We celebrated.

Our Kael Bell is 1!

All day long she really wanted to know what all the fuss was about.  There were tears when burning candles were placed in front of her.

She pretended to be shy.  She refused to eat or smile if someone was looking at her.

This is her new "I'm shy" pose.  Pretty much everyone is getting the elbow these days.

Very slowly and cautiously she explored her cake.

Silly girl.  We all know there is nothing shy, slow, or cautious about this chic.  Why, it was just the very next day we found her here:

Happy Birthday to our favorite little, messy lady.

Milestones - 4th Grade, 2nd Grade, Preschool, and 11 Months

This was the 1st year in the Baum's history that these children weren't the new kids on the 1st day of school.  Wahoo!  Jace and I felt like real parents.  I dropped Noah off near the playground and yelled a farewell "Good Luck!" out the window.  Surely someone will show him where to find Mrs. Baldwin's classroom?  I love that kid.

But at the Intermediate school, when I started climbing out of the car, Macy gently let me know that I didn't need to walk her in this year.

"Are you sure?"

"Ya."

"Ok then.  Have a good day."

"I will."

"Be brave.  Smile.  You have everything?  See you after school.  Watch for cars.  Don't cry.  Look for other little girls that need a friend.  Mrs. Ward will be so nice, just watch and see.  Have fun."

I don't think she heard half of it.  Tears streamed down my face as I watched her walk into a new chapter of her life.  Why are girls so different?  I'm going to be a basket case if that girl ever decides to marry off.

And somehow I got suckered into participating in a Joy School group for this little guy this year.  I hope I'm still able to sing "Oh, boy I got joy!" after the first week of them at my house.  Why can't I be a good Mormon mom and speak softly to my children and set up craft time in the afternoon and teach them piano?  At times my weaknesses are made so clear to me (i.e. Joy School Mother's meeting).  But Ezra is having a ball.  I truly miss him and his clamming presence when he is gone.  I asked him awhile ago what me and his father did to deserve such a sweet boy?  He said, "nothing."  And he is exactly right.

11 Months

I'm so not ready for her to be a year old.

How did that happen so fast?

We still have so much to work on.  She still is not sleeping thru the night.  My jeans should fit better after a year.   She should love to eat regular food.  She should not be nursing 9 times a day and night still.  Her 3-6 month old clothes should long ago been put away.

I inserted myself into her milestone pictures this month.  It only seemed appropriate.  Me and Mikael.  We are thick as thieves.  When I'm on the computer - she is laying on the keyboard.  When I'm sweeping   - she is doing snow angels in the dirt pile.  When I vacuum, she is following while chewing on the cord. When I am showering - she is climbing the bathtub walls.  You get the picture.

I love this chic.  I know it sounds like I might feel sorry for myself a lot when I talk about this baby that exhausts a lot of my time and energy but don't pity me.  She is a ray of sunshine in our lives.  I married her father because of his enthusiasm for life, his curiosity, his desire to learn and be better and his love for me.  Mikael is her father's child.  She does not know how to sit still or sleep for long periods at a time.  There is so much to see!  And do!  I'm jealous and in awe of her spunk and her ability to steal the show at any given minute and make the room fall in love with her.  And I'm completely flattered at her love for me.  I'm a lucky girl.

And sometimes I call in reinforcements. (Milestone - 10 Months)

Her name is Kentucky.  I picked her up at the local Bashas.

Her purpose in life will be to kill.  Mice.  We have seen approximately 32 at the new property and it is no bueno.

We have been practicing rigorous pouncing and catching techniques with Kentucky.  She is almost ready to be released into the wild of our current remodel.

No one loves Kentucky more than Mikael.  She squeals and flaps her arms excitedly at just the sight of her.

Mikael wants to share the love.  Cuddle.  Grab.  Pet.  And show the cat who the boss is.

And then suddenly she can experience a change of heart.  And the cycle begins all over again.

We haven't figured if those are tears of regret, sorrow, remorse, or fear.  It is a complicated relationship between these two.  One we will be able to nourish and nurture in the coming years.

Kentucky will for sure be the meanest best cat around.

Welcome to the family.

Milestone - 9 Months

I think I basically covered my life this month with this little monkey in my last post.

She has perfected the stink face this month.  Although, Ezra calls it her trash face. 

 "Mom, Mikael just did her trash face at me." 

I'm stilling trying to figure out how to accomplish anything during the day when my hands are full (of her).

She smiles (and kisses) with her tongue out.  It is delicious.

She is smart and busy and sensitive and busy and cute.

We love her and wonder what we ever did with our time before her. 

Milestone - 8 Months

My 8th month old keiki.  She was a doll.  She loved Hawaii.  She loved the sand in all her crevasses.  She loved her mildew smelling crib.  She loved (and slept on) the airplane rides.  She even loved cutting her 1st tooth during our stay on the big island.

She completely steals the show at family home evenings these days.  She watches the other kids pick and perform a primary song and she refuses to be left out.  She sings (yells) at the top of her lungs, smiles, laughs, and claps (!).  Who taught her that?  She is a professional clapper.  She is hilarious.  She loves the spot light.

And I'll be, if we didn't watch her wave to our fellow passengers on the para sailing boat.  The entire ride.  Who taught her that?  She is a professional waver.

And so Mikeal confirmed this month what we have suspected all along......she is a genius baby.

Oh and yes, I almost forgot.  How could I forget?  Mikeal is full on crawling this month.  No more scooting, limping, or diving - the chic is on the move.  My life and hers just became very dangerous.

And FYI:  I really wanted a souvenir shirt to match Mikael.  They did not have my size.

Safety First

We are currently:

• trying on goggles
• practicing the back stroke in the tub
• measuring and weighing suitcases
• counting our pennies
• losing sleep
• praying last year's swimsuit will fit

Our trip to Hawaii is just around the corner.  Back in December, I told Jace this Hawaii trip with all 4 of the children would be a good idea.  No!  A great idea!  That was back in the day when Mikael used to chill on my lap.  For hours.  Not the case today.  How will I manage a 6 hour flight?  Me and her are sharing a seat.  Luckily, 4 of my sisters and all of their hoodlums children will be on the same flight.  What's that you say?  It's not a lucky thing?  I feel a lot of sympathy for the old man that was purchasing his ticket the same night we all were.  He will be stuck right in the middle of us - all 23 of us.   I ask that my relatives acknowledge they know me and my redneck/chicken smuggling crew (and that they take turns holding the only squirming infant on the plane).

So, Aloha for now.  I'll be back to retrieve my large Old Navy box sitting at the post office.  Can you believe a government office was closed today and will be closed on Monday as well?  What do they expect Noah and Ezra to wear to the beach?  Sheesh.  I will also be back to make sure these flowers did not die and start swim lessons.  And we will return to buy that one house. :)

p.s.  Macy asks all to pray for the safe return of her and all her limbs.  Taking her to see the movie about the surfer getting her arm ripped off by a shark in Hawaii right before our trip may not have been my brightest move.  We will be lucky if her ankles get wet this trip.

Milestone - 7 Months

7 months

I have decided Mikael is a busy girl.  My sisters are rolling their eyes at me right now.  They think all the Baum babies are calm babies - like drunk, sleepy sailors.  They think I don't know what a busy baby is and maybe they are right.  But for a Jace/Lindsay Baum baby - Mikael is busy.  And it just happened this month.

Warming up.  Stretching out.

She turns circles on my lap.  She scoots, then crawls, then dive bombs to anywhere she wants to go.  She does her morning push-ups in her crib everyday.  She still frequents the all you can eat buffet at night.  She's ticked if she's not the one manning my cell phone.  She types 60 wpm.  And she is completely offended if she is not bumbo sitting in the middle of the table at dinner - she needs to watch every bite and hear every word.

Mikael - bumbo sitting

And I'm happy to report that my teething suspicions are true!  5 months later!  She is finally cutting her two bottom teeth.  She still loves her mother the best and is a champ at spitting her baby food out.  My children are the world's worst solid food eaters - or is it a lazy mother?  Who prefers nursing over a 30 minute pea spooning-spitting session?

Check my photography skills.  One eye out out of focus.  One in focus.  Tricky.

Looks like my baby is growing up.  It is a good thing she gets cuter every day she gets older or I'd protest.

Sunday.....(and Milestone 6 Months)

Sunday afternoon, Ezra on a scooter, spring weather, and the return of the sprinklers.

Today was Sunday.  Fast Sunday.  Fast Sunday may or may not be the reason my children are usually potty trained before they are weened from my breast.  Gestating/nursing mothers are excused from fasting (at least at my house).  I am a lousy faster, especially when church is at 1:00.  I felt like a dog this morning, eating my hot Grapenuts in front of Jace and Macy.  This was Macy's 1st attempt at fasting 2 meals and she did it! Without complaining!  I was so proud of her and I told her that a couple times.  She didn't see what the big deal was.  I didn't tell her that I could probably count on my hands how many times I have fasted an entire day.  And that is why I love that girl so much and why she is a way cooler person than me.

He really can't get enough.

During fast and testimony meeting today a man who served as bishop of the ward years ago stood to bear his testimony.  While speaking from the pulpit, he mentioned Brother Baum.  He said he loves watching Jace hug and kiss on his youngest daughter at church and that Jace sets a good example of what kind of father he wished he would have been to his children.

She rocks the leg warmers, btw.

He really does french kiss Mikael all thru Sunday school....it's like a tick....if any one of his children are near him, his lips are on them. I hope my kids know how lucky they are to have a father like Jace.  It was one of the many reasons I fell in love with him, he is not afraid to show or exclaim his love thru words or public displays of affection.

And she knows it.

And so we should now discuss the lucky youngest daughter.  Mikael has reached milestone 6 months.  And I hate it.  I hate that she getting older and bigger.  I loved her newborn days and am sad to see them racing away.  I am constantly trying to play the "I just had a baby" card and that is now a lie.  She is half a year!

6 months.

Today at church, (yes, we are still talking about church) a new gal in the ward was admiring the Mikael in my arms.

"Oh!  How old is she?"

"6 months."

She was clucking and shaking her head in disbelief when she said, "And you already look awesome."

To which I replied, "I know."

She smiled, turned and started walking away.  After a couple steps following behind her, it hit me.


Whaatt the???  Did I really just say that?  Why?  For the love.


I sped up, grabbed her shoulder, turned her around and tried to explain,  "I did not mean to say that.  I thought...mmmmm........ we were still talking about the baby....mumble....... mumble........ ah....... she....I do not.....sorry."

She smiled and said something like, "There is nothing wrong with having confidence."

Ya Right.  Nice.

All I meant to say today is what I have been feeling all week.  I have been clucking and shaking my head in disbelief that my newborn baby is 6 months old.  I wish she would just stop growing.  I wish she would learn how to sleep thru the night but just stop growing bigger.  I love that little lady.

And while we are talking about wishes, I wish I could spend the rest of my life on the "breastfeeding diet."  I wish I looked a little more awesome holding a 6 month old baby in my arms.  I wish I didn't say embarrassing things in public.   And I wish I could get Jace to spread the french kissing love around my way in Sunday school  (I'm sure somebody would have something to say about that in the next fast & testimony meeting).

Milestones

5 Months

BFF

She is still a little dolly.  But no one loves her more than Ezra.  He is grabbing, poking, laughing, and talking to her all day long.  These are just some of the names he calls her:

• toot basket
• chicken toes
• little fart
• fatso
• a bum
• sweet little Mikaels

It has been a rough ride for this little lady this month.  I'm not going to lie about it.  The ear infection out stayed it's welcome and horrible sleeping habits were acquired.  When she cries out every hour during the night,  her mother cries too.  I have met a 9 year old toting a crying baby in the middle of the hall in the wee hours more than I care to admit this month.  Sometimes I might call her a little fart too.

7 Years

My 7 seven year old son.  Not afraid of anything.

Noie Boie Baum turned 7 on Feb. 11th.  He wanted to shoot a gun on his big day and eat at a Chinese buffet.  Right when I think I got this kid figured out he surprises me.  Some of the things he is loving right now:

• Wrestling (he was king of the mat last week and hasn't let us forget it)
• rice and pasta (still)
• Star Wars (still)
• neighborhood boys
• swimming
• cousins
• reading (he is tearing up the 1st grade)
• chips (the spicier the better - Grandma and Papa gifted him 2 of his very own bags on his big day)

I have driven by the school at recess and watched as Noah slashed thru the air with a pretend sword and kicked about while flinging pretend num chucks.  He has told me that everyone says he is the best one at sword fighting "because I do it so good."  Well put Dwight Schrute.  I seriously love this kid.

32 Years

And I seriously love this guy.  We celebrated his 32 years on Earth on Feb. 20th.  He is the life of the party.  He kids adore him and his wife follows him around - waiting for him to make her laugh again.

He doesn't complain about much.  Loves his family and friends and would do just about anything for them.  You would be lucky to make it on his list of family and friends.  You need a loan?  Bailed out of jail?  Picked up on the side of BFE?  A job?  A house?  You got it.  No questions asked.  You qualify.  Jace can not not help someone he loves.

He keeps our life interesting and keeps us moving.  When I die I will be able to say - I lived.  I really, really lived.  These are just some of the things he has talked to me about this week:

• owning a feed store
• bidding on a egg incubator
• dropping off one of his handicapped chickens in a stranger's yard
• where the full grown Rottweiler dog will sit on 7 hour drive home
• corn grinders
• how good his feet feel in his new "five finger" shoes.  I call them his dog fight shoes - as in I wouldn't wear them to a dog fight - but they are making his feet feel good - so whatever.
• how to keep the dog catcher away
• building a water park in the middle of an irrigation pond

Happy Birthday Lover.  I love you, even if I hate most some of your ideas.

Don't forget to check out all the action going on over here.

Milestones

10 Years

(The anniversary picture taken in bed. 10pm. One picture I'm sure we will treasure. And look who's still up.)

The 1st year was a dosey. Year 7 had us itching. And the years in between were mostly crazy. But we are happy to announce that we made it to year 10.

What have I learned? If I'm nice to Jace, Jace is nice to me. It really is that simple.

What has Jace learned? As long as he is home for dinner (every night), as long as we don't have any of his relatives for dinner (every night) or breakfast, and as long as he doesn't bring the pickles and goldfish with him to bed at night - he has a pretty happy wife.

I love Jace. Way more than I used to. I think he is sexy and smart and funny. Even more than I used to. Jace got his first gray hairs this year - right in his side burns. His hands are always calloused. His face is tan and always full of scruffy facial hair. And he started wearing his cowboy hat around the house this year - just for fun. He makes me laugh. He makes me crazy sometimes but I'm so glad he picked me. I'm buckled in tight and can't wait for the rest of the ride with him.

4 Months

Check out little Miss. She really has no idea what she is suppose to be doing in her "Jenny" Jump Up. But we get a kick out of it.

She is currently 15 lbs 4 oz. She currently is experiencing her first ear infection. She's kind of ticked about it. She has started rolling over and rolling off furniture.

I can count on one finger how many times all my other children combined rolled off a couch. Maybe that is what is wrong with Jace and I, we are both numeral quatro -which means we both hit our heads more than once rolling off furniture and was tortured/ignored by older siblings. But hey - you don't become the most "special" child laying around. You got work for that position.

p.s. don't ever let me hear you call my Mikael "special" - she has made a full recovery from all her rolling adventures.