{3 Months Old}

Just can't get enough of this guy. He is so happy, and content, and snuggly. He's a tough little bugger too. He's on his 3rd ear infection in 2 months and I would never had known if he hadn't had scheduled rechecks. He doesn't cry. He's just fabulous. I had to put away the newborn clothes the other day. That's always sad for me. Shed a tear. My baby is getting bigger, but the personality that comes with him growing up is to die for.

Impromtu

My SIL, Megan, invited the boys and me on an impromptu trip to California. We jumped at the offer since Bryan had 5 papers to write and wanted to start studying for his LAST FINALS EVER!!!!!!!!! We had such a fun visit; Caden became completely attached to everyone. He is still walking around the house pretending to call Tami. Every morning we were there Caden woke up screaming, yes screaming, OUTSIDE! Guess I can't blame him. He was freed from the walls of the townhouse in beautiful weather. {refusing to stop running for even 5 seconds for a pictures with mom}
{not afraid of anyting: getting a lost ball.}He and his cousin, Evan, gave us a look into the future trouble they will cause together. One afternoon the girls were all sitting around talking, and it had been quiet for a little too long. Well, Evan had decided to show Caden how to escape. I run outside to find the two of them walking down the quarter mile drive. I start yelling for them to stop. They look at eachother, look at me, and take of running as fast as their little legs would carry them. I, of course, was dying laughing.Bryan saw this picture and says, "Who is that?!? OH, it's Nijia Jolene."
Grandma took them on lots of golf cart rides and let Caden feed the animals which he absolutely loved.{Yup, Caden is in a dog cage. Tami promised it was clean...that's what I tell myself so I don't feel like a bad parent. He refused to get out, so Evan tipped the cage over and ended that for me! :) }

We got to go over to see our friends, The Hulberts, and swim in their new current pool. Thank you, thank you...it was a blast to see everyone and hopefully I didn't seem too crazy chasing Caden around the pool. :)
{Sweet Parker just hung out all week. Loved all the attention.}I have no pictures to document the rest, but lets say lots of laughs were had just spending time with my in-laws playing Rook, going to parks, seeing the Last Song (yes, Miley made me cry), and watching Caden get attacked by a big red dinosour. Thank you for everything. It was worth it, even with Caden and Parker screaming the entire way home. Love you and miss you guys!

Twenty Seven Rocks

Happy Birthday Bryan! This year is going to be a big one for you: Last finals EVER, Law School graduation (not that this picture would ever make you think that), scuba diving, sinus surgery, moving to a new city, a job in the "real world", baby #3 (only kidding honey!)and who knows what else! You rock! I adore you! LOVE YOUR GUTS!!! His birthday wish: not to have to take pictures. Don't know why you'd waste a wish on that since you know it's not gonna happen. That's about as realistic as wishing for Caden to grow hair on the side of his head. Speaking of...Caden was a big fan of the cake. And I can't believe I didn't get a picture of him and his little girl friend, Ella, giggling together.

The following pictures are completely out of focus--I must need glasses or something. Thank you for coming and celebrating with us family and friends!! I'm sure Bryan felt oh so special. :)

Then, I gave Bryan his real birthday wish...staying up til 4 in the morning playing video games with his bro and sleeping in the next day.

Parker's 2 Month Stats:

(which is more like 2 1/2 month stats).

Weight: 12 lbs. 1 oz.

Height: 23 3/4 inches

Head: 39.1 cms

Poor guy has his 2nd ear infection. He's still such an awesome baby, smiling and cooing at you whenever you look his direction. Never would guess he's sick. Brothers and Best Buddies:

Caden really does love his brother. Whenever Parker is doing tummy time he lays right next to him and scoots as close as he can get. Then he starts talking to him and patting his back. When he was at the doctor today he kept asking me, "baby? baby Parker?" And I'm pretty sure the love is mutual because Parker lights up whenever Caden comes near him. As a mom, nothing feels better.

Every once in awhile I let myself think of all the things in my life that have gone unaccomplished and I start feeling like I wont leave behind much of a legacy. I think about the masters degree that I got one class into, and I think of the dream job that I never started, and I think about the countries that have gone unseen by my eyes, and I think about the people's lives that I wont touch because our paths will probably never cross. But then I see these two bright eyed boys and I'm reminded that I'm leaving behind the most important legacy possible. Being here for their milestones and their smiles always seems to out weigh any other legacy I could be leaving behind. For now, all of my dreams are wrapped up in these two and I am grateful for that. I'm sure some day I will have the chance to accomplish other things, but I'm also sure they will pale in comparison to being a mother. Thank you Bryan. I'm sure Parker will love this picture in his wedding video.

Caden is obsessed with "BUUUZZ!" He flies this little guy around the house and asks to watch, "Oy Orey." We've all had a nasty bug, so it's been part of our healing process. :)

I think it's safe to say this is one of Parker's favorite views. He smiles and coos at this owl like they have been best friends for years. He's even started kicking him...I'm not sure how that will effect their friendship yet.

OH.MY.GOSH. Please note the letters that Caden strung together all on his own. I was mortified. Bryan laughed.

Lastly, for any of you Utah folks, you MUST try out the Cocoa Bean Cafe. It's fabulous. DELICIOUS cupcakes. We took Caden there the other night. He was about half way through his quarter of a cupcake and starts chanting "milk, milk, milk." I told him that we'd get him some when we got home, but his chants just got louder and louder, until he looks at me and say, "or show-duh." {soda}.

...not happening friend.

We drive by this little girl standing 40 feet off the road at dusk, holding an 8 by 11 piece of paper with unreadable light pink writing on it, waving us closer to her with a sword.

Bryan's response, "That is the worst marketing campaign I have ever seen."

Normally when someone asks me how I'm liking being a mother of two I would respond, without hesitation, that I love it. Today if someone asked me I would have probably said I'd wish I had my tubes tied when I got married.

Sweet, sweet Caden has been on the terror.

My day started at 5:25 AM, because of Caden, not Parker.

The early start was followed by the loss of a full bottle of conditioner, a few ounces of my Bare Minerals, and a DVD. Don't ask. He took a bit out of every apple in the bowl on the kitchen table. Then proceeded to walk around holding one. I thought he was eating it, but actually, he hates the sour taste of green apples, so he was spitting his baby bites out all over my freshly cleaned floor. AHHHHH.

I was attacked by a pocket knife. Yes, the little devil figured out how to get the blade out. Never been so scared, panicked, shocked in all of parentdom. (Bryan put it on the kitchen counter thinking that was a safe place. Apparently Caden, in his 2 feet of glory, has learned how to climb onto the kitchen counters. Later in the day he tried to displayed his true athleticism by doing a pull up to get there. The mean mom stopped his feat.)

We also took 2 baths (it's only 3 o'clock). One due to Caden's sneaking into the bathroom and sticking his hand in the toilet to give himself a new hair do. OH MY GOSH.

I took him outside hoping he would run off some energy. The first thing he does is pick up a stick and run at a car. I believe we were outside for a total of 4 minutes.

This has officially been the longest day of my life. And these were just the bad things. He also made a huge mess while "creating" with his play dough, accidentally spilt his milk at lunch, turned off the DVR so my Gilmore Girls didn't record, etc.

I'm writing this and thinking, I am a good mom, dang it. How did this day happen?!?! I have raised him to be better than this! I think I've counted to 3 four million times, and doled out about 20 timeouts. And I swear he has done all this while my back has been turned for MAYBE 1 minute. I mean, I do have to at least feed and change Parker. I'm always in the same vicinity as him. I'm convinced that he is the most mischievous, sneaky little boy on the planet.

He's in his room now taking a "nap." Did I mention that there is a rope from his door to the banister so that he can't escape?

And the worst part...I was left without a single Diet Coke in the house this morning.