Christmas in Idaho Falls

For Christmas we drove up to Idaho Falls to be with Casey's parents, who recently moved from Oregon.  Casey worked Christmas Eve, so we left as soon as he got home.  It was a long drive.  We tried to stop for dinner in Park City, but everything has already closed, so we ended up eating at a Carl's Jr in Salt Lake.  It wasn't the most festive Christmas Eve meal, but it worked!  The roads were clear until we got close to Pocatello, and then we hit a snow storm.  By the time we got to Idaho Falls it was midnight and the snow was really coming down!  We got everything brought in and settled the kids into bed.

Christmas morning we watched all the kids open presents.  Tyson and Meagan were there with their three kids, too.  It was fun for all the kids to play together and spend Christmas with cousins.

Callie loved playing with Sami.

 

 

 

The big kids helped me build a gingerbread train.

 

Ten and eleven months

Callie at ten months old:

·         more teeth on top, still just two on bottom

·         cruises along furniture

·         eats everything

·         escapes to climb stairs whenever she can

Eleven Months:

·         is taking steps alone!

·         gets into everything, especially the movies

·         likes books

·         loves being tickled

·         pats her belly when we say "belly"

·         loves playing with Breyan's baby doll

·         likes to "help" in the kitchen by opening, then emptying, drawers and the dishwasher

·         chews on socks

Nine Months

Callie was nine months on 9/11, but we have been sick and gross for the last few weeks so I didn't post anything.  Here is what she's currently up to:

·         more teeth are coming in (5 total)

·         eats pretty much everything, but loves cheerios the most

·         stands up to furniture and is starting to cruise

·         laughs at funny faces and being tickled

·         waves goodbye and babbles "buh-buh"

·         starting to sign "more"

·         crawls up the stairs

·         loves being with her brother and sister

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frost

It was cold this morning, and there was frost on the windows of our minivan.  I rushed the kids through our morning routine; eat breakfast, get dressed, brush teeth, socks, shoes, fix hair, coats, and backpacks.  I got myself and the baby dressed and fed while the older two were getting ready.  We said a quick prayer and headed out to the van.  As I buckled the baby into her carseat, I glanced up just in time to see the tiny index finger of my four year old daughter write 'B' on the driver's side window.  I waited and watched.  Soon after, I saw the finger of my five year old son finish writing his sister's name, then write the names of the rest of our family.  All in the frost on my window. 

Normally I would nag them about drawing all over the windows and wasting time by not getting into the van when we are trying to get to school on time.  For some reason I just watched this time, and I was hit with an intense wave of love for these little humans I am blessed to call mine.  It was overwhelming, and a great reminder that I need to slow down and enjoy these little moments with  my children.

Fours years old

Breyan has now celebrated her fourth birthday.  She wanted roast beef and corn on the cob for her birthday dinner and a Hello Kitty cake.  She got magformers, a princess puzzle, and a hippo towel for her birthday.

Breyan starts preschool this week, and I'm sure she'll love it after she gets used to going. She has a great personality and is the best big sister!  I can always count on her to help me with Callie.  Recently she's been asking me to teach her to read, so we're going to be working on that this year.  I bought each kid a huge workbook to keep them busy this summer and she is more than halfway done and has done most of it on her own.  She loves doing her "homework." 

Eight Months

Callie is now eight months old and I'm wondering where the time has gone!  We were in Oregon visiting Casey's family and I don't have a lot of pictures to post, but I'll get some up here soon. 

Callie Bo is such a sweet little girl, and she is so happy almost all the time!  She is starting to crawl now, and just yesterday pulled herself up to stand by a chair. 

She loves food and eats anything.  She also loves playing with shoes, socks, and a stuffed baby triceratops.  She smiles easily and giggles at all of us.  She likes to be tickled and loves splashing in the bathtub.  She's just a fun kid!

When she gets angry she cusses us out by saying, "mamamamama."

She also started clapping when she think she does something good. 

Here she is with Breyan in their matching jammies.

 

Callie is my only child who has fallen asleep in the high chair.

Seven Months

Callie turned seven months while we were in Boise visiting my family.  I know I always say this, but she is so much fun!  She is one of the happiest babies I have ever seen.   Here is what Callie is up to at seven months old.

• sitting unassisted, even catching herself when she starts falling forward
• loving attention from anyone
• smiling at every person who talks to her
• babbling...sometimes I swear she says "mama"
• she waves goodbye, but only to Casey
• wiggles, scoots, and rolls to get where she wants

Boise!

The kids and I "ran away" to Boise for a couple weeks this month.  We stayed the night at my aunt's house in Orem  and met my parents the next day in Ogden and followed them home.

We kept busy the whole time we were there.  We swam, went to the zoo, visited a few parks, played with cousins, and ate a lot of popsicles!

Jesse and Breyan had a great time swimming in my parents' pool.  Jesse started swimming all by himself while we were there!  I guess swimming lessons work.

We spent one morning walking through the MK Nature Center in downtown Boise.  The kids loved the fish and all the water.

 

We loved our time with my family and are excited for when we can do it again!

Six Months

In June Callie turned six months old.  She also cut her first tooth and is starting to sit up unassisted for a few minutes at a time.

Her brother and sister shower her with attention and love making her giggle. 

Right now Callie likes to be outside on walks or in the swing at the park.  She is very friendly and smiles for anyone.  She also loves being in her walker.

Callie wants everyone's food!  She loves fruits, vegetables, and graham crackers. And doesn't like the pureed meat baby food, which looks and smells disgusting, so who can blame her?

weight: 14.2 lbs
height: 25.5 inches

Five Months

Callie has been through a lot in the last month.  She has managed to avoid strep throat even though both of the older kids have had it.  She came down with a pretty nasty cough/cold that lasted a couple of weeks, but is now on the mend!

On Mother's Day, she was 5 months old. 

• she rolls both directions now, but forgets how to get onto her back after rolling to her tummy, and then cries until someone helps her
• she loves eating baby food and wants to eat everything else
• she puts everything in her mouth, including her newly discovered toes
• she loves attention and will smile at anyone who looks at her
• she has the sweetest personality and is happy and easy-going most days

Four Months: Callie Bo

Even though Callie's middle name is Elizabeth, we started calling her Callie Bo-Bo right after she was born and it has stuck!  Most of the time I shorten it to Callie-Bo. 

This sweet, little girl is now four months old.  We love making her smile and trying to get her to laugh.  She has a pretty easy smile, and laughs best when Casey and the kids are "fighting." 

• weighs 13 lbs 2 oz
• 25 inches long
• rolls onto her side
• grabs and chews on anything and everything
• not the best napper, but sleeps so great at night that I don't mind
• very easygoing
• likes to go on walks
• loves watching herself in the mirror

She is just a perfect baby and we love her tons!

Three Months

Little Callie hit three months on March 11.  She's such a happy baby and fits in perfectly with our family.  We love to make her smile and she "silent laughs" a lot during the day.  Breyan likes picking clothes for her each morning and both of the kids are always willing to help get diapers, wipes, blankets, etc.

She weighs close to 13 pounds and is outgrowing most of her 3 month clothes.  She is my first baby to have elbow dimples and I love them!

She rolls from tummy to back, sleeps close to 12 hours each night, pulls hair, and sucks her thumb.

Callie is such a happy little girl!  She smiles, babbles, coos, and has started to giggle at her dad and brother.

Look who found her thumb!

I guess we'll have another thumb-sucker in our family.

And she smiles all the time!

Two Months: 2/11/14

Miss Callie is now two months old and super cute!  We love having her in the family.

She is currently:

• 11 lbs 6.9 oz
• 23.5 inches
• sleeping through the night (8-10 hours)
• smiling- her favorite person is Breyan
• holding up her head
• grabbing at toys
• loving baths

She giggled at me once, after I asked if she wanted to wear her "ABC jammies." She definitely fits in!

 

 

One Month 1/11/14

Our sweet Miss Callie is now one month old! She's growing every day and getting cuter and cuter.

 

She is done with all newborn-sized clothes and diapers.

 

Callie is a fabulous sleeper.  Each night she gets in a solid 6-7 hours before waking up to eat.

 

She is just starting to smile.

 

She loves watching her brother and sister act crazy.

 

I weighed her on our not-super-accurate scale, and she was about 10 lbs. I think now (at 6 weeks) she's closer to 12lbs.

 

Her eyes are still dark; we think they'll end up brown, and she still has all of her beautiful hair!

 

Christmas 2013

We were still in Boise for Christmas, and had a great time with all my family's traditions. 

Jesse and Breyan got new Christmas church clothes.



On Christmas Eve they opened their matching Christmas jammies.

 

Christmas morning!  My kids were definitely spoiled this year.  Breyan is wearing her new jammies and boots, taking pictures with her new camera, next to the Polar Express train from Santa.

The cameras were a huge hit! 
They also got legos, a Cinderella doll (Bree), and a radio control Jeep (Jesse).

 

Jesse Turns Five!!!

Jesse had his fifth birthday in Boise at my parents' home.  He was super excited to finally turn 5.  Right now he is very into maps, so Grandma & Grandpa Barger got him a world map and a US map, which we had to open and get up on the walls ASAP!



Jesse, Casey, and the US map.

He also got a puzzle of the world, some clothes, an atlas, and a blanket (from my parents).

We bought him an ice cream cake from DQ and everyone has ice cream for lunch that day.  He wanted pizza for dinner, and got to spend the day playing with his new gifts.  I can't believe that he is already five- that seems so old!