brownies

Emery can't stop smiling whenever Brooklyn is around. Tonight, we were lucky enough to cuddle on the couch with her while watching Kung Fu Panda. We were toying with the idea of making cookies, but the little one decided differently. We stuck to the movie instead. It reminded me of these pictures from February 2007-- when Miss Brooklyn was in 1st grade, had REALLY long hair, and loved to bake with her childless aunt. Times were simpler back then...

stranger danger

This weekend brought with it a new level of fear in my child. We went to dinner with Andy and every time he made eye contact with the baby, said baby looked fearful and began to pout and cry. I told Andy he might want to make himself better known around our neck of the woods.

It happened again with the carpet cleaning guy, who innocently wanted to take a picture of Emery's hair with his cell phone camera to send to his wife ("I can't believe his hair-- it really does that on its' own?").

He's also developing a heightened startle reflex. Always sensitive to sounds, it has begun to intensify. One of his new favorite past times is watching Max chase a toy around the house. The only problem seems to be the barking, which happens often when even just a little attention is paid to the puppy. And it seemed to occur this morning, as I snapped his picture--

really? really.

I wish I could bottle up some of this cuteness and keep it forever. While it's oh-so-exciting that he's growing and developing and learning so quickly, it's also too sad that he's changing quite so rapidly. I tried to dress him in my favorite outfit today but it wouldn't fit over his head. In all seriousness. His head was too big. I cried a little.

daddy's turn

This is what happened when I asked Nate to spend some quality time with his son on a Saturday afternoon.

sweet relief.

This picture is worth a thousand words.

The reflux has been rough on him these last couple of weeks and thus, he hasn't been sleeping too well independent of his mother. I haven't been this relieved in a long time. Tonight, I crept into the bedroom to check on him after 2 whole hours of uninterrupted sleep and was happy to find him snoring away.

today we did laundry.

on a lighter note--

After the funeral, we headed to St. George for a family dinner. With a little time to waste, I convinced Nate to stop at my favorite St. George hangout, TJMaxx (it's got so much 'n More!). Knowing my husband's patience wains thin when TJ's is involved, I hustled in leaving my boys and Uncle Kyle in the car.

With a ridiculously adorable pair of overalls in hand (that were on clearance, no less!), I found myself confronted by Kyle not 3 minutes after stepping foot in the store (I know, no surprise that after such a short time I had already found a steal. I'm that good.) I knew there was trouble-- Kyle could only mutter something about Nathan needing me immediately. I threw the overalls and some cash towards him and ran out to the parking lot. My only wish was that I would have had a camera in hand as I approached our car. Nathan with arms outstretched, holding a naked-bottomed screaming baby, looked frightened.

Apparently, the wipes couldn't be located and Emery had let loose... everywhere. After working my magic, he was clean as a whistle and dressed in his pjs, ready for dinner and the late night ride home.

In loving memory of Grandpa Jones, we met up with the extended family at Chuck-A-Rama and then headed north. A big thanks to Kyle for driving our sleeping family all the way home!
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all smiles upon arriving to dinner


Uncle Travis and family


Allison and Kyle

Nate and I were able to eat in peace, as our little angel fell asleep in his stroller (seemingly while praying)


starting--

--to go downhill.
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We made one last stop by our favorite Washington family, the Broughie/Klarmans, to drop off a very belated baby gift...

a girly Adidas sweatsuit for Jaycee, to match Emery's

and we made it home 24 hours after it all began.

boy in blue

Although Emery didn't fancy us observing the funeral

(he and I paced the halls while wonderful stories of his great grandpa were shared in the chapel),

he did relish the windy outdoors of Enterprise.

He was on his best behavior at the cemetery, as he so enjoyed the fresh air and a breeze at his back.

Slumber was on his mind, but no fussing occurred, much to his mother's relief.

Like always, toys were not needed to occupy his time-- his hands did the trick.

p.s. thanks again to beloved grandma jane for the sweater

the funeral procession

Uncle Kurt and Emery

with Aunt Lindsy, too

Emery eyeing Grandma Karen while in Aunt Allison's arms

a final good-bye from daughter to father

the old Enterprise church house,

the site of the last family reunion attended by Grandpa Jones in 2006

Grandma Karen and Grandpa Wynn with

Great Grandma Jane and Great Grandpa Schwict

Grandpa Wynn and his siblings

one last visit to the grave on the way out of town

our happy little camper

a beautiful sunset on the way back to St. George