Silly Sock Day

All these dress up days are brand new to me since we started in the middle of the year last year.  Both Luke and Eli had Silly Sock Day today in honor of the letter S.  We had fun decorating Luke's baseball socks (hope he doesn't need those again any time soon), and surprisingly, there were no arguments over having to share one of each sock. 

Another Lefty

I often forget just how much our children are learning brand new.  Every concept and idea is totally new to them.  Their way of seeing things makes me laugh!

Tonight Luke came to me and said, "Mama, I have some news for you."

Smiling, while trying to take him seriously because that was a new phrase for him, but he was obviously being very serious, "What news do you have for me?"

"I hurt my right foot.  It really hurts.  I can only use my left foot, so I'm going to have to be left-footed from now on."

Judah at Nine Months

Judah is officially nine months old.  This year is flying by so fast.  The first year has never been my favorite part of having children, but I have to say that at night when I'm nursing him before bed I sit and hold him thinking the whole time, "You are growing up way too fast, and I want you to stay a baby for longer."  Sometimes it absolutely makes my heart hurt.  He is sweet and handsome, funny and engaging.  He is at the point now where I have to peel him off of me like a banana whenever I drop him off somewhere or put him in the car seat or put him to bed or put him on the floor with his toys or put him anywhere, actually.  Oddly, most of the time I don't even mind it.  Maybe because he doesn't really act ugly about it.  He just whimpers and looks at me like, "But I want to be with you!" 

We had a photo session in the grass last night.  He wanted to check out his surroundings before we got serious about pictures.

After every blade was properly tasted, he was willing to smile for a bit.

And then he was done.

Kris and I got a date night this past weekend, and when we got Judah up the next morning the sitter had put him to bed in these jammies.  He was absolutely yummy!

We went back to the foot doctor this week, and we are officially finished with the corrective shoes!  His foot still turns in, but the muscles are flexible and the drift will be able to correct itself with time.  I haven't taken Judah for his nine month check-up yet, but at the foot doctor he weighed a little under 22 pounds.  He is wearing 18 months clothes now!

Judah is crawling all over the place now.  You would think that since he's my third child I would remember important things like making sure the boys haven't dropped pieces of cucumber on the floor or left checkers lying around.  Good times.  I also have to continually remind myself to SHUT THE BATHROOM DOOR!!!  I have found him hanging over the edge of the toilet with toilet paper in his mouth and on his hands more than once.  The toilet paper came off the roll on the wall and not from the toilet, but the sight is a shocker, nonetheless. 

Judah, you are precious to us.  We need you in our family.  You give something to each one of us that no one else can offer.  We love you!

Rock Star

Today was "Rock Star" day at Luke's school in celebration of the letter R. We had fun dressing Luke up, and the hair was even a success. I don't know that he quite understands what a rock star is, exactly. He kept mentioning birthdays and his friend from his tee-ball team named Rox. I asked him if he had fun at his rock star party and he answered, "Yeah, it was fun, but Rox wasn't there." Oh well, he was still the cutest rock star I've ever seen.

Seriously, he kept pulling his sunglasses down and giving me the, "How you doin'?" look. Too funny!

'Cause what good is a muscle tee if you don't show off your muscles?

Homemade Photo Shoot

So I must confess that we have yet to have a family picture made since Judah was born. Actually, we haven't had a family picture made since Eli was six months old. I know, I know. But it's just so painful! I'm working on it, though, I really am. We did have an impromptu photo shoot on our back porch about a month ago with the boys in their undies. We got a few good ones and once it turns a little cooler maybe we'll make a habit out of it.

This is as good as it gets with Eli. Sometimes I think he knows just how photogenic he really is and he's prepping for the catwalk in NYC. He absolutely poses. It's funny, even if a bit frustrating.

Luke liked being the center of attention for a moment, and he worked with us.
Sweetness!

We had a whole lot of this...
Plenty of this...

A little more of this...

But it was worth it for this...

First Day of School

Luke and Eli started school this week. Luke's first day was yesterday. He was absolutely ready and barely noticed when I left. Eli started today since he'll be going Monday, Wednesday, Friday. We got a few pictures.

Eli definitely noticed when I left. He asked me to stay with him and got a little teary. I have to confess that I got a little teary myself. He was sitting in the teacher's helper's lap sucking his thumb when I peaked back in to hand his teacher something. I know he'll have a great time. I know I will be fine too. We'll both just have to adjust.

Double Bug

We've had a double bug around these parts. Kris, Luke and Judah had a cold last week. Judah passed it to me. His ears are infected. I'm counting on my sinuses staying clear this time.

Luke and Kris both were throwing up yesterday. They're back to normal today, thank you, Lord. My hands are absolutely raw from washing like an OCD maniac.

This morning we were sitting at the table doing a puzzle, and Luke started sniffing. He said, "What's that smell?"

Me: "I don't know, what does it smell like?"

L: "I fink it smells like frow up. It smells like frow up in my nose. It's dis-GUSTING!"

Poor fella. He had to get in the shower to get the "frow up" smell out of his nose. I know the feeling.