I got him

This is for my mom who tried to catch this on camera numerous times while they were visiting and Noah never let her. I guess I was just sneaky enough. Is this talent or what--Noah doing his 2 favorite things at the same time...

A month of firsts

First tick of the season. Found by Noah, the official tick magnet...and this time luckily it was not attached. It may regretfully be the first of many. I am so so so so grossed out by these...

First smiles by a little Taryn Passey

First trip to DC for my parents

First little bows and Mary Janes, first pink things to take over the Passey house

First lost tooth for one 5 year old, Ammon

First pedicure...My mom and I got one just before they left. Very nice.

First little jeans for this little girl. Okay so most things are a first with her, that's why she seems to have taken over this post and most posts lately...

Micah

My big 3 year old--Monday we celebrated my baby boy's 3rd bday---Aaah, where oh where did that time go?We invited Keith and Emily over for dinners and Micah's cake of choice...Fruit pizza...Grace and Micah have been best buddies for almost their whole lives...

Here's a quick review of Micah's babyhood and life. Okay so not the most flattering of baby pictures, but this kids WAS 9 lbs 10 oz and wedged tightly in my pelvis for TOO long. It must have been a little traumatizing for him. I think Noah's first comments when he saw him was "Mom, why is his face so red?"

See, it's already much better by 5 days...

2 months...

6 months

One year

Some of my favorite things about this little troublemaker.... There is so much to love and be amused about, even with his serious attitude and trouble making capacity he has recently decided to demonstrate.

1) When his Dad walks in the door or when we were out somewhere and come home and Trav is there waiting for us, he walks in and announces himself "Here I am, Dad!" because we all know Daddy was anxiously waiting and wondering where in the world his Micah was.

2) The way he calls his brothers "guys" all of the time "Mom, where's guys?" or "I go get guys come and eat", etc

3) When I ask him if he's done something I asked and he hasn't, he chuckles and says "Oh! ogot! (forgot)"

4) He says the cutest and most sincere prayers, and if he says the blessing on the food, blesses everything on the table individually

5) He always wants to help and to do everything that he sees everyone else doing

6) When we are all talking about some and laugh, he throws back his head and laughs loudly, then nods and chatters on and on like he totally gets it and is telling his own jokes back.
7) When I put him down for a nap, a lot of times he will sing at the top of the lungs until he gets tired

8) Always telling me he loves me and giving me big bear hugs "I love you so much Mommy"...also lately tells me things he loves about me like "I love yours feet Mommy" and I love yours neck"...?

9) Good at saying Thank you..."Gake you yummy dinner, Mommy" And "Gake you helping me Mommy

10) Always trying to bring me water to drink and getting lots of snacks to share with "guys"

This little guy has always been the center of attention wherever we go. It's almost guaranteed at any store we go to or anywhere else, that at least one or two people will comment "Oh, he is just precious" or "Just LOOK at those blue eyes", and I have caught him on several occasions, when someone doesn't comment, batting his eyelashes at them. He is a charmer, this one. Hmmm.

More blessing pics

Taryn's blessing

Well we officially survived our first week back to church with a newborn. This is the last week my parents will be here and we weren't sure we would be able to bless her because of a military exercise going on this weekend. But Travis, being the wonderful person he is, went in to work last night at 11:50 pm, got home just before 6 a.m., slept for 2 hours, and then got up to go to church with us. Even last night we weren't sure if it would happen, but my mom had finished Taryn's dress and wanted to try it on her. I wasn't even going to take pictures, and am so glad that I did, because today I meant to get pictures with Taryn and her Dad, her Grandparents, and her brother, and maybe even me....but it never happened...I am still hoping to be motivated and to motivated everyone else enough to do it later but it may not happen.Putting on her slip...

Here is the beautiful dress my Mom made for Taryn. She is so very talented and awesome. This dress will be such a treasure to have forever (too bad I couldn't keep the spit up off of it today!)

Taryn losing patience with the pictures and asking to go to bed PLEASE already....

Grandma and Taryn this morning before going to church...

And the beautiful blanket that Grandma Passey made for her...(I love it!)

So Taryn stayed calm through enough of sacrament meeting today to be really good during the blessing. What a beautiful thing a baby blessing is...and what a blessing to have Travis be able to bless his baby girl and to ponder on what a miracle this new little life is. I am so grateful Heavenly Father lets us take such a part in his beautiful plan, and that he would entrust us with this baby girl to teach and watch over. It was such a spiritual and powerful moment when we finally got to meet her and I felt so strongly of the love of God for me and for this new little daughter. We love her so much!

Picture onslaught--Adventure with Grandma and Grandpa

My parents came to Virginia apparently during a slightly dreary and rainy season. We have had a few very nice days though and been able to do some fun things. We even made a little DC trip during spring break this last week. I was very nervous to attempt this trip, and especially since Travis wouldn't be able to go with us, but my parents have never been to DC at all, and this probably would be there last chance. They weren't pushing it at all, but I decided we should just go for it. I am so glad we did.Washington DC temple with "the boys" (or as Micah always calls them "the guys"..."where's guys?")

After a very nice and large breakfast buffet at the hotel, these yahoos asked if they could take the stairs back to our room. Considering the breakfast they ate, I figured I should definitely let the and join them. The first time I didn't get a picture (with Ammon struggling behind), and this time Micah and I took the elevator and met them on the 11th floor)...

Headed to the Capitol building to catch the bus to the Natural History Museum...

Ammon and the giant squid...very cool.

Ammon and Kaden get eaten by the Megaladon shark...

I spend some nice time in the bathroom feeding this cute little girl who slept and slept most of the day when I wasn't feeding her. That was such a nice blessing.

Union Station and our open top bus tour...

Ooooops I didn't turn this picture. Kaden is so creative with how he spends his time. He built a book track for cars to drive down.

Grandpa and Taryn

Taryn reading the news with her Dad at the computer.

Micah and Ammon being pilots at the Air and Space museum in Hampton yesterday.

How our lives have changed

I don't know why my pictures are turning out so fuzzy all of the sudden. 3 weeks old.

Daddy and brothers giving Taryn a bath.

I am trying so hard not to create bad habits, but when my beautiful girl is so tired and we have tried everything, I HAVE found if I swaddle ehr and put her in the swing, I can usually get her to sleep. Is that really bad?

OR Grandma can usually eventually calm her down and sometimes get her to sleep...

Pretty girl at 3 1/2 weeks...

My baby is already one month old! And since she was born weighing over 9 lbs, and since I have had a couple of friends have tiny babies recently, she is already getting kind of big. How I wished for a nice small 7 lb baby that would stay small for awhile. But I so would not trade the chubby cheeks and thighs and the waking up only once on most nights! Taryn weighed 10 lbs even at 3 weeks so I imagine she is close to 11 now. She needs a LOT of sleep and doesn't always get it nowadays, since she doesn't just fall asleep when tired and I have a hard time getting her to sleep....and that in addition to lots of air bubbles and reflux have made for a bit of fussiness. I have dealt with fussy babes before, yet you wouldn't know it on those days she has fussed for an hour or 2 and Trav comes home and my eyes start to tear up. It's just a horrible feeling knowing your baby is unhappy or uncomfortable and not having any idea how to fix it for her.

When she gets enough sleep, though, she is happy and wiggly and content, and she has already smiled quite a few times. I had also forgotten how hard it is to get things done with a baby, we are always hard pressed to get out the door at all. My parents have been here for 2 1/2 weeks (how that time has sped by!) and I don't know how I am going to function when they leave me this week. Whether it is my Mom soothing Taryn for me or making dinner, or both Mom and Dad playing with and occupying the boys....or Dad watching kids while Mom and Taryn and I go and run errands....or just having other adults in the house to encourage and keep company and adore my kids so I don't forget how wonderful they are---it has been so good to have them around!