First Family Campout

Andy got off work early on Friday and so I packed up our camping gear  in a fury and we drove 2 hours away to Sulfur Campground in the mountains near Mirror Lake to meet up with Lynda and Ryan (bro and sis in law).  It was gorgeous.  We got there just as the rain stopped and Jake was LOVIN it.  I was loving it.

During the day, Jake stands at the door a bazillion times and says OUT OUT OUT! Well, here we were OUTSIDE and he didn't have to ask, we were there in his element.  Happy boy.  He was in heaven.  I gathered firewood while Andy put up the tent, but funny story.  I FORGOT the TENT! Of all things.  I grabbed the wrong bag, and brought an air mattress instead.  I am so cool.  NO, not really, but Lynda and Ryan are, and they offered to sleep in their car and let us sleep in their tent.  Jake did pretty good.  I would call it a sucess. He was so tuckered out from wandering around that evening that he stared up at the tent ceiling for a while, turned his head and nodded off to lalaland.  Thank you nature.

That night, it was cold.  Bitter cold.  I didn't expect to sleep, but instead just change my attitude and try and enjoy a sleepless night.  It was kinda funny.  Jake kept waking up and looking around in a daze like What the? Where am I?  Oh wait, there's mom and dad, and he would whine, then his head would hit the pillow and he'd go to sleep.  I finally drifted off sometime around 4 just after it rained a bit.  WE all were awake by 6:45, at least our eyes were open.  Jake's face was hilarious when he woke up.  I will attempt to post a video but he was thrilled with it all and he was so cute! It's like he had been inducted into some awesome new club or something. He wanted immedietly to go outside with Lynda and Ryan and when we opened the tent door he screamed their names.

We ate some breakfast and walked around the campground, streams, and explored our area.

One of my favorite memories of the whole trip was when we sang one of Jake's favorite songs, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and we pointed to all the stars in the sky.  It was a sweet family moment.  Thank you again Nature.

Cousin Olsen Auntie Amanda

Jake got to spend a few days with his cousin, Olsen and Auntie Amanda.  They came to town and stayed here with us and we haven't seen them in so long. They live in Virginia, and we lived in LA, so we were excited! We are so lucky! We went swimming, fed the boys, went to some a food class at Good Earth, spent time with aunties and uncles, and Jake loved having Olsen here.  It is so special to see those boys play and we can't wait till they can both just chase each other and hang out.  I have a feeling they will love it!  Both busy, both sweet.  Olsen is a cutie!

18 months

Jake is now 18 Months Old!! How and WHEN did this happen?  I am not really sure, but it happened quickly.  He is now in nursery at church and his first day went great, except for the end when he stood at the door and cried and said, "Out"! 10 kids in one room for two hours would make anyone tired. ;-) He loved singing time! He has missed our mom and music class in LA, and to see him smile when we started sining was so fun!   He enjoyed snack time and was a little hoover trying to eat everyone's crumbs after they were done.  Yuck. Silly boy.  He got tired towards the end, but I would say this milestone was a success!!  Keep going baby boy!

Here are some facts about Jake we don't want to forget.

Jake's words:
Flowa or Flower
Bubble-His first two syllable word
Out-Outside
Eat
Mo-More
Ba-Bath, Bah for sheep
Bup-Up as in PICK ME UP NOW!
Showa-Shower
Shhh-Shoe and shh
Bahbah-Bottle or drink
Momo-Elmo
heehehe-Gigglebellies video (they make a laughing sound so he does that when he wants to watch it)
nana-banana
gahgah-guitar

Just today he said:
slide, camera, and bird...not sure if they will stick, but he's picking up what we're putting down! Go Jake!

He also says all kinds of unintelligible baby babble that only he understands.  This leads to frustration, and frustration leads to slamming cupboards, screaming, scratching, and all out fits.  It's tough when you can't tell people what you want, SO we try with sign language.

Here are some signs he has solidified:
More
Eat
Drink
Mom
Dada
Diaper
Bath
Milk
Outside
Please

He loves animals and making animal sounds:

Bahhh for Sheep
RAWR for Lions, bears, and dragons
fffff for dog


Jake is very active.  He is hard wired with no off switch.  He wants to escape any containment, doesn't understand no means NO, run from any diaper change, cry at all signs of going into his car seat, smash food on the floor, pound his butt so hard against his closet door that it breaks off, eat the carpet, run naked screaming with joy through the house as he stomps and pounds the ground laughing so hard and then pees everywhere, but when it is the end of the day and he comes at me with his big grin and giggle...it melts my heart and I forget his wildness.  He is strong willed, but sweet.  He is our ourdoorsmanbaby. He wants to be outside in the grass, running with his arms open wide ALL.THE.TIME.  He loves giggle bellies, and slides down the stairs really fast. He can get out of his car seat once it is unbuckled in a split second. He is rowdy, but has a tender heart. He eats so well now, and we love him dearly.  How did 18 months go by so fast?  I just can't explain it, but we are trying to love him each day.

Moved out, Moved In

We made it to Utah (2 weeks ago)! The move went as smoothly as a move could go.  Really, it did! Our last night in our place, our neighbor's invited us over for pizza and we had a great convo and we all slept on the floor.  We were just too tired to blow up a kindly offered air matress, so floor it was, and we only slept for a few hours, and it was heavenly.

We said some nice goodbyes, although we didnt get a chance to see our friends sweet new chubby baby, Winston (maybe when we come visit when it snows here in Utah from Jan-March?)!!   We handed out some of our favorite Cowboy Cookies as a thank you.  Yes, I made cookies in the midst of the mess, but honestly, I had lots of eggs, flour, choc chips that I didnt want to waste or pack, so cookies were made. We felt the love as we left as our friends watched Jake, and we said Au reviours.  Our bishop's wife signed up to watch Jake on morning, and we dropped him off.  She just had a baby and she was watching 3 other kiddos, and has 3 of her own.  I've said it before, and I will say it again, she is Saint Natalie.  Bless all you mammas who helped us in our last few weeks.  Jake spent some time with our friends and he love it. It was hard to leave such great friends. We miss you, and are thankful we know you.

Jake n I flew out to Utah and Andy drove with his dad in the Uhaul.  We had a smooth flight and Jake slept peacefully.  He needed it.  He had a vicious ear infection that caused him not to sleep much, but things like that always happen when you move, non? Luckily, the doctor gave him the go ahead to fly after a few days with antibiotics. We met Andy at our new townhome the very next day! Hard to believe one day we are there and now we are here.  I have to admit, my heart is still in So.Cal.

We went to church on Sunday, ok so we missed Sacrament meeting, we were spent and still on west coast time, plus Jake wasn't certain of his new surroundings and the move caught up to us all.  We did make it to the last few hours. Holy Hannah, it was a sea of blonde haired babes.  Jake played with the nursery kids and out of the ten kids in there, there was only one that didnt have blonde hair.  Interesting.  I like diversity, but that being said, we are happy to be here.  I may be dying my hair purple soon. ;-)

Andy started work on Monday, and the rush of it all came quickly upon us that his month off of work was over.  He works less than 10 miles away from our quiet sleepy neighborhood.  It's a great commute and his first week went swimmingly.

We spent our first week in Utah, unpacking, getting used to the silence at night, not sure what to do when all the neighbor's lights are out at 9pm, slathering on copious amounts of lotion, drinking lots of water due to dehydration, watching half a mountain burn down from the heat, and seeing family.  My mom and dad came to town for the 4th and we went to the stadium of fire, and as per tradition we ate at the Mandarin in Bountiful, Andy had a birthday, and we played at our new pool.  Here are some pictures of our first week/last week in LA. WARNING: large photo bomb in no particular order:

 Granpda Carson n Jake at dinner

 My sweet boy

 Carson side of the family, and our good family friend Marcus

 In and Out, because it was closest thing to CA and we met there with some friends

 Nothing says Happy birthday Andy more than a huge stake the size of his head

 Welcome to your new home Jake

 Walking the Jordan River trail on a hot dry day
and seeing Uncle and Auntie Day

 Jake's owie ear infection.  He just laid on the floor. So sad.

 Everyone on the floor because Jake didnt like the pack n play, and we were to tired to blow up air matress.  OH, and Jake is getting Jesus beamed (it's an Oklahoma thing).

 All empty.  Jake's toys used to be here.

 Jake and Sacha (our neighbor)

 Buckled up on flight.  Buying him a seat was the best thing ever.  That boy WIGGLES!

Peaceful Jake during flight.  I'm very thankful.