Family in Town...

We were fortunate enough to have Will's family come visit us for Christmas and New Years.

The little boys, Wyatt and Evan, had a wrestling tournament while Grandma Judy was here. Wyatt was so excited about wrestling in front of all of his family. He really enjoys wrestling for a crowd. Even Clare and Andrew wrestled one match.

Will took the family out to the beach one day. They drove along highway one enjoying some spectacular views and stopping at different beaches to enjoy the fun. The big kids, impervious to the cold and wet, splashed in the tide pools and ran in the sand. Their love of the beach really puts a smile on my face.

For Christmas, Aunt Betty Jo gave Lorien and Clare tickets to the Nutcracker! There ended up being an extra ticket, Will stayed home with Wyatt and Adell so I could go along and watch the ballet with empty arms. I was nervous about leaving Adell for so long. We had not tried to give her a bottle yet and I worried about her not being able to eat. Will assured me, all would be well--and it was. I wish I had a dramatically entertaining story to relate about his adventures with a six-year-old boy and a three-week-old baby but, no. Adell slept, Wyatt and Will played board games. The girls and I loved the ballet. Clare put on a show of her own in the isle of the theater.

After the ballet we met Will and a variety of other family members in San Jose for Chinese food and an Christmas in the Park.

We loved having family here for the holidays. I was thankful that we did not have to travel and that every one got to see the new baby.

Tradition!

I love making family traditions. Here are two of my favorites at Christmas time.

The Measuring Tree

Every year we check out how much the kids have grown by measuring them against a quilted Christmas Tree I made. The kids get to pick out an ornament to have sewn onto their height marker for the year. When we started the measuring tree it was only Lorien and Wyatt. This year we added four new ornaments--our tree is getting full!

A Snow Ball Fight

This is a pretty new tradition started just last year. Since we live in California where we do not get any snow for Christmas we started making our own snow. When we open presents on Christmas morning every one keeps their wrapping paper. After opening all the presents we have a "snow ball fight" with wrapping paper snow. The kids love it and it is a fun activity. We just have to make sure all the little parts from their presents are put away. No one likes loosing a doll shoe to the snow ball fight.

This year, Will added a new tradition to the snow ball fight--burying our children in the "snow".

Merry Christmas!

Changes...

I need to make a few changes on the blog. 

First, the title isn't really relevant any more--we are up to six in our family now so "Just the Five of Us" doesn't really work.  So far Will has been the only one to offer suggestions: "The Six Pistols" "Let's Talk About Six, Baby" "Oh You Sixy Thing" ... he has not been much help.

And second, Will has always disliked the black background on our blog.  He thinks it is too hard to read.  So I am thinking of changing up the background color.

What do you think?

As an incentive for worthwhile suggestions I am offering a prize.  If your title or background suggestion is selected you will win a gift certificate to Children R US.  Good for one child of your choice, redeemable at the Anderson Household. 

Let the competition begin!

Before I Forget...

A few things happened right before Adell was born. I realize now how charmed our life was--I could leave the house with out first breathing into a paper bag for 20 minutes.

The week before Adell was born, Will taught three chemistry lessons in each of the kids' classes. He taught the kids about matter, atoms, electrons, protons and showed them a few chemical reactions. All three of the lessons were very successful in both the classes. Wyatt's Kindergarten teacher said she learned more in Will's lessons than she did in her high school chemistry classes. Now, Will is very popular when he picks up the kids after school.

A week before Adell was born, Clare was my baby. She could fall asleep in the car and I would carry her inside for bed. Now she gets shaken awake and told to walk in because my arms are full of car seat. (I really like the colors in this picture.)

A week before Adell was born, Wyatt spent a little time playing his DS, games on the computer and watching cartoons. Now--well I don't really want to confess how much time my kids spend in front of TV/Computer screens now...

Speaking of my boy. He always has food on his face. It is a survival tactic--he always has something to eat. He also has a knack for making toys out of random household items. On the left: Wyatt made a squid out of trash bag twist ties. On the right: Wyatt carefully balanced a butter knife, spoon and fork on a platter holder we borrowed for the luncheon after Lorien's baptism. I think he is creative.

We finished out the Stanford Football season just before Adell was born. (Actually, the last game was after she was born.) We watched the Stanford-Cal game at Dave and Angela's house. They were out of town and we did not get the cable channel the game was showing on. So, we went to their empty house and watched the game. (Is that weird?) The kids watched most of the game but then spent the last quarter playing with their cousin's toys.

At the last football game I stayed home with Adell and Will took the kids to the game. As the game ended Will took the kids down to rush the field. They got their picture taken with a player and got to be on TV!

And last, this is how I looked ten days before Adell was born. I do not miss it.

Over the Moon...

Fly me to the moon
Let me sing among those stars

Let me see what spring is like

On Jupiter and Mars

In other words, hold my hand

In other words, baby kiss me

(Come on people, channel your inner Sinatra--sing out loud with me--no one is listening)

Boy oh boy am I ever in love with this new little baby. I've gone off my rocker with newborn-baby-love.

I love her floppy, little body.

I love her curved legs and bitty feet.

I love the harmless sound of her cry.

I love that "choo-choo-choo" sound she makes when she is eating.

I love the twisted look she employs when she is dropping a load in her diaper.

I love the sound of her sneeze.

I love the texture of her cheeks--all of her cheeks.

I love that a second edition of her chin has already been published.

I love it all...

I spend a lot of time staring at her perfect little face and taking pictures of her when she is sleeping (I have about a thousand and she is a week old). I know, I know, every parent on the planet thinks their baby is ultra-cute and uber-perfect--the difference here is--I am right.

I spend a lot of time with my face buried down in her neck and cheeks inhaling that newborn baby smell--deeply. I love the smell of newborn babies. Since it has been over three years since I've had a newborn of my own I've been making up for serious lost time. Sure, I've been able to hold a baby every once in a while--but even the kindest of friends give you a weird glance when you put your face down in their baby's personal space and start huffing like a drug addict. (I've been given that look before) You can kiss a baby on the top of the head but you cross a line with rubbing your nose in the crook of another baby's neck...

When Adell sleeps for a while--or some one else is holding her--I get jealous. (Really, I do.) I miss her and I want her back. Although, I'd rather have some one holding her than put her down in her crib or car seat. It is like she is a precious natural resource--like water--if I am not going to soak her up some one should. Maybe if I put her down by our house plant I'd feel better.

I know she isn't going to stay this little forever--or even very long. Ugh!

We are half way through the two-week-honeymoon period. She is going to wake up for longer periods of time soon. Eventually, latching her on for a little feed wont be the easy fix...she'll have other needs that we will have to figure out. But for now, she is happy and I am so, so, so happy.

Adell had her one week check-up today. She is almost a pound up from birth weight. (way to grow Adell!)

Now, if you'll excuse me...I haven't huffed newborn baby in almost twenty minutes and I am getting the shakes.

How are the big kids?

Lorien:
Having a new baby in the house has made her very thoughtful. She asked Daddy while I was in the hospital: "What will Momma look like when she gets home?" Daddy talked about my belly being smaller--and the circles under my eyes being darker... Lorien responded "But what about the wound?" Will was perplexed--what wound? "You know, the baby grows and comes out of the wound." Lorien explained. After a little more discussion (and a quick review of "The Talk") Lorien felt better. Momma would come home with out a giant cut in her belly. Lorien has also been full of questions about adoption since Adell came home.

Wyatt:
He is very conscientious about Adell's physical well being. He asks questions about her umbilical cord and if it hurts her. He brings her stuffed animals when she is crying. Yesterday he asked me where the chapstick was. Like all newborns who nurse, Adell has chapped lips. With chapstick in hand Wyatt put a little dab on Adell's lips to help her feel better (or look better?).

Clare:
With a new baby in the house Clare is over joyed to be part of "the big kids" in the family. Clare told Daddy: "I am a big girl now--so I don't get cranky." And when Daddy scooped her up into his arms to rock her like a baby, she kicked her legs in protest. (We really hope her attitude holds up.) Clare and Daddy call Adell "Addy". But some times she forgets and asks: "What do me and Daddy call Adell again?"

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