Meow kitty

I went over to use the treadmill at Nana & Gpa's house on Monday - and these two cute cousins had their kitty jammies on. Emilia is actually wearing the jammies that Olivia wore at this age :). Olivia loves her kitties & kept petting Emilia and saying something like 'She's a meow kitty! I meow kitty!'.

Cute kitty cousins!

sweet hour of prayer

Jacob you have a very tender and sweet heart - you truly want to obey and do what is right.  You have moments where it's hard to always listen, but so often you seem truly distraught when you forget to do what is right. 

This week - here are the stories that warm my heart, make me giggle and realize how lucky we are to have you in our family.  I love your sweet spirit so much! 

*On Monday you needed to take a note back to school that was due that day.  I asked Madeleine to walk you in and deliver the note, but you replied right away that you'd remember and to let you take the note in.  I was hesitant to try this - as it had to be turned in today, and you have a record of not really remembering to turn things in....your homework tends to stay in your backpack for days!  However, you were so determined that I let you try and told me that you really, really would remember that I decided to give it a go.  I folded the note and put it in your pocket thinking it might be a better place as you'd feel it there through the day.  However, when you got home and I asked if you turned in the note and then I touched your pocket I heard the paper crinkle and saw your face crumple and I knew the note didn't make it to its' destination.  "Mom, I tried to remember!  I really was going to remember, but I just forgot!"  Thankfully we had to go pick Madeleine up from an after-school activity and the Secretary told me I could slide it under the door and they would count it on time.  I need to figure out how to put a screen on you that flashes reminders of what you need to turn in or do!  You forgot your lunch box on Thursday, and when you came home again your face crumpled when I asked where it was - you promised you'd get it the next day.  The only problem was that the next day you took another lunch box and forgot to bring that one home...and your other lunch box - so now both are sitting at school and none at home.  Oh, what will we do to help you remember these things?!  

* Yesterday (Friday) was a big day for you - with memories as well as activities!  You were the only one home in the morning to get off with the carpool, as Dad had already taken Madeleine to her violin lesson and Bryson Jr. to Chess Club before school.  When the car pool came, I was tying your shoe and you were getting your coat on.  I was trying to open the door, when you reach up and gave me a big hug and kiss and said, "Mom, I hope you and Emilia have a good day at home and that you're happy!"  And with a big smile you walked down the stairs and driveway and got in the car.   

You left my heart so happy and I vowed then and there to do everything in my power to send you off every day with the same feeling of love in your heart.  It was the best way to start my day!  

* You had a birthday party a little bit later in the day (still on Friday).  Drew's mom was going to drive you both to the party and then I would pick you up.  As I was helping you get the present and your things together, you stopped and asked, "Mom, can we say a prayer before I go to the party?"  My heart warmed again.  You said a sincere prayer that Drew's mom would drive you all safely to the party and that you would have a fun time bowling for Gabe's birthday party.  You have a lot of faith, and I often realize how perfectly your name fits you - not only being a family name, but also that Jacob and Nephi were great men of faith in the scriptures.  

*When you came home from the birthday party, you started to twist your front tooth that has been loose for at least the past two weeks.  This is your first loose tooth!  I was feeding Emilia when you came in and showed me that you could basically turn it 360 degrees around in your mouth.  That tooth was finally going to come out!  You twisted and turned it a few more times, and it came right out - and you were a little surprised telling dad "Look, my tooth came out!  I was as brave as a soldier, wasn't I?  I didn't even cry!  And there was not a lot of blood!"  You had been a little nervous for this tooth to come out, although it desperately needed to as the new tooth was already coming in behind it.  Thankfully this first tooth came out so easily that I think you'll be much easier with all the other teeth that you'll lose in the next few years!  

The sad part is that this morning you woke up in tears because the Tooth Fairy forgot to come and visit.  I've heard that this happens in many other houses as well - perhaps she's overworked and just can't make it around all in one night.  Which after you cried and cried, you dried your tears and said, "Maybe she was visiting another child who lost his tooth."  You have this awesome way of getting upset, mad, sad, or whatever -- and then turn around and can be smiling and all right within a few minutes.  I hope it's a trait that you'll keep through life, because it is a blessing to be able to look at the bright side like you do!  

2 weeks ago we went up to the Krim's to celebrate the girls birthdays - Madeleine, Noel & Juliet all have February birthdays!  You showed everyone that you had a loose tooth, and when Scott offered to help you get it out with some pliers - you surprised us all and agreed.  As a joke, he pulled out this big tool and your eyes got huge and you would not open your mouth!  You gave a nervous chuckle when he told you this big tool was just a joke!  He did bring out the smaller pliers and you let Dad have a try pulling out your tooth...

 ....you were very brave to let Dad try this way - there was a little slip of the pliers and I think that's when you realized this was a crazy idea!  You decided to wait and just let the tooth come out on its' own.  Wise choice my son - very wise choice!

The last story is from last week when we were reading scriptures.  You tend to balk a little at first about reading the verses when it's your turn, so we try to find new ways to get your attention.  Somehow it started that some of the words you were reading sounded better with your little french accent, so you started to say them more with the rolling 'R's and with extra emphasis on an accent.  You were reading along and really rolled your 'R' on suffeR with hungeR and the more you said it in your accent, the more we started to giggle, laugh and then we just couldn't stop for a few minutes.  You are such a funny kiddo - even when you aren't trying to be funny you tend to make people laugh and are the life of the party.

We sure do love you and are so thankful that you are such a hit in our family!

sleeping beauty

It's a great thing that babies like to sleep so much at this newborn stage....because I love to watch them sleep.  I find myself not knowing what to do when Emilia sleeps longer than usual - which "usual" is a very loose term right now as we are still establishing a routine or schedule!  However, I find that when she sleeps for more than 30 minutes to 1 hour, I wander around for a bit & almost feel lonely without holding her next to me.  Again, probably why I let her fall asleep in my arms far more than I planned to.  I still read conflicting theories on this - some say you can't spoil a newborn and that it helps their self-esteem to feel close, connected and to not be allowed to cry.  Other resources say a little crying helps them develop their lungs (really?!), to figure out how to soothe themselves and the like.  I find that I lean more towards the first....I can't seem to think that I could spoil this little girl too much at this stage.  And if I do - then so be it, this might very well be our final baby in the house.  Not sure on that one, because when I hold her and relish in those baby moments I think that this is why some people have 6, 8 or even 10 children.  They love babies and must always want one around!...and I'm sure other reasons go into it :)  I have those moments with her thinking the same thing...if only I could always have a baby in our home.  A sweet, sleeping and peaceful baby.  What a beautiful little sleeping babe she is...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Sleep tight our little angel

Got'cha

Bryson Jr. was playing around with my camera this morning and snapped this....classic photo of Bryson Sr. trying to be funny.  I love it.  

la-la land

Every so often, this little gal will be somewhere and drift off to la-la land.  I was watching her eyes, and thought this might be the case as she slowly started to close her eyes...

 ..and then she was out!  I love watching her sleep - probably too much.  There are some days she'll fall asleep in my arms and I'll think about moving her, but then I watch her, and kiss her head and think I'll have years to have her sleep in her own bed.  I only get a short time {in the grand scheme of things}, that I can hold her while she sleeps.  I've noticed that I'm a little more aware of how fast time can and does go with Emilia, after having a break of 6 years between my babies.  Because of knowing that time will go too fast, I'm alright getting the bare minimum done these days - if I shower, feed the family and maybe do some laundry or another little job to keep it so the house doesn't fall completely apart....and then spend lots of time cuddling, holding and feeding Emilia...that's my perfect day!

Introducing...

A 'lil Aunt Jemima look :). I looked down & the bow on Emilia's hat reminded me of the knot on Jemima's handkerchief she wears. I'm thankful for a little humor during our 5am feedings!

Daddy Daughter

It has seemed that Bryson has mostly been sick since Emilia was born - except for the first week after she was born.  He had strep during Christmas and then a sinus infection after or during...it all blends together.  Unfortunately, health during the winter season has never been something Bryson can pull off...he says it's genes, and I say it's the end of a year and his body finally says enough is enough, and gets sick for a really long time.  Blah! 

Anyway, this last week he has started to feel better.  And thankfully the little Miss gets to remember who her Daddy is!  It's been hard that he hasn't been able to hold and bond with her - I think that this is one of a handful of times that he has held her since she was born, and now that she is smiling she was able to reward him with big smiles and her cute faces :)   

 

 ..and he made cute faces back.  They were quite the pair to watch while I was finishing dinner :)