4 Months

Jacob Jacob Jacob... you didn't listen...you kept right on growing...especially in the upper thigh area where you have sprouted some additional rolls that I LOVE...so that part is okay I suppose...otherwise, okay okay I give up...keep on growing, you are doing so well at it. I just wish my head would stop spinning so I could take one stage in before your off to the next.

1- Other than being incredibly happy and quick to smile you are now realising that you can make others smile by making raspberry noises and trying to stick out your tongue...or that flashing one of your up and coming famous grins generally gets you one in return pretty fast from anyone in the near by vicinity.

2- You are an "IT" factor baby...there are some babies who are like a magnet to ...everyone! And you, baby Jakey are one of them. There is something quite irresistible about you to not only those who share genetic credit but to the general population as well. You stop people in their tacks everywhere we go so they can smile, ogle and compliment you. We had our kitchen painted a few weeks ago by a woman and a man with poor English from Macedonia. While I was getting Ben's shoes on he went over to check you out in your carrier on the floor. You of course reigned him in with a series of practiced coos and smiles. He was smitten with you and delighted in taking a few more moments to make you laugh. He turned to me, with one of your dimpled hands in his,

"Please, may I kiss him?"

"uh...sure." I said as he gently kissed your hand.

I think there would be more requests for kisses if doing so to strangers babies wasn't more socially acceptable here; there is something deliciously edible about you. Since I am your mother however I get to take a nibble whenever I please... your cheeks are permanently pink to show for it!

3- you roll from stomach to back (with no help from tummy time I might add...I just put you down a couple of days ago and you rolled).

4- you wear size 6-9 month clothes! you are very tall and weigh about 16 pounds.

Happy Baby

Jacob has been the most content little baby. He is never fussy, never cries. Now that his little personality is starting to emerge more and more we have also discovered his lightening fast grin. All you have to do is make eye contact and he will light up immediately. Engage him even a little bit and he shakes with giggles.

He is an absolute joy!

A Solution

I have a problem. Not a serious problem...but a chronic one. I lose my keys at least once a week and my cellphone? It is perpetually dead in the bottom of a purse..somewhere.

It drives Jon crazy. After losing my keys AGAIN this weekend he found them for me and came up with his own solution for my problem. Service station owners have found success with keeping bathroom keys safe in this manner for decades. I came downstairs this morning to find myself the proud new owner of a gas station key chain.

Funny guy.

Round Two

A little more successful...
I altered my goal from smiling to simply not screaming.

A portrait attempt

There is a lack of pictured with either myself or Daddy present. To have parent included pictures would require posing. This is an impossible task. Impossible.
I know because I bribed Ben with everything I could think of including but not limited to a car wash (his favorite thing to do!) a trip to Home Depot to sit on the tractors (his second favorite things to do...I know, fun runs pretty cheap around here...) and food bribes galor.
No takers.
This is what we got!

Better write that down...

A few more "Bens".

We were standing at the grocery store in front of the salads and I notice a woman approach us out of the corner of my eye as I am picking a salad. Ben says to her

"You look like my great Grandma"!

I look to get a better look and this woman, maybe early forties smiles indulgently at Ben.

"Oh I look like your Grandma?"

"No...my GREAT grandma".

Yup we made her day...

Ben Chats

Were having some good conversations these days, this boy and me.

of late...

"Mommy will Jacob be big?"
"Yes, he is getting bigger and bigger everyday it seems".
"And then he will get heees teef?"
"Yes, soon he will start growing teeth"
"oh good!"


"Mommy little boys need lots of kisses. It makes hims grow".

seriously he said this.

I love this kid.

Mother's Day

I really believe I was put on this earth to be a Mother.

I had difficulty choosing a major in university, I couldn't seem to get set on a career path, I was unsure of my purpose or future until August 22 2007. At 6:22 in the evening it all came together in a moment. Everything was made clear in the glassy steel blue eyes of a little boy. That moment and every one since I have been living my calling in Motherhood. I am passionate about this role and the importance and responsibility that comes with it. I am trying so hard to savor each day and find as much perspective as I can from it...them.

Through butterfly kisses, blowing raspberry's, midnight dancing, spit up, cuddling, book reading, gummy grins, cartoons, crust less sandwiches, finger painting, first steps, tantrums, drool, sippy cups, bedtime snacks, hiccups, nature walks, vegetable fights, fairy tales, nursery rhymes, mud puddles, sprinkles, face painting, teething, belly laughs, piggy back rides, tickling, hand printed windows, sidewalk chalk, playgrounds, underdog pushes, bedtimes prayers and bear hugs;

I have enjoyed every moment.

In our religion we believe that Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.
I absolutely believe this to be true. I would challenge anyone to hold a newborn baby in the first moments of their life and deny God. One whiff of that sweet skin and you will remember "that is heaven".

Motherhood; Those who raised me and the man I love and the children that gave me this title; it has been my greatest and most cherished blessing.

Sharing the Love

Since Ben was a small baby he has been passionate about one thing... books. Ben spoke very early. He was talking in sentences at eighteen months and I think it had much to do with the hundreds if not thousands of books he had read to him by that point. It was ALL he wanted to do. Ben's love of books (and the sound of his own voice...) has grown with his vocabulary and it is not uncommon for him to pile up a stack beside him to go over and "read" on his own for an hour.

Yesterday Ben carefully selected his reading material. Situated himself just so on the couch and then patted his lap.

"Mommy, I need Jacob now".

He wanted to read to his brother.

Not wanting to discourage this milestone moment I quickly plopped Jake (who is now half Ben's size and quickly gaining) on his lap. Ben read to him.

...sort of :)