9 month comparison

Sadly, I couldn't find any pictures of Noah at nine months! What was I thinking? Luckily, my mom was more on the ball than I was! I used to think that Jacob looked like Macie. Then I thought he looked like Noah. Then Macie...now he's Jacob. They all have their definite looks. They look like siblings, but they are all different. Funny how that works, huh? 9 months is such a fun age. And they all were so fun at this age! I still can't believe I don't have any pictures of Noah. I guess we didn't have a digital camera yet! Thank goodness for the digital era! So what do you think? Who looks the most alike??

nine months

Oh where, oh where has the time gone? Jeesh. This kid is ALREADY nine months old. I swear, I just did an eight month post, didn't I? {well, at my rate, and my slackishness, I probably did just barely do the eight month post...} But, alas, here we are, at the nine month mark...and a few days. Yes, I did just use the word "alas".

Anyway, Jacob is such a big boy. He has a doctor appointment tomorrow morning, so we'll know his stats more accurately. Until then, just know he's a BIG kid! To give you a better idea, he is about 4 inches taller than Noah was at 11 months. How do I know this? Well, we had a fashion show with Noah's old Halloween costume. When Jacob tried it on, it was far too short, and he is quite a bit taller! And, he is already in 24 month clothes. Yes. 24 months. Crazy isn't it? I think I officially have to move him to a size 5 diaper. He's been leaking out quite a bit lately. Macie, however, was in a size 6 at 8 months. So, this kid does have a littler bum than his older sister! Jacob is still not "officially" crawling. He is very mobile. He moves around pretty quickly. I cannot tell you how, though. He doesn't really move when people watch him. It's that split second you turn your back and he's moved clear across the room! I don't know why, or how, but he does it and he's quick! He gets into crawling position, and rocks back and forth and it looks like he'll just go, but then he rolls and rolls. He does lay on his back and then roll back to a sitting position, so that's good! I'm not worried about it, at least I kinda know where he's at! I'm enjoying it, really! They are only little for a short time, I"m going to take it for all it's worth! He has 6 teeth, with 2 more starting to make their appearance. He has two bottom front ones, and the new two are also on the bottom, and then the four top front ones. And he is a biter! We'll see how long this nursing thing lasts! I don't think it will go 22 months like Macie! {as I typed that I realized that was a pretty crazy longtime to nurse!}

Jacob is a funny kid. He's always so happy. He loves to have "alone" time when the other two are sleeping or gone. He really opens up and just relaxes! It's funny. He laughs all of the time. I have never seen a more ticklish kid that him. You just say the word tickle and he tenses up and giggles. He loves to be cuddled, and tickled. He eats EVERYTHING. The other two did not, so it's a new experience with him! Everything goes into his mouth. We have had quite a few scares as he chokes on things that he puts into his mouth. Usually, however, it's just his hands that he is choking on. He likes to eat them. He loves to eat Trix. They are by far his favorite thing in the world, besides nursing! He does not like baby food, he much rather would eat whatever I'm eating. I mean, come on, wouldn't you? He always smiles for the camera. If he sees a camera out, he'll smile, even if you aren't taking a picture of him. And he's a talker. He talks and talks, and loves when he hears himself scream! From the day he was born, he has "talked" himself to sleep. It's the funniest thing ever. He does it about every night. It's great. I can't believe time if going to dang fast! I want it to stop. Where did my baby go? He is growing, but I am loving it. He's a great little guy. I wouldn't trade him for anything! I LOVE YOU, JACOB MAXWELL!!

She's 3.

Holy cow. Macie is three! Can you believe 3?? She actually seems older than your average three year old, but then when I think about my baby girl, it's hard to think that she's already THREE! I remember the day she was born very vividly. I remember everything about that day. {wait...I take that back, I don't remember EVERYTHING, I did have Jacob 2 years later...} But, it was a wonderful day, bringing our baby girl into this world. She's our princess. She says she isn't Mommy's princess, just Daddy's, and that is VERY evident!


Macie is the greatest little girl ever. If you haven't met Macie, you are seriously missing out. She makes us laugh all of the time. Everything out of her mouth is hilarious. She does have screaming fits, tantrums, and bad days, but don't we all?


Today, she is turning 3. She tells everyone that she is 7. Afterall, she was 3 all year, why not skip year 3, and just go straight to 7? She really wanted a Minnie Mouse party. I didn't think that I would be the one to throw my daughter a Minnie party, I thought Alison would for sure beat me to it. But...she's in love with Minnie, and I can't do anything about it! I'm sure I'll post more about the party later, but for now, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MACIE GIRL! We love you so much! You are our favorite daughter!;-)

baby shower.

{I love her to death, but I am SO glad this baby shower is over! No offense, Kristyn.}

I have this friend, Kristyn. She's great. Her husband, Paul, works with Adam. I think they moved here like in February or something. And since then, we have really bonded. She has a little boy, Thacker, who is Macie's age, and Macie has decided that she is marrying him. It'll be an arranged marriage of sorts! But, Kristyn was due on September 20th. I wanted to throw her a baby shower. So, I called our other friend, Beth to help with the festivities. However, Beth was going to be having foot surgery {again} and would be down for the count afterward. I had originally wanted to do a baby shower after the baby came, because I think it's kind of fun to actually see the baby and things, but due to the surgery, it would have to be pre-baby.

Well, little Bennett REALLY wanted to attend the baby shower. I mean, a party, hosted by ME? Come on, who WOULDN'T want to go! Ha, just kidding. But, he did make a surprise appearance 16 days early, just one week prior to the shower. Which worked out perfectly. Kristyn's mom was able to be there, Bennett was there, and it was all sorts of fun!


I got really excited to do the decor for the party. I was actually very glad that she was having a boy, have you seen all of the darling baby shower ideas for girls these days?? So, I was content with a boy! ;-) Originally I had planned on making the banner, but it wasn't until he was actually born and had a name that I decided to put the letters on it, it made it that much better, I think. I have to brag, I think it turned out pretty darn cute. I think I may have to steal some of my own ideas for my own children. I've been making "celebrate" banners very similar to this one for about 2 years. They take so dang long to make, though, so there hasn't been many actually GIVEN to any one. Soon. Very soon. If you have one, you should feel very lucky! {ahem...you know who you are...} Anyway, this one turned out cuter, though. I think each child will be getting one now!

Parties are pretty fun to put on. I get excited about them. But I don't know how many sleepless nights I have had thinking of different ideas, rethinking ideas, and just plain stressing out. I stress out too easily, I'm afraid. But, it all turned out fine in the end. I was in charge of invites and decorations, and then Beth did food, and Rachel did the game, it went smoothly. We enjoyed delicious chicken salad crossiants, veggies, chips, dips, salsas, candy, and of course, you can't forget the chocolate fondue afterwards. The only thing that I am TOTALLY kicking myself over, is that I completely forgot the party favors. And they were cute. Little cookies that looked like binkies. I'll have pictures of them soon. I was so mad. I remembered after everyone had gone home. All that time and all those trips to the store to make them right and I forgot them. Oh well...it was still fun. Good times.

Congratulations, Kristyn &Paul. Bennett is the cutest little guy! I'm so glad that we were able to do this shower for you. You guys are the best! We love you.

Myrt's Chocolate Cake

My grandma, Myrt, makes THE best chocolate cake EVER. There isn't another cake like hers. I have eaten many chocolate cakes, but none of them ever match or even come close to hers. On my 7th birthday, she made me a cake. It had zucchini. I am not a fan of the zucchini, and so I stopped eating chocolate cake. Yes, I refused to eat cake for MANY years. And then, nearly 15 years later I was reunited, and I kicked myself for missing out on it for so many years. WHAT IN THE HECK WAS I THINKING??? No one can resist Myrt's cake.

I haven't had Myrt's cake in 2 years. It's been WAY too long. I think it's one of the things I miss most about Idaho! I always hear about the cake, and my mouth waters, I get so jealous. And so, I called her for the recipe. However, I don't think she ever discloses the ENTIRE recipe of anything. I believe she has secret ingredients, and doesn't tell anyone. Because no matter how hard I try, nothing ever seems to compare. I have been making her sugar cookies for years. Probably close to like 20 batches. Not one even came remotely close to hers. It could have been the 7-14 cups of flour that she said to use. {that's quite the range...it's the secret, I tell ya.} And then when I asked her for the cake recipe, for some reason she didn't tell me what to bake it at or how long. I think it was a trick! I don't know though, I think there is a secret ingredient that she won't divudlge. It was a good cake, but it definately wasn't Myrt's.

Erin wants me to keep trying. Everyday. I think I may. It wasn't near as good as Myrt's, but it came in a close second. {thanks Anniece, for frosting the cake...it looks fabulous!!} We thought that maybe the cake pan had something to do with it...but I think it could be a drug. I don't know...but I need to go to Idaho VERY soon and eat some of that cake. I need a good fix. I could eat the entire cake. Until then, I better get bakin'.


Hmm...a hole, frosting missing? Who could have done this???

Rancho Bowl

And...I'm back.


A few weeks ago, we went bowling for Family Home Evening. It was fun. The kids loved having the shoes. And Noah did not want to take them off when we left. The bowling alley didn't have any lanes open with bumpers, and they wouldn't let us use the ball guide thing. And so, they just had to come and retrieve many many balls that stalled in the middle of the lane, because a {almost} 3 year old and a {almost} 5 year old, of course, want to do everything by themselves! It was fun. I think, however, I'll stick to bowling on the Wii...I'm a lot better at home!



(Check out the bowling ball brand, though. Who knew...I guess I need to get into bowling, there is a bowling ball named after me after all!)

Apple Grove Pals

Have you seen these? I hadn't even heard of them. We were in Target and Erin told me that Jacob loved Apple Grove Pals. I was so confused. She started singing this song to him, and he loved it. She said that when the commercial came on TV, he was totally glued. He watched the commercial and loved it, and danced. I couldn't find them in the store. And then last night, I was feeding him before bed. He was like 95% asleep, and the commercial came on. He sat up very quickly and started to bob up and down. He LOVES Apple Grove Pals. Even when I found it on You Tube, he was giggling and dancing. I think I know what this little boy will be getting for his birthday.


{a little hint to the grandparents as well...}

32.

Happy Birthday, Adam! Yes, he's an old man! Ha. I can only say that because I will always be younger! Since he was turning 32, I came up with what I thought was the best idea ever for his gift. I gave him a jar with thirty $2 bills in it. I thought I was pretty clever. However, there is not a picture of it. Adam unrolled them too fast. It took me about an hour to roll each bill and tie a ribbon around it, and sure as heck not an hour to unroll them all. But that's okay, it was his present anyway, right?

Our friends, Tim and Anniece drove up from Costa Mesa to join in on the birthday celebration. It was a fun day. Church, naps, and then bon fire...er, backyard BBQ, which ended up in flames. {don't worry, just a small fire, it just cinged Adam's eye brows and hair off!...don't worry!}

Happy Birthday, babe. I hope that you had a good day. You are the greatest husband and daddy around! We love you!!