Basically, November… so far.

Last Monday all three boys had their yearly well-check in the afternoon.  I’m very glad my mom was able to come with us because it ended up being a long afternoon. Everybody had shots and the babies had blood work.  I didn’t take any pictures, but here are their stats:

James, age 4
38.75” tall
32lbs 6.4oz heavy

Thomas, age 1
27.5” tall
19lbs 15.5oz heavy
19.02” head circumference

Michael, age 1
26.5” tall
15lbs heavy
18.9” head circumference

These measurements, combined with some developmental things, have earned Michael the “failure to thrive” label.  Personally, I think we need a new adorable label to replace that one.  It sounds so horrible!  We’re not really worried so much as we are curious if there's an underlying cause for he teeniness.  We’ve been referred to a general pediatric consult service downtown for more info and a second opinion/ set of eyes.  Of course, I actually need to mail the paperwork in for that to happen.  Last week sure went by in a blur.

It’s amazing the things I’ve seen him learn to do though in just the last couple of weeks.  I think he’s just a slow grower.  Joanna the Tiny was 16ish pounds at one year, and she leapt up onto the growth chart between 15 and 18 months.  I’m expecting the same from Sir Michael.  But I will happily pursue the consult to investigate if there’s anything else going on!

Really though, it’s a good thing he’s so tiny.  How else could his big sis do this?

Last Friday was enchilada night, and this is what that looks like these days:

Christiana and I sure did double the child population around here pretty quickly.  :)

Drew has pretty much surpassed Michael in weight and mobility.

Poor Michael.  Life is so stressful.

Isn’t this kid adorable?!  He loves to look at himself in the camera.

Right before we left for Grandma’s house, Joanna lost her very first tooth!!

She was sooooooooo excited!!

And, for the record, it was also the very first tooth she grew, just a little bit more than seven years ago.  Sniff… sniff…

Coincidentally, our dentist (who is a family friend) and his wife were at enchilada night.  Joanna was very excited to show the dentist her very first lost tooth.  :)

Back at home, we pulled out our first envelope for a tooth and put it inside.  Then the envelope went in the little pouch, and the pouch went under the pillow.  When she woke up the next day, Joanna was richer by one half dollar, and her tooth was gone!

She’d been waiting a LONG time for that milestone!

Yesterday was the girls’ first time to sing in church this fall with the children’s choir.

Natalie is on the front row, stage right.

Joanna is on the middle row, stage left, in a light brown sweater.

It was precious! I also took a video, which I may or may not upload.  I’m pushing it just getting these posts accomplished.  Hallelujah for naps!!

Sunday afternoon I attempted cutting James’ hair for the very first time!

Before:

And after!!

I learned a lot, and there are some things I will do differently next time and as I continue to teach myself how to do this.  BUT he no longer looks like a scraggle muffin, and with just this one haircut, the clippers have almost paid for themselves.  Sweet!

It surprised me how dark Mr. Blondie’s hair looked on the floor.

Somehow, I did it.  I caught up on blogging all of the things!!

Now back to life.

Trunk or Treat and Fiesta on the Foundation

The Sunday before Halloween was Trunk or Treat at the church, followed by dinner on the foundation of our new building!

The big three:

The whole brood --

It was kinda hot.  Poor warm lion.

Without his hat, I thought Michael looked like a knight.

The girls:

The boys:

Look at those red cheeks!

After this picture, we stripped the babies down a bit, and Natalie and James took off their headwear.

We discovered there were games inside – A/C!!

I sat down and nursed the babes.

James discovered there was chocolate (and lots of it!) in his bag.

He’s saying “chocolate!!!”

After the games and finding friends to visit with, we went back to the car to change the kiddos out of their costumes.  Or as someone said, “Go back to Kansas.”  I thought that was pretty clever.  :)

By the time we got to the foundation, the tables were absolutely full.

It really worked out well though, because it would have been overwhelming to try and sit with our crew in that crowd.  There was a ton of empty space, and we just sat down to picnic with a couple of our favorite families.

Thomas reeeeeeally wanted down to play, and he ended up covered in cement dust.

Here’s his hand print on my jeans – ha!

I thought it was a pretty cool idea to fellowship on the foundation of our new building.  We also got to use silver sharpies to sign the beams.  I like that those prayers, words, and signatures will always be a part of the building.  And somebody let me know that my butt was sitting in the prayer chapel.  How nice.  :)

Things from March, but not ALL the things.

I love to take pictures during worship.  I promise I’m still listening, but sometimes I just need something to do with my hands.  I made this little collage one morning during the service.  The numbers are my bracelets I get for dropping off the babies in the nursery.  The little hand holding mine is James’.

One of the places we like to sit is in the front row of the balcony.  It makes for a very good view of all the action.

Of course I forgot my camera on rodeo day at SLC.  Fortunately I still had my iPod though – cutie pie Natalie!

And in front of the photo-op kind of area.

And later back at home a pic of James in the shirt he made.

And the pink cowboy hat.  :)

The next day was Ash Wednesday.  The service times aren’t impossible to get to, but they aren’t super young-child friendly.  Thankfully, there was a pastor in the sanctuary imposing ashes before Young Mom’s Bible Study, so the kids and I got to have our ashes that day!

On a related side note: Natalie and my mom drove through McDonald’s one day and my mom said something about getting me a Dr. Pepper, but then that she wouldn’t since I’d given them up for Lent.  Then Natalie said something about how I need to think about Jesus instead.  So… at least part of that conversation kind of stuck.  :)  I have, however, failed miserably at not drinking Dr. Pepper this season.  I am still thinking about Jesus though.

We must have stopped by my mom’s on the way home that day – if I remember, Joanna brought Michael inside for me and propped him here to watch TV.  Ha!

And later I got him (I think; he’s kind of hiding the part of his face that looks different from Thomas) to sleep on my lap.

I love snuggles before bed!!!

One day I decided to try wearing two babies.  It was basically a failure, but we’re getting there.  :)  Essentially I’ve discovered that they’re not quite ready, stability wise, to ride on my back yet, and they’re too big to ride together on my front/sides.  So I’m in waiting mode until I can double baby wear!  It won’t be too long though; Thomas is getting pretty sturdy.

The babies have discovered Sophie, and they like her very much for chewing.  Sadly, they’re not great at holding her themselves.

I think this was the last enchilada night – Christiana and the girls, looking at something on her phone.

A week or so ago I bought amber teething necklaces for the boys.  I think they’re helping actually, but for sure they’re not hurting!  (You can Google them if you want to know more, but the amber secretes something when warmed by the skin that helps with teething symptoms.)  And they totally make them look like cool California dudes.

Random picture of Michael and my feet.  :)

The babies have pretty great head control when they’re on their tummies.

James wanted to read Thomas to Thomas.  And he seemed very interested.  :)

Sorry for the alloverishness of this post, but I’m trying to clear out my blog folder of all the cuteness!