4 month old stats!

Our sweet little boy tuned 4 months old while we were in Utah, here are his stats:

height- 25 3/8 inches, 70%

weight- 14 lbs, 40%

head- 41.9 cm, 45%

 I just love his big blue eyes (probably because they come from me!) He is such a joy in our family and is such a chill little guy. He is happy and content just laying on the floor without anyone paying attention to him.  He rarely fusses and goes 4-5 hours between feedings and 12 hours at night so I pretty much only feed him 4 times a day, 5 at most.  He sleeps 8-9 hours at night, every new mommy's dream and I sure do appreciate that. Mckell is really starting to notice him now too and attends to him when he does fuss.  She's the best at getting him to giggle and his eyes follow her wherever she goes or he rolls so he can see her.  Jace is a bit of a mamma's boy and if he sees me he gets mad if I leave.  There is definitely something special about a mamma and her boy, I feel like we have a special bond and I just love my little man to pieces!

Like father like son, always passed out!

2 week visit in Utah!

After our very long drive from New Jersey to Utah, we finally made it and were so happy to be 'home'!  I will always call Utah home and hope to be living there permanently in the near future but this visit was short lived only being for 2 weeks.

We were busy doing and going somewhere everyday! But we definitely got lots of grandparent time in! Mckell especially loved our time in Utah- I think she gets sick of just playing with me all the time so she was in heaven having both sets of grandparents at her every call and request to do whatever she wanted.

Papa and Mr Jacers snuggling on the couch

 Out to dinner at Taggart with the girls- no hubbies or kids allowed! Well except Jason because I have to feed him but by the end of our stay in Utah I had him taking a bottle so he's not so 'attached'!

 Kell always getting messy- this is at the Rabe family reunion

 We went swimming one day with our vivint friends- Ava and Jason hanging out by the pool

 And of course we made a visit to the splash pad- Kell loves playing in water

STOMACHS BEWARE before looking!

My mom and I went shopping in Park City one day and Jason had a complete and massive BLOWOUT! This boy only goes #2 every 4-5 days so when he goes, he really GOES!  This was so not fun to clean up in the old navy bathroom- it was everywhere and such a mess. Luckily I packed him an extra outfit!

 Grandma Rabe made brownie cupcakes with Kell one afternoon- which as you can see by Kell's very messy face was a big hit! This girl loves her chocolate- must get that from me! ha

 And I did some baking myself- My cute friend Jodi makes the BEST caramel apples every Christmas and I decided I just couldn't wait until December so I made her tell me her secrets and gave them a try. My chocolate cracked and I'm not sure why but they were still so DELICIOUS! I think I ate half of them myself- I will definitely be making many more of these yummy goodies!

Tennesse to Utah

So the plan was to drive from Ben's to Jake's house in Peoria, IL and visit them but because of all the flooding a bunch of I-80 was under construction and would add a bunch of hours in detours so sadly we had to change our plan and drive the Kansas route instead.  We were really disappointed we couldn't see Jake's cute family but it was probably a good thing we didn't try to go that way because my Uncle David was driving that route a day ahead of us and said the traffic was horrible.

But we did finally make it to Utah and were all SOOO ready to get out of the car.  I don't think Jason likes his carseat much anymore and fusses when I now put him in it, where before he liked it- Sorry bud, we still have another 12 hour drive ahead of us in a couple weeks!

Mckell relaxing on our hotel bed- the only picture I took the whole drive home. ha

The rest of the drive wasn't too great- Kell was sick and threw up all over her carseat one night but alas we did finally make it!

Introducing my sweet niece!

Malan Kelli Rabe

08.21.11

7lbs 10oz, 19.25inches

 It turned out to be perfect timing while in Tennessee because my brother Blake and his wife Taryn had their sweet baby girl! The hospital they delivered at was 3 hours from Ben & Kendra so we packed up all the kids and headed to the hospital in Knoxville.  It was so fun to meet my cute little niece and are so happy she joined the family! She makes grand baby #7 and we just adore her!

 I personally think she looks like her gorgeous mommy- too fun!

Courtland stopped at the hospital too on his way to Ben and Kendra's to meet Malan- he got in late after his 12 hour drive to Tennessee.

The drive back home- First stop TENNESSEE!

So because I missed my siblings when they visited Utah during the summer, we decided we'd stop at all their houses on our drive home even though it would add more hours to our already LONG drive.

For the first stop, we visited Ben, Kendra, Sophie, and Graham in Franklin, Tennessee.  Jason, Mckell, and I flew there while Courtland finished up selling and actually the flight wasn't bad at all- both kids were pretty good and I didn't mind it at all. We sure had such a blast my brother's house and they were so sweet for putting us up and making us feel at home.

Kell LOVED playing with her cousins. Of course there were a few meltdowns between sharing and such but overall I think they got along great. She loved following Sophie around and doing whatever she would say.  My favorite was Kell and Graham though- they were so cute together and would mimic each other- so fun for them to get to know their cousins since we don't get to see them very often!

 Mr Graham- such a handsome little man!

 Playing trains together- we don't have 'boyish' toys at our house but maybe we should get some because Kell loved playing with the trains, cars, and such.

 Sophie absolutely loved Jason and was my personal little helper. Whenever he would fuss or if I left the room, she would watch and entertain him- she even got him to giggle a few times. So fun! And when it was time for us to leave, Sophie begged me to leave him with them. She told me they would raise him for me and I could come visit. She told me I could just have another baby so I wouldn't be sad and miss him. And when I asked how they'd feed him, she said her mommy could feed him for me- thanks Kenj! ha

 I made Ben and Kendra go on a date one night and I watched the kiddos. We had a movie night and they each got a little bag of goodies!

 Jace passed out- a very common thing for him still

 taking a time out, relaxing watching a show- notice Sophie's poor foot, luckily everything turned out to be fine

yet again, sleeping

 This cracks me up! Ben took the kids for a ride in their bike trailer- guess this is how it went!

 But it got better once they got to the park!

 Kell loved all the new toys at her cousin's house

 One of her favorite things was jumping on the tramp. One of the days we even found Graham and Kell jumping on the tramp by themselves laughing and giggling and we didn't even know they were out there! (good parenting, I know! ha)  They taught her how to play 'dead man dead man' which she now insists Courtland and I play with her daily even without a tramp.

 One thing I realized while there is Kell gets really sweaty- her hair would be soaking wet with sweat and Graham would have barely broken a sweat! Pour girl! Sorry Kelly bear- your Jr High years might be a bit embarrassing if it persists, but don't fret about it- you'll realize it's not a big deal when you get past that. And look at the bright side, maybe that means you're burning more calories?!

 Having way too much fun!

We really had the best time while in Franklin! Thank you, thank you Ben and Kendra for showing us such a great time! Wish we could see you guys more often! Hopefully some day soon we'll all be living in Utah! 

Saying goodbye to New Jersey!

Our last day in New Jersey!

Went out for one last stroll on the boardwalk.  We're really going to miss this place.  Of the 4 years we've been doing summer sales- I enjoyed this one the most.  We had such a blast living right on the beach, you couldn't beat the location. This is the first time I wasn't ready to leave, I could have lived there 'somewhat' long term- which is saying a lot coming from a 'true' Utah girl!

 Our apartment complex in the background- such a gorgeous place.

Goodbye New Jersey, and bring on the 40+ hour drive back to Utah with the four of us in our civic. . . I imagine it's going to be a bumpy ride!

Starting to roll and picking his nose. . .

Mr Jacers has started rolling from his back to his tummy

 Love his smile and little dimples!

 And he found his nose, hopefully it doesn't last

 One of Mckell's favorite things- PLAYDOUGH! It keeps her entertained for a good hour which is a good break for mom!

 Jace all tuckered out form trying to get the toys

 Getting so big, too big to keep bathing in the sink. 3 1/2 months old!

Playing with Gracy and Maddie- wish we would have played with them more, Kell always had a good time playing with them.

Definitely Siblings!

These two kiddos are definitely siblings! HA We are just loving our cute little family and it's so fun to see Mckell more and more interested in her brother and interacting with him.  She always tells me, "Mamma, he's a cute boy!"

Love the last picture- Jason is such a doll. . . a handsome guy that is!  He has such a sweet laid back spirit.  He is always so happy and content, a low maintenance baby for sure!