The Christmas Cuties.

Since I didn't get Christmas pictures this year or even get around to Christmas cards, here are my cuties wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

Snow Day!

On Saturday we went up to Mt. Charleston for some good old fashion wintery fun. The snow was perfect, light and fluffy, just how I like it, and it was a beautiful day to play in it too! Thanks to Rachel & Ben and their families for inviting us, we always love to visit with them!

Look at his tail! Such a studly duo.

Kisses for my little eskimo baby.

The Sled Crew.

Me finishing the hill just after I bit it hard. See, I'm still smiling, what a trooper.

Tigi was a little nervous on her first run...but she did open her eyes on the way down. :)

She sledded like a pro solo.

My mischevious snow princess. :)

Will I Ever Get Them Back?!

My brain cells, folks, are diminishing by the day. They say it's been proven that giving birth shrinks the size of your brain. Well, I don't know if it's the act of giving birth or the combination of a lack of sleep and everything that happens thereafter, but I am definitely suffering from some brain loss.


Just for the sake of journaling, I'd like to document a few things that have gone by the wayside since Alex was born.


1. Not just one, but TWO bills have been completely forgotten about. Luckily, my creditors are kind hearted and excused my absentmindedness without jacking up my interest rates.

2. I forgot to bid on job, a sizeable job at that. When did I remember that I'd forgotten? Two days later...and only after Devin asked me about it.

3. I forget to get babysitters all the time, even though I know I'll need them weeks in advance. And then I've booked two people to babysit on the same night! Seriously.

4. Knowing that I was going to an outdoor mall, on a chilly day, I forgot a jacket for Tigi and a stroller for Alex. Thankfully, Tigi didn't feel like running off, and we were in and out pretty quick.

5. The other night Alex woke up at 5am. I kept giving him his pacifier because I knew I'd just fed him, but he wouldn't take it. Flustered about his unusual hunger, I thought about it for a minute. He really should have been hungry, I hadn't feed him in hours, I just thought I had because I thought I had just gone back to sleep. :)

There have been several more noteable incidents, but I've forgot them...of course. :)

Santa Was A Success!

Yeah for no tears this year!

Antigone was all excited to see Santa this year. She knew that she could ask him for what she really wanted for Christmas...a pony. Yes...another pony. :) We met Misti and Madison down at Town Square (who's santa was fabulous by the way) and the second she saw Santa, she turned mute. She wouldn't even look at him. Then finally after a few minutes (and some coaxing) she softened up and sat on his lap. I think it helped that Alex was next to her. She's pretty attached to him these days. :) In the end, she even told santa (in a whisper voice) that she'd like a pony for Christmas. :) So cute.

Attitude...it must be genetic.

Alex...The Actor - Et tu Brute?So at 3 weeks old Alex is already showing off his sassy little personality. I took him to Kiddie Kandids for his newborn pictures last week and, to put it mildly, he didn't really cooperate very well. We did get a couple funny ones though. :)

I just can't get enough of that hair! What a stud!

It's the perfect face for Tigi to say "Whatcha doin little buddy, huh, whatcha doin?" This is the attitude picture. It just screams "Foo...what'ch you talkin bout Willis?!" Or "Seriously Mom, are you seriously making me do this?"

Nothin sassy here...he's just got the cutest little feet. :)

So do you guys have any other good captions for these pics?

One Heavenly Hallow's Eve...

You know how it is sometimes when you don't realize how much you enjoy something until you get to experience it again...well how about a good night's sleep. Baby Alex is one week old now and decided last night that he's ready to sleep like the big boys. With exception of his first night home, he typically only gets up two to three times a night to eat and goes right back to bed. It's wonderful that he doesn't stay awake, just eats and sleeps. Well, last night after a fun evening of watching Tigi trick or treat with her friends Bailee and Reagan, Alex went to bed at 9p, only woke up at 2:30a and I woke him up at 7:30a to eat! It was simply amazing! That's right, I got 9.5, count them...9.5 full hours of sleep last night! What a good little boy to be so nice to his mama. :) With exception of his occasional projectile spitting up, I'm tempted to say he's as perfect a baby as Tigone was (and he's a pro-nurser). :)

On the Tigi front, she thoroughly enjoyed Halloween. She was a "pumpkin witch," which she loved to tell me over and over. She also told me how cute she was. :) Trick or treating was everything I'd hyped it up to be and we even had a few "really, really scary" houses to top off the night. Once around our neighborhood was just enough to satisfy her Halloween desires, of course, that was until this morning when she declared that she wanted to go trick or treating again. It's just so hard for a toddler that fun holidays only come once a year! :) Papa and Alex hanging at Grandma's house for some pumpkin carving.

So how's Antigone handling "big sisterhood" you might be wondering? Like a champ! Actually, probably more like a leech. She loves Alex and always wants to hold him or sit by him...or pat his head...or back if I'm burping him. She's definitely very, VERY lovey with him right now. :) Anytime someone comes over to see him, she asks them where they are taking her baby brother. :) If he starts crying, she'll run to him and say "It's ok brother, I know, I know" over and over. She also likes to climb up next to him and say "What doin baby brother, huh? What doin little buddy?" It's all very cute, if not a bit annoying after a while, but in the end I very glad she loves him rather than hates him. :)

Baby Brother Has Arrived!

Alexander Jeffrey Baldwin was born on Friday, October 24, 2008 at 9:14am. He weighs 6 lbs. 12 oz. Both baby and mother are doing great. We will be going home sometime today (Saturday). Check out that full head of hair! Getting cleaned up and enjoying the heat lamp... Our bundle of joy... Mommy and Big Sister smiling for the camera :) Tig just wants to touch him and touch him :)

Ummm....Apple Pie

This, my friends, is the most delectable little apple pie I've ever made!

(Granted it's like the 2nd apple pie I've ever made, but that's neither here nor there).

Tonight's enrichment was all about making a snacky apple pie and I have to say, I think mine came out really well. :) And who doesn't love it was you do something new and it comes out good?!

These last couple months of the pregnancy, coupled with the start of fall, have REALLY brought on the cravings for any and all "baked apple delicacies." I've always been a lover of cobblers, crisps and pies, but I can't really say that I've ever craved them quite like this. I like to think of it as a "baby Alex bonus." I would much rather crave baked desserts over pickles and hot dogs or the many other things that women get roped into eating under the influence of pregnancy cravings. :) Wouldn't you agree?!

Sometimes...She Makes Me Crazy.

Typically, I'd have to say that Tigone is a really well behaved child. She's pretty good out in public, she listens and obeys my requests and usually says her pleases and thank yous. But there are those days, like Tuesday, where things like this just don't stop...

Not 1, but 2 perfectly good rolls of toilet paper soaking up all the water in the toilet. Lovely.

Granted, I know my old dollhouse is not really "toddler-friendly," but seriously, I think she has now broken every piece of furniture that was left in it.

I think Tigger's head speaks for itself.

Now if you looked at this face, would you have thought any of these things had been going on? You have to hand it to her, she can definitely be sneaky. :)

28 IS Great!

So my 28th big one has come and gone and we had a fun evening full of deliciousness to help celebrate. Thanks to the fam and friends that could make it!

In a small review of my life, I'd definitely say I've got a really good one. I have a husband who loves me and who's perfect for me in everyway. We're both stubborn and proud and like to get our way, but it seems like each of us knows when to back off and let the other lead. I love my Tigi and can't wait to have baby Alex join us. We have a house that is our own. Our business has done good it's first year and our finances are pretty well in check. I love both Dev's family and my own for all they do for us. Aunt Jan is a lifesaver on an almost weekly basis and Tigi loves her days with Grama Kim. I'm so very thankful to have my mom in my life again and it makes me happy how much she loves Tigone. I miss my dad often, but it's not unbearable. I'm positive that I'll see him again someday and I have faith that he watches over me. I'd like to think he'd be proud of me and the choices I've made. I'm grateful for my testimony and the knowledge the gospel gives me to make it through the rough patches. Overall, life is good and I love it. I wouldn't trade mine for anybody's and I look forward to what this next year will bring. :)

Baby Alex's Shower

My wonderful sister in law Kaymee threw a super cute shower for Baby Alex this week. Thanks to her and Kim and Misti for all their hard work! And the food was delicious. :) I have to say...baby brother is going to be one well dressed kid (which is always a goal of mine). :) He got so many cute clothes, even some camo stuff and little demolition pjs for Dev's liking too. :)

Thanks to everybody that came!

So This Is Nesting...

If feathers were pinned to my body, it couldn't be any more true. I have entered the "nesting" phase of pregnancy. The crazy thing is, this didn't happen to me last time. Not really one bit. But right now, my thoughts are consumed with things like, food storage, obsessively trying to potty train Tigi (which isn't working), getting everything ready for her room (so baby brother can have a place of his own), cooking, ironing, and oh cleaning, lots and lots of cleaning. I would never call myself a messy person, but in no way is cleaning ever something I enjoy doing, and yet currently, it seems I just can't stop. You know, wipe up a little spot here or there on the floor and pretty soon I've completely cleaned the entire kitchen floor with a washcloth. For a visual, think 8 months pregnant, lovely hair that hasn't been done all day, on hands and knees vivaciously scrubbing the floor. It's madness I tell you.

It's not really like these are bad qualities to let run my life...but I have to tell ya, it's kind of weird. I've even started paying attention to prices of meat at the grocery store, clipping coupons, and actually knowing when something is a good deal. Devin laughs (heartily) at me for this last thing especially, but it makes me feel good knowing that I'm getting more for your money. Don't you agree?

Did any of you have any funny "nesting" obsessions? (Or am I the crazy one here?)

Grandpa turns 73!

We had a fun time in New Harmony last weekend celebrating my grandpa's 73rd birthday. Here's some of our memories.

What's that?!

Let me set the stage for you...We are in New Harmony, visiting my grandparents. It's about 6:15am. Tigi has woken up and climbed in bed with us (between us). I'm laying facing her, trying to sleep.

Tigone: Gasp. "Mommy! What is that?!"
Me: It's completely silent. "I don't hear anything."
Tigone: "What is it? What is that?!"
Me: "I don't know Tigi."
Tigone: "Is that Baby Brother talking?!"

And then I busted up laughing. :) Keep in mind folks, baby brother doesn't have his debut for two more months. :) It does make me wonder though, why would she even think of that?

Proud Domestic Moment.

So I just have to share with everybody my super domestic-ness of late. In an effort to build up our food storage I went and bought pears from Vons on an amazing sale and then canned them! That's right ladies and gents...I now know how to can fruit! I have to say, it was kind of satisfying to think that I did it myself. :) A lady in my ward showed me how to do it, I borrowed all the canning goods from Aunt Jan and away I went into the wee hours of Saturday night (ok, it was only till 10p, but that's pretty late for me, especially standing for like 7 hours straight!). Peaches are coming up next! Let me know if you want to come over and learn. :)

Antigone, it seems, has been growing leaps and bounds intellectually. Her speech continues to grow rapidly and she's even picking up Spanish words now (mostly from Diego) and knows how to use them in context! Her memory is really something else. She remembers directions (as in how to get somewhere) better than a certain 16yr old cousin I have. :) She's also immersed herself in imaginary play with "Mommy Pony," "Orange and Purple Baby Ponies," "Baby" (with a burp cloth for a blanket), and three "Little Baby Ponies." These are the best toys in Tigi's life right now. They sleep, bathe, eat and travel with us, wherever we go...they go. :) On the flip side of that, when one of them goes missing, the world as we know it is coming to an end until the beloved is recovered.
The pic's a little fuzzy, but you can see all seven of our must have "buddies."

Other happenings in Tig's life...we've put away her high chair (which she cried about this morning) and she's been promoted to a big girl bed (really just her crib without the front railing) and has now slept four out of seven days without rolling out. :) She loves to make "tea" and serve it to us. :) Oh and one other super fun toddler trait...Tig now loves to sing songs! And not just "Life Is A Highway" anymore, she's really branched out to other songs like "Itsy Bitsy Spider," "ABCs," "Twinkle, Twinkle," "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam," and "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." I don't even have to encourage her, she just sings them at will these days. Sometimes she even makes up songs about what she's doing (cooking in her kitchen, sweeping, jumping, playing cars...). It's so cute to see her imagination at work!

So basically, other than the yelling, screaming and negativity ("No Mommy I Can'ts") that comes along with toddlerhood, it's a really fun time. :)

Lovin SoCal

Last week we went to Southern Cali to enjoy the "cooler" weather and spend a few days having fun in the sun! Since I'm pretty sure it'll be our last road trip until after the baby's born, we made sure to pack in plenty of fun activities.

First we went to Disneyland and oh boy did Tigone love it! She's not fabulous right now with taking pictures, so she looks mad or annoyed in most of them, but she really did have a great time. :)

We spent the next couple days at Huntington Beach. The kiddies went crazy playing in the sand, building castles and jumping over the waves. Tig did much better this year than last (when she was entirely afraid of the ocean and hated sand) and I was so thankful for that! I think her favorite activity was running down the beach (and not stopping till you caught up with her). Little stinker.

A lot of Dev's extended family came to the beach on Friday and the fellas played a couple "heart-bounding" rounds of volleyball. It was the "Over twenty-eights" versus the "Under twenty-eights." It's kind of sad to think that Devin's now on the "old guys" team, but I guess that would have to happen eventually, right?! :) At times the "spiritedness" of the game got to be a little much for the "old guys", as did the BURNING hot sand they played in. But I'm pretty sure everyone had a good time.

And this is why we love summer, it's the best time for vacations!

Memories

It's so fun to remember things about other people, and also read other's memories as well. Feel free to participate, or don't.

1. Add a comment on my blog. Leave at least one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.
It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

More Fun Than Any One Toddler Should Have...

So our July has been jam packed with good stuff. We had a fun "small town 4th of July" in Richfield with the Albrights. Tigi just loves baby Madison! It makes me happy to think that she'll love being a big sister. We just have to work on the idea that babies just can't jump up and run around with her. :)

After one day back at home, we headed for Utah again, our very first New Harmony Cousin's Camp! Such a fabulous idea! It's all the moms and kids (most of them ranging from ages 1-12) getting together to spend a few days full of crafts and games and, of course, good food! There were 22 kids in all and Tigi just ate them up. With all the "Tigi come play with me" and "Tigger let me hold you," she had a fantastic time. It was more attention than I think she could ever hope for. :) Thank you so much to all the other moms and Grandma Jerri and Grandpa Garth for such fun time. We can't wait until next year!