For you Dad!

My Dad complained that there were not enough pictures of Chloe on the blog. I wonder if he scrolls down the whole page?? So here are a few pictures I have taken of Chloe lately...

Week 3 of Project 365

Desert Snow Day

Yesterday, I was caught a little off guard when Trevor came running into my bedroom while I was vacuuming and told me it was snowing. I didn't believe him, then Eric came back and said that it was true. Trevor rushed to his bedroom to grab his snow hat and gloves, and a pair of boots (his Uggs, which really aren't meant for snow, but it was all he had.) He ran outside for some playtime in the snow. Our only hope was that it didn't stop until after Jacob got home from school so he could enjoy the snow. Luckily, it had started snowing heavier when Jacob returned home from school. The boys had snowball fights and even built a snowman with the neighborhood kids. For some reason of all our neighbors our yard got the most snow, maybe it is how the wind was blowing as the snow came down or something.

Another highlight from yesterday (as you will notice from the pictures) was that I was able to park my van in the garage. That is a huge accomplishment, and no small task at that! I haven't been able to park in a garage for most of my married life. I will definitely enjoy the summer months not roasting to death when I get in my car with 100+ degree days. Anyhow, enjoy the slideshow, I took a ton of pictures but only picked about 20 of my favorite ones to edit and share!

She is Already 1 Month Old!

I cannot believe it has already been a whole month since our baby girl was born! She is a good baby, still not sleeping through the night, sometimes she we will give me a 4-5 hour stretch but the next night I might get only 2-3 hours! Still working on the schedule and routine of things. She smiled at me this week for the first time, and she is starting to coo. She loves being held and being talked to! Her brothers are a huge help and have to love on her every chance they get. Between Eric and I, I hold her the most and not just because he is at work, but because she is a very cuddly baby and wants to be where I am.

We think she is beautiful so I like to dress her up and take pictures of her. This is her 1 month old photo in the "blue chair", with a pink blanket of course. There is a story about that blue chair, both my boys, and now Chloe, take their picture monthly pictures in this chair that once belonged to their Great Grandma. In their scrapbooks they have a page showing their first year of growth in this chair. So little Miss Chloe is doing the same, but I wanted to take something a little cuter so after the traditional blue chair photo, I put a pink blanket behind her. When I finish editing the photos I will share them!

Can't Decide?!?!

There were so many moments to capture today and I can't decide which one to put on my 365 page for the week. So I put some of them here for my "blogbook" whenever I get around to publishing it. If you are reading this post please vote for your favorite picture, that would sure help me out! #1) We started of the day working in the garage and the boys rode their scooters and bikes while it was still dry. Eric is pictured above installing the garage door opener. I may be able to park in there by the end of the week, if I clean out enough stuff!! #2) My cute little "Davy Crockett" (looks like he is sporting the sideways ponytail from the 80's). Trevor wore this hat to keep warm and he was too cute wearing it while on his scooter. His ear is folded over which adds to his cute factor, and of course his cheesy grin. #3) Jacob had a big day today...NO MORE TRAINING WHEELS!! Eric took a break and helped teach him the trick of riding without the training wheels. It will take lots of practice so we will have to help him work on it. #4) Then we have mud cakes! My boys always seem to find their way to the only patch of dirt in the backyard. It started to rain and our poor rain deprived children always want to go out and play in it. I am sure my Seattle family members will find this amusing, but this is only the second or maybe third day of rain we have seen in over a year and a half. Needless to say it is always exciting for it to rain. We are hoping to go for a snow trip this weekend!

#5) This is Trevor after their mud fight! He was trying to clean his hands off with the water from the roof. We haven't put in rain gutters yet, we just can't justify spending the money--go figure!

Sorry, no photos of Chloe today. She has slept for most of it, and kept warm inside with me. I have managed to do a load or two of laundry, in between cleaning up the garage. Next on the list--dinner and clean up, maybe even a trip to Blockbuster to exchange our movies and to Kmart for some Band-aids...my children and husband have owies from today. Hmm--wonder how that happened?!?

My Second 365 Attempt

Last year by week 11 of my project 365 I sort of peetered out. I am going to finish off the year 2009 probably by highlighting each month! I really want to give this a go again, so I have found some ready made templates to make it as easy as dragging and dropping my photos and adding the journaling. Here are the first two weeks of 2010:So as part of my resolution to organize my scrapbooking stuff and getting it done, this project will be made simpler. The rest of my resolutions are easy, loose some more weight, exercise more regularly, and read my scriptures daily. They are all pretty simple things, just need to work on doing them. Right now, I am too tired--imagine that. Although last night I slept for a 5 hour stretch for the first time in over a month! That is worth celebrating. I am keeping up with housework, and cooking meals, but that is the key phrase "keeping up". So my resolutions will be a slow go for a while, and that is o.k. My kids have clean clothes, they get to school on-time, have playdates, and are healthy and happy. I suppose that above all else is the most important thing!

So I Don't Go Crazy...

...I am picking back up with my favorite hobby. I have organized Chloe's scrapbook and started her calendar so I can jot down all of her firsts. I ordered prints of my boys so I can work on 2006 in their albums. I know I will forever be behind, but if I don't let it overwhelm me I will just keep plugging along. Their albums will be a mix of digi and traditional, because I love doing both and I have a stash of so much paper that seriously shouldn't go to waste. Anyhow here are some recent pages I completed this past week that I wanted to share:

The Big Big Brother

I noticed from the last 4 posts I haven't included really any updates or photos about Jacob. Well, he is definitely a child that is not that easily forgotten! I have said it before and I will say it again, he really and truly is the most perfect firstborn son!

When we first brought Chloe home from the hospital he really didn't have much to say or do with her (probably because he was busy building and playing with all his new lego sets). It was the next morning that was the sweetest, and pulled at our heart strings. He woke up early and came in the room to see me, and the two of us just sat on the bed while he held his baby sister for the first time. We talked and shared a special moment that I will never forget.

He loves building Legos and being silly with his brother.

He has become my biggest helper around the house. He has just learned how to vaccuum. He also takes out the trash, helps me cook, clears the table, unloads the dishwasher, and is basically my gopher when I am nursing Chloe. I am really enjoying the older child thing, and giving him chores. He has a daily schedule of to-dos that he needs to check before playing and he is doing a great job of getting everything completed. We have even added piano lessons, and reading a story to his brother each day! He has taken this all in stride, and is really amazing us with how much an almost 7 year old can do.

Here is our Jacob at his Aunt and Uncle's during our stay in Bakersfield posing for his new portrait to give to his grandparents. I just love his toothless smile! If there was just one word to describe Jacob it would be FUN--he is everything that makes our life fun!

Chloe at 3 Weeks

This Boy Loves His Baby Sister!!

Can't you tell just from this picture? Trevor is so proud to be a big brother. He loves to love on Chloe and hug her and kiss her. On this day he was watching TV in my bed and wanted to hold her. He was just so happy! Later on that day this is how I found them...

1st Sunday of the New Year

After a few weeks of being homebound needless to say I got a little antsy. (Thus, we went to Eric's parents and Bakersfield for the New Year.) So on Sunday morning after sleeping in I woke up and decided why not go to church. Also, I didn't want to miss Trevor's first Sunday as a Sunbeam. He was so excited to get his scripture bag and his own Book of Mormon...

...He was even more proud of his "CTR" ring.

The most excitement all day of course was picking out Chloe's outfit. The boys oohed and awed over her, yes even her Daddy did. Eric put on her tights and bloomers even, he thinks they are ridiculous, but I explained to him how else are little girls legs supposed to be kept warm wearing a dress. The bow is a little crooked in the picture, but she was getting hungry and fussy when we got home, and before we could all change we had to take pictures. I must admit it is sure fun dressing up a little girl for church!!


Jacob forgot and was already in a t-shirt when we took pictures. He has the same primary teachers this year, and he his happy about that, they requested to keep the class. They both were just excited to be back at church among their friends again!

1st Bath

While at Eric's parents house for the New Year, Chloe received her first immersed bath. Grandma Williams loves to give her grandchildren baths and most of all put "Baby Magic" on them (which she has is stock, the original scent is no longer sold in stores). Chloe loved her bath, and really only was fussy while getting dressed.

Notice Grandma Williams' crooked pinky. Chloe and Trevor both have this pinky on both fingers. So we know that Trevor's embryos weren't switched, they are related! Jacob's is more crooked like mine at the top knuckle only, but Chloe's and Trevor's look a little "bow-fingered"--is that even a word?

Here she is all clean and perfect! We have noticed that she has my lazy eye even. Eric is beginning to wonder what features look like him?? She has his ears--he is still holding out for the blue eyes though. They are still gray and they have a dark blue ring around the outside, so we are hoping!!

She is a good baby, very easy to love and hold. When she is fussy all it takes usually is a swaddle, pacifier, and a good amount of shushing, white noise helps too. She loves her swing too, which is a first for us. We have used it the most with her. Trevor hated it, and cried more in it-- he still has issues with the swing. Jacob liked it for only a short amount of time, so we are hopeful she will like it even longer!