Some Moments

Some moments, I'm out of a job... 

Handy Man

 Just a little handy man with his tool box...

Found

 I found these pictures on my phone that were taken on Tuesday... an artistic portrayal of lunch time.

My favorite is the second picture of Caroline...

1000 Words

 1000 Words

In Here

 "Finally a chance to see what they've really been hiding in here..."

What You Haven't Done Today

 He doesn't do it every day, but not infrequently, Hubby will be talking to one of the kiddos and then, out of the blue say, "You know what you haven't done today?" and the child says, "What?"

Daddy replies, "Given me a great, big, gigantic, HUG!"

And the child happily gives daddy the biggest hug he or she possibly can.

Yesterday, Tracey got home from her second day of first grade... and as dinner started, she looked at Lee Lee and said, "Lee Lee, you know what you haven't done yet today?"

Lee Lee said "what?"

Tracey replied, "Given me a great, big, gigantic HUG!"

Lee Lee immediately ran to Tracey and the two of them hugged.

Illustrated His Point

 Our girls are each less than two years apart from their older sister so our laundry, drawers, and storage are overflowing with girls clothing.

And yet, somehow I seem to consistently put Hunter's shorts in Howard's clothing drawer.

Well, I guess a few days ago, he was tired to bringing me Hunter's shorts found in his bin... so he just put them on.

It was pretty funny, and he certainly illustrated the point -- check the size, Mama!

A New Chapter

 Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for us.

Tracey will begin first grade at a new school.

Truthfully, the new chapter began one year ago when Tracey started full-day kindergarten and wasn't home with the other children all the time.  But, after seven months of school, she came back home again -- we all did because of COVID school closures.

We have ALL been home for the past five and a half months... and it has been crazy, and it has been wonderful.  Learning to live in our home, with only each other has been a blessing.

Tomorrow, Tracey goes back out into the world... a different world than she's ever experienced... it is a new chapter for us.

Style

 Her style is one-of-a-kind

Prioritizing Students

 Teachers are stressed right now, and justifiably so.  Teachers are rolling up their sleeves and doing what needs to be done... but everything is different.

I have heard many teachers say the same thing this year -- "I feel like a first year teacher."  Others have said, "I feel like I am being set up to fail."

I could go into all kinds of particulars as to why the teachers are stressed.  I could tell first hand situations that demonstrate why the teachers feel set up to fail.  I could relay the laundry list of everything that is different from last year to this year.  None of that will help anyone (including me) feel more prepared for the first week of school... so I'm going to tell you something else.

Yesterday, Tracey received a hand-written postcard from her new first-grade teacher.

With ALL the things this teacher is learning, planning, arranging, and organizing for the start of the year, she took the time to write a lovely note to Tracey.  This teacher recognized that back-to-school looks differently this year, and she has not had the chance to welcome students to back-to-school nights, or orientation events.  Of all the demands upon her time, she values personally welcoming her students to school before the first day in an effort to make them as comfortable as possible to be in her class for the first day of school.

This is the nature of teachers -- they will prioritize the students above everything else.  Above the stress, above the changes, above the policy and protocols... good teachers, true teachers are going to welcome students back for a fantastic year -- and they are going to get creative, because teachers are creative people.

Here is the best part -- Tracey was able to read almost the entire postcard message independently.

In every sense, she is ready for first grade!

Here Mama

 "Here Mama!  I brought this for you!"

Hunter Nicholas -- Nine Months

 Hunter turned nine months a few days ago and what a big month this has been for our little boy.

Hunter at nine months

Lee Lee at nine months

Caroline at nine months

Howard at nine months

Twins at nine months

Tracey at nine months

Comparison picture at nine months

Weight: 

Straight from his nine month check-up: 16 pounds, 6 ounces

Length:  

Straight from his nine month check-up: 27.5" long

Clothing size: 

Almost all 12 month clothing... but honestly, I just have him wear summer clothes.  I did recently buy him an outfit and I ordered 12 months.  It is big on him, but it fits.  I'm not returning it -- so 12 months.

 Eating:  

At the moment, Hunter can eat anything except peanuts and eggs.  He avoids all peanuts, peanut products, eggs, and food that contains either peanuts or eggs.

He eats really well for us and loves most foods.  This week, I made beef stroganoff and he gobbled that up!  He also loves rice, veggies, chicken, fruit, sweet potatoes, elk meat, tacos, spaghetti, yogurt... we have not found anything I can think of that he doesn't like.  Now that I think of it, he has some chicken fajitas and I think the spices upset his tummy a little.

He drinks water with his meal and he still nurses several times a day as well.

He has another round of allergy tests this month, and we learned he has no additional food allergies... but he does have INCREDIBLY sensitive skin.  He had a reaction to the Negative Saline Control that they put on his back -- so sometimes when his skin reactions, its just sensitive skin, not a food allergic reaction.  That has not been a fun balance to navigate, but thankfully, he is an incredibly happy baby, so we're figuring things out.

Sleeping:  

Hunter sleeps well and usually takes 2 naps a day.  He naps mid-day for about 2 hours, and again in the late afternoon for maybe 1 hour, and is ready for bed by about 8:00.  He sleeps through the night for between 11-12 hours.

New things/discoveries/accomplishments: 

One new tooth

Crawling (well, sliding/scooting -- but he moves forward on his belly and moves quickly, so I call it crawling) -- he is officially mobile

Pulling up on things

Going from his tummy to a seated position

Rolling over -- FINALLY!  This baby literally started crawling, and then realized it was to his benefit to roll over.

Lots of babbling -- We say, "Say Mama!" and he usually responds with "Dada" or "Nana"

Lots of days in the stroller while Mama walks or jogs or bikes while the big kids ride bikes

He got his first actual viral infection this month where he had a fever for a few days, and was incredibly fussy, and a few days later he broke out with a post-fever rash.  Everything was cleared up in a few days, but he was a fussy little boy for a few days.

He is still working on holding a bottle -- little guy has been nursed since the pandemic started, so when I gave him a bottle of water this month, he had no idea what to do with it.  The big kids love holding it for him, which, of course, does not help him learn to hold it for himself.

Likes: 

Walking in his walker

Crawling

Being around his siblings

Tags -- like the silky tags on her stuffed animals

Daddy

Tiny pieces of paper on the floor, which he then puts immediately in his mouth

Chattering

Baths

Meal time

Waking Lee Lee up from her naps -- and trying to steal her passie

Being carried by Tracey, Howard, or Caroline

Naps

Dislikes:

Being sick

Tummy aches

Sitting still for diaper changes when he could be crawling around

 Places He's Gone:

Special Memories: 

Attending a local photographer's annual Breastfeeding Awareness photo shoot.  I went two years ago with Lee Lee and it was nice to go with Hunter.  I'm sure most of the time I completely take for granted the fact I've been able to nurse five babies over the past six-and-a-half years.  I wouldn't trade it for the world, but the truth is that it takes determination, commitment, and sacrifice, and it is so kind of this photographer to appreciate and celebrate this every August with a free photo shoot for nursing Mamas.

Nicknames:

Hunt Hunt (by Lee Lee)

Hunner (by Caroline)

Hunny (by Howard and Tracey)

Buddy

Little Guy

Happy Boy

Buster

Buzz Boy

Hunt Buddy

Pictures from this month: