I should just stop...

... saying I am going to do things and not do them. I really don't do it intentionally. I guess I just have good intentions and then other things get in the way. I really want to be better at that. Maybe one of these days. I said last week that I was going to write about being "present" every day this week- I didn't do it. Awhile ago, I blogged about counting my blessings and I only made it a couple of days. So, for now, at least until I can get my life under control, I'm just not going to commit to anything. I know, great attitude, right? 

Anyway, I also wanted to post pictures from our ward Trunk-or-Treat. It ended up raining Friday night, so the kids just went around trick-or-treating around the church building. It's funny though because while I was nursing C in the foyer (on the not so crowded side) little kids kept coming up and saying "Trunk or treat!

I had many different ideas about how I would dress up the baby. None of them came to fruition... but he still did dress up. I dressed him up like a lumber jack (fitting right, since he's a big baby... think Paul Bunyon). I even drew a little beard on him (which was washed away by his drool within the first hour we were there). But he loved when I drew it on his chin. He was so relaxed. 

Here are some pictures: 

Wanda kidnapped him for a little while. :)

My little lumberjack.

Today after church.

Doctors visits

On Wednesday, the wee one had his four month check-up. He weighed in at 17lbs even and was 26 1/4 inches long! He's a big, healthy boy! :) While the doctor was examining him, he was has happy as could be.  He squealed and wiggled around alot. The pediatrician said that I was going to have a handful on my hands. The pediatrician suggested that I start him on solids around Thanksgiving time. He'll be five months old. We'll see. I was thinking I'd start on Christmas (he'll be exactly 6 months old).

Here he is waiting for the doctor to come in.

We are doing a delayed vaccination schedule- not because I believe vaccinations cause Autism, I do not, but rather because I do feel that getting five or six vaccinations at one time is a lot for such a little body. So, he only got one shot and one oral vaccination at his four month check-up. We'll go again next month and get two more. Anyway, he didn't cry at all when he got his shot! What a tough little man!

On Thursday, we went to get his tongue clipped. He let the doctor look at his tongue fine, but then when the doctor came back with the nurse to clip it, he was not happy, understandably so. I held him in my lap. I had to hold his head still and his arms down. After the tongue was clipped, he bled just for a second and he cried until I nursed him. Then he was perfectly fine and experimented with his tongue some. It was neat to watch him as he discovered that he suddenly had more mobility. And, it has already made a difference with nursing. Of course he nursed fine before, once he figured it out. But, he is a little more efficient now and it's less painful for this mama. :)

He has no idea what he's in for. :(

This is just a nervous laugh. Believe me, I did not glory in my babies pain.

All done.

Here are a couple of before and after shots:

As far as he could get his tongue up or out.

After:

Not so heart shaped.

Playing with his tongue.

I still need to get one with his tongue sticking out. It's pretty cute. :)

Four Months

My sweet boy is four months old today. I can't even believe it! His personality is really developing these days. He is a lot more vocal and squeals often. He can be quite animated!! He still  doesn't love Tummy time, but he'll tolerate it more. He continues to try to learn to roll from his back to his tummy. He longs to be able to sit up and whenever he's leaning back in a seat he will try to sit himself up. The little fella seems to really want to be mobile... He likes to try to move around, but really just ends up kicking his legs and going nowhere. He is learning the concept of cause and effect. The other night, I stacked blocks and he'd knock them down. He is more observant and really watches everything!! He's such a joy! I love my little four month-old fella. We head to the pediatrician tomorrow. I'm anxious to see how much he weighs and how long he is.

Here are some pictures:

Trying to sit up on his own.

 Tummy Time- gotta love the baby drool.

I just love his facial expressions. 

Checking out the blocks. 

I got him mid squeal. 

There they go!! 

Knocking more down... 

Down...

Yay!

Where has this day gone?

Well, I had a hard time being "present" today. I did get one glimpse. Today Jeff was singing an old song to Caleb. Caleb just stared at him as he sang. They do this every nigh and it really is sweet to watch.

Today went by too quickly. I have so much that I have to get done all of the time. Today, I have been really stressed about getting things done for school. I have so much that I need to get done and only six weeks before everything is due. I don't know how I am going to do it, really. I just don't have time... and well, I'll be honest, I do waste time on the internet (such as I am now) while Caleb is sleeping- but I am just too tired. I am so not motivated and I am worried that I am not going to pull myself together and get everything done so that I can graduate in December. Oy veh!

I know this is jumbled, but last night, my sweet boy was crying and so I held him and sang to him as I patted his tush. He stopped crying and eventually fell asleep. It was one of the sweetest moments. I loved 

it. Jeff decided to take a couple of pictures. 

Being "Present"

I want to be a better blogger. I really want to document the things, feelings, even little moments of inspiration that happen day to day. I want to remember things like how today at stake conference, the wee one was fussy and then fell asleep in my arms as I stood in the hall, held him close and bounced him up and down and how he soon woke up when everyone sang the intermediate hymn, but how he just lay in my arms content to be close to mama in his still sleepy state. I want to remember how his eyes light up when his daddy sings to him and how he'll try to sing back. He loves his daddy. I want to remember how just yesterday someone asked me if he'd discovered his feet and and I answered that he hadn't. But just this morning as we were laying in bed, the little guy started reaching for his feet.

I could go on and on, there are so many things that I want to remember and are so easily missed in this fast paced world and this crazy busy life that I am now living. I don't want to miss out on those little moments. And so, I am going to do a little experiment. Every day for this week- I want to live more in the present. I want to be in the right here, right now. I am going to be more aware of those little moments with the wee one, with Jeff and with others that I am around. I am going to notice the beauty and blessings around me- because those are the moments that matter. So often I let my mind wander off- it's so easy to do, there are a ton of things that I have to get done and my brain rarely lets me forget it. This week, I am going to stop, stop my mind from wandering, enjoy those precious moments that I have each day with my family. And every day this week, I am going to write about how I was able to be "present".

Here we are doing one of my most favorite things. I love reading to my sweet boy.

I Love to See the Temple

Yesterday we went to the temple. It was the longest trip we'd taken with the little guy. He slept the entire way there. Jeff went in while we walked around and enjoyed the lovely weather. Then we went to the Visitors Center where we waited for Jeff. It was so nice to be there and it was wonderful seeing friends there. I love to see the temple and am so glad that we got to go.

On the way home, we stopped by the Worthington's and they invited us for a lovely dinner. They hadn't had a chance yet to meet Caleb and so it was a nice visit and it was nice getting caught up some.

We headed home from there and he slept the entire way home as well. It was a long day for him, but he did well... though today his schedule has been all messed up- and I am assuming he is currently going through a growth spurt because he ate all the night long- seriously.

He's a wonderful little fella and brings such a sweet spirit into our home. We are so lucky to have him.

 We saw Grandpa Calton (and grandma and great-grandpa, too). :)

 Our first family photo at the temple. 

The wee one in front of the temple.

Here are some other random pictures:

 Not happy about taking pictures.

 Bath time!

 Jeff's first time (and probably only time) trying the Moby wrap.

 The kid can't keep his hands out of his mouth.