Out Of The Mouths Of.....

Joey loves to "write" lists and letters. He is usually making a shopping list for himself. He always puts the same items on his list; nuts for his elephant, milk for his cat, oats for his horse, bones for his dog, and a treat for his pet Sparky Dinosaur. He doesn't actually have any pets....but he wants to be well prepared.

The other thing he has been writing lately, is letters. He likes to write a letter to Mommy or Daddy and fold it up and "send" it through the mail....you know, the instantaneous mail from his hand to ours. He also likes to read the letters to us, which is very helpful as I have a hard time translating them.

They are not very encouraging letters though. The other day he wrote and read a letter to me. It went like this: Dear Mommy, You want to say 'no' everyday, and 'shhh', and 'quiet', and 'go to sleep'. I'm glad that those are the only things he remembers me saying to him. I certainly wouldn't want him to remember 'I love you' or 'you are so precious to me' or 'I'm so blessed to be your Mommy.'

Then there was the time he was asking Daddy to get him a snack and he wanted some Nutter Butters. Daddy asks, "You want MY Nutter Butters?!?!" Joey says, "Oh no, no no. They're not YOUR Nutter Butters, they're MY Nutter Butters."

Squeakers/Monkey Man

We haven't yet figured out a nickname for Ethan that will stick. We call him Squeakers, because he is always squeaking. We call him Monkey Man because he has very long arms, and when he raises them over his head to stretch, he looks like a monkey; plus, he looks like a little old man sometimes. But these nicknames won't stay around....not like Bubba and Bug. I just hope that whatever nickname Nick comes up with (he is insistent on finding the nickname; that's his 'job') doesn't start with a 'B'. It's already confusing enough with the others!

Can you believe that it has already been a month since Ethan was born? Today he turns one month old. He is 1/12th of a year. Time flies so quickly. He really is a very good baby. He still sleeps more than he is awake, more than he probably should. Of course, with this cold, he needs more rest to be able to get better. Half the time, when he is awake, he is fussing. I hope that is because he doesn't feel well. Nick was a bit colicky, and it was difficult enough for me to deal with. I don't want to go through that again.

I was lucky enough to capture Ethan's very first smile on camera. I was taking pictures for his one month 'birthday' and one of this pictures happened to be with a smile! I can already tell it will be another beautiful smile.
It's that time again...time to show a comparison between all the boys. This one, of course, is Joey. It is almost hard to believe he is almost 4 1/2. This time next year he will be going to Kindergarten! I am most definitely not ready for that. He is such a loving child. He loves to give Ethan loves, and I love that about him. Unfortunately, he is usually squishing poor Ethan. Joey will lay half on top of Ethan to give him loves. As much as I want the boys to love each other and give hugs, I can't let them suffocate each other. I tried to demonstrate to Joey how it would feel to be squished with a hug. So I had him lay on the floor like Ethan and I gave him a hug, half laying on top of him. Of course, Joey quickly started complaining that it hurt, that I was too heavy. So I explained that Ethan feels the same way when he lays on top of him. Joey says, "But I don't have one of those sticking out that hurts." (He was pointing to my chest) Of course, Nick got a big kick out of that!
Nick. What a lover he has become. He is very sensitive and doesn't like to have anybody upset. If any one of us is yelling, crying, or frustrated, Nick is quick to give hugs and kisses to try to diffuse the situation and make everyone happy again. He is so precious. There are two distinct times when Nick will come and give me a kiss, usually on my leg. One time is when he has done something he shouldn't and he gives me a kiss in an attempt to not be disciplined. It is really too cute, and I'm usually smiling when I tell him 'no' which can't be too effective. The other time he gives me kisses is when someone else is upset with me (namely Joey). When Joey is throwing a fit (not that you can imagine that, I'm sure), Nick will come over and kiss my leg, as if to say, "It's okay, Mommy. You don't have to get mad and start yelling." He warms my heart.
My little Ethan. There is not much more I can say about him at this point. He is growing so quickly. It won't be long before he is showing more personality, when he can stay awake long enough to display any. He is so snuggley and cuddly. It is such a warm and wonderful feeling to hold him close, to kiss his head, to smell his fresh, clean baby scent.

It is time for me to get off the computer. Joey would like a turn. With all the interruptions I get while on the computer, it takes three times as long as it should to post a few comments.

Be blessed.....I am!

Colds And Stockings

I am exhausted!! The first couple weeks after having a baby, you are expecting to be up all night and the adrenaline from having the baby carries you through. You get tired, but nothing you can't handle. Then the second two weeks comes along, and the adrenaline has faded, but you are still up all night. Now you aren't handling it as well. You are more tired than ever and can't seem to even think straight. You wonder if you will ever get any sleep again. The longer this goes on, the harder it gets. But eventually you learn to semi-function on no sleep.

I'm at the extra tired stage. I can't seem to keep my eyes open when I need to. I know I should take advantage of every opportunity to sleep; but I also know that when the older boys are taking their nap, it may be the only chance I have to get some things done. So half the time, instead of sleeping, I am doing some chore around the house. You would think that this might help me sleep at night....but that is not the case. One of these days, this stage will be over and I will look back and say, "It wasn't so bad."

To throw a wrench into the situation, Joey and Ethan both have colds. Neither of them are sleeping well, which makes it even worse. Poor Ethan kept choking last night, so I spent most of the night sitting up in bed holding Ethan so that he could breathe. He has had to have his nose suctioned so many times, and it never seems to help. I feel like I am torturing him for nothing. He also has been grumpier the last few days because he doesn't feel good. So, anytime he is awake (which is not as much as he should be by now) he is fussy. I hope that it is just because he isn't feeling well, and that when he gets over this cold, he will become a mild-tempered, sweet baby. I'm not saying he isn't good. There are moments when he is awake and quiet. I just wish he felt better already.

I have finally started sewing Ethan's stocking. I have a good portion of it done. Now all that is left is the highly detailed parts which will take more time. Time is not a commodity that I have much of. However, I should still be done in time for Christmas. They make great decorations, even if they have nothing in them! I have made a stocking for each of my four boys (yes, I made one for my husband, too.)

There is so much more I could say....but I don't have the mind power right now. Plus, I have left Ethan to be fussy by himself for awhile, so I need to go pay attention to him. He is probably tired having not slept well last night.

Have a great week.

Artists

Here are a few pictures to share. Since my boys are so cute, I can't help but take pictures.

Our little Slugger. This outfit was a gift from one of the ladies at church. So, naturally, I dressed Ethan in it for church to show her how cute he is in it. The picture doesn't do him justice, but he was absolutely adorable in that baseball cap!

This afternoon, I took the boys out to color our front "yard." Yes, it is sad, but this is all the "yard" the boys get. They loved being able to color all over the ground and the fence. It looks like Bug is trying to stick his chalk up his nose, but all I asked of him was to hold his chalk up and smile for the picture. Somehow, he interpreted that as shoving it up his nose.

Joey is showing off the flower he drew. There are petals, a stem, and leaves on the stem. He is brilliant.
Can you see his name? He wrote it vertically, from the bottom up. He is doing very well with his letter/sound recognition. We are working on sounding out words. (He likes to 'read' the words on Ethan's clothes.)
Mom, I know you think his cheeks have died down a bit....and they have. But it is clear that there are still times when he can accentuate that particular feature!

Even Nick was commenting today on how Ethan just looks a little older and bigger to him all of the sudden. I'm telling you, kids these days just grow up too fast.

Walking

I decided today was the day that I needed to start walking again. I had intended to do the video while the boys were sleeping....but after a night of very little sleep, my body said enough was enough, and I fell asleep too. But I refuse to feel guilty about that. If I am lucky enough to nap when my boys do, I will consider that a blessing.

After nap, I took the boys outside so they could color with the sidewalk chalk. They loved it. I have some pictures I will post later. When we came back inside, I put on the walking DVD and told the boys they could walk with me, but that they have got to stay out from under my feet, or they might get kicked. Joey enjoyed exercising, although there were a few times he got to close and got a little kick. Each time, he glared up at me and said, "Hey! Watch where you are going." I told him that HE was supposed to watch where I was going so he would stay out of the way.

Nick thought it was fun to walk for the first thirty seconds...then he just wanted to be held. Well, I couldn't hold him until the workout was finished (a whole fifteen minutes.) Let me tell you how hard it is to try to walk in place with a two year old wrapped around my legs. It reminded me of the poem, "The Yippyuk Would Not Let Go" by Shel Silverstein.

I will have to do better about staying awake during nap time so that I don't have the extra distractions of my boys.

They Grow So Fast

Three weeks tomorrow. Already, it has been three weeks since Ethan was born. He is still so little, yet, has already lost that absolute newborn look about him. Now he is looking like a little baby. (I know, not much difference. But enough of a difference to matter to me.)

Choir is starting up again at the end of this month. It's hard to believe that it is already time to start preparing for Christmas programs...but time marches on. As much as I hate winter in Alaska (because it is so cold, so long, and so all-consuming), I can at least look forward to singing in the choir again.

Tina has asked if I will help with a children's program again. Actually, I asked her if she was planning on putting one on, and she said only if I would help again. Nick thinks I might be taking on too much, but since the only time the children will practice is during church on Sunday, it is not doing something extra....just something different.
Here is evidence that Ethan spends some of his time awake. It doesn't seem like he is awake all that much, but little by little, he is spending more time during the day awake. I hope that means that he will sleep longer stretches at night. But I really can't complain, as he really is quite reasonable.
I think he is so funny when he sleeps. Here he is all curled up, falling over in his chair. Last night, I laid him down in the bassinet, and when he woke up this morning, he had turned a full 90 degrees. He also kicks the covers off. Which means we're three for three at this point. All three of our boys move tons in their sleep, and all three sleep really hot and kick the covers off. They are so funny. And all of them are just so cute...I can't get over it. And they are all absolutely adored by the people at church. Why does that matter to me? Because we live so far away from everybody who should be able to adore them, so at least they have replacement adorers. It makes my heart happy.

On Tuesday, I get to take the boys to JC Penney for Nick's two year pictures. I know I'm a little late, but since Ethan was born just six days after Nick's birthday...let's just say I have been a little busy.

On Wednesday, we get to pick Megan up at the airport and take her to dinner. She is finally on her way home from her summer in Alaska. (At least one of us can get out of here!) She will have a five hour lay-over in Anchorage, so we are going to spend that time with her. She will get to see Ethan, too. I love showing him off!

On Thursday, Tina is planning to come over for lunch. It will be nice to have some company and adult conversation. Maybe we can make some plans for a children's Christmas program. It would be great to get started soon. First, we have to find a good program.

I suppose I should get ready for bed soon. I think I will wait for Ethan to eat one more time (which should be in the next half hour or so) so that I have the maximum opportunity to sleep before he needs to eat again. Have a great week, sleep some for me, and be blessed.

First Comparison

So, here is the first of many comparisons. Usually, I wait until one month old, but I have been asked so many times if Ethan looks more like Joey or Nick. Well, I couldn't tell just from memory, so I pulled pictures of each of the boys at around 2 weeks. Joey is on the top; Nick is in the middle; and Ethan is on the bottom. (It may be hard to make a fair comparison with that funny look on Nick's face!) I will say that all the boys have the same nose. Nick thinks that Ethan looks closer to Joey than to Nick. Let me know what you think.

He Did It!

The nurse said he would.....and he did. While cleaning Ethan up after birth, the nurse commented on how strong he was and that he was trying to roll over in her hands. She said that it wouldn't be long before he rolled over.

Yesterday, at 15 days old, Ethan rolled over! TWICE. He was on the floor, so I know it wasn't because he was on an uneven surface. I thought it was quick when Nick rolled over at 26 days, and it was, but at only 15 days! I've never heard of it.

He is already growing so quickly. I wish we were closer to everybody so Ethan could give you all a hug. He is quite snuggly.