend his summer in SC again this coming summer. I told him I'd have to see what I could do. He's made 2 good friends up here and they take turns spending nights with each other on the weekends and let me tell you have 5 boys in the house is fun lol.

Eian is learning so much in school. His communication has improved so much. He still has a lot to work on, but he's finally putting 3-4 words together to make a sentence. Even if it is "dada woo phone" he still got his point across telling on Will for playing with daddy's phone. I wish communication was as easy for him as it is for his brothers. We are trying to find away to get him an Ipad to use to help with it, but that will be after tax time before we can make it happen. I'm working on making him a picture wall to help at home. His behaviors are about the same, still hitting, biting and throwing things when he gets made which is very often. He finally got a one on one aide at school, hopefully that will cut down on those behaviors at school. After the new year I'm gonna work on getting him so respite care from the Army (he qualifies) so that I can get a small break. We are still no were near potty training but he's gotten to the point where only diaper he doesn't wet threw are the over night ones.

Will is so much like Alex and Eian it ain't funny. He talks nonstop and is a mean little thing. He has started talking back. He loves to dance and play with his brothers. He thinks he's just as big as they are. He's still a little peanut at under 24lbs and still in size 3 diapers. He loves to help mommy around the house. This year is gonna be a fun Christmas for him now that he's older. I need to take him back to the dr he's got one more shot he needs to get.

Oh did I tell you I've had to stop 3 more times since the last time. Dirty diaper, pour Alex a drink and get little kids outta my bedroom where daddy is sleeping. We are going home for Christmas, we leave in 13 days. I can't wait I miss the South and my family and friends. I miss my Shuggy dog too. I'm almost finished wrapping gifts. I got a few more bows to make before I leave for Christmas and clean the house. I asked Joel last month what he wanted for Christmas and he told me there wasn't anything he wanted so we decided to have a real date night while we are home. Just me and him, no worrying about kids, sitters, or anything. So family is gonna watch the kids and we are gonna have some much needed us time as our Christmas gifts to each other. I can't wait.  Well I guess I better finish up the tiny kid got quite and no telling what he's into.

Monkmee Family Update 8-28

I've been lacking in my actual blogging so here goes a REAL update. He he!
Mama Monkmee

I'm doing pretty good considering it's been 2 weeks since I dropped of Joel for basic training. But then again he was in holding for those 2 weeks and got to text and call a couple times a day. Now he's in actually training as of yesterday and his phone has been locked up. 14 weeks and he'll be home. I'm keeping myself busy with the kids, my blog reviews, and extra stuff I'm taking on even though I probley shouldn't but it keeps me busy. I've gotten 3 letters so far from him and thats awesome.

I'm working on my HTML and coding skills. I've only been doing my own blog layouts (as you've seen me change countless times) but I sat down with my friends blog and gave her a bloggy makeover for taking Alex to school in the mornings for me. Indeed I Am Blessed, she loves it, me, eh I still wanna improve it. But I'm a little OCD when it comes to my grapic skills. Im trying to improve them. This is just my list for today!

Daddy Monkmee

He said he was doing good. He said he misses us more than he thought he would but he was ready for basic to start so he could do what he had to do and finish so he could come home to us.

Alex Monkmee

Alex has been in school for over a week now. He's doing good and enjoys it. they go by a color system. Green is good, Yellow means they got a warning, Orange is they were redirected, Blue is they loose privlages, and Red is a phone call to parents. He's been on green everday until Wednesday he got yellow for talking after his teacher told him to stop. Imagine that Alex talking. LOL. Mr I talk in my sleep cuz I never shut up lol. But other than that he's been doing really good. I got him a job chart yesterday and I got it filled out and hung up. I'm trying to get them on a schdule. I also have a bunch of pre-school and 5k work books he's gotten and we gonna start doing a page a day. He's starting fall soccer on the 7th with his best friend and godbrother Curtis. That should be good for him.

Eian Monkmee

Eian is doing good. It's a fight to get him to wear his glasses. He misses his daddy, he's had the most trouble adjusting to him being gone. He's a total daddy's boy! He starts 3k the 2nd week of September. He'll be going 3 hours a day 5 days a week, just like Alex did for 2 years. Eian is completly off the bottle and we are getting ready to see if he's ready for potty training. He's talking more and more and still signing good. He loves to dance and I'm thinking about putting him in dance classes.

Will Monkmee

Woo was almost 18lbs at his 4 month check up. Dr said he was perfect and keep up the good work breast feeding him. He's rolling all over the place, trying to sit unsupported, and discovered toys. I had to start buckling him in his bouncy seat cuz he leans over and has tumbed out once. My mama got him a stationary play chair and he loves it.

Wordless Wednesday- A Pictures Worth A Thousand Words

Happy 1st Anniversary To Me!!!

One year ago today I married my best friend, my soul mate, the only man I'll ever want. Even though we have been together 10 years and have 3 kids, we only got married last year. We had been together 9 years and had 2 kids shortly (6 days) after we got married we found out we were expecting Will. In 8 days I'll be dropping him off for basic training he'll be gone 15 weeks. We've had a great year, mostly ups and a few downs. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

2001

2009

Meet Sylas

This is my new "nephew" Sylas Rainn.

Born: July 30, 2010

Time: 7:57pm

Weight: 8lbs 1oz

Length: 19.5 inches

Mommy & Daddy: Chris & Nikki

Outta Town

Happy 4th Of July

I'm leaving tomorrow and will be outta town with my family until Friday. I have my Summer Bash Giveaways set to auto post everyday until I get back so no worries on missing the giveaways.

The Mama Behind The Blog

Wanna know more about Mama Monkmee? Ok here goes. I'm Dawn aka Mama Monkmee. I'm 26 and have 3 little boys, Alex (5), Eian (32 months), & Will (2 months). I'm married to my high school sweet heart Joel.

I started blogging on MySpace on August 23, 2005 my 1st blog entry was.
"Hey everyone. It's me Dawn, and for those of you who dont know me you will very soon.

I just wanted to get this up and running , now I must get back to Alex.
Dawn's the name, Mama's what they call me!"

Not the greatest but everyone has to start somewhere. I moved over to blogger on May 10, 2008. I choose the name Mama Monkmee cuz I loved monkeys and my oldest son Alex called them monkmees.

I blog about my life the ups and downs of raising 3 boys all 30 months apart, my life long love of Joel(ok half my life), my son's Down syndrome and anything and everything in between.

I was your typical 23 year old mom of 1 son and another on the way when Eian was born with Down syndrome. It changed my whole life. It made me a better person. Most importantly it made me a better mom. I wouldn't change Eian for the world. I love him just the way he is.

So me, well I'm a computer geek. I love making graphics. My biggest passion is photography. Although I've been slacking in my photo taking. I deal with anxiety issues. I get stressed out super easy. I used to be a cutter, but I've not gone that route in years. I wont lie life is stressful being a SAHM of 3 small boys. Eian has therapy twice a week outside of the house. It's a 45 min drive to and from his therapy. He also has Early intervention once a week at our house.

I have 2 on bottles, ok not really I have 1 on a bottle and 1 on the breast. I have 2 in diapers. I use cloth diapers, most of the time. I try to live green. I love text messaging. I've been married for 10 months. I got pregnant with Will the night of my bachelorette party. Lol I found out I was pregnant 5 days after I got married.

My 5 year old is a video game nut just like his daddy. He'd play all day if I let him. My 2 year old knows more sign language than I do. My 2 month old is spoiled.

I'm real and this blog is about my real life. I started doing giveaways to give me something todo while nursing Will since I spend a good bit of time hee at the computer.

My husband leaves in 2 months for basic training with the Army. He'll be gone for 16 weeks He'll miss mine, his  and Eian's birthdays. He'll be home in time for christmas. then he'll be gone again. Me and the boys are stay here until next summer when we will join him provided he's somewhere we can go.

If there is anything else you wanna know about me, the boys, our life anything leave a comment and I'll answer it. Thanks

2 Months Already...Where Did Time Go!

It's hard to believe that he's changed that much in 2 months.  Will is 2 months old today. I'm so blessed to have 3 wonderful, smart and healthy boys. and in 5 years I will have my little girl. Yes with Joel going Army we will be able to adopt our little girl in 5 years and not 10 like we planned. I'm so happy.

I got fluffy mail today and gosh it makes me happy.

I got 15 small BumGenius AIO diapers (I have 5 more on the way) Now I can Cloth Diaper Will fulltime no more sposies. WooHoo!

I got this awesome Nursing Necklace (I'll write more on it later)

I also got E's new sandals (they squeak) and a couple things to review to giveaway here on Mama Monkmee. I have some pretty cool things coming up here in the next few weeks. Stay tuned!!!

Life With 3 Boys

Ok first off my blogging has been very lacking for months and I apologize. I will do better, I promise.

Second who ever said going from 2 to 3 kids was easier than going from 1 to 2 must not have had a High-maintenance 5 year old and a special needs 2 year old. Then throw in a colicy 1 month old that wants to nurse all day. I'm going outta my mind some days. But really guys it's not that bad and we are adjusting. We have had some new behaviors pop up with the kids that we are working really hard to stop since Will came. I know it's just jealousy issuses but they do make day to day life very difficult some days. Alex started talking back, being just down right mean to Eian, threatening me, trying to bully me, etc. He loves Will but man he's worst this time than he as when I had Eian. I really thought he'd be the one ok with a new baby since he'd already done this once. I was wrong. I worried about Eian and a new baby. Eian has been wonderful with Will, I have to remind him to be gentle and no he isn't old enough to pick Will up yet (he's tried and actually done it once before I could get him), but over all he's adjusted just fine. He's jealous of him but mainly when he's sleepy he wants mama or if my mom holds Will, Eian's not a fan of that. Eian has learned that if mommy is nursing the baby he can do things he'd normally get in trouble for and since i'm tied down feeding the baby he doesnt get in trouble right away. Man the messes that kid can make. But you know what, I can deal with that.

Ok so on to other news.

Alex's 4k graduation is this Tuesday and his last day is Friday. I'm so proud of him and everything he has learned. He can count pretty high (I heard him count to 30 something yesterday counting pennies) he knows his ABC's, he can spell and write his name and several other 3 and 4 letter words. His speech is improving but I really think he'll end up in ST in the fall when he starts 5k, which is just fine. I registered him for 5k last month and he's so excited. He starts August 18th. It's gonna be a change for him he's been in a private chruch preschool for 2 years now, just 3 hours a day. He's gonna be in public 5k and it's all day, but he'll be just fine.

Eian is doing great, he's talking more and more. His speech has really took off since having tubes put in his ears in Jan. I'm amazed everyday. Friday he learned to drink from a straw (he still forgets to swallow the drink sometimes and it comes spitting out, like it did yesterday in my eye) he's so proud of himself. He clapped and danced everytime he did it right. We've been working for a year now trying to get this and he couldn't until now. We made the decision to send him to the same private preschool that Alex has been in, with "typical" kids his age and not the special needs preschool this year. So Eian starts 3k in Sept. it'll be just 3 hours a day 5days a week, but I think it will be great for him plus he'll still be getting his private therapies at the hospital.

Now on to my littlest monkmee. Will is doing great. He's a little piggy. he was 7lbs 4oz when he was born at one month old he was 10lbs 10oz. We have already had to pack up the newborn clothes and move to size 1 diapers. He's been a little colicky the past few days. I'm pretty sure he has reflux just like Eian. He fits in just fine in the family lol. He's too cute sometimes when he's sleeping he'll smile and then giggle.

I don't think I've talked about it here yet, but come August we'll be an Army family. Joel decided to go a head and enlist. He leaves August 15th for 15 weeks of Basic training down in Georgia at Fort Benning. He'll be home the 1st week of Dec. it's gonna be a big change for us. Me and the boys will stay here in Union proli til next summer after Alex finished his 1st year of school and after Wwill's 1st birthday. Then more than likely we'll join him where ever he's stationed at if we can.

I guess thats all for now. I better run. But before I go I leave you with pictures.

Eian after he helped himself to holding Will

Eian walking like a big boy with his monkey from therapy

Will just hanging out with his mama

Alex's 4k school pix

A few of Will's 1 month pictures I took

His 1st bath

Getting fat

Alex multitasking. Holding Will and playing the xbox.

Updates All Around

Ok as far as the ants. Yuk. They crawled in my car from our grass outside our yard has been over run with the dang things this summer. This is not the 1st time they've gonna in the car but it's the worst. It's Thursday and i'm still finding the little pest in the car.

I sprayed the whole car inside and out with ant spray. Guess it needs another good spray.

Eian is doing good. He's going through a growling phase it's too cute. I worry about how he's gonna take to a new baby more than Alex. He's just so rough sometimes. He even gives rough love.

Alex starts school after labor day. I'm so ready. He's excited about the baby. He's sure it's a girl. lol he's watching Diego and the baby hatched from an egg and he asked me whens my baby girl gonna hatch. lol

I'm doing ok other than bad head aches. I had them when I was pregnant with Eian. So hopefully when I get in to the dr, he can put me on some meds for them like with Eian.

Joe's happy. I think he's wanting a girl this time. But he's not gonna come out and say that.

We have picked out names
If it's a girl She'll be Sofi Natalya and call her Sofi
If it's a boy He'll be William Zackary and not sure if we gonna call him Liam or Zack.

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks married lol. I'd say we doing good. I'm happy Joe's happy.

My sister left Tuesday for college. I talked to her last night and she seems to be enjoying it so far.

Guess What We Are Getting As A Wedding Gift

Great Weekend

My mom finished my flowers hard to see i'll get a good pix today when i go see them

I had a great shower it was small but I enjoyed it. My wonderful sister did a great job putting it togther

These are the goodies we got. I finally have my red and black dishes woohoo

Alex being silly shopping the other day. He wanted to ride in the buggy like this the whole time.

This is an older one my aunt sent me yesterday Alex being silly at home depo.