Miss M and Sir FC

I know Baby is giving a sassy face here, but he loved his cousin, M.  They became fast friends and cuddled for hours. She was fantastic with him.  

While Mom and Dad are Away...

Baby has never been babysat.  In the four months he has been alive he has been with his birthfamily, Husband, or Me.  He has never been tended by a non-parent.

Until, my sister, A, and H offered to watch him for us so Husband and I could go see Hunger Games. 

I fretted.  How would he do without us?  How would I do without him?  Was he too young to be left?  My sister is great and all but I was struggling.  Husband told me to stop being silly and make myself pretty to go out with him. 

I paused.  I thought.

I threw caution to the wind and ran upstairs to get ready.  

Husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.  We hadn't been out together since Baby was born.

And Baby?

Baby was just fine.

Thank you A and H!  We really, really appreciate it!

Three and the Stripes

My sister, A, brought some clothes that she was getting rid of.  I am just a little smaller than her so I took them.  Who doesn't like free clothes? 

Three got cold and wanted to warm up so he took one of my new (previously owned) long-sleeved shirts.

And I laughed.  

Because he looked like a Hollister model.  Or a gondola boat operator. Or like he was about to go sailing on his yacht.  I couldn't pick.  The possibilities were endless.

And in the end, he liked the shirt so much that he decided to keep it.  Yep.  I'm not getting it back.  Until he outgrows it.  Which will be next week.  

New Outfit

My sister, E, got Baby a new outfit.

Is he not the most adorable baby you have ever seen?

You are very loved, Baby!

Christmas...in November

Because we spend Thanksgiving with my family, we never see them at Christmas.  So, every year, we celebrate a little early.  The kids think it is awesome that they get two Christmases!

Cousin, E 

My sister, A, and H

Cousins, M and S

Sister S

Abuela

Five, using his treat cane to kill his cousin, H.  Hey, kid.  Santa is watching...

Cousin, D

Cousin J

Baby slept through his first Christmas but he did slip into a little sleeper after the fact.

His Aunt A gave him a first Christmas outfit.

That included Santa feet.  Oh my goodness!

Let the season begin!

Thanksgiving

E and S 

Baby was excited for his first Thanksgiving.  Until we told him he was too young to eat anything.  

His cousins took turns feeding him though and that seemed to make him feel better.

Me and Baby.  I love his surprise eyes.

My sister, S, brought an old atari game system.  This is what my sisters and I played when we were little.  Games like Space Invaders, Parsec, Alpiner.  Cutting edge technology at the time. All the kids (and many of the adults) enjoyed playing the old video games. 

And Baby enjoyed a few naps. 

Dinner was delicious!  

I am grateful for good food, my husband, my darling children, my family, my health, friends, my children's birth families, and all my books.  

Baby was very excited to eat some turkey.  Next year, kid.  Next year.

Variety of Ways

Five got into trouble last week.  As part of talking through what happened after the fact, we engaged in the following exchange.

Me: Five, there is a right way to do something and there is a wrong way to do something.  Choosing the right way is going to give you a more favorable outcome.
Five: I like the wrong way.  It is better.
Me: (smacks forehead) Sigh...

Outfit for a Gentleman

Looks like he is ready to go dancing...

Getting ready for church...

Watching the game with daddy...

Baby has turned into a bit of a drooler lately...and...oh...that smile!

Is it just me, or does Baby look like he is an old man here?  A very tiny old man.

Let me tell you about the old days...

Yep.  We really walked up hill, both ways, to and from school, for five miles, in the snow.  That's they way we did it back then.

And now the old man drool...

He fell asleep a short time later.  

When he woke up he was an adorable little boy again.