because I'm tired of seeing my last post

I'll tell a story. 

About me.  And how I proclaimed throughout the entire pregnancy {to everyone}, "just wait until you see this little girl.  My babies are H-U-G-E." 

So check out my nearly 7-weeks-old monster.

in her carrier..

falling out of 0-3 month clothing..

bringing big brother to the ground...

small IS extremely powerful.  in this case. 

this girl bends us all to her will.

{happy??} halloweening

Honestly, my mood yesterday precluded *happy* halloweening, thus the double question marks in the title.  I wasn't in a festive spirit.  We carved zero pumpkins.  Put up no decorations this month.  All energy has been consumed in doing what seems like a very crummy job of mothering three humans.  My boys are having adjustment issues I never anticipated...and my parenting efforts feel mediocre at best.  But that's a whole other post {or book?}.  How I Ruined my 4-Year-Old's Life with an Absurd Level of Impatience. 

BUT this too shall pass

SO, on to the good stuff...Cyndee & Megan hosted the Halloween festivities for all of the Hendrix cousins.  The whole dinner spread was quite lovely, but I particularly liked that Cyn hallowed out some pumpkins to house the salsa and dips. 

I knew I'd be having a baby sometime in October, so I asked my boys in early September to make their Halloween decisions.  Davyn's was easy. 

"I want to be a fire fighter for Halloween.  And for real life." 

We've known this intended career path for a good six months now.  And have learned to work it in our favors.  When he doesn't want to take something upstairs, professing that he's tired...I shake my head solemnly with a "that's too bad.  Fire fighters have to be really good at carrying heavy things up stairs."  When he'd rather watch tv than run around outside with A.  "Oh man...firefighters have to be able to run so fast." 

Yes, I should write a book on manipulative parenting. 

{And a sequel in 20 years about all of the negative side-effects. What I Didn't Know Then.}

Aidan's Halloween decision is more of a sad story.  Reminder:  the boy is 6.  His pragmatism makes me worry that he's losing his sense of wonder.  of magic.  of excitement.

I was fairly amused last month when I asked about costumes.  His response:  "I don't see why we need to buy anything new.  I'll just be batman because I have a batman suit already and I never wore it for any Halloween before."  No smiles.  No life.  All blandness in his tone. 

And then it got worse on Monday.  At Family Home Evening we were discussing plans for the upcoming week.  I mentioned the trunk-or-treat activity on Friday.  His response: "Let's not go to that.  It's not like we need more candy.  We always get way too much."  But don't you want to just go to have fun?  His response: shoulder shrug. 

Halloween malaise is notthe worst ailment in the world.  In fact, if one holiday had to be dropped, it would be right up there after St. Patrick's day (pinching??) on my list.   Still.  I don't want Aidan to be a grumpy old man. 

At six.

But all I have to do to allay that worry is see him running around with his cousins.  They play & play & play.  And he easily loses himself in that play.  Perfectly six. 

Cousin time has been less frequent lately, but it's something my boys relish.  One of the hardest events of my 2009 had to be when Mandi & her family moved away from the neighborhood.  We used to see them as part of our daily life.  Now it is much more rare.

Here are the cute Waller girlies in their Halloween costumes:

And one of the best events of my 2009 has been my sister Megan moving to the valley.  Renewing our acquaintance with these cousins has been a joy. 

Here are the cute Chambers boys in their Halloween costumes:

All month I've been saying..."next year I'll decorate".."next year we'll carve pumpkins".."next year I'll add homemade flair to their costumes."

But now I realize that "next year" I'll have a one-year-old. And a hundred more false starts to add to my parenting annals..after 365 more days of Up & Down. 

Megan and Cyndee both dressed up for the trick or treating last night.  One, a spooky witch.  One, a nice witch.  I know both ends of that spectrum quite well.  So perhaps the truth of "next year" will merely see me openly embracing my inner witch.  I haven't worn a costume on the outisde in years.  You'll just have to wait to see if I'm green or glittery.

so in love

Yesterday Dad took you for a few hours while I played catch-up on real life.  And when I finally came upstairs it was with exceptionally eager hands.  Because I missed you.  Which is crazy when you consider the hours we spend heart-to-heart each day.  The umbilical cord was cut weeks ago, but an intangible pull still links us undeniably. 

What Dad considers crazy is my sudden supersonic hearing.  Me, the girl who continually cranes her head with "what?"s and has to beg for tv volume to be upped at movie time.  Yes, that girl hears your slightest movement, whimper, yawn.  And jumps.  Because she is indeed in Love. 

But I'm not the only one...

Dad has succumbed, as well. His daughter angst has disappeared and you've taken over the perch on his chest.  The one that belonged to Davyn before you.  And to Aidan before him.  I won't say the "wrapped around his finger" bit because that prognostication drove him dizzy before you were born.  He's not a man to suffer manipulation.  So we'll have to be sly in how we sneak into and continually soften his Huge Heart. 

Davyn never needed softening...the boy is all mush.  I laughed the other day thinking about what kind of girl you'll turn out to be with a brother who daily whispers in one ear, "you are so beautiful, Azure".  And those aren't the only words he speaks on repeat.  On the first day you met, he proclaimed, "Your name is Azure.  I am your brother Davyn.  You have another brother Aidan.  Your dad is Jim. And your mom is Amy."  And the mantra has since been chanted daily.  He will make sure you know who you are, my lucky girl. 

And Aidan will make sure you know how to play football.  He had the gentlest sort of practice going with you a few days back.  He is completely enamored, but gives you space. Shyly hanging out on the sidelines, gradually making overtures, assuring that you're content before he moves in.  When he finally does reach out, he is profoundly tender, a rare description for your fiery oldest brother. 

I'm sitting downstairs at the computer.  It's 10:33 pm and the house is still.  I should be snoring away in my bed because I know you'll be up soon..administering my next hearing test. Which I'll pass with super ears and once-again-Eager arms.

Because Love is indeed the exception maker. 

what a difference a week makes!

This:  my groggy newborn of week 1. 

A babe invested with mystical, magical sleeping charm powers.  [Did I really get her eyes open long enough to snap this pic??]  I could hardly be near the child without falling prey to her sleepiness myself.  Thus, our feeding sessions were doomed to failure.  And she went from 8 lbs even to 6 lbs. 14 oz. within one week.  She simply wasn't interested....or was simply more interested in shut-eye-let's-pretend-I-was-never-torn-from-your-cozy-{bulky?}-uterus. 

This:  my hungry, wide-eyed 2-week-old.

Ever-more alert.  Demanding.  Growing.  Which interrupts the sleepy haze, of course, but also puts a blessed end to bi-weekly weight checks at the doctor's office (during flu season?!).  I'll take the tri-nightly feedings in exchange.

And gladly.

More Azure Mae

I'm sure you are all waiting anxiously for Amy's return to her blog with her own words and pictures, and the story of becoming a family of five.  (This is Kelly again, sorry to disappoint.)  But, I thought I'd tide you over for a bit with some more pictures of sweet Azure Mae. 

I visited yesterday at the hospital for a few minutes, and snapped a few photos of the beautiful babe while Grandma Cyndee held her.  And let me tell you, pictures do not do this tiny dumpling justice.  She is tiny and lovely and perfect as only newborn babies can be.   And I apologize, I can't get that last image to resize -- you'll have to use your imagination.