MDG's Year the First!

Well, for the first time in maybe ever I'm like six months behind.  But I do not accept this as an inevitability!  At least not yet.  So here's a quick update on Milo's first birthday.

At his first birthday this little man is eating most things and teething and waaaaalking all over the place.  I may or may not have mentioned that he seems to be making up for being such a mild newborn and using his recently discovered voice most vehemently, but he's just sooooo cute that it's easy to forget about that.  He doesn't really like sitting still but he occasionally likes a snuggle.  Doc says he's a healthy boy and his birthmark is pretty much here to stay and he's almost always happy.

He's a good boy and so loved by his parents and older siblings.

Discovering the ceiling fan

Fascinating!

New trick!

An artist

He loves a bath

And he loves his mommy!

1st birthday photoshoot 

That baby face

CAKE

I think he liked it.

 That's all for now!  I wish I could remember more but it's my own fault for waiting so long.  What matters most is that he's a happy, healthy, loved boy.

Baby Girl Turns 3

Just like last year, it's hard to believe another birthday for Smoochface has come and gone.  We still call her Baby and she's more adorable than ever with her snuggles and funny faces and that little Head Tilt she does and everything, but she's definitely growing up.  She makes jokes and tells stories and has tantrums on occasion, and is generally starting to figure things out.

In the name of keeping it real, for quite a while we've had this really weird and often distressing bedtime regression where the majority of the time she just screams when we leave the room no matter what we try or do or don't try or don't do, and no matter if we gave in to the stalling tactics or ignored them completely, and though all the websites say to just let her cry it out all over again it didn't seem to be doing the trick.  It was extremely frustrating and disheartening and causing our hearts to break on the regular but we just didn't know what to do about it.  She's just generally so sweet the rest of the time but we truly dreaded bedtime.  But, at long last, we've made some progress.  We feel like she's probably just lonely, because she's fine while we're nearby, so usually one of us will just lie on the floor next to her bed and read or write or elsewise multitask, so she knows we're not there to visit or play, but to keep company while she reads and goes to sleep.  Miraculously, it has really been working, and it's absolutely worth the time spent in her room (then we get some nice companionable silence with her instead of listening to her cry for an hour or two).  Next: how to get her to stay in her bed all night, though I admit the cozy snuggly warm body in between us at night is not an unwelcome thing to wake up to on cold nights.

Anyway, back to the real business:  She is so cute and funny and sweet.  She loves Nursery, she loves her bros, she loves her mommy, and I'm glad to report she loves her daddy too.  She dropped the binky with little to no reluctance ages ago, potty training was a relative breeze, she has a good and pretty varied appetite, she gets the usual scraped knees and bonks on the noggin that come with trying to go generally faster than her little legs will allow.  She sometimes has trouble listening but also knows how to obey.  She is observant and makes relevant remarks and jokes and always wants to know what we're talking about.  She has a lot of unique interests but she's also aware of what others are doing and enjoying.  She's both average and she's extraordinary.

Pictures!

Great baking helper

Clearly enjoying her (and our) first ever Comic Con.  She had a princess dress when we arrived but had an Accident before we even entered the venue, immediately outside of the bathroom of course.

She made up for the lack of costume the next day.

It's like she knows she's so adorable or something.

Except when she makes faces like this lawlawlawlawl.

Yes, based on the number of stickers on these charts... I'd say she has the concept of using the potty pretty well down.

Ward choir buddy.

Sunday picnic.  Those crossed ankles!!! <3 td="">

Her smile!  (And his!)

Quoth Mommy, cool shades, girlfriend!

Noticing a startling resemblance when we introduced the kids to a certain Christmas classic.

A budding artist!  All the grandkids love Nana's watercolor corner.

If there are Christmas lights on display we will find them!

First visit to Disneyland!!!  She had her concerns the first time on the Carrousel but she shortly overcame them and to this day tells us how she was "so brave!" thereafter.

Taking a little daddy-daughter walk one morning to the esplanade to clear the motel room space and give her a little breather.

Reposting this to draw your attention to...

...THIS. XD XD XD

Heading into Narnia at another small con in Sandy.

She loves a balloon animal.  I think the remaining portion of this poor creature was only just disposed of.

Her last night as a 2-year-old. So adorable when she sleeps. *sigh*

The birthday cereal box isn't really enormous, it's just enlarged to show texture.

This cake by Mommy is so amazing!!!  She loved it so much!!!

Big birthday smiles (and a photobomb by Charlie)

Happy birthday, Smooch.  You know how to work your Daddy but he also knows how to work you (as much as anyone knows how to work a toddler, ha).  We can't wait to see what 3 means for you.

Our Funny Valentine At 8 Months

8 months!  Our little man is still such a happy boy.  He's trying new foods and unfortunately sleeping not as well (plans are in place and being gradually carried out... once he's in his own room things will really improve we're sure), but he has a ready and willing smile and is babbling and crawling all over the place and starting to cruise and is generally as pleasant as ever.  He's always learning new tricks, like waving and clapping and maybe even saying recognizable words... He has two little storybook illustration bottom teeth and beautiful baby blues and his hair is growing in (surprise surprise) fine and fair.  He did a really awesome job on his first long road trip and family vacation, and obviously enjoyed his first visit to Disneyland.

It occurs to me again that for the other two kids I had spent a lot more time at home with them by this point so I kind of feel like I haven't had as much face time with this one (and not as many pictures...), but it makes the time we do spend together that much more special.  I often sit him on my lap for church meetings -- and we often nod off together, ha.

Such a happy boy. 

Best traveler!

Saying goodbye to CA.

That hat is barely fitting these days!

Everyone is smiling!  I think I was making some ridiculous face and sound effect combination but it worked.

Then there was Valentine's Day which of course I don't have a single picture to prove.  Oh wait, yes I do!

The Boy enjoyed his party at preschool and there were flowers and chocolate and promises I intend to keep, the usual family couples' sushi party with some nice modifications, and conversation hearts aplenty (two thoughts: I had some of the littler ones this year and what is the point of them if the words are so smudged you can't read them??  Also, did anyone else know these are actually specific flavors?!?  What.).  Of course I have to read them first and this was a random pick, which I showed to Julie, at which she replied, "I did!"  And I'm so glad she took the chance and sent that email, almost twelve years ago exactly.

Also a couple arts!  This one's kind of melancholy but this one makes up for it.

Until next month!  Which is like next week.

MDG at 7 Months

Last week Little Mister hit 7 months!  He's still as happy as ever, smiling at everyone and laughing at the ceaseless antics of his older siblings.  He's sitting up pretty well and trying some new "real" foods, he's sleeping mostly pretty well, though there are nights when he's just not very happy for reasons (the tooth that's emerged and others not far behind it could be the culprit).  The biggest news is that he's mobile!  He's thiiiiis close to actual crawling but he gets around just fine in his own way, which of course changes the game pretty significantly.  He's funny and observant and sometimes pouty but his smile just melts me.

This is actually from before his 6-month mark but I missed it somehow and look at him!!!  And that li'l Hmong hat!

At Daddy's Christmas choir concert!  It's never too early to start them on Bach.

Christmas Eve vest buddies.

First Christmas Day! 

This is actually a still from a video but you can gather what's going on.  He's almost at his goal!

He really likes me, but he loves his Mommy, as is right.

What did I say about that smile?!?

He has this funny pose lately where he turns and rests his arm on his bum.  This is pretty close.

And that's that for now!  Who knows what will have transpired by the time he hits 8?...

MDG at 1/2

Half a year!  Not for the first time this year I'm wondering where in the world the time went.  It just goes past.

Little Mister had his 6-month checkup this week and he's doing just great.  He's finally dropped out of the 100% for height, but he's getting so nice and chubbsy with his knee rolls and all.  He still has this little darkish triangular type mark thing on his hand, which the doc last time thought was due to contact with limes and sunlight, but it hasn't faded or changed, so it could just be a later-blooming birthmark.  He's still happy and smiley and laughy and spends his days rolling all over the place.  It's so funny to leave him on his blanket and then come back just a few seconds later and find him gnawing on some toy all the way across the room (or Christmas tree ornaments, eep).  He's definitely our holliest jolliest baby at this age and though he has his moments -- it's only fair, everyone gets hangry sometimes, and I myself can be pretty cranky when I'm tired -- but mostly he just looks around and checks everything out and laughs easily.  He's just starting on solids, sits up pretty well, sleeps mostly regularly and is overall a delight.

He's always glad to see me but he likes Mommy best (rightly so).

Parallel MDGs at Thanksgiving

First visit to the zoo!  It was cold but he had a good time.

Evidently!  (THOSE EYES.)

I mean, right??

Hanging at the adults ONLY ward Christmas party.  C'mon, son!  (Put intended.)

6 months!

Let's try some solid foods, boy!

Not sure what to think... he ended up eat some sweet potatoes and more or less enjoying the new sensations.

Half a cake for half a year!  He didn't get to eat any but we all sure did.  (Julie was determined his six-month cake wouldn't be neglected just because he's the third child.)

And now he's all set for his first-ever Christmas on the outside.  He's a good boy and we're all so happy he's ours.