Utah Family Reunion/Colton's Blessing Trip

This has got to be a record.  I've only been home from my Utah trip for 3 weeks and I've already compiled the pictures from my camera, Kristen's camera, and my mom's camera to put together this marathon post.  Thanks, dad, for taking time out of your busy schedule to burn them onto a disk so quickly!

I flew with Dylan and Colton by myself *gasp* at 6am *another gasp* to Utah for a week.  I was nervous, but the boys did great!  Dylan was a great helper in the airport pulling his little puppy suitcase and watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the portable DVD player during the 2 flights to Salt Lake.  Colton was chill on his 1st plane rides and just ate and slept the entire time.  Victory!    

I needed to wash clothes before I packed and Autrey brought the laundry bag downstairs for me...with a stowaway: 

So happy to see G-ma!  She gave him the Vegas style shirt.  It says, "What happens at grandma's stays at grandma's."

Bath tub time in GG's spa with Ashlyn and Jackson.  Aunt Meagan showed them how to make giant soap bubbles:

Playing with the motorcycles:

Ash and Colton:

My cousin Tyler's little girl, Kaydee, doting on sleeping Colton:

Colton and GG:

GQ/Pensive Sleeping Colton:

My mom made a friend named Irma during her morning swims at the Orem Rec Center.  This friend and husband sold most of their land (that is currently the Provo Riverwoods) but still board horses.  She invited us to come and take the kids for a ride on Dunny.  We loved it!  Dylan still calls all horses he sees Dunny:

Grandma Holdaway took us boating on Utah Lake.  None of us could go skiing (Mom's back, my recent C-section, Kristen's pregnancy, Meagan's busy schedule, Desiree's recent broken nose surgery/BYU summer classes), but we had fun on the tube and introducing the kids to the orange H-board, which Dylan referred to as a skateboard.  JaNae was driving slow for the kids while we were on the tube.  So slow that another boat's wake came over the front and dumped us all into the water.  Oops.  After the kids stopped crying it was really funny: 

A little stiff in the life jacket, no?

GG let Dylan drive for a while.  Let's just say he doesn't exactly go in a straight line:

This one was taken after we all got dumped.  No one bothered to tell me my "mas-scary" was all over the place, giving the look of a black eye:

My BYU roomie, Alison Merritt, drove up from Arizona while I was in town.  She's pretty awesome, especially since she just had knee surgery.  We drove around together visiting some of our old roomies.  Sarah Godfrey, with her sweet little girl she worked so hard to get here:

Becky Taylor, prego with miracle baby #4:

Traci Purser, with her miracle twins, Liam and Logan:

We went to Aunt Elaine's house to meet up with the Manti Millers.  G-pa and the big boys:

Puppy love:

Grandma Miller meeting little Colton:

Snuggling with Norma and her warm blanket:

Hairdresser G-ma giving Dylan his 3rd haircut.  She's fast.  She was done before he finished his Creamie:

"This little piggy..."

Who knew water and bowls could be so entertaining?

Love this little goober:

Water fun continued back at GG's house:

 Cute Grandpa and GG draining the water:

 We had dinner one night at Arctic Circle.  I lost count of the number of times food and drinks were spilled, but the kids enjoyed the play place:

Autrey flew in late Friday night and went with us to the Gordon family reunion (GG's maiden name)at Vineyard park on Saturday:

I'm sure Meagan would like me to clarify that's my baby, not hers.  Haha:

Yup, Ken is braiding Desiree's hair.  Lost his Man Card for that one:

"Fishing" for prizes with my cousin, Jan:

Dylan's favorite part of the whole day was riding the various cars in the "trains" pulled by the John Deere riding mowers.  Best babysitter ever.  He did NOT want to get off: 

Kristen, Meagan, Desirae Holdaway, me, and Meechelle Talbot:

Volleyball time:

Desiree' was serving, but my camera's a little slow.  I think I like these pictures better though:

Atim serving:

Underhand, Autrey?  Hmmmm...

Desiree' going for the kill:

Tinkle toes, Ken.  It's what happens after your Man Card is taken away.  (Ken, you know I love you.  I know you can take it and dish it right back.  Bring it.)

Dylan and Uncle Atim:

Colton with Uncle Atim and his bulging bicep:

Not just for the kids, apparently:

Even GG and her sisters got in on the fun.  I'm loving the bags over their heads to protect the hairdos from the rain.  Classic:

Dylan blowing his whistle:

The Holdaway clan...at least those who could make it.  We were missing quite a bunch:

Miller crew, minus Danny:

GG and her girls: Aunt Karen, Aunt JaNae, and mom:

Autrey and Ken playing baseball after Uncle Keith's temporary golfing holes he had set up were taken down.  Ken got his Man Card back:

After the reunion we met up with the Duke's and swam at their hotel.  Colton meeting Nana:

The crew attending Colton's blessing on July 15th:

Holly was the photographer of the group shot:

Dukes:

Millers:

Millers & Holdaways:

Aunt Norma, Aunt Marilyn, Aunt Elaine, and Aunt B:

With our 2 boys, the sleepy one and the squirrely one:

He looks good in the tux we borrowed from Jackson:

The 3 Great Grandmas:

Dad and his namesake, who he calls C.D. (Colton David):

G-pa and G-ma (with their plot of land they will be building their new house on this year behind them):

Aunt Desiree':

Uncle Ken and Aunt Meagan:

Mimi and Papa:

Mimi stealing Colton's sleeping sugar:

GG and Grandpa Holdaway:

Mimi:

Colton's 2 grandmas:

Papa:

G-ma:

Nana:

Shorty:

What Dylan was doing the entire time, but you probably could have guessed that!

So glad to see everyone and have you meet sweet baby Colton!

For posterity, G-ma took notes at Colton's blessing.  Colton, these are the things your dad blessed you with:

*To know you are a special spirit, that you are loved by your family.

*To know you can go to your family for help and comfort.

*That your body will grow strong and healthy.

*That you will overcome challenges you will face.

*That you will have a bright intellect.

*That you will learn the gospel and the scriptures.

*That you will learn in your youth the value of hard work and service to others.

*That you will be an instrument to the Lord and to His church.

*That you will receive all the ordinances of the gospel: That of baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, that you will receive the priesthood and blessings of the temple.

*That you will serve as a missionary and then take a worthy daughter of God to the temple to be sealed for time and eternity.

Counsel given you:

* Learn to listen to the spirit and follow the promptings when you need guidance.

*Stay close to your Heavenly Father.



Dylan 32 Month/Colton 2 Month Update (Post Utah Trip)

We've all been a little (or a lot) tired lately.  Good thing Colton is so snuggly and likes taking naps while he's being held:

I hadn't seen a lot of "Frankie" (what we call all the geckos in our yard) until recently.  One night I was sitting in the recliner nursing and saw 2 of them on the outside of the window.  This past weekend we spent hours pulling up weeds and junk plants in our yard...I'm really sore.  Unfortunately we needed to pull up what had turned into a Frankie Hotel.  I'm sure they will find a new home:

Tummy time is a family event:

...and exhausting for the little guy.  He has fallen asleep a few times in this position:

Dylan is my sous chef and master taste tester.  A very impatient one at that:

But so cute

and so happy!

Dylan 32 month update:

*"How fun is that?"

*He saw a plastic Walmart bag and surprised me by saying, "That says Walmart."

*He took a drink out of my water bottle and said, "Thanks for sharing, mom."

*Sitting on the counter helping me stir: "I'm a good chef."

*'ing' ending is 'enen' to him (i.e.-getting comes out gettenen)

*Autrey: "Want to go to work with me?"

  Dylan: "I want to pick up some money."

*Dylan didn't want to put his cars away so he told me, "Feed baby Colton" to distract me.

*"Where's Colton's booby?  He wants a drink.  He wants his  milk."

*We followed a garbage truck on our walk...for 1 block.  That's as long as I could stand the smell before taking an alternate route.  Even Dylan noticed: "That garbage truck went poop like a good garbage truck." 

*Speaking of which, he continues to have some accidents and isn't back to where he was before Colton was born.  Too bad, because he was completely potty trained...and had less of an attitude with us.

*Dylan had so much fun with Ashlyn and Jackson in Utah.  Dylan and Jackson would have these cute conversations.  It was like watching 2 Furby toys communicating, but they understood each other.

*We rode a horse named Dunny.  After 3 weeks Dylan still remembers his name.

Colton 2 month update:

*Head: 15.2 cm

  Height: 22 in (20th %) -- Dylan was also 22 inches at this age

  Weight: 10 lbs 14 oz (30th %) -- Dylan was 8 lbs 9 oz at this age

*This appointment was the 1st time either of my boys have had a higher percentage in weight than height.  Colton is chunkier and has the cutest rolls at the top of his legs.  He is a little bigger than Dylan was, but otherwise looks exactly the same.  Pete and Repeat.

*Colton is smiling all the time, especially after he hasn't seen us for a while.  He is also cooing and starting to imitate sounds.  His fun factor is definitely higher now.  It melts my heart.

*He is strong and lifting his head well.

*Colton is very twitchy and has a strong startle reflex.

*He is doing the "bow and arrow" position with his arms.

*His pediatric orthopedic doctor said at his past appointment that his foot is making progress.  Just have to keep stretching it.

*He still prefers to be held, but is getting better about being put down for short stints.

*I'm still working on sleep training him and getting a routine established.  He has teased me with sleeping 5-6 1/2 hours in a row a few times, but that is NOT the norm.  (At 2 months, Dylan slept 7 hours in a row the 1st time.)  Also, he goes down fairly well for naps but will frequently wake up immediately after 5 minutes or after 30-45 minutes and I have to settle him down all over again for the other half of his nap. 

*Part of his sleeping problem may be tied to his eating.  I have gotten him down to 20 minutes per side, but after 2 hours he wants to eat again.  Getting mastitis last week didn't help with that endeavor. 

*His head is a little bit flatter on the right side, but we are working on more tummy time and laying on the left side.

*I have taken both boys on an airplane ride to Utah, to the Southlake library, and to a few doctor visits by myself.  For the most part they've done really well.  Today I'm going to attempt a quick trip to Walmart.  Wish me luck.

Colton's 1 Month Pictures

Colton's photo shoot a few days after he turned 1 month old: 

He is such a cute boy!

Happy 4th!

Yesterday Autrey turned the big 3-0.  I'm married to an old man. :) Between that and all of the 4th of July fesivities we have been having a ton of fun.  Yesterday morning Dylan, Colton, and I went on a long walk and played at the park.  It was super hot so we had popsicles to cool off:   

 I love this Lightning McQueen hat and shirt:

 Then we played in the sandbox, had a bath, and napped until Autrey got home.  We went to the Cheesecake Factory for his birthday dinner and walked around Southlake until the firework show started.  The beautiful people sure do their fireworks right.  I'm really glad we went, especially because it had been quite a while since we had seen fireworks on the 4th due to our traveling.  Dylan enjoyed walking around:

 And loved going inside an ambulance for a tour:

 "You're killin' me, Smalls."

 He was fascinated by Uncle Sam on stilts:

 Colton slept through just about the entire evening in the stroller, so he didn't make it into the pictures.  He woke up in time for the fireworks to nurse and they didn't bother him even though they were really loud.  I did cover his ears, so that probably helped.  Dylan was excited about the fireworks all night but got a little nervous when they started.  Once he warmed up to them he kept telling me, "It's ok, they're just fireworks," as if to comfort me.  Pretty funny.  Today we went over to a BBQ at Tom and Dani Lillywhite's in our red, white, and blue.  Dylan kept telling everyone he was a baseball player and wouldn't believe us that he was actually wearing a Team USA basketball uniform: 

Now I'm ready for an All-American nap.  Happy 4th of July!



Cookies and Cabela's

Frosting and decorating star sugar cookies:

 We are never opening a bakery.  I would tend to think paying customers would notice the licked frosting and bit off points.  And there were sprinkles all over the floor.  So fun.  Dylan also got a kick out of playing with his cars and creating trails in the extra sprinkles.

 I haven't been very good about taking pictures of Colton in his cute little outfits, but this is one of my favorite preemie pjs.  He's growing so fast it's probably the last time he will fit it.

Daddy's little all-star:

 We went to Cabela's today with some friends from the ward to escape the 106 degree heat outside: 

Dylan 30/31 Month Update and Colton 1 Month Update

Before we get to the updates from the past 2 months, these cute pictures were taken at Rock Anderson's birthday party, Dylan's little friend: 

Dylan's Update:

*Dylan went to the dentist for the 1st time and had no cavities!  He was pretty scared of sitting in the chair though.

*Before Colton was born and I was on bed rest, he put a sticker on my belly for Colton and said, "It'll make you feel better, Mama."  Dylan was a sweetheart during those weeks I was out of commission. 

*"Mama's having contractions."

*Nursery leader: "Where's your mom?"

  Dylan: "She's resting."

*He held out a spoonful of yogurt to my belly and said, "I want to feed baby Colton."

*He told everyone at the hospital "I'm the big brother."

*On the drive home from the hospital, he wasn't sure about Colton coming home with us at first.  He said, "I don't want baby Colton.  No thank you."  But as we drove into the neighborhood he said, "We're almost home, Colton.  It's ok.  Shhh."

*Getting ready for bed he said, "Let's go sleep in my big boy bed.  That would be fun, baby Colton."

*"I'm going to check on baby Colton, see what he's doing."

*At first Dylan would get confused and say "What's the matter, baby Tyler?"

*A week after Colton was born, Dylan grabbed my nursing pillow, sat down, and held Colton for the 1st time on his own. And Colton promptly filled his diaper, loudly.

*A week after that Autrey called Colton "the baby" and Dylan said, "His name is baby Colton, dad."

*"I love your baby, mommy."  Melted my heart.

*He likes to give me blankets, pillows, toys, etc. while I am nursing.

*When he woke up: "G-ma/Mimi are you there?  Come get me!"  So glad they were here to help.

*"I'm so tired, daddy.  It's night time.  Time for bed."  Then he kept on playing.

*"Guess what?  My daddy's coming home for a minute."

*Ok, seriously?  What are you talking about?"

*"Hey.  What's the big idea?"

*When I say something he doesn't like he says, "No yelling" even though I'm not.

*He was wearing Autrey's shoes and said, "Get off shoes.  I told you.  Get off.  You need to go potty."

*Autrey: "Put on your pantalones."

  Dylan: "They're not pantalones.  Just pants.

  Autrey: "They are in Spanish."

  Dylan: "These aren't Spanish."

*"Hey, uncle Matt.  What are you doing there by the stairs?"

*"That's a catastrophe!" (from the book "Too Many Toys")

*He got in the car and said, "I'm all situated."

*Mimi: "Dylan, you going to do the dishes?"

  Dylan: "It's not my job." (a line from a book)

*Holding a picture of the Houston temple: "Do you see the temple?  It's where mommy and daddy got married."

*While I was deciding what to eat for dinner Dylan said, "You.  Me.  Dinner.  Ka-chow!" ("Cars" quote)

*"Was that stinkin' (stinging) like a Beamer?" (Doc from "Cars" movie)

*While sitting on the potty: "That smells delicious."  Yuck!

*He makes a fake mad face then laughs, thinking it's hilarious.

*He likes to crawl up the stairs meowing while pretending to be a kitty.

*He loves the Jungle Book song "Bear Necessities" and calls all bears "bear necessities."

*He calls Scooby Doo "Scooby Doo-by."

*Colton's swing has Winnie the Pooh characters on it.  Dylan introduced Colton to them.

*Autrey and Dylan have season passes to Hawaiian Falls water park and have fun going together.

*Dylan loves to ride his bike and is getting pretty brave.  I'm so glad I can now go to the park with him again.  Another thing I missed while I was pregnant and then recovering from surgery was being able to cuddle with Dylan on my lap.  It's the best. 

*I am glad I can cuddle and interact more with Dylan, especially since he is acting up and being more emotional than he was now that Colton is here.  Also, the only 2 poopy accidents he ever had since potty training were the week Colton was born.  But with all things considered he is adjusting relatively well. 

*With Colton around, Dylan looks huge by comparison.  He is wearing 3T clothes and size 8 shoes.

Colton's update:

*The last month before he was born I had elevated blood pressure, swollen feet, 6 contractions an hour, and a thinning cervix.  3 days before he was born my blood pressure was all the way up to 148/100.  That's why they bumped up my C-section to the 14th.

 

*Stats at his 1 week appointment:

  Height: 18 1/2 in

  Weight: 6 lbs, 3 oz

  Head: 13 1/4 cm

  Blood type: O-

*Stats at his 2 week appointment:

Height: 19 3/4 in, 17%

Weight: 7 lbs, 10%

 Head: 13.75 cm, 15%

*His umbilical cord came off at 2 1/2 weeks.  Just like Dylan's, it was accidently helped the rest of the way off by a onesie.  Oops.

*Colton likes it when you drive fast.  He doesn't like stops or bumpy roads.

*He is a baby that likes to be held a lot.  He gets fussy if I try to put him in his swing or lay him down somewhere while I get something done.  But I do enjoy the cuddles.

*He still can wear some preemie clothes, but mostly wears newborn clothes.

*He eats slowly, and all. the. time.  He also spits up a little more than Dylan did.

*Yesterday Colton slept from 2-7pm.  Then he slept from 10pm-2am.  I'm loving the longer stretches of sleep!

Going to the Movies

Dylan went with Matthew, our sweet neighbor boy who's just a month younger than Dylan, to his 1st movie at a movie theater to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked."  I bought a season pass for him (only $6 total for 10 summer movies...not bad!) and Melissa was nice enough to offer to take both of them every week so I could take a nap with Colton.  I'm sad I'm not going with them, but I still feel wiped out and don't think Colton is ready for that kind of outing.  Maybe next year.  Here are the cute movie goers:

Hooray for fun friends!