Minnie Brynnie

That's what Justin calls her lately. It fits. We are approaching a big day for Brynn in the next couple of weeks-her 1st birthday. Wow!! It has been so fun lately to watch her cute little personality emerge more and more. We just love her to pieces.

-Jan 6: Brynn goes to the doc for her 10-month check-up. She only weighs 13 lbs 11 oz! What?! I was so confident that she had gained more than that. She eats a lot of food. She has dropped off her curve and is only in the .01%. The doctor is not worried, however, because she eats well, sleeps well, her weight is proportionate with her height (about 25 in), and she is meeting all of her milestones. So we just see if she can catch up...most likely she'll just be really small her whole life.

-Jan. 9: Brynn takes her first steps.

Within just a week she is primarily walking. Now? I don't remember the last time I saw her crawl anywhere. Pretty funny to see a 14 lb baby walking around. We get a lot of comments and looks at church and elsewhere.

-Jan. 22: Brynn starts climbing the stairs. Argh!

-Other things: She is great at giving kisses, can wave goodbye, and clap her hands. Her hair is long enough now to do a ponytail or pigtails on top. She likes to walk around with any article of clothing and put it over her head. She gets so excited when her daddy comes home. She babbles a lot but mostly she is just a quiet little girl. She has 4 teeth, two on top and two on bottom. She is still nursing (no, she has not bitten me). She will eat pretty much anything I give her and she loves most to feed herself. She takes two naps each day. I indulge her (and myself!) by rocking her to sleep but if she wakes up while laying her in her crib, then she'll put herself back to sleep. Sometimes she sleeps all night and sometimes wakes up once to eat. This should stop when I wean her in a couple of weeks. She is a mommy's girl. She has been climbing on everything in the last few days. She takes her socks off as soon as she gets in her car seat.

She is so much fun and oh so cute...

January

I always check on my kids before I go to bed. They just look so sweet and innocent while sleeping. This was at my mom and dad's-Justin had a couple day of trainings in Ogden so we tagged along. They sleep in the same bed pretty well.

Snow has been completely lacking this winter. The one day we did have snow, Stocky loved making footprints.

I signed Molly up for the preschool they have at the library. It's once a week for 45 minutes so it's not really that big of a deal. But don't tell her that. She thinks it's great and is happy to be going to school! She made me put her hair in curlers for her first day. :)

While she's in "class", me, Stocky, and Brynn wander the library for movies and books. I got this book a few weeks ago because I remember loving it as a kid. It made me happy to see my kids enjoy it so much. Even Stocky found a poem he loved and can quote the last line: "Who's standing right behind you!" (From The Worst)

Who can resist piling all the blankets and pillows on the couch? with Daddy underneath? and then sit on them/him?

After you do that, you have to throw them all on the floor and jump on them for an hour.

Molly's much-anticipated dance recital. This girl loves being on the stage. She had such a good time and she knew all the steps! Seriously, I don't think she missed a beat. We were so proud of her.

Just a few days later she had some major dental work. Despite our brushing twice a day and rarely missing, we were told she needed two or three root canals and a handful of fillings. Justin took her, she was sedated (and did super-duper well!), got all the work done, then got to come home and veg-out on the couch. And it wasn't as bad as we initially thought-only one root canal/crown and some fillings.

My mom came down to take Molly on a date. She took her to pick out a new outfit for her Carly Build-A-Bear and to see the 3D Beauty and the Beast. Abby came along as well.

While they were in the movie Ali and I killed some time at the Dinosaur Park with the boys and Brynn. Despite Stocky's shyness around a camera he kept asking me to take his picture. He didn't actually smile but it's a step in the right direction. :)

finishing up December

*Little Evelyn was born on December 20th. Eric and Heidi took their three kids to Ohio for Christmas so they could bring this cutie home. We are so happy for them!

*Erin brought her kids down for a visit a couple days after Christmas. Molly was so excited...we never have visitors, especially cousins! It was fun for them just to relax and play with each other. I had fun just talking to Erin and letting the kids entertain themselves. They are all good pals and I'm glad we live close enough that my kids love their cousins.

*Molly has never been one who has to have a lot of dolls/stuffed animals in her bed with her. Lately, though, that has changed: Cinderella, Crush (stuffed turtle from Sea World), both of her Wuggle pets, Molly doll (my American Girl doll I gave her)**, pillow pet (not to lay on but to snuggle with), and her princess blankie all have to go to bed with her. And she has to have Lady (her ladybug that sends stars all over the walls and ceiling) close by. It takes her at least 5 minutes just to get them all set up just they way she wants it.

**As a side note: if you were wondering if I named by daughter after my doll, the answer is no. I loved my Molly doll growing up but when pregnant with Molly the name never even crossed my mind as a possibility. Justin came up with it, actually. When I told my dad that we had decided on Molly as the name for our baby he laughed and said, "Molly Moyes?" Hee hee, silly Dad.

*By the time New Year's Eve rolled around we were just way too exhausted to go anywhere or do much. We had been gone the last 3 weekends and on top of that Stockton was recovering from croup and an ear infection. So we stayed home and had a family game night. Wii and card games.

Stockton went to bed at his normal time, Molly made it until 10, Justin and I barely made it until midnight and then we crashed. We had to get up for 9:00 church the next morning so we didn't party too hard. :)

Christmas

Another Christmas come and gone. Another year come and gone. My kids are getting too big and I wish I could bottle them and their cute little personalities up exactly how they are right now. Then five, ten, fifty years from now I can go back and remember what life was like right now. Since that's impossible, I try to keep track of small details on this little blog of mine. Little details like Christmas...

It was a Moyes Christmas Eve this year. We started earlier since it was Saturday but I still felt like we didn't get to do it all. We had to leave before everyone else since we had a 90 minute drive home. But what we were there for was great! Santa came. Molly sat on his lap and shyly asked for Stompeez slippers. Stockton was way better than when we saw him at the library. He wouldn't sit on his lap but at least he got somewhat close. Brynn only wants me to hold her whenever we are somewhere and she was no different that night.

A group shot. Why is Stockton always being the grump in these cousin pictures?

Santa gave them each an early present: Molly-bead set, Stockton-safari Jeep, Brynn-pink Little People van

We did the nativity. Molly was an angel this year, Stockton wouldn't participate, and Brynn was baby Jesus.

We exchanged cousin presents. Molly-Connect 4, Stockton-train, Brynn-book

Poor Stockton was sick the whole weekend so we took off after this. Molly tried hard to stay awake the whole ride home but she crashed somewhere around Orem. She woke up when we got home so she could set out cookies and milk for Santa and listen to dad read The Night Before Christmas. She fell back asleep very quickly.

Molly was the first one up on Christmas morning. We waited for about 20 minutes for Stockton and Brynn to get up but the suspense was killing her so we let her go down. Our top-of-the-stairs picture this year:

All month long Molly had been asking for one thing: Stompeez slippers. She saw them on an infomercial...they are slippers and when you stomp your foot, an animal face and ears pop up. I didn't want to pay $30 for a pair of slippers but it was the one and only thing she asked for-and she really never asks for much, if anything. So we ordered them on Dec 3rd or something. Apparently, there was a back-order and we are still waiting for them. So I felt a little bad that she didn't have the one thing waiting for her under the tree that she asked for. But she was plenty spoiled...she got a new bike! She had definitely grown out of her last one (which was just a hand-me-down anyway). Santa also gave her some fuzzy purple slippers. :) In her stocking: a movie, a Leapster game, chapstick, treats, just the typical stocking stuffers.

Brynn woke up next. She got this play cube. Her stocking was filled with a movie, leggings, and lots of baby snacks.

Finally Stocky woke up. He got a Mack truck with some cars that go inside it (ultimately it will fit 16 Cars 2 cars, right now he has 5). Also the car rug and his stocking: movie, underwear (which he hates), tractor, motorcycle, and treats.

We always prepare and eat a nice breakfast before we open presents from each other. It seems to stretch the morning out so it's not all over at once. We tried to scale back the present-giving this year. I don't know if we succeeded or not...

Molly got a bathrobe (and one that matches her doll) from us and a dress up from her siblings.

Stockton got a tool set from us (Justin made the tool caddy) and a pillow pet from his sisters.

Brynn got some decorations for her room from us and a ball popper from her siblings.

Molly got one extra "special" present: a Book of Mormon with her name inscribed on the front. She's been asking for her own scriptures for a while.

I really enjoyed having Christmas on Sunday. And not just because the kids got to wear their new clothes. It just felt good to be at church.

We went to Justin's parents for dinner and relaxing. More presents were given. Each of our kids got their own duffle bags with their names on them. We've already been using them!

Molly got a ladybug nightlight-it's pretty cool, it projects tons of stars all over the walls and ceiling in a few different colors. She also got a pretty necklace to wear to church. Stocky got some more tools...funny though that there were very few duplicates between the set we gave him and the set Gene and April gave him. Brynn got some books and a baby gate. Yay!!

We try to get a family picture each year in front of the Christmas tree, whichever house we happen to be at. But let's be serious: it is so hard to get anything decent these days! Grrr.

Before we left for home we drove to a house in Sandy that's yard is covered in blowup Christmas decorations. So many that we had to get out of the car and walk around their yard to see them all.

Christmas continued the next day for us. My parents came to visit to see what the kids got and to shower them with even more presents. Grandparents are good at that, you know. Brynn got this activity cube with the cutest blocks to go with it.

Molly got a Wuggle Pet maker.

Stockton got some more Thomas train stuff to go with the starter set they got him last year.

Oh and they all got some nice warm blankets that we use every single day. In fact I can't keep them kept away because the kids constantly want to sleep with them or snuggle in them during the day. Anyway, they were all happily playing when Grandpa pulled out one more surprise...

Yeah, they are completely spoiled.

It was a great Christmas. I don't think Molly even remembers asking for Stompeez...maybe we'll cancel our order. Then again, maybe we won't and she'll get a random surprise someday...whenever they arrive...

Christmas Advent 2011**

Day 1: Decorate the tree**

My parents cut down our tree in Bear Lake and then drove it down to us. They are pretty awesome. I strung it with 5 strands of lights and then Molly decorated it. It's fun to get out all the ornaments and reminisce about each one of them.

Day 2: Gingerbread house**Day 3: Festival of Lights**Stockton's only mad because we made him get his picture taken. Brynn was asleep.

Day 4: Watch the Christmas Devotional**

Day 5: Christmas Story time at the librarySanta came at the end. Molly sat on his lap but neither Stockton or Brynn were fans.

Day 6: Letters to Santa**Day 7: Christmas tree craftDay 8: Christmas shopping for cousin gifts

Day 9: Christmas craftDay 10: The Nutcracker**(Molly, Erin, Abby, and Grandma Moyes)

Day 11: Christmas party with the Moyes extended family (my dad's siblings and their kids and grandkids)(Janson Hollingsworth, Gavin, Molly, Grace, Tessa)

Day 12: Nativity finger puppets and store-bought sugar cookies for FHE

Day 13: Ward Christmas party

Day 14: Luminaries

Day 15: Make neighbor gifts**

Day 16: Goodrich traditional Christmas Eve party**

Can't believe that I took no pictures! At least I have the nativity on video.

Day 17: Christmas book**Molly LOVES Strega Nona and always asks if we can get it from the library. One of these days I'm just going to buy it. Justin will read this book always on Day 17. We have books for days 18-24 as well. Next year we'll open a book for Day 16, the next year will be Day 15, and so on...I love this tradition!

Day 18: Family movie night and sleep under the Christmas tree**

Our movie this year was The Muppets Christmas Carol. Justin carried our mattress downstairs so we could be really comfy. He slept on the couch. I slept on the mattress with Molly and Stockton. Brynn slept in her crib. Everyone slept really well!

Day 19: Molly's dance recital(Molly and Elise Jones)

Day 20: Christmas crafts

Day 21: Christmas cards for cousins.I did the one on the left, the tree. I thought Molly would do all of them the same but she wanted them all to be different. So she got creative. So we have a tree (mine), mountains (with Santa flying over), Mary and Jesus, and a stack of presents.
Dear Cam and Riley: One of these is for you but since we forgot to give it to you on Christmas, we threw it away. Merry Christmas, anyway!

Day 22: Friend party-Christmas movie and popcorn**(Matthew Varkevisser, Rebecca Greer, Elise Jones, Molly, Afton Griffith)

Day 23: Cookies for Santa**Day 24: Watch Christmas movies all day and big Christmas Eve party at night**

**Over the years, these are what have become traditions for our family. Some of them may stick, some we might have to toss out as our family grows and evolves but for now, these traditions work for us. And they make me happy.

vitamins, attics, and old clothes

So having 3 kids at home all day, every day there are bound to be a few adventures here and there. Honestly, I wish I could have my eyes on each of them at every single moment so I make sure that nothing bad happens, but that is just too impossible. So I do my best and quite often I fall short. Like when I was feeding Brynn a few weeks ago (Molly was at dance so she couldn't help) and Stockton snuck upstairs. Calling him back was futile since he doesn't listen to me anyway. When Brynn was done I went up to check on him. I found him with an empty jar of Flintstones gummy vitamins. He had opened it somehow and finished them off...I don't know how many he ate but I would guess close to 50. Poison control said he would be fine. And other than an upset tummy (he threw up once) he was fine. Thankfully.

Another adventure: one night after we had put the kids to bed, Justin got in the attic for something. I needed something as well and since I wasn't sure exactly which bin it was in I climbed up to look for it. As soon as I was in (Justin still being there) the door shut behind me. "Please say that we can open that door from in here," I said to Justin. "Nope." Uh-oh. I started panicking, especially when we heard Stockton get up and start wandering around the house. Who knows what that kid could be getting in to. The attic was cold, too. We worked on getting it open for 5 minutes or so with no luck. Justin says, "Oh I have my phone and it gets reception." So we called a neighbor to help. They were on their way home from the store, they said, and would come over as soon as they got home. Since my fingers are skinnier I kept sticking them under the door. I could only lift to door an inch or so and we couldn't find anything to put under it to pry it open. After a few more minutes, though, we found a ribbon that did the trick. We were out!! Stockton hadn't done too much damage. Thankfully.

***

It's been fun pulling out Molly's baby clothes for Brynn. Some things seem like they were hardly worn and now we get to use them again with Brynn. Like this pink coat...

Molly

Dec 2006

2 1/2 months old

Brynn

Nov 2011

8 1/2 months old

Molly was never big, but Brynn is just enough smaller that she is fitting in all of Molly's old clothes, despite the fact that they were born in opposite seasons.