Laughs

Today on the car ride home from the library we were going past the Catholic school. It is brown with a pinkish trim. Lexi: "Mama look...temple!" Yes Lexi, the temple. I just love two year olds.

On the same car ride home my favorite song came on so we turned it up and both danced. I stopped dancing when the song was over. Of course Lexi soon requested, "Shake it Mama!" soon followed by, "Shake it Carter!". He's already part of our club.

Cole's new hobby

Cole got a CNC machine for Christmas. He's started learning how to use it and made this with it. He does the design work and programs the machine and then it cuts it out for him.

26 Weeks

I am now 26 weeks along. This little boy is fun! He moves more than Lexi did and I really enjoy it. He does not like it when I have to go to the bathroom and will let me know until I am so uncomfortable I go. I am excited and nervous for his arrival. I can't wait to have another baby to snuggle with and love. I am worried I won't have the energy to keep up with two kids and that I will always feel like I am not giving enough of myself to one of them. I can't wait for Lexi's reaction. She loves babies and when we watched a friends baby she was very involved. She has a strong motherly side to her. I am worried about the differences between boys and girls. I don't feel like I know how to be a Mom to a boy. How do you do their hair? What will he do while I paint Lexi's nails? (Cole has already informed me I can't paint our sons, even if it's clear polish:) I'm sure I'll figure it out but I do feel a little inadequate. I am excited for my Mom to come out when he's born. She knows me and will be able to help me through my insecurities. I am glad I have a great husband I know I can rely on. He's done things for me I never imagined someone would be willing to do for me. I know I can count on him. He's never let me down. I am so glad I can participate in this part of Heavenly Fathers plan. It has always been my desire to be a wife and mother and I find great joy in those roles.

Big Girl Bed

Lexi started out the new year in a new bed. From the minute we told her she was going to get a big girl bed and she was excited! We moved the crib into the babies room and put the guest bed in Lexi's room. She has done really well. She gets excited to take her nap in her bed and to go to bed at night. She also thinks it's a great toy and asks to go play on her bed. She has been really funny when she wakes up now. We have a new video monitor in her room and she will just stare at it until we notice she's awake and come get her. She hasn't ever tried to get out of her bed before we go in. I'm hoping that will last but know it probably won't.

Best Dad

We knew that giving Lexi a bike for Christmas would prove challenging. It is fortunate that Lexi has the best Dad. Cole will take her out in the snow and push her on her bike. She loves it!

Christmas

We had a great Christmas in Utah! Some of my favorite memories are:
-The Ellison Christmas Eve party. The ugly sweater contest was great and Cole (BYU shirt) and Nate(UofU shirt) were both nominated but Nate won! Lexi would run around with her cousins laughing and holding hands. It was so fun to see her with them.
-Making cookies for Santa. Lexi loved being able to help and Santa seemed to love them.
-Randomly running into Ariel and Drew in Beaver on our way home. It was so fun to see them and catch up.
-Going to breakfast with Jennie and Jon. It was so much fun seeing my old friend.
-Christmas morning. Cole went in to get her out of bed and told her Santa had come. Lexi immediately said, "Open presents from Santa please." She loved everything she got and was especially excited when she found her bike.
-Christmas after noon Lexi threw up and didn't stop for four days. Poor girl was sick the rest of the trip and almost ended up in the hospital. We are so glad she's better now! She still asks to go to Grandma's house and to play with Madison and Kayla.
-Watching Lexi play in the snow. She loved it and was so excited to build a snowman. She kept eating the carrots that were meant for his nose though.




































- Cole got to see his brother Lincoln and do splits with him. He is a great missionary and Cole loved seeing what an amazing man he has become.


















-Riding the Heber Creeper to the North Pole. Lexi was really excited to go on a real train and to get to spend time with her cousins.








































-The Parker breakfast party. Lexi won Don't Eat Pete and was in heaven with her M & M's. She really warmed up to my Aunt Jolene and couldn't get enough of her.

Too funny

Our latest laughs:
- I call Lexi sweetie or sissy (for sister) about 80% of the time. She's recently decided to copy me and started by just calling me those names. Well, over the Christmas break she decided that everyone should be called sweetie or sissy. It was cute when she'd call her younger girl cousin sweetie but when she tried to call her boy cousin sweetie and sissy I knew we had a little problem. The best part was that it persisted until she now calls Cole sissy. It drives him crazy but we can't get her to stop. Who knew I was teaching her such bad habits:)
-When we rode the Heber Creeper Santa gave all the kids a spinning top. Now that we're home Lexi has started playing with it. Whenever she plays with it she sings, "Dradel dradel dradel, I made it out of clay...". Thank you Caillou and Barney for helping my child learn about Jewish holiday traditions:)

Christmas Crafts

I decided that Lexi and I needed to do some fun Christmas activities to lead up to Christmas. We did a scripture tree from the Friend magazine, Christmas ornaments, jingle bell necklaces, and a reindeer necklace. I think she enjoyed it but I'm learning that projects require a lot of patience and energy.