Saturday, August 31, 2013

Tagg - 9 Months

Dear Tagg,

Before I say anything else, let me just say - please, please, please keep being so darn happy!!! I honestly cannot get enough of your smile, your laugh, the way your eyes lock on mine when it's just you and me, the way you bury your head into the crook of my neck when you are being shy and/or tired, the way you now notice me from across a room and start crawling to me in a mad dash. I. Can't. Get. Enough.

The past three months have flown by. Okay, let's be honest, the past nine months have flown by as well. Come on, little sir, slow down just long enough for me to breathe in these fleeting moments just a little longer. I sometimes panic at the thought of you and Holland growing up too quickly, and me not being able to do anything about that. Life - why does it have to go so fast when you don't want it to?

Since your six-month mark you have begun to look a lot more "Eppley" and your hair fades to a lighter shade of blond every single month. During your seventh month you started crawling, but mostly it was a scoot backwards - you got yourself stuck under furniture quite a bit. Then, during your eighth month you really figured it out and there was no stopping you. And, that same month, you pulled yourself up using a chair I was sitting on so that you were standing for the very first time. To say you were proud is a definite understatement.

Also, in your eighth month, you drank an entire bottle. Once. And you haven't done it again since. Naughty! You are a very good and quick nurser though, so I'm not too entirely bugged about your lack of interest in a bottle. But, be warned, little buddy, three more months to go and it's no more boob for you. We've been giving you a sippy cup lately - you chew on the nipple, and if we're lucky a little water or juice spills into your mouth now and then. Oh my. Just like your sister was - you anti-bottle-sippy-cup babies!

Now that you are eating food more consistently, you nurse first thing in the morning, before both of your naps (one around 9 or 10am and the other around 2 or 3pm) and then again before bed. You are pretty great at picking up small objects with your finger and thumb resulting in your love of eating those little baby food puffs, mostly the banana and the sweet potato flavors. As far as baby food goes, you gobble down prunes (I know, I know. You are constipated a lot though, so this is a good thing!), sweet potatoes, yogurt, green beans, carrots, bananas, and rice cereal (if it's made with juice). You look at me like I'm crazy, as you spit it right out, every time I try to feed you sweet peas. You'll learn that peas are of the Gods - you will. Oh, also just like your sister, you love yogurt melts! Just this past month you've started smacking your lips when you are hungry or see someone eating...even if you aren't hungry. It's really cute.

So, one would think with your new-found love of food that you would be a little chunk. But you aren't. At your nine-month appointment you weighed 18 lbs. (10th %) and you were 28.8 inches long (not quite 75th %), your head circumference was 18.1 inches (below 5th %). So, not as off the charts as your sister, but still a lean little machine. You are still wearing size two diapers, you skinny little thing, and wearing 3-6 month clothes. I'm thinking of pulling out the 9 month clothes just so we can get some use out of them. Ha!

In your seventh month we took a trip to St. George and stayed in the Pace Family get-away for a few days. It was where your great Grandma and Grandpa Pace lived for a while and then kept as a vacation home. We're happy to get to use it now and then. In your eighth month we went to Grandma Maggie's in Eagle, Idaho. This was your second trip to Idaho and you did a great job on the long drove! And this past month, we had the Eppley Family Reunion and stayed at Grandma Lucy's and Grandpa's house in Salem for almost a week. You've slept there a lot and you do it like a champ!! Three really fun trips!

You still adore Holland and think that she is pretty funny. You love when she gets on the ground and rolls around with you. And for the most part, the two of you love to play together. But, when Holland tries to ride you like a horse, well, you don't so much love that! In fact, you scream every time. I would too, little mister, I would too! But, amazingly, you are never upset for long - ever. What a gift!

You love to play with whatever Holland is playing with, even though that really bugs her at times. She's learned to hand you something in return if you try to steal her toy...but all you really want is what she already has. I find it quite funny - for now, anyway. If she builds a tower, you knock it down. If she lines up her bath toys each on their own washcloths, you pull them off. If she puts the train track together, you pull the pieces apart. It's all in love, buddy, we know. You'll both learn some give and take in the years to come. Believe me.

Water. You LOVE water. You love water parks, the tiny splash pool in our back yard, the tub and the shower. You love to be tickled, under your neck and the inside of your thighs really get you giggling.

Your quickly increasing mobility makes you want out and about more than sitting in that once-upon-a-time great entertainment center - the exersaucer. But, you're still willing to chill in it while you watch Daddy work in the garage. You are pulling yourself up on furniture more and more. You've even started crawling up stairs...and falling down a few as well. Speaking of your mobility, it's landed you quite a few bumps and bruises. Darn the darn. We are convinced that you are going to be an early walker. But, we'll see about that.

It's so much fun to watch you learn and grow. But, hey, I have an idea - stay little just a little longer. And, please, don't grow up too quickly. You hear me, little mister?

Love,

Mommy

p.s. Here is your progression over the past three months, you little cutie.







Sunday, August 18, 2013

Snip Snip

Holland got her first REAL haircut yesterday. We've done a trim here and there, but her hair seems to have gotten super long practically over night. Remember how bald she was for so long?? (where did my baby go?) Well, it was time to get a professional cut and style.

We went to Cookie Cutters - and they did a great job. She got to pick the car (seat) she sat in and watch 'Despicable Me' while her hair was being cut. She didn't flinch one bit...even when the stylist pulled out the blow dryer. I was shocked! When I turn on my blow dryer she bolts out of the room.

So, first haircut was definitely a success. But, tell me, why oh why does she have to grow up so fast?

It was pretty windy, but I really wanted to get some BEFORE pictures. Now, why didn't I think to take these inside? I'm a dork. I told Holland to stand by the car so I could take a few pictures. These are what I ended up with. (I can't stop laughing!)



 


Say 'buh-bye' to the baby mullet and odd lengths of hair!


And, now, AFTER! Hello, my cute little Miss Bliss.







Monday, August 12, 2013

Eppley Reunion

August 7-11 we spent time with my family in Salem for a Family Stay-cation / Family Reunion. Our activities were all Salem Days events, which I have always wanted to try out. We've done the fun run, parade and fireworks before, but this year we tried out more of the events that they do every year. I loved it!!!

Here are a few pictures from our really fun Stay-cation!

Tractor Pull


Always need some bubbly tubby time at Gma and Gpa's:







Little Buckaroo Rodeo:

This little boy really wanted to be friends with Holland. Holland didn't really want to be his friend...at all.





Holland and Gma Lucy showing off their cowboy (er...cowgirl) boots!
Steak Dinner at the park:








Late-night shake run:







Program and Fireworks: (although our little family didn't make it until the fireworks. We left, put the kids to bed and watched from mom and dad's front yard. Loved it!)











And a few pictures from Sunday as we were heading home:


 


I didn't get pictures of all of the activities, darn it! We also went to a breakfast, a car show, parade, had a BBQ at mom and dad's, and went to church with mom and dad. We had a great time and hope to make Salem Days more of a tradition...well...at least I do.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Hey Yo Idaho

A couple weeks ago we went to Idaho to spend a few days with Tyler's mom (my AMAZING other-mother!) and some of the Pace siblings and their families. We had such a great time!!




It was a totally low-key vacay...which I loved. I still worked, but found time to be with family and do fun things. Of course, all while trying to keep two babies on somewhat of a consistent sleep schedule. Bed by 9:00 p.m.? Yep, that's how we rolled!

One day we went to one of Erin and Spencer's former Bishop/friend's house/ranch/property/stables where they raise Icelandic horses. Not sure why, but they do. The horses looked pretty funny to me, because they are kind of squatty (not a real word, apparently, but I've always used it. Who know?) Even though they are shorter, kind of like me, their faces and manes are really pretty (again, kind of like me!) Ha. They looked even squattier though when the adults would ride. I didn't ride. I should have. But I didn't.

Not to baseball fans: Former ranch of Bill Buckner.

Holland was one of the first to take a turn, and she loved it so much she took a SECOND turn. Maybe she needs riding lessons - how cute would that be?

First time sporting french braids!
 






Note: first time having hair french braided.
While waiting for everyone to ride horses, we played in the barn.

Holland and Norah - sitting on, not really riding, the three wheeler. But, seriously, how cute and serious do they look?



After horses, we floated (VERY SLOWLY) the Boise River. Sadly, no one took pictures. But we took both of the kids, and for the most part I think they liked it. Holland rode on a tube with Tyler. Tagg went in a raft with me and Grandma Maggie. He was hungry and tired...but sometimes, Tagg, you just have to suck it up and go along with what everyone else is doing. Right? I didn't want to miss out. So, I just nursed Tagg in the raft. Win-Win.

We created a monster when we let Holland sit on Tyler's lap and drive the car while we were on the ranch property. It was so cute, but we are paying for it now because she now says, "Let me drive!" pretty much every time we are in the car. Oops.

Here is Holland after our morning/early afternoon no-nap-yet fun in the sun. This RARELY happens!


We went to dinner one night with just the adults. Abby (oldest grandchild) babysat all of the kids - ten total, 12 and under, with four of them being two and under. She organized for each older child to be in charge of one of the babies. She did a great job! When we got home the three youngest had all for the past 2 minutes taken turns being a bit hysterical. I felt so bad...for Abby and the babies. Holland was a bit traumatized apparently, because she kept saying to me, "You love me back, Momma, you do." The Krispy Kremes helped soothe Holland's soul, but I don't think they were nearly enough of a thank you for all of Abby's hard work. THANK YOU, ABBY! WE LOVE YOU!!


I love that Holland and Taggart got to spend time with cousins and aunts and uncles that they rarely see. It would be so fun if we all lived closer together!



Owen was teaching Holland about space shuttles. She looks genuinely interested!


It was really such a great several days and we are so thankful to Mom for letting us stay with her and for Spencer and Erin for planning some fun things for us to do! Here's looking forward to Summer 2014!



Oh, and one not so fun part about the trip: Tyler got sick a couple days before we came back home, Tagg got sick the night after that, and Holland, yep, she got sick the day after we got home. Darn stomach something-or-other! Good news: I never got it!! Yay me!

 
Sick baby Tagg