A family update

I don't know if I've ever done a family update, so here we go.

Isaac
Isaac got his first real haircut this week. It was at a children's salon in Denver and it was so cute. He got to sit in a firetruck and he did so well with sitting still and not freaking out.
Look at all that hair--

And the finished look

Isaac started preschool at the beginning of January and he absolutely loves it. And I love that he loves it. We carpool with two other families and when I go to pick him up he always stops what he is doing and yells "Mom!!! I missed you!" And gives me a big hug--I LOVE it. He is a very loving boy -- and he has been a GREAT big brother. He has always been great with Beau and has recently told me that now he wants a sister. He is talking a lot more, playing a lot more and just being a lot more aware of things. Since preschool he has also learned his ABCs -- he knows his numbers really well and always wants to dial people's phone numbers and push buttons on the microwave. Every morning Isaac makes sure that Daddy "hugs and kisses" mommy and then mommy and Isaac have to go to the window and wave and blow kisses to daddy as he drives away. Isaac also is a "sunbeam" at church. I walk him to primary every Sunday and he just loves it. He can't wait to go to class every time. Last week he was asked to say the opening prayer and I thought he'd clam up and not want to do it, but he was totally comfortable and happy to do it. He is learning his primary songs well and we are working on bible stories as well! He also is doing a weekly soccer class...that he goes to when I remember about it! But he LOVES it! He is a happy and loving boy and we sure love him!

Beau

Beau is now 11+ weeks old! Yea! He is becoming more alert and aware and smiles are easy to get--which is SO fun! He is a good and happy baby. His sleeping is soo inconsistent, so we are going to work on that. Night before last I put him to bed at 8:30 and he didn't wake up until 5 a.m. -- he's been holding out on me! :) So we are going to slowly work on sleeping through the night. He weighs 13 pounds right now, which makes me happy on many levels -- 1) because my milk is doing what it's supposed to do 2) I guess I have enough milk 3) the more he weighs, the more he is able to sleep through the night. :) I've often felt like I have had my first baby twice. Isaac was a c-section and I didn't nurse, Beau was a VBAC and I am nursing. So they are two very different experiences -- and while this nursing stuff is uncharted territory for me, I am happy to still be doing it. Beau is a pretty content little baby -- except for his moments of gasiness! I swear he is the gassiest baby I know. He is also the king of blow-outs...another thing Isaac never did. But he loves when Isaac comes over to him-- the other day I was trying to get him to smile at me and he was just kind of looking at me, then Isaac came over and he smiled right away for him. I can't wait to see these two interact more.

Taylor

Taylor had a job field switch due to the economy. He is currently working at Wells Fargo as a Personal Banker and he is doing so well!! He is at one of the busiest branches in town, which is a huge blessing. Banking has always been an interest for Taylor, so it is great to see him in it and enjoying it. Bankers have goals that they have to hit daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly. And for two weeks in a row, Taylor was ranked the #3 banker in the state of Colorado! I am so excited and impressed by Taylor -- he has never been in banking before now and he is already in the top 3. He works hard and he deserves it. He has also really gotten into biking. He got a new bike for Christmas and has gotten all the garb that goes with it...clips, biking shorts, biking jersey...etc... there are three other guys about his age in our ward that like biking as well, so they like to go together. The Air Force Academy is right by our house and I guess there is a loop they like to do that is about a 13 mile ride. He is the Priest Quorum advisor (boys ages 16-18) at church and has been for 2+ years. He LOVES it. He literally asked our Bishop to never release him. He enjoys working closely with the YM president and the boys.

Me

I dream of the day that I will get a full night of rest again! :) Being a mommy is what keeps me busy and I love it. I have always dreamed of being a mom and it's the best. It's not always easy and sometimes I lose my patience, but I love it. I feel a great responsibility to teach my boys and to progress in areas individually, so I've recently made goals for myself, i.e. daily scripture STUDY, daily piano playing, increase ability and knowledge in cooking, etc. And then I have daily goals --like on Monday's I try to come up with age-appropriate FHE's (Family Home Evening) lessons for Isaac. One week we got a rope out and tied it up like an "iron rod" and we taught Isaac the importance of making good choices to stay on the iron rod. I try to spend one morning reading the Ensign, and I also try to read out of The Friend frequently for Isaac... So between those goals, the duties of housework, the demands of a nursing baby, and the business of two kids, I stay busy. I still help my dad out with work and he is great to give me things that I can do from home or with my boys. I am a Sunday School teacher at church for the 14-15 year olds. I have done it for 2 years, this is my 3rd year. I really enjoy it and it is especially fun now as I see siblings of those I taught the first year! The youth in our ward are so great! I was teaching dance last year, but I am not anymore. And it's probably for the best as nursing Beau in the middle of a class is not ideal. However, I've had several opportunities to teach dance at church. Just this last week I was asked to teach a jazz dance to the activity day girls. I've also started....gulp...running. My sister told me of an app on my iTouch called "Get Running" and it's supposed to get me running a 5k at the end of the program. So far I am in week 2 and I am enjoying it so far... hopefully it will at least get me back into shape. (which, side note, what is the point of working out while your nursing??? If your body is going to hold on to x amount of pounds for nursing, isn't working out kind of a wash???)

So that's us at this time in our life. We are extremely grateful for our sweet little boys! They keep us busy and add so much to our life!