Loving Life on Valentine's

     Well since it's pretty much just been Becca and our Jake Mele family on here as of late, we figured it was our turn to blog! As usual, a lot has happened since we posted last - Christmas, Candace's birthday, family coming to visit, and now it's Valentine's Day! For Christmas Candace & Weston braved the cold in Illinois and spent longer than planned there because they got frozen in. Literally! The temperatures were 20 degrees below zero with wind chills making it close to -50 degrees. Needless to say, we didn't venture outside much. The whole time was pretty much spent in doors with family, but it was a good holiday, and Weston loved playing with his cousins. He thought he was such a big man, when all the older cousins were wrestling Weston would try to crawl right up to them and get into the mix. He learned to crawl up stairs while there, and also now dances, claps, and waves! He also loves to growl, which Uncle Tait caught on video when he came down here to visit us.

Weston's first Christmas!

     

    Opening up presents on Christmas morning

     When we finally made it home we had lots of catching up time with Daddy, and Weston was so excited to see him. No one can make him laugh like his Dad! In January, we worked a lot on getting Weston to sleep through the night because he became accustomed to getting to sleep with Candace in the big bed when they were in Illinois. It took about three weeks of him crying for 30-45 minutes at night in the crib when he first laid down (torture!) but now most nights he will lay down and barely cry or not at all, if his schedule hasn't been messed up too much. So we're slowly making progress. Getting him to fall asleep and stay asleep in the crib without waking up is another story...!

    We were so happy to be able to see Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Jim, Uncle Tait, and Aunt Becca within two weeks of each other. First Sharon, Jim, and Tait came and we had lots of fun going on walks, getting ice cream, and devoting lots of attention to Weston. It was also nice because it was Candace's birthday so Jake and Candace were able to go out to dinner and see Frozen, while Tait and Sharon watched Weston. The next weekend Becca came to visit and time was well spent again playing at parks, going on walks, and getting ice cream...pretty much everybody's favorite thing. We felt so spoiled getting to spend so much time with family. 

     Now it's back to just us three and the everyday routine of normal life. We feel so blessed to have Weston brightening up our day every single day. He is such a happy, fun, playful little baby and we can't believe he is growing so fast before our eyes! Enjoy some pictures of the amazing little man.  

Rockin' the "faux-hawk"

He looks like Jim here! Hey, would you like some corn?

We love those rosy cheeks and big brown eyes

"You talking to me?"

 Jake likes to pull off clothes and leave them on Wes' head for fun!

Just swingin' away!

85 degrees in mid-February! Crazy!

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Busy Bees!

Well no one has updated the blog since October (thanks Becca!) and now it's December so I figure we are overdue. So much has happened with our little family since we last checked in. Weston took his first ever trip up to Sonora to see Uncle Tait play football. It was a great game to go to because they won and Tait was awesome!

When we got back it was Halloween week and Weston had so much fun dressing up and going door to door. We met up with Candace's family and went trick-or-treating with Wes' cousins Zach and Lily and their parents, Jeremy and Renee. Weston got lots of candy which we are saving for him. Can you tell what movie we are from? Jake and Weston were such good sports dressing up to support Candace's love of Halloween!

Later that week we took some fall family photos, Weston did so well and was such a little ham for the camera. Here are some of our favorites:

We went up to Sonora for the second time in less than 2 months to celebrate Thanksgiving. Although we weren't able to stay very long, due to Jake's work schedule, we had so much fun with the Mele family and it was so good to be able to see all of them. We also got fed amazing food by the lovely Sharon who made 5 pies for the 6 of us! The grandparents also spoiled Weston for Christmas and got him an amazing little car that he just loves!

What We've Been Up To Lately

About a month has gone by since the last blog so we will fill you in with some updates that have occurred recently...

Candace and Weston went to a consignment sale in a giant warehouse in Castaic, and it was amazing!  They have items that are slightly used from 0-18 years old but there is such a surplus for babies.  It was crazy, there were like hundreds of strollers, pack n plays, exersaucers, floor mats, toys, everything you could ever need if you were having a baby. Guess people really like to make money selling their used things.  Some things I probably wouldn't buy used but some I think "what a great deal!"  We ended up buying quite a few books to add to Wes' library, and we found a great door jumper which Weston loves!

Weston and Candace went to a birthday party for her friend Jade's two young sons and he was having fun in the beginning.... After about an hour of being there he started frrreeeaaaking out, like screaming at the top of his lungs inconsolable for over an hour.  It's hard when you feel like there is nothing you can do but be there, and especially when you are by yourself, but we made it through.  I didn't want to drive him home because we were about 45 minutes away so I just stayed in a back room with him and tried to settle him down.  Thankfully one of my friends from our old ward (which we still miss dearly) stayed with us the whole time.  Weston has done this two other times - at the family reunion, and at another birthday party for his cousins Zach and Lily.  After seeing the pattern we realized he just gets overstimulated by too many new faces and things going on and can't handle all of it, so we need to be more careful about what he can and can't handle.  Here is a picture of us at the party during happier times:

Weston has started eating solid foods! Although he is only 5 months, his pediatrician recommended that we try it since he is so big and not sleeping very well at night.  I didn't think it would make much of a difference if we fed him, and it hasn't so far, but Wes sure does enjoy his rice cereal.  We have also tried oatmeal and bananas, he wasn't a fan of either...but I think it may just be the texture.  We will try again in a while.  Here is a picture of his first food tasting:

Weston is growing so fast and getting so curious about everything.  He is rolling around all the time now and making lots of new sounds and faces.  We finally bought a high chair and a crib!  We can post pictures in the future when we get him in both, the crib isn't here just yet, we pick it up sometime next week.

Jake's schedule switched and now he is off in the middle of the week.  He is almost at his one year anniversary from graduating the academy.  It is so crazy how time flies, and we are just so proud of how hard he has been working.  We are really excited for all of the upcoming things going on; we can't wait for Halloween. Candace is going to be Dorothy, Jake is going to be the scarecrow, and Wes is going to be the lion.  We are also planning on going to Sonora soon to see Tait play football.  So many adventures, we will have to let you know how they all go!  Until next time!

Four Months Fun

Little Weston turned 4 months on August 28th when we were in Illinois.  We were there for 3 weeks.  It was a long time to be away from Daddy but we had fun seeing Weston's cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents.  We went swimming, to the park, on bike rides, and even went to a water park.  Here are some pictures of Weston and his adventures in Chicago.

 On our way to take Wes' first airplane flight.

 Weston with his Grandpa Don and cousin Tristan.

 Tristan and Weston went in the bike buggy while Grandpa Don rode. (p.s. look at his onesie...this is why he lives in bibs)

 Parker, Weston, Ayla, and Tristan together before church.

I love the Elvis face he is making in this picture with his cousin Ayla at Red Robin

Weston had his 4 month appointment yesterday.  He didn't like the shots, not even the one that comes in liquid form and is super sweet, the little stinker.  We always feel bad when he has to get his shots, and what's worse is that today he has a slight fever and is super fussy.  We've noticed that lately he has been chewing on everything he can get his hands on and thought that he might be teething.  The doctor confirmed that he is teething, which may also be contributing to him not sleeping more than 2-3 hours straight at night.  He is also a big growing baby!  For his age his head circumference is 43.82cm which is in the 81st percentile, he weighs 18 pounds 6 ounces which is in the 93rd percentile, and he is 27 1/2 inches tall which is in the 98th percentile.

One thing that did make him happy today (even with his slight fever) is that he got to see his cousin's Zach and Lily (I now nanny for them 2-3 days a week after school) and his Grandpa Jim!  Weston loves other kiddos and they can always make him laugh and giggle in a way his mommy and daddy just can't.  Here are a couple more pictures of the little man for your enjoyment.  The 4 month photos are a little late.

 Weston saying good morning and goodbye to his favorite jammies that are now too small for him

Happy 4 months old!  I smile and laugh so much but the second Mommy or Daddy pull out a camera I stop and stare at it!