Lisa n Tom (n James n Joseph)

Lisa writes: One mosquito bite and one big yawn -- that's as much excitement as I could coax out of the kid today.

Lisa writes: Drooly McDroolerson is a week shy of 4 months, He is 14.25 lbs, 24 inches long, and drooling up a storm. Here he is enjoying literature, courtesy of my lovely coworkers, and soaking through the onesie I put on him not ten minutes ago. "Life is best lived slightly damp," says James. His other achievement this week was being carried out of both Sacrament meeting AND Mass due to inappropriate church-time rowdiness. It was the first time, but I'm sure it won't be the last.

Lisa writes: My cousin Jennifer sent a very sweet card and a baby book that she had read to her own babies. I love knowing that lots of babies have shared this same story.

Lisa writes: James' funny new trick this week is making this "fish face." I don't know what it means but it cracks me up.

Lisa writes: James got into the spirit of things for the ward Pioneer Day party last Saturday. Here's the intrepid pioneer baby in his covered wagon, ready to head West. And here is one of our Primary buddies in her pioneer bonnet giving him a hand. (Notice the well-domesticated buffalo yoked up in front.)

Lisa writes: My coworkers and Tom are all a lot sneakier than I gave them credit. I thought I was coming in to the office this morning to train a new doctor (who "cancelled at the last minute") and then go to a managers meeting. The "meeting" turned out to be a baby shower, with Tom and the tiny guest of honor present! They had decorated the office, brought a cake, snacks, punch, a beautiful card and very generous Costco gift card (I think I may have mentioned that I shop at Costco a few zillion times), and the organizer, Anna, asked anyone who wanted to bring a gift to bring their favorite children's book. I like to think I was gracefully delighted as I walked into the room; Tom reports that I turned red and teared up. My boss, baby, and coworker Briana Cake table Executive secretary Monica handling this like a pro Kinshasa. James isn't really as worried as he looks. James has something to say to all my nice coworkers:

Lisa writes: Dear James Fan club, I read a baby book yesterday that described babies' moods as "mercurial." That's about right. James occasionally goes from smiling to screaming in a second, but mostly he's more mellow and swings between content and mildly discontented, such as in the video below.

He really does. He just has short thumbs. Lisa writes: James can now roll from front to back, sleep for up to 5 or 6 hours at a stretch (sometimes), eat 6 ounces in a sitting, express himself with all sorts of noises, blow spit bubbles, recognize us (I think), and attentively sit through being read a short picture book, and tolerate up to 10 minutes of tummy-time at a stretch. He doesn't have a check-up for another month, but I'm pretty sure he's 12 lbs and 24 inches long. His chin-length, Elvis-style mutton-chops have disappeared, as has a lot of his baby hair around the sides of his head. Tom often styles his hair into a "faux-hawk" but if the sides keep disappearing it's going to be a mohawk for real. We've learned some new tricks too. We're better at distinguishing the hungry cry from the tired cry from the poopy cry. We can both mix up a bottle one-handed. We have mastered the ninja-swaddle, i.e. a swaddle he can't wiggle out of in 5 min...

Lisa writes: James was saddened by the outcome of the World Cup match of Germany against Brazil (7-1, seriously? That's, like, a tennis score, not a soccer score!). Also, the place we went to view the game -- yes, we had a baby in a bar -- it was the only place in town with a television set! -- was apparently infested by bears. But on the plus side, he got to snuggle with beautiful cousin Hannah, so it wasn't all bad. Look at the little smirk on his face. 

Lisa writes: James is three months old. We went to see the John Brown grave site in Lake Placid, NY. These two items have absolutely nothing to do with each other. While John Brown is a historically controversial figure, James has been universally adored while we are here on a family vacation in the Adirondacks. He has met lots of new aunts and cousins and been carted around and coo'd over by everyone. The nice thing about three months is that they haven't developed stranger anxiety yet, so, for James, any attention is good attention and every snuggle is welcome.

Lisa writes: James, 12 weeks, helping me pack up for an Anderson vacation to the Adirondacks.