Happy happy "birfday"!

Fordy-baby is lookin' to crawl.  This is how we see him most of the day--on his tummy with a smile and a little drool on his lips just army crawling like nobody's business.

The Judd making a silly face. 

Judd helped me wrap Wren's presents (and then threatened the tell her what was in them.....:)  What do you think of her name that he wrote on the box himself?  He was proud as punch over his big R.

And the present was......Cheer me up Cheerilee!   Wren's fourth (that's right I said 4th.  Don't judge us :))  My Little Pony baby.  But this one is also a doctor set.  Win-win.

And Grandma Chris is the best.  Ariel has not left Wren's side since last night!

Baby Fordie is really happy with just the bag.  Its so neat.

And Judd is showing us the last present, a mouse Calico Critter family which turned out to be a huge hit more with the Judd man then Wren.  He has plans in the works to buy the monkey tree house set.  

Three years ago yesterday little Wren was born in Oregon.  I remember looking out of the windows of the hospital just before she was born and seeing the morning mist sitting on the rolling hills.  Beautiful and one of those weird times when one small moment during a huge event is the thing you really remember.

We love our Wren-bird.  She is sweet and happy.  She loves to play with her brothers.  She will usually do what Judd wants to avoid a fight :) but when it comes to Ford Watch Out!  She  pretty much pretends he's a doll and moves his hands, ears, mouth, legs, arms, whole body.....you get the picture.  She still sucks her thumb and plays with her belly button.  She loves bags, "houses" (piles of everything she can find), painting her nails pink and eating tomatoes straight off our plants.  She is a cuddler and the best talker around.  She is so precious to us.  Happy Birthday to our Wren-a-len!

Preschool Graduation

Two weeks ago Judd-man finished his first year of preschool.  And his little graduation was one of those parent moments I can't get enough of.  I was almost bursting with pride at his little song performances even the "Ants Go Marching" song that went on....and on..... Judd jumped up and down with every "Hurrah! Hurrah!" and my mommy-heart just melted with his sweet enthusiasm.)  I remember last fall I wondered if I was making the right decision putting him in school when I knew he'd have another year of preschool after this but it turned out to be wonderful.  Judd loved his school and his teacher.  I loved spending time with first Wren and then Wren and Ford not to mention all the great/easy shopping we got done.  We can't wait to start again in the fall.

 Judd and his best buddy at school.  That's Judd's "Smile!" smile.  :)

A little sample of the singing. Judd is on the end. 

 A pretty cute fellow spectator.  

Another spectator that REALLY wishes she was a performer!

Brother becomes the photographer

Judd has figured out how to use the camera...kinda. ( Who doesn't like a good shot of the photographer's feet?)  And he takes his duties seriously.  He has some definite ideas about what kind of pictures he wants ("Take this picture of me and brother, mom." or "We need a picture of his feet!").  I love it because it might mean I actually have a few pictures of ME and this baby.  I truly regret that I don't have more pictures of me and my Judd and Wren babies.  I seem to be the head photographer around here....not that I'm a very good one :).  But its so easy to forget just how tiny and sweet a newborn is.  I so love, LOVE this newborn time and want to soak it up and remember it as much as I can.     

Two brothers

Just a little photo shoot from Sunday, March 4th.  You can tell Ford was really into it.  But just look at his cute hat!  Doesn't he look like a little munchkin?  Thank you to Carly who is unbelievably talented and made us that cute head wear.  Love it.   

Judd is a really sweet big brother.  He loves Ford and is so gentle with him (unlike a wild little blond girl we know--not that she doesn't love Ford.....in fact I would say she violently loves him).  He is always willing to help get diapers or pick out little clothes.  I can even leave Judd alone with Ford and not come back to a screaming babe.  In fact, Ford adores Judd and always swings his head around to look at his brother.  Judd's favorite thing to do right now is have Ford lay on his chest so he can hear his "heart beep".   I think they are going to be good buddies.

The Circus

We went to the Circus!  And took Little Bear (more about him later...) with us.

 Daddy, Sister, and sister's Baby.

Three rings, of course.   And that's right, those are the tigers all caged up and ready for the opening show.  And they were pretty fantastic.  Judder's loved the performing elephant, Wren loved the "rope girls", and Steve loved the crazy ring master's death-defying act.  This was actually Stevo's very first circus, as well as Judd and Wren and baby Ford's.  I'd say it was a roaring success.  The only part that really was disturbing was the man who shot himself out of a cannon.  After leaving the show, walking to the car, and getting all settled and ready to go (quite the time-consuming exercise with three....) Judd was still thinking about it.  Out of the blue Judd asked me, "Why'd he do dat?"  And I just don't know.

P.S. Baby Ford and I were there, too.  We just were the picture takers, I guess :).

baby pictures

 So I know Judd's eyes are a little crazy here (mommy is not the best photographer) but just look at that smile!  He loves his new brother.  In primary this week I heard that he raised his hand at least 4 times during sharing time/ singing time to say he has a new baby at his house and that it is a brother.  :)

Just look at my beautiful mom.  No grandma should look that good.  We are REALLY really REALLY missing her.  Thank you for coming, momma!

Wren loves her new brother, too.  She wants to be a little more hands on than Judd and we are learning to be constantly vigilant.  Poor Ford does not even know a life without constant pokes to his little face....

But what a face!  Look at our cutest man.  He is a serious little guy and so good.  He only cries when he is either hungry or has a messy diaper.  He loves to quietly look around.  

Brothers.  Ford always turns his head when he hears Judd.  They are going to be good buddies.  And please notice Judd's Star Wars Lego shirt. I don't know if I have mentioned the OBSESSION that is Star Wars Legos at our house.  Judd has to wear that shirt every day.

And this picture loaded sideways but I'm too lazy to delete it and turn it.  So just turn your head to the left with me.  There you go.  And look, a full body shot!  That is a cute boy if I ever saw one.  

Hope this gives you a little taste of our new life with Ford.  

Our newest love

Please welcome Ford Lawrence.  The most darling new member of our family.  Born February 9, 2012 at 7:15 PM, weighing 7 lbs 5 oz and measuring in at 20 inches. He was officially one week and 2 days late....I so was not a fan of that wait.  But we couldn't be happier that he is here!

I'm realizing we really need to work on taking more pictures of this guy.  We've been in survival mode since mom Lawrence went home.  Our kiddos are thrilled with all the shows they get to watch and wii we let them play and I'm remembering how much time just feeding a newborn takes (not that I'm complaining!  Just look at that sweet face-- how can you complain when you get to spend all day looking into that?)     

I have to say Little Ford's birth was awesome.  My first truly, all-the-way natural birth and probably (I know you won't believe this) my least painful.  I've gained a whole new appreciation for how amazing our bodies are.

Judd and Wren are loving their new brother and Steve and I are getting used to our new roles as full-time body guards.  Little Ford still gets lots of pokes in his eyes and ears.  What can you do?

And so life we three little ones is happening at the Platt house and we are slowly but surely getting into the groove.  At least I hope.