10 Months and Other Fun Updates

    It is really hard to believe that another month has come and gone already. I really wanted to be one of those on top of it blogger moms that does a fantastic job keeping everyone up to date. But I am failing just a little bit. For now, I at least get a monthly post in. But when Jace turns 1 I have a feeling I might slack off a little bit. I guess we will find out.
    10 months for Jace hasn't been anything crazy or special. We are still doing the same old same old. No walking for this guy yet. But I am okay with it for now. :) He is still pulling himself up onto everything and loves to walk along the couch or what ever he is holding onto. He also likes to help me push the laundry basket up and down the halls. But that is about the extent of his walking. We haven't even had any attempts to stand on his own yet. But I am sure he will give it a go when he is ready.
    Jace has been a really good eater until just recently. I finally found something he won't eat. He will not even try canned green beans. I know that I prefer fresh green beans, but I figured that the canned ones would be soft enough for him to eat them. He just squishes them in his hands and then throws them on the floor! He won't even put it in his mouth to try it. He has started to become a texture kid. If it feels weird in his hands, he won't even put it in his mouth. Even if it is something he has had before! I am hoping that its just a phase and he will go back to liking everything. I was a sneaky mom the other day and stuffed green beans and avocado in his raspberries. He ate them right up not a problem! I might just have to be sneaky every now and then!
     He is getting much better at sleeping through the night. We still have issues occasionally, but we are slowly starting to figure it out. No real words yet from this guy, but he says YA like a boss! I am pretty sure its just a sound and doesn't mean anything, but it sure sounds cute when he says YA and I say ya? and he says YA. Jace has gotten really good at throwing his food on the floor. It drives me crazy. If he doesn't want it, on the floor it goes. Or he likes to stick it in his high chair. Silly boy.
    Not a whole lot on the list of new things for this guy. He is just doing his thing and being happy about it. We did take a trip to the zoo with our neighbor friends, and this was the first time he actually looked at the animals. We have a zoo pass and have been in the past, but Jace is actually old enough to notice the animals and want to look at them. It was really fun to see him watch the seals swim by.
      Paul and I just celebrated our 4 year anniversary! Because we are in the midst of his busy season, we didn't get celebrate it on the 12 of march. But we had an extra fun celebration on pi day. We spent the day out having fun. His work rented out a theatre and we got to see the new Cinderella movie, we drove to look at a few new subdivision developments going in, and celebrated by going to the pi, and eating some delicious pie on 3/14/15 at 9:26 pm. It was so silly and really fun!
     Sadly, I think that is the most exciting thing we have done in a while. Paul is so busy with work right now, so we don't get to do a whole lot together. We are just holding out until the summer when we can actually do all of our fun activities that we have planned.

We got a new water heater!! Yay! I was SO excited to have enough water to shave my legs and wash my hair and still have warm water. Jace had a blast playing with the box!

Just showing us his awesome standing up skills!

It snowed and I got to use the snow blower since Paul was at work and Susan had foot surgery. I bundled Jace up real good, and strapped him on my back and we used the snow blower for the first time. I definitely need to practice, but I did get the driveway decently cleaned off before Jace got cold, and I got snow blower chute plugged up.

Jace with his most favorite cousin. Gloria has finally developmentally caught up with Jace to where they can play together. She is 6 weeks younger than him, and they are just too cute together. They are sure happy for being behind bars ;)

This plastic box kept them occupied for quite a while. I think they could have kept playing in it happily, but I had to take Jace out for some reason. 

Jace is not to happy about being in the car all by himself while I tried to quickly unload the groceries. 

Paul ready to eat his yummy pie

And some pie for me too!

Jace practicing his walking and pushing Lyla around her living room. Just ignore me in the background please!

This is the first time I put Jace in flip flops. It was just too cute to not get a picture of. They only last 10 minutes, but it was so cute!

We went to the park with our amazing neighbor friends. There was only 1 baby swing, and luckily our babies are just small enough that they both fit. If either of them get any bigger they won't, but for now we will take what we can get!

Jace just checking out the sites!

Pretty sure this guy will grow up to have a sweet bike! Doesn't he just look like a biker? ;)

He actually let me do is hair. Usually he won't sit still, and usually it just isn't worth it so its all over the place, but today, it looks cute. 

He didn't like the sticker on his head, but I still managed to sneak a shot. 

The weather was so nice that we had to break out the hammock. Yes, I jinxed the weather and it rained the next day, but we surely loved the sun while we had it!

I asked my father in law to help me with a little wood project for my husband. While I was putting the finishing touches on it, Jace was helping grandpa with some yard work.

He loves to drive with daddy!

Look at those driving skills! Jace even knows how to turn on the windshield wipers!

I just can't get over how much he loves books. It makes me so happy!

This is how I sneakily got Jace to eat green beans!! and it totally worked! Just have to make stuffed raspberries. It worked with avocado too! 

This is him eating his green bean stuffed raspberry. He doesn't look super thrilled, but he ate it with no problems!

9 months already?!?

     It is so crazy to believe that Jace is already 9 months old. He has pretty much been alive as long as it took me to cook him up inside of me! Thats a little weird to think about! This kid, is seriously just growing up way way way to fast!

     This child of mine now has 5 teeth! Yes 5! The poor dear cut 3 all at once! He now has is two bottom ones, and three on top, with the fourth top front tooth well on its way to cutting through pretty soon! On top of all the pain from teething, this little man also had a cold, and an ear infection at the same time! He is on the mend though and has TONS of energy again, so thats a good sign. While I love me some snuggles, I am more than grateful that he is sleeping better at night again.

     He is almost finally to the point of sleeping through the night. Lately, on average Jace has been getting between 7 and 9 hours straight sleep. Its a huge blessing for me! But silly Jace still has a crazy internal clock because he just cannot sleep in past 8. Thats on a good day mind you. Most days he gets up at 7 ready to rock and roll. I am hoping with time he might get used to sleeping a little bit more, but if not, I will definitely make sure that when he is a teenager he knows just how much he loves to wake up at 7 every day of the week!

     I have been working on sign language with Jace for about three months now. He understood it before, but just recently he has been attempting some signs of his own. He is not very consistent yet, but it has been so nice to be able to communicate with him. He can sign more, which is great because I basically know when he is hungry or if he needs me to give him more food to eat. And he can sign milk, which is also nice. I think he has been trying to sign all done, but deciphering his rendition of all done has been interesting. Jace can also wave goodbye, (for the most part). He is starting to understand no. He gets it for the most part, unless he really really doesn't want to stop what he is doing. If thats the case, he gives me the, "I know I am getting into trouble, and I am too cute for you to stop me" look. Little stinker! He has also started handing me things. Especially if it is something he has picked up off the floor that he knows I don't want him to eat. 

     He is crawling even faster than before. I thought he was fast last month, but holy cow is he a whole lot faster than he was before. Paul and I joke that he might not walk because he likes to crawl so much and he is so stinking good at it. Lately he has made more of an effort to pull himself up onto furniture and walk along it. He has also started walking while pushing the laundry basket. No attempts yet to stand up without support, but there have been little signs here and there that make me think he might be getting ready to try it soon. Stairs are still a favorite for Jace. He can cruise right up, but still has no desire to learn to come down them correctly. When we are over at our neighbor friends house, he comes down her stairs face first. Granted it is only like one and a half stairs and they are wide. But when it comes to the big stairs, he most definitely would rather go up than come back down. 

     Jace is talking like crazy! Not that I can understand any of it. But he is always just jabbering away at something or another. Even with a bink in his mouth, he still manages to voice his opinion. If I talk to him, he will usually talk right back. 

     Because the weather has been so nice lately, I have taken Jace to the park a few times. He loves the swings! We don't get to swing a whole lot because the parks with swings near us are at an elementary school so we have to go after school is out. He hasn't decided how he feels about the slide yet. I think it makes him a little uneasy for now, but I bet in the future he won't mind the slides so much. 

   Jace loves to eat practically anything. Literally. I caught him eating a check that I hadn't cashed the other day. I had to ask my neighbor to write me a new one because Jace just happened to eat the part with the routing number. Lately we have discovered that he loves to eat beets and grapes. Jace and I were out to lunch the other day with a few of his cousins, my in laws, and a few brothers and sisters in law. We all decided that we are pretty sure Jace at more than is 2 year old cousin, and came pretty close if not beating his 4 year old cousin at how much they ate. The problem with his cousins is that they are just a little bit picky when it comes to eating. And Jace, like I said, will eat anything! I really hope it lasts. I don't want him to be such a picky eater that he will only eat one or two meals. I think it has really helped though too that Paul and I put lots of spices in our food, and that we don't eat a lot of processed foods, so he hasn't had any of most little kids go to foods. I do have to say that I have loved baby led weaning. Jace is to the point where he is chewing up his food pretty well. He rarely gags on anything anymore. And it is so nice not to have a billion little baby food snacks packed for him. As long as it is relatively soft I can just feed him whatever I am eating. Paul and I had enchiladas for dinner last night, and Jace had it right along with us. I even tricked him into eating more carrots by covering them in enchilada sauce! I was hesitant that he couldn't like Caesar Salad, (mostly for the dressing), but he sure did. Loved the tomatoes and chicken that we fed him, and even asked for more. Now I just need to get to the point where I am letting him try things that I don't like. Its hard because we don't eat them much here, but I don't want to be one of those parents that never lets their kids eat anything they don't like. I mean who knows, Jace could just love lima beans and cooked peas. 

     Well, thats all that I can think that is new so far with little Jace man. He develops and grows so much every day. It is so crazy to me to see how fast he is developing. I feel very blessed to have him as my son. 

Jace has an obsession with that little crab. Every time he has a bath that crab is in his mouth. No joke!

The onions in my house are on a bottom shelf. And our pantry is actually a book shelf so it doesn't have doors to close. One of Jace's favorite toys is to pull out the onions and eat them. It just makes me laugh that he tries to eat the tops of them. We live for cheap entertainment at this house!

Just a cute pictures of Jace chillin with me on the floor. 

Jace and Lyla are riding an elephant together at Lyla's house. 

Paul's Aunt Susan, our land lady, told us that we could paint his room how ever we like. For me this was a dream come true. I really wanted Jace to have a nursery but because we have been in an apartment or renting I didn't think I would get to give him one. This is his room before.

This is after we painted. We still aren't quite finished. I need to paint just a little strip, and get the curtains up and a few more things, but I have loved how well everything came together!

I have been running on the elliptical every so often. The first time I tried to, I thought Jace would just play nicely on the floor with his toys. Oh boy that was not the case. He kept trying to climb up with me. I was worried that his little fingers were going to get squished or something. So I brainstormed a bit and got our hiking backpack Paul's parents got us for Christmas. He loves to just ride in the pack every time I use the machine. And its so great for me, because not only do I get some extra weight and more of a challenge for my workout, but Jace falls asleep around 15 minutes in! And the transfer from pack to his bed isn't too bad. 

Because the weather was so nice we went out to play. In our front yard there is a tree with a perfect perch. I put Jace up there just to see what he would do. As you can tell he is a little hesitant here. 

By this point though he was playing and more interested in the bark of the tree than in me taking pictures. 

9 month pictures here we go! The sticker lasted only about 30 seconds. As you can see in the pictures below. 

But instead of trying to eat it, he tried to hand it to me because he knew I didn't want him to eat the sticker!

Best place to put his stickers is on his head. Jace is actually pretty good about not pulling off hats or hoods, and stickers we found out. I was able to snap quite a few more pictures with his sticker on his forehead. Silly little boy didn't hardly notice. 

I might be crazy, but I seriously can't get over how cute his little bum is!

Jace LOVES to help with the dishes. Anytime Paul or I work on the dishes, Jace is always there to help us. 

This is the after picture of Jace. He made Valentines for Mimi and Papa, Grandma and Grandpa, and Nana. Don't ask me how he managed to get paint in his eye when only his hands and feet touched the paint. But somehow he did. 

Jace showing off his new $2 PJs. He loves to climb around on the couch. Especially if I am trying to lay on it. 

At his checkup they had to draw blood. They missed the first vein and had to poke him again in the second arm. :( But luckily he was happy even having two pokes!

Loving him some enchiladas! 

Update on Life

     I have been pretty good about updating the blog when it comes to Jace, but I have been horrible when it comes to the goings on of Paul and myself. So Just a quick little update as of today.
      Paul has been asked to senior several jobs this busy season, (which is both good and bad). Good because he has only been an employee at Tanner for 1 year and they trust him enough to promote him and give him more responsibilities. Bad because more responsibilities means more work. His busy season last year was easy peasy, just over 40 hour weeks. This year we estimate him working 50-60 hour weeks on average. He said he has liked the challenge, but it is also somewhat intense having other people rely on you, and being held responsible for training them. He doesn't want to screw someone up because he trained them incorrectly. I think that he will do just fine though. He has been gone all week working at a client in Reno, NV. Its been interesting with a sick and teething baby. But we have made it work. He has been working 10-12 hour days this week, so he says that he can't wait to come home and be with the family again, and not have to worry about work for a few days.
     Paul hopefully took his last CPA test (for the last time) this month. We find out in a week and both of us are dying. I feel like he passed. I feel really good about it. But there is always that what if. And last time he took this test he felt sure he passed, and he didn't. This time he felt like it could go either way. Which usually means he passed. But AHHH the suspense is killing us both. We keep praying that he passed because him needing to study, and being in the middle of busy season would be so so hard. I really wouldn't have a husband if it came down to that. But I don't think it will. We are keeping our fingers crossed that he is licensed by March at the latest. He still has some small state tests to take to be fully licensed, but wants to wait until he knows he passed before he starts taking them.
      Paul and I took a day date and went snowboarding last week. It was so great to be up on the mountain, out of the horrible air. It was definitely hard to leave Jace for the whole day. But it was also nice to relax and not worry, (as much as possible), about the baby. We didn't get up to Snowbird until around 10:30 and we only stayed till about 3. But for us, out of shape, old fogies, it was just what we needed. Paul doesn't enjoy it quite as much as I do, because he has only recently started. But he said that he felt like he was boarding well enough that he actually enjoyed some parts of it.
     We also got to go and see the US premiere of The Count of Monte Cristo musical at BYU. It was So amazing! I just have to tell you that both Paul and I thought that it was one of the best plays that we have ever been to. The cast did an amazing job, and the graphic design that they implemented as part of the set was incredible!!! It is so cool to see what technology can do. If you have the opportunity to see it, definitely do!
      The stay at home mom Kylee hasn't been up to much. I work out at least 5 days a week with my friend Meagan. I am still tutoring and nannying a few days a week. And just taking care of Jace. I get a few projects done here and there, but nothing big and fancy. With the warmer weather we have been having this past week, Jace and I have played out side a few times. I have set up a hammock chair to sort of double up as a swing, and he loves it. It wraps around him like a cocoon and he just grins and giggles while I push him. I can't wait until the weather is good and I can take him to the park. He is getting to the age where he will actually like going to play at the park. No major exciting news or crazy adventures this month. But hopefully as the weather gets warmer there will be lots more to share!

This is how Paul takes a break when we go snowboarding ;)

I just LOVE the views you get when you are up in the mountains away from everything. 

Paul thought I needed a picture of me that wasn't a selfie. How thoughtful :)

The two of us having a great time with out a baby for a few hours. 

Jace is 8 months!!

     Jace is 8 months. I can't believe how the time has flown. Our little bundle of joy is rapidly growing into a cute, chunky little man. Jace got his first tooth on the 3rd of January. It wasn't quite as bad as I thought it was going to be. But when his second tooth came in on the 18th, boy, that whole previous week was awful. Silly Jace's teeth decided to grow in funky. He got his bottom right tooth first, then his top right tooth second. I think he is working on the bottom left, but its not through yet so I can't be too sure. To make things worse, he caught a cold, so he is congested and teething, which makes for a sad, snuggly, cranky baby.
      He is eating more and more solid type foods which is good. But since he has been sick, he has an aversion to others that he used to like. I can't decide if its because his nose is so stuffy that he can't taste it, or if its just his changing pallet. Jace loves to zoom all over the floor. He is seriously a fast crawler. He can weave in and out of tight spaces too with minimal head bonking. He is getting more and more daring about pulling himself up onto things. He does like to practice walking while he is holding onto the couch. And boy oh boy does he love to climb the stairs. Because we live in a basement apartment, I have had him practice the stairs all the time, so that I know that he can climb them. Thankfully though, he hasn't attempted to climb the stairs without me looking. He will crawl over to them, and just look at me, waiting to follow him over there. Or if I run upstairs to start laundry or something, he has been really good about just waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. I don't know how long this good behavior will last, but I am grateful that he hasn't had any tumbles down the stairs from trying to climb them himself.
      Jace still loves to give high-fives. He is more and more consistent with it these days. He is still pretty good at clapping also. We have been trying to teach him how to waive. He can kind of do it. It I don't think it means bye. I think it means more of, come here, I want you. But I am not sure. He makes the sign language sign for milk, which I have been teaching him. But I don't think it means milk. I could be wrong, but oh well. We will figure it out with time.
     He loves to talk. No real words yet just gibberish and lots of mumbling. But its just too cute. If I talk to him, he almost always talks back to me. He loves to mimic people too. If Nana coughs, Jace fake coughs. If some one sneezes, Jace fake coughs. It just makes me giggle. But I love that his mind is continually developing.
     Jace still loves to take baths. He is a big fan of splashing water EVERYWHERE. He loves his bath toys too. And lately has started crawling all over in the tub water. Silly kid. This month we haven't had any poop in the tub accidents. YAY!  And we haven't had any blowouts either.
     Jace loves to move all over the place and its hard to get him to sit still long enough to get a good picture. If I hold him he does ok. But getting him to sit still all by himself these days is impossible.
    He still doesn't sleep through the night, though we have been working on cutting out night feedings. He will wake up at the 4 hour mark, and usually within 5 minutes he has put himself back to sleep. The time has gotten shorter, and Paul and I don't always have to get up and comfort him, so that has been great. I keep holding my breath that one of these days it will just click, and my baby will sleep through the night. But I will just keep waiting because we aren't there yet.
     Jace loves to play with his friends Lainey and Lyla. I have been working out with my neighbor friend almost every day, and it has been fun to watch how the kids interact with each other. Sometimes Jace and Lyla push each other, and try to steal toys from one another. And sometimes they crawl side by side under the table and climb up the chairs together. It really is just too cute.
     Anyway. Thats the latest update on Jace. :)

 

Jace just looks so serious in the car. He loves being in is newer carseat because he can actually see out the windows. I used to have to sit in the back with him every time Paul drove us somewhere, but now that he has switched car seats, I rarely have to sit in the back with him. It's so fun to watch him. He watches everything out his side window or the back window.  

Jace and Lyla LOVE to play together. They are just so fun to watch together. In church they usually entertain each other quite well. We have had lots of comments from others telling us just how cute our kids are. 

When we play dominos or any game for that matter, Jace has to play with us. So as you can see, he is eating a delicious domino. 

Here we are practicing our selfies. Jace usually never smiles any more when I take pictures of him. But somehow we managed to get one here. 

"Here Mom, have some watermelon!"

Yay! Snow day! We love playing especially in the snow. 

The first snowman Jace has ever built, or really, watched me build. Haha

Jace just lovin the snow. 

Jace has started to really enjoy books more. Which makes me so so happy! I have his little board book drawer out so he can get into his books any time he wants. He is actually using his books more than he is using his toys! 

This is one of the best pictures we got of Jace for his 8 month pictures.

Cute little Jace is only happy when he is doing his own thing. 

Yep, happy when I am not forcing him to pose for pictures.