outside!

Jayden loves loves loves to be outside. Thankfully my parents have a big backyard he can play in. My parents are gone on vacation in Tahoe so I've been doing all the watering. Here's our little man "helping." :)


Stephanie has taught Jayden how to smell flowers. Its pretty stinking cute. Here he is checking out some of Grandma Dottie's flowers. :)

Eli, our chunk-a-lunk

So even though Eli seems to throw up almost everything he eats, he is somehow packing on the pounds! At 6 weeks he was 11lbs, 13oz and in the 90th percentile. Jayden always was, and still is, pretty skinny. So we are not used to all these rolls and fat! Its kinda fun! :) Here's Eli chilling in just his diaper (its a fitted fleece Happy Heiny for you cloth diaperers out there...the cover went on very soon after this photo shoot!).

Striking his model pose

Such a happy boy (not really, but this picture makes it look like it!!)

Look at those rolls!

15 months old!!!

Jayden is 15 months old! Its funny. The months go by so much quicker these days. Jayden has become such a little boy now, there is no baby left it seems. He saw his pediatrician last week who hadn't seen him since he was 10 months old, and he said, "Wow, you're a little man now!!" So true. Jayden seems to learn something new everyday. Watching him grow, learn new words, discover new things...it is too fun. I love being the mom of a toddler!! Jayden is such a happy boy still for the most part. Full of smiles for everyone he meets, and lots of hugs and kisses for those he loves. We are seeing definite signs of toddlerhood, though. He will CRY and SCREAM when we tell him no. He is easily redirected and distracted but his happy go lucky self is not present as much anymore. Our boy is such a sweetie pie, too. He worries when Eli cries too much, and doesn't like to see either of us upset.

What else is he doing?
- he has 6 teeth, the same amount he had at 13 months. he has shown signs of teething for weeks now but nothing is coming through
- last week at the doctor he weighed in at 21lbs, 13oz. we think he may have actually lost a little weight. but he is growing lengthwise so we're not too worried.
- he is now down to one nap. praise God! he sleeps anywhere from 2-3 hours once a day. i love the long break from chasing him around!
- he is into everything "boy". he is obsessed with the trash trucks, cars, things that make noises. every Friday morning we stand on the porch (or our neighbor's porch..they have a son Jayden's age) and watch the "tash tuck" do its thing
-he has tons of words: papa, ba-PA (grandpa), mama, hi, bye, baby, trash truck (tash tuck), car (KA), kittie, key, teeth, dog, bible (by-u..long story), Eli (i-li), Jayden (his FAVORITE word), basketball (ba-ba-ball), volleyball (va-ba), baseball (ba-ball), cracker, graham cracker, Butt Paste (bu-pase)
-he now understands so much more of what we're saying. I say, "Jayden, time to get a new diaper" and he heads for his room. We say, "Want to go on a walk?" and he heads for the door. We say, "Jayden, where are your shoes?" and he goes and finds them.
-he knows where his nose and hair is. too cute!!
-basically, he fills our lives with joy and laughter!

Here's a couple shots of Jayden and Mommy from his 15-month birthday!

the world is my playground!

Jayden has started climbing INTO the end table!! Too funny. Then he gets stuck, can't figure out how to get out, and starts crying. Ah, toddlers!!! :)

first smiles!!

"Hey...this used to be mine!!"

Daddy's money!!

Jayden found Daddy's wallet...definitely an omen of what is to come in his teenage years, we are sure. :)

fun in a box!

We got a very nice present from our friend Marion...our crib bedding for Eli (now if only we can fast forward to when he'll be sleeping in it!)!! The box was big and Jayden loved playing in it! Check it out.


P.S. If you want to see some amazing pictures of our family, click here. My friend Erin from college has her own photography business and came and took our pictures when the whole fam was in town. So awesome. Thanks, Erin! You're amazing!

We love you, Dawson family!

So some of our favorite favorite people were in town this past week or so. Our super good friend, Ann, married Mark and it was beautiful. This blessed event brought Ryan, Brenda, Noah, and Zach to town. So good, so fun. Here are some fun pics from the time.

Jayden and Noah have the same shirt from Target that says, "My Daddy's a Stud, Too." So here they are in their super silly matching shirts.

Ryan and Brenda at the rehearsal dinner

Cute little Zachariah


We love you guys and wish wish wish you lived closer!!!
P.S. Pics of the GORGEOUS wedding to come!

Eli...he's 5 weeks old!

Some pics of sweet Eli...he is growing like a weed!!!! Hard to believe since with his reflux it feels like he throws everything up!!! We spend our days bathed in puke! Some prayer for little Eli to keep his food down more would be appreciated. Thankfully, the Prilosec seems to be helping with the pain so he's not as fussy. But, trust me the last thing you want to be woken up by is a puking child at 3AM!! All in all we are hanging in there. :) Enjoy the cuteness!