Our Merry Christmas 2012

We had a really wonderful Christmas this year!

It is getting so fun to celebrate holidays with Creighton. And this year we have a lot to be grateful for and to celebrate.

 

Christmas Eve, we spent the afternoon with the Chambers family having the traditional spilt pea soup and french dip sandwiches and a "talent show". I actually really enjoyed the split pea soup this year and finished Cason's bowl for him! All of the Chambers cousins love to get together and complain about how much they despise split pea soup and hardly anyone eats it. In fact, some even refuse to take a bowl of it. They probably only continue the tradition so the cousins have something to talk about!

Creighton liked sitting at the kid's table. He mostly liked to observe the other kids. He decided he liked Ava, the oldest one, and tried to hold her hand and snuggle with her. HE probably would have eaten his soup, he loves to eat soup! But since the other kids told him it was gross he just had chips and crackers.

 

Santa scheduled in some time on this busy day to even make it to our party! Yay!!

This year we didn't talk to Creighton at all about Santa. In years past we have taken him to visit Santa at the mall, but last year he really didn't like that so we didn't do that this year. I don't have any Santa decorations and none of our Christmas books had Santa in them. So this year we didn't bring up the topic of Santa- he doesn't quite yet understand anyway... but he was happy to take a gift from the jolly white-bearded man!

Santa knows Creighton has been a good boy this year, he got a "Jake" telescope! Creighton loves "Jake and the Neverland Pirates". It seemed to be the theme for our Christmas morning!

Creighton also received a fun plasma light from Grandma and Papa Chambers.

He has quite the obsession with all lights and has had a great time observing and touching his new plasma lamp. 

After a visit to Grandma and Grandpa Wilde's house we came home to watch some Christmas movies and off to bed we went! Creighton is still at the age where he didn't realize all the fun that would happen the next morning. In fact, him and I were both quite sick so when dad came home at 6:30, we changed our plans to get up that early and slept in! Creighton woke up about 8:45 and begged for cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Good thing those we already on the menu! Him and I went to the kitchen to prepare cinnamon rolls. He completely ignored the excitement in the living room. He didn't even notice the 5 foot pirate ship! While they were baking Creighton watched some Christmas cartoons and then we woke up daddy for the excitement. Creighton tried to take daddy in the kitchen to eat a cinnamon roll, but daddy led him to the living room where he was a bit puzzled to find Jake's pirate ship!

But it didn't take too long to start enjoying it!

After unwrapping each present Creighton wanted to take the time to play with it. It was kind of nice that he wasn't just eager to unwrap everything all at once and see what he got next. So we took our time and enjoyed all of the gifts. 

Creighton loves to pretend that he is a doctor and listen to our hearts. Now he doesn't have to use legos anymore! He has his own blood pressure cuff and stethoscope! Creighton tells us the heart says, "Ba-ba... Ba-ba..." He also has other tools he is learning to use!

 Thank goodness Big Daddy sent a huge truck for Creighton to put all of his new toys in. Creighton believes that toys should be stored in trucks and pushed around the house. So much more convenient that way. If only he would stop the truck before the wall and baseboard stop him...

 Oh, and all the other fun with gifts!! I'm sure one little boy has never had so much fun! We have read new books, watched new movies on our new bean bag, sang songs into our new microphone, played new board games, worn new clothes and pajamas, and played with lots of new "Jake" toys!

This year I wanted to try hard to teach Creighton about the real meaning of Christmas. Of course, having him sit down and listen to much of any kind of a lesson is extremely difficult. Through the month of December, we colored a picture of the nativity, showed Creighton pictures of baby Jesus and the nativity, and hung nativity ornaments on the tree. He would point to pictures and say, "baby Jesus", and he liked the wise men ornaments and would talk about them and also "baby Jesus' mommy." Although it is sometimes frustrating, it is fun to try and teach Creighton about Jesus Christ. I know he understands more than I think he does. 

I also had plans this year for starting some fun traditions, but unfortunately with working so much and this pregnancy I didn't do as much as I wanted. Maybe next year!

We were able to have a white Christmas and Creighton has been loving the snow! Him and daddy shoveled the sidewalks together. Creighton has his own Lightening McQueen snow shovel and loves to help! They also had a snow-ball fight!

Being little in Arkansas, I didn't grow up sledding, but Cason did and he decided this year Creighton should get to go! Creighton and daddy went to the store to buy a sled and Creighton couldn't stop talking about going sledding! I was giggling the whole way in the car listening to him, he didn't even know what sledding was! But with daddy involved he knew that he would have a fantastic time.

He sure had a blast and I am sure he will be asking to go sledding all of the time!

Cason is such a fun dad and is always coming up with fun things for him and Creighton to do together. Last night as we were walking the halls of the hospital trying to help baby sister make her way here, he let me know all of the things he can't wait to do with her!

Yes, I thought December 26th or 27th, Macey Jo was going to make her arrival. I woke up the 26th with bad contractions and horrible nausea. After several hours of contractions, we started packing up our bags. However, they subsided... So Cason went to sleep and I went about what I had planned on doing that day. I packed up all of the Christmas decor and tree, rearranged the furniture, and cleaned the carpets... Cason woke up and was not pleased to see all of the work I had been up to after such a rough morning. But I had planned on taking it all down the day after Christmas to prepare for baby and didn't want to do it any other way. I didn't want to have to do it after she was born! 

 

Well, later in the afternoon I started having contractions again but more painful and more frequent. I took a bath to try to get them to go away, I tried different positions laying and standing, they just got closer and more painful. I started drinking lots of water and decided to walk up and down my stairs. I knew if I went to the hospital they would make me walk and drink water so I decided to get it out of the way at home... Well, when they were 6 minutes apart and about 30 sec-1 minute in length I called my mom and Dennis to come and be with Creighton.

At the hospital they hooked me up and monitored my contractions to be 3-4 minutes apart (still painful) but unfortunately they were doing nothing to help Macey Jo get here. They let me stay for a little while and of course made me drink lots of water and walk the halls... but after 2 hours of no progression they sent me home with some sleeping pills so I could deal with the contractions.

So no baby for us today! But sooner rather than later at this point. It is only a little over a week away until her due date. I have a doctor appointment tomorrow... Hopefully I'll receive some good news that my body is getting ready to have a baby! We are looking forward to meeting her!!

Creighton is learning his Alphabet!

The Chambers Family 2012 in ABC'S...

A “Are You My Mother?” is a frequently read book.

B 1st movie at the theatre for little man- BRAVE!

C Creighton's favorite foods: chicken nuggets and chips.

D Due date for little sister: January 6^th, 2013.

E Every spare moment is spent together as a family!

F Creighton wants to fix it all with a screwdriver and batteries.

G Graveyard shift for daddy, but soon that will change.

H Bonding time for the boys- haircuts!

I Cason has an internship with the city of Pocatello, Planning & Development.

J Jars of Tomatoes we canned from our own garden.

K Creighton is great at helping in the kitchen.

L Lunch dates when the boys pick up mommy at work.

M Macey Jo, baby sister's name.

N Nursery class at church is one of Creighton's favorite places.

O Jumping on the trampoline or at the park- He loves to be outside.

P Mr. Potato Head parts are all over the house!

Q Our little one tries to be quiet while daddy sleeps.

R Red and blue... we are working on colors...

S Sewing Blankets and Burp cloths for baby sister.

T Our birthdays this year made us Two and Twenty-Five!

U Mommy feels uncomfortable in these last few weeks of pregnancy.

V The DVD player Creighton knows how to control!

W Smarty-pants learns new words every day, we watch what we say!

X Excuse me, please, and thank you- Creighton is polite.

Y “You Are My Sunshine” little one likes mommy to sing.

Z Zzzz...Zzzz... We love nap time!

We hope you had a very merry Christmas!

Lots of Baby at 37 Weeks

I have neglected posting about our baby girl due to lack of pictures, time and energy. But now we are feeling prepared and I have pictures and lots of news and stories to share. Still not a lot of energy or extra time to spare... but taking a few moments to write about this pregnancy!

Here is the happy, healthy, and slightly uncomfortable mommy at 35 weeks (but currently 37 weeks):

There is something about having a picture taken that makes you realize how pregnant you actually look. I have been so happy this pregnancy to not gain as much weight as I did with Creighton. In fact, so far I've only gained 1/3 the weight I did with him. But unfortunately I started out this pregnancy still hanging on to quite a bit of that weight... 

At 28 weeks I finally traded in my regular jeans for some maternity ones and just last week bought some new scrub bottoms. I probably should have gotten new scrub bottoms about 3 weeks ago though. This last week was much more pleasant at work. Sundays have become difficult because I feel like with all of my knee length dresses/skirts and the fact that it is winter I should wear panty hose. But panty hose are seriously impossible at this point. And I am not ordering any maternity hose online to wear for just a few weeks. So maxi dresses it is on Sundays. I feel under-dressed for the Sabbath, but it is comfortable and I feel so happy to not expose my white legs to all.

Beginning in the middle of my 2nd trimester I started walking funny. REALLY funny. I was so uncomfortable, almost in pain. I was worried that baby girl was already extremely low or in a dangerous position but my doctor assured me she was just fine. I have learned to deal with it and I think I have straightened out my walking to be more normal. However the girls at work are still teasing me about my almost constant waddle. I am carrying her much lower than I did with Creighton. I always felt as though he was kicking me in the ribs, but she doesn't get me that high up. 

At 30 weeks I had this amazing moment. I realized, "Wow! I feel awesome!! This is such a great pregnancy. I haven't been too tired, I haven't had an increased appetite, I have been hardly nauseous, I haven't been very moody..." Silly me. That's because it was only 30 WEEKS. Things have really changed. 

Now at 36-37 weeks I am feeling more tired. But I contribute that to the fact that I don't sleep more than 2 hours at once during the night because I am constantly going pee. And then it takes a while to fall back asleep. I am also working 3-4 days a week and it is exhausting. I use to work on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In September, I picked up Fridays until the end of December. Also in September, a hygienist at my office found out she was expecting twins and fell extremely ill. So I worked a lot of Thursdays for her. And with our office being closed for the holidays, we have been open Monday and I have worked several of those. I am totally DONE working. Mentally. Unfortunately, I must continue on... My last day is December 28th and I don't return until February 19th.  Hooray for maternity leave!

I have also had an increased appetite as of late. Due mostly to the fact that it's hard to eat much in one sitting. So 2 hours after a small meal it's time for another. Or constant snacking throughout the day... I was shocked to see at my last appointment that I hadn't gained any weight in 2 weeks because I feel like I have been eating so much more. But I have really been getting a workout at the office, I am constantly going!
At the beginning of the pregnancy I was nauseated just a bit and overall felt good. In the third trimester I have been the most sick of all! Strange. When I get sick (throw-up), Creighton comes in the bathroom and says, "Yay!! Mommy go in the potty!" He is so supportive.
As far as my mood, I feel much more stable than when pregnant with Creighton! But I wouldn't recommend buying a house when 32 weeks pregnant, boxing up all of your stuff and then moving into a new home when 37 weeks pregnant. It can do a number on your sanity.

Cason has really been a sweetheart at home picking up the slack. He makes dinner several times a week and has gone grocery shopping, cleaned the house, ran errands, etc. He makes it easy for me to come home and relax after many exhausting days. And he himself is busy with full-time work, full-time school, and now an internship! Over his Thanksgiving break he painted sister's room. He did such a great job and I was so happy and surprised to come home on lunch break and see it!

Pink! Of course! I was a hard decision to decide how to paint it and how much, but I'm glad I decided to do just one wall. It certainly could of become overwhelming had we done the whole room. In the picture above you can see the wall well, but now the changing table is attached and it covers up most of the bottom portion.

That's right! Baby sister has a name, Macey Jo! She has been Macey Jo for a long time. I considered several other names and there are many that I like, but Macey Jo is my favorite and even though she's not here yet it is just perfect! I thought for a while that she couldn't be named Macey Jo if she had red hair, it just couldn't fit... but that is silly! However, I do imagine her with brown hair and blue eyes, like me. Cason loves to wonder about what she will look like. On the way to the doctor's office one afternoon he looked over at me while driving and without any warning said, "Our daughter will be beautiful." He is such a great husband and daddy. He is so anxious for her to arrive! I am sure I will probably always call her Macey Jo, but others can call her just Macey. And it will be okay with me if she wants to go by Macey or Macey Jo. Some people call me Katie, and to others I am Katie Jo. 

It was so fun to pick out her bedding set. At first it was frustrating, I couldn't find anything that I liked at all, and then all of the sudden I had three that I loved. I am so happy with this bright and happy flower bedding. I just love the mobile! The flower picture is cut from her cloth toy bag and the frame I covered in the fabric that was the back of the cloth toy bag. Those cloth toy bags are useless so I re-purposed it! Creighton is very happy to show visitors his little sister's room.

He is also very happy to keep her car seat/carrier warm until she arrives!

We washed it and put it all back together and Creighton thought it was a funny little chair. Boy how time flies... Amazing that he was ever so tiny. He sure has grown! I explained to Creighton that it was his chair when he was a baby and now that he is a big boy he gets to share with baby sister. He is very happy to share! 

When we were buying baby items while expecting Creighton I wanted to try to buy gender neutral things so they could be used for boys and girls. But that is kind of difficult. I think unless it is pink it looks like a boy! So I wanted to make a carrier cover that would incorporate the green and brown with pink. I was lucky enough to find the perfect fabric! And with some direction from Pinterest and a lot of help from my mom and several hours on a Saturday morning, this is what we made! 

I have had a lot of fun sewing for Macey Jo. I have only sewn this and some burp cloths. But by some I mean 20+... Macey Jo's room use to be the craft room, so we moved it all downstairs into the spare bedroom but put the sewing table in front of the TV and I found it very relaxing to sew while Creighton watched cartoons! I am glad to be having a niece in March so I can share all of these burp cloths!

From what we know she is just as healthy as can be and we feel so blessed. It can be hard sometimes to go to the appointments, wait in the reception area for 30+ minutes, then in the patient room 15+ minutes for the doctor to finally come in and measure, listen to the heartbeat and then say, "Sounds good! See you back in 2 weeks!" I'm thinking, "Really? That's it?!" But I try to be grateful that I don't have to go in more often or have long talks with the doctor about complications. 

Around Thanksgiving I started having contractions and I was concerned. I didn't have a contraction with Creighton until the day before he was born! So at my next visit I asked the doctor to check for any "progression"... NOPE! No early baby for me! Which is totally fine. I am happy to stay pregnant for a few more weeks.
When I first learned her due date was January 6th I was concerned about the date being so close to Christmas. I know so many who have birthdays within a couple of weeks of Christmas and most dislike it because they don't feel their birthday is as special. For that reason I hoped she wouldn't come too early and at least wait until January. I have been writing notes to her in a journal since the summer and recently wrote her about her birthday. I told her I would always try to make her birthday as special as possible no matter how close to Christmas it is.

I am getting anxious for her to arrive. Our whole family is excited to meet our new sweetheart!!

Fall Photos of Creighton

I just love to have pictures taken of my little man and I love when it is so difficult to pick a favorite one! What a happy dilemma to have to pick only a few to display in our home.

(photos by Molly Landon)

Cocoa Bean

In a post a few weeks ago I wrote about how Creighton HATES to have his teeth brushed. Well, since then he has changed his mind and it has become a lot less work to brush teeth around here. So, I decided to write another post about all of the things Creighton hates to do, won't do, or his naughty habits in hopes that those things will change also.

Just kidding. This is a nice post about how wonderful our growing boy is! 

Daddy likes to call Creighton, "cocoa bean". Somewhere Creighton learned the word, cocoa bean, and thought it was a funny word to say. So he started saying it a lot! It would make his daddy giggle so he nicknamed Creighton "cocoa bean". 

Creighton is a great conversationist. I can't believe that just 6 months ago I was worried he would never talk. At his 2 year appointment he was hardly saying more than one word at a time, and his vocabulary was small. His pediatrician said that if by his 2 1/2 birthday he wasn't putting words together he may have to be seen by a speech therapist and have his hearing checked. Of course I was worried! Now it seems silly. He is a great talker and will try to imitate anything we say. Which we have learned means that we must be careful what we say. Unfortunately I found myself saying, "Creighton, don't do that... that's disgusting..." (like when he spits or smashes food...) Well now he says it too! And in the perfect context. Whenever we give him a food he doesn't want to eat he says, "That's disgusting!" Errr... 

His daddy tries to teach him new words all the time because he likes to hear how Creighton pronounces them. He tries his best. Sometimes he will get stuck on a word that he says for weeks. A while ago he loved the word "path." He wanted to drive on the path, go down the path, look at the path, he could see the path... It is interesting to me the words he picks up on. 

I love his funny phrases. The other night we came home and the sensor porch light came on as we approached and he said, "Hi light! It's me, Creighton!" We had a real good laugh over that. 

He loves lights! Still! Ever since he was a tiny baby... He is obsessed with finding the moon and he will search until it is found. He then talks about the moon for a very long time. Tonight on the drive home from grandma's house he told us the moon was hungry for cinnamon rolls. Hmmm... I think it was someone else hungry for cinnamon rolls... 

One morning I woke up at 3:30 am (one of those potty trips) and couldn't go back to sleep. After looking at baby girl clothes online for over an hour I decided to make some cinnamon rolls for breakfast! Creighton must have been sharing my thoughts because he woke up at 5:30 am to help! He just loves to help "make" anything. He always pulls his chair up to the counter to be of assistance. Most of the time he is quite helpful. His job is to do the dumping- he dumps in the ingredients after they are measured.

He is a pretty good cook himself. He likes to make soup mostly. Lately he has been making hot dog soup and chocolate milk soup. He also makes water. I have been trying to convince Cason that Creighton needs a kitchen set for Christmas but daddy says they are too girly. Well, I guess unborn baby sister will just have to get one this year... 

With his love for cooking I wish he was a better eater. He is proof that boy can live on chicken and potatoes alone. His favorite food is definitely chicken nuggets and french fries/chips. He is constantly asking for chicken nuggets. The other day he found a receipt somewhere in the house and took it over to his daddy and pointed to different words saying, "I want chicken nuggets, (pointed to a new word) french fries, (pointed to a new word) and chocolate milk." Just like he was ordering off of a menu! His daddy was so impressed he took Creighton to Arctic Circle for chicken nuggets and to play on the toys. He is spoiled rotten.

His favorite place to eat out though is Costa Vida. He recognizes it when we drive by and will often tell us he is hungry. He loves beans and rice! And hot sauce!! His daddy has taught him to eat hot sauce and I am a bit irritated... I hate to watch when he eats too much of it and his body literally starts convulsing as he chokes/gasps (he makes scary faces) and daddy says, "Drink some milk." And then he begs for more! I think he likes it because his daddy does it. In fact one day at Costa Vida Cason wasn't using hot sauce and Creighton asked him to go and get some. What a hot sauce monster Cason has created...

 Creighton loves his daddy so much! Creighton and Mommy "make" and Creighton and Daddy "fix". Cason always lets Creighton help him with projects. Creighton has learned that a screw driver and batteries fix most things. If something is broke, or if he thinks it is broke he is ready to fix it with a screwdriver and batteries. Because of his love of lights he is always anxious to help change a light bulb! 

I have been working a lot more lately and these two boys have been able to spend more time together alone. It's been good for them! It's so sweet to see their special bond. Cason loves to take Creighton to do new things and have a good time. A few days ago they went outside to fly a kite. Creighton was just in heaven and giggling the whole time. Daddy is so much fun. It always makes him cry when they have to stop their fun activity. 

Daddy has been trying hard to get Creighton to use the potty... 

As you can see this is no private matter. All are invited to the potty with Creighton (like piggy and Mr. Bear) and mommy and daddy... And all are invited to look in the potty to see what he did! Cason has been trying so hard to potty-train Creighton. I've almost given up and decided he will do it when he is ready. I am not happy it is taking so long... but the harder I try the more he resists. Cason is more dilligent however. He has tried it all. He is a briber: movies, cartoons, candy, chips,  trips to the park... He also told Creighton it made the elephant on his diaper sad when he pooped on him. Well that backfired! Now Creighton thinks it is funny to tell me he poo-pooed on the elephant. Thanks dad. 

Often, if we haven't seen people for a while, when they see Creighton they say, "He is getting so tall!" Since I see him everyday I don't think he is that tall or growing like a weed. But I am learning that he can reach a lot more than he use to! A few days ago Cason said, "Did you know he has a truck full of gummy bears?" I said, "Yeah, I let him have a few." Cason said, "No... he has a TRUCK-FULL." hehehe His daddy was right! He had climbed on the counter sometime and taken most of the gummy bears. Not for eating though, but for playing!

Creighton loves to play and is really great at entertaining himself. His imagination is incredible! I forgot how amazing kids are at creating things from nothing.

He is still loving our piano and loves to play it and sing. He loves to sing! He sings the ABC song, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Give Said the Little Stream, I Am A Child of God, and "Creighton song". Creighton's song is, You Are My Sunshine. When I sing it to Creighton I put his name in the song and he really likes that. Lately he has had a sick tummy and he will ask me to sing. It makes him feel better! And melts my heart! I am glad he loves music so much and wonder if he might be already developing a talent for it... He also loves to dance to music. Whenever he hears music he says, "Please dance!" We dance in the kitchen, but I wouldn't dance at Commercial Tire the other day... I get more easily embarrassed than Creighton apparently. 

His favorite friend to play with is his grandpa. He goes over there twice a week while I work and he loves it. This week he hasn't had to go because daddy had no work or school. And next week I have no work. He is having withdrawals and it could get worse... Several times a day he asks to go to grandpa's.

He is getting excited to be a big brother! Here he is with his cousin, Kyle.

 He loves to talk about baby sister and help get ready for her. I have been surprised how easily and happily he talks about her. I hope this is a good sign for the future! A few days ago I told Creighton he could not have any more Halloween candy. A few minutes later he brought me a half eaten sucker. I said, "Creighton, I said no more candy." He said, "Baby sister!" Not sure if he was blaming her for it or wanting to give it to her... Either way, I shouldn't be surprised he talks about her like she is already here because a lot of times we do too!

I think that I will always remember every cute/funny adorable thing that he says and does... but I am realizing lately that I forget a lot! It makes me sad. I am trying to start a journal to record everything I want to remember about him at this age. Every day is full of fun and new things. He makes me love my life!

October Festivities

October has come and left quickly! We have been very busy at our house and though we didn't get a chance to carve our pumpkins, we did have lots of other fall and Halloween fun!

As soon as October came we were ready for pumpkins! We headed to a "pumpkin patch" here in town to pick out a few nice ones. Creighton wasn't sure what a pumpkin patch was, but he was excited to go! We let him pick out a pumpkin for everyone in the family, including baby sister!

Creighton loves to be "making" in the kitchen and was excited for making Halloween cookies!

 He takes his job as sugar cookie "roller" very seriously! He loved to create the shapes, but thought we ought to use the opposite side of the cookie cutter.

This year Creighton really enjoyed talking about Halloween. Must have been the Halloween books and Halloween-themed Disney cartoons. He said the word "spooky" A LOT! He also liked talking about monsters and ghosts. He tried to convince me how scared he was several times. He is a good little actor... Because I know this little guy has no fears when he is dressed up as Buzz Lightyear!

Unfortunately on Halloween Creighton was sick. So he did a lot of napping and relaxing. He wasn't up for trick-or-treating with mommy and daddy so we passed out candy to those that came to our house. But when daddy went to class Creighton and I headed to grandma and grandpa's. They spoiled him with his favorite treat of all- chips! And then grandpa took him around to a few houses in their neighborhood. He loved it! But Creighton would rather say "Happy Halloween!" than "trick-or-treat!"

Yummm... sure do love those Reeses Peanut Butter Cups!

Is There a Doctor in the House?

Yes there is! Dr. Creighton Eli Chambers, DDS.

Creighton HATES to have his teeth brushed. Of course he does. No surprise. It is to be expected with having a mother as a hygienist. And of course, he is STILL sucking that thumb! He will scream and cry and flail around, clamp his mouth shut and try to hit me to avoid the 20 second toothbrushing. Not even a Buzz Lightyear or a Mater toothbrush can make it seem like a good time. 

After Creighton's teeth are brushed sometimes he gets to brush mommy or daddy's teeth. He thinks that is super fun. His daddy thinks it is equally as fun.

Creighton is always polite and says, "Open please." or "Please can I look?" He's not afraid to get his hands dirty- no gloves here! He likes to point to teeth and touch them and also the tongue. Daddy gets grossed out. Mommy loves it! All of Creighton's patients get a clean bill of health. He says, "Looks good!"

One day maybe Creighton WILL want to be a dentist. And then of course he will attend Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. I can imagine it now... He will write a brilliant college entry essay about his wonderful mother who from an early age, taught him he could do anything. His mom was loving and nurturing, supportive and encouraging, and a great example of hard work (or insert a plethora of other positive adjectives) and even named him after a dental school! (That's not REALLY where his name came from... but it makes for a great addition to his essay.) He will of course receive a full-ride scholarship because he brings the admissions committee to tears.

Poor daddy, maybe we should give him a little credit too for being such a good patient!

Sometimes You Just Need a Nap

It is always apparent when Creighton needs a nap. He becomes emotional, disagreeable, mischievous and irrational. He is like his mommy. 

My little boy loves his sleep. In fact he will frequently put himself down for a nap, letting me know it is that time of day. He rarely resists sleep. Or, he will just go lay down and rest for a little while and then say, "Mommy, I feel better now."

I should learn from his example and do that more often. I would probably be more pleasant to deal with.

 This Saturday morning started a bit rough. Perhaps because I tried to give my son oatmeal for breakfast instead of the desired macaroni and cheese or chicken nuggets. Oh, what a bad mommy I am! So after just 2 hours of being awake he headed for his room for a nap.

There is just something about a sleeping child that makes you feel like you love them 10x greater!

5:30 am Devil's Food Cake

I have been having this problem lately. 

I have been waking up anywhere between 4:00am and 5:00am to go pee. Then I can't go back to sleep. I feel so much better after my potty visit because my bladder doesn't feel like it will burst. I feel tired like I should be able to sleep again. But I can't. I toss and turn. "I'm warm..." Off go the covers. "I'm cold..." Covers back on. "I'm feeling hungry..." Trying to convince myself not to eat anything. "I should see what is new on Pinterest..." Trying to convince myself not to get on Pinterest. And glaring at my husband, "How can he possibly be sleeping right now? I can't at all!"

Well, this morning I only let myself toss and turn for a few minutes before giving in to eating and Pinterest because this beautiful and decadent dessert was sitting in my kitchen.

Devil's Food Cake. And my cake looks extremely similar to this one, minus the chocolate curls and pretty pedestal. The special occasion for this special dessert was my 25th birthday on Friday!

Two weeks ago my mother-in-law gave me two books for my birthday, "culinary mysteries". This one, "Devil's Food Cake" and another one, "Lemon Tart". The series are murder mysteries and the main character, Sadie, attempts to solve the murder before the police/detectives. Recipes and baking tips are incorporated throughout the book. (Of course, because it makes for a good story, she DOES solve the mystery before the professionals!) At times the books can seem a bit cheesy (the main character is quite a "character"), but they make me giggle and I really couldn't put them down! When I opened the gift, Robin said she thought I would love them since I love to read and cook. She was right! Both of them were read within a week of receiving them.

In "Devil's Food Cake" the recipe is given for the cake which I decided I must make for my birthday cake! Cason insisted he wanted to try and make it, but Saturday afternoon while he was mowing the lawn I decided I couldn't wait any longer and made the chocolate confection! I had been thinking about it for an entire week and dreaming about how delicious it would be! In fact, I used it in an object lesson Sunday during Young Women class. I had the girls do different motions with their hands/feet/head and then asked them to try and NOT listen as I described the yummy chocolate cake I was going to have for my birthday. Lesson Learned: Easier to control our actions than our thoughts. They couldn't help but listen to me describe the cake!

Here is the recipe so you can make yourself one too!

Devil's Food Cake

1 c. sour milk (1 cup milk + 2 tsp. white vinegar OR use 1 c. buttermilk)

2 c. flour

2 c. sugar
2/3 c. unsweetened cocoa

1/2 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1 c. vegetable oil

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. boiling water

1 tsp. baking soda

For sour milk, mix milk and vinegar in small bowl. Set aside for five minutes. 

In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients except the water and baking soda. Mix until batter is smooth. Add the soda to the boiling water. Add soda/water mixture to batter. Mix well-batter will be thin.

Pour batter into a greased and floured 9x13-inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until middle is set.

If using round cake pans, grease pans very well and cut a round of wax paper to fit inside the bottom of the pans to prevent cake from sticking when removed. Let cake cool five minutes in pans before turning out onto a wire rack.

The book also included the recipe for the chocolate frosting which I made... but it left something to be desired. I will be on the search for an even better chocolate frosting. A cake this great deserves a frosting that is equal in deliciousness.

I will blame the 5:00 am insomnia, related to the potty visit, on the pregnancy. But chocolate cravings can not be blamed on baby sister. They are genetic. However, my back pain I am putting all on her. Thursday night my back was KILLING me. All I wanted to do was lay down with the heating pad. So my wonderful husband went to Deseret Book and bought me a third culinary mystery so I could be entertained while laying down. I haven't finished it yet-but I do have all of this Sunday afternoon available...

I had a great 25th birthday this year! It would have been wonderful even without the chocolate cake... Cason and Creighton always do a great job making me feel super special and well-loved... But I'm really glad I had the cake!

My Sweetie

Creighton has finally cancelled the strike against having his picture taken. After getting dressed he likes to say, "Ta-Da! Handsome!" A few days ago it was chilly outside so we pulled out some new fall clothes and he was more than happy to pose for a picture.

He looks so grown-up! But we did just celebrate his 2 1/2 year mark! We have had numerous "terrible-two" experiences over the last several months, but he seems to be transitioning out of that phase and I am grateful! He can be such a sweetie, but sometimes it is hard for me to remember that!

Lately, whenever Cason or I return home from work/school/errands he will run up to us and say, "Hug? I missed you!" And give us a super great big hug! He is a good hug giver and pretty good at kisses. His daddy taught him to give eskimo kisses so he has been trying those out lately too.

I love this little man so much, he brings me so much joy!

Speaking in Sentences

 "Please, I go to Grandpa's?"

Creighton asks this every single day! He loves going over to his Grandpa's house. He gets to go over there when mommy is at work, but he also wants to go every other day. Every time we get in the car he thinks we are going to Grandpa's house.

But it is totally understandable why he would want to go over there. It is so much fun! All those fun toys... things that AREN'T toys they let him play with... and they even have a trampoline! Creighton LOVES to jump on the trampoline and has learned how to beg, pull sad faces, and whimper to get others to go out and jump with him. The most common person found on the trampoline with Creighton is his Aunt Sidnie.

A couple of weeks ago when they were jumping a scab on his elbow got scraped off and it started to bleed so Aunt Sidnie made it all better. He tells me this story almost every day as well. (pointing to his elbow...) "Aunt Sidnie give me a band-aid! All better now!"

Creighton will miss that his Aunt Sidnie doesn't get to play with him as much. She is in college now!!

 Grandma and Grandpa let Creighton play with the hose and water their dirt/grass in his panties! (That is something we don't do at home.) Mostly wearing the panty part... Sometimes Grandma can get Creighton to go in the big boy potty, but not mommy!

I was just thinking the other day that it is so CrAzY that Creighton is speaking in sentences! It is so nice to be able to carry on a "conversation" with him. He is learning so much and his vocabulary continues to increase daily.
He likes numbers and loves to count everything. When he sees numbers though, most numbers to him are the number 8. He says, "LOOK! The number eight!"

A lot of his sentences start with the word please, which is nice. One day when I was helping in Nursery class his teacher commented, "It is strange that so many sentences starts with the word piece." Not piece! PLEASE! Give him some credit! "Please, I watch Cars?" Oh boy... most heard sentence in this house...

It seems so suddenly that we are speaking in sentences around here, and it's great!