Second Mother

Let me introduce you to my kids other mother...


aka... Aunt Tawnya.

They love her! They go crazy when they know we are going to her house or she's coming to ours. She claims that she gets Ryker laughing so hard (but unfortunately I haven't been present to verify). Kody usually wakes up from his nap asking for "Nawna"! I'm not sure what we're going to do when she moves an 1 1/2 away.

I can hardly wait the 6 months for her new one to arrive! I love being an aunt!

Sucker

My mouth's watering so bad I can almost taste it...


Mom... they're not sharing!


Come on guys... just one little lick


I LOVE my sucker!


Stop teasing me...


This isn't fair... being 4 months old is soooo hard!


Seriously... the drool is out of control!

4 months and counting...

Ryker is now 4 1/2 months. Crazy! He had his 4 month check up last Thursday and all is well. His hernia is slowly going away which now gives him an 'inny' belly button just like the other two. (How on earth do you spell 'inny'!) He weighed 15.5 pounds (50th percentile) and was 26 inches (75th percentile). He's no longer the chunky monkey that he started off as. He had 3 more shots and the oral rota virus medicine. Lucas and Kody were with me at the doctor's appointment and looked horrified as they gave him his shots. Then Kody went berserk when he learned it was his turn for the flu shot. They aren't going to like it next week when we go in for the swine flu shot!




Here's a few things that Ryker is doing at 4 months...

• He loves to work out his abs by practicing crunches in the swing, car seat, and on the bed.
• He still loves his binky (not the funnest when he can't fall asleep without it)
• He still loves to be swaddled (presents a problem when he can now wiggle out of it)
• He has decided that sleeping through the night is no fun (although he did sleep 11 1/2 hours the night he got his shots)
• He loves to talk back and forth with us
  He his learning to blow raspberries
• He has almost out grown the 3-6 month clothes and will be wearing 6-9 as soon as I can get down in the crawl space to get them!
• He loves to watch t.v.
• He drools nonstop... all day long!
• He loves to grab for things and bring it instantly to his mouth
  He still has the biggest smile and brings so much joy to our family

Annie & Warm Springs

We headed to St. George last Friday afternoon for some family time. We got there just in time to drop the kids of Grandpa & Grandma Valentines and then head off for an over due date. Tawnya had given us her tickets to a Tuachan performance since they were unable to use them. We were able to see "Annie" and really enjoyed the performance. It was nice to spend a couple hours with just the two of us. Love you honey!

We had a great time swimming, eating, visiting and relaxing at the Beatty Reunion on Saturday. Rick & Kelli were in charge this year and planned it at the church owned Warm Springs in Moapa Valley. It's out in the middle of no where!!

The played "high 4" which is was pretty funny to watch! It's amazing how much you need your thumbs.

The kids loved swimming and could have stayed in there forever! Kody is quite the little dare devil and has to be watched like a hawk. He likes to jump off the edge and than wait for some one to pull him out of the water!

We had such a fun time spending the day with family.

Me and the babe in Arizona!

I had such a great time visiting my favorite people in Mesa. It was quite nice only have Ryker to worry about for a few days. Lucas and Kody kept grama Carole & papa Mark hopping up in Honeyville while I was gone. Thanks mom and dad... you're the best!

Ryker and I flew down in the afternoon on the 30th. Ryker was AWESOME! He only made some noise when he was hungry and then went right back to sleep.

I was so happy to finally get to meet Dax and play with Abby. She showed me her new trampoline and I even bounced with her one of days. She demonstrated her awesome dancing skills and we watched "Winn Dixie" and "Jack" (Yo Gabba Gabba). She is hilarious to watch. She'll be walking and then all of sudden have to stop and dance and then continue walking.



I think Daxton was loving that Ryker was there. Abs loved playing "pat-a-cake" with "Ratah" and especially loved tossing his arms in the oven!

Thursday we had lunch at my grandma's house. She made green chile burritos, one of my favorites, but hardly ever have unless I'm down there. She's had the patio redone and a new door installed. While I was there she had taken everything off the walls, etc. so some one could come take of the popcorn ceiling and wallpaper and then repaint the upstairs. After that, she was getting new carpet. I know she'll love it when it's all done.

On Friday we had a fun (fancy) lunch at Shara's with grams, Jen & Marsha (and her two girls). It was so fun to visit with them. I learned how to make yummy cupcakes with yummy frosting... perfect for decorating. Abby and I were the decorators and I think they turned out might cute (no picture).

We spent Friday night at Embassy Suites in Phoenix. I took some new family pictures for them around the hotel, drank Shirley Temples, ate at the Cheesecake Factory, swam (in the hot tub), and ate a yummy breakfast.

Abby & AC at Cheesecake Factory.

The boys thought it was dinner time too!

Many thought they were twins... Shara was the assumed mom since she pushed it around most of the time.

Man I love these two. I wish they lived closer!! Thanks guys for letting me come. I had a blast. Can't hardly wait for Christmas.

We flew back Sunday morning and Ryker was an angel again on the plane... until we landed. And then he screamed until we climbed in the car and I could feed him! It was good to see Jed and the boys. I sure missed them.