Entertainment

These kiddos provide a lot of entertainment.

Here are just a few gems from the last few weeks.

Ava has been talking about her big brother Ben for a little while. She often expresses her dislike of being the oldest and having the most responsibility. The only time she recognized that being the oldest was a good thing, was when Ambria (my great niece) pointed out to her that she will be the first to get a cell phone. Well, Ava decided to create Ben herself and she was really happy to show him off. She made sure he was taller because that signifies (to her) that he is older.

Dress-ups are a constant around here. Today we got the pleasure of having Meredia and Rapunzel in our home.  I didn't think i was every going to get Claire to take off the wig!

We are starting em' young around here. 

Tyson gave Talmage a ski magazine in hopes of starting the brain washing early.

Talmage was captivated...(by the crinkling paper).

The girls love seeing this sight every morning.  They always say we need to rescue the jail bird!

Claire has really matured and often enlightens me with all sorts of 3 year old deep thoughts.

One day last week she was very excited when she noticed that her monkey water bottle was folding his arms "just like Jesus tells us to do". I love how observant she is (except when it is directed at me and any blemish I might have). I hope I can teach her to use that Power of Observation to look for opportunities to serve and help people.

Love my little crew!!

Some New Pics of Our Brood

These were actually taken at the beginning of July to mark Talmage's 9 month milestone. He has changed so since his 6 month pictures. I wasn't going to do all the kids but at the last minute decided to get a few new shots. We threw on outfits and whipped out hair do's and this is what came out of it. I love them! Sometimes I over think getting ready for this stuff so the spontaneous thing was kind of nice. Besides, Ava and Claire won't ever pass up the opportunity to be photographed.

They love the attention!

I promise I tried to narrow down which photos. They are just all too dang cute!

Ava Loves the Camera! Can you tell?

 

 

 I've seen this face a few too many times!

Sassafras!

She truely is beautiful inside and out! Love this Big Girl!

Claire isn't shy for the camera...just the lady taking the pictures.

She might look all calm and collected on the outside...but there is a reason we call her Crazy Cousin.

Inside she is all spunk and personality...with a side helping of adorable and cuddly too. (We also call her Cuddly Cuddly)

And here is the the Big Boy! He was so much better than last time, but whole ordeal got old for him real fast. 

It was hard to narrow pictures because I love how they captured so many of his facial expressions.

These are some of my favorites!

He is all sorts of scrumptious in these pictures!

He just might have gotten the bluest eyes and the longest lashes of all our kids. Is always the boy! 

(so unfair).

 Mr. Handsome

 He has been sucking in his upper lip lately and we see this silly face quite often.

We should have learned our lesson last time. He doesn't like to sit in suitcases. I posted the black and white because you can see the tears forming (esp on the left eye).

By this time he was really done. What you don't know is this smile is really the beginning of a unhappy smirk. Thank the Heavens for talented photographers.

 

 I used to think that using food terminology to describe a baby was sort of overkill. But really, no word better describes him than Delish! (currently the slang term for delicious).

Our Lazy Summer Days

The Positives

Laying in the shade on a quilt on the lawn at Grandma's house.

Endless time riding a bike

Eating ice cream

Looking like a rag-a-muffin 90% of the time

Lazy Saturday mornings cuddling with dad

Baths to wash the "outdoor" smell off

And pedicures with friends to make our toes pretty in our sandals

 Negatives

Summer cold that progress to ear infections = 3 kids on antibiotics for 

Right Ear Infections

Oh and then they share their germs = Daddy has a right ear infection too! {Sad Face}

 

Nine Months Old

I know I have said this ad nauseum, but can time... SLOW THE HECK DOWN.

My wonder boy has officially been out of my womb as long as he took up residency within it.
It is weird to think of it that way because those nine months go more slowly and these nine months have just gone by like a whirlwind. He is at one of my most favorite stages (who am I kidding, I love all the stages...well almost). I love that he can now sit up and is really starting to test his boundaries. He has gotten on his knees a few times during tummy time and he has that gleam in his eye like he is making a mental list of all the places he is going to explore as soon as he figures out how to get around..(beware sisters..he is coming for your room).

 I just love this little man. He seriously brightens the day with one flash of his smile. And if you are not paying attention, he will patiently smile at you until you look and acknowledge him. Ironically, he then gets shy and hangs his head or buries it in the shoulder of the person holding him. He hasn't quite got over his stranger danger yet and still prefers mom to just about anybody. He giggles himself to exhaustion and loves attention from his sisters. They can do wrong by him! (Well that is a little bit of a lie because Claire can induce some claustrophobia when she is in a cuddly mood).

Here is a little clip of his first experience with playing catch...or maybe dodgeball.

The above video defines his relationship with Ava. This picture below defines his relationship with Claire. Can you see the glimmer of concern in his face.

 The little guy is eating like a champ and can hold a little sippy cup for himself. We are about to start baby puff snacks and I am sure he will be excited. He is starting to get impatient while he waits for his food. If he is sitting in the high chair while you are preparing it, he makes his body tremor like he is having muscle spasms and flings his arm while letting out a long loud impatient whine. He then follows every bite of food with a gratifying "ummm". The girls always mimic him and get a kick out of his sound effects.

Claire trying to feet him with the spoon. She is teasing him because their is no food on it!

Oh did I mention that he makes little guys bow ties look even cuter than they already are?

I love my little cuddle monster that sometimes joins me in bed in the wee hours of the morning. He always turns and buries his head in my chest and closes his eyes. It is heaven on earth!!!
Nine months has brought us a little boys who is sturdy while sitting and starting to try to get things beyond his reach. He is happy, sweet, tender and pretty content, but he is starting to get a mind of his own. For instance, he gets really mad/sad when i take things away that he shouldn't be playing with. He is a man of many sounds, from blowing bubbles, to making sucking noises, to his Native American war cry to his nonstop dadadada or mamamamama...he is one loud little booger (if you manage to wrestle the binky away). He has already started to act dejected if you take too long greeting him when you come home after being gone a while. He expects your attention first and foremost.

To just prove what a good boy he is...he has learned how to shake his head yes before no.  I hope this is a indicator that he is going to take after his daddy and be a easy going, obedient and agreeable child. I can only hope right! A few final things he is doing right now is waving (when he wants and not on demand), rolling all over (he may just decide he can get around like a steam roller and it creates for finding him in some pretty interesting places/positions when getting him out of his crib in the morning), and finally he is turning in to a true boy if you know what I mean. I have to give him something to hold while I change his diaper or else he is trying to get his hands in my way and it can create a very messy situation. We absolutely LOVE our nine month honey boy!

9 month stats
Weight: 18 lbs 3 oz 18% percentile
Height: 28 inches 49% percentile