Quaid update!!

I had forgotten a little that having a baby in the house is soooo special and wonderful. I knew, but I had forgotten the feeling of the special spirit that comes along with a new baby. It has been so great having Quaid in our home. He really brings us all together. With the other 3 kids being a little older, we have all been able to really enjoy him. He is SO loved! And, how could we not love this little guy? He is so funny. He has so much personality. He makes us laugh daily, if not hourly. And, he is completely adorable and handsome. He has been a great baby. He is happy most of the time. He is super cuddly.

And, the very BEST part for me, he is a complete MAMA'S BOY!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Dave says that when he is holding him, he can always tell when Quaid sees me because he stiffens up and starts getting all excited for me to come get him. One day, when he was only a couple months old, I was sitting by my good friend, Heather, at church. I was holding Quaid on my lap so that he was facing me. Heather leaned over and said, "He loves you. I can tell by the way that he looks at you." It was really awesome to hear that. Of course I know he loves me. But, it meant a lot that she noticed. And, he really does. We have a very special bond. I joke that someday I hope that Quaid's wife complains to her friends about Quaid being a total mama's boy! :) Ha ha! But, I love this little guy to pieces! It is very different knowing that this little boy will always be our baby. I am really cherishing every moment much more knowing that this is the last time.

He is growing and changing so fast. He just turned 5 months. He is laughing and "talking". He is a very observant baby, always looking around. He is sleeping through the night in his own room. He often sleeps 9-10 hours at night. He is getting better at using his hands to grab things and hold things. I started feeding him rice cereal before bed about a week ago and he LOVES that. He LOVES his family. When Dave gets home from work, he will often just watch Dave until Dave talks to him and then Quaid breaks out in the biggest smile! He also smiles at and watches his sisters and brother all the time. It is very sweet to see the different bonds and relationships that he has with each one already.

He is getting big! It is sad to me! At 4 months he was in the 25th percentile for his weight but 80th for height! We joke that he will be the little "big" brother! :) I don't know where he and Avery get their height from!

Here are some pictures from the last few months. It is crazy to me how much he has grown and changed!

New born:



One month:



Two months:







Three months:







Four months:

Christmas 2011

Santa visited!!




Growing up, I spent every holiday with big groups of family. We would go to my mom's side and then my dad's side and just enjoy celebrating with everyone. Dave lived away from his extended family most of his growing up and so they spent a lot of their holidays with their own family and at times a few friends and family. So, our idea of how to spend the day is a little different. This Christmas, we finally just stayed at home the whole day. Dave was very happy and it was actually very nice. My parents came over in the morning to watch the kids open their presents. We had breakfast together. With Christmas being on Sunday, we went to church. Then, we had my parents and grandpa and grandma over for dinner. Afterwards we played some games, visited, and enjoyed a visit from my brother, Jarom, and his family.










My nephew, Dillon, and niece, Sadie, sure love Quaid!! :)





It really was a wonderful, laid back Christmas. We enjoyed it very much. And, what a special time we had with our new little Quaid. Our first Christmas as a family of 6! Awesome!

Events leading up to Christmas! :)

We started out our Christmas season this year with a great concert from Paisley. She has been singing in a group called "Tavaci" this year and has been loving it. They sing fun songs with dancing and actions and have a great time. They put on a big Christmas concert which was wonderful!! Avery was so funny. She danced and did the actions along with them in the audience the whole time. She enjoyed it so much that I put her in Tavaci in January. So, at the next concert, both my girls will be up there! :) Super fun!

Here are some pics of my beautiful girl at her concert.







We had many fun get-togethers during Christmas. Our first one was with my mom's side of the family at my grandpa and grandma's house. We don't get together with them that often, so it was really great to see each other and visit. Of course, great-grandma and grandpa had presents for all the little kids. :)



Quaid (at 2 1/2 months) with my sister-in-law, Stephanie


My grandpa and grandma Hill with our family

Christmas Eve morning we got together with my parents, my grandpa and grandma Johnson, and my two brothers and their families for my family's celebration. We had a really good breakfast and opened presents. Grandpa and grandma spoil all the kids rotten, so we spent a good long time opening gifts. It was such a great time together. I love seeing my family of 5 growing up is now is now 16 1/2. :) Here are some pics of the morning fun:













Christmas Eve evening we went to Dave's brother's for a Pendlebury get together. We do it every year and have several fun traditions. First, a YUMMY prime rib dinner, then, a reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas by Uncle Dennis, then, the grandkids act out the story of the First Christmas while it is read from the Bible, and then...presents!

This year, Paisley was Mary, Quaid was the baby Jesus, Easton was a wise man, and Avery was an angel. It is always fun to watch them in this tradition!





Here are some pics from the rest of the night:





I guess the night got a little crazy and I didn't get many pictures. But, it was a wonderful evening.

Next....CHRISTMAS!!!