Santa Claus is Coming to Town

**Beware: Picture overload on this one! What can I say? December is just a good month for taking pictures of cute boys :)

We took Jordy to the University Mall hoping to get a quick picture of him sitting on Santa's lap. (Not that Jordy was really going to appreciate "meeting Santa"- but it makes for a good picture!)
However, we found out they didn't allow personal photography and the cheapest picture package that was available was $20 (yeah- not happening. Especially when I could almost guarantee Jordy wasn't going to smile sitting on some strange guy's lap...) so, we tried doing some family pictures by their fireplace decorations.

O.k. This was in a store- before we found the other Santa! :) At least this Santa didn't charge to take pictures with him! 

I wanted Jordy to wear the Santa hat. He didn't agree with that.

"I can't see with this thing on!"

When he doesn't enjoy wearing one thing, what happens next?! Yup, logically it's put on something even more annoying to him! In this case it was the flashing red Rudolph nose! Poor guy!   

Our new fireplace! Ha! I wish! 

"Quick- you distract him and I'll put on the hat before he notices!"

Yeah- I think he noticed!

Luckily, the Riverwoods Mall had FREE pictures with Santa AND a free carriage ride around the mall. Yay for them having true Christmas Spirit!

Jordy really seemed to enjoy looking at the lights. The Riverwoods Mall is mostly outdoors, so they string lights across the pathways and Jordy kept tilting his head back as we walked to see it all! 

I'm not sure what I expected Jordy to do when he saw Santa...but this expression is pretty priceless!

This is the carriage ride we rode on.

Hopefully it was more fun than Jordy showed in this picture!
*Side note: Jordy got several compliments about his Packers Santa Hat! Packers Fans are everywhere! 

Even if Jordy didn't really appreciate all the lights, I loved seeing them!

We then went into Blickenstaff's Toy Store. THAT was pretty fun for Jordy! They had giant gumballs and toy trains and...

...a giant rocking horse! Jordy got right into this position when we put him on it! Maybe he'll be a jockey?! Ha! 

And when one wants to really get in the holiday spirit with Christmas lights- GO TO TEMPLE SQUARE! We went with Jess, Ben and Carly Hunter and then met Carly and Brad up there. It was a little cold and wet, so I wanted to keep Jordy warm, but I don't think he really appreciated being "mummified"!

And just for fun, we had taken a picture in front of the same tree in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building a year ago -- I guess there's been a few changes! :) 

 Hyatt siblings! 

Awww :)

"Aww, Mom! Get me out!" 

It was SOOO crowded the night we went up (we didn't check before but apparently there had been 2 different concerts on Temple Square that night. Oops!) So it was hard to get pictures without tons of people in the background. 

I love this guy! 

Ok. Both these guys! :)

 We got Jordy decked out for the Packer's Monday Night Football Game! Look at how excited he was!

It's getting harder and harder to get pictures of Jordy while he's smiling WITH his eyes open! This one looks like he was almost trying to do this! :)

"Seriously, Mom! Don't you remember? I don't like Santa Hats on my head!"

"I'm outta here!" 

Jordy got a super cute Christmas outfit from Grandma Hyatt! However, I guess he's about had it with getting his picture taken...HE wanted to hold the camera. Sigh. 

This one makes me laugh. Remember how Jordy looked at the other Santa he met?! I don't think he knows what to think about THIS Santa character! :) 

"I'M still watching you, Santa!" 

 Don't worry- they'll be LOTS more pictures Christmas week! :)

Jordy may not appreciate all the Christmas decorations and lights now, but we sure are grateful for the Spirit of Christmas that we feel!

He is the Gift

This is my new favorite! (Piano Guys etc.)

BYU Basketball Game

BYU played the University of Utah at BYU earlier in December . Ben was nice and let us use his sports passes to go to the game as students-- which was a different experience being crammed together in the nosebleed student section with a tired almost-one-year-old...but Tyler could have been in the rafters and still enjoyed it! :) (People had started camping out 2 days before the game to get the best seats, so we were just glad to get in at all!)
Jordy loved the attention he got and was making friends left and right as he tried to give people all around us high-fives! He also was good at clapping as soon as he recognized it was a good thing that people were screaming about! (He got scared several times- but never cried! He was a real trooper!)

They handed out these styrofoam glow sticks throughout the whole stadium. Now that was something Jordy could do! :) 

It looked really cool as they were bringing out the team before they started- turning out the lights and seeing the Mariott Center full of these blue glow sticks! 

We just won't talk about the final score of the game... :)

11 Months

This is crazy! I can't keep up with this little man!

I've always loved Christmas time and putting up decorations and lights, etc. But this year, I'm feeling pressure! I want to help Jordy enjoy Christmas time as much as I enjoy it! Luckily- he's pretty easy to please...a few empty boxes or nativity sets that he can try eating baby Jesus, and he's happy! :)
I know I posted his 11 month update late, but here's a few new ones:


-Jordy officially moved up to size 4 diapers!
-He looks where you're pointing
-He loves to try to imitate faces and sounds (especially our laughs. It's particularly noticeable when we do a "fake" or "polite" laugh somewhere...he totally "tells on us" by starting to fake laugh too! Stinker! :)
-He is laughing a lot more now (especially when being tickled!)
-LOVES playing peek-a-boo (and he'll grab just about anything and put it over his face to do it himself)
-He has so so SO much energy ALL THE TIME!
-LOVES seeing his cousins and grandparents on the iPad and computer
-Tries to point the remote at the TV
-Waves/dances to any type of music! Seriously. ANY type. He just can't help it. When he hears a beat (even if it's our terrible off-key singing) he starts bouncing and waving!
-Says mama and dada. He makes some attempt at "banana" as well.
-He is a moocher! Anytime we are eating something, he instantly wants it.
-Sticks his tongue out (with and without food on it)
- Can clap now! (He was clapping before with one open hand on a fist, but now he can clap with both hands open! He claps anytime he hears us say "yeah!" :)
-Waves arms to celebrate or when he's excited. He'll also wave "hello" or "goodbye" to people
-Stands a lot more
-He cuddles when we say "awww" and "hug" :) (Melts my heart everytime!)
-Fake coughs
-He discovered the frogs and will try to pound on their aquarium- he stands on his toys to get higher (he's a climber in general). (I bet he's like that girl on Finding Nemo that the fish are afraid of at the dentist's office...10 points if you can think of her name...)
-Is a lot more interested in books now
-So much more of his personality is coming out...EVERY day! We just love him to pieces!

Oh, one more thing. I'm still baffled at how much energy he has with how little he sleeps. He rarely goes to bed before 9pm and is still awake by 7:30am- THE LATEST. He only takes a total of 2 hours in naps, if we're lucky, during the day. I don't know how he does it...He really should share some of that energy with me! We wanted to take his 11-month football pictures right before bed- thinking he'd be a little more cooperate. He didn't mind getting to stay up more! He definitely still had the energy!

We love this little man! 

Jordy is not even a year old and he's spent lots of time on a university campus and at work (Ben's job) and has even been "cultured" and came to my orchestra concert! (Ok, Ty sat with him during the other group and then Ben watched him when my orchestra was playing!) But I could feel his support from the hall :) 

He was so excited to crawl around in the hall at the HFAC, he fell asleep before the concert finished!

But then, just like that, he was AWAKE again! 

Oh! He makes me happy! 

The best part about being a mom:
I feel motivated to be better. It's very daunting to realize that Jordy is watching my every move, listening to me, mimicking me. It makes me realize that I can either be a good example for him or a "what-not-to-do" example. I have so many flaws and weaknesses, but Jordy is that daily reminder for me to try to be better, to be more honest, to be more humble, to be more selfless, to be more caring, to be more forgiving, to be MORE. I've gotten discouraged when it is apparent I am not the mom my mom is, or my sister is, or my friends are- I don't have their patience, their energy, their creativity and craftiness...I'm just not THEM. But luckily, Jordy is forgiving of (most) of my weaknesses! And in his patience with me, he reminds me of my loving Heavenly Father that is even more forgiving. I really am encouraged by Pres. Uchtdorf's quote from Women's Conference, "“He loves you not only for who you are this very day, but also for the person of glory and light you have the potential and desire to become.”  Thank you, Jordy, for helping me have the desire to keep trying to be a better person :)

Also- on a not-so-serious note...
Being a mom makes driving a mini-van almost enjoyable! :) Hahaha! Tyler's parents have been so kind to let us use their mini-van while our car is in Idaho getting repaired. I've had to re-learn parking a mini-van (especially after driving my little matchbox-car with a super tight steering radius!) But it's been good- it's SO much easier getting Jordy in and out of the car and there is actually room to put the stuff from the store! And- it's so roomy...plenty of space for more car-seats...when those would be needed! :)