Happy New Year

If I put my new year's goals on the blog, then I can refer back to them and see how I did at the end of the year, so here goes:

1.  Read the Book of Mormon at least 5 minutes everyday
2.  Run a half marathon (I've already signed up for Ragnar in Utah, June 17-18, which counts)
3.  Build an organized 3 month food storage
4.  Build a stronger emergency fund
5.  Improve FHE night - do it more often and be more creative with it

My list of goals could go on and on, but I'd like to not overwhelm myself and I'd say these are the most important.

My little man - 3 months old

He absolutely melts my heart. And he is so good natured. And pretty low maintenance. He's a good eater - obviously - a little on the slow side when it comes to nursing, but I got time. This kid LOVES his carseat. Like if he takes a nap in his carseat, it's a guaranteed great nap (3+hrs). Oftentimes he's a little shy to keep eye contact for long. His smile/squeals are so sweet and generally pretty easy to get as long as he has a full tummy. He's a good sleeper now (wasn't always - see next paragraph) and will sleep 12 hours at night with one wake up for a quick feeding. And maybe it was just a fluke, but last night he slept all the way through the night - no feeding, which makes for one happy momma! He takes about 3 naps a day now. He still shows no interest in a binky.

Past sleeping issues: His first month and a half was a breeze - newborns sleep so much. By 2 months, he was taking little cat naps all day long and it was wearing me out. He would only sleep for 40-45 minutes at a time and it was taking him a long time to fall to sleep. He hated sleeping in his pack n'play in our room and was waking up a lot at night. The doctor reassured me that he was getting plenty to eat (remember, he was over 15 pounds) and that he shouldn't need to wake up at night. He suggested that I let him cry it out and that once I got him to sleep more deeply at night then that would carry over to his daytime naps.

I felt like it was a little early, but I had to remind myself that it's not about an age, but his weight. So the second week of December, we moved him to his own room and crib and let him work it out ... sort of. I put a time limit on how long I'd sing to him and hold him swaddled and then I try to put him down; it's about 10 minutes or so. I'd let him cry during the early evening hours if he woke up, but I went in if he woke up in the middle of the night with what I thought was an "I'm hungry!" cry - all the other cries were more protest cries. It made a huge difference and he was able to sleep much more soundly at night after just a few days. Daytime naps were still spotty, but he started taking fantastic naps in his carseat, which was interesting. Then we went to Utah for two weeks and he did pretty good. He woke up once, sometimes twice at night (I didn't stress since we were out of town) and his naps were still spotty, unless he was in his carseat and then they'd be pretty good. When we got back to Arizona, I started being consistent about letting him fuss for awhile if he wakes up too early from his naps, and now he'll usually fall back to sleep for a bit. It's much better. I still hate to hear him cry though. I get tense and am not as patient with Rachel. But it works, as long as I'm consistent in my responses. I usually don't let him cry for longer than 30 minutes or so. It was much different with Rachel, but that's because we waited until she was 7 months old, so she protest cried for much longer than that at first.

Pictures taken - 3 months old.

Thanks, Ellen for all the cool presents and all the diapers. Lovies!

5x7 Photo Book for $1.99 shipped

I just ordered my 5x7 photo book for $1.99 from Kodak Gallery - details in the link below.  I just did pictures - no words - the program doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles as far as that is concerned.  I wanted a little book that would capture my favorite family photos of the last five years.  Offer ends January 9th, I believe.

Just in case you're interested ...
http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/01/kodak-gallery-5x7-photo-book-for-1-99-shipped.html

2010 Christmas in Utah

The kids and I flew to Utah on the 15th and Brandon drove up and met us there a few days later (I am loving the $59 sale flights to/from Utah on Southwest!). I was surprised that Rachel was apprehensive on the plane and wanted to get off. I did not anticipate this dilemma since she's flown so much, but luckily we compromised and decided it would be ok as long as we closed the windows ... whew!

Brandon finished his week of work and then drove through the night and arrived around 2:30am. Around midnight, Brandon hit some ice and the car spun and landed in a little ditch on the side of the rode - he was fine and the car made out with only some scratches and dents on the front bumper. Thankfully, someone with a truck and the right attachments stopped within just a couple minutes of it happening and helped him out. I'm so grateful he made it safe and that we both came when we did, because then it dumped a ton of snow, which Rachel was thrilled about. She - like any other 2 year old - thought it was meant to be eaten.

Andrew's first plane ride ... number twenty-something for Rachel

Nana & Rachel built this adorable snowman

Making gingerbread houses with cousins at Grandma Nancy's -
how any candy made it on Rachel's house is a shock to me!

In my house growing up, visiting Santa at the mall was a BIG deal as far as traditions go. My mom has this adorable display of all of us kids sitting on Santa's lap every year and I definitely wanted to continue the tradition. In my opinion, the Santa Claus' at the mall are the cutest and they have the best display, etc. So this year, I was SO SAD TO FIND OUT that they asked visitors not to take pictures with their own camera. It made sense to me, but please provide a picture package cheaper than $17!! Luckily, we found a darling Santa at Riverwoods in Provo that allowed you to take pictures with your own camera and Grandma Nancy helped me brave the cold with the kids. As an added bonus, there was absolutely no line. It was perfect!

Grandma Nancy and Rachel at Riverwoods

The Sunday before Christmas, we had dinner with all the Hale family and took a family picture. Much to my dismay, Rachel threw a huge fit right when everyone was ready and set up to take the family picture. Thanks to photoshop, Brandon made everything look great! :)

One of Brandon's family's Christmas traditions is a drink - mint julep - it's an acquired taste for some people, but we all love it (even Rachel). Another Hale tradition is the Grandkid sleepover, which happened a few days later. You heard it right, Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Val had 5 kids under the age of 5 sleepover at her house! They all sleep on mattresses in her family room, and she does such a cute job - they do table gifts, swim in her hot tub, watch the nativity story, read Christmas books - it's amazing and the kids love it! While the kids are at the sleepover, all the siblings go out to dinner and we always have such a fun time (this year it was Tucano's).

Hale Family Picture - they now have 7 grandchildren

Papa Wally & Pookie - Brandon's grandparents

Good buddies - Kennedy & Rachel

Me & Brandon, Chris & Kacie, Rachel & Scott out to dinner

Grandkid sleepover in their matching pajamas

More snow fun!

Super exciting :) "first meeting" - Andrew & Chase, 3 months apart

Since our families live so close together, we make it to almost every single holiday party - it's great and a little busy, but we wouldn't have it any other way! (And this usually gets us out of any clean up as well! Oh shoot, I just blew our big secret!)

Parker cousins - the kids with Logan

Grandma Parker and her great-grandkids (on right - Parker Robinson)

On Christmas Eve, we started at the Hale party and left right before Rachel made her big debut as a shepherd - not a total loss considering she was poking everyone with her "candycane stick". And we were a little offended (not really) that once again, Andrew was not chosen as baby Jesus. I say "once again" because Andrew also did not "make the cut" for our ward party's baby Jesus selection, which was a tough run between him a baby Kaehl. I am totally kidding here! Especially since baby Kaehl's mom had to play Mary and sing a solo while holding her newborn - no thanks, I'll pass. But it was a funny joke between me and Brandon this Christmas season.

Hale Family Christmas Eve party

After the Hale party, we dashed to my parents house and opened a present (surprise! it's pajamas!) and what is usually a rambunctious and irreverent party turned into a pretty low key and relaxing night. I decided we need to bring the Parker family talent show back - it's much funnier that way. I can't wait for Chad's karate routine next year! :) he he he

Christmas Eve - Andrew's so excited, he can hardly contain himself!

This year, I didn't get a great picture of my brothers and Brandon playing video games but the one below will have to do. I guess it's a "very" important Christmas tradition in the Parker house. I think it came about when my brothers would usually get a new game or gaming system and so it was just natural for them to play it on Christmas day. Now without fail, the boys all sneak away to play video games on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, but really it seems to be at most family get togethers now that I think about it. And since it's "tradition", the boys can usually get away with it. So then us girls (me, mom and Cindy) hang out with the kiddos.

Mine & Cindy's favorite video game "tradition" - Chad, Brandon & Kyle (Cade's laid up in bed since he had surgery on his foot that week)

Andrew found a comfy spot on Nana and is all tuckered out Christmas morning before the festivities have even begun!

Rachel on Christmas morning with all of her Littlest Pet Shop toys

Santa delivered Rachel's trampoline to Arizona, but he left her a letter explaining the whole thing. She didn't even question it and then moved on to the millions of other presents she received. Her favorites were My Littlest Pet Shop toys, Polly Pockets, and my Little Ponies and a pack of gum and laffy taffy in her stocking. It was fun to see her reaction when we got home to Arizona and the full-size trampoline that now resides in our backyard!

Did we even get anything for Andrew? I know the grandma's did, but more just because they didn't want to be rude. :) We're getting smarter as we have more children and we'll take this year off, while we can. Sorry, Andrew! We love you lots!

Who you calling chubby?

He's a chubby kid - there's no hiding it!  My mother-in-law keeps reminding me how chubby Brandon was - all the way until 2nd grade - and you all know how Brandon turned out, so I'm not worried at all.  I absolutely love his giant cheeks and double chin - and he's a pretty cuddly baby too!  In the last month or so, the nickname "Bubba" has emerged and I think it fits him nicely.  :)

These pictures were all taken when he was about 2 - 2 1/2 months old.