Baby Teeth, Sitting Up, Army Crawling, and Spitties!

Branson is 6 months old!

Outtakes 

We were surprised at Branson's 6 month checkup to find out that he is in the 90th percentile for height! What's that now?!! Haha. I'm sure those numbers don't mean much at this age, and may not even be an indicator of future height, but still, not expecting that one!

Dr. Witt said if Branson keeps this up Nolan will be in trouble ☺

As a side note, Nolan keeps impressing the doctor with his vocabulary, he even spelled Dr. Witt's name for him! (I taught him in the car on the way there and he told him on his own).

Ok, back to Bran-man. He is a pretty good sitter although it's the stage where you always have to be nearby because he could topple over at any moment.

He also loves to make lots of noise doing "spitties" and yelling. When he yells he's not even mad, it's like he's just testing out how much noise he can make haha.

Both of his bottom teeth have poked through and we're pretty sure the top ones are just below the surface ready to come in. I guess that explains the constant drool that poor guy has going on! And man does he have a mean bite! Don't let him get your fingers in his mouth (and he wants them in his mouth!).

He's getting really good at working toys AND he's starting to be able to move himself to get where he wants! I know uh-oh haha, but we're so excited for him. He'll see something he wants and reaches as far as he can to grab it. Then when he realizes he can't quite get it he does this cute little army crawl that mostly comes from his legs.

He still hasn't given us a really big belly laugh/giggle and I'm starting to think maybe that's just his nature. Because he definitely laughs a lot (even snorts sometimes haha) - and it's easy to get him to laugh - but maybe he just has one of those quick laughs that never goes on and on and on. We'll see!

He can now eat any food (except for honey) and I have a feeling he's going to love it!

I have worried a bit that we've created some bad sleeping habits because he usually only falls asleep while eating or being held tight in our arms. But for the past several nights I've renewed my efforts to put him in his crib tired, but wide awake and he's done just fine (as long as he's sufficiently fed ☺).

At the same time, I'm not complaining about all the snuggles ♥ It's a tough balance I guess.

He still usually wakes up once a night and "needs" a binky or food, but the doc said that's probably just habit so we're currently trying to figure out how we can teach him to put himself back to sleep (aka cry it out) without waking up Nolan. **UPDATE (6.7.2017) After talking to a friend I decided I should just go for it and put them both in the same room. I also realized that when we were in Las Vegas we all slept in the same room and it was just fine. So anyway, I went for it last night and he slept the whole night! In fact Nolan was the only one that woke up crying from a bad dream. Anyway, we'll see tonight if that was just a fluke or not. **UPDATE #2, it was a fluke. As long as he doesn't wake up he's fine, but if he wakes up he can't get himself back to sleep. So yes, we have a problem, ugh.

Speaking of Nolan. Oey, he cannot wait to play and be rough with Branson. In fact, he's not waiting at all. The other day he can frequently be found steam-rolling Branson. And another time I caught him trying to pull B up by his shirt and HAIR (re-enacting a scene from Moana), and he'll sometimes hit him with his toy baseball bats ("I'm sword fighting with him mommy!"). And Jeanni has walked in more than once to find Nolan completely on top of Branson with the explanation, "I'm wrestling with him!" Good thing Branson is tough. Seriously though, the steam-rolling, and the pulling his shirt and hair? B acted like it wasn't even happening haha.

His cheese smile is my favorite. He does it when he gets really excited and it's almost always accompanied by sticking his legs out straight as a board.

If I had to describe my Branson in 5 words right now they would be sweet, snuggly, smiley, tough, and wet ☺

He has been such a light in our lives these past 6 months! It's a bit hard to remember what it was like without him. It's like he's always been with us. It's so true what people say - your heart just expands with each child. There's so much room for these sweet babies! We love our Branson so very very much! ♥ ♥ ♥

 

Piano

I've been getting the itch lately to get back to the piano. I have tried several times over the years to learn. I took lessons for maybe a month when I was younger, but the teacher moved and we never signed up for lessons again. I asked my mom a time or two to give me a lesson and she was happy to oblige. I can remember me plunking through a song and her telling me from the kitchen, "B sharp" or "that should be an E" haha. It's kind of crazy that both of my parents play the piano well, but none of us kids play. 

Anyway, I've also expressed my interest in learning to several friends over the years who then kindly offered to give me a lesson or two to give me a little start and help me 'learn on my own' (Sara Purcell, Rachelle Reid, Erica Lane (from BYU)), etc. It was clear though that I just didn't have the discipline or know how to teach myself and I needed some accountability. So about 5 years ago I started looking for a teacher and my friend Sylinda from the singles ward said she was learning to teach and would love to teach me. We could help each other! So I took lessons for about a year and a half from her. I definitely made some progress and enjoyed it well enough, but then she also moved.

Then Justin came along and I was busy dating ☺, then Nolan came along, then Branson and I was busy playing mommy ♥. Finally a few months ago I decided I really wanted to try again and hopefully find something more long term this time. I absolutely love hearing the piano being played and would love to have beautiful music in my home. I'd also love for my boys to take lessons when they get a bit older.

 I'm at a time in my life where I just don't have time for everything. It feels like balls are always being dropped whether it's housework, or going to the temple, or reading my scriptures, or working out, or cooking a nice meal, or laundry, etc. but I decided that learning piano really is at the top of my priority list, and is worth the effort to keep that ball in the air. 

So one night I got on Thumbtack, filled out the form, told my story, and within an hour I had a few teachers express interest in teaching me. Awesome! I looked at reviews, location, etc. and narrowed it down to two teachers who I asked to have a practice lesson with. Only one responded so the next week I went for my first lesson with Chelsey.

Best decision ever.

I could tell from the first lesson that she was the one I wanted to hire and there was no need to go back to the drawing board. I've been in lessons for not quite 3 months now and I have learned more in that short time than the entire year and a half I took lessons before. Before I was playing out of the grey simplified hymnbook and thought the 'real' hymnbook was much too difficult for me. But she had me playing from that and the Children's Songbook the first week! And with every confidence that I could do it. I'm learning music theory, how to sight read better and faster, etc. I'm just so so so excited about my progress! I sit down to the piano and I enjoy practicing because I can actually play new pieces without completely losing interest half way through!

I've been using a keyboard that I bought a few years ago and it's worked well - you can play hard and soft on it (which is better than a lot of cheaper keyboards), but the keys weren't weighted and I really wanted to find a nicer digital piano that was closer to the feel of a real piano. After several weeks of scouring KSL I found one! I got this baby at a pawn shop. It's a Yamaha and it's in great shape, just some very minor cosmetic issues. They were selling it for $600, but after some coaxing from Justin I negotiated a bit and got them down to $475! Unheard of for a Yamaha, even an older one!

I'm absolutely loving it so practicing is even more awesome lately ☺ Now I just have to pray that Chelsey doesn't move any time soon. Seriously, if she's still around in a few years I'm sending Nolan to her.

Doppleganger

A few days ago Gp Bailey texted us this picture and I was floored. Was I looking at Branson?!

The resemblance is incredible!
The picture is of Justin's grandpa Bailey as a young boy. His name was Everett Bailey - which is funny because we actually really liked the name Everett for Branson, but decided against it.

Even my family could see it! I showed them these two pictures: 

Anyway, I guess this makes it official, Branson definitely got some Bailey genes haha.

"You know what?! I love you"

In case anyone was wondering, Nolan still likes those Animated Book of Mormon videos, especially Nephi and the Brass Plates. However, I think we must be doing something wrong because he seems to be under the impression that Laman and Lemuel are the characters worthy of imitation in the story. One day he got up in Branson's face and said, "You have NO idea how to deal with a man like Laban...I'LL get the plates." Complete with a thumb jab and everything! 

And he's been known to shout, "Lies!!" just before whacking one of us with his toy baseball bat. Hmm, I think we better turn this train around haha!

One morning I sat next to Nolan on the couch and tried to sneak a video of him singing the Super Why theme song. It looked like he was going to start singing, but then he turned to me and said, "You know what?" "You know what?!"..."I love you." Melt my heart.

He's been in a toddler bed for probably 9 months now and seriously has only ever gotten up out of the bed without calling us maybe twice. Well, every once in awhile lately he'll get up and walk into our room. Luckily it's only ever been in the morning and I hear him coming, but still, I'm worried if he keeps this up be might get up in the middle of the night, come to my beside, whisper, "Mommy" and completely freak me out!

I mentioned before Nolan's dislike of QR codes. Well now it's worsened into all out fear! He literally jumps back with fear when you put one in his face. I try to be sensitive, but it's just so darn funny!!

He has kind of stopped doing it as often now, but for awhile there Nolan would try to beat box like Pentatonix. He would do the beginning of Sesame Street Numbers and Little Drummer Boy. LDB is my favorite, "chi chi koo koo, chichi koo koo." Adorable.

I love how he picks up his letters. He grabs each one carefully with 2 fingers on either side of the bottom part and holds it up before saying the letter. It's super cute and he's always done it that way.

Speaking of letters - we've been missing the 'S' and the 'F' since at Christmas. Nolan would get a little sad whenever he was putting his letters away and came to those letters. He'd point to it, get a sad look on his face, and say, "we don't have the S." Then lately he started getting creative and would try to put cookie letters or other magnetic letters in the spaces so they were filled. Well then he got even more creative and would just pretend there was an F or S and would put the imaginative letter in the space.

He was also starting to get frustrated because he would try to spell words that had two of the same letter in them and couldn't because he only has one of each. Justin decided he wanted to get him a second set so he could spell more words. I was totally on board with it so that he could learn more words, but still a little sad that he wouldn't need his creativity anymore.

I knew this would happen. So many nights Nolan would lay in his bed and sweetly say, "lay with me!" Sometimes I did for a few minutes, sometimes I told him I couldn't that night. I didn't want to get into a habit where I had to lay in his bed for an hour and cut into my already too little time with Justin. But every time I said no, or got up after just 10 minutes, I thought about how sweet it was that he wanted me to lay down and snuggle with him, how one day he wouldn't ask me anymore and I'd be heartbroken and maybe even upset with myself that I didn't lay with him more often. Well, it's here. I just realized that it's been awhile since he asked me to lay with him in his little bed

We try to be patient and encouraging with the boys. And we try to pick the right battles so we're not just constantly on him for things. But sometimes it's just SO hard! Little ones can be so frustrating because it's like they just don't have control over their instincts and they don't give one single care to dumping something out all over the floor. Oey. I know I lose patience too quickly sometimes, but when I'm trying to do something and getting a little frustrated and Nolan says, "I know you can do it!" or reminds me, "Remember what Daniel Tiger says to do when you're frustrated?" or "Are you happy mommy?" I know we're doing something right. He is a sweet, empathetic boy and I love him so much for that.

He is constantly surprising me with the stuff he remembers. We'll be driving and if we pass a Chase bank he'll say, "there's where we go to get money for jeanni" or "there's the grocery store" or "there's where we go to the doctor for Branson," etc. Or like last night when we were leaving Sara and Lis's house he said to me, "We need to give Sara money." What he means is that at least a month ago, maybe 2, we were at Sara and Lis's house and left to go home before I remembered that I owed Sara money for a movie. So we drove back and she met us in the parking lot where I handed her the money. He remembered that!

I was thinking one day about how funny it is that we get worried when Nolan is obsessed with something or worry that he's watching it too much or talking about it too much (like when The West Wing was all he ever talked about). And then just like that he's over it and we're kinda sad about it and miss it a little. 

Nolan doesn't like his food mixed at all. It's not that he can't have different foods touching each other, it's more that he wants it untouched by any kind of add on if that makes sense. For instance, he loves fruit, but not in a fruit salad with whipped cream. He loves carrots and beans and chicken (sometimes), but don't even think about feeding him a pot pie.

He still loves going to the grocery store with me and he's really good too. Once he was walking down the chip aisle behind me and got super excited and started running. I turned around just as he said, "Cheetos!" and pulled them off the shelf. He was so cute and said it so sweetly that I almost got them, but instead told him, "sorry buddy, they're not on sale. Maybe next time we can get them if they're on sale." And that sweet boy just put them right back and kept on walking. Geez I love him!

I love how Nolan says Branson's name (well, Bran man). He says the first part quickly and emphasizes the second part. "Bra maaaaen."

His new favorite videos are A Spoonful of Sugar from Mary Poppins, Let it Go, Smurfs, and songs from Moana.

Nolan loves helping in the kitchen, well, at least with desserts. This month he's helped me make cupcakes and a couple batches of cookies and he was involved the entire time. I'm amazed at his attention span! I didn't have to call him back once. But yeah, he's not so much into making dinner. Once, I asked him to help me make enchiladas and he said, "No. I make cookies!" (I did make him help me for a few minutes though ☺)

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Now for some pictures

I've had to take Justin to the airport super early a couple of times in the last few months so I got a different view of temple square.

Brittany was in town last month so my friends and I got together to hang out. And I'm a nice wifey and brought the boys with me so Justin could get some writing in ☺

Nolan loved swinging with Lis and Brit

Once while we were in The Container Store. Nolan said to me, "Ima go get lis" and followed a lady he thought was Lis for a minute or so despite me telling him that it wasn't her. Finally, about 10 ft away from the lately he stopped running abruptly and said, "oh, dats not Lis" and finally turned around haha.

I really have the best friends! Not only are they always there for me, but they are so sweet to my boys too! Although unfortunately, Nolan was being a little stinker to Sue the whole time, oey.

The next weekend I played in the annual Ice Breaker tournament in Ogden. As always Sue came to one of the games to watch me play. She so sweet and has been coming for years! And luckily Nolan warmed up to her by the time we went to lunch after the game ☺

Branson had no problem though. In fact, once when I asked Nolan why he was being mean to Suedles he said, "Because she's Branson's friend." hahaha! 

We've been enjoying having Gm and Gp Bailey so close

  

We went to the Verizon store several times this month in preparation for getting new phones. I'd say Nolan enjoyed playing with the tablets ☺

Nolan is loving his new letters for the bath. Here he is showing off spelling some words. He was trying to spell his name, but there's only one of each letter. Lame.

Branson trying to roll over. 

Nolan might have had amazing hair that stuck straight up, but Branson has his own cute little rooster tail in the back. It's always sticking up haha!

A couple of weeks ago we decided to try out having a family movie night. We set up a blanket on the floor, made mini pizzas, and popped some popcorn to get ready. Nolan was so excited about the whole set up and talked about it for days afterward. 

First up on our movie list? Moana! None of us had seen the movie, but Nolan had been watching the song, "You're Welcome" on YouTube and liked it so we thought we'd give it a shot. He's not the best at sitting still and watching a whole movie yet. I'm not sure if it's an attention span thing or that he just likes to play with the remotes so much and wants to 'start it over' every 5 min. But, I'm happy to say that he sat there an watched for at least 45 min before getting a little antsy. And he loved Moana! Update: He's watched it every day since haha.

He's always singing, "You're Welcome!" and his favorite lines are, "It's adorable!", "This guy!"(and points his thumbs to his chest), and "Giant...Hawk!" It's pretty stinkin' cute.

Same Batman onesie!

Watching TV with dad

Movie night!

Got caught in a rainstorm after Chic-fil-A!

Serenading Branson with his recorder

My cousin Marissa and her husband and 3 daughters, plus my Aunt Paula, and Gm Hunt came up to Salt Lake a couple of weeks ago because Marissa's singing group had a performance. The boys and I met up with them and my cousins, Chelseigh and Danielle, for lunch and to play at the dinosaur play area at City Creek.

It was so good to see them! Some of my cousins I haven't seen in a couple of years. It's sad how life just gets in the way sometimes, but it's always good to catch up!

L-R Danielle, Marissa, Chelseigh, Me

I also saw Elder Rasband there and shook his hand! He was watching his grandkids play and said, "Yep, I'm just here being grandpa today." I didn't get a picture though, didn't want to be annoying hehe.

Me and the boys got out of the house for a couple of hours to give daddy some writing time. Sara and Lis were busy so we (okay, Mommy) decided to go to Marshalls and poke around ☺

 Last Saturday was an absolutely perfect day. Not too hot, not too cold, just perfect. So we headed to the neighborhood park for some fun!

I'm LOVING the camera on our new phones, look how clear this picture is and, get this, it was actually a mess up! I was trying to take a quick picture, but didn't realize I was zoomed in. I love how it turned out though! What a handsome little cutie!

Nolan was doing a lot of teasing with daddy's hat.

Hey there handsome ♥ 

Auntie Banana was in town this weekend so we went down to Highland a few times. On Saturday night she had a bunch of friends over for dessert. She and Dean recreated a photo they took with Nolan 2 years ago at her graduation from UVU.

  

Branson getting some love from Brianna's friends.

...and Justin's friends.

Auntie B gave Nolan this super cute fox and he loves it!

Some crazy hail on the way to Target after my piano lesson!

We went to see a little friend of ours from the ward act in a play (his mother has cut Nolan's hair a few times). Nolan loved his special treat!

I saw this adorable book the other day of a little boy (with blue, rectangular framed glasses even!) who gets a little brother. He has a hard time at first because baby brother gets into everything and takes away attention, but in the end he learns how awesome it is to have a little brother ♥

Cute pics of the boys from Jeanni's house

We did a service project this week at work. We worked in the yard of the widow of one of our former team members that passed away last year. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to do some service!

Justin and I ran into our friend Gary downtown! He used to be part of our (Brit, Sue, Sara, and Lis)  weekly movie night! Best guy ever (sorry Justin) for liking period movies and watching them with us. We miss him in movie club!