Uh-Oh

Today Jared found the chocolate chips in the pantry and wanted to make cookies. I let him help me put in the ingredients and when we finished putting in the flour I told him to lower the mixer and start mixing it. And he did exactly just that I just didn't think he'd put it at full speed. Below is the mess it made and Jared's reaction was priceless. I couldn't help but laugh. After he was finished wiping himself off he kept saying, "I'm okay mom". Too bad I had just opened the silverware drawer to get the scissors out. Oh well.Oh and I can no longer put things on the fridge to keep them away from Jared. He'll just push a chair to the counter, climb on the chair, counter, bread machine, and then fridge. I hope this doesn't become too common.

Good Lookin Lawyer

He's past the test, he's held his arm to the square, he's taken the oath and now he is a lawyer:) Yesterday I dropped the boys off at a friends and enjoyed (knitted during) the swearing in of this soon to be hardworking man (right now I am enjoying him leaving for work between 7:30 and 8:00 and coming home between 5:30 and 6:00, I don't think this is what I should be expecting but for now I'll take it!) and followed it up with lunch with two other couples whose husbands were also sworn in.
Today we received a delivery for Chris congratulating him. His mother knows him well. The white and brown are choclate covered bananas and the all brown are chocolate covered apples. The gift also came with choclate dipping sauce for the other fruit. Thanks Jim and Cherie it is almost all consumed already!
I know Chris is going to be a great lawyer and do well. He's a wonderful father and husband and I know he'll continue to be so no matter how busy he gets. I'm proud of you Chris and I love you!

Spencer Stats

Below is a picture of Spencer with his hair combed over/not curly. When the doctor came in she looked at Spencer (who just had a diaper on) and asked, "Spencer boy or girl Meservy?" I know I need to cut his locks but I just can't until I get his one-year-old pictures. This is the second time someone has asked me if he was a girl. I guess it's time.We went to the Dr. yesterday and here are Spencer's stats:

Head: 90%
Weight: 24.4 lbs 75%
Height: 29 1/2 in 50%

He started out in the 90th percentile in height and has dropped. I thought he was taller than 50% but I won't give up hope that we can have a boy taller than Chris (5'8''). Important thing is he's healthy and strong. Only bad thing is shots and he did great I just have to remember to keep him medicated for 24 hours.

Below is Spencer's impersonation of Donald Trump.

Happy Halloween:)

I'm amazed at the difference in Jared's understanding and excitement from last year to this year. He was really excited to go trick or treating, not as excited to dress up. It ended up that the ward did a fall celebration so there was no trunk 'n' treat this year so his only time to dress up was on Halloween. To try and get him excited I put his costume on the day before (vampire). He put on his cape, put in his scary teeth, and I put fake blood around his mouth. He thought he looked pretty cool and sat in front of the mirror for a long time.On Halloween however, he did not want the teeth or the blood. I put on this face paint that glows green in the dark but he immediately wiped it off. I did manage to spray his hair black but that's about it besides the cape.

The day was long because he wanted to go trick or treating all day and go visit our neighbor Terri. When the time finally arrived we started the festivities off at our friends Karyn and Andy's place where we had dinner before the kiddos filled their bellies with sugar. (Originally she was going to do soup but that day it reached 70 so they barbequed instead). Then we went out to get candy up and down Karyn's street. Jared had a hard time knowing when to leave the house. He'd just stand there looking at them, probably wanting more. So different from last year when someone gave him a candy he'd give them one from his bucket.

Jared and Bryker (above and below)
Ruby (ab0ve)
Lisa and Andrew (below)(Jared and Alli)

While 5-7 kids went from house to house Spencer just dawlded along often trying to escape to the street. His monkey costume is definitely more appropriate for a colder night and half way through we realized he was sweating. The night was perfect. You didn't need a jacket, no wind, and oh so pleasant to be outside. It's fun when the weather's nice so you can see the costumes of kids instead of their coats.

When we came home Terri was out on our shared front step waiting for us while handing out candy to others. She gave Jared oodles of candy then brought out a special treat for Jared and Spencer. Spencer got a little stuffed dog (Astro from the Jetsons) and Jared got a stuffed cow (Quick Draw Mcgraw). She loves kids and loves these boys. She then asked if we'd been down a street by us and we said no so she offered to go with Jared and me. We haven't done much with Terri but I know we will and I love her enthusiasm for my boys and they definitely feel it.

Fall is in the Air

Spencer loves to go outside. Yesterday when we got home from shopping he threw a fit when I took him in with the groceries. It was fairly cold out there and with him having a really runny nose I didn’t want him out there in only a jacket. After placing my bags on the floor I got out some warmer clothes for the boys.

Spencer was crying and fighting me the whole time but I finally got him into his “winter suit”. It totally reminded me of the little brother in the Christmas Story. When he’d fall down he could crawl but he couldn’t stand up on his own. Pretty funny to watch. The boys played for awhile and even after they’d been out for awhile Spencer still wasn’t happy when we went inside. Winter hasn’t even started, I wonder how we’ll fair when it gets really cold. Do you think I can get Spencer more bundled up?

Jenner Prom

Saturday night Chris' work had a black tie event. I was really excited to have a night out with my handsome guy until it came to getting ready. I couldn't get a hold of the girl I wanted to do my hair so I attempted to do the feat on my own. I don't know how to do elegant hair when it's short. I was so frustrated and wasn't as excited to go. Who wants to wear a pretty dress when you don't feel pretty, not me.

But that all changed when Chris came out in his tux to make sure everything fit. Right then and there I decided I didn't care what I looked like I just wanted to be with him for the evening (sigh). My hair was simple, the night was fun, and Chris looked great!

While getting ready Jared wanted me to paint his toes as well.

So out of this: Came this:The dinner was at the Palmer House (one of the oldest running hotels in Chicago) and it was a gorgeous building. I felt like I was in a scene from batman where everyone is dressed up drinking their drinks standing in a grand, gorgeous room just before the joker comes.

The food matched the "classy" atmosphere with a dry aged filet and foie gras. I wish Chris wouldn't have told me what foie gras was before I ate it. It tasted good but I about gagged when eating it and couldn't eat more than a couple little bites of it. I don't know if it was the thought of eating liver or the cruelty to the birds that made me gag. I guess I can say I've had it now.

We finished the night with a wide variety of dessert. We left just as the dancing music started. We had called home and Jared was still awake at almost 11:00 so we decided to relieve our friend from their generous service. Chris and I both enjoyed the food, building, and most of all each other:)

Happy Birthday Spencer!!!

How does time go by so quickly?! As I looked over posts from Spencer's birth to the present I look at this past year with so many fond memories. I remember being scared to have two and being sad that I would no longer be able to give Jared all of my attention. But in having Spencer I have given Jared more than ever possible if he were to be an only child. Jared and Spencer love each other and that is the biggest pay day a mother can see, to see her children love, play, and help each other. How lucky I feel to have two beautiful boys.

Spencer is quite a character. At one he already has an opinion and doesn't take no for an answer. I thought all one-year-olds were mellow and when a toy was taken away they shrugged and moved on. Well, that's not necessarily true for this one-year-old. Maybe it's having an older brother but he'll definitely give Jared a run for his money and he's not afraid to yell and cry. Sometimes Jared really gets to him and you see his face change and it looks like he's going to charge him and he burrows his face into Jared and, I think, tries to bite him. I wonder what kind of two-year-old he'll be. What an adventure we have to look forward to!!! Whatever this next year brings I'm just grateful Spencer is part of it. Life just wouldn't be the same without this little guy. We LOVE you Spencer!

For the big day we started it with presents and pancakes, went to a music group, took two naps!, cleaned house, played with toys, went to airport to pick up grandma and papa B, Gino's pizza for dinner, cake, bath, bed. And that's pretty much how it worked!I LoVe first birthdays when they get to dig into the cake and have free reign. I thought for sure Spencer would be my child that went crazy and got all messy. I was sadly disappointed. He was shockingly dainty and shy about the process. He eventually learned he liked the taste but didn't "dig" in. Jared on the other hand did! At first I didn't see him taking bites out of the cake because I was watching Spencer. I guess if I really want a kid to get messy I should wait for the 2nd or 3rd birthday to let them have at it.(I did make the cake. It was really easy I had the mold and just did a star tip for the frosting.)

Jared and Grandpa enjoyed cake and ice cream (Jared mooched off of grandpa after he finished his own.)

It's Unanimous

Ashley (Chris' sister) and I have voted and we both are agree that Jim (Chris and Ashley's dad) can have no more frightening hospital visits for the rest of the year (we prefer the rest of his life!!!) He has more than proven how much we love him and appreciate him as a father, spouse, father-in-law, and grandpa!

Earlier in the year Jim had a heart attack that miraculously his heart made new veins to aide his heart so that there was minimal to no damage done. Just this Sunday he was life flighted to Boise for bleeding in the brain near the brain stem that could have been fatal. Luckily the bleeding stopped and doctors say the healing should happen on its own. I personally love this happy, giving, wonderful, hard-working man! He is such an example to me in so many ways. Everyone, including strangers, loves him once he starts talking to them (he usually being the initiator:). He is so sweet and tender to his lovely wife and has been such a great example for my own husband to love and cherish me. I am so blessed to have Jim as my father-in-law and I look forward to the YeaRs (you got that Jim!!!) of having him in my life and my kids. How lucky we are to have you as our dad and grandpa! I love you:)

Mud+Football=Happy Man

Chris this Saturday got together with about 13 men from our ward to play football. He came back looking like this:He was gone for about 2 hours and I was starting to get frustrated because we were going to go shopping and I was ready to get going. But when he came home he was grinning from ear to ear:) He had a fun time with the guys and it was a good rejuvinating activity for him.

I loved seeing this sexy man dirty and only wish I could have seen him in action! The only bad thing is he is now paying for it through sore muscles and a cold/chills that come and go. I'm sure though he'll recover enough to be out there again next Saturday:)

Thumbsucking and Pacifiers

To try and prevent Jared from sucking his thumb we'd bought some stuff online that you paint on the fingernail and supposedly tastes nasty. Indeed it does, very bitter. Well it wasn't working for Jared, or so I thought. After I thought about it I wondered if Jared was able to maneuver his thumb in such a way as to not touch the nail when sucking, therefore avoiding the bitter taste. After sucking my own thumb various ways I concluded this was quite plausible. I then decided to give this polish stuff one more shot but this time I would paint the entire thumb and not just the nail. SUCCESS!!! We've done it for 2 weeks and he's doing great! There are times he's brought his thumb close to his mouth and then lowered it just as quickly. The only time he sucks it is if he's really tired and I've forgotten to put it on his thumb for a few days. I don't want to put on his thumb anymore because sometimes the taste gets on his food when it touches his thumb so I feel bad but the few times he's sucked his thumb I don't want to resort back to thumb sucking so we will continue painting his thumb until I'm certain he's done with this bad habit.

Below is a clip of Jared helping me finish up the bowl when making brownies:

At one time I thought Spencer might also become a thumb sucker but that phase didn't even last a week. Instead I've been insistent upon him taking a pacifier (I'm all about having a method to soothe my child when they're crying, just preferably not their thumb). He's never been a huge user of the pacifier and really all I've used it for for the past 2-4 months has been for sleeping. There were times I'd put him down without the pacifier and he'd do perfectly fine without it. I wondered why I continued to give it to him and realized it was more for my benefit for the "fear" he'd cry once I laid him down. So about a week or more ago we dropped the pacifier. It's still in his crib but I don't give it to him for sleeping and he doesn't put it in his mouth. So much easier then Jared but also Jared was a lot easier baby seeing how he self pacified himself. I can't have it all :)

Check out those blue eyes!