Christmas

We awoke to a "snow globe" Christmas. It was really pretty outside with big snowflakes coming down all morning. Kaleb woke up at 5:30, and he didn't even know it was Christmas!! Aghhh!! He could sense something exciting I guess (or how to torture mom and dad!).
He saw his garbage truck from the top of the stairs and screamed "TRUCK! TRUCK!!" That's pretty much all he played with all day. He loved moving the lever to lift the garbage can up and down, up and down .. .... He also got the table and chairs in the background (of the first picture), but not too exciting for him yet.
My parents got us a six-man tent! (I don't know what they're trying to hint with that big of one . . . ?) Braydan was so excited he set it up in the family room (I tolerated it for a day).
There's Braydan trying out some of his other new gear. What a happy camper :) I got spoiled too with lots of sewing stuff I needed. He even got me pins, measuring tape, and other little things and wrapped them all separate in little packages :) We got to talk on the web-cam to both our families, so that helped us feel not so lonely. And later we had a nummy dinner with some friends. We only got stuck once driving home! Good-ol' Buick. Before I went to bed, my missionary brother Josh called and talked to me for a while! What a good Christmas!! We've been very blessed. I'm so grateful we're all healthy and well, we've got a warm home, good job, nice neighbors, wonderful friends, and the best family. Most importantly, we have the gospel! What more could I ask for? (Besides having this baby!!!) Hope you all had a merry, merry Christmas!

Global Warming????

I'm not so sure anymore. We were going to have a Christmas barbecue, but maybe we'll have to postpone it. What do you think?

Washington is really funny. Since it's snowed, school is canceled, nobody goes to work, and church was canceled yesterday. I think Braydan is the only one on our whole street that went to work today. (He almost got stuck in our driveway . . . .but still)

Friday night we had fun decorating gingerbread houses with our friends. Emily made homemade gingerbread and it smelled so good I had a hard time not eating mine. (Mine is the second from the left. The picture doesn't show off the backyard feature: a pool with fish and a snowman). Kaleb snuck a bag of marshmallows and ate almost the whole thing. It was a fun, candy-filled night!

Oh, and I can't forget our phantom snowman. Someone built it in our yard, but we don't know who????

Hope you're all warm and safe for Christmas. It's kinda sad we'll be without family again this year, but I don't think we could drive out of Seattle anyway! Love you all!

Call the Fire Department!

A few months ago (at my request) Braydan converted our gas fireplace into a real one. It took some work....... but since then we've enjoyed some cozy, real fires at night. HOWEVER, this past week we've had serious problems!!!!! So with all the beautiful snow, I thought it would be especially festive to have a fire every night. So does Kaleb. The first thing he does when Braydan gets home is run to him and ask "Dadda, hot please?" He even has a paper stash crinkled and ready to light. Well, for some reason on a particularly cold night a few days ago, Braydan did the normal routine of lighting the fire, but smoke POURED in through the house until we could barely see. All the smoke alarms went off and we ran around opening windows and trying not to gag. I ran upstairs with Kaleb to try and hide in our room, but I forgot that smoke rises, so we didn't stay there long either. Finally, after the fire got hot enough, the smoke went up the chimney like a proper fire should. We did some serious brainstorming about why it would do this and thought we figured it out, but tonight was the third time, even with our new changes, that our fire alarms went off and we smell like a camp fire. Our neighbors probably think I can't cook. After googling about our problem, we learned we have a back draft. The air coming down the chimney pushes the smoke into the house. To remedy this, we have to open a window near the fireplace and hold a burning paper up the chimney to get the air flowing the right direction. Something like that. I hope it works next time!

The Nesting Phenomenon

The other day my friend told me I was definitely nesting. I know you all have heard of it, the curious phenomenon where an already crazy pregnant lady takes on animal-like habits and acts even more crazy in the weeks leading up to delivery. I don't remember suffering from it with Kaleb, but this time I admit that I've been acting a little weird. I don’t know if it’s the stress of Christmas time or because I know (this being my second) what to expect after baby, but I’ve been going turbo speed to get everything done! And doing things that don’t even need to get done! Like yesterday I took down all the blinds and washed them in the sink. After Braydan put Kaleb to bed last night, he came back down and found me hands and knees scrubbing the floor behind the fridge. “Aren’t you tired?” he asked. Of course I was, but seriously, I’d rather do it now then later when all want to do is sleep! In my frenzy to get things done, I finished sewing baby’s crib skirt, sewing the living room curtains and pillows. I’m done with all my Christmas shopping, (phew!) and wrapping. I’ve been having contractions off and on, so maybe that’s what spurned me on. Today the doctor said I'm 75% effaced and dialted to a 1. Not too exciting yet. Anywho, that’s what I’ve been up to. As I’m typing, I’m thinking of this desk I have to dust! AGHHHH!!!! It never ends.

OH, and Kaleb has been getting ready too. He took home the ugliest baby from my Grandma Blodgett's house, one with no hair and it's naked, but he takes care of it, or her as I like to call it. He tells me when she has to go poop and takes her potty, puts on a diaper (sort of), wraps her up, rocks her, feeds her at his highchair, gives her baths, and even puts her to bed. It has Braydan a little worried, but I think it's good. Then he can take care of his baby while I take care of mine!

Meeting Santa

Kaleb met Santa at our ward Christmas party.

He was fine until we stuck him on his lap :)

It was classic. Big pout lip, then crying.

Yes, there's me and my big fat belly. I think I didn't know how to pose for the picture. Kinda looks like I'm secretly afraid of Santa too.

The perfect tree

The Tree! Braydan had to sniff it to make sure it was the one. jk. (It looks a lot later than it actually is outside. Or is that the moon in the background?)

The proud woodsmen.

All dressed up.

I had to take a picture of my beautiful box Braydan finished. I like it stained. It took me a little while to get over my white box idea, but this is better I think. He sanded and varnished it so many times I lost track. I gave up cleaning that area, but now it's smooth as butter and should stand up to Kaleb's abuse. Just ignore all the handprints on the window :) I didn't know it was so dirty till I looked at this picture! Yipes!

And. . . (yes, finally Zach). . . my beautiful coat rack! My brother made this for me and wanted to see proof that I finally hung it and am using it! So there ya go Zachy. I even decorated it sort of : ) Thank you, thank you!! It's very handy and nice.

My Big Boy

So now that I'm posting these things, I'm probably gonna jinx myself and Kaleb will stop being a good boy. But. . . . . for now these are his accomplishments:

1. Sleeping in his toddler bed! I know I've said before that I wasn't in a hurry to try, but I learned an amazing thing on our trip: Kaleb could sleep anywhere! Playpen, floor, car seat, strange beds. . . . He's only been going a week, but so far so good. The first nap we heard this big thud and then crying. He fell out and was a little confused. But after that I just tucked him in tight with a sheet and he does fine. We'll see how long my good luck lasts.

2. Going on the potty. I need to clarify first, I'm not potty-training. Just pre-potty training I guess :) For a month or more now I've been sticking Kaleb on the potty every time he wakes up and before naps and bedtime. The very first time he cried, but I just held him there and told him to push and eventually out came a little poop! He was hooked after that. Everytime something comes out, he jumps off and has to look at his hard work : ) Sorry for the gory details. This past week he actually started telling us " I poop." Which means I have to go! I don't know if it will actually help when I really potty train, but I figure it's worth a try. And, it's nice not having as many poopy diapers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3. Talking. Lately Kaleb's been a little parrot. It seems he'll attempt any word he hears, even bad ones : ( For example, he heard me say "OH MY GOSH!" once and has been saying it around the house. Whoops. I've been keeping a list of words he can say on the fridge, but I'll spare you. His favorite phrases are "I want to watch fish" (Nemo) And my personal favorite, "I DON'T WANT TO!" Lovely.

Montana Trip

I feel like I've gotten behind in blogging! The more I get behind, the less I want to do it. (kinda the way I feel about cleaning sometimes :) I just need to make myself sit down and catch-up I guess. Last weekend we made the long drive to Hamilton, MT for my grandma's funeral. We were very blessed in that the roads were perfect! (Kaleb wasn't so much, but it was 9 hours I guess) It was wonderful to see so much family and share with eachother our love for grandma.
We did lots of music for the funeral and I think she would've liked that. I sat up on the stand during the whole thing (a blubbery mess) and it was crazy to look down on all her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids and how much she's influenced all of us! Her example makes me want to be better.

Sunday we went to church and then most of the family left, except our little Smith clan.

Monday we celebrated Alisha's b-day and played games. We were gonna try and do an early Thanksgiving dinner, but there was so much funeral food left over, we couldn't justify it. Mom made 4 pumpkin pies instead--

that's the best part anyway :)

It was weird driving away without Grandma's kisses and her waving. I know I've said this already, but I will really miss her! Thank goodness for our Savior and his sacrifice that we will be resurrected and I can see her again!

(Can you tell kaleb got spoiled there with his aunty and uncle?) He called them "Kack and Leech." And every morning he went looking for "Pappa" and "Nanna." I love you family!

Memories of Grandma

We've had some great memories with Grandma. Here's a few pictures I found.
This picture was taken just last Thanksgiving. Yep, 88 year old grandma got right down on the floor and played with Kaleb! So sweet. I'm going to miss her!
Memories of her: Naps on the porch, washing dishes (to get her hands warm :) driving the Mustang, picking up sticks in the yard, looking at pictures and writing on the backs, reading letters from family (and writing letters back), music in the park, watching Lawrence Welk and Full House in the kitchen (turned up loud!), Peanut M&M's, IGA's oatmeal cookies and Vanilla Ice Cream, feeding the cat, hiking Blodgett Canyon, showing us old pictures and telling the stories to go with them, garage sales, drinking spins, Farmers Market, Leading Music in Relief Society, taking us to Widows lunch, Pizza Hut, writing on the oven, tutti-fruiti, dancing, recycling and saving everything --even washing machine water :)

Ribbon Curtains

I finished baby's curtains. Yay!! Thanks Amber for letting me copy your idea and helping me! Yes Mom, I actually sewed them (just don't look too close at the crooked stitching :)
Braydan's much more ambitious with his projects. I told him a while back that I wanted a window-box, but I didn't expect it anytime soon. Well, one day he came home from Lowes with all the stuff and just started building it! I do love my handy husband.

Kaleb loves sitting on it and looking at trucks out the window. The only thing is, we both (braydan and I) had different ideas about how it would turn out. I pictured it white, with chair-rail boxes on it. It's all nice oak wood, so he pictured it stained a dark mahogany color. What do you think? Since it is nice wood, I'm leaning more toward staining it, but can I still do the little panel molding? I also have to figure out how I'm going to cover it!

One last serious question for you: What do I do with a Nemo obsessed boy???? Don't get me wrong, it's nice that he'll actually watch something to give me a break once in a while, but I think I can quote the whole thing!! He asks to watch it at least once a day and has the biggest fit if I don't let him. I have to set a timer for 30 min. or he could probably STAND and watch the whole thing (he doesn't sit very long). I've tried Ice Age and Robots but no go. Any good ones I could change it up with?

Here's my two bumbs watching Nemo. I dont' think they know I exist!

Where O' Where???

Where o' where did all the dominoes go? One day I noticed half the box of dominoes were gone. Kaleb likes to dump them out, but I usually find them nearby. Not this time. After some investigation, I discovered this:

Coincidence?? Time could only tell. A few days later Braydan had to work under the house (cause he's building the window box thing) and discovered a pile of dominoes at the bottom of the vent chute. Mystery solved! A certain little boy sent them for a ride down under. Now they're in the sink awaiting disinfection :)

Never know what mischief he'll do. Especially when he's with his accomplice, Kaitlyn. Today they were friends. Sometimes they're arch enemies, depending on their moods : )

THANK YOU!!!

Just a SHOUT-OUT to Denise and Sheraden for throwing me the nicest baby shower!

We had nummy breakfast/brunch food, fun games, and cute prizes. You guys are the best! One of the games the teams had to design baby blessing dresses out of toilet paper. Aren't they beautiful?

Thanks everyone for coming and spoiling me! I had lots of fun.

1,2,3, GO!

Instead of playing at the park, Kaleb ignores it and runs on the dirt hill. He can't say "1" or "3" but he sure has the "two...... Go!" down.

Rocking Out

Saturday we went climbing at Marymoore Park with the Dyers. That's Braydan up on top of the triangle thing. They even talked me into going up. I started out good, then for some reason I felt tired?
Jacob and Hannah climbing like pros.

Kaleb insisted on wearing my sweet purple climbing shoes over his shoes.

Happy Halloween

Before . . .

Heading Out . . .

The booty!

Taste Testing.

Mom is mean. (no more candy)

Girly Stuff

I finished painting baby's room and people have been asking what green I chose. It's hard to describe in words, so here ya go. I didn't want to show it till the room was all decorated cute (which might never happen), but this will at least give you an idea. (that's the crib bedding i got earlier just so you can see the color scheme) I had a hard time choosing the green! Even when I finished the first coat, I was doubting myself and thinking I would start over again. I like it now though. So for anyone that's interested, this is my trick (I learned from Amber :) I go to Benjamen Moore Paints and they have huge canvas paint samples. They cost $5 a canvas, BUT you can return them (as long as you don't bend them). I take them home and tape them up on the wall. That's how I picked my living room color too. I think it's too hard to judge from a tiny paint card.

Anyways, remember that mountaineering class Braydan was in? Well, it got over last week. (Yay!!) His final exam was Thursday and he passed!

The picture is of him doing first aid on a guy bleeding to death from a bear attack. (They made it very realistic with actors and everything)

One guy in the class got sick from looking at all the fake blood :) I shouldn't laugh cause that would probably be me too! Anyways, while he was gone on those nights, my friend and I worked on more girly projects. We discoverd that her baby moniter reaches to my house, so I went over every night after putting Kaleb to sleep and we had fun.

I made this sign and it was pretty easy (thanks sammy!) Hopefully I don't change her name or I'll be in trouble. I also painted my old shadow box white.

And made bows! They look easy, but it took me like 2 hours to make my first 2!