Snow Everywhere! (part 2)

If Jake's reaction to our st. george snow was 'excitement', I don't even know how you would classify his enthusiasm for the Idaho snow. Here he is, all bundled up and ready to go:

"so this is what snow looks like!"

In front of the old homestead:

Jake, building his very first snowman

the finished product:

Gramma using her brute strength to transport the snowman to a better location

Thanks Idaho, for teaching us the true meaning of snow :)

3 month old Pieper

in my favorite little outfit that she is outgrowing too fast:

with her toys

she likes the jungle mat.

just don't flip her over

her happiest times are hanging out with mom and dad after the boys go to bed

It's been a great 3 months with this sweet little face around!

a story for our friends up north

Yesterday morning we woke up to some wintery weather. Our snow-deprived boys were ecstatic. Noah announced dramatically: "I've been waiting sooooo long for this snow to come! and Jake waved his arms around and screamed: "It snowed EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!"

And this is the picture, in case you are curious what the "SNOW EVERYWHERE" looks like:

it doesn't take much to get us excited.

one more Pieper picture

...because she got all dressed up today for church

p.s. thanks Aunt Kari, for the awesome quilt. we LOVE it.

2 Month Old Pieper

I will go ahead and start it off with the cliche: my baby is growing up so fast! I feel like time is slipping away from me--I barely blinked and our first 2 months were gone! I loved pretty much every minute of those two months. I have enjoyed little Pieper more than I imagine any mother could enjoy a baby! Maybe it was the fact that this is my first girl, or that it has been two and a half years since I had a newborn, or that my boys are more rambunctious than ever...the point is, I just can't seem to get enough of this sweet little baby. I love holding her, and I feel like most of the first 2 months were spent on the couch doing just that. Before the baby came, many of you heard my worries about being a mother to a daughter, and now I understand why everyone was so ready to offer the reassurance that having a daughter is a wonderful thing. I can't comment on what it is like to raise a girl and all the emotions and dynamics that come with that...I guess we'll cross that bridge when it comes...but I can say that having a baby girl is especially special. The tenderness I feel towards her is different than with my boys. I do feel a different connection with her. At the moment, I am watching my boys chase each other around the house, clothed only in their shorts (the standard uniform when they pretend to be the Incredible Hulks) with their current weapons of choice. Jake just clobbered Noah over the head with a large shark toy as Noah fought back with a refrigerator attachment. They are laughing hysterically and throwing shoes and seem to be enjoying their fight...but it all just seems weird! Being a boy must be a crazy thing. And so they are proving my point: boys are different than girls. I love all my kids, and I am happy to report that I do love that one of them is a girl!

What Pieper is up to today: she is sleeping through all the big brother commotion! She does still nap for most of the day, but during her waking hours she is alert and quick to smile. She has started cooing, and I just love those first sweet baby sounds. She holds her head up very well--one more sign we are moving past that newborn stage. It went by so fast, and I already miss that little newborn. I would never have called myself a "baby kind of person", but Pieper has converted me :)

Her mom isn't the only one who loves her! She has had a softening effect on all of us, especially the boys. I call Jake and Noah the "Kissing Brigade" on account of the countless kissing attacks launched on the little sister. She is a good sport about it all and takes all the love like a champ. They are big on the baby talk and also make up beautiful songs about our little Pieper girl. In closing, I will include the lyrics of a Noah-original song that captures our family's feelings about her.

you're the best baby ever

you're the best baby ever

you're the best baby ever

you're the cutest girl i ever saw

the cutest baby i know

the cutest baby in the world

you're the baby who i love

awwww

Our little Pieper

Well here she is. These are the pictures from the last 2 months. I have a post in the works to commemorate the 2 month mark that came on Sunday. But until then...here are some Pieper pictures so you can put a face to her name!

Love that girl.

Christmas 2011

What a good time! I wish I could have a newborn every Thanksgiving and Christmas! It is always such a happy time of the year, but this year our new little family member made it more wonderful than I could imagine! We cut back on the extras of the holidays, like traveling and lots of gifts and baking and activities and Christmas cards. Instead it was pretty quiet and we spent the bulk of it at home, just the five of us. We were able to spend a little time with our extended families who came to us (Thanks, everyone!). Here are some pictures from our little Christmas celebrations.

visiting Santa at the ward Christmas party (Jake was the only brave one to sit on his lap)

wild thing dinner:

The 3 cuties on Christmas morning (at least Jake looks excited!)

Baby's first Christmas and exciting Christmas gift

Jake opening his present from Noah
Optimus Prime and Bumblebee masks
the Batman costume I made: (Robin not pictured)

Batman and Robin's reactions to the presents from Gramma and Chief: