Leah can do many things

I know this video is long, but Leah waves a lot at the end, so keep watching!

I thought I would share some updates on Leah. She is now 9 1/2 months. She crawls everywhere and can walk along the furniture. I'm afraid I may have an early walker. She has two little bottom teeth and just today I noticed one of her top teeth poking through. She says dada, mama, hi (well sort of), and loves to smack her lips, suck her thumb and give big open mouth kisses. She is learning to throw a ball (lucky for Bowen), and is good at eating paper! She can also drink from a straw, and is very good at eating icecream.

She only cries when she is being constrained such as when she is getting in her car seat or high chair, and especially when I have to change her clothes. I wonder if this has something to do with her future personality. Maybe she will always hate being pushed (I am scared about one day having a teenage daughter). She also doesn't like being left in a room by herself. She cries and cries until someone comes back into the room.

Bowen (2 1/2) is an active boy. Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday I do aerobics at the church and he loves running around. Basketball is his thing right now. The hoop that occupies our front room right now is the best investment we ever made. Even though it's cold he still asks to go outside and dig with his trucks. He can stay out for over an hour in the freezing cold.

I discovered a super fun indoor activity for little boys. All you need is this:
And this:

And one of these:

He spent hours digging the cotton stuffing and it was super easy to clean up. (I would have taken a picture, but I have misplaced my camera again! I guess it's time to clean again).

Merry Christmas

Audrey and Leah

Bowen and Cyus

Leah and Trajen

Bowen watching cars (in heaven)

My decorating (so I can remember for next year)

This video show what Bowen sounds like and I wanted to try out my new camera!

We had a wonderful Christmas! I hope all of you did to! On Christmas Eve we ate dinner (shrimp and crab) at Seth's parent's house! We should make that a yearly tradition! (I seem to be putting ! after every sentence. I'll try to calm down). We also read the Christmas story in the Bible, and Bowen actually sat still. Then we went home, and Bowen had a "long winter's nap". He slept until 9:15 Christmas morning. Leah was very patient to wait for him to wake up, haha. So we finally woke up Bowen to see what Santa had brought him. Seth keeps saying, "Bowen, I'm Santa." I don't think Bowen really gets it yet, but he was sure excited to see his choo-choo-train Christmas morning. He loved everything (most of is presents had wheels).

Leah took a nap while we let Bowen watch "Cars" and then we headed over for more food and fun with Seth's family. Bowen got to play with Zoriaha, Cyus and Trajen. And Leah and baby Audrey spent some time together too. It was so fun to be with family and enjoy this special (my favorite) holiday. (I am already sad that it's over, I think the week after Christmas is the most depressing week of the year).

Christmas Card

Every year I try to pick a Christmas card that totally captures my family. I spend hours and hours searching for the right one...just kidding.

Usually, I just choose the one that looks decent and that is somewhat cheap. I've never looked at the shutterfly Christmas cards and Holiday cards, because I thought they were way too expensive. Come to find out that they are really a lot better looking than the Walmart or Sam's club ones that I have done in the past. And they're not too expensive if you can get a promo code (which I am earning through this blog post).

I used shutterfly to create Leah's birth announcement earlier this year:


I just love their selection, and their quality is unbeatable. One day I hope to make a 12 month photo calendars so I can enjoy my families pictures all year long. The only problem I have is that I think of this idea at the beginning of December. I should really start this project in January. Maybe that will be one of my new years resolutions.

Here is a preview of my family Christmas card:

I would love to send you all a Christmas card so if you think I don't have your address please email it to me!

Happy Halloween!

Leah was a cow and Bowen was a farmer. He loved his John Deer tractor. Trick-or-treating was a little bit rainy, but I took the kids out around the block while Seth stayed home (he actually had the better job. I guess I'm a grown-up now because I think staying home on Halloween is more fun than going out trick or treating).

Family pics (minus Seth)

So we took family pictures last weekend, but the lighting turned out really bad. My neighbor was the one who took the pictures, so to make up for the bad pictures, we took some of the kids in her back yard last week. I may be biased, but I think I have the cutest kids in the world!

To see more pictures go to her photo blog

Also, Leah had her 6 month check up . She was 16lbs. 3 oz. So not quite as chubby as Bowen was. She is tall like Bowen has always been, measuring in the 97 percentile.

2 kids and an antelope

Bowen and Leah are great little friends now. Bowen loves to make her laugh. The other day Leah was sucking on something and I found a sunflower seed that Bowen had put in her mouth! He also likes to give her his toys. We'll see how long the sharing lasts! Leah is getting so big. She eats a little baby food and can roll onto her stomach!

Here is Seth's antelope he shot on his hunt in Wyoming. He went with his cousins and uncle and had a really great time.

Leah is our princess (sorrry Bowen, no pictures of you)

Leah with my mom at my sister Abby's soccer game.

She started rolling to her stomach a few weeks ago. Whenever she rolls she gets mad that she's on her stomach!

Leah likes to spit food out, but she's starting to get the hang of it. Her bumbo chair is perfect, although she hates being constrained, so she will arch her back and try to get out.