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.

Milestone - 30 years. And I'm over it.

I had these visions of turning of 30.  I envisioned I would be wise and confident and that I would know how to cook really good.  And that someone somewhere would take a really great photo of me - like one for the ages.

Mmmmuph.

Oh well.  The truth is I'm still learning how to make hard decisions and still figuring out who I am.  And that timeless picture will have to wait another day or year.

30 was hard.  Sound cliche.  But true.  I'll never be in my 20's again.  That's how birthdays work.  They keep coming.  And 30 was like a dark storm cloud headed my way all summer.  Maybe I am gloomy about it because just thinking about celebrating 30 years makes me tired.  The only thing we celebrate lately is when Mikael falls asleep.  And I should be dancing in the street for all my 30 years.  They have been good.  Real good.

Today, I asked Jace just as Mom used to ask me, "How old are you?"  I know Jace is 32 but when he is squirting my 4 years old with water just to get a rise - the question is appropriate.

Do you know his response?

"How old are you?"

Ouch.  He knew that one would hurt this week.

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.

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.

Milestones

3 Months

What can I say about this gal? Blue eyes. Long eyelashes. So quiet. So content. Loves her Mother. Laughs at Noah. Smiles at her Father. She can arch her back and scoot herself down when she is in the swing....I have walked into the room multiple times only to find her laying on the floor. She is basically a gymnast. We love her so. Heavenly Father could not have sent a sweeter 4th child to my home.

9 Years

And what can I say about this gal that I haven't already said? She is still so sweet and takes such good care of all of us. She is right now talking on the phone to Grandma Mikey asking if she would like a group Christmas number with her brothers or would she prefer a solo for the Christmas Eve program? I love it. Macy got to take a couple friends to the movie for her birthday. That is the closest thing to a birthday party this little lady has ever had. And a funny thing about this picture. Macy has always known what she would like to wear and sometimes it isn't what her Mother would like her to wear. She cries because "everyone at school gets to wear cool clothes except me. (you know the High School Musical and Hannah Montana clothes) I have to wear shirts with birds on 'em. Not cool Mom." Guess what Macy got for her birthday? Yep. A shirt with a penguin on it. Oh what sad stories she will have to tell about her childhood. Love you Macy. You will always be way cooler than your Motherdear.

9? WOW. Are Jace and I really that old? Funny cuz I sometimes still think we are the newlywed couple in the ward.

Milestones

2 Months

Macy has been waiting a long while to dress Mikael in this shirt. She and I find the shirt hilarious. Navajo county hands these bad boys out. For free. Any thoughts? Makes me wonder. Would a low income mother contemplating the the convience of formula or the benefits of the breastfeeding see this shirt and think "True. True. I'm convinced." Nope. They may have to see Mikael in the shirt to be convinced. Isn't she the picture of health? I want to eat her for breakfast.

4 Years

This guy turned 4. Yes, he is tall for his age. Yes, he loves the wii and pbskids.org more than his family. Yes, he still sucks his thumb, while holding his blue blanket.

And yes, we still can't get enough of him.

I worried how he and I would get along after the baby was born but he has been a champ. He loves his "tinsy, little baby" and tells me at least twice a day that my "tinsy, little baby is crying." He waits patiently all day for "those other kids" to come home. He is the sweetest boy.

Happy Birthday foofie pants! We love you.