Vegas Baby!

We had a great time in Las Vegas when we went to visit recently. It was still a little cool outside, but that didn't stop us from taking a couple of trips to the park. Brandon and Janae have a great park just a few minutes from their house and I think Cael thought he'd died and gone to heaven. He and Taylor had so much fun playing together and were just adorable. Cael survived the car ride thanks to a new DVD player for the car, a few episodes of The Backyardigans, and a couple of long breaks at the McDonald's PlayPlace in Cedar City.

Anyway, thanks Brandon and Janae for letting us come visit and we can't wait to see you again!

WHEE!

Cael has decided that he really loves the swings! It started out a little rough when I pushed him a little higher than he felt comfortable going, but now, he's a pro and could swing all day. The first time I took him to the park and put him in the swing he kept drooling and watching his drool as it swayed in the breeze. I couldn't even get him to look up he was so enthralled. I didn't think it was quite as cool or fascinating as he did, but who am I to say. On another trip, he kept his hands inside the swing and wouldn't take them out. His little personality is becoming more and more dominant lately.

Here are a few pics of our swinging adventures so far this spring.

Another First . . .

It was long overdue, but we finally took Cael to get his first official haircut. I trimmed his "patch" when he was a few months old, but I don't really count that as a "haircut." When we got there we had to wait a minute so Cael was playing on the little playset they had and when they were ready to cut his hair, we had to tear him away. But fortunately they had a Backyardigans video for Cael to watch, a car to sit in and some toys to play with. Initially we didn't have to work hard to keep him happy because he was loving the Backyardigans, but then the stylist pulled out her clippers and told us to help get Cael to look down. Breakdown! He was either frightened by the clippers or didn't want to look down or something, but we are talking about some serious drama. He was fighting Shaun so hard that Shaun really couldn't keep Cael's head down.

After it was all said and done, however, we had a very handsome baby boy. I miss his curls, but it's nice that he no longer looks like an orphan-child.

Here are a few before and after photos for you to check out.

"Hello?"

I just love this baby! He has been chatting away on the phone like crazy the last few weeks. He just babbles and laughs like he's really carrying on a conversation. He used to just carry the phone around and hold it up to his face, but now he seems to finally have figured things out. He still isn't really saying any words, but he certainly understands more and more. Every night when I ask him if he wants to take a bath he runs straight over to the bathroom door and starts banging on it. He knows where his bellybutton is and especially likes to check out daddy's bellybutton. He also understands the words "kiss," "car," "blanket," "binky," "bottle,""bye-bye," "daddy," and "mommy." We've also taught him how to give five recently. He's learning and growing so fast these days and I wish I could slow it down, but I guess I'll just enjoy it instead.

Pasta-Holic

"Hi, my name is Cael and I'm a Pasta-Holic."

This baby loves pasta--of any kind. He'll eat ramen (thanks to his daddy who thinks that is a nutritious and well-balanced meal), thai noodles, curry noodles, spaghetti, ravioli--you name it! I think that this particular evening we were having lemon-basil pasta. I'm not sure what it is that he loves so much, but it doesn't matter what kind of pasta it is, he can't get enough.

OK, maybe I do know what it is that he loves--it's pasta, what's not to love!

A Kleenex Christmas

Cael still didn't understand the concept of Christmas this year, but he thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless! He enjoyed the wrapping paper, the boxes, his cousin's presents and the Kleenex. "The Kleenex?" you ask? Why yes, the Kleenex. One of my friends gave me a great idea for a Christmas present for Cael--a box of Kleenex. As it turns out, it was a hit with Cael and his cousin Ayden. Cael enjoyed pulling them out of the box and shredding them, while Ayden got a kick out of throwing them up, at, or on people. I think it was probably Cael's favorite present this year!

Anyway, here are some pics from our Christmas Eve and Christmas morning celebrations this year. Hope you enjoy them as much as Cael enjoyed the box of Kleenex. :)

Cael and Shaun opening their Christmas pajamas.

A family portrait in our new Christmas pajamas.

And a few of Christmas morning with the Carlisle clan . . . .

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like . . .

CHRISTMAS!!!

I just love this time of year! I love the music, the shopping, the planning, the surprises, the stories, the parties, the family and most of all the giving. I love how generous people become and how people start looking beyond themselves to others around them in need.

In honor of the Christmas season, we've been busy with a few things around here . . .

A trip to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights with my parents and little sis (thanks guys for coming along).

Putting some Christmas lights up on our own house (and it only took Shaun about 32 hours to get them up due to a few technical difficulties--gotta love him!).

Putting up the Christmas tree and requisite child-proof gate (ignore the fact that the tree has no decorations on it--we're still working on that part).

And getting our holiday cards designed and ordered. So let me know if you would like a card and I'll be sure to send you one. So much to look forward to, I know the suspense is killing you! :0)