Christmas and a Birthday

Sawyer

Sawyer loved Christmas and spending time with all of his extended family. He was definitely so excited...but also definitely had no idea why. Little kids are so perceptive. They just know when everyone else is excited and happy too. Christmas morning he walked out to look at his Santa gifts and checked them out for a few seconds, then promptly walked over to Dawson's pile and started playing with those toys instead. Getting him to open the presents that were under the tree was like pulling teeth. He just wanted to play with all the stuff that was already out which I get, I do, but I also need to remember to lower my expectations when it comes to the visions in my head of my kids and holidays and/or activities ha. Once we got him going an unwrapping though, he was all about it.

Dillon had the 26th off so we did some early birthday celebrating with Sawyer. We took him bowling and then let him pick lunch. He was all over the bowling and would get mad when we helped him carry the ball. Typical three-year-old independence. He would get so excited after Dillon or I bowled and would run up and exclaim, "You did it!"

Around midnight of the 27th, Sawyer walked into our room to tell me, "I throw up". Lovely. I walked him into the bathroom and, sure enough, his jammies and bed were covered in grossness. So I got them both all cleaned up and put him back to bed (thinking nothing of it yet because this kid throws up a lot). Twenty minutes later he was gagging again. We repeated that routine the rest of the night even after Sawyer's tummy was empty. It was so sad. Poor little man would dry heave and cry and cry. (Also...because I'm a mean spouse, after about the fourth time of me waking up to help Sawyer I woke Dillon up because I was annoyed that his evolutionary man genes have made it so that he magically hears nothing and sleeps like a log...so after learning that our kid had been sick for hours, he helped Sawyer for a couple of rounds before I took over again since he had to go to work that day.) After getting Sawyer set with some sprite and a movie, I let everyone know that we were going to have to move the day of his party. Luckily, he's little and had no idea he was going to even have a birthday party. Thankfully, it was only a 24 hour deal. His stomach was sensitive for a couple days after that but he seems to be on the mend.

Dawson

Dawson thought for a hot minute that he should be a one-nap-a-day baby but he is soooo not ready for that. He gets ornery really quick if he skips his morning nap (and I'm happy to hold on to two naps as long as I can). He finally had three teeth break through the gumline and I think that that definitely had to do with his sleep being off. Teething is no joke for that baby but he seems to be happier now that he has some relief. And his tooth count is now eight, with only two of those being on the bottom.

I keep looking at car seats because I know we'll have to upgrade Dawson at some point but then I have to remind myself that he still has plenty of room in his infant car seat so I don't really need to spend that money yet. I think we'll maaayybe have to move him to a convertible car seat before he's 18 months. Maybe.

He also enjoyed all of the family time over the holidays. He was pretty into opening presents..and then wanted to play with the paper. He got the stomach flu on Christmas (which we didn't realize) so he wasn't the happiest of babies that day. Teething has very flu-like effects on Dawson's digestive system so we figured that it was just that...until Sawyer got sick two days later. But Dawson actually rebounded really fast and only got sick twice so he was minimally effected (thank goodness).

He prefers walking completely over crawling now and cruises all over the place. I'm always so glad when my babies start walking once they've become mobile. I hate the dirty knees and hands crawling business. I much prefer for them to just be upright if they're going to be moving anyway.

Dillon

Dillon got the tiniest bit tired and nauseous the day after Sawyer's birthday...and then took a nap and was fine. That was pretty much the farm boy version of the flu I think. He's seriously got the strongest immune system and I completely attribute it to growing up on a farm.

Dillon is so funny and always forgets what his Christmas presents are. We generally like to make sure there is at least one surprise for each of us but other than that, have decided that it's actually kind of nice to just shop together. That way we know the other person is getting stuff that they want. But, like I said, Dillon forgets what he's picked out (probably because I start Christmas shopping in October..or earlier..) so watching him open is presents is always fun. 

DaNae

I'm a little sad that the holidays are over (like always) but I'm really enjoying my "boring" adult gifts like our new mattress cover (our sheets finally stay in place for longer than one night!), my heated blanket, and some awesome special toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Those are just a few of the wonderful gifts we received. Dillon and I were about as spoiled by our families as our kids were this year and are just really grateful.

I've made some new goals for this year and decided to really generalize them. I've tried to be really strict and specific in the past and that's never gone well, so general goals with different available avenues to meet them will hopefully work out better. I can say that I mostly enjoyed 2017 and am looking forward to 2018 with fingers crossed that it's a good one too.

As I created this post I realized that I took a lot of pictures..like a lot. I considered whittling them down (even more) but then decided pictures show memories the best so I'll just keep taking a bazillion pictures and hope that my kids appreciate it when they're older. 

One of our Christmas traditions is who-cakes and How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Christmas Eve morning. Both they boys approved.

Opening presents on Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa Loveland's. Sawyer got a Winnie the Pooh and some Pooh books and LOVES them and Dawson got the cutest stuffed elephant that he snuggles up to.

Silly putty from Uncle Devan has definitely been one of the favorites.

We made sure the rooms were clean before Santa came with new toys.

We started a new tradition this year of giving our kids a Christmas Eve gift that is more gospel centered and this board book by Little Mormons was perfect.

Walking in to find their presents (after already eating breakfast and watching Frozen in our bed).

His hot wheels dragon track was a hit (for both boys in the picture).

Some new books!

Opening their present from Grandma Ronna and Aunt Andee.

Ever since he watched Allie and Mason get on their bus for school, he's been pretty impressed with every bus he sees. When I saw this one at Bulloch Drug, I had to grab it for him. He's put it into the bedtime sleeping rotation so I'd call it a win.

The tape wouldn't come off his finger and I thought it was too funny.

Sitting so nicely and watching us open presents.

Using my new phone case as a toy phone.

Stocking stuffers.

Mostly suckers and baby-safe utensils for this one.

Visiting my parents, Devan & G, and Steph & the kids at my parents on Christmas.

All the littles love the Braden.

First time bowling!

Just laying on the floor, waiting for his turn. (Also, this is his face for 80% of the pictures I take. He always sucks in his bottom lip to give himself little rabbit teeth.)

So sick.

Such a sad way to spend his birthday.

He felt a little better later that night so we let him open some presents.

One of which was this fun Busy Helicopter book that has a story and little trail on each page for the toy helicopter to drive around on.

His own tool set that he got with some of his birthday money from relatives.

"IIIII wreck it!" he yells as he hammers my wall. He's combined Fix-it Felix and Wreck-It-Ralph a little bit I think.

We had a second Christmas over the weekend of the 29th with Dillon's family. It's always fun to see everyone and Sawyer is always sad when we have to leave Kristin's.

He was really impressed with Uncle Greg's chair and kept trying to drive it.

His owlette mask from Grandma Ronna. So excited! This kid loves the PJ Masks.

Family gift exchange.

Siblings (with Dillon in my borrowed shirt).

Treat stop at Swizzle.

Dawson loves to slide and would do it for hours if we could handle it.

With Grandma Ronna.

Sawyer got back on the tractor and drove it this time (a year and half after his first ride..which didn't go well). He was still a little cautious but was all grins once he got to control the wheel.

We had a party with some friends at the Lamberts house for NYE. The boys actually fell asleep while we played games and we ended up leaving before midnight so that we could get some sleep too since we knew Sawyer and Dawson would still wake up early. 

Crashed on the couch.