Not Much..

Not much has been going on here in the Pepper household. But I had a stash of pictures that I wanted to share. Enjoy!

We love putting Gracie in her Bumbo while we make dinner/eat dinner or wash dishes. She's a little sweetheart (but a little scared of the flash).

Here's Gracie tucked safely under daddy's arm.


This is how Luke likes to watch TV. I love how Gracie is pulling on him. She loves him so much.


I was putting on my make up so I put Gracie on the counter next to me. She thought she was so hilarious! She loved making faces at the mirror.


Another way Luke likes to watch TV. What a weirdo.


Umm...hello?


So Luke sat in the Bumbo the other day and then couldn't get his big behind out of it so he started crawling around with it still stuck to him! It was so funny. This kid makes me laugh.

Good-bye Disposables

I have recently undertaken something I have heard is one of the hardest parts of parenting:

POTTY TRAINING

I was pretty terrified. And I didn't think I would take it on this early. But one day I had to run to Wal-Mart for some diapers for Luke and all the sudden I had had enough. I thought: This is IT. I am NOT buying diapers for him anymore!

So he got some big boy undies and we started. At first I tried him on the big potty with a little Sesame Street seat, but he wasn't digging that. So I went and bought him his own little potty. And that was the turning point. I put it in the living room (don't judge) and he really liked being able to watch TV while trying to catch on to using a potty. We started last Monday. By Wednesday he was using the potty every time he went pee. Now he does #1 & 2 in it.

Wow! My kid is amazing. And he only wears diapers for his nap and nighttime. Hallelujah.

And Gracie is in cloth diapers now (another thing I was terrified of, but someone showed me the light). Sooo...no more disposables! Well, hardly ever, anyway.

Things I needed for Luke's potty training experience:

A personal potty. This was an essential. It is now permanently in the bathroom. He tells me if he needs to go potty unless he's already naked. Then he'll run in himself.

A "willing" participant. He wasn't really willing, but he has been a great student. He caught on very quickly. Another thing from this picture: Cars undies. He LOVES them. His Grandma Pepper sent him some and he wakes up in the morning and says "Car Car undies!" He can't wait to adorn his little buns with Cars undies.

Um, yes. This is a necessity with two children anyway. But with a potty training child, it's that much more important. Let's just say I've had to spray lots of brown spots.

A candy/treat jar. This used to be FULL. Now we never even open it. Once he caught on, he wasn't all that interested in getting candy. I think he likes us applauding him much more.

A cheerleader. She'll smile and laugh at Luke when he comes out happy that he's just gone in the potty. And who wouldn't want a super cute cheerleader like Gracie?!

Like Father, Like Son

Luke is looking more and more like his daddy. I figured this would happen because Luke's always looked like Drew.

However, I did not expect Luke to start acting like Drew.

(Well, Luke does get something from me: impatience. Why did that one have to be handed down?)

Luke has started liking Legos. Just like his daddy. Which means that we'll be buying even MORE Legos than we already do. (I'd tell you how many Legos have been bought recently, but I don't want to embarrass Drew.)























































After we cut his hair the other night, he's looking lots more like Drew.
























Can the world really handle TWO Drew Peppers?

Tube Dudes

This past weekend we joined Drew's uncle's family and his grandparents on a trip to the mountains to go tubing down a river! I'm not normally a big outdoorsey person (I hate bugs) but this sounded too much fun to pass up.

I was a little worried about the cabin we were going to stay in because off past camping experiences, but the cabin they rented ended up being nicer than our apartment. I was very impressed and happily surprised. That's my kind of camping!

I think Luke had the most fun. There was a little enclosed section of the river for little kids and he loved playing in it. It was a fun weekend of peaches, bubbles, biting flies, games, queso, and family time!


























































"Mommy! Mommy! Dirt!"




































Luke with one of his favorite girls. (Notice anything weird?)


















Rolling his cars down the hall with Patti and the girls.























My banged up legs. I was holding Luke & trying to get off my tube at the same time. Luckily a nice teenage boy & a nice man helped us up. Otherwise, we'd still be floating down the river...

Baby's Got Back

Gracie had her doctor's appointment and she is getting nice & chubby! Of course, I didn't need a doctor to tell me that. All I have to do is look at those chunky thighs. She gets those from me. Mommy & baby's got back!




















Stats
Height: 24.25 inches long
Weight: 13.4 lbs

As opposed to her 2-month checkup:
Height: 21.5 inches
Weight: 11.5

As opposed to her birth stats:
Height: 19.5 inches
Weight: 7 lbs 12 ounces

I think our little boy is getting bigger too. Here's the evidence:

Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July!! This is one of my favorite holidays. This year we went and stayed at Drew's Uncle Carey's house. They have 2 girls that just LOVE Luke (I can't blame them) and they think Gracie is just oh-so-fashionable (I take all the credit for that one). Drew grandparents also came up to be with everyone. We stayed until Sunday morning and then drove 2 hours back so we could be back for church.

Today we had a very chill 4th. We went swimming at 10, so no one was out there yet, then went grocery shopping, cleaned up the house, took naps, bought some luggage, and went to eat at Fuddrucker's. I just love what the 4th of July represents: the freedoms we have to worship and to gain an education and to love whomever we will. It's a wonderful thing to live the the US.

I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!


Drew's two cousins with our kiddos:


















Drew chillin' & watching Luke swim


















Drew's aunt Patti & Grandma Free


















Luke lazin' about the pool


















Our bathing beauty























Drew wanted a "legit" snow cone, so Patti pulled out the ice shaver...that is cranked BY HAND!! We all get a kick out of him cranking away for about 1/3 cup of ice!























Diaper Buddies


















Patriotic Babies!!






















Happy Fourth of July!!

Best Friends

Luke has already made a best friend here. We've only been here for 3 months but it didn't take him and Dylan long to click (it probably helps when you just speak jibberish to each other).



















I'm grateful for all the best friends I've had in my life but the one best friend who has always been there and that I love but drives me nuts at the same time:




















I'm so lucky to have him as my best friend.

Brother-Sister Bonding

Good, Better, Best

We “work at our responsibility as parents as if everything in life counted on it, because in fact everything in life does count on it.”

- Dallin H. Oaks, quoting President Hinckley in Good, Better, Best





































THEY are the most important. Now go soak up some memories with your own children!

What's Goin' Down in Pepper Town

In our house lately, it's been allll about the Mavs. Drew has been a fan since he was about 14 years old, so this was a big deal for him. We were dating when the Mavs went to the Finals last time and I watched all those games, too. However, the Mavs let Drew down then and I was worried he'd be heartbroken this time around as well. During the last game (yesterday) I took this picture of Drew while the score was still close and he was really nervous: (Notice his "doll")
























And then once they won, I broke out the sparkling cider & Drew and I toasted to the Mavs.

























Also last night, Luke & Gracie wore matching PJs that my mom bought a while back. They look so cute all twinner-ed up!

Hair today, Gone tomorrow

The other day I decided I wanted to get a haircut for the summer. So I set up an appointment at JCPenney and said I wanted my hair to about my shoulders. But then the hair dresser and I decided to see if my hair was long enough to donate.

And the answer was YES! I have NEVER donated my hair before. I knew my sister-in-law Martha had (I think she's done it a couple times) but I have always been too chicken to cut it that short. I officially donated it to Locks of Love. And I feel really good about it. Good-bye 10 inches of hair.

Before (I was looking a little like a Mexican version of the girl on Tangled):















































Annnnnd after:



























SHORT, huh? And it'll go perfect with my new calling: 2nd counselor in the Primary presidency. This way the kids can't pull my hair. I obviously have no idea what goes on in Primary, but I'm gonna find out! And soon. Drew doesn't have a calling yet but he's pulling for ward greeter. The thing is, in our ward the greeters are about 90 years old. No joke. Maybe they'll bend the rules for him :)

Gracie's First Night in her Crib

Last night I got out of the shower and found Drew taking pictures of Gracie while she was lying in bed. He said he wanted to document her first night in her crib.

He's so sweet! I love him.