6 Months

This is back when Edwin turned 6 months, my good camera was still broken so I got this phone shot.

6 months was a big deal  because he was half a year old. Also, I almost made it to 6 months pumping and feeding him breast milk. My freezer stash was all used up and shortly thereafter i had no more milk to give my baby.  It was bitter sweet but mostly sweet. It was hard to be so attached to the pump, especially in summer time and my big boys want to live outside (I would always make them come in when I needed to pump) I know I didn't have to pump, but for my baby, I felt like it was the right thing to do, in fact, many times the Holy Spirit reminded my mind that "this is doing more good than you know" I constantly felt like there was no way I could comprehend the benefits that my family was receiving from that choice. But sometimes I like to speculate... maybe it was to help balance my hormones, maybe to protect my baby from a threatening disease sometime in his life, maybe to help with my time management, maybe to make my big boys more independent...I don't really know. But I'm glad I was able to do it but I'm also glad it is done and Edwin is still healthy and happy! So happy 6 months to Edwin...3 months ago. Back before he was crawling...sigh!

The last of the freezer stash...

Haircut

I don't cut my hair very often, it stays pretty healthy because I rarely dry or curl it. But it had been over a year and it was getting pretty shaggy so I finally gave in. I decided to be bold and cut a whole 10 inches off so I could donate it to Locks of Love.

In all its shaggy glory!

 So then she braid it off in four separate braids and cuts the first one and sets it on the table. (All the while, I couldn't see in the mirror because the stylist was so short that she needed the chair lower than the mirror, If I had been able to see in the mirror, I could have stopped her when I saw she braided well over 10 inches) So I see the first braid and I ask, is that really ten inches? And she responds with Yeah!

 And then she wanted to take a picture in this great (horrific) lighting!

 So, I'm too nice to make a big deal about it, and I know my hair grows fast, and I think about it as an opportunity to experiment with short hair when I never thought I'd be bold enough to do it....but the truth is...I've regretted it. I miss my long hair. I miss being able to do an easy top knot or braid.

 When not braided, it reaches to 17 inches...just a bit off the mark.

Oh well...it's already grown a bit...but I'm bringing a ruler next time.

Charlie and Max on the River

Back in July Max and Charlie got to go on the annual Family Rafting Trip. I didn't go because Edwin was still too young for me to leave him and Miles didn't go since that would be quite a handful for Max to have 2 big boys and be in charge of his boat. So Charlie got some special time with Dad and they had a blast. And thanks to Auntie Lisa, there are pictures to document it! I don't think these are in the right order, but here is a glimpse of their trip.

 

 
Hammock and stories! Max was reading Abel's Island which was one of his childhood favorites.

Max and Charlie made the huge hike up to the flag. I don't think there are any photos to document it this time but there is cell phone service at the top of the mountain so they Face-timed me which was incredibly exciting after days of zero contact.  
Their rafting schedule was a little different this year as they went farther down the river where there are a couple bigger rapids. Max made sure to scout the rapids before-hand to make sure he could take Charlie safely through. (at least that's what he told me to ease my worried mama heart)
Max was in the red boat... Charlie August, Uncle Brent, and Brayden are in the front, Max rowing and Mitchel in the rear!

 

And just for reference, this is what it looks like when you're not being super careful...
 And then they came home to me, filthy but tan and alive, with loads of stories to tell. Next year Miles and I should be joining them...assuming Grandma wants to take on Edwin...the most easy-going baby in the world!

Family Campout

A little later in July, we had our family campout at Fishermen's bend. I always look forward to this trip because its a good balance of roughing it...and luxury. We loaded up Max's car since his car was the once that could carry the bikes. It was pretty packed, but we got everything we needed in there!

  Once we arrived, we ate some dinner that was already prepared by my Auntie and family then unloaded our car and set up camp. This little man was super excited for his first night camping.

 Shortly after we arrived, I realized my camera was broken and the shutter was jammed. So I was super bummed about that and that I had to take the rest of the photos on my phone. (I found out later that it was a super cheap fix and have since fixed my camera! hooray!) The boys played until dark then passed out. Max and I stayed up a little later playing games with the cousins, aunts, and uncles! The night got cold and I didn't sleep great...but the boys all did great! The next morning, we had a magnificent breakfast and then the boys were off playing again.  Right in our vicinity there was a volleyball court (sand pit from the boys' perspective) a playground, and a huge area for riding bikes.
He's happy in the morning...and pretty much all the time!

Edwin got good morning naps before the tent got too hot. I also sat in the tent with him pumping some milk at this time...which I really don't miss at all! OH and he always wakes up happy!

 And with all these boys...there was a whole lot of this...

 
Living in dirt and swim suits! The good life!

 They got a whole lot of biking in. At one point Max took off Charlie's training wheels and peddles to turn his bike into a balance bike which helped him work on his balance to transition back to a two-wheeler with no training wheels...which he has since done.

 Roughin' it!

  By dinner, the boys were so tired. They had played in the water and then in the sand and Charlie ended up getting pretty chaffed up which caused him to be in a lot of pain and really grumpy. Luckily there were showers and he was able to get all cleaned up.

 Caked on sand!

 Chloe

  I liked seeing them snuggle when they were sleeping

 There was also sword fighting.

 we went down to the little water hole on the side of the river, there are no pictures but the boys had fun and Charlie practiced fishing a bit! We like to take pictures at these fountains each year...it just wasn't the same without my good camera.

 Uncle Austin getting Charlie all set up for fishing!

 Miles was rockin' the bike too, I'm not sure who he stole this bike from. I think it was Chloe or Kaden's

 And then there was more fishing time

And minutes after we left after 3 days of roughin' it!

It was so much fun and we wished we could have stayed longer but there was more summer fun to be had.  Next up-Charlie and Max go rafting...