Cousins Move to Utah!!

Justin and I have often lamented the fact that, as much as we really like living in Utah, it kind of stinks that we aren't that close to family and our boys won't get to grow up with cousins close by. Well...not anymore! After months of deliberation and soul searching, Uncle Preston and Aunt Devin made the brave decision to make a major career switch. Preston wasn't happy as an attorney and, after talking A LOT with Justin and realizing that there were a great many aspects to Justin's job that are exactly what he'd like in a career, he decided to join Justin's work team! Which means they are moving to Utah!!

We tried really hard to not push them in any direction whatsoever, but now that they've made the decision I'm not sorry to say we are super duper excited! I can't wait for our boys to have cousins nearby to grow up with! (Of course, we're all a little sad for my mom and dad, Granky, and Uncle BJ, Kirsten, and cousin Logan :( but so glad they still have each other in LV).

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The Preston and Devin Mathews crew leaving Las Vegas, headed for Utah!

The moving crew! We have the best family ever. Uncle Robert, Aunt Suzie, Paul, Uncle Alan, Tyler, Christie, and Ty (and cute little Claire) all came to help ♥

We were all super worried about the weather. It was supposed to snow pretty badly on Friday, but the weather stations kept moving the time of the storm back and back. The latest forecast was that it would start snowing at 7pm, exactly when we were supposed to start moving them in. Ahhh! But, our prayers must have been answered because we were able to get them all moved in with not a hint of snow. Then, as we brought the last of the items in the house, it started to flurry. Whew!

Their new house in West Bountiful.

Uncle Justin showing Beck pictures of the Provo Rec Center pool that we'll definitely be going to this summer! 

The next night we brought them dinner. Devin's mom, Marna, and her siblings, Brandt and Davis, as well as another cousin and his two small boys were there too. It was quite the crew and a lot of fun! Also, all boys! So many boys in this family haha!

We're so glad they're finally here after so much anticipation. We hope they love it!

Branson's First Haircut

I have been thinking Branson really needed a haircut for about 2 weeks now, but Justin kept putting if off. I think he wanted to keep his baby a baby for a bit longer (ok, that's super sweet). But, as you can see from the pics, it was starting to get in his eyes so we had to do it (sorry daddy!).

The crazy thing is that we looked back at pictures and this was about the same time (within a few days) that Nolan got his first haircut too! They were on the same schedule without us even realizing it!

We braved the freshly fallen snow and took him to Cookie Cutters for his first cut. 

He of course loved the slide! 

And he was an absolute champ for the haircut! Give that kid a sucker and he's good to go ☺

Branson loves his big brother ♥

I'll just add one more cute pic from our shopping trip afterward. I sure love these handsome boys of mine!

The Coolest Park Ever

Yesterday we went to look at houses down in Sandy and had some time to kill before meeting Gm and Gp Bailey for dinner so we went to the Wild West Jordan Park. I'm telling you, that is probably the most awesome park EVER! It's huge, with so many fun things to do and - most awesome in my mind - it incorporates Utah history and geology. So fun!! #iknowimadork.

How cute is this place?!!

So many fun places to explore.

Saltair

Would you believe me if I told you that this is not a picture of Nolan falling DOWN, but attempting to climb UP and over?! ☺

There's a library next door so of course we had to stop in! This is Nolan showing Branson where the Star Wars book are ♥

I think it's safe to say this place is definitely worth the drive!!

Valentine's Day

I think the boys had a fun time with Valentine's Day this year. We got them each a few fun things, mostly centered around love and Star Wars ☺

They each brought Jeanni a rose. She opened the door and Nolan handed his to her and said, "Happy Valentine's Day Jeanni!" I think her heart melted ♥

Of course Jeanni couldn't resist getting them a little something too so they got doubly spoiled!

Nolan loved this Valentine's Day 'game' we played for FHE. I wrote down things that show love or don't show love on slips of paper. I read each one in turn and Nolan had to decide if it showed love or didn't. If it did show love he got to tape it on the house because we want that thing in the Bailey house. If it didn't show love he got to crumple up the paper and throw it in the trash bc we don't want that in our house (he loved that part ☺) 

Big Boy Nolan

There have been lots of changes for our Nolan lately. First, at the beginning of the year he graduated from Nursery and is now a Sunbeam!

Here's a picture of him holding a photo they took of him when he first started Nursery.

  

Meeting his teachers and coloring an 'about me' page. 

Again, he can't figure out which hand to color with ☺

He took his Darth Vader PEZ with him the first day to keep him company.

I asked him the questions on the form and wrote them as he told me. I'm sensing a theme here ☺ Also, are you impressed with my DV?

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Potty Training

We really didn't have any intention of potty training Nolan anytime soon. I had trusted friends who've been there many times tell me not to even bother until they're well into 3 or even 3 1/2. So I wasn't in a big hurry, plus I was kind of in denial and have heard so many horror stories that I just didn't want to deal with the hassle of 1. learning how to potty train, and 2. teaching Nolan how. Also, I'm lazy. I liked being able to go out and go on long road trips without having to worry. I could change diapers on my time, when it was convenient for me haha (and by 'me' I of course mean 'we' because Justin is awesome and changes just as many diapers as I do ♥).

So, why start now? We sort of stumbled on the right motivation. 

Justin is really just a big kid and has been loving playing Star Wars with Nolan. So he checks the prices on new SW toys daily and since they fluctuate greatly in price, he nabs them when they're cheap. I didn't know this until we got a package and told me there were two new SW toys inside haha. He said he wasn't sure when to give them to Nolan since there's not really a good occasion coming up. So I brought up the idea of using them for potty training motivation when the time came. Justin was on board with that and showed Nolan the next day. He told him he would get the Tie Fighter when he went potty for the first time (he's been saying he doesn't want to until he's 4...or 20 haha).

I don't think we realized just how motivating those toys would be!

Nolan was all in. That first day we came home from church and he pooped in his diaper (we hadn't even officially started training yet) and he came up to us so upset and said "he just forgot!" Luckily I had already bought some undies months ago in case so we put them on and we were off and running. He went on the potty the very next time he needed to go! I hope I never forget his look of surprise, pride, and joy all at the same time ♥

So excited about his new tie fighter!

We were pretty brave (or dumb, can't decide) and took him that night literally probably 3 hours after we started potty training so Gm and Gp Bailey's for dinner 35 minutes away. He was good in the car, but had one accident when we got there (sorry Gm and Gp!). I stayed home from work the next day and he did great. We even went to Costco that night! And then Jeanni took both he and Branson to the library on day 3. Again he did great. Basically, once again Nolan has made incredibly easy a transition that is supposed to be really difficult. We love that boy!

He's been going potty for a month now and he's had less than 5 accidents I think and he's only ever wet at night once! Wow! One funny story I have to tell is from night 2 I think it was. I saw Nolan running to his regular 'pooping spot' in the corner of the kitchen so I jumped and said, "Nolan! Do you need to go potty?" He stopped in his tracks and said, "Oh! Yah!" So we started running to the restroom, him behind me. As I'm running I hear Justin say from the couch, "Oh, oh!...too late." haha. Apparently Nolan couldn't quite hold it in and as he was running little poop pellets were flying out of the sides of his underwear like popcorn ☺ Justin said it was hilarious to see. When N and I got in the bathroom I took his undies off and as I was cleaning up Nolan sighed, hung his head, and said, "so embarrassing." hahaha. Cute, sweet boy!

We made a potty chart for him to fill out and after a week he earned his second surprise, Kylo Ren's Tie Silencer (pronounced by N, "syencer").

Just telling Jedi stories and going potty.