We love Nick and Caitlin

Uncle Nick is really good with kids...as it turns out.  Also, he and Calder pretty much have the same hair.  Which, I love.  Please, wear your hair all messy in the future son.  I think the non-hair style is the best hair style.  Sometimes, if I'm extra good Shane lets me put some sticky gel in his hair to try to achieve this look.  Also, Calder is absolutely terrified of the camera...so, I have only captured one smiling picture of him even though he smiles all the time.

Isn't Caitlin beautiful?  Yeah, she's cute, all of the time...it's hard not to be jealous. :)  Calder looks like he's trying to escape but that is just because of the terrifying camera that is pointed at him.

No pictures of T and Nick and Caitlin but that is because they were so busy doing things they did not slow down for pictures.  Thanks for the visit guys!

Survival Mode

Sometimes we go for walks when the weather isn't so great.  When we do that Calder goes into what we like to call, "survival mode."  This is yet another example of our exceptional parenting skills.  The last  time this happened was when we decided to go clamming in the middle of what ended up being a huge wind and rain storm (50 mph winds-sideways rain).  Calder just stares at us like, "What the heck, guys?  You're kidding right...?"  Then he sort of hunkers into me in his baby carrier.  And before long he is asleep.  Now, this only happens during 'survival mode'.  He does not normally fall asleep in the sling.  It is like his little body is saying, "must conserve energy, must sleep, must live."  Maybe, we should be worried but, really, we are pretty responsible and we are all constantly saying things like, "Is he warm?  Does he need some gloves?  Are his legs completely covered?  Should he have a blanket?  Is he breathing (that one is left over from the NICU)?"  So, I think he is plenty well cared for.

This was not the 50mph wind day.  This was a few days before and it was beautiful out so we had to go for a walk!  Unfortunately, it was also freezing.  I think I have three layers on top and two layers on the bottom.  You can see the sleeping in the bottom picture.  I'm wearing a reflective running hat so excuse the bright glare. 

 

Poor Little Fella 

Uglies

Well, well, well the Ugly Doll post….I’m sure we’ve all been waiting for.

I love Ugly Dolls.  I think they are fantastically cute.  I am a little sad because I think they are becoming quite popular and I would prefer they remain on the “fringe” of being cool.  When we started thinking about decorating Calder’s room I did not want it to be too baby-ish because as a general rule I despise anything too cute, baby-ish or themed.  But, I did want him to have some cute stuff that would easily be transferable to a toddler and even kid room.  So, I decided I wanted to make an Ugly Doll mobile!  

Unfortunately, Calder decided to kick his way out before I had time to figure out how to do this. 

  After much looking, a friend found the perfect mobile base on Etsy.  Side note:  I LOVE etsy.  

Then my thoughtful husband started making the dream come true as he would bring me Ugly Dolls as I sat in the hospital before and after the Chubster was born.  Calder had Ugly Dolls all over his Isolet!  The nurses thought we were crazy because I was like, “Nothing Cute!  Nothing Baby!  No baby blue!”  Hee Hee.  Calder needed to be TOUGH.

So, we had the perfect Ugly Mobile and THEN….Cheryl and Brian gave Calder what I like to call the Ugly Pillow.  A stuffed Ugly that looks perfect on the rocking chair in his bedroom.  

Calder loves his Ugly Pillow.  It is so funny to watch him stare at it.  He thinks that Ugly Doll is pretty sneaky and doesn’t want to look away for fear that Ugly will attack!  This is not a great picture because that darn giraffe is in the way but, trust me, the ultimate staring contest was on. 

 And then one day Calder beat that Ugly down!  He pinned that Ugly and then promptly fell asleep.  It was shocking! 

So, I guess we kinda ended up with a little bit of a theme...what with the Uglies and all.  But, I love it!

Delightful

I love everything about this video.  

It makes me smile every time I watch it. 

And, I've already watched it at least 7 times.