October Catch Up

I can honestly say, the past five months have gone by entirely too fast.  I have found myself trying to juggle three boys, my church calling, and my husband's work schedule, all the while try to stay sane!

October always proves to be one of the most hectic months for me.  Preparing for our ward's Primary Program causes many sleepless nights, but I have learned that it ALWAYS works out perfectly!  It's very comforting knowing that it always works out, despite a hiccup here and there.  Such as when Homeboy decides to take off his shoe in the middle of the program and pretends to eat it.  Or when he makes faces at his friend during a song, that he should be signing, but instead causes his mother to attempt to shoot her laser-beam-glare, in his direction. And all of this happening while I am sitting next to the podium.  In front... of the entire congregation.  Awesome.

Although, Homeboy has managed to tame some of his inner demons, once in a while they do emerge.  Such as the time he came out of his room, growling like a tiger and proudly displaying his tiger stripes that he drawn on himself, with a -wait for it-     a sharpie marker.  The stripes were still visible for our Primary Program.  Again, I say, "Awesome".



 



 All markers and scissors have been locked away and hidden from Homeboy, due to the example shown on the right...

 

Homer continually grows in cuteness and squishy-ness.  He also was sporting a spiky hair-do.  I find myself hard-pressed to NOT kiss that double chin of his.  Goodness!

Continuing my annual tradition of sewing my boy's their Halloween costumes, we decided to go with the OPD/Weber County inmate theme this year.  Homeboy was an OPD officer, like his daddy last year, and demanded to follow suit, this year also.  Unfortunately, he had grown so much, his pants resembled more like Capri's than official cop pants.  So I sewed another OPD uniform.  Homer was content to be the inmate.  Orange jumpsuit and all!  Our little inmate was so chubby, I couldn't fasten the crotch area of his costume.  And when it was time to take it off, we had to cut him out of it!  There was no maneuvering of his chunky thighs and arms through the openings! 

 

I tried to convince the hubs to wear his uniform also, so he could be twins with Homeboy.  Didn't happen.  Party pooper.



I kind of have a feeling that no felon or lawbreaker, would take this officer too serious.  

"You have the right to remain cute"   Ahhhh hahahaha!  I crack myself up!  But seriously - I just want to eat him up!

Below is a rare site.  I was actually able to capture the image of our elusive teenager, Homey.  Apparently, he is 15 and is too cool for school.  He arrived to our ward's trunk-or-treat, dressed as a teenager.  And Homeboy seems to be "working it", next to him.





Man, they are cute!

 





My favorite shirt, of all time!

 

 

Every October I have high hopes of baking apple pies, going on nature walks with my boys, carving pumpkins, crafting, and frolicking in the leaves.  And every October I find myself unable to accomplish all that is on my fall bucket list.  But during those moments when I actually slow down and find some time to look out the window and enjoy the fall colors and listen to my family, in the next room, I try to remember to not reflect on the what-nots and instead, those precious moments that make my heart sing. 

 

This past October will always remain a happy memory in my heart.  We have a new baby to experience those moments with, a handsome husband who works hard to support his family and to protect the community, a teenager that tests our sanity but teaches us lessons, and a mischievous 5 year old that seems wise beyond his years... even when he stores change in his "special pocket" in the front of his underwear. 

 

Remind me to never put that change in the piggy bank.  Homeboy can keep it.

4 months old

Beckham (a.k.a. Homer) turned 4 months old on October 15th!  I'm a little behind but it's all good!

 

I can honestly say, I'm totally and completely smitten with my chunk-a-burning-love! 

 

At his 4 month check-up, he weighed 15.8 pounds and was 26 inches long!

He is in the 85th percentile for weight and 80th for height!  This is unreal, when it comes to our family of shorties.  His head measures in the 15th percentile.  Yup, he has a pin head.  But you would not know it by looking at him, due to his immense cheek volume, and double chins.  They are deceiving!

 

My little man is starting to sport the fuzz hair-do, just like his older brothers did. 

 

The only time he cries is when he's hungry and once in a while, when he is tired.

 

He absolutely hates tummy time, and I usually give in and pick him up when he begins to complain. 

 

Everywhere we go, he receives compliments on how long, dark, and curly his eyelashes are!  And they are awesome! 

 

He coos a lot and even giggles, which brings me much joy!

 

He still sleeps through the night and usually wakes up around 9:30am.  He takes two naps during the day and is content to just lay around and observe his older brother Homeboy, run around.  Which is entertaining to all of us!

 

Lil dude also loves to gnaw on his hands and often sucks on his thumb.  If you place anything remotely close to his mouth, he will try to drool on the item and consume it.



It's hard to resist the squishing of my chunk-ay baby!

 

I wish that I could make time stand still at this very moment!  With my oldest son, we couldn't wait to see and experience his milestones, as he grew.  With Homeboy, we didn't encourage him, as much, to reach those milestones, such as crawling and walking.  We were content to let him crawl until he was 10 years old, but he proved to be very determined to do it his way!  And with Beckham, I make it a point to try to soak in every moment of his infancy.  I set aside washing a pile of dishes to kiss his chubby cheeks at least 20 times on each cheek.  I repeat the phrase, "I love you!" over and over and over again!  I sniff the scent of Baby Magic in his fuzzy hair, just after his bath, every night.  I never want these moments to end! 

 

 

 



Happy Birthday Homeboy!



Believe it or not, while I was suffering from the blow of turning 40 and episodes of sobbing uncontrollably, we also celebrated Homeboy's 5th birthday!  Turns out, we share a birthday! 

 

Homeboy continues to amaze us with his mischievious ways.  It's like he will never out grow the terrible two's or something!

 

Infact, just this week he made a growth chart on his bedroom wall!  With crayon.  Purple crayon.  There are many lines to measure his growing milestones.  He is quite the budding artist and likes to display his talent on our couch, walls, floors, car, clothing and even bedding.  Despite where he chooses to display his artwork, he is good!  Never did I imagine that I would still be hiding markers and scissors from Homeboy still! 

 

Homeboy is quite witty and says some funny things, quite often!  Yesterday he told me, "Mom!  Tomorrow I must look handsome!  Not cool, handsome!"  He loves rock and pop music and knows most of the words to the song Moves Like Jagger from Maroon 5.  If he likes a song on the radio, he forces us to stay in the car until it is finished playing.

 

 

Homeboy's new thing, when having his picture taken, is to do the head-tilt-smile exercise.

 

Here's one to the left...



...and to the right.

 



... and to the left, again.

 

Homeboy is constant entertainment for our family.  I'm excited to see what wonderful things he will think of and the things he will accomplish in the future.  He's such a silly, smart, and curious little boy!  We love you Conner!



40

That's right... I hit the big one.  I hit the big 4-0.  I know many of you out there are expecting me to say being *cough* 40 is wonderful.  That it's just a number!  That, 40 is the new 30.!  In my opinion... NO!  No it's not!  I'm freakin' forty!  I'm not thrilled about it, at all!

 

The morning that I turned 40 I looked in the mirror and immediately noticed a strange phenomenon peeking out of my right nostril.  It wasn't a booger.  I would've been much more content if it were a booger.  But instead it was a nose hair that had actually grew beyond my nostril barrier and was in the process of looping it's self around the exterior of the bottom of my nose.  Are you kidding me?!?!  As I have progressed in the years, my hair growth has literally sprung up in uncalled for areas on my body and face.  Since when did I have to begin plucking a hair in the middle of my FOREHEAD?  Or how about my stomach?  Every time I went to my doctor for my monthly prenatal visits, I was sure to keep my belly button fur at bay!

 

I've also noticed that it takes me a little longer to "warm up" in the mornings.  Before, I could leap out of bed no problem.  Now, it's more of a rolling-out-motion, with slowly standing upright. Ten minutes later, I'm good as gold.

 

I was hoping that on my 40th birthday my husband and sons would surprise me and shower me with gifts and affection.  It did not happen.  Instead we went to church, where others acknowledged my birthday with balloons, lots of candy and gifts.  And every Mormon knows, having your birthday on a Sunday stinks!  I didn't get to sleep in and relax.   There is no celebrating with dinner at Olive Garden!  Sundays are my busiest day!  Steve goes to work right after church and I get to work some more!  I was upset that I turned 40.  I was upset that my 40th birthday was on a Sunday.  And more importantly, I was upset that my own husband, whom I love dearly, did nothing.  I didn't expect much.  Just to feel acknowledged and cared for.  Instead, the dork sat by me, as he was heading out for work, and said, "Happy birthday wifey!  I thought that for your birthday I would clean the garage!"  Are you kidding me?  My look said it all.  And he knew he messed up.  He tried to make it better by adding, "Well, and other things too.  You know, like dinner and movie on Friday."  Too late dude.  Too late.

 

I felt my heart sink to the pit of my stomach and tears began to well up in my eyes.  "Isn't cleaning the garage, something you should be doing?", I responded.  And then I followed up that tid-bit with, "I think that when you turn 40 I will clean a toilet for you!" 

 

Does he not get it?  It's not the expense or extravagance of a gift!  It's the time, the effort, and the way it's presented.  I told him that if he even got on my face book page and told me "happy birthday", "I love you", "thanks for cleaning the urine off of the bathroom walls and washing our funky smelling clothes for all of these years", I would have cried tears of JOY.

 

Forty has been hard on me.  I have dipped into several episodes of bawling and attending my very own pitty parties, for the past two weeks.  I will get over it and I will move on.  Tomorrow I will wake up to a happy, chubby baby, a silly 5 year old boy, and admiring the young man my 15 year old son is becoming.  I will laugh with my husband and still cuddle up to him on the couch as we watch another episode of COPS.

 

Twenty years ago, I never thought that I would have a new baby at the age of 40.  I never thought that I would have 3 boys!  I never thought that I would be married to a police officer.  I never thought that I would be plucking hairs from my chin and FOREHEAD!  I never thought that I would be as happy as I am right now.  I never thought that I would be primary president and love it.  I never thought that I could love my family with such intensity.  And finally, I never thought I would have as many rolls in my mid section, as I do! :) 

 

And speaking of rolls...

 

I just died from cuteness!



3 Months Old! Stop growing!

My baby turned 3 months old about a week ago.  And now, I am in mourning.

  

Lady killa! 

The bub looks giagantic from this angle.  He fits in 3-6 month old clothes, but we are finding it difficult to fit him in some of those!  I love his chubby legs and it's always an adventure to see how much lint is stuck with in his leg folds, when we bath him!  He is starting to get the fuzz hair coming in, just like his older brothers.  I'm kinda hoping his hair sticks straight up like their's did!  His eyelashes all of the sudden became thicker and they get noticed all of the time.

Homer is constantly moving!  Check out the arm action above.  Swish, swish!  Kick, kick, kick!  He is also slobbering, all of the time and likes to talk to us.  He also giggled for the first time a few days ago! 

 

Homer loves his bottles.  He eats 6 to 6.5 ounces every 2.5 to 3 hours.  He is a VERY good baby!  He takes 2 naps every day, rarely cries, and still sleeps through the night!  Little man is so good that he just chills in his crib until we pick him up every morning.  So, we have no idea what time he wakes up.  Usually we get him out of his crib around 8-9am!  He is spoiling his momma!

 

Although I panic of the thought of my little bub getting bigger and older, I am also excited to see his milestones!