January

Yes, I am still here, just haven't blogged in what seems like forever - at least not with pictures. Justin is continuing to grow like a weed. He is becoming very independent - as he likes to have his own utensils when eating...not that he uses them to feed himself, but he wants to at least try. If I try to feed him without him having a spoon or fork in hand, his mouth is shut!

Here is Justin wearing his New Happy Heiny......I tried to make my first cloth diaper all in one and I don't really like it...I might still try some more...or not. I do know that for our second baby (no I am not PG)...I do want to do cloth. We have the G's with prefold inserts for his size now and I have 3 Large G's...so really Justin is set...I really like the Happy Heiny's, but since I already have stuff that works, it seems like too much $$$ for something I don't REALLY need.

On the cloth front, we are doing well. There are days that we use more disposables, just out of need. Like the other day, it seemed like we used all the covers, etc...so we used 2 more disposables than normal, but we are back to cloth today. And, I can say that changing a diaper in the car is awful! The only great place for him to get changed is in the front seat, but he is so uncomfortable....so it isn't an easy chore and sometimes a D is easier......



Justin and Daddy are playing with his push car....


And, this is what you do when Justin goes to bed and the power is out! Play RISK....coarse I was loosing and by 10pm I was ready for bed....so we bailed on the game, but Todd had about 80% domination.


Other than that, this weekend we treked to Ikea......didn't buy much - but sometimes it is fun to get ideas, etc. I wanted a coat rack for the front door (since we have a closet, but the coats typically end up on the couch)....and we found one we liked, but it was already stained and not in a color we liked, so Todd is going to make it for us.

Other than that...not much else going on.

The Sleep Easy Solution

So, while Todd was home for his vacation, we decided we were determined to get Justin Sleep trained. It has been a battle for some time now, and Mommy & Daddy are ready for some sleep - by themselves! So, once we got home from our trip, we instituted that Justin sleep in his own bed at night and during naps. It was amazing...the first few days was a little rough, and then it seemed it was a breeze for a few days...then we hit a rough night or two, and alass, today seems to be going better.

I read the book "The Sleep Easy Solution" It has really helped...I now understand a little better that I shouldn't just run and get him, let him cry a little and he might go back to sleep, etc. So, any of you Mom's out there struggling like I was, read this book. It actually gives you sleep solutions by age group...and if you can only read 2 chapters, it tells you what to read, and to read the rest later. I thought it was a great book.

We are still working on this. Last night Justin was up every 2 hours. By 3 am I was so done, so I sent Todd in to check on him, but Todd thought he might be hungry, so I got up with him....hoping someday soon he will sleep through the night.

Happy New Year

Well, it has been a while since I have posted. We have been keeping busy around here. Daddy was home for a week, so we were able to get spoiled with him around.

The weekend before New years we spent 3 days with Mom & Dad. We ended up coming home a bit earlier than expected, since a storm was coming through...we had gone to visit Grandma and hit black ice on the road, so the next day we headed home. We drove home New Year's Eve and got home around 10pm, so Todd and I stayed up till Midnight....

We spent New Year's shopping in town, although we only bought groceries. The next few days we stayed at home and Todd was able to clean the garage and get it organized (although I think he wants to do more too). I worked a little bit on cleaning the office. It is amazing how much recycling piles up. I keep a bin of "to be shredded" and it took me an hour to shred it all. And, daily I have recycling to keep up with - lot's of junk mail.

On Saturday, we went to town and went to Little Nellie's (our niece) birthday party - she turned 1 today. Happy Birthday Nellie!

Sunday was a day at home, just a trip to the local store here...not too much going on round here. And yesterday, I was off to town to do deliveries, and run a bunch of errands. Of coarse I didn't get them all done, so I have more to do here in town today.

I did go to the baby re-used store. I am about a 95% cloth diaper Mom now and it really isn't that bad. I thought I would just be discusted at the #2's, but it isn't too bad - really! So, i have been drooling of Happy Heiny's for about a year now..they are kinda spendy, so yesterday I bought one to test it out. I still have yet to wash it, but will do that today. I looked at how it is made and it is so easy, so If I like them, I plan to make my own! In all my spare time - RIGHT :)

No pics for today, but hopefully soon. Just thought you would all like to know we are still here.

Our Christmas

We spent Christmas Eve with Grandpa and Grammy, Meghan & Mike, and Derek & Jenn. . .

Justin had so much fun - here he is hanging with Aunt Meghan....he adores her.



Justin got a car from Santa. Here are the guys putting it together. .


Justin was enjoying helping Daddy and Grandpa with the car, and he loves Grandpa's knife


Christmas morning here at our house. . just a few little items from Santa at our house. He got a phone in his stocking.


A great green chair for camping this next summer. . and he is opening his gift from Oma and Opa here....a cool drive drive (like a car, you turn it on with a key, etc)....he loves it!


Christmas day we went over to Grandma Nellie's house for dinner and visiting. We had a wonderful time with everyone. Justin is getting into this whole opening of the gifts, but wasn't sure which to open first.


Here is Nellie and Justin together. Nellie is standing on her own and taking steps already - we are no where near that at our house and we are okay with that :)


Playing

Merry Christmas . . .

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.