Catch-Up

FINALLY... I have a moment to catch up on this blog. I wouldn't worry about it, but this is what I use for our family history and I believe very strongly in recording family history. So, while Jer wanders around the house spraying febreeze (in hopes of doing something about the baby barf smell) I am updating. Lots of posts follow...

How He Has Grown!

In the past two months our little Cal has gone from a sweet little thing who mostly eats and sleeps to an amazing, adored, and skilled little guy.

At his four month check up he was big... 82% on height and 64% on weight. He was also meeting all his milestones on target or early. (A huge relief because I've been worried about the time he went without oxygen during delivery.) He laughs, talks, rolls from tummy to back, and walks in his walker. He is trying so hard to crawl! He just can't quite figure out how to coordinate his arm and leg movements.

He brings us so much joy! I often tell Jer I don't think there is a more adored baby in the world. It is so fun to see his siblings interact with him. Katie and Matthew are such good babysitters. Ash frequently tells him, "Calvin I just have to give you lots of kisses 'cause I love you so much!" and this morning Will said, "Hi, Calvin. It's your big brother. You're the cutest baby! Yes you are! Wanna a kiss?"

We're so grateful he is ours forever!

p.s. Jer recorded some cute video on his phone. We posted them to our youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/jerandjill.

Secret Agent Men

What would I do without these boys and their crazy antics?

A Month of Book Fairs

Our February could basically be summed up in two words: BOOK FAIRS. It was a crazy time with 3 book fairs all needing advertising, set up, take down, close out, etc. One weekend we had 35 boxes of books delivered. That is a lot!... Like $17,000 in books. Our poor UPS guy.

Jer and the kids were troopers. Especially, Will, Ash, and Cal who spent A LOT of time traveling from one set up to another. It is a good thing these boys like road trips!

The awesome thing was two of the book fairs were tied to a Reach for the Stars!! reading incentive program that rewards kids for reading. We have received so many "thank yous" and success stories from students, parents and teachers at the those schools. It is an amazing feeling being able to help kids discover the joy of reading and become better readers.

Superbrothers!

Playing House

One day Katie amused us by putting Ashton and Will in Calvin's diapers and telling them to get into Calvin's crib where she read them stories. Hahaha!

Usborne Regional Training

Usborne Regional Training is always one of my January highlights. I get to hang out with wonderful Usborne ladies, be inspired, and connect with the business builders on my team. This year was a bit more challenging because I also had Calvin to worry about. Thankfully, Stacie and Steve watched him most of the time and shuttled him back and forth from Stacie's house to the Provo library where Regionals was held. I could not have survived with weekend without them!

Reflections... again!

Also, in January we learned that Katie's poem on beauty won first place in Region reflections. This was quite the honor because she was competing against k-2nd graders from two school districts. We are so proud of her!

Our Actress

Katie had a part in her class play. She told us she was one of four main parts, that the play was super cute, etc., but then we started hearing from the director and her teacher that she was an amazing little actress. When we went to watch it we were dumbfounded. She IS an amazing little actress. She was in character, she projected, she was believable in her role as a naughty little frog. So, now we aren't quite sure what to do with this info. Should we have her audition for stuff? Should we wait until she is in high school and see if she is still interested in drama? Seriously, she was freakishly good. We could not get over it for a few days.

Makes me wonder... What other "hidden" talents do our children posses that we haven't had the opportunity to discover?

Grandma's Birthday Party

Way back in January, Grandma Cox wanted to have a birthday party where her grandchildren played the types of games she played when she was little. The kids had a great time helping Grandma with the cake, playing pin the tail on the donkey, London Bridges, and just being with their cousins.

When You Are the Mom...

When you are the mom being sick is THE WORST! Seriously... it is so difficult. Life goes on for everyone else and so moms just can't get the rest we need to get better. So illnesses seem to drag on and the house gets more messy...

I don't remember my mom ever being sick when I was a kid. I remember when she had morning sickness, but I don't remember colds, flu, etc. So, I have to wonder did she have an amazing immune system that managed to ward off all the germs that SEVEN children brought home? Or, did she just handle it so well I can't remember it? I'm pretty sure my kids are going to remember my sicknesses. I just hope they don't carry permanent damage from the way our house gets, the food they eat, they way they have to take care of each other, or the way they have to search for clean clothes when I get sick.

Baby Secrets

My day-old child lay in my arms
With my lips against her ear
I whispered strongly, "How I wish-
I wish that you could hear;

I've a hundred wonderful things to say
(A tiny cough and a nod)
Hurry, hurry, hurry and grow
So I can tell you about God."

My day-old baby's mouth was still
And my words only tickled her ear
But a kind of light passed through her eyes
And I saw this thought appear;

"How I wish I had a voice and words;
I've a hundred things to say
Before I forget I'd tell you of God-
I left him yesterday."
-- Author Unknown

I love this poem. It is was on the wall in the NICU at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center where two of our babies have spent some scary times. Before Ashton was released one of the NICU receptionists gave me copy which I framed and has been on the wall with pictures of my kids in their blessing outfits.

My friend, Amanda Padgett, took some of the very amateur photos we took of Calvin in his blessing outfit and turned them into beautiful frame-worthy photos. There are more that I'll post later, but I wanted to get this one on... and then I wanted to share the poem too.