Routine Believer!

Thank goodness for my genius husband! I took so many classes on parenting (and I basically majored in it) so I am kind of embarrassed that I didnt think of it on my own. Tyler mentioned that we should figure out some sort of routine to get Parker to go to sleep better at night. Since he was born we have rocked him until he was asleep, then we laid him down. I always enjoyed the cuddle time, but it had recently turned into LONG periods of rocking just for Parker to wake and scream when we laid him down. (It's the worst when he wakes up during the night) VERY annoying. Nonetheless, Tyler is a very smart man. One day last week he pulled out the scriptures and we read as a family on the couch. We then had family prayer together. Parker started looking really sleepy and I took a chance by telling him it was bedtime and kissed him. I laid him down and he cried for only about 2 minutes and then was out. That was Day 1. Day 2: Same routine...then said "bedtime" and kissed him and laid him down...cried for about 30 seconds. Day 3: Same routine... he cried as I walked to his room then he stopped when I laid him down. Day 4: Tyler took him in his room and not a peep! Just laid there, talked to himself for a few minutes and then fell asleep. WOW! I am now a SUPER believer in routines! He does just as well when it comes to nap too. It is so so nice! Thank you Tyler and your amazing intelligence :-)

New Haircut!

Tyler wanted to give me some "me" time, so he had me go get a haircut and highlights! It was definitely LONG over-due for me to get a haircut. (It had been over 10 months.) I didnt take any before pictures, unfortunately, but I can easily describe it to you. Just about everyday for the last 6 months or more. I just got REALLY lazy, and with such naturally curly hair it is quick and easy to just throw it up. Anyways, this haircut is my most favorite cut EVER! Plus, I got highlights so that makes it even cuter :-)

I would love to hear what you think! Tyler says it makes me look older...

I just love getting pampered...it makes me feel so pretty. Thanks Ty!

Cute Parker

Adorable video we took a while ago while Ty & I were playing marbles. I love this boy!

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas everyone! We hope you had a wonderful time with family and friends. We sure did!


Santa visited our house this year!


We decided to do our own Christmas on December 22. We were going to Tyler's parents but we still wanted to do Christmas together, so we did it before we left. This is a picture of Parker seeing the gifts for the first time. He loves the new sled that Santa brought him. Sadly, there is no snow, so he will have to wait to use it. What's going on this year?? No snow in December?! I'm not complaining!!


The gifts that Tyler and my parents spoiled me with this year. I love my Shark!!


A close-up of the beautiful piece of blown glass that Ty bought me. LoVe It!


Tyler's Christmas presents. Professional grade tool set from me/mom & dad Duce, Rock Band set from me, remote control truck from my brother Mike, .... Ty LOVES his tool set.


All of the stuff that Parker got. Pirate ship and cell phone from Nana & Papa, Books from Great Grandma and Grandpa Lance, Firetruck from Cousin Ben, Movies and Elephant pillow from Mom & Dad, Sled from Santa. He loves it all!


A video of Parker opening his elephant pillow. He is so stinkin cute!


Parker and Ben playing with the semi that Grandma and Grandpa gave them. They each got one. They love it!


It was a blast spending time with all of our family. Grandpa was able to be home. He started driving truck, so he wasn't able to be home for Thanksgiving, but we sure enjoyed spending time with him over Christmas! We are so grateful for such wonderful family on both sides. We are so loved. Have a happy new year!

Congratulations Daddy!!!

We are so proud of Tyler! After over a year of loads and loads of work, Tyler is officially a PARAMEDIC!!





WooHoo Daddy! Great job :-) We are so so proud!

Parker's New Adorable Laugh

Parker has all of a sudden started a new laugh and it is SO cute! If I go into the bathroom and close the door he cries, so I have started just cracking the door. He always comes and pushes it open with a huge smile and a laugh. I have been wanting to get a video of it because it just melts my heart every time. He's my little ham! Enjoy!!

Parker Nowadays...

A little update. Parker loves:

*Climbing (and hiding) underneath the Christmas tree.

*Pulling off the Christmas ornaments and bringing them to us. Sometimes he even says "ball" when he hands it to us. The entire bottom of our tree (as far up as Parker can reach) is bare of ornaments. Sometimes we will put the ornaments back up and within 5 minutes he pulls them off again. I have just decided to live with a half naked tree.

*Ripping the wrapping paper off of the presents. He has completely opened one present, and it happened to be his! It was his present from Grandma Duce, so we just let him have it early. Besides that, he has only chose to partly rip open 2 others.

*Playing in the pots and pans cupboard. It is really cute until he gets into the glass lids...needless to say we got a gate to keep him out of the kitchen.

*Shoes. Any shoe that he can get ahold of he puts his hands in and crawls with around the apartment.

*Going outside. He is such a good helper when it comes to putting on his warm clothes. He looks so stinkin cute!

*His binky! I thought that maybe if I got him liking a binky then I could slowly wien him from nursing. Well, it worked--just WAY too fast! 2 days after his birthday he decided that he didn't want to nurse anymore. OUCH! It is really nice now though. He has started eating better and sleeping through the night. YAY!

*Daddy-time. This month is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I am so grateful. Except for 2 BIG tests, Tyler's schedule is empty for this entire month. We are so enjoying this quality time with him. Parker is so happy when his daddy is here. I am not looking forward to real-life returning in January.