One Month Ago Today

It was on this day, one month ago, that Caleb flew down the birth canal and officially joined our family. It seems like only yesterday, and it seems like forever, and all of those other cliche phrases that are actually true! Here's what I've discovered over the past month:

1. Sleep is for the weak...Actually I'm really jealous of those of you sleeping more than 3.25 hours at a time.

2. Caleb's hair is so fantastic, I've spent more time styling it than I have my own....sad, but true.

3. Some baby carriers are made to fit in shopping carts, others are not...mine is not. Therefore, I can fit the carrier and two other items in the basket at once. This is going to make for a LOT of trips to the store.

4. A six year old girl and a four year old boy are pretty helpful...Until it comes to poop, then I'm on my own.

5. Four year old boys are fascinated with "where Caleb's milk comes from". And may or may not have a fascination with breasts in the years to come...Oh great.

6. If a baby is really really hungry and you put your cheek up to his face, he will root around and give you "kisses". OK OK, it's a really cheap way to get kisses, but I can't stop doing it.

7. I also cannot stop smelling his breath, and I tell him to "NEVER grow up" at least twice and hour.

8. Just because you can put your jeans on doesn't mean you should. There are more important things like, perhaps, breathing and being able to sit down.

9. This poor child has the extreme potential to be severely spoiled or severely mauled...Which ever happens first.

10. Three kids are better than two. We are slowly adjusting to our new crazy version of normal!

Carter and Parker

Try saying Carter and Parker three times fast...It's not easy. On Tuesday my mother in law and sister in law came for a visit. Well, actually they came to give Kathy Lee Gifford a run for her money in the sweat shop department. We sewed until we couldn't see straight. What did we make, you ask? I'll provide details about that project later, let's just say there was fabric involved and MANY breaks to check on the kids.

Carter really likes Parker, except when he tries to play with his Transformers...and any of his other toys for that matter. Good thing we have a few months before Caleb starts getting into Carter's things. I have a feeling it's not going to be pretty. However, for the most part they got a long great.

War and Fuzz

In life, it's easy to misunderstand something that someone says to you. It's pretty common to mis-hear or mis-interpret a phrase or maybe a whole conversation.

Here are two of my new favorite misunderstandings, Cali and Carter style.

Cali:
The other day there was a commercial on TV for one of the many news magazine shows. Their leading story was about price wars. They were doing a whole in-depth story on how business and stores lure consumers into buying things by price matching or by raising prices only to lower them into a false sale. All Cali heard was, "Price War". Where upon she immediately shrieked and looked at me as if she'd seen a ghost. Then she said, "Mom, there's a war...in Price?!"

I explained to her what price war meant. That it didn't mean that there was a war going on in the city of Price Utah where her grandparents live. How interesting...that upon hearing the word "war" she expected it to mean war in the very literal sense. I guess that's what happens when you are born into a world where there has always been war. Even more interesting, that someone so young can pick up on something so old.


Carter:
Caleb tends to get a little fussy at nights. I forgot about that aspect of having a newborn...Carter doesn't like it AT ALL, and tells me to, "Make Caleb happy!" I try, but at times he just likes to fuss. I tried to explain to Carter that sometimes, even when they are fed, and dry, and seemingly happy...babies like to fuss. He seemed pretty content with that answer.

The next time Caleb started to fuss Carter immediately said...."OH NO mom, he's getting fuzzy again!" or "No! He's fuzzing again!" I tried to pronounce the difference between the word fuss and the word fuzz...But he can't hear it, or chooses not to. So now, from time to time, we have a fuzzy baby. I kind of like the word, I think it will stick!

Family Pictures

On Friday afternoon we had some family pictures taken. Warning: if you want your Christmas card to be a surprise, please feel free to by pass the next several posts.

My good friend Amanda was kind enough to take our pictures in scenic downtown Rock Springs, and on her anniversary nonetheless. She did such a great job, we love they way they turned out.

The next five {at least} posts are dedicated to just a FEW of our favorites.

Enough Attitude?

Random Favorites

Our Family

{not so} Wild Meowzers

Not a Day Over 18 and 21....Right?

Surprise!

On Thanksgiving night we had a wonderful surprise. My sister Jayna and her husband Mike moved to Washington this past fall so he could pursue a master's degree. I haven't seen them since last April when our whole family participated in the MS Walk. They got the wild idea to drive 1500 miles and surprise everyone with a Thanksgiving visit. After they made the trek from Washington to Utah, they continued on and drove a few more hours to visit us too.

I was trying to capture the exact moment they arrived. It was so fun to visit with them, if only for a little while. They also brought a couple of bonus surprises too. Brandt and Dory rode from SLC to Rock Springs with them. Brandt had never been to Wyoming before and was pleased that his first encounter with person in Wyoming was with a cowboy at a truck stop.

We were all glad to see Dory too. I haven't seen her since June, and Cali was over the moon excited. Dory was very nice to go downstairs and play with Cali and see her new room, and basically do everything Cali wanted to do.

When I talked to my mom today she said that Mike and Jayna arrived safe and sound back in Washington early this morning. We are so glad that they made the 16+ hour drive to give us a wonderful Thanksgiving surprise!

Our Turkeys

This is the magnificent turkey that Christian slaved over. He wanted to try a new recipe, there was rubbing and butter and garlic and thyme and broiling and cooking involved...I observed all of this while sitting on the couch. Needless to say, the recipe is a keeper! The turkey turned out wonderfully.

Here is another delicious turkey, all dressed up in his Thanksgiving shirt {thank you Roz} drooling on himself. This picture really captures the essence of Thanksgiving!

Two {almost} grown up turkeys...eating turkey! Cali was pleased with the results, and Carter was busy focusing on the task at hand. We also like to incorporate all fall holidays by using Halloween cups at Thanksgiving dinner!

Cali made the cutest place cards, she worked all morning on them, and was so excited to show all of us to our assigned seats. We had a wonderful holiday, very relaxing with no travel, lots of food, and time to spend together!

Kidnapped Sister

{photo by Cali}

Last Thursday Caleb, Carter and I kidnapped Bethany from work and forced her to join us on our adventures. We went to her house and let Carter play on the playground for a while. Then we changed the boys into their picture taking clothes, and headed to Kiddie Kandids. She helped me wrestle some smiles out of them, and then we were off to the doctor. While I was with Caleb and the doctor, Bethany played outside and in the car with Carter.

We were having such a wonderful time that we forgot to drop her off at her apartment. Instead, we continued on I80 and zipped right past her exit. We stopped in Evanston for some five...five...dollar footlongs, and hit the road again. Somewhere around Mountain View Carter barfed his five...five...dollar footlong all over the car. Bethany tried to to catch the barf with a box, but the force of the vomit ripped through the bottom of the box. No worries...he wasn't really sick...just car sick.

We both tried to clean Carter up the best we could with only Subway napkins and baby wipes. Luckily we had some extra clothes, but the poor boy had to change in the freezing wind somewhere on I80. It was very eventful.

We spent the rest of the weekend hanging out together, making cookies, doing some shopping, and she is now convinced that she MUST have a baby soon! She helped us out so much by holding Caleb all the time, which gave me a chance to catch up on a few things. She also entertained Cali and Carter with endless games and fun.

On Sunday night Christian braved the Wyoming wind/snow to take her to Evanston where she met her Tyler and they went on their way back to SLC. We can't wait to kidnap her again!

Finished...Finally

I finally finished this bed spread for Carter's bed. I posted the details on my quilting blog, along with additional pictures.

Birthday Suit

...not that kind of "birthday suit". We got Carter this handsome suit for his birthday. He missed wearing it to church last Sunday because he was sick. So, yesterday he made his debut. He was so excited to wear his tie and new shoes too. He even sprayed on some Polo Sport. Not only did he look like a handsome man, he smelled like one too!

One Fancy Woman & Two Handsome Devils

Who doesn't love a good school picture, right? I know they are not the most artistic photos ever taken, but I love the school picture style. It's fun to go back and compare their ever changing looks over the years.

Cali Lynn Pollastro

Six Years Old

First Grade

Carter Michael Pollastro

Four Years Old

Preschool

Caleb Christian Pollastro

Two Weeks Old

Two Weeks Old

I can hardly believe we've had little Caleb for two whole weeks. In some ways it feels like he's always been here, and in other ways I still feel like I'm in a time warp. We are getting adjusted to our new life and our new schedule, just in time for it to change, I'm sure!

I seriously cannot get enough of his hair, and spend a little too much time styling it after his bath. Speaking of hair, he actually woke himself up from his nap yesterday because he was pulling his own hair...That's when you know you have great hair!

He's a good natured little thing, and rarely fusses...unless he's hungry. He's getting better at sleeping through the night, and I'm getting better at taking care of a newborn. It's amazing how many things you forget!

When Cali was a tiny baby I spent so much time wishing she was bigger. I was staying home alone all day, and often wished that she would talk or respond or do something. The talking and walking came all too soon. When Carter was a tiny baby I spent a lot of my time rushing around trying to take care of a baby and a two year old. I went back to work when he was six weeks old, and often rushed over the little day to day things.

So, this time, I am taking my time. I know how fast they grow. I'm not wishing for talking or walking. I don't have to go back to work, so it doesn't really matter if I spend extra time awake at night. I'm trying to smell him more, hold him more, and enjoy this phase of life.

Priceless Moments

We couldn't agree more. Carter is the best brother in the world!

I cannot even believe that he is four years old. As of November 2nd he was still a baby. It's just crazy!

Here are all the cousins. Parker, Carter, Mia, Cali and Caleb. It's harder than it looks to get a pile of cousins to hold still and take a good picture, but it's nice to have this moment captured.

And finally, how many college graduates does it take to figure out how to transform Optimus Prime? Don't answer that...Let's just say more than are pictured here, and they still haven't figured out Megatron...

Transformers...More Than Meets the Eye

The giant Optimus Prime birthday sack gave it away! However, we made Carter open all his other presents first. It was torture, he graciously thanked everyone for their gifts, but was eyeing that sack the whole time.

Finally! Optumus {or Octumus...as he's called around here} Prime is mine!

Thank you Grandma Vicki!

Four Parties for a Four Year Old

I'm just wrapping up the end of Carter's birthday pictures. I know, you thought it would never end! There was a party with Grandma Gwennie and Grandpa Neal on Sunday the 8th. His actual birthday, the 10th, we had a small family party with Grandma Vicki and Carson. Then, of course, we did the friend thing on Thursday the 12th. And finished up with the Pollastro's on Saturday the 14th.

Just a few more birthday posts...I promise!

Ten Days

Caleb in his pimp Hugh Hefner robe {thank you Apryl and Abby} at ten days old.

Me in my not-so-pimp black thermal shirt ten days with little sleep.