January 2015

It was an interesting start to 2015. That is for sure. Lucas and I were so so incredibly sick. I'm glad to report we are both finally feeling better. I still have some congestion but it's not bad at all anymore. Thankfully James didn't get it at all and Lily only got a cough but nothing more. I have been completely confined to the bed or couch all January so It's so great to be able to do my mommy chores again. I have decided to take some time off of photography for a while. It's hard to start a business when you have no money to start it with. I couldn't keep up on the payments for Lightroom and Photoshop so I don't have any GOOD editing programs and one of my lenses has a giant scratch on the inside. I don't know what happened so I took all that as a sign to slow down and come back in a few months when it gets warm.

Anyways, I'm excited for February I get to celebrate my dad and it's also Lucas Birthday! I guess Valentine's Day too. I've never been much of a fan because I never get Lucas for V-day. He always works so it's just kind of meh for me but still excited to see what this month will bring!

 ^^James is SUPER into watercolors right now! He has filled almost all his coloring books! I love it so so much!! He's so funny, seriously every time I say, "Oh that's a beautiful picture James.." He Stops me and says, " No NO NO NO! It's not finished yet!!!!!" He is so serious about his art. 

I took some engagement photos for Aaron Capener and his fiance back in October and they just got married a couple weeks ago. I took some pictures at their Reception here in Idaho and I got to go with just Lucas. The kids stayed with Aunt Mary and Lydia! So we had fun. Aaron's brother, Kevin is Lucas' best friend so we had fun talking to him!

Speaking of Kevin, He got a job with the FBI here in Pocatello so he just bought a house here because he was commuting from IF to Poky and we all know how annoying that is, so he moved in a month ago and it is AMAZING. I'm so jealous. haha. We are going to be at his house a lot, let's just say that. :)

 James and Lily playing piano at Grandma & Grandpa's house!!

I asked Lily,

"Do you want to get dressed in some pretty clothes?"

Lily: "Yah!!" 

She then took my hand and let me into her room! 

*HEART MELTED*

Before Haircut

After Haircut

It was Courtney Burtons wedding day on the 31st and I haven't seen those girls in years. I grew up down the street from them so it was so good seeing those goons. They are just as crazy as ever! Marisa just had her baby so she wasnt able to come. But I had to get a picture of at least Courtney, T and I! 

 It was Lily's first time in a successful Pony on the top of her head and I was just ecstatic!! 

This is the face of a 24 year old Exhausted mom of two that literally wants to hit her face against the wall at the end of every day. Is that normal??

No?!

...UgH

Kiddos update. It's a long one.

 ^^I missed her 3 month update. This is her at 3 months (January 5th, 2014)^^

^^This is Lily at 4 Months old. She is teething like crazy. She wakes up 1-2 times during the night to eat and sometimes to smile at mommy and then fall asleep an hour later. She is a good eater and sleeper. She takes numerous naps during the day which allows me to do laundry and dishes and sometimes play with James. She wears 6-12 Month clothes and size 3 diapers. Loves it when mommy sings to her and is a total Daddy's girl. She gives daddy the biggest smiles has so much love for us all. I am totally annoying and I change her outfit like 4 times a day just because I can. She can rock every color but Purple looks so pretty on this girl. I can't explain it, but it's her color. I'm a weirdo I know.

quick little update on James Ryan
James is going to be 3 years old in 2 1/2 months (WHHHAATT!?!?) and he said he wants a despicable me birthday party. So we are currently planning that. We got him the coolest present. It's a minion that talks and his eyes move when you move his head left to right. Seriously the coolest toy. We have been shopping online for it for months but it was so expensive. Like $40-70 and I totally found it at Target for $18 SCORE!
James likes to draw faces on the iPad and is doing so well writing letters. He can do, T,A,Q,O,C and sometimes M. He loves art. He's always wanting to color or paint and he puts stickers on everything (Just like I did when I was little)
He has been a really good talker for a while now but lately he has been saying phrases like, "No, I not." and "Yes I did." Those are his answers to probably 90% of the things we ask. He is officially in 4T stuff but it's all a bit too long for him. Haha. He's seriously the sweetest boy but goodness me, when he is upset there is no chance for reason. He has to just throw his tantrum and then he eventually comes to me and says, "I done. You need to make me feel better, Mom."  He is the definition of the terrible twos. But truly, he loves to snuggle and his constantly giving hugs and kisses throughout the day. He loves helping me with the laundry. Mainly because they "make music" when you turn it on and off. He loves to sweep wipe down the counters for me.
His favorite food is still Chicken and fries. He will only eat them if he has ranch and ketchup to dip them in. He also loves Apples and Bananas. He is obsessed with his milk and were trying hard to get that sippy cup away from him. It's like his blanket he has to have it when he is sad and in bed. even if he doesn't drink it. So silly.
He is still in diapers and refuses to use the toilet. However, when he does decide he isn't too good for the toilet, he goes! One time he went poop on the potty and was running around the apartment yelling, "That's a big poop. I DID IT!" over and over. Oh, the joys of parenthood. Just so funny sometimes.
His favorite movies right now, are Monster Incibersity (Monsters University) and Tangled. Also Frozen when we can get it to work ;)
He also is loving his little wood train set that we got at DI for $6. "You build train tracks with me, Mom?"
That's another thing, He still calls us Mommy and Daddy most of the time but he has started calling us Mom and Dad. I know it's stupid, but it makes me sad. I want him to forever call me Mommy.

Update on James

James is 2 1/2 Years old!
He talks so well for his age and has such a strong personality. Which can be a good thing and a bad thing. It's good because he doesn't take crap from anyone but it's bad because he sure can talk back to his mommy and daddy.

We work on writing the alphabet almost daily and he loves to draw, color and paint. just the other day in fact, he wrote the letter 'A' and the letter 'T' and we could tell what they were! I was so so proud of him. He's such a little sponge and i'm really trying to take advantage of it. I can tell he loves to learn just like his daddy and thank goodness he got his daddy's brains.

He still loves playing with my hair right before falling asleep and I almost always wake up with an elbow or foot in my face. Gotta love the kid.

James is officially afraid of the dark. Poor fella.

Lately he's been saying, "Hello, Mommy. How are you doing today?" when I reply, "Good! How are you doing today?" he says, "I'm James!" Haha Seriously, it's pretty much adorable. I have a video of him talking to the spider trap asking how the spiders were doing. Sweetheart.

He wears 3T clothes that I noticed yesterday that are getting a little snug and size 9 shoes. He's got some feet, that kid.

It's also pretty much impossible to change his diaper and put clothes on him without bribing him with chocolate, fruit snacks or his gummy vitamin. Truly, he rarely wears normal clothes because I pick my battles. I would rather fight with him about something more important. Haha.

He loves helping me with the laundry. Our washer and dryer make fun little songs and he loves pushing the buttons.

I just painted a chalkboard wall downstairs in our living room. It's always full of color and to him, letters.

He likes to 'feel nice' and put on my deodorant. So funny!

He loves pixar movies. Right now we are watching Tangled. He LOVES Cars 1 & 2, Monsters Inc., Wreck It Ralph, Brave. You name it. He loves 'The Brave Song' Touch the Sky by Julie Fowlis.

On a more frustrating note, He is a 2 year old and 'The Terrible Two's' are a real thing. I'm talking Screaming and crying over dumb things. He also likes to shush me when I'm telling him to be quiet or even when I'm just talking to him in a nice way. Yeah, he's a huge turd most of the time. He's also a hurricane. I don't know why I clean anymore. I just hope this ends quickly because It's pretty stressful trying to keep in quiet during Lily's naps and church and just while Lucas is sleeping during the day. Welcome to my life... Keeping a very active 2 year old quiet basically all the time. Poor kid, He just wants to play and be a kid and we're always sleepy and cranky.

He's seriously such a sweetie when he wants to be and we just love his little personality. It is just so full of wonder and he's so forgiving when we get impatient and spank his little toosh. I must say that even though he has so many outbursts and tantrums he ALWAYS feels bad after and says, "I'm sorry mommy and daddy. I'm sorry." and gives us a huge hug.

Oh, I don't think I mentioned that he likes Harry Potter. Imagine that. Doesn't even seem to scare him.
He really is our little boy.

Bear Lake 2013

So basically I'm terrible at keeping this blog up to date. But we just got back from the Bear Lake Camping reunion trip this year. I was 32 weeks pregnant and I camped for 3 nights and 4 days at this sandy place. It was lots of fun but I was so happy to get a nice shower when we got home. We did a lot of playing in mud and water. A lot of the time I just sat on the beach and wished I could go out tubing but it was still so nice just getting a tan. Can I also point out how awesome our shirts are? 37 is the number of family members in the Duncan fam. By the end of the year there will be 39! Haha. Crazy how fast this family grows! Lucas looks forward to this camping trip all year and it is literally one of the most important things to him in the world! It's so cute! I just love seeing him get excited over family functions because I know I picked the right guy. Family always come first for him. I'm so thankful to be apart of this family. Can't wait till next year when I won't be so stinking pregnant and miserable. ;)