A little of this, a little of that

Marty had his 23rd birthday! He worked all day on his actual birthday so we weren't able to do much but that night we went out to his parents house and had cake and ice cream. My sister and her husband and their two kids were in town, also, so the next day Marty and my brother-in-law Kyle worked on the yard, patio, garden, and garage almost all day while me and my sister Sam worked on the inside of the house and watched the kids and then that night we grilled up a bunch of steaks and had a big BBQ! It was a lot of fun!  I think Marty really enjoyed his birthday weekend.

Declan turned 7 months. About 4 days before that, he officially started crawling! So he's been crawling about two weeks now and he thinks he is a little pro already. He is already getting fearless and has even attempted the stairs a couple times (with my supervision of course!) He is loving the fact that he has a little more independence now but it us also making it a little harder to get him down for his naps. He thinks as soon as I put him down that he NEEDS to either be sitting up or crawling. Silly little guy

Helping momma with Laundry!



I forgot his exact height at his 6 month appointment but he was totally off the charts for his height! He was in the 85% for his weight which was 18 lbs 9 oz. He is a pretty big boy. So all in all, he is crawling, sits up GREAT and can sit himself up all by himself, and has his bottom two teeth (which is absolutely adorable with his funny little grin. He is also starting to understand the meaning of no and when I say it to him, he looks up and me and just GRINS! My parents think it is adorable (which it is, but I won't admit that haha).

I helped my little brother ask his girlfriend to homcoming last week. I was over at my parents house and he was trying to figure out a creative way. We finally decided to make a cake. The theme for homecoming was candyland so we made a candy cake and I must say... It turned out AWESOME!

The Cake

I also did her hair for homecoming... I think it turned out pretty cute!

The cute couple :)

(I also helped with her makeup!)

I honestly sometimes can't believe that we got so lucky with Declan! He is SUCH a happy guy! He is so sweet and really very content most of the time. He loves to play and loves being around people. He doesn't have a problem letting most anyone else hold him (although still prefers his momma and daddy if we reach for him). He hasn't seen my sister is a few months and when she went to hold him, he was as happy as a clam! We also went to dinner last night and he was in his high chair. Any one that would walk by, he would just turn and look at, and smile, and flirt with! It was absolutely adorable! All the waitresses just adored him, and he was sooo incredibly good the entire time!

Marty was out working in the lawn the other day and we had Declan out there playing with his toys. I was in doing soem housework and I came outside to check on Declan and this is what I saw. Cutest thing in the world...

We finally turned him around so he could watch his daddy a little more easily. He was completely uninterested in his toys. He has turned into quite the little daddy's boy. Marty likes that he is crwaling now because he'll walk in the door after work and Declan will get really excited and crawl right over to him! He has also LOVED cuddling with marty more now, too.

A few more picture...

His "it wasn't me!" look haha

Cutest.Face.Ever!



We're pretty much loving life! I absolutely love my little family :) We have been extremely blessed and I couldn't ask for more then what I've already been given.

Growing up

Its crazy how quickly things change, and how quickly little boys grow. It so crazy to think that my little man is 6 MONTHS OLD! I keep asking myself how that happened and where on earth the last 6 months have gone!... Declan has started to change quite a bit recently. He was really fussy for a couple weeks ago, nothing too horrible, but not his usually easy self, I knew he was teething but I didn't know he was actually cutting a tooth but a couple days later I felt in his mouth and on the bottom, a llittle tooth has popped through! It is the cutest little snaggle tooth I have ever seen in my entire life, especially with his big old grin he does! I absolutely love it and just can't get enough! I tried to get a picture of his tooth but I don't know if you can really see it...

Declan's little snaggle tooth

He is also ALMOST crawling!! I can't even believe it! He gets all the way up on his hands and knees and rocks  back and forth and he can go backward but he just hasn't quite mastered going forward yet and it's extremely frustrating to him :) I can't believe how fast he growing and picking up everything! I got a pretty cute picture of that

In crawling position

Declan also got his first hair cut this last week (thanks to his Aunt Angie!!!) His hair is so light you cant really see how much he actually has but he had a ton of really long hairs that would totally go all out of control. It was pretty hilarious and Marty and I would call him our little Albert Einstein with his crazy hair but thats all gone now. It made me a little sad but I knew it had to happen sometime!

LOVE this one!!



 



Marty and I had a pretty eventful week too. He had a week off this last week before starting his new job and it was sooo nice having him home! Especially since I caught this awful cold so he was really able to help and take good care of me. We went to the first Burley High School home football game of the season. We also had a yard sale Saturday morning to try to get rid of a few of the extra things we have since we are living in our grandparents house. Then Saturday night we decided to go to to Shoshone Falls and it was really nice to get out of town. We got a couple pictures of that, too.

Beautiful view with the rainbow

Declan was asleep in his stroller for this one



I just have one last picture of declan sleeping. You can't really see but he was kind of sticking his little bum up the the air while he was asleep. So dang cute!

Well, we are doing fansatic, Marty is loving his new job and we are just all around happy and loving life :) Hope everyone is doing wonderful!



Changes

There has been lots of changes in our lives recently...

Marty just put in his notice at his current job. He is going to be starting work for his brother David at Apex Drilling Sept. 1st. We are VERY excited about this change. He has really enjoyed his time working for Cody at Bowers but this is more of a long term career and as I said, we are very excited!

We also just moved into my grandparents house. They are on a mission in Ghana, Africa. They've been gone since October. My brother, his wife, and their four kids were living there before but my brother just recently got a job at a CAT dealership in Pocatello so they moved (congrats again Jeff! Super proud of you!). We are very happy to finally be out of an apartment and in an actual HOUSE with a LAWN! We are still trying to get organized and all settled but it has been really great so far! We're excited to be able to spend the next year or so in their house taking care of everything for them. I'm really close to my grandma though so I'll also be very happy when they come back :)

Declan is a little over 5 months now! Its crazy how fast time is flying. I know I say that a lot but it is really true. He gets smarter and grows and learns new things everyday! I've taken him to the kiddie pool a couple times so far this summer and he has seemed to really like it. I'll try to get pictures the next time I take him. He has been eating baby food, too. I started him on it at right about 4 months. He would always watch us so intently whenever we were eating so I thought it was probably time. He eats AMAZINGLY good! He opens his mouth SOO big and he'll get a little irrated at me if I don't feed him fast enough. I was just feeding him baby food once a day but I just started feeding him twice a say now. He still is nursing just as much, too! He is just one hungry boy! He is built like a tank (He feels like he is about as heavy as one, too :) haha). He loves being on his tummy. He is such an entertaining little guy! He LOVES sitting, standing, kicking his feet! I have a feeling I'm going to be in trouble with him very soon :D He's teething too, but I think he's actually been very good considering. He still is sleeping really good. He averages about 8 hours at a time at night and wakes up to eat and goes back to sleep and he is getting a lot better at taking his naps. He's been a lot sleepier lately, but I think that is a mis between a growth spurt and teething.

Honestly, I don't think life could get much better right about now. I'm happy, Marty is happy, and Declan is sure happy most of the time :) I love being a wife, I love being a mother, I love being ME!

Crazy how my little boy has gone from this....



To this :) My sweet baby Declan!

Blessings in our lives

I don't know if I have much to say right now but I just wanted to post a little bit anyway. I can't believe how quickly time flies when you have a baby or how quickly they change and get so much bigger. It makes me a little sad, but much more happy because the alternative to that is unbearable to even think about. Anyway, I don't want this to be a depressing post. I actually wanted to list a few things I am thankful for!
-My wonderful husband. He really gets me through a lot. He is always so willing to do anything at all to help and to provide and make Declan and I happy! I couldn't have asked for a better daddy for Declan! I love being able to be with my best friend everyday and how happy he makes me.
-My sweet, funny, handsome, and sometimes very tiring little boy! He is just the funniest little thing and he is already teaching me so much. I want to be a better person for him and I am DEFINITELY learning more patience (haha)! I love being able to see some of myself in him and some of Marty in him. I love being Declan's mommy more then I could ever describe! I never knew being a mom could be so fulfilling and I love seeing him grow and learn everyday! It is just so remarkable to me. (And on a side note, now that the little monster has started rolling, I can't get him to stop! haha as I said, it's tiring, but oh so worth every minute!)
-My sweet parents. They have really done so much for us. There is no possible way we could ever pay them back, and they amazing thing is, they don't expect us to. They'll never know how much I truely love and admire them.
-My awesome, fun, (and sometimes dorky) sisters! I have such a special relationship with each one of them. I love that Mel and I have a baby so close in age. It is really bonding us more then I thought it would and I love it. I love all the conversations I have with Esther! She is really so great to talk to and I love how she is always so excited to see me. Sarah is probably one of the sweetest people ever. She makes me feel so loved and so good about myself and I always just can't wait to see her again! Becky is always soo helpful and so positive! She is such an upbeat person and I'm always in such a better mood after talking to her. Angie... Oh Angie! I LOVE that we live so close and can see each other often! I love love love your clothes and I love your desert recipes and your house. I kinda just wanna be like you :) I really love spending time with you and going on crazy adventures (ya know, cause Utah is crazy ;) haha) I admire what a good person you are and I love how dorky we get together. Sam has been my best friend since we were old enough to pull each others hair. I love how protective she is of me. She would do anything for me, and just about has! I'm so glad I had such a loving and sweet older sister to look up to and tag along with all growing up! I don't know what I would have done without her. I don't think a girl could ask for better sisters then what I have. I don't know how I got so lucky!
-Marty's job. His job seriously aggravates me a LOT of the time but at least he has a job! Marty works really hard for his boss and we are lucky that he has a boss that notices that and takes care of us because of it.
-Today I'm especially thankful that Marty has Monday off! We are going to have a really nice weekend and I am really looking forward to it. We both really need it, especially Marty. He's been working hard lately.
-I'm thankful that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have such a testimony that it is true. I am soo incredibly thankful that I am Sealed to my amazing husband and wonderful baby boy for eternity. I'm thankful for the blessings I have received through the power of the priesthood, especially the one before I gave birth. I'm so thankful for tithing. We have been so enormously blessed because of tithing. I'm thankful to know that the church is true.
-I'm also grateful that I married into such a great family! All my in-laws are so wonderful! I'm happy that his family was even a little bigger then mine, so that when Marty came to my family, he wasn't overwhelmed haha
-For all my friends through the years. I've had some great friends. I haven't kept in contact with a lot of them like I wish I would have but they were so great! I had some really good friends through Jr. high and high school, and I had some of the best roommates, and I've gotten some really good friends since being married, too (some I knew before that I got reacquainted with and some I've just recently met!)
Ok, well I think that is probably all for tonight. I'm still a little sad. We were supposed to go to Utah for my sisters daughter's baptism and her son's baby blessing but we weren't able to go last minute. So I'm really missing seeing all my family this weekend. BUT hopefully I'll see them soon anyway. Everyone take care and have a safe 4th of July weekend!
PS I can't help but post a few pics. You know how I am ;D

Momma and Declan

Probably my all time favorite picture of my baby!

Hahahaha

Declan's handsome daddy

So sleepy

Nappin with DOUG!

Yeah, he's cute

4 months

Declan is 4 months old today. I have no idea where the time is going! It seems like we were just bringing him home from the hospital yesterday but then again it also seems like I've had him forever! I can't imagine my life without him. As a very good little surprise today, my little boy rolled over all the way for the first time! He's been super close to rolling over for a while now, but today, while he was on his tummy, he rolled over onto him back! I kept putting him back on his tummy and he kept rolling over. After about the 5th time, I just let him be and he then rolled back over onto his tummy! He's done that about 4 times today! It was so exciting to see. Marty didn't get to see him roll over til this evening but he did get to see it. I also got some of the ones from earlier on a video on my phone. It is so fun watching all the advacements and new things he does. I always knew that I would like being a mom, but I didn't know really how much I would love it! I didn't know how fulfilling it would be.
I've been reading this book that my sister loaned me (I'm almost finished with it.) Its called I Am A Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson. For any mothers or soon to be mothers, I DEFINITELY recommend it! It is such a wonderful book and it has really changed my perspective on a lot of things, especially the way the world looks at being a mother (stay-at-home-mom) compared to the way I should look at it. She says that when she was just a new mom, she was in a group setting and the were going around telling what they all do and some of the other moms seems almost ashamed. When they would say it, they would say, "oh I'm just a mom", like it's nothing special. He was baffeled by that. It really talks a lot about being proud and exclaiming, "I AM A MOTHER". That is what I plan on doing from now on. This is by far the hardest and most rewarding job I have ever done and I am proud of that! Just because it doesn't come with a paycheck doesn't mean it isn't the greatest thing in the whole world. So I take back what I said in my last post. My life is exciting! I am a mother and dang proud of it!
This book has really made me think a lot about Heavenly Father, too. I'm barely getting a small glimps of what Heavenly Father went through when he watched his son suffer and die for us. Declan has been sick a couple times since he's been born. Nothing serious. The first time, he was a week and a half old and he caugh a cold. When he was about 2 1/2 months, he had rotavirus, and he is now just getting over a cold and an ear infection, and seeing him not feeling good, and in pain completely tears me up inside. I would give anything to take away his pain, or have it be mine instead. I have really had that though on my mind a lot lately. There is also a quote in the book by President N. Eldon Tanner that says, "A mother has far greater influence on her children that anyone else has, and she must realize that every word she speaks, every act, every response, her attitude, even her appearance and manner of dress, affects the lives of her children and the whole family. It is while the child is in the home that he gains from his mother the attitudes, the hopes, and beliefs that will determine the kind of life he will live, and contribution he will make to society." I gotta be honest, that hit me hard! I am bound and determined to be a better person for my family. Not just act like a better person, but really, deep down right to my core, be a better person. I'm trying to act better, watch what I say, incuding gossip, and even what I think.
Anyway, just a few of my thoughts the past week or so... I'm going to go kiss my baby boy goodnight. :)

My big boy, 4 months old

Family Picture for Declan's blessing

Our Unadventurous Adventures

Marty typically works 6 days a week with only Sundays off, so when his boss decided that he was going to close the shop for Memorial day, we were pretty stoked! We decided that we would go to Rexburg and visit my sister, Marty's sister and some friends that we have there. We haven't been there since we moved away more then a year ago. We left Saturday night right after Marty got off work and met Sam and Kyle in Idaho Falls. I took Declan and went with Sam and Kyle and Marty went to a fight night thing at a friends house and Sam and I went home to eat, feed the kids and put them to bed. The guys got home around 10:30 and we all went to bed. Sunday we went over to Marty's sister Melanie's house and visited her, her husband and their 9 kids. It was good to see them, especially since we used to live just down the lane from them and they hadn't seen Declan yet. Then we had some friends over to play games and Sam and Kyle's. Monday Marty and Kyle went out shooting first thing and Sam and I and the kids went to Walgreen's and got some diapers on SALE for $3.00 per package! AWESOME DEAL! We were pretty happy about that! 6 packages of diapers for less then $20.00! :D Then we got all packed and went to a bbq in Idaho Falls and then met my friends Kayliegh and her husband Tyler at Cold Stone to catch up a little (I had no idea Cold Stone did smoothies!). After that, went to the mall for a while and got Marty a few new pairs of pants (he was in desperate need) and me a few shirts! I also got this long dress that I am in LOVE with! We stopped in Pocatello on our way home and visited my brother Adam on our way home! It was such a wonderful weekend! I could not believe how angelic Declan was the WHOLE TIME! It was wonderful! He slept great, he wasn't fussy! He was just good! I was a little worried because this was the first time we have been anywhere overnight with him since he was born but it was awesome! It was a very much needed thing for us and we both just had such a great time!

Declan has also started laughing in the last couple weeks! I am totally loving it! He is such a fun little guy. Everything he does just absolutely melts my heart! And everytime Marty gets home, Declan just gets so excited to see Marty and have him start playing with him! Marty is the only other one (besides me) that can really calm him down if he is freaking out. He just LOVES his daddy like crazy (but I think he is a little bit more of a momma's boy hehe).

People always ask me what I've been up to lately and seriously, it's always the same answer. I really don't do much! My life (from an outside perspective) might not seem all that exciting, but it is soo very wonderful to me! Declan and I have a nice little morning routine we do every morning, we bring Marty lunch in the afternoon, and go home and watch a movie or clean and then Marty gets home and we kind of take it from there what the evening is going to be like. Its simple, and maybe not very exciting but I love every single minute of it! I always knew that I was going to like being a mom (and a house wife) but I didn't know I would love it to this extent! I can't imagine life any better then this, having my best friend by my side and my sweet little monster melting my heart with his smiles and giggles! How does it get any better? (well there are a few things I wouldn't mind changing so much, like no more apartment living, but that will just take a little time.) I just look at my life and thank the Lord for how blessed we are!

So, I posted something on Facebook a while ago about trying to cut out dairy to see if it makes a difference with Declan since I'm breastfeeding. So I cut it out and it made a HUGE difference! He is no longer fussy all the time, he still spits up but only a fraction of what he used to, and I can tell his tummy isn't just hurting him all the time like it did before. This has been a major thing for me. I am a major milk drinker. I used to drink so much milk, and eat ice cream, and yogurt, and sour cream and cheese, etc... so this has been a really big change for me. Its extremely hard and I miss drinking milk every day but I know that it is totally worth it to make my baby happy and healthy! I complain to my husband sometimes but all I have to do is see one of Declan's adorable little smiles :)

Well, thats about it for tonight (sorry if it was kinda long and boring haha). I'm having kind of a hard time even thinking of things to blog about because everyday is pretty much the same, as I was talking about so I guess I'll just blog again when something new or exciting happens (which may not be very soon haha) Have a wonderful weekend! I know we will! PS Enjoy the pics of my handsome little man!

Declan sleeping on my bed yesterday

Declan today in his cute outfit! He's always so smiley

 

First Baker Post! SWEET!

So, I've never really done any sort of blogging before, so you'll have to bear with me. I guess I'll kind of start with our biggest news. On February 23, 2011, after 6 hours of labor, we added little Declan Cole Baker to our family. He weighed 8 lbs and was 19 1/2 inches long. He is now 2 1/2 months old and he is such a smiley, happy baby. He LOVES to talk and is sooo happy when all the attention is on him! I love every single minute of being his mommy! He was Blessed May 1st by his daddy (Marty did wonderful). Most of our family came for it. Of course, most of Marty's family was already here, but his sister Ann Marie also came, who just had her little baby Katelyn a week and a day after I had Declan. All of my sisters came but one, who is very close to delivering her 7th (wow!). I spent most of the weekend with my sisters and I LOVED it! I always have such a fun time talking and goofing around with them. I have some pretty wonderful sisters :) they always make me feel so great! I also had a wonderful surprise when my brother Adam showed up! I wasn't expecting that at all because my dear sister SAM had lead me to believe he wasn't going to make it (you stinker haha). It was so great!
Then last week, we had Marty's nephew Adam's mission farewell! He gave such a good talk! We've spent a lot of time with Adam lately and we're really going to miss him but we are so proud of him.
So, anyone that knows me well, knows that I am NOT a good public speaker. I get absolutely terrified it speak in church. Well, at our last ward we were at, the didn't have us speak till we had been there 6 months (we actually spake on our 1 year anniversary no less). We ended up moving out of that apartment (on my due date) and so we are now in a different ward. Well, we just gave talks a few months ago and now we get to give talks again! I was always taught not to say no when asked to do something for church so of course we said yes... I'm not excited to give ny talk, but I am excited about the subject! It is on Richard J Maynes talk in conference, Establishing a Christ Centered Home. This is a really good one for me, because this is something that has become so much more important to me since being married and especially since becoming a mom. He read a really great poem in his talk and I wanted to share that. It's by C. C. Miller and it's called "The Echo".

’Twas a sheep not a lamb

That strayed away in the parable Jesus told,

A grown-up sheep that strayed away

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

And why for the sheep should we seek

And earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger when sheep go wrong:

They lead the lambs astray.

Lambs will follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray.

When sheep go wrong,

It won’t take long till the lambs are as wrong as they.

And so with the sheep we earnestly plead

For the sake of the lambs today,

For when the sheep are lost

What a terrible cost

The lambs will have to pay.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and a great week! I can't believe Declan is going to be 12 weeks old on Wednesday! I can't believe how fast time goes.

Going to the hospital to be induced a week after my due date

 2 days old

 Mommy and Declan

 Declan and Daddy

Almost 2 months old 

Declan, 10 1/2 weeks (on mothers day)