Midnight snacking

See those little dimples on the knees.

Rolls.

I swear he went to bed without them, but after eating every hour last night, he woke up with them.

The little guy is growing.

Papa's Pears

My dad sent home a large box of pears with me, saying "Bentley likes my pears". Which is true, he does like Papa's pears, but this was a large box of pears, and no matter how much he likes them there is no way he could have eaten them all.

So I was forced to can. Luckily, I had a helpful assistant (Deidra) who kept peeling when Lincoln insisted on eating--or I'd still be working on them.

Now Bentley can enjoy Papa's pears well into next year!

Eh?

Chod has lost all hearing in his right ear since we've been married. Some say it is "selective hearing" that sets in about two years after marriage, but the specialists say he really can't hear.

This creates some small problems for him, and entertainment for me. If the phone rings and it is not in the cradle--Chod can't find it. All sounds seem come from his left side, so watching him search for the phone is quite comical. So is trying to locate a noise in the car. He always insists it is coming from the left side. And then there are other issues, like trying to talk to him during church when his bad ear is next to me, or when a sales associate approaches him in a store on his right side. Chod has no idea they are there, and comes off as being rather rude as he ignores their repeated attempts to help him.

But there are times that his bad ear comes in handy.

Like in the middle of the night when a child is crying. He simply rolls over, with his good ear in the pillow, and convieniently doesn't hear a thing.

Couldn't we all use a bad ear every now and then?

Finger Lickin' Good

I came across this can of vanilla pudding in the back of the pantry yesterday. The date says we packed it on July 8, 2005, and I am pretty sure we opened it not long after we got it. I'm sure it is very stale.


So last night when I came across a recipe for edible finger paints--vanilla pudding + food coloring--I knew exactly what I could do with this gallon of pudding.

At first Bentley was a little hesitant to get his fingers dirty, so I provided him with a spoon. The spoon soon went from paintbrush to means of getting pudding into his mouth. When I asked him what it tasted like he replied "Popcorn!" Yeah, that's some mighty stale pudding.

But he didn't seem to mind.

W A T E R

Chod had to make a trip to Salt Lake this morning to scope things out for a conference they will be having down there in a couple of weeks. The boys and I tagged along for a change of scenery. We spent our time on Temple Square.

On our way to the Square, Bentley saw this manhole cover that reads "WATER". He was fascinated and pointed out each letter a few times. Little did I know it would be an indication of things to come.

When looking at the fountain

turned into playing in the fountain.

And the waterfall

and the stream.

Please note the matching shirts, as in blue striped polos, they are wearing. We're still not over it.

2 weeks

Nature Walk

On the list to find:
green leaf
yellow leaf
red leaf
rock
stick
flower

A walk around the neighborhood produced:
6 yellow leaves
1 stick
1 dandelion flower
3 green leaves
5 rocks
2 red leaves
7 crabapples
1 very LARGE leaf

What's for dinner?

Sunday, Chod's mom brought us dinner. He says they are called Crepes Suzanna (I had never had it before). Crepes filled with chicken and mushrooms, kind of like chicken enchiladas with crepes instead of tortillas.

Last night was an especially busy Wednesday night at our house. I knew Chod would be home for appoximately 58 minutes before he would leave again, so I figured left-overs for dinner it would be.

I was sitting on the couch feeding Lincoln when Chod walked in the door.

"Hi. How was your day?"

"Fine."

"We are having crepes for dinner."

"Uhhokay."

And he headed to the kitchen.

Lincoln finished and I headed to the kitchen expecting to find dinner in the microwave.

Instead I found Chod with an open Better Homes and Garden cookbook surrounded by measuring cups and flour.

It only took me a second to figure out what was going on.

"Are you making crepes?"

"Isn't that what you said you wanted for dinner?"

"I meant your mom's crepes. Sorry."

"I figured if the lady wants crepes, then by all means give the lady crepes."

We put the crepe batter in the fridge and warmed up dinner.

He has been trying so hard lately to be helpful, and accomadating to his wife's odd requests--even if it means whipping up some crepes to keep her happy!

President Lincoln

When Chod came to pick Lincoln and me up from the hospital after we had been discharged, I was packed up and had all the paper work filled out--except for the middle name on the birth certificate--just waiting for a ride.

We still hadn't decided what we were going to name the kid.

Chod wanted Moriancumr as the middle name (after his grandpa) and I wanted Stuart (after Chod). For months we had been arguing our cases and for months neither of us had budged. After 45 minutes in the room trying to talk one another to the other side, I suggested we just turn the form in without a middle name and go home.

Chod very relunctantly agreed to Stuart as the middle name. He pouted for the rest of the day.

And that is how Lincoln Stuart got his name.

If Chod calling him Little Stuie is any indication, I think he is okay with the final name.

Froggie and George

Grandma Stephens gave Bentley this frog when he was born. Well, actually it wasn't this frog. The original was lost last year, so this is Froggie II. Froggie is very loved.


Grandma gave Lincoln this monkey, hoping it will receive as much love as Froggie has.

Last night I pulled out the monkey and showed it to Bentley. He quickly grabbed it, exclaimed how soft it is, and quickly attached himself to it. Bentley has named the monkey George. After a few talks we have agreed that it is Lincoln's. Bentley seems to be okay with sharing, and I have seem him give both Froggie and George to Lincoln. But I think if Lincoln is to get a fair chance of having his own snuggli, George may have to go back in the drawer until Lincoln is a little more ready for him.

And to think, what I always that was an undying love for Froggie is merely an attachment to all small blankets with heads.

Pictures of Lincoln

Aunt Karisa requested more pictures of Lincoln. Since he is looking forward to the day he is big enough to hang out on the farm and drive tractors, he decided to cooperate with her wish.
This little lady has been found in Lincoln's bed a handful of times already, he swears it is all Bentley's doing.

Cause he knows how much Keese loves her some baby toes.

Big Brother

Baby Linc is being very well taken care of by his big brother. Bentley loves hats (if you haven't noticed from his pictures) and makes sure Lincoln has one on at all times. He also tries to keep a pacifier, or two in the baby's mouth. The only outburst we have experienced was when Bentley wanted Lincoln to have the blue and the white pacifier in at the same time and I wouldn't let him. He threw the blue pacifier at Lincoln.

Lincoln's bed has a little music/light box machine that Bentley discovered yesterday. Bentley has become Lincoln's personal DJ, keeping the music mixed up and a light show going.

Our little man

We are so excited to have Lincoln as part of our family--he is such a sweet little guy. He sleeps 5 hours at a time, which is great for our sleep--but as his mom I am wishing he would want to eat a little more often. All of our kids will need to be born at this hospital, so they can each be voted "Cutest Baby in the Nursery". This is Bentley's matching picture. What can I say, we have cute kids.

Unlike Bentley, Lincoln likes to be swaddled very tight. If an arm or leg wiggle loose he gets very mad.

Bentley is adjusting to the role of big brother quite well. We'll see what happens after Grandma goes home and the extra attention he has been receiving goes with her.I had forgotten how much I love the smell of newborns and could sniff this little guy all day.Our self-portrait taken while Grandma was out and Bentley was napping.

He's here!

The proud big brother and his baby.

Lincoln was born this morning at 6:26. He weighed in at 6 lbs 5 oz and is 18" long.

Such a little guy with a head full of black hair. He is doing well and so am I. His delivery was almost exactly like Bentley's--just only half as long!

One last day

The camera batteries are charging.

Bentley and I are off to spend his last day as an only child together.

I don't check in until tonight.

Ready or not

I've done very little to get ready for this baby. I guess I figure I have everything somewhere, except for diapers, as Chod pointed out last night. Clothes haven't been unboxed or washed, the car seat has been hanging out in the garage since we moved, we haven't addressed where this little one will be sleeping, and we still haven't decided on a name.

But I still have a good 3 weeks until I am due, so there is plenty of time I've been telling myself.

So imagine my surprise when at my appointment today, the doctor says he is planning on inducing me soon.

"How soon?"

"Well we are full tonight, so come in tomorrow."

That's soon!

Diapers have been bought, the baby clothes have now been washed, the car seat has been dug out of the garage, and thanks to Deidra even my fridge has been cleaned out. Since this little guy won't arrive until Saturday we still have time to come up with a name (middle is all we need and we are taking suggestions).

I'm feeling a little more ready, although I feel kinda ripped off. My pregnancy is ending before I hit the 'so miserable I will do anything to get the kid out' stage. I'm not in enough misery that labor sounds like a good solution.

Everyone loves Raymond, baseball and Bentley

Bentley is a very confident, self assured little boy.

This story will help erase any doubt of him having low self esteem.

We were reading a book about baseball. "Everyone loves baseball", it said on every page. On the last page I read "because everyone loves..." and I paused for him to fill in the blank.

He raised both hands above his head and yelled "Bentley!"

Wilkins Games 2008

We just got back from our last family reunion of the year. We always look forward to the Wilkins Reunion because it is so much fun.

This year our theme was the Olympics and my aunt and uncle did a great job putting it together. There was a little wind as you can see in the pictures and it was chilly, but everyone had a lot of fun.Each family brought a flag and we had the march of nations. What started out as a family of 7 children as grown to over 50.

The young and old competed in 5 different events. Long jump, shot put, archery, 50 yard dash, and the discus.

Steve running the 50 yard dash.

Grandpa trying his hand at the bow.

Baylee getting some coaching from her dad.

Notice Maria holding her stomach. That is the result of a stray discus.

Karisa throwing the discus.

Garrett flying on the long jump.

The games ended with a tug of war.

Two years ago my Grandpa (front) was burned pretty bad. After a few skin grafts and months of physical therapy, he told me today that he hasn't felt this good in 2 years. He competed in every event, and I am afraid tomorrow he'll be singing a different tune.