Check Up and No Tears

Yesterday was Lochlan's 6 month check up with his pediatrician, who is wonderful. This time, Greg got to come along, it being his day off. Here's what we found out.

Height- 29 inches (he has grown 2 1/2 inches in 2 months!)

Weight- 16 lbs 6 ozs

Conclusion: Still super long and super lean! We have a little basketball player on our hands. Greg fondly refers to him as our little "Yao Ming".

Then it was shot time. I had been prepping Greg all week about how sad it is when they have to Lochlan his shots, because he of course cries after the shots until you pick him up. So the nurse comes in and the first shot goes in the first leg...not a peep from Lochlan. What?? The second shot goes in the second leg...a little whimper and then nothing. The third shot...nothing! Unbelievable!!! Not one tear after three shots! Lochlan made a liar out of mommy. I Was happy there were no tears, but Greg now thinks I exaggerated the first couple times. What can you do?

6 Months-I Can't Believe It!

Our little man is six months today! Crazy, where does all the time go. A few things about Lochlan. His favorite food by far is peaches with oatmeal. He also loves to finish dinner with a little mango for dessert-he's like his mom, loves his dessert! Least favorite food to date, green beans-he started gagging the second he got a spoonful. Lochlan loves playing in his jumper and on his play mat, rolling around and grabbing anything insight. He is very good and grabbing anything and everything-favorite thing to grab is the remote when mom and dad are watching a show and he starts pressing buttons. He also like pounding on the computer while I am holding him, trying to blog. I guess he wants to help. He loves to laugh, his ticklish spot is on his side, same as his dad's. He smiles for everyone, he is a very happy kid, unless he is tired, then he is pretty cranky, but aren't we all. Lochlan is very observant, he pays attention to anything and everything going on around him-he loves watching Sting'em run around the house like a crazy dog after a bath. He thinks Sting'em is pretty funny stuff. Sting'em likes him too, he always trying to snuggle up to Lochlan. When he's tired, he likes to look at books while I read to him, calms him down almost immediately. When he sleeps he likes to bunch up in a ball on his stomach with his knees tucked under, holding tight to his favorite blanket. He loves to talk when he's playing and see how loud he can get. He loves his mom and dad, and always has the biggest and best smiles for us. We are so happy we have this amazing little boy!

Recruited for Camp

I was recruited for Girl's Camp this year for the craft committee. How great is that?? Crafting with the YW and then I get to leave camp, I don't have to spend the night? I'll take it! So today I headed out to the Deseret Ranch to the campgrounds to go crafting for the day. My mom watched Lochlan so he wouldn't have to endure the heat. Thanks, mom. First was the crafty service project. The service project this year was making thank you cards for our troops and packing them with packs of kool-aid, ahh a taste from home. So after I shared a little spiritual thought on freedom and how we have everything because there are wonderful people willing to fight for our country, we got to the card making. What a great service project!! It was so wonderful to see the girls get into it and talk about all the freedoms they have in this life.

Here is Rebecca (our ward's camp leader) helping the girls out with the cards, she's very crafty with the card making.

Then it was free time/craft time. The theme this year was "Daughter of a King- Quest for the Best". It was all very princessy. So I made tons of vinyl letters in all jewel tones (ya know, for the princesses) to make these adorable little tiles. The girls LOVED them. So glad I could be of service to the wonderful YW organization again, even if it was just for a very hot day.

OH NO! Preview

So I am getting a small taste of what I have to look forward to in the near future. Lochlan, as I have said is quite the little mover. He knows how to get from point A to point B. I am catching him pulling on blinds and tearing at magazines. Geez, what a little boy he is, getting into everything already. Better hide the china!!!

Oh my little troublemaker caught in the act of making a mess!!!

Goodbye Alimentum

Goodbye Alimentum, hello regular formula. At two weeks old we learned that Lochlan had an allergy to cow's milk. At three weeks we had to start supplementing with formula and that's when we learned the hard way that Lochlan also had an intolerance for soy. A very violent intolerance for soy! Oy. So we had to supplement with Alimentum, which is so very expensive. Good thing it was just to supplement. His pediatrician said that we could try switching him over to regular formula at six months and see what happens. Lochlan is not quite six months, but I figured, what was a week going to do? So I am happy to report that we used the rest of our last can of Alimentum and he is now on regular formula and seems to be doing fine. Thank goodness!!! The Alimentum was a whopping $25 for a small can. I am thankful that it was so good to his poor little tummy for the first months of his life, but I am just glad his tummy can handle the cow's milk protein now. Unfortunately, he still can't take any soy. Mix up with his cousin's bottle the other week, Lochlan barely got any, I noticed it before I thought it could do any damage, but apparently not soon enough and....not good. Maybe he'll grow out of that by 1.

Pavlova

This is a dessert that I have been dying to try making. So last night when Heather and Matt and their little ones came over for the Magic game, I tried it out on them, since I always try desserts on other people. Not exactly basketball watching food like the nachos we also ate, but still fabulous just the same. YUM! Everyone loved it, including my picky eater husband. The best part, low in calories. Does this mean I can have 2 pieces???

Stake Conference

We had Stake Conference today. What a spiritual boost! The talks were so amazing and uplifting. Sister Jacobsen from the Ranch gave a wonderful talk about being a parent. She talked about how parents are the ones that need to fasten the armor of God onto their children before they go out into this world. And how we as parents need to constantly be strengthening that armor. So good! The entire conference was amazing and it ended with the Primary children standing and singing "If the Savior stood beside me"then the congregation joining in after the first verse. There is nothing that brings the spirit in more strongly than Primary children singing. Love it! I feel rejuvenated. (I think my mom does too, because she was released as a Stake Relief Society Counselor, so yeah, a little rejuvenation her way too.)

Chris and America and a Trip to the South

My brother, Chris and his beautful wife, America, have moved back to Florida so Chris can start PA school. We could not be happier. Especially since they have a little baby girl on the way. Even if they are 2 1/2 hours away from us, we are still ecstatic about having them close by.

We went down to Ft Lauderdale to help them get situated in their new place. They have a cute place very close to Chris' school. We even took America to her first IKEA visit, a little crowded and overwhelming, but always a good time.

While we were down there, Greg and I got to see our friends Shaody and Juan. They were so gracious to put us all up for the night, me, Greg, Lochlan, AND Sting'em. Thanks guys!!!! Their puppy and cat wore Sting'em out, he slept for an entire day when we got home.

Here is Chris, not wanting to pose for any pictures.And here is America, showing off her tiny little baby bump! (while holding Sting'em)

Highchair and Sippy Cups

Lochlan has been eating solids for sometime now, so we finally purchased a highchair for him, which I love!!! Lochlan's not the best eater, he is very easily distracted by everything around him and would rather be moving around and playing. Now he can focus on eating. YAY!!!

The other night he kept trying to grab my mom's cup from her when she was holding him. When he would get it, he would put it right up to his mouth and try to dump it's contents out into his mouth. Crazy baby, already trying to drink out of cups and straws. So, of course we have moved to the sippy cups for juice. He is getting too big too fast.

Bed Head

Lochlan has turned into quite the mover while sleeping, rolling from one side of the crib to the other, then bunching up into a ball, and then stretching back out. This is what he looks like every morning.

Mother's Day

Today was my first official Mother's Day. I remember last year, it was on Mother's Day that we made the announcement that I was pregnant to our close friends and family. Today started out perfect, breakfast in bed with a card (even signed by Lochlan-Greg put a pen in his hand and he scribbled on the card) and a gift from my two favorite guys. Then off to church, Greg spoke in sacrament about the importance of womanhood and mothers. After church was dinner at the Berger's with my mom and our close friends. It was a great day. I love being a mother. I love being Lochlan's mother. I love that when Lochlan wakes up in the morning, he rolls over with a huge smile on his face. As soon as I pick him up, he gives me a giant hug-arms wrapped around, holding on tight with his head snug on my neck and shoulder. How can it be a bad day after that? I love that he is so curious about everything, so ready to use his tiny body, but still trying to figure it all out. I love that he is always on the go, never sits still, which explains why he is such a lean kid. I love that at night he wants to snuggle and be held by me (it's hard sometimes to get a break, but I secretly love it!). I love that he calms down when I sing "I am a child of God" or "I'm trying to be like Jesus", even though I am the worst singer! I love that he is tall, like his parents. I love his blue eyes, they remind me of his father. And I especially love his tiny dimple, reminds me of me. I don't know how we were happy without him in our lives. I am so glad he is here and that I am his mom.

Desserts!!!

So, most Sunday dinners are spent at our good friends the Berger's house. Kathy and Keith Berger were like second parent to us Tarpein kids growing up, so it's nice to spend days like today with them, days that we appreciate those we love most. So to chip in, since our families are all getting bigger and everyone comes to enjoy a nice Sunday meal, I was in charge of dessert today. Since today was a special day, I decided to go all out and tackle a good cheesecake, after all, I LOVE cheesecake. This was really my first time making a big cheesecake, so I was a little nervous with how everything would turn out. I don't know why I try new things and recipes out on unsuspecting others. That's just the way I do it. So I made 2 cheesecakes- 1 with lots of fruit and 1 chocolate marble- and 1 giant chocolate cake, just in case some didn't share in my love for the cheesecake. I have to say, they turned out pretty good! I was very pleased and very satisfied with the end result. Oh yeah, everyone else liked them too. The cupcakes I made for my Sunday School Class, to celebrate my birthday. (I am actually trying to buy their love with food as I am new to this calling! Just kidding!)

Surprise Birthday Dinner

Last night Greg took me out for my birthday. We decided to head over to Orlando, to eat at PF Changs. Little did I know that Greg invited our friends from our old ward, Missy and Jonathan, and of course their adorable kids who are getting so big, and Ashlea and Randy and their new little girl, Perian, who of course is just as beautiful as their two older kids. I should have known something was up when Greg insisted on being there around 6:30- he prides himself on always having fantastic gifts and surprises for me. So I should have seen something coming. It was so great to see our friends and have a yummy meal, followed by the "Great Wall of Chocolate" to go for dessert, mmmm. Lochlan had great time talking to Britton (baby talk) and flirting with the ladies. It was great. Thanks Greg for the wonderful surprise, and thanks Missy, Jonathan, Ashlea and Randy for coming!

Favorite PJs

Just a quick pic to show everyone what Lochlan looks like now, almost 5 months old!! Wow I am super behind on posting. Our little boy is getting so big. He loves to smile at everyone and laugh. He is long and lean, standing at almost 27 inches! He is always talking, making some new sound, it's pretty entertaining for us. He is constantly on the move, always rolling and never still, trying to figure new things out. His latest task is trying to figure out how to sit up on his own. He is the happiest baby and such a blessing to our family. I will post more to come as soon as I get my tons of pictures downloaded from the past few months. But here is Lochlan in his favorite PJs (well my favorite PJs, baseballs all over them).

Way Behind!!!

So, I am obviously way behind on my blogging. Our family has gone through many changes in the past few months. New baby, new job, new city...everything! Right after Lochlan was born, we had to move due to Greg's new job. We lived in our old condo for about 2 months with no internet (so no blogging) then moved to a beautiful home near Greg's work. Then we finally sold the condo. So, life has been settling down again and I have decided that I had put off blogging for long enough. I have a lot to catch up on. So, I apologize for the many posts to come.