MATTIE'S BEEN BUSY

First she was playing like this:

Funny girl!

Then, she decided to do this for the FIRST time:

(she started out happy, but once she got up the first step, she was ready to be done :)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

1 marathon

+ 1 college graduation

+ (only) 1 major purchase (washer and dryer)

+ 2 states

+ 2 colleges

+ 2 babies

+ 3 wards

+ 3 cars

+ 3 years of law school

= 4 happy years of marriage

Happy Anniversary, Baby! I love you!!

We went in to check on CJ and this is what we found. Nothing new, but too cute to not snap a shot! That's CJ's doggy, JJ, by the way...named after Papa and Gamma's real black lab, JJ. CJ would take her everywhere, if we let him, but we don't want him losing her, so she stays home most of the time (though she does get to come on trips with us). The one place CJ has to have JJ? In bed. Doesn't it make your heart melt?

MATTIE's FIRST ATTEMPT AT MAC N' CHEESE

click on the grid to enlarge the pics

She really liked it! All the scrunchy-nose pics are because she was so excited about the mac n' cheese, that she was doing her nose-scrunch-laugh-thing that she still does every once in awhile. It was hilarious!

MATTIE - 9 MONTHS OLD

Our baby girl is 9 months old already and learning and growing like crazy! For example:

Weight: 20 lbs 10 oz (80th percentile)

Height: 29 in (91st percentile)

Head: 18 1/2 in (99th percentile)

- She's been crawling for a couple of months now, so her new thing is that she likes to pull herself up to standing. But her balance is still a little off, so if you see bruises on her little head, it's due to slips and falls...growing pains :)

- She finally has some teeth coming in (which makes for not-so-fun days, sometimes). Her bottom right tooth broke through last week and her bottom left tooth just broke through two days ago!

- She takes after her brother, and likes to watch Sesame Street, Barney, and any preschool show with music

- She loves to eat! In fact, we've started feeding her table foods, and we have yet to find a food she doesn't like. She especially loves to help us eat our cereal in the morning, and when she hears a crinkly sound, she comes a'runnin' :)

- She's a pro in her little walker! She can go any direction and can go with some speed. She'll be walking before we know it!

- She still takes two naps a day, which is great, and sleeps all through the night. But she's also an early riser, waking up every morning around 6 or 6:30! We don't know where she got that from..

- She has just started to walk along the edge of our furniture. Slowly, and unsteadily, but nonetheless, she's moving

- She coos and babbles all the time, making every sound you can think of (except "ma ma ma ma") and has even started making a clicking sound with her tongue

- She LOVES books! She likes to pat the pictures with her little hands

- And she LOVES music. If she's listening to music that's playing, she likes to dance by rocking back and forth. If we're singing songs, she likes to wave her arm while we sing

- She really likes to be held...that's when she's the happiest. And she likes to be a part of everything going on

- She LOVES little kids, especially her brother. They can be doing nothing, and still make her laugh. Lately, CJ will play with Mattie by crawling away from her. He thinks she chasing him, and he loves it. She's just trying to catch up :)

- She likes to play with her hair, especially while she's having a bottle

- She loves to bounce and jump...especially while we hold her. If we put her in her jumper, most of the time she gets upset because she would rather be down crawling around (and have the freedom to explore and get into things she's not supposed to :)

- Speaking of being upset, she's already throwing tantrums at 9 months old. It used to be just if we took something away from her, but recently she has started to get upset if you move something that she was maybe planning on playing with, even if she hasn't actually started playing with it yet :). And she gets upset when you try to wipe her chin while she's eating. And she gets upset if you don't feed her fast enough when she's hungry. And she gets upset when you try to dress her or change her diaper. And the list goes on...

- But she has the sweetest smile that melts your heart, and so we tend to forget all about her little tantrums because most of the time, she is a generally well-natured, happy baby

Mattie makes everyone she comes in contact with smile and laugh, and we're no exception. She is SUCH a blessing in all our lives and our little family wouldn't be complete without her! We love you, Mattie Gayle!!

"MERRY CHRISTMAS, UNCLE CAMERON..."

We finally got a package sent off to Bryce's brother, Cameron, who is serving his mission in Mongolia. This, along with some lovely coloring that CJ did on the other side, was the kids' contribution. Hope he likes it (and hope he actually receives it :)

MATTIE's NEW TRICK

Yup, she's gone from crawling, to pulling herself up on things. It's only a matter of time before she's gonna be walking along the furniture and then running off on her on. Is there someway to STOP your kids from growing (or at least, slow them down a little)?? 

NOTHIN' LIKE GOOD FRIENDS

Now that wintertime and finals are upon us, we HAVE to get out of the house once in a while and see our friends (both the kids and Mommy too), or we'll go crazy! A favorite spot is the Spokane Valley Mall's play area. Today, all the moms were talking, when we looked over and saw our kids sittin' in the boat sharing some pretzels. Too cute!! We're so glad we have such great friends here in Spokane!!

(L-R): Brody Dobbs, Audrey Adams, Mattie, Abby Adams, and CJ 

KISSY-FACE

We LOVE Mattie's kisses!!

CJ's NEW FAVORITE PAST TIME:

In case you weren't sure, yes, that is a Wii remote in CJ's hand.

Like father, like son

RUB-A-DUB

CJ LOVES bath time! And even though she can't talk yet, we know Mattie loves it too! CJ's gotten used to Mattie sharing his tub and his toys, and after exclaiming, "Yea, bath!" when we tell him it's bath time, CJ is always sure to ask, "Mattie bath?" Who wouldn't love to play with someone in the tub who lets you pour water on them and constantly "trade" toys? :)

CJ's actually copying Mattie here :)

Escapee! And apparently the tub was a little too warm (but the kids didn't complain)

DADDY-TIME

Paige had to run an errand, so Bryce stayed home with the kids. This is what she found when she got home:

First Daddy showed CJ how...

...then CJ tried on his own (his football is in mid-flight)

They practiced catching too...CJ did really well

Even Mattie got in on the action

And Daddy even played dress-up too...which both kids thought was hilarious

No wonder Daddy is their favorite!

CHRISTMAS TRADITION

Every Christmas since I was a child, my mom has given me a chocolate advent calendar. Even after I graduated from high school and moved out of the house, I still got an advent calendar! I've always loved it and looked forward to it each year. And now, I LOVE that my mom continues the tradition with her grandkids. Based on how excited CJ was to open the package Grandma Forsgren sent, and how he asks for "ca-kit" each day, I think it's a tradition that he and Mattie will love as well.

Thanks, Mom! Wish you could have been here to see CJ's face, but hopefully these will do. Can't wait to see you soon!!

Opening the package the last day in November...

...and enjoying the first chocolate the next day!

Since Mattie can't really fully enjoy the chocolate in her advent calendar, it looks like Bryce and I will get an advent calendar afterall ;)

THANKSGIVING 2009

THANKSGIVING MORNING

The ladies in the kitchen...

...the guys home from the Turkey Bowl (CJ is pantless because he had a little too much fun in the puddles :)

DINNER

THE AFTERMATH

Our favorite part of Thanksgiving was the Family Home Evening that Bryce's mom, Sheila, gave. We watched segments from talks by Elder Oaks and President Eyring about remembering our blessings. Afterwhich, Sheila gave us each a journal to use to record how we see the hand of the Lord in our lives each day. We haven't missed a day yet and have really felt such a stronger sense of gratitude for the blessings we continually receive.

THE SNOWFLAKE PARADE

After a day of braving the Black Friday crowds, pictures with Santa, and dinner at Red Robin, we bundled up for the first night of Bellevue's Snowflake Parade, which included the debut of Macy's Santa Claus! CJ was saying "ho, ho, ho" all day in preparation :)...

...and then we ended the night with some classic claymation Christmas movies

We had a "SUPER" Thanksgiving!

MORE PICS CJ INSISTED WE TAKE:

Our favorite

"I'm so glad when Daddy comes home..."

click on the grid to enlarge the pics

Being in the tub with Mattie was CJ's idea (and then of course, to take the picture too :)

CJ insisted that his doggy, JJ, have a jacket too...this was his solution (don't you love how kids' minds work?)

Before telling me to take this picture, CJ first told me that he had bit a circle in his toast. What a smarty!

SECRET WISH COME TRUE

Bryce and I try to make it to the temple to do a sealing session around Valentine's Day each year. Our first February here in Spokane (2 years ago), we were able to go to the temple with several other friends to enjoy our Valentine's Day tradition. As Bryce and I drove to the temple to meet everyone, we talked about how we felt like two of our friends were missing and how we wished they could be there with us. Then we made a secret goal - or wish, really - that before we left Spokane, our two friends, Shay and Misty, would be able to join us in a Valentine's Day sealing session (keeping in mind that Shay and Misty had just started to meet with the missionaries :). 

Well less than two years later, Bryce and I had the honor and privilege of being present as Shay and Misty - two people whom we love very much - received their own endowments and then were sealed for all eternity in the Spokane Temple a few weeks ago. It has been such an amazing experience to be a witness to the transformation these two have made and we feel so blessed to have been able to have them in our lives and call these two friends. Their awesome conversion story reaffirms the love the Lord has for all of us - even "the one" - and testifies of how much His hand is in our lives. Misty often talks about how meeting their friends here in Spokane changed their lives, but I have to say, that they have truly inspired and blessed our lives!  We are so grateful for their passion and dedication to the Gospel and for the wonderful example they are to us! We love them very much and know that they will change lives wherever they are!

May 2008 - Misty and Shay's wedding

June 2008 - Misty's baptism (Shay baptized her)

November 2009 - Misty and Shay's sealing

Mark your calendar, Misty and Shay, because we're planning on you being in the temple with us this Valentine's Day!