Sunshine

Jan. 25, 2017

The perk of having a really lame winter is that you occasionally end up with gloriously sunny, warm days in the middle of January. After weeks of rain and clouds, we were ecstatic to see the sun. 

Elise hadn't had a chance to play outside before.

She was a big fan.

I wasn't quite sure what to do when she took off speed-crawling down the sidewalk.

I simultaneously felt like I needed a leash, and felt like using a leash would be bad parenting:

If we can't have snow, at least give us sunshine and beautiful days!

Eleven Months

Jan. 11, 2017

Oh, my Elise-a-bug, can you really be 11 months old already? I wish I could keep you this age for a little longer. You're growing up so quickly--I don't want to miss it!

You're definitely getting more opinions and are getting better at making those opinions known. Most of the time you're very mellow and easy-going, but you don't back down when you think you need something. Like a constant influx of food at meals. Or to be nursing twice a night. For a little girl who should be weaned in a month, you like nursing WAY too much...

Jan. 6, 2017

Eating the food you rejected during breakfast

You have mastered the art of climbing up the stairs. Both you and your siblings are thrilled with this development. You're also practicing sliding down on your belly, which I find very impressive.

You are pulling up on EVERYTHING. I even occasionally find you practicing standing alone. You haven't completely stood hands-free yet, but you're getting there.

Jan. 20, 2017

Pulling up on the elliptical I'm trying to use.

I no longer exercise when you're awake. 

Jan. 13, 2017

The tub is your favorite place to pull up.

You beg for baths several times a day.

Diaper changes are the worst minutes of your day. Being restrained for that long almost kills you. And me.

You've stopped writhing and kicking while nursing, which is great. But your new entertainment is scratching at my face while you nurse. I swear you have baby ADD.

Jan. 1, 2017

Ruffle bottom. Because: ruffle bottom.

Watching you crawl in this is my favorite thing ever.

You're working on waving but won't do it on command yet. Just at random times. Same with clapping. You do pat me & Dad on the back or shoulder when we pick you up, though.

You've stared pinching. I have little pinch marks all over my neck.

Still no words, but you love babbling back at us when we talk to you.

Jan. 17, 2017

Hanging out with Ella in the ball pit

You caught another cold and were a little miserable for a few days. But I got some extra snuggles, which is a rare thing with you. You're always on the go!

Jan. 2, 2017

Grandma Cathy sent you this lady bug outfit and I'm in love. 

We sure love you, little Lady Bug!

Family Time

By east coast standards, our family is huge. But I love the crazy and wouldn't have it any other way! I love this little family of mine. 

Jan. 5, 2017

Three siblings watching longingly...(except Seth, on a device)

...as Catherine does her gymnastics class

Jan. 6, 2017

The Aaron monster spots his unsuspecting prey:

He quickly makes his ascent:

Elise is captured, much to her joy:

Lest you think that Aaron and Elise play sweetly all the time, 

let me give you a more realistic glimpse of their relationship:

Jan. 11, 2017

Aaron LOVES his "wobot" chair from Aunt Lori

He's happy to share the packaging with baby sister...

...but touching the chair is unacceptable and she is quickly shoved down.

He frequently has meltdowns when he finds her in his chair.

She's in his chair quite frequently since it's the perfect height for climbing into.

Sibling love.

Jan. 7, 2017

Enjoying our new-to-us Wii. Seth & Jon have spent many long hours mastering the races, much to the happiness of Aaron, who loves watching "motorcycles" (as he calls it). Catherine has even mastered some races on 50 cc. I actually really enjoy it--it's something we can all do together. 

Jan. 8, 2017

Seth instructed Aaron & Catherine in the constructing of a temple out of Magnatiles.

He then insisted that I send this picture into the Friend magazine.

I have yet to do this because I'm a great mother.

And the current favorite family activity:

Jan. 15, 2017

Getting thrown on the bed by Daddy. 

Catherine, Aaron & Elise all love it.  Aaron asks to be thrown on the "20 bed" every day when Jon gets home (translation: thrown 20 times on the bed). In Aaron speak, "20" is the highest possible number, so he's really asking for infinite throwings. 

Seth is left to watch from the sidelines, as he is more than twice the weight of Catherine (Aaron & Catherine are both around 30 lbs.)  and Jon refuses to try to heft him.  Being the oldest has its perks, but it also has some drawbacks. 

I love these people. I'm so grateful I get to spend all my time with them!

My Aaron

Jan. 6, 2017

This is what it looks like when I brush Aaron's hair.

This is why I never brush Aaron's hair.

Our snow this winter has been beyond pathetic. When we got a faint dusting one morning, Aaron was so excited to go out. But he refused to wear gloves. Of course he tripped after about two minutes outside. Aarons with dirty, cold hands are inconsolable. That was the end of our snow play.

*For Aaron, the opposite of spicy is "warm" (because spicy is also "hot"). One of my favorite snacks is Wasabi Ranch Snapeas. He knows they're "hot", so he'll ask for the "norm peas" (warm peas) instead. I get him out the plain ones and we're both quite happy.

*He's been driving us crazy lately with the word "whush", which is how he says "what" now.  It's his default answer to everything. "Aaron, want some food?" "Whush?" "Aaron are you poopy?" "Whush?" Even if you repeat the question, he just repeats "whush?" I love it so, so much.

*No idea where this one came from, but he's taken to chanting the phrase "Me sigh choopy guy." For short, he'll just repeat "choop-a-guy, choop-a-guy, choop-a-guy." Seriously no idea. 

Heading to Big Kid Territory

Jan. 15, 2017

A momentous day: the losing of the first tooth! She has Seth to thank for this one. The tooth had been loose for a long time, but she didn't put the effort into wiggling it out. One day she gave Seth access to the tooth, and he popped it right out. She was quite pleased, but not pleased enough to let him near the other loose tooth. That one came out during dinner a few nights later.  We love her new, gap-tooth smile!

Seth Update

Jan. 1, 2017

I've been telling him for years that he's going to regret these faces. 

He doesn't believe me yet.

Jan. 10, 2017

January was a rough month for us. We gratefully managed to miss the horrid stomach bug that hit our area, but instead we got fevers. Crazy high fevers that lasted for a week. Seth got this nice pink eye to compliment his fever. Both he and Catherine were quite pleased to get to miss so much school. 

Jan. 16, 2017

This picture is late, but Seth took the challenge given by our Stake President and finished reading the entire Book of Mormon in three months. I was especially proud since he was already halfway through when the challenge was issued, but he went back to page 1 and read all the way through. Not easy reading, but he did it, and he understood most of what he read! 

(Notice the favorite footie pajamas featured in every picture?

He would never take them off if given the option).