Thumb Sucker

To suck the thumb or not to suck the thumb?  That is the question.  Heber has recently figured out that he can suck his thumb.  It's cute to watch him put his thumb in his mouth and then practically grab his face with his remaining fingers.  But the question I have is whether I should let him get used to sucking his thumb?  I think I would prefer the pacifier over a thumb because a pacifier can be weened from and then tossed where a thumb cannot.  It's kind of attached and can't be tossed away.  As it is, he still prefers a pacifier, but will calm himself with his thumb if he can get it to his mouth.  Meaning, I really don't have much to worry about now, right?  Either way, who knows what will happen.  Eliza only occasionally sucked her thumb, obviously prefering the pacifier.  Maybe Heber will be the same way.  And then again, maybe not.  I guess we'll see what he decides.  Choose the pacifier!

My Nutty Kids

Sometimes I wonder about my kids, including Scott!  Just kidding.  Eliza is one strange little girl sometimes and it can be quite entertaining.  The other day Scott's mom and I were sitting at the kitchen table talking.  Eliza decided to entertain herself by using her unusual organizing skills.  Her object of choice?  The refridgerator! 

Yes, she decided to move everything around and stick bottles into drawers and pull the produce out of the bins and move them elsewhere.  I can't tell you exactly how she was trying to organize.  All I know is that she was trying to shove as much stuff into the drawers as she could.  I was having too much fun watching her engrosed in rearranging the fridge that I just had to let her go.  A week later, I still haven't reorganized it yet.  Oh well.

Heber is still as cute as can be.  He just went in for his two month check up and he did really well, despite the five shots he got.  Poor kid.  He was pretty cranky all day yesterday, to say the least.  Luckily, today he is back to his old self.  He weighed in at 12 pounds.  Good grief!  They marked the table to see how long he is but the doc forgot to actually measure that so I did those at home.  He is now 21 inches long.  That's my boy!  Healthy and strong.  That's all I could ask for.  I did feel kind of bad for the med student who came to check him out.  The pour guy introduced himself and then informed me that it has been a couple of months since he has had pediatrics.  He looked a little lost, but I'm not worried about Heber and the doc came in after and checked him out.  No worries.  Just hope the med student gets a little more comfortable and I think he'll do just fine.

For as much of a handful these two can be, they really are good kids.  Even Eliza is a little angel, that is when she isn't loving her brother to death (literally), talking back and trying to be the adult.  She is a big help.  Can't wait for her to get out of her current phase, but that just brings on another one which could be better or worse.  Oh well.  Batten down the hatches and prepare for one exciting ride!

Happy New Year

Well, Christmas was a ton of fun. We were lucky to have Scott home with us. He was supposed to snow plow, but the weather turned out to be nice so he got to stay home. Eliza had a blast opening up her presents and she ended up with a pretty good haul this year. Heber just slept the whole time. Too cute.

Eliza and her gifts

Then, both of our families came out for Heber's baby blessing. We had a very full house, but it was so worth it. Eliza loved playing with all of her many uncles and with her grandparents. I have enjoyed it too because I got to have help with Eliza. It's not easy keeping up with her amazing energy level, but I wouldn't have her any other way.

Heber's baby blessing

All the family is here

Eliza and Uncles sledding in the backyard

It's fun to watch Eliza with Heber. She can be a little rough in her loving, but I think she's learning. Just have to keep an eye on her and reign her in sometimes, but other than that, I think she's doing alright. Hope you all had a wonderful New Years!

It's a Boy!

Heber James Natter

November 19th, 2009

8 lbs 7 oz, 19in

He is such a cute little guy and we are so lucky to have him in our lives. His delivery went so much smoother than Eliza so I really can't complain too much. I feel pretty good, but am still taking it easy. Don't want to over do it.

Eliza absolutely loves her little brother. Occasionally she tells us she wants to hold her baby sister and we have to remind her it's her baby brother. I think she finally gets it now. She's pretty gentle with him for the most part, but luckily he's pretty resiliant and puts up with her so far. We'll see how long that lasts.

Again, I am so happy to have Heber as part of our family.

Happy Halloween!

So, I hope all of you out there had a Happy Halloween! We actually had a bit of fun. For once our village finally decided that it was okay to go Trick-or-Treating on the day of Halloween. Course, that might only happen this year and next if Halloween lands on a Sunday. But, if it is on the weekday again, then the village will push it to the weekend and have it on Sunday. Not to mention that the times to go Trick-or-Treating is during the day. I remember when we would wait until after dinner to go out Trick-or-Treating. Sad how things change.

Anyway, Scott has been sick for the past few days and opted out of taking Eliza out. I was planning on staying home, but that changed. So I called a family in the ward and asked if she and I could go out with them. Eliza lasted about an hour walking around in her costume before she decided she was done. That meant we all walked back to their house, evaluated our haul, and then Eliza and I came back home. We took a break and indulged a bit in the loot and then went out to the neighbors homes. Then we were done. It was so much fun and I was glad that I could go with Eliza, and that I still managed to fit into my costume.

Anyway, now we have to work on limiting how much candy Eliza eats. Not easily done. Part of me wants her to eat as much as she wants so she either eats it all and it's gone or gets sick and decides she's done with candy. Oh well. It was still a great day. Hope you all had as much fun as we had!

It's Autumn Time!

Well, I can't believe it, but Autumn is already here. It's weird because I feel like we haven't had much of a summer and now Fall is here and next think you know it will be Winter. Not sure I'm ready for the snow yet, but what can I do.

Yesterday was such a beautiful day that Eliza and I spent quite a bit of time outside. We got to run around, play, and dig. I think Eliza's favorite part was playing in the leaves. Our back yard had so many on the ground that I had to make more than one pile of leaves.

The other activity we got to enjoy the other day was Shades of Autumn at Stade's Farm and Market. Each October they open up their farm and have lots of booths, rides, food, a pumpkin cannon, and a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch to pick your pumpkin. That was a lot of fun and funny. We barely made the final hay ride of the day out to the pumpkin patch. The ride had just left and we had to run and catch up with it. I couldn't run, but I walked as fast as I could. One of the workers had to race out to stop the hay ride because the tractor driver wasn't responding to his radio. I felt bad, but no one else cared.

Riding the Pony

Feeding the goat and llama

Playing in a big box of feed corn

Either way, Fall is here and I'm pretty excited! I love the changing leaves and the beauty it brings. I have always loved this time of year here because I never got to see this back home in California. The other exciting thing about right now is the fact that baby number two is almost here! Just under a month to go. Yeah!

Hall Family Visit

I was so excited to have my family come and visit over the weekend. Kind of crazy though, because Scott's family just left and my family arrived only two days later. I could care less. I'm just glad I was able to see them again and to see Brent before he leaves on his mission to the Dominican Republic in September.

Grandma and Eliza

Brent, Mom, Travis, Me and Eliza

Even though the stay was short, that didn't cut back on the amount of activities we did. We spent Saturday cooped up for a bit due to a nice rain storm that came through. Later, Anthony and Travis went with Scott to the Elder's Quorum activity for a barbecue and to shoot guns. So jealous! Mom, Dad, Brent, Eliza and I went to the Botanic Garden. The flowers and the shrubbery was absolutely beautiful! I think my two favorite areas were the Japanese Garden and the Waterfall garden.

Eliza in the Gardens


Watching the ducks

Monday we got to go into the city. We drove past the Temple and through Northwestern University on our way into the city. We also drove past Wrigley Field, US Cellular Field, and the Sears Tower. (I know it's the Willis Tower, but it will always be the Sears Tower to me!) We then parked at Navy Pier and walked around the pier, had lunch, walked to Grant Park and then made our way back home.

Giving Baby a hug

Sadly, my family had to leave on today, but they left with a bang. We got to make Molasses cookies and Eliza had fun pounding the dough so she could use the cookie cutters. Anthony and Travis had a blast putting the sprinkles on the cookies. They turned out really well. Cookies made together as a family always have some way of turning out super awesome!

Grandpa reading to Eliza

Making Cookies

Travis and Eliza

Aside for spending every waking minute together and playing games late at night until we were so exhausted and would laugh at everything, I loved having my family here. I wish the stay wasn't so short, but it was so worth it! I love you guys!