7 months

I just have to say we have the sweetest little girl! She has started to get a little more difficult, but only because she's been so dang easy.

Just some things for me to remember:

• She's doing a lot better at eating baby food. I wouldn't say she's a pro yet, but getting better. Loves pears, sweet potatoes, and squash. And I have to disguise the cereal with some flavor. She doesn't love it plain.
• Still the best sleeper ever!!!
• She's sitting up. Once in a while she tips over, but for the most part, she's a big girl!
• She does not love watching someone walk out of the room. It pretty much doesn't matter who it is, she doesn't love being alone.
• On the other hand, she seems to get nervous around a lot of people. Doesn't really love that either.
• She still has some stranger anxiety issues.
• She's getting better in the car, but I still wouldn't say she loves it. We're working on it.
• She's starting to hold her bottle. Yay, a free hand for me!
• I l-o-v-e listening to her talk in the mornings. I usually leave her in bed for a good 30 minutes before I go in to get her, just so I can listen to her. It's so cute!
• She loves the bath, and now that she's sitting up it's even more fun. She loves to splash with her hands.
• Her hair is getting lighter and longer. And no, it is not red.

The boys crack me up with her. Noah is the best helper, seriously. In the car he sits next to her, and if she even starts getting mad he's all over it. "Mom, where's her binki/bottle/toy/blanket?" He'll sing to her, make noises, whatever it takes to try and make her happy. And at home, if he hears her crying, and I'm busy, he does the same thing. I love it!

Cutler asks to hold her about 10 times a day. It's only for about 30 seconds, literally, but every time he kisses her head right before he says "I'm done". At random times throughout the day he'll just run over to her and kiss her, usually on the arm or leg, and then go back to his business. He's getting to the point that when she's mad, he tries to make her happy by talking to her, giving her her binki, or a toy. The other day I was in changing the laundry and Lexie was crying. I had layed her on the floor with her bottle and she must have dropped it. I was yelling in to her "I'll be there just a second, and you're ok..." when I got back to her Cutler had gotten down on the floor with her and was holding the bottle for her. It was so cute.

24th of July

Who doesn't love this holiday? (that's from Utah.) My whole life this has been one of my very most favorite days of the year. This year was no different.

I try and try and just can't ever get a perfect picture of all of them. This was the best I could get.

The kids waiting for the next float to throw out candy. They didn't get as much this year, but Noah started getting selective of what he would pick up. You can only eat so much salt water taffy. I have no idea why Cutler is sitting in the road. He's Cutler.

Cutler racing. He usually takes 1st or 2nd. This year he dropped his bouncy ball right after he started, so he had to turn around and pick it up. I'm pretty sure he was last.

Our dang camera wasn't working when it was Noah's turn. He didn't win either. Not a lucky year for us.

We pulled our trailer up to the mountain the week before, and camped the whole weekend with Shan & Jennifer's family. It was such a nice break from the heat at home.

I swear, put our boys in the mountains, and they think they're in heaven. They rolled this log clear from the trees behind the truck. And I wonder why they can't find easy entertainment like this at home?

We had such a good time and can't wait for next year to do it all again!

It finally happened!

Not that we wanted it to, we're just surprised it took this long. Cutler has gotten his first set of stitches. 4, to be exact, under his chin.

He slipped in the tub, and whacked his chin on the side of it. Colby was with him and he said it just wouldn't quit gushing. I wasn't home, but got a call and got there as quick as I could. Colby wasn't sure if it needed stitches or not, but when I got home, I took the band aid off and I knew immediately he needed them. We hurried over to insta-care, because of course it was 8:40 p.m. and they close at 9:00. We always have to do things at the last minute.

Cutler was so brave, I couldn't believe it. He was so good for them and held very still. I'm pretty sure everything they said and were doing to him was just scary, but he only cried when they put the needle in to stitch, then he would stop, then cry again with each stitch. Kinda funny, but so sad. I had to keep looking away because I wanted to cry for him.

Waiting for the numbing stuff to do its magic.

Look how gross! There was a little bit of fat hanging out, but the dr. snipped it off for him.

Home with a band aid and all the stickers he got for being so good.

And for your viewing pleasure. 4 stitches we'll be getting out next week.

Cutler, we love you buddy!

Park City

This year we were treated to a much needed vacation from the Labrum's. We stayed at the Marriot Mountainside in Park City, and it was absolutely amazing! The rooms were super nice - a home away from home, the scenery was beautiful - of course, and the company was a ton of fun. Lucky for us, they all have the big kids, so they pretty much take care of our boys. Sort of gives us a little break. And they don't really realize it because they're just playing.

We couldn't go up until Wednesday night after work, so by the time we got there everyone was pretty much getting ready for bed. Thursday morning we got up and went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house with Kristen's family. I've never gone to an open house before, so this was a neat experience. Plus I am so happy my boys got to see the inside of the temple. Not that they really understand the importance of it yet, but I had the most amazing feeling the whole time because I was there with my family.

As soon as we got back from the temple it was swimming, swimming, swimming!

On Friday, we bought the all day passes for the slides, and coaster. This was our hotel in the background. We were on the ski lift going up to the Alpine slides. We were so excited when we found out all of this was right outside the hotel.

I was actually kind of worried about how Cutler would do on these rides. He loved them! He laughed the whole time and kept telling me to go faster. He's such a little dare devil.

Noah was a little nervous at first, but the more he went on them he got more daring. The last time they went down, Noah got to go all by himself. He was so proud of himself!

Here's the coaster. You ride up the mountain on it, then back down - and it's fast!

This is the one Cutler kept telling me to go faster. I would put the brake on because you totally feel like you're going to fly off the side, but he liked the speed.

More swimming

We got to stay until Sunday, everyone else left on Saturday. We used that day to get Noah's school shopping done, and just do things in town.

Outside the candy shoppe

...and we're marching!

We had such a great time! Thanks Doug & Janet for a great vacation!!

Oh, and Kristen, tell Rob that Cutler was practicing his magic trick on the way home. His fry got stuck and I could not get him to blow it out this time. I tried a million things to try and get it out, but I kept pushing it up farther. When we went to bed I couldn't see it anymore and figured he had sniffed it up and swallowed it. The next morning I could see something almost hanging out of his nose, it was the fry!!

Happy 4th of July!

We didn't really have the (4th) attire this year. But we did manage to squeeze in a little photo session with Hallie! Lexie didn't want to cooperate for most of it, but they still turned out pretty cute.

I love this picture. Lexie had just fallen over onto the grass, and Hallie was trying to give her loves, so cute!