Christmas at the Burts

Mandy tickling baby Neacel's cheek

John, Reelika, Christianna, Axel and Maxim

Nick holding baby Neacel and baby Maxim

Christianna and Jonah opening a present

The Parnell's: Jacob, Kara, Emma, Grace, Jonah and Lily.

Nick, Mandy, and Neacel

Grandma Sherry, Maxim and Lily

Neacel, Maxim and Lily. They are going to be best friends.







Kara, Lily, Reelika, Maxim, Mandy and Neacel








Mandy and Lily

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone! I'm so sorry we didn't send cards out this year. We even had my mom take a picture of the 3 of us to do cards, but I still haven't figured out how to do everything I was doing before, plus take care of Neacel. I promise next year will be better!

This year for Christmas, Nick and I had so much fun with Neacel. We bought him presents; I don't know why, the little one can't even roll over! But it was fun shopping for him. We went to Nick's parents house for Christmas Eve and had dinner with everyone. We also did karaoke, not my favorite thing to do but it was fun! Christmas day so far has been very interesting! This morning we had our own little Christmas at home, and I think we both got very spoiled! I love everything. My mom and I got Nick a big box of Lego's and his face lit up like a kid in a candy store. I've never seen him so excited for something!

We have a really bad winter storm here in Herriman (where his parents live) but in Salt Lake it was raining, so we came to his parents house. The closer we got the worse the weather, it's like a blizzard in the south end of the valley. A 20 minute trip took about an hour. We saw 3 accidents, one included 3 cars, and a few people that had slid and hit the side rails. The roads were horrible! We got here safely but got stuck in their driveway. Then to top it off with a cherry, the plow came right behind us and really got us stuck. (this was the first plow that I had seen all morning doing its job) After what seemed like forever, Nick got the car in the driveway. Poor guy came walking in the house soaking wet from shoveling and doing everything he could to get the car in the driveway! But he did it! Good job hun!

Their neighbors are riding around in snowmobiles because cars weren't going anywhere! I'm wondering if we are stuck here for the night. Either way Christmas has been wonderful and I am so truly blessed!

This month has been such a busy one. My mom finally got to come and visit us and meet her first grandchild. She completely fell in love with Neacel and loved Utah. We are trying to talk her into moving out here. We use Neacel as the bait! While she was here she was such a help to us. She completely took over. Plus, I finally started my Christmas shopping. We went to Gardner Village one day and if it wasn't so cold I think we would have enjoyed it more. Mom had her first pumpkin chocolate chip cookie and of course loved it! We went in a few shops but mostly walked around looking at the decorations that were up! We took plenty of pictures.

Neacel was about a month at this time. He is growing so fast! I can't believe how much he has grown. I would guess that he is about 11-12lbs, possibly bigger with how much the kid eats. He is truly a bottomless pit! Mom and I did tons of Christmas baking, which Nick took to work for everyone there as the Christmas Treat! We had way to many sweets in the house and I needed them out before I ate everything!!!

Mom babysat for us a few times so that we could go to Nick's company party one night, another night we finished Christmas shopping, went to dinner and then went and saw Twilight. (BTW I loved it, almost cried!)

We also had Neacel blessed on December 14th. I looked everywhere for a cute little tux for him to wear but what I bought was better then any tux!It's a white onesie with a white tie embroidered on to it. With white pants, and then my Mom bought a white blanket that we are going to use for each of our children and then one day sow their blessing and baptism dates along with names of course. A cute little family keep-sake!

Neacel is growing up so fast. He is smiling a ton and loves for us to play with his toys for him! He lays there and will just stare at the rattle (the toy we use the most) and if we put it down we get the huge frown, bottom lip out and everything! He is quite the little character!

The first one was in a series of pictures he fell asleep, he was done taking pictures for the day.

Second picture, asleep of course! One of the few things he does.

The third picture I was just talking to him and this is what I got. He is so alert to everything going on around him.

The fourth picture we were playing with his rattle. He loved it! Sometimes we can get a giggle from him but not very often!

This one is my favorite, but of course I have many favorites. This is the favorite of him sleeping. He just looks so peaceful! He is eating a ton now, about 6oz every feeding and wants about 10 bottles a day. Talk about a chunk! He is starting to make little noises, and doesn't want to sleep anymore. He will just lay in his crib and stare at everything around him. Some nights I find it cute other nights it's just mean. There have been a few nights were he slept for 5-6 hours straight but it's not very often. He is usually sleeping for 4 hours wakes up and then it's every 2 hours from there.

He has a pretty nasty cold right now too. Poor thing snorts like a little pig, but gets so frustrated when he is eating because he can't breathe through his nose. He is getting better slowly though. Nick and I are totally in love with this little boy and don't know what we would do without him!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart

Happy Birthday Hun!

Nick turned 27 last Wednesday! He wanted a simple birthday so I made him a cake, which we ended up taking to Mom and Dad's for Thanksgiving, and we went to Pizza Factory for dinner, which was so yummy, I completely fell in love with the bread sticks! Then we came home and watched the Jazz game, I believe they won so Nick was happy. Neacel celebrated with us, he slept most of the time we were at dinner but a few times he would wake up and just stare at everything, then slowly fall back asleep. He is such a great child. Nick and I are so happy that we can still go out and do things, I just have to make sure he has a full tummy (which is now about 6oz of food) and a clean diaper and we are guaranteed a couple of quiet hours. Neacel loves sleeping in his car seat which is a huge blessing. On average he will sleep 3-6 hours in the car seat, so when we get home we just set the car seat down and go about our business. I love my boys so much! While watching the Jazz game, and once the baby was up Nick sat there feeding him and then laid him on his chest, Neacel just laid there contently. Neacel is 100% just like his daddy. His smile, the way he folds his hands, the different looks he gives, just everything is like staring at a mini Nick, which is neat and weird.

Neacel is 3 weeks old today and is growing so fast. He is picking his head up more and able to keep it there, since the hospital he has been able to lift his head but then will throw it around, kind of like a bobble head. He is paying more attention to things. Last night Nick was getting him out of his car seat and Neacel was just staring at him. Nick said it was like Neacel was looking at him for the first time. When we were putting our Christmas tree up Neacel just was staring at it and then would look at me then back at the tree. He is definitely paying attention to everything around him. He is also eating up to 6oz of formula and can burp like a sailor!

Sad news, Neacel got his first diaper rash! I felt so bad. Nick and I did what we thought we should but after looking things up online we found out we were only making it worse; sorry Neacel Mommy and Daddy are still learning. We were putting cream on his bum which was fire engine red but we were using wipes and powder. Very big no-nos according to other parents. So now it's wash clothes, blow drying, cream and then go without a diaper for a while, he is doing much better!

He is starting to smile more which I am loving, and he makes plenty of different expressions. I need to get pictures of them, Nick and I love just looking at him and laughing at the many faces this little bundle of joy gives us!