Christmas was so fun this year with Scout. Presents were much more fun for him this year, and playing with all of his cousins was his favorite of all. His daddy helped him open some stuff, and Scout’s reaction was cute. Especially when he opened his PJ’s from Christmas Eve. He put them on and ran around in circles and up to every individual person for about 10 minutes to show them off.
When he got a great big rocking horse he was so excited. But when he found the little matching rocking horse, he needed to try that out too.
Micah and I got him this grocery cart because when he was at the store, he had the best time playing with it. On Christmas day, he decided that instead of him pushing it around, he would get one of his favorite cousins “Doey” to push him and his baby.
When Scout came in and saw the train table he got for the first time, he had the best reaction. He inhaled from excitement and then yelped “Oh Boy!” He sat and played with it for quite a while before we had to usher him away from it to proceed with the rest of the family’s introductions. He has been playing with it ever since!
And finally he loves his new hat and mittens that he will use on our trip to Utah this winter. (I am amazed at how good he is about keeping things like hats on.) Again, he had to go around to everyone and show them off.
Christmas is SO fun anyway, but through the eyes of this little guy, I had the best day!
Every year since I can remember, my family has opened up pajamas the night before Christmas. Last year, we deviated a bit for the guys and got them work out shorts instead because they all had a serious pile of PJ’s from years past. This year we went back to normal, and when Micah heard that we were doing PJ’s again he was anything but subtle. In his defense, he doesn’t wear them to sleep in, and has a load of sweats he will usually wear first for lounging. HOWEVER….there is something called appreciation and another thing called a return policy.
When we opened our PJ’s that night, Micah got a special little box creatively wrapped in a mini Victoria’s Secret box just for him. My mom couldn’t stand the thought of him going without, so she got him something else that she thought he might like. But when she went to the store to get him a new Speedo, she couldn’t bring herself to spend money on bikini briefs, so instead she bought him the “boy short” style.
He was thrilled, and immediately went into the next room to put them on. He then hopped into the window behind where we were all sitting, popped open the screen and offered us all a little dance. It looked a little “red light districtish”. The girls were disgusted, and the boys were in hysterics.
Later that night…according to tradition, the boys put out all of the presents and then they are off to Harbor House for shakes while I arrange the presents and the girls hang out and watch. Ryan said he was stoked to go to Harbor House, but was really frightened to know whether or not Micah had his nasty shorts on underneath. I thought he was crazy until I saw Micah the next night……after hours and hours of Christmas festivities….changing out of his jeans. And guess what cutie pie had on underneath? Mom……it may have been the perfect alternative to the PJ’s!
We had our ward Christmas breakfast with Santa, and we took Scout in his P.J.’s. He always loves a party, and for the second year in a row…..didn’t mind Santa. I am not sure if he will ever get scared of Santa since he is around so many crazy’s in my own family. Between Tristen always trying to scare him, and Ryan taking out his fake tooth and Jake and Cade trying on every scary Halloween mask for him…..he gets a lot pf practice throughout the year.
My favorite part of the morning was when he sneaked back up on stage for his second candy cane, and ate it along with the plastic surrounding it.
Scout overheard a conversation I was having the other day. In the conversation I said the words “No Money”, and Scout picked up on it. He started walking around saying “No Money” over and over, and everyone was cracking up. Once Scout heard the laughing, he knew he was a brilliant comedian, and really “went” with the joke. I added to the hilarity as I taught him how to put his hands in the air (like he is saying ‘I don’t know’) and then say “No Money”. Then when we saw people throughout the day, I would ask Scout what daddy said when he wanted a new treat. Scout responded with “No Money”. Everyone would laugh, and we would move on to bigger and better. I would ask him what Nonnie says every morning, and he would say, “No Money”. When his dad picked him up and took him in the car after work, he said Scout said his new catchphrase like a broken record. Talk about cute!
When Scout was born, we were all a little worried because he was very somber. He observed everything, and almost made you nervous if you were making funny faces at him. My mom always said that was a sign of intelligence so I proudly agreed. But I was hoping there was a day when he would loosen up a bit. Well…..he is loose as a goose now days. But I will have to say that his humor is a little more calculated than normal. He still observes for a bit, and then figures out what is really funny and delivers. It reminds me of Micah and his methods. We always hoped for kids with Micah’s tannable skin and my personality, but I wouldn’t want my little comedian any other way!
We finished our tree last night, and it turned out darling! Bloomingdales was the inspiration for this little number, and my hat is off to whomever did their trees, because half way through the project, my mom said, “Wow….this tree is really labor intensive” and she was right! Oh well…..in the end I love it!
Scout’s favorite thing this year is the little village I put up in his room. It has flashing lights, a moving train, Elmo and Big Bird, Christmas trees, snowmen, Jingle Bells playing, and Santa in “bubbles” (Scout’s favorite)! Scout now knows how to turn it on, and just watches it at times. He grabs people’s hands all day long to bring them to his room to see his village. When I was getting it all together, I was so jealous I wasn’t a kid with this in my room, and hoped Scout would love it as much as I hoped he would……and the best part…….he does!
We did a ton of decorating this year, but my favorite decoration came from Trilby to Scout. She gave him a mini snow globe the other week, which he broke the very same day. This event put the itch in Trilby to get him a snow globe made from plastic instead of glass. She finally found one, and Scout learned how to turn on and off the button by himself and was in love with his new little treasure. He carried it everywhere, and when I put him to sleep that night, I had to let him sleep with it. (I was also hoping it would occupy him in the morning as he woke up, to give me some more zzzzz’s.) My trick worked beautifully, and I heard Scout playing the music from his new toy for over an hour before he let me know he wanted me to get him. Knowing how much he loved it, Trilby saw some more in a store she was at and HAD to get him another one. (Talk about spoiled!) This one had Santa in it, and had the same easy on/off button for Scout to use. Last night he slept with both of them, and I finally missed him too much at 10:00, so I went to get him. He wasn’t sleeping. Instead, he was staring at them both like he was a teenager in love!
At almost 20 months, Scout has developed a liking for a few new things. They are:
Romantic candlelit baths
When Nathan Harris home taught us this month, he gave us a set of four great candles. So in an attempt to get Scout to start counting, I lit them for his bath. His counting has only progressed a bit, (although I have heard him in secret counting to five just fine), but he LOVES his new candles. He tells me they are “hot” a thousand times, and he thinks blowing them out each morning is the coolest thing he gets to do every day.
His new slippers
We all know that Scout is obsessed with anything his dad has, so when I got these new slippers for him (that look kind of like Micah’s) he thought he was so cool, and wears them anytime he is at home!
His new baby sister’s cradle full of all things stuffed
He loves his Santa, Santa Baby and Elmo has been a hit for months. But his newest addition - the life sized baby boy doll - which my mom got him in preparation for his new baby on the way - is a total favorite. Our only concern is that he might treat the “real” baby the way he treats the fake one. But when he wraps him with a blanket and tries to force a plug in his mouth and pats his little back because the baby is “crying” it is pretty cute.
Bubbles
He walks around all day with a bottle of bath “bubbles”. He constantly wants bubbles, and loves to play in them as Santa and say “Ho Ho Ho”, or a monster like he is here.
His new cuddly and huge Elephant from Gary
Gary surprised us one morning last week and dropped off a surprise for his Godson. Scout was already obsessed with his horse. He would hop on it every afternoon, and when we asked him where he was going, he would say “Wild West”. (He now heads out to the Wild West with guns, and shoots everyone in sight.) Now on his elephant, he hops on and heads out to “Africa”. It is very cute, and I am glad to see that my son is seeing the world in his imagination!
At 20 months, Scout has officially made his first mess. He got into the tub of extra thick Cetaphil lotion, and had at it! I have been anticipating this day for a long time! Congratulations Scout!
Micah has relented somewhat on the heinous name Spider. He has had a lot of people worried as he has carried the name Spider near and dear to his heart all of these months. But ever since the news of being 50% effaced, Micah has been in good spirits. He has mentioned two reasons for the overabundance of glee.
#1 — If we have the baby prior to January, we score on taxes for 2008 and our insurance deductible’s/premiums won’t go over into 2009.
#2 — If we have the baby fairly close to Christmas, Micah has another name picked out for our little bundle of joy that is heading our way. He knows I am going to name the baby’s middle name after my mom or Skylar. Obviously I want to do my mom because she is the greatest, but she has horrible names to work with, so it makes it tough. Her name is Patricia Jean (maiden name) Murchie, and she was called Susie Q growing up. All in all, I have the following names to work with — Pat, Patty, Patricia, Jean, Murchie, Sue, Susie, or Q. It should now make sense to anyone reading this why I might defer to naming our baby after Skilly. (Plus, she is Scout’s second mother, so we would love to honor her….and seal the deal for as much help with baby #2.)
On to Micah’s new name. We were sitting and chatting one night, when Micah excitedly told me he has a new name if the baby is born closer to Christmas. My response was torn because I didn’t know if I wanted another horrible name to deal with and/or I was sad to leave “Spider” in the dust. I asked him the name, and he refused to tell me. Now I was really worried because I needed to put the fire out now……not in the hospital! He finally gave in and told me his new idea. He said, “I know you want to name the baby after your mom…..so the new name is (drumroll please……..) Peppermint Pattie Denison.
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. My first thought was a cartoon character, and then I went to the refreshing and minty candy bar. I actually think it is funny, and don’t think Pepper is too bad. And kudos to him for getting one of my mom’s “hard to work with” names in there in a very creative way. But mostly, I am impressed that he veered away from the obsession he had of an arachnid in pink bows and crystal bracelets. I guess I will take this one over that one, but any calls to express you utmost disgust are welcomed. (And for all of you traitors who have actually expressed your liking for the name “Spider”……your taste is questionable……or actually it is flat out disgusting!)
Including my cervix! I was surprised when I went to the doctor today to find out that I am over 34 weeks along. I am not really the type who is tracking my pregnancy day to day…or week to week for that matter, so everytime I get new info from Dr. Thein, it is like a fun little surprise to know what is going on with my body. Two of the “fun little surprises” I learned today were….#1 I am only six weeks away from my due date, but went a week early with Scout, so more than likely….I am about 5 weeks away. #2 Christmas is barely over two weeks away. (I figured that out when I made my next two week appointment for the 23rd.) WHOA….better get shopping!
The doctor told me that I need to take it easy because I am already 50% effaced, and according to Wikipedia, 100% means that labor is right around the corner (I didn’t know Jenny Tucker’s number memorized, because she could have given me a lot more info on the subject I am sure!). Dr. Thein said we need to wait at least 3 weeks before having this baby so to lay low, so I happily exagerated that to Micah when I called him. I told him that the second he gets home I am supposed to be on “bed rest”, and he will have to pick up the slack. He laughed….I am not sure if it was because he thought I was serious or kidding? I guess when he comes home and I am laying on the couch ordering bon bons, he’ll know.
It consisted of:
-Sleeping in
-Cuddling with mom and watching the 10 minutes of Sesame Street he has the attention for
-Going in the trailer behind dad’s bike
-getting out all of dad’s tools and checking them out
-detailing mom’s car with dad (he has the filth under his fingernails to prove it)
-Going to Walmart and HomeDepot with dad
-Going for his favorite “wice” AKA rice from Baja Fish Taco with dad
-Coming home to a nap after he ran in to give mom a hug and immediately pointed upstairs and said “bed”
-Waking up to “Ka” AKA Skilly, “B” AKA Trilby and ” — ” AKA Calin (he doesn’t have a name for her…not even Calin)
-Going back to Home Depot with mom, dad and Skilly this time to pick ut a Christmas Tree
-Walking through Home Depot and seeing all of the blow up santa’s/reindeers/snowmen etc.
-Going to In-N-Out for “fwinch fwies” where he got his very own box
-Hitting up Walmart with the three of us — for the second time
-Getting home to have B give him his very own mini snow globe that he didn’t let go of the rest of the night
-Putting up a tree in our house
-Getting in the car with everyone -including Grandma- to go to Dana Point’s Boat Parade
-Sitting in the trunk with me, Skilly and Calin and looking out the back window at all of the “yights”
-Driving through a few neighborhoods to see what lights and other decorations were up already
He was exhausted by the time we got home, and accidentally dropped his snow globe that shattered everywhere. What a bummer. He was all smiles all day long. At the parade, he was galloping, dancing, waving to the boats, hugging everyone. He is at the best age where everything is getting really exciting to him, and he thinks he is a little comedian and keeps everyone laughing! I am SO glad he had such a great day. And that he joined Micah on Micah’s lengthy “to do” list and thought it was a blast.
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