Just Stop

It seems like Merrick gets a little bigger every day. The other weekend while he was staying at Billy's parents we got a text with a picture of his new big tooth coming in. It's so big. Kind of like his feet which are huge. (He's really a small guy...but his feet look like a teenagers feet and it freaks me out because they make me think of when he will actually BE a teenager and won't kiss me with his sticky face anymore or want to snuggle in my bed in the mornings or want me to sing to him at night or...ok ok need to calm down.)

Anyway, this week he has been going to a day camp near our house. But it's still entirely too far away. He loves it of course, but he always looks so...little...when we drop him off. My not so little baby being all independent and stuff. At least he still lets me kiss him when I leave. (And came home the other day with this blue sticky mouth wanting a big kiss.)

I think how sweet and thoughtful this guy is makes him growing up even harder. Life is tough, and I don't want him to ever let it take away that big eyed sweetness of his. I love the guy he's growing up to be...I just wish he wouldn't do it so fast.

Band of Brothers

Amaryllis was fussing earlier today while I was doing something in the kitchen. Before I could wrap it up and get back to my room where she was, her little fan club beat me to it. Merrick decided a little xylophone music was just the thing to calm down a reflux-y sister. And Jericho brought along his guitar. It was one of those moments where you feel like, in the middle of all the crazy and the tired, that maybe you're doing at least a couple things right. Love these wild babies and the way they love each other.

KO

I guess I should expect this type of thing, since I have two sons. (One of whom is the linebacker of 2 year olds.) Last night Jericho comes downstairs to tattle on Merrick. He was holding his nose, and kept saying "Bubba knock me out." I never really had to deal with fistfights growing up in a house full of sisters...that was a totally different level of drama. But I also have two girls, so I'm thinking we  will get to experience a little taste of everything around here. ;)

Caught

Recently a couple of awesome people bought and gave us a really nice video monitor for Amaryllis. I've wanted one for a long time, but never wanted to pay for it, so we were really grateful for the ability to spy on our kid. But really...this thing is fancy. I can even talk through the camera (not really needed now, but for later when someone needs "the fear of God" put in them as Billy says).

 I did actually end up using the "fear of God" feature on a wayward hooligan. You can probably guess which one by the big brown eyeballs pictured on a camera where he should not be pictured. Miss Amaryllis was napping in her swing and the older two asked if they could go look at her. (They are her adoring fans...or creepy stalkers either one. They often just watch her sleeping and try to "help" give her a paci...usually their help is met with some tiny, but fierce, screaming.) Jericho followed them in there, and proceeded to give me kisses via the baby monitor. Sweet...but a little scary as you can see. Yes, those are his giant gap teeth.

I see this monitor is going to be much more useful than I even imagined. I'm obviously going to need it more for making sure Amaryllis isn't being attacked by her adoring public than for actually watching her. I guess this is one of the many instances where I'll chalk it up to "fourth baby problems".

I guess it's fair though, since goodness knows there were plenty of "third baby problems" for the big ol baby you see on the kissing cam.

Overload

I had grand illusions of blogging a good, and hopefully funny, "update" blog. One where I tell you all about how our life is going with a new baby. But that was before I got 4 hours of sleep. And before Jericho locked himself in the bathroom while I was trying to feed Amaryllis and he freaked out. And before I broke up 529 fights. And before I got up literally 15 times while trying to write this first paragraph. Needless to say, life is busy right now. Amaryllis is having some issues with her tummy apparently. (Right now we are thinking maybe reflux or a lactose sensitivity? She's formula fed, as I've always had issues with low supply -or "skim milk" as I like to call it- so we are just trying to find something that works for her and cuts out the hours of screaming. I feel so bad for her, so we are trying to figure it out quickly and kind of just hanging on tight in the process.)

All that said...I got back the pictures from her newborn session this morning. So that was a bright spot of cute overload. She's so ridiculously cute that it makes up for all the screaming. Hope everyone is having a much less scream-tastic Monday than we are!