Jimmy * Esther * Zeke * Lilly

So, the whole first week Zeke did perfect sleeping in his new bed. Then he figured out that he could get out and play during his naps. I think it has been a good thing though because he hasn’t ever played on his own before, and it’s cute to hear him through the monitor playing and imaging his own stories. I also like to peek under his door and watch him while he plays and looks at his books. Yesterday, Jimmy and I did Zeke’s nap routine, and when we went out. We both got down to look under his door, and we got caught…

Zeke was looking at us under the door too. All three of us were laughing as we each realized we had been caught.

Zeke’s hands, Jimmy really enjoyed this picture.

After Zeke plays for an hour or so, he will climb in bed and take his nap. No matter how tired he is, he just likes to have some free time first. I guess I can’t blame him, it is nice to have a little alone time once in a while. So, my conclusion is that Zeke’s naps are still pretty easy, but it will be a whole new adventure when he learns how to open doors ;)

It was a wonderful Christmas! Jimmy and I loved watching Zeke get excited as he learned that fun surprises were under the wrapping paper.

Zeke had the biggest present from Grandma, and all of the cousins were wondering what it could be. They could hardly wait for Zeke to open it.

It was a Little Tikes cozy coupe!

Zeke enjoyed climbing on the box and jumping off. We were worried about the height, but he would get mad if we would try to catch him.

Zeke had fun playing ‘Rockband’ with Daddy and Uncle Carlin while Mike put his car together

Posing for the camera

Zeke was already exhausted by 12:00.

We got in the car to go to Grandma and Grandpa Z’s and he konked out holding his tractor.

He woke up when we got there and didn’t want to keep sleeping. Zeke really liked his present from Grandma and Grandpa, but he was still so tired and pretty edgy, so this is the only good picture I got there.

Zeke with all of his Christmas gifts.

On Christmas Eve, we went to Temple Square to see the Nativity, and pretty lights. It was chilly, but we all had a good time.

I love the Salt Lake Temple, it is so beautiful!

Me and my cute mom in our Christmas sweaters

Zeke had a blast with lots of cousins at Grandma and Grandpa S’ house. He was so excited that he started jumping off of gifts, and using Uncle Adam as a play ground.

Zeke has the best smile! We love it!

Playing “Curses”. (It’s not a swearing game, we bought it at Deseret Book :) )

It was a very full house! 19 people slept over, 6 slept by the tree. Adam let Jimmy, Zeke, and I use his room. Jimmy and I shared a twin bed, and Zeke woke up disoriented at 4am and wanted to join us. It was a squishy 3 hours until we woke up.

It has been a wonderful Christmastime! Zeke is at a fun age where he can understand more about holidays. He loves the lights, snowmen, and other Christmas decor.

We drove around some neighborhoods and looked at Christmas lights. Of coarse the pictures don’t do the lights justice, but here are a couple of our favorite houses.

This one is on “Lovers Lane” in Riverton. It is so bright you can see it on Bangerter and just off of I-15.

Zeke drumming to the Christmas music while we were driving around. We keep those “drum sticks” in the car because he loves to drum.

I like it when people outline their house roof with lights. Zeke likes the blow up decorations a lot. We were driving in a different neighborhood one night and he saw a green Santa Grinch blow up and he said, “Look, mean guy!” It made us laugh.

Earlier this month, we visited my cute cousin Sarah, and her family. They are expecting their second boy in May.

Zeke, Jimmy, Me, Robbie, Sarah, and Kyson

Zeke really enjoyed his advent calendar from Grandma Z.

He didn’t quite understand about only eating one chocolate a day. I would open the right door for the day, but everyday he would get so excited and say, “Hold it!, Hold it!”  I let him hold it after a few days, and he ripped off as many doors as he could and stuffed the chocolates in his mouth.

My friend Rebecca baked gingerbread houses, and we decorated them at her house. It was so fun!

Rebecca decorating her house

Zeke playing with Rebecca’s son, Nick.

This might look like a head-lock, but it’s really a hug :)

Zeke and me with our house

Our profile is now on itsaboutlove.org! Click here if you want to see it. This link will take you to the main page, and you can view our other pages by clicking on the links located right above our pictures.

This is so exciting for us!! It totally made my day to see it on there!

We are approved for adoption! We received a letter in the mail last night. We were officially approved on Monday, December 15th. We are SO excited! Our online profile on itsaboutlove.org will be up soon, probably tomorrow or Tuesday. Woooohoooo!!

Every year for as long as I can remember, my family has gone to Winder Dairy to get scones at Christmastime. It is one of my favorite Christmas Season traditions.

The whole group, 18 of us in all.

Our family

Zeke and Evan with their pop cycles

I love the snowy winter nights inside a warm home. I love seeing Jimmy as a daddy. I love being a mommy. I love to hear Zeke say a prayer using his sweet prayer voice. I love how it is so bright outside when there is snow on the ground. I love sneaking into Zeke’s room and watching him sleep peacefully. I love drinking apple cider with Jimmy in our cozy robes with only the lights of the Christmas tree on.

Last night was one of those perfectly wonderful nights.

Our ward Christmas party was so much fun! The activities committee did a great job organizing it. They had different stations for the kids to go around to, and a list to check off after you went to each one.

Zeke at the picture coloring station. His good buddy Jack, (on the other side of me), is only 1 month older than him.

Zeke’s favorite station- the cookie decorating station. Another one of his good buddies, Boston, in the orange. Boston is only one month younger than Zeke. There are so many fun little friends in our ward, it’s awesome!

Santa talking about Jesus

Unfortunately, this year, Santa is definitely not one of Zeke’s good buddies.

Star performer

Zeke hiding from Bentley

“Here I am!”

Zeke now sleeps in a toddler bed!

We bought him a race car bed for Christmas, but we were so excited we gave it to him early. We set it up in his room on Saturday morning and he loved it! He jumped on it all morning, but when it came time for his nap, he didn’t want to sleep in it. We put him in, and he looked worried, and started to cry. We put him in his crib, and he took his nap. Before bedtime, Jimmy had the idea to put his new bed where is crib usually is, and later we decided just to take apart his crib and try him in his new bed. We did our usual routine, and then we layed Zeke down in his bed. He startd to look worried again, and he looked around for his crib rails. Jimmy and I asked him if he wanted a few more songs, and we sang to him as we held his hands. We left his door cracked open a little, and we were impressed when 15 minutes went by without seeing Zeke out of his bed. It took him about an hour to fall asleep, but he never complained, or tried to come out. When he was asleep, Jimmy and I snuck in to look at him. He looked so cute in his big boy bed! I checked on him a few times during the night, and every time I could hardly believe he was doing so well. At 8:15, we finally heard him say, “Dowk!” (that’s how he says get out), I ran to his room, and he was at the door. Jimmy and I could hardly believe he made it through the night without falling out.

We were thinking he would surely get out and play during his nap, but he didn’t! He did so well, and now it has been 4 naps and 4 bedtimes and he hasn’t gotten out once! He did wake up at 4am last night because his teddy bear fell on the floor. He started crying, and he was sitting up when I went in. I gave him his bear, and sang him a song, then he didn’t make another sound until 10 this morning!

I didn’t realize how huge of a step it is to transition your baby into a toddler bed. (Not that Zeke made it hard by resisting it), but Jimmy and I were a little sad the first night. Zeke has grown up so fast.

He is so good at learning new things and adjusting, he is Mr. Amazing!