Chillaxin' in the Tub

Someone is ready to hit the hay.

Tummy Time

Which today included giving Sophie the Giraffe some serious CPR.

Scrunchy Face

Today Baby Sean developed a new trick: the Scrunchy Face.  It means, "I'm so happy! You're so funny! I have the funniest brothers in the world! I no longer have the black lung cough!"

So many blessings for a little guy to count!

Winter Sickness Upon Us

Too many of us have been sick in the last week, and the littlest are lingering.  Here's Sean at the start of it, last Thursday, and Kyle today. Both kiddos are still sick. Me too. But things are looking up!

Excersaucer Smiles

Mesmerized

Wednesday night I had a cheesecake to make for Thursday . . . and watching the mixer is one of Kyle's all-time favorite activities.  We introduced Sean to it, and he was captivated.  He even forgot to be fussy since he forgot that he was sleepy.  He is still sleeping in the baby buggy, which is in our en suite; which is where Deacon was pretending to be a submarine or shark or something, so Sean had to wait to go to bed, until his "bedroom" was vacant.

The cheesecake was delicious, even if I overcooked the crust by setting the setting for 25 degrees higher than called for.  But what were to do? Not eat the cheesecake . . . never a good option.

Henry's Hat

 My favorite hat model, modeling a hat-me-down from another sweet buddy.

Seriously, did I end up with four of the cutest kids, or what!

Everyday Busy

December is a busy month! I love seeing what all my little guys are up to in the same minutes, and this was it.

So far we've given Sean his Christmas gift early: a rain forest jumperoo, which he loves! Deacon dresses himself in his birthday camo as soon as it cycles through the wash, and he spent a quiet morning playing with the hand-on Nativity set, being sure to include Captain America.  Kyle has adopted a new diversion: find two of the same book (don't ask me why we have multiple copies) or similar copies (such as two Babars, pictured above); he'll sort of read both at the same time (from memory).  A cute variation of this game is when he gives me a copy to really read, whilst he follows along and repeats after me--his language is getting so great! And then we have poor sicky: Bryce.  The boy with the iron constitution fell to the curse of the black lung.  He coughed so much that he threw up multiple times, and throughout the missed school and mom-mandated rest til your bored to tears, he always (and I mean always) had the best of attitudes.  No whining, no complaining, no fussing, no milking it. Although I wish he hadn't gotten sick, it was such a wonderful part of his character to observe--we were so proud of him!  And when he was finally well enough to tackle his homework, he attacked with enthusiasm and drive.  What a good buddy.

Early Morning Storytime

Often Phil is already at work by the time everybody is up, so the mornings when he is home are soooo great.  He'll make a great breakfast, and make sure everybody is all snuggly-d up and ready to be cheerful.

Big & Little

Bryce is so great with Sean.  He get the biggest smiles and arm waves of anyone.  

How I manage to ever make dinner

Deacon is so good with the baby.  Deacon is so good with Kyle.  He is just a fantastic kids all around, and I sort of never want him to get any bigger.

Mirror Smiles

Sean discovered himself in the mirror . . . maybe.  I think he really just loved seeing his Daddy, and it made him really happy.  So cute.

Clarifying Questions

First, let me set the scene.  Last night Phil was next door discussing a project with our neighbor, Sam.  Sam and Mary live there, and they are very nice but not people we click with.  They hold drumming and bonfire parties for almost every solstice and shoot off fireworks that are a delight to our kids. (I know so little of them, that I'm not even sure of the last name.)  Well, tonight I tried to reach Phil about 4:30 pm to lobby for him to pick up a pizza on his way home.  Alas, when your husband is rolling trusses he's not frequent with the phone answering (unless it's the emergency code of wife: you know, two close together calls).

We had nothing in the house for dinner, but when Phil and I finally connected he right away turned around to run one errand for me, and I didn't have the heart to mention a pizza errand too.  However, I lamented, "I'm pathetic, we have nothing to eat for dinner.  I'm *planning* tomato soup and grilled cheese".  Phil loves these foods, and is gracious, and was hungry enough to eat straight Velveeta cheese like product, so he (I'm not kidding) cheerfully replied, "I'll make that as soon as I get home". He could hear Sean wailing in the background, and I'm sure, sense the thin ice in my voice.

Turns out we didn't even have good bread for grilled cheese.  So, after our gourmet cheese quesadillas and tomato soup (can we talk about have psyched the boys were for this meal???), I fed Sean and then gave him bath in his new wash pod (for which he coos his love, and sobs his distress at being separated from), then Phil took him on a little walk about outside.  

As I was later clearing the table, Phil told me about his walk with Sean: "I took him around and we saw Mary.  But I didn't get too close.  Mary smelled Sean's feet, but I pulled him away before she licked them".

WHAT!??

Now, when Sean was super squeaky new people kept telling anybody who would listen to smell his head.  But his feet?  I hadn't heard anyone comment on his sweet feet . . . and I know that Sam and Mary sort of move to the beat of a different drum than we do . . . but . . .

Trying to hide how creeped out I was suddenly feeling, and miraculously managing not to curl my lip as I monotone-ly said, "Sam and Mary, Mary?"

Phil replied: "Mary, our cow".

And, people, that's why you only give your livestock animal-names.

Buggy Time & a Violation

The buggy of my youth is coming in handy (my Grandma Jeanne bought it for my mom way back in '79).

Sean sleeps in it every night, and I can just wheel him into the en suite . . . so handy!  He loves being outside, either in the buggy or carried. I'm also really enjoying seeing him grow into cute outfits from family and friends.

Today he would not nap, so I resorted to a major violation--tummy nap.  And have been checking him constantly for breathing.  He can lift up his head, but still . . . 

Mommy & Me

The oldest, and the youngest.
I was going for a mom with all the kids shot. But I'll take what I can get! There was a pretty good one of Kyle, Sean and me . . . until closer inspection revealed, "oh that's when Sean spit up".
Next time.

Sweet Grandma

Sean loves to give hugs . . . he already knows that Grandma Greta will always say yes! 

Family of Six

Sean (1 day shy of 5 weeks!), Phil (2 days shy of 38!), Deacon (5 1/2), Lauren (33), Bryce (7 exactly!!), Kyle (3)

Kelly made a New Year's resolution to a family photo each month, and I thought it was a great idea, and resolved to someday make the same resolution!  So far we have one for August (at the hospital, and it was a gem of me, so I'm not sharing), and now one for September!

One Month Old!

Our little guy is a whopping one month old, today!
Above the left and center photos are from August 20th--when he was just minutes from being 12 hours old.
This morning Phil was kind of enough to indulge me in a staged photo shoot: Sean's wearing his same "coming home from the hospital" outfit, and I'm less puffy and wearing lipstick.

Sean is getting chubby--his thighs, in particular, are amazing. Grandma Greta says his hair is lightening, and cheerfully conceded that we have a little Phil.

I caught a fish and it was THIIIIIS Big!

Storytelling in his sleep . . . or maybe soapbox preaching?

Monday Sean marked 3 weeks old

Our littlest buddy is already getting huge.  He's no longer swimming in the 0-3 mos clothing and his newborn sized onsies are starting to feel the strain of growing cuteness.  Monday, as Granddaddy was holding Sean, I realized he was three weeks old already.  He's pictured wearing one of my favorite little outfits for him: a one-piece item so that there's no chance I can lose any part of the baby ensemble.

Yesterday, Grandma Greta came for the day, and I should have gotten a photo with her too--Sean really likes her.