New Adventures

Truxton discovered a new toy today at his good friend Donel's house.

He was really excited about it and loved it when I pushed him around the house on it.

UPDATE:
Truxton goes in for his 9 month!!! (Holy Smokes Man!) on September 15th, so I will be back on here shortly after that to update his stats and progress......so stayed tuned.

The Beach!

While Kaitlin was here visiting us this summer, we decided to take her to the beach for a couple days for her birthday. She had never been before, so it was really exciting.

We went to Laguna Niguel, where our cousin and her family live. She took us to Laguna Beach, but to a beach that locals know about. The waves were a lot of fun. Rough, but fun. They can be really dangerous though if you don't know what you are doing.....or not paying attention.

The beach was a lot different than the ones I have been to. The water is a lot calmer in other places, but it was super fun.

Truxton also got the go to the beach for the first time (outside of my tummy anyway) and wasn't too sure about it. But there were other fun things we got to see. This beach had tide pools so we got to go look at sea creatures. We found a lot of little crabs on the rocks. They were neat.

After awhile, Truxton decided that the sand was pretty awesome and that he could handle the beach after all.

And then it happened.......

Our camera lens broke! I was so upset. Especially when we saw the dolphins and such. What a disaster! But luckily Tasha had her camera and took some pictures for us. I will update this story when I get them.

GOT 'EM!

Patience is a virtue. We waited and waited until we finally

got a good shot of them!

HIS TEETH! Unfortunately that's pretty much all we got, but we got 'em.

They have come up a little more since this picture was taken a couple days ago.

But at least we got something.

Update

Truxton recently went in for his 6 month well baby check (when he was 7 months old, because the medical staff and facilities really sucks out here, not our doctors though) but he was 15 lbs. 5 oz. and was 26 3/4 inches long. He is developing and is ahead in some areas. He is a little on the skinny side, but I guess that's what he gets for eating like a pig and then burning off the calories before any of them can stick. He is such a busy bee and is always on the move. He is such a little explorer and is so curious about everything. He still loves to be outside and to go for walks and be around other people. He is a HUGE flirt (thank you Cowley genes) and is always willing to throw his charming little smile at anyone who will give him some attention. He was sleeping through the night, but after our trip home, he reverted back to waking up once every night. But last night he did really well so maybe we are back on schedule.

I currently don't have any pictures of Truxton's friends but I will soon. Almost every friday (not every friday, but almost) some of my friends get together and have playdates with our kids. It is nice for adult conversation and to trade ideas and woes.

At playgroup, there is Charlie is almost 2o months, Donel is 11 months, Truxton who is now 7 months (!!HOLY COW!!), Evan is 5 months, and Luka is 4 1/2 months. And soon another little boy will be added. I think Jessica will be having baby boy the end of august. Then there are is other friends. Joshua who was born the same day, Eli is 4 1/2 months, but just recently moved to Utah, and his girlfriends, Sarah Beth is 4 months, Ella is 6 1/2 months, and Melissa was just born on tuesday the 15th. It's amazing how many babies can be born in such a short amount of time. But that couldn't be because there is nothing better to do out here in the middle of nowhere, then to make babies!! But it is awesome because then you have friends that you can relate to and share something in common with.

Even though I really struggle with living here and have a really hard time saying positive things about it, I am grateful for my experience here and for the friends I have made and the experiences I will carry with me. I won't be sad to leave here in another year, but I will be sad to leave the friends we have made.

The Incredible Truxtonator!

Truxton's "mormon horns" are coming in!

See the two bruises on the sides of his forehead!

Just kidding. About the horns anyway.

The bruises however,......they are real. These are painful, yet hilarious reminders that Truxton has learned to crawl. Not always graceful, but usually always entertaining.
He also showed me something else the other day. Truxton likes to suck on things, especially fingers, because they wiggle around. But I guess they weren't wiggling enough and all of a sudden.....CHOMP! I discovered that overnight, his two bottom teeth finally decided that playing peek-a-boo was overrated and finally popped through.

(Pictures to be posted soon! Well as soon as we can figure out how to avoid being bit while trying to get his busy tongue out of the way.)

Every stage is so much fun and I have enjoyed every moment of it.

I really like having my little shadow, and never being alone. Everywhere I go, little critter isn't too far behind.

Ok ok....I'm kickin' it in gear!

Ahh, home sweet Utah!
We were able to get away for a while and go home.

So here are some highlights from our trip.

Truxton loved being around his family and loved being out on the farm working with his dad.

On our first saturday there, Jon's brother and his wife and kids, as well as his mom came to visit too. Jami and Jon planned a trip over to Bear Lake (unfortunately I was an idiot and didn't get any pictures of the lake) and then to have dinner and fish in the canyon on our way back home. No one caught anything but we sure had fun trying (even though the water was freezing cold).

Ben and Truxton taking a moment to make me happy. Have to have the photos!

Plus, who wouldn't want a picture of these two totally adorable people......I know I do. (Then again I could be a little biased on that one.)

This is a picture of Ben taking a trip down memory lane.

When Ben was growing up, his family owned a lot of cows and every summer they would take them up the canyon to graze while they let their crops grow for the winter.

This is one of the corrals they would take their cows to.

Anna. Bless her sweet little heart. On our way from the lake to our camp site, she fell asleep. It was funny. She couldn't find a place to rest her head after she stopped fighting the "Z monster" and since we were in the canyon winding back and forth, her head kept going from side to side and waking her up. I finally got her blanket and stablized her head and finally was able to relax. That's when the nostril orchestra started.

In the very front is Moose and Zeus (my 4-legged hairy twins)
2nd Row: (Left to Right) Connor, Bailey, Anna
Behind Anna: Jon and Jami
3rd Row: (Left to Right) Amanda, Chris, JoAn, Craig, Jo, Kaitlin, Ben and Truxton, Lexi
*Chris is Jon's brother and JoAn is Jon's mom*

Jami and Jon decided to raise chickens and they built this really awesome coupe in their backyard and have like 15 or so chickens. They are raising them for their eggs and I think they will eventually raise some to eat. Yum yum.

Truxton wasn't too sure about them, but he wasn't afraid.

The #1 reason never to leave your camera unattended when Kaitlin (Aunt Spazzie) is around!
Weird things show up when you go to develop them....spookie.

Jami and Truxton chillin' in the swing at Jami's house.

I think seeing her ADORABLE nephew made them baby hungary! I think Anna could use a little brother.....yes a BROTHER!

Boys rule!

Jon and his mom JoAn out at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

I think Jon got hit a little too hard on the head or something.....or maybe some weird voodoo happened when they went to a GeoCache site!

Either way, it was nice to have a good laugh.

This is Ben's little brother Josh. Truxton really like Josh. Everytime Josh comes over Truxton looks him up and down with a huge smile on his face.
I think maybe Truxton smiles at him because he knows something we don't....like maybe that there is a new arrival on the way???

The rest of the trip was really pretty good. I hated to leave and dreaded having to go back to "Hell," but the best thing about going home was seeing Grandpa Martel.


This is Truxton's only living great-grandparent from Ben's side of the family. He was also named after him. Grandpa's name is Owen Martel and Truxton's middle name is Owen. He is such an amazing man and I love to be in his presence. I could sit in a room and talk to him for hours.
We love you and miss you already Grandpa.

We love and miss all of you. Thank you always for all of your love and support that you give us. We also feel your prayers daily. It makes it easier to be away from you.

Until next time.

Oh, Home is still....

We arrived back in Utah on the 18th of June. Looking around the valley we noticed one thing. There is more people here than we have seen before. Living in California we see the hustle and bustle of what it means to fly by the seat of your pants. The valley has picked up the pace but one thing is for sure, there are still some of the things that you always will miss. Eating at Charlies, "Dragging Main", Cow Tipping, Waving at the Cops, and most of all, walking around in the park or town and not worrying about getting shot at or hobos. Most important of all for us is the fact both sides of our families are here. Its been a lot of fun visiting them and showing off our son to them. The best thing is that they are jealous how cute he is, and we are greatful that he is the center of our world. Stay tuned because Lexi is going to be posting some nice pictures!