On the Road Again . . . Can't Wait to Get on the Road Again.

January 12-18, 2015

Sunday afternoon we left Utah to head home about 3:45 pm. Our time in Utah flew by and although we got to see lots of family, we didn't see any (non-family) friends. We were there for a long time though and we were ready to come home. Caleb woke up around 5 on Saturday morning and was just crying, asking when we could go back to our home.

During our drive I frequently climbed from the front seat to the back of the van and from the back to the front. If the DVD screen was down, I usually managed to bump into it. Caleb ever so kindly reminded me, "Don't bump it again with your big bum." We had snow, ice and wind during my stretch from 7 pm-midnight but pretty clear roads other than that. I also got the fun stretch of two-lane highway from 5 am-9 am.

We got home Monday around 4:30 pm; it took just under 24 hours. Cathryn Parker had put beef stew in our crockpot, so we came home to a delicious dinner. Leila was looking for Grammy the minute we walked in our door. Our kids excitedly played with all of their toys and just ran around from toy to toy while we unloaded the van. After getting them to bed (they were also so excited to be sleeping in their own beds!) Allen and I watched the Football National Championship game while taking down our Christmas tree and decorations. Had I just sat on the couch, I would have fallen asleep within minutes.

Leila helping put away Christmas ornaments

Tuesday Allen took the day off to recover from our drive (and vacation). Caleb slept in until 6:30 and Leila until 7:30! He chose to come visiting teaching with me while Leila napped. We put up our new gallery wall, watched How to Train Your Dragon 2, napped and went to Costco. When Allen was chasing Leila, she would get going too fast and fall on her face. Once she managed to get her head to bounce off the couch and off the ottoman and hit the couch again, only to jump up and say, "Otay!" Whenever she coughs, sneezes or falls (if she isn't hurt), she immediately says, "Otay," to let us know that she's okay. I usually ask her if she's okay when she coughs or falls so now she just tells me before I ask.

It was hard to wake up from naps on Tuesday.

Wednesday the kids and I played Planes Fire and Rescue for at least two hours. I worked on unpacking and cleaning while the kids enjoyed playing with their toys that they had missed on vacation. We needed to get out of the house, so even though it was cold and sprinkling, we rode bikes outside for a while before naps. Leila was running to try to keep up with Caleb but she keeps tipping over like she's top-heavy and I thought she was going to face plant multiple times. She managed to catch herself before her face hit the cement but it hurt her hands more than usual since they were cold.

That night Allen and I moved the desk from the study down to our bedroom, in preparation to turn the study into Caleb's bedroom before the new baby comes.

Thursday morning Caleb wanted to help Leila with breakfast prayer. It was pretty cute to watch him try to get her to repeat after him! The kids came with me to my OB appointment. It was a pretty typical appointment for me: quick urine sample, weight check, blood pressure check. Wait for the doctor for a few minutes. He comes in, listens for the heartbeat and says, "Everything seems great, see you in four weeks. Any questions?" And then we leave. I'm grateful to have healthy pregnancies.

When we got back from the doctor, the weather was nice so we played outside. Caleb found a hill to be the North Mountain and Leila found some dirt to play in. Leila got promoted from Olaf to Anna because she started chasing him up the North Mountain while I was talking with our neighbor, Tracy.

Friday we went to Walmart to pick up some things for a baby shower I was hosting the next day. The kids love sitting in the back of the cart together and helping me choose produce and putting the items on the conveyer belt thing when we're checking out. It was gorgeous outside so we played on the North Mountain for a while and then met some friends at the park. That night I attended a Favorite Things party. It was fun!

Pretending to talk to Grammy on the phone

Playing with the arcade toys at Walmart - no one better tell them that you're supposed to put money in.

Saturday I hosted our new neighbor's baby shower. We spent the morning cleaning and were still working on it when friends showed up to start decorating. It went well although I may have gone a little overboard on the games... we did minute to win it and it may have been a little much for a baby shower. ;) The food was delicious though!

Getting ready for the relay

A few of the decorations and woman/baby of honor

Saturday afternoon we played outside and helped Dad take down Christmas lights and cut down tree limbs.

Dad's helper

While Allen was still taking down lights and cutting branches, we wandered down the street and drove our friend's car.

Leila's pouty face after dropping the last of her popsicle on the ground

Wanting Caleb's

Sunday we showed up for church at 9, only to remember our ward now meets at 11. We went home for some Ramen Noodles (per Leila's request), Leila napped and Caleb and I did an activity from The Friend.

I hated to wake her up for church!

When I asked Caleb how he could help Jesus, he said, "I help my sister not be sad."

When we returned to church at the right time, Allen played the organ in Sacrament meeting and was Scripture Man in primary. He wears a cape and sunglasses and has super powers that come from memorizing scriptures. He went in last week to help the kids memorize a scripture and Caleb thought it was awesome that Dad came in. My friend did the singing time in nursery, she said when the leaders told the kids it was time for singing time, Leila excitedly said, "Daddy!" She's isn't used to him not doing music anymore.

Caleb did great at his first week in sunbeams! He was the only one in his class to sit in his chair the whole time and he sang along too. We told Caleb that on Sundays he needs to call Ada's mom Sister Cheney since she's his sunbeam teacher. He then informed us that on Sundays we can call him Bono. Haha!!!

Other things of note:
Caleb realized that he can now hop on one foot (while holding onto the counter).
Leila likes to sit on the arm of the couch and fell off this week.
Leila loves to make people laugh.
She also loves to talk on the phone. She cried any time I talked on the phone this week and wouldn't let her hold it. When she did hold the phone, she would repeat everything I said into it.

St Patty's Day and Mama's Makeup

March 17-23, 2014

Allen took Monday off of work since he has a couple of vacation days he has to use up before April 1st.

Watching Cars in the morning with Dad. He got up with Caleb at 6 am and let me sleep in.

We did fun things like give the boys haircuts, defrost the freezer, get the oil changed in his car, and played at a different park. It was a productive and fun day.

Playing with Leila's new birthday toys, thanks Grammy.

This was a seahorse and Caleb called it Sheldon from Finding Nemo. He has yet to watch the whole movie (too scary) but he loves the two Nemo books our neighbors gave us and knows the names of every character in the movie.

Monday was also St. Patrick's Day. We wore green and I forgot to get stuff for corned beef and cabbage for dinner, so we did shamrock pancakes. Pancakes with bacon is one of Caleb's current favorite meals. Leila liked it too tonight!

That night Allen had the first game of the season for his indoor soccer league.

Eating toast with Dad before his game.

He came hobbling into our bedroom at 10:30 pm saying, "Nikki, I think I need you to look at my ankle." He had managed to sprain it both medially and laterally. I'm thankful for my degree (and so is he).

Tuesday Leila had her GI appointment and he gave the okay to try to introduce her to dairy and soy (at different times). She had cheese and loved it. She spat up about ten minutes later but didn't seem uncomfortable. She began to be fussy later in the day but other than that had no reaction! We went to the park and had early naps.

She likes attempting to climb the stairs but she's so little and not quite strong enough yet in her midsection to do it without assistance.

The first shoes that stay on Leila's feet, I had to get lots of pictures! They're size 0-3 months and are the right length, but most of those shoes are way too wide. These ones have velcro that let me tighten them enough to stay on, unless she pulls on them, then they come off easily.

Excited hands. Leila's train she got for her birthday. Caleb loves it, so does Leila but guess who usually gets to play with it...

I keep her binky in her mouth while we're at the park because it's hard to keep every leaf and wood chip out of her mouth. She's so fast at finding them and getting them in there! 

After our naps we went to a nearby nature reserve with Michelle and Jack. Caleb had fun and since then, whenever he's heard Michelle's name, he has asked if we're going on a nature walk again. That night I had a meeting with our new activity day leaders so hopefully we can get that up and running again!

Splashing in a muddy puddle at the nature reserve. He got kind of scared about it being deep (up to his knees) and not being able to see how deep it was and instead of running through it like I expected him to, he stopped and asked me to come help get him out.

 Wednesday Caleb got to play at Luke's house (he was so excited!) while I took Leila to her one year appointment. Dr. Formica was really happy with her growth and development over the past three months. And her stats are:
Height  27.75" (8%)   Weight  15 lb 11 oz/7.12 kg (3%)   Head Circumference 18" (72%)
Yay! She's on the charts for height AND weight now! She has always followed the Adams' family tradition of a large head.

Taking the folded clothes out of the laundry basket one by one. 

She tried yogurt and wasn't sure about it but still no real reaction other than some spit up and extra pooping, which for her isn't a bad thing. She has chronic constipation (normal for 22q kids) and normally we have to give her medicine to help but giving her dairy helps regularize things for her.

She has to hold something while she gets her diaper changed, otherwise she rolls and squirms away and makes it very difficult to change her!

Skyping with Grammy and trying to get the buttons and being chased and tackled by Caleb and loving it.

 Wednesday night the missionaries were coming for dinner and I was feeding Leila as I was preparing dinner. He wanted to feed Leila and he usually does a good job. They were both laughing, as is usual when he feeds her. I went back to go to the bathroom and when I came back, Leila was covered in food and was not happy. He was gleefully painting her with food: first her head, left arm, right arm, nose, ear, etc. She tried ice cream and it didn't sit too well; she had tummy pains.

 Thursday we had our AC repaired and then the kids and I went on a run and met friends at the Wimberly Way park.

She is so little, her 9 month pajamas are so huge on her! 

 Caleb has been waking up early all week and passed out on our way there even though it was only 10:30 am. We stayed at the park for a couple of hours since the weather was beautiful and Leila fell asleep on the way home. Once both kids were down, I mowed the lawn.

Caleb and Kyler

 Allen was going to the temple with the youth in our ward and didn't have time to come home first so we met him at a Wendy's by the church to eat with him before he had to go pick up the youth. Leila tried her first frosty. She liked it!

At Wendy's, when she tried her first Frosty.

 Friday was uneventful, I don't know if we did much other than go to the gym and stop at the park on the way home. I do know the kids were both grumpy and ready for bed early. Oh yeah! We put the kids to bed early and watched an episode of White Collar.

Caleb has been waking up so early because he's proud of his independence to come downstairs and carry a diaper and wipes down to Mom and Dad's room for us to change his diaper in the morning. He has no clue what time it is and all week has been awake and downstairs by 4:30 am. It has shown through in his grumpiness and he's been falling asleep by noon in his high chair. He used to nap between 1 and 2 pm.

Saturday was also uneventful other than our daily trip to the park and . . .  I ate ice cream (I've had to be dairy-free since May 2013)! Prior to this, we were having Leila try dairy and keeping everything else constant, including me not eating dairy. I could only have vanilla because all of the other delicious Blue Bell flavors have soy. I did add Hershey's syrup and it was delicious. The next couple of nights I added Hershey's and caramel, mmm!

We also played in the front yard. Leila and I played on the blanket while Caleb and Dad played with the soccer ball and tried to his tennis balls. . . I can't find those pictures.

I love this cutie!

That picture just reminded me! It has finally been warm enough that Leila hasn't had to wear long sleeves all of the time and she was fascinated by her elbows. She sat and grabbed at them and watched them bend a few different times that day.

Allen spoke in church on Sunday and did an excellent job. I wear makeup once a week and it consists of mascara, and sometimes eyeshadow and eyeliner, someday I may figure out how to apply more than that but probably not. Anyway, Caleb was brushing his teeth while sitting on the bathroom counter as he loves to do when I get ready for church and he asked to put some on. So I let him but forgot to tell Allen. As we were heading out the door, Al grabbed Caleb to wash the 'marker' off his face but when I told him it was eyeshadow, he smiled, laughed and said, "Never mind then! We don't need to wash it off, let's go to church." I'm glad I have a husband who doesn't mind when our son wears a necklace to church (that happened every Sunday for almost a year) or wants to try makeup.

Caleb wore some of my eyeshadow to church. :) Also, this grimace is how he smiles. 

From my letter to Lizzi:

Leila's one year old appointment was this week, she is on the charts! 2nd % weight and 8th% height and 72nd% head circumference. We're attempting to start feeding her dairy now. 

Caleb has pretty much mastered the playground and can do everything by himself. He is even figuring out how to pump on the big swing.

I was feeding her and then Caleb started helping feed her while I finished fixing dinner for the missionaries. He was doing well and then I left to go to the bathroom... When I came back, he had painted her with her food. Globs of baby food on her head, nose, arms, ears, etc. It was funny!

Someone Please Press Pause!

There are times when I look at my kids and can't believe how much they've grown and I'm excited about how big they are. But then I think about how they won't ever be this little again and it makes me sad. As hard as I try to recall how it felt holding Caleb as a little baby, or as often as I look at pictures of him then, I can't really remember it. I forget so quickly the little things that happen that make up our day-to-day life and I don't want to! I want to remember everything. Here are a few everyday snippets:

The way Caleb takes things from Leila and runs away and then she (slowly) crawls after him. She doesn't make it very far before he laps her. She turns her head to watch him coming from the other direction and laughs as he passes her. Then he laughs and they laugh again and again.

Sitting in the car going to the grocery store: Leila started making high-pitched squeals. Caleb imitated her and she'd repeat it and he'd imitate again. As I tried to get Caleb to not scream so loudly, I gave up as both children were laughing the deep belly laugh that I wish I could get on video. Pretty soon I was laughing along with them. Leila would scream, Caleb would scream and we all would laugh, all the way to the store, except for the moments punctuated with, "Mom, go fast!", "nother one bus", "two b-bus" (that's how he used to do the plural for busses), "woah, wot of dirt". 

Allen gets home from work, we're playing on the floor and he picks Leila up and wuzzles her neck. She hits/pats his cheek and he turns his head quickly over and over again and pretty soon they're both laughing so hard. 

Caleb missing Dad when he has to "go a work wong (long) time" and his excitement when Dad gets home. 

Leila finds the littlest things on our floor, picks them and up and puts them in her mouth with incredible speed. If I don't notice and she's been chewing a leaf for a while, she'll hold it out to show me and then laugh and shove it back in before I can grab it out of her hand. Then she laughs as I start to try to get it out of her mouth. 

*As I wrote that after the kids were in bed last night, I was crying to think they weren't going to be little forever. I woke up thinking, I sure am glad they won't be little forever. :) Caleb has been waking up earlier and earlier (again) and is so proud when he brings his diaper and wipes downstairs to our room to change his poopy bum at 4:30 am. His early wake-up calls and his occasional nightmares (last night at 2 am) make me tired, but more than that, they make him soo grumpy and disobedient and mean to Leila. And Leila's tired too because instead of going back to sleep after her 4 am feeding, she's woken up or kept up by Caleb. I ordered a clock on amazon today to help him know when it's time to get out of bed.

December 30, 2013-January 5, 2014