The Fight Is Over!

For over a month now (Parker is 7 months old) I have been trying to get Parker to eat baby cereal. Almost everyday, and sometimes twice a day, I would have him try some. He has a very stubborn little mouth and he would not open it. He would keep it closed very tightly or spit. If I did get a bite in his mouth he would spit it out. My mom has been staying with me for awhile and she was trying to help me, but he just wouldn't budge. Saturday night Lindsay and Jason babysat and I told Lindsay to try and feed him and she said it was no problem and he just ate the cereal for her! Then Monday night we were at Austin and Amy's for dinner and I brought some cereal and Daniel held Parker and he ate it all! It was amazing!!!! And now Parker is eating it 3 times a day. Our next hurdle is to get him to stop spitting out the fruits and vegetables. He even spits out Cherrios. I think the not trying new foods thing comes from his great-grandma Dougherty which was passed on to her daughter, and then passed on to Parker's daddy. I believe the 3 girls, Ash, Linds, and Britt, also have this PROBLEM, ha ha!! But I am so glad that Parker is eating cereal. He is sleeping through the night again (7:30-7:30), instead of waking up at 6:00am, YEAH! We are so proud of Parker. He is a cute little eater. He leans forward for a bite with his mouth wide open.

Cousins

My mom's 3 grandchildren

Parker, Staucie, and Bella

My Staucie

One of our couches was picked up so it could be fixed, finally! (It was delivered with a tear and it took them 6 months to come pick it up again, so who knows if we will ever see it again!) Anyways, we just have the cushions and pillows and Staucie has loved jumping and playing on them. She makes me have Baby or Blue jump with her.
Staucie and Baby. Baby is wearing Staucie's beloved "blankie." She must really love her baby.

Parker!

Parker is a rolly polly baby. He can get around the front room really well now. He is getting the army crawling thing down better every day now. He can get to any toy that he wants to. He especially loves Staucie's toys!

Happy Birthday Uncle Jared!

Baby Bella!

Here are some pictures of my new niece. She is so cute! These pictures don't really show how adorable she is. She has hair! I love her hair!

Right after the c-section with her Dad and Mom.
Bella and her Dad.

Bella (I am holding her).
Me and Bella :)

Just a side note: We know that Bella would have survived if she was small and had to be in the NICU, but it is a blessing that she was ready to go home because we wanted Amy to be able to take care of her baby and enjoy her before she has her surgery to remove the tumor in her lungs. She will be out of it for awhile and won't be able to take care of Bella. So, we think Bella is their little miracle baby who was completely ready to be born 3 weeks early and go home with her mommy. There is nothing like a newborn and I am so happy Amy can enjoy hers before her surgery and all that will follow. We love you, Bella, and are so happy you are here!

Austin & Amy

I just wanted to let those who are wondering know that Austin and Amy had their baby on Thursday at 2:36 pm. Her name is Bella and she is perfect (I will post pictures later). She was a little miracle baby. She weighed 6 pounds 15 ounces and was 3 weeks early. We know that because of all the prayers and fasting that Bella was ready to be born 3 weeks early! She was a full-term baby and is doing well. We, especially Austin and Amy, are grateful for all the prayers offered in their behalf. I know that Heavenly Father watches over us and listens to our prayers. I am so grateful that Bella was ready to be born 3 weeks early. She knew her mother needed to have her early. Amy will be having her surgery in 2-6 weeks, I am not sure how soon yet. Thanks for all your prayers.

Nursery Injuries

Today after church when we got home we noticed a mysterious mark on Staucie's cheek that we did not notice during Sacrament meeting. Daniel wanted to take her to the doctor to make sure it wasn't anything serious. At first, we had no idea what it could be, but then decided it might be a bite mark. I finally tracked down the Nursery leader and she told me that it was a bite mark. She said one of the moms (who I know) told the nursery leader that her son was giving Staucie lots of loves in nursery and then bit her cheek and they had forgotten to tell me. I can see why someone would bite Staucie's cheek, they are just so cute and squishy that I guess he just couldn't resist! So, mystery solved!

We are looking at my phone, apparently it is VERY interesting.

B-B-Q

Whenever Daniel BBQs Staucie likes to go on the balcony with him. Last night it was freezing, but she REALLY wanted to go out, so I bundled her all up so she could be with her daddy :)

What The Kids Have Been Up To...

Sunday night we put the pillows in front of the couch and Staucie LOVED jumping on them. She did it over and over and over again. We finally had to clean it up and have some "down" time so she could settle down for bed.

Read, Set,...

GO!
While Staucie proceeded to jump off the couch I was blowing on Parker's tummy and he was laughing. He loves his tummy and neck kissed and tickled.
Staucie got Baby Tad a year ago for Christmas from Grandma Lees and she has loved him ever since. Parker also loves Baby Tad. He lights up and plays music. It is rare that Staucie lets Parker play with him though.

Parker is sporting his Harley t-shirt. It reads, "Stroller Today, Harley Tomorrow." If you can't guess, he got this shirt from my dad. He also likes to suck in his bottom lip a lot so he can be a Cabbage Patch Kid.

This is Staucie Friday night. Daniel went camping (again) with the Scouts and after dinner that night Staucie decided her baby needed to eat in the high chair too. So I lowered the high chair and Staucie got her chair so she could feed her baby. Now she always wants to feed her baby and Baby Tad in the high chair.
The other day I gave Staucie a bath in the middle of the day while Parker was asleep because it is hard to give baths at night when Daniel is not home. He was gone a lot last week in the evening for Scouts. I let Staucie play in the bath for like a half an hour. She got all wrinkley but had a lot of fun and splashed out lots of water. She did wake up Parker though because she is super loud!
And this morning when I was getting the kids dressed Staucie dressed herself. She put on Parker's pants and ran around for awhile. At least she tried covering herself for the picture.

President Gordon B. Hinckley

We were so sad to learn about the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley. He was a beloved prophet and will be missed by all. We are glad that he is with his sweet wife and pray that his family is comforted. We love you President Hinckley.

Staucie says: " hgkjhg/1
bbc gsdzdddfh.;l53014lh .; bbn ghjj....../ngv1 ydvfhuk.jn ;;h../hgdvn45511411212121
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hjkmcd8yb nvg kn ,/;jgb "

More Prayers

Our families have been in need of lots of prayers. We ask you to keep Amy and Austin & Amy's baby in your prayers this week. Amy will be having the baby on Thursday the 31st, 3 weeks early. We pray that the baby's lungs will be strong. Amy will then have surgery 2-6 weeks later to remove the tumor in her lungs.

We have been praying for our mother, Toni, with all that has been going on with her. We are grateful that despite the doctors, she is doing okay.

We now ask for a special prayer for Lindsay's finance, Jason's mother. She has a tumor in her heart and colon. We pray for Julie and her family. We pray that the doctors will be able to do all they can for her and that she will recover from all that she will be going through.

We are so grateful for our families here on this earth. We have been blessed with such great families and pray for all of them each day. We are grateful for the gospel in our lives and for the power of prayer and the Priesthood. We love each and everyone of you.

Love, Daniel, Sheena, Staucie, and Parker

Family Night & Mommy's Bed

Last night for Family Night I was reading a story from the Ensign and Staucie joined me. She LOVES reading and has recently enjoyed reading magazines, such as Ensigns and my Parenting magazines. She can sit and "read" them for awhile. She did keep stealing the Ensign that I was reading from. Like in this picture she has the one that I was reading.
This morning she decided to lie in my bed for a little bit while I was getting ready. She didn't stay still for very long and so I got her some magazines to read. Her baby and Baby Tad joined her too.

Playing in Parker's Bed

Staucie LOVES to play in Parker's bed. She always wants in it. They "played" together in it yesterday by watching the mobile go around. Parker closed his eyes for ALL the pictures, he hated the flash. I usually take Parker out of his bed when Staucie wants in. This morning we were at our neighbors playing with her kids. She has a 3 year old boy and a 6 month old girl. Kim went to get her baby up and when I went in there Staucie was in Kim's baby's bed! Kim said she put Staucie in it. And then Kim's 3 year old came a climbed in too! It was a party in the baby bed!

Holding Parker

Staucie wanted to hold Parker the other night when they were getting ready for bed. This never happens so we took a lot of pictures. I just kept snapping them until they were both done. Parker was REALLY tired.

Staucie Pictures

I was trying to get Staucie to let me take pictures of her, but she wasn't doing anything that I wanted her to do. Then I tried taking a picture of us together, but it either cut her off or me. I thought I needed longer arms until I realized I just needed to hold her face up next to mine instead of having her sit on my lap. I am so SMART!

Box Seats at the Utah Jazz

Daniel and I went to the Utah Jazz vs. Clippers game tonight. Daniel's employer, XanGo, has a box there. Thanks to Ashley who watched our kiddies! It was fun to sit in box seats and eat lots of food and they had Dr. Pepper for me to drink. They even had diet Dr. Pepper, so I had one of both. I have never been to a Pro basketball game. I am not a sports fan, unless I am watching Daniel play or something, but it was really fun to go and be with Daniel. I took these pictures with my phone and emailed them to myself.

This is Daniel and I leaving the game.

This is our view from the box (with my camera phone).
This is me trying to "zoom" with my camera phone.

Congrats to Stacie and Brandon

My friend Stacie had her baby today. Congratulations! He was 7 pounds 15 ounces and I am excited to go see him tomorrow! Stacie sent me his picture on my phone while we were at the basketball game. I always tell Daniel that I want one when I see a newborn. Daniel then reminds me that Parker is still a baby.

Stickers

We had some left over stickers from Amy's baby shower. I tried to get Staucie to put them on a piece of paper, but she thought her face was a better idea...

The baby needed some too.
When Parker woke up from his nap, he got some on his face too.