James's first haircut

This sweet baby boy was born with a ton of hair, and didn't lose any of it like my other babies. Despite it getting in his eyes and curling over his ears, I have been in denial of him needing a hair cut for a while.

JB: The time has come to talk about...
Mary: Ssssshhhhhhhh. Other babies are jealous of this amazing hair.

A few weeks later, he would try again.

JB: Don't you think James is looking a little like a baby hobo?
Mary: Wha? Nooooooo.

And again.


JB: I think we should get baby J a trim-up.
Mary: WHY DO YOU HATE OUR BABY?

Finally, when rice cereal was getting stuck to his hair and then in his eyes, I gave in.

We went to the barber shop and he sat on my lap like such a big boy.

He was very curious about what was going on around him.  Andrew was curious about what was in his nose:

She started to trim away. And I started the ugly cry.

Ok, stop it Mary, it's not an operation, just a trim!  I mean, look how much better he is looking already:

At one point James tried to turn around and nurse. "Since we are sitting here, momma....."

Starting to feel like he's done with this:

Done!

Cuter!

Stronger!

And still my baby, even with shorter hair.

Boring parents?

We were given 2 free upper bowl Jazz tickets the other night from a neighbor who couldn't go, and it was Benny's turn to go with daddy.  While they were gone, Max asked if he could practice typing.  I peeked over his shoulder to see the following written on my laptop (note -- he had chosen not to eat the beef stroganoff we had for dinner):

Maxwell is @his house Right now! Yo! What is up?

M y “Brother’’ is going to a Jazz game with my “Dad’’. Mom will not let me do any thing ! she is so boring! There is nothing to do! I am so hungry for something good! Not like gross “PASTA’’! I wish I could go to the Jazz game with Dad! Ben is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HE will  probily get CHEESE BURGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HEis so lucky because CHEESE BURGERS ARE MY FAVORITE FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Hyperbole much? 

I gently pointed out that  1) we, as a general rule, never buy food at sporting events, and  2) that was quite a lot of exclamation points.  And I tried to explain the "proper use" of quotation marks, but by then I was getting the stink-eye big time.

Hahahaha, I'm a boring mean mom.

I'm also kind of a meanie because we don't have any video game systems in our house, while other friends do. JB and I going to be firm on this one -- so let it be written, so let it be done.

But I do let them have 15-20 minutes at a time on my iPhone (Angry Birds, Temple Run and Minion Rush are the current favs), and they can play acceptable games at friends' houses for a short amount of time, like at our good friends the Peters.  We spent New Year's Eve with them. Great food, fun talk, their Wii, and the accessories we are modeling below:

By the way, which do you think is better for Bishop Richards? One, or two?

Funny, nyet?

But the next day was rough. The three older boys went to sleep at 10:20 PM and woke up at their normal 7 AM and it was hard for their bodies to handle. THIS IS WHY WE ARE BORING PARENTS. No sleep=sad times.

Nooooo Nap!

Growing up my siblings and I used to giggle at the scene in "Honey I Blew Up the Kid" where the giant toddler screams "Nooooo Nap!" Then he hugs his giant bunny as his mommy sings a special song into a megaphone.

Tee hee, makes me giggle more now that I am a mommy.

Because I have a three-year-old who still need a nap.  But now that he's in a big boy bed, I can't exactly expect him to stay in there and sleep.  Instead, he does a quiet time -- aka watches a movie. 

My first-born had a special quiet-time box with brain-boosting (I thought) activities. This third-born has a choice between Cars ("LIGHTNING KEEN!" squeals Andrew) or Despicable Me ("PICKABLE!")

He falls asleep almost every day either on the couch while watching his motorized and/or minion friends. Orr he snoozes somewhere else in the house.  Observe:

L-R: while playing trains, while eating dinner, and just because. I think he even covered himself up with the blanket after laying down on the carpet.

Then last week JB texted to warn me that Andrew had fallen asleep in front of the door, so I'd better use the side door when I came home.

Sweet little puppy dog just needs a soft warm spot.

Now if anyone could help me figure out how to help him not cry and cry when he wakes up.  It's like he wakes up mid-Rem, or is upset he's still not sleeping.  Benny used to do the same thing so I suppose we will just get through this stage.

7 months

He's now closer to 8 months old than 7; still, these stickers are helping us remember to chronicle the monthly progress of this fourth baby. And is he ever progressing. In CUTENESS!

We all can't help but kiss his him a lot. And squish him a little. He's soooo roly-poly. I'm quite glad about that.  I caught Andrew holding his little hand the other day and I about died at the sweetness of it. Because 3-year-old Andrew is more often than not trying to push his boundaries -- like how closely can I jump next to this baby before my mom (or older brother Max) sqwuaks and runs over?

Baby James is very content to stay in one place. We saw a tiny 7-month-old baby crawling everywhere at Benny's basketball game Saturday morning.  Our baby can sit like a champ. He hates being on his tummy still, almost immediately rolling to his back every time and refusing to roll back the other way.

He also is still saying "meh" to solid food. He'll take a bite or two of our twice-daily perfunctory efforts but then just closes up shop in a disinterested way.

(Where are you going, baby? You are slipping!)

He giggles, he babbles, he grabs at everything. He's starting to click his tongue and experiment with raspberry sounds. And he feels those bottom teethies a lot with his tongue and fingers. We think the top teeth will be in soon. He kinda bit me while nursing for the first time yesterday -- not on purpose, just experimenting. The older boys thought it was hilarious when I immediately put him down in a "baby time-out." 

While I'm at the radio station in the morning I stay as busy as I can, or I start to miss my baby -- all my boys, really. I'll chat with JB on the phone and hear them in the background and say "oooohhhh!"  It's one of the great mysteries of motherhood. By the end of the night you are sometimes SOOOO ready to tuck them in bed and have a break, but when you are away from them your heartstrings tug.

It was one year ago this week that we found out we were having another boy. I was very sad for a long time about not having a girl. It still stings sometimes. But  in my mind, that sadness is separated from the happiness I have over this baby. I can't imagine not having this boy in our family.

More about the KC trip

I've posted about our love for Oklahoma Joe's before (August 2012,  October 2011, and July 2009). It has become our first stop when we get off the plane and into my sister Bekah's waiting car.

We also ate again at LCs BBQ and smelled a bit smokey for hours, and at Spin pizza (please franchise in SLC. Please?) And we tried a new must-go-to-next-time: Capini's. JB saw it on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives with its fresh hand-made pasta. We got this picture there of my brother James and sister Bekah that just cracks me up so much.

Baby James and Uncle James before we settled down to games. Bekah won. She's darn good.

 And the wedding luncheon at Cheesecake Factory at the Plaza was so so nice.

Grandpa and baby James at the restaurant.

Baby James getting ready for the wedding in my sister's kitchen sink.

He did amazing on the trip, just amazing. He flew like a champ, and didn't even cry when we hit turbulence and he threw up. Twice. All over his blanket. Grown women were screaming at the bumpiness. He just slouched a bit on my lap like, "ugh."

Our baby was just fine being packed here and there. No fussiness, no sadness. My guess is that it was he had his parents' undivided attention. He nursed whenever he wanted and for as long as he wanted, slept by us all night, and had adoring aunts and uncles and grandparents at his beck and call.

But his brothers missed him. Whenever we called home over the weekend they asked about the baby. And when we got back to Nona and Papa's house in SLC they hugged us, then ran right to baby James -- and he giggled and smiled and patted them. His people!

Emily and Josh

JB and I flew with baby James to Kansas City this weekend for my sister Emily's wedding.  She's #8 of the 12 siblings, and 10 years younger than me. 

I suggested my parents do this. I think Emily likes the tickle of my dad's beard? (The beard is a new thing. I kinda like it).

At the reception like newlyweds with just one child.

We had 9 of the 11 living siblings there.That hasn't happened in a while! Rachel (#9) couldn't come. And Stephen (#10) is on a mission. Josh is an only child so....welcome to the craziness. L-R behind the bride and groom are Seth (#7), Peter (#6), James (#5), Michael (#4), Joe (#3), Dad & Mom, Bekah (#1), me (#2), and Sarah (#12). Got it? Quiz time?

Below we add spouses. I met my brother Seth's wife Caitlin.  They were married, also in KC, one week before I was due with the baby and I couldn't go. It was great to see my bro Michael (yellow tie) who lives in Seattle but we missed his wife Bethany and their 3 boys. Joe flew on the same flight as us but Susan and their baby stayed home.  So, now half of us are married.

 We look A LOT alike, huh. She's such a sweet person. And that's our grandmother's veil.

Sisters.

 And these two greeted guests to congratulate them as well.

And this one was a cute centerpiece.

Wow, what a fun time. I had such fun seeing my family. But I think my mom is going to go to bed for two weeks now that these two weddings are over.

Peter and Mindy

We just flew back from Kansas City, to see the second sibling to get married in 2 weeks. What a fun fortnight of family.

First, Peter and Mindy got married last Saturday the 4th in Salt Lake City.

Notice me holding both younger boys for a moment while JB worked the camera. And aren't the older boys dapper?

With my little bro and the beautiful bride at the reception. I'm #2, he's #6 of 12.

Remembering our reception.

I made all my boys' ties/bowties with the help of Pinterest.

Aunt Rachel gave him the stylin' Jazz hat.

A family picture.

Me and two of my sisters who were there (forgot to photo my bro Joe and parents with us; the other sibs were at the Kansas City open house the next week).

Welcome to the family, Mindy!  The next post is of the other wedding in Kansas City.

Two weeks is a long time

I came out of the baby's room after nursing baby James this week, and saw Max and Benny in jammies and snowboots pounding on the ice in front of our driveway, happy as clams. I should have taken a picture....and I should have been sending them outside more often.

We have all been cooped up inside for this winter break from school. Besides poking/throwing stuff at brothers, the boys have been watching Harry Potter movies over and over in no particular order during their allotted TV time. I kid you not, it was 7, 2, 6, 3, 8....but not #5 because Umbridge is mean, and not #1 because that's the only one we had for a while.

The Rainbow Loom also remains popular. The older boys made a necklace I'm modeling below.

And runny noses abound on this break -- check out the snot streak from baby J on my shirt. I chase 3 yr old Andrew around with tissues before he can:

a) rub his nose onto the couch cushions

2) lick his upper lip or

iii) wipe the snot across his cheek to his ear.

When they start to wrestle I say, "OK, time to find something else different to do or I'll pick the activity!" It took just one of them asking me what I chose -- I responded, "Take a rag and wipe down the baseboards all around the house," and they scattered. Hey, it sounded like fun to me.

Max, Benny and their friend Andy and I went sledding last Saturday. On the first run down the icy slopes of the park I slammed into Benny, bowled him over, and knocked my head on the ground. I am still talking about it to whoever will listen to me, because I still feel so bad I did that to my sweet son. He got a goose egg but seems better now, but I've had light headaches every day since. Lesson learned: outside is dangerous. Stay inside and watch movies and poke your brothers.