30 June 2008

Yummy!



Last year we planted some raspberry plants that didn't give us more than a few berries. We thought we planted two red varieties only, but as you can see we ended up with a rogue golden variety as a bonus. They are mild and tasty. These are samples of the goods.



One of the varieties has enormous berries that are beautiful and perfect for eating. These two were bigger than a quarter and they are just "average" in size.

* sorry for the poor pics, they are from my phone.

23 June 2008

a peek at Cal

Well, we have survived the first few weeks and this little guy is slowly finding his own niche in our family circle. He is pretty good, but still has his schedule all confused and regularly wakes up in the middle of the night to just hang out. We're working on that one. Erika snapped the first two pics while Dan was holding Cal. I love the second shot...he seems to be wondering what kind of family he was thrown in to!





I love the little tuft of hair that sticks up along his head. Believe me, we have tried to tame it with no luck. As it dries it curls up along his head giving him a little mohawk. And he is still in love with his hands. They are almost always up at his face or mouth. Any tips on curing him of that little habit?

20 June 2008

Do you remember...


...Wax Candy Bottles????

For the record these "candies" are really gross, but I couldn't help but feel a little nostalgia when I spotted these little gems in the grocery store the other day. I don't think my parents ever bought these for us. I used to get them when we visited my grandpa in Rexburg. He lived close to a little gas station and my cousins or sisters and brother would walk there and pick our own treats to purchase.

I had to share this strange "candy" with the kids just once. Needless to say it was a hit, just like me they couldn't decide what was more fun - the drink inside or the wax bottle.... It seems like they came in several shapes, but this is the one that we would get most often.




Did you ever have these "candies" as a kid????

15 June 2008

Whew!



The first two weeks went pretty well...lots of sleeping, eating, and (ahem) pooping. The last three days have been much worse. Lots of fussing and the only sleeping is during the day. I am pretty sure I am being hazed by my baby! I know it will pass, but in the mean time I am not my best self and poor Erika, Carson, and Dan are the lucky recipient of my ever-changing mood. I was hoping that Dan would have a few easy weeks following Cal's arrival, but he has been working 'til the wee sma's again 2,3,4am. I knew it would be like this sometimes, but when the reality sets in...sigh...it is hard to stay positive. I have so much I need to do and by the time he is resting, I am too tired and unmotivated to get going! It made me wonder why we're debating what is torture for political prisoners, and what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment....if they really wanted to make someone suffer they only need to give them a baby with colic to care for! After a few weeks you're crazy!

07 June 2008

Third time's a Charm!

Most of you have heard the horror story about Carson's birth. Cal's story is so different! To try and prevent a "speedy" arrival and to control the risk of hemorrhage I was induced.

(On our way to the hospital)

It began as a LONG day and I was starting to worry it would end in a C-section, but in the end it was FAST! In the end I went from a "3" to delivery in about 45 minutes - WHEW! It must have been the fact that after the Dr. checked me for the last time and said I was still a "3" Dan decided it was time to go and grab some dinner. About a 1/2hr later the Dr. checked again and Cal was on his way... Where was Dad? The Dr. asked if we could call him on his cell phone. "Of course, he has his blackberry with him," I replied. He starts to laugh and said, "This blackberry?" Ahhhhhhhh! I joked, "If he doesn't make it for the delivery do I deserve a new pair of shoes?" He replied, "You're in Greenwich, that deserves diamonds!" Luckily, they made a hospital page and he showed up with 5 minutes to spare. Literally, Cal was born 5 minutes later...and other than having a mighty sore heiny I am feeling pretty good. I have decided that I need to have Dad take a few pics of me with Cal (Oops!)



Here he is in all his glory. He had the cord wrapped around his neck 2X's and so his face was really swollen when he was born. We both agreed he looked like a little old man for the first night until the swelling went down. So sweet!



Dad and Callum right after he was born. It was hard to believe that we were now the parents of 3! We had put off the reality of this day and it was strange to be finally be meeting "Crackers".



Of course, Erika and Cal hit it off immediately. She is so good with him - even if she is a little eager to "prove" herself as a competent older sibling. Read: She wants to pick him up and play with him all the time.






The kiddies with their new little brother. We had finally come up with a name...Callum James Feldman or "Cal" for short. Carson couldn't remember his name and kept calling him "Crackers". After gently reminding him that his name was "Callum or Cal" not "Crackers" anymore he replied, "Well, we need to change his name 'cause I just can't remember that!"



Two days before I had Cal, Carson got sick. High fever that went away, but he ended up with a cough and stuffy nose. We limited his exposure to Cal at the hospital and finally on Sunday he was able to really snuggle up with his new little brother. He was so excited to finally be able to hold him. He was thrilled!



Grandma and Grandpa Feldman spent the week with us. It was so fun to have them here with us. Grandma helped with Cal and kept the ever-mounting piles of laundry done. Grandpa Ed and Dan got busy and worked on a few house projects during the week as well. They installed all new windows in the basement! What a huge project to have done and out of the way...it will definitely help with the heating and cooling bills this year, too. THANK YOU!!!!! What a great week that went altogether too fast! We miss you already. I am not sure how I'll survive without your extra hands this week.



And here is Cal. I would love to have a little better shot of his face, but he loves his little hands. Even in the ultrasound pics he had his hands up in front of his mouth. He is sweet as can be and has very blue eyes. This is normal for most babies, but both Carson and Erika had black eyes at birth. They were never blue. Carson's have stayed almost black, and Erika has brown eyes now. At least I have one baby with blue eyes for now. His hair is so cute with at least 4 cowlicks in the back that force his hair into a little mohawk.

It is amazing to have a little newborn in our home again. He is so sweet it almost makes me want another one....(I said ALMOST). He is not really on a schedule yet, but he sleeps and eats and does very little crying yet. We all adore this little guy.