Scotty's first year

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February must be synonymous with sickness

I used to think I had a pretty good immune system. Then my husband became a school teacher. HA! So much for any immunity! I swear he has brought home almost every possible sick germ. We have had sickies in our home for almost a month now.

First, everyone got a cold. That I could handle. THEN Scotty spent the next week teething horribly until 3 new pearly whites popped through. Whew! I thought, It's over!  Fat chance.

We all started getting sick again (flu?) and Scotty got a double ear infection and double eye infection. Thankfully, once he started his meds, all of that cleared up pretty quickly. Except then his buns hurt because the amoxicillin made him have loose stools and it irritated his buns really really bad. For now, diaper changes consist of filling up bowl with warm water and vinegar, using paper towels and cleaning him up, blow drying his buns, lathering him with Bag Balm, and then if you can catch him, putting on a new diaper before he leaves some surprise all over you or the floor. Yay! 15 minutes per diaper change.

The night before Scotty's 1st birthday party, I woke up around midnight feeling queezy and spend most of the rest of the night in the bathroom ridding myself of every possible anything that might be in my body. 7 hours later I was finally through with that part but I was so weak I could not even stand up. My whole body was shaking and I couldn't get any food or liquids into me. By this point, Jeff was pretty sure he had Strep Throat. Joy and rapture. We had to reschedule Scotty's party for another day hoping that our food would still be good by then.

It was so frustrating. It was such a perfect day for a party! Absolutely beautiful and Scotty was so happy! Ugh. The cruel irony. Saturday night Jeff's eye started gooping over and by Sunday morning he had pink eye. By Sunday I could eat a little and stand up. Over all I was feeling much better that day.

Monday Jeff was feeling better, still had pink eye so he called in sick and got a sub for the day. That night was Scotty's party (I'll write about it in a separate, much happier post) and I had a sinus/flu/migraine monster of a headache. None of us got much sleep last night because we were all hacking (some worse than others...poor Jeffrey) and when morning finally came, I woke up with a goopy, pink eye. Shoot me now. (really please don't.)

When will we get better??!?!!

The After Party

We just had Scotty's first birthday party and it was a total success!! Thanks to all of the family who totally made it all happen and everyone who came. They really saved me when I was feeling so bleh and my head wanted to implode. If you didn't get your invite I am so sorry. I still have a pile of invites on the table that we were supposed to deliver last week but last week was a heck week for us. But I'll post more on all of that and the party and lots of pictures later (hopefully). But this video was AFTER the party. 

Scotty had gotten to his past tired, silly stage and he was entertaining Uncle Tate and Aunt Melanie with this funny noise

I love our silly boy!! I can't believe he's so old already!

Scotty Update part 2 - Likes

He is so funny and loves to laugh. He has a sense of humor and will crack up and things he thinks are funny. He’s very ticklish, especially his thighs and buns.

He loves being outside and exploring. 

Eating rocks is one of his guilty pleasures (he looks guilty if we catch him!).

We make tunnels out of cardboard boxes for him to crawl through. He will spend so much time crawling back and forth through the tunnel. Our latest one even includes a starry roof from Christmas lights poked through the top. He really likes this one and will take his snacks and toys and go sit in it.

He raspberries on our tummies. 

He gives kisses on my cheek and then if he’s silly, he’ll raspberry on my cheek.

He can make a mess 10 times bigger than him in the blink of an eye.

He always wants to be doing what you’re doing.

He likes brushing his teeth (with your toothbrush not his) and can even spit into the sink.

He likes when I read to him but only as long as he can flip the pages.

He loves taking a bath. He can just about get in without our help, oh dear...

He’s a flirt. He’s just adorable and his cute looks got him a rocking horse purchased for him by an employee named Lisa at CVS.

 

He loves Ian (my boss) and Cami (the dog).

He loves playing with his cousins and they are CraZY about him.

Elysse is his favorite aunt.

He can crawl up my parents’ stairs in no time flat. He really is fast!

Every time we show him a picture of Grandpa Brinton he gets so excited, says “grandpa” and gives him kisses. It’s adorable. He does it without fail.

He is such a ham. When he gets really excited he starts snorting. He has the biggest smile and his eyes get so squinty he looks chinese ;) He sure smiles alot. 

And the best part? He loves me. He gets so excited to see me and loves when I hold him. I love holding him to my chest as he naps. I take such joy in each new thing he learns and discovers. Half of me wishes he could stay little forever but the rest of me knows the joy that comes in progressing. We have new adventures each day. Some are not so good but the rest are amazing. I love being a mommy and I am blessed to have the most amazing little boy as my son. I am so crazy about this little boy. I pray for him harder than I think I have ever prayed for anyone and definitely more frequently. He is God’s gift to us and I don’t want to mess up! I only want the best for him and to be able to provide him with the best future. I want him to grow up to be the kind of man his grandpa was and his daddy is. He’s an amazing baby and I can’t imagine our life without him. I love him so much! He is my pride and joy and my sunshine.

A Scotty Update Part 1

I know it's been forever. I'm not really good at this whole blogging thing! But I figure better late than never, right? :) This is going to be a really long post about the most adorable boy in the world.

Scotty is almost 11 months old now. He is adorable!!! His personality is just coming out! 

Size: He weighs 23 lbs and wears size 18 month clothes and we think he's about 30" tall. 

Chompers: He has the cutest toothy grin with 5 teeth! 2 on top and 3 on the bottom. 

Fun Things: He waves hi and bye. He can blow things and he blows kisses. Scotty also has started imitating sounds and movements. Like at church when we raise our arm to give a sustaining vote he now raises his arm too! He points his finger. It’s so funny because if he wants it really bad sometimes he’ll point so hard he starts shaking! If he wants you to come over to him he’ll keep waving his arm at you.

Words: Dada, mama, byebye, grandpa, that, and go! 

Sounds: He likes to mimic sounds. He can growl, bark, and tweet :)

On the MOVE: Most exciting news is that he can take 3 steps by himself! Not really interested in just walking though. Why walk when you can crawl faster?? He’s a turbo crawler and can get anywhere in no time flat! He can stand by himself and when he’s really excited he’ll dance :)

Music: He LOVES music. He any time he hears music he starts conducting it. He’s got rhythm that’s for sure.

Foods: He hates baby food now. Forget that, he’s a big boy. His favorite food are bananas. He could eat 5 bananas a day if we let him. He also loves pretzels, cookies (not that we give him cookies...) 

He found a sugar cookie bar without me seeing and
shoved it in his mouth as fast as he could!

apple sauce, bread items, sometimes he’ll eat rice cereal with fruit, gold fish crackers, cheerios and other dry cereal.


Sleeping: For the most part he sleeps really well. Some nights we’ve had to let him cry a little but he has been pretty good! One night last week he slept 9 hours straight. HALLELUJAH!

I can clap!

Scotty started clapping on Friday November 18.
It's the cutest thing!
(Sorry for the bad quality. I took this with my phone)

"Watching Scotty Grow"

My grandma told me about this song written in 1970 called "Watching Scotty Grow". I found it on the internet and fell in love with it. It is perfect for us and our Scotty. It is so sweet it brings tears to my eyes when I hear it. 

"Watching Scotty Grow"

There he sits with a pen and a yellow pad

What a handsome lad
That's my boy
BRLFQ spells mom and dad
But that ain't too bad
That's my boy


You can have your TV and you nightclubs
And you can have your drive in picture show
I'll stay here with my little man near
We'll listen to the radio
Biding my time and
Watching Scotty grow


Making a castle out of building blocks
And a cardboard box
That's my boy
Mickey Mouse says it's thirteen o'clock
Well that's quite a shock!
That's my boy


In four short years
I've gone from rags to riches
And what I did before that I don't know
So let it rain on my windowpane
I got my own rainbow
And we're sitting here shining
Watching Scotty grow


Riding on daddy's shoulders off to bed
Old sleepy head
That's my boy
Got to have a drink of water and a story read
A teddy bear named Fred
That's my boy


What's that you say momma
Come on and keep you feet warm
Well save me a place
I'll be there in a minute or so
I'll think I'll stay right here and
Say a little prayer before I go
Me and God
Watching Scotty grow
Me and God
Watching Scotty grow...

You can also watch it being performed on the Lawrence Welk Show here.

From this... 

To this in only 8 1/2 months!  

I can't believe how fast Scotty is growing! 

Thankful - Day 5 I'm a Mormon

On a similar note as yesterday, I am so thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every good thing in my life I can attribute to my being a member of the church! 

 I've written more about it on my Mormon.org profile. Check it out here: http://mormon.org/me/5Q5Q/ 

Thankful - Day 4 Sabbath

I am thankful for the Sabbath Day. I'm grateful we can go to church each Sunday and be edified by the teachings of Jesus Christ. Enjoy your Sabbath!

My handsome boys ready for church (in Snowflake)

Thankful - Day 3 Work

Ever since I was a little girl, all I wanted to do was to grow up and be a mommy. In college, I kind of lost sight of  that because I got swept away by the "corporate" dream. (I wasn't getting closer to the whole marriage and baby thing up there at school!) Thank goodness I moved home, met Jeff and snapped out of that dream! Now that I'm a mommy, I just want to be a stay at home mom! Forget about corporate America. Leave that to everyone else. I want to be the VP of my home not a company. Since Jeff is student teaching right now I get to be the one to provide for our family. (Student teaching! Really that's a sweet deal for everyone BUT the student. Seriously! The student PAYS the university lots of money so they can work full-time teaching public school without getting paid! How fair is that?!? Anyhow back to being grateful...I'm grateful for student teaching...I'm grateful for student teaching...) 

I am blessed to have a great job and an amazing boss who lets me bring Scotty to work everyday. And even more, they like each other! My boss will get down on the floor and play with Scotty! He even lets Scotty chill with him at his desk! How many moms would do anything to have a situation like that! 

I am thankful for my job, for my boss, and especially that I get to hang out with this cute kid all of the time, even when I'm at work.

Fun at the office

Hard at work :)

Thankful - Day 2 Temple

I am so thankful for temples.


Jeff and I were married in the Mesa Temple almost 2 years ago now. Since then we have tried going to the temple every week. I can count on my fingers the number of weeks we've missed going. Boy howdy can I tell a difference in my week when we didn't go. Going to the temple helps me stay positive. It gives me understanding of God's plan for me and a glimpse of His bigger picture. I am happier and easier to get along with. Going with Jeff each week strengthens and fortifies our marriage. It helps us in building a solid foundation to raise our family. It helps us through the rough times in life. When I am there, I get a reassurance of God's love for me and I leave with a greater love for others.

I am so thankful to live so close to a temple, thankful for a husband who goes with me each week, grateful for Jeff's mom who watches Scotty every other week for us when we go!

If you aren't familiar with the LDS temple and what we do there, here is a link with wonderful information about it: http://lds.org/church/temples/why-we-build-temples/what-happens-in-temples?lang=eng

Thankful - Day 1 A Good Man

I am thankful for my father-in-law Robert Brinton. For the almost 2 years I got to have him in my life. For the example he was to his sons (especially Jeff!!) and for the legacy he left behind. I am so grateful that families are eternal.

One of the greatest men I've ever known

All of us!

He loved (loves!!) his grandkids

I love and miss him so much!

Sugar Cookie - Date

We had Jeff's brother and his amazing new wife over for dinner one night (about a month ago) and for our date activity we molded sugar cookies! We tried making this that described us. Here are some of what we made

Don't feel bad if you can't tell what they are :) There's a dog, Mel's ring, hair stylist tools, a missionary, a piano, Pegasus, and a pile of poop. No not really, I think it was a melted snowman. We had such a good time!

See! Dates don't have to be expensive to be fun!

Play-doh Card Date and Banana Boats

So this date Jeff planned for us. I love it when Jeff plans our dates because he usually includes an element of service. He's good like that :)

He made us Banana Boats for dessert (Bananas loaded with goodness and heated up in the oven)

 Scotty wanted in on this yumminess!

Jeff then made salt dough and we made cards for people

We went and bought some flowers to leave with the cards and then had fun doorbell-ditching people!

Thanks for the fun night Love!

School Date

I posted earlier about Jeff passing the AEPA exams. There was one day that he took 2 exams back to back! 8 hours of testing?? Not fun. So for some relief, I planned this "School Date". Each activity of our date was a school subject: Math (Suduko Puzzles), History (Battleship!), Lunch (Dinner), etc. For Science, we built a VOLCANO!!! We are SO cool. Here are some picks from another one of our fun, FREE dates!

Here's the big ERUPTION!

 Man! My husband is hot! Mmmm...  :o)

Canning

Recently I canned some beautiful Utah peaches. Here are a few lessons I learned:

#1 Canning is definitely not as fun when you don't have your mom 

#2 Canning alone isn't very easy

#3 Canning alone with a baby on your hip because he doesn't want to be set down is CRAZY

which leads to the final one:

#4 I am crazy

Here is a picture of the fruits of my labors :)

Not to shabby for my first attempt!

Ride Like the Wind, Bullseye!! - Our Cowboy Date

I know I promised a long time ago that I would post about our dates. So here is our Cowboy Date from a while back!

The invite with all of his necessary get up for our date

My stud muffin ;)  

We all have our badges on and we're ready to go

 We had to fight the Indians!

 See! They were attacking!

This cuteness deserves the biggest picture in the post :)

Shootin' the indians 

Cowboy songs and poetry around the camp fire 

S'mores for Dessert 

With our noble steads

Ignore the no make up-ness. Seriously do you think cowgirls wore make up when they were fighting indians??? I think not :) 

It was such a fun date and the best part...free!!

Ballet Under the Stars - Year 3!

Wowzers! Can you believe it? Jeff and I have actually done something for 3 years in a row! You may remember this post "Our First Kiss" from last year. Well now we have another year of Ballet Under the Stars to put up!

This year, my favorite piece was from "Rubies"

Amazing!!

There were lots of changes from last year to this year! First, we broke down and wore different clothes and we didn't eat chicken like the last few years. Uh oh. We're breaking the trend!

Also, they built a new bridge over Tempe Town Lake 

And most importantly!! We have a baby!! He's the best. Scotty loved the performance. He was memorized by the music and dancing and kept dancing along! 

I hope the video works. It's my first time trying to post a video! Sorry it's sideways. I can't rotate a video. Just tilt your head ; )

(A nice person took this picture of us)

Some things just never change though. We are still as weird as ever :)

I love my family!!!

Since it was the 2nd anniversary of our first kiss, we HAD to take kissing pictures :)