Spring Miracles

We had a mommy and daddy bird busy building a nest in the palm tree right out or front window. A few weeks later I noticed two little babies. You can see one by the mommy's chest in the picture. It was fun to have a front row seat to watch them and show Abbey and Mike.

My mom use to tease us kids, saying we were little baby birds wanting food. I can see why she would say that since watching that mommy bird feeding her eager babies. Especially now that I have little baby birdies of my own, eager and begging for food all the time!

One morning the birds were gone. Then a new family moved in. The mommy has been sitting on her eggs for awhile. Kind of makes me wonder what happens to the daddy bird. He builds the nest and then just leaves? Abbey thinks he is away at work! Anyway, I have been waiting to see the little babies. This morning, after putting Abbey on the school bus, I noticed the mommy bird was gone (very rarely is she gone). So I quickly went to see if I could see anything inside the nest from my window. Nothing! Tim said there were two eggs in there... what happened!! I ran out side and looked around the palm tree. I saw the cracked pieces of the shell, but where was the bird? Looking closer I saw a little baby, very new born, laying on the ground. In my heart I knew it was a lost cause, but I still wanted to try to save that baby. I got a towel and picked it up, then woke Tim up to put it back in the nest. Mommy bird still hasn't come back. I hope she does.

Tight Fit

Getting use to seeing this...

(one of our very first outings all together, Ben's first doctors appointment)

The kids were good so we stopped and got them chocolate. Mike feel asleep eating his.

And Abbey wanted a picture of her too... pretending to be sleeping

Stinky Sand

Most days Abbey comes home from school with this in her shoes...

Two things I think of when I see this...

how uncomfortable

and

that's some stinky sand!

The Newest Personality

Benjamin has been fun getting to know. He is the newest personality in the family and everyone is adjusting to that, including him.

We had his baby blessing last Sunday. I love the baby blessing day. It is such a red letter day and I know that the new baby can feel that it is their special day. Benjamin's day was special.

(here is his blessing outfit, Michael wore the same one)

(look at that smile, he totally knows its all about him today!)

Tim did a good job with his blessing. I know he was nervous getting up in front of our huge ward and all of our family and saying a thoughtful prayer for our newest son. That's a lot of pressure! The thing that left the biggest impression to me was Tim's use of the word "determined."

Everyone asks if he is a good baby. Of course he is a good baby to me... but the word "determined" describes him perfectly. He has a determined soul, you can see it in his eyes. He was determined to come to our family. He is determined to be noticed in our family. He is determined to soak everything in. I hope he will always be determined to do the right things in his life. These new souls coming into our world need to be! Benjamin is determined.

(see the determination in those eyes, he is so alert to everything!)

Our little guy is ten weeks today (I hate how fast time goes with little babies). His newest discovery in life is smiling. His first smile was at his daddy, and yes I'm jealous. He is kind of hard to get to smile, so it is such a cool thing when you get him to. Those blue eyes light up when he does. And two nights ago he showed just how bad of a temper he has by getting so upset that he almost passed out (he was blue!). Mom was not happy about that one!

Here are some random pictures from Ben's blessing day. Tim took these so he isn't in them, but I am (nice change for once!).

(abbey was so happy that all her cousins came and played with her)

(wonder why Benjamin looks nervous and uncomfortable?)

(Mike is such a stud in his suit, everyone loves his suit at church)

Big Kid

Michael has surprised me. I was expecting to have a terrible two plus ten when Benjamin arrived. But Michael is far from the plus ten part, and most of the time isn't even the terrible two part. (Ironically its Abigail who is being the terrible four!)

It was like something clicked as soon as he turned two and his little brother came home. He is a big kid!

(riding his bike like a big kid!)

One of the biggest "big kid" milestones has been tackled and accomplished. Michael is potty trained! I was dreading potty training a boy, but he was no problem. With the exception of him being terrified to go number two for about a week or two. Literally he was shaking, crying and telling me it "scared" him. He even jumped once when it plopped in the bowl (so funny). He would be so sad sitting on the toilet. You haven't seen a sad face until you see Michael's, full on lip pout and big sad, down turned brown eyes... quite the sight.

(in his undies, he loves all of his pixar undies except Nemo, who knows why not!, notice his favorite blankie in both pics, not too grown up for blankie!)

(this is a small version of the pout, look at those lips!)

He is such a big kid that he will remind you not so gently sometimes. Mostly he does this with Tim. Like telling him "I know how to walk Dad" when Tim was trying to lead him with his hand on Mike's head. Or telling me he can brush his own teeth, pick out his shoes, or wash his own hair and body in the bath (which he does do with moms help). Oh, and lets not forget how he can get in and out of the car all by himself (after an annoying ten minutes!!).

The big kid attitude has arrived too. Tim caught Abigail and Michael laying on the floor watching TV while kicking the entertainment center loudly. He took the toys away they were playing with as punishment. Michael turned to Abigail and said, "good job Abbey."

What a good big kid. He still my little boy though. I love his sensitive soul. I love how he gives me random kisses (on my leg, on my arm, on my back, where ever he can reach at the time) and always wants to follow it up with a hug. I love how he wants to give Ben a kiss all the time. I love how he shares with his big sister (even when she doesn't deserve it). I love his big brown eyes (just like Tim's), pouty lips and big cheeks. And I am proud of him taking the older brother and big kid role so well.

Parenting

Lately (meaning for the last few months), I have been hearing

from my oldest child. To get the full effect, you must read it in a pouty and frustrated way with your arms folded and brows furrowed. This is her response when I question her why she did something naughty. (can't wait until those teen years if she already throws this out at four!)

Some examples of "things" she wants to do that are naughty...

(baby powder in the wee hours of the morning)

(here are Abigail and Michael with pink ink from a stamp pad, notice that they have pj's on again, so its in the morning while I am trying to get a little extra sleep, you think I would learn)

Yeah... don't we all "want to do the things we want to do!", even if it is naughty!

If she could only understand... Doing the "things" that you want to do when its not good, makes mommy take away the "things" you want to do that are good as punishment!

Contrary to what she might think, I don't like taking away or not giving her the "good" as punishment. I want those good things for her as much as she does! But how can a four year old understand this in the heat of the moment?

Then I think to myself, this must be the frustrations of our Heavenly Father. We want to do the things we want, even when its naughty. And as a result, it gives away or doesn't allow us to have those "good" blessings. He doesn't want us to not receive the "good" blessings. He wants them for us as much as we do. I would even say He wants them for us more, because He understands them more! But how do you make a earthly being see that in the heat of the moment?

Come to think of it, maybe I have some growing up to do too...

Baby #3

Benjamin James

arrived February 24th at 9:34 am, weighing in at 8lbs 12oz and 21in long
he came with blue eyes and lots of hair (doesn't he look like Tim with his hair style!)