growing up too fast

I can hardly believe it, but its true. Charlie has started army crawling. He's not even 6 months old yet! It happened over the course of 1 day. He started pulling himself up on hands and knees and rocking back and forth. Then he'll lunge forward and start pulling the rest of his body forward with his arms. He gets all over the room. I'll post a movie a bit later, but here are some super cute pictures my friend took of Charlie last week. In a lot of the pictures I take, it doesn't look exactly like Charlie...instead its like the picture-version Charlie that looks mostly like him. My friend has an awesome camera and she's an awesome photographer so these pictures actually look like the real Charles.

The first of many firsts

I ran 5 miles straight for the first time this morning! It actually felt really good until 4 miles or so and then I really started feeling it the last mile. Some friends and I are training for a 1/2 marathon this summer (yes, during our family reunion to answer your question, "Jes-ka!") and so the scary thought is that the runs are only going to get longer. I can wrap my mind around 6 and I can even see 7 as slightly probable, but 8 miles and on seems a physical impossibility for me. I guess we'll see since we're adding about a mile on to our longest runs each week. Its only a matter of time, right?

my morning sunshine

This is what I get to come home to each morning after exercising. In fact if I come home sooner than expected, I get scowled and whined at until I leave the house to do a lap around the courtyard as the boys get assembled on the gate.

Alec is learning to say/sing his favorite books/songs by himself. This one is, "Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree."

Beautiful Easter

I wanted this Easter to be different. I wanted to start traditions that focus on Christ. I wanted it to be as enjoyable and as meaningful as Christmas. I didn't know how to get all that done, and I'm not sure I did. But I do know that I enjoyed this weekend and I am grateful for all the opportunities I found and made to share my testimony with Alec. I am grateful for chance to ponder the background, implications and symbolism of Christ's atonement and resurrection. I know that He suffered for our sins, allowing us to be forgiven of our mistakes and start life anew each day. I've experienced the uplifting joy of forgiveness. It is real.

This weekend I've been struck, more than ever, how alone Christ was and aside from the physical pain experienced in Gethsemane and on the cross what emotional and spiritual turmoil He endured for us, of his own accord. I know that Christ lives. He rose from the tomb on that third day nearly 2,000 years ago. I'm grateful for the knowledge I have that we too will live again after our life on Earth. I pray I live my life here in such a way as to live my next with Him and my precious family, together forever. Happy Easter.

simple life

Nothing out of the ordinary happened today. The boys woke us up. We all played in bed. I went exercising. Chris went to his office. I organized the house. Alec played golf. I tried to get Charlie to laugh. We went outside and Alec played basketball. The boys took naps. We read books together. Chris came home. We ate dinner, put the boys to bed and cleaned the house. Despite its average-ness or maybe because of it, it was an AMAZING day. I love my boys. Life right now is simple and I know it won't always be that way. I'm happy.

Part 1: Alec thinks he is Tiger Woods and gets upset when he doesn't sink every 20 foot putt. (Also, his blatant disregard for what I ask is also part of every normal day)
Part 2: Charlie doesn't really laugh, he smiles big, holds his breath and lets it out in short grunts. I spend chunks of each day trying to get him to really belly laugh. I'm sure it'll happen soon.
Part 3: Alec makes this crazy "monster voice" or "scary voice" and we got it on video towards the end of dinner.

Yes, I was crazy

Good news: We (and Alec) know that he likes to wear underwear. We (and Alec) now know what wholehearted 'potty-training' actually entails. We found out we owned a bottle of Resolve, carpet cleaner. Bittersweet news: We put Alec back in diapers.

every post should have a picture and this one makes me smile

I must be crazy

I let Alec try on his new underwear we got him a few months back, the same time as our oh so lame potty-training attempt #1. (He had 1 success and then refused to sit anywhere near the potty again. We didn't push it and stopped suggesting the potty after a few days) Since we never actually put him in underwear I brought up the subject when he was making a fuss about me changing his diaper this morning. I told him if he wore underwear and went in the potty I wouldn't have to change his diaper. He seemed to like that idea and seemed to really enjoy wearing his cute little briefs. 5 minutes later he had an accident and pointing to the wet spot on his pants said, "happened, mommy? whats that, mommy?" I put a new pair on and new pants and sent him off to playschool (with permission from the teacher/my friend and instructions to call me if he needs anything). Hmm... what was I thinking this morning? How could I have been so casual about something so complicated? I wanted to go shopping during playschool and now it seems I've committed myself to be home changing wet underwear and pants all day... I haven't even thought about messy accidents. I must be crazy.

In other news, I've made a few "List to do"s with Alec recently (things for both of us to do). He'll run his finger across the words and say something similar. For example, while pointing to the words "take naps" he'll say, "eh, eh, eh sleeping, eh Nap Time!" and "get dressed" reads "eh, eh, clothes on." I'm creating a list/box-checker/sticker-putter-oner monster. Like mother like son. Yes, those are Pocahontas stickers. I wanted to be her when I was 10.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa

We had such a fun time in Utah. Here are some more highlights.

Darda Track cars

Marble Works (Alec did this for HOURS, seriously)

Heavenly Trifle

Carrots, for the first time....not a big fan.

Using Daddy's putter at a "real golf course." We actually bought Alec some real clubs just his size, we'll post pictures soon