How to Get an Ulcer

As of today Sarah Excell Curtains is officially in the beginning stages of becoming an LLC.

I don't really know what that means but my accountant tells me that's what I should do. My accountant has also been telling me to save all my business receipts so we can "write things off." I don't know what that means either, but I'll be saving the receipt for this business investment I bought today:

It wasn't even from D.I. -- what a splurge!

I lay awake at night fretting about seams and measurements and ruffles and worrying my orders won't be out in time. Nonetheless, I'm having a lot of fun managing my own little business!

In the Blink of an Eye

Eli ran out of the bathroom with my mascara this morning as I was putting on my makeup. "I'll finish up putting my foundation on and then I'll go get that from him." I told myself. "It'll take him a minute to figure out how to open it."

In the five seconds it took me to finish smoothing out my foundation, Eli managed to open the mascara and smear it all over his face. Disaster strikes fast around here:

Here he is wanting me to feel sorry for him because he's covered in mascara. My favorite part is that he was worried about a tiny black speck on his hand. Little did he know he had black all over his face.

After some quick scrubbing he was left with a nice eyelined look to remind me of the incident for the rest of the day. Consequently, I've been calling him Captain Jack Sparrow all morning. I don't think he appreciates my humor.

Sundays and Toddlers

Jeff was sick today. Which left me to battle Eli alone at church. Gum and cars kept him entertained through the opening song. Then he got wiggly and crazy as he always does. When he started yelling just for fun, I put my hand over his mouth to try to quiet him. He thought that was hilarious. Which encouraged him to continue in his yelling. Which resulted in me plastering a don't-worry-about-me-I-have-this-under-control smile on my face as I calmly whisked Eli out of the meeting.

That whole scene happened twice.

Shortly after our third attempt to sit "reverently" on the pew, a little boy came over to me, thinking his mom was sitting on our row. I showed the boy that his mom was actually on the row in front of ours and gave his mom a how-cute-your-kid-accidentally-thought-I-was-you-for-half-of-a-second smile.

Church is full of smiles.

Until you realize that in the split second you were talking to the cute lost boy, you happened to have lost your own boy. Eli was completely out of sight and I immediately imagined him running laps around the chapel, arms flailing in pure glee.

Cue stomach wrenching fear, wide eyes and shortness of breath.

The people behind me (luckily our neighbors) tapped me on the back and pointed to Eli who had just successfully crawled under the bench to their pew. I remained calm and applied my I-don't-really-know-what-to-do-but-my-child-is-actually-happy-in-sacrament-meeting-so-until-he-screams-I'm-not-going-to-interfere smile.

Eli played happily for the last 15 minutes of church -- making today our most successful Sacrament Meeting to date.

And here are some unrelated pictures. Carson and Eli playing together this morning:

 I thought our boys were cute, but just look at how cute our girls would be!

Carson is completely interested in the camera whenever I have it out. I love it because he's always looking at the camera when I take pictures! Makes for too many cute pictures to choose from. So I'll just include several from when he was helping me cook today.

If Cars Could Speak

Eli has recently started doing the adorable thing where he makes his toys talk. Imaginary play? I don't know what it's called. But his toys now talk to each other via him. And I love overhearing what he thinks his toys would say to each other. I particularly loved this interaction between two of his cars this morning:

Car 1: Hi Mommy! Hi. How are you?
Car 2: Have to go.
Driving around for a minute.
Car 2: Have to go visiting teaching.
Car 1: See friends!

Granted, we did go visiting teaching yesterday, so it was fresh on his mind. But I still thought it was cute.

Four Months

 This little guy is 4 months old today!

His newest trick is grabbing his toes. I love when babies find their feet.

 Here's what else Carson's up to:

• Still eats every two hours.
• He takes 3-4 one-hour naps throughout the day and has been sleeping horribly at night. Up at least twice -- usually wants to be up for the day between 4-5. Boo.
• Wakes up happy and babbling in his crib.
• Still sleeps swaddled.
• He's sensitive. Loud noises bother him. If I raise my voice at Eli at all, Carson starts crying.
• He has started to giggle and think things are funny (Particularly Eli).
• He whines when I leave the room.
• He's still super happy all the time. He's been sick the last couple of days, but you can barely tell because he's such a smiley boy.
• He rolled back-to-belly this month without being swaddled.
• He finally likes his binky.
• Loves being outside.
• He can take his binky out of his mouth and hold onto it for a few minutes.
• Enjoys being on his tummy.

 Eli invaded our photo shoot again. (PS - Eli does wear pants sometimes. But apparently never on the days I take pictures.)

 I'm pretty sure they already love each other.

 Eli's favorite thing lately is to give Carson raspberries. Carson was screaming hysterically before this picture and as soon as Eli gave him a raspberry he was giggling like crazy. Love them.

Happy four months, Carson!