Foot Soaking

For the past couple of days Todd has been soaking his foot at night to help with some pain.  When he brought the bowl of water out Everett though he should join in this fun activity.

Everett loves copying his dad.  If Todd's fixing something Everett's fixing something.  And apparently if Todd has to soak his foot, so does Everett.  I think it's pretty cute!

Christmas 2011

2011 marked our very first year to have our own Christmas.  There was no traveling just staying at home and relaxing.  As much as we missed seeing family it was honestly a little nice not having to travel and worry about where we were going.  We were able to try and start our own family traditions.  I had all these big plans, but sadly half of them fell through!  Maybe next year right?!  I've decided instead of thinking about what to do a few weeks before the holiday season I'm going to work on it all year next year so when the time comes I'm prepared! We'll see how it works.

We started off with a pretty nice Christmas Eve.  We were able to go and visit my Great Aunt and Uncle up in Rexburg.  WE enjoyed a nice little dinner with them.  After we came home and got ready for bed.  Everett and Jacquelyn opened up their PJs and sibling gifts and then off to bed they went.  Everett was so excited for is Lightening PJs.  He had to immediately put them on!

Christmas morning was quite fun.  Our kids wake up early on a daily bases, so today was no different.  I don't think Everett new what was going on at first, but once he realized the presents were for him he got so excited.  He would bring each box over and say "Big Box" even when it wasn't a big box.  Jacquelyn of course loved all the excitement, but she was more entertained by all the wrapping paper then the actual gifts.

 

 

We ended our day by being with our friends.  The Wilcox's invited us over to have Christmas dinner with their family.  We enjoyed a delicious Prime Rib dinner with some good company!

Sharing

Does it look like they like to share much?!

Everett tends to have a hard time letting Jacquelyn play with things.  Especially the exersaucer.  The other day I had her in it an he was playing with her on the outside.  Well, when I left the room I heard them both crying.  When I came out I found them like this.  He obviously thought he should be able to be in there with her!

Everett's Christmas Tree

I've been seeing this go around the internet and I saw a friend do it with her little boy.  So I decided we should do it too! Everett got to make a christmas tree with his hand print.  He had so much fun!  When I was painting his hand he would just laugh and then we'd count as we put each hand print on the paper.  He got even more excited when he was able to put the little red ornaments on there with his thumb.  But the little kid he is, he would not let me take a picture of him holding his creation!!

6 Months!

Our little girl is 6 months old today! Seriously she's halfway to a year! You would think with having Everett I'd realize time flies, but it still just goes by too fast. I am loving this stage with her.  She's getting a little personality.  She loves attention. Anytime she is left alone she screams till someone comes in the room.  Then all you have to do is look at her and she just gets the biggest grin and starts pumping her legs!

She still loves to lay on her stomach which means she still doesn't roll from her stomach to back.  I thought for as long as she's been getting up on her knees she'd be crawling by now, but nope.  She gets around just fine by going backwards!  It's pretty fun to watch her. I've found her under many things that she's backed herself into.

We are still working on getting her to eat.  I think I've come to the conclusion that she likes texture and not baby food puree.  I've been making my own baby food and leaving it a little chunky and she's eating it better.  She loves the little puffs and Mum Mum rice thingys.

She likes to be around people which means she doesn't sleep the greatest at night.  After having a few rough months to start off we finally got her to sleep pretty good.  Then the bad sleeping habits came back.  She just likes to wake up every few hours, but we're trying to get her figured out again so she'll sleep! And we can get some sleep.

She is now 13 lbs 14oz and 26 inches long.  The doctor said she is growing great.  She's in the lower percentiles just like her big brother.  But she is just healthy!

Our Little Christmas Present

Jacquelyn is getting around pretty well these days!  Mostly just by moving backwards.  Today she was playing and when I looked over she was laying under our Christmas Tree. I guess she decided to be our little Christmas present! I can't complain.  She's one sweet present that I can't get enough of.

Breakfast of Champions...

...Pickles and Milk.

Yes my two year old son eats pickles for breakfast.  He LOVES pickles. Especially the little dill pickles.  I haven't bought pickles for awhile and found the ones him and Todd like so I decided to get some for the house.  He was beyond excited.  For the past couple mornings we'll go get his milk and standing at the fridge door he keeps asking for pickles.  The first time I thought "No way!", but to get him to calm down I gave in. At least it's not candy right?!  Who would of thought of having pickles and milk to start your breakfast?!

My Little Baking Assistant

I've always wanted a child that would follow in my footsteps.  I love baking. I could spend all day in the kitchen baking.  Baking not cooking! There is a difference.  Anyway, sometimes when I need to bake I get Everett to join me.  It keeps him supervised and a little entertained.  He becomes my baking apprentice.  I've learned that I have to let go of my "everything has to be perfect" mentality and just enjoy that time with him in the kitchen.  Maybe one day he'll truly enjoy it.

We were making cookies there other day and Everett really enjoyed it.  Mainly cause you know when you're the baker you get to "test" everything from beginning to end.  I would tell him to pour the chocolate chips in. So he would, but first he had to sample a few:

After testing then he stirs

I started unwrapping the peanutbutter cups and handing them over thinking he'd just put them in the bowl.  The first one he immediately puts in his mouth!  Just had to make sure it tasted alright.

  And the last and final testing before they get handed out.

 

She's almost there!

Jacquelyn is so close to crawling! She gets up on all fours, rocks by and forth, and then either plops or goes backwards.  It's her current mode of transportation.  Although she usually ends up underneath something.  She still has no desire to roll!  Rolling from back to tummy yes, but tummy to back nope. It's fun to watch cause she gets so excited.  I don't know if I'm ready for her to be mobile yet. Although I'm sure she's ready to chase her brother!

I got this picture of Todd and Jacquelyn after she was done playing.  She was enjoying some Dad lovin all to herself!

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree!

We put up our Christmas tree yesterday!  It really put us in the holiday mood.  Well, me at least.  We turned on our Christmas music and got to town.

Everett was so excited when we got everything out.  He would go and help get each section for Todd. When they were flattening out the branches he'd help and then start clapping.

Once the tree was up we started decorating.  This was probably Everett's favorite part.  He had so much fun getting the ornaments and then helping put them on the tree.  Todd would lift him up so he could get some up high.  Now he'll take some from the bottom and keep saying "up".

 

Jacquelyn enjoyed all the festivities too! She got to hang out and play and dance along to the christmas music. Every once in awhile she would be able to get a hold of an ornament!

And how could we not take pictures after setting up the tree? I LOVE these. They both look so excited huh?! I just wish I had realized my setting was off so they were a little clearer! Oh well, at least they turned out.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We had a pretty good Thanksgiving.  It was just the 4 of us and we were looking forward to it.  This year is the first year that we are having holidays with just our little family.  SInce we've been married we've always been with family, or they've come here. Which we love, but we we're excited to start our own little traditions and pass on ones we've grown up with.

We started out our day with having some donuts.  I tried to do some baked ones and sadly they didn't turn out too hot.  They weren't bad, but not a make over. Everett loved them though!  He got so excited when I asked if he wanted a donut.  WE got a picture of him after eating and unfortunately that is our only picture from Thanksgiving :)

The rest of the day was spent with Todd smoking our delicious turkey, watching football, and cooking/baking in the kitchen.  We had dinner and then took showers.  I couldn't believe it was 5 and we were all still in our pajamas.  The sad part is that the only reason we got out of them is so we could go to our friend's house for games and dessert.  Besides all the cooking it was nice to just hang out and spend time as a family.

We have so much to be thankful for.  I don't think we ever truly realize everything that we have and usually take for granted.  I'm grateful for my little family and the joy they bring to me.  I'm grateful I have two beautiful kids that call me mom and husband who takes care of us all, and is there for me even during my crazy moments.

This is what happens

When you have a mom who finds a tutorial online on how to cut little boys' hair with scissors.  She decides what a brilliant idea it is and believes it looks so easy she could do it.  UNtil she starts cutting and then it becomes too late.  The said boy goes from having beautiful long locks...

to a buzzed cut...

p

Please ignore the messy background!

Dad had to step in with the razors.  He still looks pretty cute though:)

There's a battle in our home....

....and I'm losing. Seriously losing.

I cannot get Jacquelyn to eat food for the life of me.  I've tried rice cereal and oatmeal. Hates it. I even added applesauce...nope.  I've tried, apples, bananas, squash, sweet potatoes.  Still nothing.  She gets so excited when she sees the spoon that she starts pumping her legs and everything.  The minute I stick the spoon in her mouth she makes this funny face and then starts pushing the food out with her tongue.  I thought that maybe she just didn't grasp the concept of swallowing.  So I held the spoon in there for her to kinda suck off of it.  Yeah bad idea.  Instead she just spits it out so it goes everywhere!  Oh man. What to do? I know she wants food.  Every time we eat she just stares and tries to grab it.  She LOVES the little Mum Mum rice crackers.  They get devoured when put on her tray!  Oh someday this girl will understand and hopefully I'll start conquering this little battle of ours.