october-november in pictures

This is the only smiling picture I have of Luke.

Helping mow the lawn

Father and son

Crawled, pulled up on furniture, started cruising all within a week

Princess Aurora, lizard, and witch

Luke with his dad, his hat, and his princess wand

In other news, I watched a bit of Pocahontas before Thanksgiving. Someone in High School said I reminded them of grandmother willow, we were not friends after that.

I did black friday from 4:30 am-7 am, and I got some good stuff. Next year I am going to have a different strategy. Mr. even got to work on time.

My birthday is coming and that means a sleepover at my mom's. We will play scrabble until I win or at least have a really good word.

Hip Hop LULU

Miss Lulu has started taking hip hop dance classes. She had her first one last week and was a little shy, but I think she will have fun. So far she does not look like much of a dancer.

Luke started crawling last week and has moved on to kneeling and pulling himself up on different pieces of furniture. He is 6.5 months old. His dad calls him a daredevil. He still has a cold. Loves to eat. Rode all the way to Othello without crying.

Mimi is working on her multiplication and drawing skills. She is a good artist. I need to get her some sketch books so she can save some of her stuff.

I recovered the dining chairs again. They are more subdued than they were. Now I just need to cover them with plastic and refinish the table. And paint the walls. That's all. Maybe next week.

Noisemakers are for babies

Mr. told me that as I put it on the dresser in our room. I have to say that I must be a baby because it let me sleep a few nights this week. I think the idea is to block out the noise so the baby can sleep, but when the baby is the noise--you have to change positions. I have been holding him until 3 in the morning most nights and then I put him in his crib. It is killing my back and such, so we are letting him cry. The girls haven't complained and I am doing it again tonight. Babe is on his 14th day with a cold. I am on day 7. Luckily, no one else seems too sick.

Next week is the primary program. Lulu is supposed to sing the 4th article of Faith with the sunbeams. She is having trouble with some of the big words, but she knows the tune. Mimi is on behavior modification restrictions. No TV, Wii, or Friends until she changes her tune.

Update

Lulu wants to marry her brother when she gets older. I mean, she's only three, I am sure she will change her mind.

Mimi started 4th grade and has become a mystery. She is keeping her school and home life separate. Some day she will realize that her parents were right most of the time. Right now she thinks we want to make her life miserable. Limiting Wii and TV time. How dare we! Oh, and making her brush her teeth.

Little man is 6 months old. He is 29.5 inches long and 19 lbs 11 oz. He is learning to sleep a little better at night, but he still doesn't nap very well during the day. He likes his food to be shoveled into his mouth as fast as possible. The doctor said he is skinny and then I told him how much he eats. He said, "That's alot. But if he is hungry keep feeding him."

Mr. has been working hard. I have been trying to do some preschool with Lulu and make sure she has friends to play with while Mimi is at school. The other night I felt so blessed as I put the kids to sleep. Raising them is hard, but I sure am grateful for them.

5 months

5 months

5 months

3 months


This baby has thinned out in the last few months. He is the size of a 1 year old--18 lbs and over 27 inches tall. We are busting through to 12 month size pjs. He had his 1st ear infection and didn't sleep unless he was held. Luckily he is over that sickness and is continuing to teethe. He has 2 teeth on the bottom. He is eating some foods. He likes squash and pears the best so far. Definitely not peaches. He just started going up on all 4s and can sit by himself for a little while.

We've got a big one!

So little man is not so little anymore. At one month, he was measuring at the 50th percentile and now he is at 97% for both height and weight. 15 lbs and 25.25 inches. At first I was doubting that he was my baby because he was so small and now it looks like he'll be slamming through sizes of clothing just like his big sis.

He has been sleeping a lot today after getting his shots. It has been kind of nice. Dinner is prepped and the girls are playing.

3 more days of school. I told mimi she could be my babysitter for a dollar an hour. She said she would do it for $3. I thought she would be excited with $1 and I would get the deal of the century. No such luck. But she did say she would clean the house for $1.

true dat

The truth of mothering a newborn.

The third time around is a lot easier than the first, however the fact that you don't sleep never gets easy.

When your baby naps, you want to nap, but the dishes and laundry need to be done too. Try to give in a couple times a week.

Eating real food instead of candy or crackers makes for a happier mom. Keep the fridge stocked.

When people ask if they can help, try to think of something instead of saying you're doing fine. Make a list. Call those who offer help.

The baby weight will come off eventually. Buy bigger clothes so you can still get dressed. Go to the gym or go for walks. This helps get rid of the crazy version of you that rears it's ugly head at times.

Husbands don't understand, but your girlfriends do. Find some good ones. Or sisters. Or moms.

A dirty house is next to godliness when you have a newborn. It shows you have your priorities straight.

Just when you think you're going to lose it, your baby will sleep or smile and make everything all right. Or your husband will have an epiphany and will pick up some slack. Things get better every week. Be grateful.

Babies grow fast. Take pictures, cuddle, laugh. Share the babe with the other kids and let them love and cuddle too. 3 year-olds make great sitters when you need a shower.

9 weeks today. The next miracle is scheduled to happen at 12. Sleep through the night. Fingers crossed.