A Kyle Update

Kyle started tripod sitting right around his 6 month mark in mid-December.  I thought for sure he'd be sitting solidly by Christmas, but no such luck.  He held out a few days and was solidly sitting by December 28.  I think he's enjoying his new perspective on the world.

Check out that mischievous grin!

Speaking of his 6 month mark, here are his well check stats:
Height: 28 inches (97%)
Weight: 18 lbs 5 oz (85%)
Head: 44 cm (83%)

Merry Christmas!

The Present Piles

Trying out the gifts

Caden 'teaching' Kyle how to unwrap a gift.

Ice Fishing

Despite the unseasonably warm weather this year, Utah Lake did finally freeze over (sort of).  So Ryan and Caden packed up for a short ice fishing trip at dusk.  Caden was really proud of the two fishies he caught.  But I think the highlight was skipping rocks across the ice.  Ryan said you could hear them going for what seemed like forever.  Add another to the list of nice father/son memories.

My Eye Hurts!

Eric occasionally complains of eye pain / a headache.  Its become increasingly more common and more intense.  After a few visits to the pediatrician regarding it, we took him to a pediatric ophthalmologist.  He got the full treatment, including eye dilation.  The doctor said whatever is buggin him doesn't appear to be eye related.  Ryan had the day off work, so he got to take him.  He snapped this picture of Eric in his way too big glasses post appointment.

Thanksgiving in Texas

This year we were lucky enough to fly to Houston to spend a week with the Carruth cousins right before Thanksgiving.  Although we found the camera a few days before the trip, since I'd been without it for 3 months I was out of the habit and didn't take a single picture.  Here are some highlights from the trip.
*Eric shouting, "Here we go!" as he could hear the airplane engines revving up for take off.
*The circus of getting through the airport with 4 adults (me, my parents, and Kellie), 3 small children, 6 carry on bags and 6 personal item bags.  This was slightly better on the return flight when daddy joined us and we had one more adult but the same amount of luggage.
*An afternoon at the Arboritum.
*A shopping trip with just the girls while the men stayed home with the 'sleeping' kids (at one point they had 5 of the 7 awake).
*A trip to the Houston zoo, complete with Aunt Kalina and cousin Clark.
*A boat tour of the Houston Harbor and some park time with the Broadbent Family.
*Seeing "Aurthor Christmas" in the big theater, courtesy of Aunt Kellie.
*A Thanksgiving craft to be used as placecards on the big day.
*Attempting to take a family picture with the self timer button.  The highlight of this had to be Uncle Bill dumping the recycle trash into the kitchen sink so he could use the bin to prop the camera at the correct height.
*Playing in the hot tub almost every day.
*Seven great days of sleepovers, playing games, and the party bus car rides.

Tree Planting

After 5 years of talking about it, we finally bought a tree for our front yard.  It should grow really big within the next 15 years and help provide us some relief from the unrelenting afternoon summer sun.  Ryan got a swinging deal on the tree and he and Eric planted it (see Eric's shovel on the grass?).  Eric was so excited to help daddy with the big hole.  I can't wait for it to leaf out in the spring.

Kyle Voted

Because we couldn't leave him out of the tradition.

The Fence

The boys helping daddy pour the retaining wall for the backyard fence.  Daddy is a good sport and let the boys help stir and shovel the concrete.  Ryan bought a small concrete mixer for this job and it saved tons of time. 

Milestones

At 4 months and 2 days old, Kyle hit the first of many milestones on his journey out of blob status.  He rolled over!  I predict he'll be sitting before his 6 month mark since he can already balance in the tripod position for a good 10 seconds.  Our baby is growing up too fast!

4 Months and 4 Years

Kyle at 4 Months
Length: 26 1/5 inches (87%)
Weight: 16 lbs 2 oz (75%)
Head: 42.9 cm (64%)

Caden at 4 years
Height: 41 inches (65%)
Weight: 39.6 lbs (80%)

Trouble

You know you're in trouble when you call your two year old to lunch by cheerfully saying his name and he responds with, "I didn't do it!"

Swing!

Uh, Oh

Caden's version of why I spent Saturday afternoon in the ER with him:
"When my cousins were my age they threw their backpacks down the stairs*.  I thought it looked like fun, so I threw my backpack down the stairs.  Then my button came out and I saw the blood, and I thought, "Uh oh."  Then it started to hurt and I cried really loud."
*Editors note: Caden has never seen his cousins wear backpacks, let alone throw them down stairs.  I'm not sure where this gem came from.

In case you're curious, having a button the size of a large marble exit through a hole smaller than a pencil is painful, bloody, and traumatic for all involved.  And while mom stays calmer under the pressure than dad, mom wimped out when it came to forcing the new button through the rapidly closing and swelling hole whereas dad pushed it right through.  We had to go to the ER to check placement and make sure there was no internal bleeding.  We hung out for 2.5 hours before Caden was given a clean bill of health and the all clear to return home.

A Child's Prayer

.... And I'm thankful that I'm 4 now and I can run the fastest ....

Four is Fast!

The only thing Caden wanted for his birthday this year was to play games with friends.  With such a simple and persistent request, how could I not throw him a friend party?  He ended up with 10 little friends over and the kids had a blast.  There was so much crazy fun happening I didn't get a single picture.  So here is Caden posing by two of his games - a train bean bag toss (thanks to my mom for making this awesome poster!) and pin the train on the track.  Notice how every single train made it to the track perfectly?  Yeah, I think we has some cheating 3 and 4 year olds at our party.  ;)

According to Caden, being 4 is cool because it means you are faster.  Whenever anyone asks him about his birthday he says, "I'm four, see?" and takes off running.  When he gets back he says, "Aren't I fast? I'm faster now because I'm four!"

Tummy Time

When Caden was a baby, I hauled the bouncer from room to room with me and he practically lived in it.  Eric preferred the swing, so I'd set him in it, turn it on, and walk away.  Kyle likes the floor and so he finds himself there frequently.  He gets carried from room to room and deposited as needed.  He loves the family room, though, because that is where his playmat is and he gets tummy time or toys to swat at while on his back.

Race Car Day!

Caden has been begging all summer to go see real race cars at a race car track.  We consulted the Miller Motor Sports Park website and stumbled upon a gem of a deal.  They have races for locals where the tickets are only $6 for adults, and kids 12 and under are free.  Yay!  So Ryan loaded up the boys and drove out to Tooele.  To their delight, there was more going on than just the advertised go-kart races.  Not only did they get up close and personal with the go-karts, they saw some auto races on the big track, jeeping on the fake mountain (which they hiked), drifting racing, and while everyone was distracted they even got to sit in the go-karts the public can pay to ride.  The boys had a blast.  I think we'll have to make this an annual tradition as long as the race car fascination persists.

Joseph

My favorite musical is Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  My favorite theater is Hale Center Theater in West Valley.  So when Hale advertised they'd be doing Joseph this year I ached to go.  But a nursing baby makes that a hard thing to do.  My sweet sister could tell I wanted to go, so she arranged it.  She convinced my dad to risk watching a baby he couldn't feed and got tickets for me to go with her and my mom (really, mom, dad, and Kellie have season tickets and Kellie arranged for me to use dad's this time around).  As we were sitting waiting for the play to start we got talking about all the times we've seen the play, and how we wore out multiple tapes listening to them in the car, and how none of us like the movie version starring Donny Osmond.  And then I realized just how much we love this play.  I can count on one hand the other books, movies, or plays I've seen/read multiple times.  Few things hold my attention after I've been through the story line once.  But Joseph is amazing, and I hope that Hale does Joseph again in 10 years so I can take my boys.  Because nobody can produce a play like Hale can.  Seeing Joseph there was a moving experience for me; I'd say borderline spiritual.  Thanks, Kellie!

Millions of Peaches

Peaches for me! Millions of peaches, peaches for free.  (Some of you should now be humming an annoying song from the 90's.)

We planted 7 fruit trees the first spring we were in our house.  We used the Christmas money from my fruit stand loving Grandpa Loveridge to pay for them.  It seemed fitting.  This year we finally got our first big harvest on our peach trees (the past few years we've had just enough to eat.)  I suppose we got a little anxious because the branches got too heavy and two of them broke.  It was a sad, sad day.  Ryan cut up the branches and boxed the nearly ripe fruit up.  We got 30 quarts off just those two branches.

Utah State Fair

Another year, another adventure at the State Fair.  We saw the animals, we browsed the displays, and we did our traditional run through the Little Hands on the Farm exhibit.  Then the adventure really started and the rain came pouring down.  We took refuge under some bleachers and waited out the rain for about an hour.  After the rain let up we tried to venture over to the Lego Land booth, but they were still all packed up trying to avoid water damage.  Caden investigated the massive Lego displays while Eric did what two year olds do best and got a kick out of running through the big puddles.

Dodds Family Reunion

We went to Little Creek Ranch to meet up with my dad's siblings and their offspring for the Dodds Family Reunion.  We drove down and back the same day, so it was sort of long, but still worth it and fun.  A few highlights from the day: 

The family talent show.  Caden sang "I Love to See the Temple."  Eric was supposed to sing with him, but between the crowd and the microphone there was so much going on Eric just gaped in awe while Caden belted out a solo.

Grandpa and Aunt Kellie helped the boys ride a horse.  Grandma was nearby on another horse.  I was rocking in a glider with Kyle, who I deemed too young to have the equestrian experience.

We played a variety of games.  The only one I got a picture of was the 'barel races' on the stick ponies.  The kids thought they were so cool galloping around the water bottle barrels.

We also spent some time relaxing in the backyard.  While the adults chatted Eric made new friends playing in the dirt and Caden watched the big boys long enough he taught himself to dribble a ball.

Smith Reunion

Every August we get together with my mother's maternal cousins for a little reunion.  Here are a few pictures from this year's adventure at the park, courtesy of the family photographer, Brooke.  We rotated through watching the boys play on the park.  The majority of the crowd was over under the pavillion.

Caden (er, Ryan) won the guessing game for how many Starburst were in the jar.  Eric was thrilled with the prize - a small bouncy ball.  Eric loves balls, especially small ones that will fit in his pocket.

Fly Like an Eagle

Ryan has spent the last two weekends (Thursday morning - Saturday night) at Woodbadge.  Woodbadge is a Boy Scout leader training camp.  Ryan's experience was somewhat unique in that our Stake President decided he wanted all the young men leaders, bishoprics, and members of the High Council to attend, so this session was attended and staffed 95% by members of our stake.  Although Ryan was dreading the training, it turned out he had a pretty good time and learned some valuable skills.  To finish the program he has to complete 5 Tickets (long term goals) over the next 12 months.  Ryan was made a member of the Eagle Patrol.  This picture, taken on the last day, is of him with the other members of his patrol.

Sunday Drive

Caden and the neighbor boy going for a Sunday drive on our newest toy.

2 Months and 2 Years

Eric and Kyle had well check visits today.

Eric's 2 Year Stats
Length: 34" (39%)
Weight: 23 lbs (6%)
Head: 47 cm (8%)

Kyle's 2 Month Stats
Length: 24" (82%)
Weight: 13 lbs 3 oz (79%)
Head: 40.9 cm (69%)

Yup, we've got one at the bottom of the growth charts and one at the top.  Go figure.

Turning 2!

[Its official.  I've lost my camera.  After searching for nearly 2 months I'm afraid it was thrown away by a well meaning 2 year old.  So this post (and many others) has no pictures.][Found the camera.  It got left in the truck after the birthday party at the park.]

Our cute little Eric turned 2!  We had a low key birthday for him.  I pulled a muffin out of the freezer, stuck 2 candles in it, and we sang happy birthday.  He loved blowing out the candles and wanted to do that again.  When he finally went to eat the muffin he stared at it, glanced at me, then back to the cupcake and announced, "I need a fork!"

After cake we did presents.  Caden helped me wrap them during Eric's nap, so he was plenty happy to distribute them.  "Here you go, Eric.  This one is a book.  Open it.  See!  Its a book!  Want the next one?  Its a bean bag game!"

Then it was off to Highland Glen Park where we took advantage of the rental canoe for Lake Powell that we hadn't returned yet.  The kids love going to the little pond and got a big kick out of chasing the ducks in the canoe.

Lake Powell

After Kyle's blessing we took off for Lake Powell with my Grandpa Loveridge and my cousins.

My dad brought a kayak that, for the most part, my boys enjoyed riding in.  They weren't so thrilled with being splashed by the paddles.  Ryan and dad paddled the kayak all the way from the launch ramp to the buoy field - no small feat.

Caden thought he was so cool driving the houseboat.

The kids carried on a tradition from when I was young, and Caden put on his own 'war paint' (aka, colored zinc for sunscreen)

Ryan spent most of his time tying a hammock.

The boys loved swimming with Aunt Kellie, Grandma, and Grandpa.

Eric was a little intimidated by the water, but still wanted to be part of the action, so he would ride around in our inflatable boat.  When my mom was busy, they would swim with 'Other Grandma' (aka my mom's twin sister).

Here are my boys relaxing after a playing hard.

New Hardware

After another trip to the ER due to Caden helping himself to food, we've locked it up.  He simply thinks he is no longer allergic to food and doesn't believe us when we try to tell him otherwise.

Despite the potential for aiding in weight loss by cutting down on mindless munching, somehow I don't think gate hinges and bike locks are really going to take off as kitchen decor.

Kyle's Blessing

Today we gave our little Kyle a name and a blessing.  His middle name is after my uncle Wally, a man who is generous, kind, and funny.  We hope our little Kyle will emulate some of these great qualities in his namesake.  Ryan was voice for the beautiful blessing, and we were lucky enough to have lots of family join us. 

This family picture is so telling.  The chaos is exactly how life is with 3 kids - 3 little boys doing 3 different things.

Ahh, Allergies

When Kyle was born one of the most frequent questions we got was some variation of "Does he have food allergies."  We can now answer that yes, just like his big brothers he has multiple food allergies.  So far we've identified milk, egg, wheat, peanut, and probably flax.  Since he seems to be reacting to flax (a very rare allergen) I fully expect the list to grow.  In some ways its easier to handle because we've been here and we know what to expect.  In other ways its harder because we've been here and we know what to expect.

Good news on the Eric allergy front, though.  Right before Kyle was born we trialed wheat and he passed! I got so excited about him passing wheat I retrialed a few other foods, all of which he failed.  Avoiding both corn and wheat at the same time is one of the hardest things we do.  When we first encountered the combination I used to pray to get one or the other back for Caden.  For some reason I felt like I could work around all the other restrictions if I could just get one of those key grains back.  Obviously we never did with Caden.  When Eric turned up with the same combination I simply accepted it.  Having him outgrow wheat is one of those tender mercies from the Lord.  I feel its an answer to all those prayers I prayed when trying to figure out how to feed Caden.

As for Caden, he's still tube fed with just a handful of foods he can eat.  Due to the generosity of some family members and perfect strangers, we've been able to add lamb to his diet.  He declares lamburgers as 'the best thing ever' every time he eats them.  I've posted so many times about how well he deals with his lot in life, but this past week he reminded us that he is just 3 years old, living in a world of food.  He was intruged by Eric's new treat (saltine crackers) and wanted to try them out.  So he helped himself to 3 of Eric's crackers, and we found ourselves pumping his stomach (having a tube has got to have some advantages, right?), administering the epi pen, and hanging out in the ER for a few hours.  We've taken him to the ER for allergic reactions before, but this was the first time we've had to use the epi.  There is something alarming about looking at your child and honestly believing that he wouldn't survive the 5 minute ride to the hospital.  I'm happy to report the epi did its job and Caden is no worse for the wear.  In fact the next day he declared he had fun at the hospital and wanted to go back. 

Offerings

The boys thought for sure Kyle needed some toys to play with while he was in the swing today.

Grandpa

Hanging out with Grandpa Dodds on the back porch glider.

My Drink!

I've finally jumped on the green smoothie bandwagon. Despite their appearance, the green smoothies are actually quite good. Eric loves them. As soon as he sees me mixing one he gets all excited and starts pointing and saying, "Drink! Drink!" Today he took a few sips, then grabbed the cup and ran off, saying, "My drink!" I'm sure more moms wished they had to arm wrestle their kid to give back the veggies.

Yee-Haw!

For date night tonight we took the boys to a Farmer's Market my friend organized at Hee Haw Farms.  In addition to the typical Farmer's Market fare, the farm had the petting zoo, slides, train, and pony rides open.  For the first time Caden was brave enough to ride the pony and he had a blast.  Eric loved the train ride, but we didn't get any pictures.  That spot on Caden's cheek is courtesy of a pretty big wipeout at the bottom of the giant slide.  All in all it was an enjoyable night.  For any of you who live in the area, Fridays on the Farm is every Friday through the end of September.

Pittsburg Lake

Ryan and the scouts hiked in to Pittsburg Lake for their overnighter this weekend.  The trail to the top is only 1.5 miles, but the elevation gain is 2,200 feet.  That translates into a really steep trail.  Ryan, in wanting to be uber prepared, loaded his pack a little too heavy.  It weighed in at 45 lbs; the boys were all sent with nothing more than sleeping bags to carry up the trail.  Ryan is strong, but his cardio is a little lacking.  The hike up was a memorable experience, to say the least.  He survived, and next year his pack will be lighter. 

Swimming with the Cousins

Or more accurately, the second cousins. My aunt has a pool and since Emilee and her kids are in town we met up with my cousins for an afternoon at the pool. Eric wasn't impressed, so he just watched from the sidelines.