Picture Fiasco {6 Months and Easter}

Sometimes I feel like we are a 3 ringed circus. I read a funny little cartoon the other day with a mother looking strung out and the caption read, "I am being ruled by a little army that I created myself". Well this describes my feelings sometimes (all too often). Especially when we have something specific to do or somewhere to go. I often feel like I need a 3 day nap after such outings. 

This picture taking session was no exception.

Talmage needed 6 months pictures taken (especially because I didn't do 3 month...mom fail). At the last moment I decided to bring the girls along in their Easter outfits to get a few shots. I love how the pictures turned out but the process was torture.

It was a long drive and I think the kiddos were overly hungry by the time we got there. I tried to plan ahead and bring snacks but our appointment time was a little inconvenient. Talmage now has some stranger danger and wouldn't smile to save his life.  I thought we were going to be lucky to get one non-crying shot, but the camera girl must have been quick at the draw. Ava was a little unruly and talking 90 miles minute to whoever would listen and Claire's voice was squealing/whining/shrieking at it's highest octave. I really thought my brain was going to burst and poor Talmage looked like he was in the middle of a bomb raid. In the end, I am happy with the pictures we got and I love the kiddos in them so much that I can block out the chaos of the day. But I think I will wait and schedule the next photo shoot on a Saturday when dad can join the circus.

Six Months Old!

 His teary eyes and pouty lip are the best! I think he has the Bubba lip from Forest Gump in the second picture. I want to start listing off different types of shrimp when I see it (haha).

The picture below I have entitled "The Man Pose".

 Ready, Set....

 Go!

And Going!!

 And here are the two closest things we got to a smile!

Love that little face anyway.

A few Shots of the Girls and the Gang!

Easter

We had a great Easter Holiday!

I had a lot of things in mind to do and really didn't get around to too much of it. I wanted to watch the Easter Dream movie and make resurrections rolls but none of that happened. We didn't even dye eggs this year (because the water was unexpectedly turned off that evening by the city). But in the end, I was okay with what we did do. There is a fine line between doing and over doing and I am still trying to find the balance.  I love holidays and coming up with new ideas of fun things to do, but at the same time, I realize the holiday will come again next year and we'll have a chance to do it all over again. It is fun to have new things to do along with old traditions. So here are a few of our happenings.

Easter Egg Hunt at Grandma Julie's

Easter Train Ride on Heber Valley Railroad

with our good friends the Ramsey's

The Easter Bunny did some dancing with us and each child got an egg.

Claire had the unfortunate experience of burning her hand on a curling iron right before we left so she was a little subdued and sad. She insisted that her hand stay on a bag of ice the whole evening.

After the train ride, we ate dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant in Heber named Don Pedros. 

What a fun and delicious time!

 Sawyer taught the Easter Bunny a few good moves!

Easter Sunday!

Ava takes after her dad and gets too excited the night before holidays to sleep. She was up for quite awhile and because of it, the Easter Bunny had to hide their baskets down stairs and didn't have time to hide extra eggs. Because Ava is getting older, her basket is getting harder to fine.

Here is their Easter Loot.

 Somehow we didn't get a picture of Talmage's basket. His basket had a new long sleeved bib, rice cereal, a binky leash thingy, some new spoons, a few baby toys, a cute book called Mr. Magee Learns to Ski, and some new Toms. All the kids got a new personalized plate and bowl. 

I can't get over how darling these are!

 They didn't have a bald option (haha)!

We went to a great missionary farewell and then hurried to our sacrament meeting where Ava sang with the Primary. The kids were were so adorable in their Easter clothes and I loved how the kept spinning in circles to make their dresses twirl. We had many"validating" moments as a parents that day as Ava kept bearing her testimony about Jesus and the real meaning of Easter. She is so tender and smart. I love to here her bear her sweet testimony.

We hurried home to finish making our food for the shin dig at Grammy Nae's.

We made deviled eggs and this year we used Yoshi's yummy spicy mayo (that Tyson refers to as liquid crack) to make a few. We scored a whole container of it at the Elder's Quorom Sushi Night the Friday before and Tyson has been looking for anything and everything to use it with. They were a hit! Who knew my family were such adventurous eaters.

Grammy Nae's Egg Hunt!

I feel kind of bad that I didn't get a picture that day of all 3 kiddos but here is a group shot in their Easter outfits from Camera Shy a few days before!

Six Months Old

Little man is half a year old!

I know I say this a lot but where does the time go?

I finally feel relaxed with a baby and now I don't feel there is enough hours and moments in a day to enjoy it and enjoy him.

This little man has brought so much happiness into our home. He lightens our moods with his smiles and squeals. Claire use him like snuggle/cuddle buddy. She often lays by him on the floor as she watches tv and he plays under his activity gym. She sucks her thumb and with her other hand rubs his head. Luckily he doesn't act like he minds too much. She also nestles his hands to her face. She just can't stand not to touch him. Ava thrives on the undivided attention she gets from him.  When she is around, his eyes are glued on her. He sits with a huge grin on his face tracking her every move, waiting patiently for her to make eye contact and when she does he squeals and giggles. He loves to watch her dance and jump and wiggle (all the things she does best). He adores her and she adore him (and the attention). Ava loves having a #1 fan.

Something else that has really seemed to blossom this last month is the bond between Talmage and his daddy. Of course he has recognized and smiled for Tyson for a long time, but they now have "their ways." By that I mean that they have their way that they relax in the lazy boy together, or the way daddy carries him like a postal package as walks around the house doing this or that. He now acts ubber excited to see his daddy when he comes home from work and won't take his eyes off his dad until he gets acknowledged. When daddy finally does look at him, he bows his head with a cheeky grin and shyly looks away. Daddy helps with the rough nights and it has helped to build their bond. I love watching the boys bond in action.

Some new things this month:

Stranger Danger- 6 month pictures were challenging because he didn't want to smile for the lady

Food-he has had rice cereal and we are gearing up for vegetable later this week.
Mobility-he can now roll from back to tummy and tummy to back quite masterfully. he also kicks his legs so hard that he really get the bouncy seat going.
Dexterity-he reaches and grabs at everything and he is almost as quick as a professional pick pocket. He especially loves little girls pony tails and braids.
Vocal-he is still very squealy and now likes to hum when he eats and sometimes as he is falling asleep. He also makes that noise (how do you describe) when you breath in and sound like your gasping for air. It sounds so funny and he looks so proud of himself when he does it.
Balance-No signs of sitting up yet. He does well with the bumbo but doesn't seem to have the balance quite yet for sitting up. That is okay though, we are practicing. We put him in the walker and he loves it. He feels like he is in the action and often just giggles for no apparent reason when sitting in it.
 Faces-He is trying to mimic mouth movements and Ava will sit for a long time just sticking out her tongue and watching him mimic her. They both end up in stitches just giggling.
Snuggles-He has always been snugly but I love that when he is shy or tired, she just lays his head on my shoulder. He will stay that way for along time or until he falls asleep. My girls did it occasionally but it was not a common occurrence like it is with little man.

Did I say he melts my heart? Well just in case I didn't get that point across yet....He Does!
He is the sweetest, easiest going, loving, smiley boy and he is mine!

The difference between first bite and second. He takes after his father I think!

 

 

 Tongue in action.  He couldn't quite figure out how to get it out of the way.
Mmmmm isn't he delicious?

6 Month Stats
Weight: 15 lbs 22% percentile
Height: 26 in 40% percentile

Wounds

Claire burned her hand on the curling iron this last weekend. It was a so sad. She cried and sobbed as alligator tears rolled continuously down her cheek. We stuck her hand under cold water and then eventually on a bag of ice.  It was hard to get her to trust us that the ice would help. I reasoned and begged her to let me try and help, but she was beyond any consoling I could give because the pain was overbearing. After just letting her cry until she calmed a little, she stopped ringing her hand in the air and put it on the ice. I think she found immediate relief and insisted on the ice bag the rest of the day and night (she insisted on the ice bag to rest her hand on when she went to bed). We called the doctor to make sure it wasn't something that needed to be seen because of the size and site of the burn and were given good instructions on what to do and watch for. She if finally using her hand again but has some pretty good blisters on her few fingers. It was really hard not being able to kiss away her ouchie.

That night I got thinking about the events of the day and had a little realization. I thought about the fact that my children would continue to experience hurt, pain and wounds in this life and sometimes I was going to be powerless to prevent or cure them. This thought really made my heart ache. I realized that sometimes the only thing I can do is be there and hold them when they cry but no matter how much I wanted to, I can't stop or take away the pain. Being that it was Easter weekend I then thought of the savior and I realized the importance of teaching them how to deal with these wounds and who to turn to in there time of need. Even if it is not me, I am happy to know that there will always be some who understands. I knew the Savior knew my little Claire's pain and could sympathize with the physical discomfort she was experiencing. Then I had another thought. There was more that I could do then just teach my kids who to turn to in their need. I needed to turn to him just as much as Claire does because only he could help me to know what Claire needed from me. Where this was just a small event focused mostly around a physical pain/wound, I thought ahead to the future where I know my kids will experience their share of sorrow, headache and many types of pain. But I was comforted because I have a testimony of the Savior and the example he is to us and blessing he has made possible to each one of us. Every once in awhile it is good to have those experiences that brings those eternal truths to the forefront of our minds. I am glad for the small reminders around me that I am not alone and that someone wiser, kinder and perfect is helping me along the way.