One Little, Two Little, Three Little Monkeys

How did we come to be so blessed with such amazing friends and neighbors? Meals, play dates, offers for 'what ever you need, just let us know', and well-wishes galore primed our first month with three little monkeys.

We've gone from topsy-turvy to almost calm waters.... as calm as it gets with three babies.

Eli and Kayla absolutely adore thier new little brother. And he returns their adorations with coo's and smily-squeels. We sure do hope he gets to be a permanent part of our family.
















Eli tries to explain how to be gentle with a baby (heheh, that's so cute) and Kayla, as usual, refuses to believe that there is any way but her way.































Loves bath-time as long as there is no coldness involved.
















Such sweetness.
















Tummy-time is not a favorite. Can you blame him.... look at that noggin'!!
















Look! We fit all three without having to purchase another vehicle. I personally would love a new vehicle but we don't need it.... I guess.
















Little Brother at his WIC appointment. They report that he's coming along just great! Didn't get pictures at his two-month appointment but that went well too.
















Mommy's Helper#2. Keeping her on the counter helps with less trouble around the kitchen and we get to talk together. :D





















Eli's play is frequently interrupted with his request to hold and/or feed Little Brother (aka: Baby Mac/Little Mac) who tends to want to visit more than eat during mid-day feedings. Such a sweat-heart.































PS - Please, don't get your feathers all ruffled that we, the parents, have not found an agreeable name for Little Brother. Most people do get nine months to think options over. We'll get there in a few months and baby will be just as loved. If that just doesn't work for you, you can call him.... ....Bartholomew.

No Tweets? No Facingbook?

We are one month past the 'unusual to-do list' and our big "What?!" announcement from Facebook and since much of our family does not 'tweet' or 'facebook', we figured we'd better update our blog a bit.

unusual to-do list:
"8/1/2011 12:46am - TO DO: wash vomit covered laundry from last night - CHECK, pack car without leaving things behind - CHECK, thank everyone for a great vacation - CHECK, drive 8 hours back home - CHECK, pick up 7-week-old baby boy - CHECK."

"What? ???????":
"

Yes!!! A little boy!!!! And a very calm and sweet one at that. I could have coo-ing conversations with him for hours. We received a call Friday afternoon while on vacation with Dale's family and relatives last week..... "[we have a 7-week-old little boy that needs to be placed in a home while the parents figure out what they need to do to get him back. He is the biological brother of the little girl you adopted last year. Are you interested in having him stay with you?]"

Have you ever had that strange experience where one day you find out you are expecting a baby and then two days later you have that baby in your arms? Well, I have... twice now. And I've learned approximately when the 'punches' will come and I've learned how to 'tuck'n'roll' with them a lot better than I ever imagined I could. I predict 'recovery times' to be a lot quicker through this year's process. Wish me luck. ;)

A few stats. and info. ...born June 7, 2011, at about 7 pounds ...almost two months now and almost 12 pounds ...in size 2 diapers already (hoping I can use all the diapers I currently have before he grows out of them :D ) ...great eater ...great sleeper ...really needs to work on his belches, I personally think he can do so much better ...eyes look brown some times and hazel-with-a-tint-blue at other times ...loves to look around and coo at people sweetly talking to him ...custody hearing today have us as the Special Respondents ...this is a D&N case with an EPP (dependency and neglect, expedited permanency plan) ...birth parents are trying to get him back ...if they choose not to make significantly better choices, it is predicted he could be our little one forever in about 14-16months ...Kayla is absolutely head-over-heals excited about her new baby (and I'm working overtime to keep him safe but still let her be involved) ...Eli has named him Mighty Mac and dotes on him as often as possible ...if baby boy sprouts fangs and develops a red hue to his eyes we will keep the name of Jasper ...yes, his head is just as ginormous as Kayla's but I think they look different when comparing their two month photo shots ...please 'send a message' so I can get back with you about anything else you are curious about.

Kayla about 9weeks

Kayla about 7weeks

Kayla about 9weeks

Kayla about 6weeks

Little Brother loves looking all around - 8weeks

Little Brother getting sleepy - 8weeks

Nigh-night Little Brother - 8weeks

sweet dreams - 8weeks"

Play Dates of Yesterday, We Miss You

Like four peas in a pod, these little cuties. Learning to share and communicate but mostly just being silly and making each other laugh, in addition to thier on-looking mothers.

Trying it out.... first play date to see how things worked out. Sooo glad it did. Wouldn't trade it for the world.
















Is there really any other volume besides LOUD?




































Tumbling (unfortunately the best picture I have right now... anyone want to share the ones they took?)
















Snack-time/Lunch-time

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!

I was so excited to see this on the counter from the night before. Daddy and Eli went to the store to pick up something special! (They also picked up some chocolate doughnuts and Daddy made special dessert-waffles.YUM!)




































Who can just LOOK at flowers, not us. ; ) We have to EXPERIENCE the flowers. Couldn't have it any other way.




















































These flowers are pokey, Mommy. They have pokies.





















Flowers make her sneeze. But that doesn't keep her away.

Easter

We had a great little family lesson about the resurrection of Jesus Christ during Family Home Evening last week. Eli loves to hold the pictures and copy what we say to the other parent and/or Kayla. On our way home from church today Eli asked, "So, what did you talk about in your class today?" and we were able to discuss the topic of the day a little more. He's such a sweet little cutie. I keep telling him that he can't grow up, he has to stay my baby and he replies with "No! I have to grow up and go to school! You can get another baby when I go to school, Mom."

(really like the style of Simon Dewey and a few other artist's who paint stories from the Bible)




















Eli was so excited to show Kayla her new classroom. Gave her hugs and kisses before leaving for his class. Kinda funny..... he still doesn't realize that head-locks are not communicating what he is trying to give. (two bungling toddlers - hilarious! aren't we all just like that sometimes?)
















Kayla started going to Nursery today (18 months-old this Friday!!!) Sooo social.




















'Pancake Sunday' is becoming a regular at our place. With a huge lunch after church, we're not always up for a huge dinner and pancakes tend to 'hit the spot'. They are easy enough to have Eli help cook. He had so much fun making egg-shaped and happy-faced pancakes.
















Can't wait to gobble them up.. I could only stop him long enough to take a picture. :D His stomach is a bottomless pit when it comes to eating pancakes. Kayla could go either way.
















Dale's sister and family were all able to make it for a Saturday egg hunt in the community and then the children enjoyed another one at home. We love their visits!!!
















Kayla had fun picking up eggs and dropping them or putting them in other children's baskets.
















T, Mylee, Dale, Kayla after a fun egg hunt.
















Eli deep in thought.




















So tired, she fell asleep on the way home. Wheew! Picking up the same egg over and over sure is a lot of work.
















Egg hunting in our yard.
















Eli had an unfair advantage, besides being a bit quicker than Mylee, we did practice egg hunting all week long... he was just so excited (and he loves identifying colors and any activity that he thinks fits within 'home-school-pre-school').














YUMMM!!!! CANDY!!!!!
















My Mom and Dad surprised us by crashing at our place for a few days on the way back home from a graduation, visiting with friends and family, and bringing my baby brother back home for a semester break. It's always great to have family visit!!! Good thing they don't expect much. ;D xoxox We had tons-o-fun gallivanting around the open space.

Kayla discovered the heel-bum inch-worm method of getting down the trails.




















Uncle Nathy (recently returned from the Guam Micronesian Islands mission).
















Nathan LOVES climbing and Mom enjoys encouraging him (far right taking pictures of Nathan left at the top of a tree).














What a cute little mom/grandma. :D




















Enjoying her new-found freedom walking all around the park.