Walking and Climbing

Jaiden still isn’t walking all the time now, but he is getting better at walking and keeping his balance. He needs to learn how to stand up without having anything to help pull himself up. He climbs on everything though. The chair by the computer cannot be left unoccupied or Jaiden will climb and hit the buttons on the computer. He likes to climb the kitchen chairs as well (kind of scary since they fold up). He also likes to climb the kitchen stool if it is left upright and is very proud of himself when he is standing at the counter or sink.

He also loves to stand and window and look outside particularly if there is someone out there (at least the heater by the window is the one that is broken and he can’t burn himself).

Sunbeams

I think I’ve mentioned before that I teach the Sunbeams (3-4 year olds) in our ward. I love teaching them, but this year so far has been so hard. Ian is now in my class. He was so excited for a long time to be able to go to Sunbeams and come with me to my class. That excitement wore off the first Sunday and things really aren’t any better. All the other kids are good for 3 year olds (what three year old can sit for long periods of time). Ian is particularly bad in Primary (for music/sharing time/closing). He does NOT want to be in there. He fights me the whole time. So today when I went to the combined meeting, I asked how Ian did, Heidi (the Primary president) said he did okay, one of the other ladies sat with him for at least part of the time. They are looking for a new Sunbeam teacher, to see if Ian will do better with someone else, and then I will just be a floater for any teacher that isn’t there on a particular Sunday.

Also the night before, Ian or Jaiden or both sleep lousy so I get hardly any sleep. It’s like they know when it is Sunday and they don’t want me to get any sleep because  they know it will be a hard day for me.

Recreation

So today I got to go to the combined Priesthood/Relief Society meeting (the Primary Presidency took care of all the kids in primary so the teachers could go). We were talking about provident living. Talked a lot about finances and stuff, but that wasn’t the part that really interested me. We talked for a few minutes about recreation. One of the moms (with two girls, the youngest a little older than Ian) mentioned how some of the more “fun” (she didn’t put it that way but I can’t remember exactly what she said) cost and the free things aren’t as fun. I was thinking about that and realized at least with our family the more fun things are the free things, particularly since our boys don’t have very long attention spans. Ian loves to play outside: at the park or climbing the snow piles in our parking lot (which will probably still be there at the beginning of May). Ian loves to kick/throw a ball around with us in the backyard or make snowmen. He likes mini golf for the first half and then just wants to go play. Bowling doesn’t keep his attention too long either.

We also have a lot of great state parks around here to play, hike, swim, or camp at.

What are some things you do for recreation/fun in your family?

January Happenings

My parents came and visited the weekend after Jaiden’s birthday. Ian and Jaiden were very excited to have their grandma and grandpa here.

This is the new toy that Grandma and Grandpa got for Jaiden’s birthday. It held Ian’s attention for a long time (Jaiden’s for a few minutes). It is a giraffe that you can stick a ball in its mouth and it goes down the slide thing and you don’t know where it will come out. Ian likes the sounds on it.

I think this is the best one that I got with the boys and Grandpa before church.

Ian has also discovered the fun of playing in the cupboards. He took all the pots and pans out. He tried to get Jaiden to go in. Jaiden didn’t really want to, but went in for a few seconds.

Jaiden has discovered screaming. His screams are either for when he is excited and happy or mad about something. Last night as I was making dinner, Ian was in the cupboard yet again and Jaiden kept opening and closing the doors and screamed the whole time.

Jaiden's One Year Stats

Jaiden had his one year well visit yesterday. He is 18 lbs 10 oz and 28 in long. The doctor said he is low on the growth chart, but since Ian is too, I'm not worried at all. Jaiden eats well and has tons of energy. He now has one molar (painful week when he was getting it, not looking forward to getting the others). He has taken his first steps and will walk until he falls and reaches his destination. He can't get himself standing by himself in the middle of the room yet, but is working on it.

Jaiden’s Birthday

Yesterday was Jaiden’s first birthday. It is hard to believe that a year has gone by since he joined our family. We love him. He is such a happy and curious baby. He gets into everything. He is teething yet again, one of his molars (no eye teeth yet though, so there will be a gap in his teeth until they come in).  He loves to watch the snow plow in our parking lot out our front window. He stood there for 10ich minutes watching it this morning (we got a lot of snow and church was canceled today).

Ian helped me make Jaiden’s cake. He was excited to make it. I made a snowman cake with a cake/cupcake set my mom got me for Christmas (there was a snowman, birthday cake, and pumpkin to choose from, Ian chose the snowman).

He would not sit still for me to get a picture, I think this is the best one I got yesterday. He kept trying to get the camera.

I tried to get the boys together for a picture, but Jaiden got off the couch.

Christmas

I know I am behind. We celebrated Christmas a couple days late since Rex worked on Christmas and the day after. Rex’s parents, Garrett, Hayden, and Felicia came late Christmas night. Ian was so excited for Christmas (he still thinks it is going to be Christmas again soon). We got spoiled with our presents from everyone.  Here are some pictures from (our) Christmas morning.

Jaiden was playing the piano while waiting for everyone to get up to open presents.

Later that day, we drove up to Strawberry Hot Springs. Jaiden and Ian loved being in the water. They were sad to leave.