Our Weekend

Last week I had been having some major cravings (no, I am not pregnant. PROMISE.) Five Guys satiated me during the week, but I was still needing major food on Saturday. So that night found us at good old Red Robin. Once we were seated I had a weird realization... this was our first time EVER out to dinner as a whole family by ourselves. Trav and I go on date nights without the kids, and we had been out with extended families with the kids, but never just the four of us. I don't know how to describe it, but it was kind of a fun feeling. Like we were a real family, out to eat. I know that sounds weird, but it's just how it felt. So of course, I needed a picture. ..

..and proof that I was there. :) Collin was MORE than happy to take a picture with me.

 On Sunday morning, we were waiting for Trav to come pick us up and I had another urge to document. For the past almost two years, Trav has had to go to early morning meetings at the church for his calling, so then he has to book it back home to pick us up before sacrament meeting. Since our building isn't close, this hasn't been the most enjoyable task for him.... or me. Having one car has major downsides. At least we don't have 8am church. Anyway, Collin was looking so handsome so I pulled out the camera... and got this scowl...

 ... and then this smile! As long as we're documenting here, Collin has a favorite person in our ward. His name is {the Candy Man}. Aka. Arnie. He is this nice, old man that brings loads of candy to church every Sunday for the kids. It is Collin's only concern to find the Candy Man the instant nursery is over. It is certainly not my favorite thing to try and talk down a frenzied two year old every week, the minute church is over, but boy it makes him happy. I'm afraid our new ward will have a major strike against it in the near future when Collin is faced with the fact that the Candy Man is not a standard fixture in every LDS building.

Hey, who's that hot man in my living room with the glasses?! :) 

After years of begging, Trav finally saw the eye doctor. And much to his consternation, he prescribed glasses. Trav will argue that they are not really needed... it's just an astigmastism, but I sure like them. I am, after all, the normally very honest child, who lied on her eye exam to get glasses. I'm a fan.

Later that day I was cooking in the kitchen when I heard several loud thumps on the basement stairs and then screaming. I instantly knew Weston had fallen and flew to the basement with Trav right behind me. I have no idea how high up he was when he tumbled, but he had fallen off the edge where there's no wall or railing and landed on his side near the base. His whole body was shaking as he sobbed and I noticed his cheek had a rug burn with some blood splotches, but thankfully no broken bones sticking out anywhere. I've wanted to put boards on the sides of those stairs forever, and almost made it 4 years with no children falling off the sides, but the record couldn't hold. Poor Weston. A fudgesicle made the world right again. And he ate every ounce.

 Sadly, that wasn't the end of his woes. Collin started throwing up at 5pm and the next morning there was throw up in Weston's crib. Both boys caught the darn stomach bug that has been going around our ward! Thankfully, it seemed to be a 24hr. one. No throw up since Monday. But it was pretty nasty there for a while. Trav stayed up on the couch with Collin all Sunday night while he constantly cried and puked. What a husband! I don't think I've ever received a nicer gift. :)

Harry the Snowman

Saddest thing ever to realize that the end of February was the first time I REALLY played in the snow with my kids. Collin of course had "played" in it before, but usually when Dad was shoveling and not doing anything more than touching it and kicking it. Yes, kicking snow is the best. 

In my defense, most snowy days are frigid and windy and Collin is crying from the cold within minutes. I also despise being cold and have generally very hostile feelings toward what I think is the devil's precipitation. 

Alas, last week we had a WARM day with a nice, medium layer of snow on the ground to frolic in. It took no less than 30 minutes to adequately dress us all (most likely Weston's very first time wearing shoes) before we were out on our backyard adventure!

I got a workout (and the realization that my snow pants are NOT waterproof... seriously?!) by pushing the kiddos around the backyard on the sled. When we first brought it out, Collin was so excited to be doing what he's watched Caillou do dozens of times in his Winter Wonderland DVD. He was also alarmed that ours did not have a rope like Caillou's. After pushing on my knees for .2 seconds, I joined his dismay.

 Snow angels..

 Must have a taste.

After diving out of the sled, soaking his mittens and losing his shoes, this one was reassigned to the kitchen to watch.

 It always takes many shots to get something that is not this...

 Ahhh, a normal looking child....

 I will miss this cheeser smile someday when he realizes it is not "cool" to squish your face up and beam your finest grin. :) 

A pretty successful afternoon! Now I'm hoping to try out real sledding sometime before winter is over. Buuuut, I won't be heartbroken if it never snows enough to warrant it. It IS almost March after all. Our last winter is nearly behind us!!!

Rainbow Rink

For playgroup last week we met at a rollerskating rink in North Tonawanda. It sets aside two hours every Wednesday morning for kids to come and bring anything on wheels to play with on the rink. We were literally the first people to enter the building and had it all to ourselves for about 10 min. I thought it would get really crowded since it was winter break for schools, but there were only 3 or 4 other women there with their kids, besides our group. I had a BLAST. I think the kids might of too. :) Weston was a champ and happy as could be for almost the entire 2 hours just sitting in this car. They had upbeat Disney classics blasting over the loudspeakers and Collin and I ran helter- skelter all over the place, pausing only to bust out {Elaine-esk} dance moves. It felt so good just to run! Can't remember the last time I did that. Sad, I know.

 Collin got to try roller skating for the very first time! He kept flailing his legs back and forth just like on TV. Then after 5 min. he had had enough of that nonsense.

 Gavin had his hopes set on the zoo that day, but we're so glad he joined us instead!

Millie enjoyed giving Weston a spin.

Me and my Buffalo twin. :) Love that our boys are similar ages. If only we got to continue having them grow up together! :(

Oh St. Valentine!

We were able to go to a Valentine's playgroup at the church last week. Collin had fun making his fireman box. When we were at Target picking out his Valentines, he insisted on Phineas and Ferb. Really? I was hoping for some with envelopes, thinking that's how he could help me... by stuffing them in the envelopes. Or at least putting a piece of candy in them or something. No go. They just don't sell Valentines with envelopes anymore! What gives? Instead I spent a good hour, ripping apart 37 Valentines and tattoos, delicately placing said tattoos in the minuscule slits cut into the Valentines, then folding them and sealing with a heart sticker. I felt like a factory worker. It will be nice when he's old enough to do all that by himself... talk about a busy work project, but for now, I was cursing Disney and all affiliated slave drivers.

Last Saturday our ward had a Valentine's party that turned out pretty fun. They had childcare, so Collin was occupied, and we just put Weston to sleep in a room. I even brought his sound machine. It was fantastic.

We ate, then played a trivia game. I brought my Ipod and speakers and led everyone in a couple of line dances.... the Cupid Shuffle and Cotton Eyed Joe. I was impressed with how many were willing to dance!

The "photographer" didn't show up, so it was my crummy camera to the rescue! Whitney had made such an adorable photo background, we couldn't let it go to waste. 

 I wasn't around when Trav snapped this picture, but I wanted to include it because it has Deborah in it! I visit teach Deb and she is a gem. I was a little nervous when I started going to her neighborhood (it's in one of the scarier parts of town), but I've since relaxed and am able to enjoy the experience.... bumpin' music, {hoodlum} men, dilapidated houses, accompanying smells, and all. I need to video tape her because her voice is one I'll never forget. One time when I dropped by to visit her, she called from the inside, "Who is it?!!". "It's Steph!" I replied. The door swung open to bare legged Deb, with the happiest look on her face. "Stephanie!" she exclaimed. "I MISSED your BUTT!"  Seriously, I love Deborah.

After the dancing, a few couples played the Newlywed game for us all to watch and then we let the kids break free and join the party for some dancing. They were rocking out. It was a fun night. Laney knows how to plan a party!

On actual Valentine's day, I picked up Chiptole and took the kids to the dental school to eat lunch with Trav. He knew we were coming, but he didn't know I had brought along some inflated friends. The surprise was a little ruined when he saw us coming, but I still made him go out in the hall while I did my dirty work. There were 5 balloons for 5 years married, each with a note attached of a memory from that year.

I had fun with some crepe paper and put a box of Dove chocolates under his computer (which I'm pretty sure I ended up eating 85% of). Too bad he was on rotation for the afternoon so none of his patients got to see! 

 Our din din. Pink mashed potatoes. So original!

The real treat were these sugar cookies. I hit the jackpot with the cookie recipe, then I used the Sprinkles cupcakes frosting recipe. It's a good thing we gave away so many plates, otherwise I would have eaten them ALL! Now our official Valentine's "date" night is tonight. Hmmmm, where could we be going.... um of course Cheesecake Factory!! I have a date with Caramel Chicken tonight and it's going to be amazing. :)

And a belated Happy 100th Birthday to Arizona!!! I had no idea... thank you Facebook. I should have done something Arizona themed. It is the best state in the country after all. :)

Weston's 1st Birthday!

 Last Monday was Weston's first birthday! It was surreal for me. I know he's still a baby, but I feel like he's still supposed to be a newborn baby. The fact that he is one is making me feel like I need to be thinking about the next child... and well, that, is just not happening! Weston is as sweet as they come and yet this past year was still incredibly hard. Adjusting to two was not an easy transition for me. And the 10 months of late night feedings really did me in too. With that said, of course I am so glad he's in our family and I wouldn't have it any other way! I'm so glad the boys are close in age and will always have each other growing up. (Even though currently, most of what I hear from Collin is, "Mom, he's bugging me!!" 

I decided I didn't need to throw a huge party, but I still wanted to have a little celebration, so we invited the Shaw's over for a Cafe Rio dinner. I was going to make a generic cake, but then remembered that he was born on Superbowl Sunday... so naturally, he needed a football cake!

Get it... {Weston}, instead of {Wilson}. I know, I know... I'm so cute!

 I had to put his helmet on one last time for a complete {football} look.

The simple banner I made with some pictures from his first year...

 The second I put the #1 in (and why didn't I turn it so it faced out correctly?!), Weston started grabbing at it and we had to tell him no...... and this was the crying spell that resulted. He just dissolves into tears whenever he's told no.

He was not shy at all. Started going for it right away!

 A couple of times in his high chair, he tried to dip his head down to just eat it right off the platter, but his head wouldn't reach, so we thought we'd give him better access on the table.

Love those blues! We let him at it for a while, and he was in hog heaven. I didn't think he was really ingesting as much as he was getting it all over himself, but the next morning there was a brown throw up spot on his sheet. Oops. Must have given him his first sugar, stomach ache.

Rach was so sweet and made him this custom sub art for his room! Yea, the first decoration in their bedroom that isn't about Collin!

 He was also excited to open a new truck. And thank you to Grandma Evans for the clothes and toys package she sent! Collin was pretty upset that a package came from Grandma and none of it was for him. He kept insisting that it be his birthday now.

Some things about Weston right now...

*He is a drooling machine! I was so excited to get his helmet off so I could snuggle him more, but the constant stream of drool is keeping me away more than the helmet did! I have to keep a bib on him (and change it a couple times a day) or else his shirt is drenched. 

*He is also in the habit of keeping his tongue sticking out of his mouth. Seriously, it will stick out for 10 min. at a time without retracting. And it's so skinny! It's like half a tongue. I'm not sure what to make of it.

*He isn't walking on his own, but walks along the furniture and behind push toys.

*He LOVES animals. I know all kids do, but this is extreme. He becomes ecstatic at the sight of even a bird. I am reading a book with a black bear on the cover and he won't leave me alone when he sees it. He'll bat at it for 15 min. 

*He sleeps with a small, fuzzy blanket (same one Collin used, from Grandma Sharon) and a teddy bear.

*He is super sensitive and even a less than happy tone or look will hurt his feelings and reduce him to tears.

*He loves Collin and even after getting hit or kicked by him, will try to follow him to time out and wait for him to return.  

*He seems to be transitioning from 2 naps to 1 nap already. Noooo! Collin didn't do that for 5 more months. 

*He wears size 3 diapers and 9m clothes. 

*I'm not even sure what to say his favorite foods are because he'll eat just about anything I give him. Mostly though he drinks lots of bottles! At least 3, 6oz bottles a day, sometimes 8oz.
*His "sign" for just about everything is flapping his hands at his wrists... kind of like a wave. It can mean anything, but mostly it just means he wants whatever he's waving at. I love it.
*He weighed in at 17lbs at his doctor's visit. That is still less than 5%, but they are super happy at his weight gain. His head diameter was 17 3/4in. which was between 10th and 25% and his height was 28 1/2 inches which is 10%. He is a peanut for sure!
*He has 4 teeth. Two on top (with a big space in between!)and two on bottom. His laterals look like they'll poke through soon, but not much else going on in that department.
*He can go up and down stairs! He will usually attempt to go down them head first, but we tell him to turn around and he'll back up and  then maneuver his legs behind him to head down. He's very mechanical and methodical about it. 

I am so so grateful for my sweet Weston! He was worth all the screaming in the delivery room and all the long nights of nursing. :) He is such a blessing and loved to pieces. Happy Birthday Weston!