Chitter Chatter: 2011

A few random pictures

I came into Jackson's room to find this. Not quite sure what he is doing, but it looks creative. Should I tell him it is bad luck to open an umbrella indoors?

The kids love to get on the floor and do tummy time with the baby. I don't think it makes him enjoy it any more.

My dear, dear friend Anne came to visit. This is sadly the only picture I took when she was in town. I will need to post about that soon. It was a very good and food filled weekend.

Scary baby. He is kind of a deer in headlights a lot of the time. The red eyes add an extra special touch.

Jackson's school did a "costume parade" the Friday after Halloween. Can't possibly connect it to the actual holiday. So lame. At least they did something! Jackson later told me it was boring. All they did was walk around the school.

Nana and Papa

We were so happy to have Papa come and stay too. Since they live in Jerusalem, we are grateful for every minute we get to spend with them.

Benny's ultrasound

When Bennett was born, they were a little worried about a dimple that he has just above his bum crack. It is called a Sacral dimple. Here is some info on what a sacral dimple is.

A sacral dimple or sacral pit, also known as a pilonidal dimple, is an indentation or little hole in the crease between the buttocks and the base of the tailbone. This dimple generally develops as the spinal column is forming inside the mother's womb. To put it simply, if the inner tissues of the neural tube that forms the spinal column become malformed, the outside layer of tissue including the skin may not be smooth. This could mean that the outside layer formed with some dimples in it, which have no effect on the inner layers; or there could be a malformation of the inner layers, which have no effect on the outer layers. So a dimple in the lower back along the spine may be a simple divot in the skin, causing no problems whatsoever, or it may be the sign of malformation in lower tissue layers including the spine and spinal cord.

Most sacral dimples are harmless. However, some sacral pits continue deep inside and may even connect to the spinal canal or even the colon or large intestine. In the latter case, bits of stool can leak out through the opening causing a chronic rash. This type of dimple needs to be closed. Other signs that may indicate an abnormality in the lower spine include large or deep sacral dimples or dimples that are covered by hair or a birthmark.

Most spinal cord defects signaled by a sacral dimple may be adequately investigated by doing a thorough physical exam and, if needed, an ultrasound. For those in which there is a very high suspicion of a spinal cord defect, an MRI is usually performed. If these tests detect a problem affecting the spinal cord, the child may require surgery.

They were't really worried about it, but they felt it was better to be safe and so they scheduled an ultrasound for Benny when he was about 2 weeks old. Luckily, everything looked normal and there is no reason to worry.

My sweet, little guy just slept through it all!!

I was so lucky and blessed to have my mom come and stay for almost three weeks. It was so very helpful and it was so great to have her company. We had a really great time together. I lucked out in the mom department!

My mom was scheduled to come out on the 20th, but after I went into labor, she changed her flight and got in on the 18th instead. The next day, Paige had a field trip to the apple orchard. My mom came with us. It was a cold, drizzly day, but we took her out anyway. At the end of the field trip they had fresh cinnamon doughnuts and apple cider. Yum! This is out in the pumpkin field. Look at that cute face!

These pictures are a little out of order. Oh well! Here is little Benny about a week old. He escaped his swaddle by coming out the top of his pajama!! Funny boy!

This is a close up shot of Paige in the pumpkin field.

Choosing her pumpkin. Man was it heavy!

Jackson posed and asked me to take his picture. I just love the seductive pose!

Paigie feeding B a bottle. The kids love to help with everything from feeding to changing diapers!

Paige is my little musician. She is always writing songs. She asked Santa for a flute and violin.

Self shot of me and Benito.

Out to choose pumpkins to carve.

Hooray for having Nana here! I loved having her stay!

Such a good sis. We have to work a bit on her holding technique!

J and his baby brother.

He has loved his bath from the start. He is now starting to kick out one of his legs while I bathe him. Before long he will really be splashing!

He is so content after bathing. He lays in front of the heater and passes out.

My Benito Burrito.

Ready to carve pumpkins. I find this to be a very tedious task. Thank heavens Douglas helps the kids with it. He is a pro!

My dad flew in to meet Benny too. It was lots of fun to have him in town for Halloween.

Scooping out the guts.

Jackson did a Harry Potter face.

Oh man, he is so dang cute. I just want to squish that face.

We had a few neighbor friends over for Halloween dinner. I made dinner in a pumkin, a cream cheese, apple pudding dessert, and salad. The neighbors brought potato skins and a cheese platter.
W

This is yummy stuff!

Poor Miss P was not feeling well. I got her dressed, took a few pictures and she told me she didn't feel well enough to go trick or treat. I got her undressed and she sat in the bath for a while (she loves to bathe, just like her Papa). After the bath she was feeling a little better so I dressed her back up and took her out to meet up with J and the neighbor kids.

Trying to hard to smile and be happy.

Jackson was a Harry Potter quiditch player. Good thing my mom was in town to draw the lightning bolt, because mine looked super lame. Who knew it would be so hard to draw?

Paige was much happier when she came back out. She lasted about 10 minutes and then felt sick again. It was long enough to collect some good candy! Here she is with her friend Charlotte.