Slow and Steady...

Blair is finally moving! It definitely takes a while to move forward but she eventually gets to where she wants. She kind of rolls back and forth until slowly but surely she moves forward to the thing that she wants.

Blair is all about rolling to get to where she wants. Yesterday she rolled 1 1/2 rolls until she couldn't roll any more and hit her face on the coffee table in the living room. She got a little bruise under her eye but you can hardly tell it is there today.

I'm actually pretty excited that Blair is starting to move. I'll probably change my mind in a few weeks when she starts to get into everything thing but for now I will just enjoy this new development.

LONG video of Blair moving to get the phone.

Warning: She cries and whines a lot so you may want to mute it (this was taken after 20 minutes of tummy time so she isn't very happy).

We really haven't been up to too much these days. It is too cold in Idaho to stay outside very long and I've been too lazy to get out of bed to take Nathan to the hospital so that the kids and I can get out and do something. Well it doesn't help that one or both the kids have been keeping me up at night so that is part of the reason why I haven't been getting up to take him. Another reason is Nathan and I have been staying up late looking at houses online.

Pictures to recap what we have been up to:

Easton making a mess eating a very ripe pear in the car on our way up to Idaho Falls to spend time with cousins.

Blair at G&G Stocktons house.

Blair's hair is getting a little longer so I put a bow in it.

Introducing Easton to his first Nutella sandwich.

He loved it!

We went to the park just down the way from G&G Uehling's house.

Blair's first time in a swing. She seemed a little unsure about the whole thing.

Easton, Dad, and Blair riding on the dinosaur.
It was so cold.

Video of Easton riding in the car.

Dad and Blair riding on the car.

Since it was too cold the last time we went out to play at the playground we found a playland at the mall to play at. Before this we went to the library for story time.

Daddy with his two little ones.

Again at the playland.

Easton woke up sick last night and was throwing up everywhere. He slept in our room on the floor so I could keep an eye on him and help him out. I was hoping that he would be fine this morning but he is still sick. Poor little guy. He is so thirsty and hungry.

Blair at 7 months

Blair is 7 months old today! I swear each month goes by faster than the last. She is still my little sweetheart and is definitely a mommy's girl. She is usually fine when someone else holds her just as long as I'm not in the room or somewhere where she can see me. But the second I walk in the room or she spots me, she whines and arches her back until either I come and get her or the person holding her gives her to me. It is definitely nice to be so loved.

On Saturday Blair started to say mama and I swear she knows that it refers to me. She seems to say it when she wants my attention because she looks right at me and says it until I look at her. I could be wrong but I believe it is true. She has said dada before but to me it just seems like she is making the noise (like baba) and not really understanding that it refers to Nathan.

We are still having a hard time with Blair eating solid foods. You would think after 3 months of this that she would finally figure it out, but no such luck. She had her weird technique of sticking out her tongue that seemed to work for about a week but now she doesn't even do that. Now she just blocks everything with her tongue (she definitely has a very strong, picky, and stubborn tongue). I thought it might be that she didn't like her veggies (which is understandable) but she does the same with her fruits. Who doesn't like fruit? I might just have to go back to squash because I'm pretty sure that was what she was eating with her weird tongue technique.

Blair still hates tummy time. I think she really dislikes it even more now that she has been out of practice for most of this holiday break. She was definitely spoiled when it came to family holding her all the time. Now that it is just Easton, Blair and myself during the days she has been getting more time on her tummy but complains almost the second I put her on her tummy. Hopefully we can work our way back to a half hour a day so she can start to creep or crawl. I'm not entirely sure that I am ready for this but because Easton started between 7-8 months I know it could happen here shortly. I definitely don't want to hold her back or delay her.

Blair must have known that I was going to write her 7 month post today because if I would have wrote it before today I would have said that she has turned into a really horrible sleeper (last night was actually pretty good). I'm not sure if it is because of all the travel or because she is starting to get her first tooth (maybe both?) but she has had a really hard and weird sleeping schedule. I am definitely not one of those people who let their kids sleep with them, but the last few nights I just gave up and let her sleep with us so that I could get some much needed sleep. I also didn't want her to wake everyone else in the house up. I'm glad that she slept pretty good last night so that we can hopefully stop this before it becomes a habit.

I just love this happy little girl. She just has the sweetest little smile that melts my heart.

Cute Little Easton

During sacrament meeting on Sunday someone was blessing their baby. During the prayer Easton folded his arms and squinted his eyes (that's him closing his eyes) like he should but then he decided that he was going to say his own prayer. "Thank you for daddy. Thank you for mommy. Thank you for Bair (Blair). Thank you for daddy. Thank you for mommy. Thank you for Bair." He continued this several times. It was definitely the cutest and sweetest little prayer ever but it was also sort of loud and probably very distracting. To others it probably sounded like a rude little boy talking during a prayer. That is what I thought until Nathan told me afterwards what he was saying. What do you do during a time like this? I mean it wasn't the best time for him to say his own prayer but how can you tell a little boy to stop praying when your trying to teach him that it is good to pray? Nathan tried to get him to whisper but that really didn't work. Oh, well. Heavenly Father knows his good intentions and I guess that is all that really matters.

Easton was watching Madagascar the other day. Shortly after the movie he had an accident so he proceeded to take his wet clothes off. I went to grab some new underwear and clothes for him and during that time Nathan caught Easton dancing around the house naked and singing the song "I like to move it, move it." Later that night Easton was singing the song, "Shake your booty" while shaking his butt back and forth.


Yesterday Easton was putting something in his pocket.
Me: "What are you doing?"
Easton: "Pocket."
Me: "What are you putting in your pocket?"
Easton: "Ummm NO! I have to go. Bye, Bye."

He then runs away.

Also yesterday Easton turned to me and said, "I HAVE to watch TV!" Not I want to watch TV or can I watch TV? But I HAVE to watch TV. Can we say addicted?

Playing in the snow and visiting family

We took Easton sledding on a little hill pretty close to Grandpa and Grandma Stockton's house. We are staying with Grandpa and Grandma until they leave for Yuma, Arizona to get away from the cold weather and Nathan's rotation starts in Pocatello. Grandpa came with us and we left Blair behind with Grandma. Easton had a lot of fun until his hands got cold and he wanted to go home. Nathan took Easton down several times (which Easton preferred) and Easton also dared the hill a couple of times by himself. Easton in my mind is becoming more and more of a dare devil. I think if we would have let him he would have dared to surf down the hill. He tried but luckily he was on flat ground. Grandpa even went down with Easton once and I took him down twice.

Easton checking out the snow.

Grandpa Stockton





Nathan helping Easton up the hill.

Grandpa taking Easton down the hill.

Nathan and Easton


Nathan taking Easton down the hill.

Video of Nathan and Easton




Video of Easton

Video of Easton.

He's not happy because he wanted Daddy to go with him.

We also went and visited Nathan's Aunt and Uncle Kelsey and cousin Kylie.

Blair w/ Uncle Lance (Nathan's Dad's brother)


Aunt Stacy w/ Blair


Kylie w/ Blair and Kaity w/Easton

We visited Nathan's Grandpa and Grandma Kelsey

Nathan w/Easton, Grandma Grace w/Blair, and Grandpa Vic

Grandma Grace and Grandpa vic holding Blair.

Random:

We had just finished family scripture study and were about to have family prayer when Easton unzipped the top of his pjs, took Blair's new glow worm, and proceeded to try and breastfeed it. We all couldn't stop laughing. Nathan had to take a picture to document it. I wonder what Easton will think of this when he becomes a teenager. I think this will be one of those stories that he will never live down. Poor guy.

Christmas Day in Idaho

We left Utah on Christmas morning and got to Idaho around noon. Eventually all of Nathan's sibblings and grandparents trickled in. Easton had tons of fun hanging out and playing with his cousins. We ate sandwiches and salads and then afterwards opened presents. Easton tried really hard to claim all the other kids' presents like his does with Blair's but because his cousins are older they wouldn't have it. Easton was in tears a lot. He just didn't understand why he couldn't play with everyone elses toys. We all had a lot of fun and we all definitely got spoiled. Thanks for all the gifts!

Fun pic with all the cousins on adults shoulders.

Bethanie w/ Easton, Blake w/Braeden, Gretchen w/Ella, and Nathan w/Blair

4 generation pic (I need to take another one because this one turned out kind of blurry).

Nathan w/ Easton, Grandpa and Grandma Stockton (Nate's mom's parents), Gretchen (Nate's mom) w/Blair

Ella, Kaity (Nate's youngest sister), and Easton



Cousin picture (Ella, Braeden, Blair, and Easton)

Cousin sandwich. They (mostly Easton) had lots of fun wrestling.

Opening presents.

Blake (Nate's brother) w/Kirstin (Ava's daughter)

Nathan with his mom

Andy (Nate's youngest brother) and Ava (Andy's girlfriend) w/Blair.

This is a big deal picture. Blair really wouldn't have anything to do with Andy. For some reason she would just cry anytime Andy came around. Blair let Andy hold her for quite some time and didn't even cry. I had to take a picture of the proof.

Cute picture of the kids (minus Blair) with their Aunts (Nate's sisters Bethanie and Kaity).

It was really nice to see everyone again. The last time we were in Utah/Idaho Easton had just barely turned 1. That was over 1 1/2 years ago. That is way too long. I am so excited that we are moving to California so we can see our families more often.

Visit in Utah

We rolled into Utah at 2:30 in the morning on Saturday (19th). It was a really long trip but luckily it wasn't as bad as I was imagining. I think it helped that we spent a whole day in Kansas so it didn't seem as bad. It was still long and I am definitely not looking forward to making the trip back. We will most likely have to make the same trip (a little longer of course) when we move to California in May. Thank goodness we are moving closer to family because I'm sure after the trip to California I will not want to travel that far again for a really long time. On our road trip I figured out that Easton has been to 22 states already in his short life (this does not include the states that he has had a lay over in just states he has driven through)! Blair has been to 16 states.

Easton coloring in the playroom.

Easton putting a bow on Kodi. Easton thought it was the funniest thing ever.

We went to visit Grandpa Layne at work and he took all of us for a train ride. The kids had a lot of fun.

Nathan, Gramma Sue, Blair, Easton, Braeden, and Ella



Braeden pulling the horn and helping drive the train.




Gramma Sue and Grandpa Layne (not the best pic but the only one I got of Grandpa).

Dad and Easton

Blair and Mom

Gramma and Ella

After the train ride we went to eat and then shop. Easton and Ella kept themselves busy reading a story to each other which was really nice because it was easier to keep track of them that way. It was a little crazy to have four little ones under the age of five. They are all pretty good kids but I'm glad that having kids is a gradual thing and that it doesn't happen all at once (well for some I guess it does happen all at once-crazy!)

Easton and Ella

Layne and Sue took all the grandkids and me around to see some really cool Christmas lights. Two of the houses we went to had their lights put to music. The other lights we saw where on what people call "Christmas lane" all the houses on that street had lights and in each lawn they had a page from the story "Twas the night before Christmas". Too bad Nathan missed out but he was too busy supporting the cougars plus there wasn't enough seats in the car for everyone so I guess it turned out okay.

One of the videos I took of the musical lights.

We celebrated Christmas with Nathan's dad and Sue on Christmas Eve. We had all of Nathan's siblings there which was really nice because it has only happened once before. We had a really nice dinner, played a game with a couple of his siblings, and then opened gifts. I really enjoy hanging out with Nathan's family because they make me laugh so much.

Easton opening a gift on Christmas Eve

Aunt Kaity and Easton soaking in the hot tub.

I really wish that I would have taken more pictures the week I was in Utah. I definitely need to do better. I missed taking pictures of Easton opening gifts with his cousins the day before Christmas eve, making sugar cookies with his cousins, and just getting pics of Blair and Easton with grandpa and Gramma Kelsey. Also, I forgot to get pictures of visiting my friend Paige and her family and also visiting Grandma and Grandpa Davis (Senior missionaries from Nathan's mission). Good thing we will be going back sometime in January to visit so I can get more pictures.