Leaves and Gardner Village

Well, before the real cold came on we did some fun things, we played in the leaves when they started to fall and Daddy was trying to rake them up
yes, Claire has a sucker in her hand, who doesn't play in the leaves with a sucker, that sticks on all the leaves?

Claire and Brandon buried me, but while Brandon was trying to get the leaves on, Claire would take some more off.

We also headed to Gardner Village to check out all the witches. It was cold, but we found them all. and we got our cookie, and a cupcake for Claire

I am cold mom, please get me out of here!!!

Claire's favorite was the dancing witches, we had to have our picture taken with the "ones that dance"

Birthday Pictures

Here are the super cute Birthday pictures that my SIL Janae took , she does such an awesome job!! So enjoy our 1st and 3rd birthday pics!!

our little guy turned 1

So our little guy turned 1 (a few weeks ago, that is) and he had a fun day I think!!

We started out with a photo shoot with Aunt Janae (those pictures to come later, so cute) then some cute Aunts dropped by to give both kids there birthday presents, then later that night we had a party with the family.

He is such a great little guy. He has started throwing tantrums this last week, but other than that he is a real fun kiddo!

He LOVES food, i think I mentioned this before, but when ever he sees someone with food or just food, his eyes get really big and he heads for it.

He started giving me kisses and no matter how wide his mouth is open, I love to get them, and he doesn't just give one, it is always multiple at a time!

He finally got his top two teeth, and as soon as they broke through they were almost all the way in, they sat in his gums for weeks

He loves to shake his head yes and no

He pulls him self up on everything and one day decided he was going to go up the stairs, and there he was, at the top all proud and everything!!

He is still thin and long with a small head:
20 pounds 35%
31 inches 90%
and 25% for head

He LOVES his sister, and laughs and giggles when they play together, stops crying when she is in the room and enjoys being around her. (hope that lasts forever)

Finally got him shoes, thought I would get him use to them for when he decides one day to start walking.

I dont' think he will walk anytime soon, and there are a few reasons:
1st- whenever I help him walk he looks up at me or at the ceiling
2nd- he doesn't stop wiggling and can't stand for more then a second before he tries to wiggle and move and squirm

He NEVER stops moving and people in church love to watch him and say he is all boy.

He sure love this kiddo and all his craziness that he brings. Here are some photos from his party:
Waiting for the party to start chillin' with is sister
His cute pirates cake made by Heather (my sister-in-law)




Opening presents

not sure what to do that is fine, Claire will do it, and she had a great time doing it



Blowing out the candles, again Claire helped

and the eating of cake: he just picks it all up, no need to pick at it, just pick it up!


look Mom all done: YUM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sweet Boy, we love you tons!!!

Grateful for Great Healers

Just over three years ago I had my first baby, a beautiful baby girl, we knew it was a girl from the very beginning and couldn't wait to meet her. She came early, 4 weeks early and I was, to say the least, terrified that she was coming so early. After 24 hours of getting ready to push and 4 hours of pushing we had her, but I couldn't hold her, she was taken to the nursery and after a short kiss she was gone.

Our sweet little lady was taken care of when I couldn't do so by nurses and doctors that I didn't realize were even there, one of those doctors is now our wonderful pediatrician, she checked her out and informed first Brandon and then myself that she had an abnormal heart murmur and that they were sending something for Primary's to check-out. We never heard back from them, therefore we were told that we needed to take her up there and have a check-up, we made the appointment while still in the hospital.

Fast forward about a week in a half after having her, Claire and I are headed up to Primary's thinking that they would tell me nothing was wrong and that we were just going up there to see what was making her heart sound different.

We got unloaded from the car, still getting use to doing so many things and taking everything with me that she might need, and caring a car seat with me everywhere, we headed into those automatic sliding doors.

This is where everything changed, as soon as we started walking down the hall, I KNEW in my heart that she was not okay and that this was not going to be a "normal" visit. Sitting down with the doctor after doing and EKG he informed me that we immediately needed to have an ECHO done.

That ECHO took over an hour and that ultra sound tech looked at everything in her heart it seemed like. He showed me the hole that she also had, but didn't say much else. As I helped keep her calm and sleepy with the warm blankets, I thought of all the things that could be wrong and all the things that still needed to be done that day, going to the hospital to get her jaundice levels and then off to a pediatric appointment.

We were then asked to wait in a different room where I met with two different cardiologists, the one that met with us at first and the one that, I was informed, would perform the surgery. A surgery that she would need as soon as possible, in fact in 4 days! 4 DAYS? What where they talking about. What was wrong??? Then I sat through an explanation that I hoped to get right having to repeat it many times after this.

As I made my way down the hill to get through everything else that needed to be done, I made a call to Brandon telling him that our little girl was going to need heart surgery, and he headed home from work so that he was home after I got back from her other appointment.

My husband, my father and my father-in-law had the special opportunity to give her a blessing before the surgery and I am grateful for that healer in heaven that looked after my little girl and guided those that had a part in finding and fixing this heart problem.

Well we made it through that rough couple of days and she finally got to have her surgery, and she was a trooper, her recovery, because she was so little, was an over night stay and we got to take her home the next day.

Now we are onto yearly check-ups and had one of those last week. We headed in and they tried to get an ECHO, but she would not have it, she cried and freaked out that she had to take her shirt off so they could take the pictures of her heart, and just wanted to be held. She was in a cute room, decorated in Cars, and the tech put Cars in for her to watch, still a no go. So we just went and had an EKG done, She was perfect for it, had a treat, got to sit on daddy's lap and loved that they got to put stickers on her tummy.

Her heart sounds great, her cardiologist informed us and said we didn't have to come back until next year. What great news, and I am grateful he was able to help my little girl when she needed help that I couldn't give her.

Her pediatrician, so grateful for her that she focused on her heart like she should have and found that problem, and that as we went in Friday she was able to still help me with things I don't know.

And, that little lady of ours is growing and doing so well, you would never know she had to have surgery as an infant.

her stats as of Friday are that:
She is 38 inches (75%)
and that
She is 33 lbs (75%)
she is learning and growing just like she should and I am so grateful for those that do there jobs like they should, and look after her when things are out of my grasp.

So many amazing healers in our lives, all linked together, by sending a little lady from heaven to a healer on earth that listened, then on to another healer that listened a little bit closer. I am so grateful!!

11 Months and 3 Years Young

Well our little man is now 11 months, and getting closer to his first birthday, I feel like I want my babies back, but really don't like that baby phase, not enough sleep involved really. So I will take the active, crazy phase any day.

He is crawling and we all love it
He is standing up next to things and will move his feet when you hold him up
He loves food, dog food, people food, food in the garbage, chewed up food, you name he loves it, but he doesn't like baby food
He loves his big sister and crawling around after her is something he loves
He LOVES the bath still and is a crazy man in the water
He still has 4 top teeth that I can see through the gums, they just wont break through
And he is still a very happy guy

Trying out his life jacket, while Aunt Shannon hold him, down in Delta
Claire is now the big 3, I can't believe it, it has gone by so fast and she is loving life. She is a happy girl for the most part and is a joy in our lives!!

We celebrated her birthday a few places this year. Having a birthday that hits labor day weekend a lot we celebrated before we left for the weekend and then on her actual birthday. We had a Mater Celebration and she loved it!

She got this sweet ride that is pictured below, it is a Mater wagon, and really is not suppose to haul people, but things, but she can't get enough of him. She got a scooter, that she loves to ride, shoes that have lights when she walks! Some really fun games, Cars 2 toys and much more.

She also got the Rapunzel dress-up she is wearing below, and he Grandma Carlson made her an amazing dress with mater and McQueen , I will have to get a picture of it, it is cute.




Fun opening toys and having family there for the celebration, thank you everyone who came to support Claire!!
And this is her AMAZING cake that a friend made for us!!! Thanks Aly you made her day and I really didn't want to cut it, I just wanted to keep it forever!!






We had a great time down in Delta and had another cake that she got to share with her uncle Chad, he has a birthday a couple days before she does, so we had a little party down there as well. What a good girl we have, can't wait for many more birthdays with this little lady!!

Potty Training

So a few months ago, we started to potty train Claire again, (we tried earlier and it was not fun for any involved, so we stopped) she was doing so well, she was going in the potty and would even sometimes let us know when she needed to go. The only problem, which I already had a feeling would be rough was the dreaded poop.

So, she wasn't having any accidents a day, unless she had to poop and then all of a sudden 2 a day, 4 a day sometimes 6 a day. Talk about tired of washing sheets and underwear, and pants all week long. This was happening the same time that Landon was getting teeth so I was washing his bedding at the time as well, if he was having issues going with that, I was struggling with having to do bedding sometimes 3+ times a week.

So Brandon saw and amazing prize at the store and brought it home, so I made a chart to keep track of the days that she went in the potty, if she had an accident she has to move all the way back to number 1.

She made it to day 9 and then we had to start over once, BUT great news she can now poop in the potty, and she gets so excited, and we get so excited with her. When she first went she raised her hands in the air and yelled, "Mom, I pooped in the potty!!" We clapped our hands and Landon even joined in the fun, which helped her a lot.

So below is the chart, are you surprised it has cars on it, she has to get magnet mater all the way to the top (day 20) and she gets the prize below:
Mater that blows bubbles, what more could my little lady ask for, BUBBLES and MATER in the same toy. Sometimes during the day I see her just staring up at mater, and then at the chart, we are getting closer to this fun toy at our house, wish us luck!!

Our Summer Adventures!!

Some of our Summer Adventures have included:

Playing in the pool, but taking a break for a sucker or popsicle

Have Claire climb into Landon's crib and hearing them talking and giggling with each other

Playing with friends

Going to the Splash pad
with cousins

More popsicles, all though Claire loves to share hers with Landon every time

Dragging her brother to her room, lock mommy out and giggle and play for about 30 minutes before a break in was staged by the one locked out!

Good thing Landon has figured out crawling since this last picture so she doesn't have to drag him anymore he just follows her around now, she loves it!!

We have a few more adventures too, but they get there own posts, so see ya soon!!

10 months

Well our little guy is 10 months old today and it is hard to believe that he will be 1 on two short months!

Landon is so a very content, wiggly, happy and fun baby and he makes me laugh everyday!

We went in for his 9 month appointment ( yes I didn't post about it) and he was still in the 75% for height and he moved up to the 20% for weight!

Things that Landon has been up to in the last 2 months are:

he got another bottom tooth and is now in the process of getting his 4 top teeth, and it has caused some issues, like not always sleeping well at night and at least 2 and sometimes 4 poopy diapers a day which in turn causes really, really bad rashes.

he went from not wanted to crawl at all and moving backwards to getting on his hands and knees and moving forward, but still no crawling, more like pouncing. He will get it. Don't let the not crawling fool you though, he will get to were he wants to be anyway he can!

he also has no desire to walk, you can hold him by his hands and have him stand and he will NOT move his feet, you have to do it for him.

he wants to climb on things so bad, but has figured it out yet, he gets mad about it too.

he thinks bad things are funny, like Claire crying and me saying no (I think we are in trouble with both of those), but then again he thinks most things are funny.

he now drinks from a sippy cup

he loves to look at everything and when he is focused on something he just stares and his eyes get very large.

bath time is one big wet mess and I have to hold his legs down when I wash his hair of else I get drenched.

this little guy LOVES his Uncle Chad (Brandon's brother) and when he walks in the room he wants his attention so bad!

Claire can still make Landon laugh and smile just by walking in the room.

he gets jealous of us when we eat in front of him so he also has to have food when we eat, therefore he eats ALOT during the day, but still a little guy.

this kid LOVES and always has LOVED to be upside down a lot, a plus for him is to have his tummy rubbed as well, which in turn makes him laugh because well, he is REALLY ticklish!


We enjoy this little guy in our home, his content and happy personality is something that we all love!!
the pictures below are from his 9 month photo shoot, thanks again to my Sister-in-law for taking them for us, they are amazing!!!

Lagoon, It's What Fun Is!

So yesterday we headed to Lagoon we wanted to see if Claire could handle the rides since we are going to Disneyland next year. I realize that it is a long ways away and that times does take some of the fear away, but let me introduce you to my daughter.

She is, how do I say this, timid in a lot of areas in her life, throw her in the air and she will get a terrified look on her face and cry, pretend like you are going to throw her in water and she will get a terrified look and cling to you. Sometimes if you even say something to her, such as, throwing her in the water she runs in the opposite direction. But, give this girl a villain in a movie and she just tells them to be nice, falling down she gets back up and says she is okay.

Taking this girls feet off the ground is a mistake and she will let you know it.

So we started with an easy on, or so we thought. The Carousel, I went with her and stuck her on a bird and she screamed, get me down, get me down. I told her I would hold on tight and if I moved even a little bit she would scream at me to hold on tight. So our first ride was not a success.

So we headed over to the boats, she stood at the bars for a long time just staring at them, then I asked if she wanted to go on the boats, she of course said no. So I let her watch a little longer, asked again and she slightly shook her head yes. So we were in, we stood in line and the longer we stood there the more impatient she got. She wanted to ride the boats now. When it was finally our turn, we put her in a boat and she waited patiently for it to start.
Then she got the hang of it and started to turn the wheel and ring the bell.


The Planes came next and she sat waiting for the ride to start and then a little boy across from her started to cry, then she did too, good thing her buckle was on or she would have been out of there. There was no up and down movements for this girl, she hung on to the side the whole time.
We tried this one next and it went a little bit faster and she hung on for dear life again


Then came Puff, she went with Daddy and she had fun, she was scared don't get me wrong and hung on tight, when she went with me later she hung on so tight and had her head down the whole time, then every so often would scream. When we got off she said Mom I screamed on the Dragon. I think she was happy she was screaming like everyone else was on the rides that she did it on a few other rides.
We tried the cars and let's just say she loved them, but if you know Claire she loves Cars. She even gave the working a high five as she headed off. By the time we left she rode the cars quite a few times along with the boats!

okay so we rode these rides we walked around to see the rest of the rides, got some ice cream (it was hot) I rode a ride and then we headed back to the kiddie land. Up to this point Claire was still not okay with the rides, this is, I kid you not, at least 3 or more hours after getting there and I finally told Claire we would just go home. All of a sudden she wanted to ride the rides and our happy girl was back!

So we stayed for a few more hours

We rode the Train together


Claire rode the helicopters, but she laid down, once again no up and down movements for her
She also laid down on Dracula's Castle when she went with her Daddy.

Landon relaxing in the stroller

Claire on the swings, laying her head down again.

All in all a great day for my timid little lady, it was fun to see her liven up and realize it was okay. Last night she laid next to me before falling asleep and talked to me about all the fun she had. Then first thing this morning she came and found me and told me all about her day yesterday again.

So fun to see Claire have such a great time, especially since I knew it would be a struggle.