Happy Birthday Ezra!

This cute tough boy turned five today. His golden birthday! Five on the fifth. Oh Ezra, we love you so.
For his birthday we tried to go bowling, but they had "league" night, so we played at the arcade instead, and Oliver won the jackpot in tickets and we ended up with over 1000 tickets. We had a blast.

At five years old, Ezra:
weighs only 39 pounds. I feed him I swear!
loves super heros and costumes.
is becoming a picky eater.
so loving and sweet, a good big brother.
can have quite the temper.
is just a joy.

Happy Golden Birthday Ezra!

A Birthday For Ezra

My sweet sweet Ezra is now three. His birthday fell, unfortunately on a day when Derek was out of town, and there just wasn't anything to be done about it. The joy of littles though, is they can't read calendars, so the day was lost on him. While I marveled at his bigness on Thursday, December 5, he went on as if nothing had changed. I supposed, really, nothing really had.

My brave, stalwart husband took a red-eye home Friday into Saturday, and so we were able to celebrate Ezra only a couple of days belated.

Ezra is very into Mickey Mouse and basketball. So, his birthday gifts reflected thus.











At three years old Ezra:

can fight and hold his own with his brothers quite well.
Is usually very loving.
has a tendency to declare those who don't give him what he wants as "naughty."
is short and lean still. (wearing 2t comfortably).
likes to draw, play with toys, and snuggle.
doesn't nap unless we drive somewhere in the afternoon. (SIGH).
loves to help with almost any task.
likes to have you read him books.
likes to pray.
loves nursery and is excited to be a Sunbeam in January.
is 100% potty trained (I'm so grateful).
loves french fries, tacos, fruit FRUIT FRUIT, doesn't love bread or carbs much, unless it's peanut butter and jelly.
is mostly a sweet, loving buddy.

Happy Birthday Sweet Ezra. We love you!

A Party!

We got to celebrate Sir Ezra yesterday. Daddy arrived during naptimes so when he woke up, Ezra got Daddy as a present.

He chose a local joint for dinner (okay, truth: he chose a corn dog "on a stick" for dinner, and Mom and Dad just happen to know where the best place for them is!). Granne, Papa and Alice and Reuben joined us. Eating out with the crew is always an experience, but everyone (the restaurant included) survived.

 

Then cake and presents!



He is so funny. He loves balls, backpacks and dressing up in costumes, so really, his birthday was basically perfect.



(Super cape, hat and ball, yup, about right!)

Now the list!
At two years old Ezra:
Sleeps well
eats primarily fruits, veggies and crackers.
Hot dogs are about the only "meat" he'll eat.
Says lots. His newest? "BUT BUT BUT!" when he's arguing about something/anything with me.
Demands things be put "up high" to be protected from his brothers.
Is very very good at playing ball. He has an arm!
Doesn't have the patience to sit for most books, but on occasion will surprise me.
Learning to be kind and sweet and less of a bully.
Enjoys undressing himself.
Hopefully will potty train SOOOOOON!
Is a joy and a light in our family.

The ER and I are BFFs.

Ezra appears to be prone to stomach bugs. Henry started this one. HE threw up once and whined the rest of the day.

Ezra got it the next day and threw up more times than I could count.

This is bad enough. Then you pair that with a boy who at 19 months weighed in at less than the 5th percentile at a whopping 21.4 lbs, and you get trouble.



TOOOOO skinny + nothings staying down makes for a nervous mama, squirting 1cc of water down your throat every five minutes all night long.

Then you add in a delightful Utah holiday called Pioneer Day in the which everyone uses up their leftover fireworks until midnight, thus awakening your 3 year old Oliver putting him into terrified hysterics and you got yourself a party.



NOT PICTURED: The dog cowering on my bedroom floor as well, terrified that WWIII had begun right outside our house. STUPID FIREWORKS.

Super fun, right?

I thought Ezra was improving, he managed to hold down small sips of water and tiny bites of rice for an hour, but then, no, everything that went in came right back out.

So, at 2:30 this morning, I said, "That's it. You throw up one more time and we're going to the doctor."

He answered by horfing the tiny bit of water he'd had onto my lap.

And so, to the ER went. I live there, apparently.

I was worried IV fluids were in his future, but no, ZOFRAN THE MIRACLE DRUG did the trick. Half a pill, dissolved in his cheek and he was eating jello and popcicles like a pro.

Mama is grateful. Today, we're hydrating with Otter Pops.

I am super tired of stomach bugs.

More of the Same

Well, I'd excite you with all the fascinating things we're into these days but frankly, we're doing the same stuff as yesterday...school, housework, playing outside and bikes. 

See?  Excuse the blue-ness, our house is blue, and it was evening. BLUE. 

Shirts, shoes, and pants are completely optional for post-dinner bike riding. Helmets are not.

Oliver is in need of a bigger bike. He has outgrown the trike. Sad. 

Spencer's personal style is ever-evolving. He couldn't find his helmet, so I made a very rare exception since we weren't leaving the driveway. But he did assure me that his head was protected by the hat. 

Thank goodness. 

Ah bike weather. We're just getting started. 

A New Post Instead

Your readers might be picking up a post from earlier today. I deleted it. It was too angry. I meant every word, but it was too much for this lil old blog.

Instead, I bring unto you a picture of my Ezra who loves spaghetti.
Because really, that makes everything better.

CUTE BOY PICTURE!

Into the Land of Picky Eaters

From Drop Box

Well, folks all good things must come to an end.

And my streak of children who eat most things is over.

Henry has been developing a picky-streak in relation to veggies for a while, but he can still be coaxed into them on most days. (Like, "You want a piece of bread? The peas have to go first," style).

But then there is Ezra. What is up with this kid? He doesn't eat MOST things. I don't understand it.

He will eat the following:
Cereal with milk
Pretzels
Crackers
Crackers with peanut butter/jelly
Apple slices
Oranges
Bananas (kind of maybe)
Cheese
Potatoes
Sometimes rice
Sometimes beans
Sometimes noodles

ANNNNDD that's it.

(Please note the distinct lack of meat. He started out liking them and now just throws them on the floor.)

He doesn't like bread of any kind most days (Randomly he ate a quarter of a peanut butter sandwich yesterday. Progress?)

Ezra thinks veggies are gag-worthy (raw, cooked, sauted, NO! NO! NO!)

It's hard only because we do the whole "offer lots of healthy variety" thing and it hasn't worked. All my other kids appreciated a huge range of things and only Henry has gotten remotely picky about stuff.

I don't quite know what to do with him. It goes against everything in my little Morgan-heart to offer foods to children that are not "the meal". Yes, I know he's 14 months old, but this a NEW problem, after three other kids.

(Spencer has eaten exactly ONE THING he didn't like and it was mushrooms. I don't blame him. Oliver is pretty steady, he likes most stuff.)

Anyone have some brilliant ways to convince a baby to try new things?

While I was Washing

From December 2011

A nice shiny, empty sink. Ahhh. Beautiful.

Wait... While I was busy dish doing...

From December 2011

From December 2011

From December 2011

Ah yes, no wonder I was able to do the dishes in peace for once. My little destroying hurricane had been here...emptying everything in sight.  It is VERY lucky he is SO ridiculously cute.

Oral Fixation

From August 2011

What would it be like if we all didn't outgrow our oral fixations? I have this on my mind because we have entered the stage with Mr. Ezra where everything must be tasted in order to be more fully appreciated and experienced.

So that means I am constantly fishing things out of his mouth. Right?

Imagine it. You get your oil changed. The mechanic hands back your keys. First thing you do is shove them in your mouth. "Thank you!" You say through a mouthful of slimy, dirty keys.

A cashier hands you a receipt. You crinkle it up and shove it in your mouth. Mmm paper. AND a crinkly noise! PERFECTION!

You find a rogue shoe on the ground. It must be sucked on!

I mean, we'd all die of crazy diseases. Thank goodness for good baby immune systems.

And thank goodness we aren't all Freud-flunkies who never outgrew our need to salivate on everything.

Cuz ew.

Millions of Peaches

\

From Drop Box

Ezra has taken to eating peaches for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He.loves.them. I have taken to using them as bribery to allow me to get stuff done. Need to do dishes? Here, Ez, have a peach slice!

So, yes, I'm using food as comfort for my child. Don't judge me. The fuzz gives him some good leverage when the rest gets slippery from saliva. And he LOVES them. And it lasts all of 5 minutes before he is demanding to be held again. 

Between nursing all night long and sobbing if I dare leave his side, I'm feeling worn down. It's normal, developmentally and all that, but goodness, my house is showing the pain of it all. He's so darling, and he's growing and starting to figure out that he wants to crawl, so a lot is going on in his little brain. I understand!

Plus, all that nursing is going straight to his thighs, and I think he's pretty self-conscious about his fat rolls. 

So, I use peaches to buy myself some time. Yes. I do. I managed to get the dishwasher loaded today because of those sweet, succulent summer fruits. 

Ahh, delicious. 

A Picnic Blanket

From June 2011

See my new pride and joy?

Yes, the baby is ADORABLE, but I'm referring to that which he is sitting upon.

It's a PICNIC BLANKET. A quilt, for starters. 

From June 2011

 Big enough for even myself to stretch out on.

From June 2011

With fancy elastic loops for easy rolling and carrying. 

From June 2011

And instead of a a soft, cozy bottom, it has a nice water-proof vinyl bottom. Perfect for wet grounds and beaches and dirty public picnic tables and really anywhere you possibly want to eat out-of-doors. Wipe clean? Yes please. Protection from dirt of all kinds? Sign me up!

From June 2011

Perfect place to plunk a baby? Well, then I'm sold.

From June 2011

Wait! One more!

From June 2011

I mean, ridiculous right? Anyway, the picnic blanket was on my mind all winter while I waited for the weather to warm up. Now it has. And I have big plans for this little quilt/table cloth. SO excited.

SUMMER TIME!

These Boys, They Kill Me

"Mom! You have to get this stuff called "Sheer Coverage." It covers all your speckles. If you don't like it they'll give you all your money back. It doesn't feel like anything! You have to call now."

"Um, Henry. What in the world are you talking about?" I queried.

"I watched the news this morning. It's called "Sheer Coverage," you need it!" Henry insisted.

At this point, I realized, he had watched a infomercial in the wee hours of the morning. He had big plans for me to beautify myself.

"Just call now, okay Mom? Okay?"
***

The past several nights, I have to sneak into Spencer's room and remove a super cape he's smuggled in. He firmly believes he's a super hero, and apparently can't dream appropriately without a cape. I don't want him to strangle himself, so I have to pull them off. I love his imagination. I hope it never fades.

***
Oliver has grown obsessed with a set keys to our little Toyota Corrolla. He takes them everywhere. He loves them. He calls them "cola keys." He also exclusively calls Ezra "Lee". We frequently call Ezra "Ezra Lee" and he just conveniently leaves off the "Ezra" part of the equation.
***

Ezra has been fighting me on using his binky. He's deciding he's not a fan. Let us pray this does not continue.

***

My babies. Oh my boys. How I love them.

The Day That Won't End

From May 2011

My poor sick baby! He's got his first cold, Ezra does, and this results in making my life, erm, I mean HIS life miserable. No lie you guys, last night, well, I suppose it was this morning, we were both up watching "Friends" on DVD from 3-5 am. Not my favorite, but at least "Friends" is funny. And now, here we are at 9:14pm and he waffles from happy and playful to coughing like a chain smoker, to crying because darn it all he's tired. But he is fighting it, and nursing and making me NUTS!

Oh but I love him.

From May 2011

Today during a fussy, sick moment, I sat down at the piano with him and banged out a tuneless minuet. He seemed to enjoy that. Until he cried.

From May 2011

He's just sad.

And you guys, could you send some prayers to my house? Not just for the sick baby, but general happy "good" prayer-thoughts? We need them.

Dontcha love it when bloggers are VAGUE and don't give you any details?

Sorry about that.

In other news tonight I told the kids we could paint only to discover our paint brushes had gone missing. No matter.

From May 2011

Pipe cleaners sufficed just fine. 

Commence praying. 

Nap Time Mayhem

Would you like to hear about nap time at my house?

I knew you did!

We are on a thirty minute schedule with Mr. Ezra currently. That is, he sleeps for 30 minutes, is happy and awake for 30 minutes, turns suddenly fussy and I spend 30 minutes putting him back to bed.

It is super fun.

The hardest part is that he USED to just put himself to sleep with little effort on my part. I'd wrap him up, lay him down and walk away. He'd stare happily at the ceiling, toking on his binky until he'd drift off peacefully and sleep for two hours.

That has been shot straight to the bad place. I don't know why! I didn't change anything up on him. He just decided he liked this version of his life better.

It wouldn't be so bad except that the 30 minutes of jiggling, rocking, nursing, shushing, swaying and praying just kind of puts a real damper in my day. Especially because it's every hour or so.

The worst is though that as I'm doing all of the above, I know, I JUST KNOW that my children are engaging in shenanigans that make me cringe. I can kind of hear their goings-on through the door and all the white noise, and I know it isn't good. Henry tends to be fine, Spencer is a bit unpredictable, and Oliver is straight up the shenanigan king. This upsets me.

So I'm all jiggle jiggle, bounce bounce bounce, sway sway, hip circle hip circle (I totally missed my calling as a hula dancer!) rock rock, jiggle jiggle jiggle, I'm thinking, "I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep, I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep, I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep!"

It's good and bad when Oliver comes in the room and refuses to go. Bad because he's very loud and doesn't care in the slightest that I'm ready to punt him into the next county if he doesn't shut it! Good because when he's with me I know he's not feeding the dog an entire bottle of Sweet Vidalia Onion salad dressing (true story).

But by the time 30 minutes of not knowing what the frickety frack my kids have destroyed or even if they are still at home, or perhaps they caught a bus down town, I get a little panicked, and my swaying and jiggling and praying picks up the pace.

Then I try to lay Ezra down and he fusses so it's back up again, and lather rinse repeat until I finally am successful. I creep out, step on a package of baby wipes that makes the loudest "crinkle" in the world (What the heck baby-wipe-package maker! Ever heard of QUIET PACKAGING?) and rush to see the mayhem in which I live.

Then I do it all over again in an hour when Ezra is tired.

It makes getting anything done quite challenging. Which is why I'm blogging and not doing the dishes. Priorities people. PRIORITIES!

BIG NEWS!

From april 2011

You guys, two nights ago Ezra slept through the night!!

Don't bother congratulating me. Four kids in, I know the drill. My kids only sleep through the night right before they get sick. And then they don't do it again until after their first birthdays. 

So, yesterday morning it was indeed lovely to realize I'd just slept six hours in a row for the first time in two years (I am not joking, Oliver has only started sleeping through the night since Ezra was born!) but I also knew what was coming. 

And last night? We didn't sleep. We cried and fussed and snotted and dozed, but we did not sleep. Henry even got in on the action asking for a handkerchief at 4:30 this morning. Poor dude.

It seems all but Spencer (it's just a matter of time) have been stricken. 

I can't complain, so far it's just a cold and we've had a relatively healthy winter. I mean, we spent a good month after Ezra was born being sick non-stop but we've enjoyed a lull since then. We're due. 

So, I finally got Ez to stop crying and go back to sleep, Oliver is snotty but doing all right and the big boys are watching a movie. 

We're hunkering down, that's for sure. 

Let's pray it doesn't turn into croup because when it does someone winds up in the ER, and with no health insurance I'd rather like to avoid THAT circumstance. 

And hey, remember! I got six hours of sleep in a row two nights ago. That is reason to be very grateful. 

From april 2011

A possibly inappropriate post

***Disclaimer*** I have no idea why poop and other such inappropriate fodder has made it's way onto my little corner of the interwebs with such frequency of late, but hey, it's my life. 

Our kids have learned "proper terminology" for all things "body related." We have our reasons for teaching them the words as they are,  and I won't bore you with the details.

Suffice it to say, my kids call it like it is.

So, the other morning, I left a diapered, unclothed little Ezra on my bed to run save Oliver from some sort of life-threatening situation (as nearly two-year-olds tend to find themselves in) and when I returned, Spencer had wandered it. Ezra was giggling with as much force as an almost-four-month-old could. Spencer, too was enjoying a hearty chuckle.

"What's up, Dude?" I asked Spencer.

Spencer looked perfectly angelic when he said, "I'm tickling Ezra!"

"Oh yeah?" I queried. Great, gently playing with the baby is ALWAYS encouraged.

"Yeah," answered Spencer. "I'm pinching his breast-es like this..." and then proceed to pinch little Ezra's baby man boob.

And Ezra LOVED it.

I simply requested that Spencer not pinch.

Breast-es don't like to be pinched.

Good Freaking Gosh Friday

I am having an "Oh good golly you're driving me crazy!" morning.

I am trying to remain optimistic.

But it's not going well.

It started when Spencer trotted up the stairs at 0500 (because he hops the gate now) wielding two glow-in-the-dark swords which were party favors from Logan's epic 6th birthday party. (Thanks a bunch Logan's mom. Maybe I should break up with you!... Except Henry had a ball, thanks for the party. Spencer too!) Grr.

So, guess who got to watch a movie at 0500? No, not me! Spencer.

Derek stayed up until oh gosh, 0455 doing who knows what for work, (darn teaching online, it never ends!) and so I really wanted to keep the punks quiet. Buuuutttt, I have a headache that was acquired last night (sidenote: Waking up with the same headache you went to bed with sucks) and my stomach is in all kinds of knots (do not ask me how many bananas I ate yesterday) and my hair is like freaking EVERYWHERE and why in the world had Oliver taken off all his clothes? And why were my children running around like orangutans? (Sidenote: The word is pronounced and spelled or-ang-uh-tan, not or-ang-uh-tang. Don't believe me? Google it.)

And begging to be fed began. Now look, I get that it must be frustrating, having like zero autonomy as a little kid. Someone is constantly telling you what to eat, when to eat, when to sleep, etc. But I mean, have I ever FORGOTTEN to feed them? NO!

So, now they are eating dry cereal out of Ikea bowls as we cower in the basement.

What kind of cereal? You guessed it. I brought down THREE KINDS for our little dry cereal picnic and they all poo-pooed every one except their beloved shredded wheat. (Get it? "poo-pooed".... never mind.)

And why is Oliver wearing one shoe, on the wrong foot?

And the baby! Oh that sweet beautiful Ezra who was determined to fusstulate (apparently this is not a real word. Check it. It is NOW!) his heart out for no apparent reason that turned out to be a dirty diaper and a desire to go back to sleep. ME TOO, KID! WE CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING WE WANT.

Except he's a baby, so he got a new bum and sent back to bed.

And I think I better put my contacts in. It always feels like the freaking middle of the night when I have my glasses on, regardless of the time of day. Contacts and a hair elastic (to contain the crazy) will make this feel day feel like a day.

Heavens, it's Friday! I need an attitude adjustment.

And the aforementioned hair elastic.

***UPDATE*** Oliver just dumped a ton of shredded wheat and the DOG ate it. I don't even want to think about that... EWEWEWEW! And Oliver is poopy. I need a vacation.***


***UPDATE*** Ezra is crying. And it is snowing. 


***UPDATE*** Hair elastic and Diet Coke. Found. 

JUST SAY NO

I am avoiding changing Oliver's diaper right this minute. I can't leave it for toooo long because um it's gross, but still. He is STINKY!

When we went grocery shopping the other day (remember, it is an EPIC FAMILY OUTING), the boys decided they missed having cereal for breakfast. Whatever, fine by me. So both Henry and Spencer voted for Strawberry Shredded Wheat.

GREAT! No problem! Healthier than many other options! BEAUTIFUL.

Have you ever given that high a dosage of fiber to children who have ZERO issues with constipation?

I don't recommend it.

Between the three of them, they have trotted off to the pot/dirtied diapers more than I care to admit.

It's gross.

I have to go change Oliver.

JUST SAY NO to SHREDDED WHEAT!

What's Today?

Lately, we've taken to eating at the Alter of Ezra. See, the thing is, he has this radar that demands he wake the moment food is set upon the table. I don't *mind* holding him while I eat, but when I'm alone with all the kids it makes getting food in everyone's bellies much more difficult.

My sister loaned us this bouncy seat that he frankly despises, but like I said, it gets the job done.

Enter the Alter of Ezra.

From March 2011

From March 2011

From March 2011

From March 2011

It usually lasts long enough for me to place food in front of everyone and shovel some semblance of a meal in my own face. If I chew fast. Last night's gourmet spread was popcorn and lean pockets. Be jealous.

(In my defense, LUNCH was chicken tortellini and roasted asparagus, so THERE!)

In other news, I saw this cute idea with window painting and wanted to do it on our big picture window, so I watered down some tempera paint and let the boys paint "flowers" on the window. Then I went nuts and painted a big sunshine and the word "Spring" on the window too. I made ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN to paint the entire word backwards, see? 

From March 2011

From March 2011

It was super rainy yesterday so it was a fun activity. I was so proud. Then Derek came home. I said, "Did you see our window?"

"Yes," he said. "The 'g' is backwards!"

"WHAT? I WAS SO CAREFUL!" I lamented. I had been so careful, and not only that, I had taken PICTURES and not noticed.

So embarrassing.

I fixed it at 10:00 last night.

From March 2011

Much better.

Sheesh.

In final news, I am choosing to not observe St. Patrick's Day. I just don't have the energy. Maybe next year I'll dye food green, but Ez has decided that nursing literally constantly all night is fun, so I'm a bit drained, literally and figuratively.

Peace out Peeps. 

This is a MUST READ POST!

Why?

Because I have a HUGE announcement.

No, we are not moving.

No, I am not pregnant.

What else could I possibly have to announce?

Shut up. That was rude.

The announcement is that THIS IS MY 500th POST!

I KNOW!

And with that, I would like to simply state that March tiptoed in like a lamb this year.

From March 2011

Last year it was a flurry of relocation-preparation. This year, we're not going anywhere (yet).

From March 2011

No one is working on reproduction of any kind (except perhaps clutter?) and everything is just peachy. Peaches and cream peachy-keen!

From March 2011

We played and played outside. It was the best kind of March day. I know winter isn't done yet, but goodness, we pretended like it was spring yesterday and today. So nice.

So, for my EPIC and AMAZING 500th POST, I'd like to show you what Ezra has learned how to do. (HE IS ADVANCED!) (AND CLEARLY RIGHT HANDED!)

From March 2011

From March 2011

From March 2011

From March 2011

From March 2011

Cuteness, right???

And finally, after all that blather and cute baby pictures, I'd like to offer you a 

GIVEAWAY because it's my 500th post. 

I feel like you've earned it. Ya know?

So, here's the skinny, Minnie. I'd like to GIVEAWAY a copy of The OUR BEST BITES COOKBOOK!


You guys, this book.is.beautiful. My friends Sara and Kate wrote it, and I am so so proud of them! I love them and think they are awesome people and amazing chefs.

If you don't already know and love them (OF COURSE YOU DO!) Go to Our Best Bites to get an idea of how incredible their site is.

You need this book. You deserve this book.

To enter (leave a separate comment for each entry!):
1. Comment. Say anything. 
2. Follow, follow me!
      (Already follow? Comment saying, "I already follow you!" )
3. Facebook the world that you entered. Come back and tell me you did. 
4. Tweet the world that you entered. Come back and tell me you did. 

Already bought the book? Enter anyway, you can gift this gorgeous girl.

Related to me? Enter! My random-number-izer doesn't know you're my sister/cousin/neighbor. (If you're my neighbor, I'd never know it anyway, we're new here!)

Have I mentioned that you need this cookbook? Your life will never be the same.

Oh, and Continental USofA only, all righty????

I'll random-number-ize a winner on Monday, March 7th. So ENTER. Tell your friends.


HAPPY 500th POST TO ME!