My Little 2 Year Old

Not only is Matthew a month old now, but Caleb just turned 2! Man how time flies. Unlike Matthew, Caleb is very small for his age. He is finally about an average height, but still small in the weight catagory. His hair is blonde, almost white and his eyes have stayed the gorgeous silver blue they were when he was born. His teeth are a little crooked, so when he grins, it just makes him even cuter.

Caleb is hitting the typical "terrible 2" part of his life. It isn't always such a horrible thing, it is funny most of the time. Caleb is usually so kind, passive and easy going. Well that Caleb is no longer. His favorite word is "no" and that is all he says when he is cranky, waving his hands around like he is trying to stop a car. It is ridiculous, but cute. He pouts and hates getting out of the car when we get home from anywhere because he doesn't want to be home, he wants to go play. He screams when anyone tries to take his toys, he throws temper tantrums, it is annoying but funny. So I just tend to ignore him when he is acting out. But really I am sitting nearby trying not to let him see that I am laughing because Caleb's pouty face is really quite cute. And when he falls to the floor and kicks and hits things, it just looks so unreal because it is so unlike himself.

Tyson sent Caleb to his room this morning because he wouldn't stop whining and Tyson said "you can come out and join us when you are happy." So a few minutes later, the little guy came back into our room and said "Daddy, happy." And he was. So I know he still is his good little self in there, just dealing with more (or stronger) emotions now. His best self comes out around Matthew though, he loves him. He pats his tummy, gives him kisses, calls him "baby Maffew guy."

Josh and Caleb are best friends. Caleb loves to follow Josh around and do whatever he is doing. And Josh has quite the imaginary world these days, so, Caleb goes on rocket ship rides, builds houses out of brick for the three pigs, plays Batman, all kinds of fun things. He loves to tackle Josh, he wraps his arms around him and drags him to the ground and Josh thinks it is funny. I have yet to see Josh fight back, I'm not sure if he is afraid of Caleb or just doesn't want to hurt him. I think it is more of the latter.

One thing about Caleb lately that has melted Tyson and I, is his snuggly phases. At night when we put him in bed he will sometimes say "stay Mama (or Daddy), nuggle me." And he will pat his bed. He wraps his arms around my head and basically pins me to his pillow. He is just so cute it melts my heart, there really is no other way to say it. The Lord has blessed our little family with the three sweetest little critters. I am a lucky Mama.

5 Weeks (and two days)

I meant to write about Matthew when he was a month old, but he is already 5 weeks old now. :) He is so big and cute, as of Monday 12 lb. 5 oz., 23 inches. Crazy stuff. The doctor said he would be big for his age even if he was two months old. Haha.

Matthew can be kind of cranky, but mostly because of his tummy hurting I think and I have so little time to just cuddle him. I think that is the hardest part of having three kids, it hard adjusting to all the cleaning, 2 extra loads of laundry (if not more), constant feeding, changing, burping, running errands, taking Josh to preschool, not to mention other responsibilities like my calling and chocolatiering. I just feel like there is so little time to just let my kids know I love them. That is something I seriously need to work on. Just letting some chores slide, and showing my kids I love them more.

Anyways, but when Matthew is happy, he is stinking adorable. He has such a cute kissable nose, and these fabulous dark blue eyes. His little chin has a dimple and his lip quivers when he is about to cry. It is so cute. I always get scared to have a newborn around when I am pregnant and then I have him and it is just so natural to take care of the little guy. Although, I don't really feel like Matthew is a newborn, I keep expecting him to roll over or play with toys and then I have to remember how old he really is. :)

I am glad I am still calling him Matthew, Matt just isn't his name at all to me. I vowed I wouldn't call Joshua "Josh," but that is all I call him unless he is in trouble. Caleb calls him "baby Matthew guy." It is really cute. Caleb and Josh both love him. When Matthew cries, Josh will run to him and say "I'm coming little guy! What you need? You okay?" Talk about precious. I love my third little guy.

For A Good Laugh

So we have a tradition

Tyson's parents and Hannah came to visit for about a week and a half and left Monday :( But we did have a lot of fun while they were here. Here is only one thing we did while they were here, so I have a lot more pictures to post.

Last year we went with the youth in our ward to a corn maze called Layman Family Farms. It was SO much fun we decided to go again this year and I really want to go again, not just next year, but again. Even if it is an hour drive away, it is totally worth it. It wasn't easy with a fussy newborn though...let me just tell you. The corn maze is a ton of fun. It is really fun with the kids. Caleb thought it was incredibly fun to hide in the sides where there were pockets in the corn. It was pretty cute.

Josh was our little leader. He was happy and tried to tell us which way we should go the whole time. He is so grown up and so much like his Daddy. :)

We went on a hayride and it stopped at a pumpkin patch so people could get a pumpkin of their own. Josh was so adorably proud of the pumpkin he picked out. Super cute.

Caleb tried to find the perfect pumpkin...to sit on. Tyson said that he walked around and tested out several pumpkins. No really, he wasn't just tired, he really would size them up and test them and differnt spots on the pumpkin. Kids are so funny.

The hayride.

The massive jumping pillow.

Tyson's sister, Hannah, shooting corn from the corn cannon.

Daddy and Josh on the outground tunnel slide.

Spider web. Caleb hated it. :)

Josh in a tire, haha.

Horse swings made completely from a tire. Super nifty.

My personal favorite, the cow train. Cassie in Gertie...

Josh and Hannah in JellyBean...

and Caleb and Handsome in Maggie.

Not the sand box, but the corn kernal box.In every other picture he is just a blob under a blanket, but Matthew was there. My cute little "hippopatomus" as Josh calls him.

So that's all for now. You should totally check this place out if you ever get the chance. SO fun!

Family Picture

We finally got a family picture of the five of us. This isn't great because all the ones with Josh smiling it is blurry. And yes, I am still in my pj's. I have this horrible habit of getting the kids dressed for the day and feeling really good about myself. I totally forget that I may need to actually put jeans on or something. Luckily Josh goes to preschool twice a week and I have to do something with myself then. Forgive me, I digress, so yes, thanks to Tyson's parents, we have a family photo. Hooray! And you can actually see Matthew, he isn't just a blob in a blanket attached to me. :) I love our little family. But jeepers, it isn't so little anymore.

P.S.-That mark on Caleb's head isn't a sticker or anything. It is the huge bruise/bump from falling down the stairs. Poor kid. I don't think you can see the two black eyes though so that's good, those developed later. :)

The Good Word and Great Men

Can I just tell you, I LOVE Conference! I used to dread it, but it has become one of my favorite things, especially when the prophet, President Monson (or "my friend" as Josh calls him) speaks. He is just so funny and optimistic. I sometimes wish I could hang out with all these men and their wives and families, they are so incredible. But then they would know me and all my flaws, so I guess I would rather not. :) But jeepers, I just love them. And so do my boys. Josh and Caleb keep asking to watch the "postles." What a good life and a great weekend!

Ups and Downs

So I was just kidding about adjusting to three being easier than two. Wow it is so not easy most of the time. Sometimes it is because Caleb and Josh tend to entertain each other and that is nice. But then there is one more person that wants my attention and I feel like I have no time to give it. Caleb always wants snuggles and when he does, I am almost always holding Matthew or feeding Matthew or Matthew just starts crying. It is a bummer to not be my little boys' everything like I used to be. I have to let other people hold my kids or let one of them cry just so I can take care of the other two. And goodness, the demands never end! As soon as I finish one thing and sit down waiting to relax, "Mama, can I have milk?" or "Mama, I pooped!" or Matthew starts crying or Caleb and Josh start fighting. It is kind of ridiculous. That doesn't even include all the moments where I need to run errands or the laundry needs to be switched or I need to do dishes because there are no clean bowls. How on earth my mom raised seven of us, I have no idea.

But it is so much fun too. They each make me laugh and make me so happy. Josh is so independent and happier lately too. He is always telling us stories and saying funny things. He calls Matthew his baby hippopatumus and in a high chipper voice too. :) Caleb is crankier, but more snuggly and always wants to be sung to and follows me around like a little puppy. He always wants to watch a "mo-vee" which is so hard to say no to. Matthew is getting huge really fast. Everyone thinks he is older than he is because he is so big. He almost fits in 3-6 months clothes and he is only 3 weeks old, kind of ridiculous. I think he is colicky or something like that because he cries an awful lot. I try everything I know how to do, but he still cries. Luckily we have had family here so much that it hasn't been too bad, I can let other people hold him so I don't stress out. I have no idea what I shall do when Tyson is back at work and Tyson's family is gone. I will probably make my mom hang out here until she hates it. :)

Caleb also fell down the stairs yesterday, that was horrible. I kind of tripped him too (I was taking the laundry down and didn't see him) which made me feel even worse. He has a massive goosebump on his head which is so sad. Yet another thing that makes me wonder if I am meant to have any more kids since I can't take care of the ones I have. :) Oh well, I better go, kids need me. :)