Phin likes his brother.

This is the first example. While in the car, he put his sippy cup in with baby brother - in case baby brother gets thirsty.
How sweet and loving is that?

And look at these chubby baby cheeks!



Additionally, tonight Dan was holding Zack - trying to get a few burps. Phin crawled up onto daddy's lap and gently put his head on baby brother for a nice, light hug. Daddy asked Phin to do it again, so I could see. Phin is such a nice loving little boy! I am glad he loves his brother!

H-day costumes

We went next door and across the street for a bit-o-candy for Phin.
I feel like I need to get a better picture of Zack. I'll work on that in the next couple days.
Phin learned how to say "trick or treat" tonight.
These boys are such a joy to my heart!

His personality is on its way!!!

Keeping Daddy's seat warm

Even when daddy is away, Phin knows what's going on - and he's more than happy to keep daddy's seat warm for him.
Computer desk and super computer - check!

Week long Halloween!!!

Halloween - no ALL holidays should be about more than just - food and candy. SO, here is to our first experiment with such.
Thursday night and it's time to try on our costumes! Phin is a pirate and Zack is a pumpkin! I think they look super cute and can't wait to dress them up again this weekend.

clothes

See, I think we can have fun with clothes - even on little boys.
This is a picture of my chunk, Zack in his "feed me" shirt and pants.
I find the shirt humorous - as little Zack is rather HUGE! AS IF he's EVER missed even one feeding.
The pants - Grandma Susie will remember. I tried these pants on Zack while Grandma Susie was here helping out and they were SO BIG! Grandma laughed and laughed and I thought I might pull a stitch. Well, they aren't too big anymore! Granted, his bum genius is taking up some space in those pants - but the length is right on!




Big Brother is a whole different story. Daddy told me that Phin must MUST have a Mizzou shirt and a Chiefs shirt - for game day - of course. So, I got him one of each. Today, he "found" the Chiefs shirt in his room and DEMANDED to wear it RIGHT NOW - over his fleece outfit. I thought - why not? So, here he is - on a Thursday - with is opinion on his favorite team - waiting for game day!

Boys sleeping

Usually, Phin takes every single toy in his room and puts it on his bed. Throughout the night, we hear toys drop off of the bed - hard wooden toys that hit the floor with a CLANG! We have become used to listening for a few moments - for a cry - to figure out of it's a toy or a baby. On this day, there was less of toys and more of pillows.

Zack has his own thing going on. He's a big, big boy who has already outgrown the hat that I had made for his brother to wear a few years ago. He is in the 90th %tile in height, weight and the size of his head. :) He is starting to be awake a little more and starting to show signs of happy smiling and looking about.

I love this little family we have going!

PILLOW

or blanket? I am not sure!
Top half:

Bottom half:


Zack, sleeping in all of his cuteness!
Outfit from Nicki
and note the owl shoes!

Fall Outfit

Nicki got this adorable outfit for Isaac waaay before he was born.
Today was the PERFECT weather for him to give it a try.
(he has worn the jeans before) - but he got compliments on this outfit today.

I am sorry I changed Phin out of his outfit before I got a picture of him too.
NEXT-TIME!

Blue shoes

I just thought he looked cute today...

HATS

So, anyone who has spent any time on this blog KNOWS that I kinda love hats.
This hat is something I got when I was in high school or maybe early in college while on a skiing trip in Colorado.
It's easily over a decade old.
But I came across it while I was cleaning out a drawer of "seasonal" stuff.
I had Phin try it on for size.
He was a bit indifferent.
I thought it was brilliant!

Zack was busy chasing his binki...

Bubba

"EPhin" (as he says it) used to be "bubba" but has stopped calling himself that.
"Bubba" is how he would say "baby".
Now, Phin is "EPhin" and Zack is "BABY BROther".
Even so, I think that Phin misses being a baby a little bit.
Only in the stuff he used to have at his disposal.
The car seat, the binki, the vibrating chair...
As shown here, he's still trying them on for size.
It's just that now, he's TOO BIG!

More than just a pumpkin day

Phin and Zack's grandpa visited.
Zack got into the picture with Grandpa and his truck.
Later, after Phin's nap, he read to Grandpa.



Grandpa has already called to say he'll visit again.
He just have enjoyed the soup we fed him!!! :)

PUMPKIN

Dan has always enjoyed making a pumpkin for Halloween.
It's something I have not done my whole life, so Dan is the "boss" of the pumpkin each year.
Last year, Phin sat near while Dad did the work, and THIS year,

Phin got a bigger role in the pumpkin which was to PLAY WITH THE GUTS! I was impressed that he actually played with said guts - as he's a little like me - in that he's not a big fan of getting his hands dirty. I am certain that with age and hanging with Daddy, he'll get over it. This is the first "baby step" right?

It's also amazing to me how much little kids learn by watching. If you look closely, you will see Phiin trying to stab the Pumpkin with the big spoon. He was trying to scoop out guts like he had seen Daddy doing.

I am so very happy to have a house full of boys!

Zack's first SCARY Halloween!

He is so scary he has scared himself!


Callin' out to the other kids playing Halloween dressup



We got these cute outfits from a lady from church who I also teach at the gym. I have to say, the HAT is my favorite. Oh, and these outfits glow in the dark too! SO much fun!

Phin's elbow update

Phin's elbow is feeling better.
He's being a new kind of dare devil today.
His seat is upside down and he's standing on top of it, thinking of jumping...

The kicky sling

This is the "after" picture.
Last night (Saturday night) we went to church and the boys did the child's service.
On our way out, we did the same thing we did on our way in.
"1~2~3 swing"
I remember it from when I was a little kid.
I assume Dan probably does too.
But, things went a little wrong on the way out of church, and that thing is - Phin's elbow joint went out of socket.
Now, we didn't know exactly what was wrong LAST NIGHT - but after research on the internet and then a call to the emergency pedi line this morning, we learned that what happened was something called "nursemaid's elbow."
Phin had a terribly painful night last night and then this morning when we went to the emergency room* to have it "put back in place" by the ortho people.
After a NUMBER of hours, Dan came home with Phin in this kicky sling.
The elbow is still tender and he's refusing to use it, but they said that as the swelling goes down, he'll start to use it by the end of the day.
Needless to say, "~1~2~3 Swing" is OVER, F-O-R-E-V-E-R!



***This would be Phin's third visit to the ER.

1. Base ER in Mississippi
2. Croup in COMO
3. Nursemaid's elbow

Play date

Kate played with Phin while Kate's mom held Zack.
They are posed, sitting on the drums for their picture - looking at Jessica (Kate's mom).
We had a fun time. I hope we do it again!

just another day at home...

and I guess there are people who would hate doing this, but I truly love it.
We wore our jammies today. Isaac took them off when it was time to eat, but the rest of the time, he was jammed up too!
Phin soothed his brother when he heard him making sounds. A little Phin hand on his belly and the sound of Phin saying "shhh" is all it took to calm him down.



Phin enjoyed his daily reading...


Baby brother is currently still rocking the blue eyes.

Isaac's first swing

AND he liked it.
No crying here.
We did have to add a blanket around his neck, to make him a bit more stable.
~Given~Phin~Isaac~
swinging in the same swing!

Isaac slept

While Phin was quite busy - playing outside.




Mama was making beans for good foods for the week.

Swinging with Grandma Barb

This is now Isaac's chair

Yet, Phin tries with all of his might to use it.
I was unable to get a good angle, but his bum was touching the floor outside of the seat, due to his WEIGHT and height!

Grandma Susie visits

And what a blessing it was to have Grandma Susie come along to play with the boys and give mama some time for a NAP!
Grandma Susie is a great multitasker - who can hold two little boys at the same time!