11 Months

Only one more of these monthly posts?! This year is just flying. Good news is we're still crazy about Austin Boy. 

• The poor boy was sick most of the month. He had Roseola and then ended that virus with a little stomach flu. So there was lots of snuggling going on. 

 Mariah was so concerned for Austin and rubbed his back so that I could get some stuff done. 

His poor little sick face. This is how he sat in his high chair...so lethargic. 

• Austin has decided he hates diaper changes and getting dressed and getting his fingernails cut. Basically anything that requires him to hold still. So there's a lot of wrestling going on. 
• Speaking of wrestling, Austin is a big fan. If Tanner is wrestling with the older two, Austin tries to crawl right into the chaos; head lowered as a battering ram, growling the whole time. 

• He is a busy baby but hasn't gotten too messy yet. He does like to put things in and out of containers. His favorite container of choice is a cup. 
• He is a big fan of other babies. At church the other day I put him down during Sunday School and he made a beeline to another baby. After he was done with her he headed over to another baby. The boy is social. 

• He isn't as big of a fan of baths as I was hoping he would be. He spends most of his time trying to stand up and crawl out to get to me. If one of his siblings is in there with him he does a little better. 
• He interacts more and more with Mariah and Chet, following them all around the house. 

There's something so heart-wrenching about watching your children learn and grow. You want it to happen but you don't understand how it can happen so quickly. Austin has almost been with us a whole year and I don't know if we are ready to accept that. 

Firetruck Jammies 

Thankful

November was so good to us. 

We live right behind a VA Hall so on Veterans Day we walked down for their little shindig. They had food and live music. I told Mariah and Chet about Veterans and why we have a special day honoring them so I was happy when they got the opportunity to meet a few. I am so grateful for those who have sacrificed their time and some even their lives serving our country. 

I'm really falling in love with the people in this community. Everyone at the VA Hall were so kind to me and my children. I lost count of the amount of people who asked if I needed help. One man got all of us drinks and napkins and another lady went and got the kids pizza. There are such good people on this earth. I think with all the bad that is constantly before us through the news and social media we forget that. 

The next day we got to help with the community Winter Weather Posse. This is where volunteers help winterize people's homes/yards who cannot do it themselves. We were paired up with some college students to rake leaves.  

 We don't have any big trees in our yard so Mariah and Chet were bummed that they were missing out on leaf piles. So this was a great opportunity for them to get their fill of leaves. 

 They were so helpful too. The first house we went to they bagged leaves the whole hour we were there. I was really proud of them and their hard work. 

 I forgot Austin's shoes so he got to have dinosaur gloves on his feet. 

He didn't seem to mind too much. Tanner was there too but he was working so hard we didn't even get a photo of him. It was great to serve as a whole family. 

We had to say goodbye to Sister Sackett. She came to the Morgantown area the same time we moved here. We try to have the missionaries over each week for dinner so we had gotten pretty close with her. And yes, my hair always looks that good :). 

Mariah got to go on a field trip for Preschool to the grocery store. She was so excited to show Chet all the goodies she got. She even shared the treat that she bought "all by herself" with the family. 

 We had our first snow of the season and Mariah and Chet were excited. Chet shoveled off the deck and when he was done with that he started on the yard. I wasn't going to discourage it. 

Tanner made the turkey because he is gifted like that. 

The kids and I went down to Pittsburgh the week of Thanksgiving while Tanner worked. Mariah and Chet had so much fun with their cousins. Chet couldn't remember their names so he just called them his "fends" (friends). Tanner was able to come down on Thursday for dinner and we had a wonderful meal. The oven got turned off while the Turkey was cooking so we had salmon instead. Wasn't your typical Thanksgiving meal but was still delicious. 

Tanner and Brittany made a delicious mixed berry pie. Tanner designed the top with a lattice crust complete with a leaf border and turkey in the middle that he cut out  of crust with knives. And we didn't get a picture...typical. 

We are so grateful for this season and the reminder of all the blessings Heavenly Father has given us. 

Trick or Treat!

Anyone who knows me understands my lack of enthusiasm when it comes to Halloween costumes. I just really have a hard time investing too much time/money in something that is only worn a couple times. So the boys had coon skin caps already (thanks G&G Young) and I figured what could go better with a couple hunters than a deer? And there you have it...

If you were wondering, that is the best photo we could get of the three of them. Our littlest hunter just wasn't in the mood for a photo shoot and since I was helping with the Halloween party I didn't have the time to insist on quality. And yes, we gave Cuties instead of candy. But they did have Jack O'lanterns drawn on them. One kid said to Tanner, "This is more like a trick than a treat." Ha! I appreciated his honesty. Mariah and Chet loved the trunk or treat. Chet kept calling it the "elephant trunk party". Tanner and I enjoyed sampling all the different chili and Austin enjoyed trying to dump bowls of chili in our laps; it kept things exciting. Which is how we like it. 

 Austin's impish grin as he strains to pull his hand out and rip his hat off...And Tanner's face basically embodies parenthood. Happy but bewildered... 

 This boy and his faces. I mean really...just melt my heart. Right before Halloween he started thinking he wanted to be Superman. But because that would require more work from me we just had him watch Davy Crockett and he was back on board with the original costume. 

What really sold Mariah on the deer costume (because what little girl really wants to be a deer for Halloween?) was when I told her she could get her face painted. And those antlers were the easiest thing, obviously, because I wouldn't have done it if it wasn't simple. This is probably the last year where I can pick out my kids costumes...I don't know how I feel about that. 

We went trick or treating around our neighborhood Monday night. Mariah was so excited, running ahead to houses. I was afraid I was going to lose her among the other trick or treaters. Chet stuck close to me and kept quiet unless we were the only ones at a door, then he would say, "I I I'm Davy Cockett." And the people at the door would just love it. 

Even if this isn't my favorite holiday it was really enjoyable watching my children have fun. 

Hello Fall!

Throughout our marriage Tanner has really talked up the falls here. Though I have been out to the East quite a bit I have never experienced Autumn in the East until now. And I have loved it. I'm used to freezing nights and usually a snowstorm by now where I grew up. But here, The temperatures have cooled down just enough to still be enjoyable. And the changing leaves are just gorgeous. 

Tanner had a pretty busy month in October but we still tried to squeeze in some fun times.

We went to Simmons Farm with some families in the Ward and our Co-op Preschool. Because it was just minutes from the Tanner's parents' house they came too! 

The driver of the tractor helped everyone down off the trailer and afterwards Mariah said, "That was nice of that farmer to help us down.". I loved how she noticed his service. She's a keeper. 

Grandma and Grandpa were so wonderful! They each took a kid and even helped some of my friends with their children. They are so selfless and such an example to my children. 

Ta-a (Stella) and Chet. Each child got an apple and Chet was pretty stoked about his. Just like his mom, nothing gets us as excited as food does, especially when it's free. 

Mariah just lately has started doing the hand on the hip pose. Who told her she could grow up?! She got a little scrape on her hand from going down the slide. When we got to Grandma and Grandpa's I told her she needed to go wash her hands. After coming out of the bathroom she said, "I washed my owie and I didn't even cry. I just like screamed. I was very brave." 

Grandpa took them to pet the animals, 

and helped them pick out pumpkins (we went for a smaller option).

They also got to pick out an ear of corn each. Mariah insisted on "decorating" the corn. I couldn't figure out where she got that idea but she said that Grandma Crossley said that was what you did. It wasn't until later that I found out that Grandma said you can use the corn to decorate with, and Mariah just interpreted it her own way. But they had fun with it. 

One saturday that Tanner had off we went to the Washington D.C. Temple. We met up with Tanner's cousin and her family. They spoiled us; taking us out to dinner, watching our kids while we did a session and making us pancakes in the morning. 

I can't think of a better way to teach my children about the Savior than taking them to the temple .

While there we went to Trader Joe's for the first time ever to get some food for the next day. Mariah and Chet each got their own cart which seemed like a good idea until I saw how packed the store was. Apparently it is the place to be on a Saturday. So we were a bit of a spectacle but they had fun and we only got a few dirty looks. 

The Wunderli girls are just...wonderful. Hardy har! But really, they are such sweet girls and were so good with our kids. We are so happy to be living by these guys. While their parents were in the temple we were taught some parkour moves and fitted with our very own wands. I think mine had a unicorn hair in it. I'm special like that. 

I got Mariah and Chet rain boots and jackets. One morning it was raining when we first woke up so they were so excited to wear their new gear. By the time we got to the store it was clear and sunny but they insisted on wearing their jackets all through the store. Once again we got a lot of looks, but they were happy and prepared. 

Grandpa Crossley came down for a pumpkin carvin' party. 

They weren't afraid to dig right in. Even Austin went to work. 

I love the Crossley men's faces in this one...classic. 

Austin ate his share of pumpkin innards. He kept trying to eat the seeds too but every time he bit down they would shoot right out of his mouth. 

That hand on the hip. And I think that was the only night the poor Jack O'Lantern was lit. We really need to up our Halloween game. 

10 Months

This has been a big month for Austin

 Green smoothie mustache

• He started crawling and pulling himself up to standing at the beginning of the month. 

The morning this picture was taken he was sitting up when I came to get him from his nap. The mattress was still up high so I knew that was a sign that we needed to lower it. Tanner and I lowered it when he got home that day. No more than twenty minutes later I put him in his crib so I could vacuum in there and he did this! I'm glad I followed the prompting I had to lower the crib or he might have landed on his head. 

• Because of his new found mobility, he is always on the move. If the bathroom is ever opened he makes a beeline for it. Church has become a little more exciting too. He is constantly trying to crawl under the benches and grab everyone's stuff. 

He loves looking out the back door and watching his brother and sister play out there. 

• Austin loves books, especially ripping them. We have to be careful about where we put things now because he will get it and destroy it, all with a happy face. 
• He has two more teeth on the top and was a little grumpy from it. 
• Besides the new teeth he also had his first fever. It lasted two days and he was so unhappy about it all. I was surprised he went so long without being sick. 

Poor sick boy

• Because of the teething and illness, he hasn't been sleeping so great. Hopefully that trend is ending soon. 
• Austin has started growling when something bugs him and we think it's so funny. He definitely doesn't let his siblings push him around. 

What happens when Dad fixes his hair...

• I gave him his first big haircut and it was a little crazy. Mariah tried to help me by holding his hands but Austin was having none of it. He even grabbed a bunch of hair and shoved it in his mouth before we could stop him. So the haircut isn't great but it had to happen eventually. 

After the haircut...such a cherub. 

Although I'm completely exhausted, and most of that is because of this stinker, I am still so crazy about him. Funny how that is. If most people treated me like that I would have kicked them to the curb long ago. Mother's love is a funny, wonderful thing. And I'm so glad Heavenly Father  has given me this opportunity. Even if I am tired. 

This was taken at the end of his two day long fever...the boy is too sweet. 

9 Months of Austin

Guys...just three more months and my baby will be a year...how does it all go by so quickly?!

• He is definitely a Momma's Boy. He will still go to other people but he looks all around for me and gets super excited when I get him. It's good for my Ego. 
• Because of his attachment to me he isn't the greatest sleeper at night. He still gets up 2-3 times to nurse but because he is so easy during the day I have felt too guilty to do sleep training. How can I let such an angelic baby cry? 

• He is still obsessed with my face. He loves to shove his fingers up my nostrils or into my mouth. It's getting a little much so I try to hold his hand while he is nursing but he fights me the whole time. 
• He now has two teeth. They came at the same time and besides sleeping horribly he was still so sweet during the day. 

• He is starting to move around more. He gets up on all fours and rocks but doesn't quite have the arm strength to hold up that noggin of his. He is starting to roll all over the place and is working on his army crawl too. 
• Austin is learning to stand up for himself. He will cry or squeal angrily if someone (his darling siblings) take something from him. He also is really driven. If someone has something he wants he won't give up until he gets it or you can give him something better. It's pretty funny to see him climb all over his siblings trying to get something from them. 

Another selfie with the boy because he's too cute

Really Cute