Rock My World

                                                                                                      Walker and Will
Pretty crazy! Early, early this morning I was lying awake in bed, trying to find sleep again after being up with the baby. Suddenly a massive boom sound jolted me into consciousness, followed by lots of rumbling and shaking. I have never been in an earthquake that I was awake to feel, and this one surprised me. I guess moving away from the fault line in Utah didn't do anything to lessen my risk of experiencing an earthquake! The Chicago area has its own fault line.
I thought one of my kids had fallen out of bed at first. That is all my brain could relate to. But that was quickly replaced with lots of shaking around. The wall behind my bed groaned and made a popping noise. I sat up and said Del's name, but it woke him up, so we both jumped out of bed.

And to think that was just a 3.8 to 4.3 magnitude and nothing even fell off the wall. (Every new channel has a different magnitude, so who knows.)  I can't imagine the terror of being in Haiti.


On a completely different note.

Wally came home from school with a new library book about aliens. He was cooing and playing with
Walker, holding the book up for him to see.

All of this was said in high voiced baby talk.

" Look Walker, I have a book about aliens.  Don't be scared, aliens aren't real. It's non-fiction."

I laughed into my hand. So funny. And yeah, he did get the "fiction or non-fiction" definitions a little mixed up, but at least he is trying to show off his smarts.

King of The Hill

Wally has ignited a firestorm at the bus stop. We are now watching "King of the Bus Stop" every morning. Wally decided that it is very important to him to be first in line to get on the bus. And apparently one morning he was out there crowing a little too loudly about how he WAS first, because now we send him out the door and watch the races begin.

The kids who don't live as close to the bus stop as we do watch from their parents' cars...and as our garage door begins to open to release Wally from the gate, they all jump into action. Six kids running full speed in all their snow pants, coats, and hats, glory!

One little girl started showing up to stand in the 10 degree or less weather, at the stop about 10 minutes early. This sent Wally into a tizzy! Now he rushes me to help him get ready so that he can be out there FIFTEEN minutes early. I just can't give in. I am not nearly as motivated to claim "first in line" status at the cost of my son becoming frost bitten.

When Wally does get there before anyone else, we get a knock on the door from the losing party after school, complaining about how Wally can't always be first! And I thought a 1st grade little boy could be immature! This is from a 4th grade girl!

Our son has become a motivating factor in getting out of bed on time with the "Bus 26" crowd here in the Chicago suburbs!

I Have One Little Girl

And this is how I find her playing. Dressed as Spiderman, and playing HotWheels.

I love Georgia's little Tomboy tendencies, but I do think she needs some exposure to the little girl things that life has to offer. If you have girls about her age, don't be surprised if I call to set up a play date.


Wally was downstairs in the office yelling for me with so much urgency, I thought someone must have lost a body part. Turns out he has finally mastered the dragon game on the computer. Excited? I think his face says it all! Don't ya love his two front teeth that he needs to grow into? That is a six year old smile if I have ever seen one.


And this picture of Walker just made me want to pick him up and squeeze him right after I took it. So I did!

Torticollis

The not so little word that took over my life for a year after Wally was born has returned to haunt me. We noticed about two weeks ago the head tilt to the right in Walker that made us both say, "Oh no!" And sure enough he got the official diagnosis, and his first session of physical therapy this week.

I feel like I should be an expert in this area. I spent the first year after we moved to Chicago navigating my way around a new city to every doctor imaginable for Wally. Torticollis was just one on a long list of big words that defined Wally's struggle for the first 18 months of his life.

And now our poor, sweet little Walker will have to get the help he needs to keep his head from tipping down to his shoulder. We are hoping because we caught it so early he won't have to wear the helmet to re-shape his head like Wally had to. Walker is such a good boy, I know that he will get better fast.

I am not going to lie, my schedule could do without one more weekly appointment. Between Wally's tutoring, my own neck issues, church callings, dental appointments, and just the everyday things that come up, it is getting interesting around here!

Now I get to add the recall on my BRAND SPANKIN' NEW vehicle to the list! I guess I just need to get a little thing called the accelerator fixed. No biggie.

And am I the only one that is disappointed with the Sweetheart brand for changing the flavor of conversation hearts? They are disgusting now! Those were my favorite part of Valentine's Day!

A Few New Happenings

Del held a sales conference for Patient's Choice at the Omni Hotel in Chicago. (you know the hotel where Oprah's guests stay?)

My Uncle Scott and Aunt Sandy were SO nice to take the three older kids for the night (in the midst of jury duty) so that Walker and I could meet Del to stay the night in the city with him.
I looked like a crazy lady getting on the train and in a cab with a stroller, car seat, carry-on suitcase, backpack, purse, and baby! But I made it and I was able to go to dinner with some of the reps that hadn't flown out yet, and see some friends from high school. We also hit the Art Institute before heading back to the burbs. It was a little hectic, with Del worried about a successful meeting and all the kid stress, but it is always nice to spend time with Del doing something out of the ordinary.

In front of the Omni.



This is a bad picture, but do you recognize "American Gothic?" I must admit, some of the art at the Institute just leaves me scratching my head. I'm all for beautiful works of art, but some of it is just... huh?? Everyone's a critic.


Chicago's street sweepers are cleaning for the cure! I had no idea!


On the kid front... Georgia wearing my boots, and giving me the thumbs up.
The other day I was trying to change her diaper one handed because I was holding Walker. So I said to her "Bum up!" She looked at me and put both her thumbs up next to her face with a big cheesy smile and said "Thumbs up!!" Silly girl.


The first official marker incident of 2010. I was not home when this happened, but Del got a few pictures. Unfortunately not of Georgia's hands or feet, which had practically no skin uncovered. I came home to some smurf children. The interesting thing is that when I got home, her eyelids were colored too. She must have found the marker again after this.


I don't know how many baths later, and she is still tinted blue. Then she moved on to a permanent marker a few days later!



And little Walker Brother. That is what Del calls him. After the pancake house Walker Brothers. No, we did not do that on purpose. He now has a full set of eye lashes, and they make him look so different to me. He has started cooing in the past week, and it is heart meltingly cute! He will even coo back at you when you do it to him! Last night was the first night that he slept for seven hours like a champ! Aaaaa.....

NOT Easy Like Sunday Morning

Wally looks so much like Del when he was little in this picture.
Yesterday we all got up healthy. And with minimal crying involved, met Del at church without him having to come home from morning meetings to get us there. That is the first time that has happened since Walker was born. We even managed to get a picture.

Will has been having the hardest time of any of the kids adjusting to the changes in his life recently. But he has come up with some pretty funny comments while he has gotten used to things. The other day I was patting Walker's back while he fussed, to help him get a burp out. Will told me, "Mom, stop hitting Walker, he doesn't like it."

And once, when Walker had been crying, and crying for no apparent reason, Del sighed and said wearily, "Walker, what is wrong?"

Will said, "Dad, don't be mad at Walker, he is just a baby.

Today he asked me if we can keep Walker. Maybe all of this is finally sinking in.

And hooray, hooray! Last night the baby slept for the first time ever for more than two hours consecutively! We may have turned a corner on the reflux front!

Nurture

As I think over the improvements that I need to make in my life during this new year, I am always led most strongly back to the most important aspect of my life. I am a mother. I will always be a mother. It is an eternal calling. In all my joking around about surviving during this sleepless time full of little people, I really do have a drive to do what I am here to do...nurture.

I just love this picture of Mary praying with Jesus Christ. She is teaching him to pray, leading him by example, and taking the time to do the important day-to-day things that instill values in her son.

That is my goal for this year. To guide my children to the thing that I desire most for them in this life: a knowledge of who they are, why they are here, and what they need to do to live with their Father in Heaven again. I want them to have a personal knowledge and belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to live it.

And so, I will try to improve how I live up to the expectations laid out by the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in "The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

" Husband and Wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalm 127:3) Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives-mothers and fathers-will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

A man and his wife came up to me and Del at the store the other day and asked about our family. He asked if we go to church. When we said yes, we are Mormons, he told us that he believes that religion is what makes people desire to have families. When he saw our children, he thought we might go to church. He told us he is a Catholic. I was impressed by his openness in talking about what he believes with strangers. And so, I wanted to put this out there and also resolve to do so more often. I want to share what is most important to me, and what gives me purpose every day.

And this year, I want to work harder to teach my children to live so that they will do the same.

Just So I Remeber

I just wanted to get a picture of Walker wearing his blessing outfit up. Just so I remember. These days I have a very serious case of baby brain. I am afraid that I will look back at these days of new adjustments after a baby, and they will be blurry. Walker has reflux on top of everything, so that has only added to my sleepy, cloudy existence right now. When Del asked me what my goals for the year were. Planner in hand. I told him (a little defensively) that my goal until at least March is to survive, and maybe venture further than the bus stop. I know...don't let my ambition intimidate you!

Exhibit A of my baby brain. Will rides to school on the bus with the Kindergartners. He is in pre-school and they don't have school one Friday every month. I put him on the bus and sent him off. About a half an hour later I got a call from the school to come and pick up poor little Will because there is no pre-school today. As I walked into the school to get him, I kind of wished I had a sign to wear that says, "Yes, I have baby brain." The new born in tow is probably announcement enough. Oh, well, it really is a precious time in life. So we better get it written down somewhere.

Here is the sweet little thing. Oh, and does anyone else see a bit of red in his hair? I will be interested to see what comes of that!


Everyone needs someone to baby.


On another battle front...the binki war. Trying to talk Georgie out of the use of this thing is the next goal.

Walker's Blessing Day

We decided last minute to go home for Christmas. We bought a ticket for me to fly with the baby, and my incredibly brave husband DROVE home with the other three kids. That's over 24 hours folks!

While we were home we were able to bless Walker and give him a name to be on the records of the church. It worked out so nicely to be able to share that day with friends and family. Thank you Mom and Dad for the use of your home for the lunch after!

Our Christmas Morning

We had an early Christmas at our house, as in years past. Santa knows that we usually spend the Holidays home with extended family, so he comes to our house before we leave town. And he found us all right. It felt like we had toys everywhere. When you times the gifts for one child by four, it gets to be quit the haul!

Will asked for this pirate ship every day before Christmas. He loves the octopus that came with it. He got his Nigret Pirate Ship! Don't ask us why he calls it that, but he also adds, "Only from X Box." to the end of it. It is made by Matchbox.


Another favorite, Rocky the Dump Truck Robot.


Georgia taking a picture of me with her princess camera.


Georgia's kitchen.


The car with the "mom" and "dad" in it. That is what she calls the Barbie and Ken dolls


Walker got blocks for Christmas. I thought he looked pretty excited about it!


Wally and his race car.


Dad and baby boy.


Some of the damage.


This is what Del got me for Christmas. Something new to haul my crew! A brand new Toyota Sequoia with all the bells and whistles! Yay! Oh, and a new 2010 calendar. Leave it to my future planning, goal setting husband. I still tease him that is always coming at me with his planner. Something I learned early on in our marriage would be a staple Sunday evening event.