Pumpkin Versatility

Aside from carving, eating and decorating, did you know that pumpkins are also useful for

climbing,

sitting,

and sleeping?

Front and Back

Our friend Beth and her mom Nancy recently surprised the kids with special shirts.

The shirts are special for many reasons. 

1.  Beth and Nancy made the shirts for the kids.

2.  The three girls shirts match.

3.  The girls shirts all say "Big Sister."

4.  The girls LOVE wearing these shirts

way more than they love having their pictures taken.

5.  Joey's shirt, although you can't see it, says "Baby Brother."

And the very best part about these shirts?

They have their animal names printed on the back!

(Porcupine - Xandra, Bandicoot - Liyah, Platypus - Theia, and Binturong (aka Bearcat) - Joey)

Thanks Beth and Nancy for a super fun, super thoughtful gift!

Front Door Decor

Many homes are decorated with hanging plants by the doorway.  Ours is no exception.

The only difference?  Ours is turning orange for Halloween. 

Okay, maybe not the only difference, but who's keeping track?

What You Get at 4AM

A few weeks ago around the four o'clock hour, the one in the morning when normal people who don't live in newbornland are sleeping, my husband rolled over and in a dazed stupor said, "What are you doing?"  I sheepishly replied, "Taking a few pictures.  I haven't taken any of Joey in awhile and I keep forgetting during the day, so I thought I'd just take a few right now."   I'm pretty sure Joe was asleep again before I even finished my explanation, but not before he rolled his eyes at me.  He also made sure to inquire about my photoshoot antics first thing in the morning as I was wondering around in my lack-of-sleep haze.

I can't say what I was thinking taking pictures instead of sleeping, except that I felt awake enough to take them, but I can recommend 4AM for one month old pictures if you'd like to snap pictures of an alert baby.  This is not something you usually see in a one month old at 4PM when conventional wisdom tells you it's a good time to take pictures.

Someday I'll learn to edit photos, but in the meantime you can enjoy the realness of that huge spit up, or is it pee?, stain on my bed.  That's what 1 month olds are really about, well, that and 4AM.

In other one month old news, Joey weighed in at 9 lbs. 4 oz. and was 21.5 inches long.  He's generally mild mannered, spits up a lot, has peed on the doctor twice and his mother once (don't worry, he got daddy with poop!), and has slept a few four hour stretches.  He's regularly woken from naps by his big sisters, enjoys tummy time and has already tried on his first high heel. 

Translation, Please!

Most moms translate what their children say and do for others.  I, however, seem to be in need of a translator. 

Recently, seeing she had finished the food on her tray and in her bowl, I asked,

"La (one of many nicknames for her), do you want more?"

She replied, "Nah(in a short and clipped tone, meaning no)!

So, naturally, I asked, "Are you all done?"

She replied, "Nah (in the same short and clipped tone, still meaning no)!

Then she promptly put her bowl on her head and smiled at me.

What does THAT mean?

Translation, please!

Little Momma

I'm often asked how the girls are adjusting to having a new brother in the house.  My response is that they are doing well.  They all show interest in him at various points throughout the day, love to tell me if he's crying, ask to hold him, and try their best to help me take care of his needs by getting blankies, burp clothes, and picking out outfits for him to wear. 

Lately Theia seems to be especially captivated by the baby.  It is not uncommon for Theia to run up to the baby after not seeing him for awhile and say, "Baby Joey, baby Joey, baby Joey." 

Two weekends ago as we were getting ready to go somewhere I left the baby on our bed while I got ready to go.  She sat on the bed for a long time and talked to baby Joey, held his hand, and let him suck her finger when he cried.  As we got closer to leaving I moved baby Joey to his carseat.  After strapping him into his seat and leaving the room, I came back into the room to see this:

Theia was happily reading a book to baby Joey.  She would stop to show him the pictures occassionally and then carry on with the story. 

Theia is not the only one who likes to help take care of the baby and shower him with attention.  Earlier this week I caught Aliyah on video tape gving Joey some attention, too.



After playing with the baby, Aliyah was certain that he needed to eat.

It's sometimes a tough balance between letting them love him and preventing them from harming him (as seen above).  I hope as Joey grows, he continues to keep his mild, easy going manner.  He's going to need it with pamering from the likes of his sisters.   

No Explanation Whatsoever

I have no explanation for the pictures you are about to view.  The reason I have no explanation is twofold:  a.  I did not take the pictures.  b.  When I quizzed my husband regarding the reason behind these pictures he had no explanation.

Since there is no real explanation, I think it appropriate that we create a few:

a.  He's secretly trying to get A & W to sponsor Joey's college education.  By photographing a cute baby with their product, they'll be convinced and quickly call to set up the college fund and sign Joey for a multi-million dollar marketing contract.

b.  He thinks this will help bottle-train Joey.

c.  He likes to taunt his small children by putting things within their reach that they aren't allowed to eat or drink.

d.  He wanted to get yet another photo of Theia with food on her face and this was the most convenient way to do it.

e.  He hasn't been very busy at work or home lately and has oodles of free time.  

f.  He hopes that if A & W won't sponsor Joey's college education, maybe they'll find Theia worthy.

g.  He likes to set our children on tall things (these pictures were all taken on the deep freeze) to see how long it will be before one of them falls.

h.  Because Joey is safer when the girls hold the A & W instead of him (it was dropped on the floor a number of times, if I recall correctly).

i.  How could A & W say no to shelling out some dough for this cutie?

j.  He likes doing things in sets of four.

k.  Because Aliyah needs a college sponsor, too.

l.  He's hoping to use the money A & W sends for these photos to take his wife on a Carribean cruise this December and didn't want to tell her about it.

 Reason "l" is obviously the most likely answer.  I think I'll start shopping for a new swimsuit.

On second thought, maybe he's just starting a new tradition.

Sunday Best

We received this adorable outfit in a bag of hand me downs from a family at church.  I love it, sweater vest, button-up checkered shirt, matching belt and all.

 

When I put it on Joey a few weeks ago before church, his dad, of course, was sure the baby would be beaten up for wearing it. 

I don't know if it was the stripey belt of the sweater vest that put Joe over the edge, but he found the outfit as ridiculous as I found it cute.

Celebrating Four

This post is long overdue.  The pictures (again from Naomi) have long been buried in my email.  Thanks, Naomi, for helping us remember another big moment at the Pull Household.

Xandra turned four on August 27th.  We celebrated as a family on her birthday and then a few days later had some friends over to celebrate again.

The evening started with water fun in the backyard.

Andrew

Steven

Xandra & Jillian

After the sprinkler fun, we ate some hamburgers and hotdogs.

Theia, Oliver & Liyah

It's always a question as to how much the kids actually eat. I do know that for at least 2 minutes they all sit down and guzzle some juice or milk before they run off to play some more.

Some children, like Aliyah, who are strapped in a chair, however, DO eat.

A lot.

After dinner, we made some strawberry homemade ice cream to enjoy with the strawberry birthday cake.

Several of the kids helped us make it.

While they were waiting for the ice cream to freeze, they played dress up.

Once the ice cream was ready, we unveiled the birthday cake.

For the second year in a row, Xandra requested a pink, purple and green butterfly cake.

The excitement was building.  We just needed to light the candles and find the birthday hat.

Xandra was ready for this part.  She knew exactly what to do when everyone stopped singing.

We snapped a few shots of all the kids at the party (with assistance from a few parents).



Bottom Row:  Nancy, Theia, Jillian, Xandra, Andrew, Heidi
Top Row:  Madeline (with daddy Andrew), Ava, Faith (with daddy Brad), Steven, Aliyah (with friend Mrs. Hull)
Not pictured:  Oliver, Quincy & Anna



While the cake was being cut, they were very patient, but also very anxious to get their piece.

When the waiting was finally over, they all dug in! 

I don't know how it happened so quickly, but there's no denying it, there is a four year old running around our house.

We can't wait to see what adventures come our way this year.  Happy FOURTH birthday, sweet porcupine!