wanna see some photos???? ok!

something new....

Man this month is ZOOOOOMING by! Geesh! We've had a great month too :) We've spent incredible time with friends and family, Barrett is growing growing growing, TJ and I are still loving being parents, and we're just trucking along!

On Saturday the 19th, TJ got his parents to watch Barrett overnight while he took me to the Alaskan Inn in Ogden Canyon. He was so sweet by booking us the Northern Lights room which was amazing! When we got there, there were rose petals on the floor and candles and the shabang! Super sweet :) The room was so neat because there were LED lights all over the ceiling and then there was a pretty mural that was painted with paint that glowed in the dark because of a black light. Between those two features, it really did look like the northern lights. [At least what I imagine them to look like, someday I'll see them for real!]

Thursday was Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday! I think I love it so much because people are genuinely grateful for what they have. They aren't "wanting" and "needing" and whining and all that baloney that comes with Christmas and so many other seasons. I really think the world would be a more incredible place if we all were more thankful for what we have and more content. We have become so incredibly wrapped up with wanting "bigger", "newer", "faster" and it's sad. Trust me, I'm not saying I am not included in that "we" because I absolutely am..... I am basically just making an observation....

Anyway, on turkey day we went to the Plain City Fire Department and ate with a bunch of friends. It was such a great time and we definitely felt blessed. :)

quickie.

dirty you. get your mind out of the gutter! :p I just wanted to give a quick update! Barrett, my dad, and I went to Cali for not quite a week at the end of October.... We had a ton of fun but it was so busy and flew by! We made and canned over 100 quarts of applesauce and then we helped get the house cleaned up because we made quite a mess! :) It was really special to spend time with my grandparents and extended family. :)

Other than that, we haven't been up to too much.... Just working and being our little family. I've really been into cooking lately. :) Yesterday I made baked spaghetti, a huge crock pot full of chili, chicken enchiladas and then {my favorite!} caramel apple bread pudding. TALK ABOUT DELICIOUS! :) So good :)

Then today, we went to the MTC Park in Ogden and Stephanie took some family pictures of us that we're going to send out as Christmas cards. :) As soon as I have them I will show you! :)

a little therapy session.

Phew. Today has been a tough day. But let's rewind to Sunday. TJ left Sunday morning at about 430 am to go to New Mexico for about two weeks. This has been a really good thing for our marriage, even if it's been tough on our day to day lives... I certainly appreciate him more and love the times we have together, even if it's just sitting around. I did see him in a completely different light when we took him up on base that morning. Not sure if this will make much sense so sorry if it doesn't. So for as long as I've known TJ, he has been the same in my eyes. He is generally quiet and reserved. He isn't usually into meeting new people, or being in places with large groups of people. Anyway, when we got up on the base, there were lots and lots of cars and people. I was surprised to learn that so many people were going on this trip. I don't know what about that was so shocking to me but it really was. Just the fact that he would choose to put himself in these kind of situations on a regular basis kind of made me see him differently. But then again, perhaps that's why he doesn't like big groups. Who knows.... Just thought it was kind of interesting....

On another note, poor baby boy is teething so bad :( My heart just breaks for him! I so wish there was more that I could do... He barely eats and he just screams in pain. I know that it will pass but I truly feel bad for him. I know that when he's 16 and telling me how much he hates me I'll wish I could go back to this so I guess I should just appreciate the good times and try not to worry too much about the bad...

***LEGGINGS***

ok, so I got this AMAZING DEAL on babylegs.com and I am so loving them! TJ hates them! But I think they are soooo cute! Anyway, here's Barrett as a little candy corn hehe :)

Paulie want a carrot??

So today I made carrots for Barrett! I'm so excited for him to try them! He still loves the peas! Today he ate the entire jar of them :) I'm so proud of him! Pretty much, you use the same process to make carrot puree. So, I'm just showing you the pics :)

 Cooked baby carrots....

 Add formula to thin it out. As he gets bigger I'll add less....

 Blending!

Finished product! And now I have six servings of carrots :)

peas. mmm....

HAPPY FOUR MONTHS TO MY LITTLE BOY!

I can't believe how quickly the time is passing! Barrett is already four months and he is so big! I have been giving him rice cereal for a short time now and the pediatrician gave me the green light to start him on other solids. She suggested veggies first because they're less sweet and that way he won't refuse them later. She also said I need to give one type for a few days before introducing another kind so that if there is any reaction I'll know what it's to and be able to not give him that anymore. I was given a Baby Bullet as a shower gift so I was even more excited about trying veggies with him! I am not an "organic" type person nor am I anti packaged stuff but I also think that fresh is best. So I definitely want to give Barrett fresh, homemade baby food as often as possible. But I also realize there will be times when I compromise and give him jarred, store-bought baby food. Anyway, I decided today we would start with peas! :) mmm! Haha :) Let me just tell you, HE LOVED THEM! I am so excited to continue trying new foods with this guy! I am very hopeful that he likes food and is less picky than his dad..... 

 Before: He is so happy to just sit in his bouncy seat because he can see what's going on :)

 I steamed one cup of frozen peas then added a half cup of formula to thin it out. 

 Side view. LOL

 Finished product. Yummy? Barrett thought so! :)

 mmmm! See his pea green grin! 

The best part is that it made seven servings! And it was SO easy! 

So, Thanks Tye and Lisa for the awesome gift! Barrett and I love it! :)

Also, just thought I would let you know that I had my gallbladder out on Thursday. I am very glad I did; apparently it was more enlarged than she thought it was. Plus, I'm glad I got it done while TJ is still home. He leaves next week to go to New Mexico for a few weeks. There is no way I would be able to take care of Barrett alone after the surgery. I'm not even allowed to lift him :( It stinks but I would rather "follow the rules" now than make things worse and have to have another surgery blah blah blah.... Anyway, I'm healing up ok. I'm sore but it's getting better every day. I'll be happy when I am back to my normal self!