Introducing . . .

Margaret Kaylyn

born: June 22, 2009 1:44 pm

weight: 4 lbs 5 oz

length: 18 inches

answers to Margaret, Meg, Meggie, Megs, Baby Meg, and "My Mawrgwet"

I told Jared that we could go low-key this year on my birthday, especially since it was the day after Fathers' Day and a week before our daughter was scheduled to arrive. However, our day was anything but low-key, and culminated in the birth of Margaret. I'll post the birth story soon, but wanted to make sure that those of you who don't follow me on facebook or twitter heard our good news.

By the way, Margaret was my maternal grandmother's name, and Kaylyn is taken from my mom's and my MIL's middle names to honor both of them. Thus, this precious little daughter of ours (and I do mean little-yowsahs!) has some wonderful namesakes to emulate.

Clones and Kids

Kimball had a Star Wars-nerd Birthday campout last night. I don't have any photos because I sent along a camera but it never left the backpack. Rumor has it that the boys dueled with lightsabers and took turns with the Clone Trooper helmet the entire time, breaking only for food. (I highly recommend birthday parties that involve dads and boys camping and moms staying home!) I do have a photo of these cupcakes that Alli and I threw together. I think this is my fourth Star Wars themed birthday cake, and that isn't counting Kimball and Jared's lightsaber cake for Cub Scouts last year. Time for our family to get a new obsession, methinks.

Also, I just updated our homeschool blog with a couple of posts if you'd like to see what we've been learning.

A New Addition

We added to our household today. Henry's birthday was three weeks ago, and his present was a bearded dragon (lizardy reptile--see what a good mom I am?), which he did not receive on his birthday. You see, we had the best of intentions, but when we figured out how much the habitats for those darn things cost, with UV lights, warming lamps, heated rocks, special sand, etc, etc -- we decided to wait and get the iguana habitat that Nana had brilliantly stored after my brother, Stu's, iguana found a new home years ago. Luckily, Alli and Flint had a trip planned to visit Nana the weekend after Henry's birthday. We convinced him that it was worth the wait--only a couple of days, really.

When they got back from Southern Cal, it took us a few days to get the habitat from them. Then we waited until Jared's day off when he could take Henry over to pick up his new pet. But when we called Friday morning, the pet store had sold our bearded dragon to another family! Like any good parents would do, we put off telling Henry until he asked about it, then broke the news for him that the pet shop was looking for another lizard for him.

Well, another week went by and the pet shop owner didn't come up with anything. We checked the local PetSmart, but they had nothing. We started checking craigslist, but everyone wanted more than we wanted to pay because they wanted to sell their bearded dragons WITH a habitat.

Finally, today, one showed up on craigslist that was in our price range. We called and asked all the important questions, then drove about 45 minutes away to pick it up. The owner was very sweet and spent about 15 minutes with Henry, helping him to get comfortable with the little guy and teaching us about feeding him and caring for him.

We brought the poor, dazed guy home. He is mostly hanging out in the corner of his habitat, wondering about the change of scenery and all the noise in this new house! Henry named him Drazil, Lizard of all Dragons, but will call him Drazil for short. (The previous owners named him Stuie, but as we have an uncle with that name, it wouldn't do.) The above photo is taken from the internet--I didn't want to traumatize Drazil anymore today.

Oh, and the other addition to our family? We did have an ultrasound this afternoon after picking up Drazil. The baby cooperated this time and . . . .


it's a girl! We are so happy for Bronwen to get a sister. And I'm thrilled to use my girl clothes again! Now to work on the name . . .

Birthday Interview with Henry

Today is Henry's birthday. We have spent the day doing fun activities, including planting in the garden, hanging bird feeders, going to the library, and going on a lunch date to Chili's--just the two of us. We celebrated with cousins and grandparents on Sunday, combining with Bronwen's and Grammy's birthdays. Henry requested an "all-you-can-eat-chocolate-Pollyanna-cake." So I made two 12 inch layers (each took one doctored up cake mix), iced it with thick chocolate buttercream, covered it in MnMs, and told him he could eat as much as he wanted. He couldn't finish one peice, but it has lasted several days, so he's satisfied!

I thought in honor of his birthday, I'd interview him. Here is the link to last year's birthday interview. I know that I still need to post about Bronwen's birthday, but I'm still not sure what I want to do for that one, so in the meantime, here's Henry's.

• Me: Hey, Henry, could I do a birthday interview with you?
• Henry: Sure. Okay.
• Me: How old are you today?
• Henry: I'm seven years old.
• Me: What would you like for your birthday?
• Henry: I want a lizard. (Yes, we are getting him a bearded dragon. I hope I don't regret that decision!)
• Me: How old do you think I am?
• Henry: Ummmm, I don't know. 37? (ouch)
• Me: (hopefully) How old is Daddy?
• Henry: (shrugs) I don't know.
• Me: What's your favorite book?
• Henry: My favorite book is Henry Huggins.
  
• Me: What do you like to do when you have free time?
• Henry: I like to play with my Legos.
• Me: What do you like best about being a first grader?
• Henry: I like reading the best.
• Me: What do you like best about Tiger Academy?
• Henry: About homeschool? I like morning meeting and history best.
• Me: What's your favorite food?
• Henry: My favorite food is meat.
• Me: Any foods you don't like? (Want a list?)
• Henry: I HATE guacamole.
• Me: What's your favorite chore?
• Henry: I like to clean up.
• Me: What's your favorite thing to do with me?
• Henry: Cuddle. (Ahhh. How lucky am I that my 7 year old still likes this?)
  
• Me: What do you like best about your brothers and sisters?
• Henry: How much fun they are.
• Me: How many brothers and sisters do you wish you had?
• Henry: Three brothers and three sisters.
• Me:What's your favorite TV show?
• Henry: The Backyardigans.
• Me: What's your favorite song?
• Henry: Tomorrow (From Annie. Bronwen sings this constantly.) Hey, Mom, when I was little, was the answer Jig Along Home?
• Me: Yes.
• Henry: I thought so. I loved that song.
• Me: What's your favorite movie?
• Henry: Princess Bride.
• Me: What's your favorite color?
• Henry: Blue and green.
• Me: What's your favorite number?
  
• Henry: 61.
• Me: What do you like to do best when you're outside?
• Henry: Jump on the trampoline.
• Me: What's your favorite sport?
• Henry: My favorite sport is baseball. No, soccer. Soccer.
• Me: What do you look forward to this year?
• Henry: Getting into second grade.
• Me: What's your favorite place to go on vacation?
• Henry: Nana's house.
• Me: Thanks for the interview, Henry. (hugs & kisses)
  
• Henry: Where's my "Happy Birthday?"
• Me: Happy Birthday! I love you.
  

I am Ian

Since today is Ian's birthday, I thought I'd do an I Am meme on him. I interviewed him for most of these answers, but at one point he got so silly that he kept answering "the trees" for everything so I had to answer a few for him.

Ian's answers first:

I am: a child of God.

I want: another birthday party.

I miss: the circus Grammy and Papa took me to.

I'm afraid of: bears.

I cry: when somebody hurts me.

I search for: my gardening shoes (his crocs, which he wears almost everywhere.)

I love: Mommy.

I am not: a husband.

I remember: Jesus.

I don't always: make bad choices.

I sing: Primary songs.

I like: to go on dates with Daddy. Bike riding to the park dates.

I don't like: when people eat everything. (Not sure if he means the eat all the food or if they just will eat anything you serve them???)

Now a few that I answered for him:

I always: try to make people laugh.

I dance: silly, because it makes people laugh.

I write: with either hand.

I lose: the itty bitty toys that I take to bed with me.

I wish: that we had a dog.

I can usually be found: at the train table or on the swing set.

I need: a book, a hug, and a kiss before bed.

I argue: when I don't get my way.

I wonder: when I'll be as big as my brothers. (Soon. Very soon.)

I am happy when: I'm doing math with Mommy.

I'm so glad that Ian is a part of our family. He keeps us laughing and playful. He is the best sleeper I've ever had. He tries hard to make good choices a lot of the time. I'm proud of him.

Big Top Fun

Here are some highlights from Ian's circus/clown birthday party today. These were the invitations, which we hand-delivered a couple weeks back.Our living room became the big top for the morning. We had faces painted,We ate corn dogs, animal crackers, lemonade, and kettle corn. We played some clown games, like walking the tightrope with clown clothes on, pin the nose on the clown (which Bronwen nailed right on the bulls-eye!), and keeping the balloon off the ground. We had entertainment by our own clown, "Cheesy Mac" aka Kimball, who had watched the professional clowns at the circus last month and taken a few notes. We had a beautiful cake, decorated by Aunt Alli, and opened presents. Fun was had by all, and I've already vacuumed up the popcorn that was ground into the carpet, so it feels like a success! Happy Birthday, Ian!

Happy Birthday To Me

Today I turned 35 years old. I think that it is the first birthday in years where I actually felt older. And more mature, somehow. For one thing, instead of wanting the entire month to be about me and my birthday, I am feeling lower key. Not bummed or anything, I just feel like it's not that big of a deal. I am not the kind of person who fears getting older (mostly) --I do sometimes feel sad about how quickly life seems to be moving along, though.

Jared made me an amazing breakfast this morning. The boys made me some adorable birthday cards--Henry created a treasure hunt for me to hunt for his. We are having family here for dinner and games tonight. I have visitors in town (so fun.) And I have a tremendously flat tire on my new van. Drat. Happy birthday!

Anyhow, I thought it was time to check in on my 40 Things To Do Before I'm 40 list. It hasn't been that long since I made it, but I have checked a few things off. I plan to revisit the list with updates on my birthdays until I can check them all off.

1. Get under 150 pounds without having a limb amputated. Heck, I'd take under 160, but we'll say under 150. (Not even close)
   
2. Scan all my photos that are pre-digital camera. (ugh. If someone else wants to do it for me, I won't mind taking this off the list!) (Nope)
   
3. Paint my kitchen cupboards. It's been on my to-do wish list since we bought the house four years ago. Sigh. Maybe I don't like the direction this list is taking. Let's try a different route. (Not yet)
   
4. Use my passport again (which probably means I'm due for a new one.) My last passport-requiring trip was in spring of 1999. (I wish)
   
5. Brush up on my Russian so that I'm not too scared to speak Russian to the Russian-speakers that are everywhere around here, especially at Costco. Plus it may come in handy if #4 involves a Russian speaking country. (Not enough to take credit for.)
   
6. Teach my kids Russian. It's ridiculous that we haven't done that, since Jared & I are both speakers (he more than I these days.) (I have plans to start this in the fall.)
   
7. Read War and Peace. (I haven't been in the mood.)
8. And The Brothers Karamazov. I'm ashamed of myself to say that even though some of my favorite books are by Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, I've never read these two. (See #7)
   
9. Learn to sew well enough to make something that I'll actually use. Okay, something better than an apron. This could be a dress for Bronwen, drapes for my house, etc. The said item will not be mostly made by my sister and/or mother as have my previous sewing projects! (Not yet. Sheesh. Maybe this was a bad idea!)
   
10. Win a cooking recipe contest. Ideally, one that involves a cash prize.:) (I have to enter a recipe contest first.)
    
11. Participate in a 5k for a good cause. I've been meaning to do Race for the Cure for years. Or The Run to Feed the Hungry on Thanksgiving Day. (Race for the Cure came and went without me this year.)
    
12. Run a 5k for a good cause! Since I'm not what you'd call a runner, this will be a big accomplishment. (I've got to be able to run more than a quarter mile first.)
    
13. Learn to love hiking and expose my kids to the great hikes available near our home. (This one is in progress. We have been taking lots of nature walks, but so far none of them have been very strenuous.)
    
14. Establish a family hobby of hiking. (See #13.)
    
15. Plant a garden. (Yeah! I did this one. Completed April 2008.)
    
16. Actually tend it, harvest, and eat what I grow. I'm hoping to do this this year, but haven't quite gotten the beds prepared yet. I'd better hurry--it's time. (In progress, but I think I can check this one off, too, since we are actually producing food and eating it. Success! Summer 2008.)
    
17. Have no consumer debt and be well on our way to out of debt completely. (Not done, but I also haven't added to our consumer debt.:)
    
18. Have two months' living expenses in our savings' account. This must happen sooner than five years from now, but I still want it to be there then!:) (Not there yet, but a bit farther than I was when I wrote the list.)
    
19. Learn to love Isaiah. I read Isaiah because I'm obedient, but not because I enjoy it or take the time to decipher it. (See #7.)
    
20. Learn to make cream puffs. Because I need more cream puffs in my life!:) (Done! Father's Day 2008. I had forgotten that I put this on the list, but it was a good one. Now I know how easy they are and I won't be intimidated anymore by their loveliness.)
    
21. Maybe 40 is too many things! This list already feels long. I'd better make a few easier ones, like: Turn 39. (Give me a few more years, please!)
    
22. Have another baby. Maybe two. I'm just getting it out there now, so that people can quit asking me if we're "done," and to avoid having them ask me, "was this planned?" when they find out that I'm pregnant again. (It really is crazy how many people feel comfortable asking such questions, including perfect strangers. Aren't those kind of personal in nature?) Not that I'm pregnant again. But I plan to be before I'm 40, which is the point of this list. (I am not pregnant, nor have I had another child in the last few months. But this is still in the plans. Strangely, lots of people have been inquiring lately as to how soon we're having another one. I'm not sure if they are pushing us towards it or hoping we've changed our minds! Not that it matters what other people think about the size of our family. Which is good, because most people out there think that you are really fringe if you have five kids. Let alone homeschool them!)
    
23. Write/keep another blog, entirely dedicated to food, recipes, and menu plans. (Not ready to do this right now. Still trying to keep my head above water in the other areas of my life.)
    
24. Write/keep another blog, entirely dedicated to homeschooling. (Done. I wish I spent more time on it, but I'm trying to keep the time I spend blogging reasonable. Blog began April 2008.)
    
25. Get my master bedroom windows treated with something other than the metal blinds that were there when we moved in. (I've picked out the fabric.)
    
26. Paint the master bedroom. (Done May 2008. Thanks, Christine and Mandy! Still need to get the master bathroom painted.)
    
27. Actually hang a wall of family pictures. (Puleeze! How well do you know me?)
    
28. Find something that I like AND can afford to hang on the dining room walls, which are blank. (Not done.)
29. Memorize The Family: A Proclamation to the World. (I've got one paragraph memorized. I am easily distracted, so it's been a few months since I worked on this.)
    
30. Start practicing the piano again with some regularity. (The regularity part has not happened. But I did get out some old sheet music a few weeks ago and have been playing a few times a week. Still needs work, but it is in progress.)
    
31. Develop a healthier relationship with cake. (This has not been a good cake week for me.) (Define healthier.)
    
32. Develop a habit of writing (and actually mailing) thank you cards. I am terrible at this, and yet I believe that it is so important. The paradox between ideals and reality is not fun! (Sadly, no progress here. I actually wrote a thank you card to Teresa last week and don't know where I put it. Typical.)
33. Help my children develop a habit of writing thank you cards. (No. I need a time out.)
    
34. Mail the thank you cards that I teach my children to write! (Had they written any, I surely would not have mailed them.)
    
35. Re-read Shakespeare. Probably with my kids. (Not yet, but soon.)
    
36. Take an html class. (Are you reading this, Mindy?) (No, but Mindy and I are discussing it.)
    
37. Learn how to not accumulate things we don't need. This will not only save money, but will reduce the clutter around my house. (I have been making progress on this, but I'm not fixed yet. I have been studying materialism and worldliness in my scripture study and that has helped. I have stuck to my new, smaller budget for five months now!)
    
38. This is harder than I thought, and most of you have probably stopped reading by now anyway, so I'll just leave it at 38. Maybe I'll come back and add something later. That's it--I'm just leaving room for a few more additions. I'm still not feeling inspired to add any here. Partly because I still have a lot to accomplish. But I've got a few years left.

So, there you have it. I am pleased to see some progress made, and I shouldn't be surprised that I haven't done more of them--this list was not intended to be accomplished in three months, after all.

So, have a piece of cake today and think of me.
You can have a healthier relationship with cake some other time. :)


(Photo is of my darling nephew, Scotty, who is visiting for a few days with his mommy, auntie, and second cousin.)

Poor Baby

It stinks to throw up. It stinks more on your birthday. Especially when you are an 8-year-old.






We had plans this morning to go to the zoo with my nephews, then enjoy a picnic in the park and celebrate Kimball's birthday with these:
Allison and I made these cupcakes yesterday. Can you tell me who they are supposed to be? I'll do another post eventually with the directions on how to make your little Star Wars nut squeal with delight over these cupcakes.

Hopefully our little birthday boy will be feeling better soon. We have a family dinner planned right out of our Star Wars cookbook, Wookie Cookies. He takes after me--a party is all about the food!

I have a post planned about Kimball's miraculous birth, but I need to dig out some pictures of his tiny little 2 lb 15 oz body and scan them. Be back later!

An Interview with Henry

Since today is Henry's birthday, I thought I'd take an idea from my friend, Scrap Chair Potato, and interview him. Here is the interview, exactly as it went down:

• Me: Henry, I'd like to ask you a few questions. Would you sit down with me for a minute?
• Henry: OK. Whaddaya want to know?
• Me: How old are you today?
  
• Henry: Six.
• Me: What do you want for your birthday?
• Henry: (Thinking) A hug.
• Me: How old is Mommy?
• Henry: That's a hard one. Hmmm, uh, I know! You're 20. (Good boy!)
• Me: How old is Daddy?
• Henry: 35. (Hee hee)
• Me: What's your favorite book?
• Henry: Mmmm, my . . . . it's the ones that you let me read. All of them.
• Me: What do you like to do when you have free time?
• Henry: Well, I like to jump on the trampoline!
• Me: What do you like best about kindergarten?
• Henry: Everything.
• Me: Can you be more specific?
• Henry: Yes. (Pause) Actually, no. Everything, really!
• Me: What do you like best about Tiger Academy?
• Henry: Our field trips!
• Me: What's your favorite food?
  
• Henry: That one's hard. Every food I like. I like chicken . . . . (drops off.)
• Me: What food do you hate?
• Henry: Everything Kimball likes. Is that a good answer? Almost everything Kimball likes, like broccoli and corn on the cob.
• Me: What's your favorite chore?
• Henry: My favorite chore? What's my favorite chore? (as if he loves all of them,) OK. Doing the laundry.
• Me: What's your favorite thing to do with Daddy?
• Henry: Have Science Friday.
  
• Me: What's your favorite thing to do with me?
• Henry: Have homeschool. . . no, actually, not have homeschool. It's actually doing the white board time.
• Me: What do we call that?
• Henry: I don't know.
• Me: What's good about having brothers and sisters?
• Henry: Um, um, um, I don't know.
  
• Me: Do you like it?
• Henry: Yes, I just don't know why.
• Me: How many brothers and sisters do you wish you had?
• Henry: 100.
• Me: Where would they all sleep?
• Henry: We'd move to a place with 100 beds. Actually, 6. I'd like 6. At least 6. And when I'm 7 years old, then I'll want 7. Then, 8, then 9, then 10, then 11, then . . . .12! Didn't you promise me a piece of gum earlier?
• Me: In a minute. What's your favorite TV show?
• Henry: Magic School Bus.
• Me: What's your favorite song?
• Henry: Home on the Range.
• Me: Since when? (I've never heard him sing it or listen to it . . . )
• Henry: Since I've seen The Rescuers Down Under.
• Me: OK. What's your favorite movie?
• Henry: It's The Rescuers Down Under.
• Me: What's your favorite color?
• Henry: Red, blue, and green. But I like blue the most. Actually, blue.
• Me: What's your favorite number?
• Henry: 61!
• Me: Do you have a favorite word?
• Henry: No.
• Me: What do you like to do best when you're outside?
• Henry: I already told you!! Jump on the trampoline!
• Me: Sorry. What's your favorite sport?
• Henry: Soccer. I thought you already knew that. I play soccer!
• Me: What do you think will be the best part about being six?
• Henry: I don't know. OK. How many more quizzes?
• Me: Last one. Where's your favorite family vacation?
• Henry: Nana's house. And Disneyland. And Sea World.
• Me: (Hiding my laughter) Anywhere else?
• Henry: Yes. Monterey. Those are a lot of favorite places, huh?
• Me: Yes. Thanks for the interview Henry. Happy Birthday! I love you.
• Henry: Can I go play now?
  

Birthday Girl

Warning: This is going to be one of THOSE posts that is all about one of my kids. It will probably not interest 80% of my readers, but I'm posting it anyway because it's my blog and I want to! So if you're not into these posts, come back again soon for something more profound and thought provoking (I hope!)
One year ago, I got up in the morning feeling like something was different. Although this was my fourth full pregnancy, I had never gone into labor spontaneously. I had a repeat c-section scheduled for the 8th and lots to do in the next week before the baby came. But that morning, something had changed and I knew it. As I took a shower, I thought to myself, "Maybe you'd better pack your hospital bag, just in case." I told Jared that there was a possibility that we'd be having the baby earlier than we'd planned, but he assured me that it was probably a false alarm. After all, my due date was still 15 days away, and as I said before, I had never gone into labor without medical assistance.
I spent the morning running errands, buying a few things that I absolutely needed if I was having a baby right away. I had a baby shower scheduled for the next night, but I decided that I shouldn't wait any longer to buy diapers, onesies, and a few binkis, and to get more food in the house. Just in case.
By noon, I had called my friend Kristen, a labor and delivery nurse. I should have called the doctor, but I knew that they'd just tell me to come in and get checked out, and I didn't want to if it was a false alarm. I had a cut and color scheduled with my hairstylist at 4:00. And how could I have a baby with gray showing? I couldn't. But when I told Kristen that I'd been contracting all morning pretty regularly, she said she would feel better if we went into LDRP. I dropped off my kids at Christine's, and Kristen and I headed to the hospital. Jared was closing for lunch at 12:30 and could meet us over there.
To make a long story short, I did not get my hair done that day. Nor did I have a baby shower the next day. They determined that I was in labor, and even though it wasn't hard labor yet, since I had already had 3 previous c-sections, they didn't really want me laboring (the risk of uterine rupture is high after so many.) So at 4:59 pm, Bronwen was born. So much for all the convenience of having a scheduled c-section! From the beginning, she let us know that she was going to do things on her terms.
Here is her "stink eye" face that she makes when she's frustrated or when encouraged to do so by those of us who think it is hysterical!

I went around today, asking my family what they loved most about Bronwen. Here are there responses (Warning, these are not very exciting, but I am striving for authentic journalism here, so I couldn't doctor them up):
Kimball: My favorite thing? She's cute.
Henry: I love everything about Bronwen (very true--he adores her.)
Ian: Um, playing with her!
Jared: (suspiciously) What's this for? (He doesn't like being quoted on THE BLOG.) (Then, under pressure,) I like that she smiles at me when she sees me.
As for me, I love the spirit that she has brought into our home. I feel like we were missing something without her--even though we didn't know it. She brings a softness to everyone. Looking at her reminds me to stop yelling and be the softer, gentler mommy that I want to be. And she seems to have the same effect on her brothers. Their fighting stops when they catch sight of her or when I ask them to help me with her. When they hear Bronwen wake up in the morning or after a nap, they all drop everything and run in to see her. And I love to see that.

Here are a few shots of our little family birthday celebration at Nana's.

I was pleased with the way the ladybug cake turned out. Kimball made a birthday banner for the occasion.
Checking out the gift wrap.
The doll is a hit!It's really too bad that she didn't wear a bib at dinner, because this photo would be perfect without the drippings from orange wedges all over her dress. Bummer.I took some video of her eating the cake, but she was so delicate and unhurried about it that it would have bored anyone who is not her grandma. So I'll spare you. Her favorite part was definitely the Junior Mints. She picked off and ate every one.Everybody else got ladybug cupcakes and ice cream.Kimball helped Bronwen eat the black bug head. Check out his tongue. Yech!In the end, she decided that she wanted clean hands and a sippy cup of milk. We were all a little disappointed that she didn't demolish the cake (as her brothers have all done.) But perhaps she will not have the kind of food issues that her mother has when she grows up. Wouldn't that be a gift?
Happy Birthday, little girl. We love you!

The baby who slept

Three years ago this week, we welcomed our third baby into the family. I had a great deal of trepidation in the weeks before Ian's birth, and none of my anxiety was about childbirth (after all, it was a scheduled c-section. What's scary about that?) My transition to two children, two and a half years previously, had been difficult for a number of reasons. But that post about Henry's first months is for another day. The point is, I was scared to death that I would have another baby who cried a lot, required me to change my diet dramatically, never slept, and that I would spend six months struggling with post-partum depression. Could I dare hope that this baby would be an "easy" baby, like those I'd heard about before?
Some of you will say that there are no easy babies, but I beg to differ. If you start off with a preemie who doesn't know how to eat and is easily overstimulated (and turns out to be on the autistic spectrum a few years later,) and then follow that up with a baby who has colic and wants to be held at all times, awake or asleep, then a third baby who sleeps a lot, eats quickly and greedily, and has an even temper is easy as can be. And Ian turned out to be such a child. Thank goodness that he was, because I still had my hands full with his older brothers.
Ian has continued to be a complete delight to his parents. We fiercely love all of our children, but it has been easy to enjoy Ian because he is almost always light hearted, rambunctious, hysterical, and the boy can sleep! By the time he was seven weeks old, he was sleeping 12 hours straight at night--that's without waking up to eat-- and taking two naps a day. He has also been so flexible in his schedule. Of course, you will say, the third child has to be flexible. You are always having to wake them up to pick up someone from school or go on a playdate. That is true, but not all children who have their sleep disrupted regularly do so without being miserable to live with.
Ian also seems to be about as typical as a little boy can be. He is into pirates and cowboys and trains and dinosaurs. He takes imaginative play to a level that I haven't witnessed with our other children. He demands that we sing to him before bed. His favorites: Sweet Baby James and Ragtime Cowboy Joe, although he does also request the "Dog Bites" song (My Favorite Things). And he makes us laugh every day.
So, as we celebrate his third birthday (with everything cowboy) this week, both Jared & I feel so grateful to have this little guy in our lives. Each of our children teaches us different things and in different ways. I think that Ian has helped us to relax and to relish.
Happy Birthday, little cowboy. We love you.