baby love

month four

The months are flying by with my little "Pweston Pwie".  It seems all too fast, that babies get big and don't seem like newborns anymore.  This age is delightful though and we are enjoying our days.

It's an unbeatable combo in my eyes, that big clefty grin and the dimples that pop in when he smiles!  He catches my eye from across the room and lets one of those dimple-y smiles loose and I feel compelled to drop everything and get closer, swoop him up and cover his little face with kisses.  Of course, kisses under the chin are sure to get some laughter bubbling up from his belly.  His chuckles seem to roll right out of him and catch him kind of by surprise.  Oh, it's fun!

We haven't been in yet for his check-up, but I'm guessing 18lbs or so.  I'll update later....

He still sleeps in a bassinet in our room,  I've moved the other children to their own room about 4 months but with his upcoming surgery, I'm in no hurry to shake things up right now.

He made his 2nd big road trip, his first was at 1 week, to see a surgeon.  This one was special, a trip to see Grandma and Grandpa Williams for the first time. 

See what I mean with that smile? 

what happened here?

You may remember once, a few years ago, I wrote about how my maid had just up and left us?
It was sad, as the laundry piled up and the scrubbing got behind....

Well, she gone again---or maybe she's just OUTNUMBERED!   The four shortest people living under our roof have taken over this place!

have a look see....

Stickers abound, on my any stick able surface, who knew switch plates were a likely spot???
little pen and pencil marks on much of the white surfacing in our home,  just a blank slate calling out to be written on...
Oh, and the bedrooms,  I could go on, but will just let the picture speak for itself.   This photo is the boys room, but the girls would be similar (or a little less mess maybe).  Certainly if you looked hard enough there would be dirty undies hiding somewhere, probably smelling of pee.  You might find a missing toy or even a small animal could hide unnoticed in there.

I really try in the kitchen and my bedroom, the two rooms that are my personal space of calm and cleanliness, but lately, no dice...   Oh, how I enjoy the smell of clean and tidy,  not to mention, walking across the kitchen without sticking to the floor.

This is not a call for sympathy, as I know I'm not alone, but rather a real picture into the day to day--lately (you know, since the maid quit)  and in the four months since I quite sleeping (aka nursing mama)  I know, this too shall pass.  Someday I'll get the floors clean and maybe the urine smell out of the grout in the bathrooms  but it may be a while---cuz I'm busy kissing my babies right now!

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.
 I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.
"
Thomas S. Monson Oct. 2008 General Conference

piano recital

Stella started piano lessons last September.
Something she has been asking about for a couple of years.
She has had an amazing experience.
Learning, new skills and confidence in herself and her abilities.

She comes home each Monday afternoon, excited for piano.  After her lesson, she is even more excited.  Her teacher, Sister Kreutz, has really brought out the best in Stella.
The year culminated with a recital... here's the video, for your viewing enjoyment.

 Frere Jacques never sounded so good!

boy, oh boy

this boy:
so sweet

so chubby (17 lb.6 oz)

so cuddly

so smiley

so sleepy

always looking for a thumb or finger to suck on....

this boy:

so busy

so helpful

so sweet

so full of kisses

so opinionated

so growing up too fast...

My boys, my boys

mothering

this I know:

*i have more love for these 4 than i ever imagined possible

*the longer i am a mother, the more i still need to learn

*my babies teach me tolerance & love for others

*i am not a perfect mother, but they love me anyway

*perfect days are with my family

*family is the most important thing

*patience is crucial and sometimes short lived

*sleep is elusive

*i can indeed survive and be happy on very little sleep

*hugs & kisses do fix everything, i love little arms around my neck

*my own mother is an angel in my life

*as mothers we support each other

*this is the hardest work i have ever done

*this is the most rewarding work i have ever done

*i have a better understanding of how our Father in Heaven wants

us all to come home to Him and be safe,

just as i want my children come home to us

and be safe.

mother's day was lovely...

started with breakfast in bed,

taking a picture of my kids(an impossible task),

a sacrament meeting with no one fighting or screaming

a nap

a delicious dinner & chocolate

a mommy could get spoiled this way...

look mama...

I've got teeth!

Evelyn has been very attached to her pacifier.

We call it her binky.

She refers to it as her "binky-boo".

She loves it so much that even when

she had a stomach virus and was throwing up,

she kept sucking it, and then chucking it..

At one point she said,

"mama, i fro up my binky-boo."

We have had moments of panic over

the last 2.5 years, if one can't be found.

At one point, even thinking we should

have bought stock options in MAM...

We have finally convinced her

to give it up during the day.

Now that she has, we can see her teeth

and they are very bucked out...

 they are slowly starting to drop into place

and she is talking!

We feel it's progress in the right direction anyways.

It's looking like she won't be taking it with her

to kindergarten...

baby love

 Preston is three months today.

He is starting to be awake more and more

and sleep in longer stretches at night.

Mostly, a 4 hour stretch to start the night.

He has been working his little leg muscles,

getting so strong

standing on Mom's lap.

Evening is his favorite time

to cuddle with mom and dad

and coo and talk.

At the Dr. today he weighed,

16 lb. 8oz

What a boy!

He's an eater and a sleeper

and so happy

that he grows & grows.

We got a call this month

from the surgeon, with a date

for his lip repair.

I love  his little lips.

I am taking lots of photos

to remember.

Oh, and he has found his hands

waving them and swatting his face

he has little scratched to prove it!

Sometimes, sucking his whole fist.

love this boy!