You're Invited to Porter's Birthday Party In Utah on the 26th!

So many of you know the little guy is turning "1" VERY soon. The day after his birthday we are headed up to Utah for BYU graduation for several family members, so the grandparents (and the mom and dad) thought it would be a great time to throw him a little party (plus Bryce had a April birthday day and so does my dad!). Its going to be VERY informal and more of a chance just to hang out and play together at the park.

When? Saturday the 26th @ noon- approx. 2pm, at Pioneer Park (on 500W and Center??-- its been awhile since I've been to Provo so I think thats right... please correct me if I'm wrong).

(come wish me a happy birthday because I'm cute!)

We would love to see everyone we know... this will probably be the last time, for awhile that we head up to Provo because the number of people living up there is dwindling and the drive is so long. So PLEASE stop by... there is no way we will be able to see everyone we want to see in the short time we will be there, but we'd love to see as many people as possible! Hope to see you there! (Email me if you have any questions: dribanna435@aol.com)

catch up

So life has still been busy so once again another catch up post. A little over a week ago I got the dreaded phone call from my husband who is at ultimate electronics waiting to pick something up for a customer... he has found something we have to have... a tv for the kitchen...

its only $20, it was $300. Reluctantly I told him okay (after he begged), but told him to tell George (the guy that he gets things thru there) that he isn't allowed to show him anything else and to come home. The story goes its been sold and returned 3 times because people think it has a DVD player, but really it just has a cd player, so it was missing the remote and mounting bracket. So Bryce 'designed' his own mounting bracket and if you've been in our kitchen there is NO need for a remote besides a large tv is 20 feet away =) But we had to have it and Bryce loves it. He says he'll do dishes more often and he has done them once... he also says that this way when he goes to the kitchen to make a snack he can keep watching whatever show we are watching so then he won't have to rewind and make me watch it twice (this happens SO often... at first it made me crazy then I just got used to it, now I guess I don't have to).

That same day we meet Justin & Stacy at a dog park and let Coco, Bandit and Sadie play and make friends. Sadie hated the water at first but went crazy running all over the place. Definitely a place we will go again. Thanks for getting us to finally go... I think it will become even more fun when Porter can walk because he isn't afraid of all the dogs, but there is not a lot of grass so he spent his time eating rocks and crawling in dirt... which is fine I guess, but kind of gross!

Then came Tuesday... April Fools Day. Oh and Bryce's birthday. I made him a poppy seed cake... yes you read that right a poppy seed cake. Never heard of it? Neither had I, but I was talking about making Porter a monkey cake for his birthday and Bryce wondered what kind of cake I was making him. He said poppy seed so I pulled out the Joyce of Cooking Cookbook and there it was in all its glory an easy recipe and a recipe with more ingredients. I have to say Joyce is a pretty amazing mom, when we talked to her later Sunday night we asked her what cake her 5th of 7 children would want it took but a second for her to chime in with the right answer (a week later Katie told me all her kids love poppy seed cake, but I still think its amazing she knew... I don't even know what kind of cake I like or would want!) Porter loved helping make it... he knew before we even baked it how yummy it would be and it was pretty yummy (a tip from Joyce... buy the poppy seeds and smart and final... you get a lot for the same price as a small bottle at the grocery store so you can make lots of poppy seed cakes and muffins!)

Happy 29th Birthday Dad!

I hope he had a good birthday, he worked and we went out to dinner and I tried not to be a cranky wife who had just worked two graveyards. That night as we were about to fall asleep my sweet husband started laying on the compliments about how wonderful he thinks I am (silly boy!) I was so tired though that it didn't hit me till the next day when I felt so guilty... hello its his birthday I should be the one laying on the 'your wonderful' comments, because he is wonderful and I hope he knows how much I love him!

A little side story, if dad didn't enjoy his birthday Porter did, he had lots of fun... he got to make cake, then he got to go exchange everything dad got for his birthday. Shorts too small... shirts too big you would have thought it was an April Fools joke, but it just happened that way. Porter loved crawling around under the racks in the men's department what a maze of fun... then we went to Red Robin and hey we have a kid now so those balloons are now for us. Porter LOVED the balloon he played with it throughout dinner, all the way home and on his walk. Unfortunately his puppy killed it the next morning. I definitely need to get some balloons for his birthday and maybe even for the car ride up to Utah at the end of the month.

Porter is growing up so fast... he turns 1 in 2 weeks! I can't take enough pictures of him... he's getting harder to photograph. In the pictures by the tree he would look the opposite direction so we played ring around the tree. I think I got a few good ones... I think he's cute!

He does so many cute things all the time I need to be better at writing them down... he loves to share so he will give you bites of whatever he is eating and often even give you whatever he has, so generous! He loves to wave now and almost says 'hi' sometimes, especially to the ladies wherever we are at... such a little flirt. The final cuteness for this post... when he knows he's being a pain or getting in trouble he will often lean in and kiss me to make up for it.

some fun first and fun free/cheap stuff

I was going to wait to post some of this because I have done a few posts in the last week and I don't want to raise expectations =) but I've heard some grandparents in San Diego are wondering what buddy is up to today. So here's what's new this week... Porter had several firsts (he must be feeling pressure with that first birthday coming up)... some were bigger than others... it was all on the same day... he managed to crawl fast enough to make it to the bathroom and get up to the toilet that his little hands hit the water for the first time... gross! He thought it was cool though. The bathroom doors are trying to stay shut now because he is just getting too fast! Another first- he tried to take a bite out of his mom... I don't want to get graffic, but OUCH! thank goodness I only have 1 month left.
Now for the more exciting firsts... we got him a little pool for easter, partially a selfish purchase because its going to help get us through a hot summer with a little boy who LOVES to be outside. This day it was a little cold shortly after a few pictures he started shivering and we had to move inside to a bath instead:

I still need to get him some little pool toys (these are more sand box toys).

That same day we decided that his hair was just getting a little long, but I've been avoiding a cut because he doesnt have enough hair to pay someone and its so thin that its just hard to do. But he was starting to get little whispy 'wings' on the sides so Bryce buzzed the back and sides a little and then he trimmed the top... not a perfect cut but its better and he was super good/trusting of dad cutting his hair.

Then on Wednesday I was listing some books and movies on craigslist just to see if I could get rid of them and make a few dollars without having a garage sale =) when I stumbled over the to free section (a bit scary at times) and there was a listing for free sand. YAY!!! We wanted to build a sandbox for his birthday coming up, but when I figured out the cost of sand and lumber and all I had written it off as a someday idea and settled on more simple ideas for his birthday. This cut the cost in half and I had homedepot giftcards from a deal I did back in december arrive and so it was a done deal... we still need to put hinges on the lid and I'm trying to decide if I want to paint it, and fill it with toys, but its fun none the less. The first day he didn't like it so much but he is 'learning' how to play in it and just is glad to be outside.

As if calling my husband during the day and telling him that when he gets home we are going to haul sand for a sandbox isnt enough, some neighbors who just moved in were getting rid of some landscaping block like what we wanted to build a planter out of, but at $1.50 a brick and needing 100 or so it just hasnt happened... well for $40 we got a close to a hundred so this pile turned into this:

(we did this just this morning before Bryce left to work!)

our yard is finally shaping up into a place the dog, kids and the parents can hang out, and I will get to plant a few flowers and eventally a little square foot garden in the planter =) It definately beats the muddy weed filled backyard we had when we moved in a year ago!

My dad wanted to know what Porter is up to during the day well here's two more examples... he loves to take the wipes out of the box and sucks on them and tears them up... he likes to do whatever mom is doing or does... mop the floor/unload the dishwasher/do the laundry.

His other project lately has been examining the doggy door ... he is determined to figure out how Sadie gets outside through that thing and get out as well. And I am sure with the added fun in the yard and his determination it won't be long! Sadie also tries to teach him, but it he hasn't figured it out yet and I'm okay with that.

(sorry for the bad lighting, if I turned the lights on he would have stopped)

One thing I am started to become super grateful for... a transition to napping for 2 hours in the morning instead of taking 3 45min naps. Its so nice to shower AND get something done during his nap!

left in the care of his father

Saturday night we kind of lagged in routine... we walked a little late and ran some errands late and actually never really ate 'dinner' because we went to a late lunch and the wife was lazy. ANYWAY that isnt the point, by 8p I had Porter dressed for bed and fed, but he wasn't wanting to go to bed and would scream when I put him down, so this tired mom left him in the living room with dad who was watching a movie so Porter could wear himself out and I went and read a book in the bedroom where it was quieter. A half an hour later Bryce comes in and says you have GOT to see this your going to be mad:

What is that you ask? Syrup... Bryce had seen him crawl into the kitchen, but he has a cupboard that is his to destroy whenever he wants. Instead he chose this cabinet where his dad could see him, that is child proof and decided to play... Bryce says he could see him playing and thought 'he can't get anything out of there its child proofed and he's happy so why bother him'... well he managed to tip the bottle of syrup upside down with it in the cupboard and unscrew the lid. Then for maybe 10 minutes he dipped the lid in his lake of syrup and licked it, talk about a sugar high right before bed. He was SO sticky so we took a picture, he got a bath and had some more milk to make him sleepy and miraculously enough he was in bed a half hour later. And to think that for awhile people had us scared that if he didn't crawl before he walked he wouldn't be coordinated or as smart... I think he's got both covered he did figure out crawling and is now working on standing up without holding onto things). He's always watching and trying to figure things out... his next adventure is sure to be the doggie door (my mom has bets placed on this)... tonight he was checking out the way it works. Next thing I know he'll be drinking out of the dogs bowl... wait he's done that...

Anyway the things that happen when he's left with dad... fun memories and messes for mom to clean up...those are my boys!

(PS- sad/heartbreaking mom note... tonight when I left for work I kissed Porter goodbye, but I guess he didn't realize I was leaving because when the garage closed I guess he crawled over to the door and started crying... then later looked towards the door and started crying again. SO SAD! But I guess its good for him to see me leave and come back... just wish I didn't have to leave, but this is only a season and it too shall pass)

randomness

Warning this is just going to be a splattering of our life over the last week or so because I am too tired to make it too coherant. Here it goes:
First off our little boy is growing too fast... he moves fast and is all over the place. This morning when I got home from work we decided we would all go running (something new we've been trying more often) so we left Porter playing in the living room since we needed to get ready and he could just stay in his pjs... a few minutes later I hear him crying... loud. So I wonder 1. what did Sadie do to him or 2. how did he hurt himself this time. But I walk into the living room... not there... not a suprise, then in the kitchen and there he is sitting by the garage door and he is SO distraught. The little guy thought we left without him!!! Its crazy that the separation anxiety has started already... I think it began last week when he went to Greg and Kelly's before I got off work. He cried the whole time he was with there (sorry again guys!). He thinks we are going to leave him now. Sad =(

Now that Porter is all over he is into everything. One of his favorite pastimes is pulling all of his books off the bookshelves and then he sits and looks at them. Almost once a day though he pulls out his book of mormon board book and has his daily scripture study... is this kid trying to tell his parents something?!? apparently so, guess we need to work on that!

Next can I just say my husband is so cute ... and handy?!? I have been looking for a belt for Porter because his pants are always falling down. I can't find one anywhere, so I tried to add elastic to his pants but then they bunch funny in the back. Then Bryce had an 'aw ha' moment and a belt was born:

(in case its hard to see, its a waist strap buckle from the camelpack that bryce doesn't use...
smart huh?)
The other day I made the mistake of taking the biggest kid in the house to walmart with me... so when we walked past the bubble blowers he (Bryce) gave me the 'can I can I please please' look, so since it was only a dollar I 'let' him get it. Well as we found out Porter still likes playing with rocks, but Sadie loves bubbles! (Dad this video is for you! listen to those giggles!)

Porter has also become VERY good at throwing stuff... sometimes it's little temper tantrums where he throws whatever you give him, or sometimes its productive like throwing Sadie's tennis balls for her... lately though he has gotten pretty good at throwing the basketball:

Next we need to work on throwing the football (right Bryce?)

I think this may be the end of my randomness... I am sure there is more, but it'll have to wait. This will help me feel a little better so that my complaints about the dog aren't the first things you see!

Coming soon: Porters 1st backyard pool (an early easter present because its starting to get hot here already!)

Dog for Sale! (I wish)

So after being at the ER most of the night with the girls from work I am more than tired today... and this dog has pushed me over the edge I would seriously kiss her goodbye at the moment. why you might ask? well lets just go over the last week which is really when its gotten bad. First she has started chewing the siding of our house and the neighbors house (the side of their house is the boundary of our property and acts like what would be a fence, but there are no fences just houses stacked up right next to each other)... so we put up some 1x4 trim to cover up the damage (irritating!) So that day I went an spent money we don't have on some toys to help keep her out of trouble... this rough and tough toy lasted 20 minutes tops-if that! The other toys are nice because it allows Porter to play with her more, but aren't really curbing the chewing factor.

Then there is the hair... I know she is a lab and I should expect it, but I have hardwood and tile floors in the main living area and a little boy crawling all over. This is how much hair accumulated from just before bedtime till midmorning... remember 8-9 hours of that she was in her crate sleeping!! GROSS! I end up looking like a crazy woman about twice a day with my little dirt devil cleaning up hair and its still all over the place all the time! So if you come to my house and there is hair on the floor or all over my child... I do clean my floors about twice a day on average if not more and I wish there was something more I could do. I would put her out but then she causes damage... its a nightmare!

Then today while Porter and I are back in the master bath showering and getting ready for the day I hear a strange noise and come out to the living room and find this (notice the brand new raw hide bone I gave her just an hour before!) (in case its hard to tell she chewed up the carpet pretty bad here.... left the bone almost untouched!)

There is other stuff too but I will keep my complaints to this for now. She does get me outside on walks everyday, but I can't think of many other positives at the moment... it's that kind of a day! Why keep her you may ask... because this:

little boy loves her to death. Watch these videos and you'll see why she will continue to reside in our home despite her current flaws:

In Porter news... he has learned to crawl all over... his top 4 teeth are just about in and he has developed a little temper... don't mess with him when he wants something or you hear this awful eh, eh, eh noise, I hope he grows out of it soon. Still very cute... and very interested in learning anything you teach him... lately he will pull out his books and start turning the pages and look at me like 'mom aren't you going to come and say the words for me?' He is also has developed a love for go-gurts... the kid loves yogurt, and they are every mother's dream, so convenient and just the right size... I am grateful for the sale at albertsons that made me try them, and now I love the price at costco that allows me to keep getting them =) Other than that nothing to exciting... we seem to have kicked the flu bug that got me twice in two weeks. It seems like I'm just waiting for the next disaster to strike. Thats it for now... if anyone wants a naughty puppy please leave a comment and we'll get back to you! j/k

Camping In the Rain

So Bryce and I went camping even though the forcast predicted a good chance of rain... its not often that my mom happens to be coming into town and can watch Porter with her best friend Jeannie and I thought it would be a nice Valentine's Day activity. They had a ton of fun with Porter even though he was a little under the weather. They even went to walmart for a little shopping trip... strange for those who know these women... they are target girls all the way (but didnt know how close one was, so they settled)

Bryce and I camped in the rain out in Sycamore Creek... Bryce managed to get fires going with the use of a little gas and we enjoyed a little dutch oven cooking and some time alone... it was weird at first, but a nice little break. I was cold a lot and bundled up most of the time, but the best part about camping is Bryce does lots of the work cause he loves camping and camp cooking. In the morning we decided to hike to the where those clouds met the top of the mountain so we could be like Kim and Austin... OR we climbed back in the car and took a nap, you can guess which we did.

In my last post I mentioned these great cheap camp chairs we got... and they were great for me... while Bryce was cooking our dinner by the fire we heard a little snap and then noticed this warning label:

not more that 220lbs, not for use by fires, and use on flat/level surfaces. we both laughed we couldn't have done anything more wrong. I guess I will use the cheap chairs and we will have to invest in one for Bryce =)
While grandma was here Porter solidified his two first words. "da da" and "dog" ... you can see who his favorites are... or maybe he doesn't feel the need to say my name cause I am always around (thats what I tell myself anyway) really I don't care, its cute and I am sure I will hear it enough once he learns it. He also is as close as he's willing to get to crawling... he gets around and thats all that matters. He learns things pretty fast lately... Bryce has been working on teaching him to clap... and he does it when he wants to now. Pretty cute! Thats it for now!

Happy Belated Valentines Day! I am way overdo for a post... mostly because its felt like the same old stuff for the most part... for Valentine's Day Bryce and I decided to be really romantic and go camping the day after and leave Porter with my mom and my 2nd mother Jeannie... little did they know that when they agreed to it they would be watching a kid with a runny nose a nasty cough and and over achiever who is cutting 4 teeth on the top. I guess it was no fun getting them one at a time! He's been a good kid despite it, but still nights are pretty sleepless now that he has the cough, so I hope that he's good friday night. I know I shouldn't worry, but I know I will! Anyway so back to the being romantic thing... so because we are going camping we realized we never replaced the camp chairs that wore out so we decided to get really cheap ones from walmart... we figure when we camp more we'll get nicer ones but our record isn't so great these days so $7.88 is a great price and a great valentines day gift right?!? While we were there we saw this little chair and couldn't resist... especially for $5. Porter isn't a huge fan for too long mostly because he falls out like this:

but he looks so cute sitting in it.

Lets see what else have we been doing... Porter crawled like 3 feet last sunday but since then has gone back to scooting on his butt. We've been watching curious george a lot because I am sick of little einsteins and I noticed that Porter's favorite mode of getting around looks kind of like a monkey (which is ironic cause i call him monkey all the time), but I'm thinking maybe it will evolve into crawling. who knows!

His favorite thing to do is throw things, as i've said before, Bryce caught it on tape pretty good here:

mom and dad are not fans, but sadie loves it!

We had to childproof finally because this little guy gets around... he loves to stand at the bookshelves... one day he got out the cards... guess he will fit in with Bryce's family cause they love to play cards whenever they get together!

He also likes to drive dad's truck:

Help make cookies:

And do the dishes (and hang out with out a shirt on I guess, Bryce's doing of course):

And on Wednesday he got to hang out with his cousins for a bit when Katie and the kids came down to meet up with an old friend. Lots of fun!

I think that's it really. I hope the pictures make up for the lack of posting and interesting things.

Oh and I have to do a little PSA for dog product that works SO well for those who walk their dogs but are sick of them pulling you down as Sadie does/did to me. I was reluctant because it costs $22, but the Gentle Leader works wonders... I now no longer fear (as much) when we see people walking towards us (except scary divorced guy- long story) or birds or leaves or anything that moves... she won't go for it anymore. Thank goodness our walks are once again enjoyable. THE END TTFN