Jake without training wheels

Jake LOVES to ride his bike. It's all he wanted from Santa. He's so much like Jackson was at that age always wanting to go play outside. About a month ago one of the training wheels broke off and he was so sad. I talked to Scott and said I thought he was ready to learn how to ride without them since it couldn't be fixed. This is how Jackson learned. He only had one wheel that he would depend on until he learned how to balance on his own.

So we took Jake outside and Scott got ready to run with him and he didn't even need to. Jake took off and used that one training wheel until he learned how to turn. After half an hour he had it down. We took the other training wheel off a few days later. Pretty good for a 3 1/2 year old.
Now he's riding and ramping with his big brother like it's nothing. He's still working on the whole stop thing though.

Gracie at 7 months

Gracie turned 7 months yesterday. She is doing so many new things since my last update that I need to catch up on all her milestones. At her 6 month check she was 17 lbs. 6 oz. and 25 1/2 inches long so I'm sure by now she's at least 18 lbs. She started sitting up at 6 months and is now able to do it all on her own. She started saying dada about two weeks ago and her daddy couldn't be prouder. She's also starting to wave a little. We're still working on that. She babbles on and on and is very grabby now. She has to grab hold of whatever is in front of her. She loves to play with her toys now and she has a bouncer she's borrowing from her cousin Gavin that she just loves to play in. Wherever we go we're stopped over and over and told just how cute she is. We know! We couldn't be prouder parents. She's such a wonderful blessing in our family.

January 23rd I got Gracie's ears pierced. I had been thinking about it since she was born and had always been on the fence about it. Then one day Jen was over and we started talking about it and she talked me into going. I had Nana go with me. Poor Nana. She hates stuff like this and I had to hold Gracie on my lap so she got the job of kneeling in front of her and holding her head still. Poor Gracie was all smiles just sitting there all innocent until that gun went off. Then she let out this pathetically horrible quiet little sob. She cried for about a minute and then was fine. It nearly broke my heart but it was over so quickly that I recovered rather quickly. And now she looks so cute. We love her little earrings.

Valentine's Day

There was one bright spot in the month of February which probably helped to keep me sane through all the illness. School was out on Feb. 16th for Mt. Luther King Day so Scott and I decided to get away for a night for Valentine's Day. We farmed our kids out to Nana & Jen and went and stayed at the condo for a night. We went to dinner and went shopping and just had a really wonderful time just the two of us reconnecting. It was almost like being newlyweds again. I love times like these. They revitalize me and give me the boost I need to go on when life gets a little mundane and difficult. I love my husband so much and am so greatful for him.

Sick, Sick & More Sick

February was our month to be sick. I did not attend church for 5 weeks straight due to illness. Scott and Gracie started it with a sinus infection and ear infections for Gracie. Then I got the sinus infection and Jake got ear infections and bronchitis and we were having to do breathing treatments on him 3 times a day somewhere in there.

Then Jackson came down with some strange virus called Herp-angina. He had a terrible fever for 10 days straight with no other symptoms. It was so frustrating because we couldn't figure out what was going on with him. Finally on day 7 his mouth broke out with sores all over inside it. We went to the doctor and he finally diagnosed him and said that it's a virus that lasts around 10 days with high fevers and then your mouth breaks out and then it's done. Poor guy was pretty miserable and had a hard time eating for awhile. We're so glad he's well.

Then Gracie got sick again with bronchitis and ear infections. She got really sick and we had to watch her closely and do breathing treatments on her because she was on the verge of RSV or pneumonia. It was a crazy frustrating month for me where I went to the doctor about 5 times and really didn't go many other places. I'm so glad we're through that. It was a rough month.

Joey turns 5

Joey turned five in January. I let my kids have a big party at 5 and 8 so this was Joey's year. He wanted a pirate party and boy did we have one. Complete with a treasure hunt and a pirate ship cake and lots of fun pirate games. The kids had a really good time I think.

A few things about Joey. He is so smart. Sometimes too smart for his own good. He can memorize very quickly and can still say his part he memorized for the primary sacrament program back in Oct. He loves school and loves to learn. He would rather be reading a book or watching tv than playing outside. We have to force him to play outside.

He says some of the funniest things. He was building a tower with some legos and put a lego car right in the middle of the tower. He looks up and says, "I guess this isn't a skyscraper. It's a carscraper!" Now who thinks of these things. Another funny thing is he was working on something and someone tried to interrupt him and he yells out. "Leave me alone. I'm trying to focustrate." It took us awhile to break him of saying focustrate instead of concentrate.

Joey tests my patience at every turn but he also amazes me and I love him for it. He longs to be loved and accepted and is easily offended but he's quick to help and cheer you up when you need it. He loves to do anything I ask of him. He's such a blessing in our home and is teaching me so much. I love you, Joey!

Playing Hookie

So I haven't blogged in forever and there's been so much to blog about. I think that's been the problem. I just don't want to take the time. So here goes, time to play catch up.