Lookin' Good!!

We're all still here.

It's just been a crazy busy summer.

We've been busy with some fun projects.

I will post about them soon.

This is what he has looked like most of the summer.

He's an independent soul, this one is.

Hope you're all having fun too.

The simple things

There's nothing like a good bowl of ice cream.

This one would eat ice cream every day if I let him.

Wouldn't that be just lovely?

I'm suffering from "BHTB Syndrome"...help!!

It is a very real and serious syndrome. It is a silent syndrome. Full of stereotypes and judgement. People don't like to talk about it.

I have seen friends and family suffer. The effects from this condition last for years and whole families become victims of BHTB. I have been afraid of becoming a victim for some time and unfortunately my fears are becoming reality.

Professionals are concerned that they are nowhere near finding a treatment let alone a cure for this syndrome.

I therefore, am taking it upon myself to make people aware of this condition and supporting me in my cause.

What is BHTB Syndrome?

"But He's The Baby".

The symptoms are subtle at first but quickly become easily recognizable.

He is still called the "baby" at 2 years old.

He simply points and grunts at an object and no less than 3 people rush to bring it to him.

You no longer hear that annoying whine or cry. You have simply learned to tune it out even though people in the same room would like to put him outside with the dog.

Rules that were strictly enforced with older siblings are either ignored or simply forgotten.

A smile or pout provides "the baby" with whatever he wants.

When the "baby" gets hurt it is always someone else's fault.

He stays up much later than older siblings and gets to sleep with mom and dad.

You find yourself absent-mindedly letting him drink from your glass of Dr. Pepper without even realizing that he's doing it.........and then let him do it again 5 minutes later.

Time-outs last about 5 1/2 seconds.

"No" really means.."keep asking me and eventually I'll give in".

Please...I need your help! The closest I've ever come to knowing a celebrity is dating a guy who once met Carrot Top in an airport bathroom so this is a grass roots effort. There will be no Celebrity Telethons hogging all the channels.

We must inform mothers everywhere. This an important issue. If it continues to go unaddressed, we will all suffer. We will be surrounded by spoiled, entitled, "give me what I want" adults. We must act now!!

Oh, I have to go...the "baby" needs me.

2nd ain't so bad.

So Greg's Grandpa was a second son.

Greg's Dad was a second son.

Greg is a second son.

And my little Tyson is a second son.

I love all four of these men for different reasons.
I met and fell in love with Grandpa Great before I met and fell in love with Greg.
Ya know those people that just ooze goodness? He was one of those people.
He was generous, loving and he was a winker..like me.
The company I worked for ordered calendars and pens from "Wally" and he would deliver them to us. I was his contact and was smitten with him the moment I met him.
He would saunter into the office carrying his supplies and would spend time talking with me. He would say things like, "I have lots of grand-sons" or "my grand-sons are single". I would smile and say something like, "If they're anything like you Wally, I'll take one of em."
He would wink at me and then whistle as he walked back out the door.
Little did I know, right?
Grandpa Dibble is the same. You instantly love him and he instantly makes you feel loved. He is patient, hard working and loves his family.
He is a good person. The grandkids adore him and I think people love to say that they know him.
He has the faith and strength to kick major trials to the side like some annoying pebble in his way. And he has such a lovely laugh and easy smile.
I am so happy to call him family.
And then there's my Gregory. How handsome is he? It took me about 7 1/2 minutes to know that I could marry him. He was easy to love and still is.
He has learned from these two men and learned well. He is an amazing father who loves and protects his children fiercely. I have no doubt that he loves me but I'm also pretty sure he that he likes me. His faith is steadfast and he has a tender and sincere love for the Savior. He is super selfless and the man makes one mean roasted marshmallow. I'm tellin' ya. It's like edible art. A gooey pot of marshmallowy goodness. The kids like him best. I love him most.

My little Tyson True is the easiest thing in the world to love. He is the only one of my children that looks somewhat like me. (sorry kid). He is spunky and smart and I adore him. He has some very good examples and I have no worries that he will be a good second son and will carry on the tradition**.

**sorry about that pressure I just put on you to give us two grandsons. I like second girls too.

"Sometimes I just hate my kids!!"

WHAT?!? Who in the crap says that?
Yeah, so I'm sitting there at soccer and this lady is behind me on the phone. I hear her whining about being a mother and how hard it is. 'These kids' take up so much of her time and she is so bugged that she's stuck there on a Saturday watching these 6 year olds run up and down the field.
"And all they do is cry and complain," she cries and complains.
The whole time,her younger child is running in front of people screaming and stepping on blankets. Apparently she had had enough and yelled into the phone, "Ugh, sometimes I just hate my kids!".
She then proceeded to grab the toddler by the arm and then take the 6 year old kicking and screaming, out of the game.
She left in a huff and marched the toddler, the disappointed 6 yr. old and the black cloud that most likely follows her everywhere, to the car and they all drove off into unhappiness.
Now I'm the first to admit that motherhood is hard and a daily challenge.
I have been spit up on, puked on, and peed on, cried at, yelled at, and spit at. I've been tired, exhausted and darn near comatose. I've cleaned up more messes, fixed more owies, and done more laundry than I can even think about.
I hate doing dishes, I don't like dusting and I just don't even wash the windows.
And then there's the arguing that goes on between 5 children under 10. I'm convinced that kids just like to argue. The topic is not even important...
they just like to bug each other.
I try to hold it together but as much as I would like to think I'm Ghandi, I'm probably closer to Genghis Khan.
There are days I think I might lose it.
But I would NEVER say that I hate my children. I wouldn't even think it because I cannot even fathom feeling it.
I am humbled daily that God thought enough of me to send me FIVE of His children.
They have such incredible gifts to share with me.
My Lindsay Lou Bug got an extra service gene in heaven.
I depend on her way more than any 9 1/2 year old should be depended upon. She is so eager to please and is willing to do anything that she thinks will make me happy. She succeeds at everything she tries and is humble about it. She is such a fantastic oldest sister and the kids look up to her for every decision. It's such a comfort to know that she will lead them in the right direction. She is very in tune and recognizes significant moments. She wants everyone to like her and be her friend. She instantly loves and is fiercely loyal. I think she is amazing.
My little Kenna Menna is the definition of wonderful. She is full of wonder. She can spend hours in her imagination and never get bored. She has taught me to look at things as a child. It's easy to be cynical and get distracted by daily duties and she constantly reminds me how lucky I am to live in a world where caterpillars magically turn into butterflies and tiny seeds become towering trees. Kenna is the epitome of childhood. She sees the possibility in everything and everyone. She loves music and has a beautiful little voice. She shares her talents with anyone. She adores babies and cries every time that Sarah McClauchlan Animal Cruelty commercial comes on. She prays sincerely and with perfect faith not only for her family but for random strangers. She cut off 15 inches of hair so another little girl could have some hair. She is hope and compassion wrapped up in bubblegum and hairbows. I just love her.
My Olio is like the yummiest, homemade piece of chocolate cake... doused in gasoline, lit on fire and thrown in your face. Her humor and charm come naturally and she is a boatload of fun to be around if you don't mind being told what to do and how to do it.
She is never afraid to be herself or to speak her mind which thrills me and also scares the crap out of me. She doesn't let anyone tell her what to do {including me} I admire her confidence and secretly wish I had more of it. She makes me laugh several times a day and I am sure that we will always be BFF's. She keeps everything fun and exciting. And I just love that husky little voice of hers.
My little man Ethan is such a joy. As long as he has a car, truck, train or all of the above somewhere on his person he is a happy camper. {this is especially helpful at dance recitals and while visiting teaching}. Ethan loves his sisters and waits by the door for them every day to come home from school. He is anxiously waiting for his little brother to grow up. I find matchbox cars in Tyson's jammies all the time. Ethan often forces helicopters and dinosaurs into Tyson's fat little hands and then gets frustrated when instead of making the appropriate sound effects, the baby simply shoves them into his drooly mouth. Ethan loves to be outside and is enjoying his latest discovery...the wonderful world of bugs. He teaches me that life isn't too hard if you have a good attitude. (and a toy or two). He is my little buddy and I think he is awesome.
Tyson is so....six months old. I'm still learning his personality, his likes {mommy milk} and his dislikes {not being held}. He giggles and plays and he has got to be the sweetest, fattest baby I've seen in at least 3 years. And then there's that special look and smile that he gives only to me. It's like I am the single greatest thing to ever happen to him.
Everyone knows how I felt about having a FIFTH CHILD. I was so worried and was apprehensive about it even to the day he was born. The concern over what kind of mother I would be to him was almost overwhelming. But after all the chaos of delivery and the nurses and doctors had left, Greg went to make calls and it was just me and Tyson.
He looked up at me with those minute old eyes and a moment passed between us where spirit communicated with spirit and that little fifth child thanked me for letting him come to earth to be in our family.

It is a moment I will never forget and one I will cherish forever.
He will always be my baby and I will always be his mother.

My mother came to everything we ever did. And there were 7 of us. I don't know how she did it but I always knew that she loved me. Thanks Mom. You're the best example I could have. You too Jill. When I get flustered I picture you two and I think, "I can do it." Dr. Pepper helps too.
So even though the laundry is always behind, the vacuuming hasn't been done and my hair looks like Ethan did it, I hope my kids know that I don't hate them.

Has it already/only been 3 months?

Tyson is 3 months old. It's hard for me to believe that he has only been with us for three months because it feels like he has been part of our family forever. It totally amazes me how quickly, almost instantly these little people become essential to the happiness of a family.
I have met and loved so many people in my life and I am so grateful for the things they have taught me. I have such strong feelings of love for my parents and siblings.
I vividly remember falling in love with Greg. I knew he made me better. He has an amazing family and I realize how seriously lucky I am to have them.
It really was like meeting the other half of my family.
I felt complete.
And then I had Lindsay. I felt like life could not get better. Then I had Makenna and thought it was perfect. And then Olivia came and confirmed to me how lucky I was. And then came Ethan. Finally, a boy to compliment our little family and teach me a different kind of love. I thought my heart was full and felt it was time to call our family complete.
When we decided to have another one I was more than concerned that I would be a good mother to five children. I worried that I would have enough to give to another little pipsqueak.
A little piece of my soul tears at the thought of not having Tyson in my life and part of my heart. He has reconfirmed to me that we all have more love to give. Your heart does not lose love, you're just somehow given more love to give away. I can't explain it, I just know that my life has become like a roller-coaster that I cannot, nor do I want to get off of. What a thrill it is to be at the top of those high peaks when you feel the air of life rushing through your hair and you can't help but throw up your hands at the excitement of it all. That's what I try to remember when I'm in the "what's for lunch", "I peed my pants", "She's looking at me" straight parts of the ride. And I know a lot of us would trade those unexpected twists and turns to stand in a boring line where scary things don't happen. But just like we can't stop time, that line keeps moving us closer to the unknown of what's beyond that turnstile.
Luckily, I kept my hands and feet in the cart, even though I thought it was time to get off. I hate to think I would have missed out on that last little dip they throw in at the end of the ride.
Hold on Tight and have fun!