Blogging again...WHAAAAT!!!???

Ok, so I may not be back into the full swing of things but I may start up again. Blogging gives me a little more motivation as a Mom. I used to take pictures because a certain moment seemed "blog worthy", and now I just don't take pictures. I also used to do more "blog worthy" activities and my life is getting a little dull. So...here I am. I'm not making any promises but here is a brief list of what you've missed the past almost 2 years:

• Terrence got a job in Midvale as a railroad engineer/conductor and started school again to finish his degree in Occupational Health and Safety and will graduate in November 2013! WAHOO! Of course I see a masters degree in his future which means he won't technically be "done" yet. 
• I had surgery in October 2011 to remove my coccyx (tip of my tailbone) after Daxton broke it on his way into the world. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made) Sure saved me from a lot of pain! I am also still watching my niece Avaree every day as well as 2 other kids who are 9 & 6 and will soon be watching their newborn baby sister in a month or 2. Am I crazy? YES! But it feels good to contribute financially and still stay home with my own kids. 
• Kylie is in 2nd grade and was baptized in September. She loves reading and is sarcastic and energetic 90% of the time. She  is becoming quite the "tween" and is scaring the life out of us with what's to come. She had surgery in September the remove her adenoids and get tubes in her ears and this is the longest she has gone without an ear or sinus infection or migraine ever! 
• Madison is in kindergarten and LOVES learning. She is my nurturer and is a complete mini-me. She is still a talker to anyone who will listen and is a great helper to have around. Maddi had to have an emergency appendectomy on her first day of school and spent the next 5 1/2 days in the hospital recovering. She is back to her energetic self and celebrated her 6th birthday today!
• Daxton is a whirlwind of energy and TROUBLE! He is curious and is constantly testing the limits. I have nightmares of many ER visits in our future. It is a miracle we've been able to avoid them this long! He is a major Daddy's boy and loves cuddling with Terrence during the day while Terrence sleeps after his graveyard shifts. He loves balls "bu-balls" and trucks and his giant stuffed Teddy Bear. And...unfortunately he is the one child I've had who has serious attachment issues. He cannot live without his blankie and his pacifier. We took it away yesterday and it has been a long hard struggle for everyone involved. I really hope the weaning process doesn't take long! (that will teach me never to wait this long again! It was cake with the girls at 12 months!) 

We are staying busy and it feels like we never have a second to spare. I keep telling myself after Terrence graduates, or isn't working graves, or we're not both serving in presidency callings in church, or when summer comes....things will calm down a bit. The truth is...they never really calm down. There will always be something to take up the extra time but I have learned a lot the past 2 years about being HAPPY and ENJOYING the moment. Those two concepts have completely changed everything!
Here's to wishing I can blog more often. There will be pictures next time....probably....................
 

This Sister of Mine.....

Trista: She's one of those people you hate only because she's so stinkin' talented. Our whole lives it's seemed that she can pick up any new thing and just be naturally good at it. She's an amazing student, has a beautiful voice, quilts, plays the piano, crafts......yada yada yada. I used to be jealous (and maybe I still am in some ways) but I won't complain one bit. Here is why:

She made this amazing blanket for our little Daxton!

You can't see the different fabric textures from this picture, but it's pretty awesome. She spent countless hours on it embroidering the little details. She embroidered around all the stars, boat and fishing pole, as well as the words, and the fishing line. The stars are all hand sewn too. I don't even want to think about how much you would pay someone to make a custom blanket like this.

This boat has a "license plate" saying the state and birthdate and also the boats name is Daxton Glen. Clever right?

And this fish has his birth stats on it.

Tell me you aren't jealous. I wish I could do this handiwork and I'm sure with a good teacher and a whole lot of practice I could get there some day, but I will forever be indebted to her and all the hours she put into making this blanket. I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!

On Saturday, we went to the Orchard shopping center to let the kids play in the fountains, ride the train, and indulge in a crazy good bananas foster crepe. Colorado seriously has some of the best shopping and food ever. I miss having it all so close.

I told my parents to smile and this is what I got. AWWWW!!!

It was a little breezy and not exactly "warm" but that didn't stop the kids.

Kylie and Emily

The girls have missed Trista and her family since they moved to Denver so it was fun hanging out with the cousins!

Madison and Nathan

Daxton even woke up for a minute, although he wasn't a big fan of the wind.

While we were there, Terrences parents came into town and met us. We have missed them too! I got a picture of his Mom with Daxton but her eyes were closed, so I don't think she'd want me to post that one ;)

After a while the kids had enough and wanted to dry off and get warm.

Then they waited for the train with aunt Sarah. The girls sported their new shirts from Bass Pro Shop. We can't make a Denver trip without stopping there.

Aunt Sarah was a good sport in entertaining the kids. She'll be off to BYUI in the fall and my parents will almost be empty-nesters. SO WEIRD!!!

Blessing

We blessed Daxton in my parents ward in Denver on Memorial Day weekend. It's so hard coordinating these events when our families both live so far away, and with Terrences Dad being on dialysis and traveling not being easy for him, we did what we had to to make sure he could be there. But despite the stress of coordinating everything and feeling bad for disappointing those who couldn't be there with us, it was a beautiful day and a beautiful blessing.

Daxton was in such a good mood while I got him dressed.

It's was such a relief that his blessing outfit still fit well at 3 months.

I am so grateful to have a husband who holds the priesthood and is able to bless our babies. It was such a great blessing. My Dad peeked a little and said that Daxton just laid there totally calm and content staring at Terrence the entire time.

I don't want to overwhelm with the blog posts, but I'll try to eventually blog out whole trip to Denver:)

2 months!

I realize this is a week and a half late, but in my defense:

his appointment was a week after his 2 month mark so...

I'm really only 3 days late ;)

weight: 13lb 3.5 oz 90%

length: 23.5 in 55%

Daxton has been on Zantac for about a month now and is finally starting to do better. He was sleeping for only 2, 3 hour stretches at night and only little 30 minute cat naps during the day. He was extremely fussy and I was extremely tired. In fact: apparently I started falling asleep while singing to Madison one night and during the chorus of "I Am A Child of God" I sang the words "help me eat the grapes"? Now Madison requests it every night and I have to explain why it's not appropriate to sing it that way. HAHAHA!

Daxton now goes to bed at about 9:00 and usually wakes up between 6:30 and 7:30 to eat. He smiles all the time and actually let out his first giggle two days ago. I am so in love with him and he fits into our family perfectly!

TORTURE: the entertaining kind

Meet the "torturer" aka AVAREE MAE

stats: 9 months

17 ish pounds

looking innocent till....

she reaches wanted destination....

up and ready to pounce...

going in for the grab...

and SCORE!!!

This about sums up my day. Sams club that hasn't been put away yet in the background. Funny that we bought stuff to suit the needs of the entire family's rears yesterday. $144 in diapers, wipes, and toilet paper! Car seats, diaper bags, blankets and burbcloths on every couch...and I'm loving it. Being a mom is the BEST! And I'm lucky to get to see that torturous little princess every day too:)

My whole point in this post is to remind Avaree in a few months when Daxton is bigger than her and she's the one being tortured, that he's just getting even with her.

Also...I know you all think I'm horrible for letting my BOY sit in a very pink very girly bouncer. Here's the story: My blue one has completely vanished. I can find every part for it except the actual fabric sling, so a good friend gave us her old one when she moved and we accidentally left it at Terrences brothers house when we were down for Easter. So....I am borrowing Andreas and I don't care. It has saved me....SERIOUSLY!!!

Outing to the Park!

After weeks and weeks of rainy/snowy cold weather, we finally got a day of sunshine. It was a little breezy and not quite warm enough to be outside for long without wanting a jacket, but we had to take advantage!

Daxton spent most of his time in the carseat or bundled up and out of the wind. Not that you can see much detail in the picture above, but this little boy has the thickest longest eyelashes I've ever seen on a baby this young. The nurses all commented on them in the hospital and I'm still trying to capture the perfect picture of them.

Kylie got home from school right before we left for the park and she had to change her pants and shoes into play clothes first.

And of course little Avaree was there as well. I was jumping in her face as she and Terrence swung towards me and she was giggling. She is just so stinkin cute!

Now if only the new park they are building right by my house would get finished soon so that we can have many many more park days in our future!!!