A Very Merry Christmas

Christmas always has been my favorite holiday, and now that I have my own little family to celebrate with, I love it even more!  This honestly was probably the best Christmas I have ever had; not that past Christmas's have been bad.  I think it was just the joy and thankfulness of being able to spend it with most of our family (Josh's sisters weren't home along with his other distant family), the great mood and spirit everybody had, and watching Blayze enjoy every minute of it.

We start Christmas with a tradition that I have had since I was a baby, and that is going to Goomie and Gramps' house (my dad's parents) for Christmas Eve.  There were 22 adults and 12 children (not counting Shea baby).  It is loud and a little crazy, but all we have ever known on Christmas Eve! Here is a pic of all of the kids minus Jetter Bug because he was sick and puking most of the night.

After we get home from Goomie and Gramps' we let Blayze open up his "big" present from Josh and I.  This summer his Auntie Paulette got him started on the "Thomas the Train" sets.  They are cool because you can buy track and equipment to add to the existing track.  We found a crane that is remote control that is part of the set.  His name is Cranky the Crane.  Blayze was very excited....Josh was too, so much that he set it up that night so Blayze could play with it first thing in the morning.

Christmas morning we have Dad, Becky, Gabrial, Goomie, Gramps, Barb, Nick, Mom, Steve, Lexie, Jaemen, Jaxson, Jett, and D.J. out to our house for presents and breakfast.  Blayze was so excited for everyone to come play with his new toys.  Santa brought Blayze a backhoe and truck to haul it.  That is what he asked for every time you asked him what he wanted Santa to bring.  Breakfast was great and present time was a little hectic, but nothing out of the ordinary with that many people crammed into our little living room.  I feel so blessed that our family's get along and can come together as one to celebrate Christmas together in one place.  We started this Christmas morning tradition last year with being in the new house, and I hope it continues for years to come.  Here are some pictures from that part of the day.

Christmas afternoon we went to my Dad and Becky's for a very laid back and delicious dinner.  Played a little Just Dance 3 with my sisters and stepmom, laid around a lot, and enjoyed spending a quiet afternoon together with family.  At one point in the day Blayze said, "Do it again!"  Josh asked, "Do what again?" Blayze excitedly exclaimed, "PRESENTS!!!" We explained that he would have to wait for his birthday.  I hope that everyone else had a wonderful Christmas spent with someone they love.  Merry Christmas to all from the Shea's!





New Year's Resolution!

Talk about procrastination! I feel horrible that it has taken me this long to create a new post.  I am making one of my New Year's Resolutions early...blog more.  It has been about four months since my last post, but I feel like it has been a year because of how busy and hectic it has been.  I am truly scared for the hustle and bustle of two children and the work schedule I have right now, but God only gives us what we can handle....right (fingers crossed)?  So here are some updates of what has been and is going on.

Shea Baby is going to be a BOY!  Most of you probably already knew that, but for the new followers I figured it was an important piece of information.  I would like to say that this pregnancy has been easier than the last because I haven't ran into my wonderful friend Pre-eclampsia yet, but it really hasn't been very fun.  This baby likes to make frequent stops on my sciatic nerve, move all of the time (mostly at night), cause me to have the worst possible varicose veins a woman could have (in places I didn't even know possible!), more morning sickness, a discrimination towards Mexican food, an under active thyroid, and overactive emotional hormones. BUT would I trade all of those symptoms for anything other than having this precious baby, NO!  That is what makes us women truly crazy.  Baby is due February 24th, and I will be taking six weeks off of work after I have the baby.  No names yet.  Josh and I have a very hard time agreeing on a name that we both like. 

Blayzer!!! A whole lot of two-year-old!  I know I say it all of the time, but I truly have the best little boy ever.  He rarely throws a fit, and if he does it isn't the scary ones you hear other people describing.  He just recently moved into his "Big Boy" bed.  He doesn't even try to get out of it!  His vocabulary grows everyday and we have no problem communicating with him at all.  He just went to the ENT doctor to get his breathing problem checked out and it is more than likely just the usual enlarged adenoids, so we are trying a nasal spray first to see if it will help keep the inflammation down.  This was great news because I expected we would have to get them out right away, and wasn't quite ready to take that feat on with the new baby's due date vastly approaching.  It is snowboarding season and the little guy has went twice on his own board!!!  I haven't been able to go up there yet to watch, but Daddy says he just flies right down the mountain and loves every second of it.  This morning when he got up (it snowed a skiff last night) he looked out the window and said, " we go on the mountain soon!"  He will be riding better than me by next year!  Mr. Boo Bear is very busy all of the time and enjoys playing with his cousins whenever he can.  Our one and only thing we need to work on with him is eating more.  He is very picky, but it is just payback from when Josh was little because he was the same way.

Dozer...the new puggle we got in August, has made himself right at home.  He is definitely all boy and will be getting fixed very soon.  Blayze and Dozer have a love/hate relationship. They start out having a fun wrestling match, and then someone always ends up getting hurt (Blayze). 

Well I have a little boy who is wanting some breakfast, so I am signing off for now.  Here are some pics from the last few months.  Have a Merry Christmas everybody!!!

Wrestling with his cousins

Using the Potty

Happy Halloween!

A tuckered out little mouse

YIKES!

Well, my goal to post more this summer was a failure!  I feel really bad that I have slacked so badly at posting.  Things have been so busy, crazy, and hectic.  With being such a slacker I don't even know where I should start, so maybe I will just try to summarize summer with this post.
First of all, I have enjoyed so very much getting to spend so much time with Blayze this summer.  I am excited to go back to work becuase I love working, but I will admit that it is going to be hard to say goodbye to him everyday, five days a week.  I feel like I have been able to truly be the mom that Blayze needs this summer.  The month of June flew right by and I started to panic that the entire summer would do the same! With the weather being cooler than a normal June around here, we spent a lot of time just playing outside and working in the garden.
July came fast and we were so excited because both of Josh's sisters came to visit along with their children, Xander, Elora, Scarlett, and Violet.  Blayze had so much fun playing with his cousins.  It meant a lot to me that he finally was able to be with all of his first cousins on Josh's side at once, since he spends so much time with my nephews on a weekly basis.  We took a trip to Silverwood, the kids rode Papa Nick's mules, a lot of playing at Grandma Barb and Papa Nick's, visiting with Grandma Ella and Grandpa Joe Kalberer who came from North Dakota, seeing other distant relatives and friends, a trip up Mt. Baldy in which we got to play in snow, and then Blayze's 2nd Birthday. 
Blayze's 2nd Birthday was a really hard day for our family.  Godfather Neil came to visit, so that was very nice, and we are so thankful he was here.  Unfortunately, while preparing for the party Josh was returning from town and Hazy (our first baby and Blayze's best friend) ran right under the truck.  It was a horrific experience and we still have a hole in our hearts from losing her.  In addition to the loss of Hazy, Blayze just wasn't feeling well at all and was very fussy, tired, and "not in the mood" for a birthday party.  On a more positive note, a lot of family came to help celebrate and Blayze was showered with really cool presents like a trampoline, bike, drumset, water table, table and chairs, and much more!
The rest of our summer has been spent attending weddings, boating, and co-ed softball.  Blayze loves to dance, so once the reception starts at a wedding he is ready to boogy!  He is also a fish, and loves the water.  Softball is fun for him because he gets to play with all of the other hoodlums while Mommy works or plays.  Josh competed in a wakeboard competition for the first time in five years.  Blayze and I were yelling and cheering for him. Blayze thought it was fun to be able to hoot and holler at his dad.  We have a new addition to our family now too.  Mr. Dozer, another puggle.  Blazye and Dozer have a love/hate realationship right now.  They tease each other and then get upset after one teases the other.  I think they will eventually learn to just love each other.  It has been fun watching them go rounds. 
I think I remembered the important stuff!  We hope everyone has had a splendid summer too!

 Can't believe this Boo Bear is 2!

Just had to have a coozy like his father!

Happy Father's Day!

Father's Day Morning went a little like this....
I woke up and just had a feeling in my stomach that I needed to take a pregnancy test. So, I did, and it was POSITIVE! I woke up Josh to tell him "Happy Father's Day times two!".

That is the news!  Not very far along and just hoping that all goes okay.  I have my first doctor's appt. on July 12th because she is a very busy lady!
I am very excited because a close friend of mine and I will be very close with our pregnancies.  I am most excited for Blayze to have a sibling.  He is always uber excited to play with his cousins or other kids, so I think he will love being a big brother. 

Yikes!!!!

Yikes!!! With coaching softball, preparing for Co-Ed Softball, ending the school year, and invites to numerous events, I have slacked on the blog!  So I am going to try to remember what has been going on with Boo the past month and a half. 

The first thing that comes to mind is how much he talks now!  Everyday he says something new. Sometimes I can understand it, sometimes I am left in wonderment.  I can definitely tell he is getting close to being two years old because my perfect baby is starting to throw more fits, whine, and defy daddy and me when we tell him to do or not to do something.  Sometimes it is hard not to laugh at the dramatic scene he is putting on for us, and other times it is exhausting! 
We planted a garden, so Blayze got to help with that process.  I did catch him trying to eat a little dirt one day...but then I realized the dirt does look like a crushed up Oreo.  He practices "swimming" in the tub often now.  I am going to look into buying a family pass to the pool because I think the river is going to be a bit chilly this summer since there is still a lot of snow in the mountains. 
 He had his first slow dance!  At Brittany and Cody Netz's wedding, Addilynn Turner wasted no time in grabbing him and making him dance with her.  Her dad was not very thrilled because I always tease him that they are going to date when they are older.  There is a pic below for you of the cuties! 
We bought a new boat.  Ha Ha, I guess I should say used because it is a 1977 Bayliner.  Blayze loves to sit in it and help Josh work on it in the garage. 
Grandma Barb took him hot tubbing last week.  When he got home and I asked him how it was, he said, "HOOOOTTTT, bubbles". 
I know there are things I am forgetting, but promise to try and be better at getting on here this summer to post more. 



Easter...

I know, I know...Holly Jo you are slacking at blogging.  No good excuse other than taking on more than I can chew.  So feel privileged because I should be grading papers right now, and instead I felt guilty about not getting on here for a while.
Easter...hilarious this year.  Blayze loves hunting for eggs.  It is easier to keep him hunting if there is nothing in them.  The eggs we hid around the house were empty.  We were just trying to prep him for the egg hunt in town.  We thought he would do great by what we saw at home.  Well our son is a chocoholic.  Don't know where he got that??? wink, wink.  So the minute he found out that the eggs had Kisses in them he was done and wanted the Kiss unwrapped for his tasting.  Second egg hunt went well because they were hard boiled eggs.  One egg he pulled out at this hunt had a baby slug on it!  I wondered why he was acting weird when he picked it up.  He handed it to Nama (my mom) and she flipped out.  The third egg hunt.......yes long pause because I don't know how well Blayze did because I was very busy hunting for my own egg!  That's right the 25 year old still hunts eggs.  My step mom fills the eggs with scratch tickets and I am a sucker for the thought of winning money!
Overall Easter was a very joyous time spent with lots of family.  Here are some pics to enjoy!

Blayze would rather wear his basket

I like you but don't want to touch you!

Ohhhhh...Peeps!

Finding eggs at Great Grandma Sharon and Great Grandpa Ken's house

Solo...

Last Sunday we took a family trip up to Silver Mountain.  We decided that since Blayze doesn't get to board with us very often, we would make the day about him.  So we packed his own board and figured we would let him try it out.  He did great! I would put the video on here but it takes seriously hours to download, so here is a few pics instead.

Ready to go!

Showing us how old he is on the Gondola

Through the glare of the goggles

Family

Stunting growth...

Earlier this year I read the book, "Tuck Everlasting" to my class.  If you have ever read the book, you know that it is about this spring of youth out in the middle of the woods.  If you drink from the spring you stay the age that you are FOREVER.  It showed the pros and cons of drinking from the spring, and even though I know there were more cons....I really wish there was some sort of way to slow down time.  My reasoning for all of this is that I cannot believe that in less than four months my Boo Bear is going to turn two.  I have enjoyed so very much being a mom from day one on.  Granted restless nights, sick baby, and injuries are not really enjoyable, I still wouldn't trade any of it for anything else in this world.  We honestly have the happiest, funniest, loving, and adventurous child.  I am scared to have another baby because I don't know how it would ever be possible to be blessed with two perfect children.  BUT...and that is a big BUT for a reason- I want to give the gift of having a sibling to Blayze.  He deserves to have someone to fight, play, laugh, run, and learn with.  With much discussion with many other people I am learning that it really doesn't matter on how far apart your children are.  Most people will tell you that the way they did it worked best.  So...Josh and I will try sometime in the near future, but for now we just want to give Blayze as much one-on-one time that we can.  If I could stunt his growth I would do it now for a little while.  He says something new everyday.  He learns how to do something tactile everyday.  He laughs at anything everyday.  AND most importantly he makes us feel so very blessed everyday.  As I type this he is rolling around on the kitchen floor.  I look down, and he gives me a big grin with the binky and all.  Who could ask for more?  Here is a pic of Blayze the day he was born.......

Obsessed...

Well...we did it.  We created a child who is obsessed with riding boards.  This was not our intention.  We just wanted him to try out things that Daddy likes, however Blazye has taken a liking for riding anything that resembles a skateboard or snowboard.  He has even taken out the George Foreman grease tray and stood on it as if it is a board!  I have discussed with Josh how important it is that we start a savings account just for medical bills.  Don't take this negatively; I love the fact that Blayze is thrilled for the excitement of trying to ride.  I am just frightened of when that first bad fall or wreck is going to come.  Here is a video for you to enjoy of Blayze riding a little wagon that came with his blocks. 

Big Mouth...

It has been a while...so I am going to try to blog a few days in a row.  I do have a valid excuse if it matters any- a new nephew!  My sister had a c-section on February 27, 2011 at 2:58 p.m.  She had a healthy, happy little boy named Jett Daniel who weighed 8lbs 1oz and was 19in long. 
Back to the main attraction of this blog.  MR. BLAYZE!!!!! He is just as happy, adventurous and observant as when I last wrote on here.  Maybe a little more so as each day goes by.  Poop in the tub numbers are up to 19!!!!! and Daddy finally got to experience the joy of cleaning the tub out because I wasn't home.  Blayze has been saying more and more each day.  Today when I arrived to pick him up at Goomie's he was watching the geese out on the lake yelling, "gee, gee, gee" over and over.  It was pretty funny.  I am starting to notice that he is very loud when he talks.  Especially when he is trying to get my attention- I hear a consecutive MOOOMMMMAAA, until I can give him my undivided attention.  Here is pic to show you how big his mouth is...maybe it will help you picture what I am talking about.

Head butting, pouty lip, kicking....

I never thought the happiest baby in the world would be able to throw such a fit.  However, considering the fits his mother can throw, makes her question if it is payback.  Mr. Blayze definitely has realized that when he doesn't get his way it is a prime opportunity to throw an outrageous fit to see if he can get what he wants, or get away with whatever naughty little behavior he is partaking in at the time.  Most of the time I try to ignore the fact he is throwing a fit so that he knows he does not get attention for such rotten actions, but when he is throwing his head against the tile, end table, wall, etc.  I feel I must intervene!  I know that it is a stage, but it is so hard to not see him all day and then have to work on discipline and ignore the fits. 
Blayze knows how to shake his head "no".  The other day Josh told him to put the lids back in the drawer, and Blayze just kept shaking his head no at him.  Two seconds later, Josh comes to ask me how to teach a child that telling your parent "no" is not okay....I just laughed because I teach fourth graders, not babies.  Haven't mastered the one year old's just yet! 
We are starting time outs.  I hate them, but know they are necessary.  There are days I wish I was still cradling the little sweet, quiet baby Blayze.  Maybe Blayze will give up throwing fits for lent!

Jibber Jabber

Oh baby talk....if I could only comprehend at least 50% of it :)  Blayze is starting to talk more and more, so I thought I would share his words he uses lately:
DaDa
Mama
Goo Goo (Goomie)
Graaa (Gramps)
Papa (his three Grandpas)
Oboar (snowboard)
wa wa (water)
sna sna (snack or hungry)
mo (more)
tazy (Hazy)
car
coooookie
craaaacker
poo
two
As I said above, there are many other things he babbles about, but we can't quite figure them out yet.  He is getting pretty good at mocking words I say, so he has tried to say Jaxson, Elora, Scarlett, Xander, Violet, and Jaemen (his cousins).  We are really working on the other Grandma's names, his own name (because when I ask his name now, he points at himself), and common words he needs to know to express what he wants.  Amazing how fast they catch on to things though!  Just happy he hasn't sputtered any profanity since the first time he decided to yell sh*t!!!!

18 months...

Well it has been 18 months, and a few days, since I gave birth to the best blessing a person could ever receive!  On January 17th when I realized Mr. Blayze was a year and a half old, I took a little quiet time to think about everything he has taught Josh and I.  Working with kids for the past 7 years, I have learned many things about how they learn, entertain themselves, love others, can be mischievous, and many other important lessons.  However, when you have your own child there are so many different things you learn about children and yourself.  It is amazing how I can't really remember a dull moment in the past 18 months. Blayze is truly the happiest child I have ever been around.  The only time he is cranky is when it is past his nap/bed time, or if he is sick.  He will find any reason out there to laugh...even if it is a cheeseball cackle.  Blayze is VERY observant.  He usually watches us doing something once, and catches right on. (Of course, this is where Josh and I have learned a lesson or two)  He loves animals.  Hazy (Tazy as he calls her) gets numerous lovins from Blayze.
I have learned how much a heart can love and care.  Not that I don't love my family and friends a lot, but a mother's love for her child is just....different.  I would die for Blayze.  I hurt when he hurts; I am sad when he is sad; I laugh when he laughs; I get excited when he gets excited.  I share most of his emotions with him, and it just came naturally.  So, now that I am an emotional wreck I am going to end here.  Enjoy the pic below!

Pool Shark

Well everyday Blayze does something new that is exactly like his father.  If you didn't know, Josh is a pool shark.  He loves to play any chance that he has, this includes being in the local pool league, and we have a table in the basement that he plays on almost daily.  Blayze gets to play downstairs with dada every once in a while so that momma can get some things done.  Obviously when Blayze saw Josh hitting balls with a stick, he wanted to do it too.  So Josh gave him half of a cue stick.  Well, last night a close family friend was over playing pool with Josh, and Blayze went over to the table and hit a ball.  I was watching the entire time because I think it is funny when he does things to prove to Josh that he is very observant and will try most anything!  It is very amusing because Blayze gets on his tiptoes,  wings the stick up on the table, and waves it around until he can hit something.  It is after days like that when I think to myself how boring life used to be before Blayze.  He is my own little sitcom to watch.

Monkey-See-Monkey-Do

Blayze's favorite person (not that I like that he has a favorite) is my Grandpa Jack, "Gramps". My grandmother and grandfather keep Blayze two days a week, and let's just say on those days he is SPOILED!  My grandfather shares everything and does everything with Blayze.  So when Gramps shaves, Blayze shaves (he just puts a little shaving cream on his nose and wipes it off).  When Gramps brushes his teeth, Blayze brushes his teeth.  At first, I did not know about all of this, and I noticed that Blayze knew how to comb his own hair! Well, sure enough, when Gramps combs his hair, Blayze combs his hair.  I can never express how truly thankful I am that Blayze gets to experience so many memories with his great-grandparents. They used to keep my sister and I all of the time, and now I am experiencing all of the fun I had as a child with Goomie and Gramps through Blayze.  I can only hope that Blayze will turn out to be a patient, kind, and honest man just like Gramps!

Shoe Fetish

Blayze loves shoes, especially putting them on.  He has tried on just about every pair of Josh's shoes, including boots.  Mine- not as many, but I keep them hidden in the closet most of the time.  I would be worried, but I remember my nephews doing the same thing- so I think it must be a normal stage.  I love when he puts Josh's work boots on because they are as long as his little legs.  Here are some pics so you can see what I am talking about!

Tub pic I promised and.....

I just finished cleaning the 14th poop out of the tub this evening!!! And yes, the water is even out of the tub, and he is still trying to hide from me!

Tub Pooper

Well, hope this doesn't offend anybody, but I am concerned about our tub pooper.  Last night marked the 13th time!  Josh thinks it is hilarious, but he also refuses to help clean out the tub.  I on the other hand, hope that it is the last time.  Blayze, well he just carries on with his "tubby" because he loves being in the water.  I will post a picture later of Blayze refusing to get out of the tub.  He thinks that if he gets on his hands and knees and crawls to the corner of the tub, that mommy can't see him.  I love bath time (when Blayze doesn't get too relaxed) because it is fun to watch him use his imagination and play with his toys in the tub. 

Here it goes.....

Well, after reading my friend Alaina's blog everyday for the past year, I decided that it would be a great way for me to share what is going on with Blayze for distant family and friends.  So, here it is!  I will be posting pics, telling stories, and with my new video camera- hopefully posting videos!  I hope that you enjoy and feel a bit more connected with this.
So what has been going on with the Shea's?  Well since it is winter, I will give you one guess.....SNOWBOARDING! Josh also has been able to ride his snowmobile a little too.  However, the biggest event in this household has been that Blayze loves to snowboard.  How does this work you may ask?  Josh was determined to take him this year, and knowing that he is too little for his own board, attatched bindings to his board.  So Blayze rides between Josh's legs, bink in mouth, goggles on, and loving every minute of it.  I will have to admit that I was filled with happiness to see Blayze like it because I knew that it meant a lot to Josh.  Here is a family pic of us on the chairlift for you!