Christmas Eve

I HAD to show this picture of my mom's "famous" toffee. She made it on Sunday. We haven't had it in so long. It's probably a good thing, the amount I have eaten should suffice me for a few more years!

They all three fell asleep before we even left for my parent's!

They both have their hands in their mouths. Must be genetic :)

Mike got this awesome book full of facts from my mom. He loves it!

Paxton was so intrigued by this Christmas singing doll!

Last night, we did Christmas Eve at my mom and dad's. We eat, do a little spiritual thought, and then open all of the presents from the names we have drawn for each other. We had a lot of fun. All of the kids looked so cute in their Christmas outfits! I kept remembering that this is Paxton's first Christmas!

My mom got the three older girls cash registers. That was a huge hit! Peyton even wanted in on that fun! For my mom and dad's gift, Jamie and I transferred lots of their VHS tapes to DVDs. It was no easy task, especially for Jamie, but it was well worth it! We watched some of the videos.

The evening turned out really good. I ate way too much junk, but what is new!

Food, Glorious Food!

Oh, so patiently waiting!

I thought today would be a fun day to try Paxton on his first "food." Well, as much as you would consider rice cereal mixed with breast milk, food! He has seemed so ready, to the point where I have been feeling like I am starving him! Obviously not, but, I just knew it was time to start. This is the exact same age that I started with Lyric too. He ate the whole bowl like a professional! He opened his mouth for every bite. As you can see, he did a good job getting it ALL over his face. He had so much fun in the sink afterwards!

Christmas Sunday

I actually got ready early enough to take some pictures of them in front of the tree.



The best shot we could get!
Cheese!
My mom was telling the girls to pose!
Mom and Dad, too cute!
A rare photo, with mom and dad!



Every year, my mom always loves buying Christmas dresses for the girls. This year was no exception. She bought them these beautiful, brown velvet dresses. This morning, when Lyric put hers on, she immediately went and put on her ballet shoes. She instantly felt like a dancing princess!
Poor Peyton was home sick, so she was not able to be in the pictures! I had Paxton in a green sweater, because Peyton's dress was a dark green velvet. Having a boy sure makes it different in the apparel department! They sure do not make too many cute "dressy" boy clothes, at least not that I have had success finding!
Tomorrow we are getting together for our Christmas Eve gathering. My mom has bought them "Christmas Eve" dresses. She got Paxton a white shirt with a tie that matches the girl's dresses! Too cute :)

RIP

My camera is officially broken! For the past month, I have been using my mom's camera with my sister's USB cable. Kristy needed her USB cable back, so I thought I'd transfer my memory card from my mom's camera to my camera to download my pictures. The dumb thing turns on for five seconds and then shuts off. I tried two different sets of news batteries, but they did not work. Two years doesn't seem like that long of a life span for a camera. I used it a good amount, but it is not like I was always throwing it against the wall! Oh well!

Yesterday, Paxton had his four month shots. Yes, a month and a half after turning four months! I kind of did that on purpose. I had taken him to the doctor shortly before turning two months, not for shots. They decided to go ahead and give him his two month shots at that time. After the fact, I was mad at myself for letting them do that. I should have told them I wanted to wait until he was two months old. With the ridiculous number of shots babies get, I don't have a problem with delaying them just a little.

Anyways, he did really good. He actually only cried while getting the shots and calmed down very fast. You could tell he was rather offended! He weighs 22 pounds and is 28 inches long. Although he is still chunky, I think he has slowed down on the major growth he was doing at first.

Lyric and Paxton's pediatrician is a really nice older man. He is from Utah and always sees on Lyric's chart that she was born their. So, he always spends the majority of the time talking about his trips there, and about all of the places I have never really heard of! I try to be polite and just listen, but inside I am kind of thinking, "Shouldn't you pay a little more attention to the actual appointment?" He told me I should start Paxton on meats?!?! Veal, chicken, beef, pork. Are you serious? So I go straight from breast milk to handing him a rib eye steak? I know he didn't literally mean that, but it did catch me off guard. I thought you were supposed to start them with rice cereal first!

Tomorrow, I have the opportunity to sub for our Primary chorister at church. For those of you who know me, this is VERY out of character for me. I told the lady yes, because at this point of my life, I don't think being "too scared" is a good enough excuse! At least it is Christmas Sunday, so lots of kids will probably be gone. I also get to lead them in Sacrament meeting, they are singing a few different songs. Thankfully, Jamie will be helping me with that one!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Lyric!

Her actual Birth Day! She decided to come a week early, which I was so grateful for! My mom flew out on the next plane possible, when things started happening! We shopped, cleaned, prepared, and ate for two days before I went to the hospital.
On Monday, the 13th, I knew things were really picking up. I wanted to "labor" at home as long as possible. My mom and I walked around Target for quite a while getting all last minute things. Then, we went home and got everything ready. We went to the hospital that evening, and I called Mike at work to tell him to come to the hospital! She happened to be born on the week Mike had finals at school! Fortunately, she waited for Mike to complete his biggest test! My mom, so kindly, stayed at the hospital with me the whole time!
1st Birthday- we had JUST moved to California. We had her little party the night Mike and I pulled up with the U-haul! Jamie has made all of Lyric's birthday cakes!

2nd Birthday- I was about 9 weeks pregnant with Paxton and not feeling to hot! We had her little party at a pizza place.

3rd Birthday- Today is her actual birthday, but we had a little party for her last night. Most of my family was able to make it, of course Carly and Alyson are in Utah! Jamie made her a June cake. June is one of the characters from Little Einstein's. She had been requesting this cake for quite some time now. I think Jamie did a fantastic job!

I cannot believe Lyric is three! It is truly amazing how time flies by. From a tiny newborn, to an outspoken little girl! How does it all happen so fast!? There are so many memories I wish I could preserve in a little bottle. I have to say, that this is the first year that it has really hit me how close her birthday is to Christmas! The other day, I was going through her presents, deciding which was for Christmas, and which was for her birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LYRIC!! WE LOVE YOU :)

Livin' It Up

Lyric must really know that she is turning three in two days. I think she is really partying up the "terrible twos" to the bitter end! She has just been soooo moody lately! I try to remain patient, but I do not always succeed. Her nursery teacher at church even told me that Lyric was acting extra emotional!

I could think of a million reasons for her behavior, but I like to tell myself that as soon as she turns three on Friday, a magical spell will come and wipe away the "terrible twos." Ha, wouldn't I like to think it would be that easy!

Today, I was in the kitchen making something. Paxton was sitting, playing with some toys. Lyric was in the room, doing what I thought, was playing. Well, next thing I hear him crying. I went out there to see the words GUILT written across her face. I said, "What happened to Paxton?" After about 79 times of asking and then saying, "Show mommy what happened." She said, "I bit him on his toe." Just little things like that, or poking his eyes, or repeatedly pouring cups of water on his head in the bath after being asked to stop, or covering his head with blankets.

But, you see, it is not just with her brother. So, today, I took Jordyn home from school. Lyric was in the car and I was outside talking to Jamie. Jordyn was talking to Lyric through the window, which was rolled up. All of the sudden I hear Lyric crying. I thought it was because she wanted to go into Jamie's house. I get in the car and we leave. As we are driving I asked her, "Why are you crying?" She said, "Because Jordyn did this...." and then proceeds to show me this face-

I couldn't help but laugh! I had to take a picture of her doing the face tonight. So, somehow this face Jordyn gave Lyric, really hit the wrong note with her! What are you going to do, it must be hard to be just about three, and have all of these emotions running through your little body!

On a side note, Lyric has been into drawing and writing lately. She wrote her name for the first time the other day. Today, she drew a person for the first time. I must say, I was rather impressed! It was so cute to see her interpretation of a person! Of course, you must have the arms coming out of the head! She ended drawing one of me, Mike, Paxton, and herself. This particular one happens to be of Paxton. My, does he have some long legs!

Slacker

For some reason, I have been in a blogging funk! I want to do it, I just can't convince myself enough! Anyway, here are some pictures from the past couple of days.

On Saturday, we had our ward Christmas party. This year, it was a brunch. I wasn't thrilled that it started at 9am, but it turned out great. Then, that evening, Mike had his work Christmas party. Jamie was oh so nice, to keep both of our kids at her house! We had a fun time and ate a lot of delicious food.

Paxton is doing so good at sitting up. He puts such concentration into it! I was quite surprised, because this is a month sooner than Lyric started sitting. I can tell he loves this new found freedom! He will still topple over at times, but he does pretty darn good.

Five Months!

Paxton is five months old today. How is that possible?!?! Here are a few tidbits on this boy.

-Due to a little cold he acquired a month ago, he is not sleeping as great as he was. I guess I can't complain a ton, from 10pm-10am, he typically gets up once.

-In the past month, he has started ravenously grabbing for everything his little paws can reach. Of course, it goes straight to his mouth!

-As you can tell from the pics, he can sort of sit up with the boppy behind him. You can tell from the second picture what happens after a little bit!

-He has yet to roll over

-He has this new squealy voice he does when he is excited, I love it!

-His hair is still reddening by the day, most people refer to his hair as red! Someone at church asked if we were part Irish because of his red hair!

-I have not started any solids yet. I felt so excited to do this with Lyric. I guess, because I know what I will be getting myself into, I don't feel rushed! It adds a whole new element of work, and he obviously is not looking malnurtritioned!

-He is STILL in our room. I only have myself to blame. Get this, he sleeps in the swing seat, in his bassinet! The swing started breaking, so my mom suggested taking off the swing seat and putting it in the bassinet. It works like a charm! I keep thinking, why possibly ruin something that works! Mike is ready for him to be out, but I feel a little sad at the thought :(

All in all, I just love this guy! Lyric is still so good with him. She adores him. He also cannot get enough of her! He will sit on the couch and just stare at her! Sometimes I do have to remind her that he is just a baby, and to do things just a LITTLE softer, or to not play peek-a-boo by covering his head, for a lengthy period of time, with a blanket, or to not put all of her body weight on his stomach! I know it is all done with the intention of love.

Gingerbread Decorating

Starting the foundation.
Helping Lyric
Paxton hung out with Ryan and my Dad.
Cheese!
Her pasty smile :)

Lyric's final product.

Tonight, we went to my parent's for dinner and gingerbread house decorating. We ate some of the best steaks I have ever put to my mouth! Thanks Dad :) The girls were so excited to decorate these houses. They each had their own to do. I was amazed at how much candy was left over, especially with how much they had on their houses! These fun kits were from Costco. I was glad the candy wasn't tempting for me, otherwise I probably would have eaten it all!

Paxton's Faves

Lately,Paxton has two things that are sure to occupy him. Lyric brought this mylar balloon home from my dad's birthday. Paxton is absolutely obsessed. Initially, he would just stare in amazement. Now that the helium is dying and it barely floats, it is more at his level. I put it in front of him and he went crazy! Cheap entertainment!

He also really loves smothering himself with blankets. He loves to play with them and eat them. Now that he is totally in the grabbing faze, everything obviously goes straight to the mouth!