Easter 2014

 We did Easter super simple this year and probably will after this. I have always stressed over what to put in their baskets, not wanting them disappointed but inevitability trying to top previous years. So we decided to just not do that. The easter bunny brought baskets with a chocolate bunny and some reeses and hid eggs around the house and it was so much fun and so much easier. We made resurrection rolls to talk about the reason we celebrate easter. Cody loved the eggs but didn't quite catch on that there were treats inside. he did get a book in his basket but he needed it.

 I kept trying to take a picture of Evrett hunting for eggs, but he moved so stinkin fast the camera couldn't catch him! lol

 And the boys were good to let me take their picture. The lighting was terrible but it was Cody's happy time so we did it anyway and I think they are still super cute.

 And Ben and I awkwardly trying to get a picture of us...

Anyway, I'm back blogging so I'd like to say we really did focus on the Savior and his resurrection this holiday despite what the pictures are showing. We are very grateful for Him.

Poor Middle Child

Evrett really took a hit after Cody was born. He went from being my best little bud all day long to getting not very much attention. The poor kid just kinda took care of himself and did a really good job of it. Multiple times I'd come out of Cody's room after nursing and find the remains of a peanut butter sandwich Evrett had made himself. He also started to phase out of needing his afternoon nap everyday but I would randomly find he had fallen asleep in the middle of something...

                                          

Cody's First time Downtown

Ben had a saturday afternoon off and it was the warmest spring day we'd had yet so we decided to head downtown to show Cody the sites before moving:

 

We came across these funny human statues in one park. Cody did not like them!!

 Then we just went to Millennium park and saw the Bean.

Horrible Winter

It's April 14th and it snowed. Nobody is very happy about it.

This has been such a cold and snowy winter. Something about a Polar Vortex and the second worst recorded winter in chicago. It snowed the very end of December and didn't leave until late march. And it was oh so cold! The boys had 4 school days cancelled just because of the low temps. -45 with wind chill. It was so hard to get out of the house and go anywhere. We finally got a small handful of spring days when this snow hit...come back warm sun!

Cody @ 11 months

 Oh my gosh. You love little girls. Maybe you just love all little people like you but we have really only been around other little girls. There are two that everytime you see them you get really excited and insist with your whole body that you want to go to them, that you want them. The picture above doesn't capture it at all, but this is Jane. When you saw her at the park you flipped yourself right out of my arms to go to her and you crawled on top of her and hugged her. It was so stinkin cute. But then you freaked out when I pulled you back! and you continued to freak out until I let you crawl back to her. That evening we saw her again at the church during activities and you got so so excited when you saw her! And then you kept giving her big yummy open mouth kisses whenever you could get close enough. We are going to have to watch you little lover boy!

 You have learned to crawl up stairs. I taught you at the playground so you could go down the slides but as soon as we got home you went straight for the boy's bedroom stairs and crawled right up them. You are a very quick learner and can apply what you've learned to other situations.

 Evrett took this pic of you and me.

 Playing at the park is a new favorite thing to do for you. You love watching the other kids, eating wood chips, and crawling up and down the playsets.

 and you just look so cute in your little hat.

 Here I come to get you mom!

 You love love love your brothers still and want to be right with them with whatever they are doing. And you seem to think everything they do is for you. They build legos, its for you to destroy and eat, they build towers, again for you to destory, etc. they are good and don't get too upset :)

 You are out growing your "bath". You also have figured out how to stand up in your high chair and stroller. not very safe little man.

 This is a weird picture but you are the craziest nurser. You twist your body into the strangest and most uncomfortable positions while enjoying you milk. You do push ups and planks and lots of mountain climbers. It's hilarious and annoying at the same time.

 And you love making messes. The cookbooks, bottom shelf of the panty, and the treadmil room closest with our extra bathroom stuff are your favorite spots.

 you finally have some teeth! Around 10.5 months the bottom ones broke through and then just a couple weeks later all four of the top ones cut. not fun but so cute!

 and you still love this wooden spoon whenever you get your hands on it.

 you put up with a lot from Evrett sometimes.

 You love to swing with me :) and i love it too.

A few other things:
*you hate getting dressed
*you don't like plain chicken or hamburger or lunch meat but will eat Steak and bacon and  meat mixed in casserole type things. so picky.
*you chuck whatever food you don't want as far from your high chair as you can.
*you love frozen berries still
*you ate a piece of cheese for the first time today, usually this gets thrown
*you drank your first juice box today, the big boy straw way, and loved it. It was a moment of weakness for me...I was raking up crap in the yard and needed you to be happy a little bit longer so asked Evrett to make you happy. He gave you his caprisun.
*You are finally sleeping a little better. I finally broke down and did sleep training with you. I read a book from Aunt Haylee that said that it is fine to nurse babies before sleep but once you lay them down, if they are not asleep or if they wake up right away, you need to let them cry it out. It was awful for two days, you cried a lot and were super clingy, but it's now been almost 2 weeks and you are actually on a really good schedule!! Two naps a day, one around 9 and 1 and going to bed at 7! You go down for your two naps around 2.5 hours after waking up. And you are so so happy!! it has tied me down but has been so worth it! You will still cry sometimes but more often you happily go to sleep. You still get up 2-3 times a night but that is an improvement as well.
*You are cute, funny, and so so lovable. We love you.