9.28.2014

4 months

Bringing in 4 months with this sweet little guy! Today also brought along his first cold.  Even with watery eyes, a runny nose, and more drool than my shoulder can hold, he was still full of smiles.  And snuggles.  Trying to be his cheerful self, but just not quite pulling it off. 

 Caleb, you've had a busy  month.  You still seem so small, but after visiting my best friend's newborn, you suddenly are so not a newborn anymore.  A little perspective changes everything.  You are growing by leaps and bounds.  You still fit perfectly in daddy's arms though.  You love to snuggle on my shoulder, but when anyone else holds you, you prefer to be looking out at everything. And you sure are taking it all in with your blueish gray eyes.
 You love to hang out on the floor on one of your blankets.  You are starting to roll over.  Mason was the first one to witness your new moves.  He was so excited and couldn't wait to tell Emma and daddy when they got home.

Mason and Emma still love to hold you and ask several times a day.  They also like when I put your bouncy chair in their room.  They include you in their play and it's hilarious to listen in.  You are usually either little baby bear or the little brother.  They cook for you and take you on trips.

When you cry they look out for you. 

Once I returned from feeding the chickens and Mason exclaimed, "there you are mom...I've been bouncing this chair (bouncy seat) forever (maybe 4 minutes) and every time I stop he just keeps crying.  I'm worn out."

And of course when Emma is around and you start crying, you will soon be covered with every blanket in sight, be surrounded by every stuffed animal and she will try singing about 2 centimeters from your face.  Her motto: more is better and try to be louder!
 Some things to remember about 4 months:

~you have found your toes and love to grab them
~you also love to grab Emma's hair
~you drool like crazy
~you take great naps
~your sleep patterns at night could improve though...you have added a couple extra feedings, growth spurt maybe?
~you love to go for walks in the stroller, but prefer to keep moving and fuss a little when Mason and Emma start exploring their surroundings
~you've started grabbing your toys and moving them around
~you have the best belly laugh and love to be tickled
~you love baths
~you're a happy little guy!
We love you so much, Caleb!
xoxo,
mommy

9.24.2014

elk

The elk have been roaming through at dawn and dusk.  The kids love studying them.  On our afternoon walks they've been noticing all the tracks in the mud and scat left around. Is it weird that it's the highlight of their walk?  That and watching red-tailed hawks soaring in circles. 


Mason and his best buddy (and soon to be neighbor!!) Jacob have been using toilet paper rolls as elk bugles.  They always hear the elk calling back too. *wink* 

9.21.2014

canning 101

We've been canning up a storm lately.  The best part is that it's a whole family event.  The kids love helping.   Everything from washing the fruit, using the magnetic lid lifter to give me the lids and rings, to eating all the fruit peels that are left over.  But the really great part is that they've been playing "canning" almost every day.  I love listening in to their creative play.  A few things I've learned from them:

~always use a saw to cut your watermelon and tomatoes
~monster meat can be canned
~so can T-Rex meat, but it must hang in the freezer first to chill
~slices of bread can be used if you run out of lids
~a tea bag can also be used to wash the rims of your jars (bowls)
~all jars must be left in the oven overnight to rest
~sometimes you can "fast can" (Mason's technique) and other times you have to work really slow (Emma girl)
~when canning berries you must dress up as Steggy (a stegosaurus: Mason) and Little Bear (Emma) to first pick the berries to fill your purse
~use your flashlight to heat up the jars before putting them on the stove

 We still have a lot left on our list of items to be canned: cabbage from the garden to be turned into sauerkraut, beets to pickle, tomatoes and peppers from the greenhouse to make more salsa, a few more boxes of apples, and pepperoni from our local deli.  Can't wait to see what the kids come up with next!