Lincoln Loves Gracie

Instagram v. 4

1. Heading home from the swim party.
2. Last minute Father's Day tie taking shape.
3. Chod proudly wearing his tie--without a suit coat.
4. Americana quesadilla.
5. Crafternoon with Mod Podge
6. Found him downstairs with the jar of peanut butter.
7. Gracie June and Baby Tuff born 5 weeks apart.
8. Beautiful night on the Riverwalk Trail.
9. Love these 2.

Instagram v 3

1. Leftovers from the kindergarten field day.
2. Photoshoot, first attempt
3. Playing with quicksand
4. What happens when mom spends all her time feeding the baby
5. Cinna-Stacker French Toast
6. Papa's swing
7. Bowtie wearing boys
8. Kicked off summer reading with a magic show
9. Farm Bureau swim party 

Gracie Loo-Who

Gracie is 1 month old today! And she's the best baby ever! I keep waiting for that to change, but so far it hasn't. I don't remember what my boys were like to compare her to, but I'm pretty sure they weren't even close to being as good as she is. She is the most chill baby and while she cries now more than she used to, it still isn't very often. Not much phases her, although she does have a certain tolerance level that she'll take with her brothers in her face before she lets us know she wants them away.

Last week she slept through the night twice, although she usually wakes up to eat once--between 3 and 4. She's gained 1.5 lbs since birth and is now weighing in at 8 lbs 7.5 oz. Which seems so big to me until I remember that a lot of babies are this size at birth!

This is Chod's favorite photo--with her smiling. Chod has been trying to avoid letting her wrap him around her little finger, but I think she's making headway. He says it is my fault because I never let him hold her, and don't make him get up with her during the night when she's crying.

She has taken on a few nicknames already. Baby June to Lincoln, just Baby to Bentley and I call her Loo-Who because she looks like a little Who from Whoville when she finishes eating and her little nose is smooshed up.

Speaking of those brothers, they can't get enough of her, but lately have been pointing fingers of blame in her direction whenever troubles brewing. Yesterday, I asked which one of them had been stealing my gum. And quickly they both named Gracie as the thief. She's going to have to be a tough one to run with that crowd.

A Big Person

On Memorial Day, Chod was on his way to California to gather soil samples, and I was at home with a 2 week old and 2 rambunctious boys. I sat down to feed Gracie and the boys swarmed me. Knowing I had a long week without Dad at home ahead of me, I told them to get on their bikes and ride to the school. It's maybe 2 blocks straight down the road in our quite little neighborhood. I figured they could play on the playground and when Gracie was finished the two of us would walk down to retrieve them.

Only minutes after I'd sent them out the door they were back.

"The Bishop says we have to have a big person with us and told us to come home."

The thoughts that ran through my head:

1. WHAT! He must think I'm an awful mom.
2. A big person? Maybe he should come and watch them so I can feed the baby.
3. Why would he do that? Bentley is old enough to ride to school by himself.

Later that afternoon we walked to the park to find 2 neighbor boys there by themselves playing in the stream. They are 6 and 4 years old and no way do I think water + little boys is safe. At first I wondered where their mom was. And then I wondered where the Bishop was.


I'm actually glad that we have neighbors that look out for our kids, and have decided he probably thought they had escaped I didn't know where they were.

Where's Your Mother?

My dad wants to know why my blogging has slowed down, and I guess I could blame it on having a new baby--but really I think this guy more of the reason:

He's always been a little mischievous, but since Gracie arrived he's stepped up his game. Maybe it's because he's now the middle child. Or it could be that Gracie takes her sweet time eating. She takes about an hour each feeding, times that by her 8 meals a day, and I've got myself a full time job. And Lincoln has 8 hours a day to think up trouble.

This story could possibly land me in jail, but oh well. Yesterday, the 3 kids and I were out running errands. And it was hot. And Lincoln had fallen asleep. I needed to pick up my serger from the repair store and as I pulled up Bentley said he didn't want to go in, and there was a big shade tree with an open parking spot. So I pulled in under it, rolled down the windows, and left the two boys in the car with the promise that I'd be fast. Gracie and I ran inside and it didn't take more than a few minutes for me to pay (I used cash, so we didn't even have to wait for a card to be ran) and head back to the car. The kind Bernina employee insisted on carrying the serger out, as I had the baby (so this story has a witness).

When we turned the corner, what did we see but this bird perch on top of the Jeep! Apparently, it doesn't take long for him to wake up and decide to climb out the window.

When I asked him how he planned to get down he answered, "You'll get me down."

I couldn't think of a better alternative--leave him up there and drive through town with a 3 year old on my roof?

So he won, I got him down.

Instagram Dump

1. After a family vote Grace June won 3 to 1.
2. Solar Eclipse
3. Trampoline + Sprinkler= recipe for afternoon naps
4. Things we'd never thought we'd have: princess and bum ruffles
5. Milk drunk
6. Little show girl
7. Weekend of rain
8. Thank yous are happening
9. Dinner while dad was out of town. Gross. The boys loved them.