Boys in White

Soren was Baptized and Levi was blessed on Nov. 2nd.  It was such a wonderful day.  There were times I didn't know if it was going to turn out.  We liv just 3 blocks from the Stake Center - our church building.  That is were they usually do the baptisms which is very convenient for us.  Well, this was the only Saturday of the year they had to move the baptisms to another church 20 minutes away because they were putting on a play in one week and were doing dress rehearsals there.  I didn't find out until 4 days before the baptism. I was not happy.  Well, the day of the baptism we had a horrible wind storm and we lost power for several hours earlier that day.  We were planning on a dinner with my family after the baptism and knew it would be okay even without power because we have an amazing generator.  Then we realized the church the baptism was being held at may not have power.  Luckily they did, but our church down the road didn't and didn't get it back for over a day.  So if we were able to stay at the stake center, the baptism would have been cancelled due to power issues - so in the end it all worked out for the best.  So I started grumpy and ended grateful.

 The whole service was really wonderful.  During the talks the speakers would talk directly to the children being baptized (there were 4 total) and Soren wanted to answer all the questions.  He was so cute and eager.  None of the kids were as outspoken as he was.  I was really proud of him.  He beamed going in the water and and gave a great big smile after being baptized.  It was a wonderful day full of family a some friends. I felt so supported and loved and hope Soren did too.  Since we were all gathered already, we chose to give and name and blessing to Levi at that time too.  He wore the same adorable tux my mom made for Soren when he was blessed.  All 3 boys have warn it.  It was pretty snug on Levi as he was 6 weeks old, but it was so cute.

Ryan did a great job serving our family that day.  I am so proud of all my boys.

Halloween!

Halloween day was a busy one for us.  Particularly between 4pm (when the boys got home from school) and 6pm (when we went with friends trick o' treating).  I made Xander's costume - ripped up an old bedding sheet, carved pumpkins, and did homework.  Phew!  Xander kept changing his mind as to what he wanted to be.  First it was a girl, then a box, then a dragon, and then it was settled on a mummy.  I should have just forced him to choose and figured out his costume much earlier, but I have been tired lately ;)

Here is Xander debuting his costume.  It looked really cool, but you could tell I just threw it together, because the costume didn't stand Xanders big movement past an hour.  By then end of trick o' treating it had completely fallen apart.  Ooops.

I kept putting off carving pumpkins because we were waiting for dad to be around. The boys still need a lot of help with the cutting and I just couldn't help both of them carve and take care of the baby.  It takes forever to feed Levi still (a good 30 minutes, down from 45.)  Here are the finished products.












Levi was our plump little pumpkin.  He had a blow out 30 minutes after putting on the costume - but we got the picture!

On Halloween night we got together w/ friends to trick o' treat and all then men took the kids out and the women stayed behind nursing babies.  It was awesome and so easy for me. This was the first year I haven't taken the kids out and the first year Ryan has.  We stayed and chatted with friends while the kids watched a movie.  Super fun Halloween.  This was the second year the boys sold me their candy the day after Halloween (after eating way to much the day before of course.)  This is an option I give them and I love it when they take it.  I am sure to hit a store they can spend their money at that same day so they feel like they really got something.  My kids love to spend money.  They are not natural savors.  Soren got a small lego set - those are so painful to buy because you can spend 9 dollars for the smallest kit.  But Soren doesn't feel that way.  All legos are good legos to him.  Xander bought 5 goldfish and fish food.  Xander so desperately want to take care of animals.

A week earlier Ryan and I went to an adult only halloween party.  Super fun.  We borrowed James Hicks japanese costumes.  He had served his mission there and these costumes were no joke.  They were very authentic and quality. I was worried about them the whole I time we were wearing them.  Luckily we got them back unscathed.

Harris Boys - African Style

When I went to Africa 9 years ago, I saw young children taking care of their even younger children all the time.  8yo would have babies tied to their back with fabric or towels.   The babies were never crying or upset and they looked so happy to be with their older brother and sister.  I loved how the older sibling took them where ever they went and well really it was a mob of children that ran together.  Where were their mom's?  I am not sure, probably grinding corn with a stick or something, but there seemed to be no problems with this system, or so was my perspective.

When I was pregnant with Levi, I mourned at times the giant age gap between this kid and his brothers.  But instead of thinking of how things would be different in my family then I always imagined it would be, I decided to live up what this age gap provides instead.  And so I remembered Africa, and have been plotting ever since then to wrap the baby onto the boys.  The boys were all too game for such an endeavor.  

I quickly learned my boys are no Africans.  They are a bunch of American lightweights.  Soren was complaining how heavy Levi was with in minutes……Levi is only 3 weeks in this picture.

Xander was more hardy, but a lot more sketchy. I was constantly worried he was going to bang the babies head on the doorway or chair or something.  How did these African women do it?  Well, they probably didn't give the baby away at 3 weeks.  But I was too excited for the photo.  They are really cute.  Needless to say, dispite Xander's pleading, Levi has only been strapped to me since this time.  However, maybe we will try again later when the baby is older.  Hmmmmmmmm

Spa by Xander

After I had the baby, one of my midwives give me a foot massage and Xander saw this.  Ever since then, every time I scream out in pain while feeding Levi (something that is happening less frequently thank heavens), you can tell Xander feels so desperate to help or do something for me.  He use to say, "Oh I know it hurts.  I am so sorry, I am so sorry." Well lately, he remembered seeing this foot massage so now, he rubs my feet while I feed Levi.  One day he went all out.  It started as a foot massage, including soaking my feet in warm water.  Followed by a back massage with his favorite technique - the chopping method Then he wanted to do my hair.  So he got some hair clips and hair bands and put my hair in 2 pigtails plus a hair clip.  Then he busted out my make up and put blush, mascara (a little scary), eye shadow and lipstick on me.  Then he picked out earrings and a necklace that he put on me.  Then painted my toe nails.   He did all this while I fed and held the baby.  Then he took a picture of his master piece.  He has decided he wants to be a massage therapist.   He is so cute and great!  Love this boy!!

Levi's Adorableness

My good friend Kristy is an amazing photographer.  Check out these adorable newborn pictures of Levi.  I have never done newborn pictures before.  I am in love with these.....and it's subject.  Which is a good thing, because he wakes me up every 3 hrs and I am starting to crave a solid nights sleep.  

Levi is 2 weeks old now.  He has been such a sleepy baby.  The boys are known to complain, "Mom, when is he ever going to open his eyes?"  His sleepiness makes feeding hard for the first 1.5 weeks.  The kinks have been worked out and he seems to be more self motivated to eat.  Despite these challenges he has been gaining weight like a champ.  Just 12 days ago he had lost weight like all newborns do, and was down to 7# 12 oz.  Today he weighs 9#2oz - He gained just under 1.5 pounds in just 12 days.  Good Levi, suck the fat right off me.  That is my goal anyway.  We can't wait to learn of his personality, but until then I will celebrate the benefits of his sleepy ways.

Brotherly Love

Levi is so popular.  No one can get enough of him.  We actually use him as a tool of persuasion.  "Boys, once you are completely ready for school, you can hold the baby for 5 minutes."  or "If you do that again, you will loose 5 minutes of baby time!!"  Both are equally effective.  

 Xander loves to burp, sooth, smooch, sing, pick out his outfits and begs to change his diaper.  There is no baby task that doesn't appeal to this boy.  He is a true care giver.

 One of these days I am going to count how many times Xander kisses Levi.  It may be in the triple digits.  Making the rule "No kissing the baby while I am breast feeding" is not effective enough. I usually have to shove him off, followed by consequences.  The boy is addicted to kissing Levi.  He will even say that.  Sometimes Xander acts and thinks he will combust if he can't get in another kiss.  So cute/annoying!

 Soren likes to give Levi advice and let him know what life is like. I heard him telling Levi this morning, "Levi sometimes life can be really awful and hard.  But don't worry, you have everything you need.  A Mom, a Dad, 2 big brothers.  You will be okay." I wish Soren expounded on the awful and hard parts of life.  Getting into Soren's psyche is harder then Xander's.

Such sweet boys!!

Who's who?

 Soren

Xander

 Levi