In her Easter Best

I have to admit that one I love best about having a girl compared to having boys is the "ensemble"!  Oh goodness me.... I could shop for hours and spend thousands of dollars on clothes, accessories, shoes, etc. for my little princess.  This Easter dress was one of those - saw it, had to have it - dresses.  She looked absolutely beautiful in the dress.  Moments like these make me love the girliness of her personality so much (and then she starts crying over spilt milk and that love turns to a migraine!) But for today, as we head out to church, she couldn't be anymore beautiful.

 Speaking of Princesses - Here is Lyv's birthday party invitation!  I think I'm more excited that she is about the princess tea party!  It is my dream girl party come true!

 Finally - a departing signature Lyvie pose.  She makes the funniest faces and this is no exception.  She puts a little sass in her frass. Just imagine her telling me "no" while doing this... oh, me oh, my!

Max 4 Months

Continuing to top the charts - Max weighed in at 18 lbs. even; 27.5 inches long, and 45 cm head circumference.  All of these in the 90th percentile...that a baby!

He continues to be such a sweet HAPPY boy!  He is always smiling, and always wakes up babbling and chatting it up.  Sam is often woke up during these early morning conversations - and I'll find him curled up in bed next to Max or even changing his diaper.  He just loves Max so much.

Max is teething with no results yet - but gnaws at his fists and fingers like a dog on a bone.  He also recently discovered his feet and loves to kick and move his footsies like the Lord of the Dance.  He is also getting really good at grabbing things - toys, blankets, Lyv's hair!  Finally some self defense for the poor guy.  To which she exclaims, "Hey, what's the big idea Max?"  I just laugh happily, so glad she can finally get a taste of her own medicine.

He's not rolling over, mostly due to the fact that tummy time is no-likey time for Max.  He does it for a few minutes to humor me, but then starts to squawk.  He is such a great baby, sleeps whenever he is the carseat, which sadly is quite a bit.  He smiles at us all of the time, and enjoys playing in his exasaucer and bouncy seat.  It's only been 4 months, but I can't imagine life without this plump ray of sunshine.

Gangam Style - Duck Tales - Book Worms

You know when you were a kid, and periods of time that became completely devoted to a certain toy, book, song, etc.  Well here is a short list of the top three items of the past 3 months:

#1) Gangnam Style - wup, wup, Gangnam Style.  Sam learned the dance in Gym, and has we've been doing it all over the house.

#2) Duck Tales - Woo-oo!  That's right an oldy but a goody.  All three of the older kids love it - Lyv quotes it directly saying "Hey - what's the big idea?" all day long










#3) Diary of a Wimpy Kid - The power of books has captured the heart and mind of Sam and therefore Jack.  Sam loves to read.  The past few weeks he has even opted out of our night time story to read on his own.  His book of choice: Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  He has read three of them, one twice.  One morning I came down to get Max at 6:30 a.m. and found Sam awake reading..... a bit of a nerd? Yes.  A bit like his mother?  Yes.  I love it.  If there is one thing I would love all of my kids to have is a love of reading.  Jack has caught the reading bug and eats up his sight words.  He reads Bob Books that are sight word books, and reads a verse in the scriptures each night reading the words he recognizes.

These two pictures of Lyv capture the constant tug of war she faces.  Is she one of the boys or is she the princess?  Well the fact of the matter is both!  She loves pretty things, but keeps up the boys in all of their games and play....what a girl!

Maybe when you decide to be a parent!

Direct quote from Jack - that is right our 4 year old is already onto the fact that our parenting skills need a little fine tuning.  Lyv's potty teeter totter is continuing (with less accidents for longer spurts) - and after the most recent accident, Shawn asked Lyv "When are you going to start going to the potty?"  Jack nonchalantly in between bites of dinner replies, "Maybe when you decide to start acting like a parent."OH, SNAP!  Shawn was nearly in tears laughing, I was sitting with my jaw dropped in awe at his uncanny ability to make adult jokes-sarcasm-conversation. To gain a better understanding of where he was coming from, I dared to venture further and asked what we acted like, since we aren't acting like parents.  "Like bad guys!" ...bite, chew, chew....silence.  Nice - I'm a bad guy now.  From the mouth of babes.

Wax ON...

It was a usual weekday morning.  Jack, Lyv, Max and I are getting dressed and ready for the day.  I'm usually forced to take on the full dressing, brushing, and grooming of each kid, but I'm trying to get them each a little more independent, and encourage them to do as much as they can by themselves.  Jack taking this to heart, went to "brush his teeth" - he came back up to show his progress, and entered with a big, "I've been doing something naughty" grin! This is what you get when Jack attempted to style his own hair:

 Yes that is hair product stuck in his hair, in the comb, in a big glob.  He needs to work on his technique a bit! I could only laugh, tell him to stay still while I grabbed a picture of this, and record another "Jack"ism.

 Jack and Pequeno Jack - that is the what several of our ward members call Max. They really do look almost identical as babies.  Jack loves to dress up as twinees when he gets a chance - go BYU.

Good Bye Frank Barone

We finally did it - we cut Max's "Frank Barrone" hair do and made it look less like a skillet!  It is much improved. I also couldn't resist posting a picture of Max's flub in the tub.  He is chubby, he's got a lot of rolls, and we just can't get enough of it. He loves his bath time, and those thunder thighs create torrential waves as of late.  A major splash zone has been established in the bathroom.

INFESTED

DISGUSTING!  Yeah, I used to look at a lady bug and think - oh, so adorable, and maybe start singing Lady Bug Lady Bug Fly away Home.... no longer.  These little bugs have decided to infest our windows - particularly in the older part of the house.  No matter how many times you vacuum them up and think you've finally got rid of them...10 minutes later they are back with vengeance!  I hate them - I detest them - If I never see another lady bug it will be too soon!!!!

Best Show Ever

Come One, Come All to the grooviest, rockin'est, DANCE show ever!  The kids, with Sam as orchestrator, put together a killa dance show.  It came with 3 acts, a spot light (via flashlight) and incredible dance technique.  Shawn was eventually coaxed into provided percussion (okay he practically suggested it), drumming out a rhythm you couldn't help but dance to!  I love how the kids always create these shows and productions - it takes me back to the many dances I choreographed as a child.  Sometimes I would love to be a kid again!

*As a side note: Shawn is the greatest dad!  Kids I hope you will always realize what a great father you have.  Not many dads will play hide and seek, tag, sit for hours in Lyv's kitchen, under go several check-up from Doc McStuffins (aka - Lyv) and every other item of play that the kids come up with.  He never complains, or acts like they are putting him out, when I'm sure all he wants to do after a long day is sit and rest.  Sam - Jack - Lyv - Max : your daddy rocks!*

Poor, Poor Max

In an attempt to obey the doctors' orders - we try to do tummy time with Max throughout the day.  The little ones love it - they provide entertainment, love, and WAY too much help.  Max usually only lasts a few minutes (none of my babies have liked tummy time).  I was especially impressed with Max's strength yesterday holding his big ol' head up for so long.  I rush to get the camera and try to take a picture - but Lyv and Jack both insist on helping!  Aye, Yie, Yie!

Max has been going ballistic on his fists the past few days due to teething - but he really gets into it and makes gnawing sounds to boot.  It is adorable.  He loves to gab, and is by far my most vocal baby yet.  He squeals and yelps all morning long.  He makes spit bubbles and kicks and moves all over the place.  This morning we heard this THUD noise coming on the monitor, and I rush downstairs to find Max sideways in the crib kicking the railing.  He looked up and smiled so big - like he knew that would get me down there.

 Poor Max wasn't scheduled to go back into the doctor for a check up until the end of March, but has been in 3 times in the past two weeks!  This last bout was due to horrible eczema on his face.  It has really affected his hemangioma, so we wanted to make sure nothing got infected.  He was treated and is doing better.  The one fun thing about so many doctor's visits it to continue to watch this monster of a boy grow.  The last weigh in: 17.5 pounds!!  Yikes!  He's already doubled his birth weight.  Maybe it's because he's still waking up way too much at night wanting to eat still, but what ever it is, he is packing on the pounds.

The Potty Training Teeter Totter

Don't let the sweet, pink adorableness of this picture fool you.  Behind those beautiful blue peepers is a seesaw, rollercoster of a drama created by Potty Training.  You think as a parent you are teaching your child one of life's greatest lessons, by giving them the gift of a clean bum.  This life lesson has created a monster in our house.  Starting in November, I expected accidents, her needing a lot of help, etc.  What happened was that she decided that she had to do EVERYTHING, and I mean everything ALL BY HERSELF.  There were several times in the wee morning hours where she wailed at the top of her lungs because we had dared, DARED to flush the toilet or turn off the water.  She came unglued.  After a lot of pep talks, many tears, she came to terms with the concept of "team work".  We were thrilled thinking life could only get better.  Two weeks into this bliss, the monster crept back in, and decided that she could no longer go to the potty without HELP, and lots of it!  Instead of running to bathroom and hurrying to get her pants down, she runs around in circles like a chick with its head cut off, squaking and shrieking, and runs to us.  What can I do at this point?  You don't know how many times I've been peed on in the attempt to get her to the toilet!  GRRRR....the frustration continues, and probably will for several more weeks.  We go back and forth between diapers and underwear, doing 3 loads of laundry a day vs. spending $40 on a box a size 4 diapers.  What is to be done I say?  I'm not sure, but I hope both Lyv and I survive!

Grave Digger

You can't say Grave Digger unless you are using your best Monster Truck Rally voice - really deep, really loud, and really macho - "GRAVE DIGGER!" Last Saturday, Shawn took the three olders to Lowe's to there free building projects.  They had a great time hammering away, and came away with some killa free googles, aprons, and of course their own Monster Truck!  Three little builders in the making!