*Thanksgiving at the Dunes 2012*

Dune season is officially in full swing and of course the first trip of the season was during Thanksgiving. There is nothing better then riding quads/rhinos eating yummy food with friends and family. I was very grateful to my father in-law for buying a rhino this year (basically a souped up golf cart)so that he can take grand kids on rides and of course pregnant ladies such as myself! We were at the dunes from Wednesday through Saturday and had a blast. Everyone brings a contribution to the Thanksgiving feast and we eat everything you would normally eat at a home Thanksgiving dinner.

Jaden had so much fun riding in the dunes all safe and snug in his car seat, with his cool helmet and goggles. He even survived me rolling the rhino over upside down. Luckily no one was hurt and just a little scared, I pretty much fired myself from ever driving again hahaha. Also while we were there both of the binki's I had for Jaden he chewed up, so of course he wanted nothing to do with them the whole trip..AWESOME.

I did find one more binki that is good at my mom's house tonight, and tried giving it to him at bedtime because he was fussing but he spit it out. I think it's almost safe to say we are binki FREE and that he doesn't want one anymore. Which makes me happy that he kicked the habit on his own and I didn't have to be the bad guy!! Thanksgiving was wonderful this year and I feel very grateful to my Father in Heaven for my wonderful little family and all that we are blessed with, I really do love this time of year when we can reflect on all the things we are thankful for and for all the fun memories we get to make around this festive holiday season.

*Snuggle Time*

I recently started a new bedtime routine with Jaden for a few different reasons. I used to just give him a bath, put on pj's, play a little and then right to bed. My friend came into town and I noticed that she would always give her son a time frame such as "You have 5 more minutes to play then it's bedtime", or they also would read books. Anyways, I asked her why she gave him so much time before she would put him to bed hahah? I thought just put him to bed and be done with it, not give all this extra time to dilly dally around. She then gave me some very good parenting food for thought and said "How would you like to be right in the middle of doing something, and all of a sudden be ripped away from it with no warning and put to bed?" Hummmm I never thought of it like that, so it made me think of doing a different routine with Jaden, and also ever since Halloween he was a little freaked out so going to bed was getting to be difficult.

With all that said I started "Snuggle Time" before bed. Jaden has never been too much of a snuggler. Now since I give him the opportunity to come lay in my bed with me for about 15 minutes, sing songs and snuggle before bedtime, it has definitely worked to my advantage. I LOVE IT, I look forward to this every night when he will just come lay in my arms and snuggle with his mommy, and for the last few nights has actually fallen asleep! Usually we sing songs and then I just put him in his crib and he'll lay down and go to sleep with no fuss, so having him fall asleep next to me is a bonus. It's the moments when he is snuggled up in my arms that makes the hard job of being a mommy all worth it. I love my sweet little boy more than words can ever say, and thank my Heavenly Father for trusting me with such a sweet little spirit.

I'm also glad that I started this new routine before the baby comes, because it gives Jaden and I that extra time together before things get crazy. I'm definitely nervous to enter into the life of parenting TWO little ones.....YIKES!!

*Trick or Treat*

Halloween this year was actually very fun and eventful. Last year we were in Washington and Jaden was still too little to understand, and just the fact that we were in WA made it not worth dressing him up because none of our family would get to enjoy it with us. This year I did dress my sweet little boy up as the cutest little pirate you have ever seen. It was I admit hard to buy a costume because they are expensive, everything is too big for him, and I didn't really find anything I liked. However, I happen to be at Babies R Us and saw the 18 month pirate costume on super sale, so of course I had to get it! Jaden was seriously the cutest trick or treater ever, and when he went to each door would say "treat" hahah soooo adorable. Before we went out trick or treating, my sister-in-law made a super cute Halloween themed dinner with ideas she got from pinterest..very yummy.

After we went trick or treating in our neighborhood I took Jaden over to my parent's house so they could see him all dressed up and take him around there neighborhood. Awww there is nothing like being with all your family on the holidays, especially when you have children. I truly love and feel so blessed that both of our families get to watch Jaden grow up, and share with us all these fun eventful times through out his childhood years. I am currently 28 weeks prego and feeling and looking huge. I don't like pictures of my face when I'm pregnant or really any part of me except for my growing belly. Don't get me wrong I love being pregnant and feeling those sweet little movements all the time, but it's hard when you feel so unattractive and hate pictures of yourself. Awww if only my sister were here she could work her magic and me look decent again haha. Anyways, life is good and I can't wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas because that means DUNE SEASON is upon us yeaaaaaaaa!!

My sweet sister in-law made a cute little paper skeleton baby to stick on my belly, so that was my awesome costume for this year.

Can't wait for next year when Jaden understands it just a little better and of course he will have a little brother to share in the excitement with!