4 Months and Growing

"He is a bruiser!" Was the unsurprising response from Grandma Leslie to Ian's new dimensions. At the doctor's office on the 28th, at 4 months old, he was 17 lbs and 6 oz and 26 1/2 inches long. He grew and inch and put on more than a pound in just one month!! No wonder his clothes were starting to not fit and I can't lug him around quite so much as I used too!

Little wonder too that Chris and I had the following conversation in preparation for this posting:

L: "What would you say if asked to describe Ian?"

C: "Ginormous!"

He did go on to list quite a few of the things that make Ian, Ian.

Ian loves attention and will reward you with smiles, coos and gurgles.
He doesn't like tummy time, baths, being alone, or poopy diapers.
Ian loves to be held, sucking on his fingers, blankets, burp rags and toys. Pacifiers are only occasionally appropriate.
He is 'touchy' and easily startled. If you want him to go down for a nap there is a small window of tired enough but not too tired. His formula is not to be too hot or too cold.
Ian's face lights up with recognition when he sees Mommy, Daddy or Noah.
He is pudgy and rolly every where except around his middle.
Ian loves to watch Noah play and desperately awaits the day when he will merit more than a cursory glance from his big brother.

The Big 3-0

The 23rd was my birthday. I share it with my niece Ava. She turned 3 and I turned 30. I could wax philosophical about new beginnings and what this milestone means but really it seemed vary much like a typical Friday in the life of mom. Went to the doctor and found out that Noah needed surgery. Came rushing back and was late for Noah's speech therapy appointment in our own house! Of course, I had not picked up or vacuumed before I was running out the door to the doctor so the therapist had quite a welcome. Ian had a rough afternoon sleeping, or not (I really think I need to feed him more!). I missed all the family phone calls with birthday wishes except one (I appreciated the calls even if I wasn't available to answer them!). And Chris and I went out to dinner for our date night (thank you Reece and Shana!) and while Chris wanted to tell the waiter it was my birthday (just so it would be a memorable birthday) I prevailed and remained unsung-to and unembarrassed.

Saturday morning Chris and Noah made me cupcakes (easier to share the calories that way) and I frosted them. You will note the one candle. Another good reason to choose cupcakes; your wonderful hubby is not then tempted to actually try and light thirty candles on your cake!


That was pretty much it. Well, I did also revisit my youth and my mission by starting my third decade with blue toenails. A girl's gotta have a little whimsy in her life, right? Or does it seem to say "older gal, trying to hard"? (Surprise Movie Quiz! What movie did that quote excerpt come from?)

Warning: Picture of not really attractive toes below. Feel free to shut your eyes! Sorry it is a little blurry.

Blogger insist on turning the picture sideways.

Memorial Day

"What are we going to do for Memorial Day?" Chris asked me.
"Well, you are usually working so I have no idea!" I respond.

This year, though, was different. We decided that we would visit a local cemetery. Not being from around here we didn't have any family grave sites to visit but thought it would be a peaceful, holiday appropriate place to go. The weather was nice, warm with a cool breeze. We spread out wandering among the headstones, reading names and marveling at dates.

It wasn't until Noah found and appropriated a flag that my feelings came up to grab me by the throat. Coincidentally, (if you believe in those) I have been reading the book, In An Instant, the story of ABC news anchor Bob Woodruff being injured by an IED in Iraq and his recovery. His co-author and wife, Lee, writes about being in the military hospital and wondering about the other people there; the doctors, nurses, family and military men and women who are dealing with the repercussions and fall out of war. It always seems more real when you can put a name, face and story to the injured and dead. In all honesty, I usually prefer to avoid those stories. I think that I am especially soft-hearted as they cause a physical ache to take root in the center of my chest. It hurts my heart.

And makes me that much more grateful to those who have gone before. To those who have protected my rights and liberties. To those who have made my comfortable existence possible. To those who continue to do so. While meandering around I enjoyed the shade cast by beautiful mature trees and couldn't resist trying to capture the feelings of 'guardian' and 'protector' that I felt.


How grateful I am that just as these trees stand over and protect this resting place we have a Heavenly Father who watches over us. How grateful I am that He has provided for both the living and the dead a Savior and the plan of happiness that will overcome misfortune, trial and death. How grateful I am.

Roil, Roil, Toil and Trouble

I know that is not exactly how it goes but it does describe what my stomach and head were doing for three days last week!! I was pretty bad off the first day but Chris couldn't come home to help. The second day, though, he took off work. So, while I was moaning and groaning Chris took Noah to Moms and Tots. A city bus was going to pick them up at the church, take them for a ride and to the bus wash. I really thought Noah would get a kick out this since he loves to point out all the buses we pass while driving.

I asked Chris if he would feel to out of place among the moms but as luck would have it, he was not the only daddy there.

They saw lots of cool things and learned random facts about the buses. For instance, while they only go through about 20 tires a month they spend $120 a day per bus on gas. Wowza! He didn't, however, find out how many buses the city has.

This is the only half way happy picture of Noah from the whole trip. Apparently, he was less than thrilled most of the time. We thought the trip was bust, at least for Noah.

We might have been wrong. The next morning Noah found his cardboard bus (see picture above with cute little girl if reference is needed) and said 'go church, go church, I wan go church'.

Adenoids AND Tonsils

Surgery is scheduled for June 6. Noah's adenoids AND tonsils are going to be removed. The ENT did a quick check and although he really prefers to not do tonsillectomies in children as young as Noah agrees that everything should go. So it shall be. I will find out more at the pre-op appointment but I did learn a couple of things today. The procedure is relatively short, about half an hour and it is done early in the morning. Since he is young and the tonsils are included it will be done in the hospital not the surgical center. He will stay all day and probably over night in the hospital. Poor baby, he has no idea what is coming!

Walking Sticks and Rhubarb Pie

Bob and Mary Haderle are a dear couple in our ward who coincidentally are also close friends of Chris' grandparents. This evening they called and asked if they could come over and visit. Pleased, and somewhat surprised, we said "Of course, come on over!"

Last fall, Bob built a deck on the back of our house. Chris helped when he could but Bob came everyday and worked faithfully for more than a week putting up a deck from just some chicken scratch sketches that I drawn on scrap paper. It turned out so beautifully!

They are so generous with their time and talents and today was no exception. They came bearing gifts.


First in the door was the pie. Rhubarb pie. As soon as Mary heard that neither of us had ever had it before, well, you better believe that she set right to and cooked up a pie for us. I don't think that I had even seen one before. Now, I admit to being a bit picky about my food and especially the texture (stewed tomatoes, yuck). So, with great trepidation I slid a bite of pie into my mouth. I had no idea what to expect. It was sweet and yummy! Definitely a keeper. Chris, being a pie kinda guy, was in heaven.

Next came Bob with two walking sticks. And not just any walking sticks, oh no folks, hand crafted walking sticks! They are so beautiful! Made of Osage wood, stained with linseed oil, with our names carved in them.


Hard to believe looking at them now that they started out as fallen branches. After some bark stripping and labor Bob truly found the inner beauty of this wood.











In the recesses of our names, Bob applied a walnut stain. He makes it himself by boiling down walnut husks. He has found in the past that names applied just in stain would rub off with time and use but applied into the recesses it lasts much longer.

To finish the bottom, copper pipe pieces were expanded with heat them and then when cooled shrunk down to hug the wood in a tight fit.

Thank you, Bob and Mary. The walking sticks will be treasured always and the pie will be remembered with fondness!

Dressed Up and Stuff

You asked for it ladies! Actually, I just can't resist! I think that they are so darn cute, I really can't help myself! This was the first time that we dressed Ian up for church. This was right before his nap so he is looking a little peaked.

Noah looking handsome, but a little shy to show it off!

What follows is some of the stuff...it has really been a great weekend. Sunny but not to warm. Great to spend time outdoors and hitting the garage sales. My friend clued me in to the neighborhood wide ones that were going on (thanks, Michelle!) and I didn't want to miss them. I actually made it out of bed AND out the door! And I scored! It wasn't free but yippee! I was so happy to get it! Sorry it is a little blurry, but you get the gist. I found a crib for Ian! He was pushing the limits of the moses' basket that he has been using so it was a load off my mind to find this. And that same great friend and her hubby helped me get it home. It is great to have garage sales and friends!

Ian's new good bed.

We ended the weekend with a popcorn treat. In this clip you can see everyone in the family but me: Dad, Noah, Ian and even the cat, Malcolm. Noah is trying to say popcorn and while it is not super clear he does get it in the hole! Score one for Noah!