Adam is on the move!

Finding Bigfoot

So much to Adrian's displeasure, the kids are enthralled with the show "Finding Bigfoot." We've had talks about what makes things controversial and I think it's great that they're critically thinking about topics. Here are some funnies regarding their obsession:

---The show refers to "Sasquatch" often. Colin can't say that word for the life of him. He says "Squash" instead. I love how none if the other kids correct him. Beware of giant squashes in the woods...

---after every episode I ask if they found Bigfoot yet. The answer is always no. Still doesn't phase them. 

--- no matter how many times I tell them the reinactments are not real, they still don't get it. 

---throughout the episodes, the kids see the "photographic evidence" and agree that it's too blurry/ obscure but they still conclude it's Bigfoot. What?!?!

Oh well. I guess it's better than them requesting to watch Sponge Bob or something equally annoying. 

Long Live Bigfoot! 

California Beach Trip

While we were in CA for Travis' funeral we decided to take advantage of the abnormally warm weather and head to the beach! Usually northern CA beaches are cold and windy, but the stars aligned for us that day because it was sunny with a light breeze and 70 degrees! The water was freezing but the kids could care less.

 

The beach we went to was one I'd been to many, many times before. However this time the tide was out and we got to see some amazing things! Leah was absolutely fascinated with the sea anemones and had NO fear of them whatsoever. She went around the rocks sticking her little fingers right in them. One even made a funny noise and squirt her with water...which only prompted her to mimic said squirty noise as she touched the other anemones. 

 The sun was setting and Adrian had the idea to do silhouette shots. 

So we took some of he, Blake and Thomas. 

Then we took some family shots! Can you see all 7 of us??

Right before we left San Jose we took a picture with the fam! Thanks for letting us stay with you Blake & Janet! 

California Trip for Travis' Funeral

On New Years' Day we woke up super early, piled the sleepy kids in the van and began the long trip out to California. I wish the trip was for a happier reason. My sister Julie started dating Travis 5 years ago. After 3 years of dating they were beginning to think about the future when Travis began not feeling well. Soon afterwards he was diagnosed with Bone Cancer. In a nutshell, the next 2 years that followed were full of a variety of unpleasant and exhausting treatments. We prayed for him continually and  wished there was more we could do to help. I'm so happy Travis and Julie were able to travel out here to Utah in May. I had no idea that would be the last time we saw him. Come early December we had an idea he wasn't doing well, but we didn't know to the extent. We were told he had about a month left to live. My sister was a mess- really we all were. Over the course of the next few days he went downhill rapidly and passed away early December 14, 2013.

We stayed with Blake, Adrian's brother in San Jose for a couple days. This was us leaving for the funeral. 

Kids driving in the car. We were all still smiling at this point.

Great Grandparents with Adam

Our family with my grandparents

The 4 girls and our kids!

My sisters and I- Carol, Julie, me and Jenn

Julie wanted to wait until after the holidays for his funeral, so that's what we did. The funeral home was packed and although we all tried to focus on how much we all loved Travis and was an incredible person he was, it was so difficult to accept that he was really gone.  Adrian and I had talked to the kids about Travis' passing many times but death is a difficult concept for an adult, much less a child! Well, I think part way through the service the fact that Travis was really gone sunk in for Thomas and he just sobbed. It was heart breaking. 

It was wonderful to be there with my sisters and we tried to make the best of it. I was able to see my grandparents after not seeing them for about 9 years. I saw my Aunt and Uncle for the first time in 12 years- they had never met Adrian! 

I'm so glad we took the trip. Even if it wasn't under the best circumstances, it will be something I think at least Adrian, Thomas and I will never forget. 

RIP Travis- we love you and won't forget you!

Travis' Obituary:

Resident of Livermore, CA

Travis was born on December 3, 1980, and passed away in the comfort of his home on December 14, 2013 in Livermore, CA. He was 33 years old. Travis loved to go camping, fishing, and boating. Basically anything outdoors was right up his alley. He recently visited Yosemite, another favorite spot of his. Travis will be remembered for his kind heart and energetic personality.

Travis is survived by his fiancée Julie Kokanour, his parents Patrick Haney of Livermore, Deborah Haney of Pleasanton, and his brother Thomas Haney of Livermore.

A Celebration of Travis’ Life will be held on Friday, January 3, 2014 from 10AM to 12PM at Callaghan Mortuary, 3833 East Avenue, Livermore, CA

Travis playing with Leah, late Spring 2012

Adam: 4 Months Old

Adam turned 4 months old in early February. He's getting so big and is quite the cutie. I wish he was sleeping better, but we're still struggling in that department. Maybe once or twice a week he will sleep 4-5 hour stretches, but otherwise it's still 3 hours, or this week, we're back to every 2 hours! Ahh I miss sleep terribly. 

He's much more mobile than he was a month ago! About 3 weeks ago he rolled for the first time. Then we went about 10 days with nothing! After that he rolled a few times within a week...and it just clicked after that. Now he rolls all the time, everywhere! During diaper changes, when you're putting clothes in him, during a bath- he loves to roll! 

He's a big boy! His 4 month stats are:

16 lbs 4 oz (68th%)

27.3 inches tall (over 95th%)

Part of his new found mobility is buckling him into the bouncer chair and taking a break from the Bumbo seat. (Ever seen a baby roll out of the Bumbo?? I have!) 

I went to Time Out for Women this weekend with my mother in law and sister in laws and I took Adam with me. We got back pretty late Friday night and after nursing, the kid just crashed. 

Here he is asleep on our bed- unswaddled and just randomly set down.

We then had to change his diaper and get him into his jammies (button sleepers and I don't get along well during the night!)

As you can see he didn't care what we did- he was apparently very tired! 

He's so cute when he's asleep! (Why won't he sleep like this during the night?!?)

Adam is Laughing & 3 Month Update

As difficult as Adam is sometimes, he's also one of our most smiley babies. He started smiling at just 3 weeks old and he will smile at just about anyone! Everyone loves it. Even if he's tired and hungry, if you come up and talk to him in that sing-song voice everyone reserves for babies, chances are you will see his cute dimpled grin. Moments like that make up for the tough times, for sure. 

Adam officially giggled at about 4-5 weeks old but now at 3 months he can really get going sometimes. Here's a cute little video I took of him and Adrian tonight. So fun!

Adam is 3 months old now and just barely started sleeping 5-6 hour stretches at night. Hallelujah! He's not consistent with it yet but it gives me hope. At our 2 month visit our pediatrician suggested we try giving Adam a daily probiotic, to see if his fussiness and lack of sleep improved... and it did, tremendously! So yeah, we certainly like him a lot more these days. We got an exersaucer and he adores standing up and jumping around in it. This kid LOVES to stand! He also loves his play mat and Bumbo seat. The kids are all super helpful with Adam still and I think he's even starting to enjoy when they play with him. No idea what Adam weighs at this point, we'll know again at 4 months, but I feel like he's a big boy! He easily fits in 3-6 month clothing, although more so for length than anything else. He's got some cute chubby cheeks though!

Random Happenings from December ~ the Zoo, Pascal and more!

Thomas is such a great helper with Adam! I know with 10 years' age difference, they will have a different sibling relationship. I think they will share a special bond! 

One of the rare moments I was able to leave the house without Adam- for a trip to Costco- this is what I came home to. Adrian is so awesome for holding down the fort while I was gone. It's so nice to get away! 

I celebrated another birthday in November. I was invited to a blog event for Cafe Zupas- so Adrian and I were able to go on a dinner date- for free! We had a great time! 

I'm trying to take more pictures of our lives, which means most often it's with my phone, so while the quality isn't awesome, the object of the photo makes up for it! Here's Adrian showing off one of the Christmas crafts the kids and I did while he was at work. 

I'd love to say Adam is just the sweetest, easiest baby on the planet, like all 5th children should be... but yeah, he's not! He's actually our most high maintenance child. It's exhausting sometimes- this moment I captured was one of those times- but I know this part will go by fast...

It's a good thing he's cute- or he'd be out on the doorstep with a postage stamp on his forehead. I think my mom needs a bit of company in Alaska...

We've gotten quite a bit of snow this year- even though it's been 15-20 degrees outside, the kids LOVE playing in it. We got these snow toys that certainly help-  getting snowballs flung on the windows is a small price to pay for their happiness... 

When Adam falls asleep it's like, "Don't move! Don't adjust him in any way or he'll wake up!" Oftentimes where ever he falls asleep is where he naps!

As the kids were home from school in December, we were able to have a turn pet-sitting Hailey's class pet, Pascal the chameleon. He was fun to have around for a week- low maintenance, no smell or shedding. Sign us up next time! 

Our church ward had a really cool Christmas party this year- a Polar Express theme. Can you guess who played the part of the conductor?? Doesn't Adrian look fantastic?! His costume ended up being a hodge-podge of items from neighbors, co-workers, family, etc. It all came together well though. The kids had a blast. We even had little neighbor kids come up to Adrian, wanting to take a picture with the conductor. It was a fun night. 

Here's the room in the church that was transformed into a train car on the Polar Express. 

My mom and Michael got the kids a Zoo membership for Christmas, so we took advantage and went to the zoo a couple weeks ago. We literally went hours before the next storm was about to hit, but the weather was PERFECT! A little chilly of course, but not enough to make Thomas wear a jacket. ;) It was a fun outing! 

One of the highlights of the zoo trip was me nursing Adam standing up in the Reptile House. ha! I couldn't find a warm place to sit down, so I had to improvise. Good thing he's a fast nurser! While I was feeding him I heard Thomas mumble, "I can't wait until Adam doesn't need to nurse anymore. " Ha! Me too buddy! 

The next day another storm hit and this was our backyard! 

Leah likes to color. The guilty look on her face had just cause- do you see all the coloring on the table she did?? We're still learning to color just on paper. At least it wasn't on the wall though- the table is SO much easier to clean up!