3 Months

My little man is THREE MONTHS OLD today! I just can't believe it. We took him to get pictures taken, and even though we woke him up from a nap, he was still my perfect little man and started smiling right off. Didn't even mind that I made the photographer snap even MORE when I decided I wasn't too happy with all the photos in the first round. He sleeps through the night, and has been since the middle of April. It took a few nights of crying, but much less than with Ruth, and now he usually cries for less than a minute before he's out. He loves the tub, but usually doesn't get to enjoy it too long because his big sister likes to cover his face with the wet washcloth. Ruth likes to squish him, be helpful by covering his head with his blanket (why?), give him kisses, and sometimes shove him away. She says "oh baby, oh baby, oh baby" every time he starts to cry and runs over to see if squishing him will help, haha. Will eats like a champ and has the most perfect chubby cheeks, arms and legs that a baby ever had! During the day he likes me to hold him until he falls asleep, otherwise he's fussy. I usually just sit him on my hip while we go about life, and then look down at some point and realize he's asleep! I think he got used to falling asleep on me during the day because of the front carrier that I use so much. He is in it a lot because then we can get out and about and I still have hands free for Ruthie. He's started sucking on his fist, but for the life of me we haven't been able to get him to take a soother. So I guess that's kid #2 that won't take it around here. Oh well, I guess on the upside we don't ever have to wean them off! I still try to give it to him sometimes, but I've pretty much given up that battle. He's still sleeping in the bassinet in our room because I haven't been brave enough to try two kids in one room yet. I'm still trying to figure out how that will even work--they go to bed at the same time. Will is a SUPER SMILEY little guy and he smiles as soon as you take the slightest interest in him. He also has the sweetest coos there ever were. I could spend all day getting him to smile and coo at me! Ruth is getting used to it and will talk to him until he starts cooing at her and that is just the sweetest thing. Sterling said to note that he has a double chin on top of his double chin. 'Tis true. Pretty much, he has his momma wrapped around his tiny little chubby fingers, so much so that his dad is pretty concerned about it! And now, for a picture overload:

This is a smile, promise.

Sterling said we need to photoshop this one and in place of his blurry hand put a thumbs up!

I TOLD you he was a super smiley little man!

At It Again

I am back to work. If you can call working the first and third Wednesdays of each month working. I definitely do. Luckily, Will has taken to a bottle MUCH better than Ruthie ever did, with much less encouragement. I sure hope that keeps up, since he has fewer opportunities to need one, and I'm selfish so if I don't have to use the bottle, I definitely will not. (He sure loves his food though, and I don't think a little thing like a bottle will stop him from getting his fill.) The kids did great at my friend Chantelle's for four hours until Sterling got off work and picked them up for the rest of the day. And actually, I had two patients cancel and was able to take a long lunch and come home too. It wasn't as hard being back as I thought it would be--work was business as usual and I didn't even feel like I'd been gone(was it really three months?!!?!)-but as for being away from my kids, I think that was easier because Will is so much older than when I had to go back to work with Ruthie. Plus, I knew it was only one day and then I didn't have to work for another two weeks. There is just something so incredibly and deeply sad about leaving your little helpless babies with somebody else. Even if they are as wonderful as my friend Chantelle. The next Wednesday I work my mom is babysitting, and then the next five times my sister-in-law is (that will take us through August) and then Sterling will start staying home those two days a month. I am so thankful that we live by wonderfully helpful and loving family members during the times I've needed babysitters! Ruth was clingy the rest of this evening and I had no problem whatsoever dishing up a big bowl of ice cream, snuggling down on the couch with her, and sharing every single bite. Man, I love that girl. And now she's in bed, I haven't set Will down. It really doesn't matter if he's a mommy's boy and has to be held to sleep. I would love every minute of it. So we'll start in on that practice right this very minute.

I had a first-time patient today that'd been referred to our office. Instant periodontal smell. Blood smell. Infection smell. Felt just like old times. HAHA! Also, I told one of my patients that he had improved so much he should go out and buy himself some ice cream, and suddenly my boss pops up and hands him a little container of Ben and Jerrys! Reminds me of why I love this office so much, and I'm so glad that if I'm working anywhere, its here. Plus, my boss doesn't mind at all when he walks in and talks to me while I'm pouring my milk into bags and putting them in a freezer. And he didn't even ask if I was glad to be back, just asked if I did okay with leaving my kids in the morning. Such a good man. I guess stake presidents are like that?! Although, he did draw the line when I told him my baby was the cutest in the world, he has his own baby at home. :)

And that was my first day back. Thank you Sterling for working so much so I have to work hardly at all! You really are my hero!