We've been finishing all our lingering house projects lately after B gave a very moving (and short) speech to me last week. "Let's work hard and get these projects done over the next month..." I think he was trying to convince himself (and his lovely wife) that he wants to get these projects done. Really, he does. Really.
His little pep talk to himself evidently worked as we are flying though projects that have been on our to-do list for months. I LOVE finishing projects. Especially the projects that have been on going for weeks. Ah, completion. So nice.
How do you handle house projects? Do you work like dogs and get them done? Or, do you break the job at hand into smaller portions and spread the project out?
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Sweeping with Frog's help
As I was sweeping the floor on the main level, sucking up the dirt piles with the dust vacuum, I felt a slight sense of "Ah, that looks so much better..." when I heard a crunching/munching sound at my heals. It was Frog with a cracker in each hand. He had faithfully followed me around as I swept the floors eating his crackers happily as he observed my cleaning frenzy. I wonder how much of those crackers actually ended up in the little guy's mouth. Based on the trail he left all over the floor, not much.
Ever feel like you're fighting a loosing battle?
Ever feel like you're fighting a loosing battle?
Friday, October 17, 2008
Hairless Guinea Pigs - They Exist!!!
B and Piggy have allergies. This fact has prevented me from my life-long dream of having a guinea pig farm. I've joked with B that we could buy a hairless guinea pig never knowing the rodents existed...until now!
They are called skinny guinea pigs, or skinny pigs. Amazing, huh?
Here are a few fighting over a carrot...
And, no, a guinea pig farm is not my life-long dream. But, with this new found knowledge of the skinny pig it just may become a dream of mine. Juuust maybe.
They are called skinny guinea pigs, or skinny pigs. Amazing, huh?
Here are a few fighting over a carrot...
And, no, a guinea pig farm is not my life-long dream. But, with this new found knowledge of the skinny pig it just may become a dream of mine. Juuust maybe.
For Your Viewing Pleasure
If I can't have one at least I can watch them on youtube...
The kids loved these by the way.
The kids loved these by the way.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Mothering Basics for Newborns
I was talking with my neighbor a bit ago about the new mom up the street who was having a difficult time with her newborn. In the course of our conversation it occurred to both of us how little mothers really know about newborns going in to the whole "new baby phase" of life. In this day and age many women are not around tiny babies until they give birth to their own. I personally avoided new babies - I mean, they were so tiny and seemingly breakable. It's like someone wanting to hand you a priceless piece of glassware or something - "Nope. I'll wait until I have one of my own thank you very much. If I break mine, it will be my own fault!"
I remember my mother saying that all things concerning my new baby would "just come naturally". That belief works great until you come home from the hospital exhausted and excited only to find out your natural instincts didn't quite kick in as you thought they would. Every good mama knows to love their baby, but when it comes down to the practical how-tos a few helpful hints would be good to know before you are up at 3:00 am with a screaming newborn.
On that note - here are a few basics that will give any new mother's natural instincts a jump start...
1. When your baby eats (bottle feeds and/or nurses) you have got to burp the baby. The tiny guys often fall asleep while eating which can make "getting the bubble out" a little more difficult but trust me a belch like a grown alcoholic is in there somewhere just waiting to escape. My best luck was to stop the feeding for a moment or two when I heard or felt the baby swallow an air bubble. If Baby freaks - and he will - then, finishing the feeding first. Just burp him before he falls asleep. You want the air bubble to remain at the top of your baby and not work its way down toward the baby's bottom, if you know what I mean. You can put Baby in sitting position on your knees or put him up on your shoulder and gently pat until the burp comes out. Air will come out one way or another - if you get it out as a burp it will save you from having an upset newborn with an upset tummy. And, by keeping the tummy free of air bubbles your baby will have a good feeding and will be content - at least for a little while! Don't be alarmed when what appears to be half of what you just fed your baby comes out with the burp. This is scientifically called "spit up" and it happens to the best of babies. My first baby had "projectile spit up". Really, it was puke...all the time, all over the place, constantly. We should have entered him in some sort of spitting contest as a babe. Seriously. (Sidenote - always bring yourself and hubby an extra shirt when going out with your new baby. Spit will fly even in public. And, if you have a puker, invest in some good quality dropcloths and a couple garden hoses and you'll be just fine.)
2. Swaddle your baby snugly in a lightweight baby blanket to help Baby feel secure and warm even with all his wiggling and stretching. During the ninth month of pregnancy the little guy was trying to tear through your skin and now that he's "arrived" he'll be trying to get out of your perfectly swaddled baby blanket. Don't fret. There are dozens of special baby swaddling blankets on the market now. They have baby pockets that even the most determined wiggler can't worm his way out of. But, any thin, baby-sized blanket will work. I have personally survived four newborns without any investments in special swaddlers so it can be done. The goal in swaddling is not the ownership of the latest baby blanket fad, but to simply keep little hands and tiny toes from flailing as your newborn sleeps. Newborns twitch a lot as they rest and they can easily startle themselves. And, newborn don't like to be startled. Yes, save "peek-a-boo" for a few months and swaddle your baby instead.
3. Another basic I discovered as a new mom was walking. The fresh air would always calm my babies and my frazzled nerves as well. The sunshine, a warm breeze and some much needed change in scenery gives Baby new things to view and sense. With two of my babes I lived near the ocean. A walk along the boardwalk, with the ocean air and sound of the waves would put the baby out like a light. And, it helped me get back in shape, got me out of the house and boosted my energy. Then, I moved to the Midwest and have had fussy babies ever since. Just kidding, they have walking here too. But they are severely lacking in the "wave sounds" department.
4. Singing, humming or even just your voice works wonders when a newborn is being fussy. Talk to them! Have a little chat. Include them in your day through a bit of conversation. They know your voice from the womb and will even search for it in a crowded room as a tiny newborn. With each of our babies we loved watching them turn their heads to find us as they listened for our voice. You can sing anything - make up songs with their names or stories as they get bigger. I sang a special song for Baby Sophia when she was small and she still remembers it at age four. It still calms her when I sing it to her! I try singing to my husband, but it doesn't have quite the same effect, so you have to start young. Why not start with your newborn?!?
5. Movement is another must do with newborns. If all else fails and you have an upset babe on your hands...then get moving, sister!!! Use a baby swing, baby bouncy seat or even yourself to create a rhythmic movement that will eventually calm Baby. While pregnant my babies would be moving all over until I started moving. They'd become still and rest when I moved about my day. As newborns they will continue that pattern and calm considerably with a little movement. Slings are great to keep Baby close, secure and provide a little movement. Heck, strap Baby on your person, go for a walk and sing as you do and you'll be doing all the basics at once! Then, if your little one is still fussy...use my final basic...
6. Dada, or Daddy is the best basic of all. As new moms we need to let the new Dads get in on the action. Dads can connect with their boys or little girls in a very special way and you need a secret weapon when its past midnight and you've been up all the night before. Babies go through phases where one parent is favored or has the special touch that quiets them. It doesn't mean you aren't a great mother, but it does mean you have a great partner when Dad is able to flex some baby muscle and help in calming your little one.
And, you knew this was coming - add your own "basics" to my list. What worked well for you with your newborn? Or, what bit of advice do you wish someone had told you the first time around with a tiny baby? I especially love the "Duh, I should have known that" sort of helpful hint so if ya' got any...add them in the comments.
I remember my mother saying that all things concerning my new baby would "just come naturally". That belief works great until you come home from the hospital exhausted and excited only to find out your natural instincts didn't quite kick in as you thought they would. Every good mama knows to love their baby, but when it comes down to the practical how-tos a few helpful hints would be good to know before you are up at 3:00 am with a screaming newborn.
On that note - here are a few basics that will give any new mother's natural instincts a jump start...
1. When your baby eats (bottle feeds and/or nurses) you have got to burp the baby. The tiny guys often fall asleep while eating which can make "getting the bubble out" a little more difficult but trust me a belch like a grown alcoholic is in there somewhere just waiting to escape. My best luck was to stop the feeding for a moment or two when I heard or felt the baby swallow an air bubble. If Baby freaks - and he will - then, finishing the feeding first. Just burp him before he falls asleep. You want the air bubble to remain at the top of your baby and not work its way down toward the baby's bottom, if you know what I mean. You can put Baby in sitting position on your knees or put him up on your shoulder and gently pat until the burp comes out. Air will come out one way or another - if you get it out as a burp it will save you from having an upset newborn with an upset tummy. And, by keeping the tummy free of air bubbles your baby will have a good feeding and will be content - at least for a little while! Don't be alarmed when what appears to be half of what you just fed your baby comes out with the burp. This is scientifically called "spit up" and it happens to the best of babies. My first baby had "projectile spit up". Really, it was puke...all the time, all over the place, constantly. We should have entered him in some sort of spitting contest as a babe. Seriously. (Sidenote - always bring yourself and hubby an extra shirt when going out with your new baby. Spit will fly even in public. And, if you have a puker, invest in some good quality dropcloths and a couple garden hoses and you'll be just fine.)
2. Swaddle your baby snugly in a lightweight baby blanket to help Baby feel secure and warm even with all his wiggling and stretching. During the ninth month of pregnancy the little guy was trying to tear through your skin and now that he's "arrived" he'll be trying to get out of your perfectly swaddled baby blanket. Don't fret. There are dozens of special baby swaddling blankets on the market now. They have baby pockets that even the most determined wiggler can't worm his way out of. But, any thin, baby-sized blanket will work. I have personally survived four newborns without any investments in special swaddlers so it can be done. The goal in swaddling is not the ownership of the latest baby blanket fad, but to simply keep little hands and tiny toes from flailing as your newborn sleeps. Newborns twitch a lot as they rest and they can easily startle themselves. And, newborn don't like to be startled. Yes, save "peek-a-boo" for a few months and swaddle your baby instead.
3. Another basic I discovered as a new mom was walking. The fresh air would always calm my babies and my frazzled nerves as well. The sunshine, a warm breeze and some much needed change in scenery gives Baby new things to view and sense. With two of my babes I lived near the ocean. A walk along the boardwalk, with the ocean air and sound of the waves would put the baby out like a light. And, it helped me get back in shape, got me out of the house and boosted my energy. Then, I moved to the Midwest and have had fussy babies ever since. Just kidding, they have walking here too. But they are severely lacking in the "wave sounds" department.
4. Singing, humming or even just your voice works wonders when a newborn is being fussy. Talk to them! Have a little chat. Include them in your day through a bit of conversation. They know your voice from the womb and will even search for it in a crowded room as a tiny newborn. With each of our babies we loved watching them turn their heads to find us as they listened for our voice. You can sing anything - make up songs with their names or stories as they get bigger. I sang a special song for Baby Sophia when she was small and she still remembers it at age four. It still calms her when I sing it to her! I try singing to my husband, but it doesn't have quite the same effect, so you have to start young. Why not start with your newborn?!?
5. Movement is another must do with newborns. If all else fails and you have an upset babe on your hands...then get moving, sister!!! Use a baby swing, baby bouncy seat or even yourself to create a rhythmic movement that will eventually calm Baby. While pregnant my babies would be moving all over until I started moving. They'd become still and rest when I moved about my day. As newborns they will continue that pattern and calm considerably with a little movement. Slings are great to keep Baby close, secure and provide a little movement. Heck, strap Baby on your person, go for a walk and sing as you do and you'll be doing all the basics at once! Then, if your little one is still fussy...use my final basic...
6. Dada, or Daddy is the best basic of all. As new moms we need to let the new Dads get in on the action. Dads can connect with their boys or little girls in a very special way and you need a secret weapon when its past midnight and you've been up all the night before. Babies go through phases where one parent is favored or has the special touch that quiets them. It doesn't mean you aren't a great mother, but it does mean you have a great partner when Dad is able to flex some baby muscle and help in calming your little one.
And, you knew this was coming - add your own "basics" to my list. What worked well for you with your newborn? Or, what bit of advice do you wish someone had told you the first time around with a tiny baby? I especially love the "Duh, I should have known that" sort of helpful hint so if ya' got any...add them in the comments.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Lunch Time Conversation
"Wouldn't it be silly if we cooked with the microwave and heated up food in the oven?" Spikes asked me as I prepped our leftovers for lunch.
"Yes, that would be backwards. Wouldn't it be silly if we typed on the phone and talked on the computer?" I asked him without going into a lengthy explanation of texting and the like.
"Yeah, (paused as he thought for a quick moment) that WOULD be silly!" He said with a giggle.
I continued, "...or what if we washed our clothes in the bathtub and took baths in the washing machine?!?" Spikes and Lamby laughed then Piggy, who was quick to steal a little spotlight for himself, exclaimed, "And this will be funny - if I poop on you guys!!!"
Potty talk dominated the conversation after Piggy's insightful...declaration.
"Yes, that would be backwards. Wouldn't it be silly if we typed on the phone and talked on the computer?" I asked him without going into a lengthy explanation of texting and the like.
"Yeah, (paused as he thought for a quick moment) that WOULD be silly!" He said with a giggle.
I continued, "...or what if we washed our clothes in the bathtub and took baths in the washing machine?!?" Spikes and Lamby laughed then Piggy, who was quick to steal a little spotlight for himself, exclaimed, "And this will be funny - if I poop on you guys!!!"
Potty talk dominated the conversation after Piggy's insightful...declaration.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Mouse in the House
Early on in the summer B told me in great detail about the family of mice that had made their abode behind our patio step. There was Mama mouse and several baby mice that, to B's amazement, had traveled down our gutter and ran in guinea pig fashion (one after another) to their newly formed nest against our house. I told B we needed to relocate our little neighbors before the fall or they would move inside when the weather cooled. Agreed.
Well, it's Fall now and the mice are no longer behind our patio step. Nope. They evidently moved into our basement. Michael protested to sharing his space with a rodent(s?) and demanded we get a mouse trap. I think the gnawing sound was freaking him out in the middle of the night. After finding proof of the said mouse (chewed books that I've had every intention of reading since bible school) we bought a live mouse trap and placed it downstairs just prior to our four day getaway to Columbia this past weekend.
Upon returning home we discovered mice "pooh" along the perimeter of each room in our house, the letter "z" from the kids spongy alphabet set had been partially eaten and one little boy dress shoe lace was nibbled on but no mouse in the trap we had left in the basement. The mice made themselves right at home so last night we baited the trap with peanut butter. Before I had even re-tucked the sleeping kids in bed I heard the trap rattling like crazy. I grabbed B and we got downstairs to check the trap. I should explain that B, good homeschooling parent that he is, told the kids we would keep the mice. AH!!! I asked for a guinea pig - not a mouse! Our Plan B is to catch the mouse family and relocate them to a field or somewhere far, far away. For now, we are collecting the family members one at a time or at least attempting to do so.
Back to my story...
We raced downstairs and then like idiots we thought we could dump the mouse into a tupperware toy container that had a lid. I stood poised with the lid half covering the container top as B opened the trap. A big, fat, gray mouse jumped clear out of the container, splatted on the floor and disappeared into our living room with lightning speed. After searching and listening to Brian retell the events of the mouse escape a half dozen times we re-set the trap and went to bed.
I woke up this morning with B mumbling he was going to be late for work. He had spent considerable time with the mice. Yep, we have more than one. B managed to dump one mouse from the trap into a container. He said it was rather animated with lots of jumps and chattering sounds. B thinks it was the mouse we caught last night as it was big and super jumpy. (Or, maybe all mice are like that...) As soon as he set the trap back on the floor another mouse shot right inside. B decided to deposit this new mouse in with the lively one he had just contained. As he popped the lid open the mouse that had been chattering at him leaped onto his arm, ran up his sleeve and bounced to freedom. Well, at least we had one. A baby mouse. I'm guessing the crazy mouse we caught (twice) is the mother. The baby was more quiet and nervous so B was able to plop it into the container without a problem. That is until the mother mouse came at him out of no where, attaching herself to his face...okay, not really, but isn't that what you expected??? I find myself watching over my shoulder this very moment. That mama mouse is big! I was shocked last night that we had captured such a big yet small animal that had been living in our house - eating and pooping right along with the kids. How creepy!!!
Today we've been observing the baby mouse. The kids smashed Honeynut Cheerios in the air holes for him to have a snack along with the blob of peanut butter Brian left for him. The mouse is cute. Remember, I am partial to rodents....just not ones roaming freely about my house eating educational toys and dress shoes. Tonight we will set the trap again to see if we can catch Mama and to see if there are any curious siblings we need can contain as well. I think we may set a live trap on each level of the house just to increase our odds.
Any guesses on how many mice we will end up with??? I'll keep you posted.
Oh, and my desire for a guinea pig is all but gone. Rodents chew on everything and poop everywhere!!! I already have kids that do that - why add more to the mix, you know?
Well, it's Fall now and the mice are no longer behind our patio step. Nope. They evidently moved into our basement. Michael protested to sharing his space with a rodent(s?) and demanded we get a mouse trap. I think the gnawing sound was freaking him out in the middle of the night. After finding proof of the said mouse (chewed books that I've had every intention of reading since bible school) we bought a live mouse trap and placed it downstairs just prior to our four day getaway to Columbia this past weekend.
Upon returning home we discovered mice "pooh" along the perimeter of each room in our house, the letter "z" from the kids spongy alphabet set had been partially eaten and one little boy dress shoe lace was nibbled on but no mouse in the trap we had left in the basement. The mice made themselves right at home so last night we baited the trap with peanut butter. Before I had even re-tucked the sleeping kids in bed I heard the trap rattling like crazy. I grabbed B and we got downstairs to check the trap. I should explain that B, good homeschooling parent that he is, told the kids we would keep the mice. AH!!! I asked for a guinea pig - not a mouse! Our Plan B is to catch the mouse family and relocate them to a field or somewhere far, far away. For now, we are collecting the family members one at a time or at least attempting to do so.
Back to my story...
We raced downstairs and then like idiots we thought we could dump the mouse into a tupperware toy container that had a lid. I stood poised with the lid half covering the container top as B opened the trap. A big, fat, gray mouse jumped clear out of the container, splatted on the floor and disappeared into our living room with lightning speed. After searching and listening to Brian retell the events of the mouse escape a half dozen times we re-set the trap and went to bed.
I woke up this morning with B mumbling he was going to be late for work. He had spent considerable time with the mice. Yep, we have more than one. B managed to dump one mouse from the trap into a container. He said it was rather animated with lots of jumps and chattering sounds. B thinks it was the mouse we caught last night as it was big and super jumpy. (Or, maybe all mice are like that...) As soon as he set the trap back on the floor another mouse shot right inside. B decided to deposit this new mouse in with the lively one he had just contained. As he popped the lid open the mouse that had been chattering at him leaped onto his arm, ran up his sleeve and bounced to freedom. Well, at least we had one. A baby mouse. I'm guessing the crazy mouse we caught (twice) is the mother. The baby was more quiet and nervous so B was able to plop it into the container without a problem. That is until the mother mouse came at him out of no where, attaching herself to his face...okay, not really, but isn't that what you expected??? I find myself watching over my shoulder this very moment. That mama mouse is big! I was shocked last night that we had captured such a big yet small animal that had been living in our house - eating and pooping right along with the kids. How creepy!!!
Today we've been observing the baby mouse. The kids smashed Honeynut Cheerios in the air holes for him to have a snack along with the blob of peanut butter Brian left for him. The mouse is cute. Remember, I am partial to rodents....just not ones roaming freely about my house eating educational toys and dress shoes. Tonight we will set the trap again to see if we can catch Mama and to see if there are any curious siblings we need can contain as well. I think we may set a live trap on each level of the house just to increase our odds.
Any guesses on how many mice we will end up with??? I'll keep you posted.
Oh, and my desire for a guinea pig is all but gone. Rodents chew on everything and poop everywhere!!! I already have kids that do that - why add more to the mix, you know?
Thursday, October 02, 2008
The Spiral Notebook
I am a thinker - not a deep thinker or anything, just a thoughts person - like a lot of thoughts, different and seemingly unrelated thoughts...that's my mind as I diaper children, feed children, bathe children...you get the idea. I enjoy thinking believe it or not. And, I love to contain my thoughts and organize them if for no other reason than to free up some space in my head.
The single most amazing tool I use to capture all my many thoughts is the spiral notebook. I slap a date on the top line or mid-page depending on the end of my last entry and away I go. By the day's end I have a mess of arrows, circles, bolded text and blurbs of important-for-the-moment thoughts that occurred during the course of my day. In time I've noticed themes emerge - proof that my mind isn't as random as it seems. My themes fall into pretty simple categories like homemaking, homeschooling, organization, creating/crafting, routines, God, the kids, memory keeping and memory making and, of course, my beloved B. I'm pretty passionate about most of what I blurb about in my notebook. I have my mind on these themes, or passions, and by keeping my mind on them day in and day out I'm continually developing in those areas - or at least I like to think I am! If I read a good book, I take notes about what stands out to me. If I have a good conversation with a friend I may write out a quote or two that struck my heart. The kids amaze me almost daily - and I write it down. At the end of a notebook I have a month or more of my life, from shopping lists to conversations with my four year old to review and consider. I can see what has remained important cover to cover and what has faded in value from one journal to the next.
So many people can't ever determine what they are really passionate about or what their life's calling is to be. I tend to believe our passions are very much wrapped up in who we are rather than what we do. Once we know who we are, the doing has a way of catching up. For instance, I knew before I had children that part of who I am has to do with mothering and being a wife. My family role was and is a large part of my personal identity, but that doesn't mean I automatically became a great multi-tasker or housekeeper overnight. With the deep seated knowledge that, "Hey, this is who I am" came many hours of thought and pouring over books as well as watching other mothers love their families. Then, the doings of motherhood started to take shape in my life. I knew who I was as a wife and mother before I was able to do all the stuff that goes with such a passion. I have a long way to go still, but I have come a long way as well. Lots of passions in life happen this way. The heart is very much there and fully alive but, the skills need to be nurtured and developed to truly live from the heart.
My greatest enjoyment in keeping my spiral notebooks is when I have time to weed out the distractions that filled my mind (the to-dos, the calls to make, the shopping lists) and highlight the themes that have become or always were passions of mine. The cheap, thin notebooks help me keep my perspective on what really matters in my life, and when we're nearly out of toilet paper. Amazing.
The single most amazing tool I use to capture all my many thoughts is the spiral notebook. I slap a date on the top line or mid-page depending on the end of my last entry and away I go. By the day's end I have a mess of arrows, circles, bolded text and blurbs of important-for-the-moment thoughts that occurred during the course of my day. In time I've noticed themes emerge - proof that my mind isn't as random as it seems. My themes fall into pretty simple categories like homemaking, homeschooling, organization, creating/crafting, routines, God, the kids, memory keeping and memory making and, of course, my beloved B. I'm pretty passionate about most of what I blurb about in my notebook. I have my mind on these themes, or passions, and by keeping my mind on them day in and day out I'm continually developing in those areas - or at least I like to think I am! If I read a good book, I take notes about what stands out to me. If I have a good conversation with a friend I may write out a quote or two that struck my heart. The kids amaze me almost daily - and I write it down. At the end of a notebook I have a month or more of my life, from shopping lists to conversations with my four year old to review and consider. I can see what has remained important cover to cover and what has faded in value from one journal to the next.
So many people can't ever determine what they are really passionate about or what their life's calling is to be. I tend to believe our passions are very much wrapped up in who we are rather than what we do. Once we know who we are, the doing has a way of catching up. For instance, I knew before I had children that part of who I am has to do with mothering and being a wife. My family role was and is a large part of my personal identity, but that doesn't mean I automatically became a great multi-tasker or housekeeper overnight. With the deep seated knowledge that, "Hey, this is who I am" came many hours of thought and pouring over books as well as watching other mothers love their families. Then, the doings of motherhood started to take shape in my life. I knew who I was as a wife and mother before I was able to do all the stuff that goes with such a passion. I have a long way to go still, but I have come a long way as well. Lots of passions in life happen this way. The heart is very much there and fully alive but, the skills need to be nurtured and developed to truly live from the heart.
My greatest enjoyment in keeping my spiral notebooks is when I have time to weed out the distractions that filled my mind (the to-dos, the calls to make, the shopping lists) and highlight the themes that have become or always were passions of mine. The cheap, thin notebooks help me keep my perspective on what really matters in my life, and when we're nearly out of toilet paper. Amazing.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Happy Birthday, Frog
The celebration of all things Frog was today. My motherly plans of a Martha-Stewart-like birthday was gradually reduced to dinner out, purchased cupcakes and a couple debatably educational toys for our soon-to-be-toddler. Frog covered himself in his cupcake, chased his older brothers with his Curious George balloon and has finally fallen asleep in my arms. One year has produced the most amazing baby boy. With his signature chubby cheeks, reddish fine hair and meandering, arched-back walk not unlike that of a cowboy ice skating for the first time (picture it...piiicture it), Frog is unique as our fourth baby and yet he blends among his siblings as well. He is curious like Spikes, easy going like Piggy and whines with determination like Lamby. (Frog has recently adapted his whine to an "ahhh" moo-like extended sigh. He follows me room to room until I take notice and scoop him up.) Frog dances, spins in circles when excessively excited, and reaches out with a few words of gibberish when he needs a toy or more importantly, a cracker. He says "Mama" and "Da" and already attempts to tattle on his siblings with a few more sounds he conjures up, such as "ffff" "pifff" "sssss" "babababaaaaah" and "eeeess", usually used in combination with severe pointing and wiggling of the fingers in the direction of the offender (read: Piggy). I hope to remember Frog's first smiles for years to come - he tosses his head aaaaall the way back and flashes all six of his baby teeth while creating fat dimples in his chubby cheeks. There's nothing better this side of heaven. Happy Birthday, Fat Baby - my one year old boy!
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