Funny little gents

Watching a church video about the nativity, Eric pointed to the shepherds and asked Isaac "Who is that?" "Aa, I dont know." "Yeah you do." "Moses?"

Favorite chant around these parts is "Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar." Today it went like this: S: Isaac, say cookie jar. I: Okay. Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? Seffy stole the cookie from the cookie jar. S: (silence) I: Say, who me? S: Who you?

Later the Cookie Jar chant was in full swing and Isaac was doing both parts, with a change of voice even, the person who "stole the cookie" was: a tree ornament, dad (who was at work), santa, and he concluded with Jesus. Um...

Seth, Isaac, Benjamin, and I were all rocking on the chair together. Isaac said something and Seth repeated it. Isaac said, "Seth, You're a copy cater." Seth replied, "No I not. I a Seffy cater."

Seth did something naughty and apologized, "I-sorry-say-you're-forgiven."

Portraits of Benjamin

Once at a Hatch family reunion, or maybe it was Christmas, someone said something like "It's time to eat again? It feels like we just ate." That is when Katie or Amy or Eric coined the phrase, "Food is a core Hatch family value." This family signature is followed closely by the fact that everyone carries a camera around and uses it. I am a Hatch, so I keep my camera handy. Benjamin is a Hatch, so he eats all the time.

4 weeks into life....and already he is weary of his paparazzi mama.

(content sigh)

I LOVE baby toes. Love them. Today I said, "Mmmmm. I love your toes so much I could eat 'em." Isaac overheard me and quickly came to Benjamin's defense, "Mom, dont eat Benjamin's toes. That could make him cry."

Cowlicks are rampant in our household and Benjamin is no exception. Actually, this is just his hair that dried at an odd angle, but he has two hum-dingers in the back. Oi.

Another LOVE, that little mouth which is "drawn up like a bow." So tiny. It's about the size of an average cherrio.

(can you see the brother's cowlicks) Brotherly love is strong with these little men.

This daddy could not be happier.

Hmmm...I'd like to know what he is thinking about.

Grandma has a special knack for keeping Benjamin happy. They like each other.

Sometimes people say something to you and it resonates with you.  The little lactation specialist with the charming accent, maybe british, said:
"When you hold him against your heart, you reassure him
'You're back home. You're safe.  You're with someone who loves you.'"

She taught me that as a gerneral rule 6 hours from when I eat to when my baby gets what I am eating.

Lastly she recommended a book how to talk so your kids will listen and listen so  kids will talk.

Our family has grown by 2 feet...

Benjamin Maxwell Hatch

9 November 2010

9.17 lbs 21 inches

Little boys are so much fun, we thought we'd have another one. And boy, oh boy, are we feeling blessed that this little tough guy has joined our team. He is absolutely adored.

Our angel (aka Mom, grandma, Cindy) came to help. And help she did: cooked some "delicious" (as per Isaac) food, played football, trains, and cars, walked "on the path with foot prints where the marines let you drink their water in cones", washed a lot of laundry, cleaned AND was wonderful to have around. We LOVE her!
Benjamin is a smiley little gent. Often all it takes is a brush on the cheek, or a finger around the ear.
Shortly after his first cries, Benjamin started to whimper/grunt. The nurse kindly explained that was a sign of distress and that he wasn't getting the oxygen he needed. He sounded sweet, but we understood the need to take him away. He went to the NICU, where he was started on 30% oxygen via a copula. Nurse Judy said it took four of them to get it on him, and she also said he shook the bassinet to let them know he was not pleased "even when he couldn't breathe." She promised him his parents would make up for it on later birthdays as he sure didn't enjoy his original one. Eric would go check on him. I didn't get to see him until the evening of the 10th, after I had received a blood transfusion and could finally stand. He was such a welcomed sight, and a great motivator...I had a mission to mother him. I feel VERY blessed.

One of my favorite memories of this time was when Isaac and Seth got to meet Benjamin for the first time. Judy got the okay to have Isaac and Seth come to the NICU and meet in a special family education room. Eric is a champion daddy and let the boys go to the store and choose a present to give to Benjamin. Seth chose a giraffe and Isaac chose cars. They were both so excited to see him!

We both got to leave the hospital together on Saturday! Benjamin had been off air for almost two days. His CRP was finally in check as well (it had started of as 2.4 and needed to be under 1). Eric, the little men and grandma came to pick us up. I get all gushy just looking at him. I think he is such a handsome little fellow.

Benjamin came home to a party (thanks Jessica and Clayton). Isaac LOVES a celebration and what better reason than to welcome home our newest teammate. I like this picture of all the main men in my life. Boy am I blessed!

Halloween Happiness

"And mom, you gotta cook the seeds because (someone from the sesame street Halloween video) said they taste like popcorn. So I wanna try 'em. Can we do dat?" Um, sure. Isaac wanted a skeleton on one side and a ghost on the other side. Um, sure.

Seth said, "It gwoss!"
E made a bat for his little Bat Man and Robbin, Seth chose his facial features, and Isaac wanted a skeleton. Not sure where that came from but so let it be done. Here is our "ghosty-ghost" which is how Seth and Isaac both say ghost.

Coolest masks around. Designed and colored, and then colored some more, and then colored some more by the fabulous duo.

Da na na na BAT MAN! and "WOBBIN!" and the cute duck is our favorite neighbor Trinity.

He has been playing Bat Man dress up since it showed up a month ago.

E was going to go as Alfred Penneyworth, BUT Isaac insisted that a baseball player was ultimately cooler.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the Hatch crew.

One year older and wiser too...

34!

E chose a cake that Katie and Andrew had at their dinner party a week prior. It was the easiest cake I have ever prepared...E picked it up from Costco and Isaac and Seth chose and placed the candles.

No one likes parties more than Isaac, not even the person who's party it is, whomever it may be. Isaac loves a celebration, even if there are no hats or balloons, which is usually an essential element to a party. I am glad E invited Isaac to his party.

Seth-this little guy is going to go far in life, wait and see. He even eats hits cake with drive and passion.

Dear Eric,

I am forever grateful that you married me. And really you make THE cutest little boys I have ever seen. I love 6:20 when you come through the door. I love the joy I see in your eyes when you play with our little fellas. You are my favorite gentleman of all time. You are my hope! I love you 34+forever more years.

Love,

Jenny

The welcomers...

Brigham was the name of our dog when I was in highschool/college. I wasn't a particular fan, BUT I hopped the back fence every midday and fed us both lunch. He loved me, not as much as he loved Andrew, but he did love me. When I came home from BYU, Brigham was my best greeter. He jumped so high I could see his mussel in the top glass part of our door even before I got out of the car. Then he would go nuts running around, back and forth, and jump up and down. Made me feel like a million bucks. He was an amazing welcomer.

Eric is not much of a dog lover, but I don't think he is missing out on being welcomed home with gusto. Tonight, as I tucked Isaac into bed I asked him what was the best part of his day. He replied, "When dad came home." Seth liked the tractors but that's beside the point.

I love this series of pictures taken a little over a month ago:

Just hangin' out, oblivious to the excitement that is about to hit. Except, can you see the direction Seth is looking?

Seth saw Eric first and obviously got a head start. Eric, in the far distance, is as happy to see them as they are to see him, I guarantee it, though he didn't run.

Isaac sees his papa and turns into an olympian runner.

Seth gets full marks for his running tenacity.

If Eric didn't scoop them up in his arms, I think they would just jump in them anyway...or maybe they would tackle him. Good scooping, honey.

They are less furry than Brigham, BUT I do feed them both lunch every midday. So maybe that is the key to being the best welcomers on the planet, Jenny has to feed you lunch.

And whoever said happiness isn't tangible?

It is.

Welcome Home Daddy-o!

Art grand

If I say "art grand" with a french accent it may help me better appreciate our budding artists.
Jacob's ladder is a ladder to heaven, described in the Book of Genisis, that the biblical patriarch, Jacob, envisions during his flight from his brother Esau (straight from wikipedia). In this frame we have a true gem. The precursor to Jacob's ladder, was Isaac's ladder...naturally.
And really, who wouldn't rather use a bright colorful gate entrance, as opposed to a boring dull wood one?

We are hiring them out, $5,000 per fence. It's a deal for this spectacular art.

This just screams welcome, yes?

Such detail. Art grand (french accent) indeed.