July in Idaho

We went up to Idaho for a family reunion in the middle of July. It was really hot and G had tons of fun running around in the sun with Daddy.

We visited my Grandma who is 97. She held Joseph and he actually smiled, but we didn't catch it quick enough. I am forever grateful for her righteous life lived entirely for her family and I am proud to be a part of her legacy.

Joseph also met his Great Grandpa and Grandma Daughs while we were in Idaho... this is snuggling with Grandpa. I am so grateful for their legacy of service- they served two full-time missions and have always been a force for good wherever they are!

Baby Smiles

This is one of Joseph's first smiles... he's really gotten the hang of it now, and he talks and coos more than any 2 month old I've ever seen. He just watches people until they look at him and then he starts talking. He doesn't really like to look at toys, just faces.

It's so hard to catch the smiles perfectly on camera, so please ignore the nakedy bottom!

Random July

My beautiful boys! We sure love them.

We are always asking G to stay out of the bouncer chair bc he's too big so when he asked if he could sit in the car seat I said sure! He loved it.

Joseph really enjoys his baths... this time he scooted himself all the way down and then stuck his feet out. He just looked so cute, like he was just chilling in a hot tub or something.

Fourth of July

Where did July go?!? I'll start at the weekend of the Fourth, I guess...

As part of the Freedom Festival festivities, they have a Children's Parade the week before the fourth. It's mostly just kids and families riding bikes and walking the parade route, but they throw LOTS of candy.

G got a piece of candy right in the face- he didn't cry (probably because he was eating candy), but it hit him pretty hard.

Just watching the parade, waiting for more candy- aren't they adorable?!?

Stadium of Fire, sitting on the lawn by the bell tower. I've only missed the fireworks show a handful of times in my whole life... CA, Cleveland, India and Uruguay.

I also went to Center St. in Provo at 6 am to save a place along the parade route in the morning... then my mom and Kaylee and Mary came to hang out until the parade started so I could go home. I really should have gone at 4 or 5 am (I was awake anyway!)... because Center St. was already full. I thought we'd be ok because city ordinance says you can't save places along Center until 5 am, but I think people were there long before that- just in case anyone wants to try it next year...

July 5th my niece Madison was baptized. It was so awesome to have most of the family there for such a special day... isn't she beautiful? These are all the men who participated in the confirmation. What a lucky little girl to be loved so much!

Sunday we blessed our little Joseph. He was really good, and I was glad I could barely squeeze him into his blessing outfit because he looked so cute! I am so grateful the family all came to support us and celebrate the birth and blessing of our little guy... we really have an awesome family and we feel so blessed.

Levi's friend Dave came to participate in the blessing and meet Joseph- thanks, Dave!

2 Month Update

We had Joseph's 2 month check-up yesterday... everything looks good and he's been a trooper since getting his shots.

Weight: 14 lbs
Height: 23 1/2 inches
He's a healthy one, that's for sure!

Gideon's 3 year check-up
Weight: 35 lbs
Height: 38 1/2 inches

We love our growing boys! They are both getting so big so fast- it is an adventure every day.

Ok, Here's June...

Lately, it seems like every spare moment I get on the computer I'm looking for an apartment in Philadelphia. It's a big city, you'd think finding a place to live wouldn't be so hard! We have made some great friends already, who have been checking out the places that look good from far away... some smell, some are damp, missing appliances we need, etc., etc. We are going to have faith, though, and I know the perfect place is just around the corner!

So, we decided to put Gideon's "BIG boy" bed up in his room so he could get used to it... that plan was cut short when he decided that he wanted to sleep in it right then. Who wouldn't? It's a race car for Pete's sake!

It's been up and down (just like him every night!)... some nights he does great, and other nights he ends up in his crib again- which is what happens when he gets OUT of his bed and we catch him (yeah, right... he's a quick one). And I'm starting to think we have a lawyer or politician on our hands...

"Gideon, are you out of your bed?!?"

"No, no, I'm not out of my bed!" Bless his heart, he's trying to be obedient (or at least not get in trouble)!

Beautiful baby

Best Daddy in the world!

Chillin with Daddy

It's awesome to be a little boy... with friends

Gideon and his friend Jack were quietly fingerpainting when we left them alone for maybe, 30 seconds?!? Jack kept saying they were Spiderman... I thought they looked more like the Hulk! Thank goodness for washable fingerpaints!

It's awesome to be a little boy

Happy Father's Day!

I just wanted to post a tribute to Levi, our very best Daddy. We love him SO much it's impossible to put it into words. I have never seen a man play with and teach his children as much as Levi does. He will sit and play (or run around and play) with Gideon for HOURS... and I'm serious when I say HOURS. I last maybe 8 minutes. He's always teaching Gideon as they play- how to spell his name, the numbers on his cars (he knows all the racecars' numbers from the movie Cars), how things work, his letters, car symbols, etc., etc. He reads to Gideon every day and always makes time to snuggle. And he always, always makes sure Gideon knows that he is loved. The things he does are not always easy for him, but he does them anyway- even when he's tired or frustrated. It amazes me the patience and love he has for his family!

With Joseph, Levi will take him (no matter what time of day or night) even if he's fussy... especially if he's fussy. He tells Joseph how much he loves him every time he holds him, and means it sincerely. His love just grew when Joseph was born and he became a new priority in Levi's life. I think that's the greatest accomplishment and compliment for a father... his children and family are his number one priority. He has so many other responsibilities, and I'm sure he wishes he could spend more time/money doing the things he would like to do, but his family always comes first. Wow. Levi, you were born to be a father.

We love you, Levi (Daddy)- You are the greatest!

Take a minute and watch the new Daddy slideshow... He's absolutely incredible!

Calling all Mothers

I really need a super cool diaper bag. Really. And it needs to be cool. If you have one you love, please comment and tell me which one... Thanks! :)

Photo Shoot

Our little BYU fans! Once again, it looks like Joseph is trying to escape... I wonder why?!?

Our handsome boys!

Joseph was trying to tell us he was done with pictures. We listened.

I finally got some pictures of our little guy that actually look like him!

Our Little Family

Finally- Dad got a picture with Mom... still no make-up, but it looks like I got a shower. Not the best picture of Joseph, eh?
I love Joseph's face... he's like, "Help- I'm falling!"
My little boys

This is right after Levi did Gideon's hair for the day- "It's spikey," he kept saying... and when my nephew touched it, he came crying to me and said, "Grant broke my hair!" Yep, he's his father's boy (that's one of the first things I learned when we were dating- don't touch the hair)!

Baby Pictures

I don't have a baby picture of Levi yet, but here are hospital pictures of the rest of us... Joseph is definitely my child!

Joseph Asher

Christine Marie

Gideon Levi

Gideon is the littlest- a pound smaller than I was and two full pounds smaller than Joseph.

More Pictures

This is when Joseph met his cousins Hailey and Emily
We left Gideon alone with the markers 2 minutes and too few papers too long.
Gideon LOVES holding Joseph- he is almost always very very gentle.
Ok, so this is gross beyond gross, but how could we resist?!? It was a dark and stormy night, just before we were going to crawl into our nice warm bed (way too late already) and we thought we should make sure Joseph was nice and clean. One serious cleaning job, three diapers, a new shirt for mom, and about 45 minutes later we finally got to bed. It's amazing how much power these little guys pack!

Updates

Joseph always has this worried look... I think he must have done it in the womb because he was born with lines between his eyebrows.
This is after Gideon tried the "tipping back the chips bag to get the rest of the crumbs" trick he learned from Daddy. I think Levi usually does it with an individual size bag of chips. Gideon tipped it back and dumped the crumbs all over himself and the floor- it was hilarious. I was feeding Joseph and could only watch in horror/amusement... you should have seen his face!
Gideon and I were watching a Food Network Challenge where they were making Disney Pixar cakes (while I fed Joseph- really I was watching and Gideon kept asking to watch Nemo or one of the other movies he saw on the show), so we decided to make a cake while Joseph slept. The top is tasting the cake mix and the bottom is tasting the cake- well, really just the frosting :)It's tough having a new baby in the house... this is what happened when Levi went upstairs to get Gideon up from his nap the other day- I don't think either one of them was ready for the nap to be over just yet.

Typing One-Handed

So, it's been two weeks and I wanted to post some pictures... I thought we had a lot more than we do, it seems like we're always reaching for the camera, but I'll give you what we've got.

Right after his first bath

Sleeping kinda peacefully- he always has a worried look.

Gideon loves his baby and loves to cause trouble while I'm nursing, because he knows I can't do much about it (although I proved him wrong the other day and just stood up and put him in time out and kept him there while I was nursing- maybe he'll know it's possible now).

Joseph has Levi's coloring and although his newborn-ness looked exactly like my newborn picture from the hospital, he looks more like Levi every day... there is no doubt that he is his father's son. And he has awesome white-blond eyebrows and eyelashes and his hair looks a little more strawberry every day. He weighs a little over 9 pounds now and I'm now positive he will not fit into his blessing outfit when the time comes. He has a brachial nerve injury because his shoulder got a little stuck on the way out, but the pediatrician didn't seem too worried and he moves his arm more every day (especially when he's screaming at us- like right now). We're starting him on Tagamet today bc it looks like we have another reflux baby. He's a good baby and really only cries when he's trying to burp or poop :), and we love the spirit we feel when we take the time to really talk to him and appreciate him- there is no doubt he was meant to be a part of our family and that he is excited to be here with us.