Impromptu photo shoot

On Sunday morning Jack wanted to hold Baby Sam, as he usually does, so I placed Sam next to him.  Not to miss out, Ellie quickly joined them on the chair. I grabbed my phone and snapped a few pictures. I love how they turned out...even if Ellie is wearing a gymnastics suit, they all have bed head, and Sam appears to be picking his nose in one picture.

The 4th

Happy Independence Day!

We had a fun day planned for the 4th of July. We were supposed to start it with a breakfast at the church, but I somehow managed to sleep through it even though I was partially in charge of it. As it was, we barely made it out the door in time to catch the neighborhood parade. After the parade, we packed some lunches and met up with my mom and the cousins for swimming at Rosie's pool. We finished the evening by grilling hamburgers and hotdogs and setting off fireworks. It was all very relaxed and chill...my kind of holiday.

Belly Roll!

Like pulling teeth

Last week Jack was able to get some serious quality time with Tom.  On Monday, Tom took him to an Astros game.  Ellie has been to baseball games in Houston, Kansas City, and St. Louis, but poor Jack has never been to any.  Tom was going to take both kids, but, being a mom, I have the gift of foreshadowing and I knew that Ellie would get bored and then the kids would start fighting.  Plus, I figured Jack could use the individual attention.  Ellie, Sam, and I stayed home and watched The Princess Bride.  Jack only made it through 4 innings, but he had a great time.

To keep the father-son bonding time going, I had Tom take Jack to his dental appointment.  You know, the one where they were going to knock him out and extract a couple of teeth.  Tom said the hardest part was when Jack kept spitting out the sleepy-time medicine so they had to hold him down and force the liquid down his throat.  And that is all that Jack remembers.  He did freak out for a tiny bit when he got home and put his fingers in his mouth only to discover two holes in the back.  He was really happy about the unlimited popsicles, Gatorade, and TV though.  The $2 the tooth fairy left wasn't too shabby either.

A few days later, when Jack was giving him attitude, Tom tried to make him feel guilty by saying, "Daddy took you to the baseball game and to the dentist and this is how you act?"  Ha, I love how getting teeth pulled is likened to going to a MLB game.

Dear Sam: 3 months

Dear Sam,

Today you are 3 months old and what a big 3 month old you are! This month I had to pack up your 3-6 month clothing and pull out the 6-9 month clothes. Even those are a little snug! You eat every 3 hours like clockwork and there is no putting you off when you are hungry. You can go from calm to screaming angry in a heartbeat. Luckily, we have gotten better at anticipating your needs.

 You are smiling, squawking, and cooing a lot more this month. You love to lie on a blanket with one of your siblings sitting next to you to keep you company. This has been wonderful for me because they can entertain you and reinsert your pacifier when you get fussy.

You still prefer to take most of your naps in my arms, with my hair clutched in your fist and your face buried in my shoulder. I have moved you out of our bedroom for the nights...kind of.  I moved your bassinet to the little nook right outside our room.  Since you are now 15 feet away from me, I had to hook up the AngelCare monitor so that I would know if you stopped breathing. I am that paranoid.  And then, after your 2am feeding, I usually put you back down in the Fisher Price Rock N' Play that is next to the bed.  Then, after your 6am feeding, I bring you to bed with us.  So, you know, we are slowly moving you out of the room.  I know the above picture shows you in your crib, but you have never actually slept in there.  Maybe by your 4 month letter.

A friend asked me today if you were still fussy a lot and I replied that you alternate between grumpy old man and adorable baby.  Sambo, I love you just as much when you are grumpy as when you are adorable.  As we like to say in this family, I love you no matter what.

Love,
Mommy

What's on YOUR coffee table?

On my coffee table: Nintendo DS, a dirty diaper, hand sanitizer, large bowl with twine balls, fireman's hat, Nerf sword, lots of magazines, and one intellectual Power Ranger.