Fun Stuff......

We have been having fun this last week and have taken a few really cute pictures. Bryce is smiling more and more. He is so cute. If Jared or I coo to him then he will smile and do it back. He visited the Dr. this week for his 2 month check up and first shots. He is a whopping 13 lbs. He is big and healthy. I keep trying to get a really good smiling picture of him, but by the time I snap the shot he is always half smiling! As for Hope.....she is also doing well. She is starting to become more obedient, which is crucial for my sanity. She has also started talking. Despite that she says little, she understands quite a bit. She loves to tell her brother "Hi" in her sweet little voice and give him kisses. Don't let her fool you, though, she can really have attitude. Jared and I agree that she gets that from her mother. My Dad always told me that when I was good that I was an angel, and when I was bad.........well.........I was really bad. We wouldn't change a thing about her, though.

This week we stayed pretty close to home and played in Hope's pool in the late afternoons. We ran out of swimming diapers and instead of buying more this late in the swimming season I have just been using regular diapers. She was cracking me up this week as her diaper became so full of water that all I could think of was "baby got back". I included a photo of what I am talking about. I had never seen a diaper so full! I neglected to empty and clean the pool after one day of playing and I sent Hope out later to play while I cooked dinner one night. Low and behold within two minutes she had taken her shoes off and was back in the pool, only this time she was fully clothed. Jared always says, "what a crack up!" She is always making us laugh.

A trip to the Fair!

Here are a few pictures we took of our day at the fair. We went with Heidi, Steve and Dan which was great help to us. Our kids have the best Aunts & Uncles. Hope loved all the animals and devoured her cheese fries. She became more of a mess as the day progressed. Bryce was really good, as he has been since birth. He is just a sweetheart. It was a fun day........

Hope's Favorite Things

I have been thinking about what Hope really loves and I think I have come up with Hope's 5 favorite things. (list in random order)

1) Shoes! Hope loves shoes. She learned this week how to put them on and wears a pair all day. If you take them off she finds another pair. Further, she loves to step all over us in shoes. It especially drives Daddy crazy. Shoes is one of the first words Hope learned and I think she associates it with going outside so she is always putting them on I think in hopes that I will open the doors and let her run free. We finally took all her shoes, put them in a bucket, and stuffed them up in the hall closet because she constantly obsessing over having shoes on all day. We have decided no shoes in the house for Hope.

2) Going outside! As with most children, Bryce included, she loves outdoors. Even if it is 105 degrees she wants to be outside exploring. She loves the little park close to our house and to explore the nature trail for animals and rocks. This summer she has decided she also loves swimming and will jump off the edge into the water (as long as a familiar face is there to catch her, of course). Last night Jared went running and we waited outside for him to come back because the night was so nice. She was looking ragged with hair sticking up, no shirt, and a messy face. She took off after him with her little arms tucked in, head down, and booty shaking! Because I had Bryce in my arms I couldn't catch her until she was half way around the block and slowed down by her shoe falling off.

3) Fruit Snacks! It is common with toddlers to be unpredictable when it comes to eating. She may eat something one day and then refuse it the next day. However, this tyke will always eat fruit snacks. She reaches for the cubbard they are in and whines for them often. She would gladly eat several packs a day if the opportunity presented itself, and we have learned that we do not attempt church without them.

4) Books. Hope loves books and loves to read. From the time she turned 1 year old she would grab books and sit in anyone's lap who would read to her. She loves to see the pictures, hear the sounds, point to familiar objects, and learn. You should see her at the Library, it is comparable to a kid in the candy store.

5) Her family! From Hope's very first moments in life she has been surrounded by loving family. She thinks every time the doorbell rings that Grandma is there and is very concerned if we don't run to get the door. She loves her Aunts and Uncles as they have been so sweet to play with her and babysit her. Her Grandpa's hold her, take her outside, and have been known to slip her some candy and treats when no one is watching. She loves Mommy and can't get enough of Bryce......but her favorite person in the world is Daddy. Boy does she have a great Daddy and she is his sidekick from the time he gets home to the time he leaves! There is nothing better in life then for a child to feel secure in a loving family. She loves her family so much.





I believe that concludes the list and as for Bryce's favorite things........well.........the list is in progress but I do believe that his family will be on his list of favorite things as well.

Smile!

I can't write much today as Bryce is in my arms upset and Hope just woke up from a nap. Bryce has started to smile at us. I love when babies start to recognize their family and they smile at them. I attempted to get both kids to smile in pictures today, but didn't succeed. I got a great smile from Hope in one pictures and a half smile from Bryce in another one. He smiles so big until he sees the camera and then he stops smiling to investigate the foreign object. The last two pictures are Hope giving Bryce a kiss and in the last photo she is tapping his head. She watches me burp him and attempts to also burp him by tapping him all over the body. Thats our little precious! Enjoy the photos......

Busy Weekend

We had been looking forward to this last weekend all summer long. My younger brother Adam married his sweetheart Hannah on Saturday. It was a beautiful wedding and they both looked fantastic. We are so happy for Adam and Hannah and grateful to have another amazing family member. All my brothers have married awesome women. We arrived early for pictures and soon discovered (although we weren't shocked) that Hope was not going to last the night. Jared first thought that he would take Hope home and miss the entire evening, including the ceremony. My sweet sister-in-law, Jenica, then informed us that she had a babysitter lined up for her kids and that we could leave Hope there as well. Hallelujah! I had tried to move the kids feeding and sleeping schedules to accommodate the wedding and reception but it didn't work. So Hope was running all over the golf course up until it started and then watched the wedding from the way back with Grandma Forman as she was unable to sit quietly. (Thank you Linda!) Shortly after the ceremony we loaded Hope, Brody, and Sadie in the car and took them to my brother's house to be babysat. It was fantastic! Like being on a date with my husband! Hope did really well......so well that she played and kept Sadie up until 10pm when we picked her up. And although we had Bryce with us he was very good. I would have to say that the highlights of the wedding were the adorable picture show, Adam throwing the garter belt wrapped football onto a table glasses, and Aunt Debbie grooving on the dance floor. :-) I only wish I would have remembered my camera for photos.

Sunday morning we arose bright and early to get ready for Bryce's baby blessing. It was very nice. All of Jared's immediate family and most of mine were able to attend. I did remember my camera on Sunday and will post the pictures we took below. I only regret that it was not a great day for Heidi and Steve who had difficulty finding the place and unfortunately sat in front of a cranky, old, outspoken man. Because of such they didn't make it into the photos, but did participate in the blessing. Sorry Heidi! Jared and I were so tired last night that we were asleep within two minutes of our heads hitting the pillow. Too bad this morning was Monday and not Saturday........we need another weekend to recover!

Morning Explosion

I have been battling daily with Hope over Bryce. She loves him so much and is so intrigued by him that she wants to touch (usually hit), snuggle (more like smother), feed (stuff), step on (use as a stepping stool) constantly. I hate to admit that I have been getting frustrated with her inability to behave as an adult. Bless her heart she is just a tiny little girl who is curious, active, and loving. I commited myself last night to more patience and love. In an effort to humbly surrender in battle with her I let her hold Bryce this morning. She was in heaven!

As you can tell Bryce doesn't look too happy. He seemed concentrated on something......... After pictures I layed him on his changing table and there was an almost silent explosion! He pooped up to his neck! Hope was of course safely watching (she looked like she would fall at any moment and break something). She did fall and tangle herself up in the swing, but thankfully no harm was done.

It was tough cleaning up such a mess. He ended up with it on his face when I pulled the onesie off his head. I am so glad I already had the tub ready for him.

He must have felt much better after that. He is so sweet and precious and we love having him. I'd be happy to clean up a blowup that size every day just to have Bryce in our family. :-) He cleans up really well, too.