6 months and growing?

Gibby went in for his 6 month check up. Yeah my boy is now 6 months but is he growing? Just a little. He has always had a little reflux but it started getting a little worse 4 weeks ago. With starting solid foods last week it is slowly getting better. He still hasn't been gaining very much weight. Since his 4 month check up he has only gained about 2 lbs. So the Dr. wants Gibby to come in next month to check his weight.

Weight: 13 lbs 8 oz 2%percentile
Length: 24.7 inches 2%percentile (a new nurse can make the measurements different then the normal nurse. He only grew .2 inches?)
Head: 43cm 23% percentile Still growing there, good!

He did great while getting his shots. One big cry and then a big hug with Mommy. That night he didn't sleep to good. Every time he moved he would cry. Poor little guy with sore legs. He got a lot of attention that night.


Gibson is just such a happy baby and loves attention. His favorite thing is to sit up and watch everything that is going on. But when he is on his tummy he does what I call the titer toter crawl or the worm. His arms and head go down and his feet go up and then he shoots his arms and head up and pushes his feet down. I don't think he moves very much but he sure thinks it works. The toys he is after suddenly appear closer (due to the help of his big sister). It is funny to watch them play together because they both will just start laughing.

Etta was so dang cute at the Dr.'s. She just sat there and played with her new cell phone.

Don't bother me I am on an important call. "Hi Grandma, How ya doing?"

Christmas Day!

What a wonderful day of the year. Andy woke up before everyone and got the camera and tree turned on. About 5 minutes after he woke up Etta was saying "Mommy I am a wake" under her door. I went a grabbed her and put her in my bed to see if Andy was going to come downstairs or wait for us upstairs. He was standing on the top of the stairs saying I am ready. So up Etta and I came. Gibby was still sleeping and I don't like waking him up and changing his schedule. Etta walked up the stairs and ran right to her new table with her tea sets all set out. She was says "oh wow, oh wow" and it was so funny. She climbed on one of the chairs and just started laughing. We told her she could open her stocking from Santa Claus. She grabbed it and carried it for a while and then decided she could take the stuff out now. Everything that came out was "wow-books", "wow-toothbrush" wow-orange, I want to eat it". She got some princesses underwear which she wanted to put on. (now three days later she has only had 2 accidents)

Etta sitting at her new table. Her and her stocking she loved just holding.

We went and eat breakfast and our oranges. Then I went and checked on Gibby and he was awake. Time to open presents. We gave Gibby his stocking which he had no idea what to do with it. As we pulled stuff out of his stocking it all went straight to his mouth. Etta opened and helped open every present. Mom's, Dad's, Gibby's and she tried to help Hatcher but he is a pro and new exactly what to do.

Gibby not knowing what do do with the bid sock.

Gibby's San Diego Chargers Pacifier

Etta showing Gibby how it is done. Gibby not intereted in presents just the paper.


Etta telling Daddy it is Donald Duck. One of the many Mickey Mouse toys she got and had asked Santa for.

And Gibby on his ride'n'walk toy. Just loving it.

We played all morning and then finally got dressed and headed to my mom's house. We arrived at 3:30 to help set the table for some Christmas ham, mashed potatoes string beans and rolls. Some delicious food. Etta had to leave the table once to go potty and then return to exclaim to everyone that she had peed.
After cleaning up and waiting for two older sisters and their families to all come it was opening present time again. With 11 grand kids it got a little out of control with presents going here or there. My mom tried to go one present at a time and soon all the presents were opened. Me and my two older sister give my dad a music picture DVD of our families that last year so we watched them and then headed home. What a wonderful Christmas Day!


Etta loved all her Mickey Mouse and friends toys, she loves her puzzles and books. She also loves playing with her legos. She got two cell phones which she carries one around with her at all times and it is never the same one. Her darling little porcilin doll she has to sleep with (hope it doesn't break) and Mickey and Minnie juice cups she drinks out of 5 times a day. The other toys she love playing with too and Thank you all for your presents you gave her.
Gibby loves and will love all his toys in time. He rides a fun little walk and ride toy with my help. He got cute little toy balls that roll around that are great to help him learn to crawl and fun little maracas that play music, colors and number along with Spanish. That is helpful for Etta too because she has been learning Spanish. Spoons to help him love food and much more. Thanks for thinking of Gibby too.

I am already excited for next year when both my children will be loving Christmas even more.

*Many more pictures to look at from Christmas at my Flickr page*

The days before Chrismas

Etta received a beautiful Christmas Dress from her Great Grandma Etta. She wore it Sunday and twirled around like a little princesses. (she is into the Disney Princesses now along with Mickey Mouse) She was just so darling. She wore the pretty dress to dinner that night. We were headed to a nice steak house but I forgot to make reservations and we ended up at the Old Spaghetti Factory. It was fun for Etta being inside the train but not the best food. The waitress was very ditsy. We paid her with an extra 20 for her to give us change for a tip but she came back with 3 ones and our 20 back. I guess she only wanted 3 dollars for a tip. I don't think she has been a waitress long and probably wont continue the job career in the future. I ended up getting her attention again and got her to give me change. So she did get more than 3 dollars but not a ton more.


Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve playing around at our house. Etta and I played almost every game in our house. Hungry hippo's, operation and her favorite Candy Land. Gibby watched us play and held on to his candy land piece and of course tried to eat it and slobber it to death. As for Andy he ate to much food and watched football and took a nap. We read the night before Christmas story and opened darling PJ's from Mr. Smiley(my mom). Ever since I can remember our Christmas pj's have had a smile in the from area and my mom has always said there from Mr. Smiley. One of those things you just don't question.
We put the kids to bed and by 9:00pm presents, stocking and everything was ready for Christmas. Andy and I climbed on the couch and fell asleep watching Christmas Vacation. A lot different then when I was a child but different in a good way because now it is my children's turn.

Great Little Eaters!

Today Gibby ate his first cereal. I had tried a couple weeks ago but he wasn't interested. Today he was completely interested. He gobbled down his rice cereal bowl. He tried to grab at the spoon every time it came close to him. He wanted to grab it and get it to his mouth faster. He laughed when, a few times, he did successfully catch the spoon. When he was all finished I told him he was a great little eater. Etta heard that and had to add "Etta's a good eater too". They are both the best little kids and are so much fun.

Gobble, gobble.

His face after being successful with his spoon challenge.

Etta eating her eggs, turkey and orange juice.

Saturday Activity:

Saturday we went to the Murray Swimming pool. I didn't get any pictures. I was wishing I had my camera the whole time. Next time we go we will for sure bring something to take fun water pictures. Etta, of course, loves the water, the slide and swimming. She did however hold on extremely tighter then normal. I think that happens after one to many dunks from daddy. They had a big slide there and it was fun to go down with her. After every time down it was always "one more time, please".
Gibby loved the water also. He splashed, laughed and kicked his little feet. He didn't mind being dunked under the water (again Andy's specialty). His face was pretty funny when we would pass by any splashing toys. He didn't like the constant splashing in his face.
We all had a wonderful time and will be placing this activity on the top of our list to do again real soon.

Santa Claus and more Cookies

I took the kids to the mall to see Santa Claus. We stopped by The Children's Place and I purchased their darling sweaters. Santa was on a break when we reached the line and when he returned he was saying "HO HO HO". Etta just loved that and the whole time in the line she kept saying " I will sit on Santa's lap, and say Santa, Santa, HO HO HO". I know the people behind us were getting annoyed at how much she kept saying it. But I loved it.We waited in line forever. Of course when we got to the front of the line Gibby fell asleep. I tried to wake him up by tickling him and bouncing him but he just stayed asleep. They said that Santa does a cute sleeping Santa and so we tried it. Etta just looked up at them like what the heck.
Then Santa rubbed his bread on Gibby's face and woke him up. The kids didn't want to smile so I will just have to keep looking for a great Christmas card.

When we got home Gibby was asleep again and Etta wanted another Gingerbread cookie, so did Mommy.

Gingerbread Men

Friday I went to Harmon's and bought little gingerbread cookies, frosting, candy and EGGNOG. We had a fun night decorating Gingerbread men and drinking yummy eggnog. Etta had a blast frosting and putting candy on her Gingerbread man. She would steal licks of frosting and bits of candy every chance she could.
Gibby watched from the chair while he played with his blocks. He was happy to feel included. Daddy came in to watch us but didn't make any cookies. He didn't get to eat his because he didn't join in so Etta and I ate it.

Etta eating and decorating, mostly eating

Happy Gibby and his Daddy

The finished master pieces. Now time to eat them.

Tis' the Season after going to see Christmas Lights

I had planned on getting Andy out to see the Lights at Temple Square and then Melissa called to see if we wanted to go with them to dinner and see the lights. It is always so much fun to go with friends. We met up with Melissa and Joel for Dinner at Costa Vida in the Gateway mall. We chatted for a while and waited for Cody and Tiffany.
Now it was time to head off to see the lights. Joel wasn't feeling well and so he, Melissa, Cody and Tiffany drove to the conference center. We decided to walk from the gateway. Andy had Etta on his back and I had Gibson on my front. It was a little chilly but a beautiful night. Blue sky's with freshly fallen Snow everywhere. The lights we gorgeous and Etta loved every single one.
Daddy caring Etta on his back. He doesn't mind caring her if she holds still, but she kept moving all over to check out the lights. Melissa stayed and walked through with us. Even though Joel headed home. Thanks for the fun time, Melissa.
Cody helped take a family picture. The kids didn't help in making it the perfect Christmas card but I think Andy and I look great.

The BIG Snowman

Saturday morning we woke up and it was snowing. Etta was again really excited to go play but being that she was awake at 6:30am I told her we would go play outside at 9:00am. All morning she kept asking "nine yet mommy". After breakfast I told her it was time to play outside. She ran and got her boots and I gathered everything else. We bundled up and headed outside.
Etta started helping me with our BIG snowman but slowly started just playing in the snow. I rolled the balls and packed the snow and half way through I looked over and Etta was sitting in the snow with her gloves off and eating a snowball she had made. It was so dang cute. Two minutes later she wanted to go in because her hands were cold.
Now it was just me outside building a snowman. I got a few looks from cars as they drove by, but I finished the Snowman. Etta did watch me from the window and waved to me for encouragement.
After putting arms and a face on my Snowman I went inside to get Etta for the Hat and pictures. She just loves the "Daddy Snowman". I wish it was called the "Mommy Snowman" since I built it.


Me, my little snow angel and my big snowman.

Andy scraped the driveway at the beginning of our Snowman project. Than headed in to watch football and Gibby. Gibby didn't mind not being outside since he loves jumping in his jumper.

My happy little boy!

Gibby , Hatcher and a two year check-up

Gibby and Hatcher

Just the other night I layed Gibby down on the couch to take an evening nap and went to start on dinner. When I came back in to check on him I saw the cutest thing.Hatcher now has another friend or a new pillow.

Two Year Check-up
Earlier that day we had Etta's two year check-up. We did have to take a break during her check up to use the bathroom twice and the Dr was really impressed.

Etta weighting in at 24.14 lbs (25%), 33inches tall (28%) and head 49.5 cm (90%). What a big smart head.


Gibby was just glad he wasn't there for shots!

The first BIG snow

As most of you know Tuesday it snowed really good and continued until Wednesday early afternoon. Etta could not wait to go play in the snow. She has this book called "Snowman at Night" which she just loves. And every time we read it she says "Daddy and I make snowman." I tell her that we need to wait until it snows. Well she called me on it Tuesday night. I bundled her up and we all went out and played in the snow. Daddy and Etta made a little "Etta" snowman. I taught her how to make a snow angel. I think that was her favorite thing. She made about a dozen snow angels.

It amazes me how kids don't care about the cold and could just play in the snow forever.

Etta just lovin' the snow

A baby snowman with rock eyes and a pine cone nose

Snow angels and snowballs

M-I-C-K-E-Y MOUSE

Etta loves the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. So for her birthday party I used the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme. It was so much fun. Decorating and thinking up ideas for activities. We did a little treasure hunt to find mouse-ka-tools to play with. Coloring books with crayons, bean bags and bubbles. I think all of the kids had fun. I know Etta and I did. Andy's camera died after the bubbles so we didn't get pictures of her opening presents or eating Pluto's jell-o jigglers, Mickey's cupcakes and Daisy's delicious apple juice. Note to self: charge camera's the night before birthday party's.

Starting the Treasure hunt and looking for clues

Finding the treasures

Coloring in their Mickey Mouse coloring books

Bubbles, Bubbles everywhere

Thank you to all who gave her a present and came to her party. Etta received so many wonderful presents and plays with all of them. She loves her tea sets, kitty cat purse, little dolls, and Dr. kit and just looks darling in the clothes she got. Uncle Brad came and helped and also bought her the 25Th Anniversary Care bear and she loves it too.