David's 4-Month Stats

Weight: 12 pounds 15 ounces, 6% for his age.
Height: 25.6 inches, 59% for his age.
Head Circumference: 16.5 inches, 29% for his age.

4-Month David
If I were to describe David in three words I would say he's easy-going, observant, and happy. David loves discovering the world around him. He is learning new skills and developing his own unique personality.

New Developments This Month

• He began eating solid foods (rice cereal).
  
• He can lean over and reach for objects.
• He can sit with support.
  
• He squeals with excitement and laughs when happy.
• He can roll on his side and scoot himself on his play-mat while lying on his back.

Little quirks:

• He is ADDICTED to his swing. As soon as he turned four months old he decided he didn't want to sleep in his bed anymore, and now he's in the swing every night. I don't know how I'm going to wean him off of it.
• He can spot people very quickly now. He is very aware of his big sister Lizzy, and looks for her whenever he hears her.
• He absolutely loves the "Mama, Mama" song that I sing to him. It calms him down instantly, even if he's hungry.
• He LOVES sticking out his tongue.
• He refuses to eat formula. Mama is the only good food around here.
• He is turning into a peek-a-boo fanatic. He can't do it himself yet, but he loves watching Mama.
  

Valentine's Day Dates

Brad and I had our annual Valentine's Day dates with the kids this year. Brad took the girls to Jamba Juice and Barnes and Noble while I stayed home with the boys, playing video games and eating chocolate lava cakes. Brad took some cute photos on his date. The girls loved being with their daddy!

Rice Cereal

Baby David has turned into a ravenous little monster this past week. All he wanted to do was eat. I was having a hard time keeping up with him, especially at night, when all he wanted to do was nurse. I even gave in and tried feeding him a bottle of formula, thinking that would calm his appetite, but that plan did not work. Bottles are not his thing and he refused to drink it. So, I decided that I needed to go a different route: I needed to introduce solid foods to him. After all, he's not so little anymore. He turned four months old last week. I bought some rice cereal and David had his first taste of "solid" food last night.

I love seeing first time reactions on babies' faces when they try food for the first time. David immediately began spitting the food out, as all babies do, but I could tell he liked it by the way he kept smacking his lips and kicking his feet in excitement. He eventually took the spoon away from my hand and began sticking it in his mouth himself.

The Highlight of My Day: January 2012

Something good happens each day. Here's what happened in January 2012:

Sun 1/1/12: We had a "Settlers of Zarahelma" rematch tonight! Scott joined us this time, which made it take longer, but it also made it more fun. I love Scott.

Mon 1/2/12: We visited the Harmans this afternoon for our annual New Year's Bash. We didn't go bowling this year, but we had fun playing games together and visiting. We played multiple rounds of "Catch Phrase" and one long round of "Nerts."

Tue 1/3/12: Prices for airfare dropped really low today! My mom will probably be visiting in March, and my sister will probably come in April. So excited!

Wed 1/4/12: I took Baby D to his pediatrician today to have his skin checked. He's such a sensitive little guy. Lizzy came with us and was very cute the whole time, saying hi and bye to the doctors and nurses. She called them all "doc-dor." "Hi doc-dor," "Bye doc-dor!" She's so cute.

Thu 1/5/12: Baby D's skin is almost completely better! I love how fast babies heals up. Tonight I helped Emma with her spelling words. It's something I love to do, but haven't done as much lately due to the baby needing so much attention. Emma is such a good student. I'm so proud of her reading and writing skills. She's WONDERFUL!

Fri 1/6/12: I love Fridays! While I enjoy having Scott and Emma home all week, it's nice having a break to spend one-on-one time with Bradley. I love and adore my husband.

Sat 1/7/12: Lizzy was thrilled to see the snow outside this morning. "Look at the snow! It's beau-ful!" She was the only one who ventured outside today. Brad and I enjoyed staying indoors, playing games, watching movies, and taking down the Christmas decorations. David rolled over on his side today for the first time while playing on his mat.

Sun 1/8/12: I liked having the extra couple of hours to get ready for church, but we were still late! How did that happen?

Mon 1/9/12: Brad, Scott, Emma, and I played "Forbidden Island" for Family Home Evening tonight. The island won, but that's okay. We still had fun!

Tue 1/10/12: I talked to my dad, my mom, and both my sisters on the phone today. That doesn't happen very often. We talked about airline flights, family vacations, and wedding plans for this year. Fun!

Wed 1/11/12: Today I'm grateful to have Scott and Emma in my life. I am grateful that Brad has full custody of them, and that they spend most of their time at our home. I love them very much.

Thu 1/12/12: I got into the crocheting itch again, which hasn't happened in a while. I bought some yarn at Walmart today and began making some really cute leg warmers while watching a drama I picked up from the library.

Fri 1/13/12: We watched the end of the BBC version of Sense and Sensibility tonight. Great show! We watched the Emma Thompson version a few days ago. Brad and I are in a bit of a Jane Austen mood this week.

Sat 1/14/12: Sandwiches, Sun Chips, chocolate donuts, and cherry coke.... YUM! Brad and I enjoyed playing games and watching movies today. I love lazy Saturdays!

Sun 1/15/12: Brad and I played a couple rounds of "Settlers of Zarahemla." I won the second game! YAY!

Mon 1/16/12: Lizzy had a fun time playing in the snow this morning. I got her dressed warmly and took a few pictures of her and the cat. I think it's cute how Sushi likes to follow Lizzy around outside.

Tue 1/17/12: I sang to Emma tonight before she went to bed. She wanted me to sing Kitty Cat Man, which coincidentally is one of Lizzy's favorites, too, so Lizzy had to join along with the singing. It was cute hearing Lizzy's voice trying to blend with mine. Emma and I couldn't stop giggling.

Wed 1/18/12: I love making David laugh. He doesn't do it all the time, so I feel like I've accomplished something every time I get him to giggle. Usually wiggling his legs or tickling his torso gets him started. He also seems to think that touching his nose with his toes is very funny.

Thu 1/19/12: I did some more crocheting today. I decided to work on David's horse hat, which finally fits him now. I added a face to it. It looks absolutely darling!

Fri 1/20/12: We had a Star Wars/ice cream sundae night. It was Emma's first time watching Star Wars episode 4 all the way through.

Sat 1/21/12: Bruce and Loralee introduced us to a new couples board game called "Compatibility." We had a fun afternoon eating ham sandwiches and playing games with the family.

Sun 1/22/12: I enjoyed watching the next episode of "Once Upon a Time" with Bradley tonight. It's a little soap-operaish at times, and some parts are very predictable, but it's still fun. I'm hooked!

Mon 1/23/12: I had a very cute conversation with Lizzy this morning. Here is what we said-- Me: "Lizzy, are you okay?" Lizzy: "I have a owie. I went to doctor and have a baby." Me: "You had a baby?" Lizzy: "Yes. Right here." [patting her stomach]

Tue 1/24/12: I am making an adorable piggy hat that I plan on selling. It's so cute. I wish I had a baby girl to wear it! I'll have to make a bigger one for Lizzy.

Wed 1/25/12: I went to Book Club tonight. I haven't done that in ages!

Thu 1/26/12: I really enjoyed watching "Avatar" tonight with Bradley. The CG animation in the film is spectacular. I greatly appreciate the imagination and thought that was put into the many creatures, plants, and landscapes of Pandora. It made it feel like a real place.

Fri 1/27/12: I made a yummy fish and pasta dinner tonight, which made Brad very happy. I like making him happy.

Sat 1/28/12: The four of us went to Brother Healy's funeral today. Even though it was a sad occasion in general, it was also a celebration of Brother Healy's life, which made it happy as well. Listening to the speakers gave me the desire to evaluate my life and make improvements. I'm so grateful for the light of the gospel and the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Sun 1/29/12: Scott, Emma, Brad and I played CLUE tonight as a family. I won! It was a fun night. I love being with my family.

Mon 1/30/12: Lizzy and I befriended a cute little three-legged dachshund today, while we were on a walk. The little doggie was extremely friendly and followed us home. She stayed with us for a couple of hours until the Animal Control picked her up.

Tue 1/31/12: I picked up a bunch of drawing books at the library tonight. It made Brad very happy. He's been trying to get me to draw more lately. He says I have talent and I need to put it to use.

3 Months Old: Discovering Rattles

Little David has discovered the joys of playing with a rattle. He's becoming more and more coordinated every day. I decided to take a video of David playing with his rattle for the first time on January 1st, three days before he turned 3 months old. I then realized afterwards that I have a very similar video of Lizzy almost exactly the same age as David, playing with the same rattle for the first time. It's kind of funny watching the clips back-to-back. My babies are so similar to each other, yet very different at the same time. They are cuties! I've decided that 3 months is one of my favorite ages.

Lizzy:

David:

The Highlight of My Day: December 2011

Something good happens each day. Here's what happened in December 2011:

Thu 12/1/11: The Montgomerys flew in tonight to spend the weekend with us! I'm so happy they're here! Eric is such a cutie. Rachel and I had fun taking photos of the babies on my bed even though it was after 11:30 pm when they arrived. I love seeing our sons together.

Fri 12/2/11: We had a fun day with the Montgomerys today. Rachel and I picked up some pizza then picked up Scott from school. We taught Rachel and Craig how to play Forbidden Island while the babies were sleeping. In the evening we played Apples to Apples with Scott and Emma.

Sat 12/3/11: My parents arrived this morning and Grandma Whitcomb immediately began doing her job mothering the two babies, plus Lizzy. We had lunch at Iceberg, and Brad and I had some time to ourselves in the afternoon to get done some shopping. We played Catch Phrase with my dad and the Montgomerys in the evening.

Sun 12/4/11: Today was David's baby blessing! We had a house full of family this afternoon and lots of yummy food. The Clarks, the Harman's, the cousins, and Jared Loveless came to visit.

Mon 12/5/11: We watched "The Christmas Oranges" on DVD tonight for FHE while drinking orange smoothies. Yummy!

Tue 12/6/11: Brought back a huge stack of DVDs from the library today. Brad and I began watching the latest Pirates movie after the kids went to bed. Johnny Depp is fun to watch.

Wed 12/7/11: Tonight was our ward's Christmas party. Lizzy and David had their photos taken with Santa Claus. At first Lizzy was too scared, but Santa was so friendly that Lizzy eventually warmed up to him. She loved the candy cane he gave her and couldn't stop talking about him all the way home.

Thu 12/8/11: My baby is cooing up a storm now! He's so social and sweet. I love his smiles, too. I had so much fun singing to him and Lizzy. They were both a captivated audience.

Fri 12/9/11: Tonight was Del Sol's Christmas Party in Park City. We dropped off Lizzy at her aunt Marilyn's house and Brad and I went with Baby David up into the mountains. The party was fun and the food was great!

Sat 12/10/11: I bought David a jungle-themed play mat off of KSL.com. It's adorable! In the evening we watched "Meet Me In St. Luis." Lizzy loved it.

Sun 12/11/11: We attended a special Stake Conference today with Elder Tom Perry presiding. Elder Perry talked about the importance of reading the scriptures during the Christmas season.

Mon 12/12/11: We made paper snowflakes for Family Home Evening tonight and read the story of Samuel the Lamanite in the Book of Mormon.

Tue 12/13/11: We went to the library tonight and I brought home two DVDs, a book, and two Christmas CDs. Lizzy, as usual, loved saying hi to Draco the Lizard.

Wed 12/14/11: I enjoyed going to the Relief Society Christmas dinner in my pjs tonight. The theme was "Polar Express" so all the sisters were asked to wear their pajamas to church. We had breakfast for dinner, a Christmas message from the stake, and a yummy hot cocoa station at the end of the night.

Thu 12/15/11: I started out my day on a happy note, thanks to my husband. In the evening we picked up an exercising bike I found for sale at KSL.com. Brad will use it to help heal his knee. Hopefully, with therapy, his knee will regain it's strength and return to normal.

Fri 12/16/11: I'm in love with my husband today! I love him everyday, but some days I love him even more. It's nice having the older kids gone and spending one-on-one time with him. I love being his wife.

Sat 12/17/11: I was finally able to get out of the house and get some Christmas shopping done! YAY!

Sun 12/18/11: I love it when Brad tells me I'm "wonderful," "beautiful," and when he says he loves me. He made me feel very loved today.

Mon 12/19/11: Tonight for FHE we delivered Christmas cards and cookies to families in our neighborhood, and we also watched "Mr. Krueger's Christmas" and "The Nativity" together as a family. FUN!

Tue 12/20/11: We went to Abram Bernard's wedding reception at the Stake Center tonight. They decorated the room with beautiful purple paper crane mobiles, and served ice cream and brownies, which the kids loved.

Wed 12/21/11: I have a full heart tonight. I'm so very grateful for the Christmas gifts we received from friends, family, and neighbors this year. I was looking through them tonight and I couldn't help crying. I feel so very blessed.

Thu 12/22/11: Ran some errands today with Lizzy and David. Got one package delivered! YAY! After some last minute Christmas shopping, we got some lunch at In-n-Out and headed home. We ate our food while watching "White Christmas." Lizzy loved dancing to the music.

Fri 12/23/11: Brad coming home from work early made me very happy. I love the holidays!

Sat 12/24/11: I made a big turkey dinner this afternoon. Everything turned out well and yummy. Marilyn and James came over and we watched their Weird Al DVD.

Sun 12/25/11: Watching the children opening presents was my favorite moment today. Everyone was thrilled with what they got. It made me happy as a mother to see my children so excited and enthusiastic.

Mon 12/26/11: We Skped Susie and my parents for the first time. We did it as an entire family for Family Home Evening. Lizzy seemed to like it the most. She loved making faces and seeing herself in the little video window on the monitor.

Tue 12/27/11: I put together Baby David's new bouncer today. It's so dang cute! He loves it, too.

Wed 12/28/11: Brad and I thoroughly enjoyed watching "The Shop Around the Corner" tonight. Great movie! I'm so glad Santa gave it to us for Christmas.

Thu 12/29/11: David gave me his first laugh yesterday. It was very short, and I couldn't get him to do it a second time, but it was still very cute. Scott was in the room and heard him laugh as well.

Fri 12/30/11: The six of us went to "Planet Play" in Draper to play some indoor miniature golf. 'Twas fun! In the evening, Brad and I played "Settlers of Zarahemla" with Brad's dad. Brad won.

Sat 12/31/11: Brad and I got to go on a REAL date today! We went to the movies to watch "The Muppets." After the movie we headed over to Bruce and Loralee's house to celebrate New Year's Eve. On the way home, Brad asked Lizzy, "Lizzy, are you super cute?" Lizzy replied, "No. I'm tired."

Christmas 2011

We had a lovely Christmas this year! For the month of December, our family had a Christmas-themed Family Home Evening every Monday night, which helped us get into the spirit of Christmas. We sang Christmas songs, drank hot chocolate, decorated the Christmas tree, watched "The Christmas Oranges", made snowflakes, delivered Christmas cards and cookies to neighbors, and watched "Mr. Krueger's Christmas" and "The Nativity" on DVD.

I'm so grateful for family and friends who sent us holiday gifts and treats this year. It made our Christmas all the more special. During the week before Christmas, we literally had treats show up at our house every single day. We received packages in the mail from family far away, and we were given a bunch of gifts from anonymous members of our ward. It made our hearts full to receive so many gifts and to feel so much love from others.

Christmas Eve we had a big turkey dinner with Marilyn, James, and Grandpa North. I spent all afternoon making the turkey and various side dishes. The turkey was so moist it fell apart right on my fork. Mmm! The adults had a fun time playing Mormon Bridge next to the fireplace after dinner. Brad won. Marilyn and James broke out their Weird Al DVD, and we enjoyed watching that in the evening while James chased Lizzy all around the house.

Christmas Day was lovely! We went to church in the morning for one hour, then we waited for Scott and Emma to come home at 1:00 pm. We opened all our gifts, had some yummy snacks, then waited for other relatives to show up. The Bruce North Clan arrived in the mid-afternoon and the Clarks arrived in the evening. There were games, snacks, and some more Weird Al. I made a honey-baked ham and Mormon potatoes. YUM!

Here are some snapshots of Christmas this year:

Lizzy and David got to see Santa at the Ward Christmas Party on December 6th. Lizzy talked about Santa for days after that.

Looking forward to 2012!

"David is All Gone"

My Facebook Status Today:

Lizzy came running into my room first thing this morning and immediately went to David's bassinet. She did not find what she was looking for. "Oh no," she said solemnly, shaking her head. "David is all gone." She said it so matter-of-factually, I couldn't decide whether she was happy he was gone, or sad. Not wanting her to worry, or to get the wrong idea of her brother's disappearance, I told her that David was in his swing in the living room. A big smile lit up her face and she turned and ran out of my room. I smiled when I heard her gallop down the hall. A few seconds later I heard her greet her brother in a very high, girly voice. "Hi David! How are you?" She sounded just like me! So cute.

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

David's Two Month Stats

Weight: 11 pounds 8 ounces, 24% for his age.
Height: 24 inches, 68% for his age.
Head Circumference: 15.6 inches, 21% for his age.

2-Month David
If I were to describe David in three words I would say he's calm, social, and bright. He is very easy to please. He likes to eat, sleep, coo, smile, and look into people's faces.


Little quirks:

• He likes to turn his head to the right almost all the time. Unfortunately that is causing the right side of his head to go a little flat. We are trying to get him to turn his head to the left.
  
• He always gives little warnings before he starts crying. Basically, he only cries when we haven't figured out what he wants in a timely manner.
• Mama's voice makes him whimper when he's hungry. Even if Mama sings from across the room, if he hears her he starts asking for food.
• He LOVES to eat. He prefers the breast over bottles, but he knows how to take the bottle if necessary. He had good practice with that in the NICU.
• He seems to like music a lot. Music calms him down almost instantly, especially Mama's voice (when he's not hungry).
• Not exactly a quirk, but he has BLUE EYES! I can't get over how blue they are.
  
• He LOVES his swing.
• He likes company. Sometimes all he wants when he's fussy is for someone to come over and say hi to him.
• Sitting in the car-seat makes him very sleepy, especially if he's wearing his warm, brown bear suit.
• He is now sleeping between 5 and 7 hours at night. Mama LOVES that!