Easter 2013

Happy Easter!

We had a great Easter this year and did lots of fun things.  We started out with an Easter egg hunt in our backyard.  March 29, 2013

Ellie loved being able to find all of the eggs 

and opening them up for a surprise.  We mostly did the hunt in our yard so she would know what to do at the city hunt.

Gavin enjoyed snuggling with Grandma Brown

 

 Saturday morning we went to the Orem city Easter Egg hunt by the rec center.  It was super crowded, but they had so many eggs and candy that it didn't disappoint.  Ellie in her cute little bunny ears they passed out. Check out all the eggs in the background!  March 30, 2013

Gavin just enjoyed eating his bunny ears:)

 Ellie with her basket

  She did awesome and had a blast.  We even ran into our friends the Wilson's.

Then we headed home to make it to our ward Easter Egg hunt and breakfast.  Patrick's parents and Uncle Derrick came down to spend the day with us also.  The ward hunt was great.  They had each family bring 12 eggs per kid that would be coming in there family.  Then each kid go to find 12 eggs.  It was great!  Plus, breakfast was really yummy too.

Gavin eating his egg!

Later on we barbecued hamburgers and had a yummy lunch in the beautiful weather.

I made these dinosaur eggs from Our Best Bites that turned out awesome!  

We turned ours into deviled eggs.  YUM!

We taught Ellie how to play duck, duck, goose.

I love her run.  She is so stinking cute!

Everyone got really into it!

Then we colored Easter eggs.  I have always loved coloring eggs, ever since I can remember, and I still like to.  It is fun to watch Ellie get excited as she colors the eggs and sticks stickers on them.  She was so careful not to drop the eggs.

 Excited to see what they look like.

 Of course he just wanted to eat the egg...

 Silly faced girl with all the eggs!

Sunday morning Ellie and Gavin(with Ellie's help) found there baskets that the Easter bunny hid.  March 31, 2013

 

 We headed up to Layton to spend the rest of the day with Patrick's family.

We had a great few days and love holidays!

Gavin-7 Months

Gavin is 7 months old and time is flying.  He is so cute and we love having him in our family.  Here are a few things he is up to this month.

•  We tried out the umbrella stroller and he did great.  March 2, 2013

You also tried out the grocery cart sitting up instead of in your car seat.  You did good, but were a little wobbly.  It is so much nicer to ride like that though than have to worry about hauling the car seat in.  March 6, 2013

• He's been eating more real food.  Dr. Arnold said he's good to go with yogurt, cheerios, puffs, melts etc.  Just try and see how he does with them.  We have these cool mesh food things that you can put food in and that way babies won't choke on the food.  We tried bananas and Gavin LOVED it.  He also likes strawberries and peas.  March 3, 2013

• Gavin has started crawling!  He is such a mover.  Dr. Arnold said he was very impressed with his physical development and being able to sit up so well and grab things.  He did this move for a few days where he would push up.  March 9, 2013

Then a couple days later he got his knees under him and tries really hard to move.  March 11, 2013

• Gavin is a bit whinier than Ellie was.  He cries a lot more.  I asked Dr. Arnold and he said boys are often whinier babies but grow out of it.  I hope that's the case
• He doesn't eat for very long.  I worried a lot because he would be done after a few minutes and I didn't know if he was getting enough, but he didn't want to eat more often and is growing well, so no need to worry.  We are going to stop night feedings too and let him cry it out to sleep a bit.  He's been waking up more and more and I haven't wanted to let him cry it out yet, but I think it is time and he will do well with it.(Update: we let him cry it out and he cried a ton the first time, but has gotten better each time and is sleeping through the night.  Love it.)
• Lots of firsts this month.  Gavin went from his tummy to sitting up by himself on March 14, 2013
• Gavin started crawling tonight.  He's been really close, but I wanted him to wait until we were home so Patrick could see him.  He took off.  March 25, 2013  The next day he was moving a lot faster.  Grandpa Brown put all the pillows to block him in the family room and he found a little hole under the recliner foot area and crawled right through.  Smart boy.
• He likes to sleep on his tummy with his little bum in the air.  March 26, 2013

Going to see Cousins!

We were able to go to see my sister Denise for Kelsey's baptism.  I love that we have been able to see them so often.  This was the first time they got to meet Gavin and that was lots of fun.  Plus, Ellie LOVES her cousins and being able to spend time with them is great!

We had to leave pretty early for our plane, so the kids were still in jammies.  Ellie was excited to get on a plane.  March 20, 2013

Gavin was a bit harder to get a picture of...

He was not unhappy, just didn't want to be held and be taking a picture.

I love Ellie's expressions

We went to a little Amish town to the store there and to eat at Yoders.  Ellie loved all of the horses and buggies.  March 21, 2013 

One with Grandma Brown

 We must have been worn out, cause Ellie and I took a nap on the drive home.  I rarely get pictures like this one because I usually take the pictures.  Love it!  Thanks mom!

 They have a trampoline and we weren't expecting it to be quite so cold.  Luckily Cody had  a little jacket we put on Ellie to keep her a bit warmer.

Gavin was a huge fan of his cousins too.  He loved Spencer and laughed and laughed with him.  

Kelsey is so good to play with Ellie.

Gavin snuggling with Kelsey.  March 22, 2013

Ellie and Kelsey playing dress up.

Ellie, Cody, and Kelsey taking a break with some games.  March 24, 2013

We left bright and early the next morning and hit a really bad blizzard.  I was so glad we left early and made it on time.  It was also so nice that my mom and I were on the same flights the whole time so she could help out with the kids.  We had a great time visiting and can't wait to see them again!

St. Patrick's Day 2013

We love St. Patrick's Day around here and made sure to celebrate with our yummy green breakfast.  Ellie thought it was very fun.  Green eggs, pancakes, milk and kiwi!

Early in the month we made clover bananas.  Ellie has been having a hard time wanting to eat bananas lately, she used to love them, this solved the problem and she gobbled them up.  March 13, 2013

What We've Been Up To March 2013

We've had a fun and busy month.  Here are some things that we have been doing.

Walks in the beautiful Spring weather. March 2, 2013

We had a little play group for St Patrick's Day.  We made clovers with contact paper and green tissue paper.  March 7, 2013: Ellie and Jade

And fruit loop rainbows with cotton ball clouds.  It was so fun to have some little friends over and play.  Ellie, Jade, Kiera and Audrey

I saw a really cool painting activity.  Ellie really enjoyed it and was able to do it all herself, which she always likes.  Marble Painting.  March 9, 2013

We found a great park to feed the ducks.  We used to go to first dam in Logan and feed the ducks all the time and Ellie loved it.  Nielson's Grove Park in Orem has an awesome pond and also a park that the kids could play at.  March 15, 2013

Ellie, Audrey and Bailey

I am so glad that we've made some friends in our ward.  Ellie is very social and it has made life much better for her to be able to play with kids her age.  March has been great so far.

Gavin-6 Months

Half a year already!  We had Gavin's 6 month appointment on March 11, 2013 and he is healthy and happy!  We decided to switch doctors.  We are still at Alpine Pediatrics, but have changed to Dr. Arnold.  We like Dr. Alba, but saw Dr Arnold at a sick checkup and really liked him.  I am glad we switched and just think he is a better fit for our family.  Here are Gavin's statistics.
Weighs in at 18lb 10oz; 62nd  percentile
Length of 27 1/2 Inches; 83rd percentile
Head Circumference of 45cm; 78th percentile
He evened out in weight and when a little down in height.  It will be interesting to see if he is tall or not as he gets older.  Here are a few things that Gavin is up to this month.

• Gavin holds his head up great now.  He is becoming more and more okay with being on his tummy, which is good since he would scream the whole time before.  He still doesn't love it, but is getting better.  I think it helps that he can look around easier now.  February 4, 2013
  
  
   
• He adores Ellie and is always smiley when she is around.  He gets so excited with her and she is really great with him too.  After his nap if she is awake and hears him, she will come running to me and ask if she can get into his crib and play.  I LOVE this.  I was worried that she would be in there all of the time and she is very good to ask me before she gets in.  I hope they stay good friends.  February 6, 2013

• Gavin is sitting really well by himself and falls occasionally.  He really likes being up and looking at everything.  He can roll over and over and over to get to things he wants, and has even started scooching forward a few inches to get to something.  He will then get board and whine for a toy. February 9, 2013
  

This was funny because he rolled right over and underneath the chair.  February 16, 2013

• He will often sleep with one eye open, which is kind of creepy, but also pretty funny.  February 26, 2013

• Gavin has found his voice like crazy and loves to squeal.  He is getting louder and louder and I really like to listen to him as he squeals in the car.
• Gavin LOVES hair, especially to pull it.  He will pull my hair and Ellie's hair.  February 10, 2013

• Patrick's parents have a walker and he loves to go around in that.  It is nice that they have the smooth kitchen floor for him to get going on too.  February 24, 2013 

• This month he has tried Peas and baby cereal(2/9/2013), he scarfed it down and did great with it.  He tried sweet potatoes and was not near as excited, but still at them(2/10/2013), he tried and liked squash too(2/13/2013) He is quite the messy eater, because he can't seem to get it fast enough.  This is in Layton and I think it was a little worse since the bib was a bit big for him and he didn't like it.  February 25, 2013

• Gavin loves playing with Patrick when he gets home.  He does this thing where he will push up on Patrick's hands and go all the way up his chest.  He is such a strong little guy.

We sure love this little guy and the joy that he has brought to our family.  It has been an adjustment, but we are so glad he is here!