Mark's new do...

So, for those of you who did not know.... I am Mark's barber/ stylist. I think I do a pretty great job for someone with no training, because I have a little thing called "vision". Anywho, this go round, we decided to try a new look. What do you think? I find him irristable.

Mel's new chompers

We've been trying to take a picture that captures a portion of the splendor of Mel's shiny new top teeth... :) This is about as good as it has gotten to date.

My baby is growing up. Sniff.

This is how we survive any shopping that has a cart... which makes grocery shopping a bit more tricky- there's not a whole lot of room in there anymore! He loves to help me fold the laundry...

It's a chore he takes very seriously.

He is forward facing!

Easter morning before church... his first time in a white button up shirt. Sniff.....

More of Easter morning... before we all got ready. We had a family Easter basket. :)

One fine Saturday we had A TON of garbage sitting by the door. Of course Mel army crawled over, and it all toppled on him. :) These pictures were taken once some of the rubble had been cleared.

Half naked shot! Whoot-wooo! what a cutie!

Welp- That's how he growing! Oh, and he weighs, roughly, 23 pounds, 6 ounces. He's getting heavy! To think that 11 months ago he was 6 pounds, 10 ounces.... it's amazing!

Happy Easter!!!

This is difficult to read... but you must! He lives!!! (You can get a legible version at http://lds.org/Static%20Files/PDF/Manuals/TheLivingChrist_TheTestimonyOfTheApostles_36299_eng.pdf)

Once when I lived in Montreal as a missionary, I had a wonderful experience which helped me understand the reality of the resurrection.

My fellow missionary companion and I were in a Sunday school lesson with someone we were teaching; it was Easter. The teacher was reading passages from the scriptures, and discussing the Resurrection, and what that means: that Christ died, but conquered death- and lives! He showed Himself to His apostles, and other disciples- having them feel the marks in His hands, feet, and side, and asked for meat. Clearly, this means that he was alive!

At about this point in the lesson the visitor my companion and I were teaching erupted with laughter! We were all astonished- and looked at him questioning. when he finally calmed his laughter, he tried to make sure he had the story right... that all of us actually believed that RIGHT NOW Jesus Christ lives... with a body even?! "Yes!" we replied... and went over the scriptures again.
The man then corrected us, "No, He lives on in our hearts, but he is dead!"

At this moment, I knew like I had never known before, my Savior lives! And when I say, "He lives" I do not mean in some figurative sense, but in the sense that at this very moment, He too has an actual physical body, like our own, though perfected, glorified, and immortal. He did die, but rose again! After showing himself to His disciples, He later ascended to heaven to dwell with God the Father, but we know, that now, as then, Christ lives!

pictures of a darling.

Practicing the "army crawl".

He like to eat with his feet up against the tray like this.... I don't know why.

New pajamas, and looking fabulous. I love this face.

And this face....

And THIS face. :) He loves me. I apologize for my ever bandanna-ed hair.... if you look closely you can see baby hairs coming in, that I lost after Mel's delivery... I have them ALL over my head. At least my hair is coming back though, right?

Mel got his first haircut the other day.... did he actually need it? mmmmmm.... I think so-- that little tuft on the top was looking a little scraggly.... so, with the aide of clippers, we evened things up...

So handsome.

More of that bandanna... (shake of the head...) Of course my pictures are never in order... but here is a sweet one of me and Mel when he was so sick with roseola, ( we found out in the end....). He hasn't fallen asleep on me like this since he was three or four months old... ONE perk of sick babies. Please excuse how disgusting I look... he wouldn't let me put him down for days.

Watch out! He bites! Rarrrrrrrrr!!!!!

He loves story time with Dada right before bed. His favorite books: Tails, Pat the Bunny, and Animal sounds. He helps by turning the pages, ALL by himself.

Why Ohio is the best...

Where else could you pick up sweeties like this? We love OHiO!

what a day. :(

Here is a cute picure of Mel at our friends house. :) They kept blowing bubbles for his viewing pleasure, he was obviously entranced. This was, of course, before , all the trauma.

The last couple days have probably been THE worst days EVVVVVER!!!!! All you mothers out there will relate, I am sure.
It all started like four days ago... Mel was a bit more cranky than usual... but as we know, he is 9 months old, and can't yet verbalize the trouble.
Was it that he was, and is still, SERIOUSLY teething? Could it have been the baby food? Too many solids? Bowel problems? Was he getting enough to drink? Was it something I ate that was making my breast milk bother him? Was he too hot, or too cold at night? An earache? What?????????
And then, maybe nothing at all. Oh bother. I hate all the guesswork that goes with babies!
Finally, day before last, he woke up from his nap with a slight fever-- partially relieved to have at least another piece in the puzzle, I took him to the pediatrician. Problem solved- an ear infection.
So, we promptly picked up the antibiotics,and gave him baby Motrin. He seemed much better. He went to sleep... until about 1:30 a.m. when he woke up SCREAMING and crying and VERY VERY hot. I tried the foolproof comfort, breastfeeding... he nursed, but not well- he was restless, hot, and kept arching his back as far from me as possible and crying.
I started to get scared. What do you do? And of course, Mark was still sleeping. So, I picked up the baby monitor, and called for him to come help me give Mel more Motrin.
Mark came in, and turned on the lamp to see about the Motrin, and it freaked Mel out-- he got all stiff, his eyes went funky, and his limbs started to jerk. I have sense learned, that is how fever induced baby seizures are described. Supposedly harmless-- but you can imagine-- I was FREAKED OUT!!!! SO SCARED! Within a couple moments he returned to a more normal state-- but remained restless and unhappy, I kid not, THE ENTIRE REST OF THE NIGHT.
We gave up on sleep at 6:30, and Mark got ready for work.
Mel pretty much continued like that all yesterday. I ended up calling the pediatrician 4 or 5 times about various concerns, and in the end went back to their office late yesterday afternoon because Mel was completely inconsolable, wasn't making good eye contact, and was breathing really weird, and had been for hours.
We were there a pretty long time as the various professionals watched and monitored his breathing and behavior-- and in the end, he doesn't an ear infection-- just a virus of sorts, and they sent us to a children's hospital for chest x-rays.
We still don't know about the results of those, but were told to follow-up with our pediatrician in a few days, so if there is a problem, it's no emergency.
By the end of off of this, is was 6:30. Mark had met Mel and I right before we went to the Children's hospital... so for the majority of all of this I was COMPLETELY alone and losing my mind with worry. Melvin was breaking my heart! He was so scared and hurting, and was clinging to me, but crying all the while- and he looked horrible and ... and... and.... it was scary scary scary! I don't know how to convey how awful the whole experience, from start to finish was!
Once we finally got home, and Mel asleep for the first time since 1:30 a.m. , I just laid in bed and cried.
Then, Mel woke up again, and seemed quite a bit better. We've been super vigilant about the Tylenol and Motrin, and thankfully, he slept pretty well last night, and his fever is gone... at least with the drugs. :)
So there. Now, it is 10:42 a.m. our time, and Mel has been asleep for an hour. I can tell, it's going to be a MUCH better day today.