...the most wonderful time of the year

It's amazing how one little fellow can remind you why it's called "the most wonderful time of the year". As you can see from the pictures above Creighton is one happy little baby.

December started as a winter wonderland as we woke up to several inches of snow on 1st and started getting ready for Creighton's first Christmas. Rhiannon and Travis came by and helped us get our Christmas tree and decorate before Great Grandma's arrival.



Rhiannon also borrowed some lighting equipment and took this amazing picture of us with Great Grandma Bette, Grammy and Grandpa G after Creighton's baptism. Thanks again to Grandpa and Grammy for for bringing Grandma Bette all the way from Florida to meet Creighton. The visit was way too short but a great way to start off the month.

Mandie got to open a Christmas present early (new cross country skis) as we went up to Garden Valley to see our friends Dave and Kim. This was the maiden voyage of the "ski chariot" and with a little help from Bailey Creighton got to enjoy his first ski trip. A few days later we celebrated our 5th anniversary, can you believe it. But on to the day we were all waiting for...




...Creighton's first Christmas. Alright so it was actually several days as his extended family made sure that he would have plenty to open. December 23rd, a Christmas miracle, after twelve weeks of using crutches Tim was finally able to walk. Perfect timing for the celebrations that were to come. So on Christmas Eve we first went to Aunt Penny's for dinner and a gift exchange and to our surprise cousins Payton and Landon were there visiting from Colorado. As always Penny out did herself and we all left with full bellies and some Christmas cheer as we headed to the Touchette family Christmas party. As if we weren't full enough, Rhiannon put out one jolly spread and a cooler of cheer as we got ready for Old St. Nick to arrive.



And he did. Creighton slept in a bit from the festivities but when he awoke he dove right into it. He is a natural gift opener, and was amazed by how good he must have been this year. He was thrilled with every gift he opened. Thank you to all who made his first Christmas wonderful. We love you so much.

Click here to view our photos from December

Baptism

We finally found a church that we all like and Creighton was Baptized on December 8th at St. Mary's here in Boise.



The Deacon knew right away that Creighton was ready since he was trying to dive into the Baptismal bath before we even got started. Creighton enjoyed every single minute. He entertained us all throughout the ceremony. The Deacon exclaimed that the Lord was truly with our child. Our little guy never ceases to amaze us.

Click here to view all the photos from that day.

We would like to give thanks to all those who have supported Creighton and his Baptism. Rhiannon and Travis for all the love and support and being his Godparents, Auntie Penny for the wonderful brunch, Grammy and Grandpa G for going to Florida and bringing Great Grandma Bette out to Idaho to be a part of this special day, and to all of those who could not be here thanks again for your gifts and prayers.

Our new reason to be Thankful

November started out unseasonably warm and we were able to get a few hikes in the foothills.


Our boy is really growing up, he has mastered sitting up unsupported as well as rolling over. He started skootching and moving in circles as if he was break dancing. Story time at the library continues to be fun and exhilarating as he learns to socialize with other children.


Not only is he making new friends at the library, but his friend Elliott was also able to come over and play. Elliot was born one month after Creighton, also the son of a retired derby girl.


Our variety of solid foods is increasing and Creighton has been eating A LOT more since his 6 month check up with the doctor on Nov 9Th (healthy boy, weight is 15.6 pounds and height 25 1/4 inches). He is even less picky than his father and has eaten everything we have given him, including turkey & sweet potatoes for the first time on Thanksgiving day. The only downside to his willingness to try new things is that he is not sleeping through the nights as much this month (which was a change for us since he has been since July). But we are confident that he will be back to his regular routine soon.

Although the month started out warm it soon changed as winter is quickly approaching. He saw his first snowfall in McCall on the 12Th. And has even helped his mom shovel snow at home here in Boise.


We were not able to take a walk to the park every day but with the help of our new Chariot (protector of the elements, it converts to a ski and a bike trailer as well, for future fun) which Creighton seems to enjoy, we hope to experience the colder months to come in a new perspective.


Tim is doing well. 8 weeks down and 4 weeks to go. He enjoys his weekly banjo lesson and lots of playtime with Creighton. We are so thankful we have this time together.


And the best part of this month, Aunt Stacy came to visit us for a week and Creighton absolutely adores her. While she was visiting Creighton met Santa Claus for the first time at the Festival of Trees in downtown Boise.


And here is a video of Creighton goofing around in his excersaucer on my birthday.


Click here to view our photos from this month

Happy Thanksgiving!

My two front teeth

This months recap...



October 2nd started out as a typical day for us in McCall. Tim played with Creighton for a while before he went to work. Creighton and I walked Bailey down to the lake to play catch at the beach. But at 12:30 Tim called us and said he received a fire call and was headed to somewhere in the Utah desert and wouldn't be home tonight...so Creighton, Bailey and I packed up and headed down to Boise. We had just got back home and the phone rang at 5:49pm and surprisingly it was Tim. He sounded calm and collected, as always...he was life flighted from the fire to the hospital in Salt Lake City because he broke his hip...he was waiting to see the doctor. Apparently the wind shifted 180 degrees and he was not able to roll on the landing (a co-worker described the ground as harder then concrete)

So the next morning Creighton and I boarded a Southwest flight to Salt Lake City and arrived shortly after his surgery (he had 3 screws put in the top area of his femur). When we arrived Tim looked good and said he felt better than before surgery...so that was a relief to know he was slightly more comfortable.



As always Creighton loved every minute of the adventure. He would play on the couch in the hospital room all day long. We were able to come home on Tuesday Oct 5th. Thanks to the Forest Service we were able to come home on a private jet (to make the trip easier on Tim). It was high class, just the three of us and the pilots. So Creighton had his first private jet ride before he was 6 months old (pretty cool).



We spent the rest of the month at home in Boise.



Tim had a follow up appointment two weeks after the surgery and the doctor said it looks good but Tim can't walk for 12 weeks to make sure it heals (he will have to have a hip replacement if he doesn't take the time now to let it heal).



So we are taking it easy and really enjoying the family time together! Tim purchased a banjo and starts lessons in November. We did venture out of the house one Sunday afternoon to Auntie Penny's house for a Thanksgiving dinner with the family and cousin Josh (just completed the rigorous 13 weeks of Marine training).



This month Creighton got his two bottom front teeth.



And in addition to his rice cereal and oatmeal, Creighton has enjoyed carrots, green beans and squash. He seems to enjoy anything that we feed him (which I think is a huge relief).

He is rolling over from back to front and started sitting up with support. He also loves to coo (see video below).



Happy Halloween!






click here to view our pictures from this month

rolling over, rice cereal and babbleing oh my

We had our 4 month check up with the doctor on the 7th. Found out baby Creighton is 24 1/2 inches tall and 13 1/2 pounds. This month he started wearing 3-6 months clothes and increased to size 2 diapers.

He started eating rice cereal from the very first time I offered it and is enjoying it twice a day!


He also is enjoying tummy time more and started to roll over (I couldn't believe it but I was able to catch the first time on video.



He has discovered his feet and legs and now touches them with his hands. If he is laying on his back playing with a toy and he drops it by his feet, he will raise his legs to get the toy up to his arms. I think it is so cool.

Also, he started babbling more this month. He is still doing it when he wakes up in the morning or from a nap, he talks to the animals on his crib bumper. I think it's so cute! But also started babbling when he is playing through out the day.



Creighton went on his first walk on the greenbelt (its a path next to the Boise river) with Tim, Bailey and I on the 3rd. We all enjoyed an afternoon at Municipal Park with Shannon and friends on the 4Th.

Creighton and I attended the roller derby tournament on the 5th. He decided to take a nap during the first bout but once he woke up he seemed to really enjoy watching the next bout.

Creighton received a visit from his Godparents on the 14th.

This month Creighton has been awake on our daily stroller rides to the park with Bailey, so we started bringing a blanket and he enjoys watching Bailey fetch the ball.

Tim was out of town for over half this month so Creighton and I spent time at home in Boise but we are headed up to McCall with Tim on the 27th. With fire season winding down we will probably spend most of our time next month in McCall.

Here is the link to the photos for this month.

Beach Trip and more

I am so thankful for another month of playtime and adventures with Creighton. So the month started with his first three airplane rides...from Boise to Salt Lake City to Atlanta to Myrtle Beach...to visit Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina and meet his cousins (Patrick and Madelyn) and his Aunts & Uncles (Angie, Toby, Abbie, Mollie, Ronnie, Jeff) and Betsy, Travis, Matt, Rhiannon and Meme & Papa too. Creighton was amazing he didn't cry once on the flights! He enjoyed every minute of the adventure week...from the airports, looking at all the people, riding the escalator, and the tram/train in Atlanta to every minute at the beach house with the family. Creighton seemed to really enjoy the ocean. I would take him on walks down the beach early in the mornings and he would fall back asleep in my arms.

Everyone was amazing with him and he loved every bit of attention he got. Sometimes he would just sit on someone lap and watch Patrick play and wouldn't take his eyes off of him. Matt surprised us all and proposed to Abbie at the beach, so exciting (please read Angie's post on the proposal). A HUGE thanks to Meme and Papa for the week at the beach!


On the 7th we returned to Boise...thanks to Rhiannon for accompanying us on the airplanes, we couldn't have done it without all your help! Tim was able to come home on the 9th and again on the 13th & 14th.

Then we all (Tim, Creighton, Bailey and I) headed up to McCall on the 15th and stayed at the cabin until Tim left on a fire assignment on 21st. During that week we were able to cut fire wood, go to the lake for a picnic lunch, check out the farmers market, and go camping one night in our pop-up camper. After Tim left on the fire assignment Creighton, Bailey and I headed back to Boise and were able to spend an afternoon with Auntie Penny and cousin Alyssa, and another day with Shannon. Then on the 28th Reenie, Shannon, Creighton & I headed up to McCall for the night to attend our friend Doll Face Killer's wedding...as you can probably guess by the name she was a derby girl. She was on our team, The Derailers.

During the month of August Creighton has started to vocalize more and more. Most mornings he wakes up and talks to the animals on his bumper pad for 10 minutes or so. He still doesn't care for tummy time but we are working on it lasting more then a few minutes at a time. He enjoys laying on his back and holding his toys with both hands and brings them to his mouth, which I think is pretty neat. He also has started to pull out his pacifier and put it back in (well as long as he doesn't drop it first). He weighs about 14 pounds. He is awake most of the day and usually just takes two naps during the day and he is still sleeping through the night. This month he seems to have three favorite toys: his monkey from Auntie Ronnie/Uncle Jeff and his ball/rattle from Meme/Papa and Sofie the Giraffe also from Meme/Papa.


Here is the group of photos I took from the week at the beach.


Here is a link to the rest of the photos from August.

Summertime Smiles

Tim, Creighton, Bailey and I packed up the car and headed north to spend the entire month up at Auntie Penny’s cabin in McCall. The weather was amazing, the scenery breathtaking, and the cabin was perfect. We were able to spend the 4^th of July with Auntie Penny, Uncle Erwin, Great Grandma and Grandpa Stuck before they returned to Boise…but Creighton fell asleep at 10pm and was not fazed at all once the fireworks started. On July 5^th Creighton really enjoyed rocking on the front porch with Great Grandpa & Grandma as well as morning play time with Auntie Penny.

It was great to see Tim every night after work...until he left for work in Nevada on July 25th. During the day while Daddy was at work we would eat, play, nap, and usually take a walk through town on the rails to trails pathway and look at all the pretty wildflowers.

Creighton amazed Tim and I when he started sleeping through the night on July 7^th. He is also one happy little baby, he smiles all the time. Also this month he started grasping objects and sucking on his hand (see photos in gallery). His favorite toy is his Freddy the Firefly (thanks Meme). It is a hit because he can grasp the ring and swing it around. He loves to look at everything and barley blinks when awake. He is truly a joy!

click here to view rest of the pictures for this month