It's beginning to feel a lot like... Minnesota

It is -7F right now and weather.com says it feels like  -30F! Holy smokes, I'm so glad I don't have to go out into this awful weather.  I can't imagine sending my kids off to school in this weather. This is what the weather reads today "Mostly cloudy and windy. Some blowing and drifting snow. Dangerous wind chills approaching -40F. High -7F." And tonight is described as the following "Low -21F. Bitterly cold."  

We can't wait to go to warm, sunny Utah in a couple of day!

18 months = Nursery

Ladd turned 18 months a couple of weeks ago and today was his first chance to go to nursery at church. Naturally, we got him dressed up in a tie (for the first time) for his big debut so he could impress the ladies. He loved nursery and I practically had to drag him out of there kicking and screaming.

Ladd has been such a joy in our lives since the moment he entered this life. He is so good natured and easy to please. He has been talking up a storm and tries to repeat everything we do. Some of his favorite words are: mommy, daddy, poppy (another word for dad), apple, Austin, more, water, cracker, and NO.

I love the mornings with Ladd. Usually he is up and jabbering for about 30 minutes before I roll out of bed to go in to get him up. One morning last week when I went in and picked him up he started signing and saying everything from his Signing Time Video- like he had been practicing all morning to show me. He gets smarter each day.

At his 18 month appointment he still only weighed 25 lbs, but he is in the 76th percentile for height!!!

I know this picture is a little blurry, but this is Ladd's favorite face to pull whenever he sees something cool and it always makes us laugh. He's such a little ham!

Lunch with Santa

Saturday we attended a lunch with Santa. As we waited in line to get pictures with Santa, Doug and I tried to get Ladd psyched to sit on Santa's lap.  Ladd was mesmerized by the guy with the funny beard and red suit.  This is what he looked like the majority of the time:

 

Although Ladd is very much a people person and really likes strangers, we really didn't know what to expect.  But this is what we got:

HE LOVED SANTA!!! I love this kid!

I love girlfriends!

This past week has been a rough one. Me and Ladd got sick on Thanksgiving and felt like HUD. Ladd was only sick for a couple of days, but I just couldn't shake my awful cold. Luckily my friend Kimberly came to my rescue this past Wednesday and watched Ladd all day so I could go to the doctor and rest. No surprise here, but I had a sinus infection. Then later that day my friend and neighbor Camie dropped off a pizza for dinner on her birthday. I don't know what I would do without so many good friends here. I love them!!! 
Thankfully I was feeling better on Friday for a girls night. We all braved the snow storm and went to Cheesecake Factory in Edina to celebrate Camie's 30th birthday. It was so much fun to get together with all the fun girls in our ward (There were 14 of us!). Afterwards a couple of us spent the night in a fancy hotel and stayed up until 4 in the morning. We just couldn't let our girls night end too early. In my opinion it was well worth the sleep lost.

I'm thankful for...

Go Red!

Saturday we watched the big BYU v Utah at our friends the Wilson's house.  I wish we would have gotten a picture with Ladd's two friends dressed as BYU cheerleaders, but during the 4th quarter most of the BYU fans gave up and headed home. 

This football season has been fun because it is the first time I've taken an interest in college football, or any college/professional sport.  Doug's had a good time explaining the different conferences and all the football terminology. I'll even admit that I'm eager to see the BCS rankings every Sunday.  All of this from a girl that didn't even attend a University of Utah sporting event while I attended.  Don't worry I still don't have a competitive bone in me- I would have been happy if BYU or Utah won.

New Climbing Toy

From Nov 08

This is a quick video of Ladd on his early Christmas present. Hopefully this will help us make it through the rough winter.  The first couple of seconds are pretty distasteful, but it sure made us laugh.

TROUBLE!

A couple of months ago I posted about Ladd's new discovery of climbing.  If only he could be satisfied with just climbing on his toys.  Looks like Ladd might be getting an early Christmas present, a climbing toy, because I'm getting to the end of my rope.  I left him upstairs playing in the loft for 3 minutes yesterday and thought I heard his bedroom lamp switch on.  Confused, and thinking he must have pulled the lamp down on himself I dashed up and saw this:

I quickly snapped this picture and took him down and closed the drawer to see how he did it and of course he immediately went running back to the dresser and showed me exactly how:

Pretty Impressive.  I was unable to distract him from climbing on the dresser so I brought him downstairs where he started his usual business of :

Naughty

Over the past week or two Ladd has turned from an angel child into the opposite.  As a mother I really strive to not say "no" to everything.  That way I figured when I really needed to use "NO" he would no I mean it.  So in my efforts I have tried not to notice when he empties every non-safety-proofed cupboard in the kitchen countless times in an hour.  I just smile and laugh as he splashes pools of water onto the bathroom floor during bathtime.  I patiently allow him to feed himself even the messiest of meals even though it is going to take 20 minutes to clean him up.  I usually let him walk everywhere we go because he loves to be free from the stroller and from being carried and I try to chase after him even though it takes forever to get to where we are going. I let him play with almost any button to his hearts content even if it is the most annoying thing trying to watch tv while he turns it on and off.  

Up until these last couple weeks I was feeling pretty good about my newly-learned patience, but something just turned Ladd's naughty button on and I can't figure out how to turn it off.  I've resorted to saying "NO, no" and "That's naughty!" about 100 times a day and he just smiles at me and does the same thing over and over again. 

He climbs on top of the kitchen table all day long to stand and dance on it.  He climbs on the toilet and then on the water tank in order to get up on the bathroom counters.  Last week he managed to find my prenatal vitamins (which he can only reach if he's on the bathroom counter) and stuff them into his mouth and then spit them out all over the bathroom floor. While dusting in the loft I put some glass candle things on the ground for about 5 seconds and within those 5 seconds Ladd devised a plan to pick them up and run full force through by bedroom, into the bathroom and toss them in the toilet.  He empties all his clothes drawers several times a day, no toilet paper roll is safe.  Changing diapers has turned into a wrestling match where I practically have to sit on him to make him stay still (and yes I've tried everything- food, toys and distractions use to work, but not anymore).  Oh yes, and he has started throwing tantrums and hitting.  

On the opposite side of the spectrum he has been especially sweet when it comes to giving hugs and kisses.  He comes running with open-arms to give me hugs at least 20 times each day and these are no ordinary hugs, he holds on to my neck as hard as he can and doesn't let go for a minute or two and nuzzles his face next to mine while saying "mommy, mommy, mommy...."

Thank heaven for these moments or I wouldn't be nearly as excited for Ladd to have a LITTLE BROTHER!  We just found out this morning and I honestly was hoping for another little boy because Ladd has brought us so much joy.  Besides hopefully they can run around like little hooligans all day and tire each other out.  I'm just hoping this naughty faze doesn't last too long, I'm kinda tuckered-out.

Two cute studs!

We had a great Halloween this year and Ladd scored us some great treats. We trick-or-treated at a couple of neighbors houses and Ladd would hold out both hands for treats. He never left a house empty handed- what a genius!! Actually he didn't want to leave any of the houses-he just barged right in and made himself at home and we would have to go snatch him to take him to the next house.

Doug dressed up as a cool 70's guy for work. Thanks to my dad he had some authentic 70's gear that fit him just perfectly. Doug argued that the pants were too tight and he had to undo them to sit down. I guess he knows how I feel everyday being pregnant.

Halloween Bunko

Our friends Matt and Camie had a great Halloween Party on Saturday night. We had been looking forward to a night out without Ladd and they definitely delivered. We played some very loud Bunko and they also provided costumes. Here is a glimpse into our fun evening.

ARRR!

Our ward had a Fall Festival last Friday. Ladd loved the costume parade and wasn't at all stage fright in front of all of those people. He loved all the attention he got being the cutest little pirate!

Here he is pictured with one of his good buds Austin. Thanks Maile and Kimberly for the pictures.

Our Little Fireman

While Darci was off to "Super Saturday" with the Relief Society Ladd and Dad went to the fire station to see the trucks and fire engines. Ladd got to wear this cool coat - he wasn't sure why though! Maybe next year he'll be a Fireman for Halloween.





















He loved seeing all the buttons and knobs that he could push and turn without Mom or Dad telling him no.

Lydia and Clayton, two of Ladd's favorite friends, were there and Ladd loved following them around to the different trucks.

I'm not really sure why Ladd didn't like standing on the back of the fire engine - he just didn't like it!

Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday Ladd and I went with our church playgroup to Knapton's Pumpkin Patch. It was a pretty cold morning so Ladd wouldn't crack a smile. My friend Maile was nice enough to give him a ride into the pumpkin patch in the wheelbarrow which he didn't mind too much. Then we went tromping through the patch and of course Mr. Independent didn't want to hold my hand and within 5 seconds had tripped over a vine and smashed chin first into a large pumpkin. I really thought Ladd would get a kick out of all the pumpkins laying around, but there were no smiles for the rest of the trip. Except when I took out his favorite toy, the camera, for picture number 2. Well... I had a good time!

Fall

Fall is in full swing here in Minnesota and we are loving it. Of course no one is loving it as much as Ladd as you can see below. I can hardly believe how beautiful it is with all the leaves turning colors. I can honestly say that I've been pleasantly surprised with the nice weather. Today and yesterday were in the 70's and it still hasn't turned miserably cold- knock on wood.
We've been pretty boring lately hence the lack of blogging. Just keeping busy with work, church, and one crazy little boy that doesn't keep still. He is so animated/dramatic- he is constantly trying to make sounds, poses, and facial expressions that just send us roaring with laughter.

New moves and haircut!

This video is a little long (2 min), but kind of fun. Doug finally gave in and cut Ladd's hair on Saturday and it looks great. Doug still thinks it looks cuter long and straggly, but I think it looks way better.

Ladd has been using about 5-10 words in the past couple of weeks, but he has now resorted to saying "Mommy" in a very whiny voice for everything. I don't even think he remembers how to say dada. Lucky me!

He also loves to dance to any kind of music. In this video we had some Sunday cello music going and he still performed.

We also had his 15-month check-up and he put up some great stats:

Weight: 23.4 lbs (40%) - not as heavy as I thought he was

Length: 32 inches (75%)- Yeah!!!

Head: 19 inches (75%)

Heber Train Yard

While visiting my sisters in Heber I had the chance to photograph a couple of my nieces and nephew. I can't believe how much they have grown up in the last six months. They were so fun and it was so entertaining to see all their different personalities. I love these kids and wish I could see them more.

First there was Markus (3). I probably should have posted all my blurry photos I took because that would better portray his personality-he won't sit still for .5 seconds, but look at those curious big eyes. What a handsome boy!

Next we have Kenadee (almost 5). She's my girly girl, she was more interested in picking flowers than posing, but look at those beautiful locks and melt-your-heart smile.

Ella (almost 5) is America's Next Top Model. I honestly didn't say a word and she just started posing like a supermodel- and she was really good at it! I can't believe how comfortable she was in front of the camera

Abby (8) was so happy and smiley. I think she would have kept smiling even if someone had been pinched her. And look at that beautiful skin- she looks just like her mom.

Savannah (almost 9) has killer blue eyes and she did a great job showing them off for the pictures. I also couldn't believe that her hair looked this great after a full day of school. What darling kids!

Sunday Picnic

Sunday afternoon my dad took us up Farmington Canyon for a yummy picnic. I love being near the mountains again. It was a beautiful day and Ladd had fun chillin with grandma and grandpa. In the second picture we were laughing so hard because he was loving the smoke in his face from the grilling brats, but looking back I think it is even funnier looking at how my dad is using his grandchild to shield himself from the smoke. The last picture sure makes me miss the beautiful landscape here in Utah. What a nice Sunday afternoon!

Rainy Day

A couple of weeks ago we had an awesome downpour on a really sunny day. I couldn’t resist letting Ladd run around pant-less in the rain. He loved it and got drenched as you can see. – Just remembered I had these pictures and thought Doug might enjoy them while Ladd and I are in Utah – we love you!!