8 weeks

My sweet Henry,

I love how perfect your skin is, how smooth and soft your face is against mine. I especially love the way you smell.

I could watch you sleep all day. You breathe so softly and you look like an angel.

I love that I'm getting to know you. I'm glad you're sleeping longer and more solidly than ever before during the night. Our rendezvous only lasts 20 mins, instead of 2 hours.

I love your cuddles. Thanks for letting me hold you most of the day. The time will come when my arms aren't where you want to be, so thanks for your hugs.

Your smile melts my heart. It's like you know something we don't. I'm glad you're so happy here.

I love how little you are. Newborn clothes are still in the laundry and the closet. I wish you'd stay this way!

I am so happy you've decided to like it here. It made me sad that you cried all those nights for weeks and weeks, but I'm glad you've decided to be happier and enjoy your time with us...you know, we'll be here for a long time together, so we're glad you're making the best of it.

You're so busy with your hands, always putting them up to your face and pulling out the pacie. I hope you make use of those busy fingers and learn to play the piano. That would make me so happy!

I love you little guy! Thanks for being so sweet and fun.

Mom

P.S. Sorry about all the gas...I've been trying to cut back on the dairy, but really, I think it's just you.

Do these glasses make me look smart?

Does he looks like Sean Astin to anyone?

Porter turns 2!

We celebrated porter's birthday by going to the BYU game. If you know us well, we LIVE for BYU football, and being P's birthday, it was the perfect way to celebrate! We had a great time, except being slowly scrunched out of our seats...(seriously people, we paid, like you, to sit in one seat per person, so USE THOSE SEATS YOU PAID FOR!!!!!)

When asked what kind of cake he wanted, P said, "Ka-Chow". I don't think that could be any clearer. He kept coming up to me as I decorated it, excitedly repeating "Ka-Chow". I think he gets it.

We celebrated the day after his birthday, along with Henry's blessing, because it just made sense that way, so Porter had 45 people singing to him. He didn't know what to think. (Thanks grandpa Z for helping him blow out the candle!)

I think the train set was a hit!

Henry's Blessing

We blessed Henry Labor Day weekend. It was so neat to have all the family here to help us celebrate. We tried and tried to find Henry his own outfit to wear, and nobody has infant church clothes that aren't rediculously priced, so we used Porter's blessing outfit instead. It was still way too big, but he looked handsome in it just the same. Evan's sister Jill and her family stayed the night before the blessing with us, because our church is at 9. And luckily, everyone made it in time! The blessing was amazing, and overall, it was a great weekend!


I'm so grateful to have a husband who honors the priesthood and is worthy to use it. My boys have a wonderful example of a real man who loves the Lord and puts Him first. I am humbled to be surrounded by so many family and friends who likewise live their lives. I appreciate all the love and help we've received in the past and the present in raising our family. We are so fortunate!

6 weeks old

Henry is such a good baby. He still sleeps most of the day, and has begun going right back down after his night feedings, which most nights is only once. After 2 weeks, he started fussing a lot more during the evening- late evening, like 9:00-1:00. We actually thought he had colic because he would cry non-stop, but that has calmed down some too. We're starting to figure out who he is, and what his temperaments are, which for me has been the most frustrating. I don't remember not knowing Porter, and now its all coming back to me. I look into his face and think, "I don't even know you! Who are you?"

We've gotten some smiles out of him already, which is so encouraging when you wonder how you'll make it through one more sleepless night, cold, fussy time, or crying. He seems to have some reflux, and we have to keep him upright for about 20 minutes after he eats, or he'll fuss and spit up. He has gotten to be a pro at eating and can finish a meal in less than 5 minutes.

Now he's six weeks old, and we've been through quite a bit in this short time.

*a couple days old: everyone got pink eye

*a couple days old: we had colds, and a cough

*3 weeks old: I got a kidney stone

*4 weeks old: road trip

*6 weeks old: more colds and coughs

It's funny how God helps you forget the trials of newborns. I don't remember it being this difficult, and that's not because I have 2 now, it's just the newborn phases. The transition from 1 kid to 2 has actually been easier than 0 to 1. I guess that's because I'm less uptight about everything and I'm already in mommy mode. Like my neighbor says, "If you have 1 kid, they take up all your time. If you have 5 kids, they still take up all your time!" So true!

I hope you don't take this as complaining, because I love being a mom, and there's something about the sweet spirit of a newborn that brings such joy into my home, and I am appreciating this little boy much more than I did with my first. He's a good baby, and Porter hasn't regressed at all. What good luck we have!

Trip to Denver

There is 1 conference a year that Evan's boss flies out all the employees and their spouses/girlfriends and kids. This year that conference was in Denver. We decided it would be more adventurous to make this a road trip. With a newborn, the luggage situation tends to get a little over-sized, and the thought of flying with only 2 suitcases didn't sound too fun. So, on the boss's dime, we rented a mini-van and drove out. It was so much fun! Not only did we have a great time, but we had wheels for the week in Denver. We made it there with only 2 short stops, and both boys were happy the whole time.

While there, we visited the aquarium and the children's museum-both of which I highly recommend. Here are some pictures of our trip:

At the Rockies game

2 weeks

Henry had his pictures taken at 2 weeks. Here's some photos from the shoot. Susan did a fantastic job! For more details, visit her website: click http://www.ssmphotography.blogspot.com/

2 week stats:

weight: 8.2 lbs- 33% birth: 7.3 lbs

height:21.5 in.-80% birth: 20 in.

Brothers

Here's a view of both boys at 1 day old. Do they look alike? I think they look like brothers, but not the same. Evan thinks Henry looks just like Porter. Porter is on the left.

Porter Turns 2

I never imagined two years ago, that you would ever be this big. That you would be running, climbing, sleeping through the night, and understanding everything we say. You have grown so much. You are such a good big brother, always concerned about little Henry. You love to play with the “older kids” and mimic what they are doing. You look to us for approval, and are beginning to know right from wrong.

The terrible two’s are beginning, and the terrible three’s are right around the corner. You are testing your limits now, and we tell you “no” more than we ever hoped to, yet we love your independence, and your willingness to obey. You are starting to want to do things by yourself, and get angry if we help you. You still sleep with the pacifier, and you know that you only get it when you are in bed. Someday you’ll kick the habit.

You are still not talking much, though we work with you constantly. You can say so many words when you try, but so much of the time you are not even willing. “Can you say ‘beans’?” “No!” “Can you say ‘truck’?” “No!” “Can you say ‘caterpillar’?” “Cat-e-piw-wa.”

You worry about your little brother a lot, and you like to give him his passy, whether Henry wants it or not. You sometimes get upset if Daddy holds Henry, but you are learning that it is ok, since he is Henry’s daddy too.

Thank you for bringing us so much joy the past two years. We love having you in our family!

Happy birthday Big-Boy!