17 months+17 Pounds= FINALLY WALKING!

So, my little Peanut will be 17 months old tomorrow. He is, according to the dr's scale on Friday, is 17 pounds, 4 ounces. He is sooooo little. So sure, it seems normal when you look at him to think he is too little to be walking. But for me, he is my latest walker! And sure, take away his prematurity and he would actually be 14 months old...not too late, but I have been waiting and waiting and trying to get him to MOVE IT! And now he is! So, over the past few days, he has decided to walk more than crawl. Thursday it was 50% crawling, 50% walking, Friday was more like 75% walking, and then today about the same.

I know, before I even know it, I will wish he couldn't walk because walking is when their lives truly do change forever and they get into even more than they could before!! ;)

But I.LOVE.IT!

Hooray for Keaton!!

Sneak Peak

A sneak peak...at some of the crafty projects I have been up to lately...


I've made a few new wipey cases (professional pics to come later)...and btw, the picture is crooked, not the wipey case ;)

Love it!

This is not what you may think...isn't it adorable? More details to come later...

I've made a few flowers...for my hair!

This one is so simple, but so fun! And in case you can't tell, Keaton thought it was funny to comb the back of my hair today after it was fixed...so I thought I had fixed it, but apparently not b/c it looks really crazy in this pic.

But I just LOVE this flower!

More fun things later.

Boys, Brothers, Oh Boy!

There have been some sweet things happening in my house this week. I have been trying really hard to look at the good in the situations my kids get into. For example, when Brayden does something really naughty, I have been thinking of the positives about the situation and trying not to want to kill the little booger so much. The good/positives could be: he's very smart for thinking of something so clever, I can tell he's really tired to be acting this way, which means he has to take a nap, which sometimes means I get a nap. Sometimes there aren't many or any, but I have been trying. But he has actually done a few very funny and cute things this week that I just adore!

This first one is my favorite. I pulled out my planner while eating lunch at the kitchen table. Brayden ran and got his book of mormon and was "reading" it while he ate too!! It was the sweetest thing EVER! I didn't say anything. I couldn't. I was just so adoring the moment.

The second darndest cutest thing he did, which has also been quite annoying after 3 days of it, is putting on Kyler's swimsuit (his is hidden because he always wants to wear it). Yes, it's 20 degrees outside, the heater is on. We are wearing long sleeves, sometimes sweaters and socks IN THE HOUSE. But Brayden finds Kyler's swimsuit, puts it on, takes off everything else (yes, everything, like a true swimsuit wear-er) and gets the swim toys from the garage. He has spent HOURS this week in that floatie. A PINK one that I got at the dollar store no less. (Come on, it was the only color they had at the time!). Anyways, he is driving me nuts, but at the same time, so stinkin cute! And what I really wish I had gotten a picture of was him actually putting on his snow boots to walk around in, dressed like this! ;)

And finally, I am fearing that Keaton is in personality more like Brayden. He has lots of Kyler in him, but is soooooo mischevious already. He has started doing really naughty things. And when I say, "Keaton, we don't do that." "thats ouchie" or "thats naughty"...he pauses, looks at me, and then does it. Sometimes he even laughs! He knows he is disobeying! The little stink! And he is so cute about it, it is really hard not to laugh. So, when Cortney tells him "No Keaton, we dont do that", he bursts into full on TEARS! His feelings get hurt, and he doesn't do it again. WHAT?!?!

So as you can see, his daily habits include empty-ing the tupperware drawer, and now, climbing into it. I wondered how it got a little tilted...now I know! I am destined to be the mom of clever naughtiness. However, looking at the good in this...very smart, challenging, somewehat exciting BOYS! And please don't get me wrong, Kyler is just as smart, clever and naughty as Brayden...he just manifests it in ways that don't cause so much damage. He is more like me in personality, so I can figure him out a little easier...SIGH~ I really do love my fun life! ;)

Twas the week after Christmas

Thanks to my mom for sending this to me, who got it from my Uncle George. Enjoy!!

T'was the week after Christmas and all through the house,

Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.

The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste,

At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!

When I walked to the stores (less a walk, more a lumber)

I remembered the marvelous meals I'd prepared.

The gravies and sauces and meats nicely rared,

The wine and rum balls, the bread and the cheese.

And the way I never said "No thank you please."

As I dressed myself in my husbands old shirt,

And prepared once again to do battle with dirt.

I said to myself, as only I can,

"You can't spend the winter disguised as a man!"

So away with the last of the sour cream dip.

Get rid of the fruitcake, every cracker and chip.

Every last bit of food that I like must be banished,

Till all additional ounces have vanished.

I won't have a cookie, not even a lick,

I'll want only to chew on a celery stick.

I won't have hot biscuits or cornbread or pie,

I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I'm hungry, Im lonesome and life is a bore.

But isn't that what January is for?

Unable to giggle.

No longer a riot.

Happy New Year to all!

And to all a good diet!

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

Meet Keaton. So adorable, and yet, so destructive. How does one so sweet and innocent looking cause so much destruction in such a short amount of time?

"It" has arrived. And by "it", I mean, that time when every baby starts turning into a toddler...looking for trouble. Completely aware that what they are doing is probably something they should NOT be doing, and yet, that makes it even more exciting. ( And I have to admit, is cute to watch....most of the time!)

My little Keaton is not so little anymore...sniff, sniff. And the sniffs are both for him growing up, and the extra work that I now do around the house on a daily basis. Putting all the tupperware back in their drawer, putting all the cotton swaps back in their box, putting ALL the books from the bookcase back on their shelves.

He's lucky he's so cute!

Ha Ha Mom! Look at what I'm doing!! (that's shoe polish on the ground...just in case you couldn't tell...) Oh yeah, and he does have his hand on bathroom cleaner that I apparently forgot to put in the locked closet. I totally get mother of the year award for that one!

And finally...with a new year, this year, came a new do for me! My hair was feeling heavy and weighed down, and I needed a change. So I went much shorter, sassy layers at the bottom and a slight shade darker (I do the coloring myself), and I actually LOVE it! It has been fun, sassy and so much quicker and easier to fix. So for now, I am liking it!

You likie? Me likey.

I Resolute!

Beware, this is very long, but I am venting. Hmmm...where to begin? 2009 was a tough year in our household. Cortney had several broken ankles, was diagnosed with meniers disease to name a few, but just after bringing our sweet Keaton home from the NICU after being there for 13 weeks, I had to have my thyroid out. It was actually a year ago this month. And lemme just say, it pretty much sucks. Once you have your thyroid out (which by the way, controls your metabolism=energy levels), you have to take a thyroid replacement pill for the rest of your life. now getting to the right dose...yeah thats what sucks so much. If your "levels" are off, you are exhausted and fatigued, can't lose a pound if your life depended on it and sooooo...what do you do? you go in to your doc who checks your levels, says "Yes, your levels are low", increases your dose and it takes 6 WEEKS to be in full affect. Yeah, like I said, it pretty much sucks. So, I have always taken responsability for myself when it comes to my weight. If I am in a "bigger" stage of my life, I know why. I'm not eating well, not exercising, or when I am nursing, I cant really lose weight. So, needless to say, I have always worked hard to lose weight when I have needed to.

Currently, I am not at my pre-pregnancy weight. That's all I want. I know I will not be the size I was in high school again, but I am okay with that. So, this all brings me to my thyroid. I work out/run at least 4 days a week. I never eat after 7pm. I don't drink soda (although I have had a few in the last few weeks to see if it helped with my recent fatigue and it doesn't, so I'm done with that). I don't eat a lot of sweets, just once in a while. I eat pretty well. I take care of myself! I am not a lazy person. I push myself, even when I am exhausted to run. I am trying so hard to lose weight and CANNOT. I have been so discouraged. I just want to feel good again. I could care less about the number on the scale, I simply want to fit into my old clothes again. And I feel I deserve it after all I have been doing to lose weight!

I am stumped. I feel that my thyroid situation has been pretty crappy. I don't want to put the blame on anything but myself, but I seriously do not know what else it could be but my thyroid making it much harder for me...Okay, I will stop the whinning now.

Soooooo now that I am done venting about my thyroid situation...I can move on to my Resolutions for the Year 2010!

Every year I make resolutions, some more serious than others. Last year I truly conquered a big one for me, which was to stop drinking soda. This year, my goals seem to reach deeper.

Of course I want to slim down, but more than that, I want to get my thyroid figured out so I don't have so many off months of ups and downs with energy. This is a goal that is really not a goal. I am going to do more, but also need to rely on others as well to get this worked out. I also feel that I really need to work on accepting myself the way I am...not that I need to give up, but that while I am in these efforts to lose weight, I can love myself for how I am now. Feel good about the fact that while I may not be the size I want, I am not sitting around. I am working hard and should feel confident!

I want to increase how often I run...I want to go 5 days a week and run in the mornings rather than at night. Running at night has been nice for me because my hubby leaves early for work and I would have to get up super early to go in the mornings. However, running first thing in the morning on an empty stomach burns literally twice as many calories than working out any other time of the day. Sooooo, that will be a priority for me now!

I want to go hiking at least once a month. I miss hiking...and hope to someday hike the Grand Canyon again.

I need to organize all my discs of pictures/all pictures developed and pictures that need to be developed and get cracking.

I need to bring all my kids baby books current. poor Keatons book has not even been started.

I need to go through all the cabinets in the kitchen and clean and organize.

I need to go through all the tubs of kids clothes/organize, label.

I want to make church bags for my boys- Rather than bringing one bag to church where they are fighting over toys and books, I want to have one small bag for each with reverent activities specific to their likings.

I want to paint the laundry room! This is a room I can have fun with since not many people see it! ;)

I want to start a geneology project that I know will take a long time to work on.

I want to practice more parenting with Love and Logic for my kids.

I want to take more time to read to my kids, and want to take more time with them personally one on one as well as time together. (maybe a mommy date night is in order!)...

There is more, but I think these are the top priorities for this year...I love blogging/journalling. It is so great for me to vent, I am just sorry everyone else has to hear about it sometimes!

Mr. trouble is 4!

I cannot believe my once 2 1/2 pounder is now 4! Brayden has been a fighter from the start, but I love it all! So here are a few of my favorite things about Brayden in honor of him turning 4.

He is always sensitive to ME! He tells me I look nice, have nice earrings on, smell good, etc. What guy or boy for that matter does that?? I love it!

He pushes my buttons, but in the most adorable way. Example: "Don't worry Mom, I didn't get this gum from your purse. I just found it on the counter."

Which brings me to his lying and cleptomatic personality! I love this sweet guy. But he really can't tell the truth often. Example #1" I didn't do it Mom, Kyler did it." When in actuality, I WATCHED HIM do it!
Example #2, We are all sitting together in the living room when the following conversation happens...Brayden: "Dad, can I have a treat." Dad: "No Brayden, you haven't eaten your lunch." Brayden: "Mom, Dad said I can have a treat, will you get it for me?" Nice. Right in front of me? Seriously boy!

And for him being a clepto- well, anyone who knows him knows they have to pat him down when he is leaving their house because he takes things and hides them...it used to just be in his pockets, but once I started figuring it out, he changed to hiding things in his UNDERWEAR. YUP.

He really has kinda grown out of it, but I still once in a while find something he took...and its usually something valuable. A toy maybe? No, more like a nice silver bracelet from a little girls room...Thats my Brayden.

But more than anything, what would my life be without a boy who causes so much trouble? Seriously, so boring ;) I love my sweet Brayden!

This is the only baby picture I am posting, but it is one of my favorites! Can you believe he ever had any chubbiness to him?
For his party, we told him we had a surprise and did not tell him where we were going. We took him to Chuckee Cheese and had a blast!

Grandma Sue and Papa Greg came along for the party and Brayden BEAT Grandma Sue in air hockey.

This is when we sang Happy Birthday to him! ;) Priceless face~!

Big brother has to help open presents!

Ah-ha! Cant just give the boy one sword cause then how could Kyler fight back?

Good times! can't believe he's 4!

Finally I am getting around to posting about Christmas! Soooo...Christmas Eve was wonderful. We went to Cort's parents house. Lot's of great family around, the kids ran around like wild monkey's with their cousins. We had a nice "Larson Family Enchilada" dinner. We didn't stay very late so we could get the kids in bed at a decent time, and prepare for Santa's arrival.

As tradition in Cort's family, all the grandkids take pictures together in front of the Christmas Tree of Christmas Eve!
And we took some at home as well...

Christmas Day the kids woke up around 7:30 which was AMAZING for them to sleep in that late. That was really nice. I woke up not feeling well, but everything went great while the kids opened presents and enjoyed everything. Unfortunetly after we opened presents when I got around to actually getting up is when the stomach flu hit me and I puked me ever-living guts out for about 3 hours...

So Cort took the kids to his parents house, which we all had planned to do as a family anyway, but I stayed in bed with body aches and pains for the rest of the day. It wasn't my favorite Christmas unfortunetly. And the WORST part of it is, I stayed away from everyone for 48 hours in hopes my germs were gone (the flu for me lasted 12 hours start to finish) and sooooo...naturally every single stinkin person in Cort's family ended up getting it, including Cort's sister, brother in law and all three kids IN THE CAR on their way from Utah back to Arizona...They had to get a hotel halfway and recover. And eveyone else has who has had it (which is literally everyone in Cort's family and Cort and our kids) has all had it for much longer than me! So I feel lucky, but also terrible at the same time. I think the germs weren't on me anymore, but on our kids or Cort or something.

SIGH- So now we can get over that and move on to after WE are all better. The Sunday after Christmas the kids took awesome pictures in front of the tree since I did not get any pictures on Christmas Day....but Keaton does not really cooperate for pictures anymore, so this is as good as it gets with that little stinker!

I must say, I live with 4 very handome men!

Then Cort took off some time this week so we can hang as a family all healthy and well and we took the kids sledding. It was so much fun. Even Keaton liked it! ;)

Last year when we went sledding, the kids would not go down without a parent, but this year they mostly went together or by themselves without us! It was fun to see them venture out. But we still convinced them to ride down with us a couple of times too!

The snow was bright!

Here's my little snuggle bug!

And today was Brayden's 4th Birthday, so I will be posting about that soon as well!