Gingerbread House

Earlier this month, Grama Polly brought over this gingerbread house for Jake. All month long Jake has been climbing up to take a closer look at the house.

Some days, I'll come out from changing the baby and find the pretzel fence is no longer in tact. Or the door has somehow fallen off. Occasionally Jake will appear with a red mouth that he got from sucking on a red candy or two.

A few mornings ago, it was very quiet out in the kitchen and when I came out this is what I found....



He was actually sitting up on the table, but by the time I got the camera he had seen me and was trying to make a quick and innocent get away.

Christmas Nativity

This year we braved the cold, set out with a 10 day old baby and went where all doctors begged me not to go with a new little one....a FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY!

The Bagley's (my mom's side of the family) has a Christmas party every year. Although we had decided not to attend this year, my Aunt Marty put together a night of holiday fun and Jake had a part! She had a nativity planned with costumes, lines, background scenery, a choir, the whole nine yards. There was no way, new baby and all, that I was going to miss my little Jake in his debut role as the cow. His line was "Let my manager be his bed." With the help of Whitney (Jake's BFF) he did wonderfully. (I'll have to figure out how to load the video one of these days). I may be a little bias, but I do believe he may be the greatest two year old nativity cow EVER! I was so proud of my little cow.

Thanks Marty for a great party.

Getting to know you

We've spent the better part of December getting to know our little Sam. Having two kids has been an adjustment for us all. I've been really lucky that Mike has worked from home the whole month of December, so there is always two people around in case of two screaming children. My mom has also been around to help all month long.

Sam is a pretty good baby overall. We've had a few days where he cries a lot, but for the most part he is pretty content. He even sleeps 4 -5 hours during the first stretch of the night. Mike and I go to bed these days around 9 with the kids and it helps get a 5 hour stretch of sleep before the first feeding! We've had a few nights where the baby has woken up Jake which aren't that much fun for anyone. But Jake is adjusting well.

Jake tells us all the time how cute baby Sam is, he likes to touch his hands and feet. Jake has gotten a little louder and falls to the ground upset a little more often then he use to, but I think that is pretty mild compared to what other two year olds with a new baby in the house may do. He never takes it out on Sam. Occasionally he'll ask me to lay Sam down so I can hold him, but he isn't upset at Sam so we are lucky that way.



I think everyday will get a little easier. We are just happy that Sam is here and is healthy.

Blue Hawaii

Once Christmas is over I'm done with the cold, the snow, and ready for flowers, pools to open, tanned faces, and playing outside. Since I live in Utah and that won't be happening anytime soon, I'm itching to get to a warmer location.

We went to Hawaii last February and as I longed for the beach I took a look back at the pictures from that trip and thought I'd share a few. If I can't actually be there, remembering this fun trip may just be the next best thing.


The night we arrived, Jake was so excited!






Jake loved playing at the beach.


Nothing better then a nap on the beach.


Loves the pool.


The view from our room....HEAVEN


Notice the rainbow? Where else can you see that almost daily?


Everyone is happier in Hawaii....




Are you seeing why I want to go back yet?


Jake at the aquarium


Jake trying to layout with me...those lounge chairs can be tricky.

Can't wait to get out of the cold! Anyone have a few free tickets they are trying to get rid of?

Samuel James Latimer

Welcoming Samuel James Latimer into our little family.

Born December 3rd, 2009
9:01 AM
8 lbs 6 oz
20 inches long

I realize this is long overdue. Sam is almost a month old! I thought it was time I introduce him to the rest of the world.



Jake meeting his baby brother for the first time. He thought he was pretty cute.

Hot Chocolate and Toast

Last year I bought a hot chocoloate maker. I was a little sketchy about it at first, but my sister in law told me how much they loved theirs, so I thought what the heck.

We have used the hot chocolate make many times. It is great at frothing right before you pour it. I grew up with hot chocolate and toast as a Sunday night meal now and then on cold winter nights. This is a tradition I have carried on with my family. Jake asks me daily to make hot chocolate in the hot chocolate maker. (We made wassil the other night and he asked if there was a hot wassil maker.)

Buttered toast dipped in hot chocolate for breakfast or a late night snack, nothing better!

I ran across this hot chocolate idea at this blog here
and thought it was a great idea.

Change is in the wind

Two weeks from today is my delivery date. Over the last few weeks I've been trying everything possible to bring the labor on a little earlier. It just isn't working for me.

This morning I woke up a littler earlier then usual and laid in bed watching my baby Jake sleep. (Yes he ends up next to me every night). As I watched him sleep he looked so peaceful. He stretched a little which reminded me of him doing this as a little baby, and then stretched out so long I forget how tall he's gotten. My baby will only be my little baby for another 2 weeks is what came to my mind. Instead of trying to force this new little bundle out, I should focus my time and energy on Jake. He will only be my only child for such a short amount of time.

As he started to wake up, he rolled over to be spooned into a hug by Mike. When he finally opened his eyes, he rolled back over to me for the same little hug. How I love our morning ritual of waking up to this happy little boy. Over the past 2 years I've woken up to have him starring at me with a big smile. Or I've tried to wake him up and hear him mumble "I'm tired mom" as he rolls over and goes back to sleep. We often lay in bed for awhile after we wake up, playing a game, singing, watching a cartoon. Its time that we have together 1- because Mike and I are both tired and don't want to get up yet but 2 - has turned into such fun memories of hugs and kisses. Jake's first words and sentenances. Telling us what he wants to do that day. All these little memories we will forever have with him because of our morning ritual.

As I laid watching him this morning I wondered how our mornings would change. I'm sure with a new baby waking up, we might not have many of these mornings left in us for awhile. As ready as I am to not be pregnant, and to meet our new little guy, I don't know if I'm ready to give up these precious moments that may be hard to come by as the family grows. The moral of my morning is to enjoy the time I have left with Jake as the only child. It will only be for a few more days.

Does everyone have anxiety about bringing the 2nd child home? I worry so much about how Jake will react. What will he be thinking? How will this change his world? His personality? I know within a few months all will seem normal and he will love having a baby around, but the initial shock of it all is what worries me. Will he want us to send his brother back? When we were flying to California we saw a few babies on the flight. He said "look at the cute baby, he's so tiny." That little statement gives me hope and I can hear Jakes cute little voice saying it over and over in my head, hoping he has the same reaction when he meets his new little brother.

Until that day, I'll continue to cherish my mornings, as I will never have this "only child" time again.