Life in General

I guess since the week is pretty much over I should update about the happenings last week. The most exciting thing was that mom and dad were able to come for a short visit (never long enough). Dad found a car that could use some help, and was drivable. They flew in on Thursday, rented a Mustang, then drove the salvaged car home Saturday morning. We didn't have any exciting plans, just lots of Kaleb squishing. Mom helped me make bread, actually, everyone had a hand in the bread making this time. We had Thai food delivered from our all time favorite restaurant (when one is craving Thai) Original Thai. We can't offer the greatest room and board, we at least have an air mattress and some living room floor space. We loved having them here though.

Kaleb couldn't get enough of Grandpa and his silly noises

Saturday evening we joined our Ward for Trunk-or-Treating, and chili cook-off. We got smelly with lots of bowls of yummy chili, and cornbread, and had a blast hanging out with our friends, on a very warm October night. (I must add, I miss fall in UT. it is October, it's not supposed to be ninety degrees outside!) Maybe it's because we're in the entertainment sector of Californians, but everyone was dressed up so awesome, even quite a lot of family themes (for more awesome pictures, since I forgot my camera, see some of our friend's blogs) Grandma brought Kaleb an adorable-I mean, scary costume, (Jake says there's no cute or funny in Halloween, it's only meant for scary) it was far too warm for it so I decided on a last minute humorous get-up for us both. (We're hoping for cooler weather on Halloween since he's going to wear his costume no matter what) I went in my pajamas, bathrobe, and slippers, and made Kaleb into an alarm clock...


As you can see, he looks so excited to be wearing it (I made him sit on his hands, which greatly bugged him) This picture was taken after it was all done, so by now he's sucked off a few of the numbers, including the silver clock hands that pointed to 2AM and one of the bells on his headband has fallen off, but, you get the gist of it. There was also a green circle on his back (for the back of the clock). Jake didn't dress up, he can't afford the pieces for costumes that he wants, he's too much into authenticity and all that fun-ness. Kaleb was so tired by the end of the night that he had a hard time sleeping (it probably didn't help that we messed up his schedule so much he didn't even get a bath) he woke up seven times that night, which I wasn't too thrilled about!
Oh yeah, that's the other great news from this past week. This nap schedule has really been helping Kaleb (at least, that's what we're attributing it too) He has been sleeping 4-5 hours at a time at night, which means, only waking up once a night now (usually - he still has some ornery nights) YEAH!!!
Jake is back to working days (I forgot to mention that a few weeks ago) so I'm going in for my 2 hours of receptionist duties at night. We've switched roles so Jake puts Kaleb down for bed now instead of getting up with him (I don't mind at all, since it also means that he usually is the one to cook dinner)

Oh yeah - and Kaleb found his thumb this week, he still really enjoys his fingers, but that thumb, oh, it's divine. I'm hoping he doesn't get addicted! (it's not something that's hereditary is it? If so, I'm sorry Kaleb!)

My favorite age

First things first - my sister-in-law Hailey tagged me to open my 4th folder and post the 4th picture in that folder...for those who need a definition of tagging - as Jake said - Tagging? Like spray painting? No - in blog and internet lingo - Tagging - To follow after or tagged to do something. Well, that's my interpretation anyway, I'm sure if you asked Webster he (she?) would have a lot of definitions of tagged. This is the not so exciting picture. This is a picture of Jake's dream dune buggy.

Now onto the world of us (doesn't that sound conceited?)
I have decided that I am really long winded - I apologize about that - I will try to be brief. I also realize I never have anything exciting to say, there never is much going on around here so you're stuck with just the thoughts of my rambling brain.
The fun this past week has been everyone being super tired. Kaleb hasn't been sleeping very well at night - only an hour (two if we're lucky) at a time. It was decided that he could no longer sleep all day - he would take several 30-45 min. naps a day. We set a scheduled 3 naps - that's it. He has only been sleeping 30 min. or so during those three naps - so there is a lot of tired screaming in between when I refuse to let him fall asleep until his next scheduled nap time. I haven't really seen an improvement yet at night. When he first went down the last few nights he's been sleeping 4-5 hours straight before waking up every hour after that - so - okay - there's some improvement there. Today, his first nap was an hour long, and he's still sleeping right now, 2 1/2 hours so far! This was with him being transitioned from church (he fell asleep in his carseat during church and I stuck him in a quiet room to sleep (the kitchen happens to work the best) If we can master sleeping better at night (and during the day) we are next going to work on falling asleep by himself, he has to be bounced to sleep, and frankly, he's getting too heavy, and my arms are tired of doing this, I think he needs to learn to sooth himself to sleep - sigh - I love parenting!
I was lying on the sofa at Jake's work one night with Kaleb snuggled in my arms asleep. I was breathing in his sweet scent (once you get past the sour milk smell) feeling his warm little body curled up against me, and I thought, it can't get any better than this. At 3 months I thought Kaleb was perfect-all smiles, crazy mohawk hair, and huge blue eyes. But I was wrong. It not only got better, I'm sure it will get better over and over again. Every week has had its special "this is so amazing" moments. I was trying to decided what the best age is. It was awesome when Kaleb started smiling, then he started cooing and laughing, what's next I wonder, I'm sure it can only get better. I can't wait for the clumsy toddler walk, or the tempermental two year old that will be bursting with curiosity, and seemingly a million questions (if he's anything like I've been told his dad was) Or perhaps the opinionated three year old that wants to do everything by himself, or what about the four year old that I'm sure will be tons of fun to hang out with because he'll be past constant temper tantrums (I hope) and he'll understand about taking turns, and more about the world around him. Once again, I caught myself thinking about next year, month, and week, waiting for this no sleeping stage to end. I caught myself thinking, it can't get any better than this. And it can't, until next week. I love every stage and age of growing Kaleb, parenting is frustrating, and tiring to boot, but, oh so fun!
Now, here's the pictures of the day - I couldn't decide on just one
Kaleb looks like quite the little man all ready for church - and check out Jake's facial hair, what do you think?

Kaleb must have his tounge in his bottom
lip because he looks kind of weird in this picture

I would love to know what
Kaleb is yelling in this picture




This is Kalebs newest developing talent. Sitting up - he loves to sit up - he preffers it to laying down. Even if we lean him against the corner of the couch he'll get himself upright - to a degree - he is still rather hunched.

I never knew

Before I became a mother I never knew...
~Poo is projectile and I would be finding it weeks later in odd places (the back of the rocking chair next to the dresser where we change Kaleb) Come to think about it, everything about a baby is projectile...spit up, pee, babies themselves...one minutes he's calmly sitting in my lap the next he's trying to launch himself on the floor.
~I would be cleaning poo out of my sons hair, instead of just changing a diaper
~I could love such a little person this much, even when he's inconsolable before sunrise
~I could go from 2 loads of laundry to 4. His clothes are so tiny - there's no way! Didn't take into account a reflux baby with lots of dirty burp cloths and blankets
~what a luxury it was to sleep 10 hours straight
~Spit up stains everything
~As prepared as you think you are, you are totally not prepared
~I would rarely wear a clean clothes anymore (there's something about clean clothes, it's just asking to be spit up on...kind of like a new windshield taunting those rocks)
~How much time I really had before I had Kaleb
~How much love and joy a baby can bring into a house
~That little accomplishments could make me cry
~How quickly I would stop thinking about myself and my whole mind would revolve around Kaleb
~That kids are ALWAYS early risers (no matter what time they go to bed)
~How many people it would take just to trim 10 tiny toenails and 10 tiny fingernails
~What funny faces babies make in their sleep
~I could memorize so many books or songs
~That every mom has had almost the exact same experience as every other mom.
~That after kids, conversations with adults would somehow always revolve around poopy diapers, spit up and tantrums!
~I would discover goobers all over my shirt and I'd just shrug my shoulders and keep shopping.
~How much more I could love Jacob since he gave me Kaleb

Before I became a father I never knew...
~How cool it is to be a father.
~That I would could love Kristen so much more.
~How much disarray and chaos a baby could bring into a house.
~How much fun it is to make stupid faces and noises to get a smile from my boy.
~How quickly you can go from upset to giddy.
~How well you can actually function on very little sleep.
~Changing diapers could be somewhat enjoyable.
~How fantastic it is to see my son smile at me when he wakes up.
~That babies could poop this much.
~That babies could puke this much.
~How fascinated I am with my son's hands and feet.
~How scared and excited I am for the future.


And now back to the world of Kaleb:

This is two of Kaleb's favorite things right now. This saucer thing that he sits/stands in and chewing on that crab. In fact...Kaleb loves anything that he can get in his mouth (especially fingers). He has turned into quite the slobber child so I've resorted to putting a bib on him because I'm sick of always changing his soaking wet clothes!
Kaleb is getting really good at grasping and holding, and getting things to his mouth. Occasionally he can even take his Binky out and manage to get it back in his mouth.
He is quite the talker and is always babbling to whoever will listen, or his toys, the particles of dust, or the birds outside or his favorite audience. He loves the fan over our dining room table and stares and smiles at it, even if it's not on.
He is starting to laugh a little more each day, although we still have to coax it out of him most of the time, usually with some of his favorite fun songs like "Pop Goes the Weasel", "Popcorn Popping", and other ones that Jake seems to pull out of his head from who knows where, like "18 Wheels on a Big Rig"
He is still a pretty mellow baby and only really screams when he's tired or when he's hungry, and when he's hungry he wants food that split second, he can be very demanding! Oh the joy of just finishing up sacrament meeting, I only need at the most 1 more minute. Kaleb is all smiles and cooing, when out of the blue, no warning he lets loose with a scream like no other. As I'm trying to shove a useless Binky in his mouth and climb over people (how did I get stuck in the middle of a row?) and may a bee-line for the door, I have to laugh, (as I'm ducking my head, why me?) when he wants food - he wants it now! I must admit, it will be nice when we can just shove a few cheerios in his mouth to bide some time.
I love watching the new things Kaleb discovers everyday, he is so fun! (and funny)

Oh So Happy

My life isn't perfect, but it's good, very good, and it's full of God's blessings and oh so many things that make me happy. So here it is...my happy list...
~Watching Kaleb fall asleep. Now don't read into that too much. Yes, I love it when he's asleep, but mostly, I just love watching him go into his own little world, he makes the cutest, and funniest faces, dreamy smiles as he drifts off.
~Listening to Kaleb laugh (could there be a better sound in the world than that of a laughing child?)~~Watching Kaleb discover the world around him.~~Hugs and Smiles. (from Jake and Kaleb)
(so, mostly life is centered on Kaleb and the joy he brings me everyday, but, it's not all Kaleb)
~~Date nights with Jake~~Girl time with my friends (my friend came over last night to sew and it was a blast eating homemade bread and not accomplishing any of my sewing, she got stuff done though)~~Being silly with Kaleb (and Jake)
~~Phone conversations with my family - Skype is the best invention ever! (who can argue with free phone calls to France and Austria?)
~~Reading~~Sleeping~~Scrapbooking~~Sewing and Quilting~~Playing the piano~~Playing in the rain (still waiting for that one)~~Jake's cooking (he made the best enchiladas the other night!)
~~Going on walks (especially with Kaleb and Jake)~Sunshine - outdoors in general~~Traveling (still waiting for this one too)~~Smelling flowers~~Listening to birds~~Feeling the wind~~Hot Chocolate~~Going to church~~Going to the temple~~$1 fish tacos (although I think they are $1.25 now)~~Snuggling with Jake and Kaleb~~Blankets and pillows~~Homemade Bread~~Car rides (even to know where)~~
Way too often I want to whine and complain about what I don't have, what I want, what I wish, if only. I need to remember how amazing life really is. I can get lost focusing on other things instead of enjoying this moment. I know time doesn't really fly, and I know kids don't really grow like weeds (despite what I think) but as I was rocking Kaleb (AGAIN) tonight I started wondering where my little wiggly baby went - oh - he's still here, I realize that, but he used to fit on my forearm, now he takes two arms to hold. I try not to blink too long, because every time I turn around I wonder, when did he start smiling? Where did that laugh come from? Kaleb will sometimes roll himself onto his back when we put him on his dreaded stomach (when did he start doing that?) I need to realize my blessings more often and really see what I have around me - I am so spoiled and loved! As goes the saying "In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away" Here's to those moments. As I'm rocking Kaleb to sleep for what seems the 50th time in one night I will notice how his eyes roll in the back of his head, how he'll open his eyes for a brief moment and smile his dopey, dreamy, crooked smile at me. I'll notice how he puckers his lips, and generally makes cute, silly faces as he drifts off into what can only be pleasant dreams. I'll hold Kaleb a little closer, for just a little bit longer instead of just quickly depositing him into his crib hoping he'll sleep for at least 2 hours this time. As Jake and I pass each other here and there (in our tiny two bedroom apartment) I'll give a few more hugs and kisses and 'I love you's' I want to stop caring that the dishwasher needs to be loaded and get down on the floor with Jake as he plays with Kaleb. One of my favorite poems:

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth
empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
hang out the washing and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.


by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Now that I have babbled on endlessly, I will just sum it all up and say - I LOVE LIFE!!!

P.S. Just before I posted this I went swimming with my boys - as I'm grabbing a towel to wrap up Kaleb I felt a very uncomfortable pinch in my armpit - when you have a bee crawling in your nether regions you can be forgiven for your state of mind as you quickly rip down the top half of your swimming suit to find the blasted bee that just stung me in my armpit! (I have just realized the humor in the show I just gave the guys painting the railing balcony close by, and the people milling about going to and fro) Can I just say, a bee sting in the armpit isn't too comfortable!