www.micahandlindsey.com

When I see other babies — such as Katie’s little Ryder — I can’t believe that little babies smile SO much.  My Scout was such a somber baby, and was so ridiculously serious about life …. from the day he was born until 8 or 9 months …. that guy was all business.  He observed, he processed, and probably made mental notes.

This morning, I woke up with Navy.  After feeding her, I was talking to her, and she was ALL SMILES!  It was so fun to make little noises and faces, and receive smiles back….instead of blank stares or even glares.  I hope I have produced a smiley baby this time around.  (But I have to admit, I think Scout is the greatest kid known to man ….. so I hope that Little Miss’s smiles don’t take her too far off Scout’s route …. or even at all!  I am obviously one of those type who wants my cake, and to eat it too!)

Long ago, I decided to “do something fun” every day with Scout (and now Navy is in on the fun!).  Anything from a walk, to cooking together, to reading a ton of books together, etc.  I decided it was time to start things up again since our little girl is one month, and plenty capable of going places.  The previous week, we did a ton of fun things every day while we were on vacation.  But this week we were mostly at home, so it was time to get creative again.  Our week of fun things included:

Meeting up with dad after his long run, and throwing rocks from the top to the bottom of the riverbed.  I was having fun playing with and feeding Navy in the shade.

One morning, we heard talking out of the back of our house.  We had tree trimmers shimmying up the trees with hand cutters and chainsaws.  Scout thought they were acting like monkeys, and kept hollering out the sound a monkey makes.  He had a point, because at times they were literally swinging from tree to tree.  So I grabbed two beach chairs, blankets, some snacks, and we watched them for about an hour.  Every time a branch was cut off and falling to the ground, Scout would yell out, “Oh Boy!”

Finally, at the last minute, we decided to take a road trip.  I packed Scout and Navy in the car, and we headed for an overnight stay at Auntie Bree and Uncle Jeff’s place.  Scout had a great time reading books with Auntie Bree, de-shelling and eating nuts at the tastiest restaurant, and watching/playing ball with their two dogs.  (The same dogs he didn’t stop talking about on our way home until he fell asleep.)  The car ride was a cinch on the way up.  On the way back, downtown L.A. was at the perfect place for a break.  We ended up at the fabric district and hung out there for about an hour.  Then back in the car for the remainder of the drive.  (Reminder for next time — A  side-by-side double stroller is not the best idea in those closet sized fabric shops!)

And as the cherry on top — we are heading to dinner tonight on top of an ancient Indian burial ground!  Can’t wait Zimmermans!

Our little Navy surprised me a couple nights ago with going to bed at 10:30pm and not fussing until 4:30 in the morning.  I’ll take 6 hours of sleep any day.  The next night was the same.  I thought a pattern was set up, and I was thrilled.  I figured if she did it for three nights straight, the deal was sealed.  But last night — the third night — I was lucky enough to hang with her at midnight, 2:30 and again at 5:00.  I guess she missed me.

Here she dreams away in the cradle my dad made long ago, that all of my brothers and sisters slept in.  Notice the most important items in my room…..Navy’s little doggy that Scout appointed to her, and is constantly giving to her, a bottle of formula that is there “in case” (I have found that when she gets collicky late at night, if I give her an ounce of formula, she settles down), and finally the scrabble board that settles any argument Micah and I have.  We figure that whoever wins…must be right.

Ever since I can remember, my family has had a rule that can’t be broken.  If someone is bugging you — usually by way of teasing or tickling or wrestling or poking, etc… — and you want it to stop, you call out “bugawuga” and it HAS to stop.  This is mostly used by kids who don’t really have any advantage on adults….until they pull the “bugawuga” card.  And at that point, adults have no power.  They must immediately stop whatever they are doing for about three seconds to allow the kid to get a reprieve and/or run like the dickens.

Last night…the main offender of receiving the “bugawuga”– my brother David was in town.  (Keep in mind that I have David to thank for being so tough.  He was the one who would get any of us kids and hold us under the water in the pool just far enough so if we tilted our head back in hopes of getting a breath, we were 1/2 an inch from the surface.  If you think that is mean enough, I forgot to mention that he was doing this while in his scuba gear and cracking up.)  Anyway, last night he was having a serious pillow fight with Scout.  And he is kind of the “no holds barred” type of fighter.  He does lighten it up due to his enemy being under the age of two, but not as much as one would expect.  Scout was in heaven!  He was carrying pillows that were as heavy as he was, running with them and trashing David.  Part of the fun was the very animated reaction he was getting from David when he would get him.  But on the flip side…..David was in heaven because Scout wasn’t giving up.  David was tripping, pushing, and throwing pillows at Scout, and the little one was cracking up and just kept coming back for more.  And then….out of the blue…..during one of the biggest attacks by David, Scout yelled out “BUGAWUGA” and David immediately froze.  Then Scout picked up a pillow and threw it at David as hard as he possibly could.

David looked at me and we laughed so hard.  I was in complete amazement because I had never taught him “bugawuga”, but I remembered my mom trying to help him understand the word and concept about two months earlier.  I think Trilby was going to “get him” and my mom told him to say the word to make her stop.  Since then, I don’t have any memory of him saying it.  But there he was….two months later…..and in total need of an advantage in the pillow fight…..and his memory served him well…. in the form of a simple and silly word…..that under this roof holds all the power…..if only for a few seconds.

It is the ultimate cliche, but I can’t believe how time flies.  Navy is 1 month old today, and I can’t imagine how a month has gone by already.  So far 1/4 of her life was spent in the hospital, another 1/4 was spent on vacation in Vegas and Arrowhead, and the other 1/2 was basically in the arms of someone while she slept.  She is the sweetest little baby.  So far she has darker hair than Scout — really dark brown / almost black, and her eyes are currently blue with a touch of gray - like her mom.  She is very unpredictable on her nighttime sleeps - last night she got up once, but the night before it was about 5 times (but beauty of it is that I don’t care…..the more she gets up…..the more I get to hang out with her….and I love it!)  She only fusses when her tummy isn’t feeling great, which isn’t too often…..but my singing calms her instantly.  Scout and I actually have a new method.  When I sing, I leave out words to about the 40 different songs I have sung to him his whole life, and he fills in the blanks.  He loves it, and so does she.  And I was amazed when we first tried this, that he knows all of the words.  He certainly has not been plagued with my inability to remember lyrics to songs.  Navy is very alert.  In fact, last night she was following my finger from side to side.  She is a great eater, and eats WAY more than Scout did.  She has already gained a ton of weight, and is totally turned into a chunk.  Her 1 month appt. is coming up, so I will get actual stats then.  Finally, she is starting to really like her plug.  She hasn’t been given a great chance since there is a thief in the house, but she is getting pretty good at keeping it in.  All in all, she isn’t as easy as Scout was at this age.  But compared to any other babies I have been around, she is a cinch!

Here she is holding up one finger to show how old she is!  Aren’t those lips adorable.

I thought I was an infomercial junky……until I got married.  Micah is ready to pick up the phone on any of that junk and purchase right away….especially if they are offering free stuff to the first 20 callers. (Doesn’t he know by now that it is all a ploy….and everyone gets the free junk that goes with the expensive junk?!)  Anyway, on top of owning the Sham Wow, the Cindy Crawford exercise video, the magic bullet, and probably a thigh master, he just HAD to have P90X.  You know….the exercise regimen that is on the television being advertised at any time of the day — but especially at 2 - 4 in the morning.  My mom got it for Christmas for him, and he has been anticipating the start day for over a month.  He was particularly excited when he heard his buddy Tacky was doing it at the same time.  Well, this past Monday was his official start, and he even brought it up to Arrowhead because P90Xers don’t miss days.  (Tacky — listen up!)  I say good for him that he is dedicated.  I also love that there were a couple of people on board this day when he did his stomach routine in our hotel room.

I guess I can’t complain about his addiction to infomercials since my Valentines Day gift was the Snuggie — which I love.  Babe, you are too kind!  (Whoops, I just asked him about all of the stuff he has ever bought off an infomercial, and he says his only purchase ever was the Snuggie.  So I retract my former statement.  I guess he isn’t addicted to the infomercials….he is addicted to the “As Seen On T.V.” store that doesn’t offer all of the free junk to go along with the expensive junk!)

We spent this past week all over the place.  We started out at Seth’s place in Vegas to meet Rose (4 days younger than Navy), play with cousins, and hang out with Seth and Brett.  We had a great time, but Scout had the time of his life.  Between the toy room, the numerous bikes, the sport’s court, and the five boy cousins, Scout was totally in his element, and kept going up and kissing everyone at random — his way of showing how much fun he was having.  He went without naps, turned in way past his bedtime every night, and played nonstop for 2 1/2 days straight, and never complained once.  (Although he did pick up “No” and “Mine” once again, but the habit is already being broken with timeouts and talking to’s.)

Here are Seth and the two girls — Rose and Navy.

Scout and Covey were inspecting rocks at this point.

He was so bummed to leave his cousins, until he found out we were just on to new cousins in Arrowhead!  We met up with the Brockbanks (Jake, Cade, Dey and Doey) and had a great time.  Our hotel was totally nice and really cheap.  Scout tried sledding for the first time and had a bittersweet relationship with it.  He loved eating the snow, watching everyone else sled, making snowmen, and taking a tiny sledding route with Megan, but didn’t like sledding by himself, sledding big mountains with dad, or falling and his hands getting cold from the snow.

Scout is actually excited to get in his new snow outfit.  I know the picture looks like he doesn’t like it, but he really did love it, and wanted to wear it all day long.

Navy doing what she did best….stayed warm and slept.

And when we went outside….she stayed and splept in mommy’s wrap that she loves!

One of the bigger mountains that Scout didn’t love at the end.

Micah starting a snowball and an obsession.

He created this snowman, but insisted on staying out in the snow with Trey to build another.  The second ended up being 7 1/2 feet tall, and took Micah and two strangers to get the head on.   When I went out to see the masterpiece, it had been masacred….hence no picture.  But I did see it from the hotel window, and will vouch.

Scout getting hydrated via the snow.

Our last day there, we looked over to see two of the Brockbanks -Trey and Cade (Knuckleheads)- walking on the frozen ice over the lake….DUH!  When we went over to get them off of it, and scold them we found this chain under the frozen ice.  Our impulse was to free the chain, so after many attempts from Cade, Jake, Me and Trey, Micah finally jumped over to help out.  He worked his P90X magic, and freed the chain.  Unfortunately on my way back, my leg slipped and my leg went into the water…..BUT fortunately, I was wearing my waterproofed Uggs and stayed dry.

A little later, Cade’s leg went through the ice also…..as seen below.

The ice fun was the highlight of the trip, until we were headed back to the room and everyone was going to take their last sledding trip down the hill.  Chloe was our finale, and went from the very highest point.  She was on a disc — our fastest sled — and went cruising at a very high speed.  When she got to the bottom, she zipped past me, our stuff, the trail…all the way to the water.  Thank goodness she bailed out at the last minute, because her sled wouldn’t have been the only thing to be sacrificed to the lake.  So we said our goodbye’s to the disc that peacefully floated away.  Until we saw Trey and Cade (Knuckleheads) with a huge branch..on their way to the lake….to try and retrieve it.

Everyone in my family is always aching to get the first smile from any of the grand babies.  My mom got Scout’s first, and was expecting to get Navy’s first.  But the second Megan held her in Arrowhead, Navy started smiling up a storm.  And she smiled for Megan every time she held her.  I don’t know what her trick is, but it definitely worked.  But of course I couldn’t get a picture of it because my camera does the whole pre-flash thing.  So the second she was smiling, and my camera pre-flashed, it would wipe the smile right off of her face.  But here is a pic of the event….just no grin.  (As a sidenote - I think she is going to be much more smiley than Scout was.  Scout just looked at everyone like we were all idiots when we would do silly sounds and make faces.)  And look at the double chin that Navy is getting.  I must produce some serious milk — or rather cream.

Here is Scout with a rather feminine plug in his mouth…..stolen out of the mouth of his sweet little sissy.  Scout’s whole pluggy obsession was curbed nicely until he saw that Navy gets to have her plug anytime of the day.  He knows his is in his “Pluggy Drawer”, and he isn’t allowed to have it unless he is in his bed or in the car.  But according to him, he can have sissy’s plug whenever he can get his hands on it.  The other morning, Micah had Scout in the kitchen while I was feeding Navy in our room.  Scout came in about 4 times to get Sissy’s plug out of her cradle.  Everytime, I would tell him to put it back, and he would just have to take a few sucks to feed his addiction.  The last time….right after I put Navy back down in her cradle…..I heard Scout’s feet running my way.  I obviously knew what he was up to, so I hid under the covers of my bed.  As soon as he got there, he looked all around for me.  He even got on the bench at the end of our bed, to double check and make sure I was gone.  He then proceeded to go over to the cradle, look back one more time, and then take Navy’s plug right out of her mouth.  You can imagine how surprised he was when I jumped out of the covers, yelled, “Scout!”, and told him to give his sister her plug back.  He quickly took about three sucks, dropped it into the cradle and ran yeling, “Daddy!”  (His usual tactic when he knows I am busting him!)