What a day!

It was a scorching 60 degrees in Bothell today. Mason loved riding his bike outdoors, much better than riding it around the play room! He keeps asking me if it's April, it sure felt like it!

I'm thinking he looks a little big for this trike.

Happy Valentine's Day!

So we're a few days late, but Derek and I got each other a king size bed for Valentine's day (we would have got it anyway, it's just our excuse for not buying anything for each other on Valentine's day). It is my dream world. Nothing says "I love you" more than sleeping further apart. I love you Derek!

I still need to get a bedskirt and some smaller pillows. I really want new bedroom furniture, but I think I'll hold off until we own a home.

It Worked!

(follow up from previous post)

Reese slept through the night last night (8pm-8am)! Exactly what the Dr told me, on the third night! I am extremely happy and well rested today. I was nervous it wasn't going to work that fast because on night two, she cried longer than on night one. It was hard to let her cry the first two nights, but very worth it! She has even been a happier baby during the day. I am so proud of myself for not giving in!!

Cry Me a River

Yesterday when I was at the Dr, I told him about Reese not sleeping through the night. He asked me if I liked getting up with her in the night...haha! So he suggested this : let her cry herself back to sleep. I'm not an idiot I thought, we all know we should do this. I have hesitated because Mason and her share a room and I DO NOT want him awake in the middle of the night. He said the first night will be bad and she will cry for a while, the second night she will cry a little less and by the third night she will sleep through the night. I'm totally skeptical of this because it sounds to good to be true. So I tried it last night. Mason had already crawled himself into our bed by the time she woke up, so I let him stay there until she fell back asleep. She cried/screamed/played from 1:55-2:40 . I hate hearing my babies scream. I know they are fine, it's just hard to hear. Then it was silent. It is currently 8:06 am and she is still asleep. That is 12 hours with a 45 minute crying episode in between. It was the best night sleep I have had since she quit sleeping through the night at 5 months. Needless to say I am extremly full (nursing), but thrilled as well. Could this really work?

9 Months

Reese is 9 months today! We celebrated by going to the Dr. for her checkup. Here are her stats:

Weighing in at 20lbs 1 oz (75%)
29 1/2 inches tall (97%)
Her head size is 80%

A little bit about her...
She has 2 teeth (bottom)
She can crawl on her hands and knees (as of Monday).
She can get into a sit from crawling.
She stood up today for the first time. I even got it on video!
She loves her: binky, blankie, brother, mommy and daddy
She is a great eater and I'm thankful that she is only nursing 3 times during the day.
She still wakes up a couple times in the night and I'm hoping that will end real soon.
We often call her : Reesie, Reesie Mads, Reesers Piecers, and baby.



The Dr actually said she was long and skinny which makes me laugh. Look at that baby..NOT SKINNY! I suppose he says that because her percentage for height is above her percentage for weight. I wasn't able to load the video of her standing up. It was taking forever and then it told me there was an error. Maybe Derek can figure it out for me.

I'm not a very good "spill your guts" type of person but I am so grateful that she is happy, healthy and learning new things everyday. I love this little girl!!!!

Weekend Getaway

Saturday after Mason's soccer class we drove down to Vancouver to visit Derek's family. This is the last time we'll be able to do much as family because Derek's high school baseball season starts in 2 weeks. We had a nice time visiting with his family, swimming in the hotel pool and taking advantage of paying no sales tax in nearby Portland. Here are some pictures of our weekend.

Mason loved playing with his Grandparents and Uncle Ryan. He actually cried when we dropped Ryan off at his house.

The hotel pool was a highlight of the trip too. This is Reese's first time in a pool. She loved it. Mason thought it was cold, but it didn't faze her at all. I don't know if this is bad for me to say, but I think she looks like a little boy in a swimsuit...what do you think?

A trip wouldn't be a trip with out an accident. Mason got his finger slammed in the window in the hotel room. It wasn't as bad as we first thought it was. He was sad most of the day and wouldn't move it or use it. One time he told me it hurt to go potty. The look on his face in this picture breaks my heart.

Both of the kids liked playing with the dogs, even if the dogs weren't into them. Grandma also has birds that Mason got to touch. He had so much fun!

Tag...I'm it?

So, my friend Alisha "tagged" me. I'm flattered, really, although I find myself to be extremely boring! So here it goes. I apologize ahead of time if I make you sleepy.

10 Years Ago: I was working at an accounting office getting ready to move to Salt Lake to live with my brother and his wife and baby.

Things on my to-do list today:
I need to finish the dang laundry. I swear I can do at least two loads of laundry everyday for the rest of my life. It seems to be never ending (and I really don't like to do it). I also need to pack for our quick trip to Vancouver WA to visit Dereks family (Mason is super excited). Then, once I get the kids to bed I'm going to a Stampin Up party. I don't even stamp but I'm so excited to get out of the house! (are you bored yet?)

What I would do if I were suddenly made a billionaire: Are you kidding me??? I would buy a big house in Kirkland. I suppose I would pay off all our bills too. I would furnish my house exclusively from Pottery Barn. I would also have a personal trainer. I have thought about this one a lot actually...it's always nice to dream!

3 of my bad habits: I'm addicted to Diet Coke. I'm not proud of it, nor do I want to quit. It's a guilt free pleasure that doesn't add up on the calories. I also crack my knuckles, I don't consider it bad, just annoying sometimes. I also rarely wear my hair down. I do think this is a bad habit. My hair is naturally curly and frizzes like no other when I wear it down. I will straighten it with a flat iron if I have time but rarely do I have an hour to do my hair.

3 places I have lived: Moses Lake Wa (for 18 months when I was a toddler), Salt Lake City (after high school) and Bothell Wa

5 jobs that I have had: Ivers, Witsoe Haug and Associates, Eagle Hardware, SAFECO Life and Investments and Lowe's Home Improvement.

5 Things people don't know about me: (this is gonna be boring and embarrassing)

We live in my parents basement. Kind of embarrassing to admit, but I'm so grateful for their willingness to share their house while we try and buy. We actually like living here. We have a great area all to ourselves.

I'm not your typical Mormon housewife. I don't scrapbook, sew, quilt, read novels, I'm actually a loser. I would love too, but my craftiness NEVER looks good enough for me.

I love to buy clothes for my kids. I look at gap.com at least 3 times a day for good deals or new arrivals.

I get embarrassed really easily. Mostly over TV shows and embarrassing things people say and do on reality shows. I cover my eyes during the auditions on American Idol. I feel so bad for those idiots. I love the show The Soup, but it basically recaps all the embarrassing things people have said and done on TV that week. I'm pretty much bright red by the end of the show.

I drive a minivan. Since Mason was 8 months old. I babysat two other kids at the time and it was ideal. I actual love it, although I would much rather have a Tahoe or a luxury van. Derek on the other hand is a little (a lot) embarrassed by it. One time (right after we got it) as we were driving away from a gas station, a guy on a motorcycle (about our age) says "nice van" sarcastically. Derek replid "you like that?" He was pretty much mortified.

Jammy Time!

Who doesn't love a new pair of jammies?

Looking back

One of my favorite things to do lately is to look at Mason and Reese's baby pictures. I literally can look through the same pictures over and over again. I can't explain it, only that it make me happy! I've been a little down this week and these have helped. Here are a couple that I love. (and I do realize that Reese is still a baby)



Mason at 9 months


Reese at 8 months

They both are great at that wide open smile!