Jared in Spencer's Clothes

Jared every now and then shows signs of jealousy of Spencer. His most frequent show is when Chris holds Spencer. Jared does not like Chris to hold Spencer and he lets us know it. He tells Chris to put him down and immediately asks Chris to hold him instead. Just today he tried something new. He wanted to put Spencer's clothes on. I knew they wouldn't fit but I decided he needed to try them on to come to the same realization.

Thumbs Taste Good

At least to my boys! Spencer will be three months old tomorrow and about 2 weeks ago he found his thumb. I love how he's able to pacify himself at night allowing him to sleep longer but I don't know if I should be happy because I have a two-year-old who still sucks his thumb. Chris wants me to pull Spencer's thumb out everytime I hear/see it. I do pull it out quite often, except at night or naps, but I feel like our efforts are futile. Maybe I should try harder but I think I might like it, at least in the early stages. I just hope I don't have to pay for it too much later in braces:)

Like Father Like Son

If you know Chris you'll know that he likes his sugar. I often try to send chocolate with him to school so he won't go spend twice as much at the vending machine. Well, for Jared's first year of life we tried really hard to keep sugar away from him. People would often laugh or ask if we thought that'd do any good. Chris' response would be something like, "I hope, but if he's like me then probably not." Two years later we are finding out Jared is more like his father than in just looks. Many mornings Jared wakes up and one of the first things he says is, "I want candy!" And he has a nose for where candy is! He'll find candy in places I didn't even know it was. Or I hide it in a place I'm sure he'll never find and some how he'll see just a little bit of wrapper. That kid really has a gene in him that is geared towards sugar. The pictures are Jared eating the cookie batter. I turned around for a bit and his mouth was full of cookie dough. What a character!

Track & Mardy

So Mardy, Trent's wife, came down and stayed the night with us on Friday. Jared really liked Mardy and as the above picture shows, so did Spencer. She's going to be a great mom and we can't wait for her baby in April or sooner!

On Saturday morning I went with her and the boys to go watch her brother run in the indoor high school invitational track meet at the Smith Field House at BYU. The boys and I stayed for around three hours and I loved it. It reminded me so much of my high school meets and the feeling of getting ready for the race and almost hating it during the middle and loving it at the end of the race! It made me want to get out and run with them but I would be very embarrassed by my current shape and times that I would produce. I don't think I'll ever be in that great of shape again but I have memories...

A New Year

After a wonderful Christmas break it's back to the real world again; and today felt like it! We came back last Thursday from Idaho but today was when Chris started back up with school with just me and the boys at home. I loved being with family over the holiday and toward the end of my two week visit I was getting ready to have a schedule again and be productive. But today has felt anything but productive.

At the end of my day I have come up with my cons of my Christmas vacation:

• At home I was always cleaning and cooking with someone so it was always enjoyable and never overwhelming. Now I am in an apartment too small that has clutter all over and I'm constantly doing dishes by hand and cleaning up after two boys (it didn't help that Jared wet his pants today throwing in a load of laundry I wasn't planning on doing)


• Over the holiday I ate, and ate, and ate!!! I am now trying to break the bad habit of eating constantly and trying to eat things other than sugar and chocolate! I wanted to start running today and Chris was going to go to the Smith Field House with me and run with me and the boys on the indoor track before classes but he forgot and showered first thing and didn't want to go. So I used that as an excuse and didn't go either, pathetic! Maybe tomorrow.
  
• Now I don't believe in a thing as too much love but Jared definitely got lots of it over the break from family and Chris. Jared LOVES his dad and I love their cute little relationship but after Jared has had a constant taste of his dad for a long period of time he goins through withdrawls when he's gone for long periods of time. (Today I made the mistake of having Jared pray for his dad in our lunch prayer and immediately he started wanting him and I ended up finishing the prayer because Jared was too distracted) (To the contrary of my earlier statement Jared can sometimes get too much of mom and dad as he informed us after being home a day with only mom and dad (no grammys or aunts and uncles) he asked for Nursery!)

I'm sure there could be more things that are negatives towards a holiday break but these are the ones I witnessed because I felt like today was so ineffective for me. But I hate being so negative so I'll end it with a list of the positive things I LOVED about this holiday season:

• Being with family. All of Chris' family was there for Christmas and it was so much fun being together and we did their annual Chinese dinner which is absolutely fabulous (even if Brandon doesn't think so;). And I got to see everyone in my family except for Angela (missed you!) My family borrowed the Meservy's Wii to see if my dad could do some of the games and for New Years we almost missed the New Year but luckily my dad interrupted our game playing to warn us we had five minutes till 12:00. The next day I invited my sisters to come over and play and it was really fun watching non-skilled video game players contest in different games (the next day I heard complaints of sore arms, backs, and even one admitted to a sore bum! he, he, he!)
• This one is on my cons list as well but I enjoyed the food. The whole time I kept saying to myself that I would regret having little self control over my eating but I decided then that I wouldn't care and take care of it later. So I did thoroughly enjoy eating over the break and now I'm trying to take care of it!


• Spencer became less clingy to me. I love how he loves me but when we first got there he would hardly let anyone hold him and it made me sad because everyone wanted to love on him but it's not very fun holding a fussy baby. But by the end he would let people hold them for extended periods of time! And people started to enjoy him more (not that he was never not loved or enjoyed it's just more fun to hold a happy cooing baby if you know what I mean)


• It's fun to give and get. I was excited to give my sister-in-laws their gift of jellies and a shirt. I bought the jellies I think the end of September or beginning of October and couldn't wait to give them. I almost bought me a pair but reminded myself I was shopping for others not me. During the vacation Bailey excitedly showed her jellies to some friends making me feel good! And now we are enjoying the gifts we received, most recently the basketball hoop that is really a family gift that we are all enjoying. Chris taunts me and tells me I'm not athletic which I respond to by taking him down! (literally, he doesn't last in my pin very long though:(


• And this isn't a holiday pro necessarilly but a pro: Spencer gave us his first little chuckle yesterday and a few today. I have to tickle him to get it out of him but it's the warmest, most happiest feeling to hear your child laugh for the first time.

I know there are additional items I could include in my pros list as well but I'll take in consideration of your time and spare you, plus Chris is calling for me to come to FHE. Yeah we're having FHE! Maybe we'll get our new years resolutions written down. (Another con to being away for the holiday, you're having way too much fun with everyone you don't want to set aside time to write down resolutions but hey who said you had to start January 1st!)

Jared, Spencer, and me sporting some of our Christmas attire

So to all those we spent the Holiday with we love you and miss you and really the cons are because we just had way too much fun and now face reality!

I had to add this real quick: I just got off the phone with my sister-in-law Mardy (Trent's wife) and we get to have her stay with us next Friday while she's down for her brother's indoor track meet at BYU. Yeah! My day just got better!

Trent and Mardy

Blessing Day

We blessed Spencer on December 30th in Jerome. It was nice since most of our family was there. All of Chris' family was able to be there and all of mine but my sister Angela and her family so we had a good turn out. Our sacrament meeting was last of the meetings and Spencer was due for a feeding soon after sacrament meeting was to start. So I hurried and fed him ten minutes before so when he was being blessed we were told by one in the circle that he was full of smiles. Spencer, if you know him, is already much of a mama's boy so I was a little nervous he might cry throughout the blessing. The above picture is those who stood in the circle from left to right: Kent Lee, Andy Lewis, Tyson Cook, Papa, Chris, Grandpa, Brandon Minert, Paul Lloyd, and Trent Bingham
After wards we went to Chris' house and had dinner. Jared enjoyed his cousins and I enjoyed having everyone there and visiting.
As I look back now when Spencer is 2 1/2 months old I am already amazed at how fast the time has gone. I knew it would go fast but I am saddened as I am putting away many of his clothes and advancing him into 3-6 month pajamas and clothes. But as I put away his newborn clothes I am gaining a little boy who smiles and coos back to me. So as hard as it is to have my boys grow older and pack away their things I gain joy in watching them progress and learn new things. I'm not sure how they say it but it's something to the effect that when you have children it's like having a piece of your heart in each of them and watching from the outside but experiencing joy and saddness along side them. How rewarding and challenging it is as a parent but how worth it! I love my boys!!!

Christmas 2007

Getting ready to see presents!!! Christmas is so fun with a two-year-old. We started the morning at 6:40 when Jared got up and we went around to wake everyone else up. One of the first presents Jared opened was The Little Engine that Could. He loved it and that's pretty much all he wanted after that. We skipped his turn at opening gifts a few rounds just so Chris or I could read the story to him. It doesn't seem like he just got that book yesterday morning but seems like he's had it for days because we've read it so much. It's fun to see the simple things kids find pleasure in. Along with books, clothes and cars Jared also got a tee ball and basketball set. Our tiny, crowded apartment just got smaller!

Spencer did what a baby does but his absolute favorite gift is a play mat or jungle gym thingy. It plays music and nature sounds and he just coos, kicks and smiles for several minutes which is great! I'm not sure what Chris' favorite presents were but he did get two watches! I'm not sure if he'll take one back or not. I was excited to get him a nice Nixon watch and I guess Cherie had the same idea. We didn't realize we should have correlated. But if he decides to keep them both one's silver and one's dark. My favorite gift was a copy of several of my dad's journals (there's still more my mom wants to get done and add to the collection). I haven't yet had an opportunity to delve and relish this book but look forward to hearing the voice of my father through his thoughts before his stroke. Even as I type this I yearn and ache for my dad's loving words of guidance and comfort. I dearly love my father and can't wait for the day if it be this life or the next to have him tell me of all the experiences he's had after his stroke. I am so grateful my dad kept a journal so he can still speak to me through it. Elder Eyrings talk on remembering for your predecessors is so true and I need to follow my own father's example and keep a record of my life. That's why I'm glad for the blog but I need to be better on writing down spiritual experiences and other experiences that are too tender to be published on the web.

Now that my eyes are dry... I also thoroughly am enjoying an I-Pod touch screen. It's so fun and I can't wait to accessorize it! I'm also looking forward to my gift from Chris. We haven't picked it up yet but it's a Phil and Ted's stroller. It's not made for running but I'm bound and deteremined to make it work for running!

Christmas dinner was GREAT! We got two! We had dinner with Meservy's a little after 1:00 where they had prime rib and ham with lots more and then we went to my house later and around 6:00 we had Ham and more. I ate the prime rib and then the ham. Needless to say I am going to be needing to get back into running when we get back!

Starting on the left going clockwise: Great Gram, Uncle Dick, Grandpa M, and Aunt Elaine

My house was full of kids and laughter and tears and screaming! Jared wet his pants twice while there. I think he gets so excited and into playing that he doesn't want to leave the fun so he tries to hold it and eventually can't hold it any longer and has an accident. I guess it happens! I love being so close to family. It really is a blessing to have both our families literally about 3 miles apart so we can spend time with both on such special holidays. I'm grateful for this season, my wonderful family, and Christ. Merry Christmas to all, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas too!

Christmas Eve

This Christmas we get to spend Christmas Eve and day with the Meservy side. Everyone is here all 13 of us (6 kids, 3 in laws, 2 grandkids, and grammy and grandpa)! Right now the boys are playing video games which I can say I really dislike so I'm posting to the blog! We're excited to see Jared in the morning. He's getting a tee ball set that is way more advance than his age (the box says 3+ but I think it's even more advanced than a three-year-old!) The tee ball is a little too tall for Jared but we don't think that will stop him from having fun. The tee set also pitches the ball up in the air and out. After Chris put it together the boys had fun playing with it.
Today Jared helped make a gingerbread house and it looks like it has a two-year-old touch.

Chris' mom's birthday is the 25th so we celebrate it Christmas Eve. This year they got a Cold Stone Cake and had all December and January birthdays blow out the candles. So Cherie, Chris, Ty, and Jared all blew them out. We lighted them twice for Jared since he enjoyed it! Later we all got our pajamas but we pretty much had to force Jared into them. But once they were on Jared and Spencer looked really cute! Our camera didn't save our family picture in our pajamas so I only have a picture of Spencer in his.
All the married siblings in my family were doing things with the other side or themselves for Christmas Eve so on Sunday we acted out the Nativity with my sister Heidi's family, we missed you Valerie! Jared was and angel and Chris, Spencer and I were Joseph, Baby Jesus, and Mary. Below are also pictures of our shepards and wisemen.

It was fun acting out the nativity and even though we do it every year I am touched by the miracle of Christs life. How grateful I am to be able to celebrate His birth and life. I'm also grateful for Mary and Joseph and the sacrafices they made and the lives they lived. I love this season and hope to not get too caught up in the gifts and worldly part of the holiday but remember the greatest gift that was given on that "Silent Night".

Happy Birthday Chris

Chris' Birthday was the 19th but I was unable to make an entry because he took the camera to the Vegas Bowl (and didn't take any pictures!) Chris hates birthdays and doesn't like anyone to know. He wants to stay young and each birthday that comes he dreads adding one more number to his total. His running total is now 26. I wonder how he will act when he turns 30!

For his birthday he had a final so after his final we went up to Salt Lake to eat and see the lights. (My sister Camille was down looking for apartments so she met up with us.) We went to The Other Place, an American and Greek restaraunt. My dish was the best, marinated pork, and Chris was disappointed with his leg of lamb.

Jared liked the lights and Spencer stayed wide eyed for most of the time taking in the lights until his eyes finally gave up and closed.

Chris liked his presents: Vegas bowl tickets (and all the travel costs with it!), belt, tie rack, and Bourne movies which I think he's actually going to take back.

Scissors and Cousins

At one time in high school I thought I wanted to be a beautician. I decided that I would first get a bachelor degree and then maybe pursue the hair business later. Well, I've got my bachelors and two kids now so I don't think I'll be pursuing a hairdresser occupation anytime soon. Maybe someday... But in the meantime I can still cut hair for fun if people will let me!

Today I cut my mom's, Jeanine's (my sister), and my little nephew Mikey's hair! Mikey was a good sport and later said, "I like you Margie." If I ever did learn to cut hair correctly I don't think I'd work at a salon or anything but it'd be so fun to come home and do my sisters' hair and nails ect and my sister-in-laws if they trusted me:) Maybe someday...
Mikey's finished product.

This is a picture of Jared and his cousins Katie and Mikey(before I cut his hair). They came over to my mom's house yesterday evening and stayed the night. Jared loves them! I love watching him interact with his cousins. It makes me wish we weren't so far away so he could see them more often.

Jared loves both Katie and Mikey but he really hits it off with Katie. Below is a clip of Jared and Katie playing. Way cute!