Crafts

I made this BYU Onesie for Corby, but I didn't take into account that he is a half giant baby. Even though it says it is 6-9 months (Gerber), it is too short for him. So I decided to give it to Diana and Jason because they just announced they are having a baby in May! We're so excited for them! Hopefully this will fit their baby at some point.



I made this changing pad way back in August before our trip to Canada, but I never got around to posting it. I really like how it turned out and it came in handy many times on our trip! Directions here.

Right now I'm working on my page for a Quiet Book Swap that Emily is coordinating. I also have my eye on this ABC Book for Corbyn.

So many crafts, but so little time... Sigh.

What's Cookin'?

The past few weeks I have been BUSY in the kitchen! Fall is my favorite time of the year for cooking and I'm a huge sucker for cake pops. So I did something I wouldn't normally do and bought this when I was at the grocery store.

The first recipe I tried was carrot cake... SO GOOD! And the recipe was totally easy other than the actual shredding of carrots - that was a lot of work, but totally worth it. I definitely didn't realize how many carrots actually go into carrot cake. Here's the recipe:

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups shredded carrots (5 medium)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom and sides of a 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, beat sugar, oil, and eggs with an electric mixer on low speed for about 30 seconds or until blended. Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla, and salt. Beat on low speed for 1 minute. Stir in carrots. Pour batter into pan. Bake 40 to 45 minutes. Cool completely about 1 hour. Frost with cream cheese frosting. Store in refrigerator.

It called for a cup of chopped nuts, but we're not nut people, so I left those out. And I just frosted it with a can of Betty Crocker cream cheese frosting instead of making frosting from scratch.

I have a lot more recipes from my guilty indulgence I'm going to try, so stay tuned.

Everyone was posting about the strawberry jam they were making, so I decided to get in on the action. I told Rog I wanted to make some and he claimed to have never had homemade strawberry jam. What?!? So that gave me even more incentive to give it a try. It was a lot easier than I expected. Next year I'll be making a bigger batch for sure!



My grandma, mom, and I split a bushel of peaches 3 ways. I was determined to not let a single one of my peaches go to waste even though I couldn't can them. (We don't have the right stove for that anymore.) I made a few peach crisps for family events.

Then I made some peach muffins. I followed the recipe exactly and it made 24 even though it said it would only make 16. The first 12 that came out were burnt around the edges and I ended up throwing them out. So on the second 12 I turned down the heat to 375 and only cooked them for 20 minutes. It was a delicious recipe with those changes.

The majority of my peaches were used to make frozen fruit cocktail. The recipe is my grandma's and it is GREAT! I've been enjoying it for years, but this was the first time I have made it myself.

12 medium peaches
2 cups sugar
1 lb grapes
1 2/3 cups crushed pineapple
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 cup orange juice

Peel and slice peaches into a large bowl. Sprinkle sugar over them and let sit while washing grapes. Mix together all items and put in freezer containers. Freeze until ready to use.

Serve with strawberries, blueberries, bananas, and any other fruits you would like layered in a trifle dish.



Finally, I thought I would give a shout out for this recipe. I made it last night and it was so delicious! It will definitely be added to our list of regulars. Try it, you won't be disappointed!

Our Little Cougar

Corby attended his first BYU football game on Saturday! He hung out with his Grandma Ririe outside the stadium where it was cool and not so loud for most of the game. But he did enjoy most of the 3rd quarter inside the stadium with us.

He's such a cute little cougar!

It's a rebuilding year for the Cougs, so we didn't win. But we didn't get beat as badly as I thought we would either. Luckily we play Utah State next week, so a win is in our future!

Your Favorite Baby

Here are some Corby pictures from the past few weeks.

Corby is my summer baby. He has lived in onesies almost exclusively since his birth. But I know as the weather gets colder I'll have to dress him warmer. A few weeks ago we had a colder night, so we got out his pants and jacket and dad took him on a walk while I went for my evening run. (He was also wearing socks, but those got taken off before the picture was taken.)



Here he is showing off his tricks with his new toy.



Sometimes after I feed Corby in the morning I'm not ready to get up, but he won't go back to sleep in his crib. So I put him in bed with me and he'll sleep for a few more hours. I know this won't last forever, but I'm enjoying the extra sleep for now. One morning Rog snapped this picture as he was headed off to work because we looked like twins.



And here is Corby with his new big kid toy. It's a jumper that spins around, so he can play with all of these different toys. He's still learning how to make it bounce and spin on his own, but he loves it when I help him do those things. He's already pretty good at playing with the toys.



Finally here is a video of the chuckle I was talking about... So cute!

3 Months

Corby had his 3 month birthday last Friday. I can hardly believe my baby is 3 months old! He's growing up so fast... I love watching him learn new things and discover the world!

The Corb at 3 months:

*Smiles back when you smile at him
*Holds his rattle when you touch his hand with it and even sometimes when it's just sitting next to him
*Follows his rattle with his eyes as we move it from one ear to the other
*Grabs the links hanging from his car seat
*Has started wearing 3-6 clothes
*Doesn't cry and spit up as much as he did at 2 months (Thank goodness!)
*Has the cutest little chuckle when his dad tickles him
*Talks a lot - especially when he's tired
*Loves to kick his legs and splash in the bath
*Sucks on his hands all the time

I love that he loves to smile! He's such a cutie!

Baby Stuff

Figuring out what I needed for my baby was the hardest, most confusing thing EVER. So I figured I would share what I learned for others who are trying to figure it out. I am not suggesting that I am an expert because clearly I'm not.

I tried to list everything I could think of, but I'm sure I forgot some stuff.

Bath Stuff

Bath Center. I like everything about this set except for the bathtub it comes with. It leaks like crazy, but the other stuff has been great. (If you use it in the tub in bathroom, it just leaks in there and it isn't a problem.) We used the sponge on the counter until his umbilical cord fell off. Then we used the cradle in the bathtub that comes with it. Now we just use the cradle in the actual tub in the bathroom because he loves to kick around like crazy.

Thermometer. We just have this rubber ducky that says HOT on the bottom. HOT turns white when the water is too hot.

Washcloths

Hooded Towel

Soap/Shampoo/Lotion

Diaper Stuff

Diaper Disposal System. Obviously this isn't absolutely necessary, but I really like having a tidy place to stash all the dirty diapers. You have to buy refill bags, but they aren't that expensive and they go on sale at Babies R Us a lot.

Changing Table. I debated whether I should get a changing table or not for a long time. I found this crib/changing table bundle at Walmart that wasn't much more than just getting a crib, so I decided to go ahead and get the changing table. And I have been really happy about that decision. We just used the pad that came with it and we didn't worry about buying a changing pad cover.

Diaper Ointment (for diaper rash). We've heard that name brand really is better for this. We have Desitin and it works great! Our doctor said that A + D is a good brand too. You want the original kind (not creamy).

Diapers. I wouldn't buy too many in any one size. They are better to buy as you go, so you aren't left with a bunch that they grew out of before you used them. I would have a few packs of newborn for right when they come home. The weight guidelines aren't very accurate. Even though Corbyn was 10 pounds when he was born, he still wore newborn diapers for at least a few weeks. When buying newborn diapers, make sure you buy the kind with a spot cut out for their umbilical cord and I really liked the ones that have a line that changes color when the diaper is wet. That isn't important later, but at first it was helpful.

Diaper Wipes. We are already on our second huge pack from Costco. You'll use a TON!

Changing Pad (for changing diapers when you're not at home). I made this one to match my diaper bag. It was pretty simple. Or if you're not the sewing type, you can also buy them.

Diaper Bag. I like having one. I always keep it stocked with everything we need, so when we're going somewhere I can just grab it and go!

Bedroom Stuff

Baby Monitor. You can spend a serious amount of money on a baby monitor, but I'm so glad we didn't! All you need is to be able to hear if they're crying. In my opinion, the video ones are unnecessary.

Rocking chair. I liked the idea of a good old fashion rocking chair. It probably isn't as comfortable as other options, but I like how it looks and it does the job. I just recommend getting something to sit in while you rock them.

Crib

Sheet

Mattress

(We didn't get bumper pads because of the increased risk of SIDS.)

Nursing Stuff

Nursing garments. Everyone I asked said they didn't use them, but I couldn't live without them. At least try one before you decide against them. Get the smallest size you think you will fit in because the cup size is huge.

Nursing bra. I got one for sleeping and one for everyday wear. I bought my everyday use one at Motherhood Maternity. I felt like it was important to try that one on before I bought it. I bought it at the very end of my pregnancy, but made sure it didn't fit too snugly.

Breast pads. Next to diapers and diaper wipes, you'll go through these the most. I tried ones you wash and reuse, but the disposable are the best.

Lanolin. It's not a miracle worker, but it does help with sore, cracked nipples. And your nipples will be sore and cracked at first. Just count on it.

If you plan on pumping you'll need:

Breast Pump. I've already talked about this, but seriously I would have given up on breastfeeding if it weren't for this. Whatever you do, don't waste your money on a manual pump. Maybe I'm just lazy, but I hated it and we got the "good" manual pump.

Bottles (that work with your pump)

Milk Storage Bags

Bottle Cleaning Brush

Baby Gear

Travel System. When we were looking at car seats, we noticed that the travel systems were only about $50 more. So we decided to get one even though I didn't know if I would use the stroller part. I'm pretty sure this was the BEST decision we made. Carrying the car seat with baby in it gets heavy really fast (especially when you have a 10 pound baby to start out with). I love how the car seat snaps into the stroller. It's so easy and convenient. We keep the stroller in the back of our car and when I do errands, I just snap his car seat in the stroller and off we go.

Boppy pillow. I didn't really use it for nursing, but Corbyn was content to sit in it for hours (for the first 2 months - not anymore).

Swing/Bouncer. Some babies love the swing, some love the bouncer, some love both. My advice is to buy one of each. If you first child doesn't like one of them, hopefully your next will. Unfortunately, I don't think there is any way to predict what they will like.

Bumbo. They can't really use this for the first month or two, so you could wait to buy one. But they're good for neck development and I'd recommend getting one eventually.

Pack n' Play. We decided to use our pack n' play as our bassinet and that worked really well. You're going to have to buy one for traveling, so you might as well buy it to use in your room when they're first born. We just got a simple one with no extra stuff.

Other Stuff

Thermometer. You want to get a good thermometer. From what I've read, you don't want the ear kind for babies. I couldn't find one that got good ratings. This one didn't get very good ratings, but I really like it. It gives fast readings and they seem to be accurate.

Shout Stain Remover. An absolute necessity. I find that if I scrub stains from blowouts and then spray immediately they come out so much better.

Cloth Diapers (to use as burp cloth). Corbyn spits up a lot, so we usually have one handy in every room of the house. They aren't pretty, but they are oh so useful.

Baby Tylenol. You hopefully won't have to use it until they have their shots at 2 months, but I was really glad we had it on hand and I didn't have to go buy it when that time came.

Baby Books (to read to them). I don't think you can start too soon.

Pacifier. No guarantee they'll take one, but you might as well have a few just in case.

Dreft Laundry Detergent

What to Expect the First Year

Baby Nail Clippers

Things you don't need to buy:

Nasal Aspirator. They give you one at the hospital.

Blankets. You'll probably get all you need and more from baby showers.

Car mirror (to see the baby while you're driving). We bought one, but it didn't really work. It was hard for me to drive and not be able to see him, but I got used to it pretty fast.

Humidifier. We didn't buy one because we heard from a lot of parents they bought one and didn't use it. But I suppose you might find you need one and you could buy it then.

Things you don't need right away:

Jogging Stroller. We've heard you're supposed to wait until baby is at least 6 months to use one which makes sense because they would just be flopping all over if you used it too early.

Umbrella Stroller

Toys

Activity Mats

Jumpers

Bath toys

Stuff for feeding them solids

High Chair

I hope this helps! This is just what I've learned in the short 3 months I've been a mother. All babies are different, so this is just what has worked for us and our baby. And I didn't talk about clothes because that is different for each season. Corbyn has lived in a onesie pretty much his whole life, but as it gets colder I know that will change!

Corbyn's Blessing

We blessed Corbyn last Sunday in our ward. We decided to do it the day after Tay and Martha's wedding because all of Roger's family would already be in town.

Jared made the invitation, so naturally it turned out great!

Roger was flabbergasted at how much blessing outfits cost, but finally gave in and let me get this one.



Roger blessed him and those in the circle were Corbyn's:

Great Grandpa Phillips
Great Grandpa Ririe
Great Grandpa Ford
Grandpa Phillips
Grandpa Ririe
Dad's Uncle Rey
Mom's Uncle Kevin
Uncle Rex
Uncle Irving
Uncle Anthony
Uncle Jared

We didn't get a group shot before everyone left, but here is our little family.



And here is another cute one of Corbyn. He says, "I'm a blessed boy, now get me out of this outfit!"



We had a lunch after at our house. THANK YOU to everyone who brought something. I couldn't have done it without help! A bunch of people complemented the punch we had. It was from KD and Phat Tony's wedding back in January. Here is the recipe.

Wedding Punch

2 c sugar
5 c water
6 oz peach Jello
1/4 c lemon juice
46 oz can pineapple juice
2 2-liter bottles Sprite or 7-Up

Bring water to a boil; stir in sugar until dissolved. Add Jello; stir until Jello is dissolved. Remove from heat. Add pineapple juice and lemon juice. Pour into an empty ice cream tub (1.25 gallon bucket). Freeze. When ready to use, defrost Jello mix slightly; combine with Sprite in a punch bowl.

The Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars I made were also quite popular. You can find the recipe here.

It was a great day!

Tay and Martha's Wedding

Tay and Martha got married on Saturday, September 4th in the Logan Temple.

Unfortunately again we didn't take any pictures of the bride and groom. Martha has some pictures up on her blog and I'm sure she'll be adding more. It was a beautiful day and her dress was stunning.

In the rush of getting to the temple, we forgot our camera. But we did snap a few pictures on Rog's iPhone (sorry the quality isn't the best).





That evening they had a dinner that transitioned into a reception. Roger's Aunt Marillyn was nice enough to hold Corbyn during the dinner for us. He fell asleep in her arms. What a stud.



During the reception we got a picture of the complete set of Phillips ladies. We're a good looking bunch if I do say so myself.



Congrats to the happy couple! We're glad to have Martha as a part of our family!

Oh Canada!

Both of my dad's parents were born in Magrath, Alberta - so I've visited Canada a few times. It is a beautiful, wonderful place! Ever since we met, Rog would always make fun of me for being part Canadian. I would tell him that if he would just go there, he would see how great it is. So when Roger's brother, Taylor, got engaged to a girl from Lethbridge, Alberta, I saw it as the perfect opportunity for us to go there (so I could prove once and for all that it is a good thing to be from Canada).

I know it's no fun to read a boring travel log, so I will try to keep this brief while still documenting the important parts I want to remember. Feel free to skim if you get bored.

Our adventure started on Friday, August 27th. My mom and dad were in Provo dropping Jared off at BYU, so they came over and helped take care of the Corb while I got everything packed and ready to go. We drove to Salt Lake to stay at my Ford grandparent's house, so we would have an hour less of driving to do on Saturday. When we got there, my grandpa asked if we had our passports (and Corby's birth certificate). We looked at each other with terror in our eyes as we realized we did not. So Rog got to drive back to Spanish Fork to get them. While it was so annoying that he had to go back, we were SO GRATEFUL that we realized in Salt Lake rather than at the border that we didn't have them.

Saturday we made the long trek from Salt Lake to Bigfork, MT. My Ririe grandparents have a condo there, so we stayed the night with them. Our last stop before making it to Bigfork was at the nicest McDonald's we have ever been to. By this time Corb was done with being in the car, so we let him do some tummy time before we hit the road for the final stretch.

Sunday morning we went to church in Bigfork and then headed to Waterton National Park. We took the Going to the Sun Road through Glacier National Park to get there which turned out to be a mistake because it was super cloudy/rainy and we couldn't see any of the spectacular views that make the terrible windy road worth it. We made it to Waterton and finally broke down and bought some jackets for us. I forgot that Canada is a lot colder than Utah and we hadn't packed any warm clothes. We bundled Corby up in blankets and walked around the town a bit.

Monday morning was a lot warmer, so I got to show Rog (and Corb) some of my favorite parts of Waterton. We saw Cameron Falls, threw rocks in the lake, got ice cream, and visited the Prince of Wales Hotel before heading out.

On the way to Magrath we stopped in Cardston to see the temple (see the picture from my last post). My dad's Uncle Ty and Aunt Gloria still live in Magrath and they were kind enough to take us in for a few nights. It was fun to get to know them better and hear some stories about my Grandma Joan (Gloria's sister) who passed away before I was born.

On Tuesday we hung out with Roger's family in Lethbridge. That night we went to Tay and Martha's reception. (They had it before their wedding because Martha's sister had just gotten married and they were having a joint reception.) The food was absolutely delicious. We sampled all of the desserts and I decided this one (pictured below on the top right) was the best. I'm not sure what it was, but it was to die for! We didn't get any good pictures of Tay and Martha, so I will direct you to their blog. She hasn't blogged about it yet, but I bet she will soon.

On Wednesday we drove back to Bigfork and hung out with my grandparents a bit. Then on Thursday we made the long trek back to Spanish Fork. Rog was a trooper and drove the entire trip (other than the measly 1 hour I drove). We had the 7th Harry Potter on CD which is the only thing that made all that driving bearable.

It was a long, exhausting trip, but I'm glad we did it. Having a baby makes everything more difficult, but you can't just stop living.

{A note for all my pregnant friends: I would highly recommend getting a good quality breast pump. (I have an Ameda Purely Yours, but I hear the Medela Pump in Style is equally good. They're expensive, but we got a great deal on eBay.) It's hard to find places to nurse in public, so I would pump along the way (with a car adapter for the pump) and then we would stop and feed Corbyn. Having a good pump just gives you so much more flexibility if you want to have any sort of a life while breastfeeding.}

What a cutie!

These pictures require no description.

Pictures

So I realize my pictures aren't working on my Canada post I just did. I'll fix it when Picasa lets me...

Posting pictures is frustrating for me. When you do it through the Add Image button on Blogger, sometimes you can click on the pictures to make them bigger and sometimes you can't. I like people to be able to click on them and make them bigger, so I use Picasa which consistently lets you click on the pictures to make them bigger. But sometimes it gives errors when you post and the pictures don't work (like just happened). And you can only post 4 pictures per post when you do it through Picasa.

So I'm asking you my friends, how do you post your pictures? I know there is a better way out there. Please tell me what it is!!

We're home!

6 days
2,009 miles
2 countries

We now have an International Traveler for a baby.

We're home just in time for Tay and Martha's wedding on Saturday and Corbyn's baby blessing on Sunday. I'll do a more detailed post later, but for now here are a few pictures to hold you over.

Waterton Lake



Cameron Falls



Cardston Alberta Temple

And the reason for our trip... Tay and Martha's Lethbridge Reception.