New Toy

Little guy is getting soooo big!  While visiting Grandma Cheryl and Grandpa Terry the other night we jokingly put him in this little exersaucer toy to see if he fit.  His feet don't touch and he needs a blanket to help prop him up but he loved it!  He went crazy hitting the buttons and spinning the music maker thing!  Chad and I decided we needed to buy our little guy something like this for home.  We searched and searched but couldn't find one we liked.  They either had too much or not enough and didn't really seem 3 month old friendly.  So we asked my parents if we could borrow theirs until we found a replacement.  We brought it home, cleaned it up and let our little Tykers play away!

He has so much fun with this toy but doesn't last very long in it.  We stuffed a pillow in the bottom so that his feet can touch and it helps him spin circles all on his own.  He spins from one toy to the next to the next until he just can't hold his little head up anymore and starts fussing to get out.  We love watching him in it but it's bittersweet because he is just growing up way too fast!  We love this kiddo so much!

Supercross 2013

Chad and I have gone to the Supercross races at Rice Eccles Stadium every year since we started dating.  This year was no different.  We get our tickets through his work and get a great deal.  We have to commit to going about a month after the races have come and gone.  It's crazy to think that this time last year, when we ordered our ticket, we had no clue that we were preggo. 

This year we had to line up a babysitter and we were lucky enough to line up Aunt Jenny and cousin Darian to take care of our little Tyke man.  It was a little hard leaving him behind.  I know that he will always be in good hands when his aunts, grandma's and cousins babysit but we still miss our little guy like crazy!  We dropped Tyke off at Aunt Jenny's around 3:30 p.m. so that we could do a little shopping along the way.  We were in search of a toy for Tyke but were unsuccessful in finding anything we liked.

This years race was a blast!  At Chad's work they put everyone's names in for a drawing to upgrade their seats to Rocky Mountains suite.  Chad and a few others were lucky enough to win.  We had a great view of the races, catered food, and unlimited diet coke!  

We enjoyed ourselves and it helped that Jenny kept us updated with pics of our Tykers.  He had a good time with the girls.  Little guy was completely out for the night when we picked him up just after midnight.  We were so excited to pick him up!  We love our little guy and can't imagine life without him! 

Cousins

After 3 plus months of visiting with Aunt Jo and Sophie, and eventually Ellie Jo via Skype, Tyke got to meet these gals in person!  Tiffany flew to Oregon for a little vacation and she and Jo decided last minute that instead of Tiffany flying back home they would road trip it here so that we could all meet the newest addition to the Kay family and Jo could get some Utah time in.  Waiting until June to meet these babies (Tyke and Ellie are about 2 months apart in age) was torture to think about!

We were so excited to get out to my parents house and get a hold of Sophie and Ellie Jo!  They're beautiful little girls and we love them so much!  Tyke just stared and talked to Ellie, Ellie is still young enough that she could care less what he had to say.

We had a great week spending time with our Oregon girls!  We had a lot of get togethers with the fam and it was nice to spend so much time with our nieces!

Play Ball!

We took Tyke to his first baseball game today.  We loaded up and headed to Salem to watch Teagen play ball.  We got to the game a little late but enjoyed watching our cute nephew play.  Tyke had fun being outside and getting spoiled by his Aunt Jenny and cousins Darian and Quade.  Tyke LOVES Quade!  He talks up a storm with him every time he sees him.  Even though our time at the ball field was cut short (we showed up late and had to leave early to meet family in Provo for dinner) we had a great time and enjoyed watching the game.  It was nice getting out of the house and spending time with the fam!

Growing Fast!

The Tyke man is just over 14 weeks old now.  Time sure is flying by!  Our little guy has changed so much in just the last 2 weeks...

He's gotten a whole lot more vocal.  He'll talk and talk and growl and talk.  Chad and I have a permanent smile on our faces because of our little guy!  He protests and pants like a puppy at us when we dress and undress him.  He'll squeal and laugh and growl and curl up into a little ball.  I just can't get enough of him!

Tyke is the smiliest kid I've met.  If you smile at him he'll smile at you.  He has started giggling a lot too.  Oh how it melts my heart!  We have found his tickle spots (under his neck, his ribs and tapping on his nose).  I tickle him as payback for being a little tease.  Tyke is smart!  He SO knows when he's being naughty (as if that's really possible at 3 months).  He'll grab a handful of my hair or will be rough with me while nursing and I'll tell him to stop/let go because it's not nice.  He'll grin from ear to ear and keep doing what he's doing.  I'll get after him a few more times until he just curls up and starts giggling and then he'll let go/be nice as if he's won the argument.  He's such a little stinker!

Our little guy is such a good sleeper lately!  He's been sleeping through the night (9 pm to 9 am if I'd let him) the last 3 weeks now.  It's so nice!  Not that I can complain, he's always been a great sleeper, only waking up once during the nights.  Since I've started back at work he doesn't get to sleep in as late as he'd like to but he easily falls back to sleep and naps really, really good for Aunt Steph.  Nap times for me are short and sweet, like 15-20 minutes max.  He's such a light sleeper, he's super jumpy at the slightest touch.  I could just stare at him always, it's a wonder I get anything else done!

Tyke is on the go now.  It doesn't take him long to get where he's going.  I'll lay him on the floor or in his bed and he kicks and wiggles until he's comfy.  I've noticed that at bedtime he prefers to have his head facing in the north direction.  If I lay him down that way he sleeps so sound and doesn't move at all.  If I lay him any other way he wiggles and grunts until he's in position.

Tyke is tough!  He is the best little cuddler when he's sleepy otherwise he prefers to hold his head high and snoop at his surroundings.  He LOVES it when he's laying on the floor and Chad or I grab his little hands to pull him up into sitting position and then to standing and tell him he's "sooo big!"  He gets the biggest kick out of it and grins from ear to ear and almost laughs.  We'll do this multiple times until he's had enough.    

Tyke has been slobbering a lot lately.  I think he enjoys soaking everything and everyone he comes into contact with.  He's also started blowing raspberries which is just the cutest thing ever!  I first noticed it last Saturday (4/20/13) and thought it was just a fluke but he does it several time throughout the day now.  Occasionally, if we blow a raspberry at him he'll concentrate really hard and copy us.  He's such a smart little boy and takes everything in.  He studies faces, toys, blankets and textures.  He'll swat/grab at everything multiple times until he's had enough.  Just this morning I noticed him studying the mesh on his pack and play.  He's such a curious feller!

Tonight Tyke rolled over for the first time!  From his back to his belly.  He was lying on our bed being a little grump because he wasn't getting the attention he wanted.  Next thing I know he was rolling.  Chad and I both got to witness it which was pretty cool.  Poor little guy got stuck on his left arm and really got mad.  It's cute when he's mad too! =)

We're sure proud and in love with our little Tyke!  Life couldn't be any better!

x10

Tonight our entire family got together for a little Utah birthday party for Sophie Anne.  My sisters and I decided it would be a great opportunity to snap an updated cousins photo (I think the last one was taken when Callie Jo and Addi were babies....)  The weather was supposed to be decent but in true Utah fashion a cold spell came through and the wind picked up.  The kids were shivering and trying their best to cooperate.  Out of nearly 20 pictures, because we were trying to hurry and get back in the house, this is the best we got (we'll make another attempt at this this summer when Jo and the girls are down for a visit).  I'd say it's pretty darn good considering we had 10 kids under 8 years old to work with.  I love these kids so much!  

Tummy Time

Mr. Tyke LOVES tummy time!  He has never been fussy when we lay him on his belly.  In fact, he usually gets mad at us when we roll him back on to his back.  We recently got the boppy out (I haven't used it like I thought I would, kind of a waste of money) and have been using it for our Tykers to practice tummy time.  I think it's safe to say he enjoys it and it gets him holding his head up a lot higher than before.  It also helps to have his cartoons on (I swear we don't let him watch tv all of the time, it just seems like it).  I love watching Tyke on the boppy.  It's so funny how in the zone he gets.  We can't get enough of this kid!  Love you Tyke!

After about 5 minutes our little Tyke was exhausted!  I took him out of the boppy and layed him down. He kicked and wiggled until he had scooted right up to his play mat and fell to sleep.  He's such a cutie!

3 Months Old

Our little man is 3 months old today!  I can't believe how fast it has gone (I know, I'm always saying that but seriously it's going way too fast!).  Tyke is such a good, happy, fun baby!  We love him so much and can't remember what life was like before him.  He has changed us for the better!

Tyke has found his voice and talks, a lot!  His talking is mostly happy but when he gets mad he lets you know.  His coos are super cute and we love having conversations with him.  He smiles a lot when we coo back.  When he starts getting fussy his tone changes and if he doesn't get the attention he's looking for then he will start the crying.  He's in charge at this house and he knows it!

Little Mr is getting really good at controlling his hands, especially his right hand.  He concentrates so hard on grasping things.  He's a very determined little guy.  He LOVES his play mat.  His favorite toys on it are the mirror (he thinks he's pretty darn cute, and he's right!) and the dangling elephant.  He smiles and talks to himself in the mirror and when he gets bored with that he grabs the elephant and tries to pull it down to his mouth.  He gets super excited and kicks his little legs to the point where he kicks himself right off the mat.

Tyke can be a couch potato at times.  I have mixed feelings about it but we do our best to only let him watch kid shows.  Disney Jr is our channel of choice and little man is most interested in Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  He doesn't really get into any of the other cartoons but when that one comes on he zones out.  It's a cute show and it's nice to have him distracted for a few minutes.

Tyke is officially mobile I suppose you could say.  He gets where he's going by kicking his legs, arching his back and shaking his head back and forth.  He has a major bald spot on the back of his head from all that shaking and moving.  He spins circles in his bed while sleeping.  In the living room I've noticed that he usually heads towards the couch or the entertainment center.  I don't think he intentionally does it but that's where he usually ends up.

Tyke LOVES his bath time!  He's starting to get more active in the water but he mostly just sits in his chair and stares at us with a huge grin.  Oh how I love his mug!

Our little guy is getting really strong.  He does so good at tummy time.  He holds his head up for a good portion of it.  Just today I noticed that while I had him lying in my lap he preferred to sit, and sit he did, without much help at all.  He holds his head up really well when being held.  His little hands are always moving and grabbing.  If I get my hands close to him, for example giving him his binky, he'll grab on with both hands and won't let go.  I love it!  I also love that while riding in the car, if he gets fussy, all I have to do is reach back and give him a finger to hold on to and he calms right down.  He likes holding my hand and I love it!  I can't get enough of this boy!

Tyke is a good little traveler.  He's always done well in the car but this past weekend on our trip to St. George he was an angel!  He slept quite a bit of the drive but when he was awake he just talked up a storm and played with his rattle.  At this point in time he doesn't fight us when we put him in his seat.  His Aunt Jenny made him another car seat blanket and he loves it!  He's always got a handful of it and pulls it up to his cheeks.  It's the cutest thing.

I think it's safe to say (and I hope I don't jinx us) that our little guy officially sleeps through the night.  He goes down around 10 p.m. and sleeps until 9 a.m.  Of course that's changed this week with me going back to work, I wake him at 7 a.m. feed him, get him dressed for the day and take him to Steph's.  He pretty much falls right back to sleep as soon as we get in the car.  He's a light sleeper when it comes to naps but he definitely makes up for it at night.  He's always been a good little nighttime sleeper, only waking once around 3:30 a.m. but sleeping through the night has been SO nice!

We seriously have the best baby ever!  He's so good natured and happy and perfect in every way.  He's a little sweetheart and we love him more than anything!

Grabby

Tyke is getting pretty good at playing with his toys.  You can see in his eyes that he is concentrating SO hard to get a hold of things.  Today he mastered grabbing his blocks.  As soon as he'd get a good grip on them he would growl and try to eat them.  It was adorable!  We sure love this little man!

Sad Day

Today has been one of the hardest days of my life!  Today I dropped Tyke off to be babysat for the first time ever!  My maternity leave is officially over.  I have really struggled with the thought of going back to work.  I love my job, but I love my mommy job more.  I have cried a lot of tears over this but I know it's going to be a good thing for all of us in the long run.  

Tyke is going to be in such good hands and that helps a lot with my anxiety of leaving him.  Aunt Stephanie M. (he has 2 aunt Steph's) will be baby tending for us 3 days a week and for now I'll work from home the other two days.  Come summer time we'll have lots of other options so I can work at work the full 40+ hours.  I'm dreading that too, but easing into it this way should help.

I love my baby boy so much and am missing him so bad!  I can't wait to get home to his happy little face!

Tyke before leaving for the babysitters this morning

*Update: I survived!  I cried a lot, and was about an hour late for work because I was a mess, but I survived and was so happy to get home to my boys after a long day of work! (time seriously dragged for me!)

Sunny St. George!

We took our first official family of 3 family trip this weekend to sunny St. George.  Jenny and Cody invited us to go down with them and their family, and Nana.  We stayed at Cody's parents "vacation" home at Coral Canyon.  We had such a great time and Tyke was a trooper.  He traveled so well!  He slept most of the drive and we only had to make one stop in Beaver (both ways) for a feeding and bum change.

We left Thursday afternoon around 4:30 p.m.  We gassed up at Flying J here in town and then headed south.  Darian rode down with us which worked out good because that gave Tyke some company in the back seat.  He slept a while and then woke up and chatted with Darian for a while.  We stopped in Beaver for dinner (for both Tyke and us).  We ate at El Bambi and boy was it yummy!  We made it to our destination around 9:30 p.m.  We got our bags unloaded, beds made and then lounged around in our pj's for a while before heading off to bed.

Friday morning we all slept in until around 9 or so.  We got ready and headed out the door in search of some food.  It was close to 11 by the time we hit town and found a joint.  We ate at the Black Bear Diner.  It was a good choice given the time because we could have our choice of breakfast or lunch.  The food was yummy and the kids kept us well entertained.  Tyke just chilled in his car seat and was good as can be!  After breakfast/lunch we headed to Swig for drinks.  I got just a plain ol diet coke and Chad had a "dirty" diet coke (diet coke with a shot of coconut).  I can't remember what the others got but we all enjoyed our drinks and snow cones.

Afterwards we headed over to the outlets to do a little shopping.  Tyke got spoiled.  His daddy bought him a sweet new hat and he got a few shirts and new jammies from the both of us.  (we could care less about shopping for ourselves now that we have Tyke to spoil!)  We shopped for a few hours and then went back to the house to relax and watch movies, but not before stopping at Costco for groceries.

Chad, Cody and Jenny put together a good dinner of BBQ ribs, shishkabobs of pineapple, mushrooms and peppers, and grilled asparagus.  After dinner we changed into our swim suits and headed for the pool.  It was Tyke's first swimming experience.  As we climbed into the water I just knew he was going to freak out because the water was pretty cool but it didn't even phase him.  He didn't get upset or excited, he could have cared less.  We played with him for about 10 minutes and then his little chin started quivering so I took him out and got him changed into a dry diaper and wrapped up in his blanket.  Aunt Jenny was nice enough to hold him so I could keep swimming.  Chad and I got a workout playing with Darian, Teagen and Quade in the water.

Saturday we were up and out the door by 8:30 a.m.  We stopped at a gas station for drinks and snacks and then headed to Dixie college where Darian was in a dance competition.  We got to watch her, Kylie and Makiya all perform.  In between dances we left to go do a little shopping and find food.  After the competition was over we went back to the house for naps and then we headed out for dinner at the Brick Oven pizza.  Everyone enjoyed an all-you-can-eat pizza sampler/salad bar dinner and I had a yummy gfree pizza of my own.  We were all exhausted and stuffed by the time we left the restaurant. We stopped at a couple more stores and then headed back to the house.

Sunday we got up and packed and cleaned the house up.  As soon as we were finished we headed to town for some breakfast.  We ate at an old diner called The Wagon Wheel.  After breakfast we made a couple more stops and then worked our way home.

It was a fun weekend and we're so glad that Cody and Jenny invited us to go play with them.  We had a great time and loved our first little family vacation!