Peewee-pint Celebrates...

(I've had this post written for a LONG TIME, but never got around to including the photos...

I know, IT'S ABOUT TIME!)

It's official-Peewee-pint is 1!!! I am shocked at how quickly this past year has gone by! It's been a year FULL of all kinds of events - some good and others not as good. We've dealt with busy, busy Daddy-traveling for work and lots of meetings, health issues with the boys (all the boys at times), school schedules, vacations, and sports. Peewee-pint has trudged along with me through it all! He is a delightful baby! He is fun, happy, playful, loving, patient (mostly), silly, a tease, and very observant. Peewee-pint is clever, busy, noisy, and a great companion to me most everywhere I go. He LOVES his brothers and all the attention they dotingly give him. He is a Momma's boy, but adores his Daddy as well. He's quick with a smile and even a giggle when he thinks he's being clever. He gives "loves" on demand and loves to clap.

Peewee-pint has been through the medical ringer. When I sat down to think about it, I was surprised at how many different things he's had to deal with in this short year. He's had croup, strep throat, and a hand full of ear infections (some double). He's had RSV which led to brociolitis (that meant he was on oxygen for a week) and hypospadius surgery. Not to mention the stomach bug (twice) and seemingly never-ending colds. He's been amazing through it all!

It's so much fun to watch him learn and grow. I'm always amazed at how much they develop in the first year! Some milestones Peewee-pint has reached by his first birthday are: rolling over (6 months), sitting unassisted (rather late @ 9 months), crawling (really the toe-push army scoot) @ about 9 months, finger feeding himself @ 10 months, using a sippy cup @ 7 months, pulling up and "cruising" @ 10 months, 6 teeth (4 @ the same time-around 9 months), sleeping through the night (he mastered this a few times, then got sick and had to relearn). Peewee-pint can clap, give "high 5", give loves, says "hi", "momma", "dada", and "more", not to mention he tries to imitate most other words he hears. He teases his brothers, and plays "peek-a-boo".

Peewee-pint loves balls and cars. He likes to walk-pushing anything that he can move, or holding your hands, or along any vertical surface (furniture, walls, my legs-anything). He has definitely entered the "seek and destroy" stage-emptying any drawer or cupboard, toy box or bookshelf that catches his attention. He likes to be on the move-playing or exploring. He LOVES fruit and cheese and chicken nuggets. He HATES milk (we're still working on that). He only sleeps in his crib or car seat; but is generally happy-even when tired. He loves to be outside and to swing. He hates to get dressed or have his diaper changed. He likes to play in the bath and he has perfected throwing fits (complete with crying on the floor when things don't go his way).

Peewee-pint is tiny: measuring in at his one year well check at the 20% for weight and only the 3% for height. He still looks chubby since he's so short; but he's a real little peanut. He doesn't let his small size hold him back-he lets you know when he feels slighted or ignored-generally with a very loud, screeching scream. He keeps it up until his needs are met.

He regularly has people stopping in the shopping isles to admire him (all my boys have) and he typically gets temporarily shy. Peewee-pint is adorable and tremendously loved.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEEWEE-PINT!!!

Quarter-pint Gets Zipped...

A few weeks ago, Quarter-pint had an accident after church. He and Half-pint were being a little too crazy while they were waiting for me to clean up all the primary stuff and he peed his pants. We were headed straight to Grandma's house from church, but I didn't have any extra underpants-only the boy's pjs. Daddy and I decided to save about 45 minutes (Grandma and the clan were waiting for us to arrive so we could all eat; and it's about a 45 minute drive anyway) that we would not go home for clean underpants, and just put Quarter-pint in his zipper, footed pajamas sans underpants. I told him he needed to be careful and to make sure he didn't have another accident because he didn't have any more clothes to change into.

He paid attention to my council, and was careful to go when he needed to and not get too distracted playing. Every time he went potty, he needed help getting back into his pjs. The arms were usually turned inside out. Grandma helped him the first time, then Grandpa the second. Quarter-pint likes to close the zipper-all the way from his toes to his nose-and he has a habit of zipping FAST. The second time he zipped, his little boy parts were in the way and he zipped himself on the way up! Poor kid!!! He cried and whimpered. It took about a week to completely heal. Needless to say, he's been more careful when he uses a zipper!

Peewee-pint...

Little, adorable Peewee-pint is getting into EVERYTHING! A few weeks ago, I was working in the office when I heard a horrible scream coming from the family room. As I got closer, I realized it was a combination of Peewee-pint screaming in pain, and Quarter-pint yelling for me. Peewee-pint had gotten his finger stuck in the VCR. (Yes, you read that correctly...VCR.) Just as I got to the screaming boys, Quarter-pint succeeded in freeing Peewee-pint's finger, but not without moving the entire machine half-way out from the wall, and removing the skin on both the inside middle knuckle, and top cuticle. Poor Peewee-pint-this was the first "blood incident" we've had with him. I soon got him calmed down and a band-aid with anti-bacterial cream onthe injured finger, knowing the band-aid wouldn't last too long, but at least it was stopping the blood and it was an attempt in keeping the wound clean.

Last week, with the finger nearly completely (but not quite totally) healed, I heard a similar screaming...this time Quarter-pint was more calm: "Mom, He did it again!" I moved faster and was able to free the tiny finger without any assault to his tender skin. Quarter-pint and I were astounded that Peewee-pint would get the exact same finger stuck in the VCR a second time! This time I called Daddy and asked him why the VCR is still out with the rest of the TV/movie/sound stuff in the family room. I can't remember the last time we actually used the VCR!

Quarter-pint Gets A Bath...

Quarter-pint didn't want to miss out on ultimate bubble bath fun. So one evening while Half-pint was gone, Quarter-pint took the plunge in the big soaking tub with MOUNTAINS of bubbles! Peewee-pint watched with delighted curiosity...check out the bubbles he's trying to reach!

With "hair" like that Quarter-pint should be in a Dr. Seuss book!

Recovering...

We had quite the weekend! It did NOT go as we expected. We headed up to the mountains Friday afternoon and met Daddy there (he went up early to finish up some work). Everything seemed fine until Half-pint woke us up around 1 in the morning saying he didn't feel good. Everything went down hill from there---quickly. Daddy and I were up a good part of the night comforting Half-pint as he threw up and working Peewee-pint back to sleep (he was pretty restless and probably not feeling well). I had a few tender moments with Half-pint in the middle of the night teaching him (and him teaching me) about the Atonement and how Jesus knows what it's like to feel so yucky. We witnessed miracles with a tender prayer for comfort and then instant sleep and the relief that only came through sleeping.

It was obvious Saturday morning that I was going to be out of commission with the same sort of stomach bug that Half-pint exhibited in the middle of the night. Daddy was meeting a friend on the ski slopes for the last day of mountain biking of the season-and I told him to go and have fun. The boys ate crackers and popcorn and watched movies while I languished on the couch, or floor-wherever I happened to be when the waves of nausea hit. When Daddy got home early afternoon his day hadn't been much better. They were rained on all day (with snow at the top of the mountain) and he was quickly succumbing to the stomach flu as well. For the rest of the long, agonizing day Daddy and I took turns sleeping (the only thing that helped us feel better) and trying to do our parental duty to keep our children safe, fed and happy.

The boys were actually great, considering they were left basically on their own, with little food (lots of crackers, popcorn and cereal, some yogurt and cheese-and cookies). They enjoyed watching all the movies and TV they could stand, and played very nicely together-with very minimal fighting. They knew we didn't feel well and they both rose to the occasion. I was so proud of them! Peewee-pint was a little more high maintenance that Daddy and I had the energy for, but by the evening I was feeling a little better and explained to him that we did not feel good and we would appreciate him not screaming anymore. To my surprise he complied and the screaming stopped.

After the big boys were in bed, Peewee-pint threw up all over his lap. That meant an immediate bath for him and then we put him to bed. That maybe explains some of the screaming! Quarter-pint was the only one untouched by this weekend's nastiness (although he had it a little over a week ago) and he was bouncing off the walls by the time we all felt good enough to drive the 2 hours home yesterday.

I'm happy to report that we are all feeling much better now; not quite 100%, but so much better than Saturday! What a weekend!

Peewee-pint Loves Strawberries...

What more do I need to say?

Quarter-pint Has a Birthday...

I am honestly shocked at how quickly the past year has gone. Granted, it's been chalk full of sick kids, sleepless nights, Daddy working long hours (and traveling more than usual), kids having surgery, and a new baby; but all that aside, it's just flown by! The most shocking part is that my Quarter-pint is 4!!! He's so grown up and still so silly all at the same time. He's really become a great kid (especially when he's not writhing on the ground because I refuse to help him do something I know he can do himself--but I think we're all entitled to a tantrum every once in awhile).

Quarter-pint adores his brothers, and is an awesome big brother. He loves to make Peewee-pint laugh, and to spend his time with Half-pint. He is a happy and helpful kid. He is fun and sweet, and mischievous and crazy. He is wild, and noisy, patient and considerate. Quarter-pint loves to play and tease. He most definitely has a mind of his own and isn't afraid to do his own thing. He has tons of qualities that I know will serve him well as he grows; but the challenge for now is to teach him how to channel and use those qualities. He is precious and adorable. His speech has improved tremendously this past year (thanks in part to the loss of his tonsils/adenoids)...he is turning into such a little smarty pants. He doesn't miss a beat-ever, He's active; but can also keep himself quietly busy with toys or puzzles. He is everything you would expect from a little boy. Boy oh boy-he's ALL boy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Little Man!!!

(We celebrated nearly all month-and he loved every minute of it!)