The weekend.

6/17- For some reason, I just can't stop taking pictures of this sweet girl!!  I think she's getting a little sick of it. 

Mom... just let me sleep!!!

These pink outfits are just too cute!

We don't watch a ton of TV around here... and when we do, it typically is shows without commercials.  If anyone doubts the power of advertising- read on.  I think we watched Max & Ruby on Nickelodeon a couple of times this past month.  Boaz must have seen some commercial about Danonino yogurt.  Some little boy was telling his mom they needed to put spoons in the cups and make yogurt popsicles out of it.  So, Boaz has been on this kick that we need to make Danonino!  I wasn't about to go out and buy Danonino- he didn't even know it was a brand of yogurt.  For all he knew- it was a recipe for popsickles!   So tonight- we made 'Danonino with Blueberries.'  We stuck it in the freezer and will enjoy it in the morning....

6/18- The boys enjoyed their Danonino for breakfast this morning!  Glad they are easily pleased. 

Grandpa Bartlett and Daddy worked on our window well fences again today.  We played outside while they worked and enjoyed the beautiful weather.  Boaz & Cainan spent a long time hauling rocks around the house in this shovel. 

Then they enjoyed another of their favorite activities... running up and down the hill. 

And then you can't forget to roll down!!

These fences are looking so good!  They've taken a long time and a lot of hard work to get up, but they look great.  Only one little gate section to go and they will be finished! 

I'm not sure how this hat of ours ended up outside- let alone in the neighbors' yard- but we recovered it and brought it back to our house tonight.   Whew!

After a long hard day, Boaz read Daddy & Cainan a sports magazine. 

And then the boys watched some Cardinals baseball.  What a great Saturday!

More Myka

6/15- Once again, the boys find themselves on the couch staring at Myka right away in the morning.  Boaz thought she'd enjoy snuggling with this lamb today. 

Today they just sat and stared at Myka for a long time.  Boaz likes to lay on the Boppy pillow right beside her and tell her stories.  I think it may be nice to have another set of ears around this house to listen to him!!  Boaz mostly still calls her 'Baby Girl' instead of Myka.

CAREFUL!!

Singing her songs...

Myka sleeping peacefully in the middle of chaos!

Grandma Bartlett came to help us again today.  She helped Boaz draw a treasure map so we can go on more treasure hunts. 

We had quite a few visitors today, but I only remembered to take one picture.  This is our friend, Natalie.  She and Diane came to meet Myka and gave us a really sweet little outfit.  We're having fun accumulating some pink around here!!

6/16- More morning chats with Myka

My mom came to stay with us for a couple of days.  It has been so nice to have our grandmas' help with the boys!  The biggest help of all is having someone here to change Cainan's diapers.  He is so big & strong and you pretty much have to wrestle him to get the task accomplished... not easy with no ab muscles!   My mom is a super-cleaner, too.  My house is never cleaner than after I have a baby and she's here!  Thanks, Mom!!   Grandma enjoyed some cuddle time with Myka today, too!

One of my favorite pictures ever....

Myka always sleeps with her hands up by her head... just like her mommy!!

Tonight's Daddy game somehow was hitting him with baseball bats.  The boys thought it was hilarious- the game didn't last too long, I don't think!   :)   Daddy is such a good sport!

One week.

6/14-  We've officially got a one week old today.  The week has been a bit of a blur.... maybe partially due to the drugs I'm on??  :)   I'm feeling pretty good- still pretty sore getting up and down, but overall doing well.  This morning, the boys were excited to see the finished treasure chest.  Luke and I put a latch on it and we had a bunch of fun filling it with treasure things today.`

 

 Then we hid the loot from Captian Hook!

 We are so blessed to have our Grandmas close to help us out!  Luke went back to work for half the day today, and his mom fortunately had the day off and came to help me out this morning.  Luke took me to Myka's 1 week check-up today and she weighed 7lb 11oz.  She's gained a bit since she left the hospital, but not up to birth weight yet.  She's a bit jaundice, but nothing they're super concerned about. 

 Grandma Bartlett enjoying 'garage time' with the kiddos. 

 We've spent a lot of time riding bikes in the garage lately.  The boys are great about staying within the boundaries (our driveway is too steep for bikes!) and I can sit in the corner and watch them go-go-go!!

 Myka looks a bit like a football player in this picture, but the outfit sure is cute!!  Check out her long fingers!

 I have REALLY enjoyed having Luke around this past week. I'm sad he has to go back to work.  He has been so helpful and they boys have been eating up all the time they've gotten to spend with him.  Here they are running around and wrestling in the backyard. 

 There seriously is nothing better than watching Luke play with his boys.  I seriously almost tear up watching them play together.  (part of that is hormones, I suppose.)   Luke is such a phenominal daddy- they look up to him and can't wait for each minute they get to spend with him. 

 Ron & Carol came back this evening for awhile.  Here is Grandpa Bartlett meeting Myka for the first time!!  I think he'd forgotten how tiny babies are!

 Cainan being goofy on our slide.

 Admiring Myka...

The boys were excited to show Grandma & Grandpa their new treasure box.  We had so much fun tonight.  Boaz decided that Grandpa was Captain Hook, he was Mr. Smee, Grandma was Izzy, and Cainan was Jake. (from the pirates TV show)  They spent time hiding the box (treasure chest), finding the box, running around with the box, etc.  At one point, Boaz had hid the treasure and I told Luke that he should go steal it.  While Boaz & Grandpa weren't looking Luke grabbed it and took off running through the living room.  It wasn't long before a chase ensued.  Luke surprisingly ran right out the sliding doors into the backyard and around the house.  Boaz chased him right outside... with Cainan tailing behind.  (and gpa, too)  Luke ran around that house and in through the front door, hid the treasure, and sat back down on the couch like nothing happened.  It was hilarious.  Boaz was at his wits end trying to figure out where that sneaky pirate hid his treasure.   Shortly after that, Luke emptied all the treasure out of the box while Boaz wasn't looking.  Boaz is so animated that his reaction to the discovery was priceless.  Wish I had all this on video!!

Argh...

6/13-  This morning Cainan came out with his pajamas all messed up.  I don't think he was quite sure how it happened, but he didn't like it.  However, he wouldn't allow me to help him fix it for about 30 minutes... so he walked around like this for a long time. 

Myka is now 6 days old and seems to have found her spot here on the couch.  When we're not holding her, this is where she rests- right in the middle of all the chaos and action.  Cainan and Boaz come straight to the couch when they wake up in the morning or after naps... they have to check out Myka and make sure she's doing okay!

We spent a lot of time outside today.  The boys had a picnic snack on the lawn while I fed Myka in the garage.  I really enjoy watching these two from a distance sometimes.  Though Cainan doesn't talk much, they have a language all their own... often communicating non-verbally.  What a fun pair of boys.

The sandbox still provides lots of entertainment. 

Myka and I enjoyed the sun on the patio while the boys dug around in the sandbox.  I am LOVING this beautiful weather this week... not too hot, not too cool.  These are the days when I wish I lived in a better climate and could enjoy the outdoors more months out of the year. 

Boaz and Cainan spent some time running around the yard.  I looked up at one point and saw this.... Boaz pulling his pants up.  I've heard other parents talk about their sons just peeing in the yard at a moments' notice and I really figured my son would never do that!  (Ha!)  Today was the day he proved me wrong! Ugh. 

Cainan is our brute.  He's all boy... rough & tumble.  He has a hard time being gentle, but is actually the most sensitive to Myka's needs.  If she cries, he's the first to notice and respond... "Uh, oh!!"  He'll run to her side to look for a pacifier or try to help.  Once he figures out the gentle thing, he'll be a great little helper!  Until then, this is what their interactions look like...  I tell him he can't touch, but he can look.  Then he'll get as close as possible, wave, and say "Hi!"

There's a new show on Disney called Jake & the Neverland Pirates.  We've seen it a few times and it's sparked Boaz's imagination about such things.   He's talked about having a treasure chest several times, so we decided to make one today!  We glued some brown paper bag onto this diaper box, then dad helped us cut out a lid. 

Cainan had his own project going on as well...

Putting on the final details.  We're excited to hunt for some treasure tomorrow after all this stuff dries!!