Spring Break {All Tuckered Out}

Talon is obsessed with the 4-wheeler.  He loves it so much, he doesn't even mind putting on his helmet because he knows what it means.  We drive around, all three of us, at 5 mph on our neighborhood streets.  He screams in delight.

Spring Break {Frontier Homestead}

Spring Break is a BIG deal to a working mom teacher.  So Stacie and I have been talking about plans for months.  One of the items on our week plan was going to Frontier Homestead State Park in Cedar City.  Some may laugh at the idea to drive an hour to see a mini museum, but it was seriously fun.

The workers were happy to just have people at their museum, and followed us around letting us touch and get in some of the displays.  By the time we had the brood in the Wells Fargo stagecoach, we knew we had made a great decision to make this trip.

We finished off the day by taking Brant out for birthday lunch {he's 24!} at a Mexican restaurant.  He snapped this hilarious shot of him and T.

Spring Break {Park Day}

Park Day.  5 moms and 13 kids under 6.  Nothing could beat the wave of warmth that came in for Spring Break.  We set up a tent, blankets, strollers, food {a small city really} and let the kids and babies enjoy the sun and fun. 

Talon loved it.  The more things happening around him, the better he is.  At the park he learned the joys of carefully unloading every item out of mom's diaper bag.  He found the process to be most hilarious.

Talon {9 months}

*I {finally} cut my first tooth, and in line with showing my parents that I will always keep them on their toes, my first tooth was my top right.  I got through it alright, just a tad bit grouchy for one evening.  It hasn't grown down too far, but mom says it looks big.

*We celebrated my first Valentine's Day with family dinner and Grandma and Grandpa sent gifts.  Mom made a special treat I can't eat...lame.  Mom sent this embarrassing picture of me to people in a text message and it said "Sending you a 'bare' hug on Valentine's."

*I wear 18 month size pajamas, and really most clothes I wear these days are that size too.  I weigh 21 pounds.

*I'm getting more and more mobile, though I have yet to actually crawl.  My babysitter told mom that when she sets me a bit away from my buddy that is over there in the morning with me, I somehow manage to move over to him and then wrestle him a bit.

*I love to stand up the most.  I'm a champion at standing up to furniture.  I can't scoot around yet, but it is coming soon - then you better watch out.

*I got my first haircut.  Mom tried to give me a trim with scissors and ended up chopping a weird line across the back of my head.  So dad took matters into his own hands and used his big boy clippers.  Before mom even knew what was happening, I came out with a buzzed mohawk.

*I love to run errands and am at my best when out and about.

*Mom took me to the park with my buddies Finn and Jett this month and it is my favorite.  Lots of noise and things to watch, plus I love being outside.

*I can (finally) hold my own bottle.  I decided to cut everybody a break and do it myself.

*I am a super duper awesome at feeding myself.  I would rather use my hands that have someone use a spoon.  My food possibilities are endless, but lately my meals include eggs, beans, sweet potato cubes, carrot cubes, peas, noodles, yogurt, oatmeal, bananas, cooked apples, peaches, mandarin oranges, chicken, and toast.

Pure {Joy}

Happy was the day Talon put on his first helmet.  Dad and baby could not be more excited for the adventures ahead.

Talon {Photos}

I snap thousands of phone pictures, hundreds of point and shoots, but to get around to getting nice pictures done, requires a lot!  An old friend from high school, AJ Mellor, is now a professional photographer and posted a ridiculous deal on Facebook.  I jumped on it, and he took these shots in 10 minutes flat.  I love the white background and think Talon looks completely adorable.

Talon {8 months}

*I weight 20+ pounds.  People meet me and use nicknames like:  Bruiser, Linebacker, Chubs, and more like that.  I'm not offended.  Being big is in style.  As a result of my bigness, I can't wear any jeans or what mom would call "cute" pants.  Just VERY stretchy sweat pants for me.  I roll in 12-18 month clothes and size 3 diapers.

*Mom and dad have started offering up the good food.  Not this blended, tasteless baby food.  I've tried mandarin oranges, beans, puff cereal.  I'm even learning to pick it up with my pincer grip and find my mouth.  About 10% ever gets to the right place, but I sure have fun trying.

*Naps are for losers.  I'm not a loser.  Somedays I decide just a 30-45 minute nap or two will do the trick.  It seems not one single person thinks this is fun but me.  Other days I cooperate and toss in my awesome 2+ hour naps, but I just want to keep 'em all guessing day by day.

*Nighttime I'm awesome.  I go to bed easy around 8.  I sleep pretty well.  I wake up in the night one time, and I really want food - like I am going to get it no matter what and know that mom will give it to me if I just cry and little louder and and little longer - so I get my food.  We are all happy after this, and I drift happily back off to sleep until 6:30-7:00.

*I love going on errands.  I big enough now to sit up in the cart by myself.  I just sit there and stare at all the colors and people around.  I rarely ever cry while shopping - and that is why mom and dad take me out whenever I'm being a tad bit fussy.

*Still not mobile.  I'm thinking about it.  I find lifting my bigness up off the floor with my arms pretty tough.  BUT there are tons of cool things just out of my reach {mostly because mom or dad strategically place them there} that I want to get.  Generally I just reach :: reach :::: reach :::::: fall.  I'm not super mad when I fall, but eventually I want to get off my back or belly and whine.

*I am a toothless wonder. 

*I still love my bottle - and have 5 bottle meals a day.  Plus 2 food meals a day.

*I started liking my mom best lately.  Still I have never really cried when someone holds me - I don't have much stranger anxiety.  But she finds it quite irresistible when I reach my arms out because I would prefer them most.

*I am obsessed with my babysitter's dog, Maya.  She is super protective of me and usually spends her lazy days acting as my backrest when I'm playing on the floor.  Mom is now worried that I am going to want a dog forever and ever and never give it up, so she is already preparing her "no" speech - and is prepared to deliver it multiple times.

***A quick note from mom***

Talon is continually getting more and more fun.  With that, though, comes the constant wanting to move and grab and explore and be everywhere but the place he is.  At 20 pounds, that wiggly baby is quite an armful.  I am so happy he is flexible and deals with our lack of a consistent schedule.  He goes with the flow and if he accidentally doesn't get home for bed until 9:30 - he hasn't turned into a complete disaster.  Bathtime is my favorite.  Food time is my least.  I can't wait for it to be a bit warmer so we can go outside when I get home from work.  And I really really can't wait for summer - we have enormous fun in store.  But for now, we live a pretty relaxed life - hoping for good naps, escaping the house for a quick trip to the store, playing and learning new things, and hopefully getting some yummy Talon cuddles.