Eating solids

So, we have been putting rice cereal in some of Jace's bottles for about a month now, and he seems to do pretty well with that. His pediatrician said that I could start introducing new foods to Jace at 5 months, but I was a little hesitant because Jace has eczema on his legs and a little on his arms, and from what I understand that is a precursor for food allergies. So I didn't want to start him too fast and then have problems later. I felt safe with the rice cereal. He is 6 months now, and I thought, maybe we could start to be a little more adventurous. His doctor did say however to only introduce one food a week that way if he does have a reaction, we will know what caused it. So, today for the first time he got peas. I think he was very excited in the beginning, but didn't really love it all that much. We will keep trying with the peas this week though. I know he is ready for food because he is constantly grabbing at my food while I am eating. This is a whole new concept though, eating with a spoon. I think he did pretty well. And Harvey sure loved the mess we were making. :)

Ready to start eating

So happy

Wanted to eat his bib too

Harvey was happy licking Jace's toes

Even though it wasn't a total success today, Jace was still happy.

Jace is also 6 months, this past Thursday, August 4th. I can not believe how fast time flies. I love this little boy so much, he has made my life so much better. I am sad that time is moving so fast, but excited for the future with my little Jace boy. Sorry for the unrotated pictures, I rotated them, but they kept uploading this way, and I am too frustrated to spend any more time trying to fix it.  If you know how to and it's an easy fix, let me know, I am sure I am just missing the obvious, but sorry you have to turn your head to see the pictures correctly.

Hi!

"yummmmm, I love shoes"

"Mom, I do not like sitting in the grass"

I love this kid!

not enough time

I always think, I am going to do better with this blogging thing, and then I get on to post and I realize, wow, it has been awhile since I last wrote. I am trying, but life sure gets in the way. It's a good thing, I guess. Sometimes I wish life weren't so crazy, but that's ok. Not much has happened in the way of exciting news. I switched my work schedule so now instead of working Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays in Ridgecrest and Tuesdays in Apple Valley, I will be working Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesdays in Ridgecrest and Thursdays in Apple Valley. Ultimately I think this will be better for me and Jace. I am excited to have some three day weekends, and am hoping to make the best of them. I am also so thankful to both of my offices, for working with me on my schedule.

I celebrated another birthday, woohoo. It seems the older I get the less fun birthdays are. I thought that birthdays would get better with age, but alas, no. I guess if I want to have a fun birthday I need to make it happen for myself. I guess I could have been doing that all along, but that's ok. This year I went with Jace, Molly and my niece Kennedy, and my nephew Kyler to my grandma's house. This is my dad's mom, we had fun, and it was nice to let her see all the kiddos. I have a funny video of Kyler dancing with grandmas stuffed animal monkey, it was pretty cute. I do enjoy getting to spend time with family. I am hoping that in the near future I can make a trip out to Arizona to visit more family. I would like to go and see my other grandma. I'm crossing my fingers that I can work something out.

Jace turns 6 months on Thursday, I can't believe it. I am going to get his 6 months pictures taken from Heather Gibbons, the photographer that took his newborn shots, I am so excited for this. He is such a little man, and I can't wait to see the pictures, they haven't even been taken yet, and I am just so excited. That little boy has brought me so much joy. I have had a pretty rough last few years, and I am not complaining or anything, I stuck in the roughness by my own accord, but Jace has made my life so much sweeter. I hate that I have to work so much, but I love that when I come home, he smiles and gets so excited to see me. I am just so thankful that he loves me unconditionally. It is wonderful to be his mom.

I had a funny thought the other day about trials, and about my blog title. You know I chose the background, when life gives you lemons make lemonade, well I was thinking, maybe it should say, when life gives you lemons take them and throw them at the person that caused you the grief. Ok, maybe that really wasn't all that funny, it sounded funnier in my head. Sometimes, I wish I had lemons to throw, I know that really wouldn't solve anything, but it might be fun and it might even make me feel a little better, even if just for a moment, but then knowing me I would just feel bad for throwing lemons, it wouldn't help at all. (was that a run-on sentence or what!?!)

Seriously, I am doing pretty good, I don't have any desire to throw any lemons, I feel like besides a few things, I am in a good place in my life. I am trying to stay close to my Savior, I feel like this past year He has been carrying me through the hard times, I haven't been able to stand on my own, and He has made sure I have been able to move forward. I feel so lucky to know that I have a loving Savior and a loving Father in Heaven. I know they have protected me, and carried me through difficult times in my life, and I am just so thankful that I have a testimony of their love for me and for all of us.

Kyler and Jace playing.

 Jace laughing.

 Cute picture:)

 Jace LOVES Kyler

 Visiting Great Grandma Fox.

 Kyler got a Mickey stuffed animal

 Cute Kennedy.

 Jace and I on my birthday, I hate this picture of me, but at least I have one picture of my birthday. I have a lazy eye and it drives me CRAZY!!!

 Jace eating his toy duckies foot.

We bought some oil, called sea buckthorn oil, a patient of mine told me it helped with her granddaughters acne, and then after researching it a little more, it also helps with eczema, which Jace has. So I tried it, and I felt like an oompa loompa, it sort of stains your skin orange, but don't worry it washes off, and I just made sure I slept on my pillow with a towel covering the pillowcase, I have yet to give my review on how well this product works though, stay tuned...

Picture overload...

Jace is only 3 months older than Dallin, it's amazing what a difference that makes when they are so young.

4 month pictures! And a beautiful blanket made by cousin Shannon:)

I know these are kind of out of place, but this is one of the dishes I made from weight watchers, it was baked macaroni and cheese and it turned out pretty yummy.

Beef and brocolli, also very yummy:)

Jace is constantly putting blankets, burp rags, cloth diapers, you name it on his head, and then he can't get it off, it is pretty funny.

4th of July BBQ, Kennedy swimming.

Me and Jace "swimming"

One of my favorites ever of Jace.

 Kyler being silly.

 Jace with a faux-hawk, looks kinds like alfalfa, or Ed Grimley, you don't say.

I love this boy so much!

to go or not to go... private?

So, I have been debating on whether or not to go private with this blog. What are your thoughts? 

The past few weeks have been pretty uneventful. I have just been working and trying to stay sane. Jace is doing great. He still does not sleep through the night, but he gives me a good solid 5-6 hours when he goes down at first, and then he wakes up every 2-3 hours after that to eat. The only problem is that when he goes down it is usually at 7 or so, and unfortunately I don't go to sleep at 7. So I have been trying to keep him up a little bit later. It works some nights, but some nights he is just so wiped out that I can't keep him up at all. But he is such a great little boy, I can look past the fact that he doesn't sleep all night long:) I am very blessed. He is pretty even tempered. He is a very serious little boy. He will smile at you, but then he goes back to serious again. He laughs a little, but it is like ha ha, and then he is done. It is pretty funny. He likes the sounds of deep voices. When men talk to him he smiles. 

Everyone says how big he has gotten. He is pretty tall. I am not sure how he compares to other almost 4 month olds, but I agree he does seem pretty tall. I guess only time will tell how tall he will be.

Lately he has taken a liking to his hands. He always has them in his mouth. If they aren't in his mouth he is grabbing for his burp rag or a blanket to stick in his mouth. He has really discovered his mouth lately. He drools a bit as you can see in some of the following pictures. But no teeth and I am okay with that. His legs and arms have some pretty dry patches of skin, but we are trying to take care of that, hopefully he will grow out it. Other than that he is great. I am a very lucky mommy!

This is Jace as the mushroom guy from Super Mario Brothers:)

One of the many children that has been bathed in my parents kitchen sink. I needed to continue the legacy. 

He looks a little scared, out bath at home is a little more comfy for him.

Such a cute boy

Enter hand in mouth

Little Smile

Getting so big, sitting up so nicely 

A little drool anyone?

A little smile for mom:)

3 months old!

Jace turned 3 months old this week. It was a busy week, he got blessed on Sunday (May 1) by my dad, his grandpa, and it was a wonderful blessing and a wonderful day. I am so thankful to my family, Mark's family and friends (who are basically family), for making the looooooong drive out to share in this special day. Those that made the drive included Grandpa Jack, Grandma Barbara, Aunt Molly, Grandma Ruth, Grandpa Larry, Uncle Mike, Taylor, Carley, Melanie, Uncle John, Aunt Ammiel, Travis, Kristy, Abigail, Savannah, Wyatt, Mark, Elaina, Tyler, Scott, Malarie, Siena and Mark. Tamee a friend from work in Ridgecrest also come to the blessing. He received a beautiful blessing which I will write more about later, I don't have my notes right now with me, but all in all the day was very nice, I miss being so close to everyone. It was also very fun to cook for everyone, I am surprised I survived it!

Jace turned 3 months on the 4th. So I took some of his 3 month pictures. He is so cute, well I think so anyways.

And today was Mother's Day. It was a good day.

Just a few more pictures.... we went to the fair on Friday night, well the Ridgecrest fair, it wasn't too exciting, but it was nice to get out. Jace was sleeping in his pack on me, but I wanted to get a picture of him and a turtle, so here it is:)

They put on a puppet show, those things scare me to death, but it was sweet.

 My 2 boys, Big brother and little brother. They love eachother!

Easter morning. For Molly and Jace:)

Me and my boys, excuse my sweaty face, I wish I looked better, but my boys look good!

Jace and his Easter basket:)

He looks a little scared here, but still so cute:)