accomplishments

My list for the day:

1.  Finish all the laundry

one load

Put the laundry in the basket.

2.  Make banana bread.

Eat the cake from Grandma.

3.  Update Quicken accounts.

4.  Don't forget to go to Austin's boat race at Dierke's lake at 10:30.

5.  Don't forget to go to Benson's Kindergarten graduation at 10:30.

quote from Benson this morning--"Mom, do you even know I'm here?"

6.  Swipe Ketsup and Mustard from your mother's pantry because you 

don't have time to go to the store and get some to take to Austin's class picnic.  See #4 and #5.

7.  Take Benson to Baseball practice.  

When you get there, realize that the practice is tomorrow.

8.  When you get back from taking Benson to practice, 

realize that Dallin is now late for his brain neuro-feedback appointment--
which you forgot last week costing $75.

9.  Be thankful that Grandma took pity on her distant offspring and fed them all dinner.

10.  Blame everything on the fact that you had mastitis yesterday and barely survived

 the 16 hours it took for antibiotics to kick in.

Tomorrow is the last day of school.  Hallelujah!

Pitter Patter

Here's what's making my heart go Pitter Patter--I finally discovered how to download the Pioneer Woman PhotoShop Essentials Actions for my very own program.  


This came with the usual amounts of frustration--learning new computer tricks makes me feel like throwing things.  I only had a few moments of temper tantrum this time.

But here are the first few results.  I have a feeling this is the start of a beautiful relationship... 

Original

Boost plus fresh and lively

Soft and faded plus edge burn

Edge burn plus boost

Boost plus fresh and lively is a little harsh.  I know there is a way to soften some of the effects but that will have to wait for tomorrow.  I have six kids claiming near starvation to attend to.

Some gifts you just don't complain about...

Jenna and Benson greeted me on Mother's Day with their present--they got themselves completely dressed for 9 am church.  Notice the awesome buttoning job on Benson's shirt.
I couldn't bring myself to fix it.  He was so proud of himself.

And Jenna got herself ready and got the Sunday bag all ready to go without any help from me. These kind of gifts are irreplaceable--along with the pots of flowers and bookmarks and necklaces from school...

My mom and Becki and I got pedicures in honor of the Big Day.  My feet took twice as long as theirs because I wear open back shoes rain, snow or shine.  It makes for really soft heels.  The blue toenails look suspiciously like frostbite--perfect for summer!

Someone forgot to give this little monkey the "moms get to take a good, long, three-hour nap on Mother's Day" memo.  I snuggled with him anyway.

And the most awesome gift was from--ME--I bought myself beautiful baskets from D&B.  I have to say I love to buy my own presents--I get it perfect every time!

Baby overload.

We have had a newborn for one full month now.  One of these days I am going to write and think about something other than baby.  I don't think it will be any time soon though.  Sorry. I am just getting to the stage where I am {sometimes} glad to have the boys hold Jackson in the other room when they get home from school. I'm tired.  Really tired.  But really happy.

Jackson snuggles.  When he lays on the bed by me he curves himself up on his side and somehow scootches over.  He does it with Rustin too.

I have to say that even though I am exhausted (did I mention I'm tired?) I am really enjoying this little boy.

Is there anything cuter than a yawning baby?

The only thing that comes close is a thumb sucking baby.

My dentist father informed me today that the orthodontic people officially say that pacifiers are better on baby teeth than thumbs.  But I say a self-soothing baby beats all official positions.  That's what braces are for right? He does like a binky.  I guess we'll see how it goes.  I've never had a thumb sucker (but not for lack of trying...).

And last--we think little Jack is going to be blue eyed like his sister and Grandpa Hatch.  She is really more green now (so is Grandpa Hatch actually).  His eyes get lighter every day.  We brown-eyed people think it's awesome to see what the gene pool spits out.  Very fun.

Tomorrow-- pictures from the blessing day last Sunday.  If I get to it...

Just for Cinco de Mayo!

How to make the perfect burrito...

First--grab one of these most awesome 'tortillas'--a big square 100% cotton muslin blanket.  It is pretty and light weight so you won't end up with a sweaty baby.  Fold down the top corner.  Fold it more if you have small babe less for a big one.

Second--Place your chosen filling in the center of the wrapping (you want the ears to be about level with the top of the blanket)and fold the corner over the shoulder, across the tummy and tuck snugly under the back (make sure it is smooth so the little one doesn't have to lay on bumps or lumps).

Third--Fold up the bottom.

Fourth--Pull the top right corner down over the shoulder (snug the little arm in close) .

Fifth--Here's where this awesome blanket comes in handy--use the left-over fabric on the right side and pull it UP and around the tummy and under the back keeping everything in place. 

Sixth--snuggle snuggle snuggle.

 and Enjoy!

**Ashlee thanks for introducing me to this blanket.  I love it so much I had to go get another one!

10 things I've learned...

About babies in my house.

{in no particular order}

1.  Babies are not capable of manipulation. {he's trying to get me to pick him up--whatever.  he doesn't even realize his hands are connected to his body!} I never take crying personally--babies cry if something is uncomfortable not to try to get me to do something.  Toddlers are another story...

2. Don't over feed. {Sorry Dallin and Landon}.  Babies act like they are hungry all the time.  They only need to eat every 2 -3 hours--that means newborns eat, wake and sleep about every three hours.  For some reason knowing this really helps me feel calm.  I don't know why. Newborns like to take a little cat nap in the middle of nursing.  I still count that as the same feeding.

3.  Sometimes it's easier just to nurse them again--even if #2 is true.

4.  If I try to have my babe go to sleep in his own bed--at least for the last few seconds before drifting off--then he will sleep through the night on his own without a lot of crying.  Except for Benson.  He broke the rules.

5.  Even if I don't follow #4 all the time, he will still sleep eventually. Sometimes I'm just too tired to lay him down, pick back up and comfort, lay down again and repeat until the babe is sleeping. See #3.

6. I like the smell of newborn diapers.  I do.

7.   I don't follow #4 often enough.  Jackson doesn't sleep through the night yet {7 weeks...pretty little still}. I kind of like his little warmness next to me. Spoiled.  I know. He does sleep through Dallin practicing his Bari-sax in the same room.  That counts for something.

8.  Dads have a different way of caring for babies.  If I want Rustin to help then I have to let him learn and do it his way.  Otherwise he will  just give the babe back to me all the time.  Learned that through experience.  It helped to work the evening shift (as a nurse) for a few years.

9.  Dads' ways of taking care of babies are actually pretty awesome.

10.  Babies grow up REALLY fast.  I can never take too many pictures or write down enough memories. Or smooch them too much or hold them too much or smell them......

Easter, week three and injury

This little one is three weeks old today.  This picture was taken two minutes ago... I'm sure it is against the laws of the universe to have a nursing infant have a stuffy green nose.  At least it should be.

I love his fuzzy clean mow-hawk hair.  It smells delicious.  Of course it is nearly midnight and he is still bright eyed.  Speaking of eyes--we think he is going to follow Jenna's footsteps and be blue.  Today they look completely purple.  His eyes get lighter by the day!

We had a good Easter weekend though it was incredibly strange not to have a single member of our families here for egg hunts and baskets.  We missed everyone!  Rustin was swamped with a funeral and lots of stake conference meetings so we squished things in where we could.  It was a gorgeous day outside for once.

You'll notice Landon is missing from all the Easter pictures.

 He jumped off the play house onto the trampoline and after a few crazy bounces he ended up on the ground with a severely injured back.  It has been four days and it was just today that he has finally been able to walk to the bathroom without tears and help. And lots of pain medicine.

This is Landon trying to enjoy his birthday candles on Monday.

It looks like he most likely 'just' tore the muscles in his lower left back--no broken ribs or vertebra.  He isn't able to walk more than a few feet at a time so we aren't sure what to do about school.  He is obviously done with track and basketball.  Darn. We are praying that we will know what to do to help him recover in the best way possible.

I am off to sleep.  May you all have sweet slumber and happy spring! {or winter if you are in Australia!}