Runaway Boston

Boston gave us quite the scare a few weeks ago. We took a trip to Walmart after Christmas to pick up a few things. Boston hates riding in the cart, it has been quite the struggle dealing with him crying and begging to get out while I'm trying to grocery shop. We let him get out of the cart and walk with us, all the while getting distracted by a toy or a treat, or pretty much anything. We ended up putting him back in the cart because he wasn't cooperating. After 10 or so more minutes of him crying and wanting me to carry him, I gave in and picked him up, only I didn't last long carrying him and ended up putting him down again making him promise to stay by us. 

While we were in one section of the store a man walked by us who gave me a weird feeling. He was smiling at Boston and stopped to watch him for a few seconds. He left, and I didn't think anything of it. We made our way to the back of the store to look at some sewing supplies. I remember bending over to pick something up, and then Boston was gone. At first I wasn't concerned because he likes to wander and look at things, so we casually turned the corner looking for him, but he wasn't there. Next aisle, not there. Next aisle, no Boston. The further I went the more panicked I became. Jeff went the opposite way as i did and after moving quite a ways away, I made eye contact with Jeff down an aisle, and he was shaking his head no. It put me in an absolute panick. I ran down a different section of the store with no luck. Again, I made eye contact with Jeff across a section of the store and he shook his head no again. By this point I was freaking out and pleading for help in finding him. I had the thought to look in the online store pickup room in the back of the store, but being so panicked, the thought was replaced by the creepy guy who was staring at Boston earlier. I thought to myself, that man took Boston...he has him and is going to put him in his car and drive away. I ran to the front of the store thinking I've got to make sure he doesn't leave the store with my baby. I paced the front of the store just pleading and praying that Boston was ok. I kept thinking the worst, what if I have to leave the store tonight without him? What terrible things will happen to my innocent little boy if he was kidnapped? What if I won't ever be able to kiss his little cheeks or hug him again? What if Ellie won't ever meet her big brother? 

All these thoughts flashed through my head as I ran into customer service begging for help. They asked me his name and description and were just about to announce it on the intercom when I got a call from Jeff that he had found him. My knees were shaking and I broke down. I have never been so terrified in my entire life. It turns out Jeff had the thought to look in the online pick up room as well, and that is where he found him. Behind the counter getting into a box of who knows what. I was so happy and angry and relieved all at the same time I didn't quite know what to do. I just hugged him and scolded him and cried. He kept looking at me like I was nuts, which I'm sure the rest of the store was doing as well. 

I learned several lessons that night. First of all, Boston will never leave the cart again...or maybe I'll invest in a leash. Secondly, I need to trust my Heavenly Father. I was so frantic and assuming the worst, that I didn't take the time to listen to a prompting. I'm so grateful we were able to leave the store with him! I'm grateful he is sitting here with me right now giving me the same look he did when we found him at the store, as I'm sitting here sobbing. I'm grateful for this experience to remind me to not take him for granted. To remember each morning that I'm lucky to wake up to him, even when he's screaming or pounding on the door early in the morning. Grateful for a reminder to think twice when I lose my patience with him. Grateful that I get to kiss him and cuddle him and be his mom. So many things to be grateful for! 

Christmas

What a great Christmas we had! While I always hate that Jeff is gone with wrestling so much during the season, we still got to squeeze in and start some fun traditions. We made a graham cracker house and Boston went nuts! Mostly because he ate his weight in candy, but he thought it was so cool. He calls it 'num num' house. After begging us to eat a warhead, Jeff gave in and we let Boston eat one. It was hilarious. Funny that is until you spit it out and then threw up. Still funny! 

We also went downtown to temple square to see the lights. We drove down to the trax station and rode in the free fare zone so Boston could ride a choo choo train. He thought it was the coolest thing ever! It was freezing, and Boston was tired and getting over being sick so we didn't stay very long. He did like the lights, and the cows in the nativity. He saw the temple and said, whoa, big house! To top off the night, we stopped and got cocoa while we waited for trax. It was a fun night!

We also had fun making cookies, watching Christmas movies, and reading Christmas stories. One of our favorite stories is 'The Last Straw.' After we read the story we all draw names of someone to do nice things for. Every time we do something nice we get to put a piece of straw in a manger to make a soft bed for baby Jesus by Christmas. It's a little hard with Boston being so little, and there only being 3 of us, but he had a good time helping me make daddy's bed, and leaving him cute notes. Our little manger definitely could have been softer this year, but it's a work in progress! So excited for Christmases to come and starting new traditions! 

Boston's 2nd Birthday!

Wow! Happy Birthday Boston! 2 years old has brought me quite the challenge with you..but we'll talk about the good stuff first. We celebrated your birthday December 13th with a Mickey Mouse birthday party. You had a great time! However, you didn't quite understand why after you opened one present, you had to open another one. You wanted to play with each toy after you opened it. Understandable! Grandma and Grandpa Tree, Grandma and Grandpa Roberts, Uncle Dustin, Uncle Jordan and Aunt Chelsey, Uncle Brady and Aunt Marissa, Uncle Justin and Aunt Ashley, Jaden and Emmy all came to celebrate with you. We ate Mickey Mouse cake and ice cream and had fun playing with your toys! Papa Roberts gave us some fun Mickey decorations and we also got balloons since you love them so much! They are actually still floating almost a month later.

Now on to your birthday. I don't know what snapped inside of you, but the second you woke up on your birthday the terrible two monster version of Boston came out. It was so hard for me because I didn't want to get mad at you on your big day! However, that didn't last long, and I would say you were in time out more times that day than you ever had in your entire life combined. We started off by having cereal and cocoa for breakfast. You LOVE cocoa! You've stopped asking for it every day now, but for several weeks you would beg me for cocoa haha. We went to your friends house for cupcakes, and your friend Benson gave you a cute little Goofy figure that came with a car. You love it, and call Goofy 'juicy.' It's pretty cute! However, you threw a major tantrum at his house and got sent to timeout 4 times! Mommy was pretty embarrassed. I'm not used to you acting out like that, you've always been very well behaved. You didn't want to leave the house to go meet Daddy for lunch and started yelling no at me...also something you've never really done. 

We went to Daddy's school anyways, and had a good time in Daddy's classroom. You like to sit at the school kids desks, and Daddy plays Netflix for you on his projector. As we left the school, we got all the way to the car and you thought it would be fun to run away from me, all the way back through the little courtyard in front of the school. Being pregnant, and trying to run after you was quite the challenge, all while a bunch of school kids watched from the grass eating their lunch. You got in a little bit of trouble when I finally caught you. 

When daddy came home we planned to take you for fries and ice cream, your favorite treats! We went to leatherby's and while we were waiting for fries you started throwing napkins on the floor and yelling at us. What the heck, boy? Daddy took you to the bathroom for a timeout, and mommy started to cry (not unusual right now) You are still a sweet boy, this was just a particularly rough day for you. I hate getting mad at you, especially on your birthday! When you came back from the bathroom, you were much better and we had a great time stuffing our faces. You got to open even more presents, and we played the rest of the night. All in all, I feel like it was still a great day, and we will laugh about it one day!

It's been rough trying to discipline you since then, but we are still working on it. Growing up is hard to do! We love you so much, attitude and all :-) bring on the terrible twos, I'm looking forward to having some good laughs with you when you're older.

Here are some pictures of your fun weekend:

Thanksgiving

This year for the month of November, we decided to do a thanksgiving tree. Each day (we missed a few) we each added a leaf with something new we are thankful for. It was such a great way to remember to be thankful! My favorite part each day was when Boston ran into the kitchen for breakfast and would immediately point to the tree because he got to color a new leaf. Each time I asked him what he was thankful for, and he would reply 'cow!' Cows made it first on the tree, followed by cookie, train, juice, boots, blankie and binky. I did make the list eventually, but we won't say how far down that list I was, or if there was any hinting on my part ;) 

We have so much to be grateful for!

Boston 18-23 months

You've grown up so much in the last 5 months! I don't even know where to start. You are talking so much now, and adding several words to your vocabulary a day. We were at Sam's club the other day and they were offering pie samples, and you squealed: PIE! I had no idea you even knew what pie was. Now, all you want is pie all the time. I guess its a good thing Thanksgiving is coming up. You love animals, and can say all their names and what sound they make. Even animals I haven't taught you. You said turtle the other day, and when I asked you what a turtle said, and you started taking deep breaths like you were out of breath. Like a slow turtle in a race trying to keep up with a rabbit? I have no idea. Haha. We'll go with that!

You LOVE trains. I don't know when this started, but you saw a DVD of Thomas the Train at the library, and got so excited I had to check it out for you. You loved it, and I have no idea why, because its probably THE most boring show i've ever seen. 

Another favorite of yours is playing football with Daddy. The second he comes home, you are ready to play football. He is much more fun to play football with, you've tried to play with me, and I just don't do it right...you don't ask me to play anymore haha! I'm ok with that. I love watching you two play and tackle each other. 

I know I'm biased, but you are a REALLY good little boy. Especially over the summer when I didn't feel good. You would climb up in bed with me and cuddle me. You were so good to entertain yourself when Daddy went back to work. You didn't quite understand all the throwing up, I think you thought I was playing a game or something, because you would laugh and then imitate me haha. Even I couldn't help but smile. 

I feel like you can sense a change coming. You've been really clingy, and have been having some trouble sleeping at night. I know you're going to be a great big brother! You are very sweet with other kids, even when they aren't so nice to you. I'm hoping the transition of baby sister will be easy for you to deal with! You make us happy!

You made friends with some fat birds :)

What a goofball!

Imitating mom...haha

Halloween Pictures

Pumpkin carving at Grandma and Papa Roberts house

Getting ready to go trick or treating

      Checking out your candy stash with a colander on your head

House Updates

We have continued updating our house, mostly working on the bathrooms, window seat, and Boston's new bedroom. Here are some before and after pictures! Bathrooms aren't quite finished, they were interrupted by my pregnancy bomb. I'll post those pictures later!

Boston's New Bedroom:

I didn't take great before pictures, but those of you who saw this room pre-makeover know that there were awful stains all over the carpet, holes in the walls - some of which had been repaired incorrectly and with the wrong color paint. There was dog hair everywhere, yuck! We repaired all the holes, painted everything, doors, walls, baseboards, ceiling, everything! Kicked that awful carpet to the curb, and replaced it with new. So proud of Jeff, he layer the carpet himself! It looks so much better!

Before

After

Window Seat: 

Again, not a great before picture, but the top was covered with a laminate flooring. There was also no access for storage underneath it. We stripped the wood, and made a little storage compartment underneath. We added foam and fabric to the top, and I sewed some pillow covers. Its been a popular place to sit, especially during a rainstorm with a good book. I'm most excited to sit there with some cocoa and watch the snow fall!!

Before

After

After