Papa's Little Helper

I thought these pics were so adorable. Beck was so interested in watching his Papa taking the nails out of these boards, then drop it into the bucket. Beck kept peering over the edge of the bucket, then look up with this look on his face like "Whaaaaa??" I love living close to my parents so that I can capture these memories. After all, it's not every day that a one year old has an apprenticeship.

Adoration

The look on Taytum's face is pure love. Ellie was in heaven being the best big sister she could be and giving everyone rides on the back of her bike. I love them. If only they would stay this small forever. And start hanging up their coats.

May Malarkey

Ellie:

• When we pulled up to Jaxxon Jensen's birthday party at the church, you exclaimed "Mom, did you know Jaxxon's party is at the TEMPLE!?"


• You opened the door and started heading outside without telling me. When I told you to "hold it!" you said "Mom, I am just going outside to enjoy the summer sunshine!"


• I yelled to daddy "What time is it hon?" You yelled back "It's 2 and 100!" I yelled back "Already?!"


• We were pretending that you were the ice cream man and I was a customer. After asking me "What kind would you like?" I asked what flavors you had. After thinking for a second you said "I only have 2. Blueberry and Rock and Roll."


• You came downstairs after sleeping in pretty late, and while stretching your adorable little body way up to the sky you said very sleepily "Mom, I just had the most awesome dream." It was A-dorable!


• I wanted to write down all of you kiddos little "comforts" that you all have had since infancy. I wanted to have it written down so I never forget. Yours is "The hair twirl." Whenever you are super sleepy, content, bored, nervous or angry you start twirling your beautiful brown hair around your finger. I remember you doing this in your crib when you were around 9 months old (not a lot of hair to work with, but you managed) and still do it almost every day. I have had to cut mammoth sized knots out of that beautiful hair quite a few times. You once got your finger stuck in it pretty good as well. I love that you have this adorable little habit that is only yours.

Reese:

• Daddy introduced you to the joy of dunking your graham crackers in milk. He said "just dunk it, count to 5, the eat it." Without fail, every time you enjoy this treat you will count to 5 before a soggy morsel hits those lips. It's presh.


• You and your sissy's calling Lasagna "Basagna"


• "Mom, when Beck grows up can we name him Zack?"


• "But mom, why won't Weeble Wobbles fall down? Why?"


• You have had a hard couple of weeks. Your still scared to get in the car since the accident, plus there was a crazy windstorm that scared the living tuna fish out of ya, so anytime there is a slight breeze you kinda freak. And by kinda freak, I mean totally lose your head. It makes me sad. Thank heavens for "magic dust" (thank you Amber! One of the many reasons I love you is that you introduced me to magic dust!) that I blow on you every time we walk out our door now. But, I know you are a brave little girl and will snap out of the "scardy-catness" stage really soon.


• While I had all 4 of you in the tub, you and your sisters were asking me about..uh...boy parts and girls parts. Ellie said "why are boys pee-pees so different from girls pee-pees. After clearing my throat and turning the shade of a radish I tried explaining it to you guys. After, you all kinda stared at me and you said, "Yeah, but girls pee-pees are better, huh?" I need to buy several books, stat.


• You love tucking your ears in. You will take the top part of your ear and tuck it into the...ear hole?? Man, I need to start consulting an ENT before I just type up any old thing. Regardless, you love showing off your Ear Trick. And on that note...


• Your "comfort" is twisting and pulling your ears. Same situation as sisters. Whenever you are really nervous, excited, tired or scared you will twist those tiny ears until I think they are about to pop right off! So, when someone asks me how to tell you and sister apart I can tell them "One twirls her hair to the point of baldness and one twists her ears so much that she is going to start looking like a wrestler with cauliflower ear." But I love it so much, because it makes you, you!

Taytum

• During sacrament, you were trying to share a Sun Chip with Beck. I kept quietly shushing you and telling you not right now, wait til after sacrament (our eternal struggle...treats at sacrament). You got your Taytum face on, thrust that chip in his face and said loudly "Here Beck, have a burrito!" I let him have it.


• Your newest obsession is Aladdin, but "not the scary pawts."


• Heathie wanted to talk to you on the phone. You huffed over, grabbed the phone and said "Heathie? What is it?!" I had no idea your schedule was so full that you couldn't say hi to your auntie.


• Beck was trying to give you a kiss and you kept resisting. I said "Tay, let him kiss you!" and he gave you quite the smooch. You pulled away, disguisted, and wiping your mouth saying "See mom, I don't like when Beck gives me snot kisses!"


• After putting dad's deodorant under one arm, and mine under the other, you had me smell them both, then said "Mmmmm, yours smells good....like Diet Coke."


• "Mom, my popcicle is cold, will you warm it up for me?"


• You watched High School Musical over at grammy's house and came home asking me "Can I watch Disneyland here too?"


• We thought we were going to have to get your adnoids removed, but once we took you to Primarys for a second opinion, we found out that you don't have to! Yeah! While at your appointment, the dr wanted to get a CT scan of your face to see why your constant cough and drippy nose has been going on for so long. So, after 45 minutes of negotiations, bribes, threats and pleading to just lay down and get a picture of your face taken, I finally told the radiologist "She's not going to budge, you need to strap her down." So, you thrashed around for another 10 minutes, finally held still for about 3 seconds and they got their shot. We found out that you have Sinus Disease, and are having to take 6 weeks of antibiotics, daily doses of Nasonex and a saline spray nasal wash. Anyone who knows you, knows that you are the most stubborn little squirt around, but you are taking your meds suprisingly well.


• Also at the Dr, he called for a Sodium Chloride test, so he could rule out cycstic fibrosis. We had to take you back in to Primary's, where they strapped you up to a machine that ran an electric current to your arms so that it would stimulate your sweat glands, wrapped your arms in gauze, then saran wrap material, then garbage bag material, then taped heat packs to your arms, then had us put on your sweatshirt, a coat and blanket and were told to make you run for the next 30 minutes to make you sweat. You were such a trooper. Daddy and I found the best way to make you run was to walk fast so that you had to run to catch up. You kept saying "Wait up guys! Guys slow down, ok? Wait for me!" which was the hardest part of the test for me. We had to wait until the next day for your results and luckily they came back negative for CF...yet another miracle Heavenly Father has sent our way lately.


• Your comfort is to rub my arm raw. When you were about a month you sucked your thumb until about 4 months old, then just stopped. You were in the market for something else to comfort you and my big ole arm got stuck in your path. You rubbed my arm every single time I nursed you or when you would get hurt and cry I would pick you up and you would immediatly calm down once the "Indian Burn Ritual" would start up. When we moved you into a big girl bed you wanted me to lay with you. I would lay by you, you would start rubbing my arm, let out 2 huge yawns, then drift off to sleep, but not without whispering "I love your arm." You are almost 3 now and still love to come and snuggle me, but pretty soon instinct takes over and you turn me into the Red Armed Bandit...but I love that you still want to cuddle me and that even though you are older I can still be there to comfort you.

Beck

• Anytime you see an animal you start growling under your breath.


• You turned one this month and we had a Super Duper Sports Party for you with lots of friends and family. More on that in another post.


• You have upped your vocabulary this month. You now say Eeee when you want to eat, Din for a drink. When we get to grammy and papas house you start saying Papa, hi. You can say Tay-Tay for sis.


• Once I pick you up, you immediatly hold you hand out, palm side up, and start urging me forward. I will stop at the door, you'll think about it for a second then choose your next destination. You have definitly started being more opinionated about where you are going.


• You love going up to sisters, gently saying "hi" and give them such a soft sweet hug and kiss. It is truly heart-melting.


• You love hitting right now...but only mommy for some reason. Maybe your true feelings are coming out about me shutting down the milk wagon?


• You still throw your fits when someone tells you no, only now you stick your tongue out while doing it.


• You were such a ham when we went to get your 1 year pics taken.


• You were such a butt-crack when we went to get your first haircut.


• Your comfort is playing with my hair...and putting it in your mouth. I will pick you up and you will grab the back of my hair in both fists, decide which fistful looks more appealing, then put that wad in your mouth. You like to slowly pull your head away and let my hair basically floss your teeth. It's bizarre and silly, but I love it.