Father and Son

Smiling Skyler

Our little Skyler man has started smiling like crazy! Call me a crazy mom, but I truly believe he smiled at me a few times even when he was just a couple of weeks old (not when he had to spit up or toot, mind you!), but the last week he has really turned on the charm. When he is well rested and well fed, he will stare at you for several minutes and just smile, smile, smile. It never fails to melt your heart. It is hard to believe he is six weeks old tomorrow!

Spring has Sprung

Last Monday evening for Family Home Evening, we decided to go enjoy the annual Tulip Festival in Woodburn, Oregon. It was a gorgeous day; we actually got hot walking around at 6:00 p.m.! Yea for warmer weather and sunny skies! We enjoyed seeing the fields of beautiful flowers but the kids were definitely more excited over the toys, slides, and rides they had (what can you do?!). Here are a few photos from the excursion...

I had to laugh at this photo "op": with the bright sun right behind Kyle taking the picture, the picture turned out best of his shadow! Oops:). So much for getting a picture of three cute tulip people:).

Bumpy ride anyone?

Lest anyone think I have forgotten my two other cute kids of late...

Kylene and her preschool buddies. I taught this past week--always so fun!

Got Sling?

A friend of mine made this sling for me for Skyler's birth. (Thanks, Sara!) They sell for about $60-70 online (crazy!), but you can make them with about a yard of fabric. Anyway, Skyler has loved his--almost without fail, he has fallen asleep within a few minutes of us putting him in it. (Crystal, do you have one?) Kyle loves to use it at night to calm him down. I love how snug and cozy he looks!

I love the way his cute little hand is holding on in this picture.

One Month Already???

Sleeping peacefully at one month old. Awake time!

I know they say time goes faster as you get older, but I think the fastest times of my life are when I have a newborn. It is hard to believe one month has already passed. Happy one month birthday, Skyler! He has changed and grown so quickly. He weighed 7 lbs 3 oz at birth and was already 8 lbs 8 oz by his two week appointment! (I know, my boys seem to grow faster than weeds; I'm really interested to see if he'll be as healthy as Spencer was.) I would guess he's well over 9 lbs already, but it's hard to know. His face has filled out a lot and Kyle said he doesn't have the newborn look anymore, but he is still as precious as ever. My favorite time is right after he eats when he's asleep on my shoulder: in that "milk drunk" stage, totally at peace and totally relaxed. They are just so sweet and tiny all in a ball up against you--I just want to hold him like that forever (which is harder to do when you have two older ones:)). Kylene and Spencer still love to kiss and hold him, although Spencer has his moments when he very clearly wants me to put Skyler down and give him some attention.

Skyler is holding his head up well, is very alert when he's awake, and still sleeps pretty well most nights, waking up every three hours almost to the minute. Kyle has been great about taking a shift, usually the earliest shift so I can go to bed, then he'll bring him to me when he's ready to eat. Each day is a little different, of course. One day I think I'm recovering and handling everything well; the next, I'm fighting tears and don't know what I was thinking having three kids! Everyone tells me to give it more time, so I guess that's what I'll do. (Is there anything else to do?!) All in all, we are very blessed and so grateful to have this precious spirit in our home.

Here are a few shots of Skyler from the last weeks.
March 23rd (one week), sleeping peacefully.

April 5th, bathtime.
April 5th, all clean! April 6th, big sister to the binky rescue!

Easter Egg Hunt

Here are a few pics from our little "hunt" we had with our cousins... (thanks, Tutu & Grandpa!)

Kylene on the hunt!

Our polka-dotted grass:).

Alohi, Stephanie, Kylene & Bridget with their "stash":

The brothers (Matthew, Michael, David) with their "stash":

Cute little Caleb gets in on the fun!

Easter & Skyler's Blessing

Family photo on Skyler's blessing day.

Our Easter this year was an extra special day since Skyler was blessed. We felt so blessed to be surrounded by family and ward members for this special day. Tutu and Grandpa McCune, Grandma and Grandpa Barney, the Alva & Wendy Barney family, the Scott & Jana Clark family, and the Parvin & Maile Mudaliar family were all able to come! Just before the blessing, Skyler was fussing a little so I took him out in the foyer and stood in the doorway looking into the chapel. I fought back the tears looking at three pews full of my wonderful family sitting there supporting us, even though they had to drive a long way and be there at 9:00 a.m. on Easter Sunday. Thank you so much for making the trip! Kyle gave Skyler a beautiful blessing, surrounded by our dads, brothers, Bishop, and a close family friend.

Here is a partial group shot (some didn't arrive early enough to get in this "before" shot).



After church, the Clarks, Mudaliars, and Tutu & Grandpa were able to join us at our house for a delicious fondue luncheon. Tutu and Grandpa also put together a great Easter egg hunt for the kids, which they loved. (More pictures of that in a forthcoming post!)

We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful day to celebrate Christ's Resurrection and Skyler's birth. We know that without the love of our Savior, His Atonement, and Resurrection, we would not have the great blessings of family, love, and the joy that we felt today. What a wonderful gift the Gospel is!





Mommy & Skyler:

Once again, my parents provided the darling outfit Skyler was blessed in. My mom embroidered Skyler's name on the back of the vest--I'm not sure how well you can see it in this picture but look closely!