This and that...

   The last few weeks have been flying by - as do all the others!  Jon and Aubs left and it has taken some time to get used to the quiet at Grammy and Bumpa's!  We have been hanging out with them lots and having fun as always!  Jeff had a birthday and we kept it pretty low key.  We usually try to do something for the two of us between our birthdays since they are pretty close together. We love him to pieces and hope he had a very happy birthday!
   Our little man officially sat up for the first time all by himself on Friday, Sept. 21st.  It is pretty crazy; Thursday he couldn't do it, Friday  I get a picture from Jeff that has him sitting up all by himself!  He is getting big soooo fast and I actually kinda hate it!  But I am excited to see him reach all of these milestones too so I am finding myself trying to keep an emotional balance.  :)  Being a mom is the greatest thing ever! And now a bunch of pictures cuz that is what everybody likes best!

Hangin out

   The last few weeks have been spent hanging out with Jon, Aubs, and the girls since they are moving this week. We are going to miss them sooooo much! Sawyer loves Hali'a. He smiles anytime she is around. La'a loves him to death too! I love watching the three of them interact. 
   Our little man also turned 5 months old. He loves eating "people food" and is very anxious for more. He stares at me and Jeff whenever we eat and moves his mouth like us. It is pretty funny. He likes playing on the floor a bit more and doesn't need to be held quite as much.  He rolls everywhere and I am sure it won't be long til he is crawling - it seems like he is definitely trying! His laughter is infectious and I can't help but giggle right along with him.  I realized that right now is truly a special and wonderful phase in our parenting journey. There is such an innocence on both sides. There is never a time when we get upset with him or have to be the "bad guys" and discipline him. He loves us with such a pure heart and doesn't hate us or think we have ruined his life- haha!  Too soon the time-outs and NO's will be uttered(on both sides). The temper tantrums in the store and taking him out of sacrament meeting screaming at the top of his lungs will be here before we know it. So for now, we relish in his sweet smile, adorable laughter, and the pure joy being a little family brings.

 We love the daddy

 Uncle Jordan

 Bumpa can always make us laugh

 Playing at the California Science Center- they picked up a truck!

Best buddies - not just cousins :)

The fair, a cold and some shots, plus real food...sorta!

   We started out the last few weeks with a trip to the Orange County Fair. We had a great time eating junk food, looking at some baby animals, listening to some music, and walking the fabulous Hall of Products(my favorite part:).  The very next day however, our little man got his first cold. Lots of congestion, a fever, runny nose - the works. Poor guy! It stinks that at this age there really isn't much you can do except a humidifier and Tylenol.  But even though he felt crummy, he was pretty much his happy self. 
   About a week after his cold, we went in to get his shots on Aug. 15th.  I am happy to report that he is a very healthy baby. He weighed in at 18 pounds, 12.5 ounces and was 26.5 inches long.  He was great throughout the whole visit and did not cry once during his shots! I was such a happy mama!  The doc also gave us the green light and told us to start feeding him "real food" as in single grain cereals and green veggies. Can't believe it is already time for food! So far he seems to love eating with a spoon and has been awesome.  It is fun to watch him pass all of these milestones. Even though he still NEVER sleeps, he is such a happy baby. Jeff and I feel sooo blessed to be his Dad and Mom!

                                             At the fair

                                              Love his face in this pic!

                                          La'a loved Uncle Jeff's snow cone :)

                                                    Being sick for the first time :(

                                          He really wanted to hold the spoon himself

                                                     My happy guy!

4 Months Old, 1st Vacation, &Teeth

   Sawyer turned 4 months old on Friday, the 27th of July, we left for Bass Lake on Saturday the 28th, and discovered he had cut his first tooth on Sunday the 29th!  What an exciting few days :)!
   I was supposed to take Sawyer to get shots right before we left on vacation but I got the days mixed up and had to reschedule for next week.  My best guess is that he is about 25 inches long and approx 18 pounds. He is wearing 9 month clothes! He is getting big and so independent! He is not much of a cuddler, which totally bums me out. However, when he doesn't feel good, he still only wants to be held by mom - both a blessing and a curse for me :)
   Bass Lake was so awesome and our little man seemed to love it! I was pretty nervous about the long car ride there and back, but he was amazing! Hardly cried at all, which is sooo not like him. He typically hates the car after five minutes.  He loved going in the water with me and Jeff and even fell asleep in his floater.  He adored the attention from Hali'a and La'akea, plus Grammy and Bumpa!  We rented a pontoon boat and ate dinner at the Pizza Factory. Overall, a fun week and we can't wait to go back!
   I was pretty shocked to find that little bottom tooth while eating dinner at the Lake.  My baby just seems too little to have teeth already! But alas, there it was. One week later, the second bottom tooth broke through. It is kind of a bummer to see him growing so dang fast, but he is so much fun that I am trying to appreciate more of the milestones and not be so sad at what is passing by. Not an easy thing for this Mama! 

                                                                     One cool dude!

                                                                       Happy times :)

                                                We loved the lake so much we fell asleep!

                                                                 We loved Bass Lake!

                                                                  Kisses from Duke

                                                          Not happy to show off his teeth!

                                                                 Playing makes us tired!

Summertime!

   Summer is in full swing and we are having a great time so far! Sawyer enjoyed his first 4th of July and did not really mind the fireworks too much. Mom kept him in the house for the really loud stuff though because she wants him to be able to hear fireworks for many years to come! :)  We ventured out into the cool summer night and went to the beach last nite and Sawyer seemed to like it. He was quite captivated by the fire.  I think this baby just loves being outside and taking in all the cool stuff there is to see.  Everyday he is doing more and his little personality continues to come through.  He loves to bounce on Dad or Bumpa's tummy and just laughs til he cries - and I don't  mean a little baby giggle either.  It is so fun to watch him find joy in playing and interacting with us.  It was great fun to watch Sawyer barf all over Daddy after a rowdy session of bouncing.  Sawyer thought it was pretty funny too :)

3 months old...tomorrow!

You are 3 months old Sawyer! It has been so fun getting know the little person you are. We love you so much, more than Mommy or Daddy could ever put into words. Here are some things about you:
     *you love to chew on your fists, the whole thing
     *you are not big on taking naps, usually only one a day
     *you have the most adorable giggle and Daddy usually is the one to make you laugh
     *you are 23 inches long and 15 pounds
     *you only like to sleep on your tummy
     *you are happiest in the morning and like to get up early
     *you like your mom to put you to bed
     *you smile with your whole face and we love it
     *your favorite song is I Am a Child of God-you love it when daddy hums it to you
     *bath time always makes you happy, you are definately a water baby
     *you always try to sit up especially in your car seat and stroller
     *all your hair is pretty much gone now but you do have a cute bald head
     *you really like phineas and ferb like your uncle Justin
     *you are a very noisy sleeper and grunt all night long
     *you love to snuggle with your mommy in the morning(but only the morning)
     *you drool like crazy
     *everyone that sees you thinks you are the cutest baby ever!

Growing too fast!

  The last few weeks have been super fun and time has been flying way too fast for my liking!!  Already Sawyer is getting sooo big and changing so much. It's crazy and I am not sure I like him growing up so quickly! I got to celebrate my first Mother's Day which was awesome- got beautiful diamond earrings from daddy and Sawyer, had our first trips to the park and the zoo, and overall just been savoring every moment with our pretty cool little guy.  I have to admit, he is a pretty high maintenance baby but we love him none the less.  He takes after his mother as in he never likes to sleep.  (I think my mom is secretly happy I got a baby that was just like me!)  His happiest moments are in the morning- he totally smiles and giggles at me and Jeff which is incredible! He also has a phobia of cameras apparently because every time I grab one he stops smiling.  I will catch him one of these days!  Right now Mom is his favorite- which I kinda love.  Dad feels like chopped liver he says, but I tell him to just give it time and then he will be the favorite too.  We are looking forward to summer and all of our "firsts" with our little man!!