5 months

 I am loving this kid more and more.


Here's what I love about him at 5 months:

• The smiles and giggles.  He gives them frequently and fully.
• He's social.  He loves people, and will give almost anyone who gives him attention some smiles and coos right back.
• He's a great eater.  And he has the thighs to prove it.
• He sleeps through the night.  He's not to 12 hours yet, but he is on a very regular schedule.  He goes to bed at 8, wakes up at 5 to eat, and then goes back to sleep till 8. 
• He has discovered his fingers and taken an interest in a few toys.
• His peach fuzz hair--so soft!

See, this is my finger

I love baby thighs!

 A few more things going on:

We finally started him on rice cereal this week. 

I know that with Tyler, we gave it to him the day he turned 4 months old.  With the twins and some of their developmental delays, they got it some time between 5 and 6 months.  This time around, our pediatrician recommended looking for readiness signs (duh moment on my part), so when he started playing with his tongue and following people eating with his eyes, we gave him cereal.  He did awesome, and had very little mess.

He loves his play mat, and actually plays with the orange octopus.

His favorite place to nap is definitely his swing.  I love how he puts his hands up by his face, or here behind his head.

Can you see why I am smitten with this boy? 

Way-back Wednesday: Sleeping Babies

On Sunday when I was cooking dinner,  the twins wanted to help.  Well, Brady had no nap that day, and since he still needs naps, this is what happened:

Yes, he's sleeping on the kitchen island!

It reminded me of another time he fell asleep in such a funny place:

Dateline: May 2010
Brady's age: 10 months

Playing along with Cheryl at Twinfatuation.

Jackson's bedroom

Way back last October when we closed on the house, I posted some pictures here with the intention that they would serve as some before shots.  I have never posted any "after" shots.  The main reason is that I haven't really done anything to the house.  Our yard is done, except the fence, so I do need to post some pictures of that.  But the inside?  No decorating going on here.  Between moving in, the holidays, and having a baby, I haven't had the time.  And since we still own a house in Houston (don't ask, it's a sore subject) I haven't had the money either.

But I finally put together a nursery for Jackson, and I did it all for under $10.  When we first moved in, we had painters that came in and touched up walls and trim throughout the house.  I had them paint this room and the Master Bedroom at that time.  For the rest of the room, I simply told myself I could only use things I already had.  (I have stuff. I mean I have done 2 boy nurserys before).  The only money I spent was one small project and printing photos.  Here it is:

Looking back the other direction:

Over his crib.  This is where I made a little art project.  $6 for Ikea frames, scrapbook paper I already had, and a $1 letter painted red.

On the side table, I love this picture.

Framed pictures from his newborn shoot:

And what may be my favorite thing in the room.  Right when you walk in, there is a little wall jutting out.  (It's the closet.)  Well, when we first moved here and were staying with my parents, I found this needlepoint that my grandmother made me when I was little.  I just put it in a frame I already had, and I love it.  I love the retro feel of it, but mostly I love having a little piece of my grandma in this room.  I loved her and had a special relationship with her.  I wish she could have met all my boys.

Up close.  See it even has my name on it!

Way-back Wednesday: Happy Mother's Day

In honor of Mother's Day this week, here is a fun picture from 2 years ago.

Dateline: May 2010
Ages: Tyler (6), Brady and Carter (10 months)

It was going to be a message for the grandmas, with each boy holding a paper, and giving a big smile.  I took over 30 pictures, and this one pretty much sums up the experience.  And isn't Carter so cute in that silly old helmet?

Playing along with Cheryl at Twinfatuation.

Feels like Summer

When Tyler walked out the door this morning, he started begging.

"Can I please play outside in the water after school?"

I told him that if it was 80 degrees or warmer, I'd let him get out the kiddie pools and slip and slide when he got home.

He walked in the door from school, picked up my phone, checked the weather, and pretty much screamed, "Yes! 82!"

It really was an absolutely beautiful day.  It marked the first water day, as well as our first A/C day. 

And some photos of today (where I discovered it is really hard to get good pictures when you are holding a baby in one arm and a camera in the other):

I will say that this is one of the best things about living here in Utah.  Now that we've been here 9 months, I guess I can admit that this move has been hard--I really didn't want to leave Texas.  I was leaving behind my life of 5 years, a sense of community, and most of all some very dear friends.  But after spending the day with my boys in the sun, I can say that I am really looking forward to Summer.  You know, an actual Summer where you can go outside and do things.  In fact, we already made our Summer Bucket list:

and I am really excited to start checking things off.

Mother's Day

I feel so honored to be a mom.  Today was my favorite Mother's Day ever.  Here's why:

1. Lower expectations.  In the past I have set up in my mind exactly what I wanted, and when it didn't happen I was disappointed.  This year, I thought I was just going to be a mom, and celebrate my own mom, and it would all be good.  No expectations.
2. But, Dan outdid himself in the gift department.  I got a gym membership (yay! I hope to finally lose my last of the baby weight) and 4 big pots of flowers for the patio.
3. We had some slightly under the weather kids, just sick enough to stay home from church.  Dan stayed with them, and Brady and I went.  It was so peaceful with just one child.
4. While I was at church, Dan cleaned up, and I came home to a clean house.
5. I wanted a picture with each of my kids, and got it.
6. I got to plan the menu for dinner, which means it was yummy.
7. For the first time in 7 years I got to spend the day with my own mom, who is one of the most amazing ladies that I know.
8. The boys did the dishes.
9. I have 4 amazing children who are miracles in my life.  I feel so lucky to be their mom.

And see how cute my mom and sisters are?

A Temple Walk

Last Sunday, when we needed to kill a few hours after church, we headed over to the Mount Timpanogos Temple to walk the grounds.  It was lovely.  The tulips were a little past their prime, but still beautiful.  The weather was perfect.  Our kids were even well behaved.  I took my camera along, and gave it to Tyler.  Here are his shots (all SOOC):

I set my camera on program mode, but told him if he was taking an up close picture to move it to the flower symbol (macro).   He took some awesome shots.

It was such a nice way to spend the afternoon, we will definitely need to do it again.