Gift Ideas!

I LOVE (truly I do) LOVE giving gifts. I like shopping for good deals and sweet things that people didn't even know they wanted until you gave it to them or at least, making people smile because they were thought of. If I had endless time and money... oh man! Watch out world! I'd knock your socks off with warm fuzzies of affection.

So while two kids are napping, instead of wrapping or cleaning or packing, here's some nifty gifty thoughts:

• If someone has recently moved into a new place... a welcome mat is a fun and sweet gift. Just did this for a dear co-worker and noticed she had it out last week. Plus you can get darn cute ones. 
• NOISE MACHINES are the bestest. Like a fan but without the air and various tones to the wirrrrr. They are well worth $49. They go on sale once or twice a year for $35. I just bought us one more because I'm scared ours will go kaput. I (try) not have Evan used to this but I hate shushing our big kids all the time during his nap. Travelling in a hotel? Hearing annoying neighboors in the floor above you? Your brother-in-law snores when he comes to visit? Answer: NOISE MACHINE. You're welcome, sleep. 
• Napkins! I do love me a CONSUMABLE gift that won't collect dust especially for the folks that have everything. Everyone likes nice, disposable, possibly-themed napkins. Target had some I bought my mama that I find so stinking adorable for winter but really, anytime of the year is a good idea for napkins. This also falls under the "think of something they use then you could get a nicer, more expensive version" - another idea when gifting.  
• Gifts with a purpose... the Syria mess got me all up in arms and so I stumbled on this gift catalog with items made by refugees. Make sure your organization is legit and money actually goes to your cause instead of "administrative costs." Again, great for folks that don't need anything. 
• For moms, personalized jewelry (the cool, not cheesy kind) with their kiddos names (definitely include any in heaven here too) are going to be a win. 
• Smartwool socks. Oh man these are awesome. 
• Tiny screwdriver. We use our free one all the time. Handy! Tiny! Cheap!
• Amazon prime. $99 but would be a great gift for anyone because free shipping! free music! free books! a feeling of status and "no problem that party is Saturday! I can prime that!"
• White Elephant? Try passive aggressive notes! Hilariousness. 
• Sorel. Merrell. Uggs. Fancy, expensive boots or slippers or shoes. Not easy to pull this off, but we all need good, supportive, cute footwear. Our elderly future feet will thank us. 
• Massive quantities of something they use daily or often. One year I got my dad thirty (fifty, maybe) fingernail clippers because he always has one and always looses them. 
• For anyone that writes lists, awesome paper or sharpies are a win. I own so many, many markers and pens and yet, I feel I can never have enough good writing utensils. 
• Gift basket you come up with! Target. Go to the "dollar spot" section and just have fun. Add some items from personal care (everyone needs nice shampoo or tissues or toothbrushes). If you are lucky enough to have a Trader Joes or ALDI, add dark chocolate or other such goodies. Done. Add a gift card if you need more umphf. 
• On the gift card line, boring some may say but you can make it more creative with the "presentation". My bro-in-law always makes fun of Kohls for being "not a sustainable business plan" and so their date-night JL Beers gift card was wrapped in three Kohls boxes stuffed with the fifteen Kohls bags I had around. Har har. 
• If you want to get something but don't have it or need to wait for a better price, etc, make a scavenger hunt (or some other game/poem) that ends with a photo or description of the item (or you could just wrap that). That extra effort will make-up for the item not being there (probably).  
• If you are buying for someone not living in their "home" state or country, something from home at Christmastime will melt them. A necklace with the shape of their state. An art print of home. Something that shows them familiar. 
• Mini spatulas for kitchen folks. LOVE my mini spatulas. Get them about anywhere these days. 

Kids and Babies

• Plan Toys makes some pretty cute toys and games. We have one from there, nicer wooden. So cute. In that same vein, HABA toys (including some of the cutest little red-headed dolls).
• Books. Greg would put this a-o #1 on his list too. But for kids, a good book that engages them is always a win. Dragons Love Tacos is hilarious (cheaper on Scholastic). Try Better World Books for used fun. 
• Legos. Just a great gift for a long many years. Mr. Eli may be getting the Millennium Falcon and I'm fairly certain his dad will have just as much, if not more, fun putting it together. 
• Magformers are great because they'll span ages. Kohls sells them so you can use a deal there. They do go on sale so don't buy for regular price. 
• Go handmade etsy or local if they seem to have everything... there's always an adorable idea that's not mainstream that will be a hit. 
• Scripture Lullabies. Such amazing music. Goes on sale over Thanksgiving each year for 30% off. So calming and not annoying. Such a win. 
• Baby bibs. All the rage and so darn useful. Make sure they are absorbent materials. 
• Fun band-aids. Because you don't want to cover a boo-boo (or made-up boo boo) with plain, brown boring. 

And no matter who, they will appreciate a thoughtful photo gift. I did photo books for my nine-year-old niece and my 73-year-old dad. Shuttefly has free codes, often, A bit of a learning curve but well worth the time. Otherwise, just print a photo and buy a frame. Sometimes people just don't have the energy to buy a frame for a certain photo. If you gift it to them all done, wha-lah! Just don't judge if you don't see it on display at their house. Ha! 

Okay naptime is ending. That'll get you thinking, folks!

-hlk

ELK - Six Months.

Our sweet baby is half a year old!

And because he thought he should help this tired mama to remember, he did two milestones this morning: popped his second tooth and rolled over from his tummy to back (first tooth and rolling from back to tummy happened earlier). What a baby!

look at these thighs!

He won't have his six-month well baby check until the first week in January but he's got to be getting close to 20 pounds. Heavy baby!

What else!? He smiling often. Still doesn't sit up on his own. Loves milk. We tried feeding avocados mixed with my milk but he was not a fan and had quite the gag reflex. Hope to try brown rice cereal soon. He has dry skin issues, sadly. The other two didn't ever have that this early. Evan is working on a schedule and will hopefully fill me in on what that is soon. He giggles at Eli's antics and smiles at his sister. I'm still the favorite. He wears six month size but also 9-12 month items (long torso, sort legs, round!). Its crazy cold so I'm happy with all footed items to keep him snug. He is happy if he's full, usually. He will take a bottle when I'm not around. He likes to lay on the play mats and bat at the toys. He will give me one longer stretch at night, usually. He likes toys that he can put in his mouth and scrunch and play with. His car seat pull toy is a favorite. He loves sitting in the high chair and watching the rest of us. He babbles cuteness often.

Evan Lloyd, you are a joy! We are exiting the baby baby phase and entering into the "wow, look what you can do now!" stage. I love to snuggle you close, breath in and exhale happily being your mama. I kiss your side forehead fifty times a day. I love to say "Hi Evan!" when I come into your room to see you... or sometimes "Hi bubs!" "Hey Bubba" or "Good Morning Evan Bedevan!"

You are currently pooping one of the longest, loudest occurrences in your lifetime as I type this. Oh bud, here we go again to change your cute bum.

-mom

Going Home Final.

On the doorknob to Evan's closet is the brown going home outfit. The one Maelee was supposed to wear but didn't get to. My mom embroidered her name on it and we all hated it was empty. When Eli came to be, we rejoiced in getting to put his name on it and bring him home from the hospital in it.

Eli in the outfit. April 29 2011.

And then again when we carried Annalee into Grandma and Grandpa's home (our temp home at that time). And it was sweet having Maelee's name in pink, Eli's in blue, Annalee's in yellow. And even though I thought we were done, we got another babe to add to it all. Evan wore it in June home from the hospital. A tribute to her all tied up with a wee bit of snarkiness "damn it, I will be worn."

So it's been hanging there and I keep thinking I ought to get a few photos of it worn while we still have a baby to fit into it! And our little five-and-a-half-month sweetie is a big 'en already so it had to be done (ideally months ago). But we squished him in it yesterday as a last tribute to this special going-home outfit that perhaps my grandkids will wear someday!!?

Dear me, he is something.

And the sister on earth found this white dress given to us and she has fallen in love with it, wearing it and prancing and dancing and singing and... praying in it! No idea why, but she has broken out in thankful prayers the few times she wore it. By chance I snuck a photo of her at the right moment and it's preciousness all in its own right.

These redemptive moments are treasured deep in my mama heart.

-hlk

First Toof.

Evan's first tooth popped yesterday. I've known for about a week one was coming, guess I'm better at knowing stuff the third time around. Here's the only pic I took of just him yesterday, this "maybe gnawing on a carrot will make him happy"

What?

On the drive after school today:
Me: "How was school today? Anything different happen?"
Eli: "We had a hearing test."
Me: "Oh, how did that go?"
Eli: "What?"

Last week, Eli was thrilled to see his name in hELIcopter! He's doing great finding his "sight words" from school and it is SO enjoyable seeing him beginning to read.

He also asked me the other day for some "graham crappers" - and I didn't correct him!!

Annalee is interpreting bigger words and skewing them. The other day I was brushing her hair and she said "get the rectangles out!" She's awesome. She's also doing super at potty training. I knew it'd be easier if we waited until she was ready. Looking forward to only one little babe in diapers.

HLK

5 Months ELK.

Our littlest is five months old today. He is a joy. I have often contemplated how different his life is compared to Eli's life the first year when I was home with just him still raw grieving our firstborn in our small house in South Carolina with no family around but many dear friends. So different. He has less attention by me, so much more noise and interaction, more little hands and faces all over him, less of focused Daddy time, more extended family time, less photos and all around recording of his every move. But LOVED just the same.

In his first few months, I just wanted Evan to get a good latch. He has. He did it! That's pretty great, friends. He also takes a bottle, even sporadically. That's amazing! I can say now my battle with him is sleep. He has this yucky cold (clearly he is exposed to more germs) that causes him to have snot and a yucky post-nasal drip cough. I don't recall the big kids coughing this young. It's nothing severe (let's hope it doesn't develop into anything severe) but I've been spoiling him, nursing him when he wakes up at night. Sometimes this is three, four times. I am exhausted. And totally, utterly creating a monster. As soon as this dumb cold is gone, the poor boy may have some rough crying-it-out moments. We'll get there. Someday I will be rested again. Someday I will leap out of bed in the morning ready to start the day.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

Probably not. I am not a morning person.

On to other Evanisms.

Update: he was 18lbs 9ozs and 25.5 inches on 11/16

He started rolling over last week from his back to his tummy. He then gets pretty tired and upset because he doesn't like tummy time.

He sucks on his mouth/lips/tongue to get to sleep. He chews and spits out the binkie, preferring his own mouth. It's pretty cute and I think probably he's just thinking he's nursing.

He also likes to clutch blankies or soft things and bring them near his face to sleep. Not ideal for breathing but pretty adorable.

He screeches and yells, especially in the early evening if he's laying on the floor by himself. It happens when he is just getting sleepy and feels like he needs to be a part of whatever else is going on. Super loud too!

He is well on his way to six month size and even nine month size clothes. Not sure his weight but I'd say around 18 pounds. And he is not made for skinny jeans. I can't get them on him. And they are most likely too long. I get this, son. Me issues es su issues.

He has a great giggle. He is ticklish under his neck, on his thighs and tummy. He likes when I put my head on his belly. Adorable.

Photos captured today:

The tongue!

Precious Boy.

And Evan's look is exactly what I look like when trying to exercise:

Crunches? Toe Touches? No thank you.

-hlk

Beast Is Back.

The Beast has come back for another round of baby:

WHAT THE FOX SAY?! (a fav song of the siblings)

hlk

Rolling.

Evan rolled over numerous times this afternoon on grandma's floor. Milestone check!

I was too busy to get a photo, but here's one of him smiling at the birthday girl yesterday! Happy Birthday Auntie Amy!

Peak.

I saw a deal on photo cards today and hours later I had the photos taken and Christmas cards ordered. I had no plans to do that today but I hadn't decided if we were doing professional photos yet (wanted to wait until Evan was six months old but then the weather is too cold for outside photos, plus indecisive about a photographer, and cost etc)... so I decided I'll just take individual photos of each kiddo (because all three together seems like way too much work). Picked out some outfits and since it was amazingly beautiful outside (can I get a hallelujah!), snapped away. Nothing overly fantastic but free!

Frolicking! 

Happy Baby Blues

-mom with a camera

Lion, Tiger, Bear.

One friend thought this was a baby announcement. It is NOT. Greg is the oh my! He was supposed to wear it but this was last minute, too busy working on the tiger. The lion is a friend's costume she made. The bear was given to cousin Ali when she was a baby from my Grandma Doris (making it extra special). So naturally I had to make the tiger and the results were melt yourself cute. Too bad I didn't get better pics! Glad Eli was on board for a themed costume with his siblings. Read: he didn't even request Star Wars!

The big two had fun at daddy's office, then supper with Grandma before they went around our neighborhood for a bit. They got plenty of candy. I am not a huge fan of Halloween but loved it as a kid. Obviously! It's a holiday made for kids. Sugar!!!!!

just three and a dad

Tiger Princess!

So come on over, I have chocolate that needs a home that is not our bellies.

Hlk

Week In Quotes.

Some quotes heard this past week:

Eli: "Who is Carson Wentz?"

Eli's classmate to him on tie day Monday:  "you look like a husband!"

Annalee: "don't pee on the rainbow" as she hands me her rainbow drawings while I'm in the bathroom 

Annalee: "where I go?" as her lack of scheduling consistency leaves her guessing our destinations on any certain day. 

Evan: "waaaaaaaaaaaaa" (he is waking up like a newborn these days, every 2 to 3 hours at night, and screaming, so much screaming, minimal naps, just not a great stage for us)

Me, overwhelmed from wiping all three kid's butts in the span of two minutes, to Eli, but more for Greg who was in earshot: "you need to learn how to wipe your own a-s-s."

Eli, happily: "I know how to spell butt! A-S-S!"

Me, trying not to laugh at him or my obvious parent fail: "No, no butt is b-u-t-t" and hoping he doesn't relay that spelling in school.

Eli: "Look! There's "to" in the STOP sign!" As he keeps absorbing all his sight words at school. 

Lady at church: "he has got great thunder thighs!" (pointing to Evan)

Annalee: "my brain is going to pray" (meaning she's praying silently). 

Annalee: "it's okay buddy" over and over because her brother is screaming unhappily (he usually fusses a few minutes before taking a nap... And by fusses, I mean he freaks out and screams and scares the rest of us!). But when he sleeps! Oh he's preciousness. 

"BE QUIET, your brother is sleeping!!!" "Don't wake up Evan, he's sleeping!" "Let Evan sleep!" "Stop whining, you'll wake up your brother!" - Me, multiple times a day, because you never ever ever wake a sleeping baby, kids. 

-mama hlk

4 of 12.

Evan is a third of his way into his first year. Marvelous! I love this baby. 

He's easy to get to smile. He loves me and his milk. And he is not happy if he wants milk and is tired. Every night we have a cranky baby for a certain amount of time. But it's manageable. 

He weighed the same 16lbs, 14ozs and is around the 80th percentile for height, 24 inches puts him only in the tenth for height! Sorry buddy!

He loves watching his siblings. Loves baby Bjorn time with daddy. Starting to reach for toys. Putting hands in his mouth often. Likes to feel his blankie and put it by his face to sleep. Only takes a binkie occasionally. Had a little congestion for a few days this week. He is not on a schedule but he's doing well! 

-Evan's mom 

4:30 - 5:30pm.

We have so many kids.

I may say that to Greg occasionally. Three kiddos around sure makes life full. It's fabulously full and messy and overwhelming and tiring and fun and completely crazy. My grandmother was one of eighteen kids and I just can't fathom. 

Currently I think Evan is sleeping in his crib. Nevermind, I figured out he was awake so now he is happy on the living room floor. And I'm raising my voice to the other two because they are up in the bathroom with water and tea cups and laughing and even though I told them "no water" - it doesn't seem to be working. 

Ok, that crisis evaded. Minimal water. Even felt sort of a mom-win for letting them get that far without getting crazy mad. 

Now Eli is whining for food. 

And now they are taking my notepad and writing A's because Annalee figured out how to draw A's and Eli took her pen so he could teach her to do it his way. "Mom, I need a piece of paper." We go through SO MUCH PAPER. Glad it's cheap and recyclable.

The littlest is beginning to fuss. 16lbs, 14ozs yesterday and 24 inches. That's why I wanted to write a blog post, to get that stat down. Heavy boy, so cute, and after over a week of up lots in the night, he's back to just one time eating. Praise be, this momma is a fan of sleep. 

Medicine is doing great at Greg's rash and mine is lessening with creams (praise be) and Annalee still has hers but doesn't care. She is THREE and fabulous. An older, very classy lady at the library called her "a cover girl" and said "real red heads are hard to find" and it "made my day" just to SEE Annalee peeking at her behind my legs. So how amazing that our girl can make someones day just by being cute?! And so very shy. 

"Mommy, I need paper. Mommy, I need three because I am three."

So much paper.

Fussing into crying. Must pick up Evan and potatoes are done. It's about that time. 

And the BEST part - I hear the garage door. Daddy is home!! 

-me

Purple Party!

Annalee wanted to have "Alexia and Lilli" for her birthday party. And this mom listened, keeping it just family for her party (and one family over tomorrow as well). She loved her purple party yesterday! My introvert likes small groups of people she knows well. And she loves purple! Purple party fun!

She picked the menu - purple pancakes and regular eggs and bacon, purple (blueberry) yogurt, fruit (blueberries and black grapes) and purple drinks. And the yummiest purple cupcakes. We had a scavenger hunt and find the purple game and purple only coloring. Lots of things our girl loves!

Excited to celebrate her tomorrow as she turns three!!

-hlk

Rash.

Greg got the poison again. Last week he succumbed to another bout of poison ivy. Most likely acquired from Eli and him going on a "nature walk". Fail. Steroids are keeping it at bay and we are hoping this will not last months like the few times he got it in SC (remember that? it took over his body, so terrible!).

Annalee has a little hives breakout on her back from an unknown source (possibly new jammies). Unsure. But a big praise is she doesn't itch. I just noticed it at bath time last week. It isn't spreading (or going away either). Since it doesn't bother her, it's quite minor. Hay fever, allergies, perhaps?!

And I have some crazy itchy rash on my neck. It's not linear so it's not poison ivy. I went in yesterday assuming I somehow caught it from Greg. How ironic? I swear I can't let Greg have a sickness without me chiming in. Not sure what the heck this is, a reaction of some sort. But it's on my neck and itchy and wanting to take up residence in my nice neck and I'm not a fan.

3/5 - praise be the E's are safe! Eli and Evan are rash free. Especially grateful considering Evan's hands are hard to contain from touching my neck rash.

Just recording this to remember how crazy life can be!

HLK

PPP.

Eli's first field trip happened yesterday. Papa's Pumpkin Patch was windy but beautiful! And one little sister got to tag along with me to help! She was thrilled!

I'm so glad for this sweetie. 

-Her mom

Five of Us.

Sometime this summer, after I made sugar cookies because I was craving them, Greg had told me he liked them because they aren't overly sweet. So when his birthday came I thought "I'll make him cookies!". It took me six days but I did, finally, make them! 36 and 6 days is also to be celebrated, right? In my defense, his mom always makes him an apple pie (sweet, eh?) so he got a nice dessert on his actual birthday. In any case, Greg had a birthday and now he is closer to 40 than 30.

I've been back to work some. I put in my notice that I'm done in October. My position is wildly different than it was before, with my sweet elder program being cut most likely, and I just don't have the heart for it. That along with not having our amazing daycare situation means it's not worth it to work. Greg's cousin's wife and the grandparents have been watching the kids for the few days I've been in, praise be. I've yet to make it a full week and any moms that leave an almost three-month baby and other kids and get everyone out of the house and pump and not explode and keep a house running... uffda. I'm looking forward to a relaxed schedule. I'm not looking forward to having to pay for health insurance. I'm looking forward to just nursing Evan and not having to pump (but hallelujah hands that he will take a bottle!). I'll miss my coworkers and the really great work I was doing and I'll for sure miss job sharing. Me quitting may possibly mean a downsizing move for us, too. We'll see. In any case, this chapter of working part-time and staying home part-time is soon over (minus me possibly doing some PRN). It was downright amazing the past two-and-a-half years though!

Eli still tolerates school. He doesn't love it but he doesn't hate it. He is brave. He tried hot lunch one day! He remembers a few other kids' names. His favorite class is recess and "go noodle" dancing fun. He made his first "book" with drawings and it's just so darn sweet. He is tired at the end of the day and seems a bit more ornry but not as much behavior change as I was expecting. He still LOVES snacks and is always on the hunt for them. He loves quality time and focused attention. He still loves legos and playing. And he loves to make people laugh. He's a great, affectionate, older brother.

Annalee is doing fine adjusting to Eli at school and being a big sister. Well, I think she is. She internally processes life so it's hard to know exactly what she's thinking. She's still our introvert but a crazy side of her is just under the surface. So.Much.Her.Dad! She still loves purple in any form (her purple third birthday party will be soon!) and likes to color. She loves books. She can play so darn well by herself. She has been baby-talking A LOT since Evan has been born. It drives me nuts and I must say "Talk like a big girl" a handful of times each day. Potty training is going to happen when she decides. I know enough about our dynamic not to try until that girl has it in her head. Hopefully soon, October is my ideal. She is definitely in a bit of a growth spurt. She's still tiny but oh, so mighty! I am looking forward to art classes and maybe even gymnastics with her this winter, since she's still too young for preschool.

Evan is AWESOME. His head is still misshaped so we are really trying to get him to put hard pressure on that left-side bump to reverse the damage done. He resists the left so much but we are hopeful. We tried Grandma's chiropractor this week and will keep doing that, loosening those ubber tight muscles. One day he will spit up a ton, the next not much. One night he will sleep super, the other he'll be up more often. He smiles and coos but also screams and looks crazy confused. He's wonderful but loads of work.

That's my family update.

-hlk

Month Two ELK.

His two month pic, taken at Blackduck MN.

Two Month Evanisms (I started writing when he hit that two month mark. It's taken me awhile to finsih, oi!).

1. I call him "Evan Bev-in" sometimes. I call him "Bubba" occasionally. Eli calls him "Ewhen" when he's being overly affectionate. Greg will break out "Buddy" if he is using a nickname. And Annalee just calls him "Baby Evan".

2. He has spit up more these last weeks than ever before. The week at Blackduck (with a crappy coin washing machine) he spit up on most every piece of clothing he or I had. So much puke! Thankfully he's not in too much discomfort about it all. But he really needs to burp well or it comes out like a fountain. He arches his back and forces his way backwards so I'm sure he has some reflux he's dealing with too. This means I have him sleeping upright much of the time.

3. He smiles when you acknowledge him and he responds so well to a happy "hi!!" - though he better be fed else he may just be screaming and think a "hi" is lame. He has a very pronounced brow-line (thanks, Daddy genes) and he often looks confused or upset or concerned but when he's happy, it's all gumless smiles and dimples and melt-your-heart-ness.

4. Along with that, he will talk and coo to you and respond with adorableness to the extreme! I love hearing him try talk and he'd probably do it more if I could focus on just him more!

5. Evan still has a slightly shallow latch but I'm used to it and the pain is minimal, thankfully. He loves to eat. He would always fall asleep attached to me if I'd let him. He will also take a bottle (has taken a handful this week) so it's looking like my hope of him doing both is being fulfilled! This is huge! Imagine me dancing all sort of joy here.

6. When eating he makes little noises: contented moans and rhythmic sighs and sippy gulps. I don't want to forget those. 

7. His eyelashes either grew longer or just darker this week but I sure noticed them. Light but long!

8. Still does well in his car seat! In fact, at his PT appointment for his head issues, she recommended he sleep in there if needed to get him off his beloved right side.

9. He is starting to look towards a toy and be interested in them. I feel like this is a major turning point in being less newborn and more baby. 

10. The last weeks have found him often with daddy in the babyBjorn - he loves facing out and chilling out that way. He is not as much a fan of the moby wrap.

11. He is finding his hands, looking at them longingly, occasionally making it to his mouth. It's sweetness, folks.

12. He has this tiny tiny line on the tip of his nose. Has since birth, I noticed it his first day. I kept thinking it'd go away but it hasn't. I don't want to forget that, either.

13. Sleeping is hit or miss. A few nights he went loooong stretches for me! To 6am once! Others he is still up every three-to-four hours. I think we were heading in a great direction with sleeping until the dreaded HAT came in the picture. He just does not sleep as soundly with that thing on his head, pushing him away from the right side his head so desperately wants to go towards to slumber off. Oh, that "made it 'til 6am" night? I took off the hat.

14. He hasn't been weighed in awhile but I'd guess he is in the 14 pound range. Getting BIG. 

15. His eyes are blue, of course, and just like Eli's, when he wears blue, they sure do shine!

Today with my dad:

First Day of So So Many.

Eli's first day of kindergarten! He neither loved it nor hated it so that's a win overall. I'm not emotional but give me a few weeks and I'm certain I'll miss my darling boy and be a mess.

Today was definitely memorable. I got nasty cold yesterday (groan) so I (and kids) were sleeping until twenty minutes before Eli had to leave this morning. Terribly, somehow I chipped my tooth today as I was picking Eli up from school (!!?) and spent the first half hour of him being home figuring out a dental appointment instead of pestering him about his day. I also went "back to work" for three hours earlier today. Greg is in Fargo for the day/night for an early birthday concert fun night with his brother so I had solo parenting tonight. And tomorrow 8am there's a video shoot at our house.

I lead a crazy life.

-heather, minus that piece of my tooth I'd like back 

Hated.

The beanie is hated. 

The tortle beanie along with exercises are what we have to do for four-to-six weeks. If we do it well he will most likely avoid the helmet (which he would wear for 23 hours per day for two to four months).  Let's hope Evan likes this beanie after a few days getting used to it! Poor kid is not a fan and is definitely out of sorts. 

-hlk

All Together!

Blackduck MN Kasowski Family Vacation!

So amazing!!

Flat-ish.

Our little E had his two month check up yesterday, a few days early before we head out on vacation. Hopefully I'll post an update with his "official" photos (that I suppose I better not forget to take on vacation).

He was 13 lbs, 4 ozs, 22 inches... growing and doing great!

His head is getting flat on one side and it's affecting his forehead (it's lopsided as well). So we have a referral to see a PT and I ordered this tortle beanie to try out... hopefully we can avoid the helmet thing. He has great head movement but I noticed he sleeps with his head towards the right. First time dealing with this but I'm not too concerned. Yet!

For now, here's a few shots of his cute mug during a very smiley time yesterday!

Smiling for Daddy!

Yipperts.

My sister and family are here! 

G&G.

Faces.

Grandma says his looks are changing. He is becoming Evan how we will recall him always.

He was 11lbs, 8.8ozs today and 22 and a quarter inches long - growing three pounds and two inches since birth six weeks ago. He's growing and changing!

Best part is the non-sleep smiles he gives and the tiniest babble beginning!

Within one minute, so many expressions!

Happy Place Visit.

We have been blessed with four kids. 

Precious.

Evan's first time at Maelee's grave. 

Love the Grands!

-HLK

Flax.

My parents, myself and all the kids went on a quick overnight trip to Crosby. Annalee loved the fields of flax because they are purple, her absolute favorite! So we stopped by one field just to take a few photos with my phone. 

Adorable!

Our internet has been down all week so minimal posting until they get it fixed.