Happy Half!

 Harrison is the only one of our kids not born this time of year, but he did just hit his 6 month mark last week, so happy half birthday cutest baby!!!  He went in for his well child check and lo and behold he lost weight...again.  UGH! He weighs 15 lbs 5 oz and is 26 1/4 inches.  People tell me he looks long, but I think its cuz he is slightly skinny.  He is in the 10% percentile for weight, which really isn't tragic, it's just he has gone down.   But, neither the doctor or I am worried about it because he is at the stage where babies start to fluctuate a little because of their activity.  But, the bad news is he will probably conitnue to eat throughout the night for the next 6 months or so.  He is just too distracted in the day.  So, I am tired, but I am almost used to functioning on fumes now and it won't last forever.  I just hope I stop sending kids to school in pj's when it is NOT pajama day or forgetting to have them prepared for singing/acting class with the music that was fully explained to me in an email, or losing one child as she comes and goes to neighbors whenever it suits her fancy.  Ok, Brenna has always done that, so I am not going to take the blame on that!

 So, the weight issue continues to keep us in a stupor.  See, even Harrison is wondering what to do about it...

 Harrison is a premature hip hop-ster.  He can do the worm like you can't believe.  That is his mode of transportation.  It is so funny.  He can easily go from a crawl to sitting and vice versa and he barely pulled himself up the other day.  But, I think it was a fluke.  He looked at me like this:

 as if to say, "what the what? How is this happening?!"  He is a good natured boy and so fun.  His laugh is contagious and people run from all over the house if they hear it.  It is amazing how every cute thing he does is a huge event around here.

 Grant told me that red heads get mad easily.  It's a fact, he learned it in 1st grade.  (I think Grant uses that as a crutch when he is fuming!).  I would say that Harrison is not angry all the time but when he cries, there is no working up to hysterics.  It is instant screaming.  Brenna is definitely in line with the anger/spunky fact Grant taught me.  She has had lots of priveleges taken away as of late.  She says it is fine because she will just get them another day.  Or she tells me what toys I can take if she gets in trouble.  Then, she will clarify and say that she actually 'doesn't get in trouble, ever'.  I don't know where I have been the last month cuz it sure hasn't seemed like that.  She helped herself to a whole bag of caramels after I had told her I needed them for a recipe and she explained to me that she HAD to do that because they are just so good and I need to go buy more because "it's the right thing to do." 

Here is our 'beautiful disaster' (as dubbed at his doctor's visit) on his half birthday mark.  Here's to hoping he proves the red heads are trouble 'fact' wrong!! 

Brenna's Birthday

 

 While I am a little late posting, our sweetie-sweetie, Lady Brenna McArthur had a birthday just 5 days after Grant. She is officially 4 years old!! She found it a little rough having to wait for her turn to be celebrated!  She would ask multiple times everyday, throughout the days between the 5th and 10th- "what time is it MY birthday?"  Luckily, the time did come!


She had a few little girls from the neighborhood over to have a bash.  We had rousing games of freeze dance, hot potato, musical pillows and don't let your balloon touch the ground.  All party activities seemed to be a big hit!


The girls decorated wands and had hot pink cupcakes, I mean really, what else could a girl want?!  We definitely have to work on the gift etiquette Brenna exhibited at both her friend and family party.  She tore through the presents with hardly a glance as to what was inside and a barely audible thank you escaped her lips.  She just had to get through each one in record time. 



We had Emree, Adi, Keira, Megan, Kinley, Brenna, Madison, and Kate (who is not big on her picture being taken).  Grant and Katelee were huge helpers and made the games extra exciting!  Dave was in charge of Harrison.  With a few minutes left of the party, Dave slipped out to get a haircut.  He told me he had put the baby on the bed in the basement sound asleep, barricaded with high pillows.  Well, just before parents came to pick up, I hear faint crying.  Sure enough, I open the guest room door and the cutest little sad face was looking up at me from the floor.  Somehow, he had taken himself off the bed (I like saying that better than fallen, I feel less guilt!), and crawled towards the door.  He just really didn't want to miss the party. 

 A couple days later, we had Brenna's birthday with the fam.  She requested a butterfly cake and it was delish!

She loves her new scooter!  She had been telling Aunt Shannon and Grandma that they needed to buy her one for her birthday...its what she wanted.  We decided that was good gift from mom and dad!

Brenna rushed into this world and has taken everyday by storm since.  She is a riot, honestly.  We frequently get comments about her 'being a character' or a 'spitfire' or 'she can hold her own.'  Which are all nice ways of describing her strong personality!!  She has adjusted to Harrison well in the past few months and told me that my baby is Harrison and hers is "Heresy."  It just seems fitting for her!  She stands up at dinner nearly every night on her chair turns around so her backside is to all of us and with hand on hip, does an impromptu booty shake.  Her daily dress-ups are one of my favorite from zombies, to bad witches, princesses; each costume decided by the scientific method of "eeny meeny miny HO."  When she was spotlighted at preschool, here is what she said about herself:


I am 4 years old
My favorite colors are pink and purple
My favorite food is chocolate milk
My favorite animal is ostrich
My favorite thing to do is play legos and toys
When I grow up I want to be a singer
My favorite place is camping in the mountains (yea, she has never been, but we have done S'Mores!)
If I had one wish, it would be for a meeting with Santa.

We love Brenna!!!  She makes our world an exciting place!!

Turning 9 and Feeling Fine

 Grant is now on his last year of single digits.  He is half way through his time living at home-that is a crazy thought.  He has been in scouts a year and recently earned his wolf.  Here we are after he pinned me!  I am kind of thrilled saying he pinned me, I never thought I would get to say a boy pinned me since I missed out on the 1950s, but scouts is giving me this opportunity!  Grant is a great scout and always thrilled to go. 

We celebrated his birth with some buddies a few days before his actual day.  It was my kind of party for sure-take them to the pool, no planning, no prep work, they love it, I love it.  We had donuts and presents after.

 Boys are so fun and crazy!  He invited Matthew, Kaden, Braxton, Mikey, Cameron and Easton.  Tyson joined us at our house after swimming.  Brenna and Katelee got to join in the aquatic fun.  Harrison and I watched from the bench.  It was not good planning on my part for the baby and me.  I made sure everyone had nice warm clothes because going into an 85 degree pool when it is 30 degrees outside can be a shock on the system.  Harry and I were wanting to shed our clothes, though, because we were sitting in our winter apparel in the sauna like room.  One of us stripped a little, I am not saying who!  Grant is the most gracious reciever of gifts.  He always is really thrilled with whatever, even if he knows he isn't going to play with it.  He wanted to give everyone a hug or high five after he opened their gifts.  I love it. 

We started this week with a really bad day for Grant.  He came out of school on Monday totally mad because his class didn't get to go outside for recess.  The TA said it was too cold, even though most of the other classes were out playing.  (I'm pretty sure she just didn't want to go watch them!).  Then, he went on to explain he had Spanish (he hates it!) and for PE they had to do jump rope!  Terrible!  So, I was hoping school went better on his birthday, and he said it was a good, so yay! 

We had a hard time thinking of what to buy him as a gift.  I loved when he was little and he would request toilet paper!  Now, for the past few years, it's been all legos and weapons.  That was exactly the phrase he used when I asked what he wanted "legos and weapons"  because he says "you can never have too many!" So, his request was granted.  Grandma and Grandpa gave him a whole ninja getup that he thouroughly enjoy and I forsee will get hours of fun out of. 

 

 I attempted a football cake. He was pleased, so I consider it a success.  Grant requested we order pizza from Papa Johns so he could get the garlic sauce-he is obsessed!  This boy is so awesome.  He is seriously a great person.  He has a tender heart that is manifested when his sisters have hurt feelings or when he picks up his brother to comfort.  He is the biggest tease and so much fun.  Grant is such a mix of Dave and me.  He is picking up the salesman side, as apparent when he approached me with the question, "what is preventing you from giving me more minutes on electronics today?"  My side shows through at times like last night when he was going to bed so sad.  What?  Sad after a great birthday?  He looked at me and explained that he had been looking forward to his birthday all year and then it was over so fast!  Did I not just post about how I feel the same on my birthday?!  We talked it through, but he still came out of bed a few times with those hurt feelings!  This dude is for sure special, not just on February 5th, but every day, every minute. 

Going for Great

Master Harrison is now 5 months old.  Yea, he can sit up and yep, he is pretty impressive.  He also likes to roll both ways and has recently been getting on all fours.  I kind of want to push him down when he does that because I really don't want another premature mover, like Brenna! 

It has been a rough month for baby Harrison (again!).  We have had to take him in for weight checks because he wasn't gaining weight, and then he was losing weight.  I don't supply the sustenance he needs and we tried 3 different formulas to supplement, but that just caused all sorts of tummy trouble.  I cut that out (haven't told the dr that yet, hope his weight check is ok!) and now we are just diving into all solid foods with my low milk supply!  I think things are going better....

 I also had a birthday last week-yay for me! The kids (and Dave) were super excited all week and that made it fun.  Dave took the baby in the basement so I wouldn't hear him cry all night, as a gift to me.  In theory, it was so thoughtful.  However, my body really needed to feed that kid, so I kept waking up, hoping it was nursing time!  I got to spend some time at the spa for a massage and pedicure.  Again, in theory, it was just what I needed.  However, my therapist may have been trying to kill me.  She could have pushed me through the massage table with the force of her arms.  I kept telling myself that I have been through childbirth, I can handle the hour massage, I must need that pressure because my knots were terrible.  We had a yummy dinner out and then cake and ice cream with the kids, my parents and Paige and Jason.  Dave had every detail worked out.  He was very thoughtful!

And so, I start another year of life, and with January, we start another year in the world.  This year our family theme we chose is Phillipans 4:13 'I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.' So glad we picked this before my massage!  Ha! 

I have been thinking a lot about "greatness."  A blog I came across a girl said she knew she was destined for it because they were packing up their family and moving to a big city and a prestigious career.  I have since thought, what about my greatness?  I have only ever lived in Utah, I chose to stay home with my kids after I finished my undergraduate program, I am insignificant in the eyes of the world...and yet...the best example of greatness I know of is not anyone who sought fame or acknowledgement...it is our Savior who lived the ultimate life of greatness.  I want to be that kind of 'great.'  I want to serve and bring others happiness and to the truth.  I want my kids to know that they are great not strictly because of what they accomplish but because of who they are.  So, that's what we are going for here, and truthfully, a night of great sleep is the greatness that we seem to be most concerned with at the moment!! 

Holiday Recap

 The holiday season zoomed in and out and we had a great time!  Harrison had lots of Christmas outfits that needed to be documented (thanks for the hand me downs Kelsey!).  So, please note the cute red and green seasonal appropriate baby clothes in each picture! 





Christmas Eve was highly anticipated by the kids.  Brenna has asked over and over what time Santa and 'his goats' were gonna come to our house.  She really wanted Santa's mother with glasses (I'm thinking Mrs Claus) could come too.  It was fun to point out when it was Christmas Eve that it was the night we'd all been waiting for.  We had our Petrick family Christmas party at grandma's.  Harry wanted in on the game too, obviously.  The kids were fast asleep in our house by 9:30pm.  Last year, Dave changed our clocks so he would get an extra hour of sleep Christmas morning.  I told him this was not to be done to my clock this year, but he still did it to the kids!  They couldn't figure out why they were so awake and the clock still said 6:00!  Harrison showed everyone his new trick of standing (propped against the couch).  He looks so fetching in his Christmas jammies!

 

We read our scriptures, opened presents and stayed in jammies pretty much the entire day of Christmas...and it was wonderful!  Grandma and Grandpa and Shannon came over for our traditional quiche breakfast and to see the loot. 

 

 

 

This year was perfect for the ages of our kids.  They all found Christmas to be very magical and both Dave and I made mention of it.  Harrison finds everyday magical, if it consists of eating at all hours and keeping his mommy up. 

 





 

Later in the day, Aunt Amy and Evan came over.  Brandon, Malia and baby Jack came too to have food and play games.  It was a laid back, fabulous day. 

 

 

 The week after Christmas, someone in our family always gets sick.  True to that tradition, Grant contracted strep and croup and Brenna came down with croup too.  So, New Years we were quarantined, no family or friends dared be in our presence!  But, we had the party of a lifetime.  We had a Just Dance dance off- which Dave took very seriously, as can be noted in this pic...

Sorry guys, I'm still the reigning champion.  Maybe next year you can beat me!  Katelee got a new Headbandz game for Christmas where you act out the card on your head, yep, pretty much Charades.  Harry even joined in.  He never guessed any of his cards correctly!  ;)

  We watched Holes-Dave and Brenna fell asleep and the big kids and I frantically woke them for the final countdown.  Our individual Martinelli's were toasted and we welcomed in 2014.  Now the kids are back to school. 

 

 While I love the routine, I miss getting that extra few min of sleep and I really miss how they kept the baby entertained so much throughout the Christmas break.  Katelee even can soothe her baby brother to sleep sometimes.  We enjoyed most of the break and the kids loved having time with their cousins and adorable baby Harrison!