Me and My Dad

This is me and my dad. My dad works a lot so I don't get to see him very much, but when I do, we have a great time! We do all sorts of things.

I usually show him all of my new tricks I've figured out that day. (Mom explains them if he doesn't get them the first few times.)

Then he cuddles me and tells me how proud he is of my great advancements in the world.

My dad has a cool guy way of telling me that he loves me...

... he likes pretends to eat me and scares Mom. (Even though she is the one that nibbles on me constantly.)

But he laughs to make sure she knows he is kidding. I take it without a flinch, just like the strong boy I am.

But our favorite activity to do is sleep.

I'm not sure why, but we seem to make a habit of it.

When Dad babysits me I guess we both have worked so hard that it's easy to just zonk out.

Sometimes Mom finds us at scary angels; it's good I don't roll over yet.

But most of the time we are just like two peas in a pod.

Yeah, it's nice we can just chill, me and my dad. We're resting up for some big adventures.

March Madness

I knew it would happen - I totally outblogged myself in February! Five posts in four weeks when previously I'd managed one per month (barely) was too much for my blog brain; here we are, the middle of March and not a single post. Well, in a nutshell:

Oh my festiveness! In an effort to start our own little family traditions we observed the holiday with a yummy St. Patrick's Day feast of corned beef and cabbage! I even had green sparkly toenails (although to be honest, they'd been like that for a few weeks.)

We dyed our milk green - always exciting.

And Little Man continues to get bigger and cuter daily! But the best part is...he's so squishy!! I can't resist him! I noticed one day that his cheeks were looking a little chapped. I thought that was odd since the rest of him was perfectly fine. Then I realized - I was kissing his cheeks dry; oh the mommy guilt! A few applications of vaseline later, all is well, but oh my...

Okay, let me explain this picture - he has a new habit of sucking his lower lip totally in and doing funny things with his eyebrow at the same time. I couldn't quite capture it with the camera, but it made me laugh out loud. What a crack up!

He's also friends with Curious George and they are now the same size! The last time Little Man was weighed (a few weeks ago), he topped the scale off at 14 lbs 7 oz. Not too shabby since he's not quite four months. Then again, he does take after us - he likes his food...

And that is all for now from Iowa!

Pregnancy Brain Anyone?

A few days ago I was in the spice section of the grocery store and for the life of me, I couldn't find the curry powder. I was focused and attentive but still all of the names kind of swam together. Finally, after what seemed forever (although I'm sure it was only a minute or two), I asked a friendly looking fellow shopper if she could see curry powder anywhere. She quickly picked an innocent looking bottle off the shelf and handed it to me with a smile. Ah yes, the spices just happened to be in alphabetical order. I sheepishly thanked her and tacted on a lame sounding, "I like to blame pregnancy brain still..." She laughed, "Oh that lasts for years. My oldest is 13 and I still claim it!"

Now lest you think me completely absent-minded, let me say that with all the talents my darling shnookims came with, sleeping for long stretches at a time was not one of them. He still has yet to sleep longer than three and a half hours at a time (generally it ends up being 2-3) which means Mama doesn't sleep longer than that either. Thus pregnancy brain, I've decided, might have just as much to do with sleep deprivation as with the extra hormones. 'Sleep when the baby sleeps' is much harder than it sounds! (How is it possible to not fall asleep when so tired?) Maybe I'm the only one who really notices because when I went in for an appointment about a month after the baby was born, the nurse said, "Wow, he must be sleeping well- you look so fresh and rested!" All I have to say is, make-up can work wonders! =)

However, I wouldn't trade him for 190,000 hours of sleep! He's truly my sunshine and I'm so lucky. He's extremely healthy, so good, and delights me daily. Yes, he can reach for things, scoot himself on his back and laughs when he thinks things are funny.

And since we know he's the main reason for this blog..the update: (Captions below)

Oh hello Mr. Snail...you do tummy time too?

This is one of my favorite ways to see the world. (This picture makes him look huge, but he's really not quite that big yet...)

I supervise Mom's cooking.

Pilot James ready for take-off!

I'm sorry, what's that you say?

Oh you said smile? Okay, ...smiling!!!

Oh sorry, maybe that was too much- this is a much cooler smile...

I have a secret I'll tell if you promise not to say anything...

I'M ADDICTED TO EATING MY HANDS!

Oh, where did these come from? They look familiar.

Oh blast, did I drip again?

Me and my Eskimo suit (as Dad calls it).

My friend Mr. Snail. (His shell comes off)

Just Another Day of Being Cute - A James Update

Be forewarned that this post is dedicated to a Jamesiepie update! As you can see, we had another photo shoot that I can't resist sharing.

Although tummy time is getting better (he's actually very good at it) this face tells me, "I may have to do it, but I don't have to like it!"

My angel

He is the cutest with his hands which he has recently discovered; I find him staring cross-eyed fairly often. Much of the time (especially while nursing) he keeps them clasped like this. It makes him seems so....mannerly? ("Please sir, may I have some more"...think Oliver Twist)

He looks less like a baby and more like a little boy all the time!

Okay, is it just me or do those lips not drive you crazy?!?

Our friend, who is an excellent seamstress, made him this darling bowtie, vest and shoes. He looked so handsome that after church we had to try to take some pictures. He got a little nervous, as you can see...pressure you know =)

So we are not great with the self timer - this is the best we could do. Ah well, just look at those shoes!

Me and my little guy.

My handsome boys...who needs a lollypop when you have a bowtie?

The look

Our sunshine.

'Til next time!! =)

I Want to be a Grandma

I don't mean that I am ready for Jamesiepie to run off and get married so I can have grandkids. I mean, I hope that someday I can be like all the grandmas I know and love; grandmas work magic!

Example: A few Sundays ago I was in a bishop's interview and Jared had James in the foyer. Our hungry James was wailing to let everyone know how he felt. After several minutes of Jared trying to soothe him, he was balancing the baby while navigating the diaper bag for a binkie, our friend's mother offered to hold the baby. Before Jared could work his binkie trick, she had calmed James, and rocked him to sleep. As she handed a peacefully snoozing baby back to an amazed Jared she said with a grin, "I'm kind of like a baby whisperer...I'm a grandma!"

And seriously, most grandma's I know (real grandmas) are just that incredible! My own darling mother and Jared's sweet mom both rock James to sleep in minutes. They make everything better and when you get older, they still have magic, just for different uses. When I was an insanely busy college student living in the same town as my grandparents (after living several states away my entire life), I would try to visit or at least telephone them once a week. (More often when occasion permited or dictated - dramatic breakups, holidays etc.) They always made me feel like a million bucks and I would come away confident and loved, ready to face the craziness again.

In discussing this subject, my friend and I concluded that it is the love that grandmas (and many grandpas) radiate - they are unflustered by the little things that young moms are sometimes consumed with, and they have refined their loving skills until it just pours from them. Everyone, especially little ones, respond to love.

So on the day of love, here's to all the amazing grandmas and grandpas of the world who have refined the art of true love! Someday, I hope I am like you!

Dental Problems, Shots and Sneezes

No, James doesn't have dental problems, I do. I mean, look at that face! How can you not grit your teeth with the urge to eat him?! I struggle daily and often.

Aside from the desire to chomp those cubby cheeks, all is well here. We got some snow and it finally felt like winter. One of our favorite methods of travel is the front pack. (Sometimes we even wear it around the house if he wants to be held but I need my hands.) There is nothing better than to feel his warm little self cuddled up next to me and I know that no one can steal him if I'm wearing him.

James also got his first round of immunizations this last week. I'd been warned by friends. I'd mentally prepared. I failed. Badly. At first it seemed like it'd be fine. The nurse advised me to dip my finger in sugar and let him suck. (Who knew? Sugar helps with pain...but only up to six months of age. Bummer for the rest of us. Can you imagine? "Oh my head hurts...better have a pixie stick!") But since he'd never sucked anything with granules on it, he was confused by the texture and hadn't even started to suck when she stuck him. His response was immediate and more animated than I'd ever seen him. He screamed and then started to cry so hard he couldn't breath for several seconds, during which she swiftly finished her work. His little body went rigid and red and he looked at me with betrayal swimming in his eyes. I snatched him up and cuddled him to me, barely letting the nurse get out of the room before my flood gates blew. All in all he cried for only 30-45 seconds. I was still crying when Jared called 10 minutes later. It was awful. I told Jared that he could take James in for the next round. I know that it's good for him in the long run, but in the short run it's pretty hard on Mama!

Our life lately, according to our photo shoots: (Captions below the pictures.)

Just another walk with Mommy.

Oooo that FACE!

The Sneeze: A Triology

PART I: Minding My Own Buisness as a Mini CEO (Check out that hair!)

PART II: Ah-CHEW

Part III: Pardon Me, Might You Have a Hankie?

His eye are so wise...I haven't been able to get a good pictures of his eyelashes, but they are LONG.

Shots in both legs...poor little guy guy!

James and Mommy (Don't mind that Momma is ready for bed - that's when I'm the cutest!)

It was my birthday and the boys surprised me with a cake and candles at the institute dinner! (As you can tell from the cake, I am now 21 :))

One more smile from James ... that's all from Iowa!