Christmas 2011

The week before Christmas we spent finishing up last minute shopping and I did some holiday baking with my good friend Kyla.  We spent one morning making fudge, toffee, three different cookies, and some home made turtles.  It was a lot of fun and definitely put me in the holiday spirit.  Scott and Dallin went sledding after we got some perfect fluffy snow a couple days before Christmas.  

Christmas Eve we spent with friends and had a traditional Christmas dinner.  Then we came home to read "The Night Before Christmas" and get the kids in bed at a decent time so Santa could come. 

For Christmas we got up and had breakfast and opened presents.  Then we went to church and let Daphnee open her presents later because she slept through it that morning.  Here is our annual Christmas morning shot in our pjs. 

Here is a shot with Daphnee in her Christmas dress.

We had a wonderful Christmas and are grateful to have been blessed with so many things this year.  We also love this time of year to remember our Savior Jesus Christ and the important role He plays in our lives.  We hope everyone has a great Holiday Season!!

Daphnee's New Things

Daphnee is doing really well.  As usual her doctor was pleased with how happy and healthy she is.  We can't get a height and weight with the cast on, but I can tell she is growing. 

We started her on rice cereal and food a couple months ago, and she eats great as long as she is in the mood for it. 

She jabbers all the time.  And this week she said "mama."  I know she doesn't know its me, but she is learning to make new sounds.  It's more like, "mamamamamama" over and over again. 

She also started clapping.  She's not exactly sure what she is doing with her hands, but she gets excited because she knows it something new.  It's so fun to watch her learn. 

I'm so excited for Daphnee's first Christmas this year.  I know she doesn't understand like Dallin, but I'm sure she will be able to tackle the wrapping paper pretty good since she is 5 months older than Dallin was at his first Christmas.  We already had a test run when I was wrapping presents with Daphnee on my bed haha!!

It finally snowed this week, so we will have a white Christmas after all!  Scott is super happy about that. 

Love You Dallin

I share a lot about Daphnee, but over the past several months I am getting to know Dallin really well.  He is so patient when I tell him I have to tend to Daphnee.  All the feedings, spit baths, and diaper changes can take longer than usual, and he always is understanding about all the time I use to take care of Daphnee.  We have had many ups and downs over the past several months and Dallin has been amazing through it all. 

When Daphnee starts to fuss or cry I often hear, "It will be ok Daphnee," as Dallin is trying to calm her down.  Its so sweet to see him sharing toys or getting her pacifier for her without being asked by me.  And Daphnee LOVES Dallin.  She is always watching him and concerned with what he is doing.  I can be playing with her, and if Dallin comes into view her focus is all on him and she could care less where I am. 

We tackled a huge mountain a few weeks ago.  Dallin is potty trained!!!!!!!!!  We now only have one child in diapers, and it is wonderful (even though Daphnee wears 2 diapers). 

To keep bragging on Dallin...his new love of puzzles amazes me.  He got a 60 piece puzzle at Thanksgiving time and he can put it together all by himself.  He will ask for help with it, but by the time I get to the table to help him he has already finished it.  He spends hours putting it together over and over. 

Dallin has always been a good boy, and we love him so much.  After adding Daphnee to our family my love for him has grown so much.  He is a wonderful brother to her, and I'm so grateful to be his mother.  

New Purple Cast

We went back to Salt Lake yesterday to get Daphnee's cast changed.  It was pretty simple and took less than an hour once she was in the operating room.  They put her to sleep, bathed her, examined her hips and re-casted them.  She is in a slightly different position but not enough to really notice. 

Dallin asked that her second cast be purple this time.  And she is going to be in this cast for about 4 1/2 weeks instead of another 6 like we originally thought.  We have a an appointment on January 9th to get her cast off.  Then she will be in the hard plastic brace that she was in before for several months, just mostly at night.  

  Daphnee is doing well and doesn't seem to notice that anything is different than before.  We only have about a month left of no stroller, no bouncy seat, no swing, no change tables (in public), no high chair and another special car seat. 

It's very awkward to hold her and try and not hit her feet on things, but she plays well laying on her play mat.  She also loves to be held a lot so she can sit up and does some tummy time propped up on pillows.