Graduation Cake for Three of Mitchell's Seniors

I Mitchell absolutely loves making cakes and so he told three of his graduating Seniors that since they were having a combined grad party that he will make their graduation cake.  

We decided to make it three tiered and have figures representing each of the boys.  The Football player represents Dan Jordan, the guitarist represents Ben Shurts and the drummer represents Mark Acosta.

 It was a lot of fun to make but we ran into a little snag.  Once the store bought fondant was on we ran out of fondant so we had to make some marshmellow fondant.  It was hot in the home so it kept sticking and was not cooperating.  We worked with it and it was just not cooperating.  After Mitchell gave up and went to bed I decided to give it one more try.  I made fondant balls to put around the cake and then cut really thick strips for the stripes on the bottom layer.  Somehow it worked. 

 Not our best cake, but I think the boys liked it and they did not see the faults like we do.

Stop Growing!!!

I wish that I could put my life on pause right now.  It is hard to believe that Calvin is 5 1/2 months old. He is such a sweet little boy and we are having so much fun with him.  Here are a couple of things about our little sweetheart that I do not want to forget.  

*Sleeping is wonderful lately.  He has slept the whole night through quite a few times and when he does wake up it is just to eat, then he goes right back to sleep.  Naps are at random sporadic times, but he takes a pretty good nap at around 12 - 2:30 or so.  He will go to sleep on his own if he is really tired but the best way to get him to fall asleep really fast is to wrap him all up in a blanket so his hands are secure, rock him and give him his pacifier.  Works every time.

*He loves to giggle and laugh.  He has so many tickle spots and we love to tickle him.  He has the cutest little giggle that melts our hearts.  He loves to stand on your legs and do squats.  Dr. Lacey said he is really strong for his age.

*He is not fond of tummy time.  He will just faceplant into the blanket or roll over to avoid laying on his stomach.  We like to rotate him through his different toys throughout the day.  He will play at one toy for about twenty minutes, then you have to hold him, then he will play with a different toy.  

 

 *He loves his Uncle Adam.  Adam has been living with us for about a month now and he is so helpful with Calvin.  It is nice to have him here in our home.

 *He loves to lay on the bed with only his diaper on.  Whenever his clothes are off he just smiles and giggles. 

 *Whenever I hold him I get so many comments.  At least five people have told me that they thought I was strange holding a baby doll, then they realize he is a real baby.  They all tell me that since his head is perfectly shaped, he looks like a doll from behind.

 *He eats solids once a day.  He loves applesauce and pears but so far is not fond of oatmeal or peaches.  He will open his mouth when he is ready for the next bite.  I love feeding him!  Whenever the girls feed him more of the food ends up on his bib then in his mouth.  He also LOVES ice cream and frozen yogurt.  He devours it.

 

*Sundays are getting harder.  The past couple of weeks he has cried a lot so I have to keep him out in the halls.  The second we go into the hall he stops crying.  He is a smart boy.  Thankfully a lot of people offer to hold him and so I have a lot of help.

*He has started babbling a lot more and it is almost like he is having a conversation with himself.  He loves to hear his voice.

*Somedays he likes to look at himself in the mirror and other days he gets scared.  It is so funny to see his reaction.  

*Our girls are amazing with him.  We have not really had any jealousy issues to deal with.  Ashley still likes to change his diaper, Lindsay is good at calming him down and Hailey is my pacifier helper and will come to the rescue and put his pacifier in his mouth to keep him quiet.  :)  She does not like holding him for long period of times and we won't let her stand or walk while holding him just yet.

*Some of his nicknames right now are Calvinator, or Ashley likes to call him Calvinator the Milkinator, Buddy, Bud, or Bubbas.

*He has had a stuffy nose his whole life.  The poor little boy has gone to the Dr. at least five times just because I am worried he has fluid in his lungs.  We just switched his formula to Soy so we will see if this helps him.  Cross our fingers!

*Hailey makes sure that everyone knows that his name is Boyce Calvin.  It is so sweet.

We just love this little guy.  He has completed our family and it feels wonderful!