Oh my, Champ is mobile! Ha!

I know I said that Champ can "pretty much sit up by himself now" but Champ CAN sit up all by himself! And he scooches! So close to an army crawl! He amazes me every day!

He also is starting to like being tickled. I LOVE the being tickled laugh. Melts my heart! It all makes up for him not sleeping through the night! Now those of you who have wonderful sleeping babies...shhhhsh!! I still have hope!

On Saturday we went to the Festival of Trees, which of course is always fun! I have a friend who is a dance teacher and their studio was performing that night. Champ had fun looking at all the trees and lights, and really I think he just enjoys people watching, or "checking out the chickies" as we kept joking! Maybe one day Joe will pick up the camera and take some pictures so I don't always have to be behind the camera!

I can't believe November is over!

Champ turned 5 months old on the 23rd! Once again I blinked and he just got bigger! The kid weighs a whopping 17 lbs now! He is such a cool kid too! He can pretty much sit up by himself now, that is until he sees something he wants and goes foward to get it and falls on his face. But he really doesn't seem to care! Champ is all about touching faces too. Its so cute! And blowing raspberries is a very popular thing these days! They are cute until he does them at dinner time when he has peas in his mouth that end up on my face...but then again its still cute! And the little man sits in a bath ring in the big bath tub now, which I'm not a fan of because he still slides a lot. He loves being naked, and the kid has finally found his feet!

We had an awesome Thanksgiving weekend. Joe played in his Turkey Bowl that morning, and came home with a broken thumb...when is he going to learn? Then we headed off to Spanish Fork for Thanksgiving with my God Family. Which of course was awesome as usual. I made cherry cheesecake and a chocolate cheesecake, and of course green bean cassarole. Later that night I went shopping at the mall at 9, which by the way I've never done, but it was really about hanging out with friends! Haven't had a girls date in awhile. We were in The Childrens Place for what seemed like FOREVER! But I got tons of cute stuff for Champ man. Then I came home, got some zzz's and headed back out to shop again. I had to bring Champ with me in the morning so I bundled him up really good and he slept the whole entire time. Whoever invented the car seat that goes onto the stroller was a genius! Speaking of car seats, we moved Champ to his bigger carseat, no more bucket car seat (unless of course its needed for things like shopping at 5 am with a baby, or traveling through the airport)...speaking of airports!...I had to go to Boise a couple weeks ago for work and they flew me so I brought Champ. He was such a good boy there, and back, well...I think it was past nap time and bless that guy who had the patience to sit next to me! All in all he was super good. It was just a little test before we go to Pittsburgh next week! I actually got pretty much all of our shopping done that weekend too. On Saturday Champ and I went back to Spanish Fork for a fun craft show. They had lots of good stuff. I bought Champ some leg warmers. But before you think of how stupid they may be you need to see them! They are great when Champ is hanging around in a onesie and I need to keep his legs warm. Joe took Monday off and asked if I could get it off so I called in sick, cough cough. Don't judge me too quickly...I was actually sick all weekend long! Novemeber 30th is when Joe proposed when we were putting our first tree up so every year since it is our tradition to do it on that day and Joe took it off so we could have an extra day together!

We went and picked up my early Christmas present, a new camera, woohoo! And then the three of us went to see the Christmas Carol, and Champ was awesome, slept through most of it, and was pretty amused by it all when he was awake. During the previews Champ was glued and then the second it ended he turned his head to Joe as if he wanted to say that was cool dad! It was the cutest thing! Then we came home and put up our Christmas stuff. Great Weekend!

This week while I was home (a lot), I finally put our office/craft room together, I was pretty stoked...we've only lived here for 5 months, do you think it took me long enough! And now I'm being kicked out...by Joe. Not because he wants on the computer but because he is by myself...I think he is bored!

Not a whole lot has been going on lately. I stayed home with Champ on Monday and Tuesday as well as my normal Thursday because the baby sitter and her daughter were sick and I wanted to wait a couple days before I took him back over to her. Having those days at home with Champ made me think about how much I really don't want to work anymore! Although I do like my job, being at home was just awesome. Its not like I sleep in and am lazy all day. We are up by 7 and the whole house (except laundry) is cleaned before Champ wakes up from his morning nap! We ran errands, had the cable guy come fix our cable and did a little shopping on Thursday! (I will never forget to take my stroller with me when I go to the mall again! I did have the hip hammock but the stroller would have made shopping much easier!)
Mr. Champ man went from being my Little Monkey to my Little Monster! He is so big now and he has so much personality! He rolls around every where, and he is so close to sitting up by himself. He is always touching and grabbing our faces and he growls at me and gives me lots of snuggles! We even moved him to his new car seat. He is pretty heavy and I could barely carry him around in his car seat, so we switched! On Thursday night he was trying so hard to reach his toys that were in front of him while he was on his belly and then he got on his knees, stuck his butt in the air and scooched! I was so proud of him! I love watching him do little things like that! It makes me so happy to be a mommy!

He also started eating ceral two weeks ago and we added baby food on the menu too! So far two days of carrots, which by the way was HILARIOUS to watch him eat, and now we are on to peaches which he loves. I think feeding him "dinner" is possibly one of my favorite parts of my day! Joe on the other hand has some issues with feeding Champ...he can't get the food in his mouth! It is so funny watching Joe feed him.This is what happens when Daddy feeds Champ!

This kid loves his feet these days! Gotta love his rocking new beanie! I love shopping at Gymboree, they have the cutest boy clothes and got Champ some new outfits that I had my eye on online, and they were all on sale, I was stoked!

Before we left for Idaho on Friday we got our pictures done. Here are some that the photographer sent us. I think they turned out pretty darn well!

Busy Weekend

Champ had his 4 month check up on Thursday! He now weighs 15 lbs 10 oz and is 27.75 inches long! He hates other screaming kids and he does pretty well with his shots! He doesn’t do the quivering lip thing anymore (that just breaks my heart!) He just looks at me and screams, but only for 2 seconds! And little man has to take reflex medicine, which by the way he hates! But it seems to be helping. Champ also hates other screaming kids, it’s kind of funny! I also found out that Joe and I can get our H1N1 shot and our flu shot as a priority because we have a baby younger than 6 months and babies can’t get those shots until they are 6 months. We need to get ‘em stat! I know I always say this but I can’t believe how big Champ is! Tonight we are feeding him cereal for the first time! And tonight is the first night of changing to a new routine. He doesn’t sleep through the night yet and we got some helpful ideas from our doctor. Champ is also a riot with dogs! He just loves them! Especially his Lola! He just laughs and laughs when Lola comes around. I thought that maybe it was just Lola but its not. We went to my boss’s house and Champ wanted nothing to do with her until her dog came out! It just cracks me up!

On Friday morning we went to get our family pictures taken up Little Cottonwood Canyon at oooo 9 in the morn! It was pretty chilly but Champ was such a trooper! And there was snow! I was stoked! We’ve never had pictures done in the snow before! I’m really excited to see how they turned out. Christmas cards!

As soon as we were done we got in the car and Champ was out!

Then we went back home and packed our stuff and the car and headed out. We stopped and picked up my grandma as well. It was the first time Champ has met her! He is her 30th great grandchild!!

On Friday we went to my mom’s graduation. It was nice seeing my mom so happy and excited! We are so proud of her. Champ wasn’t thrilled so we sat in the lobby pretty much the whole time. Luckily we could still hear the whole thing out there, and we did walk in again to see my mom walk. Really, it was more fun sitting in the lobby anyway! My dad made my favorite dinner for me that night too, and Champ slept the whole night. Poor guy was exhausted!

On Saturday we got up and ready in our blue and orange and took Champ to my sister’s house and went to the Boise State game with my dad and his clan. We had fun tailgating with them, and it was so much fun being back at a home game again! And I got to see a friend that I haven’t seen in so long! Just a hug from here was so nice! Joe wore his Scooby Doo costume and got lots of attention. He likes the attention...not so much on my end! But it was super cute seeing all the little kids yell “Hey it’s Scooby!” Everyone pretty much got annoying after half time! We bought Champ two little BSU footballs and he apparently likes to eat them! After the game we went to pick him up, got him dressed up in his costume, took him to my dads and then went back to my sisters and went trick or treating with the clan. He was pretty grouchy so I only took him up to a couple of houses but Joe went with all of the kids and got us our own little stash of candy!

That night was no bueno. I hung out for with everyone for about ten minutes and then took Champ and found a quiet room in the house and went to put him to sleep. (He isn’t used to such a full noisy house.) I fell asleep too, and then we got kicked out by kids, so we moved to another room. My sister and brother-in-law were having a little party that night and they are all night partiers. I however am not. I never have been but before I would at least try to hang out and stay up. They are also very, very loud. I wasn’t feeling good at all and somehow Champ slept through the whole thing. What a kid! At one point I had Joe gather all of our stuff up and we were about to leave to go back to my dads, I just couldn’t handle it anymore and then they asked where he was going and I just wasn’t in the mood to deal with it, so I sucked it up and laid in bed with Champ. I finally was able to fall asleep after 3 in the morning when everyone left.

I’m still trying to figure out my step-mom. She is nothing like my dad and she is quite a bit younger. It’s not that I don’t like her, because unlike other people I’ve given her a chance. It was the first time we have stayed at my dad’s house since he has been married. I’m not used to another woman there. I’m definitely not used to another woman in the kitchen. (As much as I love my mom, she didn’t cook a whole lot!) I was taken off guard when she called out my dad in front of us and other people and I’m not a fan of how she talks to my little sister. I know Ang can be a big pain in the butt, but I’d really like to just say well hello Ang has been around here a lot longer than you lady! I don’t think that I like that she came into my dad’s house and took over. I know it happens when people get remarried but now I can kind of see my sister’s point of view. I’m just glad that all of that happened after I moved out!

This trip has made me decide that it’s going to take A LOT of money for us to move back…I won’t do it willingly. I’m really glad that I grew up there and that I can call it my hometown, but it made realize how much I really love living in the Salty City. This trip just wasn’t the same, and it was definitely not one of my favorites. I’m sad that my family isn’t the same anymore. I’m sad that we all can’t just go to my sisters house and hang out. I’m sad that people hold grudges and can’t get over things. I’m sad that people have to have attitudes and have to try and bring people down.

I’m the bigger person and I will always try to be the bigger person. I have my own family now to take care of and they will always come first.

More Halloween pictures to come!

Its Snowing!

I was so excited when I looked outside this morning and saw that it was snowing! Yay! Some people were not so thrilled, but I however was because snow means that here pretty quick we will be up snowboarding, and you have no idea how excited I am! I didn’t get to go last year at all because I was pregnant. I am however not so excited for the cold!

Just a couple cute pictures of Champ from last week!

Joe this is a "daddy's smile"

Wow I’m slacking on my blogging! I can’t believe how time flies! Champ is going to be 4 months old on the 23rd!
We’ve had quite the month so far!
We took Champ to his first Jazz game a couple weeks ago! Joe and I love going to Jazz games and last year when I was pregnant we would always say “next year we will have the little man with us!” Luckily we had suite tickets so the noise wasn’t too bad for Champ! I think he enjoyed himself!
Champ and I went to Gardner Village with my friend Chelsey and Champ’s friend Henry! I just can’t believe how big our boys are getting! Gardner Village is definitely something fun and festive to do in the fall! We saw this lady with an owl and had to get a picture with the owl…I’ve never seen one up close! It was pretty cool!

On Monday, as I’m PARKED on the freeway (I can’t wait until April moves closer to us! Which in fact they are this week!! I’m going to love not driving 62.5 miles a day!) I got a new voicemail, and let me just say that I hardly check my voicemails, but I did and it was my aunt. I called her back right away and she told me that my grandparents were in a bad accident and that my grandpa was entangled in the truck and that he was unconscious and that she couldn’t get a hold of my dad. My dad, brother and little sister were up hunting, and my grandparents were on their way up to meet them. Luckily we did get a hold of my dad and they left right away. A semi had pulled out in front of my grandpa and my grandpa smashed into the side of the trailer. They transported my grandma to the hospital and my grandpa died on impact. What a way to start a Monday. We always knew that my grandpa was going to die sometime but we never expected it to be like that. Champ and I left for Pocatello with one of my cousins on Wednesday night and then went to the memorial service on Thursday morning. It was really nice. Usually I’m quite the cry baby, I know grandpa is gone, I’ve seen the pictures from the accident, and I’ve heard the details from that day, but I only cried for maybe a minute, I think that maybe because I didn’t see him it’s still not registering that he is actually dead in my head. My grandma is holding up pretty well. Because of the impact on her lungs she is on oxygen and she has serve bruises on her body. All of that set aside, it was really nice spending time with the family. Joe drove up Thursday night, he went and did a little hunting with my cousin on Friday and the whole family went roller skating Friday night for my cousin Amber’s 14th birthday! I only fell once, but I fell HARD! Both my knees are bruised! And we got to take Champ out and take him for a stroll in a stroller! He had a blast! As we were pushing him around, he was kicking his legs and just loving it! That night we drove to Twin Falls to stay at my brother’s house, and on Saturday Joe was thrilled because he got to help Tim (my brother) coach TJ’s football game! Then after the game we went to good ol’ Burley Idaho for the burial, then to Rupert, then back to Twin for a BBQ. Can I just say that I’m so tired of traveling! Champ wasn’t too thrilled either every time he had to go back into his car seat! And on top of having his moments because we weren’t on any kind of routine, Champ was teething. His little tooth is officially out as of this morning according to the baby sitter!

I need to start blogging more. I know I have so much to say but I don’t know where to start!

We went to Lana and Spencer’s beautiful wedding on August 29th! It was so much fun and Champ was awesome. He slept most of the reception which was kind of nice, and Joe and I danced with Champ in our arms! It was fun to get dressed up as a family and be with our friends!

Our new baby sitter April as been working out fantastic! It is quite a drive and completely out of my way to get to her house, but it’s only twice a week and its worth it knowing that Champ is getting taken care of!

Last week at work was crazy! Since Melonnie is now on maternity leave I am doing maybe just 75% of her job. Doing that on top of mine and the warehouse manager’s job is exhausting. I even went in on my day off for a couple hours because I felt bad because I couldn’t finish one job at a time and needed to get some stuff done. I do just want to mention that I didn’t complain once. Not once. And I have a great attitude! And since I’m tired of people helping me and screwing things up I decided I was done asking for help and excepting their offers for help. It is nice being super busy though, makes the day go by so much faster!

Our little guy starting teething this week. Poor guy. He has been so fussy and drooly! And we finally put our finger on what the problem was when April sent me a text saying that she had been out running errands for 45 minutes and Champ had been screaming the whole time. (I really wanted to say…welcome to my world. The kid isn’t a fan of being in the backseat by himself!) I asked if he was ok and she said other than 30 minutes and feeding time he just screamed and cried. I told her he might be teething and what do you know…! I was supposed to go out after work on Friday with the work girls for some bonding time but all Champ wanted was Mommy and there was no way I was leaving him. We took a nap from 6-8 then woke up and Champ ate then he went back to sleep until 11 ate again and slept until 4. I guess he was tired from yelling and April all day!
We went to the fair on Saturday and I’ve got to tell you, I miss the fair that they have in Idaho every year. It was still fun other than the fact that Joe couldn’t decide what he wanted to eat and we circled the same area 4 times before he decided. Jeeze man! All I’ve got to say is if I were to do that he would have been completely annoyed with me and made me choose right then in there. Champ was a little grouchy at the beginning but eventually fell asleep. We chose not to take the stroller because there were so many people there and people could care less when you have a stroller. They won’t move for you and they won’t let you get through, so thank goodness for carriers! It was a steal…$11 at Wal-mart and it’s awesome. My favorite part of the fair is the animals of course. And I always drag Joe and we must go look at ALL of them. Sadly most of them become food but they are still fun to look at! There were lots of baby rabbits! I loved it! And they were selling them! Joe said that he wanted to get us a bunny for our anniversary! How sweet! We totally took a card!

I can’t believe how time flies! Champ is already over 2 months old now. He is getting so big. He holds his head up great and likes to pull himself up off his back while holding my hands. And he now likes to stand up too. Joe and I just can’t believe how he has grown up right in front of our eyes! He is way more into touching things now. He grabs for toys and he actually held his little rattle thing by himself, then dropped it on his head! He is so much fun! Champ is sleeping way better in his crib and we have started putting him down sooner and letting him fall asleep without rocking him and he is doing pretty good! I’m so proud of our little Monkey! And I’m super excited for our play date with Henry and Chelsey this week!

Today was a pretty good busy day.

I took Champ to the doctor today. It couldn't have gone better. The nurse was wearing Denver Bronco scrubs and when I told her that my husband is a fan too and that we call Leslie by his middle name Champ, which of course comes from Champ Bailey, she laughed and thought that rocked and told Champ he was a cool little dude! Our "cool little dude" now weighs 11lbs 6 oz and is 24 inches long. The doctor said that everything is just perfect! Then Champ got his shots...and he did awesome. She held his legs down and he didn't seem to care at all, and I was holding his little hands. He looked up at me and quivered his

little lip and cried but didn't scream, then I picked him up and he was just fine. Surprisingly enough I didn't cry! Having a baby of my own has made me a little more tough than I used to be, granted I still think I'm pretty emotional and sensitive but not quite as bad!

After Champ's appointment we went to see my friend Melonnie who had her baby girl this morning. Mia is Champ's girlfriend and she is just a doll. They had a hard time getting pregnant over the last four years so I know how much of a blessing Mia is to them. We switched babies for a little bit and also got a cute picture of the two together.

After having baby time I had a doctors appointment as well, and it sucked going to that office and not seeing my doctor. Once again, still sad that he retired. When we got put in the room, Champ fell asleep and I had to pee REALLY bad, and they had me use a restroom on the other side of the office, so I ran and went and as soon as I walked out I heard a baby crying on the other side of the office...Champ woke up and was freaking out but as soon as he saw my face he was fine. I love that!

Then we came home and I did a little project for my boss...her boyfriend's cat died and she wanted to make him a shadow box so I did it for her. She asked me to put some of the cats hair in it...is that creepy or what?

Here's also some more pictures of my little man...I need a new stinkin' camera. I think I've dropped mine too many times, my memory card is not being friends with my camera and I don't know how to make them be friends again. If anyone knows anything about silly little cameras feel free to tell me how retarded I am.

Champ is such a talker these day and he has been much happier and less fussy too which is nice! He's getting to be so much more fun with all of the things he does and its so awesome watching all of the little facial expressions he can do too. He is so into just staring and watching things. He is such a curious boy!