February

A picture says a thousand words...

Grandma and Grandpa Clayson came the day after Tag was born and stayed a couple of days.  They were lots of help with the kids and the house.  We were sad to see them go.

Dash took this picture of Tag using my phone one morning before school.  Everyone loves our little brother!

Everyone, including and especially, Sport.  In the mornings, Sport loves to snuggle Tag (who is inevitably in our bed taking up a disproportionate amount of space!). 

At 5 days old, Tag accompanied Sport, Sis, Grandma and Grandpa and myself to Dash's school to listen to his author presentation.  He wrote a fantastic nonfiction dinosaur book.

Wearing a new outfit and living up to the label "Captain Adorable"

Grandma and Grandpa Madsen came to meet Tag the day he turned a week old.  The next day we all went to support Brandan while he coached his 9th grade basketball team in their final tournament for the year.  Brand's team played great and finished with a 500 season.  By the time Tag was 15 days old, he had attended 5 basketball games.

The boys and their Valentine Day boxes.  Dash made his bag at school, but Colt and I took on the project of making a Batman car for his card box.

Cam and the kids came for a short visit mid-February.  The weather was unseasonably warm and the cousins took full advantage!

Cousins!

On Tag's 10th day I was snuggling him on the couch when he started making a funny little noise in his sleep.  I looked down and he was laughing! It was the most beautiful thing ever.  Luckily my phone was nearby and I was able to snap a picture of his happy smiles.

Cute little Tagalong.

Soaking in some rays to help with a slight case of jaundice.

Two weeks old and taking his first bath.  Tag actually really likes a good soak, but the picture would appear to say otherwise.

Colt performing at his Kindergarten readers' theater.

Towards the end of February we got quite a Sunday afternoon snow storm. Brand decided to take advantage of the weather to use his "One Free Snowball Fight" coupon the boys gave him for Christmas. 

Tag decided to sit the snowball fight out.

Siblings

Saturday morning, Brandan headed back to Mountain View to pick up the kids and bring them back to meet their newest sibling.  It was so cute to see the looks on their faces when they first saw him.  Sport was in such awe he actually whispered.

Dash is a great big brother.  He is great at helping take care of baby Tag.  He is quick to volunteer to hold him when he fusses and I'm busy with something, or even just bringing him to me when he needs fed - or his diaper changed.  Dash still hasn't volunteered to change any of those!

Beautiful as he is, Tag is covered in the finest little down.  Just like a little mouse.  The other day, while Dash was admiring his brother, he asked me when I was going to trim the hair on Tag's face.  I laughed a little and replied - Never.  In exasperated disbelief, Dash cried, "Really?! So he'll be 1 year old with a beard?"

Dash and Tag

Before the end of their visit, Dash had Tag sitting on the bed with him watching college basketball on the tv.

 Colt has always been a loving little guy and he was quick to fall for Tag, but Tag's arrival has taught us something about Colt - he's a little squeamish.  Colt loves to talk to Tag and stroke his head and face, but when it came time to change a diaper or give Tag a bath, Colt would bolt.  The sight of his drying umbilical cord made him seriously uncomfortable.  He repeatedly asked when we could expect that to fall off and then counted down the days.  When it finally fell off after a full two weeks, Colt was eager to snuggle his baby brother without reservation. 

Colt and Tag

 Sport was absolutely convinced the baby would be a girl.  Fortunately, he hasn't held Tag's gender against him.  Sport is smitten.  He loves snuggling up to him and writing Tag's name on every picture he draws.  His biggest concern: Tag's ears are so tiny (proportionally appropriate, but still), Sport didn't believe it was possible for him to hear.  For the first few days, any time anyone talked or cooed at Tag, Sport would be quick to remind him they were wasting their breath - he can't hear anything!

Sport and Tag.  Sport was absolutely convinced the baby would be a girl.  Fortunately, he hasn't held Tag's gender against him.  Sport is smitten.  He loves snuggling up to him and writing Tag's name on every picture he draws.

 I was anxious to see how Sis would react to a new baby since she can be a little jealous.  I was surprised to see her act almost afraid of Tag.  I think she expected the baby to be a little bigger and more fun.  She was pretty hesitant around him at the hospital, but that didn't last long.  Now she loves to be right in his face and has offered (threatened) to carry him.  She did, however, refuse to learn Tag's name for the first 2.5 weeks of his life.  She insisted on referring to him as "that baby".  Where's that baby?  What's that baby doing?  Why are you holding that baby?  When someone asked her his name she would dismissively tell them his name was "three".

Sis, Mom and Tag

Dad, Sport, Sis and Tag.