el Bandito

I was able to go up with two of my good friends Sharli and Stevie up to Bear Lake to a Pickleville Playhouse production, The Hanging of el Bandito. If you haven't been to a production up there, you should go. Sharli's grandparents founded Pickleville in the late 70s, and her family participates in the productions.  The show was HILARIOUS, never a dull moment.

Monday hike

We invested in a backpack to carry Abigail so we could go on family hikes, and we tested it out this Monday by walking up a dirt path in Smithfield Canyon.  Abigail did pretty well - she enjoyed playing in the water and playing with grass as we walked, and only got a little whiny toward the end. Definitely a great investment, and something we'll keep doing!

Abigail - 20.5 months

I can't believe how quickly this little girl is growing up.  Every day she does things that remind me she's not a little girl anymore. lately she has been saying her ABCs, and today was pointing them out on a piece of subway art we have up. She still isn't talking a whole lot, but her favorite new word is sorry. I guess I say it so much it stuck in her head. The other day she spun around in circles until she was pretty dizzy, fell against the couch and then on the floor, then popped up saying "sorry, sorry, sorry"!  It was hilarious.  She loves pacifiers - even though she wouldn't take one when she was a baby. She will steal one from Grayson, or find one of her old ones lying around.  She knows what no means, but if it is something she wants but isn't supposed to have, she'll grab it and run away from me as I'm telling her no. Uh oh. She loves to be outside, and I think would be happy living out there all the time Here are a few pictures of her recently:

My mom made me a Moby wrap when I had Abigail, and I've been using it with Grayson as well. Abigail found another use for it - it kept her entertained for an hour!

Abigail watched me dust the doors the other day, and decided to follow suit. What a great helper she is!

Abigail kept bringing me her towel after bath time, wanting me to drape it on her head. She loved walking around with it on her head. And it makes a great reading tent as well :)

Grayson - 2 months

Next week Grayson will be two months old! Time flies when you're having fun. Fun of sorts. He has been getting fussier, but not nearly what Abigail was. I am grateful he takes a pacifier!!  He is awake and alert for quite a bit of the day, and always rolls over when I put him on his tummy. I have yet to record this, guess I'd better get on top of it! He likes to give me the stiff arm while nursing, but still tries to eat. He usually has one segment during the night where he sleeps six hours, but then always wakes up with gas pains at 5. Always. So he lays on my chest, and dozes in and out of sleep. Abigail loves it when Grayson tickles her and gives her bonks, and I love to watch my two children interact. Of sorts.

Sleep time!  I like this picture because it shows how light colored his hair is. It is definitely lighter than Abigail's was at this point.

Blanket time. If Grayson is on a blanket, Abigail always wants in on the fun!

Abigail being helpful, and covering up brother. She also loves to wipe his mouth when he has spit up. And then tries to wipe mine!

sweetest smile

single mom weekend

Joe headed down to St. George with some buddies to go golfing, and hike Angel's Landing leaving me with two kiddos at home. I decided to be brave and venture down to Centerville to visit my family and celebrate my brother's birthday!  The trip went pretty well, although we were a little beat when we got home.  We were very glad when Joe got home Monday evening!

My mom was very excited to hold Grayson again, and glad that he will let anyone hold him. Abigail was crying all the time by this age, and would only calm down while I was holding her. He's mostly calm, except when he's spitting up which comes and goes.

I LOVE these pictures of Abigail. We roll up a rug to make room for the high chair, and it becomes Abigail's balance beam. She loves to walk back and forth along it and it keeps her entertained for a good while.

  I love my kids. Sometimes I can't believe they are mine, and am grateful that I have the chance to be a mom.

Abigail's cousin Cole. Cole is pretty much in the middle of my kids, and is the sweetest little guy. He is so friendly, and sooo busy! It will be fun to watch them all grow up together. 

skinny vs. skinny!  We have two of the skinniest little kids - we aren't sure who wins the skinny battle, but it was fun to see them next to each other.

our life ... from the phone

I have been extremely bad at remembering to take pictures with our camera. Don't know why that is, but luckily I have taken some from my phone.  Life is good. I enjoy being home with my two kids (most days), and am enjoying the cool weather. Here is a summary of what we've been up to lately, from the phone:

Abigail is slowly figuring out how GOOD food is, and has enjoyed apples, pasta, rice and beans, and a few other things. She is feeding herself more, and actually wanting to eat!

Have I mentioned how much she loves balls? She figured out where the ball goes all on her own!!  Her preference is still a soccer ball, much to my delight!

She is a climber, and thinks that if she can get to something it is hers. I was feeding Grayson and she came downstairs. I followed a few minutes later, and this is what I found. She had climbed up onto the kitchen table, so she could get the remote to turn on Tangled. Smart girl. Naughty girl :)

Our neighborhood had a water balloon party, and Abigail really enjoyed her balloon. She wouldn't let go of it, and when it finally popped she was devastated.

The little man who is no longer really little. Our friends had their baby boy last week, and we went to visit. I put Grayson next to their little guy and Grayson seemed so big!!  Good to know that food is doing something :)

 tummy time often means finding something to suck on - hand, arm, fingers, and results in a nice raspberry.

I didn't think it would be as fun to dress boys as it is girls, but I was WRONG. Isn't he handsome??  I still can't believe he's mine.