Rexford Update

Yesterday Rexford said, "Austin came out your tummy. Can we go to the hospital again and get another baby brother?"

During family home evening I told Rexford we were going to talk about the Holy Ghost. Rexford says, "Holy Ghost says boo!" Brian and I started laughing of course. After the lesson he said, "Holy Ghost help me feel happy" so he learned something.

One night this week Rexford got mad at me and put his hands on his hips and said in a mad voice, "I'm not putting up with this!" I had to laugh because it was cute and he probably got it from me.

On a sweeter note, he's been saying, "I'm taking care of Mommy."

Most of you know that Rexford loves firetrucks and is super excited when we drive by the fire station and they are outside. One day he told me, "I saw lots of firetrucks Mommy." I said, " I know, you love fire trucks." Then he asked, "Can I drive one when I grow up?" I don't really want him to grow up though :)

Other things about Rexford I need to write down so I don't forget: Rexford loves to talk on the phone and will talk super fast going around the room and talking about things he sees. It's really funny so I'll have to try to get a video to post. He is also very specific about which WordWorld and Diego episodes he wants to watch and will tell you if you put the wrong one on. He now turns on his own water for his bath and climbs in and out all by himself. He wants to be a big boy and do a lot of things by himself. I often find him climbing on the bed to give Austin a kiss or turning off his swing when he cries and telling me to take him out. He is so excited about Christmas trees and ornaments and tells me that he wants a Christmas tree when asked what he wants for Christmas. He is now super friendly to people we see when we're out and says hi to everyone. He knows what car everyone in our families drive and he knows where certain people work. He'll always point it out when we pass by. He knows which way to turn from our house to go to the store or the park and it's amazing how much he remembers.

This Week

Little Austin is definitely growing! He's now wearing size 1 diapers and has moved out of most of the newborn clothing. He's getting chubby in his face and adding a little fat on his skinny arms and legs. He still eats less than Rexford did and still sleeps quite a bit. He is awake more though and likes to look around outside and stare at the toys on his little play mat. He has started to really smile a few times this week when I talk to him in the morning although I don't have any on camera yet. He has worried me quite a bit this week with his terrible congestion and little cough so I hope he's okay. He has trouble breathing well when he's flat so most of the time he ends up on my chest because I can't bear to hear him snort and breathe like that. Rexford has been sick this week with a runny nose and bad cough. Hopefully they'll both be feeling better soon! It's been a little cold this week but we've managed to have a little fun outside, taking walks and playing at the park. Here are some photos of my boys.

Austin taking a nap in the swing

Rexford thought it was fun to hold Austin and laughed when he started to fall over

I couldn't get Austin to look at me but they're cute anyway

Austin and Rexford hanging out together on the couch

Rexford gets so excited when Daddy comes home from work. He loves it when Brian bounces and plays with him on the bed.

It looks like Austin is crying here but he really just had his mouth open. Aren't they so cute together?!

I almost caught one of Austin's smiles but not quite. He's getting older :( but I love it that he can smile for real now.

Sea World

Rexford has been asking to go to Sea World and so I decided I was brave enough to try it this week. Not alone, of course. My sister Alyson offered to come with us (she goes out with me a lot thank goodness, it is a big help) so we went yesterday. I was proud of myself for keeping our stuff to two bags (one for stuff and one for food) and for getting out of the house by 8:30 am. Austin was pretty good and slept a lot for us. Rexford had tons of fun playing in the big sand pit, going on the kid rides, and seeing all of the animals. He was very excited that there were Christmas decorations and trees around the park. I was pretty tired by the end of our visit but I'm glad I went because Rexford had so much fun.

Austin's first visit to Sea World

Rexford trying to touch a dolphin

Rexford loves to look at the cool fish

Austin sleeping while Rexford enjoyed the rides

Aly and Rexford on Swishy Fishies

Carousel ride - Rexford insists on riding on a dolphin each time

Rexford with the Christmas tree

He is so excited about trees and wants to touch all of them when we see them in the stores

Rexford decided to push the dump truck down the slide instead of going down himself. I don't know if you can see it in the video but he was smiling so big and laughing every time he pushed it down.

Rexford and Austin

I was looking at pictures of both boys to see how alike/different they look. I think Austin does make faces and sometimes looks likes Rexford but they are very different looking too, especially in pictures. Here are some pictures of both of them at birth and at 4 weeks old.

Rexford - 4 weeks old

Austin - 4 weeks old

Rexford on Wheels

Rexford hasn't really used his tricycle that much in the last few months because it has been so hot. Lately we've let him ride more since the weather is better. He's really getting the hang of pedaling and wants to do it by himself. Here's a video I took today of him riding his tricycle. I was really surprised that he really can do it by himself!

Time Alone

Sunday is my time alone with Austin. We haven't taken him to church yet since he's so young so Brian takes Rexford and I stay home with Austin. Since taking care of two kids keeps me busy I try to take some time on Sunday when I'm alone with him to take some pictures and videos, talk to him more, show him some pictures in a book or some baby toys. He still sleeps a lot and sometimes when both kids are with me I can't take advantage of his few awake moments. Here are some pictures I took today of the little guy.

Getting Chubby

Austin is now three weeks old and starting to chunk up a little bit. He's still little but his face is definitely getting fatter now that he's eating more. He's still sleeping well and is a little more awake for us. I swear he smiles at me already. Rexford is still so sweet to him. We've had a fun week but unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of our day at the park feeding the ducks or our kite flying fun yesterday. Here's our little one.

Austin's First Bath

Austin had his first real bath on Halloween night and as you can tell, he didn't really like it. He did calm down a little at the end but he screamed for most of it.

Trick or Treat

Rexford was really into Halloween this year. We went to visit Grandma the day before Halloween and he got treats there. Then we went over to church for the Trunk or Treat where he got some more candy. On Halloween, Aunt Lisa and Uncle Jason came to visit and brought treats and then we headed out for trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. I think he got candy from Aunt Shannon's bucket about ten times. He wanted to go to all the houses on the street and he was so excited about all the treats in his pumpkin. His pumpkin was totally full, I don't think we could have fit more candy in there! I think he likes to play with the candy more than eat it so that is good I guess. He just likes to carry his pumpkin around and look at all of his candy. The next morning he asked me if he could go get more treats. Austin slept through it all of course but would wake up and get mad when we put the hat on.

My cute little pumpkin on Halloween

Rexford giving Austin kisses (don't you like the Christmas pajamas :) )

My adorable monkey with Daddy

Ready to go get candy!

Rexford and Papa

Rexford getting treats from Grandma

Bug Bites

So Rexford has bad reactions to insect bites. Last week it was mosquitos that made his leg swell up and look way bigger than his other leg. This week we're not sure what exactly bit his hand but it made it pretty puffy. I noticed the bites and put some cream on them but it wasn't until the next day that his whole hand became fat. After a day of Benadryl with no results, we went to the doctor who gave us some medicine for the swelling and an antibiotic since it looked a little infected. It looks much better today, the swelling is down and not so red. Not sure why bugs love him but we'll be more careful from now on!

This picture doesn't really show the swelling well, you could really tell from a side shot better. Anyway, it looked pretty ugly.

I gave Rexford Benadryl before his nap. He woke up and asked for Diego so I put it on for him. I went to finish feeding the baby and when I came out 15 minutes later, this is what I found.

Two Weeks Old Already

Austin is two weeks old today and already looking older to me. A couple of days ago I thought he looked bigger and older and less like a newborn. He's still little but he just looks a little different. He still sleeps a lot but is eating a little more and is awake and looking around a bit more too. He doesn't really cry much at all and doesn't mind when Rexford plays loudly around him :) I took him to the doctor for his two week appointment and he's much smaller than Rexford ever was, weighing in at 7 lbs. 12 oz. He was only 25th percentile for weight and height, something we're not used to! Brian was a little concerned but I'm sure he'll be just fine. Rexford was actually shorter than his hospital measurements too once his head returned to normal shape and look at him now! Anyway, he's doing well and we love to just look at him and watch his little face. Rexford is still in love with his little brother, wanting to give him lots of kisses and help us with him. I know he sometimes gets frustrated that I can't give him all my time but he's taking it well and is really sweet. He's grown up a bit too this past week, learning to get in and out of the bathtub by himself, pedal on his tricycle, and open doors. Here are the latest pictures of the boys :)

Austin sleeping on his comfy lounger

Daddy, Rexford, and Austin

Austin relaxing with Daddy



Austin smiling in his sleep (so cute even if he can't control it yet)


Aly helping Rexford practice riding his tricycle

I Survived Shopping With Two Children

Thursday is our shopping day and we really needed to go so I decided to attempt it with two children. I probably wouldn't have gone but Brian was scheduled to be at school Thursday and Friday night so I knew he couldn't go until Saturday and that was too far away. Also Austin is sick with his first cold already and I needed to buy some saline drops for his poor little stuffy nose. It takes longer to get out the door now with two but we made it out a little before 10am and headed to the store. It takes a little planning now like finding a parking space near a stray shopping cart so I can put Rexford in the cart and then get Austin out of the car and put him in my sling. Surprisingly it went well! I know it could have been a disaster but Austin just sleeps all day right now so he slept through the whole shopping experience. He doesn't even care to eat that often so he's pretty easy so far. It is a little more difficult with two and a little more work but it wasn't bad and we finished our shopping in about an hour and headed home. As we drove home I looked back and noticed that Rexford had fallen asleep. He never falls asleep that early so he must have been tired! It was so cute, both my boys asleep in the backseat. Shopping is tiring I guess. After I got home, I fell asleep in the chair with Austin. Luckily my sister came over to play with Rexford and I was able to continue my nap in my bed :) So I survived shopping with two children and I actually went out to the store again today since I forgot a couple of things yesterday!

As he gets older I'll probably see this less and less. It's funny how little ones can just fall asleep wherever. I don't get to see him sleeping anymore since he sleeps in his own room in his crib. He slept with us for the first eight months and sometimes I miss that.

Austin slept the whole trip - notice the yucky junk in his poor little eyes from his cold :(

My two boys asleep in the backseat

Pumpkin Projects

Rexford has been having lots of fun with pumpkins this week. Aunt Aly and Uncle Todd took Rexford to the pumpkin patch to pick out a big pumpkin to carve and a little pumpkin for him to paint. When he got there, he kept saying "wow, wow, pumpkins everywhere" and then he started walking around saying, "where are the little ones?" He helped Alyson pick out a giant pumpkin and he got a smaller one for himself.

Alyson and Rexford at the pumpkin patch

Rexford checking out all the pumpkins


He was very serious about painting his pumpkin. He used all the colors and was very careful with his strokes. He had this look of concentration on his face most of the time.

Rexford with his beautiful pumpkin

Rexford loved the pumpkin patch so much that Papa took him back another day to pick out a pumpkin for him. They brought it back to our house to carve it and to my surprise Rexford actually stuck his hand inside the pumpkin(for a brief moment) this year. He still thought it was yucky but liked the carving knife and wanted to help.

Rexford at the patch

Rexford helping to get out all the seeds

Rexford and Papa with the finished pumpkin