Brock's turn to play!

The other day Brock decided it was his turn to play a little Xbox 360. With Ryszard recovering from surgery he's been playing a lot of this at all hours of the night and day, and Brock has been looking on patiently buying his time to get a little play action. A few days ago he climbed up into the chair and took his place in front of the screen. {Don't worry he didn't play long, only a few minutes and then he was off to his books, but it was very cute to see him sitting there playing just like daddy!}

Christmas Fun.

Merry Christmas! Brock decided to sleep in until almost 9:00am today, so we had a very relaxed morning. He was very fun to watch as he first ran right to daddy {who was by the tree waiting with video camera in hand to capture Brock's "excitement". After we pointed out the presents he immediately climbed up on some to get a closer look at the tree. Uncle Adrian had sent a special ornament for Brock that we opened last night and placed on the tree.
. Santa playing Basketball.
Brock loves it and wants to hold it constantly. {Thank you Uncle Adrian!} I think it has officially become his favorite!
We were finally able to convince him to open a gift and that is what he did. He opened his one gift and then became completely entranced with that one. We should have just stopped there. Slowly we got him to open each gift throughout the day. I thought it was funny that he didn't have a single reaction to anything. He just slowly tore at the paper piece by piece by piece and sometimes only a few tares and he was back to his previous opened gift. I'm thinking next year we will scale down a bit! My favorite gift Brock received has to be the car road blanket and cars he got from Nana. Brock loves cars and this blanket had everything! An airport, police station, fire station, school, and a basketball court {which Brock found right away.} I have a goal to make Brock a homemade gift every year and this year my gift to him was an I spy quilt and rag letters. Among some of his gifts were a V Tech Laptop, Chuck the talking truck, a Teddy Bear, a ton of Tonka cars and trucks, and a ride on CAT Dump Truck. Needless to say they are now way too many toys in the room, but he's been playing all day. Brock also received a few movies this year and we sat him down with lunch to watch his first movie: "CARS". I think he only watched a good 20-30 minutes before wanting to be back with his toys, which is fine with me. I'd rather he not become a couch potato just yet!

All in all it was a very fun Christmas. Brock is loving his new toys and I'm thinking I can put some of his others away for a little bit. {Most of you know I'm not big on toys, but Daddy is, and feels the need to spoil his little boy} What can us mothers do???

New Discovery

So I think I actually found a fruit that Brock does not like. At first I thought him leaving it on his tray was because he was full, but after a few more tries I think he has decided not to like cantaloupe. I can't really blame him I hated this fruit as a child and only recently started liking it. I think I will still give him little pieces when I have them, but I'd really like to avoid another cantaloupe piece in my eye.

More Treats Please!

The other day Brock was particularly cranking and I had to fight with him to go down for a nap, {he really needed one and was fighting it, and I wanted to take one myself.} So I bribed him with a treat. A cranberry treat. I had just picked some craisins at the store and decided to give them a whirl for naptime. "Brock" I said, "if you come with me to take a nap I will give you a special treat" he quickly ran into the bedroom and climbed up on the rocking chair. Mind you Brock hasn't been given candy at all, {at least by me} so I'm not sure what he was expecting. I grabbed a little box of crasins and took my place with Brock on my lap. "Are you ready for your treat?"
Happy little head shaking up in down. I gave him one to try. Not sure how he would like it. His response was wonderful. Brock simple closed his eyes and chewed away, after he swallowed his little treat he looked up at me with the biggest grin and signed "More please!" {we use sign language for some of our words} He was too cute. I gave him a few more and he had the same response. So now Crasins are our special treat. He eats them right up and begs for more. I tell you dried fruit in a box is genius!

1 month to go...

{give or take a few days} and baby Nicholas will be in our arms.

"When Joseph went to Bethlehem"

This is one of my all time favorite Christmas songs. For two reasons: It's simple easy to follow and has a great message of what a truly wonderful man Joseph was. Also the man who wrote the song was one of my favorite primary teachers growing up.
A few days ago I found out that he passed away. I wish I could say it was the pregnancy that made me cry when I heard the news, but truthfully he was one of those people who really touch your heart. Before he and his wife went on a second mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They wrote their testimonies in a Book of Mormon and gave everyone in the class one. I don't know if anyone else kept theirs but mine is tucked safely in my cedar chest and I pull it out often to read. I still find it amazing how their simple testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel and their love for the book, still touches my heart today after all these years.

Brock's 18 month stats...

Today Brock and I went to his 18 month well baby check up. For the very first time, Brock was clingy and not wanting to cooperate. He wouldn't sit still to get measured, he kept shaking the measuring tape off his head, and he would not let go of my neck. But after a struggle and some tears we got all the measurements. To my surprise he still hasn't hit the 30 pound mark, {although he feels it}. So Brock's official stats are:28 lbs 12.5 oz. and 35 inches long. This past week we also moved Brock into a big boy car seat. {I want to use his convertible car seat when baby Nicholas arrives.}
Brock is continuing keep us on our toes. He loves to play basketball, read his books, and climb in and out of the crib to get his puppy Pepper. I plan on transitioning him to a regular bed soon.