October fun!

This has been a fun and busy month! Dave was able to have his fall break last week and then he started doing his pediatric clinicals this week and continue next week. I am just doing the same ol' stuff but I seem to stay very busy. I took Josh to his 18 month check up and he weighs now 26 lbs 14 oz and is only 32 inches long. It doesn't surprise me in any way that Josh will be short, we don't carry a lot of "tall" genes in our blood! Other than that the doctor was very impressed with Josh's development. I am always concerned that he "isn't where he should be". For example, I have been so concerned that he doesn't talk enough (well he makes LOTS of noises, just forming actual words! :)) Well the doctor asked me what he said and he told me, "Nicole, don't worry, that is plenty of words, he's doing just fine!" Oh, it is always a relief when you hear those words.
Josh has been doing a lot of funny stuff. I can't believe how big he is and what new things he does now. First it cracks me up with what he says and what he tries to say. His new thing today for example was, he actually said "Raydon", then he said "Rwiwy"...he was saying "Braden and Riley"...his cousins that he was playing with! Crazy right!? Anyway, he is a lot of fun! The only thing I have been VERY stressed about is, there have been a few days where Josh has decided that he will NOT take a nap and stay up all day....um WHAT? I will DIE if he doesn't take naps anymore. I rely on those naps as part of my "night time sleeping hours". Anyway, he did this during the week while Dave was home, so I'm hoping it was just a flook. (sp?) Anyway, he has done just fine this week though. I FEAR the day Josh doesn't take a nap anymore. I thought it was hard when Josh stopped taking two naps per day, but not having any? AHHHHHHHH! I'll freak out! Anyway, wish me luck! :)
So anyway, last week was Dave's fall break, so we thought we'd take advantage of this time. So Monday, I took Josh to Target with his two cousins, Riley and Braden and with my sister in law Kami, and my step mom Diane. Anyway, we got their pictures taken together. They came out SO adorable. Pics will come soon, we are keeping this a secret because we are making a picture collage for my Dad, which will say "We LOVE our Grandpa". It's a Christmas present for him....boy, I'm glad my dad doesn't look at this blog! :) Anyway, it will be SO cute!
Tuesday I stayed home from work because I felt VERY sick. I had a stuffy nose and body aches. But luckily Wednesday morning came and I felt a lot better. Because Wednesday morning Dave and I took Josh to my Dad and stepmom's house because Diane watched Josh for his first "sleep over with his grandparents"! He ended up NOT taking a nap that day, but it didn't phase him. He had so much fun with Diane and my Dad he CRIED SO HARD when we picked him up the next day. He wouldn't let go of Diane. It was pretty funny!
So to talk about our first night away from Josh was SO fun! We went to SLC to do an endowment session at the SLC temple. It was so neat, and of course we were the witness couple. It was very different because it was a live session. I liked it a lot though. After the temple we headed to our "bed and breakfast" in Sandy. This is the third time we've stayed at this place. It's called the "Castle Creek Inn." I highly recommend this place. It is TONS cheaper than anniversary inn and it was so much nicer. After we checked in at the hotel, we went out to dinner to Wingers...yummmmmmmmmy! We haven't been there for a very long time! It was so nice to have a QUIET dinner and be able to eat as slow as I want and talk to my husband! Oh what a great time! :) After that we went back to our room and just hung out! We had a great time!
Thursday morning we came back and picked Josh up, then I had to go to work. Nothing more to say about that!
Friday, Dave and I decided to have a fun activity, so we headed to SLC to Hogle Zoo. Dave was so sad he couldn't go the last time Josh and I went, so we went. It was a GORGEOUS day and there was hardly anyone there. We had a great time.
Then Saturday, we were able to be invited to our neighbors baptism. She lives right across the way, and she finally was able to be baptized. We have been able to have her and the missionaries over for her discussions. It was really neat. Then she asked Dave if he would confirm her at church on Sunday. It was a very neat experience with her. It's been a lot of fun to be a little bit involved in her conversion.
Anyway, I think this is a LONG enough post, but I guess this is what happens when I only update this blog every month! :)
Here are some pictures from us taking Josh to the zoo. Enjoy!

Here is myself trying to get Josh to pose for a pictures...he wasn't interested. He just wanted to run around!
I have NO words! I sure love my husband!

This scary tiger...was actually extremly beautiful! He was HUGE!

The boys!

Dave enjoying the penguins! He's a little obcessed with these creatures!

Josh's most favorite thing to do....climbing! Yes, he was trying to climb the fence...what a monster!

Fun at the zoo!

So we have been wanting to go to the zoo for a long time. Ever since I've noticed Josh LOVES looking at animals (and attempting to make the noises that they make!), we have wanted to go back to the zoo. Yesterday I thought it would be a great day to go because it wasn't hot yet it was a beautiful day. Josh and I went with one of my friends from work and her two kids. By the time we pulled up to the zoo I knew it was going to be an interesting day. It was PACKED! I guess it is UEA on Thursday and Friday. So I guess the rest of Utah thought it was a perfect day for the zoo. Ugggg, I hate to walk around that place feeling like you are in a herd of people. Anyway, we still had fun and was able to see the new baby elephant, I took Josh on the carousel and we got to see the tiger cubs! Anyway, it was a fun day even with the crowds and Josh is fighting something off. I don't know if it's just more teeth or if its a virus. Anyway, it was a great time! I didn't get any great pictures but oh well! Here is Josh trying to crawl through the fence to get to the carousel! Needless to say he was very excited to get on that thing!

The penguins! They were so cute. They were chasing each other in the pool. Josh LOVED these things! He kept giggling at them whenever they'd jump out of the water! It was a lot of fun!

The cute little baby elephant! This baby weighed 250 lbs at birth! Whew! Also, did you know that elephants are pregnant for 21 months! I would die if I had to be pregnant with Josh for 21 months! Anyway, this baby was very cute!

Oh my little boy! Even though I knew he didn't feel good, and we were at the zoo through his entire "nap time" (between 1-4pm) he did so good! He started to have a little melt-down only when we were leaving! He is so fun and man, what a looker! I love this little guy!