What we've been doing

The other day my home teacher looked at me and asked, "So, what have you been up to?" I had to laugh just a little. I didn't have much new, exciting news to share. I just pointed to the boys, hoping that was enough of an explanation. He laughed, and it was.

Things are getting more normal around here. But my goodness - being a mom is a 24/7 job, isn't it? I know - you're laughing. But seriously, it never ends! There's no punching the clock at 4:00 pm at the end of a long work day. And I know long work days because I've done them over and over for the past 9 years in the "real world." This new job extends late into the evenings with dinner, baths, stories, bedtime, soothing, feeding, changing, etc., etc., etc. This is what I should be doing. This is what I want to be doing. I know that for sure. But again - wow. Just wow. I'm learning. Not fast, but learning.

Here are a few pics of my new little babe. I should have never dropped my computer. Getting the right programs to import a few little pictures has turned out to be more trouble than I thought it would be.

I also know that it's a little known fact that the kid(s) who are not the first don't get as many pictures. I HATE to admit that it is true. I even have the camera sitting on the kitchen counter waiting for the moments, but I'm usually holding McKay and feeding him when I think about it. I don't think that would be a very cute picture. I will do better.

McKay is so alert. He loves his swing. He doesn't love his binky. How do I fix that?
Gavin is a sweet big brother. Even he tried to help with the binky - no such luck. But how cute that he was trying to make him happy.
He's got more hair here. It's certainly growing. More around the sides, but it's coming in on top. I love this picture of him.
I love this bottom lip. How huge is that? It makes me sad to see it quiver when he cries, which has been a lot lately. My book (the book that tells me everything I need to know about being a parent - my bible if you will) says that peak fussiness is at 6 weeks. I agree. I knew they were right. The book is always right.

I do smell like baby vomit most of the time and have come to accept that is my new fragrance, at least for awhile. Attractive, huh?

I haven't managed to get a picture of him smiling yet, but he does and it's the sweetest thing. A new baby's smile is about one of the very best things I can think of. It makes him look like a while different person. Pure sweetnes, I tell you.

And this is what Gavin's been doing while I'm trying to feed the baby. He's managed to memorize Jungle Book, Jungle Book 2, Robin Hood, Snow White, and his current favorite, The Little Mermaid. If you ask nicely, he can sing a sweet version of Someday My Prince Will Come. Perfect. I have a whole new perspective on Disney. Are they allowed to call people "tramps" and "idiots" and stab Ursula in the chest with a boat while a two-year-old is watching? Yikes. We may need to revisit Baby Einstein...
Did you notice that he got Elmo his own bed? Gavin's been needing a friend these days. He pulled down the pillow and covered Elmo up all by himself. I'd say he knows how to take care of people.

He's been grabbing my leg lately saying, "My mommy." I think his possessiveness is actually pretty cute. It's nice to know, in all his sassiness, that he still loves me. Between tantrums and hitting me and telling me no, I still see glimpses of my sweet boy in there. They come late at night when I'm reading him a story or often right after his nap when he's fresh and ready to play. "Okay, mommy. Love you. Thanks." Things like that. I love to hear that from him.

Anyway, I hope it doesn't sound like I'm in the depths of despair. I'm not. But again, if I was, then that would be fine too. This is just the real us today. And it's good. Tired, but good.