Firsts!

Savanna has had a few firsts recently!!

Sunday during church, I noticed she got her first tooth! Yay! I was wondering when they would come - she's nearly 8 months old and still had a big toothless grin! But now there's a little tooth that's just barely broken through the gums- so cute! Let's just hope she doesn't start biting mommy soon....... It's her bottom right middle tooth.

Today she had her first french fry - LOL! A milestone in my family. She loved it too! (naturally!) She was so cute gumming it to death. She did quite well with it as well!

Also, today, she went to her first movie. I took Joey, Savanna, and thier Aunt Kara and Uncle Garrett to see 'Monsters vs. Aliens' today. A pretty dumb movie if I do say so myself, but it had its cute parts. Kara and Garrett enjoyed it, but it totally freaked Joey out. The aliens really scared him, as well as the 'fight scenes'. My wimpy boy - lol! But afterward he said he liked it. And Savanna - the little couch potato - LOVED it! It cracked me up! First I had her in her car seat in one of the movie theatre seats propped up so she could see - she sat there mesmerized by the big TV screen for like 45 minutes! It's funny - I was feeding her poofs while she was watching it, and she never took her eyes off the screen - she would get the poof out of my hand and put it in her mouth without ever looking down. She looked like such a couch potato! Then after a bit she got restless so I got her out of her chair, at which point she was having a blast! She would get all 'dancy' when the movie got loud and would scream with the movie (not crying - but screaming happy) I had to keep trying to get her to be quiet. It cracked me up how much she loved it!

Also, yesterday I had her in the laundry basket (don't ask... that's just where I put her when I'm doing laundry - it keeps her entertained and contained - don't call CPS on me! lol!) but I realized I won't be able to do that much because she was trying to 'pull up' on the side of the laundry basket! She isn't even CRAWLING yet but she was trying to pull up?? Are you kidding me? I'm not ready for that yet! ha ha! Silly baby.

Anyway - just some fun things in the Haley household!

Random ramblings

So this blog is supposed to be a journal, and I haven't done much journalling. If none of you read this whole thing, consider yourselves lucky because it's 12:30 at night and I just feel like rambling about things that are going on recently - everything and nothing! I figure if nothing else, my kids will enjoy reading it someday getting a little insight as to how... out there their mom's brain is some times!

Kris and I just got done watching August Rush. What a depressing movie!! Yea, it ended all happy and cheery, but ugh! I just don't like to think about parentless children or homeless children - let alone both! We are so happy in our little bubble here that it's hard to remember sometimes that there are CHILDREN who face this horrible world alone EVERY DAY. And I complain sometimes?? What's my problem? Along with this, my reading recently has been quite depressing - I just finished reading the 'Pelzer' series - 'A Child Called It', 'The Lost Boy', and 'A man named Dave' all by David Pelzer and also 'A Brother's Journey' and 'A Teenager's Journey' by Richard Pelzer. Wow - You know - some times I REALLY wonder why the Lord allows such serious child abuse to occur. Yes - I know it is to the abuser's own condemnation, but geez - those kids never even get a chance to LIVE, you know? Its things like that that make me realize how incredibly blessed I was and am. I don't know why I was so blessed to be born into a loving LDS house hold and to have a mainly carefree childhood. Then how I was blessed to grow in the gospel, marry a worthy guy, have all the comforts we have, have the happy healthy children we have and so on. Sometimes I wonder when the rug will be pulled out from under us, because really, I don't see how anyone can be this.... amazingly blessed! And I really don't feel I did anything to 'deserve' it. Hm. I just hope I can be the kind of mother that allows her children to truly have the childhood every child should have. I know I'm not near patient enough with them. I hope they always know I love them and I hope I can get a handle on my temper. They are such sweet babies and after reading those books and watching August Rush, I really want to give them everything every child should have but not many children do.

Kris is doing well, but is really stressed with work. Being part owner of a business, the economy crashing is doing a number on not only the country as a whole, but on the business as well. He works so hard and does so much I worry about him. I'm such the kind of person that says 'sit back - it'll all work out' but he's more of a worrier and can't rest until the business problems are resolved - and obviously that takes a while! I feel for him how stressed he always is - I wish there was some way I could help. The business is doing well, don't get me wrong, but it is taking a hit and that is hard on him.

Savanna is amazing as ever!! I can't believe she's almost 8 months old. Anyone who sees her comments on how happy she is. And she really is a happy baby. She just recently started 'separation anxiety'. It's actually kind of cute since it's not to the extreme yet. Like she'll be crying and I'll come into her range of vision and she'll get all happy, but if I walk away again she FREAKS! Of course then I go save her. I just hate to hear her cry - she doesn't know what's going on and all she wants is her mommy. :) I like being her mommy I've got to tell you. I really feel like she is something special - I know - every mother says that, but I do. I look at her big smile and she looks at me with those big blue eyes and I swear its like she can see to your soul! And her smile just lights up the room! It's amazing the power a 7 month old can have! I just cannot WAIT to see what she will be like as she grows.

Joey is a great little boy. And I tell you what - he is 100% boy! He loves to play and play and play. He loves his family so much - his aunt Kara and uncle Garrett (kris' little brother and sister). He plays so well with everyone. He just recently started saying prayers all by himself. It took him a while to catch on, but he's really doing well now! It's so cute how he'll say things like 'thank you for mommy and daddy and my cars and my toys' or 'bless the food that I ate today' (at his prayers at night!) And he has such intense emotions it amazes me sometimes. I guess most little kids do, they don't understand how to control them well, not that they should have to! His little feelings get hurt so easily and he's so perceptive of other people's feelings. I'm interested in how he'll do when he starts school. He's not good at writing at all! Not coloring or anything to do with any kind of utensil being in his hand. But he does have quite a bit of social skills. Hopefully it'll all balance out when he's going to school with kids his age. I worry about the writing thing... aren't kids supposed to be able to draw 'stick people' by now? or a straight line? Or at least hold a pencil right? He gets plenty of opportunities, but I don't dwell on it because I know I'll get frustrated and I know that's not fair to him. So just like I did with the potty training, I'll wait till he's ready to learn instead of insisting on teaching him. I do love the little guy sooooo much. He tries so hard to do what is right.

As for me, I'm doing pretty well! I don't get near enough time to myself, but at this stage, with 2 small kids at home, who does?? I am grateful that I have Olivia (my horse). I don't get to ride or spend much time with her alot - most the time it is just go and feed her and clean her stall, but that is good enough. I think I'm glad I got an older horse because if I had gotten a younger horse that needed alot of work, I wouldn't have the time for it. But Oliva is almost 25 now, so the fact I can only ride once a month is probably a good thing - I don't want to over ride her and end up hurting her. Someday when my kids are older I will get my 'dream horse' - a project horse I can work with and train myself and show and all that stuff. But who has the time to spend 2 to 3 hours with a horse daily when you have 2 small kids?? Someday though.... :-) I do so love horses - there is something about the dance of working with them - it amazes me how a person can control a 1500 lb animal. It's such an amazing partnership - I just can't explain it.

Hmmm - I think I'm done rambling now... I'm tired and I should be in bed - lord knows little Savanna will wake up to eat in only an hour or so. Yes, she still wakes up about twice a night to nurse, but honestly I don't care. I know at 7 months she should be sleeping through the night, but I actually kind of cherish those night time feedings - it only takes her about 5 minutes to eat and go back to sleep and she's SO sweet and cuddly at that point. I know I won't get to do that for long. As much as I love my sleep, I love spending time with that baby better - when she's all sleepy and cuddly anyway! Thankfully she doesn't cry at night much...

Ok - now I'm really done - I'm sure this won't be my only rambling post... sometimes I just like to chat. :) Yay for journalling!

Random pictures

I haven't posted pictures in a while so I figured I'd post some recent ones we've taken... enjoy!

What do I do with this hair??? Ha ha - it's cute for now, but I hope it doesn't stand up for long - looks like she stuck her finger in a light socket!! But it's still too short and fine for me to do anything with it - so she's always a fuzzy baby!

Side view of the mohawk... ha ha

Such a pretty baby!!

This one was taken shortly after Joey got up from his nap, started coming down stairs, and decided he wasn't quite done with his nap yet - ha ha!! Of course I didn't let him go back to sleep there, but I had to get a picture before I moved him!

This was taken a couple weeks ago when I was trying to get a picture of her sitting up all by herself, but she fell backwards before I snapped the picture - she look so pathetic, doesn't she? Don't worry - I picked her up and rescued her right after I snapped the picture.

This is my dad on his 57th birthday with all his grandkids. (from leftish to rightish: Kaylee (Randy's), Joey (Mine), Meghan and Jacob (Amanda's), Kristen (Randy's), Savanna (mine), Kenny and Ellen (Amanda's). Aren't they all just the cutest kids you've ever seen??? May not be the best picture in the world, but YOU try to get 8 kids, all under the age of 8 to cooperate!!

I can never resist getting a picture of sleepy daddy with his sleepy baby

I love baby feet.....

And baby hands - I know I'm not a great photographer, but I still like those baby feet and hands! Even if the pictres do turn out a little fuzzy

Coco Key Water Resort

For Christmas, our friends, Laurie and Brian, took our family to Coco key water resort (and indoor water park). We went on Valentine's day and it was sooooo much fun! Yes - it was a month ago, and I'm just now posting the pictures, but better late than never, right?? :-) Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure....

Joey is ready to play!!

Kris and Joey getting read to go down a fun slide

And down they go!!! Joey LOVED the smaller water slides like this, but he would always cover his face - I don't think he liked his face getting splashed!

More Joey - he played and played and played!

This slide was his favorite - it went into the 'kiddie pool' part. He was nervous about the slides at first, but he got over it pretty quickly and would even do this one all by himself.

Joey 'flapping' in the water - he would walk like a duck and flap in the water constantly. Odd child...

Kris enjoyed it, but this is what he did most of the time... he he

And this is what Savanna did most of the time - thankfully!!! She seriously slept for like 2 hours!! And the place was so loud, I don't know how she did it, but I was sure happy she did!

This is Laurie with sleepy Maggie - I think she was soooooo pleased I was taking her picture, can't you tell??

This is Joey and Ethan, his best friend. Ethan and Maggie are Laurie and Brian's kids - I babysit them during the week and it is great! Joey and Ethan are such good buddies and I'm sure Savanna and Maggie will be too!!

Laurie, thank you so much for taking us to Coco Key for that day of fun. It was priceless! Joey LOVED it - he still talks about it all the time! You guys are AWESOME! Love you!!

Super yummy, super easy, somewhat healthy sneaky desserts

These are 2 recipes that I LOVE and have hidden food you would never guess and are actually extremely easy. Joey enjoys both of these, as well, which is awesome because he is difficult to get to eat anything remotely healthy....

Black Bean Brownies

1 normal size can of Black Beans
1 normal size box of brownie mix

1) open can of black beans into colander - drain and rinse beans
2) return beans to can, fill with water until just barely over beans
3) put beans and water in food processor and puree
4) mix bean puree and brownie mix together
5) bake according to package directions

Using the beans in place of the oil and eggs saves boocoo calories. This makes 20 brownies at 2 WW points a piece. They are a little more dense than 'regular' brownies, but are still really yummy and you can't taste the beans at all! And very high fiber and protein, and low fat!

Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins

1 normal size (15 oz?) can of Pumpkin
1 normal size box of devils food cake mix

1) mix entire can of Pumpkin with entire box of cake mix
2) fill cupcake tin and bake according to package directions

Again, using the pumpkin instead of oil and so on saves lots of calories, and again makes these high in fiber and low in fat. This also makes dense muffins but are really yummy. The batter is very thick. Makes 12 large muffins at 4 WW points a piece. A yummy addition that of course adds a few calories, but not too bad is to throw in a couple handfuls of semi-sweet chocolate chips in the mix.

YUMMY! Happy eating! :-) Let me know if you try these and how they turn out for you!

Joey Chatter

Joey Chatter - idea stolen from Autumn's Blog and her cute daughter, Ellie. :-)

Joey and I were going to Maya's baby shower a few months ago and I had to stop and get him dinner before hand. We stopped at McDonald's because I knew he'd eat quickly there without much of a fuss. Well, of course he decided he would eat slowly again - which normally wouldn't matter, but we were already late for the party - and I started to lose my patience with him. I would have left, but he fully WANTED to eat - he was just doing so at the speed of turtle. So this is how it went...

S (me): Joey - you need to hurry we are late for the party
J: (picking at food - taking tiny bites - climbing on booth)
S: Joey - can you hurry? We are late.
J: (continues to take forever...)
S: Joey - EAT - WE HAVE GOT TO GO!
J: (in all seriousness looks at me, sits up real tall and says loudly) AYE, AYE MOMMY!

I just lost it... it was so funny! See? He does learn good manners from spongebob after all... ha ha ha

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Another time we were driving somewhere and the GPS was telling me where we were going. I was concentrating on what the GPS was saying, but every instruction it would give, Joey would ask what they said (as if he couldn't hear it.) I was on my way to getting lost so I was concentrating and began ignoring Joey - which made him all the more determined to get my attention.

J: "Mommy, what'd she say? What what'd she say? MOMMY What'd she say? MOMMY" (this went on about 1000 times and I began wondering how long he would keep it up without me acknowledging him....) Then, in a flat, monotone voice - much the way I talk to him when he's not listening to me he said "MOMMY - LISTEN TO ME! WHAT........ DID.......... SHE......... SAY!!??" Whereas he had no care about what the GPS was actually telling us - he just wanted my attention. Silly boy

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The other day this one came out of no where....

J: Mommy - who built me?
S: (after a long hesitation....) Um - God and Mommy and Daddy all worked together to build you
J: Oh. How did you build me?
S: (again after a long hesitation) Just like we built Savanna... God and Mommy and Daddy worked together and made you real small and put you in my belly and you grew big and came out just like your sister - then you kept growing bigger and bigger!
J: Oh. So God and you and Daddy put on my fingers?
S: Yes.
J: and my arms?
S: Yes
J: and my legs?
S: Yes
J: and my toes?
S: Yes.
J: Oh - OK

I am very happy he was content with that answer - I'm not ready to give a 3 year old the 'birds and the bees' talk! He's brought it up a few more times, but more in a matter of fact way "God and Mommy and Daddy built me!"

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After waking up one morning still in the morning stupor telling me about his dream

J: And I ate it all gone.
S: Ate what all gone?
J: The M&M - but I didn't go in it.
S: What?
J: I ate it all gone but I didn't go in it.
S: Didn't go in what?
J: The M&M
S: Was it a big M&M?
J: Yes - it was this big (holding hands out about 2 feet)
S: Oh -and what color was it?
J: Red and Blue and it was this big (holding hands out again)
S: And you could go inside it?
J: Yes - but I ate it all gone and didn't go in it.

He's such a sugar monster - cracks me up he was dreaming about eating a giant M&M.

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I'm sure there will be much more of these to come.... kids say the darndest things!