Five Months

Dear Joseph,

Today you are five months old. Time seems to be going by way too fast lately. I feel like you should still be a newborn! You have grown into such a happy baby and bring so much joy into our little family.

You have recently discovered your feet and love when I leave your toes out so that you can play with them. I love seeing the dimples on your elbows and knees as you play. Those chubby thighs of yours are so hard to resist and whenever I gently squeeze them you break into giggles. I could munch your soft baby cheeks all day and adore your open mouthed kisses!

You have become so interactive over the last few weeks and love to reach out and grab things. The other day as I drank a glass of water with you in my arms you squirmed and reached trying to get a taste. You are super interested in food and enjoy your tiny helpings of rice cereal each night. You are getting good at shaking your rattles and grasping your toys and everything goes to the mouth.

Whenever you are propped on my hip your chubby little fingers always seem to find my hair.  You often grab at the back and open and close your fingers slowly as you feel it between your fingers. While I perform my motherly duties with you propped on my hip you will often have a firm grasp on my shirt collar or hoodie strings making sure you are extra close to your mamma.

You love interacting with your Daddy. The other day he taught you how to growl and you've been doing it ever since. At dinner time your gaze often finds him and you flash him that awesome ear to ear grin of yours.

The other day as I was nursing you I couldn't help but gaze at your tiny little face. I noticed your hair is starting to come in and though it is light, you are turning into quite the little fuzz head.

Though you can roll, the desire still isn't there. You are okay to just lay and be entertained by your siblings. While you are on your stomach though you like to be on the go and your legs and arms are always moving and pushing.

I suspect a tooth is about to make an appearance because you are constantly munching your fingers.

The jolly jumper has become a recent favourite and I love watching the pure joy you get as you bend and push those chubby little legs of yours. You especially love when your siblings jump close by. I think it makes you feel big. Camilla can hardly leave you alone when you jump and loves the position you are in for awesome hugs and kisses and you willingly oblige throwing your arms around her neck as you try to suck on her hair. She will often try to hold your hands as you bounce until I gently remind her that you are safer jumping on your own.

You still don't sleep through the night, but some of my favorite moments with you are in the late evening as I nurse you in the quiet of the streetlight lit bedroom upstairs. There is no one else demanding my attention and technology is far out of reach. I get to sit in the big green chair with you cradled in my arms. As I listen to your sweet breaths I notice your chest gently rising and falling in the stillness of the room. Your chubby little hands open and close as your arms push and fight against the blanket. Soon your body realizes how tired it is and you snuggle into my arms and drift off to sleep. I should probably start sleep training you, but I so enjoy those bedtime snuggles.

Feeding Time

Today after everyone finished their dinner, this is what my kitchen looked like...

Oh that Camilla, how I love her!

Jumping Joseph

Apparently I like alliteration. On Sunday we tried out the Jolly Jumper for the first time. To say Joe loved it would be an understatement. He was giggling pretty hard the whole time! The kids loved watching him jump and whenever they were around it made him laugh even harder. They sure do love each other!

First time jumper!

Full of Giggles!

Loving Life.

Cafe Rio

Tonight we got totally spoiled! Our friends invited us over for homemade Cafe Rio, and it was awesome! Since Mr. Stannix served his mission in Salt Lake City, Cafe Rio is one of his favorite places to eat. He said that this tasted like the real deal, and was totally in heaven! I may have to get the recipe of ya, Jessica.



Looks delicious right?

Thanks for the fun night guys!

The Measure of Success

I think I may have actually fixed our computer. We've been going without it for almost two months now. I've been using my iPad for so long that it's hard for me not to want to reach out and touch the computer screen when I want to do something. It's kind of like when you start driving an automatic after driving a standard for so long and your foot almost goes through the floor when you reach for the clutch.

I have spent an entire week fighting a really bad cough. It's been hard to sleep at night so I've been catching a few winks with the kids in the afternoon. Although I've been sick, my sense of humor is luckily still in tact. The kids have been cracking me up lately. The other night I was so looking forward to the much needed 9:00pm bedtime. When I snuck up stairs to nurse Joe for one last time before bed I had to smile. I was sitting in the green chair watching Camilla, still awake in her dimly lit room. I watched the dark outline of her body as she organized and reorganized her teddies across the head of her bed. Joseph decided sleep wasn't for him and I watched my early bedtime come and go. Finally close to 11:00pm, I snuck into our bedroom and located my pjs on my bed. When I tried to slip into my pj pants I realized they were sized for a five year old. During nap time earlier that day Camilla had pulled and tied the strings so tightly in that twisty way she ties things that it took me almost five minutes to undo them. All I could do was laugh, with a hint of frustration.

Today I got a kick out of watching Hyrum at lunch, mimicking everything his sister would say or ask. One of the times was especially cute. With his elbows on the table he rested his chin on his chubby hand, looked up at me with his big blue eyes and said, "that be great, Mom?"

Joseph learned a new trick from his Daddy the other night and its also adorable. He likes to open his mouth nice and big and growl when the rest of us are talking, just to be sure he gets his ten cents in. Today he growled up a storm in the back seat while we were driving down Whyte. He had all of us laughing pretty hard.

I found myself feeling a little bummed today as I reflected on this last year. I feel as though we were just making party plans for Hyrum's first birthday and now all of the sudden we're thinking about his second birthday. What did I even do for a whole year? When I look back I feel as though I haven't accomplished much. I haven't learned a great new skill, played any sports, taken up running again, or greatly expounded my knowledge of the Gospel. I think I need to start setting goals. I'm the kind of person who likes to measure success. I loved school because my grades told me how well I was doing. It's hard to measure success as a mother day in and day out. Just as the laundry gets finished more dirty clothes fill up the basket. Just when the dishes get finished, someone dirties another dish. It can be challenging doing the same things day in and day out.

With the computer being temporarily fixed I found myself looking through old pictures and reminiscing. That's the one thing I've missed the most is my photo library. I get so much joy out of being able to look back on old pictures and memories. Although I felt as though I hadn't accomplished anything for myself, looking at the pictures reminded me about all of the things we've accomplished and done as a family. I really do get my greatest fulfilment and joy out of being a mother. I have an amazing job and some pretty cute little people to work with each day! And even if my biggest accomplishment this year was learning how to grocery shop with three littles in tow, I am doing an important work.

Trecherous Tantrums

It's lunchtime when Hyrum breaks out into his gazillionth tantrum of the day. These aren't your regular tantrums, these ones last a long time. In his defense he's been battling the same nasty cold virus that I have and a sore throat is never fun. He was playing in his soup, so I assumed he was done. He follows me to the counter and immediately begins screaming. I sigh, force a smile and ask him if he'd like to sit back at the table and finish his soup.

"NO!"

I place the half eaten bowl back on the counter.

"SOUUUPP!"

Frustration overcomes me ad I gently place my screaming toddler on the couch for a time out. Camilla stays at the table singing to herself and refusing her lunch. Between Hyrum's screams of frustration I can make out "Get....teddy!" I pass him the teddy he was pointing to, but he refuses it. When I put it back he wants it, but gets more angry when I try to hand it to him once more. He continues to scream and point at things and I wish I could read minds. Five minutes later I give up and head up to my bed for a time out.  I plead to my Heavenly Father for patience and guidance. After I indulge in a chocolate break, I head down stairs to turn on some Beatles.

Camilla soon joins us in the living room with some disco moves. After half an hour Hyrum still continues to scream and I sit down to blog while the music muffles the sound. I'm sure he's forgotten what he was angry about in the first place.

And then when I'm feeling like I'm about to lose my sanity I call nap time!

We're all good here.

Mommy Daughter Date

Mr. Stannix got me a night at the Spa with Camilla for my birthday. He booked the appointment for tonight. We had a lot of fun together. It started with manicures and ended with hair cuts. We took our boots off at the door and headed up the stairs to the couches. The ladies were super great! Camilla picked pink for her nails of course, it is her favorite color. I got a kick out of watching her drink her juice box between the palms of her hands because her nails were wet. She did so good for such a little girl. She chatted the ear off of whoever would listen and enjoyed the extra attention and one on one. Thanks to Daddy we are sporting fun new nails and fresh hair cuts.

She looked pretty cute!

I was super boring and just did sparkles. I like my nails naked.

 Pre-haircuts

It was super fun to hang out with my little lady and I look forward to our next little date together. It was all she could talk about all day, and I have to admit that even I was pretty excited about it! I am so glad to have lost some weight after chopping my hair. It had been way too long since my last cut! It feels good.

Another Year Gone

This weekend has been wonderful, despite being sick. I have enjoyed watching General Conference with my little family and getting my house back in order. My bathroom sparkles and so does my kitchen floor. I definitely feel a greater sense of peace after listening to the talks this weekend. Today we spent the day at my Grandparents place again. My parents and Uncle came up for the day to enjoy Conference with everyone. I was surprised first thing in the morning by Camilla who came to my bedside with birthday wishes. She was so excited to give me their present that she had been hiding in her room. Her secret keeping efforts are getting much better! Mr. Stannix surprised me with an awesome card and a night out to the spa with Camilla. He's such a thoughtful guy. It was so awesome being able to spend my special day surrounded by family and being inspired by great church leaders.

Cami girl snoozing while Gramma watches Conference.

Since I never get pictures WITH my parents anymore, I thought I'd take the opportunity!



A few of my favorite talks here, here, and here.



They're Great

We spent the day today at my Gramma and Grampa Hudkins place. The kids had fun playing with different toys and spending time with their Great Gramma and Grampa. As soon as we pull up Camilla recognizes it as "Gramma Hunkins". It was nice to be able to spend the day with them and I feel so lucky to have them so close. They are a great example of selfless service and Christlike love. I am so grateful for them and all that they do!

Teething

Last night was rough. I felt like a ping pong ball bouncing back and forth between Joe and Hyrum, and then during my breaks I was busy snoozing in the chair or finding lost slippers for Camilla. Our little home is bursting at the seams and its frustrating having no where to go with a teething baby in the middle of the night. Nonetheless we carry on. We've been filling our mornings with outings and our afternoons with naps. Amidst feeling stressed and tired I find the most joy out of getting down on the floor and really playing with the children, or dancing around to some Mindy Gledhill in the late afternoons when we have the house to ourselves. My favourite moment from today though was when we were all sitting on the kitchen floor. Camilla and Hyrum were playing their wooden kazoos and Joseph was laying on my lap. He looked up at me with his giant blue eyes and gave a grin with his hands stuffed in his mouth. I was glad I had a camera in hand to capture his sweet little face. I sure hope his little teeth come in soon!