The Baby Safe Ball

New BabySafe Ball Makes Shaking Your Infant Guilt And Injury Free

We are considering getting this since we are in the middle of round 2 with teething.
Since neither of us would consider actually shaking him, this is a safe alternative. I feel it's perfect!

Swimming Pools, smiles and strawberries

Nick and I bought Neacel a little swimming pool the other day just for him to have something to do other then sit inside. This way he can splash around and since he loves the outdoors we thought this would be fun. He didn't have the same idea as us. I bought him some really cute little swim trunks a few weeks ago and was so excited to put the pool and swim trunks to use.

Step 1: sit him on the side of the pool that has very little water

Result: screaming bloody murder

Step 2: have daddy splash in the water and show that its fun and not even a tiny bit scary

Result: screaming louder and shaking

Step 3: Have Mommy sit next to you and she isn't aloud to leave, not even for a second

Result: all better

He really doesn't love his pool but we like to say that its only because the water was cold. So tomorrow I will fill the pool for him let it sit in the sun and get warm and try again tomorrow evening!

Memorial day we went and hiked around City Creek Canyon for a little bit and Neacel was loving the view. He smiled the whole time and would try and grab trees and anything else he could get his hands on. Nick would keep asking what he was doing I'd look at Neacel and sure enough a huge smile and then laughing a little. He is such a happy little boy. He is always smiling and laughing, except nap time, but other then that he is so much fun to spend time with.

OK so after the robins had enjoyed 7 strawberries of mine we went and got chicken wire to wrap around my plants. We tried everything and this was my last hope to enjoy a strawberry. I am proud to say that I have now enjoyed 4 strawberries off one plant, 2 are currently getting ready to eat and my other plant is starting to bloom and some of those are getting ripe too. Take that you stupid robins!!! I had to take a picture of my first home grown strawberry just in case the robins got smart and it was my last!

Update...hope you have plenty of time!

My First Mothers day was wonderful. Friday night nick was to excited to wait to give me my gift so I got it that night. It was a picture frame and on one side its clay and he put Neacel's hand and footprint on it. Then Saturday night he grilled steak, cucumber salad, carrots and garlic bread. My kind of dinner. Then we had a Princess cake that's from Ikea. Its 2 layers of sponge cake with raspberry filling in the middle and frosting on top. Then they cover it with something like fondant that's lime green with chocolate in little wavy lines. So good! I love my boys so much. They make me so happy!

Neacel is growing like a weed! Thursday was his 6 month checkup and he is 18 lbs and 3 oz and 26 1/2 inches long. He eats everything, literally! We just got him a high chair and so now he eats meals with mommy and daddy. But I had bought some Gerber teething biscuits just to try. He loves them and wears whatever doesn't make it to his mouth. He still is basically sleeping thru the night and he is always smiling and laughing. Sitting up is getting better but its still going to be a little bit. But he is showing signs of teething again, didn't we just go through this? Teething round 2 ready or not. Believe me I'm not ready!

I love this picture of him,(top left) it shows his big blue eyes and just how he is...curious about everything around him. Neacel was loving the grass. Grabbing giant handfuls and getting it all over himself. I recently took him to the park with Jen and Jaycie and put him in a swing for the first time. Nick had said not to before because he is to small. Well, I did it and he loved it. Kept sliding down a little bit but loved it. Then we let the kids sit in the sand box but I don't think he liked that as much he kept pushing the sand away and trying to stand up. Maybe that's something Ill have to save for later. I'm so proud of him and everything he does and enjoys. I just hate that time is going by so fast. It seems like I just had him and now he can eat cheerios? and I can just give him finger foods and not worry about him choking or anything. It just seems unreal to me.

Our garden is doing OK. The weeds are doing great though! We still don't see anything from the seeds we planted but my strawberry plant is doing great. In fact some are turning red!!! I can't wait to go outside and pick a strawberry and eat it. That will be a wonderful day.

We hit a few road bumps in our new place. The couple renting to us have been getting some last minute things done before they go to the MTC(tomorrow). Well, first they had someone out to fix sprinklers so we and the couple moving in upstairs don't have to worry about it. Well, one sprinkler was broke and the water was leaking into our main living room behind the tv. Got it fixed in no time. Same day I'm doing laundry and the sink there in the mud room is full of water. I think nothing of it thinking it probably always does this but I don't stand there and stare at the sink so oh well. So about 10 minutes later I hear water hitting the floor. Laundry room carpet was soaked. Then they started laundry later that day and it flooded some more. When we walked across the floor water and soap suds would rise up. Had a plumber out the next day and that was fixed. They say things always happen in 3's right? This past Wednesday I'm doing dishes, Neacel is in the jumper and the guy upstairs in bring down some boxes.(one of the rooms they are using for storage) well he noticed the light was out in that room so he TRIED turning it back on, No luck. Then checked other rooms. No light in our room, bathroom, Neacels room or kitchen. Some plugs worked and others didn't. We had an electrician from the ward come out and he tried replacing the breaker but it still wasn't flipping back on. So he called another electrician who was there all day Thursday and most of Friday before he realized that there is a furnace room off the bathroom and someone wired the light switch wrong. So when the light in the furnace room is on it trips everything else! Other then that things are great. We are no longer living in the dark, rooms aren't flooding and the new couple move in on Saturday.

OH and the most important thing. Nick got a calling as the Elders Quorum Secretary! I'm so proud of him. He isn't 100% thrilled but only because he has to be on the phone and social but other then that he is excited. I think! I think he will do wonderful. Apparently they told him they haven't had one since January and haven't been able to find one. Until they met Nick, we have been in the ward for a month and they already got him. I know I'm next, I'm just hoping its Young Women's!!!!

Poor Baby Boy

Neacel has not had a very wonderful week and a half. Good news is...his 2 bottom teeth are here! Bad news....he has ear infections and a horrible cold. He has been sick and just sleeping all day and all night. All of you know, my kid is not a sleeper. He just wants us to hold him and cuddle with him, which is another thing he never does! Plus, he isn't eating. In 3 days he only had about 25oz which is what he has in a day plus 2 jars of food and rice cereal with applesauce. I've taken him to the doctor and there isn't really anything I can do that I'm not already doing. I'm letting him sleep as much as he wants and I'm just trying to keep him comfy. He is on medicine for his ears, plus I'm giving him Tylenol and teething tablets. He is doing better today though. Still has a bad cough but the runny nose has almost come to an end. If this is what teething is going to be like, then I don't want him to get anymore! Its a nightmare!

Nick and I are doing well. We love our place and are in the process of planting a garden. He bought me a strawberry plant which I'm so excited for. It already has some small strawberries on it. We are going to plant tomatoes, peppers( 3 kinds I think), cucumbers, onions, green beans, and a few other things. Figured we have the space, might as well use it and save some money! We absolutely love our new ward also. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. Its a wonderful ward to be apart of.

The Britney concert was amazing! Jen and I sang/ yelled and danced the whole time! Plus got our picture taken by her bus!!! We were 18 again that night and I loved it!

After the concert was kinda funny. We decided we wanted to just grab a little something to eat so we go to McDonalds by her house. Well she ordered a spicy mc chicken and water and I wanted nothing but hot cocoa, they don't have it. So I say a chocolate milkshake, they don't have that either so I ask for a water. We get to the window and the guy hands me a water....nothing else. We sit there for 5 minutes trying to somehow get his attention, he would look over at us and never come to the window. So I drove off and parked and watched him give the 2 cars behind us their food...did he not realize that I ordered 3 things? So we decide to go to Wendy's. We both got chocolate frosty's and she got he chicken sandwich. So we get to the window and they only had enough chocolate for one frosty and the other was vanilla....that was not a good day for me and fast food!

Going Private

After reading a not so funny story on a friends blog, I've decided to make our blog private. I don't want strangers to be able to find Nick, Neacel and I or to know things about us. If you want to see our blog please send us your email addresses. I'm thinking it will go private the 1st of May. Only a few weeks!

On a more positive note, Neacel is holding his own bottle! Wearing 6-9 clothing and talks a ton! He is also starting to pull his legs under him, stick his butt and the air and push himself up(which he can hardly do)....to crawl! Its going to be a while of course but he is trying!
We went to our new ward today and loved it. Neacel made himself known by all the noise he was making. Nick and I have never seen him that excited and spazzy! He was throwing himself around and making all the noises in the world....crazy boy! We really enjoyed our new ward and all the people. Even though it starts at 9am...ugh!

Don't forget to send us your email address if you want to see how fast Neacel is growing and all the fun adventures our little family encounters!

It's AMAZING!

Neacel is sleeping through the night!!!!
It took a few nights but the past few nights we don't hear him till about 7am and he goes to bed around 9! This is a whole new, and amazing world of sleep a happy boy and me feeling so much better!!! Thank you second bedroom. You have changed my life, I don't know how I lived without you.

Second Bedroom Tears

We are all moved in! Well, its not all unpacked but we no longer live there in Murray!!!! We are in a very cute basement apartment in Sandy and Neacel finally has his own room. After 5 vans fulls, a u-haul and 2 car fulls we finally did it. I can't believe how much JUNK we have. Perfect time for spring cleaning. I have been so excited for him to have his own room. Until the time came to put him into bed. We were watching tv and I started crying because I wanted Neacel in our room! I went in his room and checked on him and everything was ok so we went to bed. 5 minutes later I started crying again. What if I can't hear him cry with the baby monitor? What if I don't get to him quick enough and something is wrong? Every problem that could happen did happen, in my head of course. He was up every 2 hours last night and every time I went in there he was laying on his tummy with his head shoved in the corner. So I would lay him in the middle on his back and 2 hours later the same thing. I was so close to just grabbing a blanket and sleeping on the chair in his room so that I would be right there for him.
This has been so much harder then I imagined. I'm very thankful that he has his own room but at the same time I miss hearing every little sound at night. I did sleep better though...explain that one!

Does anyone know how I can get him to not get on his tummy at night and to not move around so much? He doesn't sit still and rolls over to his tummy but then freaks out because he can't roll over to his back. Any suggestions? I'm willing to try everything so that he and I both get better sleep. He moves constantly that I'm considering laying him at the very bottom of his crib so that he has plenty of room to move up!


Also, here are some of his 4 month/Easter pictures!
He wasn't to thrilled about some stranger trying to get him to smile and after about 30 mintues he was throwing a fit. We ordered the second picture....I think its the best smile and its just all around Neacel. Personality, the arm and all! I love this little boy more then words could say!

Nick and I are doing well. Im looking forward to the Britney Spears concert in a little over a week, and Nick recently started some more blogs. Nothing like his political one but the links are on here....I don't remember what they are for:-( This week I also get to start watching Jen's little girl Jaycie while Jen goes back to work. Jaycie is such a good baby so Im pretty sure nothing will change...Neacel will fuss and she will lay there talking!

Nick and I have 3 trips to look forward to this year! June we are going to Cleveland to visit my family. July we are going to San Fransico to visit my dad and then August or September we are planning (nothing is official yet) on going to Kanab to visit James and Kerri and their 2 little boys!

Feeding Time

We have started feeding Neacel solid foods, and so far that boy loves to eat. The Dr. said to feed him as long as he his hungry. Sometimes he will eat a 1/3 a cup of rice cereal/applesauce mixed, and still want more, so he will polish off a jar of pears or something. He also usually wants to wash it all down with a few ounces of formula. Here are some pictures of his eating:

Here is Neacel blowing rasberries, spraying his rice ceral all over Daddy.


Here is Neacel after a jar of prunes.


And here is Neacel showing his distaste for peas.

So far Neacel hates peas, loves pears, sweet potatoes and prunes, and is ok with bananas, carrots, squash, and rice cereal.

All the good stuff

A day at Wheeler Farm!

Neacel actually enjoyed it this time. He was watching all the animals and everything going on around him. He loved everything except the sheep. He would almost start crying till we told him everything was ok. He did like the horses though. Anytime they would make a sound he got a huge smile on his face~We found some trails in the back and enjoyed walking around. We thought he would fall asleep but he stayed awake the whole time! What a trooper!

PEACHES

Now that Neacel is 4 months, I got the OK from the doctor to feed him more then formula!

Friday he had peaches, wore a ton of them but he ate most of them. It took him 3 days to finish a small jar of peaches. Yesterday, I gave him pears and he ate the whole jar in one sitting. Last night before bed we mixed formula, rice cereal and applesauce. He didn't love it. This morning I warmed up what was left over in the jar and he ate them up quickly! Squash was for lunch, we didn't get such a positive reaction. I'm so proud of him for eating so well and not being a super messy eater. The pictures are from the second time he ate peaches, he was still learning! He never gets that messy anymore!

Suck or Splash?
The movie explains everything!

poor kid was confused!

His little "girl"friend

Neacel and Jaycie are just the best of friends! Jaycie is the cute little girl kinda next door. Without Jen (her mom) I think I would go insane. We have plenty of play dates. Shopping, movies, park, etc. Also, we think Neacel likes blonde's because Jen laid Jaycie next to Neacel one day to compare them (she was a tiny girl one day and a big girl the next) and he started smiling and laughing. He wouldn't even look at her. He was totally shy. She kept touching his face and he kept smiling and laughing....even blushing a little! He doesn't act like that around any other girl!Girlfriend already? Maybe...

Britney Spears

Jen and I both like Britney Spears so we decided to go to the concert in April! Girls night out without kids. We are going to get all dolled up and just go enjoy ourselves. I've loved Britney since she came out and I'm so excited to see her in concert!!!

Neacel's Dr. Visit

So at Neacel's Dr. Visit today, he weighed in at 16 lbs 14 oz. He is 25 and a half inches long. They said he is perfectly proportioned. He is at the 75th percentile for head size, weight and length.

-Nick