Luke's 6 (well, almost 7) month checkup

Luke got his 6 month checkup... even though it is a bit late. The doc says hes super healthy, except his minor cold hes had for almost a month... but hes growing big! He weighed 16.9 lbs and way 27 inches. That puts his weight in the 25% and height in the 75%!!! I was so happy to hear he's out of the 10% range. His head is still in the 25%, but it were any bigger he'd look like an alien (no pun intended). Now all we need is for him to start sleeping through the night and eating his food a little better.

Belated Merry Christmas

So our internet has been down since Sunday and we finally have some service. Woohoo!!! We have a few updates we wanted to share. Luke is now getting on his hands and knees and rocking back and forth, so he will probably be crawling soon. He still isnt sitting up on his own. We borrowed a friends swing and he loves it! Thank goodness, too! He still isnt sleeping through the night, and he gets up every few hours to feed. Ugh! Anyone know when they are supposed to sleep through the night? Everyone has a cold here. I am on the verge of egtting one so I have been taking Airborne. We have some pictures to show of our Christmas. Kylee was so excited Christmas morning. There were so many gifts that she gotm she didnt know which one to play with first. She was so cute the night before making cookies for Santa. She asked to put carrots out for the reindeer, too. We thought that was so cute, but didnt know where she heard it. When we asked her, she said she made it up... hmmmm.....? Anyway, we wished we could have spend Christmas with all our friends and family, but maybe next year? Love you all!

bragging moment

So a few months ago Rhett took the supervisor test at his work. This test is taken when you would like to put in for a "supe" position, if its available. Well, when he took it, he told me that the first time you take it you really dont get that great of a score, but that you an take it later. After he took the test, he told me that he thought he did terrible because he didnt know most of the stuff they were aking. Well,we just got the scores back, and he got a 93%!!!! The other cool thing is that they tell you how much better you did than the other people who have taken the test, and he got a 92% on that! My husband is a freaking genius! I am so proud of him! This means that when there is a supervisor position open and he puts in for it, that he has a good chance of getting it! Way to go baby!!!

I swear we didnt purchase a cat....

Luke's new thing has been screaming really loud and in a high pitch... like a crying cat... but maybe higher. its gotten worse, like a siren even... or a fire alarm at your house (depending on which kind you have). I dont know what brought this on, but I am hoping that his normal cry comes back. 

Good-bye Shade!

Shade Clothing has made a decision to let go of their personal shopper program starting December 21st, which now means that I am out of a job =( This came to me as a huge surprise (and not the good kind either). I am very sad and have very much enjoyed my time working for Shade. I have made many friends and will always cherish that time. Its hard closing this chapter of my life, but I want those of you to know that I will always be here to answer questions or help with sizing issues or whatever you might need. But on the other hand, they are having a fantastic sale of 25% off and free shipping until the 18th which is tomorrow. =)

AHHHH!

So yesterday I discovered that Luke can now roll from his back to him tummy... Its taken him six months to do this, and now that he can do it, I'm going crazy! Not only does this mean he'll probably be crawling soon (he's still not sitting up on his own, either), but when I put him down for bed at night or for a nap, he rolls right over and babies are not supposed to sleep on their tummies (plus he gets mad and cries). I caught it on tape, so I will post that for you guys.

All aliens welcome...

This picture was taken when Rhett graduated the academy three years ago. I just found it, and yes, this sign is still up on the Arby's restaurant.

I'm officially obsessed

So am sure you all have read the Twilight series and even seen the movie, except me. I am not much of a book reader, but the story interested me enough to let my sister tell me all about it. When the movie came out it wasnt one that I felt I had to see, but a group of ladies from my new ward invited me to see it with them. I have heard mixed reviews but all by people who have read the books, so I wasnt sure what to expect. The first half hour or so, I was rolling my eyes and not thinking I was going to enjoy the rest of the film... But then there was more! Yes, I left the theatre obsessed and wanting more. I didnt sleep at night because I couldnt stop thinking about the movie! As much as I loved the movie though, I felt Edward wasnt that great of an actor... but I am truly hoping he gets enough coaching and more experience that by the time the next film comes around it will be better. I also felt the special effects were a little goofy and hopefully with the bigger budget on the next film I wont be laughing or rolling my eyes at it. So you can count me in on this craze and obsession everyone else is in... I am wanting to read the books, so if anyone wants to lend them out give me a shout!

6 months ago....

I cant believe Luke is 6 months. It totally breaks my heart. I am so grateful to have him. I love him dearly and have enjoyed him so much... even when he's fussy =)
Now, on the other hand, it snowed today! It didnt stick, but it still snowed, which makes this an even better month.

New Friends

I am so excited to tell you guys that we've made new friends already! Our ward was so nice to us yesterday! Its a great mix of ages and there are plenty of kids. Kylee will be going to primary in january, so they are going to start transitioning her into it starting next sunday. I cant believe she'll be in PRIMARY ( I am sure I will be saying the same thing about YW, but for now lets not talk about it)! We went over to our friends house for dinner last night. They are from Idaho and is teaching spanish at FLETC with Rhett. The Elders came to dinner, and they were also very nice! We had a fun play date this morning with a friend I met just walking around target. She has girls Kylee's age and a son 4 months younger than Luke. So excited to start making a (short) life here. Luke has even made a new friend (even though its himself in the mirror... but he doesnt know that)
We sure are missing our friends from back home though! Hugs and kisses!!!!

Lukes new friend... "Mirror Luke"

santa... i had to take a picture of the picture cos we dont have our scanner here with us =(

bath time

getting ready to see Santa.

Important stuff

In 2007, large toy manufacturers who outsource their production to China and other developing countries violated the public's trust. They were selling toys with dangerously high lead content, toys with unsafe small part, toys with improperly secured and easily swallowed small magnets, and toys made from chemicals that made kids sick. Almost every problem toy in 2007 was made in China.The United States Congress rightly recognized that the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) lacked the authority and staffing to prevent dangerous toys from being imported into the US. So, they passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in August, 2008. Among other things, the CPSIA bans lead and phthalates in toys, mandates third-party testing and certification for all toys and requires toy makers to permanently label each toy with a date and batch number. All of these changes will be fairly easy for large, multinational toy manufacturers to comply with. Large manufacturers who make thousands of units of each toy have very little incremental cost to pay for testing and update their molds to include batch labels. For small American, Canadian, and European toymakers, however, the costs of mandatroy testing will likely drive them out of business.
A toymaker, for example, who makes wooden cars in his garage in Maine to supplement his income cannot afford the $4,000 fee per toy that testing labs are charging to assure compliance with the CPSIA.
A work at home mom in Minnesota who makes dolls to sell at craft fairs must choose either to violate the law or cease operations.
A small toy retailer in Vermont who imports wooden toys from Europe, which has long had stringent toy safety standards, must now pay for testing on every toy they import.
And even the handful of larger toy makers who still employ workers in the United States face increased costs to comply with the CPSIA, even though American-made toys had nothing to do with the toy safety problems of 2007.The CPSIA simply forgot to exclude the class of toys that have earned and kept the public's trust: Toys made in the US, Canada, and Europe. The result, unless the law is modified, is that handmade toys will no longer be legal in the US.If this law had been applied to the food industry, every farmers market in the country would be forced to close while Kraft and Dole prospered.How You can Help:Please write to your United States Congress Person and Senator to request changes in the CPSIA to save handmade toys. Use our sample letter or write your own. You can find your Congress Person here and Senator here.

http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/

Bumbo- Not to be confused with Dumbo

Our friends told us about this cool chair that infants could sit up it, and since Luke has started eating and we couldnt fit the highchair in our car, we decided to get one. I have found it very useful when I am trying to clean the kitchen or even cooking. I just place him near me and he watches me. We just laugh when we see him in it, cos hes just so darn cute! We thought we would share some pictures.

Early morning phone calls....

I just wanted to apologize to those of you who received phone calls early this morning. Kylee didnt wake me up, but instead took my phone and called a bunch of people on my speed dial and she doesnt quite understand time zones yet.

Are you kidding me?!

is this for real?!
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item_nbr=198456&pid=CO_11-05-08_Showcase_Savings

And the adventure begins...

We arrived here in Roswell NM after four days of traveling (it would have been three, but we took Thanksgiving off in Utah to be with my family). The first night we stayed in Nampa ID and got to visit with my very best friend whom I havent seen in a long time. Then the next night we stayed at my dads in Utah. We then went to Farmington NM and then to Roswell. We got here around 3:45 in the afternoon. I was surprised when I got here, because its just like Blythe (except they have a Walmart and Target... and a Sams Club!). The house is okay... the furniture is new but the decorations in this place are totally from the nineties! I took some pictures so that you cold see. Did I mention that when we did our first walk-through, there was a dead cockroach in the master bathroom? That brought back a lot of memories.

So... for the last few days all have been hearing is coughing and sneezing and coughing some more and blowing noses... Its a real musical in this house. Everyone except Rhett is sick. He's been taking Airborne religiously (wish I had continued to do that). Besides that, we are glad to be off the road and into a new city where we can explore. think all the Alien stuff has been getting to me because have been dreaming about it since we got here! Here are some pictures of our adventure. (sorry f there are lots of them)

the kitchen/dining areamaster bathroom

master bedroom (check out the totally awesome ceiling paper!)

kids bathroom... dont you just LOVE the wall paper?!

kylee's bedroom

hallway (as if you were to come through the front door)

living room fireplace

living room

the kitchen

New Mexico... or eastern Utah???

one of the very few times she fell asleep.

new Mexico

more new Mexico

This was our first Thanksgiving at Rachie's house before we left. We later had it at my dad's house.

Our first stop, somewhere between Seattle and Nampa

Cutting carrots with "Grandpa" Lynn (who Kylee just loved!)

"Family" pictures with the Baldwins... I love Connie in the back taking a picture of the tree. Ha ha ha!

The Baldwins and the Bowldens

Uncle Austin and Kylee playing a game... not sure if they are really playing it, just goofing around.

speaking of goofing around.....

yum!

shes mad at me for taking her picture. she didnt want to have her picture taken.

soooo beautiful! this is right after Moab

so tired!

Luke propped this up on his nose.

On The Road Again....

So Kylee has a cough... and now Luke has it... BAD! Doesnt it always seem like kids ALWAYS get sick when you are traveling? No sleep... just keep driving!

For the grandma's

we just gave luke his first dose of food, besides rice cereal and oatmeal, and he LOVED sweet potatoes!!! he was eating it faster than i could spoon it in and he was snorting it in like a little piggy! it was the cutest thing! he ate the whole darn thing and still wanted more. next is peas... we'll see about those!

Just to keep everyone updated...

monday we are leaving and will be staying in seattle with auntie becca. the next morning we will be driving to boise, ID to stay a night. Wednesday morning we leave for salt lake to stay a night and then thursday morning we leave to try and make it to new mexico. we may not make it on thursday, but if not, we will stay somewhere and finish friday. we pick up our keys to our new place friday. we are staying in a fully furnished place so all we need to bring is cloths and toys for the kiddos. i am sorry i havent posted many pictures since getting back to WA, but i promise to take some great pictures of our adventure to roswell!

I've Been tagged!

I got tagged from Shannon and thought this would be fun. This is what the tag said to do. "The idea is to go to your pictures and go in the fourth folder and pick the fourth picture and post it. Then, go to the six folder and get the sixth picture and post it."

here they are: my pictures are also alphabetical order and the picture of my sister is from a few days before her wedding (for those who do not know my sister, shes being silly... and she'll probably kill me for having this on here!). The second picture is of Kylee in April 2007. She was teething and you can see how red her gums were.

I tag everyone who reads this who has a blog!

Ugh!

So Rhett has been away in New Mexico to become a certified teacher at the academy. Now we're TEMPORARILY moving to NM to teach for 6 months. I am NOT looking forward to it. For those of you who dont know, we live in a 6 story house, and I am NOT looking forward to packing. I am sad to leave our friends and our fabulous ward. But we will be back in 6 short months =) If anyone who lives near us has boxes that they can part with, we could totally use them. We'll just have to keep in touch by blogging ;)

Another Sale!

As most of you know, I am a Shade Clothing personal shopper. Part of my job is to inform you all of sales and special events. Right now we just released a men's line and everything is 25% off, including the extra 5% off when you use my personal shopper code (bow6466). If you have questions, please email me or call me... and pass the news along! =) This is a fantastic sale, too. Sale ends the 16th, which is Sunday!

www.shadeclothing.com

More Pictures... And Lukes First Solids Video

So Luke hasn't been sleeping well. He used to sleep a good 5 hours before waking up for feeding in the middle of the night. Since coming here to California, he has only been sleeping every 1 1/2 to 2 hours before feeding and needless to day, neither one of us has had a good nights sleep in a long time! So we decided to start him on whole wheat rice cereal... organic, none the less. He loved it, too! The video would have been longer, but I ran out of disc space on my camera. I feel bad that Rhett wasn't around for this with Kylee or Luke, but we do have it on video =)

I am having trouble uploading the video, so I will post it later. For now, here are some random photos.