I'm old.

Our washing machine died on Saturday. It died full of dirty water and old rags. It died with smokey camping clothes piled high in front of it. It died with a week's worth of laundry waiting patiently their turn. And the clothes and work have kept piling up all week with the washer out of commission. You'd think I'd be put out, frustrated. Yet all I can think about is My New Washer coming on Thursday. No more 20 year old washer our dear friends gave us when we moved into our house. So, I declare myself officially old. I thought I could skirt it a while by staying clear of buying The Mini Van and signing up for facebook. But I guess there's no escaping. I'm old. Old enough to be excited about a new appliance... super excited.

9 months

Jonah had his 9 month wellness check up this week and is growing like he should. He's hit most of his milestones and "is thriving!" {I love my doctor because she's always glowing about the progress of your child. The whole appointment is filled with "He's perfect!" and "What a beautiful boy!"and "Such a cutie!" I in no way believe she says that just to me and my (obviously) beautiful baby, but she knows what the parents want to hear.}

Anyway...

Weight: 21 lbs {26th%}
Height: 30 in {95th%}

So he's basically tall and skinny in this stage of development, a stage he obviously did not get from his mother. Even the doctor asked me if my husband was tall because he didn't seem to be getting my height. That's okay. I came to terms with my shortness years ago and am comfortably petite. But thankfully our boys haven't inherited it.

Jonah is army crawling all over the place, constantly making his rounds from room to room making sure all is scattered to his liking. He pulls himself up on things which makes me nervous since he is not too nimble but he's only fallen a few times. He finally slept through the entire night again after a week messed up by a cold. Man, you sure get used to your sleep and it whacked me out not getting my solid 8 hours. Naps are still eratic and never last more than an hour, but what's a mom to do. He has two bottom teeth with two top ones fighting to make an appearance and I'm sure that hasn't helped things.

He's also turning into a mama's boy and usually wants me if I'm in the room. Lucas was never that way, always went to anyone so this is kind of new. But as you can see from the video, JB also loves his daddy who can always get him to laugh with his silly songs.




We filmed one take too many. Over-enthusiastic parents. Lucas and I laugh every time we see Jonah's face before he goes over.
No babies were harmed in the making of this clip.

Jonah & his Nana

A few of my favorite pictures of Jonah and my mom while in Spokane.



When I view the pictures on the computer they are crystal clear but when they are uploaded onto the blog they become fuzzy and mottled. Any suggestions on how to help that?

Flaming Guitars & Orange Skulls

This summer I made a "Summer Fun" box filled with random ideas and activities we could do together on a down day with nothing planned. I patted myself on the back for being such a fun mom and actually being prepared with wonderful adventures for us to do together....We did exactly 3 things from our "Summer Fun" box. Now, some might think the box was a failure. But I just see it that we had so many other vacations, trips, camps and exciting activities planned that we didn't need any outside help.

One such activity from the box we actually ended up doing was making fleece pants, or as we Williams call them "keeemp pants." (You can ask Grandpa Williams why we call them that.) Anyway, we found a simple pattern and Lucas chose his fabric, cut out the fleece and sewed most of them himself. It was fun to work together and have Lucas learn a new skill. Did I mention he got to choose his own fabric? He even came up with the two-toned idea and was thrilled he could combine two of his favorite fabric finds. Yes, those are electric guitars on a background of flames and orange skulls swirling in a sea of grey smoke. What mother wouldn't be proud.



What a look of excitement and anticipation of his first day of 4th grade.
Lucas is such a goofball. I can hardly ever get a simple smile out of him any time I try to take a picture these days.
Overheard conversation:
We are riding back from a friend's lake house in Spokane and in the very back seat was Lucas and the 6 year old little sister of one of Lucas' friends. She fought to be the one to ride home with Lucas instead of the friend. They were talking the whole time about games, school, life, etc.
Jaylee: "You're nice. Usually my brother and his friends won't let me play and just ignore me."
Lucas about as a matter-of-factly as possible: "Yea, well, I am nicer than most people."

I have to agree for the most part. Yesterday I was driving Lucas and his best friend Kyle to soccer practice and we were talking about school.
Lucas: I am so excited when we get our 1st grade buddies and we get to teach 'em stuff.
Kyle: Yea, it should be fun.
Lucas: Kyle, whoever gets to be your buddy sure is lucky.
Kyle: Really? Why?
Lucas: Cause you're AWESOME!!

Hey, he gives people their props. Like I said, what mother wouldn't be proud.

Morning bliss

It's 10am and Jonah is down for his SECOND nap of the morning. He got up at 6am as usual and is already unconscious for the second time. I guess he just got out of whack for a few days and now he's making up for it. I love it! I've worked out, written emails for PTA, made myself a great breakfast of fresh fruit and eggs, studied my scriptures and even bought a few new prints for the dining room. I decided I needed to do something new in there. We have the classic fruit pictures we bought 10 years ago and a heavy, old mirror I salvaged at DI that needs new life. I'll switch out the fruit for something more...I don't know the word. More modern? Brighter? Anyway just better. I found some GREAT prints on etsy. And paint the mirror yet again to match the new, brighter colors. Add new curtains, a chandelier (I haven't run that past the hubby yet. Love you.) for better light and whatever else I can come with. I saw a great, low dresser out on a lawn down the street the other day. You know the place where they put stuff that they want people to just take. It had great lines and would fit right in the corner where we keep the phone. All it needed was to be refinished and some updated knobs. But it took me a day to get the nerve to go ask them about it and when I went back it was gone. So sad. Gotta snatch those deals when I see them.

We're also remodeling our master bathroom and I'll do before and after shots once we're done. I was talking to a good friend the other day about all the work we've done to our old house. We've redone almost everything inside and out, doing most of it ourselves. I have random before and after pictures of a few rooms that I'll post sometime. We're definitely not professionals but like I've said before, our motto has always been "It couldn't look any worse." Except maybe our front yard. The jury is still out on that one.

Oh naps, where art thou?

These past few days Jonah has decided he doesn't need naps. He's too busy mining for dust bunnies under the beds, getting stuck in the pantry and discovering the dog food. Today he took 2 thirty minutes naps...the ENTIRE day. I barely had time to shower before he was up and ready to go again. I am not liking this. Really not liking this. Where's my time to blog stalk? And I can tell he's tired. Does the whole eye rub thing. He even fakes nodding off while he's eating. He just won't sleep. Funny though, the sweet baby isn't crabby at all....just his mother.

Man Time

Man Time is an important institution around here. It started years ago when Lucas was a baby and consisted of birding trips, walks on the beach, hanging out at home wrestling, reading lots of books and watching movies. He was the only 4 year old I knew who could quote the movie "Hunt For Red October," which for some reason got to be a man time staple. He didn't understand anything that went on in the movie but loved that it was a grown up movie he and his dad watched together. Jonah now joins the tradition which continues with Fathers & Sons camp outs, "Starch and Grease While Mom's Away Specials,"(a throw back to when Aaron was little) and is sometimes expanded to include cousins, uncles and grandfathers for the Infamous Mormon (Non)Lake weekend and other fun activities. Lucas adores his dad and almost makes me feel bad when he finds out I am going somewhere and cheers because he know it's man time.

I say almost. Because I know deep down he will always be a mama's boy... Just like his dad.

Appreciators

You gotta love grandparents. They are some of the only people who can handle the minute by minute recount of Life with Baby and I love they always listen attentively and appreciatively. They are "appreciators," as my mother-in-law calls herself. I find myself fascinated with the minutia of Jonah's life and I love that I have a captive audience with them. How he suddenly decided he wants to sleep on his side with his head crammed as far back as it can go or that after months of incessant drooling it has slowed now that his first 2 teeth have come in. How he always sticks his tongue out when he coughs and how he loves to laugh at the dog. I love that he almost always wakes up happy and likes to coo to himself for 15 minutes before he wants to get picked up. Or how his fists automatically go straight for Lucas' hair any time he wanders too close.

I love being a parent and watching first hand how a person learns and yet comes with so much pre-programmed. Jonah eats just like Lucas did (and still does), he snacks. He eats a little, gets distracted and then comes back when the hunger overcomes any other activity. Did he learn that from some idiosyncrasy of the way I feed him or did he come that way?

And I love how no matter what your child looks like, he could have a big round head and goofy hair, but you just know he is beautiful and has a smile that fills you like nothing else.


Starting the incredibly messy journey that is solid food.


Playing in what I call "ADD in a Box" or what Aaron calls "The OC," or Overstimulation Center. Jonah loves it and will play for what seems like hours, at least it feels that way when you're trying to make dinner.


The above mentioned awkward way to sleep.


Lucas teaching Jonah the fine art of watching Saturday morning cartoons.


I have always made these same minute observations, and still do, with Lucas, documented over the years in my 100 pages of "Lukey Updates" written for, who else, the appreciators who have always lived too far away. But he has come to an age that I don't think he would appreciate all my findings being shared with the world. He is easily embarrassed and kind of shy, like his mother. But don't worry grandparents, there are a few I have to share...just as soon as I get the pictures uploaded.