4 Months Old

Levi is rolling back to front, smiling and giggling, holding toys and grabbing things in front of him, loves it when his brothers hang out with him, sits up with no help but still gets tired pretty quickly, sleeps in good chucks through the night, can’t get a good nap in to save his life due to being a baby in a family of six people, loves his hanging toys, and enjoys the exersaucer. He is 26 inches long and 22 lbs. 

He likes to cat nap in the swing, car seat, or on anyone’s cuddly lap. 

When Logan comes home after work Levi will fuss until Logan holds him. Then it’s endless smiles. 



Levi’s Godsister loves to help him be happy. She makes sure he always has his binki close by, a book to read, or a toy to play with. She LOVES his soft hair and is sure he needs a dry diaper often. She’s such a good big Godsister!

Augustine used to nap like this daily because it was my best bet to get him to sleep. Levi thinks it’s a pretty good napping option too. 

The Newman Center gives the sweetest baby gift...a personalized blanket. They are the softest blankets you’ll ever feel! Elias still sleeps with his. 

The cuddly fox binki doesn’t come in the next size up, so I’m not sure what we’ll do when he out grows this one, and he’s getting close. 

Burp cloths are currently one of his favorite toys. 

The Art Show

The Sunday Lewis created all the art was not an easy day. We were all grouchy and hot and tired. But because we let Lewis do his thing something beautiful came out of that day. By the end of that day we were all creating. We did three projects. Then after school each day during the week we did one or two more. 

We didn’t eat dinner at the table for a week because it looked like this ^. 

I wanted to teach the boys about an artist each day and then try their style of art, but I knew that was WAY more than I should do with a newborn in the mix. So we just used all sorts of different materials and depths and mediums. Logan had a lot of fun creating some pieces that were very clever, and I managed to make two pieces. Levi made one piece. 

We had a total of 60 pieces of art on display. Logan, Levi and my art was not for sale. 

I talked to the boys a lot about how to price their pieces to sell, and to consider the time and creativity that went into each piece. The art ranged from $0.05-$2. Augustine set up the play cash register - that happens to be a real calculator- divided into three sections so he could keep track of each brother’s money. It was impressive. 

Greta come over early with coffee. We had a nice chat while everyone else went to the library/napped. It was a nice break. Then Lewis read three stories to her and helped her make the cheese board for guests. Have I mentioned we love having her so close by?! ;)

Then it was finally time to open the gallery! 

Friends, family, our pastor, and missionaries all stopped by to see our work. 

The boys talked to their guests about their art and answered their questions. 

Logan pulled a joke on Grant. Always funny. 

Augustine was very impressive during the show. He would initial pieces as people claimed them for purchase. It was a fast pace job, helping a lot of people at once. He also collected money, counted it, and divided it up to the correct artist. He was very busy the whole time and did an amazing job!



Any good gallery has wine for their guests. 

Lewis did a nice job welcoming guests and showing them into the gallery. He also offered snacks and drinks. 



All but five pieces sold, and some of those five were Logan’s creations, so the boys did really well. 

Most of Logan’s team joined us!

And of course there is always time for a story with JimBash. (Elias says his full name as one.) Although I didn’t snap a picture, Levi also says there’s always time for a nap on Coco too. 

Elias was very pleased with all the coins he earned, as well as spending a quarter on Batman by Augustine. Worth it. 

Augustine and Lewis were pleased with their earnings too and will save it for LEGOs. I am pleased how many good lessons we were able to teach them through this experience too. 

The Art Show will surely be one of our favorite family memories. We just might do it again!

Creative Thinking

I’ve been working hard trying to see lewis’ view of the world. He has such a creative mind, so different from my type of creativity. 

He sees even the smallest things differently. Like shading in boxes...I knew something would be said despite him clearly understanding the concept. He even noticed the number pattern on the right as he was doing the work. 

He brought home this very cool zoo set he helped make and immediately added dinosaurs. 

He loves to build things from cardboard, so when he saw the empty bolts and rolls at Joann’s he couldn’t resist. We took seven home. 

He built his baby brother a fun hanging toy, and it even coordinates. 



Lewis thought Levi needed something more to look at so he drew our family and a “crawling tunnel”. 

Levi was literally giggling under it, even though he can’t reach any of it (due to glitter. Ew.). 

Then we moved on to this super simple craft for his teacher. Not so much his style of creativity, but definitely mine. :)

Then we moved back to his realm...cooking. He made himself taco beef with some help and put together nachos. 

We went back to Joann’s because he just HAD to make something else. My creative helper position was wearing on me, but I said yes. He made an art easel. That was hard to swallow because I knew he would want to paint next. I pretty much crawl out of my own skin when I have to help kids paint. It made me pretty grouchy, especially when the blue paint got on a shoe and *almost* got tracked inside the house on the white carpet, but we made it through. 

That face. So deep in creative thinking. 

When he was almost done he said, “Mom, I’d like to sell my art.” The boys had been bugging me to have a garage sale all summer (because you know, there are endless LEGOs to be bought) and I said no all summer because 1) not worth my energy and 2) we don’t have stuff we don’t use and 3) newborn, people. BUT selling something you put time and energy into that expresses something from within you that’s beautiful? Yes. I will totally help you with that. 

So from Lewis’ (exhausting) creative mind we were inspired to have a Family Art Show....

He Found His Tongue

Preschool Elias

About 8 months ago Elias asked if he could go to school. Thinking I was oh-so-clever, I told him yes as soon as he used the toilet with no diapers he could go. I figured it would take him quite a few months to complete that transition. 

It took three days. 

So he’s been waiting a loooong time to go to school, and reminded me often that “I put my potty and my poopy in da toilet, so now I can go to preschool. When is it, Mom?”

Well, the day finally arrived! He transitioned really well to school and looks forward to it. 

The preschool has been awesome about his food intolerances, and let’s me provide his snack without participating in the snack calendar. I loathe snack calendars. 

Preschool open house was very exciting. Elias told me multiple times that Levi was really excited to go to preschool someday. I think he was talking in code. ;)



He was hesitant and needed a slow morning drop off, and that’s ok. We walk in together and I stand at the door while he hangs up his backpack. Then he comes back for a five minute long hug goodbye. Then all of a sudden he is fine and tells me he will see me later. Off he skips to do his work for the morning. 

The teachers did a really good job offering a warm welcome to the children. In fact, I took mental notes of lots of little details. 

He thought the fire hat was a good place to sit. 

Sign of a rock star preschool program: a backpack full of rocks, sticks, and open-ended art. I love this school. 

He brought home a map on the third day and asked me to help him label all the places on his map. Three more maps came home the next couple of school days. One was of a house, a fire truck route, and a police route. 

Preschool is the best! Elias will have a great year.