Getting ready to crawl?

Isaac surprised us this past week with his new trick...he gets up on his hands and knees in the crawling position! Whenever he is on his belly, he scoots his little knees up and pushes himself up...and he holds it for a pretty good amount of time...he's a pretty strong little guy. Who new that something like this would be so exciting to a mom and dad...oh boy, is it ever! We get so excited and clap our hands when he does it, and he just grins from ear to ear by our excitement...it's really so cute to watch. Although this is exciting, I sure hope that he doesn't actually crawl any time soon...I don't think I'm ready for that!

The Dentist {Leah}

Today was Leah's very first visit to the dentist. I had an appointment for Noah, and I thought, why not just take Leah too! So, that's what I did, and I was VERY nervous to how Leah was going to act. I didn't think that she would be "bad", but I was just so unsure to how she was really going to react when other people were looking in her mouth...you just never know with Leah.

I think that having Noah there with as well made her feel more comfortable. She was able to watch Noah do everything, and, by the way, Noah did SO well! I am so, SO, proud of him and how well behaved he was today at the dentist...he is really growing up so fast and is starting to act older. Love it!

Anyway, Leah didn't want to get an x-ray, which was fine, and she was a bit hesitant to lay down in the chair...but she did it. The thing with Leah is that she really is totally fine with doing something new, she just has to act like a little stinker...JUST TO ACT LIKE IT! Just to get a reaction! I tell you...that girl...oh boy! So, after being all hesitant, she finally sat there and watched the Princess movie while they cleaned her teeth and counted them to make sure they were all there :). Afterwards, she got a bracelet, which made everything worth it for her! She was as happy as can be to be sporting a darling little bracelet. I'm proud of her...she surprised me, like she always does :).

So...the results for Leah are:
~ NO CAVITITES! Woot, woot!
~ She has very pretty and white and shiny teeth! Woot, woot!!
~ And the downside...her teeth are just as jammed together as Noah's, so she is definitely going to have to have braces someday. She can thank Doug and I later for that one. We all saw it coming!

Leah watching the movie while they cleaned her teeth. **Thank goodness** they have movies for the kids to watch at the dentist...I wish they had stuff like that when I was a kid!!
Check out those pearly whites! Love that smile!
And...check out her new bracelet...I'm pretty sure she'll be wearing it every day {until she looses it!}.
I can't forget about my Noah. It seems like just yesterday that I was taking him for his first visit to the dentist {see here}. He did SO well today and no cavitites for him either! WOOT WOOT!!!

Thanksgiving ~ 2010

We spent Thanksgiving with Doug's family this year. Doug's sister, Suzi, and her family made the trek from California to spend the week with us...so everyone in Doug's family were together this holiday. It really was a wonderful day, full of relaxing, eating, and spending time with the ones that we love! I am so thankful for FAMILY...I am so blessed to have married into such a wonderful family! Thank you, all, for a wonderful, *wonderful*, day!

The Smith Family
The Smith Grandkids
Us...Leah, of course, didn't want anything to do with taking a family pic. I just keep telling myself that she's 2!
Enjoying dinner :). It was SO good!
Connor and Noah...they had a blast playing together!

Raking Leaves

Noah has been *begging* to help rake up the leaves in our backyard...so, what do I do? I put the kiddo to work ;). He LOVES to help and he had a grand time helping me make pile after pile of leaves. Of course, his whole purpose of making piles was to JuMp in them, and I don't blame him one bit! I remember jumping in leaves as a kid...it's what kids do! Noah and Leah had so much fun, especially since this was *officially* our last nice day of the year {sniff, sniff}. I'm glad we made good use of it :).

Noah making a pile a leaves so that he can...
... JUMP IN IT!!
Cute, cute boy!
Beautiful girl! Now, as soon as this picture was taken, Leah noticed a grasshopper in the leaves...she was *terrified* and ran into the house and didn't come back out. It was funny to watch.
And...well...this picture is a keeper! Now, it looks like Noah was going to land right on Leah, but he didn't {thank goodness!}. Leah was laughing and laughing as Noah jumped next to her over and over again! And notice Leah's little purse...she takes it *everywhere* with her! Too cute ;).
Thanks for your help, little man. I couldn't have done it without you :).

Isaac ~ 5 Months

In just one month, this sweet little bundle of joy will be 6 months old...I don't even want to think about it! He has grown so much this past month and we couldn't be happier to have him in our family...he's a keeper :).

~ He rolls everywhere! No more leaving him alone on the bed, that's for sure!
~ He can climb out of his Bumbo!
~ He's been an alright sleeper lately. It seems as though he sleeps better during the day than at night. BUT, he has also become a very light sleeper and will wake up when he hears loud noises. I've been very creative in how to keep the noise level down during nap time!
~ He is SO spoiled! He is pretty much held whenever he is awake, and he will also spend most of his naps in my arms {that is, when Noah and Leah are napping too!}. Due to this, and maybe it's my own fault, he cries whenever I put him down. Yes, there are times that he will let me put him down for a moment, but once he sees me, he starts to whimper/cry until I pick him up. AND, I always do...I can't stand listening to him cry. It breaks my heart!
~ He has found his feet and will chew on them whenever he is laying on his back.
~ He is a freaking faucet!! I swear, the drool NEVER stops!
~ He is such a happy baby and we just can't get enough of that beautiful smile and great belly laugh!
~ He is so ticklish, just like his bro and sis, and you can bet that I tickle him often ;).
~ He chews on anything and everything that he can get his hands on. He also has a crazy strong grip, which I know from when he grabs my hair when I hold him. OUCH!

We definitely can't get enough of this CUTE little guy!

Big Sister

I still think that this little girl is too little to be a big sister. Despite what I think, she really is a good Big Sis to Isaac :). She definitely has that "mommy instinct" and likes to take care of her little bro.

"I'm not tired!"

This is what I am told pretty much every time I say the word "nap"! Well, today no one took a nap because we decided to watch the Utes loose instead {sad, sad story :( }. Around 6:00, we turned on a movie for the children, and minutes later this is what we found. Yeah right you're not tired! Ha!
Being the nice mommy that I am, I snuggled them up so that they could sleep soundly :). The only problem is that this nap totally backfired on us when we tried to put the kids to bed, especially with Leah. She is actually still awake downstairs right now with Doug...at 10:53 PM!!! Ugh! I guess it's my own fault.

Relaxing

We have been doing a LOT of sleeping and laying low around here for the past week. Just over a week ago Noah had his tonsils and adenoids removed. The surgery went great, although I think that it was harder on me than Noah. I was expecting the worst when it came to his recovery, but everything has gone so well. He has been very understanding in that he knows what his limitations are and he knows not to push himself in terms of playing and eating. Things are looking good and he is definitely on his way to being 100% healthy :).

Halloween ~ 2010

Happy Halloween!

I really love this holiday! It's so much fun to get the kiddos all dressed up...they had so much fun with it this year. Noah was a Pirate {ARRR!!}, Leah was a Fairy Princess {although she refused to wear her crown, so I guess she was just a fairy}, and Isaac was the cutest little Dragon. It was oh so very cold and rainy the night that we went trick-or-treating...BOO! Thankfully, some of our neighbors were giving out hot cocoa, which was VERY nice! Leah was ready to come home after about 30 minutes, but Noah and Doug went out to get a few more treats. They were thrilled as can be with all their goodies, and so was Doug and I for that matter! Despite the weather, we had a great Halloween and we're already looking forward to next year :).

Noah's 5th Halloween as a PIRATE

Leah's 3rd Halloween as a Fairy {Princess}

Isaac's 1st Halloween as a DRAGON

Getting ready to go Trick-or-Treating!

BRRRR!!!!

Sorting through the goods...YUM! We carved our pumpkins the night before :). Noah had fun drawing all over his with the marker and I love how Doug's trying to figure out what he's drawing.