I love my brother!

Julia really loves her little brother. Sometimes a little too much. If he starts crying she says, "Oh no! Mason's sad!" and then runs over to put his binkie in his mouth. The problem is, she isn't very gentle, and will force it in his mouth and hold it there if he doesn't want it. Also, when he is laying on the floor, she likes to give him a hug by laying on top of him. She also is very concerned with his well being. If she's around and somebody tries to touch him, she yells, "Don't touch! Your hands are dirty!" Must be something she's heard before. :) Really, though, she's still learning, and I think Mason is very blessed to have such a loving older sister!

Mason is growing so much. We are so blessed to have him with us!

He is very chunky.

Nathan's had interviews for residency almost every weekend this month, and this weekend he was in Chicago. When we got home from church I took Julia's dress off and told her to go get dressed so we could go to the airport to pick up Daddy. This is how she dressed herself. (Don't pay any mind to my messy apartment in the background. I was alone with my two kids for over three days, and it was raining outside almost the whole time)

Park City

We got back to Los Angeles from a fun holiday in Arizona, only to leave again in a week to Park City, Utah. Nathan and I got to ride while his mom watched the kids. And since their condo is right on the resort mountain, it was easy for me to come in every couple hours to nurse Mason. Each day during one of our breaks we would get Julia all bundled up to play in the snow. Her favorite part was throwing snowballs at unsuspecting victims as they walked by. Lucky for them she hasn't quite perfected the art, and most of the snow would just stick to her glove.Julia also got to try out snowboarding. Next year she'll be old enough to put in ski school while we're there.

The last full day we were there, we went down to Salt Lake City to show Julia and my families exchange student, Dani, Temple Square. I also got to visit with my friend Meagan Olson who is serving a mission there.
Thanks to Nathan's parents for sharing this trip with us. We had so much fun!

I also wanted to post some pictures of my Grandma and Grandpa Stapley's 50th anniversary party we had the day after New Years. It was a wonderful program put on by my parents and aunts and uncles.
My dad played the guitar while his siblings sang.
Grandma and Grandpa
Dani and Mason

Merry Christmas & Mason's Blessing

We came back down to Arizona for the holidays. We had such a great time! It went by way too fast! I wish we had more time with our family and friends. Here are some action filled shots from the first week of our visit, Christmas and Mason's blessing.
He was not very happy with me for laying him down on the gifts, but I had to get a photo of his first Christmas morning!

Julia was so excited to open her presents. This was her first Christmas that she was able to open all her gifts all by herself. Very exciting!

Mason soon fell asleep on Grandpa, and that is where they stayed the whole time we opened gifts. (It takes our family hours because there are so many people and we open them one by one)

Julia got quite a bit of clothes and princess dresses, and she had to try each one on as she opened them.
She even got a Suns' jersey. We have to represent while we're in LA!



The kiddies in thier Suns' gear. It's just too bad the Spurs totally robbed them that night :(




Mason was blessed on Sunday, December 28th. We had the pleasure of having some of our family and friends there. And some joined us at my parents house for the afterparty.
Aunt Robin and Uncle Justin

Catherine, Zac, Ava and an upset Isabelle

Nadene and Auntie Meg

Grandma and Grandpa Larson

Our happy family!

I was so sad when I realized I didn't get photos of Nathan's or my parents with Mason. They were there, and we love them so much and are so greatful for all the support they show us!
We are also greatful for all who came to the blessing showing their support! We love you all!

Jeppesen Christmas Groove

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Sea world, Venice Beach and more Disneyland

We decided to go to Sea world on Saturday since it's only a two hour drive and we had free passes. We were all packed up and ready to go when our two and a half year old, who should be potty trained, had a horrible blowout. Poop was up to her neck and down to her ankles. SO gross. We had to strip her down in the tub and just wash her off. Once we got a new outfit on her and I rinsed out her dirty clothes, we were finally ready to go. The drive was going great, and we were making great time, but when we were about 2 miles from the park, Julia threw up all over herself. Perfect. I think it was a mixture of the huge Naked fruit drink she had and carsickness from watching movies the whole way. I've been to San Diego enough to know that there was a Target just a couple of miles up the road from Sea world, so we drove that direction so we can wash her off and get her a third outfit for the day. I spotted an Old Navy by the Target and decide to go there instead since I had Old Navy bucks. I had to buy her a new outfit and sweater, but it didn't cost me anything thanks to the bucks! Well, we finally made it to Sea world and had a fun time watching the show and looking at the animals. Mason and I checking out the seals and sea lions.
Julia liked the starfish. We felt so bad, because it wasn't until after we held the starfish out of the water for a couple of minutes that we found out you're not supposed to do that. It shocks their systems. Poor little guy.

We also went to Venice beach last week. Well, just me and the kids. Julia really liked to chase the seagulls away. Since it's off season, the beach was so clean and quiet. There were just a few surfers, a few other people, and us. It was very relaxing.
And of course we've been to Disneyland a few more times. I wanted to show everybody my sweet new baby carrier. I just got it Monday. It was my birthday present to myself (I'm now the big 2-4). Well, I guess from Nathan, but I bought it for myself. He actually makes fun of me for wearing it; says I look like a Jedi night. It is so comfortable, though, and Mason loves it! I can nurse him while he's inside so I can still use my hands! Awesome.

Speaking of Mason...Here are some new pictures of him. He is getting so big! Total opposite of Julia. According to our scale, he already weighs over twelve pounds!! He's not even six weeks until Sunday! What a moose!

California Adventure

We made it. It's a miracle. We are now in our apartment in Los Angeles. There are boxes everywhere, and we can't use our stove top or oven for over a week (because I forgot to schedule the gas guy to turn it on), but we're are here, and finally have a computer! So here's the story: I am a total procrastinator and didn't start packing until Friday, which was actually Friday afternoon because I went shopping with my mom in the morning. We were packing up and loading the trailer until after midnight, and then woke up at 5:00 am to leave for LA. Nathan and I were each driving our cars, mine with the two babies, and then Nathan's dad was pulling the trailer with his suburban. Everything was going fine until Nathan and I stopped about halfway, so I could feed Mason and get gas. This is about the time when he got a call from his dad saying the transmission on his car was shot, and the car was basically useless. Then, as if that wasn't bad enough, Nathan's battery died and I had to jump him, and then as he was pulling out of the gas station, he called to check on his dad and got a ticket for talking on his cell phone while driving. Apparently it's illegal here. The cop had to jump him again, and then Nathan was on his way. Well, since Nathan couldn't stop his car with out needed it jumped, it fell upon me to stop at a bank to get the cashier's check for the apartment. I stopped in a little city, Indio, along the way. After driving over five miles, I finally found a bank. I got my two kids out of the car, having to carry them both because Julia didn't have any shoes (apparently we packed them all), and walked into the bank. There was about 15 people in line in front of me. After waiting for about 10 minutes in line, I decide to make sure I can even get a cashiers check here. I couldn't. So, very frustrated, I left that bank to find another. I finally found one of my banks, and headed inside. Unfortunately, though, I got the dumbest teller ever! She had to re-do my check 3 times! The first time she never even asked me how much I wanted it for and just made it out for the entire amount in my account, and the second time she made it out to me from the apartment complex. Finally the third time she got it right, but only after I'd wrestled with Julia for 45 minutes in the bank. And then I still had to drive another 2 hours to LA, and since our little detour lasted longer than it should have, poor Mason was ready to eat again before then. But he had to wait, because I wasn't stopping again.
Once we got to our apartment we were able to meet up with Nathan, who was able to get his car a new battery before we got there. Nathan's dad was still over two hours away with his broken down car, and my dad was on his way up from Arizona to help out. My dad eventually got to him, but by that time, Nathan's dad had decided to just buy a new truck. So he hitched the trailer up and got to LA after midnight, and me dad headed back home. I felt so bad for both of them, but so blessed that Nathan and I have dads that would do so much for us.
Well, at least between unpacking, and getting stuff with our apartment all settled, we've been able to have some fun. We've been to Disneyland twice, and visited the beach (we are only about 5 miles away).


At the pier in Santa Monica. This place is pretty cool. There are roller coasters, food and games.

First two weeks!

We made it two weeks! Mason had his two week birthday on Sunday! Now I have been told that I need to post new pictures of Mason, and update the blog. I'll start with letting you know I am enjoying very much being a mother of two. I didn't know if I could love another child as much as I love Julia, but the second I saw little Mason, I loved him just as much! He is such a sweet baby, and has such a mellow personality. Which is great in contrast with Julia :) Julia is a very loving big sister. She is very concerned when he's crying and is constantly showering him with kisses. I still have to watch her around him, though, because she really likes to touch his eyes. And when I'm nursing, it's like a free for all, since she knows I can't get up and get her. For example, today while I was nursing, she got into our fridge and ate two yogurt cups and four peppermint patties. When I was done nursing I had to clean chocolaty-yogurt fingerprints up from everywhere.
Mason has been to the doctor three times since we left the hospital, and the doctors say he is perfect, healthy, and growing very well. (Of course I already knew he was perfect) His first doctors appointment was on Nov 6th, and he weighed 7 lbs 5 oz and was 20 1/4 inches long. Then he had his two week appointment on Nov 14th where he weighed 8 lbs 9 oz and was 21 1/4 inches long. The doctor was amazed that he grew 20 oz's and one inch in just eight days. Then I had to bring him in yesterday, for something else, and they weighed him at 8 lbs 15 oz. He grew another 6 oz's in just three days! It makes sense, though, b/c I feel like I'm constantly feeding him. I'm very happy he's growing so well. I had so much trouble with Julia nursing at first, and she was so tiny. It relieves a lot of stress knowing that he's eating plenty. And he poops ALL the time! I have gone through two and a half packs of diapers already! I know this might be TMI, but he poops after I feed him, and then sometimes when I'm changing his diaper. We've had to wash our sheets more than once since we got back b/c of him going poop while changing him. It just shoots out! Very gross. And I forgot to mention in my last post that my normal doctor wasn't on call when I delivered, so I had the on call doc deliver Mason. That doctor happened to be Dr Partrich who also delivered me almost 24 years ago! How crazy is that!

These two pictures are for my friend Jennifer. She wanted to see pics of my hot baby ride. I LOVE my stroller! I highly recommend it. It has so many options. This is the toddler/newborn option. Once Mason's a little bigger he will be upright, and the seat Julia is in will click underneath, rather than on top (like in the picture I have on my stroller post)
Julia always wants to hold him and kiss him. She looks a little scary in this pic. I hadn't gotten her dressed or brushed her hair yet. I move slowly these days :)
Tummy time for Mason. He is so much cuter in real life! I need to work on my photography skills (I have none)


My very good friend Jenna got married this weekend, and Mason came along for the party. Here's Meagan looking beautiful in her bridesmaid dress. And then below, Nathan and I (not looking as hot as Meg)