Standing Up

Aaron has been pulling himself up next to things since at least February 28 when I saw him using the toy piano to bring himself upright. When we give him our hands been starting to exert pressure to walk for some time now, he would rather be upright than anything.

Here is one of the many reasons we must hasten to get him in the crib as he now likes to stand up in the co sleeper. I think is adorable peeking over the edge but also fills me concern that he won't pitch himself over the edge also.

It is something to see him pull himself up. One morning while we ere in Idaho I just watched and snapped pictures while he pulled himself up next to the bed. Ta Da! That has definitely continued here at home though I would find him crying a the chosen surface jutted out and he would keep bonking or I wondered if he didn't always know what to do standing there. "Can I walk anywhere? How do I get down again?" I imagine these were some of the questions he was asking himself. One way or another my little baby is growing up fast!

Six Month Target Pictures

Time for the 6 month diaper/bath pictures! We got them done on February 27. We left plenty early to allow them time to have a good nap in the car since they always do. Miriam was still sleeping when we got there so I left mom in the car with her while I took Aaron in. I wish I hadn't I don't know if he was still sleepy or the photographer wasn't as good, but it was hard getting his face splitting, light up smiles that I love. In fact many times it was hard just to get him to look at me at all- this boy has powers of concentration! He's always laughing at Miriam so maybe she would have been able to help.

I feel I have set a precedence with Miriam that I can now follow (and yes I had thought about it when I was setting the precedence so its not exactly an accident) so I was disappointed that there wasn't a better pose of Aaron in the washtub with the accessories. This one is pretty cute since he is just now being able to stand up against things on his own.

Granted we did get a couple of cute poses and a variety of facial expressions! Though no temptations of any enhancement photos.Also at Miriam's 6 mon they did some on a pink flower backdrop that were adorable. When I got there for Aaron she was asking if I wanted any other backdrops and I saw they had the same but in blue so I said I wanted that one but somehow she never did it, drats. One pose of Aaron's that is adorable that Miriam didn't is him playing with his feet, I love it! Miriam never really did that.Afterward we did some shopping at Target. We found leprechaun shirts for St Patty's day and an adorable swimming suit for Aaron among other things. Miriam decided that all our purchases needed to go up with Aaron and by the end he had it.Miriam decided to help the cashier by handing him the things out of the cart, it was adorable! He was pretty good with her also.

Pixie Cut

February 27 Miriam got a more drastic haircut. It was getting straggly again and my mother found with me keeping my hair short till kindergarten it helped thicken it. We were hoping it would curl better again but it really hasn't. When Grandma tried to take a picture of her after she cut it she kept running away so here's the best shots. It is amazing how different one looks after a haircut, it took awhile to get used to but now we like the cute pixie look!

Mouse Party

Feb 20 we were at Mason and Megan's (cousins) birthday party which was a Mickey Mouse themed party. They had mouse ears for everyone and Miriam actually wore them for awhile and of course she had to put them on Aaron for him!Miriam still doesn't interact a lot with the big kids- she would just as well play by herself in Mason's great playroom, that's the first place she heads when we get there. She is getting into cartoon characters and now is very excited to see the "mouse" ie Mickey or Minnie.Aaron slept for the first while then he got to play with Aunt Holli. It was so fun to see Aunt Holli, she came up to help with Grandma Johnson in the hospital and was going home this day. Aunt Holli called Aaron an owl because he was constantly turning his head to see what everyone was doing.

Aaron's 6 mon check up

I've wanted to do this post for a loong time but somehow I can't ever "catch up".
We went to see Dr Lator on Feb 16 and he even was nice enough to check and see if Miriam's ear infection (her first ever and first time on antibiotics- which we feel is due to a milk allergy) was completely healed. He said it was, though both ears still had fluid in them. He said Aaron looked good and healthy and cautioned us about RSV season being really bad this year and stay home at least till April 1.
Aaron now weighs 17.95 lbs putting him in the 56.5% which is up 1.81 lbs from Dec (he dropped majorly percentile wise 72-56%). Interestingly enough Miriam weighed 17.72 lbs at the same age though for her that was the 83%, somehow I didn't remember her being so heavy. Aaron is now 27.1 in tall putting him in the 72% growing 1.1 in since Dec. Finally, his head circumference is 17.5 in putting him in the 68% up 1/2 in since Dec. Looking at his percentiles he has always been above 50% except his head, though between Oct and Dec he had a 1.5 in growth which is huge and bumped that percentile from 35-73%!!
Aaron is wearing 3-6 though I'm not thinking that will last long things already seem small like shirts in particular. He is wearing size 4 diaper so now we just buy one size. No teeth yet though he's still chewing on everything. Loves eating though we still aren't being consistent in feeding him yet. He is also getting very vocal with loud shrieks. He is curious about everything and always has to know what is going on. He is also becoming a big momma's boy and only wants me- doing just fine playing until he sees me. The picture is the first time wearing blue jeans.

Whose High Chair Anyway?

After Aaron decided to sit up on his own we were at Bajio's after being out shopping preparing to go to Delta for Pres day weekend. We were doing the normal drill of Aaron waking up and not being happy in his car seat so holding him and trying to eat while he continually grabs our food when the brilliant thought of 'lets try a high chair after all he can sit up and Miriam first tried a high chair when she was only 4 months old'. Bravo it worked! Peace at last.

So in Delta it was reasonable to put him the high chair there to feed him. Boy was Miriam upset. she cried and tried to get him out so she could sit there. She definitely felt usurped which made me worry for home. Aaron somehow seems a lot smaller in the high chair than I remember Miriam looking. I put off getting the high chair because our trailer was so cramped, it was a major obstacle course getting through our kitchen sometimes with all the baby paraphernalia strewn about. Miriam started using the high chair in Dec when she was 8 1/2 mon old. A strong reason to move forward is because Aaron is flipping himself out of the bumbo much more than Miriam and earlier.Miriam did get upset the first time or so that we put Aaron in and she still wants to be able to choose where she sits. Aaron loves sitting in the high chair and beat upon it. Overall Miriam is more resigned as shown in the picture, trust me she wasn't initially happy about the situation here.Now she can sit in her booster seat at the table with mommy and daddy. She did sit in the seat a little last summer but now we're slowly transitioning to her sitting her all the time.
Wait whose seat is who's?!?

Front Sight (Part One)

(By Eric): Well as many of you know, I've always owned guns and have been a strong advocate of the 2nd Amendment Rights guaranteed by the Constitution. However, in my later teen years I had started to think that I could use some better training-- be a little more careful with the guns and could be a better marksman. Later I came to realize if I ever did need to use that gun for more than hunting (although hunting requires its own) I'd need training to be able to do it well. Well, I was going on a mission, then going through college, neither of which was too gun friendly nor would I have time or ability to really shoot very often. But with the purchase of our first home, came the time for my gun (and soon another) to come home.
I had decided that I would do it right when it comes to guns in our home. I researched for awhile good gun rules. I pulled out my old Hunter's Safety book, and went through that again. I spent some time searching on the internet for different ideas for marksmanship. I talked with friends (most notably Nate York, who has taught me alot over the years, then probably Ammon Tenney). While I was researching, I came across a quiz about home defense by this school called Front Sight. Well I did pretty well on the quiz (a fair amount of luck tho), and recieved some information on the school. I recieved their 'Training Reports' by e-mail-- not all at once, but about one a week, so I'd have time to digest and get my mind around one by the time the next one came. I also wouldn't burn out on the information-- it was just small principles and what they would do for you. I finally found the answer to what I considered my greatest weakness in marksmanship-- my horrible flinch, even on my light, little ruger 10/22! The answer was Dry Practice. I put it the test, and found that my flinch was slowly going away-- It still comes and goes, but it is one its way out. There was many more gems learned in the reports as well: http://www.frontsight.com/gun-training-reports.asp.
So when my parents asked what I wanted as a graduation gift, I offered the idea of some training at Front Sight. My father agreed upon one condition: that I share what I learn.
Well, part of the curriculim at Front Sight is to teach you how to coach training, so I figured that was a great deal. And so with the great generosity of my parents, I signed up for a 4-day defensive handgun course with Front Sight. In my next post, I'll talk a bit more about the Front Sight experience in general, then I'll post about my particular experience.

Aaron's First Foods

I almost forgot to post about Aaron starting out on solids! For months now he has eagerly eyeing all food around him and trying to get his hands on some. At Christmas I promised one more month and we would start giving him other food. True to my word on January 30 when we were in Delta (I like starting on Sat so we have more time to invest in the new food and Eric can be part of the process) we gave him rice cereal. I had reconstituted it with breast milk and Aaron loved it though I think he was wearing almost as much as got in him.

For the first food I go 2 weeks to see how they are adjusting only Aaron went 3 because we were not real consistent and he was being very distractable. From there he has had pears (that my mom canned), squash, sweet potatoes, oatmeal and he started on Sat the 20th peas. I about gave up on the oatmeal though he really didn't seem to like it and wouldn't/doesn't do more than a couple of spoonfuls. On the flip side Miriam hated peas and steadily refused them (now will have frozen but still not canned, though I can't blame her not my favorite either) Aaron seems to like the peas all right. For the most part he's pretty easy to feed easily opening his mouth other than looking around at everything. I just remember harder to easier paths; may be harder to feed than nurse but soon he will feed himself which will be easier than nursing.

Presidents Day Weekend

We headed to Delta Sat morning after much confusion over ice fishing and Valentine's parties to spend the 3 day weekend. Eric had Pres day off so he wanted to get more work done with his Dad. We didn't do anything spectacular mostly just hung out and enjoyed each others company. Miriam is really connecting with Grandma and Grandpa Delta since we've been going down more oftenWe watched the Olympics and other cartoons. We also got wonderful meals that I didn't have to think up or do very much with that's the part I like best!

William ended up coming down Sat afternoon and coming home with us on Monday. Miriam followed along after him and had to do everything he did. She wanted her own Wii controller when William and Grandpa were playing. Sometimes it was good to have her so interested in William other times not when he would eat something I didn't want her to have.

Isn't Miriam a big helper?! We also went to church with them on Sun. Miriam did great in nursery and I actually got to go to Relief Society. The lesson was on Christ with the focus being about bearing witness of Him. I know I haven't spent as much time as I could spiritually feeding myself, but I do know I'm part of God's true church, and that I'm His daughter. I know Christ died for me and made it possible for me to come home again.

Aaron's first tea party. ;) Miriam got a new tea set from Grandma while we were there and Aaron enjoyed it a lot also. They sure love playing there.

Happy Valentines!

As usual our holiday celebrations included dressing up in red and hearts (where appropriate) and putting up decorations though that didn't happen till the Fri before so I left them up this month.

These are my flowers from Eric. I think he caught a bit of longing to do something interesting for Valentines. We have no set occasions for giving flowers. I love the online floral company Eric's been using the flowers are so fresh and last a long time.Aaron's Valentine day outfit that he wore to church. I think he is so handsome! We were in Delta for President's day weekend.

Miriam's Valentine church outfit which I discovered she's on her way out of 18 mon dresses they are getting a bit short. She is holding her favorite doll at Grandma Delta's.My mom made us fancy cookies that we all loved in particular Aaron who may have eaten more than Miriam when we weren't looking. Thanks!

Look at Me!

Aaron had been on the verge of sitting up on his own for awhile. He could last 10 sec than fall over still being incredibly top heavy. I was also wondering with his scooting and push ups if he would sit up or crawl first. On February 2 he decided to sit up first and here's the proof. Of course after awhile he still fell over (have a picture of that also), but he lasted awhile and has only gotten better since. In fact here at the end of the month he is doing first rate and only falling over when reaching for something out of his reach. Now he is having so much more fun playing with toys. I enjoy being able to set him on the floor and give a pile of toys and going to do what I need to do. Sometimes he's ok and others he still needs to see what that I'm still around.

Now is it any wonder that I'm thinking he will be crawling soon? He can get up but moving forward isn't something that has happened yet, any day though. He will rock forward but can't coordinate the moving hands or legs yet.