Catching Up and Picture OVERLOAD!!

It feels like so long since I posted! It started with a screen "fast" last Wednesday. The point was to fast from computer and TV screens (TV really doesn't tempt me as much as the computer - I love myself some World Wide Web time) all day so as to focus on things that are truly important - like praying and reading the Bible. It was great!! I not only prayed more, I had a dance party with my kids, I sewed and was generally not as stressed out. Anyway, one day flowed into the next (we had lot of company in there as well) and here we are. First and foremost - my niece, Ella was born this last week! She is precious - Joel and Sarah are so sweet and doting on her. And did I mention that Joel got Sarah a push present of Coco Chanel diamond earrings?! That is love....anyway - here is the sweet little bundle: Excuse the flash photography. I am hoping they will let me come over and take real pictures of her at some point.

Samuel loves his tree swing and is on it whenever the weather is nice. So he's been on it about 2 times in the last 6 months. =) We got to watch the Haines kiddos on Saturday - what a great day! Eli and Samuel had a great time playing together- it's amazing how easy 2 toddlers are together - they just entertain themselves and giggle alot. Ruby and Jude really had my heart - they were so sweet together!! Jude LOVED her.

They spent a lot of time watching Colin garden from the doorway. They were so obedient when I told them not to climb out of it - and look at Ruby's beautiful blue eyes!!
Then they moved outside to taste test a few things - too cute!
Jude has discovered using this digger thing for rocks, dirt, etc.
And yesterday, we all helped Colin put in the window in Jude's room. Here is Samuel staring at him.
What better natural lighting than a gaping hole to the outside? The sun really blew out Jude's face - but look at him crinkling!!

Samuel loves to dig in the dirt - and apparently I love watching him. No mystery here why I didn't get anything done yesterday. I feel lately that I have to cherish my kids at this young age - it really is going way too fast.
Here's a series of pictures of the two babies resisting going all the way outside while watching Colin plant vegetables.

Here is Jude taste testing dirt yesterday. MMM!

And here is a record picture of Jude's mullet - I like putting the motion blur around the party in the back. Oh man. I need to make it back to Milwaukie - I haven't seen a good mullet in a long time. Except for on my son.

Yesterday was also Jude's first injury - he face planted it onto the concrete. Ouch. I was on the phone with my friend, Nicole, while he howled.

One low point of the week: Jude's one year doctor appointment. Apparently, he's in the 10th percentile for weight and after ruling out foamy poopy diapers (what!?), she mentioned something under her breath about Cystic Fibrosis or an enzyme issue. Hmm. Is it possible that he's just tall and skinny? Anyway, I got a call from Kaizer's dietitian for "unexplained weight loss". After I laughed out loud, she said I didn't need to make an appointment if I didn't want. So I made the appointment out of fear of looking like a bad mom and here I am today, keeping a food diary. If I may say so myself I think he eats pretty good. I think what they will tell me is that he doesn't get enough fat. Oh, and he needs physical therapy because he's not walking yet. Good night, people. Are all babies supposed to fit in a box, err I mean, a graph? Needless to say, I'm not worried about Jude, but am curious to see what they will say tomorrow.

On a sidenote, I've been on a craze of getting magazines from the library and two of my favorites are "Mothering" and "Photography and Imaging". Well, I have a love/hate relationship with "Mothering". I love the information on vaccines and it's from a more natural standpoint - like organic foods and breastfeeding and cloth diapering. But it's very critical of certain discipline practices that I stay pretty faithful to. And the Photography magazine gives great tips on Photoshop and the latest cameras and gadgets.

Here's a question: I sold my smaller digital camera on eBay and am wondering if I need a new small digital camera for my purse and little digital movies, or should I just use my big camera all the time? Do I need small digital movies or just use the camcorder? Ok - well my mother-in-law is coming into town tomorrow and I can't wait!