Laughing!

Kids Table

So last Monday, Deja & Josh and Dawn Sheree & Steven all came up for a Family Home Evening and we had homemade pizza for dinner. We only had enough seats at the table for the adults, so we obviously needed a kids table. I laid down some beach towels on and under our coffee table with a box and large dictionary for seats for the boys. I thought it turned out pretty fun. Obviously Mikayla did too, since she fussed and fussed until we took her over to join her cousins.

All three of them just had a blast, laughing and laughing. Garth had a blast entertaining Mikayla, and Colt had a blast playing cleanup, trying to eat everyone's unattended food.

Great Times!!

Changes.

I gave work notice that I will not be returning after my leave ends in a couple of weeks. It was one of the hardest things that I have done in a long time. Dustin and I both know, after long hours of prayer and fasting, that this is the right choice for our little family. Honestly, I am scared to death. The future is pretty up in the air for us, but I cannot deny that we absolutely know that my staying home with Mikayla is the right thing for us right now. Dustin graduates in May and we are still unsure as to what our next step will be after that point.

I know that a lot of my co-workers follow our blog and I just wanted to tell you that I am grateful for you. I am grateful for a boss that was understanding of my need to be home with my family right now. I worked with some wonderful people and I am so thankful for all that you taught me and for the friendships I made. I will miss you. If you keep following our blog, please leave a comment from time to time so we can keep in touch!

Some (if not all!) of you may think I am crazy. The reasons I made this choice are many, but one of the main reasons is that I firmly believe that "Mothers are primarily responsible for the nuture of their children" whenever possible (click here for more info). Now, this is not to say that I will never return to work at some point in the future (near or far), either by choice or necessity, but at this moment in time, my job is to stay at home with this little munchkin...

We will keep you updated as we find out where we will go from here. Thank you for your love and support.

Tummy Time Revisited!

Mikayla still hates tummy time and just screams when we put her on her belly, then just rolls over. We put her on the exercise ball (don't worry, her Dad was holding her!) and she just loved it, despite what her faces may look like! We get kind of bored around here sometimes if you can't tell!

The new do, too....It's a terrible picture, but it's the only one I have. I chopped it all off. It was time for a change!

Hollywood, here we come!

Mom's Big Helper

For Christmas Dustin's parents got me this cute matching set of aprons, one for me and one for Mikayla. We decided to try Mikayla's on her just for kicks the other day when she was being a big helper in the kitchen (i.e. she wouldn't be put down when I was trying to make lunch). She looked pretty cute, but she was totally swimming in it! Room to grow, right?!

Beach Babette

For Easter Mikayla got this super cute swimsuit and Dustin had to try it out a little early so he took Mikayla swimming in my parent's spa and she just LOVED it!

She also got this hat and some shades from her Grandad and Nanny Jill and since we're working with the beach babe theme I thought I'd share some pictures of them as well...

We got to go to Pinetop with my parents for Easter weekend and it was an amazing get-away. Here are a couple of pics from what Mikayla did on our adventure.

Played lots and lots...

Even played cards...

Went on walks with her cool beanie...

Snuggled with Grandad...

Had bed parties with Nanny Jill...

and Mom and Dad ate lots of junk food, went thrift store shopping and took long naps (I took full advantage of lots of babysitters!)! It was awesome!

In John Deere Green

I went and visited DawnSheree today to do a little crafty time and Garth really wanted to take "Baby Kayla" on a wagon ride and was so excited to pull her in the wagon. DawnSheree had brilliant idea to put her in the Bumbo chair for the ride and it was absolutely hilarious! This car full of ladies even stopped to holler and whistle at these cute kiddos as we were walking down the street. They were totally in love with these kids (who can blame them, right?)! Garth was adorable with his little cool strut action going on when he was pulling Colt and Mikayla in the wagon thinking he was pretty hot stuff. I just love these pictures! I am still laughing at how funny this little excursion was!

Colt wasn't so sure about the chick riding in his John Deere wagon...

Mr. Cool in charge and getting to cross the street.

Poor Mikayla is certainly my daughter when it comes to skin color and sun tolerance levels...she was not liking the sun at all and her slacker mom didn't think to take anything to cover her up for the walk. She couldn't even open her eyes and they got so swollen and red from the bright sun. I felt really bad! Luckily Aunt DawnSheree was there to save the day with her super sweet shades! Go Hollywood!

Mikayla Says.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM & DAD!!!!

Dad's birthday was two weeks ago on Monday and Mom made him a really yummy strawberry cake!

Mom's Birthday was last Monday...Their birthdays are only one week apart, Isn't that cool!?

Mom enjoyed a really yummy darn good chocolate cake, but it is too complicated for Dad to make and Mom really loves baking so he didn't deny her that birthday present.

(Mom's discerning photography eye won't like the blurry picture, but hey, Dad was taking the picture so you get what he takes!)

Mikayla also says...

sometimes this is how I feel about all these pictures...

and sometimes this is how I feel instead....

Random Funniness

So Meagan's friend from her semester at Nauvoo made us this awesome 'moby wrap' for Mikayla, and Meagan put it to the test the other day while she was trying to get some chores done around the house. Mikayla just wanted to see so Meagan put her in backwards and then the little stinker just loved helping her mom out and was so alert and curious looking at everything around her.

I came out to see how they were doing and this is what I saw....

I just had to laugh at that cute little floating head loving every minute of it. :)

2 Months!

Where does the time go? I cannot believe that Mikayla is two months old already! She had her two month check-up today and the doctor confirmed what we already knew...she is still tiny. Luckily, he was happy with her growth because she is on an upward trend since last month. Thank goodness, because I was SO nervous to go and find out she wasn't gaining enough.

Here are her two month stats:

9 lbs 8 oz (25%)

22 3/4 inches (50%)

Head 39 1/2 cm (75%)

The horrid part of the appointment was 3 shots! She pretty much screamed and did not forget that they were mean to her very easily. At least she got some pretty sweet band-aids out of the deal. :)

Things I love about Mikayla at 2 months:

• SMILES! What's not to love about this smile? It melts my heart every time!

• Cooing...she has started "talking" to us all the time and I just love it!
• Snuggling with Mom in bed in the mornings.
• Funny faces...they haven't disappeared yet!
• How she eats up bath time and just relaxes like a sunbathing beach babe in the tub.
• Her widow's peak. Still don't know where it came from, but I love it!
• Chicken arms...yes, that's what they are. They are SO skinny!
• Long eyelashes that are turning darker brown and are so pretty with her dark blue eyes.
• She started rubbing my arm with her hand when I hold her and I love the little "love pats".
• How alert she is...constantly taking in her world.
• Following us with her eyes and finding us in the room...nice to know she is starting to recognize us!
• Love her, love her, love her! She still lights up our lives every day!

Little Lady in Red!

Hiking Hullabaloo

My siblings and I have been talking about wanting to get outside and possibly hiking. Since there was snow in the Santa Ritas, we decided to go on a hike in Madera Canyon while everyone was on spring break.

Uncle Bubba ready to roll with Colt in tow.

Mikayla all snuggled into the front pack with her mom.

Here is everyone getting ready to go.

All the babies are in their cool carriers, and we are ready to rock!

Here we are enjoying some of the cool stream water. DD's taking pictures of Deja and Josh, while Garth & Quincy (Deja and Josh's Dog) showed Steven how to really enjoy the water.

Here's Garth getting a drink...Mmm, cool snow run off. yummy!

And another great example of what avid, hard core hikers we are. Lots of breaks. :)

Beautiful hiking with the world turning green, and the snow capped peaks in the background.

What a hotty! Beautiful Meagan & Mikayla enjoying the scenery

Here's Colt enjoying the water with his Uncle Dud

Dawn Sheree with her two boys. Cute picture!

The guys enjoying the stream

Here's our little family on our first hike

And princess Mikayla all decked out for the great outdoors.

And of course Garth and Uncle Dud had to find the greatest places to play. This is a really cool old hollow sycamore tree that leans across the creek and makes a great play fort.

Beautiful clear water. What fun!!!