Happy Birthday, Uncle Aaron!

It has been said that

Little boys become big men

because of the influence of big men on little boys.

My brother Aaron is one of the big men 

in our little boys' lives.

This picture is from New Year's Eve last year,

can you see how Christopher looks up to him?

Literally and figuratively?

Happy Birthday Big Brother!

Thanks for loving on our kiddos like you do.

Now I Get It

Now I get it.

Or, well...Ivy got it.

Another tooth, I mean.

Yes, another tooth.

This baby turned 4 months old last week.

She got her 1st tooth the week before that.

Her second popped through yesterday.

This is by far the earliest any of my children have gotten teeth.

I had an appointment yesterday for which I had to run to town.

Ivy, of course, came with me.

When we came right back home,

she was still sleeping in her carseat--which she typically does not like.

So I brought the carseat in with me,

she stayed sleeping.

And stayed sleeping.

And stayed sleeping.

 And stayed sleeping.

 

She hasn't been such a great napper the last week or two.

And she is usually takes a few good naps throughout the day.

I hadn't even really chalked it up to teeth.

Duh.

 

She took a reallllllly long nap.

I kept checking on her,

and then the thought occurred to me:

I bet her tooth came through.

And sure enough,

when she awoke,

it had.

The drooling, the fussing, and finally the looooooooooong nap--

Now I get it.

The Lake

We live about 10 minutes from a number of lakes.

The kids love to go and I love to take them!

We had the beach to ourselves.  I LOVE that.  It's harder to keep track of my tribe when it's full of people.

jumping off the dock

Ruby loved the waves

Ruby showing Mama a rock.  Or something.

One of my favorite pics of the afternoon.

Except for my Incredible Hulk shadow.

My other favorite pic of the day.

Elijah went to get his towel.

The sun was shining through a cloud, 

the flag billowing,

and Elijah looking like a superhero.

Love it.

The Bipper got a little cold...

He warmed up later, though.

Building sandcastles OF COURSE!

Linnea and Andrew talkin' on the dock.

I LOVE THE LAKE.

and so do they.

Fun at Grandma and Grandpa's

Our kids LOVE to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house.
And I'll be honest--I do, too.

Both my parents had last Monday off of work (for the 4th) and so we worked out a sleepover for Linnea, Andrew, Christopher, Elijah and Ruby.

I had to share just some of the fun they had:

I wish I was more computer literate because I don't know how to edit the video my mom took on her digital camera.  I guess you'll just have to put up with the chatter in the background...

My parents still live on the farm they moved to when I was 6 months old.  My dad dairy farmed until February of 1995 when he sold the cows and then rented out their farm.  Our family moved out in March and rented a house nearby until November of 1996 when my parents moved back to their farm--and they remain there today!  Dennis and I were married in September of '96, so I, of course, did not move back with them. :-)
Their place has changed a bit over the years...they tore down a barn and a silo, but other than that it all looks the same as it did when I was growing up there.

While I do think it's neat that I can still go back to where I grew up and that the kids can play where I once did, we would all be just as excited to visit them, even if they lived somewhere else.  It is enough to be where they are.

How many kids get to watch their grandpa do a jump in a wagon?  Who cares if it didn't work--it was funny just to watch him try!
This video was made in the morning and when I went to pick them up in the afternoon, the children wanted to show me what they had been up to.  "Round Two" was not captured on video but it included my dad grabbing one of the kids' bikes and doing the jump. 
And screaming like a girl.
Or, as Christopher put it: "he preamed like a dirrrlllll."
Either way, it made us all laugh.
Which was so the point.

My mom and dad put smiles on the faces of my little people...and that makes me smile, too.

Slingin' Babies

I haven't spoken much about my passion for baby wearing.

And I would have, see, if I wasn't so vain about posting a picture of myself wearing my babies.

I've had one of the children take a picture now and then, but I haven't liked them well enough to post on my blog for a visual for you, my reader.
All four of you.
(Just kidding.)

But, my vanity has since waned a bit.  And I decided to post a picture or two...and a couple links.

I have both a sling and a wrap.  My sling I bought before Ruby was born.  I bought my wrap just before Ivy arrived.

I love love love them both!

My sling is a lite-on-shoulder closed-tail hybrid ring-sling.  A mouthful I know.  I bought it here.
My wrap is called a Sleepy Wrap and I bought it here.

Here is a picture, taken at Easter time by my sister-in-law, of brand new Ivy in my sling with Ruby lovin' on her.

 And now, a picture of Ivy in my wrap:

Now, were I to compare the two--oh, wait--that's what I was going to do.
So here goes:

Sling:
easy to put on
easily adjusted
LOVE the fabric pattern
light weight
$30

Wrap:
more "work" to put it on.
not as easily adjusted
I think it holds baby more snug--perhaps feels "safer" when you carrry baby in it, particularly when baby is brand new.
fabric is not as light as my sling--but in the fall/winter this is a good thing.
$40

I have also done a "homemade" version of the wrap.  I found the instructions on line.  They really aren't instructions so much, because it's simply a length of fabric.  And the "made" part of homemade is sort of a misnomer because there is no sewing involved.  The only cutting has to be done by the lady at the fabric counter.

I wish I had worn my other babies--I didn't start until Ruby.
I love that they can be with me, and not always in the plastic seats...we do too much "plastic mothering" in our culture.

Babies that are worn have much less fussy time, too.

I also think it eases their transition from the womb.  They are all snug and tight inside Mommy and then they are born and suddenly they aren't so cozy anymore! Staying snug with Mommy make for one happy baby!

You Know It's Hot When...

 ...your farmer husband

comes rushing to the door

with a calf in his arms 

and heads 

straight for the man-cave shower 

boys' bathroom.

This newborn was waaaaaay too hot,

breathing rapidly and with an internal temperature of 107.8.

Normal is 102.

Yikes.

He ran the shower with luke-warm water, 

trying to lower her body temperature.

 

Dennis is checking her temp...

I've heard it said that two of the hardest doctors 

to be are a pediatrician and a vet

because your patients can't tell you what they need.

I'd like to add farmer to that list.

In the same way that parents do a lot of "doctoring" 

on their kids before--or in place of--going to the doctor,

a farmer tends his animals

before--or in place of--going to or having the vet come out.

I, of course, said "Hey kids!  Come look--and bring the camera!"

Elijah thought this was crazy!  

To have a calf in the house was crazy enough--

but in the shower to boot?!

Well...

She got up!

Dennis' idea worked!  

Thankfully, he got her temp lowered.

(You can tell how "new" she is--

just born yesterday!

That "thing" hanging down is her 

drying umbilical cord.)

A farmer has to really pay attention

when it is either too hot or too cold.

He is constantly checking his animals to be 

sure they are ok.

 Dennis carried her out the door,

Linnea dried her off 

and put a purple ribbon on her.

Crisis averted for today!

I should say now that most calves arrive on our farm 

with much less fanfare.

As in, "oh--#452 calved."

and that's about it.

a little bling for my coffee

my coffee tastes better
in my pretty new cup
that I bought myself for
my birthday