35 Months - May 2010

Not a whole lot must have gone on this month - I can tell by the number of pictures I have - not very many. We did take a funny one of me and you goofing around with my cell phone camera. you love to take pictures and always say "cheese please!" or make a monster face. This looks like kind of a mix between the two.

You did help daddy build our table this month. I think my most favorite part about that table isn't how it looks but more the fact that WE built it. Daddy, me, you, Tessa, were all there and have memories of making the table where I hope we will spend years eating dinner together, doing homework, frosting Christmas cookies, etc. Maybe you'll even be reading these letters at this table one day. With that said I had to include one of the pictures of you crawling on the table during construction.

You've started to have some bad dreams in the last month. We went to Cedar one weekend to help Uncle Dusty and Uncle Derick put in their lawns. While we were there you played with Quade at his house and apparently he has some kind of racecar that scared you. One morning you woke up, walked out to where daddy was eating his breakfast and yelled at him for not closing the door so that Quade's racecar couldn't get us. We laughed but I have to admit I wasn't ready for the bad dream stage. Then another morning you had a long story to tell me about the scary lion in your dream. A few times since then I've had the chance to lie down next to you at bedtime and make up stories about Prince Logan and his dog Toby and I've tried to tell stories about lions or racecars so if you dream about them they might not be so scary. This little experience with has me worried about other parenting milestones we still have yet to reach with you as you grow out of the toddler stage and into the "kid" stage way too fast.

Earlier this week me you and Tess made a trip up to Northern Utah to visit some of my old roommates and friends from Snow. I wasn't sure how we were going to make it seeing as how the farthest trip you'd ever made before that was from Cedar to Manti last year before Tessa was born, but it wasn't too bad. We did okay on the way there until we stopped in Beaver. After we visited some friends there and stopped for lunch I bet we made 6 more stops between there and our destination. First you had to pee so I took the exit at Manderfield and let you go on the side of the road. Then Tessa had finally fallen asleep and had only been sleeping for about 10 minutes before you decided you needed to do some more serious business. I carefully got Tessa's carrier out of the car at a gas station in Meadow only to have her wake up screaming while we were in the bathroom. She didn't sleep again either. By the time we made it all three of us probably looked like we'd been beaten for the last 5 hours (yes 5!) instead of just sitting in a car.

You had a good time (for the most part) playing with the kids that were there. You and Parker got along pretty well and I know you liked Brielle because I had to chase you out of her room twice while she was trying to sleep. You didn't quite know what to think about Eli chasing you down trying to hug you but I thought it was pretty cute. There were some fights over toys of course and by the time we tried to get this picture of you and Parker you had had enough for the night...

We did manage to get a picture of the group (minus baby Adam) before Kiki and her boys had to go home. Aunt Taren had a feature on her camera that takes 10 pictures on a timer which was SO nice when trying to get 6 kids to sit still and maybe even smile!

I think you had a good time though and I was so proud of you for how well you shared and interacted with so many other kids while being away from home in a strange place. The ride home was much better too since you and Tess decided you would actually sleep for half of it. I had debated whether or not to take you guys but I am glad I did, and the trip went better than I expected. Hopefully we can continue to get together and you kids can be friends.

I can't believe you are going to be 3 next month, even though you are big enough that you have been mistaken for a 3-year-old for months now. But I guess I'll cross that bridge next month when we come to it - and with LOTS more pictures.

Love you buddy,

Mom

New Table

So remember when I posted about wanting to use these plans to build a table like this one from West Elm?

Well we started out with this...

Then Dave did a LOT of this...


and Logan did some of this...

and then Dave did MORE of this...

and then I did a LOT of sanding, staining, and topcoating to get this...

Without the $599 price tag for the table and $299 a piece for the benches. Now we just need to find about 10 guys to help us get it in the house cause it is HEAVY!

Check out www.knock-offwood.com!

11 Months - May 2010

I don't even want to think about the fact that you are 11 months - 1 more month before you are a toddler. It has crept up on me more with you than with Logan, mostly because you are still wearing some 3-6 month clothes and wear mostly 6-9 month stuff. By this time Logan was in 18-24 month clothes so there is definitely a difference.

You went to your first Easter Egg hunt earlier this month and had a pretty good time crawling around in the dirt and charming everybody there. Even cousin Brent couldn't resist your little black eye and held you for quite a while. You got the black eye without help from anyone which is kind of surprising the way Logan and you "fight". You were sitting on the floor playing with one of his toys when I heard you tip over. I turned around right as you turned to look at me with tears rolling down your face and a little bruise already showing up - which turned into a black eye. It just made you look tough during the candy hunt so no one would mess with ya.

See, no one's messing with you and your candy.

You LOVE being outside and get pretty upset when I let Logan go out without you if it is too cold of if you have been sick. The water table he got for his birthday last year is your favorite and you splash and splash in it. I think you are going to be a water girl. We took you guys swimming earlier this month and you kept dunking your face. Even now in the bath tub you dunk your face or even try to get water from the tap and end up drenching your face.

You've discovered Logan's sandbox too and love to crawl over and see what he's got going on in there, even if it means getting sand dumped on your head or in your face. I've got you wearing socks on your hands again in this picture, but I think it was the last time. You just crawled right up in the back of that dump truck too, it was pretty impressive. You don't seem to care much about walking, although you have started doing more standing in the last few days. If anyone tries to get you to take a few steps on your own though you drop to your hands and knees before we have a chance to catch you and off you crawl. I guess that means you'll walk when you decide it is faster than crawling.

You got, or I guess I should say are still getting, two more teeth this month. Finally. You started getting them in March and although they have finally come through a few times this month they also keep going back in. And yeah, that means you are 11 months old with 4 teeth, another big difference from Logan who had I think 10 or so by this time.


You are kind of a momma's girl lately and while sometimes it is nice it can get kind of, hard? I can't do much without you attached to my leg screaming at me or putting some food down in front of you and running out of the room before you notice. You're pretty spoiled. And speaking of eating, it would be nice if I didn't feel like I spent my whole day trying to get you to eat. You still love chicken nuggets but you have also added strawberries, grilled cheese sandwiches, White Cheddar PastaRoni (and ONLY that kind, I've tried others - fail), pancakes, and a few other things. It all depends on the day though because as soon as I find something you like you decide you won't eat it for a few days and throw me off the trail. We're wasting a lot of food on your petite little frame.

You are mischievous and love to do the baby/toddler things like taking stuff out of drawers and cupboards as well as picking on your brother and trying to play with his toys - when he is playing with them. You are definitely fun most of the time though and the best part of our day is when you smile your big smile at us or hide behind the couch to play peek a boo. I dread writing your next letter because I can't believe it has come so fast and writing a letter for your birthday is only going to remind me that even though you are small you are growing up fast. You can stay little for as long as you want, ok?

Love you Tessa Lindsay Woo Woo!

Mom

Helping daddy build the table.

(you might want to growing some hair on the sides of your head...)

(and I guess I should start dressing you in clothes that match)

11 Months

Coming soon.

Or at least sooner than later.

Or maybe later.

34 Months - April 2010

So this was posted on the blog late today all because you had a 30 minute nap yesterday. If you get ANY kind of nap during the day you are up until at least 11:30. And the worst part about it is waking you up. I am honestly afraid to wake you up from naps when you start them cause hoo-boy you are nasty mean in the stage between dead to the world and running around like a madman. So last night as I was up working with ear phones in my ears that work so well I can't even hear myself type you were up watching a movie in my room. UNTIL you decided to come out and flop yourself on the ground across the room so that of course I didn't hear you before I felt the floor move a bit, which then caused my heart to jump into my throat. And you did that at least 2 more times before I was done working. Thanks for that. All because of a 30 minute nap.

We were able to get out a little bit more this month and your dad got you out to help him while he trimmed the trees and we cleaned out your sandbox. You put on your gloves and got right to work, or wait, maybe you just played.

Then I broke out your water table that you got for your birthday last year and cleaned it up (you are convinced it is perfect for mud) and filled it up. You and Tess had a blast splashing and playing in it. I'm getting more excited for summer and actually being able to take you outside more often now that we don't have a newborn or a course I need to be working on.

You still love to play with Tess and laundry day is always one of the best times. You two take turns throwing clothes around and climbing in and on the laundry baskets. You asked me to put Tess in with you and she just smiled away while you shook the rocked the basket.

Easter was definitely better for you this year. Last year you got sick about five minutes before we pulled up and then we were only there a few more minutes before you were sick again. We spent the whole weekend (the first weekend for me and you to stay at this house in Kanab) cleaning up the aftermath and washing clothes. This time we made sure you knew that you couldn't eat very much candy or else you would get the throwups. You had a great time playing in the dirt with Quade and the other cousins, especially when Uncle Dusty got the two of you riding Quade's fourwheeler down little hills. You got quite a bucket full of candy from the Easter bunny too. All in all it was a much better year than last and I'm glad you were able to have such a fun day.

I also want to remember this story forever so while it might embarrass you it is just something I have to do so years later I can have a good laugh. We were in Cedar waiting for dad to get out of some training so we were killing time at the park by the library where your dad proposed. You told me you had to pee so I took you into the handicap stall at the library bathroom. You tried to put the seat up but it kept falling back down. My hands were full with Tess, her bottle, a blanket, and my phone and I didn't really want to touch the seat anyway so I moved against the wall so I could hold it up with my hip. Unfortunately this put me right next to the toilet. I then turned my attention to Tess to let you do your thing until I realized that my leg was being soaked. I freaked out and yelled your name which scared you and the next thing I knew there was pee nearly up to the ceiling. I didn't know what else to do so I put my hand down over the spray so it would at least make it into the bowl. When you stopped I just sat there for a minute crouched down next to you and the toilet with one hand dripping and the other hand holding Tess and all her crap and I just laughed. The whole thing probably only lasted 30 seconds but if I had gotten that on video somehow we would be rich. I got the bathroom wall cleaned up as best I could with one hand and some toilet paper and we washed our hands and left - me with a large wet spot on my pants. Thanks there killer, for making me look like I peed my pants.

Besides the not listening thing you are overall pretty fun to spend the day with. I hope we get to have a lot of funny moments like that this summer, I just hope that was the only one that involves me getting peed on.

Love you Chuck,

Mom

10 Months - April 2010

So you do get a letter today even though you really have been kind of a pill today and as I write this at 10:30 p.m. you are still rolling around on the floor with a big grin on your face. You spent the majority of last night doing the same thing while I tried to sleep on the floor.

You and Logan both were pretty sick this last month - I'm thinking it was RSV but you never got bad enough for me to feel like I needed to take you to the doctor. That's a big step from the kind of mom I was when Logan was your age but don't worry I'm not neglecting you. One day I decided to take a picture of my pathetic-looking sick kids and when I got down next to you and said your name to get your attention this is the pathetic look I got...

So you can see why it is kind of hard for me to justify a trip to the doctor when I can tell you feel SO miserable. Really thought we have noticed that it is just part of your personality to smile no matter how crummy you are feeling. You pretty much smile at anyone at any time which is so fun. I love this stage and I am not ready at all for you to move on to grumpier pastures.

You aren't walking yet and now that it has been a couple months since you learned to crawl I am starting to remember that it actually took Logan a while to take those first few steps because it is just so much easier to get places by crawling. You are super fast at it and if you think someone is chasing you or you just get the urge to go you stick out your tongue and go 20 mph across the floor. On of our favorite games is for you to get me to crawl after you and then grab your sides and tickle you which makes you flatten on the ground flat on your face and just giggle. You also LOVE playing peek-a-boo and right now you are hiding behind the arm of the couch playing it with dad.

Some other things you love include:

Logan singing to you (you sing with him),

baths (you come running, well crawling fast, when you hear the water running),

fruit loops (Logan got you hooked),

water (I've caught you and Logan twice thinking the toilet is your personal splash bowl),

and chicken nuggets.

Yep, I said chicken nuggets. I gave you a tiny corner of Logan's once and you've been hooked ever since. I probably shouldn't give them to you as much as I do but kid I'm afraid if I don't fatten you up somehow before your 1 year doctor appointment they are going to call in the authorities. You are so tiny! So now when we go to Wendy's I get you and Logan chicken nuggets to share and the other day by the time you were squirming to get out of your high chair I realized you had eaten three. I guess that's okay as long as you decide to eat healthier eventually.

You really are in such a fun stage and I'm definitely not ready for you to move on any time soon. Keep smiling even when you are a toddler okay?

Love you cheesey,

Mom

P.S. It is 11:05 p.m. and I just now put you down in your crib asleep. Do us both a favor and stay that way.

10 Months - April 2010

You are being a brat and staying up all night so you don't get a letter this month.

Try to be better next month.

Mom.

APRIL FOOLS!