A (little) House Update

We are getting close, although, from the looks of these pictures it seems like we have a ways to go. These were from quite awhile ago, but they give an idea of the direction we are going. We are going FORWARD, and UP!

Just a couple nights ago, Steve and I looked at all the before pictures (that will come later), and realized that we really have done so much to the house! All the little details that weren't there before, all the new storage concepts, the new colors (if you call white and greige a color!), not to mention some big changes, like the herringbone wood wall in my family room, a shiny white subway tile backsplash to the ceiling, and newly stained wood floors.

Needless to say, I am pretty excited about the final project....only a month away!

TWO

We have a two-year-old. It's official, and I'm not so sure how I feel about it. I mean, this age really is so fun. And he's learning so much, and talking (whether or not I can understand him) ALL.THE.TIME. He's a lovey little thing that likes to be cozy on the sofa, while drinking his morning coffee chocolate milk and watching "tee-deeee." He thinks every older man with a beard is Santa. He even thought the swirly part of his ice cream cone was Santa last night. But really. Where has the baby gone??? Sometimes when he wears his little onesie outfit that Honey got him that says I'M AWESOME I imagine him being a lot smaller than he really is. I actually like buttoning up his bottom when he wears that outfit, because that's how all baby clothes are, really. Anyway, he's big now, and there's nothing I can do about it, other than enjoy every second. And really, I am. I am loving this little age of constant questions, discovery, and learning. And that sharp little personality of his is pretty killer, too.    

His birthday was pretty simple. No huge party this year, and actually, I really liked it. And I think B liked it even more. Just our little family. Bridger played in the snow, opened presents (when he was ready and willing), ran around with his super hero cape that Honey made him, ate a yummy breakfast, took a nice long nap, went to see Frozen, went to dinner at Chick-fil-a, and came home for cupcakes and a couple more presents. Our day was low key, and all about our little B. It was perfect. Too bad I won't always be able to get away with no big birthday parties! 

At age TWO, Bridger loves:

-BOOKS...he could read books all day long (some days it feels like we do!) and be a happy little camper. This makes me so happy! Buying children's books is so fun for me, because I like getting all the ones that I grew up with, and adding them to our growing library. Some of Bridger's favorites are Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site, The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear and Each Peach Pear Plum. I think we could read those three books until the end of time, and B would be just fine with that.

-Being outside...snow, rain, sun. This kid will take whatever he can get. He loves the snow lately though. He asks for "ice" multiple times a day, which means I go outside, and clump together as much clean snow as I can find for him to eat. I wish snow had calories. Maybe Bridger's baby rolls would come back then. 

-Fruit Snacks...what kid (and mom) doesn't though!

-Watching Magic School Bus, Arthur, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Sesame Street

-His BYU hat...it is not uncommon for him to sleep with the hat on. If he doesn't wear it, one of his stuffed animals will. 

-saying "No! No! No! No! No!" "Oneeeee, Twoooo....." (he loves to count, but only will count to two--Hah!), "Don't waaant disssss" "Peeeese!" "oooh! YowYow!" (when he sees the kitty)

-Coloring...he loves to color in his coloring books, and loves coloring with the pink highlighter most of all (much to Steve's dismay). He knows the colors boo (blue), orjishhh (orange), and of course, PINK! We are working on all the other colors of the rainbow! Yeh-yoow, is my very favorite for him to say, though.

-Playing pictionary...he loves guessing what picture I draw for him. He can guess bus, truck, sun, stars, moon, book, the letter B, house, fish, boat, and balloon.

-Saying his name (B!) and how old his is (Two!) while holding up both pointer fingers :)

-Buses, trucks, and planes...he can point out any of these things before I can even see them! 

-Riding his bike...but not the one that Santa gave him for Christmas. He still likes the old purple one with a broken pedal and a cracked seat. His new shiny red one even has a cool bell! 

-Playing at the park...I think this was one of the first things that clued me in to the fact that he isn't a baby anymore! He can play on all the playground equipment and shows no fear! He even climbs to the top of the slides and goes down all by himself!    

-Playing with his friends and cousins...and although we are still working on, ahem, sharing, he really does love playing and being around kids. It's a cry fest every week that we have to take him out of nursery to go home after church!

-Snuggling...he loves being cozy warm and being held while watching a show or reading a book. This is my favorite. He loves to be loved....and we love to love him! 

Two is such a busy age, but I am ready for it! Here is to a year full of more firsts....hello potty training! We love you Bridger Grow. Thanks for hanging in there with me and Daddy while we learn and grow alongside you. You are the light of our lives, our little prince, and the sweetest super hero around. 

Happy Birthday! 

eighteen months

Little B is not so little anymore! He's a year and a half, to be exact!

 

It hardly seems real to me that our life has zoomed by this quickly.

 

We've hit all the big milestones with this little guy: 

 

//rolling, sitting, scooting, crawling, standing, walking, running//

 

//talking with his eyes, cooing, laughing, babbling, and talking and saying actual words and sounds//

 

//nursing (which was not a huge success), bottle feeding (a huge blessing!), baby food (which was not a hit), big people food (which was a HUGE success)//

 

//0-3 month onesies, and footie pjs, hats, and cozy blankets that coordinated to the outfits//

//3-6 month rompers and still in footie pjs most of the time//

//6-12 month tank top rompers, shorts, water diapers, bucket hats, little jackets, and his first pair of jeans//

//12-18 month pants, and actual walking shoes, sweaters, button-up shirts, a cozy winter puffer coat, and the cutest little hooded, striped onesie outfit that I put him in every change I could get, because it reminded me of when he was just a tiny baby// 

//18-24 month (where we are now) short/capris, lots of t-shirts (because some days he goes through multiple), baby crocs, swim suits, tank tops, bow ties, sandals, and boat shoes....and the ever present mowhawk (which has been trimmed now, about 3 or 4 times)// 

 

Needless to say, it's been a year of many, many FIRSTS! We can't wait to see what this little munchkin does next. He keeps us on our toes, and laughing like crazy as we go.

 

At 18 months, Bridger:

-is such a flirt! He kisses all the girls (and boys, actually) and gives hugs whenever he sees little kids

-loves to play outside

-likes to throw balls ("ba!")

-knows what a doggie says ("Ruh!")

-knows how to say mama, dada, ball (ba!), water (wa-wa), up (ut!), boat (butttt), hi, bye (both of those words are pretty high-pitched!)

-still signs the words: more, all done, please, and thank you

-loves to dance (if B hears music, he runs to it, so he doesn't miss a second of dancing time)

-loves babies (he's so sweet with little Madden, he kisses his face and head, and gives him hugs)

-is becoming a bit of a picky eater (but maybe it's because he hasn't felt great this past week)

-he loves cereal and strawberries

-loves Honey's morning smoothies still

-loves to read books, and sing songs (especially Popcorn Popping)

-loves piggy back rides down the stairs

-chasing the kitty around the house

-folds his arms for prayer

-loves bouncing on the bed

-loves his kitty and little red Tonka truck

-loves chocolate (surprise, surprise)
-loves to play in the water, and especially loves to throw water on unsuspecting visitors

-loves to take showers and baths

-likes to go on wagon rides around the neighborhood

-holds my hand when we walk across the street (or even when we're just walking down the hall...this is one of my very favorite things)

-still likes to help us to just about everything...vacuuming, laundry, dishes, cleaning up the floor....everything except picking up his toys. Hah! 

-runs everywhere...I love hearing the sound of his feet running across the floor. It's so cute!

-has started pulling on his diaper when he's wet or messy. He doesn't like the feeling of being in a dirty diaper, I think. Potty training early perhaps???

-likes waving to cars and people as they go by, and saying "Hiiiiii! Byeeeeee!"

-loves airplanes and points to the sky and goes running outside whenever he hears one

-is pretty attached to me right now, much to McKae's dismay. He doesn't love being with strangers (and McKae for some weird reason), if I am not close by.

-loves popcorn

-loves drinking out of normal cups (he thinks he is sooo big)

-climbs on everything these days

 

I really could go on and on.....

 

All in all, 18 month olds are b u s y! Hello! He's always up to something, exploring and learning as he goes. I love watching him get so big. Everyone should have a little boy at some point. I think if my mom had had one more, it definitely would have been a boy. It had to have been. Every family needs a boy! They really are so much fun.

 

I am beyond grateful for my little family. Bridger has blessed our lives in more ways than I can count. And now for real...time can seriously stop.

 

Wait, no. We close on our house on Wednesday. Time...keep on movin'!

 

love birds

It's been 30 years for these two.

4 kids and 2 grandbabies later, they are still in love.

They have the most fun of any married couple I know.
I mean, do your parents have water fights, with the hose, no less, IN THE HOUSE??

You can tell my parents are in love, and this makes me so grateful.
I have always known this. Always.

My mom is the biggest supported of my dad, and my dad is my mom's biggest fan.
They are pretty much perfect for each other.

My mom keeps my dad on his toes (he has to be....she's the one usually initiating the water fights)
My dad keep my mom laughing daily.

They are the best. And I love them.

I hope Steve and I can be like them at 30 years.

Here's to 30 more years, Mom and Dad!
(and hundreds more water fights)

Lake Blaine

It's a tradition that's been going on for almost as long as I can remember.

We go to this perfect little lake outside Kalispell, Montana. It's a 16 hour drive from Colorado, and it's worth every long hour of sitting in the car. This year was a little more difficult with a one year old, but it was still a perfect little getaway, in one of the most perfect places on this earth.

This year, however, we missed Dad, Tay, Paige, Jeff, and Madden. Half our family was missing, and it was a little weird. A lot weird. Next year, the Willardsen's need to be a little more strongly represented!

We did have fun though! We laid out, read books, ate otter pops and drumsticks like crazy, swam, took rides in the paddle boat and on the paddle board, skied, wake surfed, and relaxed. It was pretty perfect. Bridger, of course, loved the water, and didn't even mind wearing his life jacket (thank goodness!).

Bridger even wake surfed with Toph! He definitely didn't love it, but I wasn't expecting him to, so it's ok. It was a good photo op though! Toph was a good sport and took all the babies, and was so tired after it was all said and done. It was fun to see all of them out there, though, and you better believe we'll be doing it again next year!

4th of July at the lake is pretty great. We did some little fireworks the night before, and B kinda liked it! He was pretty attached to this little tank firework (because it had wheels), and wasn't amused when we had to light it off. It didn't do much. He was pretty tired by the time we did sparklers, but was pretty fixated on them still. He really liked the big fireworks, though. All around the lake, people shoot off big fireworks over the water. It's really fun, and this year was no exception.

One week really isn't long enough, but we'll take what we can get! Already can't wait until next year....

And now for a total overload of pictures of the vacay.

 

sister visit

Paige came to visit again in June!

It was so much fun to have her here, especially after just getting to see her the month before for little Mad's blessing.

We stayed pretty busy this time around. We went to the pool, to the park, shopping, Hudson Gardens, out to dinner, to the outdoor movie at Aspen Grove, and played around outside with the kids.

We can't wait to have them come back to visit this Christmas. Madden is going to be crawling, and talking, and eating food, and Bridger is going to LOVE him even more!

I love seeing Bridger interact with Madden. He's really so sweet with him, and it's pretty adorable. He will just randomly come up to him, and kiss him on the face or on the head. He did get a little jealous, though. If my mom put Madden down on a blanket on the floor, Bridger had to be on the blanket, too (even if it was just a small corner). If my mom or dad picked up Madden, Bridger was close behind, wanting to be held, too. If everyone was cooing at Madden, there was Bridger, trying to get everyone's attention back on him. Needless to say, Bridger is well loved in these parts :)

 We miss you Paige and Madden. Come back sooooooon!