The Cereal Thing

As I mentioned in the prevous post, Paige had her first taste of "real" food last week.  If, by any stretch of the imagination, rice cereal can be called "real" anything.  Either way, we whipped  her up a bowl and got her started.  I'd be surprised if she even swallowed a teaspoon total, and while she didn't seem excited about it, she didn't hate it either.  She just seemed puzzled by the whole process.  Each of the kids took a turn feeding her a bite, especially Merry Grace who I lovingly refer to as Mom #2.

I believe she got the spoon in quite far enough.  :)  

Elise is such a great helper.  What in the world would we do without her?!

I believe he had the technique down quite well.

The happy eater, proudly displaying how well she could spit out everything that went into her mouth.  At that, she was a pro!

All About Paigie Poo

The big kids around here get lots of press, so I thought it was Paige's turn for a little attention. (Not that she's lacking in that department, but you get the idea. :))  So here are some of my favorite pictures of Baby Paige.

She is just dang cute.  She smiles more than any baby I have ever seen.  Maybe I'm funnier than I used to be (or funnier looking.)  Maybe there are more people around to make her smile than ever before.  Either way, she's got a big, bright, beautiful smile and is getting lots of practice using it.  

So here is Miss Paige, happy as a clam, while I was folding laundry.  She was sitting in her bumbo, being entertained by flying clothes and Merry Grace.  Is that smile not the sweetest thing?

Paige is also spending time on the floor learning how to wiggle around, roll back and forth, get toys, put anything and everything in her mouth...oh yeah, and smile.

We gave Paigie a few spoonfuls of rice cereal the other day.  She was puzzled and unimpressed, but could still manage a smile for anyone willing to look. :)

Mid-diaper change, half naked--it doesn't matter.  She will still smile like nobody's business.  We love this little smiling cutie-pie to pieces.  Sometimes literally where the kids are concerned.  Some people might say she's spoiled.  We like to say she's "well-loved".  And she is. :)

Fashionista

I'm hoping this picture illustrates the sorts of fashion catastrophes we have to deal with with this little young'un.  But, daggone it, she sure is cute. :)

Sunday Morning Craziness

I'm sure I've written before about what a challenge Sunday mornings are sometimes (i.e. all the time.)  Yesterday was no different.  In the spirit of true confessions, I didn't get up early enough to make the morning as smooth as it could have been.  In fact, I slept in and then procrastinated getting up.  As much as I would love to blame someone else, that is completely my fault.  Things just disintegrated into chaos from there on out.  I bought Ian a new dress shirt with a neck tie because very often he looks thrown away when he walks into church.  He doesn't like "regular" Sunday clothes and up until now have let him get away with polo's and outfits (admittedly) much worse.  So getting him to wear his new button up shirt was a nightmare, mainly for Cory.  I'm pretty sure he whined about how itchy his shirt was for a solid 15 minutes, interspersed with cries, foot stomping and attempts and unbuttoning.  Once he realized that some of his much coveted computer privileges would be taken away if he took his shirt off or continued his shenanigans, his tirade miraculously stopped and he went to church looking handsome and without another complaint.  Amazing!!!  (He did not tuck in the shirt, though, but at that point it was not a battle worth fighting.) 

 In the meantime, Merry Grace decided since both Elise & I were wearing skirts that she should too.  So we found a black skirt she could wear and a cute red and white polka-dotted shirt.  This little gal has her own style, which includes layering, sometimes as many as 5 shirts at a time.  Unfortunately we couldn't find an acceptable shirt for her to wear underneath the red one and after much ado, she took the whole outfit off and ended up in the same dress she wears each week.  Never mind the fact that she has probably 10 nice dresses in her closet (thanks to her big sister and older cousins).  Oh well.  Of course there were the typical tasks of hair fixing, teeth brushing, make-up, baby feeding and so on.  We were finally more or less ready to go out the door, late of course, when we realized that only Merry Grace had eaten breakfast (although she vehemently denied it.)  Have I mentioned that Ian will sometimes throw up if he doesn't eat breakfast?  So we had to make sure he got something to eat.  By the time we finally got in the van (after another round with Merry Grace over a "small jacket"--her words--to wear outside) the baby's car seat was in the wrong car and had to be moved.  At long last we arrived at church, considerably late at this point, quite frazzled and completely worn out.  We didn't arrive perfectly, we didn't arrive on time, but we arrived.  So I'm going with an A+ for perseverance and a firm committment to wake up earlier next week! :)

Sweet Baby Paige

I had some other things I was going to post about, but they're all taking more time that I want to devote this morning.  So instead, here's a picture of cute little Paige.  

She is just the cutest, sweetest thing ever.  She is getting really attached to me.  She is fine with Cory holding her, but if she sees me nothing will do but for her to get to me.  She will start wriggling, squirming and fussing until I take her.  (Which I not-so-secretly love.)  She also wants me to be the one to pick her up from her nap.  A friend of mine, who has a baby a few weeks younger than Paige mentioned this with her little boy.  Even when Cory picks her up sometimes, you can see her looking around, trying to find me.  She loves to grin when we talk to her and loves the kids to play with her.  

They are all very attentive to her, in different ways.  Elise holds her the most, and is a huge help when she's not in school.  She can hold her while I get dinner going or get a few housework items done that require two hands to accomplish.  Elise is very protective and responsible. 

 Ian kisses her like no other.  He always has a smooch for her cheek and often cannot walk past her without giving her one of his signature big, wet kisses--even if she is sound asleep and his kiss will wake her up.  And heaven help us if she gets tired of playing on her blanket with her toys or wants out of her bumbo.  The minute she starts to fuss, Ian practically demands her needs be met.  He doesn't like for her to cry at all.  

And of course, there's Merry Grace.  She thinks she's Paige's other Mommy.  I have to watch out for her, because if Paige is laying on her blanket, its not unusual that Merry Grace will decide Paige needs a diaper change or a new outfit and often takes matters into her own hands.  She loves doing all those "mommy" activities and is so cute doing it, even if she doesn't get the diaper taped on just right or the snaps of an outfit put together in just the right way.  She's surprisingly efficient for one her age. 

 I think the facetious question my pediatrician asked one day when I'd brought the whole crew with me for Paige's check-up says it best.  After glancing at the older kids and then at Paige he asked, "Well, is she getting any attention?"  I think the answer is a resounding "Yes!" :)

I am a killjoy

Yes, I am a killjoy. A fun-sucker, a wet blanket, a party pooper and a stick in the mud. I will not let my kids do anything. I will not let them pour sand all over the trampoline and then jump on it. I will not let them use the book "The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo" or "Charlotte's Web" or any other such reading material as a notebook. They are for reading, not writing. I will not let them draw all over their arms with a permanent marker, no matter how pretty it looks. I will not let them throw a football at the ceiling fan. I will not let them skip a bath because they like to be dirty. I will not let them blow bubbles on the carpet. I will not let them stick things in the electrical outlets. I will not let them paint the bathroom floor or the carpet with nail polish. I will not let them use my glass vases as targets for their dart guns. Apparently these are the only things on the fun list and since they can't do any of them they cannot have any fun. So, unfortunately, I have rained on their parade. Maybe tomorrow will be more fun. :)

Around Here

I think kids are so funny and silly.    Last night Elise lost another tooth.  Merry Grace wanted one of her teeth pulled so badly she cried herself to sleep because we wouldn't pull one of them.  Seriously, what can you do about that?  She is one determined little girl. :)  

The other day I was  talking to my brother about a situation and I described something as annoying.  Since Elise was nearby and I didn't want her to know what I was saying I spelled a-n-n-o-y-i-n-g really fast, thinking she wouldn't put it together that way.  After I got done with my sentence, Elise goes, "You said it was annoying.  I can spell, you know."

This morning I was taking a shower when Ian had to poopy.  We have a rule with him that he needs to use one wet wipe and then one wipe with toilet paper.  As he was taking care of business he said, "Did you know that sometimes I just pretend to wipe off with toilet paper and then use another wet wipe because they work much better?"  Actually I had no idea about this, but it cracked me up.  Oh well.  So much for our great idea.

One day last week, Ian and Merry Grace were eating a snack.  Apparently the snack wasn't entertaining enough, because this is what they ended up doing.  I would just love to know the thought process that led to this. :)

Cory bought these sticker things to use on something he was working on.  He ended up not needing them, and Ian took matters into his own hands.  I'm so glad he had $3.00 worth of fun here.  The best part is that when he took them off he stuck them to the kitchen table and it took goof off and quite a bit of elbow grease to get it off.

Paige isn't up to much mischief these days.  She is just cute as a button all the time.  She can scoot/roll around on the floor a little bit.  She loves grasping onto things with her hands.  She loves falling asleep holding onto a blanket, the edge of my t-shirt, a stuffed animal, or anything else she can get her hands on.  And of course she has her thumb popped right in her mouth.  She also has fun in her bumbo.  She thinks she's much bigger than she really is.  This is where she hangs out when I am working in the kitchen.  Even being cute all the time can wear you out.  Could you not just EAT her up? :)

I Am a Child of God

This is one of Merry Grace's favorite songs.  She sings all the time and is so cute doing it.  How can you not love this?

Yes, it is still Christmas...

I have decided I will post our Christmas memories here if it kills me.  Which it may. :)  Nevertheless, in the spirit of all the fun times we had, I'm surging forward, hoping I can preserve for history's sake, our 2008 Christmas experience.

Just to recap, we celebrated our own little Christmas morning, then went to Cory's family's house, and then late on Christmas Eve headed up to my family's house.  It's hard to capture all the things we did and all the memories we made in just a few paragraphs, but here are some highlights:

Over the past couple of years we've tried to incorporate a feeling of serving one another into our Christmas.  So each year we have the name of another family member to serve throughout the year.  So on Christmas Eve, even though it was late, we gathered together and recounted how we'd served each other.  It was a fun, bonding time as a family and made us appreciative of one another as we realized the sacrifices made in our behalf.  And there was a pretty good dose of laughter in there too, I believe.  Because that is just what we do. :)

On Christmas Morning, our little munchkins were up early and ready for presents.  Since they are the only little kids on my side of the family, it became their job to wake up my brothers who seem to have lost some of that Christmas morning magic.  I think they succeeded in helping them reclaim it. :)  About 15 years ago, my aunt,  uncle and cousins came out to spend Christmas with my Grandma and my family.  On Christmas morning, when my teenage cousin wouldn't get up for presents, my Grandma took matters into her own hands and walked into his room with a bell singing, "I heard the bells on Christmas Day" as loud as she could.  Needless to say, it woke him up and the same technique worked well with my brothers.  The kids took some of my Dad's bells (luckily he collects them, so they had many to choose from) and rang them and sang until my brothers were up.  Only they sang "Jingle Bells" since its a little more kid friendly.  So the tradition lives on...

Speaking of my Grandma, the bell-ringer herself, here she is holding Paige who she more frequently refers too as "little doll."  One of the best parts of Christmas is just being with family.  I love my Grandma to pieces and she loves me and my kids just as much.  Isn't she a dear?

And here is my Daddy's mom, loving on the babe as well.  She's the most talented seamstress--she made both my prom dresses, Ian's blessing suit and my wedding gown as well.  She also knitted all our Christmas stockings (which you can see a picture of in the collage below).  

One of my favorite things about the holidays were a few well-timed naps. :)  Here I was snuggled up with Elise's curious George stuffed animal.  Let me just tell you, I was OUT.  I'm just glad I wasn't drooling!

One of Ian and Elise's favorite things about the holidays was unrestricted computer time.  The sweet thing was, one would get on the desktop computer, the other on the laptop, and they would play the same game at the same time.  They really loved working together to win the games.  

Merry Grace spent quite a bit of time over the holidays blowing out candles.  She repeatedly told my mom that it was her birthday, at which time we would all stop what we were doing and sing "Happy Birthday to You" to her and then let her blow out the candle.  No wonder I've thought she acted 25--that's probably how many birthdays she celebrated! :)

Over the Christmas holidays, my brother proposed to his girlfriend and she said YES!  I'm so excited to finally have a brother join the married ranks and especially with this girl.  Can I just tell you that she is awesome?  She's beautiful, smart, accomplished, good and fun!  We truly couldn't imagine him with anyone better.  They are wonderful together and we can't wait for the wedding this summer!!!

The best part of the holidays--being together! 

It was a wonderful holiday.  We were blessed with health, happiness and the ability to not wring each others necks.  We survived it and we loved it!  What more can you ask?

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!!

When I checked the weather Monday morning, I saw that the forecast had changed to include a pretty good chance of snow the next day.  It has been several years since we had a really good snow--long enough that neither Paige nor Merry Grace had ever seen a good one and Ian was just a little boy and didn't really remember it either.  I hated to get my hopes up because snow in this area can be pretty finicky, but I was really, really wanting a good snow.  I kept waking up during the night and looking out my window to see if it had started snowing.  I was starting to get a little discouraged, but when I looked out around 3:30am, I could see the ground was already looking white.  By morning, you couldn't see the grass and by afternoon we had a good  6 or 7 inches.  As soon as we ate breakfast, we bundled up and went outside to play.  Cory worked from home, so he took a break from work to go outside with us.  It was so much fun.  The kids loved tasting the snow, walking around in it, tasting it again, running around in it and dodging snowballs from their mom and dad.  After we'd gotten good and cold and a little wet, we came back in for hot chocolate.  We spent the day playing games indoors, snacking on yummy homemade treats, going out for some snow time, and watching movies.  We had a great time and enjoyed every minute of our snow day--especially the NO SCHOOL part! :)  If only we could get it to snow again next week....

Here are three of my little snow bunnies.  It was hard to get the three of them to hold still long enough to get them all in the same picture. :)

After being pelted with a snowball or two, Merry Grace decided to try her hand at making them.  It was more like a snow "bunch" than an actual ball, but that didn't stop her from throwing them at anyone who got close enough.  She actually loved being hit with snowballs.  She would walk up to me and stretch out her arms and go, "You can't hit me!"  Of course, then she would just stand there and wait until I did and then just laugh and laugh.  She is a good sport. :)

Elise had laid down in the snow to make a snow angel when Ian saw an opportunity to get the upper hand in the snowball fight.  Which he did by hitting her right in the face, while she was laying on the ground.  Poor girl.  I can't blame her for not liking this too well.  He got me square in the face a little later and it was COLD!!!  Trust me, she got even, though. :)



Here's proof that Paige and I actually got out in the snow.  Usually I'm so busy taking pictures that I'm never in any of them.  Not that I really want my mug in a lot of pictures, but now there's evidence that I was out in the snow.  Paige was so bundled up the cold didn't even seem to bother her.  She just grinned and grinned.  It was cute to see her having a good time.  But that is just typical Paige.  She is such a cutie pie!


It was still snowing when we went out the first time, so Cory took Paige onto the porch.  Aren't they cute?

WE LOVE SNOW!!!!

Being a typical boy, part of Ian's fun in the snow was shaking all the snow off  the bushes.  Never mind how beautiful they looked, weighed down with the white stuff, he was shaking the branches for all he was worth.  Snow was flying everywhere!!!

My little boy--by the end of our outing, he looked more like a snowman than a little boy. :)  But he didn't seem to mind at all.  And a good cup of hot chocolate seemed to do the trick to warm him right up.

What a fun day we had!!!  I wish we had more of these days.  Hopefully we'll get another snow, before the season is over!!!

Just a few random thoughts

* Merry Grace is a little Mama.  Oh my goodness.  The other night, she cried because we wouldn't let her stay up to fold clothes.  Yes, she loves doing laundry.  

*This morning, she decided it was time to dress baby Paige.  She picked out an outfit for her, took off her old outfit, took off her diaper, at which point she peed "all over everything" as she said.  Of course Paige was on my bed and (of course) I had just washed and changed my sheets yesterday.  

*She really will make a great Mama one day.

*Ian and Elise were fighting yesterday afternoon over a blanket on the floor.  Elise wanted to use it as a stage for her to dance and sing on, Ian wanted to roll up in it like a burrito.  By the point I intervened, both kids had done enough that it was completely unclear who had caused the problem, who had it first and who had done the most aggravating of the other.  It was pretty much tit for tat.  So I took a page out of my sister-in-law, Amanda's book, and punished them both by giving them chores to do.  Ian had to unload the dishwasher, Elise had to straighten up the living room.  In the end, I think Ian got punished worse.  It took him much longer (although I did help him with a few things) and he hated it a lot worse.  But I did get some things cleaned up and they didn't fuss (at each other) while they did it.  

*This morning, Ian and Merry Grace got into it.  Merry Grace is a little mess, always claiming "I had it first" even though 9 times out of 10 she didn't.  I'm not even sure she knows what it means to say that.  She also loves to throw out an "I'm not your friend anymore" from time to time.  Anyway, since they were just being annoying to each other, I put them to work again: Ian had to clean up the toys in the bathroom floor and Merry Grace had to pick up her baby doll stuff she'd gotten out.  I'm liking this little routine.  Either I'm going to end up with a really clean house or kids who don't argue. :)

*What is it about a boy?  Is it just born in them to be fascinated by the computer and TV?  I think Ian asks me a hundred times a day if he can do one of those things, even though he hardly ever gets the privilege during the week.  And each time he asks me if he can, he seems stunned that the answer is still "No".  Poor kid.

*Our washer gave out.  It had been on the fritz for a while so this wasn't a huge shock.  We got one off of Craigslist from a guy who gets used ones and repairs them.  He even guarantees his parts and labor for 30 days.  Thank goodness, because the one we got only worked for one load and then was done for.  But he was super nice and came and checked it out and then brought us another one the next day.  And I like this one a lot better.  So, I guess I should be glad both washers broke. :)

*My blow-dryer broke the other morning.  It just wouldn't turn on.  I had known it was going to give out at some point, and I should have already bought a replacement to have on hand.  I will certainly do that next time.  I think I need to put one in my years supply.  Either that or a pack of bandanas.  After yesterday's incident, I realized I really, really, really need a blow dryer.  Every day.  

*We turned our thermostat down one degree.  You wouldn't think that would make such a huge difference in temperature, but it does.  Last night I had on long sleeves, long pants, thick socks, and gloves.   I know I'm cold natured, but that just seemed extreme.

*Paige laughed for the first time yesterday.  She's almost giggled a hundred times and she smiles non-stop, but we just couldn't get her to laugh.  But yesterday Ian was blowing on her cheek and she just let out the most adorable giggle.  It was so cute.  Now we just can wait for her to do it again.

Just a few random happenings until I get around to finishing up my Christmas catch-up. :)  

Christmas in the Country

On the 23rd of December we loaded up the car and headed to Cory's parents to spend the night and the next day and from there head up to my parents house for Christmas.  

Since Cory is one of seven kids, its a rare treat when we get one on one time with his folks.  But this was one of those times.  We spent the evening snacking, snuggling, visiting, and being a little silly.

That night, Ian gave his new Superman pajamas a test run.  They seem to be working for him. :)

The kids love, love, love Grandma.  She gets them pretty much whatever they want and lets them do whatever they want.  She and Pa have lots of fun snacks to eat and fun movies to watch and lots of attention to give.  The kids love it.

Grandma loves her Christmas decorations and has bunches in her yard and throughout the house.  On Christmas Eve it was pretty warm outside and Elise and Merry Grace had a jam session with the singing Santa Claus on the front porch.

On the morning of Christmas Eve, before all the fun started, Cory helped his Dad put up a new flagpole.  It was an almost Spring-like day and the kids were big helpers to Cory and got into a little fun with the water hose.  I love these pictures of the kids running around, having fun, loving on Pa and being crazy.  I decided to exclude the one of Ian peeing.  Boys will just be boys.  They are just dang cute kids. :)  After the outside work was done, everyone showed up to party.  We ate a big meal with more food than we needed (including a near-scorched chocolate chip pie, because it wouldn't be Christmas without something being "golden brown". Ha!) and then commenced to the living room to open presents.

Merry Grace and her favorite Aunt Amanda, waiting to open presents with the cousins!!!

This picture perfectly encapsulates what Christmas with the Barnetts is all about.  Elise is sitting here thinking she is the center of the universe (just as each little one there does) while all this wonderful craziness is going on around her.  The presents have been passed out, so now the waiting begins!  Each child can hardly wait his or her turn to rip into the gifts!!!

Two of my favorite people in the whole world!!!

Part of being around so many cousins means sharing.  These two love each other endlessly, but when it comes to sharing the rocking horse, things get a little hairy!!!

And can I just say, TOTAL CUTENESS!!!  Baby Paige was as good as gold throughout the whole holiday.  She was loved and snuggled by everyone and just enjoyed every minute of it.  I seriously just want to eat her up, she is so sweet!!!

We had a wonderful time with all of Cory's side of the family.  When we'd eaten and partied as much as humanly possible, we loaded everyone back in the car and headed back up  the road to spend a few days with my side of the family.  What a wild ride it was, but so wonderful!

Backtracking

One of the highlights of the holiday season is always Cory's office Christmas party.  Since its pretty much all family working together, we have a blast when we get together.  It's a rare treat for us to all be able to go out together, minus the kids.  Of course, too many more kids and Cory's parents (our wonderful baby-sitters) may veto the whole shebang.  Can you really beat a great meal, good friends, a few nice gifts and time together?

Something New

We've experienced a lot of things with our four kids, but this is something new...


Baby Paige sucks her thumb!!!!

The other three kids were hooked on passies from day 1. Elise had hers for quite a while, Ian kicked the habit at 1 year, and Merry Grace just recently traded in the passy for pierced ears. Paige would never take one, though. Cory & I didn't know that such a thing could happen. I mean, no passy? Really? Little did we know..

For a while she's kind of been gnawing on her hands, which I assumed was "pre-teething". That eventually evolved into full-fledged thumb-sucking and it is so adorable. :) One day I will probably kick myself for thinking so, but I love it. She so cute in her half-sleep, looking around for her thumb, finding it, and settling right in to sleep. Did I mention it was cute? Of course, everything this baby does is cute. At least we think so!!!