Ryan's new trick

So does this look like just the beginning of putting everything in his mouth, or maybe we have a thumbsucker on our hands? I wonder if he swallowed a fuzzy there at the end.

Finally

We finally got a new camera. I was so tired of trying to find a paperclip to be able to snap a picture. The button had broken off, and I can't tell you what a pain that was. What do you think of my new glasses? Our last camera had a terrible zoom, so I was playing around today to see what this one can do.

And here is the perfect little model to try out a new camera on. Now I have some more pictures to play with on picnik -- when I'm finished with my current class. I'm almost done!

Look what this baby has done to me!

Has anyone ever gone bald because they had a baby? I would like to know that I'm not the first. I remember losing a lot of hair with my other babies, but I think I had more then to lose. I've been doing laundry this morning, and I've been pulling strands of my hair off of everyone's clothes even after coming out of the dryer. It made me think of Gary. He was so grossed out to be living in a house full of girls whose hair seemed to be everywhere. Maybe Santa will need to bring me a wig.

Yesterday Nikki was sitting on my lap in church and she said, "Mom, why is your tummy a little bit big?" Just tell it like it is, Nikki. If only the truth wasn't so brutal. I told her it was because I had a baby and I like to eat ice cream.

I must say Ryan is worth a bald head and a squishy tummy. He has been doing so much better since we got a new reflux medicine for him. Yesterday Nikki burned her finger pretty badly on my hair straightener, and Ryan was the only one who could get a smile out of her. For the past three days, I have found him playing happily in his crib in the morning. He is the sweetest little boy. Everyone says to just wait three years, but I'm choosing to not think about him growing up yet. I am enjoying this sweet stage where I can leave him in one place and he'll still be there when I get back. He can't talk back. He's sleeping well most of the time. He doesn't require a lot of entertainment. He is just perfect right now.

A great week

First, after reading over my last post, I think I may have come across sounding like I was being mean to Nate. I love my husband, and I love that he can laugh at himself. We have a good time laughing at all the crazy things that he gets himself into. For instance, at this last campout he wore thermal underwear and a flannel shirt and huge thermal socks. Makes sense to do when camping in mid-November, right? Maybe not. That night the temperature got down maybe into the 50s, and since it was raining pretty much the whole time the humidity was at 100%. He was dying! See, that's where I get my "poor Nate." Even though he was sweating, he did stay mostly dry from the rain and had a good time at the campout.

So, after he was gone last weekend, he had a business trip to take during the week. I didn't think I could take having him gone again for so long, so at the last minute I decided to go with him. I called my wonderful brother and sister-in-law to watch the girls for us, and we had a great time away. No cooking, cleaning, dishes, or laundry for a whole week, and I got three lessons of my history class done during the day while Nate was in his training classes. I also got all of my Christmas shopping done for everyone except a little thing or two for Hannah. When we picked the girls up yesterday, Hannah was pretty clingy. I think she missed us, but Nikki probably could have handled another week away. Thanks so much for watching them, Mike & Sherrie. What a wonderful week, and now we have Thanksgiving coming up this week! Life is good.

Poor Nate

I've been chuckling to myself all morning thinking about Nate. He just had some terrible luck last night, and it reminded me of this story. One time he went shopping for me at Wal-Mart. He said it took him over an hour to get everything in his cart, and then when he got to the check-out he found that he had forgotten to bring his wallet. So, the nice cashier said she would just hold his basket of goods while he ran home and came back with the money. He got home, came and told me what he had done, we had a good laugh, and he left again for the store. When he got back up to the register ..... he had forgotten to pick up his wallet at home!!! HaHaHa! I still laugh at that one. Some sweet lady behind him in line took pity on him and paid for his groceries. I'm sure she never thought she would see that money again with how absentminded he was that day, but he did come straight home and write a thank you note that he mailed her with a check.

So, anyway, that just illustrates the kind of things that happen to Nate. Last night he was on a scout leadership training campout. The night before Ryan woke up every hour after 2 am. I commented to him that he would probably be excited to be sleeping on the ground just to get away from an infant. Then it rained ALL NIGHT LONG last night. And the wind is still blowing and it is still raining this morning. HaHaHa!! I know I should be nicer, and in my defense I have been praying for him, but I can't wait for him to get home and hear the stories of what has happened to him. The poor guy just can't get a break.

On the other hand the girls and I had a great night. Since it was just us girls (and baby Ryan, of course) on a Friday night, we decided it was time to welcome in the Christmas season. We made sugar cookies, got some egg nog, broke out the Christmas music, and started making some paper ornaments for our Christmas tree. I let the girls stay up as late as they wanted, and they had a pretty surprised look on their faces when I told them I was going to bed. I don't know how late they stayed up, but they were both on the couches when I got up at 2 am. Ryan at least just woke up once last night instead of 4 times, which makes me think of Nate again! HaHa!

I love these kids!

The other day Nikki said to me, "Mom, we're not kids. That's baby goats. We're your children." She's too cute. I think if she ever got in trouble with the law she could whine her way out of jail. The guards would be begging the judge to send her home. It's amazing how she can turn a simple task into a drawn-out-all-day "why-do-I-have-to-do-this-but-I'm-thirsty-but-I-want-to-play-a-game" affair. It's a very good thing she is cute.

Ryan is trying to figure out what his hands are. I love watching the confused looked he gets when he puts them in front of his face. He doesn't quite get it yet. And I want my happy baby back. Is it possible that his reflux is getting worse because he's growing and eating more? Maybe his medicine isn't doing enough for him now? He's been out of whack for a couple of weeks, and it's progressively getting worse. He's not sleeping well, and he's too uncomfortable to eat well. I think I'm going to call the pediatrician today. I'm ready for a break, so I'm sure he is, too.

And then we have our sweet Hannah. I am so proud of her for the progress she is making in school. Moving to 2nd grade in a new school where the other kids were almost a whole grading period ahead of her was quite a challenge. But she has really worked hard, and I love watching her learn. She is also such a great helper with Ryan and Nikki. I hope someday they appreciate how blessed they are to have such a wonderful big sister. And her big news.......... one of her top teeth is starting to come in! Now she'll be able to eat corn on the cob again!

Because I'm supposed to be writing a paper ...

8 favorite TV shows :
1. The Cosby Show
2. American Idol
3. Alias
4. Loony Tunes
5. Rachel Ray
6. I Love Lucy
7. Bob Ross painting his "happy trees"
8. any cooking or home design show (I'm no good at either and love seeing people who are)

8 things I did yesterday:
1. church
2. straightened Hannah's hair
3. helped Hannah write a talk for Primary
4. watched Hannah give said talk (she did a great job)
5. cooked pancakes for supper
6. planned this week's menu
7. read Elder Nelson's conference talk
8. relaxed

8 things I look forward to:
1. Thanksgiving break
2. date night
3. finishing my paper
4. then finishing this stinkin' history class
5. naptime
6. picking the girls up from school (it's been so quiet here today)
7. Nikki putting the groceries away for me this afternoon-- she's trying to earn money for a Tinkerbell doll
8. eggnog because then it really will feel like Christmas is coming!

8 favorite restaurants:
1. The Olive Garden
2. Applebee's
3. The Melting Pot
4. Torero's
5. Parker's (or any good Carolina BBQ)
6. Chic-fil-A
7. Granddaddy White's cooking
8. IHOP

8 things on my wishlist:
1. new camera
2. lots of new shoes
3. hot tub (I can dream, right?)
4. birthday get-away (hint, hint Nate :})
5. 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep
6. that I didn't have to write this awful paper
7. a house in the country where my neighbors can't see in my windows
8. a trip to some tropical paradise

8 people to tag:
1-8. I don't know that I have 8 people who read my blog, but if you have something like writing a paper to procrastinate then I tag you. =)

Sugar

Loving this beautiful fall weather!

Grandma and Grandpa

Nate's parents came to visit us for a whole week, and it was wonderful to have them here. I hope we didn't wear them out too much. I'm sure they will be happy to sleep in their own bed tonight with no crying babies around! The girls were in heaven with Grandma and Grandpa always ready to play a game or read a story to them. Hannah even asked Grandpa some questions about the election last night. They were able to watch the girls' gymnastics class last week, and H&N loved that. On Sunday, I was in the mother's lounge with Ryan when Nate's dad bore his testimony in Sacrament meeting. We could hear it over the speaker, and another lady who was in there with me said, "You must feel really lucky to have in-laws like that." She was right. I am blessed to have them as in-laws and grandparents for our children. We only wish we lived closer and could visit with them more often.

Ryan's blessing

Ryan was blessed last Sunday, and we were so happy that Nate's parents could come from Utah to be with us for it. Nate gave Ryan a beautiful blessing. I had been thinking beforehand about all the things I would want my son to blessed with in this life, and I think Nate mentioned them all. We feel so grateful to have this little one in our home. It truly has been a joy to have him added to our family. It's amazing to me the capacity our hearts have to feel love. I can't even describe how much love I feel for him.

Almost...

We finally caught Ryan's smile on camera, well ... kind of. But he was giving really big smiles.

Bumblebees

Nikki wanted to be a ladybug until she decided she wanted to be a pumpkin until she saw Hannah's bee costume, and then she settled on and was happy with being a bumblebee. We had a fun Halloween night this year. For the first time we are in a neighborhood with kids and actually got some trick-or-treaters. Nate and Grandma took the girls out while Grandpa and I stayed home with Ryan and handed out candy. Eventually we got tired of handing it out and just set the bowl on the front porch. The girls were so generous and just dumped all of their candy together and let us all have at it together.

Pumpkin Carving

Here is the artist planning out how he will carve a better pumpkin than last year's.

We love carving pumpkins, and it was fun having Grandma and Grandpa Robbins here to watch this year. They didn't care to get into the mess, and I can't blame them!

My Favorite Hairdresser

My uncle Billy was at it again. The pictures of me are from years past. Billy just couldn't help himself when he saw my girls' hair in pigtails. Hannah asked what he had done to her hair, and her eyes got really big when I told her he tied it in a knot. Yes, he would and he did do such a thing. We all love him!

It was so great to visit with Billy and Jill and my cousins Luke & Eric's families. Luke & Holly just had a baby boy, Jackson, who was smaller than Ryan ever was. Ryan looked humongous sitting in his carseat beside Jackson! Aunt Ruth and Jamie also came to visit. We really have great family! Lots of good times.

NC Cousins

We have quite a crowd when we get together these days. This was at Emma's baptism two weeks ago. Yay for three little boys being added to the bunch!