9 months

My G. baby is 9 months old. He is so sweet. He really was such an easy baby until he decided to get teeth. He's been kind of a late bloomer with no teeth at nine months. The last week or so, he has had some moments of pain where he cried. (I mean crying? Are babies supposed to do that? Not mine anyway, who are the easiest, happiest, smartest kids on Earth! See disclaimer 12/11/2009) But luckily, he has responded to baby Motrin very well, and we have still enjoyed a happy baby most of the time. Hopefully these two teeth come through quickly and we can have a few pain-free weeks before he starts teething again. ;)

G. is on the move. As tradition would have it, he started scooting right before he turned nine months, just like Isaac and Dawson. He is now up on his hands and knees, but hasn't quite figured out the coordination with his hands. So he ends up looking like a worm sticking his little bum up in the air and then propelling himself forward, sometimes even face planting. It's pretty cute, but what else would you expect? (see disclaimer 12/11/2009) If he keeps with the tradition, he should take his first steps in his 11th month, and we'll have him walking before spring comes... HURRAY! Crawling outside is such a nasty thing. Henry was an early crawler and crawled around all summer, eating the dirt.

G. Jesse really has been such a happy baby, especially since he overcame the newborn stage. He is so content, I really thought he would never learn to crawl. He loves to smile, and smiles so big it's more like yawning. He laughs his head off at his brothers, when they do nothing at all.

Although this kid gave me the worst pregnancy yet, a momentary disappointment in gender, a violent, emergency, premature delivery in the car, and completely rocked my world as I had 4 kids 5 years and under home ALL DAY LONG, ALL SUMMER, I am so grateful for him. It really has been a hard, hard adjustment for me to go to four kids. I thank my lucky stars that he has been a fairly easy baby. I wouldn't trade him for anything now, not even a girl! He is a lot of fun, and I can't wait to ask him some day, "What was the big hurry to get here?"

Disclaimer

Disclaimer 12/11/2009.  If you think I'm  too braggy on my blog, and do not appreciate bragging in blog form, I would encourage you to not read it.  How can I help it that I have the world's best husband, and the world's smartest, cutest, and bluest eyed childrem?  ;)

Thank you!
The writers at ericalow.blogspot.com

New Calling

Dave got a new calling last week. He was called to the High Council. It was kind of a surprise as he was just getting in his groove with his new calling as Ward Mission Leader. But I think it is a perfect calling for him, and he will do SUCH a great job with it. There will be no "Dry Council" when he's around, that's for sure. He is definitely the youngest of the 12, and I'm sure he'll learn a lot from being with them and the Stake Presidency.

Although I don't think he's thrilled with me blogging this, I don't have anywhere else that I journal anymore, so this is the place.

For the record, it was quite a Sunday for him last week, his day included the following meetings:

-Bishop's interview to advance as a High Priest
-Ward Council
-Ward Missionary Correlation
-Sacrament Meeting
-Sunday School
-Elder's Quorum (for the last time)
-Stake President interview to advance as a High Priest
-Stake Missionary Correlation meeting
-Tithing Settlement
-Stake Priesthood Meeting
-Setting apart as a High Priest and High Councilor

11 meetings in one day, that is definitely a record for this family. This week was a lot more low key, and I really think this calling will not impact our family too much other than the blessings he will receive as he serves.

I feel so extremely grateful to be married to such a wonderful man who has lived his life worthy, and prepared himself to receive this calling. As a young girl I dreamed of marrying a man who was a "worthy priesthood holder" and I think that is a dream come true. What more could I ask for? Well, that my sister's are blessed with the same, and that my boys become just like their father. (Well, with a little bit of me in there :).

Re-joining the world of technology

So for those of you who know, I got rid of my cell phone last winter when I was on bedrest. I didn't leave the house, so there wasn't much reason to have a cell phone. I actually quite enjoyed getting rid of it. It was refreshing to leave the house without people bugging me when I was out. And when the baby came, I had to strip my life down to complete simplicity in order to survive. This was one less thing to worry about.

When school started I felt guilty to not supply the schools with cell phone numbers to get a hold of us. I realized I needed to re-join the technology world and get a new cell phone. Ultimately I didn't want any other cell phone than the iphone. But I just couldn't rationalize the monthly cost of that. I found out that Sprint had a pretty sweet new plan with unlimited text, internet, and tv. I like that idea, so we took the plunge. I planned to get the free phone, but decided to get the Palm Pixi instead because it is so much like the iphone. I'm sure the iphone is better in some ways, but I actually found out some pretty cool features that the Pixi has that the iphone doesn't. In the end, the really selling point for me was the Disney channel. My phone gets the Disney Channel live and has recordings. It is awesome. It kept my kids captivated at a doctor's appt, which was fantastic.

The Pixi has a touch screen and apps and works very similarly to the iphone. It is actually the smallest smart phone on the market at the moment. One thing that it does better than the iphone is you can have multiple apps open at one time. It has a flash on the camera, and the internet looks just like it does on a computer. But of course, I know nothing about what is really cool on a cell phone anymore, I have been so out of the loop. But now I am re-joining with a top of the line cell phone that will be obsolete in about 1.3 months. Then I will fall behind again and become totally clueless in what the latest cell phone technology is. Oh well. For now, I am having lots of fun with my phone, and learning how to text message. And when these stupid things go on sale, I am going to buy one of these.


Unlike skins for most phones, this IS the back of the phone. Not just a skin that you put on top of it. It's made out of a cool rubbery material, and fits on seamlessly. It's a sleek little set up, and I really want a back like this so I can tell the difference between my phone and Dave's (he got the same one)

FHE

Last night we went to Angies for FHE with some of our friends, the Allens. Stanton Allen is our dentist, and definitely the best Pediatric dentist in the valley, check him out at ABC Pediatric dentistry.

They are a fantastic family with the cutest kids that are all super close in age, just like ours. I remember when I met them their little girl Chloe was in nursery with Isaac. She was one of his first biting victims, which was so sad because she is sweetest little blond girl, so innocent. I also remember doing the math when I realized that they had an 18 month old when they were blessing their second daughter in church, maybe 14 months apart? In my naivety I assumed it was an accident, who could possibly want their kids so close together? They had their third child right after I had my second. How did they do that? Then I learned. They were actually quite inspiring to me, and suddenly I was lucky enough to PURPOSELY have my children 16 months apart. It is awesome. Crazy, but awesome. I'm grateful that she showed me it was possible and fun.

So there we were at the restaurant, 4 adults, EIGHT CHILDREN. It was insanity. But so much fun.

Their kids are better behaved than ours. Henry wandered around the restaurant playing blocks with the jam packets, and intruding on other families. Somehow, I just ignored him. And at one point, Dawson flew a paper airplane across the restaurant. I learned a few things.

1. Our lack of courage to take our kids out to eat has created restaurant monsters who have no idea how to behave.
2. Dinner is way too long for their attention span. Driving through McDonalds is better for their need to be Power Rangers
3. Don't show your kids the Power Rangers movie right before taking them to a restaurant.

But really, it was so refreshing to have some one else clean up my kids dinner mess, and socialize with some people that we think are incredible and as Julie said, "get" our family.

And Isaac and Chloe got along great. She handles his boyish nature so well, and thankfully has forgiven him for the biting incident. He can't wait to play with her again.

Dear Accutane

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say thank you. My face is completely clear at the moment. And now that it is, I realize that it hasn't been that way since I was about 11 or 12. I thought not having zits was the same as clear, but now I have a whole new definition of clear. My skin is completely smooth, you could say it's as smooth as a baby's bottom, my pores have shrunk, and my blackheads have disappeared. My skin has a much prettier color to it than it used to. And the best part is I feel so much more confidence. A quick dusting of mineral powder, some mascara on the lashes, and chapstick in my pocket (because you definitely have dried my lips out) and I'm out the door feeling great. I love it.

Since I started taking you, I have suddenly learned how many of my friends and family have issues with acne, I honestly thought I was the only one. I thought I was the only freakish individual with zits in their late twenties. Knowing that you are the only possible treatment for acne that can be permanent has made a lot of people that I know very interested in you, I'm sure you will get to know many of my friends and family. Please take good care of them as you have for me. And please keep up the good work!

Many thanks,
Erica Low

Book store

Just kidding, they aren't going to open until next Friday, the 20th. Friday the 13th is no good anyway. :)