Survival and this thing called Christmas

Okay, a month of updates. I survived a week at Papa and Grandma's house. I didn't even notice that Mama and Daddy weren't there for 4 of those days! I just thought that they were really good hiders... I didn't ever lose Grandma, I kept really good track of her, and if she did manage to sneak off I only had to holler and she would come a running, it was great!

I even got to go 'Trapping' with Papa. Not really sure what that means, because I fell asleep in the backpack on Papa's back on the 4-wheeler. It was a great place for a nap, and the cold wind felt funny on my tongue. When Mama and Daddy FINALLY came out of hiding we had a great big dinner, they kept calling it Thanksgiving but all I know is the green bean casserole was the best thing ever!

Grandma sure hated to see me leave and I have to say I hated to go but when I got home the living room looked completely different...there was a tree growing out of the carpet. It had lights, bells and candy canes all over it, and once I figured out that if you break the candy canes they are really good to suck on. The only bad thing was I would just get one broken and Mama or Daddy would take it away because I'd get myself all sticky.....

Then there was this GREAT day. Christmas, they told me it was called. Apparently there was this strange man who snuck into the house and left me presents. He's my favorite :) Grandma Bennett came for this day, and we all had a really good time. Everyone got to open presents, and I quickly figured out that I could rip open all the presents I'd been seeing around this tree thing. I opened all my own presents with only the smallest of help from anyone else, and they were all soooo proud of me!

I've been feeling pretty rotten lately. I haven't been going down to bed very well since we came home from Thanksgiving, but the last week or so, I've been waking up in the middle of the night totally unable to get comfortable and happy. Mama or Daddy would come in and try to settle me down, and some nights it worked, and some I cried at them for hours. Daddy finally figured out that if he laid a couple of blankets on the floor and just sat me down and let me play, while he tried to sleep on the blankets I would eventually calm down and get tired again. They finally took me into the doctor, and he said I have a nasty ear infection in the left ear, and was starting one in the right. I also have some crackling noise in my lungs. So, they put me on the tasty pink goo, and the machine that blows a funky steam in my face. I feel much better, and sleeping again, eating again, and everything.

Then the other day I turned 1. Mama and Daddy are sad about this. Mama wants to know what happened to her baby (I'm right here!) and Daddy is sad that he only gets to keep me for about 17 more. We opened a present in the morning, and Mama and Daddy went to work all day. But yesterday, they did the funnest thing ever! Papa and Grandma came down and we opened more presents, and I'm a pro at that now, too bad there's not anymore holidays for a year... Then, they laid a blanket down on the floor and put a cake there in front of me. Get this, it's crazy. They let me smoosh it, eat it, mash it into my face and har, rub it on my legs, throw it around the kitchen, and just a good time had by all...

Well, good night to all, enjoy the pictures when they're up!

Abandonment!

Okay, Mama and Daddy did something really strange this week. On Saturday, Grandma Gray met Mama in Richfield and she took me up to Emery County to hang out on the farm. You ready for the weird part? They didn't come with! Or at least I can't find them anywhere...and I have looked all over. Grandma says they aren't coming up until Wednesday, and then Daddy's leaving after dinner on Thanksgiving because he has to work. That's four days without them, and then Mama and me will stay here until Sunday. This is so crazy! My routine is totally shot, and poor Daddy is going to have to help me recover afterwards. All I will want is attention and I don't know if only one person can give me that much!

Other than that, I am looking forward to this Christmas stuff. There is a pile of big wrapped boxes under the TV, not really sure what that means, but it is stuff for me to play with all day, anyway. My goal, and don't tell Mama, is to get all the wrapping paper off and all over the floor! Daddy hasn't put up the tree that they keep talking about, because he says if a bunch of lights are broken on it again, we will either have a dark tree, or we'll go get a real one. I don't care either way, I'm pulling it over no matter what.

Okay, for updates on how things are going, since I haven't written in a couple of months:
1. The doctor says I'm too small. I'm below the 3rd percentile in weight, and that means 97% of babies my age are bigger than me. I'm not unhealthy, just small. I eat like crazy so I don't know what the doctor is talking about. Daddy starting giving me this stuff called Pediasure, and I can suck it down like there's no tomorrow. Apparently, it's supposed to make me fat, but I don't think it works. Anyway, it tastes better than formula - that stuff makes me throw up. One taste is all it takes!
2. I haven't learned to walk yet, but I've figured out cruising around the furniture and I have it mastered. Once or twice now I've let go and stood for just a second, but then my bobble head makes me fall down... Both Mama and Daddy laugh at that. I'm getting braver though, because if I want to clap or something, I have to let go, so eventually, I'm just going to forget and I'm toast.
3. Mama and Daddy got me this walker toy. It has lots of buttons on it that play music, but man can I run all over the living room with it! Our room is a bit too small, so I can't go far, but I sure enjoy it. Daddy dressed me up in a dew-rag and sure thought it was funny one day, so you all get a picture of it.
4. Toothers galore! I now have four, my two front bottoms and my two front tops. The bottoms came in first, and man was I a cutie with just one or two. Now that I have the tops though, I have to re-figure out my mouth. Things that I have always done, like clamping down on my fingers when there's food in there, yup, it hurts now, and I cry. Mama and Daddy say that the tops are HUGE! So strange for my wee little head.
Alright, Daddy has work to do, so I think this is all you get for now. Love you all, and good to talk to you!

More Firsts

So as I am growing bigger everyday I am finding that I am experiencing several firsts so here are a few more I have survived. On July 15th I was playing away as Mama worked at her office, well at 10am she reached over and found my very first tooth, in fact it has been long enough since she found my first tooth that last week Daddy found my second. Both are on the bottom and are coming in right next to each other. So it is official I now have a toothy grin.

I don't know if you can see my pearly white, but it is there, this was taken a while ago and it is so much bigger now. Mom keeps trying to get a shot of it but I am just too quick for her.
Lets see - other firsts... oh I love Vanilla Wafers, Mama feels pretty safe letting me have a whole cookie to myself, she says they melt, but boy I can make a mess with just one cookie and she usually lets me have two. Along with cookies I am also learning to drink out of a cup. I usually do a pretty good job with help from Mom, Dad or Grandma and sometimes I think they are trying to drown me and I end up with way more on me then in me!

4th of July in Delta

This week has been hectic, I've been going to work with Mama during the day because Daddy has been doing some construction down in Hurricane this week. But I just wanted to get on and tell you about my new baby cousin. His name is MaCloud Cody Gray, and he was born today (July 14) at 8:32 pm at 7 lbs 11 oz, 19 1/2 inches long. haha, he's chubbier than I was! Yay for new baby cousins!

Firsts

So tons and tons has happened since I last wrote, but of course it isn't my fault it is so long between posts, I have been checking and checking Mama's computer and she FINALLY got the pictures downloaded.

Ok, so first things first. On June 11th Mama's office had to walk in the opening cermonies of the Utah Summer Games and I got to help. I was really just along for the ride but hey I was there. Ok so it looks like the picture has disappeared. I also got to watch my first fireworks show from Mary Payne's house and they weren't scary or anything.

Second I had my first campout, first Guymon Family Reunion, and meeting my cousin Sarah for the first time:

Then my first Rodeo, KitKat, and Glow Stick (thanks papa)

*Note my boots (they are my cousin Talons, he sold them to Mama for FREE...that's what he said)

This was the National Anthem, I followed Grandma's lead

This was a treat, this Kit Kat was so good I didn't want Grandma to take it away, it was as good as the hotdog Grandpa let me taste earlier.

Rodeos are tough work, the fireworks at the end didn't even wake me up, but see my cool glow stick

But the best first of all...drum roll please...

Mama and I went to Huntington to met my Great Uncle Glenn, Great Aunt Sylvia and 2nd cousin Jordan. (hopefully Grandma will share pictures of me with Aunt Sylvia and Uncle Glenn) and Papa took me on my very first Horseback Ride

Random photos of Me!

Best part about Easter, Papa you are the best...

No...don't take it away.................

.....MMMmmmmmmm blue MnM

This was after church on Easter, see how attentive I am. Hey were is my flower!

This is me in my cute hat and

my first walk in the backpack.

This is Shiela and me, she used to volunteer at the Visitor Center with Mama, she is really nice.

This is Mary, she works in Mama's office as a volunteer, she was a little unsure about holding me but didn't drop me so I think she did just fine.

This was right before Easter.

Mama had to work one Saturday so as Daddy headed to work he dropped me off. I thought she wasn't doing it right so I showed her how. I am a good worker and everyone that came in that day said so, so it must be true.

Don't I look GOOD! It was really bright outside so Mama shared her sunglasses. What a good Mama.

Mama had to wash my car seat cover but we had to take dinner to Daddy and I feel asleep on the way home, so this is how my head rests without my head rest.

This was my first Daddy-Daughter Date and wagon ride, I got some lunch then we went to St George and I got to ride in the wagon while we shopped for Blue Berries.

My life at 4 months

So it has been awhile, it is really hard to do any kind of updating since mama went back to work because daddy is a computer hog. I love and adore him and when he isn't on the computer he is hanging out with me so I never get the chance to update you on my life.

Well I have a few minutes so here is a quick update on me, of course!

Daddy has found the funnest game for me. He lays me on my back on the floor, and he takes my hands and we do what he calls a baby tummy crunch. He pulls me up until I'm sitting, and let me just tell you, I'm getting to be quite the sitter. But don't ask Daddy, because he'll tell you that if he lets go at this point, I touch my head to my ankles and fall over, I just am not strong enough to do it by myself yet. Then he raises my hands above my head and makes me stand. Can you believe this? I still eat my food from the magical milk source, and he's got me standing...

Speaking of food, the good doctor said at my 4 month check up that I am not gaining weight fast enough. But everyone thinks I'm perfect just how I am anyway. I was 11 pounds and 9 onces and the creep put me on Rice cereal. I don't know if you've eaten any, but let me tell you this: If you mix it with magic milk, not even the puppy will eat it. If you mix it with water, you could hang drywall with it. But you throw in a little bit of apple juice, and I can't get enough of it!

Daddy and I have a pretty good routine going on now. Once we send Mama off to work (of course this is after she feeds me) Daddy finishes getting ready for the day. I usually play on the bed, which is fun because I have recently discovered these great toys that Daddy calls toes! The best part about them is that just like my favorite chew toys (my hands) they go everywhere with me! About the time Daddy's ready for the day, it's time for him to take me to Mama's office for my mid-morning pre-lunch snackeroo. This always takes a while, because all the lovely ladies (and Papa Bob) at the office have to love on me. Yup, loved wherever I go! When that's all done, Daddy brings me home and usually I take a nap. This is a great opportunity for Daddy to nap too, but he's kinda silly and never does. He could also clean the house or do laundry, but at least I am clean and dry!

When I wake up, we call Mama at her office and Daddy lets her hear me paging her in the background so that she'll know the urgency level of the lunch emergency. Somedays it isn't too bad, but others, man, you'd think I'd never eaten before! My bellybutton has a habit of trying to rub a hole in my backbone. She takes a lunch and about an hour later Daddy has to go to work so he drops me back at Mama's office, where I act the part of an Angel for the rest of the work day and into the evening. There is a great mystery of what happens during this time, but don't tell Daddy, he doesn't need to know. Mama calls it "Girl Time."

When Daddy gets off, I've had my Rice Cereal, I'm ready for Daddy to rub me down with lotion, Mama to give me the magic milk, and haul me up to the crib and I am GONE for the night.

Anyway, that's a day for me. Oh no I hear someone coming I better get to bed. Night everyone!

Um yeah, half my life, and no posts

Ok, so I haven't been on in like a month. I'm a baby, what do you expect?
Here's what you've missed. A couple of weeks ago, Mama and Daddy were making me have that crap they call belly time. I hate it, it is aweful. So, I showed them. I rolled back over onto my back. I win. Now they think its a game. They put me on my belly, and I roll over. Woop-de-doo, but they sure love it!
Also, we were in Albertson's and Daddy kept ducking out of sight, and then jumping up and taking me by surprise. So, I giggled for them the first time. They sure were excited that they both got to be around for both of these two firsts. Daddy's been really worried I'd only do stuff for the first time when he's at work. So far so good...
I spent a week in Huntington at Grandma and Grandpa's house with Mama. Daddy had a job interview, but then came home to work. Then he drove halfway and picked me and Mama up. I drive really well, can make the whole trip to Huntington asleep. Hooray, take me on vacation!
Daddy said that his interview wasn't the worst he'd ever had; however, he really doesn't think he'll get the job. He says he wouldn't hire himself either. One day he'll just come to terms with the fact that his degree is useless and 12 years in Retail is his only chance. Too bad we live in Cedar where there is really no chance for advancement in ANY company that you work for.......
Mama would like to move to Huntington (having more family around would be really nice, so maybe Daddy will go get a job at the coal mines ....NOT!
Anyway, other than that, Mama has gone back to work as of the first of April and Daddy is staying home to take care of me during the day. Most days this works fine, but there are just some days that being with the Daddy is the last thing that I could ever want. Have to make the best of it, I suppose. I'm crying now, so Daddy's going to have to take me for a drive. Can you believe the humanity of it all?

This Little Piggy...

So while we were in Delta a couple weeks ago Daddy started playing with my toes and reciting a little poem:

This little piggy when to Piggy-land on a Piggy-plane.

This little piggy went to Piggy-wood to see the Piggy-stars.

This little piggy lived on a Piggy-farm and ate piggy-slop.

This little piggy got turned into bacon, ham and sausage...yum.

This little piggy went wee-wee-wee all over his house.

I'm not so sure that is how the story really goes but it seems to work ok and mama just laughs and shakes her head.

Pay it Forward

Ok my cousin did had this on her blog and I thought 'why not' could be interesting. So I'm going to do it too :) It might not be extravagant but it will be made with love! Here is how it works-- the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a handmade gift from me sometime during this year. If you do not live close by please leave me your address. What it is and when it arrives will be a total surprise! The catch is that you must participate as well. Before you leave your comment here, put a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going! Then come back and let me know you are going to play and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your surprise! Remember only the first 3 will qualify! Good luck!

Beautiful Wednesday

So Daddy dressed me today he picked out all of my accesories and then realized he didn't have any clothes picked out yet. Silly Daddy. Well he looked through my closet and found the one thing he thought would match best with the things he had already picked out and put me in another one of Mama's dresses from when she was little. I think I look pretty cute. Mama is also getting pretty good at making me smile, of course it still all depends on my mood and I can only take so much of posing for pictures. This was one of the pictures that daddy was able to catch.

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On

So, apparentlly I slept through my very first EARTHQUAKE last night! It was about 11:30ish, and Mama said she heard a quite boom, and the bed shook. She hit Daddy, but he was listening to his book on his Ipod, so he heard nothing, but thought the cat had jumped onto the bed, was all.
Daddy tried to check on the internet this morning for any reports of quakes or explosions, but there was nothing. Mama had said something to my Grandma, but she knew nothing either. Then after the 5:00 news, Grandma called all excited because there really was an earthquake, and it was about a 3.3, nine miles south of Kannaraville.
So I've officially slept through my very first earthquake. If we had a Jello mold made up on the kitchen table, I think it would have wobbled a little bit, but that's about all.

St. Paddy's Day!

Because Daddy went to Ireland on his mission we celebrate St Patrick's Day every year, of course this is my first and only St Patrick's Day I have experienced. Well as I slept on the couch Mama decorated our moose. She says she may not decorate much but she always tries to get him ready for the holidays. Didn't he turn out cute? After she got him all dressed she found on a blog the idea to make your own pot of gold; if you look close you can see he has three pots of gold, of course they aren't all for us, Mama made one for us and one for each of my great aunts that live here in town.

The pots were really easy to make, Mama spray painted little pots black and added green grass, pipe cleaners, Hershey Treasures and Rolos for the gold. The idea originally came from the site Make and Takes. She was doing a little blog stalking and discovered Make and Takes which has tons of cute crafty ideas for the home or for kids and lots of recipes. Check it out for some good ideas. We ended up in Delta for St Patrick's Day so she gave our pot to Grandma Anna and before we came home it was all gone.

Mama was really good to make sure I was dressed in green from my head to my toes, she even dug through the package of diapers and pulled out the ones with green characters on them. She is so silly. Daddy had to work with Great Uncle Dude that day so she even made sure he had a green work shirt and then a nice clean green shirt for after he got home and showered.

Daddy was excited because Grandma Anna made Corn Beef and Cabbage. I am too little to actually eat it but Mama seemed to like it and LOTS of people came over that day to enjoy the food. The weather was nice enough that I got to go outside without a blanket (which was green too), Mama kept one on hand just in case. Daddy was a little naughty he let me have a few licks of his green sucker. I sure liked the way it tasted but Mama wouldn't let me have very much.

Busy, Busy Week

So the last couple of weeks have been very busy. Daddy had to work in Delta the 2nd through the 4th, and then he came home to work one day, then took Mama and me back to Delta because he was supposed to work that Thursday, well yea! he got the day off but had to leave that night to head to Torrey, Ut to do a little work leaving Mama and me at Grandma's house. We got to go to my first wrestling match to watch my cousins Logan and Ryan wrestle. I did pretty good until Aunt Sherri starting cheering, then the noise was too much and Mama held me close to calm me down. Happily Daddy got back by Friday afternoon and I got to snuggle the rest of the day and go to my second wrestling match. This time I slept throught the whole thing. Saturday I got to go to Logan's baptism, don't I look cute & tired? Again I slept through it. We had lots of visitors, even Aunt Karen came from Las Vegas, NV and she brought the hand castings she did at my blessing. Pretty cool huh?, This is Mama holding my hand and Daddy holding hers.

On Sunday Daddy had a really bad migrain so Mama tried to let him rest. By Sunday afternoon he was doing much better so Mama packed me and all our stuff and he took us to Salina, Ut to meet Grandma and Grandpa Gray. Grandma Anna came along for the ride so Daddy wouldn't have to drive back all alone. Mama is so proud of me and how well I travel; in fact, I slept through the drive to Salina, repacking everything into Grandma's car, and then the drive to Huntington. By the time we got to Grandma and Grandpa's house I was just waking up and I was wet and HUNGRY, but Mama is getting pretty good at jumping when I call, and she got me all taken care of. We stayed in Huntington until Wednesday afternoon when Daddy called and we piled back in the car and met him in Salina and he drove us home. My cousin Trayven got to ride with Grandma, Grandpa, Mama, and I. He sure likes me; I like him too, he is fun to watch and I can't wait until I can run after him and play.

I had a great time in all of my traveling but it sure was nice to get home, until Mama had to take me to my 2 month check-up on Friday and thoese mean people gave me THREE shots. I did really good and only had a slight fever.

First Trip to Church

So daddy had to work on Sunday, so momma got me all dressed up and we walked to church. Ok she walked and I slept cuddled in her arms. We only stayed through sacrament because momma didn't want to expose me to anything and daddy came home for lunch. I slept through the whole thing and momma said I was very good; the only thing she regretted was her choice in shoes. She said her foot is doing really good but it was too soon to wear heels.

The coolest part about me getting all dressed up for church is I am actually wearing one of momma's dresses from when she was my size (I don't know if I believe it but that's what she said) and it is one of the dresses grandma made. Also the blanket I am laying on is one that momma and daddy's friend Shellie made for me, isn't it gorgeous. I am so spoiled, but I deserve every bit of it. :)

New Blanket

So my momma and I are hanging out on our own while daddy is working in Delta. I sure miss him but mom is pretty ok to be with and he will be home in a few short days. Well I thought that I should post some new photos, they all involve me of course.

Last week daddy went to check the mail and brought me back a package, and boy do I LOVE getting packages. Momma couldn't open it fast enough. It came from my great aunt Sylvia in Washington (the state) and it had a beautiful blanket that she made just for me. It even has my name and birth date on it. Daddy was excited because it isn't ALL pink, I love it because of all the different colors. Enjoy.

Three Pix Today

Today I will post three pictures of myself. The first is me asleep. Mama was trying to wake me up, but I wasn't having much of it. The second is me in the outfit Judy Truman gave me, and I am very cute and attentive for it. The last is Daddy trying to catch me not trying to roll over for the first time, but rather gravity trying to make me spin into Mama. I'm not very happy about it, as you can see from my expression, but Daddy thinks because of my eyes, I also look like the devil....

hmm, I'm cute!

In this photo, we have me and my Daddy, who is too busy reading a book to notice how incredibly adorable I am. Some days I just love to lounge on the bed with either Mama or Daddy while the other one gets ready for the day. Mama is really worried about the day she has to go back to work, because they are going to have to figure out a brand new timing schedule to get me and everyone ready by the time they have to leave. It's definitely going to be interesting! Mama and Daddy haven't coherently seen 6:30am in a very long time.
Also, this picture is the day I found the ceiling fan. I can stare it down for quite a while. The way it spins is so much fun to watch!

Mom's Not Playing Footsie With Me Today...

Early monday morning, I got hungry so mama came in to feed me. While in the rocking chair her bad foot fell asleep without her knowing it. When she went to stand up, she either stepped wrong or her toes caught on the carpet or something. We heard a really loud POP noise, she called for Daddy who came a-running and took me and mama fell to the floor and started to watch her foot swell.

We were really scared that she had re-broken her foot, but when we went to the emergency room (yea! first trip there, and not for me!) they said not broken just a torn muscle. Good news, but it puts mama in a walking cast. Good thing I'm here so she doesn't have to go to work.

Anyways, here's a pic of her nasty little foot.

Family Photo

Daddy realized something today. We have a complete family photo. He's pretty excited about this as he's pretty sure there's never been a family photo of his whole family, with all 7 kids and both Mom and Dad. So we're starting things off right straight from the beginning.

Blessed and Done

Our house was very busy last week. We had company from Huntington, Wellington, Spanish Fork, Delta, and a bunch from here in Cedar City. It was a bunch of fun, but when everyone left it sure waas quiet at home!
I definitely looked pretty, and was quite the belle of the ball while we were there. Daddy did an okay job with the blessing; but he had the hardest time while doing the blessing remembering which words if you put them together made sentences.
And now for your viewing pleasure: me.

Momma & Me