Jazz game!

Last night, Nick, Neacel and I all went to the Jazz game. We thought Neacel would sleep through most of it since he hadn't slept for hours. But he had other plans. He was awake the whole time! When we first got there he was sleeping, and he was even on TV! He was wearing his Jazz hat and t-shirt and looked like a true fan (thanks Mel for the Jazz stuff)! Probably one of the youngest fans at the game. He did pretty well though. There was plenty of crying but also tons of awake time trying to figure out where all the noise was coming from. He just sat on my lap and would just turn his head from side to side, talking and making noises. He was cheering with the rest of us I guess. This is what happened plenty of times:

Kinda sleepy, Nick would cover his ears because it was so loud!
Nick took the Jazz blanket and put it over his ears, and he passed out!
Everyone started cheering and he of course starts screaming and crying.
He did well for the most part though. I'm very proud of him. Our little true blue Jazz fan!





I have plenty more to post about but there is a 2 and 1/2 month old crying now.....
I guess I should probably feed him....oops!

Quick note....he only woke up once last night! He slept from 10-3:30 and then woke up again around 5:30 but didn't need his mom, just his thumb! Then I woke him up at 8 this morning to get going. It was amazing, I hope this is a beginning to something great called SLEEP!

2 Months

Neacel turned two months old on the 13Th and we celebrated by going to the doctor and getting shots! I was so afraid he was going to scream and cry the whole time but he truly shocked me. First the medicine by mouth, I was told most babies spit it out and that its OK for them to. Not my kid! He took it like a trooper! Then came the shots, the first one he starts smiling and laughing! The second one was followed by screaming and crying so we waited a few minutes for the third. The nurse came in and gave him the shot...his eyes got super big and then he said "GA" followed by a smile! I was totally shocked. He did great! Neacel is growing up a ton and we are loving every minute of it. Bath time is his favorite. He sits in his tub talking, smiling and laughing, and of course splashing around a ton. He is constantly talking to us and is always smiling and laughing. Nights still suck but we are putting rice cereal in his bottle before bed and he sleeps a little longer but not a ton. The pediatrician thinks he may have heartburn so he is taking some medicine for that and we will find out in the next few nights if that's what it is or not.
I still love being a mom and have found that the older he gets the more time I have for me. (shower, eating, gym, etc.) Him and I spend the day playing, eating, watching tv, and cleaning. He isn't taking very long naps during the day. 30 minutes here and there but that's about it. He is wearing 0-3 now but that's getting snug so 3-6 has come out of storage! Plus everything I can't help to buy for him. Every penny I get ends up going on things for him. Tomorrow I'm going to Target and buying most (if not all) the toys they have on clearance right now! He still eats like a bottomless pit but I guess that's a boy thing! I can't believe its been two months already. I think both Nick and I have taken to being parents pretty great. Nick helps a ton! He and I both started a bedtime routine so that Neacel will get use to things and so that we can have some quiet time. First a bath (usually Nick does that) then Ill get him dressed for bed and make his "special" bottle and feed that to him while Nick reads him a story! We both love our little boy and love being parents!

Also, I'm not going to be able to post as much for a while:-( We don't have a computer or internet and I have no idea when we are going to have those. But I will do my best and Nick will post things here and there too! Sorry

Our Boy is Growing Up

Mandy asked me (Nick) to update the blog, since our internet at home has stopped working. How rude of people to stop letting us steal their wireless interenet. Anyway, Neacel has grown up so fast. He is much more fun than he used to be. He smiles a lot more, gives us more goo's and gaa's, pays attention to us when we talk to him, splashes in the bath, etc. Anyway, here are some pics:















Here is Neacel at like 6 days old.















This is Neacel smiling because he know's Mom wants him to take a nap, but he isn't going to.

Here is Neacel Dressing like a rockstar. His aunt Brandi got him this outfit for Christmas.

His favorite time is bathtime. He splashes, talks and smiles the whole time; until you take him out, then he screams bloody murder.

Here he is, unhappy that Mom and Dad have dressed him like the bear from the Snuggle Fabric Softener commercials.

Neacel is doing his best impression of his Mommy. No, but seriously, the kid has lungs.

Neacel, giving a wink to all the ladies out there.

Neacel taking a nap. He has recently started sleeping through most of the night. Thank you rice cereal.

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!

Pediatrician Problems

Nick and I are not impressed with the pediatrician we chose for Neacel. The doctor came highly recommended from a few friends so we decided to stick with him. We should have seen a problem with him and the office staff before but we didn't know what we were looking for. We are completely new to this!

Our first visit was a meeting Dr. Hurley. This should have been a HUGE red flag but we shrugged it off. We were meeting with him just to talk and get to know him. He, for some odd reason, didn't know we were coming! We had an appointment at 5:30 and he had a patient to see at 6. He showed up close to 6 and the conversation was very brief and quick. He had a patient to get to and well I guess that was slightly more important. Nick and I left saying he seemed nice and since he has been recommended to us by several people we would stick with him.

At the birth, he never showed! The doctor didn't come to see Neacel till Friday afternoon and said that the people at the hospital never contacted him. My nurse Martha said they had called a few times and apparently he never got the message. That was the last time the doctor saw Neacel. The rest of my hospital stay we were seeing other pediatricians in the same office. I understand that people get time off but you can't come to the hospital for 15 minutes to check on my little boy? I wouldn't have to see a different doctor if I came to your office. We talked to him a little while he was there the one day and everything was fine. But the whole time I kinda felt that he looked down on us, like we were too young to be parents and have no idea what we are doing.

Today, was the 2 week check up. Neacel is now 9lbs and 6oz! I had an appointment at 11:20 this morning and received a call a little after 9:30 saying that they needed me to come in before 11 because Dr. Hurley didn't realize he had to do a circumcision and that he was a little over booked! Why aren't the office staff watching how they book appointments and how come my doctor for the second time now didn't know something? I showed up around 11:10, I made an appointment and if they can't keep track of things and whats going on oh well, that's their problem not mine! So the doctor was asking questions about how he is eating, sleeping, activity, etc. I answered everything but he still would just give me this dumb-founded look, so I would then have to explain myself. I didn't see why I needed to explain that he sleeps a ton (3-4 hours), eats a ton (4oz+ each time he eats) and is very active and happy! He wanted to know "exacts", like how many hours between each feeding, when he is looking around does he look at Nick and I and stare, how many ounces he is eating exactly, etc. I don't keep a chart marking everything down, call me a bad mom but I don't see the need for it. I'm not going to write down what every dirty diaper was like and how many ounces he ate. I pay attention and can give you pretty accurate information. Again, I feel that he is totally looking down on me and how I'm raising my child.

We got the circumcision done and he is explaining everything to me like I'm 16! I know that its a cosmetic procedure, and I know what it entails, please don't talk to me like I'm 16 and some stupid teenager! Then when I decided to stay in the room he looked at me in shock, sorry I want to be there for my little boy while he is screaming and crying! I left the office not in the best mood and a little disappointed but again I shrugged it off! When I got home I called Nick and told him a little, and then Nick reminded me that Dr. Hurley told us in the hospital that at Neacel's 2 week check up we would do immunizations. Guess what? They didn't! Didn't even mention it but they took his charts and everything and saw that it hadn't been done at that point.

Nick and I are going to find a different doctor. We aren't impressed with him or the staff, but how do we know which doctor is right? I want that perfect doctor that seems to love his job and adores children. One where the office and rooms are bright colors and totally just for kids and where the doctor and the staff are just friendly and greet you as soon as you walk in the door! How do we go about finding that perfect doctor? When we go to meet a pediatrician what are somethings we should ask and look for? Any recommendations for doctors in the area? We just want someone that we like and one that doesn't forget about us! And of course, totally kid friendly!

Mandy the Disco Elf

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Zoe's Heart

Zoe is a first grader who needs a new heart. My mom works with her mom and we have been keeping up with her story. Please pray for Zoe and pass the word along. As mother's we can only imagine what her mother feels like and want to do everything in our power to help....

Little Piggy

The jaundice is gone!

Doesn't he look like a little bug? Neacel was in the Bili bed for two nights and we hated every minute of it. Getting up every hour to check on him and make sure his eye patch things were still on and that he wasn't getting too hot, was awful. I was so happy to get the phone call saying that we could take him out of the bed. It was complete torture to have him in there. I can't just let him cry but I had to, there was nothing that we could do. Him being out of the bed has been a HUGE blessing. I can actually sleep at night now and he seems much happier! Before I would stay up all night with him and make sure everything was OK and then maybe get a hour or two once Nick got up. I would try and nap throughout the day but I just couldn't.

We gave Neacel his first bath here at home and he wasn't too thrilled about it! We had heard that some babies like baths because it reminds them of being in the womb. Well, he hates it and I'm guessing its because there wasn't any room in the womb for him so it could be slightly upsetting! He just screamed and cried the whole time. Nick and I felt bad but there was nothing we could do. Nick would put his Binky in his mouth and he would get quiet for a minute and then just start screaming again. Poor thing!

Here he is after his bath in his little ducky robe. I think its too cute. He still wasn't happy because he was cold and I was putting lotion on him. His skin is so dry on his hands and feet. I put lotion on them a few times a day but nothing is helping. The robe is also pretty big on him but most things are.

After a nice big bottle and getting some PJ's on he is happy and sound asleep! I love these little dino PJ's. I found them at Kid to Kid months ago and just had to have them for him. They are slightly big but oh well; that just means he can wear them a lot longer!!! Also, don't you just love his hair! The kid has tons of it! I was trying to get it to go in a mohawk but everything just stands straight up so instead it kind of just looks like a mess! I think this is just the cutest picture of him! We are totally obsessed with him.

He is growing a ton and looking more like Nick every day. We pulled out Nick's baby book and I swear to you, they are twins.

He is eating a ton, about 3-4oz every 2 hours. He is always hungry! He would eat more easily, but we aren't letting him till I talk to the doctor on Wednesday for his 2 week check up. When he is "starving" he shakes his head (like saying NO) while crying a little and snorts like a pig! It's cute in a pathetic kind of way! Almost like he is freaking out trying to find the bottle which we have already put in his mouth. He is being bottle fed which I really didn't want, but he won't latch on and my milk still hasn't come in. Nick thinks he won't latch on because he wants tons of food quickly (he drinks his bottle within minutes!) and well, things just don't work that way. He doesn't want to work for his food, he got spoiled while he was in my tummy, I guess the room service was a little too nice!

Sound asleep and ready for the BYU vs. UofU game. He and I ended up staying home, I had too much to get done around the house and he was really fussy. I didn't want to attempt going somewhere and him freaking out the whole time. It's a good thing we stayed home too. BYU lost, sorry Nick maybe next year! Nick was also a little hurt because Neacel decided to pee on his onsie and we all know how Nick feels about BYU and the Jazz, going potty on the onsie isn't allowed!