Our Little Guy

Yes, he's here! Cody Kenneth Baxter was born 11/11/09 at 6:17 pm. He weighed 6 lbs. 13 oz. and was 18 in., almost the exact size Jayci was. He's so tiny and cute! We just love him. Everything went really well. I waited until after they broke my water to get an epidural and that was a mistake because when they said he'd come fast, they meant fast! No time for the epidural to set in, so I may as well have had him natural. But oh well, it all worked out. I sure was numb just after I had the baby! He's been a really good boy so far, loves to sleep. I know the first few weeks they are so much more calm than any other time, so I'm just enjoying it while it lasts! I'm trying to adjust to getting little sleep at night, but it's definitely easier for me to deal with this time around. Plus, he settles down once I pick him up, unlike Jayci who just screamed regardless of what I did. I love newborns, they are so sweet, and I'm trying to enjoy every minute with this beautiful little boy! Thanks to all for the phone calls, texts, visits, meals, gifts, etc! I am so blessed! And special thanks to my mom and mom-in-law for taking turns staying with me here at home! Moms are such a blessing!!!! Any visitors are welcome. We live out in the boonies, so not too many come by. We'd love to see any of you.

He's got so much dark hair!

Our delivering nurse's name was Codi, pretty ironic. We told her we'd name the baby after her if she did a good job, and she did!


Chad's dad took extra precautions just in case he might be sick

The proud parents

The proud grandparents

The proud big sister. She was so excited to see him! She really loves him, though sometimes she seems to just pretend like he's not around, which is a good thing. She doesn't love when he cries, but seems to already be getting used to that, too. When she first sees him in the morning she says, in the highest pitched voice, "Oh cute!" and makes this adoring face, it's so funny. She always goes up to him and says, "what's wrong, buddy?" It's so fun to watch her interact with him. I feel like I have to watch her like a hawk. I'm so afraid she'll hurt him on accident (or on purpose :)

Just sleeping on the couch like he so often does.

Newborns, don't you love them????

He's got REALLY long fingers and toes!

I fluffed his hair after his bath! Soft baby hair is so wonderful! It gets oily so fast because no one can keep their hands off it, including me.

Jayci's two year pictures

My amazing sister in law, kalli, took these two year old pictures of Jayci. Aren't they so cute? I just love them. I can't decide which ones to print out, they're all so good. We also experimented with pictures of my pregnant belly. I figure it'll be fun to see years down the road. I cheated though, I was only about 7 1/2 months along here. No need to see my 9 month belly, right?

I was sitting in here because she wouldn't let me leave, but they turned out pretty cute anyway.

This is a very common sight with her. She gets shy and covers her face. Luckily she warmed up pretty well.

Just after we snapped this she threw the flowers on the ground. Good quick shot, Kalli.

Trick-or-treat, smell my feet!

Halloween was pretty fun this year. It was fun to dress Jayci up and take her trick-or-treating, but truth be told, she really didn't enjoy much about it. The one part she did love, and I really didn't like, was eating lots of candy. She still just begs for it all day. I guess I should just throw it away. She didn't enjoy wearing her costume, especially not on three different occasions, but she was a pretty good sport about it once it was on. She was a pumpkin fairy, thanks to Julie who bought the costume for Ella a few years ago. I thought she looked adorable. She wouldn't wear the hat or slippers that went with it, but at least I got her to wear the main dress part. The first Halloween celebration was with the preschoolers for our Halloween party. We played lots of fun games, and it was fun to see them all dressed up. Friday night we went to a trunk or treat With Chad's family. It was fun, but REALLY COLD! I'm so happy that Saturday wasn't as cold. Saturday afternoon Chad and I went to our ward trunk or treat, then went downtown to the business trick or treat. Chad and I had fun. Like I said, Jayci didn't love it. She wasn't into the crowds and having to confront people with trick or treat. I have to say, I was the hit of the night, and it was kind of fun. Everyone loved my fishbowl costume, especially those in my ward who saw me. I actually stole the idea from my sis in law Melissa who came up with it last year and wore if for Halloween, three days before she had her baby. Hers looks much better, (click here to see it) but considering Chad helped me throw it together five minutes before, it was pretty good. We spent the rest of the evening at home to await the trick or treaters, but had NONE come to our door, what a bummer.

Just before our preschool Halloween party I decided I'd better dress up as something, so I hurried and threw this pumpkin costume together. Chad's hunting sweatshirt, plus a construction paper face, plus some pins and a big belly, equal a nice round jack o lantern. When Chad saw the sweatshirt later he said he was embarrassed for me. Hey the kids loved it, and it was Chad's idea that I dress like a pumpkin anyway! :)

My cute little pumpkin fairy

Fishbowl belly

downtown trick or treating. Chad is not dressed up, by the way.

Jayci enjoying our pumpkin man on our porch

Party on!

Jayci turned two last week so we threw her a party last night. It was lots of fun. Chad's parents were nice enough to let us have it at their house, since ours is so far out of everyone's way. We had sort of a birthday/Halloween party since they're pretty close together. It was a simple party, since she's only 2 and really doesn't know much about birthdays yet. In fact, I think everyone really enjoyed it except her. She was having some emotional issues (I think it must have been the crowd. She's not a big fan of lots of people, even if it was just family.). We decorated pumpkin cupcakes (as you can see it was not just a hit with the little kids, but the big ones as well.), had cake and ice cream, opened presents, played a few games, and carved pumpkins. Thanks to all who came, it was a blast. And Jayci did warm up and enjoy most of her party, too!

Chad's mom, Leslie, made this cute ghost cake. It's eyes (the two egg shell candles) were on fire

yum, cupcakes!

We had some skilled cupcake decorators, as you can see

Opening presents- she understood a little better this year, but still wasn't overly excited yet

Everyone enjoyed this gift

Playing Halloween bean bag tick tack toe

Pumpkin carving fest

3 weeks and counting...

A little pregnancy update

I'm 36 weeks along now, only 4 weeks to go.. or less, I hope. Yesterday I went to the doctor and I'm now dilated to a 2 and 50% effaced. Which basically means my body is getting ready. This gets me excited because I think, maybe it'll be pretty soon. But I knew I was dilated for quite a while before Jayci was born so I looked in my journal last night and it said that I was dilated to a 2 and 50% effaced for about 3 weeks before she was born, so I might not be too early, but maybe a week early, that would be nice. With Jayci I was 4 days early. I am feeling ready, though. I'm getting excited, not only to have my body back, but also to have this precious little baby here. I am hoping to hold out for the new Riverton hospital which will be done Nov 2. With Jayci I missed the new IMC hospital by a week, so hopefully I'll make it to the Riverton one. It could be a little scary delivering that first week it opens, though. We'll see. Hopefully it'll be ready for patients when it opens. I've really been feeling quite good, just really tired. I just want to sit around all day. Plus, Jayci still wants me to hold her a lot, so that wears me out. But really, I have great pregnancies and all is really good. I am getting nervous about labor and just hope it goes as smoothly as it did with Jayci.

Some simple tasks, that I take for granted when I'm not pregnant, that are HARD to do now:

• put on socks
• put on shoes
• shave my legs
• paint my toenails
• fit between small spaces
• bend down
• tumbling stretches with my preschoolers
• demonstrating small jumps with my preschoolers
• sitting Jayci on my lap (where did it go? She gets so annoyed by it)
• kneeling by my bed to say a prayer
• dishes (my belly hits right at the counter. If only I were a little taller...)
• leaning against the tub to bathe Jayci
• picking things up off the floor
• etc, etc, etc

Soon it will be all over and I'll have my belly back. I remember how much I LOVED that after Jayci was born! But soon I will probably wish the baby was back in my belly again (like 2 am when he's screaming in the night). Oh the joys of motherhood! :)

Jayci's growing up

One week from today Jayci will be two! I can't believe how much she's grown up. But she acts more like a two year old these days. She just thinks she is such a big girl and loves to do things that older kids and adults do. I finally got a new purse, (50 cents from a yard sale!) so my old purse went to Jayci. She thinks it is so great to finally be able to play in mommy's purse without me getting after her for it. She puts her things in it and carries it around all day. One day I found her all dressed up to go, I don't know where, so I had to take pics.

Come on, Mom! Let's go shopping!

I just think she looks so grown up these days (although, the binky kind of keeps her baby look. She doesn't go far without it)

This is her all too often position, sitting on the couch, watching a favorite Barney video. She likes to lay her blanket underneath her and sit on it.

She found her dad's cowboy hat and my head band and decided to make a fashion statement

two binkies are better than one, right?

Some facts about Jayci at almost 2 years old:

• She loves to watch Barney, Curious George, Little Rascals, High School Musicals





• Having her binky and blankie everywhere she goes is a necessity these days





• She talks and talks and talks (not always understandable, but she likes to go on about who knows what) She imitates everything we say and can say lots of words and a few discernible sentences of 3-4 words. I love to hear her talk, I think it's the best thing in the world! I think she's going to be social like her dad, although she's got some of my shyness in her.





• She is quite cooperative if I take the time to explain the reason why to her. She'll just say "okay!"





• She gets very excited over things, and can be rather hyper at times





• She loves to jump, climb, do somersaults, etc





• She is very afraid of strangers. Whenever someone says "Hi Jayci" and she doesn't know who they are, she breaks down crying, which can be really annoying when I go places. But once she warms up to someone, she'll follow them around and play like they're best friends.





• She loves to play with her cousins and other little kids that she knows. She's starting to really enjoy playing with the kids in my preschool and just thinks she's one of them.





• She still loves to play with our animals. When we let the goats out she follows them all around. The other day one of the goats got leery of her and dropped his head and butted her to the ground. She was very upset, but the next time we were out with them she was back to following them around again. It makes me nervous, they are so big compared to her, but she's really not fazed. She also loves to try and keep up with our dog, Hank, as he runs around the yard.





• She loves purses, cameras, necklaces, shoes, jackets, hats, bows (for a short amount of time in her hair). Kind of a girly girl.





• She like to draw circles and little squiggles, and color pictures. Loves drawing on her hands and feet with pens, so I have to watch her carefully. (only one drawing on the wall so far)





• She loves to sing and dance and read books





• She can count to ten with a little help, and knows a few basic shapes like circle, star, heart





• She is the joy of her parents life!