Baby Food

I have been wanting to try my hand at making baby food for a few months. Today I found some apples that were going to go to waste if I didn't do something with them so I figured if I ruined the applesauce it was going to the trash anyway! Plus everyone in the Bruce Fam knows I do NOT like baked apples, so obviously an apple crisp or pie were out of the question.

I peeled, steamed, and pureed the apples in the Magic Bullet (with a little bit of formula). Total time was about 10 minutes-- SUPER easy. I now have 10 jars of baby food for roughly $3.00. WAY better!

Now we will have to wait and see if Lucas even likes it! If he does I am going out to buy some more fruit/veggies and stock up the freezer. 

** I am trying to post once a day, even if it's something small, to keep my parents in the loop while in Chile**

Just Because...

I love taking pictures with my new lens... Sorry for the repeat of pictures--I just can't get enough of this little face. Plus I love his little froggy outfit.

Today

Today I didn't clean the kitchen. I didn't make the bed or organize the office. Today, instead of letting Lucas play in his exersaucer while I mopped the floors I laid on the floor and played. I watched as he played with his book,

and played peek-a-boo

and prepared to crawl.

Today I was a mom. My house may be a mess, but Lucas and I played all day. What a great day.

2 Years and 364 days left.... but who's counting?

Well, they are "officially" missionaries. We dropped all three off at the MTC and said good-bye. I shed a few tears... got in the car and shed a few more. Luckily mission presidents can call, text and iChat whenever they want. If we could only talk on Mother's Day and Christmas I don't think I would have let my mom leave... ok and my dad. I am so excited for my brother and parents and the experiences they are going to have. I am also so happy that my sister is my best friend so we can lean on one another during the next three years. She has one of the best listening ears and is only 4 hours away!
 Outside the MTC

The three missionaries

Elder Bruce and I

Just thought this was a handsome picture of Elder "Doodle" Bruce walking in to the MTC

Now it's time to get in the groove of sending packages... I have a few surprises up my sleeve... :-)

One year older and wiser too...

Today I turned 24. To be perfectly honest I was not looking forward to today. Today marks the last day the entire Bruce Family will be together for 3 years. I woke up mostly dreading the day and how sad I would be thinking about how this would be the last day together. I have to admit I was wrong. Today was probably one of the best birthdays and a day that I will remember for the rest of my life. I woke up to this smiling face...

I opened the card and then Lucas and Andy revealed my surprise birthday present. A new 50mm lense for my camera! I was SO excited! Andy totally got me and I couldn't be more thrilled. It was completely unexpected and I have already put it to good use. (Thanks babe!)

After getting ready we set out to Salt Lake. We went to the Church Administration building where we met up with the Bruce Family for my parents setting apart. What a special experience to be in such a remarkable place. While waiting in the lobby we saw Elder Cook... I think we were all a little star struck.  As our time approached the security guard opened the doors and told us to go down the hall and up to floor three where we would be greeted and showed to our conference room. We arrived in the conference room and waited patiently. After a few minutes Elder Nelson came into the room. To be in the presence of an Apostle of the Lord and shake his hand was overwhelming. Words cannot describe the feelings of gratitude I have of the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to know that we have living Apostles on the earth today. After the setting apart I finally had a sense of peace and I can now say that I am "Ok" with my parents leaving for 3 years to serve the people of Chile. Here we are after the setting apart with President and Sister Bruce.

After the setting apart it was time to celebrate! We went to Tucano's (YUM!) and had some fun taking pictures. They sang Happy Birthday and I was forced to dance (bottom right pic)... We had to take some pictures with Dallas since he will be going to the MTC tomorrow morning.

After dinner we went to Christian's Ranch up Provo Canyon and the kids had a blast petting all the animals. Below is Buck the Deer that lives on the ranch. He is just a little guy and we all got to pet him. Andy and Lucas wanted to ride the tractor in honor of Grandpa Coons, I'm sure he would be proud.

Before we left the ranch we took some pictures with Dallas and the Bruce Ladies one last time...

Tomorrow we will go to Magleby's for Breakfast and drop the three missionaries off at the MTC. I know Dallas, Mom & Dad will be awesome missionaries and I am so grateful to have them as examples in my life.

I can't believe I am 24 and I really can't believe I will be 27 when Mom and Dad return from Chile... 

6 Months Old! (2 Weeks late)

It's official. My baby is half way to his first birthday. He is at such a fun age but it still makes me a little sad that he is getting so big. He is such a joy to have in our home and we love getting him each morning and seeing him smile. My favorite things that he is doing at 6 months:

- Rolling over and wrestling his stuffed animals
- Peek-a-boo
- Riding in his big boy car seat
- Eating solid foods- Funny story: Lucas was sitting in his high chair and I was feeding him Squash. I gave him a few bites and then I received a text message. I looked at my phone and answered and when I looked back up Lucas was sitting patiently with his mouth open waiting for his next bite.
- Lucas bangs any thing he can get his hands on and laughs when it makes a noise. His number 1 favorite object to bang is his pacifier on his carseat.
- Anything is a toy to him.... the other day I went to get him from his crib and he was playing with the ties on his bumper. Who knows how long he was awake he was perfectly content playing with them
- Sucking on his toes or shoes when he has them on

While we were in California we had Lucas' pictures taken (on his actual 6 month birthday!)... Had I thought about it I would have brought my 6 month card. Sarah did an amazing job and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the pictures and am so glad I captured Lucas' personality at this cute stage.

Lucas' new friend!

While my parents are in Chile we get "Da BIZ!" Bizzy (Isabela, Izzy, Bizzy) has been in our family for almost 10 years. She used to be all black, but is getting gray as she gets older. Lucas LOVE LOVE LOVES Bizzy. When he wakes up in the morning and we come downstairs he looks for Bizzy.

Lucas used to be such a big eater, but now everytime he gets in his high chair he looks for Bizzy. I literally jump, make noises, and sing to get his attention to get him to look at me. 

Izzy thinks since Lucas is in a high chair she will get some leftovers.... unfortanately for her Lucas doesn't feed himself so he can't throw his food over like somebody else I know.... Baby Shea. 

But they love playing together on the floor. I play fetch with Izzy and Lucas just laughs. I can make dinner, clean kitchen, and fold laundry while Izzy entertains Lucas. 

We love having Izzy with us. She really is so sweet and is a great addition to the Coons Family! Now if only we could get her to eat dog food and not scrambled eggs--her first preference. 

A Mother's Guilt

Lucas LOVES his bottle. Since he was born we would give him one bottle a day to make sure he would take one so when I went back to work Andy could watch him. Now if when he sees a bottle he will lunge out of my arms and will army crawl until he gets it. At church on Sunday my mom was holding him playing with a toy. I showed him his bottle and he threw his toy, ripped out his binkie and jumped out of my mom's arms and grabbed his bottle.

I have loved nursing. I didn't go through any horrible pain at the beginning and Lucas has been thriving on it so well until this last month. He now just thinks nursing = play time and will only eat if he has a bottle. He only gained 6 ounces in the last month because I tried and tried to keep nursing.

Tomorrow he is officially 6 months old and I think it is time to bottle feed exclusively. We have done so well nursing for 6 months but I know deep down this will be better for him.  I guess my baby is growing up....

Rolling around on the floor at grandma's house

Sorry for the lack of posting...

I'm in California and am having too much fun to blog! Perhaps next week...