Future Air Force Cadet?

Both Moose and BiggiE are enthralled with jets these days. As you can see, they are trying to pass on the love to their little sister. I am pretty much a pacifist, but maybe these early influences will lead Jelly Belly into the Air Force.

Mini Marine Corp Reunion

Os's parents were in town to meet their newest grandchild and give a break to her mom and dad. While they were visiting some good friends from the Marine Corp game to visit. The four couples the composed the original Marine Corp group dubbed their children the "Marine Corp Posse".

Now that Os and his generation are all having children we have the Posse Minis. This group is like extended family and we haven't seen any of them since I was pregnant with Moose. We are hoping to catch up with more of the Posse and Posse Minis in the coming year.


Moose and Charlotte (part of the Wuetrich contingent) initially butted head figuratively and almost literally, but by the next morning they were fast friends. Moose keeps asking when he can see her again. He is developing a pattern of liking strong women -- they say boys marry someone like their mom. wink. wink.

Nothing like the adoration of grandparents.

The Milk of Human Kindness

The boys received a book called "Froggy's Little Sister" in which the big brother frog loves to help his tadpole sister. Moose started asking me when he would be able to feed Jelly Belly and was thrilled when I finally had a bottle pumped and he got the opportunity. BiggiE finally decided it would be okay to hold Jelly Belly because the bottle feeding looked like so much fun.

"I stand here today humbled by the task before us..."

I am very apolitical by nature and usually vote only because I feel I should. I must confess that my response on hearing Obama had won the presidential election was nearly identical to the one I had when I saw who won "Dancing With The Stars." I calmly, dare I say, nonchalantly, murmured, "Oh. Good."

I realize this means I either care way too much about celebrities learning to ballroom dance or not nearly enough about who governs one of the most powerful countries in the world. (Though, who knows, maybe the foxtrot is the answer to world hunger.)

With all my casual indifference to my civic duty aside, I was incredibly moved to watch the inauguration today. I felt like the boys and I were interconnected with people around the world as we witnessed this historical moment in the life of our nation.

Wordless Wednesday

"The Crane"

Moose has some serious "bed head", as you can see. He woke up yesterday with "The Crane" and I left it that way because it makes me chuckle. Imagine my delight when he got this morning with his hairdo still intact. I think this look is going to become all the rage, though I think it could be frustrating to style unless you have impossibly straight and thick hair like Moose. (This picture doesn't do justice to the sheer height of the halo.)

Definitely the Third Child

Gotta love the third child ... falls asleep with the vacuum going, a football game on TV and two brothers running around and yelling.

Not A Lump Of Coal

I must have been a very good girl this year -- look what I got in my stocking!


Those of you that know Os can just imagine his reaction to my Anne Geddes torture of our children as babies. I still remember when Moose was about two-months-old and Os came home from work and saw a hollowed out pumpkin on the deck. "Oh no," he responded, knowing what had happened to his poor son while he was away.

BiggiE was old enough to show his annoyance when pumpkin time came around for him.

Little Jelly Belly has the unfortunate luck of fitting into a stocking for Christmas and still having harvest season looming ahead of her next Fall. (Can you hear my maniacal laughter?)

Executive Chef

Our friend, Dawn, who is a chef here in town was over for dinner and was chatting with the boys about food (one of their favorite topics.) Dawn leaned over to Moose and told him that she should come over and the two of them could make dinner for his mom and dad sometime.

"You could be the sous chef (second in command), Moose," I interjected.

Moose gave me an exasperated look and replied, "Mom, I don't want to be the sous chef, I want to be the executive chef."

I laughed out loud because a) my four-year-old knows what an executive chef is (I guess that's what happens when you live in wine county with foodie parents) and b) how silly of me to think that Moose would want to be anything but in charge.

On Christmas Eve, Os made some ciabatta bread. He gave Moose and BiggiE a piece of dough do make their own loaf. I loved watching them knead and shape the dough. I so enjoy how they want to do everything Os does and I am so thankful they have such a wonderful dad to emulate. Seeing their mini loaf on the counter next to Os's loaf made me smile.

Jelly Belly -- One Month

Jelly Belly is weighing in at 7 lbs. It amuses me how as a mom each ounce the baby gains feels like such an accomplishment. Then I remind myself that I am spending 5-7 hours a day feeding the child so it makes sense that I watch for the fruit of my labor.

We don't have a ton of one month pictures to post. Jelly Belly has thrush and I treated her with Gentian Violet and she had a lovely bright purple Fu Manchu for several days. Os and I came to a compromise that I could take photos as long as I didn't post them on the blog.

"Excuse me, I believe it is time for my lunch." (Watch courtesy of the boys.)

Reading "Froggy's Little Sister" with Papa

Moose doing tummy time with Jelly Belly the way Papa does

I finally snuck a picture of BiggiE with Jelly Belly. He is very sweet to her, singing songs and giving her her pacifier, but for some reason he draws the line at having his picture taken with her. I have decided not to make an issue of it (yet).

Snuggle time for the Thomas kids in Mama and Papa's bed