Quality Time with Grandma and Grandpa

(Don't kill me, Mom and Dad... :-) )

So my parents dropped by to share dinner and spend some time with us tonight...which they did...except for part of the night...

Talk about your major bonding. She didn't seem to mind too much though. We ate a nighttime snack and watched "Are You Smarter than a 5th grader?" while they napped. Poor Grandma and Grandpa wore themselves out.

Christmas Hats

We had a fun Christmas. My parents came to open presents at our place, after eating a big Christmas breakfast. We didn't get too many pictures because we were helping Lexi unwrap presents, but we did manage to take pictures with the hats my mom made for us. Every time Eddie puts his on, Lexi insists on wearing hers too. Lexi got a baby doll set too, which she is totally into, so I'll have to take some pics of that here soon. Today, she fed the baby her sippy cup, sucked her boogers with the nasal aspirator, and gave her lots of kisses...right before yanking her out by her hair and throwing her to the ground so she could sit in the stroller. Ahh, let's hope she's better before her sister comes...

Into the Mind of a Toddler...

(At least an attempt)

"What? I was hungry."



"Aren't we done taking pictures yet?"

"Isn't this the coolest costume? Rowr!"

"I put your boots on, Mom!"

"Why did you bring me here? I was perfectly fine at home."

"Please, please. No pictures."

Fine! I'll sit on his lap...

just don't expect me to be happy about it.

We even tried a different Santa at the ward party, but she refused to look at me then too.

Snuggling up to the fire has never been less hazardous...

Combine a 17 month old who likes to play in the fireplace, add the fact that the tree is most convenient in front of the fireplace to be out of the way, add a major huge draft coming from the fireplace that needs to be dealt with, add the want of a rustling fire in my living room without having to buy the wood or risk the life of my child who will most likely want to play with the fire, and some cheap cardboard and felt and you get:

Voila!

It blocks most of the draft that I've tried to rid in many other attempts, keeps my daughter out of the fireplace, and allows her to play with it...it's just felt pieces on a homemade felt board that creates that beautiful fire for the fireplace with no risk to the life and limbs of Lexi. Sometimes, I like my ideas. Can you tell?

Things I thought I'd never say in regards to The Nativity...

We bought a kid friendly nativity yesterday and Lexi absolutely loves it! It's even distracted her partially from tearing apart my Christmas tree. Since getting it, I've discovered phrases coming out of my mouth that I'd previously thought I'd never say, for example:

"Take Jesus out of you mouth, sweetheart"

"No, I don't want to eat Baby Jesus"

"Lexi, Baby Jesus is not a cell phone."

"Wow, everyone just got bulldozed by the stable!"

Eddie: "No, that angel isn't a cell phone either."

"Mph!" right before pulling Baby Jesus out of my mouth.

"Where did you put Jesus's manger, Lexi?"

And of course, everything is a "baby" to Lexi, even animals and snowmen. So every piece of the nativity is a "baby". Oh well, she'll learn a new word someday...

I guess they all looked cold cause she shoved them quickly into the stable.

Guess I'm Really Lucky...

So I don't have to worry about buying a whole new wardrobe this time around. We have another little princess waiting to come into the world this April. Now the trouble is figuring out a name Ed and I both love for her...not always an easy task. On a side note, I found out today that I have a minor placenta previa, but the chances of it moving throughout the pregnancy are pretty good, so I'm optimistic. It'd be nice to avoid a C-section if I can. :-) So please keep me in your prayers a tiny bit... I just don't want any complications where she has to come early, cause darn it, my babies tend to be small when they are full term as it is. Other than that, all's good.

NAU book

So in my Alumni magazine there was an ad for a free book for any Alum's children all about Louie the Lumberjack. Free Book? Who can pass that up? It's cheesy and totally only makes sense to a former NAU student, but did I mention free? So if you are an Alum...totally take advantage of this offer. Go to their Alumni site...what kid wouldn't love a free book of a cheesy lumberjack?

Snowed in

On Sunday, we woke up and made it to church a few minutes late, but still in time for Sacrament... and we were still some of the few that actually made it to church. They sent us home after Sacrament mtg cause it had snowed all night and was still going strong, hence why many didn't make it to church...(Not a good excuse, in my opinion). We spent the rest of the day inside, watching the snow, setting up our Christmas tree and decorating it, watched Lexi "undecorate" the bottom half, made a good chicken dinner and snickerdoodles while Lexi played with daddy, and watched "Mr. Krueger's Christmas" and the MoTab concert also on the DVD. All in all, a fun family day together. Lexi wore her new dress from Great Grandma Camacho, and was so cute, she kept it on all day.

What happens when you give a child a camera during a diaper change?

Not bad, huh?

Boy or Girl?

We find out on Monday whether we're set for this next little one in the clothing department or if we need to do some hunting to clothe a boy... what are your predictions?

Deep Thoughts by Paula

I just thought I could just write some random things that have been on my mind, because as entertaining as they are for me, my daughter just doesn't appreciate the conversations that expand past coloring and cartoons.

So we're getting ready to head out to Idaho in a few days to visit with Eddie's family (the blood related female half), and so begins my tidying up of the apartment and doing laundry one more time so we don't look like homeless bums while seeing people who don't see us often enough to know better. (we're not homeless bums, in case that's what you may be thinking). I'm going to have to actually get dressed in something other than pajamas for a week...there's a challenge. My tummy is just at that point that it's too big for anything cute non-maternity, but still too soft that many of my maternity pants dig into my tummy...I didn't remember being this uncomfortable last time. But you can only where pajamas so much...
I'm actually excited for this trip for a number of reasons:
- I get a whole week where Eddie doesn't have to leave for work or firefighting or classes...just spending time with us!
- I haven't been to Idaho since I was 11.
- I get a chance to spend with Eddie's family I don't see much. They always come out for our special days, but that's not often enough.
- I get to see my new niece, Annabelle.
- We get to see Eddie's best friend and his cute family...which we haven't seen for over a year (and that was before their son was born) and I like watching those two together (Ed and Pendie)...they're entertaining to me.
- I get out of my apartment! Being a stay at home mom has perks but sometimes, you are so glad to get out!

So as I was starting laundry just a second ago, I looked through my husband's pockets and saw something I see all the time...in his pants. This brings me to the unjust making of men's and women's pants. You see, he has this "secret" pocket on the inside of his pants. It even has a velcro closure AND a picture of a padlock! Why do guys always get these extra pockets? This pair of pants in question has over 7 other visible pockets...that's right, 7. And these are bigger than the ones that come on many of my pants (exception being jeans, which I don't get to wear these days, making this even more of a grrrrrr situation). Each and every one of them, including the "secret" pocket. This pair of pants is not the first that I've noticed. Sometimes, his pants have a "secret" pocket sewn inside another larger, big enough to fit a small dog, pocket. So why this discrimination? The majority of my pants.... no pockets. (again, disregard jeans) Others have a pocket that can fit a quarter...whooo hoo! I can get a gumball! Sweet! My husband's swimming trunks not only have two good size pockets, but a small "secret" pocket inside.
I know what your thinking, women carry purses and don't need all that pocket luxury. And in a sense, you're right. But how many guys do you see that are sooooo in need of that extra pocket that they have to tell the lady at the register..."Hold on. Let me get that out of my "top secret, padlocked pocket". This ends my rant about the pocket. I think they are lame. I want a secret pocket too. :(

On a positive note, my back is finally starting to feel much better after a terrible bout of something nasty that attacked myself as well as Lexi. And for as much as Lexi threw up, I'd say she covered for me having not done so. So this week has also been the finalizing of cleaning up the disasters of being sick. My home smells like it should again, my daughter is slowing getting back to an acceptable sleep routine; She was taking really good naps last week, just not going down at night til 11 or 12...not cool. I actually cleaned my own kitchen today...since last week not only did my friend/Vter do it, but also my mom. (Which was greatlly appreciated!) Lexi got to see her friend yesterday for the first time since getting sick, since I thought it best to keep them apart until she wasn't contagious anymore. Things are finally getting better...but the week has just begun. Now it's on to finish tidying and continue my laundry endeavors! Adios!

Coloring Time

This morning, Lexi and I spent some time on the family room floor coloring. She didn't get too pushing until the end but we got it all colored and here's our masterpiece!

Hide and Seek

Lexi playing hide and seek...not really wanting to be sought though.

Mummy dogs

I made these back on Halloween and just haven't posted anything since then so here's a quick peek at Mine and Lexi's dinner that night. The eyes were supposed to be mustard but we don't like mustard so they are ketchup instead...which is hard to draw with.

Trunk or Treat

These are some snapshots of our ward Trunk or Treat from Tuesday. I realized too late that I didn't get as good of pictures of myself or Eddie, so when I feel like it, I'll put mine back on and get a pic. Eddie won't argue that for his costume. He loved it..even went and ran errands in it on Halloween. We won the trunk decorating contest, along with the bishop's family...same as last year :-)
Lexi and Ivy were dancing to the "Cantina Band" in our trunk afterwards.

I love the placement of Lexi in this picture...right at the perfect spot against the poster.

for those of you who are like the majority of my ward, I'm dressed up as Padme and Eddie is Anakin...

Who can spot the mistake here on the bag...that's right...I mixed up the wording, but it's the same either way, so who cares!

Pumpkin Carving

So I see all these pictures of friends and how their babies were all wanting to be part of the pumpkin carving action, so I thought, "Ok, let's go outside and let Lexi go crazy with it." She actually spent most of the time running around and was more concerned for the pumpkin's well-being and tried to put his insides back inside him. I totally forgot to take a picture at the end so look for the final product on the "Trunk or Treat" blog.

Super girl

This video just says it all:



(Tip: I know the lighting stinks, Mom and Dad, so stand up and look at it from an angle...see if that helps. I works for us.)

Our first Dusting

Last Wednesday, we woke up to a good dusting of snow on the grass out front. We took advantage of the short lived cold weather and bundled up Lexi in her snow suit. She had fun. We just wish she could use it more... but I guess we're getting some good use out of her warm weather clothes she still fits into!

Dance Dance Revolution

Tonight, I was working on part of Eddie's halloween costume, so I thought it only fair that he be responsible for taking care of Lexi so I didn't have a cute little child stepping on my foot pedal to the sewing machine at the most inopportune time...as has happened in past attempts to sew when Eddie wasn't able to help me out. Of course, quality time to him means playing a game on his game systems, but I'm ok with the ones that are more than just blowing up some bad guy with my fake gun (or light saber, or whatever weapon), so Dance Dance is fun. This was the first time daddy got it out since Lexi has been walking, so it was a whole new experience!

The many styles of a 1 year old

Somedays, I'm good if I get Lexi dressed in a shirt and bottoms, but other times, I actually get her dressed up, like in this pic. She liked my purple hat and there were some pigtails underneath, until she pulled them out.

She also likes wearing our shoes...

Along with Mardi Gras beads...she puts them on everytime she finds them in her toy basket.

Here's my little gypsy...

And this was cute...one strap and the other wedged under her arm...this happens alot too.

See previous posts for further fashion guidance from Lexi... :-)

Day at the Pumpkin Patch

Today, we went to the pumpkin patch in Monument with some friends. Here's some little snapshots of our fun there:

Hay Slide

Candy Corn cut-out

Box of feed corn with shovels=lots of entertainment for Lexi!

Family snapshot


Scarecrow Cut-outs

Petting Zoo!



Riding on the tractor with Daddy!