A Z ....That Stands for Arizona

My sister in law, Claire is having twins in December and has had her hands full with two little kids while dealing with pregnancy sickness. Nathan had to go on a trip for his work and asked my Mom if she could come help Claire while he was gone. My Mom is so nice and invited me to come. I can take my SAHM (stay at home mom) responsibilities with me so I thought, why not! 

Boston's sleep schedule struggled while we were there, first of all because there is a time difference, and second, because I couldn't let him cry it out at night without waking everyone up. For heaven sake, last thing a pregnant lady wants is to be woken up from a much needed night of sleep by a crying baby! 

Boston would wake up around 2 and then 3 and then 4...you get the picture. Most of the time I would just give in and feed him to try to get him to go back to sleep quickly. One particular night I fed him at 2 and then he woke up again at 3 and would NOT go back to sleep. I was panicky! I was exhausted, it was the middle of the night, and I didn't have Chaz there to tap out if I needed to. 

At 4:15 I was desperate and decided to try to sleep with Boston right next to me. I laid his blankey down on the air mattress so it wouldn't get ruined when he spit up on it, flipped off the lamp, pulled the sheet up to cover both of us, and snuggled up next to him. 

It was quiet for a second and I was holding my breath, hopeful. Then I heard his little sound, "kkkkuuuhhh kkkkuuuhhh". I ignored it. Maybe he would get tired and stop. Then I felt a little hand reach up and grab my face. He grabbed my nose and made more noises and then started giggling. Haha, how could I not smile? It melted my frustration and I gave in and flipped the lamp back on. We played: read some books, practiced crawling and organized the suitcase until Owen woke my mom up  around 6. I didn't really even mind. Boston is a pretty fun person to hang out with. 

Boston LOVES Norah and Owen. He was so quiet and would just watch them for hours. He loved it when Norah sang to him. 

The best kind of knight is the one who wears no pants. And one who swings his sword at every one/thing in sight.  

It was really hot. Claire is looking so cute with her pregnant belly and was so nice to feed us and entertain us while we were there. 

They love my mom. Owen would follow her around all day asking to see her phone. He is a crack up. He says "Nowah" for Norah and is stuttering a lot but it is adorable! Norah is way into princesses and was a sweetheart to Boston. She would always look at him and say " he's trying not to smile..."

Happy Six Months Baby Boston

I can't believe it has been 1/2 of a year since Boston came into our lives! I can't imagine life without him now. 

He has just recently become a mommas boy and will reach for me when someone else is holding him (I love it!). 

He went on his first airplane flight last week and didn't like the landing but slept for most of it. 

He can sit up on his own but is a little tipsy still.

He chews on everything he can get his hands on. 

He likes to suck on people's faces (especially his grandmas for some reason?)

He loves the blanket I made for him and cuddles up with it when I rock him before his naps.

His favorite song is "The Family is of God". 

He is so close to crawling and scoots his legs but hasn't figured out how to move his arms yet. 

He loves to go outside. His mood always seems to improve when we go on a walk.

He went to his first USU football game. We stayed for the whole first quarter! :) 

He loves apples, bananas, and carrots. He gags on peas, beans and rice cereal.

He is still quite the spit up boy.

It is amazing how much joy and fulfillment I get from being his mom. Something about this just feels right and good. I know that the family really is ordained of God (as it says in Boston's favorite primary song and The Family a Proclamation to the World). 

Sometimes it is hard work being a mom...like when he spits up in my hair or face or down my shirt...or when he is fussy and clingy all day and won't let me put him down... Or when I hear cries from the other room just as I am drifting off to sleep...It gets frustrating and Bostons spit up problem has been especially challenging for me. But woven between all of those moments of frustration are feelings of joy and a feeling that what I am doing is significant to God. 

I sure love that little boy! 

Lots of People Seem to be Born in September

Happy Birthday to Chaz yesterday!  

He is 25 years old which, I would say is a landmark age.  It's the age your metabolism peaks so...

it's going to be a battle to keep the weight off now.

This birthday was probably not the best for him because he had school and work all day and not much time to celebrate.  But nevertheless...  

We had crepes for breakfast and then he opened his presents.  After work we met at the park and we ate some 5 GUYS for dinner.  Then he had an intramural football game on campus.  They lost but at the end Charlotte and Adam brought Chaz a cake they made for a "suprise birthday party" so it was okay.  Then Chaz was on-call and got a call so by the time he got home it was late.

We watched the Biggest Loser and called it a night.  I hope it was a happy day for him.

Chaz has accomplished so much in just 25 years.  He graduated high school, served a 2 year mission in Texas, married me, and now has a little baby boy.  He is almost done with his Bachelors Degree and works so hard at school and at Alpine Home Medical to bring in the big bucks.  But more importantly, he is such a patient, kind, optimistic, and downright good person.  He just has a good heart and treats me better than I deserve most of the time.  The world needs more men like him.  

5 GUYS at the park

Watching his dad play football.  It seems like he is always happy when he is outside!

It was also my sister, Sharla's birthday yesterday!  I forgot to take pictures but we went out to lunch with her family, my mom and Sarah at Wingers in Brigham City.  

Don't you dare think that's it.  It was my Dads birthday on September 11th and we all went down for some classic Uruguayan Empanadas and birthday cake.

But wait...

It is also my father in law, Jay's birthday this month 

AND my brother Nathans, 

AND my niece, Norah's!

  So happy birthday to THEM!

The Day of Labor

Every Labor Day during my growing up years you know what the Allred children did?  

If you know anything about the stalwart D.H. Allred work ethic you'll know what we did.  

We labored.  

This Labor Day weekend D.H. let us off the hook and we gathered for Sunday dinner and then went on a hike the next day.  

I love getting together with my family.

 

Boston with little Evie.

Planking.  This is what his attempts to crawl end up like.

Max was being such a sweetie and came over to give Boston a kiss.

Boston got a new hat.  You cannot say these pictures don't melt your heart!!

Hiking and stuff

Don't worry, we forgot the front pack.  It worked out.

I think it would have been just as fun to rip the shingles off of Aunt Ann's roof... :) ....But this Labor Day definitely turned out to be a good one!