baby sign, sleep, and sweetness.

baby sign.
We've been using sign language with Colton since 7 months or so. About Christmas he started signing "more". Kinda.
He definitely signs "more" now. All the time and for many things beyond food.
The most common words we sign are: drink, water, milk, food, all done, gentle, no, please, thank you, and dog. He has yet to use these to communicate with us, but I'm sure it's coming!

baby sleep. {update}
In my @11 months post I mentioned Colton's habit of waking up in the middle of the night, wanting to nurse for just a moment, and promptly falling back asleep. Who can blame him? Snuggled warmly next to Momma, completely comforted, and oh so cozy.

The weekend went like this:

Friday night--bedtime at 8pm. awake and protesting about going back to sleep w/o being nursed from 4:30am to 5:15am. slept until 8am.

Saturday night--bedtime at 8pm. awake and protesting {loudly} about going back to sleep w/o being nursed from 4:30am to 5:15am. Wes had to come take the reigns on this one. Colton was very unhappy with me. :( slept until 7:30am.

Sunday night--bedtime at 8pm. woke up at 6:45am. [insert HUGE smiley face here.]

baby sweetness.
during Colton's naptime & bedtime routine we sing to him. we snuggle him close, sway, and gently sing about how much God loves him.

last night, as i sang This Little Light of Mine to my son he picked up his head from my shoulder, looked at me and clapped. then he put his head back down.

i do not sing in the choir. nor should i. but to my son, my songs are sweet. i imagine this is how my Savior feels when i sing for him.

these tiny baby hands--applauding for my simple song about the Light of the World--well, they made my day and reminded me to praise Jesus in all ways at all times.

Colton using sign language for "more"

signing "more"

enjoying the "more" puffs he received after telling us what he wanted.

uber cute.

trying grilled zucchini at dinner.

savoring.
yummmm. zucchini is good!
{just look at those lashes!!}

a Thursday home with Mommy.

our babysitter's son was sick (got the text at 4:30 am). it was Wes' day shift and i felt like a decision needed to be made immediately if i was going to stay home since a sub needed to be called in (students arrive at 8am). usually we call our friend who often helps out with days like this...but it was so early and truthfully i was excited to stay home with this cute little boy. (aside from the fact i needed to go into work at 6am to write lesson plans for the substitute teacher...i was excited to stay home. and really...what other job do you need to leave lesson plans for?? geez.)

i snapped a few photos as he played with the maracas he got the night before from Liam. his bedhead hair in these photos cracks me up! {it was right after morning nap.}

looks like Colton has the coolest hair do in this pic!

getting a bit emotional.
{I he was hungry, I wasn't offering milk as quickly as he'd like.}

you can "see" the change in his demeanor from totally happy and content to hungry. and hungry NOW.
{last 3 pics were taken in about 1 minutes time.}
p.s. don't judge cuz i snapped this photo. i think he's adorable...even when he's emotional and i immediately saw to his needs. i promise i'm a great mommy. :)

nothing a little snuggle from Mom can't fix. (oh, and he was fed. that makes everything better!)

January Family pic

We have the happiest baby...but if Mommy and Daddy aren't behind the camera to make Colton smile...we get Mr. Serious. He's still so darn cute as Mr. Serious we don't mind. :)

@ 11 months

Colton Dean,
Your 11th  month has been sooo  much fun. You are full of laughter and giggles and it is contagious! You find the smallest of small items to stick in your mouth...we have to watch you closely all the time! You only get emotional when we take away "your" cell phone or remote control. You are very independent when it comes to trying to walk. We try to hold onto your fingers and support you as you try taking steps and you want nothing to do with that. Yet, you will cruise right along the edge of the couch without a second thought. Independent you are!! You are such a social little boy. (we have no idea where you got that from. {wink wink}) When we go on walks you kick your feet and laugh at the kids playing in the park. You enjoy your babysitter's house so much because her son is six months older than you are...the two of you get into some mischief together! You love to watch other kids and if they are your age you can't wait to share toys with them.

You are our treasure, sweet one. We pray with you daily. Read you books about God's love for you. And sing songs about how to let your light shine.

We love you, son!
Mommy and Daddy.

@11 months---CRAWLING everywhere...and fast, too! Not walking, just cruising along side the couch, chair, wall, really anything that has a perimeter that he can hold on to.

@11 months--WAVING.
it's adorable. Colton doesn't wave on-demand...just when he wants to, but he will often mimic you if you wave first.



@11 months--PULLING TO STANDING POSITION everywhere. Furniture, walls, Mommy or Daddy's legs, sides of tables. Anything solid and he's there pulling himself up. Colton will DANCE when he hears music. We have frequent Stumbaugh Dance Parties in our livingroom.

@11 months--RELEASING from one stationary object to another (toward the end of his 11 months this started). Example: hold onto recliner with one hand, reach out with other to tv console, then step over to tv console and proceed to cruise down the length of it)

@11 months--7 TEETH!
4 on top, 3 on bottom.

@11 months--SIPPY CUP of water only.
He will drink when he's thirsty...and he will take a mouthful in his mouth then let it dribble out when he's playful.

@11 months--FOOD is Colton's favorite! We are making his baby food and he loves: sweet potato, squash, carrots, applesauce. Colton loves to feed himself puffs and he will use BABY SIGN LANGUAGE to tell you "more"!!  He has TWO meals a day--breakfast and dinner.

@11 months--BUSY!! Colton doesn't sit still for one minute. Currently all his toys are stored in the tv console. He thoroughly enjoys when we open the door in the morning and he gets to pull out all his toys and begin playing. Colton will choose ONE TOY to put in his hand and crawl around with all day long. This could be the teething ring, a ball, a plastic shape, a book, a sock, a washcloth, or  "his" cellphone or remote control.  

@11 months--FULL OF BABY BABBLE and SWEET NOISES. Colton "talks" all day. He mimics the noises and sounds you make when you talk to him. And his laughter fills our home with it's sweet sound.

@11 months--CURIOUS and SERIOUS when checking out new people, places, toys, or things. I wish I could peek into that head and see what he was thinking as he takes everything in when in a new situation. No smiles during this time, just very serious and thoughtful. Very intuitive with new toys and is so thoughtful in figuring out how things work. He's still into details, too.

@11 months--always finding something new to play with and figure out. He is pulling on the ribbon I used to display our Christmas cards. The ribbon isn't attached and he's holding onto only it...nothing else as he stands and pulls and sways.

@11 months--ADVENTUROUS. Thus the cushion Daddy is putting in case of a backward spill.

@11 months--completely ADORABLE. Colton is the sweetest, most loving little boy. He is full of joy...which spills out to all who have the privilege of spending any time with him.

@11 months--NAPS two times a day. 9:00 to 10:30 am and 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm. (give or take a bit) BEDTIME is 8:00pm and he sleeps until 7:00 am.
(he is still waking up once per night...pretty sure we've started a bad habit with this. i know he isn't hungry because he eats so well during the day and is gaining weight, but he wakes up about 1 am and is crying for me. so, i snuggle him and nurse him til he is asleep again. can you blame me at 1 am??  i'm tired--working full time is exhausting when you're a mommy! and i feel guilty--again, working full time is hard when you're a mommy! so...tis the month to stop this habit so mommy (and daddy, too!) can sleep for a solid amount of time.)  

@11 months--loves WATER!! Bath water, water in a sippy cup, water in the kitchen faucet, water fountains at Bellagio or in a park.

@11 months--wearing SIZE 12 MONTH clothes and SIZE 18 MONTH pajamas.

a reunion night.

Finally, all my girls together again in one room!

We've all been friends for years...Bradi and I met 10 years ago, Dianna and I shortly after that, Tara and Bradi shortly after that. And through one another we all met and have been friends ever since.

Bradi, Dianna, Ariane, and Tara.

We met through church and proceeded to walk through life together. We prayed together, studied the Bible together, held each other accountable, and we encouraged one another.

We encouraged each other through the single years of praying for husbands--husbands who would pursue us as Christ has pursued and loved us as Jesus loves the church.

We celebrated when God brought us those men of God.

We prayed for babies that we will have the honor of raising to know and love God.

We cheered and cried happy tears at the birth of our beautiful children.

And now, we all sit together after many years--on this side of answered prayers, trials overcome, and heaps of blessings.

-------------------+----------------------+--------------------------+-----------------------+-------------------+----
Our kids all played together so sweetly. And we sat there in amazement of having kids! (we felt very grown-up at this thought!) We ate delish food. And just caught up on life.

It was a beautiful night with my sweet sisters in Christ. (and their lovely families)

The Holders.
Joel, Bradi, Caleb
They live in Brigham City, Utah.
and I miss them.

The Kurths.
Tara and her beautiful children: Aidan and Gracie

Bradi and Colton.

my sweet friend and our boys.

Bradi and her adorable son, Caleb.
Cutest pic ever!!

All the kiddos playing.

Family time in December

Date night!
Gloria and Victor hung out with Colton while we enjoyed a wonderful evening at Lake Las Vegas eating the most amazing meal.

Totally addicted to personalized ornaments!
I've gotten one for our 1st Christmas and last year when I was pregnant with Colton. So, getting one for baby's 1st Christmas was a given. (did you know if you wait until after Christmas they are 50% off?? good idea to wait, or plan ahead if you want to give it as a gift the next year!)

Yes, this is December in Nevada.

December 25th in Nevada. Sunny, blue sky, pleasant 60 degrees.

Breakfast date! :)
Grandma Anna watched Colton for us while we enjoyed breakfast out.

This is what we came home to after our breakfast date.
How sweet are they??

I don't think Grandma Anna minded snuggling her sleeping grandson for 2 hrs while he slept!

Good morning!!

Always wakes up soooo happy.

Scrunchy face!!

Uncle Gary and Colton checking out his new toy.

Aunt Bickie and Uncle Gary stayed with Colton for a few hours so Wes could sell a mattress to our good friends...and so I went along for the ride since it was his day off.

After nap snuggles with Uncle Gary.

Aunt Bickie watched Colton for a bit while I went to have some girl time with Bradi (who was in town from Utah).

Such cuteness.

What a treat to go on a date night and date breakfast this month! My aunt and I went shopping while Grandma Anna hung out with Colton. And I got to enjoy a girls' pedicure and run off to work with Wes for a few hours to see our friends. An amazing blessing to have our family in town to allow us to do these things and to have such a sweet little boy that everyone loves to hang out with!