Merry Christmas!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Birthday, Javin!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Thanksgiving in Richfield!

Since it's almost Christmas, I thought I'd better get this updated! We spent Thanksgiving with Brandon's family and it was so fun! Great to be with everyone and great to watch the 4 cousins together! Jav and Brit are only 4 months apart and Gatlin and Hadley are only 4 months apart so we are in for a lot of fun over the years! Thanks Blaine and Paula! It was awesome!

All is well...

After a bad Monday, which was topped off with Javin taking permanent black marker to my tile floor (thank you magic eraser for removing it), I am glad to report that we are all alive and well! After Jav wrote on the floor I felt defeated!
Jav: "What happened, mama?"
Me: "You wrote on mama's floor."
Jav with a chuckle: "Yeah!"
Me: "It's not funny to write on the floor!"
Jav: "Steam?!"
Me: "Is there steam coming out of mama's ears?"
Jav: "Yep!"
Dang if they aren't too funny...you can't stay mad for too long, although I was so glad to see him go to bed that night! It's true what they say, "Our biggest trials are our biggest blessings!" I love my little boys more than anything...even when they try me!

Seriously...

Ok blogging mommies...am I the only one that has kids that don't nap? Am I the only one that understands the mommy who drown her kids in a moment of complete and total insanity? Anyone else out there wish they worked or could afford a nanny? I read your blogs and it's all sunshine and giggles...SERIOUSLY?!!!? Let's not sugar coat mommyhood...we all want to go away on occasion. We have all raised our voices at our kids. We all have moments when our childs voice is more annoying than the emergency test buzzing on the tv. Admit it ladies, sometimes you would do anything to get rid of them or at least be able to leave at the drop of the hat so you could have break! If you read this and agree please comment because sometimes I feel like a crappy mom and I need my friends to admit that they have these feelings too...if you don't I'm pretty sure you are lying to yourself!
Am I totally and completely annoyed with my children today...YES! Javin won't nap! If I leave him in his room he takes off his pants and diaper, tears apart his bed, rips his books (even the cardboard ones)! Then he goes to the door and yells, then he starts screaming and doesn't stop! He climbs on top of his changing table and screams harder cause he can't get down. I can't do quiet time cause he is incapable of sitting still or being quiet! I can't lock myself in a room cause who knows what I will find when I come out! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Gatlin is a good and happy baby only he doesn't sleep for more than about 30 minutes at time. Sometimes he'll sleep for an hour to an hour and a half but that's it. I want to cry and scream and disappear sometimes...actually I go through each of these feelings at some point during every day. Yes, it will get better. Yes, I will miss these days when they are gone...blah, blah, blah! Right now, I can't wait until they are in school all day long!

Let's be brief!

So we are in the new house (pictures to come) and getting settled slowly but surely! We love it! Jav has decided he's done napping except the occasional nap on the couch or floor while watching "Cars!" He has also decided the kitchen sink is ideal for a good soak! Gatlin is fat and happy (literally to both)! His smile will light up a room and he is huge! Weight to come after the 1st! Everyone thinks he is at least 8 months...if not older just because of his size! And yes, he is wedged into the bumbo...his thighs barely fit! More soon as Jav is almost 2 and we have the weigh in on the 1st!

Congrats Gat-Gat

Excessive drooling! Clinginess! Gnawing on hands, shirts, anything! Congrats to Gatlin on his first tooth! Bottom, right, front! Way to get a head start on it! May it come quickly and painlessly!

Home Owners...Again

It's official! We closed on our new house Thursday the 15th! YEAH! We are planning to move in on Halloween! We have had to paint the entire upstairs and will be getting carpet this coming Thursday! We are so excited! I will get some before and after pictures up in a couple weeks! If anyone ever wants to visit...we know have plenty of space and bathrooms! More soon!

Fat Gat really is fat!

Today was Gatlin's 2 month check-up and it's official...he's a chunk! He weighed in at 14 lbs. 12 oz. That's 8 lbs in 2 months! I think he even beat out Briton (our nephew on Brandon's side) who put on 7 lbs in 2 months and we thought he was a chunk! Gatlin is rotund! He's got great back rolls and excellent cleavage! He's in the 96th percentile for weight! He is 24 inches long, 75th percentile, and his head is only in the 50th percentile (he didn't get my big noggin thank goodness)!

Practicing for Halloween

Javin-Bear hugs, fire trucks, smiling pretty, and intense excitement!

Fat Gat

Labor Day in Montana/Updates

This posting is only about a month late but I've been a little busy trying to pack and take care of my boys! We went to Montana over Labor Day and spent a day at Dry Wolf Crick! It was fun to go over and hang out! Mom cooked good food and the boys played and played! We won't be heading back until Christmas (our last traveling Christmas)! Jav also got to drive Papa's tractor! He loves that! And just for kicks, I've added some pictures of Fat Gat! He's such a pig and we are convinced he has his own 1 year supply of food in his cheeks and thighs!

We are all well! Jav is doing amazingly at saying "help please" when he needs something and he is getting better and going to the bathroom on a big boy potty! YEAH!

Gatlin is fat and happy! He only naps once a day (no I'm not kidding! He and Jav are identical in looks, sleeping habits, and mannerisms!) Fortunately the boys usually nap at the same time so I can get stuff done!

We are buying a new house. The state bought our house and we got some great perks! We found a house in Colbert (North Spokane, closer to Brandon's work) for a great deal because it was a foreclosure! We will be closing the 16th of October or sooner! If ever anyone wants to come visit...we will actually have room for company now! Yeah! The house is 3700 sq. feet on half and acre! YEAH! And the backyard is fenced and they left a trampoline and a swing set! The Lord has blessed us abundantly so come one, come all! We will be ready for company...after the new year! Let us get settled first!

5 Years: 2 kids, 3 houses, 2 college graduates, 3 jobs, 800 miles

The 18th was our 5 year anniversary and as I look back on the past 5 years, I realize we have been very busy and very blessed! We had 2 kids in 20 months. We built a house, sold it, bought another house, sold it, and will be closing on our 3rd house in 5 years by mid-october! We both graduated college. Brandon has had 3 jobs with 4 different companies. We moved 800 miles to a place we didn't know we would like so much! We are blessed and very busy! I just can't imagine what can be accomplished in 50 years of marriage when we have done so much in 5! The thought is astounding and exhausting! Hopefully some of the next years will include a good, relaxing vacation!

Blessing Day

We blessed Gatlin on Sunday the 23 of August. Brandon even got to speak that day! Lucky him! The blessing was beautiful and both sets of grand parents were here! Thanks to Gary and Shawna for coming! Thanks to Jason for standing in the circle! It was great to have everyone! Gatlin decided to fill his pants twice during the blessing and all the guys could barely keep it together! They all came down smiling...way to be Gatlin! Thank heavens it didn't explode onto his blessing outfit! (Don't worry Ashley, it's unmarred!) After the blessing we went to Gabe and Aleana's for lunch! Thanks for the house you guys! It was a great day and great to be with family and friends!

Flashbacks

Just more proof that our boys are identical! Javin is in the winter clothes and Gatlin in the summer clothes! I have flashbacks when I look at Gatlin sometimes!

Although, Gatlin is bigger than Jav was at this age. Gatlin had his one month check and was 22 3/8 inches long and 10 lbs. 9 oz. He has put on 4 pounds since we brought him home! Porker! He eats like crazy!

Gatlin Newborn Photos

In the swing of things...

Life with 2 kids is turning out to be tiring, busy, and so much fun! I'm not complaining...Gatlin goes to bed between 1030 and 11, gets up to eat at 3, and sleeps until around 7am. I'm fortunate, I know. He also is just content to sleep and hang out! He's very laid back! He eats 4 oz every 2 1/2-3 hours (and doesn't spit up)! He put on over 1 pound in 7 days and grew almost 1 full inch!

Javin has taken to Gatlin! He must know where he is at all times. He is constantly patting his head and giving him kisses. He is such a great big brother. Gatlin was crying the other day and then he went silent. Jav came running into the kitchen with his hands in the air saying, "I did it! I did it! Binky!" He gave him his binky and it was just what he wanted!

It takes longer to get out the door...especially when I am alone, but I'm adjusting pretty good! Thank heavens Jav still sleeps in the afternoon for 3-4 hours! Let's hope he keeps that up for awhile!

Brandon is loving his boys! So much fun to be a dad to 2 boys! Work is busy but that's good for us! We are so happy!

Who's who?

Is this the same baby? The 1st and 3rd pictures are Gatlin. The other 2 are Javin. Any resemblance? Gatlin has a darker complexion than Javin and more hair but they look like twins! I guess there will be no question that they are brothers!