CRAWLING?!?

Just a quick post before we head out to finish up our Christmas shopping for the day. I think Boston may just be on the verge of CRAWLING!!! YES CRAWLING! Monday, he got up on all fours with his belly off the ground and head up high! I thought that maybe it was a fluke but he has done it 3 or 4 times since then including this morning! But who knows, maybe I'm getting excited about nothing because maybe he will do this for 4 months! BUT MAYBE he'll be crawling anytime now! We'll see! I'll keep you updated FOR SURE! In the meantime, we're off to the stores to HOPEFULLY (for Kent's sake) finish up our Christmas shopping!

FHE!

Some of the Christmas treats!

It is that time of year again! I made my yearly treats for friends and neighbors yesterday. This is a tradition in our home that every Monday night before Christmas we take some sort of treat to our friends! Okay I will admit, last year NO treats went out because I was too sick to step foot in the kitchen and bake all day! This year I decided I didn't want to be in the kitchen baking ALL day (by the end of it all I'm usually uptight, stressed,and groutchy anyway) so I vetoed making an assortment of goodies this year! SO INSTEAD I decided on poppy seed bread (actually it was going to be banana nut bread but I forgot to buy bananas and let them ripen). I must say this was SOOO much easier than all that baking and MUCH LESS stressful! I will admit that I didn't give to as many people this year as we normally do. I was a little bit lazy in that department this year and I also decided to keep a loaf for ourselves (selfish?)---actually I don't really eat it so it's pretty much for Kent. It was a fun night though delievering it to our friends! We put the Christmas music on and had a great time! We started at 6:30 and didn't get home until 9:30 but hey that's okay, it was a great night anyway! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

See how excited Boston was to do this?!?

By the way, my Christmas cards ARE coming this year I PROMISE! Okay wait maybe not the THIS year but the first of NEXT year (it'll be a New Years card). I have been SO on top of Christmas shopping, treats, etc but have REALLY slacked in that department this year. We haven't taken our picture yet for it but we WILL and I WILL get it out..PROMISE!

GAMERS?!?

Ever since Kent got an XBOX 360, if he has any spare time he is playing it (this is okay with me because since he hasn't been busy this week EVERYDAY I've made him go Christmas shopping at EVERY mall in the Dallas area with me)! The other day, Kent had Boston on his lap while he playing. Well, Boston just thought the controller was the FUNNEST thing and kept pressing buttons and it was messing Kent up! Personally, I thought it was HILARIOUS! Finally Kent put him in his excersaucer and gave him the other controller. Somehow Boston hit the right button and turned it on and AGAIN started messing Kent up! TOO FUNNY! So Kent took it away from him and he just started SCREAMING! So Kent with his fast thinking removed the batteries and gave it back to Boston to play with. Not only is my husband becoming a gamer but does this mean Boston is headed down that road too?!?

UPGRADE!

Not too happy....

We have been feeding Boston in his baby bouncer since we started baby food. He HATED it! He would always try to push himself forward to eat sitting up all the way. If Kent was home and able to feed him he would put Boston on his lap instead. On top of Boston NOT liking sitting in his bouncer to eat, he would make the BIGGEST mess all over his clothes and it would DRIVE ME CRAZY especially if we were going somewhere that day (I have this weird pet peeve about my kids looking like white trash in public)! I thought about getting him naked but he HATES taking clothes on and off and would rather just stay naked all day! We started putting a towel over him when he ate instead but it just ended up being so much work! I was trying to hard to hold off until AFTER Christmas to purchase his highchair but FINALLY just gave in! We now have a happy family---happy baby, VERY happy mom and an EVEN MORE happy dad because MOM is happy!

THRILLED!

Look how happy the little guy is? Honestly I didn't think this would make that much of a difference but for him it DOES--He LOVES it!

P.S. Squash is Boston FAVORITE thing to eat right now! Everytime I have it in front of him he just starts shaking and grunting! My child has a thing for food...maybe that explains his chunkiness!

Hey it's progress.....

When Kent got back in town Saturday, we drove out to Keller to check out the progress on our house! Okay, to some this might not look like much but I was THRILLED to see it ready for the foundation to be poured! I couldn't really get a good picture because with every angle there were mounds of dirt they were pushing around from the pipes so oh well! I guess this just makes it feel REAL finally and that's it's actually happening!

WARM AND COZY?

Yesterday the temperature here dropped DRAMATICALLY! It was like in the 40's when we went to church! Although I HATE cold weather I was VERY excited to finally put Boston's coat to use that I bought him! Kent laughs at me because he doesn't think he needed it but HELLO 40 DEGREES IS A LITTLE COLD! The coat is a little big and looks even BIGGER whenever Boston is put in his carseat! I thought he looked cute but I don't know how much Boston liked it...I couldn't get him to break a smile until he was free from his coat!

ALL BY MYSELF!!!


Kent is out of town again this whole week in Utah/Idaho doing recruiting for work. I never look forward to him going out of town! Mainly because it means that I have to be alone at night! Maybe I just freak myself out but I HATE being alone at night! I'm so weird about it! I just can never feel 100% safe! I force myself to stay up as LATE as possible just because I feel like if I go to sleep something bad could happen. I also sleep out on the couch because I feel like if I'm in my room and someone breaks in I'll be trapped and they could steal Boston from me! I also HAVE to have the TV on ALL night-- no matter what I'm doing (the TV is on right now infact!)! At night I set the timer on the TV to shut off on its own. I also always leave a few lights on for safety reasons. I know I'm SOO weird and paroniod! But I do give myself props because last night I actually slept in my bed instead of on the couch--I also have plans on sleeping in there tonight! I didn't get much rest though because I woke up a few times to check on Boston to make sure no one broke in and stole him! My ears are always alert to any weird noises I here inside or out!

So what is my one comfort when Kent is gone? Like I said I always have to have the TV on and so after all the good shows are finished at night, I pop in my FRIENDS DVDS! There is just something about watching them that makes me feel a little safer---maybe its the laughter (I've watched them SO many times but still die laughing everytime!). It is the one thing that kind of settles me down at night.

Wish me luck tonight and the rest of the week being alone! Maybe the guy above us will chill out with his blaring music he tends to play from 11 pm-4 am (lucky Boston is a hard sleeper)!

P.S. I saw a guy who lives upstairs leave last night when Iwas out taking Stella to the bathroom and he had a police uniform on..that did make me feel a little safer knowing a cop is upstairs...although it does seem he has the night duty...

CHRISTMAS

Last night, as a family, we went over to watch the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional. I love going to this every year because I feel like it is such a great way to kick off the Christmas season. I couldn't help but tear up a few times during the broadcast. I couldn't stop thinking about how Mary felt holding the Christ child in her arms and thinking about what a huge blessing it was to give birth to the Son of God. What a huge responsibility she was given. All I could think about was how blessed I am to have such a happy, healthy, beautiful baby boy and how trusting my Heavenly Father is to bless me with one of his children. I want to do all I can to make sure he grows up to be the best he can. I know that last night he probably didn't understand a word that was spoken but everytime the choir sang, he just settled down and didn't make a peep. In fact, right before they sang "Sleep, sleep, sleep" (I think that's the name of the song) he started to get a little fussy but when the song started, he just curled up in my arms and fell asleep! Even though he is little, I'm convinced that he too can feel the spirit. I am so blessed in my life and Boston just adds so much more to my life.

I love the Christmas season. The spirit in the air is so different than any other time of year. I wish it was like that everyday of the year. I love reflecting on Christ's birth, seeing people's hearts open to others this time of year, the beautiful Christmas music, the lights, shopping for Christmas gifts, and spending time with family. It can't get much better than that. I left last night's devotional wanting to be a better person-a better mom, a better wife, a better sister, daughter, friend...-but then again when CAN you leave after hearing the First Presidency speak and NOT want to find ways to be better! I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and try not to lose sight of the TRUE meaning of Christmas! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HERE WE COME!!!!!!

I just had to post a quick update about what's going on January 7th....LSU IS GOING TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN NEW ORLEANS!!!!! We were anxiously waiting the results yesterday--during the Christmas devotional Kent was watching his phone the WHOLE time waiting for espn.com to update their site and say who was going--I'm sure he got alot out of the devotional! I'm SO excited for them that they made it in! No one knew exactly what was going to happen and who they were going to vote in but LSU made it in! I'm SOO THRILLED! Now...if I could only get my hands on some tickets....

WE DID IT!

Some of you may know that we are VERY indecisive people sometimes. We have been back and forth about which builder to use FOREVER! Well yesterday we FINALLY sealed the deal and have officially started the process on our house! We should hopefully be in by mid March which seems so soon but since we took over some other guys house/lot the process had already been in progress. Kent is thrilled because we got a bigger lot in a col-de-sac and I'm happy that we went the builder we did! Our house isn't going to be HUGE or anything but it fits us for right now and for the next 3-5 years. So I'm completely happy with it! Updates on the progress are sure to come but for now all I've got is a picture of the dirt on which our house will sit!

It was getting dark when we got finished so it's not a real good picture.

6th Month Checkup!

I took Boston in for his 6 month checkup yesterday--he was supposed to go in Monday after the holidays but it kinda slipped my mind. We got him weighed and measured (my FAVORITE part of the whole process) and he also had to get 3 shots! I HATE that part! Poor little guy! He's always so happy and smiley then we soon as that needle goes in his face just goes into shock then as soon as the nurse injects the meds into him he SCREAMS! I HATE IT!!! I try so hard not to cry for the little man! But he was a big boy and as soon as he was finished I hugged him to pieces and he settled right down! I can't wait until he's older to go buy him an ice cream cone for being so big and brave!

So how big HAS Boston gotten in the past 2 months?!? Here are the results:

WEIGHT: 19.2 lbs--90%

HEIGHT: 26.5 inches--50%

HEAD: 16 cm--25%

He is just packing on the pounds and getting THICKER and THICKER! His height is average but we're really hoping he'll start getting taller soon enough and get Kent's height! I believe Boston's small head comes from Kent. Kent has SUCH a small head that infact MY head won't even fight into his baseball hats! You can't tell by looking at it but it really is small! That's okay though, I'd rather him have a small head than a huge one! Let's hope that small head doesn't equal small brains!

OH! And the doc told me to start offering Boston a sippy cup with juice! I was SOOO thrilled about this! So of course I went that day and bought juice and sippy cups! I think Boston didn't really know what to do with the sweet taste of apple juice but he'll get used to it soon enough! I LOVE having him try new things! He's getting so big so fast and is eating his baby food SO well these days too! It might take an hour to feed him but he's actually eating it all and not spitting it out in disgust! The smallest things make you proud as a mom! I sure do love the little guy and I LOVE being a mom!

Oh we also want to thank Mimi for staying a few extra days (not by choice due to car issues) but it was still fun having her around. She's always a big help and Boston LOVES having her around! We love you and miss you already!

P.S. I am also VERY excited because the doc informed me that I should buy Boston his NEW carseat! I told her ours holds until 22 lbs but she said to be safe she advises us to get a new one. I was THRILLED about this because I LOVE to buy Boston new things. How Kent feels I just don't know. From the beginning I had convinced him to spend the amount we did on the carseat by saying that he would fit into it for almost a year. How was I supposed to know I'd have an unusually large baby?!? I do LOVE Boston's infant carrier and sad to see it retire but hey I'm very thrilled about the step up too! So it looks like we'll be ordering his new carseat here soon enough! BRITAX HERE WE COME...atleast this one holds I think to 45 lbs and I'm not expecting him to pass that up anytime soon!!!

IT'S TURKEY TIME!

I feel like I haven't been on to post in FOREVER! Tonight I'm actually getting a chance to get on and finally blog while Kent hits up Halo 3 for the night! So time for a quick update on where we've been lately...

Does it seem like we go and travel every other weekend? Well it does to us! I think we're out of town every other week! I don't know how singers/actresses do this! Well I guess maybe I could do it if I had a nice comfy private plane and had people taking care of my wardrobe but unfortunately at this time in my life I don't have that....then again I'll probably NEVER have that! HA!

For Thanksgiving we drove up....YES DROVE...to Colorado Springs, CO to my Grandparents (Bluth) house! It was quite the drive but we were helping my mom bring up Kelli's car and that was our way there! So Kelli...you better be grateful! Boston normally does pretty good in the car. He is a GREAT baby! Towards the end of our long 12-13 hour drive he did get a little restless but who wouldn't?

Anyway, we stayed at my grandparents ICE CAVE---they keep there house seriously like in the 50's and 60's in the freezing COLD winter! They love it this way! How they do it I don't know! All my sister's EXCEPT for Kristin came which was fun! Even my Aunt Pam and Uncle Kevin joined! It was a fun week visiting, playing the Ungame, visiting Grandma and Grandpa's book store, fighting the day after Thanksgiving holiday shopping sales rush (and YES this was Kent's idea..he thought it'd be fun for the "experience"...not to mention buying a few electronics he wanted to catch on sale but then again I didn't mind either--I NEVER turn down shopping!), letting Kelli practice on my hair, and spending Thanksgiving day with family! We drove back Saturday with a little car trouble but did make it home safely! All I have to say is that although it was fun visiting with family, with all the traveling we've done the past 5 months I'm just glad to be home....until we leave again here soon enough! New Year's resolution...STAYING HOME!!!

Boss LOVES his Aunties!

Kent wishing his fam a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Papa and Boss! He LOVES Papa!

Kari and Brandon!

SISTERS!!!...minus one--We missed you Kristin!

Our little fam!...Boston is HUGE!

The Bluth family...well SOME!

Boss and Grandma Great!

Kent a his little "Bubba"...all snuggled up in the ice cave!

Grandpa and Grandma making Grandpa's FAMOUS...really they are FAMOUS...Enchiladas!!

Kelli highlighting my hair AH!! Look at Boston's little devil face!

Grandpa Great and Boston or "Bubba"(everyone has one in the fam in the south! HA!)...I LOVE this picture!

CRAWLING?!?

I know Boston is only 6 months and I'm sure that he will start to crawl on his own clock like he has with everything else BUT I thought I'd help push him along today. In his bed he always scoots himself up to the corner so I KNOW that if he tries he can semi move! He NEVER does this in front of me but since today he was rolling around like crazy I decided to try to get him moving for me! I know that he LOVES his pacifer so I placed it in front of him to tempt him and see what he would do. He would just sit there after realizing he couldn't reach it to put it in his mouth and flex his arms and legs out and start grunting! I thought it was HILARIOUS! He's trying to move but he's totally doing it the WRONG way! I tried to help curl his knees up under him but he wouldn't have that and would just kick his legs back out! HA! ONE DAY he'll get it!

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This is Boss sleeping right now! See how he scoots up to the top? Normally he's in the corner but I'm assuming he rolled himself over when he got up there. He NEVER sleeps on his back so this is surprising! He must be EXHAUSTED from trying to crawl...

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS ARE MY TWO FRONT TEETH!!!

Boston is OFFICIALLY teething!!! AHH!!! We noticed it a little bit in Kansas but Monday night was the WORST night EVER! I don't even think he slept that bad when he was a newborn baby! He was up and crying like every few hours! All I could think was that if this is what it's going to be like EVERY night until his teeth come in I think I will want to shoot myself! The next day I made a quick trip to Wal-Mart and bought BABY ORAJEL! I will be ever so grateful to this product! AS SOON AS I applied this to Boston when we got home he slept PERFECTLY through all his naps and straight through the night!! This has DEFINATELY been a lifesaver for me because honestly if Boston is being fussy I know it's time to reapply this and he stops and is happy again! I just hope these teeth break soon because I feel so bad knowing that he's in pain! Maybe this is what Boston can ask for Christmas....

MY BOYS NEW TOYS!!!

Kent played most of the night on the XBOX..hopefully this won't be EVERY night!

Kent texted me on Monday with breaking news! Surprisingly enough, his boss had bought him an XBOX 360 since he hit his recruiting goal for the month. I had mixed emotions about this but oh well now! Kent was THRILLED so when he got home I decided to play happy too! It's not that I never wanted him to get one--because I knew one day soon he would--but we had decided that if he had sold a certain amount by Christmas then he could get one...it was his one thing keeping him motivated to sell! Now that motivation is gone!!! Oh well what can you do?! He has been working hard on his recruits though so he deserved it! I guess on the brightside we didn't have to pay for it!!! DEFINATE PLUS!!

SOOO since Kent got a fun toy that day, we decided that for family night we would go get dinner then go to Baby's R Us and get Boston a few toys/books. I was SOOO excited to get him his excersaucer (sp?!) and more books!!! As SOON as we got home I had Kent put it together. I sat Boston in it while Kent put it together and he was SO into every toy that Kent put on! It was TOO cute! I hurried and gave Boston a bath then brought him out to play in the finished product before bedtime! HE LOVED IT! It's so nice to have something else for him to play with!

So both my boys are happy now with their new little toys! Nothing makes me happier than to see them happy!

KANSAS OR BUST!

Like I said in the previous post, we drove up to Kansas this past week to see Garth Brooks in concert. We left last Sunday and stayed a week with Kristin and Chad. It was fun to see everyone but at the same time is kinda blew because EVERYONE...I mean EVERYONE INCLUDING STELLA got sick! Everyday another person was sick. Rylee kicked us off, then Kent, then Amanda, followed by Sophie/Stella, Kristin, Chad and then me! Mom luckily came whenI think it had already died away! That kinda stunk but it was still fun to visit with everyone and help Kristin and Chad get settled in their new townhome! We had quite the week with the sickness running through the house, moving/settling them in, experiencing a cold day with NO heat, and seeing GARTH! It was fun visiting with family and friends. Thanks SO much Kristin and Chad for you hospitality and especially letting us bring Lil Stella along! Here are a few pics from our little trip aside from the concert!

Rylee and Sophie dancing the new Garth Brooks CD Mom bought--yes Sophie prefers to be naked!

Boston LOVES Rylee and is ALWAYS smiling at her!

COUSINS!

While we were in Kansas, Boston turned 6 months which means I can now OFFICIALLY start rice cereal!! I don't think Boston new what to expect and he's not quite a pro at eating it just yet but he seems to like it some what. He'll learn how to handle it soon enough!

GARTH! GARTH! GARTH!

Mom flew in for it too! We all went-Kristin, Chad, Mom and me-Kent hung out with the kids at home for us--he's not much of a concert goer..

Yes, that is correct! I'm talking about GARTH BROOKS! And YES I did just get to see him in concert this past week...not just ONCE...but TWO TIMES!!!!!! I was THRILLED and it was ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS BOTH TIMES! Amanda had gotten tickets from Brandon for her birthday to the concert. I had previously purchased my own tickets to the show. Well, Brandon ended up not being able to fly down to Kansas City with her so since I was going to be in town as well, she invited me! Thank you again and again Amanda! So I was able to go Tuesday night AND Friday night! IT WAS AMAZING! I have always said that seeing Garth Brooks in concert was on my "List of Things to Do Before I Die" list! The 8 hour drive to Kansas was TOTALLY worth it, the price we paid for tickets was worth it (it wasn't outrageously priced) and the performance was BEYOND worth it! I was on my feet the WHOLE time..BOTH TIMES...screaming every word to all of his songs! Trisha Yearwood opened for him and she was AMAZING as well! They sound JUST like they do on the radio! Garth has SOOO much energy I swear he could be A.D.D. He gets his energy from the crowd and just goes CRAZY! I'm sorry for those of you who weren't able to attend any of those 9 concerts that he was only performing in Kansas City (why I really don't know..)...because it was probably the BEST concert I have EVER been to and WILL ever go to...unless I get to see him again someday (which I am hoping because I do want to hear him sing my fav "Standing Outside the Fire" which he didn't sing either nights!). LOVED IT!....LOVED IT!!!!!

These pics were from the second night...forgot my camera when Amanda and I went! OPPS!

ADDICTED.....AGAIN!



They say the first step to breaking addictions is to first admit to yourself you have a problem. Well, I'm doing just that! I'M ADDICTED TO EXCEDRIN AND DR. PEPPER!

Last summer, I randomly would get headaches. Due to my past history growing up of having to take Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Aleve, PLUS any OTHER kind of anti-inflammatory meds for my knees, heels, and anything else that was inflamed or injured during my soccer career, my body no longer reacts to those drugs...AT ALL! They just DO NOT work! So I had to move to the stronger stuff last summer when I my headaches came on...Excedrin here I come! Things were fine at first but then I started to notice that my headaches cleared up faster if I took excedrin WITH a Dr. Pepper! Fine, no biggy! Then I started noticing that everyday at work around 12:30 or so a headache would kick in, I'd leave for lunch take 2 excedrin and buy a Dr. Pepper and within a few minutes my headache would be gone! This went on ALL summer pretty much EVERYDAY! We were trying to get pregnant (what seemed like FOREVER....) and soI thought that maybe this could be part of my problem. So I decided to end this addiction. It was VERY hard! I really had to fight my headaches everyday. I wouldn't take excedrin and I stayed clear of my dear friend Dr. Pepper! Then BAM the next month I found out I was pregnant. I'm not saying this is the reason I got pregnant or the reason I was having problems GETTING pregnant but hey maybe it helped! Things were going good on the addiction side especially knowing that I wasn't going to have ANY OF THAT when I was pregnant. All was fine and dandy until my headaches started to come back during my pregnancy! Tylenol NEVER helped but I just had to deal! In NO WAY did I want to harm my little baby! So I fought it!



Anyway, my headaches FINALLY subsided and no longer came around. I think my body new I wasn't going to give in. I went the rest of my pregnancy free from headache pain...until the DAY AFTER BOSTON WAS BORN!!!!!! Funny coincidence huh?!? Apparently I had a blood patch done from my epidural that apparently was the cause of the PAINFUL headaches...I mean really these were the WORST I had EVER experienced! That seemed to help for maybe a day then the headaches came back...long story short...after MUCH PAIN, NAUSEA, NEUROLOGISTS VISITS, ER VISITS, CAT SCANS, NOT HOLDING MY SON OR BREASTFEEDING HIM...AND MORE the solution FINALLY came....CAFFEINE!! It took what seemed like an ETERNITY for them to figure it out but the neurologist prescribed me caffeine pills and told me to drink caffeinated drinks. THAT HEALED ME! After about a week and a half my headaches were GONE! Guess my body is meant for caffeine!!



Well...today I got a headache. As I went to the cupboard to grab my excedrin, I realized an old pattern coming about....around 2:30ish every day or so...I get a headache and need a Dr. Pepper with an excedrin! HELP! Will this EVER stop?!? I really do try! At first I tried just taking ONE excedrin with NO Dr. Pepper but that no longer works! I HAVE TO HAVE TWO EXCEDRIN WITH A DR PEPPER! I need to stop! Sometimes I really can't help it...but I can't let this happen! It's not HEALTHY AND I'm trying to cut calories/carbonation so this DOESN'T HELP! So I'm going to try to stop it.....and admitting my problem is the first step...I think this is hereditary because my Great Grandma T always had to start her day with a coke and an excedrin for a little PEP in her day! HA! Bless that woman! You gotta love her!