This guy

I found this snazzy little number on clearance the other day. I told myself he needed it so that his head wouldn't get sunburned. But really, I used it for a photo shoot. If he never wears it again it was four dollars well spent, I believe. This kid has my heart. Twice recently during a midnight feeding, he fell asleep, as did I. I was awoken to him belly laughing in his sleep. It was one of the best things I have ever witnessed. It makes me wonder what he thinks and dreams about that he finds funny. It totally took me by surprise that in the absence of interaction or physical play, or a vocabulary, his cognition is active enough that he laughs in his sleep. What is going on under that darling hat, inside that giant head, behind that constant gummy grin? I am dying to know. 

The things I said and did this morning to get just...one....picture....

If I could watch a video of me this morning trying to get a picture of my kids, I'm sure it would be beyond painful. My expectations were low. I wasn't demanding eye contact and smiles from this crowd- I'm no fool. But I did want less nose picking. And less crying about someone touching someone's bug bite that really stings and then it reminds them that it's there and then they need a band-aid and some cream and a turkey sandwhich right now or they simply won't be able to manage a smile. Taking pictures of my kids makes me want to poke myself in the eye. Or poke them. Gently, Not in the eye. By the time it's over I don't even want any pictures of them, much less 679 of them taking turns closing their eyes, puffing out their cheeks, or pointing at birds. And this time we even got a series of Lila doing a solid "Heil Hitler" stance, which I plan on canvasing immediately and putting over my fireplace. 

I promised them cookies and milk and a movie if they cooperated. And they really didn't. But I gave it to them anyway just to buy me an hour to review the digital disaster. 

Easter 2015

 Lori was in town for a day so we took our kids to the base egg hunt so they could refresh our stash of chocolate that we need to eat in dark closets when they irritate us.

 Elise had a really heavy basket which I lugged around for her.

Cousins!

Braden came back from Brazil Easter afternoon before the last session of conference. He brought the girls a giant chocolate egg,along with other treasures from the beach.

Emmett sporting his new outfit and wrapped in the Brazilian flag

We dyed eggs and this was Anabelle's favorite because it looked like a planet.

Worth it

Braden was TDY in Brazil when it was time for women's conference in April. It would be my last chance to take Anabelle to the conference center for it. She told me before that those were the best days of her year when we went the two times before that. I had a little 3 month old nursing Emmett and the need to find a babysitter for six hours. Lori, in town for just the day, offered to do it instead of watching herself (bless her heart). It was worth the stress and planning of trying to figure out a way to make it work. Having my little Anabelle by my side while we watched and listened to conference, playing with her hair and rubbing her back while we ate candy and took notes together.....so very worth it. I love watching her testimony grow. 

Half way to devouring a chocolate cake

Behold my very favorite son. 

Low maintenance to the max. He is an absolute delight. My phone is full of pictures of his 30 different smiles. I love to rub his fuzzy lopsided head when I nurse him. I love that he purrs to me when I hug him to sleep, cheek to cheek. I adore his laughs and the fact that you don't have to work very hard for them. He is especially vulnerable to tickling-everywhere. Love love love loving this baby boy. 

These are his missionary diapers. That was the first thing I got really excited about when we found out we were having a boy. 

"How YOU doin?"

Guess how many times this happens a day? No less than 30, I can guarantee that much. Why does he already look embarrassed and annoyed by me? 

He has eaten baby food a handful of times. He does really well. It's almost as if he's had solids before. Like, if I were a betting person I might wedgier that he's been shared with by sisters on other occasions. Nevertheless, it's nice to know that Dad can feed him some applesauce if I'm at Target when he wakes up. It lengthens the short leash he keeps me on.