Christmas Booty

He was actually so interested in all of the cool stuff that we had a hard time keeping him still for a picture.
I'm not mad. It makes complete sense!

We can't forget

about Isaac. He's still sleeping quite a bit. Note the book (thank you Dolly Parton Imagination Library) that we have available for him to look at while awake. "But, he's on his stomach - that is wrong" you think. Well, family, Isaac was but on his belly for "tummy time." I have been lectured by everyone of authority about how my child needs tummy time. So, down he went. He was not a fan - but the way he got back at us was rather funny. I am surprised his brother never thought of it. Isaac decided that instead of fighting to be up on his chest, he would just lay his head down and take a snooze. Looks like little Isaac will be "bull head number four!"

I went to check in on him

during his nap. I looked and looked over the baby gate. My little one was no where to be found. I looked for a toe or elbow sticking out from under the blanket - but nothing. As I started to step OVER the baby gate to further explore for my boy, I spied toes - a foot. Thing is, they were not in his BED! Remember, that hamper is in the shape of a frog. So, I guess he kinda got swallowed up by his room frog. HA!

Soft & gentle

He's getting better at supporting baby brother in his vibrating chair!

Phin's day

Play, play, play...


nap, nap, nap!

it was time to leave

and Phin was on the floor playing with his "super letters."
As I rushed him out the door, I saw that he was making a word.
This is what Phin was thinking about this morning:

Phin's first guitar lesson - an introduction.

there was not even time to get the coat and hat off....

what is sweeter

than a little boy sleeping?

More shots of Isaac

in his first ever photo shoot.

3 month portrait

When Ethan was three months, he had his first "professional" photo shoot with mama. Now, on the same three month mark, Isaac gets his first photo shoot. It's interesting how similar they look - and how different they are as well. Isaac started out much bigger when he was born - it will be interesting to see if that trend will continue.

What a cute gift

from my friend Jessica Hughes. The outfit is reversible. It can be either a solid baby blue, or a blue with monkeys playing about. I particularly like it because the waist band isn't too tight - so that the cloth diapers don't fit well.
Isaac is certainly growing up. It looks like he may keep those baby blues (eyes).

My morning

This morning, I got to sleep in. Daddy got Phin and made him waffles and a berry bar and milk.
When I got out of bed, Phin was out of waffles and I asked him if he wanted eggs. While I started my coffee, I asked him if he wanted to do some recycle and he said yes. We recycled and I started some eggs while my coffee brewed. Phin looked at a book while I made the eggs and then he sounded sad - so I went to see the problem. He had taken his gluten free homemade berry bar from his high chair and it had dropped in the hallway. Because it was gluten free and had been made with too much millet flour, it had broken into pieces - like a piece of glass would. In the meantime, the dog was ringing the bell to go outside to play and the baby Zack was crying to start his morning. Quickly, the eggs were ready and Phin was back to his high chair with a new glass of milk and some eggs. I was bent over a broken berry bar with a broom and with steam rising off of the tea kettle I was very grateful for my morning.
ALL of it.

Phin wants to help

brother sit in his vibrating chair and really enjoy the experience. How does that happen? Phin rocks the chair up and down - which is cute - but we need to work on "soft and gentle" rocking - as Phin can get a little crazy with the rocking.

It's really quite interesting...

how is mind works.
We have been noticing this trend with his wanting a video, but the letters is still a little new to me.
This is how it works with the video.
Phin wants to watch a video and asks for such. I tell him "no" because he's ALREADY seen a video this morning.
He then tells me he wants to eat "mac and cheese."
SO, of COURSE, I tell him okay. I don't want my child to be hungry!
I put him in his highchair (yes, I still put my 27 month in a high chair. It keeps him contained...) and start the mac and cheese.
Luckily, I have earlier in the week made a HUGE pile of it and frozen it in smaller portions that I then pull down as needed to the fridge. Getting the mac and cheese will only take minutes. (yes, they are either corn or brown rice noodles...)
Once the mac and cheese is ready, I give him his drink and food and.... TURN ON THE VIDEO. Cause, you know, we turn on the video when he's eating.
So, he watches the video until it ends (however minutes I have put on the laptop) and then he wants to get down and play.
Mac and cheese untouched.
So, I have caught on to this...

Here is how the bath works:
He starts mumbling about playing with his letters.
(They were taken away because he was focusing on them too much. However, we didn't take away his bath letters.)
I just ignore the request because the letters are put away.
He then asks to take a bath (while still in his highchair at the end of breakfast.) I think, "AWESOME! He wants to be clean, right?" We go to the bath and run the water and he goes straight for the... LETTERS. he plays and plays. He tolerates the soap and the shampoo and conditioner and plays until I empty the tub of water. He CONTINUES to play... I warn him it's getting close to time to get out of the tub. I tell him it's time to get out of the tub. I start toweling him off, telling him we have to get out of the bath. We come back to the bedroom and put on lotion and get dressed in nice warm clothes and comb his hair and let him out to run the house and play. Again, he asks for letters. I ignore the request, as the letters are put away. He THEN asks for ANOTHER bath.

I have to say, I am impressed at how he knows WHAT he wants and makes the right requests to get that thing. I have to tell you though, it worries me - for what we will deal with as he gets smarter and older. I can smell the trouble already - just like a batch of chocolate chip cookies that are ready to come out of the oven!

Mama sleeps too

for moments
sometimes with a baby
here's proof!

Zack's self entertainment...

and the boys sleep

Isaac's new hat!

play

Note the stick in his hand as he plays!

creativity

I don't know how much of it is genetic or learned or what have you. I know I was a very creative minded child and it seems Phin might be one too. This is the example we have for today.
We went outside to play and, of course, as a little boy he went straight for a large stick in the yard. He proceeded to carry it around as he played in the yard.

The interesting part of this story is that the stick was... a "Y".

Later in his play, he started finding "V's" He found the "v" then counted the "v" and then handed them over to me - gingerly counting out each one carefully like they were hundred dollar bills. I found it adorable!

Here is another picture of Phin's "V's" - as they are a bit hard to see in my hand...

... and the boys play

We are not the youngest parents ever. With that said, I am so happy that we are both still healthy and fit enough to romp around on the floor with our boys. I have fond memories of such - and I happy they will too!

Zack's wearing jeans

and I think he likes them!
His cloth diaper cracks me up.

While little brother sleeps,

big brother plays...

Zach swings

It started out to be a spectacular day

In the wee hours of the morning, Phin woke up. He took every single book in his room (twenty-five to be exact) and slid it under his bedroom door - so that Daddy and Mommy would have a little "hall art" to view when we got up to get him.

Later in the day, Phin did his only "formal" chore at this time. That is to take the toilet paper that I throw up to the hallway and take it to the bathroom and put it "away." He gets a kick out of this chore! On this particular day, he decided to get creative. He unwrapped some of the rolls. He unraveled some of the rolls and he decided to practice brushing HIS teeth with MY toothbrush! What fun times! I can't wait to see what the rest of the day brings!

Phin's new favorite book

borrowed from the library.
We may need to get a copy for the house!!!

At the Edge of the Woods
by Cynthia Cotten.

Thank you Grandma Allen

for helping me get a few pics of my baby with his mama!

It only takes a few moments

in your grandma's arms - warm and snugly soft -

before you head off to dreamland.

Happy, happy baby!

He doesn't do much yet

besides look around. With that said, he's super cute and his face changes all of the time. Funny thing is: even though his face changes so much, he STILL looks like his brother!

Zack is awake!

AND he's large and in charge!

Visiting Grandma

We had to get a picture of Grandma Susie with the boys!
We did the best we could - to make everyone look good!


Do you believe the blue eyes on this kid?

Playtime at Grandma's house

It was really cold out that day - so this was the "first wear" for the new red coat and hat!!!


With uncle Dave and and,


of course, the SWING!