Cole

After many, many months of trying, Cole is finally potty trained.  It all started last summer.  I bought him a chair and some underwear.  He was totally not interested.  I tried again at Christmas time and he was doing pretty good until I went back to work and it all went out the window.  Finally, in May, he started wanting to go on the potty and just needed a little motivation.  I bought him a gumball machine and that was all it took.  A few days later he was all trained!

His absolute favorite thing to do is work in the yard.  We have a battery powered 4-wheeler that he will drive around on our grass for hours "mowing the lawn."  He will also find a stick or anything he can hold and pretend it is a trimmer.  He takes the tiller out and pretends to till, rakes, pulls weeds, whatever.  He just loves to be outside.

Took swimming lessons for the first time.  The second day I took him,we were a little early so I took  him in and sat him on his towel and told him he could get in when the big class was done.  Blair went back to pick him and and when I asked him what he did at lessons he told me "nofing" Blair come get me.  Turns out, he was sitting where the teacher couldn't see him and didn't get in at all!  I took him back for another lesson later that day  :)  After that, he was moved up into a more advanced class.

We had dinner at Amber's parents house after she went through the temple.  Downstairs is a bear rug.  Her cousin put it on his head and scared the living daylights out of Cole.  After he calmed down, Brad told us the story of how he killed the bear.  Cole listened very intently.  The next day, he told his dad a story about how he  killed a bear.  "It ran up a tree and I shot it in the nose.  With my dart gun.  And it chased me, but I ranned away and it died."

One day his nursery teachers were helping clean up toys and Cole was asleep in the toy box.  I tried to take him to nursery in my mom's ward.  He was all excited to go until we got there.  He went in, took one look at the teacher and said, "Dis not my nursey, I not going."  He refused to stay.

Playing "Married"

One of my kids... well really one of Brooke's and she forces Cole... favorite things to pretend right now it getting married.  They have since learned that it is called a wedding, but they will dress up and have a whole wedding for hours.

7 Months

Since I'm a slacker and haven't posted in forever... Bailee is now 7 months old.

• At her 6 month appointment she was 26 in. (88%) for height and 15 lbs. 5 oz. (34%) for weight. 
• Finally sitting up on her own, just last week.
• Got her first tooth on the bottom left on June 7th and the second on the bottom right two days later.
• Loves Ritz crackers
• Always happy.  People are constantly telling me what a good and happy baby she is.  She is always that way.  Grinning and laughing at everything.
• Likes Hallie
• Waves hello and bye-bye
• Says "hi' and "mama" and sometimes "hals" (hallie)
• Started drinking rice milk instead of formula because she was getting so many ear infections.  The last ones were so bad I had to take her to instacare for a fever of 104.  They wanted to put tubes in, but I refuse to let them because she's still so little so I started looking for other options.  So far it seems to be helping and she loves it!
• Getting a little hair but its very blond and hard to see
• Mom thinks she looks a lot like daddy
• Scared of everything loud -- the vacuum, Hallie's barking, etc.
• Rolls all around, hard to keep her in one spot
• Doesn't like the swimming pool or the grass
• Likes to talk to trees
• Starting to imitate other people.  Especially laughing.  When we laugh she laughs too.
• Has to have a blankie and her thumb to sleep
• Had the flu for the first time and now hates bananas
• Scoots backwards if she is laying on her back
• Loves to talk.  Wakes up in the morning and jabbers away 'till I come to get her
• Wants to be naked, all the time!  If I leave her in only a diaper she'll take it off.
• Drinks from a straw and a cup

Brody and Amber's Wedding

My little brother was married on Thursday.  It was such a wonderful day.  We started out the morning at the temple with a luncheon at Coppermill after.  That night the reception was at Amber's grandparents, complete with ColdStone Ice Cream.  Yum!  We are delighted to finally have "Amberger" as a part of our family and wish them the best of luck!

Aunt Blair and Bailee Boo

Brooke and Cole

Pretty Girl.  Everyone commented to me on how happy and good she was being.  She is ALWAYS that way though.  She loves to talk to people and rarely cries.

Pretty Brooke.  I made my girls' dresses and Cole's tie to match.

Handsome boy.  He looked like such a stud.

Brody's best friend Ty.  My kids adore him.

Matt and I.  I think about the first picture we have of us since our wedding.  Sad I know.

the 5 of us

eating Cold Stone.  I bribed him to smile for pictures.

Her first icecream of many for the night.

Cousins Chris and Kelsey and Sister Blair

Decorating the car.  Amber told us nothing "dirty".  We tried not to be too mean :)

He was so worn out, he finally just crashed.

The bride and groom

Brookelyn absolutely loves Amber. She started calling her "Amberger" when they started dating and it has just stuck. She always wants to follow her and play with her when she is around.

Brody and Ty

Cutting the cake

Awwww...

She finally crashed too.