So much fun

Tyler and I had a good day today. He even took TWO naps again for me :) I think he is making up for all the fun he has been having lately.

We had Grandma Anita and my brother, Jordan, in town this past weekend. Tyler and his cousins had a blast having different people around to impress with their antics. Of course I realized that I most definitely inherited the "forget to take out your camera" gene from my mom so I don't have any pictures of the weekend!

Today we enjoyed a morning at home that started after 5 a.m. (thank goodness) and some play-dough time. After Tyler's first nap we met up with a friend from the ward, Adrienne, and her three kids at Costco. On the way home I even stopped by the park to enjoy the beautiful weather. Tyler made some new friends at the park and loved playing soccer with some older boys. I love to see him in his element just enjoying running around and going crazy.

After the park Tyler took an awesome nap and let me get some editing done on daddy's paper for school. We enjoyed delicious BBQ hamburgers after daddy got home and Tyler was cracking us up trying to eat his burger like a big boy. I love it when we get a happy little boy with lots of sleep in him. To end the evening we let the little guy enjoy a nice bubble, some hot chocolate, and a good book.

Here's to hoping tomorrow is just as wonderful!

It's days like today...

that make me smile. This morning Tyler woke up happy and ready to play (although it was still earlier than I would have liked).

So far we have spent the morning cleaning up the house as a family. This might not sound fun to most people out there, but Ryan and I are self-proclaimed neat-freaks. Unfortunately there has been A LOT going on lately so the house has been a disaster. Well, with the blessing of a day off, an awake daddy, and a happy boy we have already...
-washed, and vacuumed out both cars
-cleaned the kitchen, including the stove and floors
-vacuumed all of down stairs
-vacuumed all of up stairs
-cleaned our shower
- had lunch as a family
- filed away the last 3 weeks of bills and other important papers
-done research for and started Ryan's group paper due next week
- done Ryan's participation for his online class for the day
- made all the beds
- straightened the pantry
-straightened the laundry room
- put Tyler down for a nap
-showered
-let Ryan take a nap
-posted to the Blog

Amazing isn't it?! This is to make up for all of my pregnancy-induced laziness which is too easy to justify :) I have loved getting the house tidy for our guests tomorrow- but most of all I loved watching my boys work together.

If anyone has been reading this for any length of time you may recall that Ryan used to have time to wash the cars once a week and Tyler and I were always out there with him. This morning was the first time in quite awhile that Ryan and Tyler got to wash the cars together. Tyler is so amazed with his daddy and follows him around like a little puppy. Tyler will scrub away just like his daddy does, spray the hose (funny story about that one), and even dry off the car. Tyler loves to help daddy move the car from the driveway to the street and back to the garage. With how busy life has become it was extra-special to see the boys have some bonding time. They really are the loves of my life!

Now, about the hose...Ryan showed Tyler how to squeeze the handle to make the water come out. Tyler did great and got it the first time...the only problem was that Ryan hadn't taught him how to make it stop. Tyler just stood there scared to death, not knowing how to make the water stop...all the while it was SOAKING the entire inside of our garage- floor to ceiling! Ryan finally grabbed the hose out of Tyler's hands to stop the flood and Tyler just broke down and cried. He ran to me first and then let his daddy hold him and patted his back. It was so funny. Tyler was worried he had done something wrong with all the screaming we were doing :) Thankfully, water dries and so do tears. They boys had a blast from that point on.

And did I mention it's only 1:55! We still have a lot of fun ahead of us.

Home-grown haircuts

I've always had someone else do Tyler's haircuts up to this day in his life. I was so nervous I'd mess it up so bad that Ryan might really hate me ;) Tyler has watched me cut Ryan's hair quite a few times and this morning he told me that he wanted his hair cut, so I got out the clippers, let him hear the noise, did a mock-run through to see if he'd mind the clippers on his head and went for it!

One handsome dude after his first haircut by Mom!

Oddly enough, I finally called and scheduled with my friend to cut his hair this Wednesday, but I thought I should at least give it a shot with the clippers and let her fix it if I messed up too bad.

Check out all that hair in the sink...this cut was way overdue. He was definitely edging on mullet status!

Well, I think I love the clippers. They give me the nice, even, all-over length and Tyler actually sat nice and still for the whole thing. We just stuck him up on the counter in just his diaper and went to town. It helped that he knew he could get in the "bubble" when we were done.

This kid LOVES his bubble baths. He even puts on a bubble beard- you can see a little on the one side of his face. He also blows bubbles, dumps water on himself, and splashes around a ton.

He is my adorable, not-so-little-boy and he looks handsome as ever!

Yes, he even squeegees up after himself! Well, at least he tries :)

What a good (and good looking) little boy. Sure do love him!

There was only one near-mishap where he turned his head a bit when I had the clippers going without a guard on...you can hardly tell. Feel free to call me on it if you see it in any pictures...if not, I'm sure his hair will grow out enough to compensate for it in about 3 days.

Dinner and Cookies with Friends

We finally hosted our "family" dinner for the first time since before Christmas (yikes!!) It was a blast having everyone over to eat, play, and eat some more.We had Jessica's Dr. Pepper Chicken, which I didn't mess up too bad, a yummy salad, and pink heart-shaped rice crispy treats. After dinner we celebrated Valentine's day by decorating sugar cookies.

The kids loved all the colors and fun treats that Ryan likes to have out to decorate with. It was fun to share one of our family traditions with everyone and see them all having such a good time with it.
The kids loved the frosting...and after they were done decorating the adults took a turn too!

We had two special little ones with us tonight- Maddy who will turn 2 on the 18th and Joseph (JoJo) who is turning 1 on the 22nd...right Jess? We should have celebrated a bit more for those two sweethearts- but it sure was fun just being around them.

30 Weeks and counting!

That's right...really only about 8 weeks left to go though since we're scheduling this little guy. Some days I feel downright huge, other days I completely forget I'm pregnant. This picture is just another way to remind myself that I really am going to have another adorable little boy in this house in the near future!

Any Advice?

Calling all moms of two or more children! Does anyone have advice about...

- which double stroller to buy (to fit in the trunk of a Camry)
- how to get your older kid into a big boy bed
- how to ween said older kid from his dang pacifier
- planning time for each kid
- anything random you needed for your second kid that you didn't have? (I'm thinking this will be pretty sparse since we're having a second boy..)

Please let me know your thoughts- especially on the stroller situation.

Thanks

oh- and if you're blogstalking (which I doubt anyone is on my blog- but hey, it could happen) and you have advice- leave it anyway. I need it!

Time for an update

I could update about MANY things...it's been one of those thought-provoking times of life...but for now we'll just stick with a baby update.

I had another appointment yesterday. Everything looks great with the blood work, yes- my prenatal blood work and glucose test that I am just doing NOW, and baby is measuring right on with a nice strong heartbeat.

I don't know about any other moms out there but gaining weight is the PITS for me. I think it has to do with the fact that I teach other people (or taught) how to lose weight and how important it is etc. etc. then here I am, eating right, working out, and packing on pounds like nobody's business! It is such a mind game for me because even if I do everything right I gain SO MUCH WEIGHT. My Dr. was sweet about it and said that I obviously know what to do but some people just get a funky pregnancy metabolism and gain a ton of weight.

Needless to say, once I'm done posting this I'm going to go "ramp it up" (a slim in 6 work out DVD) for about 45 minutes!!

Other than the weight gain freak out, and the realization that I am going to have two kids in just over 8 weeks freak out...things are pretty good!

In talking to the Dr. and consulting Ryan's work schedule it looks like this sweet little boy, we'll call him T.B.C. for now (seeing as how that will be his initials), will be joining us early in the morning on Friday, April 17th. Clear you calendars, get excited, and feel free to visit while I soak up the fun in a beautiful room at San Martin hospital!

I'm working on a belly shot because I am definitely too big for my own good- but I kinda need an extra set of hands to get a good one. It's coming...sometime!

Oh no!

It's official...Tyler has learned how to jump out of his crib! We just tried to lay him down for a nap (which he didn't want to take) and within seconds of closing the door behind me he had jumped out of his crib and ran into the hall! Kinda funny- but I can see a long road ahead of us teaching him to stay in his bed.

Wish us luck!

The rest of our California Weekend

Enjoying a fire Sunday morning with Grandpa and the cousins.

Maddy and Ben enjoying the fire...Tyler wouldn't get much closer because it was "hot"!

Spa night! Tyler had a blast in the spa...even though he fell in earlier that day (fully clothed) and got a fat lip! I was hoping it would scare some sense into him- but he was still his crazy, water-loving-self.

My handsome boys.

Just being silly and laughing at the bubbles.

Visit to the Happiest Place on Earth!

Disneyland!

Jan. 30th, 2009.

Happy Birthday to Great-Grandma Anita and Aunt Heather!!

Waiting around for the whole group to make it into the park. The start to a very long and very fun day!

Uncle Ryan wrangling kids in front of the Magic Kingdom. The two little ones loved watching the train come and go.

We got to go in a special car on the train thanks to our hook-up from a family friend. The car was built for presidents and other dignitaries...I think we qualify :) It was beautifully trimmed out with velvet, crystal, and original fabrics chosen by Walt Disney's wife.

The kids' first time on the Jungle Cruise! They loved most of it...and I think it was Ben that got freaked out by the piranhas. Tyler was making elephant noises when we saw the elephants and they just thought it was cool being in a boat.

We ventured over to storybook land ( I think that's what it's called) and we did Snow White- never again with kids- then the carousel. The kids thought it was pretty cool to get to be on a ride "by themselves".

Flying high with Dumbo. I got to ride with Maddy, Daddy with Tyler, and Heather with Ben. I forgot how centrifugal force works when you're (some number of pounds) heavier than usual with a little one on your lap! It was fun to see the kids enjoy themselves!

We headed over to Toon Town and let the kids run around for awhile. We even got to visit with Goofy. Maddy loved seeing the big "dog" but as usual, Tyler loved it until we got close enough to actually say hi. Oh well!

One for the picture books. We hardly ever get to go anywhere together as a family. We remembered to snap a quick photo on our way out of the park. It was such a fun day and we were so lucky to have Ryan there with us. It took some miracles at work- but he always does what he has to to be with his family. It was an especially fun day celebrating two Birthdays and three first-time Disneyland kiddies. We loved the heat, the adventure, and the super-tired kids at the end of it all!

Evidence of just how tired the kids were. They passed out on the way home and it was a struggle to get them to wake up enough to eat the yummy pizza grandpa had waiting for us at home.