Holiday Update

We spent a week ago Sunday visiting with Todd's family..a little bit of an early Christmas with his Brother and Sister-in-law..

We were at Grammy & Grandpy's house...they have 3 dogs and Justin loves them!



His first present to open...he wasn't really sure what he was supposed to do with it. But, he sure likes the ribbon.


It tastes really good!


Daddy gave him a little one to try out, he was still perplexed.


Okay, now he gets it...Rip, Rip, Rip. . .


Justin got a baby leapfrog from Steve & Melissa. Here is Aunt Meghan showing him how to use it.


Crawling over Uncle Derek


On Monday Cate (Oma), Justin, and I drove to Mom & Dad's for a week (Oma to see Tootlepops)... Traveling with Oma is so great...we chat up a storm the whole way and the trip goes by real quick.

Justin was much closer to Mom this last visit. He enjoyed sitting on her lap and playing with her. He would hang out with Grandma while I did a few things here and there and was such a good boy for her.


He loves to play with Grandma walker. For some reason it is the highlight of toys.....


Jim and I treked out to the grocery store and bought a Christmas Tree for Mom & Dad's house...we called it the GOLDEN tree, since it was pretty pricey....I thought it would be cheap there, but I guess only if you do the U-cut...but we supported the Boy Scouts anyway...

Here is Jim putting up the Angel (Mom made this Angel years ago)....


Oma and Dana....


All the stocking are hung. . .


Reese loves his stocking...he wanted to hold it...


On Thursday, we (Mom, Sylvia, Christina, Grace, Justin, and I) went to visit Grandma Erma. I called her about 10am to see if it was a good day to come and she was playing B-I-N-G-O. She sounded like she was having so much fun! I told her we would be by to see her that afternoon and she was so excited to have visitors coming. We had a van full of people to go see her. When we arrived, she was in another quad listening to Christmas Music..some of the staff went to get her and brought her back to the living room shared in her Quad. I was so glad to see Grandma doing so well. She had a smile from ear to ear...even when we left, she was still smiling. She now jets up and down the hallways, knows all the folks there, and thinks they are all so wonderful. She has met many new people and loves for all the folks to sit around and tell stories of there childhood, etc.

Grandma is so very happy to be where she is....she loves the people and everything about it.

Mom in the living room visiting


Here is our happy Grandma.


On Friday I headed to visit with Dana for a quick visit and the Cousins were there to visit too. Stella loves to hold Justin. He did pretty good for letting her do so, but he was ready to jet out of there. He is pretty good natured.


Saturday Uncle Marlow, his daughter (Karen) and husband (Terry) came for a visit.

Dad & Karen as we visit around the table


Justin was enamored with Uncle Marlow.


He even let Terry hold him.


That night, Terry, Sara, and Abigail came for dinner...their Christmas with Mom & Dad...Abigail was able to open her gift from Mom & Dad, she got a little tykes car...Mom & Dad have one at their house, so Justin used that one and they played all night in the cars.....


Here is Abigail, Dad, and Justin. Justing couldn't stand his Papa holding Abigail and not joining in on all the fun!


Cate and I drove home on Monday...so, only a few more days until Christmas...this season has flown by like crazy!

Our 2007 Christmas Party

Last night we hosted a Christmas party with a few friends...Now that we all have kids, it is harder to get together. Used to be, when we were single and child free, we got together often...so this time of year, we try to have a get together of us all and enjoy each other's company. Here are a few pics from our evening together.

Todd and Justin waiting for the party to get hoppin'


Our feast...


Boone playing with Justin


Tara and Kay chatting up a storm...


Alicia, Tara, and Justin....was great to see our friend from up north!


Abigail at the dinner table...


Abigail giving Justin a hug...it was precious.


A great chair for a little girl.

Having fun with Mommy's scarf...

Now where is that wig he was wearing the other week?



This could be a great picture to show his future girlfriends...

My first wash of the cloth with a doosie of a diaper

So, tonight was my night to wash the cloth diapers...so far only had pee diapers...until Todd got home....and it was an explosion! So, we had an explosive cloth diaper, made it though to the plastic stuff and almost out the back! Anyway, I decided to flick/swish it in the toilet and then pop it into the wash bin for diapers.....washed them all this evening and they all came out looking great. So, for my first attempt at this, I am feeling pretty good about it.

On another note - Justin is teething again, and these must be bad...for the past 2 or 3 days, we haven't been napping well (not all in the afternoon unless he nurses to sleep and then I hold him)....we were on such a great schedule that he didn't nurse and he would go down after snuggling for a bit...so we will be back to square one after these teeth decide to enter our world. Justin has also been going through a biting stage as well...yes, while nursing, and sometimes he just bites my leg. I am not sure if he is hungry, needs attention, or just wants to bite something! Today was his best day for not biting, but it does get old, and makes for a cranky mommy....this is all on top of the pinching that he does while nursing too...

On the good note for the day - you just can't help but love him! I can be as frustrated as anything because he is fussy, won't nap, etc...but once I get him calmed down and get to snuggle with him, it just is peaceful....I try to remember that this won't always be this way and he will soon grow to not want kisses and hugs.

I have some pictures from this past week - will try to post them this weekend, but I just had to blog about the diapers.

cloth . . . continued

Okay, so far I still haven't done a load of laundry....will tomorrow night, but so far no poo either...so I am sure he will have a big one while in a cloth diaper...I used a disposable today (1) cause I thought he might let one fly :)

Tidee Didee sounds great, but they don't service our area and I think I can actually get disposables cheaper than there cleaning rate....with coupons, etc...that is why we hadn't made the switch. We have a very similar service here, but again, there rates were more than disposables...

Cari - I am terrified of the #2's.....it grosses me out too, but I am at least going to try it. The pee ones are actually not that bad. And,as my friend Erin says....the disposables now are really stinky for sure....when he was little it didn't smell bad, but now you have to take them out daily....YUK....

I really like using the G with the cloth, cause it does have the plastic lining to it....so far I only have 2 covers...and I love the fun covers you can buy.

More tomorrow

Cloth Diaper Day #1

Well, I received the order of Kushies to start Cloth diapering...but, they are gigantic. It will take Justin another 6 months to fit into them. So, I had some pre-folds and started using them yesterday....they make the diaper huge, but we will see how day #2 goes.

I will take the Kushies AIO back and maybe purchase some other stuff at the Baby Used store...she sells New Happy Heiny's....and, I have a credit there. So far, it is going well.

Justin is a busy little guy. He has been really good with the Christmas tree....he really likes to look at it, point at it, and tried to get an ornament a few times, but really doesn't get too close. He is interested in this fun box that is wrapped in cute paper now though...really wants to touch it.

Our 2007 Christmas Tree

On Saturday, the whole Family decided to go find our Christmas Tree in the mountains...here is the view from the road




Todd and Glenn shooting the breeze...it was about 28 degrees, so we were all freezing cold!


Justin loves dogs...Grandma and Jen are letting Justin pet Ralph..Ralph was really good with him.


I think Justin loves his Grammy......she let him play with Ralph...don't get any ideas though...we don't want a dog - we will go visit Ralph, Sprout, and Roxie....


Justin and Grandpa Glenn....isn't he a proud Grandpa! Justin was able to spend time with Grammy and Grandpa while Todd and I went out looking for our tree...he loved honking the horn! I think Grandpa and Grammy would let him get away with just about anything. :)


Hanging out on the Quad.....


More hanging with Grammy !


Our tree after it was all decorated....we opted to wait until Justin was asleep before trying to decorate...so far this morning he hasn't climbed it or anything...just points at it with amazement. We were going to get a SuperYard, but when we saw how spendy it was, we decided that Justin could learn the meaning of "no".... I can think of a lot better uses for $150 than a plastic gate thing.


And, just for fun, while Todd and I were chatting it up, not paying any attention for about 30 seconds, Justin makes his way into the tissue box.

Boppy Recall

There is also a boppy recall in this whole world of recalls....I have a boppy cover that fits this description...just called it in and am awaiting a call back to see if okay or what they will do.

http://www.boppy.com/re/

I do know so many of my friends whom use the boppy, so maybe you will all check out as well.

A sick house

We had a great time at home with Mom, Dad, & Family..but Justin got his first cold...a chest cold and still has a small cough...unfortunately Todd has now come down with it...I have a sore throat and hope that is all I get???

We had a nice Turkey day with the family - Check out Tootlepops for a pic of Justin in Grandma's wig..he didn't mind it at all...

Friday was busy preparing for Saturday's big feast...we had about 50 people at Mom & Dad's house with a concert too! What a weekend - it flew by way too fast!

Cloth Diapers - taking the plunge

First of all,

Happy Turkey Day tomorrow!!!

I just ordered 5 Kushie's...and 10 inserts. I recently purchased the G-diapers and am thinking that I can use the inserts in the G's....many people online do it too....and the Kushies are a very affordable All in one cloth diaper....we are taking the plunge to do it....I figure we can save some mega $$$$ by going cloth....using the G's today....

Will let you know how that all goes....I am a bit nervous about the #2's..... :)

just a few pics

Here is our handsome man playing with his toys in the kitchen area....he is such a good baby!

Justin's 9 month checkup

We went in yesterday for Justin's 9 month checkup. He is doing well...a healthy baby boy. He weighs in at 20 lbs, 10 oz and is 29 inches tall.

Also a new development

On Mom and Dad's anniversary, Justin started crawling on his knees....he is moving like crazy and we have to chase him around...he is getting faster

The going green bit

Okay, so lately the hot topic is going "GREEN". We recently started to recycle some items, and that is working well. I found out that all my tin cans (soup cans, etc) are recycleable ( I knew that ) ... but the even better part is that I can get cash for the tin. That was even more incentive to start recycling tin for sure. I need to do a drive by of the recycle place and find out what they take for money...hey, on a single income, every penny counts!

Also, just this past week, we got G-Diapers we have only tried them once so far...they are not cheap by any means...Aunt Dana got a bargain on the starter kits, so we are giving it a shot...I looked into buying more of them, and I found them for $0.45 a piece...and I can get Huggies for $0.17 at Costco...again the pinching pennies....that is like 2 for 1...but I will keep my eye out for good deals of the G's.

A workin boy

While visiting Grandma and Grandpa, Grandpa decided to make his new chair rock instead of just kick out...Justin was a great helper.

Learning what to do...


I think I can get used to this...


Yup, I am sure this is how it works.


I like these tools too.

My most recent trip to Mom & Dad's

I left for Oregon a week ago Friday for Mom & Dad's 40th Anniversary Party (well, one of 2 I think we are planning). Todd was lucky enough to get off work early on Friday, so we didn't have to hotel room it for the night and were able to get to Mom & Dad's for a late dinner. Mom didn't know we were going to be there for dinner, so it was a good surprise for her.

Saturday was the big event...Jim found this swing (Dad wanted to have 3 or 4, but they are out of season, so this one made 2). Just loved the swing..and Grandpa loved pushing him in it. We had many kids there..a ton of cousins to play with.




Mom and Dad's Cake...for Saturday.



The happy couple....Sunday was their "real" anniversary, so Christina got them a cake for Sunday just for them. Justin and I went to town and gave them a bit of time to celebrate....



On Sunday, we also celebrated Gabbi's birthday. I think she liked her piece of cake....

Halloween at our house

Justin was very interested in the strange people coming to our door last night. He didn't want to be left out of the deal, so he came with us to the door - the expression on his face was so funny. He really wanted a piece of candy too, and as I would hand them out, he would grab some from the bowl....

We didn't dress him up this year. We had a hand me down costume, but it was too small. Grandma Nellie bought him this shirt, and it was a hit! Next year we might try a costume....

A day at Grandma & Grandpas House

Yesterday we went to visit Grammy & Grampy....we enjoyed time outside and playing with everyone too.

Here is Todd and Justin playing with Sprout...Justin sure loves Sprout....Grampy thinks we need a dog, but we really don't think so...



a close up...


We took a friend over with us and they had a Radio Flyer...so we some pictures, and Justin rode around in it...he loved it!

Sitting up like a big boy

Last night Todd and I were sitting in the computer room looking up stuff online while Justin was playing. And, for the first time, he sat up on his own, so we did our best to get him to do it again and catch it on video...here you go!

Another money saver

Recycle, recycle, recycle...a few months ago, we had to get a bigger trash can, then about a week later, our waste management company brought us a huge 50 gallon (i think) green bin for recycle. Since then, we have been really good about recycling just about everything we can...and have also gotten a smaller trash can for real trash...this has saved us about $20 per month...and we are saving our landfill too.

At work with Daddy

Justin has a shirt just like Daddy. I made it from one of Todd's old shirts...it is a onsie....so, before Justin grows out of it, we decided we best get a picture of our future shop boy :)

Here is the working Gang (Grandpa, Todd, Derek, and Justin).

We are back home

Well, we spent a week at home with Mom & Dad. My sister was able to come for a few days and Jim was able to come home after work almost every night. It was nice to spent time at home. We are already looking forward to our next visit with Papa and Grandma Paula. I didn't take any pictures while at home, seemed like every day just passed by so very quickly!

So, this picture was taken this morning as I was trying to get Justin to enjoy his crib. Last night he finally fell asleep in his own crib, and not in our room..it didn't last long, but at least it was a start...prior to this, he has been in his pack n play in our room.

If you look at this closely, you can see his two bottom teeth, we have had these for some time now.

This picture you can see his top two teeth...he has the 5th tooth as well and are now working on the 6th tooth - hoping is shows it's pearly whites so the teething and attachment and pain will subside for a while.

8 months old

Justin has started crawling...here is a video...it has been about 2 weeks now...just after we got home from our trip home. He is doing pretty well...he isn't all over the house yet, but he does move a bit




Last night we were all hanging out in the living room. Justin got this bear chair from Aunt Mary and he absolutely loves it. He sits there like a big boy....has only fallen off one - since mom was looking the other way.....don't you love the one sock on - one sock off....


Okay, Justin's 8 month old picture....with Teddy.