how could I forget?

Dryer sheets.
I forgot to put down his obsession with dryer sheets. He'll walk around the house with one plastered to his nose, sniffing away. He loves the smell.
He also likes how they taste.
I don't understand it, I just want to remember it.
Dryer sheets...he loves the dryer sheets.

18 months

I can't believe how big this boy is getting and I need to remember the cute things that he does at this age that just make me happy to be his Momma.

*He says many words including; Momma, Daddy, Drew, juice, eat, food, hot, hi, bye, shoes, ball, block, box, pop, there, that, huh and several more that I can't think of right at this moment.

*He knows how to make the sounds of several animals including; snake, monkey, bear, pig, horse, cow and Santa (okay, I know this one isn't an animal, but he knows what Santa says).

*He tries to sing with me by singing "OhEE OhEE OhEE" over and over again.

*He loves babies and will lay down on his belly and talk to them.

*He folds his arms when we sit down to eat, when we say the word "pray", and if he hears the words "Dear Heavenly Father"

*He dances to the hymns in sacrament meeting.

*He loves spaghettios, popcorn, graham crackers, marshmallows and any and all types of fruit.

*He loves to open and close the microwave.

*Whenever something is hidden or when he plays peekaboo he always says "huh? huh?" and stands with his hands facing upward. He climbs inside the cabinet sometimes and will close the door and say, "huh? huh?" over and over again until I come and find him.

*Whenever he is discovered, or he pulls his hands away from his face during peekaboo he always says "Hi!"

*He loves to have his quilt that his Gramma M. made him for when he's riding in the car.

*Loves to sleep with his teddy bear Fleming and Miles the giraffe.

*When he gets tired, he'll grab a blanket and curl up on top of it on the floor.

*He goes to sleep all by himself.

*We took him off the pacifier 3 months ago and he really didn't seem to care...he will find one around the house every once in a while and he will get so excited. I am so impressed that he gave it up so easily. Maybe it was me who wasn't ready to give them up.

*If you ask him where his baby brother is, he'll lift up my shirt and kiss my tummy.

*He grabs your finger to lead you wherever he wants to go. If Kyle and I are both around, we both have to give him a finger and both of us have to go with him.

*He has learned to "tickle".

*He doesn't actually "tickle". He will rub your back or your arms while fake-laughing hysterically. He thinks it's the funniest thing to "tickle" his Daddy.

*He loves to give hugs. He'll chase little kids around nursery trying to give them hugs.

*He gives the best hugs ever. Ask Gramma and Grampa M ... they'll agree. He puts his head on your shoulder and wraps his arms all the way around your neck... they're good hugs... you would all be so lucky to get one someday.

*He says "hot" for anything with an uncomfortable temperature. Whether it's cold or it's hot, it's "hot".

*His first week in nursery by himself ended in him being brought to me by the nursery-lady saying that he kept leading her by the finger to the door and asking for me. He had enormous tears and was convulsing from all the crying and when he saw me...he smiled.

*He makes chomping sounds when he wants another bite of food.

*He loves to play and dance on the bed while I get ready for work.

*He will do anything to go outside and play. When we finally entice him to come inside he keeps his coat and shoes on as long as he possibly can.

*We don't like to have him watch much TV, but he loves, absolutely adores to watch Cars. If Cars is playing he will remain glued to the TV until it's over. He loves it.

*He cuddles when he doesn't feel good, and he cuddles at night when we read stories and sing songs for bedtime. I like the cuddling. I think bedtime is my favorite time of day.

*He makes me happier than I ever thought being a mom could make me.

I don't know the last time I've laughed so hard.

I walked in the front room today and saw this.

Apparently he found his vinyl swim trunks today...I don't think he fully understood how they are to be used.

Although, this has inspired me... maybe it's me who has been mistaken for how they are to be used.I think this is a much better use, don't you?

Porter sure thinks so. "Porter, what is on your head?" "Huh?"
I couldn't hold it in much longer. As I busted out laughing, so did he.

It was a good morning.

shoveling

We have a little boy who likes to help. Just tell him what you want him to do and he'll get it done. He loves to help get wood for the fire (and will actually get a little upset if he doesn't get to help haul it in), loves to help me cook in the kitchen, he helps put the clothes in the washer, he helps wash dishes, helps put his toys away, and his newest love...shoveling the snow.

We haven't had a ton of snow this week, just a couple of inches on Tuesday. But, when Kyle took Porter out to play in it, Porter got fascinated with the shovel and all that it entails.

I think I need to lock this in early.

I mean, I have photographic evidence that he enjoys it... then it becomes his job for life, right?

24 in 2008

Okay, here it goes. My list of 24 things I did in 2008. By the way I have to mention that I am very proud of Angie for coming up with her list of 28...way to go babe.

1. Hiked to 13 new arches this year, with pictures to prove it.
2. Nailed a new job in the ER. This is probably one of my most happy things that happened this year. I may complain now and then about dumb patients or some of the requirements of my job, but the bottom line...I love it. I love working where I work and who I work with. I love it.
3. I became a redhead for the first time ever.
4. Quickly went back to being a blonde.
5. Chopped all of my hair off. The hair I had been growing for nearly 3 years went "bye-bye" and was replaced by a pixie-cut that I adore. I think I'll have Raylene do it again to me in a couple of weeks.
6. Lost all of my pregnancy weight + 12lbs.
7. Got pregnant for the second time with another little boy!
8. Watched as my first son turned a year old and has learned to walk and talk.
9. Tried sushi for the first time...and probably my last.
10. Gave my first haircut to Porter...probably a first and last as well.
11. Was in my first car accident/rollover...one more thing I hope not to repeat.
12. I only read 7 books this past year...that number should be increased this year.
13. I went to the ER for the first time as a mom instead of as a nurse or a patient. Didn't care for it much.
14. Almost died on a hike to The Subway. I do plan on trying this one again but with a few things changed; different time of year, no kid, not being pregnant.
15. Bought a pretty red Toyota 4 runner to replace the Honda that I smushed.
16. Played paintball for the first time and fell in love with it. Thanks honey.
17. Went on a ride over the Poison Spider with Kyle and his parents. Didn't cry once, but did have to climb out and hike a little.
18. Hit my first golf ball. It wasn't that thrilling.
19. Researched a gluten free diet, fully prepared to start a new life gluten-free when we thought that was what Porter was allergic to. And I jumped for joy (and ate a tray of brownies) when we found out that it wasn't necessary.
20. Discovered that the best ribs on the planet exist at Texas Roadhouse. My favorite new place to dine.
21. Hiked to Kanarra falls twice...looking forward to going again.
22. Succeeded in making all of my Christmas ornaments/decorations/presents. Normally at least one of those would have been dropped and forgotten, but not this year!
23. Discovered that Cranberry Splash Sierra Mist really is seasonal and that it makes it's return to store shelves after Halloween.
24. I was called "momma" for the first time ever by my sweet little redhead. Love that word. And that kid.

And that, in a nutshell, was my past year. It was a year full of good things and some not-so-good things, but I loved it. This year will be just as great (hopefully with a little less of the daredevil-stunt driving).

It was a very merry Christmas, and a happy New Year

We had a wonderful holiday season...the only bad part is that it's over. I enjoyed quite a bit of time off of work and with Kyle not in school, we were able to spend quite a bit of time with each other. We were very happy that we were able to visit both my family and Kyle's for the holidays, and wish we could have spent more time with both.

We headed up to my parents for Christmas. They were in the middle of a great snowstorm when we arrived and it continued through the night. The next day we decided that Porter should enjoy some time out in the snow. So, we headed to the basement and pulled out some of my old winter clothes. We packed him into my old purple snowpants that I wore when I was probably 5 or 6. We rolled up the pantlegs, tied a nice little bow with the shoulder straps and he was ready to go. The snow came up past his waist, but he was determined to make it to Gramma and Grampa's snow-covered teeter-totter in the backyard. By the time we made it back to the house, he was so tired and cold that he shook off his gloves, climbed up to the back door and kept pointing for us to go back in.

We had a great time at the Benton's for our annual Fiesta on Christmas Eve, complete with a pinata this year. I don't know what Christmas would be without Fiesta. I can't begin to fathom not eating Momma's chimichanga's on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas morning we enjoyed watching Porter open his presents. We put two little matchbox cars in his stocking...and that was all he wanted. We had a difficult time getting him to put them down to open another gift, and after a while we just gave up. We opened some of his presents for him and even saved one to open later since he was so disinterested in opening them.

He cruised around the family room for quite a while making "vroom vroom" noises with the cars.

We had to run home on Christmas day so that I could work that night...but with an awful cough that made me lose my voice around 1 am, they sent me home early. I discovered that you can't do my job if you have no voice. It just doesn't work, trust me... I tried.

The next morning we headed to Gramma and Grampa C.'s house as planned. We were able to spend an entire week at their house. I battled with my cough and congestion and then I graciously gave it to Kyle and Porter. We also caught Chase's stomach bug and ended up spending most of the week in our jammies drinking all the fluids we could.

We were able to heal up enough to enjoy our New Year's Eve festivities though. We played games, watched movies and I kissed my honey at midnight. It was a great New Year's... although it was not completely free of its excitement.

We went to bed at about 1:30 and about 15 minutes later Porter woke up screaming... with swollen lips. So, another allergic reaction to kick off the start of the year. Being a good boy like he is, Porter took his Benadryl like a champ and a few hours later his lips were almost back to normal.

We've had 7 blissful months free of reactions...I guess we were due for another. I just wish that we could figure out what has been the cause. This little boy is still a mystery.

The holidays were wonderful and we're looking forward to another great year.