Thursday, November 20, 2008

Fall

I love the fall. It is so beautiful to see all the leaves changing colors and falling to the ground. Kaitlyn loves to run and squish the leaves. On one of our walks, she found some cute leaves that she just had to bring home. I finally convinced her that the leaves would be happier outside with all of the other leaves, instead of crumpled up on her bedroom floor. (Mommy is such a clean freak.) Now anytime a leaf is accidentally brought in the house on someones shoe or the stroller wheels, Kaitlyn has to take it outside to be with its friends.

I am trying to let Kaitlyn play outside as much as possible before the snow comes. Today, we went to the Ogden Airport and watched several planes take off. Kaitlyn still loves planes, but does not like the loud sounds they make. She is absolutely adorable waving to the planes and shouting bye. She tells me all kinds of stories about where the planes are going and what they will be doing. She has a great imagination. After the airport, we weren't ready to go home yet, so we went to a nearby park. Kaitlyn and Ben had fun swinging. Lately, Kaitlyn loves to swing the entire time we are at the park. I love it because it is easier to keep track of her. Ben enjoyed the swings and I took some cute pictures of the kids with my phone.

We are hoping the weather will stay nice for a couple more weeks, so we can go to the park more. I love being able to play with my kids and watch their excitement as we do something fun together. On a side note, I am getting really anxious to go see Twilight on Saturday morning. I am going with my sisters and can't wait. I love getting away from Brandon and the kids sometimes to just have fun and relax. It will be a great "Mommy Break."

Sunday, November 9, 2008

First Haircut

Last Sunday, I gave Ben his first haircut. Brandon needed a haircut, so we got out the clippers and did it. When I was done with his hair, I suggested we trim Ben's hair. He had the cutest baby hair. The top was really long and it was impossible to get it to lay flat. Ben was such a little trooper. I had Brandon hold him , while I trimmed the hair with the clippers. He did not squirm or even get mad as I did it. I think he was more intrigued by the clippers and the cord. The only time Brandon really had to hold him still was as I trimmed around the ears with Brandon's little razor. I love his new hair cut, but was a little sad to see my baby change into a little boy. The new cut makes him look older. He is just as handsome as ever though. Here is a before shot:
Here is the finished product. My two handsome guys.

I also wanted to take the chance to mention a couple of the things I love about my little Ben. I love it when he wakes up and holds me tight around my neck. I love his cute growl and squeak. I am amazed with how smart and curious he is. It makes me so happy to see Ben light up when Kaitlyn talks to him and plays with him. I know he really loves his big sister and she really loves him. Most of all, I love this amazing spirit that Brandon and I have been entrusted with. I feel honored and blessed to have such wonderful children.

Below is a picture of Kaitlyn and Ben sitting on Kaitlyn's chair. She was reading books to him, but had to put them down for the picture. This is from Boo at the Zoo.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Happy Haloween

We hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween. We did the trunk or treating at our church and then visited with a some family and friends. Kaitlyn had a blast trick or treating. She kept saying "trick or treat, smell my feet." That was all of the little jingle she could remember. Kaitlyn was the cutest princess in the world. She loved to spin in circles and sing "I"m a princess" over and over again. Ben was an adorable teddy bear. He did not care to much for the costume, but he loved it when Kaitlyn and Daddy gave him a little sucker. He made a huge sticky mess and finished almost all the sucker before Mommy confiscated it.



We have been pretty busy the last few months. Brandon is doing very well. He had to do a vision and a hearing evaluation. He did very well on both of them, and the doctors only noticed small problems that should improve with time. He also did a driving evaluation and did very well on it. He is extremely excited that he gets to drive again. He doesn't feel like such a prisoner anymore; he can go out for a drive without having to ask me to drive him. We are also thrilled that he gets to go back to work on Monday. The doctor has agreed to let him start back on a part time basis. Brandon is relieved to finally go back to work, even of it is only part time really easy work.

Kaitlyn is still doing great. We have started doing a play group with some kids from church. Kaitlyn loves playing with the other kids and she does surprising well sharing and interacting with the other kids. We have some really great families in our neighborhood. We are still working with her on potty training and she is doing pretty good. Her new love is bedtime baths. She loves to play and soak for at least thirty minutes. By the time she is done, her hands and feet are so wrinkled it is adorable. She has also got some fun princess barbies and horses and loves to play with them.

Ben is my little monster. He is completely mobile now and gets into whatever he can reach. He does really well at crawl dragging himself to anywhere he wants. He really loves to find cords and pull on them or try to eat them. I have had a much harder time trying to baby proof my house with Ben than I ever did with Kaitlyn. He is such a busy baby and has to explore everything we are doing. He loves food and eats a ton. If I am eating, he thinks he needs to be eating with me. Last week, he developed a rash on his tummy and back. I took him to the pediatrician and was relieved to find out it was eczema. I was freaking out thinking he was having an allergic reaction to some food he had eaten. Anyway, she gave me some oil and moisturizing lotion to put on him. The rash cleared up in a couple days and Ben was back to his curious active little self.

I have been doing well. I keep busy with the two kids and husband home all day. I have spent a lot of time canning peaches, grapes, tomatoes, pears, and miscellaneous other stuff. I enjoy canning even though it is a lot of work. Brandon and I have also been doing a few projects around the house. It was nice to get some of my honey do list done. I am going to try to set aside a specific time each week to post, so that I wont take quite as long in between each post.