Picture Update

Life lately...

(Oldest to Newest)

Evan the Baby

My little Evan the Baby is growing up so fast. He is 9 months as of Sunday, and I swear he changes every day. It has been so fun to have another little boy in our family. Evan's personality is really starting to show, and I like to call him my little drama baby. He is so happy and mellow and mild-tempered...most of the time. Just watch out when he's angry because this boy can throw a fit. He has the loudest scream ever. It is cute right now but I have a feeling this baby is going to give me a run for my money over the next few years. :)

Even though he knows how to throw a fit, Evan really is a very happy baby. He is always smiling and laughing, playing and interacting. Evan is very observant of people. He really looks and sees things. He is also so much snugglier than Curtis was as a a baby, and I am soaking in every cuddly minute. 

Evan is fully crawling these days (has been for about three weeks), and he is pulling to standing. He hasn't quite figured out how to stand on his own and balance yet, but I'm certainly in no rush for him to walk. I'll happily keep my baby for as long as possible. Evan loves to feed himself, which makes mealtimes a bit difficult. He is also a much pickier eater than Curtis was. He loves veggies much more than fruit, which is also different than I expected. I am still nursing Evan and hope to continue at least 3 more months. It has been much easier to keep it up than it was with Curtis because I am home basically full-time. I worked a lot more when Curtis was a baby. 

Evan hasn't been a very good sleeper, well at least compared to super-sleeper-baby Curtis. Evan is finally sleeping through the night (about 7:30pm-6am). He'll usually go back to sleep until 8am, then he naps again at 10am. I'm finally feeling like a normal person again. Ha! 

Evan loves his brother. He always gets the biggest smile on his face when Curtis comes in the room, and no one can make him laugh like Curtis can. I love seeing them together! 

I find it really difficult to put my feelings about my kids into words. This morning as I held Evan before his nap, he fell asleep in my arms, and I was completely overwhelmed with love for him. There truly are not words to describe what a mother's love is like. I live for my babies. They have completely changed my life. There's just nothing like it in the world. Nothing in my life has been as rewarding as having and holding and loving and raising my babies. Life is good. 

Mr. Curtis

Curtis is 3 1/2 but most of the time I feel like he's much older than that. This boy is so funny, sensitive, imaginative, inquisitive, active, sweet, and he is the best big brother. He is such a great boy, and every day I feel blessed to have him.

Some of Curtis' favorite...

Things to do: 
-Role play (super heros, knights, etc)
-Jump on his trampoline
-Play with Evan
-Eat
-Watch movies
-Play with friends
-Go to the park

Things to eat:
-Oatmeal with blueberries
-Yogurt and granola
-Eggs and toast
-Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
-Popcorn
-Broccoli
-Cucumbers
-Carrots
-Grapes
-String cheese
-Soup
-Bananas
-Smoothies

Toys:
-Dress ups
-"Little things" (anything small he can keep in his pocket)
-Mr. Potato Head
-Animals
-Cars
-Action figures

Curtis is very coordinated and loves music. He loves to dance and move. He is a pro on the trampoline and is always wanting to show us his tricks. He loves watching movies with popcorn (sometimes it's a battle to keep him not asking for a show; especially in the winter). He is so sweet to Evan, and it is seriously the best thing ever to see him interact and play with his baby brother. I have felt such great joy lately watching these two together. Curtis is such a great helper with Evan. He helps keep him entertained and makes him laugh a lot. I am constantly overwhelmed with gratitude for Curtis. He is an incredible boy and I really look forward to seeing him continue to grow and learn! 

And I saved the best for last. Here are some of Curtis' recent quotes...

-"Daddy, when I have a mustache, I'll have one like you."

-"I like you, Mommy. You're pretty."

-"Daddy, I'm not your buddy, you're my kiddo."

-Mike: "Curtis, you should turn off your show and use your imagination." Curtis: "Oh! That's a good idea!" 

-While at his aunt and uncles house, "Wow, nice tub! I have one like this at home!

-"Daddy, I have big boy little poo poos."

-"Dad I want to tell you a secret....let's go to the park..........later."

-Curtis loves to tell "once upon a time" stories. During one story he told about a bear who fought a bad guy, "with his own sharp fingers...and he died!"

Reminiscing

This past weekend has been filled 

with some significant life events for several of my siblings . . .

There's been a lot of celebrating at our house lately!

Mark turned 16!

Eliza and Hannah graduated high school!

Braden's mission papers are in!

AND

Sarah got engaged! 

(seriously this all happened in the same week!!!)

Man, it feels like just yesterday that we all looked like this. . .

(keep reading)

2010...Looking Back

2010 has jumped the charts as one of the best years of our lives. 

What made it so great, of course, was bringing our first child into the world 

and welcoming him into our family. 

Here are a few memories and photos to document this great year.

MIKE turned 24 on January 2nd, and we had a great birthday
and new year celebration with friends and family

I found out that ALL of my best friends were also mothers-to-be

We said FAREWELL to Kimmy as she left for Everett Washington

We celebrated VALENTINES by keeping our Chili's tradition

We found out we were having a little BOY! 

We worked hard to get the NURSERY ready 

Had a wonderful visit in March by RALEIGH family

We said a sad GOODBYE to Brad and Kelly who moved to Georgia

My BELLY finally popped

We celebrated Mike's sister Kriste and my brother Braden's GRADUATION

Mike STABBED his hand in a battle with frozen sour cream

Family and friends threw me three wonderful BABY SHOWERS

Chris and Tregani were MARRIED

My Our belly's got really BIG 

But mine was still BIGGER

We welcomed CURTIS JAMES KITTO into our family

July 22nd, 2010

7lbs 11oz, 19" 

We fell instantly in love with our PRECIOUS BOY

I celebrated my 24th BIRTHDAY by celebrating motherhood.

We also had a birthday dinner/movie the week before.

In August we said another GOODBYE to our friends and cousins 

Anthony, Alyssa, Anthony and Adam who moved to Georgia

(I'm not liking Georgia very much these days...)

In September we took FAMILY pictures

We BLESSED Curtis on September 5, 2010

In October we celebrated HALLOWEEN as a new family

We have a very HAPPY baby

We spent THANKSGIVING in Texas with my dad and family

Jesse and Alysha were ENGAGED (on our anniversary)

On December 18th we celebrated our TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

We went to La Jolla Groves and the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas concert

CHRISTMAS was wonderful with lots of family and celebration

We are SO BLESSED! 

Goodbye 2010...Welcome 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Journal Update

Time is moving quickly at the Kitto's. Classes ended this week which means I am done teaching and Mike is getting ready for finals. Curtis is growing and learning so much every day, and just in the past 2 weeks I think he's made so much learning progress. He's on the verge of rolling from back to tummy and has started the scoot crawl. Christmas decorations are up and our home feels wonderfully festive. Mike's working 30 hours a week with full-time school. Needless to say, I don't see him as much as I'd like. We're both looking forward to the conclusion of his formal education. 

Thanksgiving was wonderful. We drove to Amarillo, Texas to be with my dad and his side of the family. All  of my siblings were there too (except Michael who's on his mission in Montana). Almost all of his siblings came as well. We had a wonderful time! Curtis did great on the 14 hour drive (both ways) and it was so fun to have my family meet him. It was the first time Mike and I had been there since we were married. I wished we could have stayed 2 more days, but we had to get back for work and school. Such is life. 

I am relieved to be finished with the semester; even though I still have grades to do! I had a hard class this semester, and felt a lot of frustration with (not all of) my students. I've come to realize that being nice is often a one-way ticket for students to take advantage of you. I had more absences, excuses, tardies, late papers, talking, laziness, dress code sloppiness, and disrespect than I thought possible in a college class. I finally got to the point where I just didn't care anymore. I was too tired of the constant talking, the hair in pony tails, men wearing sweat pants, too many people forgetting shoes...the list goes on and on. On one good note, I had a handful of really talented, hard-working students. If it weren't for them I don't know if I would have made it through.

While relieved to be finished, I'm also feeling more stress about a new class I will be teaching next semester. For the first time (probably ever) there will be a combined ballet/modern class at BYU. As a student I always wished there was a class like that. I never imagined I'd be the one teaching it! When the offer came I was thrilled. I always loved taking formal ballet class but I also loved the freedom of modern/contemporary movement. As the time has gotten closer to begin the class I am feeling nervous about my abilities as a teacher. My class this fall semester sure didn't help boost my confidence either. I am always doubting my creativity, choreography, etc. I'm sure all teachers feel this way. I just have to be sure I spend time preparing. When you teach ballet it's pretty easy to come up with exercises on the spot (because everything has a name and the class moves in a specific order). Modern dance is different; especially eclectic styles of modern dance. It takes preparation for almost every class. I get nervous about not being able to spend as much time with Curtis, but I'm also looking forward to learning and growing as a teacher. I will be also be team-teaching an upper level ballet class and an intermediate pointe class. 

Last week we started a Healthy Habits Challenge with Mike's parents and sisters.  You get points for eating certain foods, drinking water, exercising, going to bed early, etc. You also get points for every % body weight you lose (like the biggest loser). I have to say that I haven't felt so good in a long time. For the first time, since I can remember, I have done cardio exercise 6 days in a row. I have so much more energy than I've had in months, and I feel happy knowing I'm on the way to losing baby weight and feeling better. The challenge will last 8 weeks, and whoever wins will get prize money. I've lost 3 lbs since last Monday and hoping it will continue!

I can't write a post without writing about being a mom. I'm enjoying motherhood more than anything I've ever done before. I love my sweet Curtis so much and I love being with him to see him learn and grow each day. Sometimes I look at the things my friends are pursuing in their lives (education, performing, traveling, etc) and I feel slight twinges of jealousy. But then, just as quickly, I remember my family, my husband, my son, and how fulfilling my life is each day. I know I'm where I need to be, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. 

Happy Weekend!!!

________________________________________________________________

Thanksgiving 2010

WE LOVE THIS BOY!