Learning to sit up...not spit up

Because he's got the spit up thing covered.

Snow

Well, Shane's school district failed to impress me (again) today...  Instead of letting out early so everyone could get home safe, after we got 3 inches of snow, they went the entire day.  So, Shane ended up walking 1/2 way home when the roads got too slick and the car skidded off.  Lovely.  There are two cars in the ditch at the bottom or our driveway and our road is closed because it is so slick.  I still find it funny that everything comes to a screeching halt when it snows here.  I get that it is mostly because there just isn't the equipment to plow/de-ice, etc. but when I called my Mom today she was heading out to go run errands and they had at least 6 inches on the ground and it was still snowing!

The good news is that Calder got to see his first snow.  He did not care one way or the other.  We're betting that Shane will have a snow day tomorrow as temperatures are not expected to change.  I am getting really excited to go for a run in the snow.  Hooray!

spooky...not scary

Spooky because I didn't get any good pictures.

eyes closed

 

Screaming astronaut and the night sky has her retainer in...

But cute and funny too. Ha. Ha.

 

We had a fun Halloween weekend.  T's birthday party was on Saturday.  That is always a good time.  

My friend, Cheryl, and her husband found that little Astronaut outfit for Calder.  I am in love with it.  It is still pretty big on C-dog but we just rolled up the sleeves for Halloween.  In another month when it fits him better he is going to have it on every day.  

Tayler just came home one day and said she was going to be the "sky".  So, we went for it!  I like how the two costumes go together and it wasn't even on purpose.

We took Tayler, her friend and Calder trick or treating at a really fun spot.  We don't live in a neighborhood but there is one really awesome small neighborhood where everyone goes to trick or treat.  Every house.  I mean every single house in the entire neighborhood gets totally decked out for Halloween.  Tons of pumpkins and spider webs and candles but nothing too scary...just spooky.  There are tons of kids and tons of parents and most of the parents are drinking wine as they walk from house to house. So fun!

Mandrake Root

 

See that plant that looks like a baby....it's called a Mandrake Root in Harry Potter-ese.

Well, for a LONG LONG time....T and I have thought our baby Calder has an uncanny resemblance to the mandrake root.

The same age as my students...

It's official, T is now the same age as most of my students.  12!
We celebrated twice.  The first time on her actual birthday with her school friends and mom's family.  Then again on Saturday with her extended family at our house.  We did the usual.  Pumpkin carving, chili eating and this year T requested a pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting!  It was dangerously good.

My favorite part of T turning 12 is the sarcasm/sass she has developed.  It is not uncommon to hear her say, "nice" in a sarcastic tone after someone does something not so smart.  It is really hard to give her a slightly stern look instead and not crack up every time.

4 month picture

This was taken on his 4 month birthday...just not uploaded.  He's almost 5 months now.

4 month ring shot

Learning to hold his head up with dad

4 months (really late and with no picture)

At 4 months Calder is 10lbs 11oz.  Huge!  No, really...he is SO close to actually making the growth chart for his age that it is CRAZY.  For his gestation age (about 1 month) he is in the 70th percentile for weight and the 30th percentile for length.  The NICU nurses said they made square babies and they were right!  Calder, you are a box.  

Calder, you smiled at us, for real, a few days ago.  We were on the ferry and you were happy as a clam.  And you just kept smiling at us.  We were cracking up!  It was so fun that we were all together when the first (definitely a smile not just gas) smile happened! 

Although, the smiles are so fun, they are the exception!  Maybe once a day Calder is totally happy and cooing and smiling and interacting.  The rest of the day:  screaming or eating.  Sometimes, sleeping.  That's okay.  I like it.  I like that he is bulking up and feisty and mad.  That is why he did so well at 2lbs.  Pure grit. 

I will post the 4 month picture late right now it is in my camera and I am lazing with a sleepy baby on my chest and I wouldn't move for anything but a chocolate chip cookie...and since we're out of butter, chocolate chips and sugar it looks like I'll be staying put for a while.