He Does Pay Attention!

So on Monday I learned that Dallin does pay attention in nursery. Russ, Dallin, and I were having Family Home Evening. I was talking about faith. Usually when I ask questions, Dallin just sits there while Russ answers them all. This was not the case on Monday. I asked, "What do we know about Jesus Christ?" All of a sudden Dallin piped up and said "Jesus loves me." Come to find out the lesson on Sunday in nursery was about that. Way to go nursery leaders! The kids really do listen from time to time.

Lazy Sunday Evenings

Dallin wanted to join in on the lazy Sunday evening activities at my parents house. He was totally unaware of what was going on around him. They must have been some good comics.

ABC

So, I try not to be one of those moms who thinks their children are just the most bright, well behaved, and all around perfect kids. As a matter of fact, I probably tend to be the opposite of that, but I just had to show off Dallin just a little. He only turned two last month (Nov. 9), but for some reason he is fascinated with letters. He doesn't know any numbers, only gets the color pink correct consistently, but he does know most of his letters. And no, it's not because I am this great mother who does flash cards with him to teach him (Grandma Tana bough his the cards). I think it is because I let him play on the computer too much with me at a website called starfall. Whatever the reason, he knows them now. The problem is that he hates performing for the camera, so the video isn't the best. Sorry if this is one of those really braggy posts (is braggy a word?), but thanks for bearing with me.

I did have a couple more videos (I can only get a minute long video with my camera), but blogger won't let me upload them. I guess you'll only have a sit through one. :)

Binky or Thumb?

So as you might remember, we took Dallin's binky away back in June, but he is still not over his sucking impulse. He has been taking Katie's binkies when we visit over at my mom's house. Just this last week he has started to suck his thumb all the time. My mom and cousin Jessie both think it might be because he see little Carley sucking her thumb. Who knows. So here is my question to you.....do I let him keep sucking his thumb and hope he out grows it or do I let him have his binky back at nights and nap time so that he don't develop a thumb sucking habit? I guess my fear is that he will be like my brother, who sucked his fingers till he was 12 and had to stop in order to get braces to fix his poor teeth. At least he stopped before his mission. :)

Ophthalmologist Visit. Try Saying That 3 Times Fast.

So remember this picture and this picture? Well, Dallin's pediatrician wanted us to go see an ophthalmologist. Dallin had his appointment today. It turns out that it isn't that his right eye is wandering, but rather that his left eye won't raise up like it is suppose to. It focuses straight fine, as well as downward, like when you are reading. It just doesn't want to look upwards or away. We are suppose to look for "patterns" for the next four months. "Patterns" are things like if he is tilting his head a lot when watching TV, or his lid starts to droop, or the eye begins to turn inward towards his nose, or when we notice it happening and how often and what he is doing. The Doc said it is probably nothing life altering, but there is a rare disease that can affect kids that has this symptom. That is way we are going back in 4 months. He wants to keep an eye on his vision (OK, I realize that is a bad pun). The Doc didn't seem too worried about it, so I'm not either. So if any of you every need to see a good ophthalmologist, let me know. He was great and very patient with Dallin. It's hard to check a 2 year old's eyes.

Dal's B-day...Finally

I know, his birthday was the 9th and I'm a bit slow. :) Here are just a few pictures from his 2nd birthday. We had a party and invited our families and some close friends. He had a great time. I thought we would never get through opening all the presents. He wanted to stop and play with every single one before opening the next. And he was spoiled, so he had about 15 gifts to open. It took forever, but he had a blast. And Bryn, Sky, and Dal helped decorate the cupcakes. Russ even helped with Elmo's fur.



When Dallin was helping with the cupcakes and when no one was looking, he started to lick the frosting off one of them. We figured it was his birthday, so we let him have one before the party.

Good Clean Fun.....Mostly

We had a good Halloween. On Tuesday we had a ward Halloween Carnival. Dallin had his costume on for about 5 minutes. Luckily Randy, a friend in the ward, we able to snap a quick picture. His daughter Maddi wanted to be in the picture too and Dallin would have none of that, hence I had to be in the picture. Dallin was Yoda. Maddi was an orange Tinker Bell. I thought it was pretty creative of her mommy. :)
Halloween night Dallin kept the costume on. I think he must have thought it was a winter coat and hat, because we stopped off at my grandma's house and the moment we went in the house he tried to rip it off. We practiced saying "trick or treat" but every time someone opened the door, Dallin just stared at them blankly. He did always say "Thank You." And boy, did he have fun the the Light Saber Grandma Tana had.

Now for the not so clean part. On Sunday morning I bathed Dallin. I wrapped him up in his towel, set him in the front room with Daddy, and went to get a diaper and clothes. A minute later I hear Russ yelling "Nicole!" I guess Dallin squatted in the middle of the floor and pooped. Yes, pooped right on my carpet! On purpose! He then told Russ, "I pooped on it." The whole time I was cleaning up, Dallin kept saying "I sorry Mommy." It was all I could do not to laugh. He felt bad. Can't wait till potty training because I'm sure there will many, many more accidents. (can you hear the sarcasm?)

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the Day Farms pumpkin patch again this year. Dallin had fun. He waved bye to the pumpkin patch when we left and talk the whole way home about the monsters that jumped out at us.

Russ got to clean out all the the pumpkins. What a good sport.

Dallin tried to help. By then he started to put the yucky back into the pumpkins after Russ pulled it out. :)

Also, here is an online contest...Click here to sign up. They are giving away a year supply of groceries. Someone has to win. Maybe it will be you. :)

Random Stuff

Just another crazy eye picture. One day I will get a picture of the really crazy eye.

And yes, that is a binky. Dallin had a bit of a rough time at my mom's. It was as if once he started to cry, he got so worked up that he couldn't stop. I thought he was asking for his blanket, but Ashley thought he was saying Katie. We finally figured it out. He was saying, "Katie binky. Katie binky." So we gave in. Nothing else would get him to stop. I think he was just so exhausted for some reason. Wasn't it nice of Katie to share. :)

They Repeat Everything

So today Dallin and Russ where playing the guitar. (OK, Russ was playing one and Dallin was just strumming at the other one) I had the camera out and was recording it. Dallin wanted to see the recording. I was showing to him, but because Russ was still playing the guitar, we couldn't hear the sound. Dallin turns to Russ and says, "Stop that, Honey." I guess I get after Russ too often. Or maybe it is just that Russ teases me too much. He needs to be told to stop that often.:)

Monster Mash

I always think these are are funny. I have to thank Lew and Bryn for joining our family, in order to make five people. I have to say, I think Lew is the funniest. It looks so much like him, with all that hair. I just wish he were home to enjoy it.

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The Benefits Of Daycare

So one thing I do love about Dallin having to be in daycare, other than way less poopy diapers for me to change, is he learns all sorts of things from being around other kids all day. It is so weird when he uses words or statements I know he didn't get at home. I remember the first time he say "boat." I know we didn't teach him that.

He remembers things and can repeat what he learns. I picked him at Jessie's house and my cousin's little one was laying there. I said "Look Dallin, the baby." He proceeded to inform me she was "baby Elle"

The other day Russ turned off the light in the room Dallin was in. He came running out and cried. "It scared me! It scared me!"

The other day he was upset because he couldn't do what he wanted. He answers with "I mad mommy!"

Then there is the fun of "I hiding," which is an excuse to play in any closet/cupboard he knows he shouldn't be in.

Lastly, we were at the grocery store yesterday. He got mad because he couldn't run around. I picked him up and he proceeded to yell "stupid! stupid! stupid!" That one was new to me. :)

It is fun to hear all the new things he learns from Megan and her kids. (I'm assuming stupid isn't one he learned from Megan exactly. :) It is just so funny. I can never wait to see what he will say next. I'm sure it is psychologically damaging to laugh at him as much as I do. :)

Thanks for humoring me. This is one of those posts that I think is so fun because he is my child. Always cuter when it is your own child, right?

Are You My Mother?

I think Dallin is a little confused about who mommy is. Here are a couple of examples

A few weeks ago I was driving home from my mom's house and Dallin was talking to me.

Dallin: Where mommy?
Me: I'm your mommy.
Dallin: NO, where mommy? (and for those of you who have been around Dallin know that the NO was yelled.)
Me: What mommy?
Dallin: Daddy.

Two days ago a similar converstaion took place while I was loading him in the car when leaving my mom's house

Dallin: Where mommy?
Me: Right here.
Dallin: No, where mommy?
Me: What mommy?
Dallin: Where Megan Mommy? (Megan watches Dallin when I am at work.)
Me: Megan is at her house.
Dallin: Megan Mommy?
Me: Yes. Megan is at her house with Abby, Luke, and Carley.
Dallin: K

At least he keeps us laughing, even if I am replaced so easily. :)

Should I Worry?

So we noticed a few months ago that Dallin would make a face at us when he was being silly or was mad at us. He tilts his chin downwards and looks up at us, either with a smile or a scowl depending on his mood. The thing is that his eyes always go crazy. One looks in another direction from the one looking straight on. It only happens when he is looking up. Anyone know what could be wrong? Should I bring a copy of this picture to his 2 year check-up? Just wanted to know your thoughts. Either way, he sure knows it makes up laugh.

Why Do We Bother?

Sometimes I wonder why mothers bother to try and do fun things with their kids. Case in point: I've been trying to do fun, non-TV activities with Dallin after I get home from work and before I need to start dinner. I thought we would make cookies since he loves to help me cook. It went rather well, but then it came time to bake them. I think this video pretty much explains how the next 10 minutes went.

The little time he wasn't crying, he was sadly staring at the cookies through the window. He just couldn't understand why I needed to bake them, especially since they tasted so good raw.

I finally gave in and turned on the TV to distract him. We was very content once he got a cookie too. The cookies didn't turn out too well. They were flat and crunchy. All I can think of is my baking soda isn't good anymore. That isn't a surprise for those of you who know me very well. I don't bake very often, and if I do it usually isn't sweets like cookies. I should probably buy some new soda. I better go get Dallin ready for bed. Time for another fight. :) No, he does go to bed pretty well and he's a GREAT sleeper.

Russ Is The Favorite

So the verdict is in. Russ is the favorite uncle. This is how the stories goes. (Ash, feel free to correct me if I get this wrong.)

Sky: Mom, who are you texting?
Ashley: Nicole
Sky: I don't like Nicole
Ashley: You don't like Nicole?
Sky: No. I like Russ.

Later that day Ashley was driving to my work to pick something up and was talking to me on the phone

Sky: Who are you talking to?
Ashley: Nicole
Sky: I like Nicole.
Ashley: I thought you didn't like Nicole
Sky: Russ is at school today.

Good to know he would choose me second. :)


So, we went on our annual Richins' Labor Day hike. I think this might be the last year Dallin will be small enough to carry in. Russ was tough and carried him the whole way. Dallin did really well too. Every time we stopped to take a break, Dallin would say "I did it!" Russ then responded with, " Good Job! Let me know when you are tired and we can switch places."


Most of the way up Dallin slept. It looked so uncomfortable. His little head would just flop all around. We all made it to the top, but there were times when Rebecca and I would wonder why we agree to do this every year.
This is the first year that we got a picture at the top with everyone in the picture. I figured out how to us the timer on my camera.


And Dallin was happy the whole way down too. It was a little chilly that day, and got chillier on the way down so Jared let Dallin wrap up in this hoodie. He was our little Jedi.

Here id a quick pitcure form the top. It was very hazy that day, so it isn't very good quality. One a good day we could see the windmills in Wyoming with the field glassed.

Sick Kid

As I was loading Dallin into the car on Friday morning, he started to make a gagging noise, like something was stick in his throat. Next thing I know, he is throwing up into my hands. Lucky for me, it wasn't much (hadn't eaten yet that morning) so none of it got on the car seat. Russ, being the great dad he is, said he would stay home with Dallin so I could go to work. I got a call about 2:00 letting me know that Russ has had a fun day of changing diarrhea diapers and scrubbing vomit off the couch, clothes, Dallin, and himself. Numerous times Russ started to question his kindness of offering to stay home. By the next day Dallin was feeling fine, but my couch stills has a faint smell of throw-up when you sit on it. Any ideas how to get the smell to go away?


By the way... does anyone know how to get crayon off a couch? Thanks!

Why Is It...?

Why is it that no matter how much your scrub a toddler's knees, they still look filthy? Does anyone have an answer for that? I would just like to know the answer, because I sure have no idea how to make Dallin look clean. He looks dirty even after getting out of the bath. At least he smells better then. :)

Camping

I We had a good time camping last weekend. Dallin had fun, but slept horribly! I think over two nights there, I got about 7 hours of sleep. I think it might have been the lack of a binkie this trip. We recovered. Next year I'm sure he'll do much better.

Now to what was fun. Dallin was silly. Here is a video of what I call "the party dance." In case you couldn't understand him, he's saying "party." I think we played this game for at least 30 minutes.

Dallin loved to play with the rocks. I think he spent an hour before dinner just putting the rocks into a cup and dumping them back out again.

This is Dallin wearing what he calls his "chicken hat." We think it is because the pompom in the top of the hat reminds him of the chicken's comb.

Dallin drinking his "chocolate." He wanted it whenever the grown ups had some.

Zoo Pictures!

So I finally got around to posting some zoo pictures. Russ, Dallin, Grandma Kathi, and I went about two weeks ago. I know, I'm slow.

I was standing where Dallin is, trying to take his picture, when the monkey jumped up into the window. It scared me.

Playing on the elephant statue.

Now playing on the tiger statue. He was more interested in the statues than the real animals.

Watching penguins. Once again, he was more interested in the water than the animals.

Here is our juvenile ape.

This was after he was after he was knocked down. He was very tired and started to suck on his fingers. This is the first time I have ever seen him do this.

This was 2 minutes after pulling out of the parking lot. I told you he was tired.

Just Got Home!

Just got home from camping. I'll post some pictures later (and the Zoo pictures too. I know, I'm lazy. :) I'm sooo tried, thanks to my beautiful baby boy.....I just wanted to share a video. I've caught Dallin groovin' to the music before, but this is the first time I've caught it on video. What a goof.

Notice A Problem In This Picture?

We went to the zoo today (I'll post pictures soon), and then out to see my mom. On the way home from my mom, Dallin was so sad because he kept asking me to hold him and I had to tell him over and over again that I couldn't. After a while, he was quiet. All of a sudden he is telling me "Oww. Oww." I turn around, and this is what I see.

Next thing you know, he'll have figure out how to unbuckle the straps altogether.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Because of the awful wind we had last night, a few of our tomatoes fell off the plant while they were still green. A friend from work suggested that we make fried green tomatoes, so we did. We used this recipe. They were pretty good. Russ made a good point, however. They could have been any veggie that had been battered and fried. They all taste the same. It's just an excuse to fry something. :) Dallin liked it. He ate half of one and then decided it was much more efficient just to ripe off the fried breading and eat that.

The Grocery Girls

So I just wanted to share a quick thing for all you AZ people who read the blog. I use a blog called thegrocerygirls.blogspot.com to find all the great deals around Utah. She has added a co-blogger from AZ who will be sharing all the great AZ deal. Make sure you check them out.

Richins' Family Pictures

Anyone who wants to see some of the great pictures that Aly took of our family while she was here in Utah, check them out here. I can't wait to see more.

Silly Dallin

Just some silly picture of Dallin...

Dallin loves to wear shoes. Here he is trying to wear my Sunday shoes.

I pulled out Dallin's old bouncy chair when I was watching the Hancey kids the other night. Dallin has decided it is a favorite chair of his. Here he is eating his crackers, watching Aladdin, and just hanging out. I have no idea why he insisted on wearing the knit cap in the middle of July with no A/C in our house.

Utah Couponers

If any of you in Utah use your Red Plum coupons, you better check this you...Click Here. Pinching Your Pennies blog explains how Valassis is planning on no longer sending out Red Plum coupons in the Utah newspapers and they tell you how to sign a petition to keep them there and how to send them an email and/or letter letting them know how you feel about this move. Please, let's try and keep our Red Plum!

Aly Is Coming To Visit!

My cousin Alyson is coming to Utah next week. We are all so excited. So, why am I sharing this with all of you? Because if any of you who live in Utah are interested, she is doing mini photo session while she is here. I love her pictures!!! She did Dallin's last photo shoot while we where visiting her in NC. Click here to check out all the info. It is a great price if you want some pictures of your kids done by a professional photographer. I've never seen a session this cheap. I know we are getting pictures done. Click here to see her website. Just FYI if anyone is interested.

July 4th at PC

Here is a quick run down of our Fourth of July out in Plain City

Russ and I ran the 5K. Of course he kicked my butt, but it was my first time. Maybe I'll do better next year.

The fire trucks at the parade were too loud for Sky.

Dallin starting in on his parade loot before the parade was even over.

Russ and I decided to walk to the square, just in case the 5K that morning wasn't enough exercise. :) Bryn and Dallin came in the wagon with us.

Here is my cute niece Katie. Isn't she a doll!

On the way home from the festivities at the square, Dallin fell asleep sitting up. I don't know how long he had be asleep before we noticed.

Here is the video of Dallin bobbing along as he slept. Just so you know, after I recorded this, I did pick him up and let him sleep on my shoulder. I'm not totally mean.

Sky and Bryn had fun the sparklers.

This is Dallin upset by Sky and Bryn doing the sparklers. I think that he thought that they were going to get hurt by them.

We went to watch the fireworks at my Aunt Jenny's house. Dallin loved them. He kept saying "Wow" and "Woah". When the really loud ones went off, he would point to his ears and say "Oww"

On our way back to Grandma and Grandpa's house after the fireworks. We got to ride in the back of the truck.