Auxiliary Systems Down

I'm sorry, but I've had to focus all my energy to more vital functions, like moving (yes, again --ugh.) and traveling and ....surviving. I'm afraid when things come up the blog is one of the first things to go, --although it doesn't keep me from checking other people's blogs.
Anyway, be prepared for some blogging overload as soon as I get my feet beneath me again. Here's a picture to prove everyone is alive and well though.

Melons

My babies have big heads.

It runs in the family.

My sister-in-law calls it our "German shaped heads," and indeed we do have German ancestors, but I don't know if one can speak in such generalities...

Okay, so based on principles of perspective and depth, the head sizes in this picture are all wrong,
I think you all know who's the German though. Coincidence? I think not.

Anyway, it makes for difficult deliveries, and sometimes I look at other people's newborns and think -"Man! That one would have been a cinch to give birth to!"

I was reading a lady's blog where she wrote a lovely article about how there is so much spiritual symbolism in the natural childbirth process, and how we were meant to go through pain and suffering when we bring children into this earth and so forth... (did I mention she's a doula or midwife or something?) However, I could only think how grateful I have been for epidurals and that if I hadn't been able to have those (and I still felt plenty of pain by the way) I would have been way too traumatized to appreciate the experience and I most likely would have resented my babies for causing me so much pain.  I applaud women who can have their babies naturally, and I try not to let it make me feel like less of a woman because I don't.  I'll just keep telling myself that their babies don't have as big of heads as mine do.

I have to admit, big heads make for really cute babies, if I do say so myself.

I love how when my baby bends over to pick something up it often ends up in an impromptu somersault.

Gotta love the bed-head too.

And I love how when he looks up at me too quickly he has to stagger backward a few paces just to keep his balance.

Babies are miracles however they are born, and everyone can have the deeply spiritual experience of knowing that this little spirit came straight from heaven and was meant for us to take care of regardless of whether we physically brought them into this world (with or without the blessings of modern medicine), or adopted them into our families.
Heaven knows the pain we mothers feel extends beyond the physical kind at delivery.  I think when Eve was cast out of the garden that perhaps some of the sorrow she would experience in bringing forth children wasn't just the physical kind but the kind that comes from watching them use, or should I say misuse, their agency --which was a direct result of the fall.
Still, she wisely chose to focus on the joy and happiness that her children brought her as well as the hope that the plan of redemption gave and she praised God (Moses 5:11-12).
What a wonderful example.

So, when life gives you lemons... just reverse the first three letters and you've got yourself something that's naturally sweet.

(I made that up all by myself.)

((I think I better go to bed.))

Anyway, I was just thinking of all my sisters and friends who are expecting right now (some sooner than others) and I wish them all the best! (plus small baby head circumferences ...not too small though).

Feeding Time

I haven't really put any home videos on this blog, mostly it's just a stylistic choice, but this clip makes me smile, so I thought I'd share.




The baby just learned this new trick of spitting while I'm trying to feed him --which is less than amusing-- and so to teach him a lesson, I set down the food and walked away.  A minute later I hear giggling, and it turns out that my 3 year old has decided to try his hand at feeding the baby.  They both thought they were so hilarious.

More Recent Goings-on

So here's some more random pictures from the end of April and beginning of May.

What a great face.  Painted with strawberries of course.

We had one last opportunity to go to the Zoo before our pass expired, but we forgot our camera and only had my husband's phone.  We have enough zoo pictures to last us decades, so I'm not too worried, however on this trip the highlight wasn't a permanent resident.

They're so fuzzy I'm going to die!

As a second part of my 3 yr olds birthday celebration, we went to a place called The Discovery Center.

Most of the scientific exhibits were over the children's heads, but many were still fun and interactive.

Of course the giant bubbles were a big hit,

And they even tried out the bed of nails.

A mini shopping center was fun, but we ran out of time to really enjoy it.

Seriously, it's a cool place to visit, but only if you get awesome coupons.  Otherwise it's pretty expensive.  Especially for kids that are a little too young to appreciate it.

After that, we visited my Brother and Sister-in-Law to see their new chicks.

They already have a couple good layers, and my four year old had fun gathering the eggs.

He's really not as mad as he looks, just looking intensely at the cool flower.

The baby thought the chickens were slightly amusing.

Their resident squirrel.

I think my son was trying to lure him out with chicken feed.

After the Chickens, we took them to the play place again, where the baby got to hone his climbing skills.  Thank goodness we don't have any stairs anymore!

Another night that week, we had these shish-kabobs, and since I'm always taking pictures of beautiful food, I thought I'd share.

This was our first experience with a real coconut.  My three year old begged me to buy it at the store, so out of curiosity I did.

 In case you were wondering; Coconut Water: Not Sweet.

Still, if you were on a deserted island surrounded by nothing but salty sea water, it would be pure ambrosia I'm sure.  I put it in a smoothie, and it wasn't too bad.  As for the rest of the coconut... well at least the kids got to see what was inside.  We didn't find it very edible.  Oh well, here's to new experiences!

Not-so-recent goings-on.

This is a little out of date, since this mostly just recaps April, but to document our last few months in Idaho I thought I'd share a few photos.

As it started getting warmer, we couldn't help but get out and play.

We went to the tennis courts one night as a family.

The baby was pretty entertained at our sorry attempts at tennis at least.

A couple good storms washed the neighborhood clean -- one that came and went so fast, the sun began shining again before the rivers of water (--that had once been our road) receded.  I didn't have the camera, but rest assured that my four year old and I had a fun time splashing and wading through the calf-deep puddles.  There were even ducks swimming in the intersection of our street! I think I got a quick pic on my phone, but I have no way of transferring the image that I know of.
Here's a rainbow from one of those storms.  It was actually a full double rainbow.

We also had some friends over in a babysitting swap, and the kids had a lot of fun playing some version of tag that includes a ball.  It's a pretty good way to wear them out.

My 2nd child turned three years old in April. He got to do everything he wanted for his birthday.

We opened presents in the morning before daddy went to work,

Then, the highlight of the day...

Just look at those baby blues.  How could anyone say no to a face like that?

we rode the bus to the Carl's Jr. play-place.  (Riding the bus was the highlight).

We unsuccessfully looked at a nearby store for some galoshes, but he was appeased by being allowed a quarter for the candy machines.

Then we rode the bus home for naps,

The people on the bus gushed over the cuteness of my kids, and one passenger even asked if she could give them a ball.  (Note: balls are not good toys on a bus, since they will most likely have to be retrieved at least twice from various parts of the bus, and even from the gutter outside the folding door by other poor unsuspecting passengers). The baby nearly fell asleep on the way.

That night we celebrated with cake.

In case you can't tell, he's licking his lips in anticipation. The kids just started doing that recently, funny huh.

The kids have been bringing me bouquets of dandelions, but when they all turned into the white fuzzy globes, it didn't slow them down.  Rather the bouquets just took on a more interactive appeal.

 What a lucky mom I am.

Brothers

The shirts are a little obvious I know, but just in case you were confused...

Shortage

There's been a shortage of cuteness here on my blog.  So here you go.

6th percentile for height.  4 mos.  

Get it?  Short + Age!  ha ha.  

ok so that was pretty lame.

Actually, he was just being stubborn about stretching out to be measured (he's a strong baby!), but I think we finally got it up to 25% on our 2nd try.  

FYI, 70th percentile for weight and 89th for head circumference! 

Yeah, we make 'em big around here (especially their heads... check out this melon --97th percentile!), 

2 2/3 yrs

but they're still so darn cute! (If I do say so myself) ...and funny, and smart...

4 1/2 yrs

Not to mention extremely talented.

Now we've just got to work on photogenics.  The older two are into the phase where they give me goofy smiles any time I get the camera out.  And yes, bed head is apparently all the rage around here. I even sport it on occasion (but no, you don't get a picture of that... that would counteract all the cuteness.)