NEW THINGS

Like, I'm basically done nursing. He drinks a ton of whole milk during the day, but doesn't really like water or a sippy cup... However, he's off the good stuff for the most part! I'm not sure he is any less needy BUT he hasn't stopped teething including molars (did I tell you he has 4?), which involves diarrhea and waking up in the middle of the night. I can't believe his teeth are coming in so fast. We shall see!

Dallin loves to blow raspberries on my cheeks. HE IS STILL NOT TALKING but he is still oh so cute when he wants up. Those arms just shoot up at me with his little grunt. And if he wants something you're not giving him...he will knock your arm, ha. HELLO I'm waiting! It always seems like he is saying "uh huh". He took a THREE hour nap. On the same day I told Amy Dallin has never done that. And he has yet to do it again. Usually it's a 1-2 hour nap around noon.

First time with the stomach virus. Everyone got hit in some way. Dallin started off Monday with a bang. Lexi felt it from 4-6AM by Wednesday (but slept until 11AM & after was fully recovered). But by then I felt the pains that didn't leave me till just before dinner. We thought Mr Smith was an ox until Sunday morning. He never threw up, but I appreciate God letting him know I wasn't making up the pain! But that made for a special Easter week.

Lexi was in her first race: a 1k lap at a local school that put on some free Easter festivities. We went to check out the little carnival. She got some treats & was STOKED for the race that was taking forever to begin. But then about 1/4 the way through she realized everyone was passing her. She walked off the track crying that she was "too tired" so I had to run it with her holding Dallin & everything else. "We do hard things!" "You're a winner for finishing!" (maybe a family 5k in our future??) She still got a nice homemade blanket followed by an Easter egg hunt that also brought tears because it was taking "so long" to start. And by the time it did there were a lot of people around her. She got just enough to check off the Easter traditions. I decided not to do baskets this year. I had a pair of bunny socks & a butterfly paint kit in her bunny bag that I let her open on Sat. Dallin got his tie & a light up ball. I like keeping Sunday free from commercial holiday cheer. Easter is about Jesus (AND photos...) not bunnies.

We took our first hike of the year. MASSIVE fail in the sense that it wasn't much of a hike when everything is still covered in snow! We convinced Cassidy to come, but I don't think she'll be staying in UT, unfortunately. Dallin loves her!! It was a very precarious hike that Dallin slept through, but we didn't last too long on the trail. I don't care if fear was in my head, I was not comfortable! We did it for the photos I was unable to take...we stopped by the carousel to let Lexi have a ride & then when Dad went to a snow filled soccer game with Bishop, we stuffed ourselves with Sushi & a pie shake (while simultaneously remembering why I don't take kids to restaurants).

Lexi got a HAIRCUT. It had been 2 years since her last. It was getting to be a big pain and dad cut about half off! We're tempted to go shorter but harder when we don't know how to layer... 

Lexi started SWIM LESSONS and we're having mixed feelings ahaha. I knew it would be a struggle with the whole lets not get our face wet fear. The first second of her getting into the pool, she steps off the platform and gets her face wet for a millisecond before the teacher grabs her and O BOY tears but I was SO proud that she at least got back in even though refusing to try anything the teacher was encouraging. Dad bought her goggles that night with the nose piece attached & we attempted in the tub. But it seemed like we just made it worse. She was acting a fool with screams and all! She definitely gets in her own head sometimes (just like her mom!). Dad had to BRIBE her with an ice-cream cone if she would just lay down and float with her ears under the water. We told her our goal for her was to get better each class and to try something new every time. She was still apprehensive the second class, but she floated with the teacher with ears under water AND blew bubbles. I almost cried I was so proud. BABY steps.

We laugh & scream with Lexi all day every day. It's still the best of times & the worst of times with her. She loves being independent, but so many rules involve ASK MOM FIRST like when we want a snack, when we want to use mom's craft supplies or anything that is not hers, when we want to watch TV etc... But then some conversations just leave me wanting to kiss her face all over & bottle up that innocence. 

Their biggest ordeal this month was the pink sharpie marker incident. They also emptied all my sinus rinse packets. "but Dallin brought it to me!" The double trouble has begun! 

"Mom, go get your son!"

"I'm mixing the colors so that it will be beautifuler"

"You can; you're the mom"

"Jesus died for 3 days but then got alive again!" (in reference to her almost drowning)

"When I'm bigger I can do whatever I want" but when I told her that's when she will no longer live with me she burst into tears and said "But I want to be with you forever!"

She is known for hiding things in secret places. Like that one time dad's phone was also put in airplane mode.

"Well it was just a steak (mistake), right mom? you still love me right?" - that one still comes up.

MY BABY WILL BE FOUR NEXT WEEK!!!