The Wilson's

My Valentine's

2012-02-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

We had a fun Valentine's Day yesterday and started the day off at playgroup where the kids made Valentine's for each other. We then got Chick-Fil-A and took a walk to the park in the gorgeous overcast weather. Kendall is finally able to sit in the double stroller without the car seat so she was loving that :)

We then had a great dinner and gave the kiddos their Valentine balloons and gifts. It was a fun day!!

Sea World here we come!!

2012-02-09T14:49:00.001-07:00

Jared and I decided that since it's been over 2 years since our last vacation, it would be a fun idea to take Connor to Sea World for his birthday! I am so excited. It's going to be a short trip, just 2 nights because Kendall isn't going to be joining us and we don't want to leave her for more time than that. I think he's going to have a blast and we're going to try to pack in as much as we can. It'll be exciting to see his reaction to the beach :)

34 days and counting!!!

Kendall's Firsts!

2012-02-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

I know I'm behind on these but here are some of Kendall's exciting firsts!

1st tub bath- Christmas Day 2011 (she's sick) :(

1st Ponytail! -7 1/2 mo.

1st time pulling her clothes off in the crib :) -7 mo.

1st solids (Oatmeal) Nov. 26th -6 1/2 mo.

1st time in Jumperoo -6 mo.

Oh January, we are SO glad you're over

2012-02-01T14:31:00.003-07:00

We did not start off 2012 on the right foot. At all. We had a major health scare with my Grandpa on New Year's Eve when he had to have emergency heart surgery. Thankfully, he is home now after about 3 1/2 weeks in the hospital. It was a pretty hard time and in the midst of all that our entire family got sick. Extremely sick. Connor wound up with a double ear infection and virus. He was basically laid out on the couch attached to me for almost 8 days straight and ended up losing a very scary 3 pounds. I then got a sinus infection, Kendall got a cold AND was cutting her 2 top teeth and poor Jared wound up with the flu, an ear infection, and a sinus infection combined.

When Connor finally got his appetite back we got him BK :)

Last week was the first real week of "normalcy" for us again. We went to playgroup, I started a bible study, we had a playdate, etc. It felt good to have our routine back.

Needless to say we are so happy to be starting a new month!! Here's to hoping February is NOTHING like January!!

A bit behind but here's our Christmas 2011!

2012-02-01T14:17:00.000-07:00


Our cute "Gingerbread" house

This Christmas was really special because it was Kendall's first! Even though her and Connor had colds, I think they still had a ton of fun. Connor really got the whole "Santa" thing this year and was super excited to wake up Christmas morning and see a train table! He's been attached to that thing for the past month :) Kendall also got a lot more toys for her age and is still loving all of them, especially the ones that sing to her. She LOVES music and is even clapping along to the songs now! A few days after Christmas we took them to McCormick Railroad park in Scottsdale to go on the train and see the lights which Connor loved. It was definitely worth the 45 min. wait and even Kendall seemed to like looking at everything too. We will be going back every year from now on. So fun!

He's in train heaven


Love this outfit my mom got for her!

Just sitting on a present :)

Loving her 1st kitchen

He was really into unwrapping this year ;)

Em showing Connor all the ornaments


Christmas Morning

In her pretty dress <3


Daddy showing Kendall her new Puppy!

Santa visit minus one

2011-12-17T22:50:00.000-07:00

Connor was terrified of Santa this year so we just got a picture with Kendall. There's always next year!!

First photo shoot as a family of FOUR!

2011-12-17T22:25:00.002-07:00

A great friend whom I've know since girl scouts took our Family/Kendall's 6 month pictures and she did SUCH a great job!! Under the circumstances...50 degree weather, gloomy skies, an annoyed 2 year old, etc. I am amazed how well they turned out. Here are some of my favorites:

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-26T14:54:00.001-07:00

All of us, yes this is the best picture we could get =/

Meeting Great Grandma McGinnis for the first time

Love my family

Connor digging in...he loves potatoes!

I so love her :)

~~6 Months~~

2011-11-18T23:34:00.004-07:00

I still cannot believe our baby girl is 6 months old!! I love this age so much and wish I could freeze time for just a little while and keep her like this :)

October!!

2011-11-02T22:08:00.006-07:00

Well, I am super behind yet again with blogging. Someday it'll be updated more!

I can't believe we are already in November! Time needs to slow down. We've been busy as usual and now that Kendall is more mobile (army crawling), I am having to keep a much closer eye on her since Connor is wanting her to play more. He still doesn't understand why she can't sit/talk/walk and is not as gentle as I'd like him to be. I have a feeling he is going to LOVE when she can really play with him :)

There has been a lot going on so to make it easier I'll do an update with pictures!

Kendall at 4 months

Such a great big brother!

His 1st pet, Dolphin :)


Love her!

He LOVES this tractor at the Zoo

He can swing all by himself...he's growing up :'(

Kendall at 5 months!

At Vertuccio Farms

Having fun looking at the animals

Kendall with Daddy

Our model child (pretty proud I took this pic myself!)

Baby Lamb <3

Done with pictures for the day

He loved getting to use markers (a treat in our house lol)

Expert seed scooper :)

Connor was Thomas this year of course!!

Connor-isms

2011-09-12T22:48:00.001-07:00

Now that Connor is talking so much (in sentences!), I want to start writing the cute things he says so I don't forget them :)

Here are a few so far:

When I showed him one of Kendall's little toys I told him to look at the little bug and he looked at me then said "No, a butterfly!" Guess I should give him more credit!
Whenever we go anywhere like the zoo, a store, etc. he will smile at people walking by and say "Hi, how are you?" I just love how big of a heart he has because who knows, that might be the nicest thing the person hears all day.
Just recently, he has been telling us he loves us! It sounds more like "I lub you Mama" but it is SO cute and something I have been waiting so long to hear back!
He also has been doing an awesome job with his Please, Thank you's, and I'm sorry's. He uses them in the right context every time.

We just love this little guy. I know he is destined to do some great things. We can't wait to see all he accomplishes :)

~Hall of Flame~

2011-09-06T12:33:00.003-07:00

We went to the Hall of Flame museum today and Connor was in heaven. He LOVES firetrucks and there were about 100 firetrucks from all different decades to look at...even ones from the 1800's where they were horse-drawn. They also had a ton of things for kids to play with, like a miniature firetruck to drive. I had to literally pull him out of it so he would share with other kids. As we were leaving I let him get into the huge firetruck they had on display and he "drove" that one for about 10 minutes :) So fun!

3 Months and an Announcement!

2011-08-20T22:03:00.001-07:00

So this little girl turned 3 months on the 12th!

She is definitely getting out of the newborn stage and is so interactive now. She's laughing, rolling over, cooing, "talking" and loves to watch what everyone is doing, especially her brother =)

Connor also has been working on a few things and has an announcement! He now knows all of his letters (upper and lower case), numbers, colors, shapes, and animals. He actually is beginning to write letters and shapes as well. We are so proud of him! He'll start pre-school next August and I have a feeling he is going to do GREAT!

Now we are on to our next adventure...potty training. Ugh. Wish us luck!!!

~~SuMmEr FuN~~

2011-08-04T12:26:00.002-07:00

Where did July go?! I can't believe I never posted once in July. Our summer so far has been pretty low key. With it being so hot and Kendall still so young there hasn't been much to do. We've basically been living at the Children's Museum, Toy Town, and the gym. I'm training 3 days a week right now and Connor is LOVING the childcare which is awesome and gives me a little break. Connor also started his first swimming lessons. He wasn't a big fan at first but really liked it at the end! I'm glad he got something out of them eve though it was only a 4 week course.

I'm hoping August goes by just as fast! We are SO looking forward to being able to go outside again!!

He does such a good job!

Cool shades ;)

She loves this thing as much as Connor did!

First time in her Bumbo- 2 1/2 mo.

In her pretty 4th of July outfit

2 months old

Update

2011-06-28T16:54:00.003-07:00

Well, I guess this is what happens when you have 2 kids! Blogging is now on the very bottom of my list of things to do these days.

Kendall is now almost 7 weeks old and in some ways things have gotten easier and in others, much harder. We're now into somewhat of a routine and she has been giving us 6-7 hour stretches of sleep at night which is AMAZING for her age! The unfortunate drawback to this is that she is up a ton during the day now and is not always the happiest baby at times. That coupled with a still needy 2 year old makes for some pretty stressful days. Connor has still been awesome with her though and cares for her so much. It is the sweetest thing...when she cries he'll run to her and when I put him in the car first he always gets super concerned that I'm not going to take her with us and starts saying "Baby! Baby!" to remind me to put her in :) So since this is an update blog here are some updates!

Connor:

He is now completely obsessed with trains, he is getting to the point where he only wants to wear Thomas shirts and eat and drink out of Thomas bowls and cups
He can identify most of the alphabet and says letters all day long to us
He will be starting swim lessons next week with Daddy :)
He talks ALL the time and I love it (for now)

Kendall:

She now has "social smiles" and will smile back at you when you're talking to her...cutest thing ever!
She just started playing with her play gym
She is becoming super alert
She has a ton of head control
She is STILL in newborn size clothes. Connor was only in them for 3 days!

Here are some picture updates!

A cool new haircut

Having a drink w/ Daddy at a birthday party

Having fun w/ Mommy's iPhone

This is the kind of trouble he gets in when I'm feeding her...

Kendall is the newest member of our playgroup :) There are 5 new babies total!

Smile!!

Love this

First 3 Weeks

2011-06-02T10:40:00.003-07:00

Well, we just completed our first 3 weeks adjusting to life as a family of 4! It really is amazing that she's been here for 3 weeks already. I have to admit that when I was pregnant the thought of managing 2 kids seemed pretty scary as my due date got closer and closer, especially with Connor not sleeping through the night. However, we have been SO blessed since she's been born. Connor is sleeping through the night! He still has his moments but it has been such a relief and on top of that, Kendall has really been such a good baby. She rarely cries and when she does, it's been pretty simple to figure out what she needs. All of that combined has made the adjustment a lot easier than I imagined it to be. I'm definitely not saying it's been a breeze but we're slowly figuring it out and I know each day will continue to get better as we get more into a routine.

Connor, for the most part, has been doing really well with her. We had some problems that first week we brought her home with him being pretty upset with us and acting out quite a bit but he has been getting better everyday. I know it's still hard for him when he doesn't have my whole attention. It's a tough adjustment...after all he was the only child for 2 entire years! He is really gentle with her though and loves to help out with putting the binky in her mouth, holding her and giving her kisses :)

Here are Kendall's stats at her 2 week check-up:

Weight: 7 lb. 4 oz.

Height: 20 in.

She's Here!!

2011-05-15T13:07:00.005-07:00

Kendall Anne Wilson arrived 9 days early on Thursday May 12, 2011 at 12:27 am and weighed 6 lbs. 7 oz. and was 18 in. long!!

Here's her birth story :-)

I woke up Wednesday morning with some definite labor signs and thought my water broke so I called my Doctor and she said I needed to head to the hospital so they could check to see if I needed to be admitted. So we gathered all our stuff and went to the hospital where they told me my water actually hadn't broken but that I was in early labor...3 cm and 70%. They thought I would be back in a few days so we went home and I went about my normal day even though the contractions had started but were still really irregular and not that strong. They had stayed that way all day until about 9 pm and became stronger and more consistent. So, we started to track them. They were about 10 min a part and not getting closer together so Jared ran down to the gym to wrap a few things up. Little did I know that 30 min. after he left the contractions would pick up out of nowhere. Before I knew it they were 4-5 min. a part and I was in serious pain. I called Jared and told him he had to leave NOW. So he sped home (and by sped I mean about 90 mph), and came to get me. By this point they were 3 min. a part and Jared was speeding/running red lights to get there in time.

When we got to the hospital they rushed me up to triage and I told Jared I thought they were 1 min. a part even though he told me that they were still 3 min. ( I knew he was just trying to keep me calm). Instead of evaluating me in triage they put me right into a delivery room and checked me to find out that was already at 8 1/2. The contractions were unbearable and I was asking for the epidural. She said they would "try" to get me one. By this point I was feeling like I was going to pass out from the pain and the nurse was really direct and told me that I was probably not going to be able to get the epidural or any pain meds at all because of how fast things were going. I was completely terrified because my whole plan for pain was the epidural. I didn't research all the special breathing techniques for a natural birth...I knew the basics but was obviously unprepared for what was happening. It was like a scene out of a movie. There were nurses running around everywhere and I heard them yell from the hall to get the doctor there right away. I have never been more scared in my life. I told the nurses I needed to push and they were telling me not to until the doctor got there. By the time she got in the room, I started pushing and 2 pushes later she was out. It was surreal. My main nurse had been standing by the whole time in case my doctor didn't make it. All in all, from the time we stepped into the hospital to the time she was born, it was only 18 minutes. Once it was time to move into our recovery room I was feeling great. I actually wheeled her bassinet into the room myself :) Definitely a complete 180 from when Connor was born. Yes, it was the most painful thing I ever have experienced in my life but it was a huge blessing that it happened so quickly and that she was completely healthy and there were no complications.

I never dreamed in my life that her birth would be that intense and it's pretty crazy to think that if Jared got home 10 min. later than he did she most likely would have been delivered in the car on the freeway. Thankfully we are all doing great. I am feeling pretty good and my recovery has been going really well. Kendall is such a sweet and mellow baby. We love her so much!!

May is here!

2011-05-02T15:26:00.001-07:00

How did we get to May already? I feel like we just celebrated Christmas! Time has been flying by and my due date is 19 days away...it won't be long till we get to meet our new precious little addition. I really don't have a feeling either way if she will be early or not, we will see!

As of last Saturday, April 30th, Desert Fitness officially opened its doors! It is SO surreal that just just a few months ago the walls weren't even up and now there a people working out. It's pretty amazing. I am so proud of Jared and Adam for all their hard work getting this off the ground. It definitely was not easy and it seemed there were obstacles to jump through every step of the way but they did it. I can't wait to see where this new adventure is going to take us :)

It's finished!!!

2011-04-22T17:09:00.000-07:00

Well, the nursery for Kendall is FINALLY finished! I love how it turned out :)

Easter Bunny

2011-04-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

Connor was very excited to see the Easter Bunny this year...until it was his turn to sit in his lap. He kept trying to run away so it ended up being a family picture :)

Connor and a cupcake

2011-04-04T17:51:00.000-07:00

I forgot to upload this video in my last post. It's too cute! My mom made Connor some Elmo cupcakes on his actual birthday and needless to say he loved them :)

Lots of Celebrations!

2011-04-04T17:39:00.004-07:00

These past few weeks have been so much fun...and busy! We had Connor's 2nd Birthday party and then a week later my mom, mother-in-law and best friend threw me a Baby Sprinkle. We are so blessed to have such an awesome family and amazing friends who celebrated everything with us!

Here are a few pics of everything:

He loves that car!

The yummy cake...Elmo of course!

His first bike!

We love him!!

**Baby Sprinkle**

The adorable diaper cake made by my mom!

Onesie decorating station

32 weeks!

Happy Birthday Connor Wade!!

2011-03-23T17:48:00.000-07:00

How does time go by so fast?! I woke up today to a little boy who just got out of bed and gave me the biggest smile and hug ever =) It's really amazing how much he's grown...2 years ago we brought home a newborn and were so nervous and overnight it seems we have a fun little boy who has his own little personality. He brings so much joy to us and we can't wait to see everything this year brings for him! We love you munchkin!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Connor Wade!! on PhotoPeach

Countdown has begun!

2011-03-12T15:25:00.001-07:00

I am 30 weeks today which means only 10 more to go! Well 7 weeks if she feels like making her debut a little early but I would prefer 10 =)

I am feeling pretty good despite being so tired all the time but that happens when you have an active 2 year old running around!

We cleared out our office to start painting her room and getting everything ready...I will post pictures when her nursery is all finished!

28 weeks in 3D...so sweet!

28 weeks

So much going on!

2011-02-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

I hate how bad I've gotten with blogging! Life just keeps getting crazier!

We've had a lot going on with birthdays, playdates, the gym, looking for a new car, getting ready for the new baby...and a million more things! Luckily we found the type of car we want and just need to get the process started. Another big relief is that the gym finally has a firm opening date: April 30th. It's a lot later than we would have liked with the baby due on May 21st but there is a chance it will open 1-2 weeks early so I am crossing my fingers for that! Gotta love construction delays :)

Outside of everything going on we did manage to finally hire someone to put pavers in our side yard to create a huge patio. I have been LOVING this because now Connor has so much more room to play. We were even able to find an awesome playhouse for him to put out there. It's his very early birthday gift and he loves it so much...it's the perfect time to be outside now too!

*Our February in pictures*

Playing in the playhouse :)

The new patio

At his Little Gym class

Stealing ice cream :)

At the Suns game

Someone is growing up!

2011-02-03T21:23:00.002-07:00

Connor has learned so many new things (especially new words) the past few weeks. I had been working with him to help him learn different body parts and one day, outside of asking him to name the usual 3 parts, I decided to ask him about a few others we hadn't learned yet and he totally surprised me by knowing exactly where they were!

Then today, at his Little Gym class he decided to finally get on the Air Trak. He has been scared of this since we started him in Little Gym classes...over a year ago! Click on the link below to see the video:

Connor on Air Trak

Desert Fitness

2011-01-19T15:48:00.006-07:00

I had said I was going to do a post on Desert Fitness so here it is with all the info.!!

The actual gym is under construction as we speak (Grand Opening will be in the first part of April) but the pre-sales office is open! It's located on the NW corner of Queen Creek and Higley (Next to Lowe's). The hours for pre-sales are Fridays (10am-6pm) and Saturdays and Sundays (10am-2pm).

Here are just a few of the things Desert Fitness offers:

Over 10,000 sq. feet of workout space carrying the best brands:
Cybex, Hammer Strength, Matrix, Star Trac, and more!
Certified Personal Training* - Unlimited Group Training
State-of-the-Art "Group-X" Programs featuring:
BODYPUMP®, RPM®, TMT Training, Yoga, Pilates, and more!
Tanning Services*
Desert Kids (Childcare)*
Kids Programs and Activities
Best Customer Service in the Industry

*Subject to additional fees.

**For more information e-mail Desert Fitness at info@desertfitnessaz.com, call (480) 422-7320 or check out desertfitnessaz.com

Christmas, A New Year, Anniversary...and some BIG news

2011-01-08T16:56:00.009-07:00

I have a lot of catching up to do so I think I'll do a blog post of pictures to show what's been going on! We had another GREAT Christmas, celebrated the New Year with an overnight stay at The Buttes (Connor got to spend some time having fun with Grandma and Grandpa Short), celebrated our 3 Year anniversary, had our big 20 week ultrasound, and opened up a business!!

Yep, we decided not to tell many people until we knew it was for sure going to happen and the lease was signed. But everything has worked out and Desert Fitness is now OPEN for pre-sales! I am so proud of Jared and all his hard work getting this off the ground. We can't wait to see where it goes from here! I will post a separate blog with more information about the gym very soon. For now, go to the website and check it out!

Searching for a tree!

Pictures by the lake

Playing on Christmas Eve

Santa came!

Love this reaction!

Mommy loves this awesome alternative to crayons :)

Grandpa making it "snow"

New Year's at The Buttes

20 weeks and baby is doing great!

Pre-Sales at Desert Fitness

We are so excited to see what 2011 brings us!

There is always a story behind a picture...

2010-12-17T11:53:00.005-07:00

Wow, I have definitely been slacking on this blog!! We have just been so wrapped up in getting ready for Christmas and having fun that there hasn't been a ton of left over time.

This year, Connor went to see Santa at Bass Pro Shop which I HIGHLY recommend. The pictures are so cheap to buy, you even get a free one!! I was also told that I could have brought my own camera. How cool is that? The mall is definitely not that friendly haha

Can you see what he's holding?? It is one of our old home phones. He treats it like a security blanket and instead of upsetting him and trying to take it away for the picture I just let him keep it. He's so funny :)

An Early Christmas Surprise

2010-12-07T12:23:00.012-07:00

So we went in yesterday for an ultrasound and got some pretty surprising news!

I don't think it's totally sunk in for both of us yet. I really didn't have a strong feeling either way on the gender this time but I definitely would have bet more money on a boy than a girl! It was a really happy surprise though. I am so excited to decorate the nursery and start buying so many cute clothes, shoes, headbands, and bows :)

We were also told that the baby is doing great and developing right on schedule. We go in for another, more detailed, ultrasound in January since I am only 16 weeks right now.

3+1=4!!

2010-11-10T11:04:00.003-07:00

We're going to be a family of 4 in May and couldn't be more excited! Baby is due on the 21st which will make Connor and his new brother or sister about 26 months apart which I think is perfect. We are so looking forward to meeting this new little baby in 2011!!

Happy Halloween!

2010-11-01T13:31:00.002-07:00

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and it was even more fun this year because Connor got to go trick-or-treating for the first time :) He went as his favorite character...Cookie Monster! Even though he's only eaten candy once or twice his whole life it was exciting to take him around to all the different houses. We only went to about 10 houses and his bucket was filled almost half of the way so we have a lot of candy to share with people right now!

He loved decorating his pumpkin with fingerpaints

Ready to head out! He was more excited once we were outside :)

Flagstaff!

2010-10-26T14:32:00.002-07:00

Over the weekend we were able to go up to Flagstaff with my parents to see my brother Nick play his home opening hockey game for NAU. I was a little nervous about the car ride up there because this was Connor's very first trip but he did an awesome job! Jared and I were so proud of him :)

It was so beautiful there with the leaves changing color and the weather was overcast and rainy...my favorite. On Friday night we went to Oregano's with everyone and then went to the hockey game. The next day we took Connor to the Grand Canyon Deer Farm and got to feed the deer. He loved it, but mostly wanted to go play in the mud. Such a boy! I wish we could have stayed longer but hopefully we will make it up there again soon!

LOVE this weather!

Letting us all know he has mittens on :)

So curious

Running as usual :)

The deer were so cute

Mom and Dad having fun

He loved watching them eat

Being silly in the car

AZ State Fair

2010-10-18T13:06:00.006-07:00

Jared and I haven't been to the fair in a really long time so we thought it might be fun to take Connor this year. They have free admission from 10-12 on Sundays so we quickly packed up to make it there before noon :) Connor loved the Toddler Zone and petting zoo and even went

on a few rides.

Digging in the sandboxes

Going through the hay maze

They made it out!

I know Jared is thrilled I put this on here but I think it's cute :)

Baby kangaroo

Inside the petting zoo

Playgroup Fun

2010-10-18T12:36:00.003-07:00

We are really lucky to belong to such a fun playgroup through our church. Last Tuesday they had a great time playing in their friend Charlie's backyard and making some Halloween crafts :)

Ty was in the car so of course Connor had to squeeze in too

It's almost impossible to get them to sit still for a picture!

Showing off their spider projects (yes, connor's is on his head)

1.5 & The Summer that will never end

2010-09-29T14:32:00.001-07:00

Connor had his 18 mo. well-check today and besides having a virus he is doing great. He weighs 26 lbs. and is 35 in. tall!! It's so crazy how quick they grow especially when you compare those numbers to his newborn stats! He's basically tripled his weight and grown more than a foot. Very impressive : ) Oh, and he can also walk up the stairs now with no help. Very scary and definitely time for a more permanent, ~~bolted to the wall~~ baby gate.

In other news, we are still dying with this heat. It's so hard to get into the Fall spirit when it's this hot outside. I think everyone in AZ has had enough except for those few crazy people who actually enjoy temps. over 105. Can you tell I was born in the wrong state?

Growing Up!

2010-09-15T15:40:00.003-07:00

Connor is growing up sooo fast and is amazing us everyday with what he can do now...

He's learning how to "drive" :)

He doesn't think he needs a booster seat anymore.

Finally trying new foods!

Riding in the fun carts at the grocery.

We just love everything about him!

Summer is almost over!

2010-08-31T12:32:00.002-07:00

I guess it's been awhile since the last blog post but that's because there is nothing really new going on. Connor is still as active as ever and it's been fun watching the new things he's learning. He has been sleeping so much better which has been a huge blessing! He just started a new music class with his buddy Sadie that's really exciting and we're all looking forward to the cooler weather so we can go back outside. This summer has been way worse than normal to me, probably because I feel like we're stuck in the house all the time. It's hard to find fun things for a 1 year old to do when it's 117 outside! At least Fall is right around the corner :)

So You Think You Can Dance?

2010-08-12T12:59:00.000-07:00

Connor does!!

Daddy's Day Off

2010-08-06T15:34:00.002-07:00

Jared had the day off today and we were so excited that he was able to go with us to meet Christie and Sadie at an awesome aquatic center called Mesquite Groves in Chandler. This is by far the coolest (and cheapest) water place we have gone all summer. Not everything was open in the morning such as the lazy river and big slides but there was still plenty to do. I love that the water playground is actually sitting inside the zero depth pool, such a neat concept! One of Connor's favorite things was to sit underneath the area where that massive blue bucket dumps water on everyone, he's so fearless :) Can't wait to go back!!

(This is wear we hung out most of the time)

(Waiting for the water bucket to spill over)

(Almost!!)

(Splash!!!)

Wish we knew about this place sooner!

Just because

2010-07-30T13:10:00.002-07:00

Love him so so much.

That = This

2010-07-27T12:51:00.001-07:00

Those who know us (and know Connor) know that he is not the best sleeper in the world. As a result of him going to bed at 10:00 pm, waking up 1-2 times during the night, and then getting up for the day at 6:30-7:00 am, you get the following:

So there he is, completely passed out on the carpet. He was lounging around, obviously really overtired, and as soon as I came back into the living room I found him fast asleep : )

Maybe someday, hopefully sooner rather than later, he'll get into some better sleeping habits. I just keep telling myself that I'll look back on this time and laugh when he is a teenager and we're trying to get him to wake-up instead of sleep!

Two Simple Words

2010-07-17T12:09:00.001-07:00

Everyday it seems like Connor changes even more. I swear he is a different kid than just last week! That is how much he is learning on a daily basis. One thing in particular I am absolutely loving is how he is learning something which on the outside seems small and trivial but to me is a huge deal. Lately, he has been saying "thank you" to us whenever we give him something such as a toy he dropped, a snack, just anything really. He will also say it when he gives YOU something. I think this is so awesome because it shows me that he really is paying attention to whatever we do and is picking up on really good habits and manners at such a young age. We love him so much and his sweet personality. :)

I haven't updated on his growth stats in awhile so here's what we found out at his 15 mo. well-check:

Height: 33 1/4 in.- 95th percentile

Weight: 23 lbs. 14 oz.- 30th percentile

Developmental milestones: about 2 1/2 mo. ahead of schedule

Red, White, and Blue

2010-07-06T12:17:00.002-07:00

We had an awesome 4th this year. It was so fun taking Connor to see fireworks for the first time. He was a little unsure at first but I think he started liking them towards the end. We went to Tempe's show which is the biggest one in the state...50 minutes long!!

It's that time again!

2010-06-27T11:26:00.002-07:00

Did you know that the monsoon season officially started on June 15th? Those who know me know that the monsoons are the only thing that keeps me from packing up and moving away from AZ...well for the summer at least. The storms the last few years haven't been all that great. Hopefully this summer will be different!

2nd Father's Day!

2010-06-22T15:13:00.003-07:00

It's hard to believe this was the 2nd Father's Day since Connor's been born! It was a busy but fun day! We started off by letting Daddy sleep in and then Connor helped me make a big breakfast...homemade egg mcmuffins, pancakes, and fruit! After this we went over to my parents' house to celebrate with my dad and grandpa. We ended the day with a big dinner at Jared's parents' house where they grilled steaks and made homemade ice cream...Jared's favorite! Connor is such a lucky little boy to have a dad like Jared...we are blessed!

I sadly forgot to bring my camera along on Sunday but here's a really cute picture of Jared and Connor!

5 mo.

June Happenings

2010-06-16T11:02:00.028-07:00

June is definitely turning out to be a nice, quieter month than May was! We're having fun with all the things that come with summer but it is becoming more of a challenge everyday since Connor just wants to go outside and run. I can't believe we have his 15 month appointment next week! I love seeing his little personality come out even more and it's so exciting to see him learn new things. He can almost jump now, is walking up and down steps (holding someone's hand), can throw a ball pretty far, is saying more and more words, and just recently has been trying to do somersaults by himself! He is one active little boy!

We also started talking about going on a little trip to San Diego in the Fall. It would be Connor's very first trip so we are pretty excited :) I think he would love Sea World!

Amazing would be an understatement

2010-06-01T21:30:00.003-07:00

I came across this video and it completely melted my heart. Truly truly amazing. They are activating this little baby's cochlear implant and he is hearing for the very first time.

Day 30

2010-05-30T10:33:00.004-07:00

Whatever tickles your fancy

Well today is the last day! Can't believe I was actually able to get through the entire list!

To kick off summer here is a picture of the one place I would LOVE to be right now. San Diego. These pictures are of La Jolla...I think I could live there for the rest of my life.

Day 29

2010-05-29T14:06:00.003-07:00

Hopes, dreams, and plans for the next 365 days

It's impossible for me to say what May 29, 2011 is going to be like. I'm sure the picture I have in my head of that day is so completely different than what the reality will be. Isn't it always like that?

As organized as I am and how much I love to have things planned, I have realized very quickly that life is just not like that. There are curve balls around every corner and you have to take life one day at a time. That's something I am still learning how to do. A lot of time, the best times happen in between all that "planned" stuff.

I guess my "hopes, dreams, and plans for the next 365 days" are to simply spend time with everyone I love and care about. There will be good times, bad times, fun times and everything in between over the next year and it's going to be interesting to see what May 29, 2011 is going to be like!

Day 28

2010-05-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

This year, in great detail

Jared and I started this year off celebrating our 2 year wedding anniversary on January 5th. We took an awesome vacation to San Diego (our very favorite place) and had a great time. A few weeks after that Connor took his first steps! Jared turned 25 in February, I turned 24 in March, and Connor turned 1 on March 23rd! January through May always seems to just fly by. We have so many birthdays and anniversaries during that time frame, there always seems to be something to celebrate and some party to go to! It has been so much fun to watch Connor grow this year since January. He has gone from crawling to running around everywhere, saying lots of new words, and becoming more like a little boy and less like a baby. That has been hard for me but I'm having so much fun with him and his new mobility! :)

I don't know what the rest of the year has in store for us but we'll see! There might be a few changes coming but nothing set in stone so we'll be sure to update everyone when/if some of these changes happen! I know that's really vague but I don't want to jinx anything just yet!

Day 27

2010-05-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

This month, in great detail

This month has been really busy, we've had a ton going on...Mother's Day, a Cinco De Mayo party, a bridal shower, a baby shower, a surprise birthday party, and the list goes on and on. Throw in teething (he's getting all 4 molars), a few trips to the pediatrician (first ear infection), an ER trip for Jared (horrible bronchitis) and you get one crazy month!! It's been really fun minus the medical issues but I am looking forward to June being somewhat quieter :)

Day 26

2010-05-26T12:09:00.000-07:00

Your week, in great detail

This week is definitely different than most weeks with Jared going out of town today. It'll be the first time I have been without him for a few days since Connor has been born. I guess it won't be too much different but it's certainly nice to be able to take turns chasing after him at night! We will miss him!

Tomorrow we have our playgroup which is always fun then on Friday we are meeting up with Christie and Sadie for a playdate :) We don't really have anything planned for this weekend which is kind of nice since we have had something going on every weekend for the entire month so far! Looking forward to relaxing a bit that's for sure.

Day 25

2010-05-25T16:33:00.018-07:00

Your day, in great detail

Tuesdays are generally pretty laid back days for us with no classes, playgroups, etc. going on so we're free to do whatever really!

Our day today:

Our days usually begin when everyone else is asleep. Connor, as usual, woke up around midnight upset so we brought him back to our room and he slept with us until the morning. Not the most ideal situation but we're working on it. After getting ready we met with one of my friends who I haven't seen in a long time for bagels and a trip to Freestone park. I needed to get a trip to Target in before Connor's nap time so we stopped there after. Connor napped from noon till about 2 while I caught up with laundry, e-mails, etc.

Now that he's awake it's a constant game of cleaning up after the tornado...he is such a boy. Never interested in his toys but loves jumping on the couch, trying to get into baby-proofed cabinets, playing with his high chair, and just basically running around like crazy. He has so much energy!

Tonight we are ordering in and going to watch the Sun's game! Jared leaves for Vegas tomorrow and won't be back until Friday night. I am thinking it's going to be a very long 2 days!

Day 24

2010-05-24T13:53:00.003-07:00

Whatever tickles your fancy

It's almost summertime. I normally hate summers in AZ, but with Connor getting older and able to do more things I think we'll have more fun than last summer! He is definitely a water baby and has loved going to the splash pad. I'm excited to have him try out his baby boat in the pool :)

Day 23

2010-05-23T09:07:00.001-07:00

A YouTube video

I LOVE THIS!! It has over 50 million views. That's pretty impressive.

Day 22

2010-05-22T10:39:00.001-07:00

A website

If you've never been to awkwardfamilyphotos.com you are missing out. My brother showed me this website a long time ago and it's the funniest thing ever. Basically, people just submit their own awkward family photos for everyone to laugh at.

Here are some samples :)

Day 21

2010-05-21T16:56:00.002-07:00

A recipe

This is a favorite recipe around Christmas time for our family. It's the best fudge EVER!

~*~Fantasy Fudge~*~

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup margarine
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 12-oz. (340 g) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 7-oz. (198 g) jar Kraft Marshmallow creme
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine sugar, margarine and milk in heavy 2-1/2 quart saucepan; bring to full rolling bail, stirring constantly. Continue boiling 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate till melted. Add marshmallow creme, nuts & vanilla beat till blended. Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Let cool and cut into 1-inch squares.

Variation: Butterscotch Fudge- Make recipe exactly as above except omit the semi-sweet chocolate chips for butterscotch morsels. It's really good!

Day 20

2010-05-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

A hobby of yours

I remember when I was little one of my favorite things to do was look through all of my mom's scrapbooks, memory books, baby books, photo albums, etc. She took so much time when we were growing up to make us memory books from our childhood. I am so thankful she did because I can look back on them forever and show them to my own kids.

So it's really no surprise that a favorite hobby of mine is scrapbooking. Mine are nowhere near professional quality but I am still learning all the tricks I guess. I am just about to start on Connor's "1st year" scrapbook which I am really excited about. We have taken sooo many pictures of him since he's been born...I am going to have a hard time picking favorites! It'll be so much fun showing him this scrapbook when he is older.

Day 19

2010-05-19T13:20:00.003-07:00

A talent of yours

I'm not sure if what I am going to write about today is technically a "talent" but for today I'm going to make it one. I think I have a lot of talent in working with little kids. Remaining calm and patient with 28 kindergartners on the first day of school (many of whom have never stepped foot in a "school like" atmosphere) is not for everyone. You have to be able to relate to them, to understand their development and their needs. It's tough, but I'm good at it. The schools I worked at were mostly low-income, parents were almost never involved in their kids' lives and needless to say most of these students were extremely undisciplined and their behaviors were challenging to deal with. Teaching them and helping them comes really naturally to me and it's so much fun to start the year with them and see how much they have grown behaviorally and developmentally by the last day of school. It's pretty amazing!

Day 18

2010-05-18T14:27:00.000-07:00

Whatever tickles your fancy

It's been a bad day. I don't have the energy or time to create a good post so here's a cute picture of Connor :) Tomorrow's post will be better. Promise!

I love this kid.

Day 17

2010-05-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)

Yes I know it's nowhere near wintertime or Christmas but I really wish it was so here is a pretty Christmas painting by my favorite artist ever, Thomas Kinkade. If his paintings weren't $1,000 a piece, our house would have many pieces of his art hanging up.

Day 16

2010-05-16T08:26:00.003-07:00

A song that makes you cry (or nearly)

Building 429- "Always"

Day 15

2010-05-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

A fanfic

Not going to lie, I have never in my life heard the word "fanfic." And I really have no clue what it is. So here is wikipedia's explanation:

Fan fiction (alternately referred to as fanfiction, fanfic, FF, or fic) is a broadly-defined term for fan labor regarding stories about characters or settings written by fans of the original work, rather than by the original creator.

So as I understand it, people who are fans of a favorite show create alternate, fictional story lines or plots for the characters in a TV show to play out. So basically, wanna-be story writers for TV. :)

Day 14

2010-05-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

A non-fictional book

This book saved my life. Well, maybe that's a bit dramatic but it really was a lifesaver when I was pregnant with Connor. Especially in those first few months when you have 10 billion questions you need answers to...immediately...at 2 am in the morning when your OB is not open. At least it felt like they needed to be answered immediately (gotta love those pregnancy hormones!). Anyway, this book has everything you EVER needed to know, perhaps things you didn't even really care to know about pregnancy, labor, etc. :) I read it cover to cover and when I turned to it for an answer, the question I had was right there, written verbatim. That was kind of crazy, but super helpful!

What to Expect the First Year and What to Expect the Toddler Years are just as good and just as helpful. Love them!

Day 13

2010-05-13T10:20:00.008-07:00

A fictional book

Besides giving in to peer pressure and currently reading ~~struggling to get through~~ the Twilight Series, I really don't have much free time to read novels with a busy 14 month old running around! When I do get a chance to read it's usually later at night with one of my favorite magazines. Hopefully one day I will be able to really get into reading again!

So for today's post I am going to choose my favorite children's fictional series: The Berenstain Bears. These were my absolute favorite books when I was growing up. I think we owned the entire collection. They are great stories with great lessons hidden in them. I hope Connor loves these as much as I did.

Day 12

2010-05-12T10:13:00.005-07:00

Whatever tickles your fancy

This is something you probably didn't hear in the news about the shootings at Ft. Hood, TX...but should have.

Here's the story:

"The doctor had his TV on in his office when the news of the military base shootings at Ft. Hood , TX came on. The husband of one of his employees was stationed there.

He called her into his office and as he told her what had happened, she got a text message from her husband saying, "I am okay." Her cell phone rang right after she read the message. It was an ER nurse, "I’m the one who just sent you a text, not your husband. I thought it would be comforting but I was mistaken in doing so. I am sorry to tell you this, but your husband has been shot 4 times and he is in surgery."

The soldier's wife left Southern Clinic in Dothan, AL and drove all night to Ft. Hood. When she arrived, she found out her husband was out of surgery and would be OK. She rushed to his room and found that he already had visitors there to comfort him. He was just waking up and found his wife and the visitors by his side. The nurse took this picture:

What? No news crews and cameras? This is how people with class respond and pay respect to those in uniform. I sent my cousin in Fayetteville , N.C. (retired from Special Forces) that picture of Geo. W. visiting the wounded at Ft. Hood.

I got this reply:

What is even better is the fact George W. Bush heard about Fort Hood, got in his car without any escort, apparently they did not have time to react, and drove to Fort Hood. He was stopped at the gate and the guard could not believe who he had just stopped. Bush only asked for directions to the hospital then drove on. The gate guard called that "The President is on Fort Hood and driving to the hospital." The base went bananas looking for Obama. When they found it was Bush, they immediately offered escort. Bush simply told them to let him visit the wounded and the dependents of the dead.

He stayed at Fort Hood for over six hours, and was finally asked to leave by a message from the White House. Obama flew in days later and held a "photo" session in a gym, and did not even go to the hospital. All this I picked up from two soldiers here who happened to be at Fort Hood when it happened.

This Bush/Obama/Ft. Hood story is something that should be sent to every voter in the U.S. Those who wanted "change" certainly got it."

Day 11

2010-05-11T10:32:00.001-07:00

A photo of you taken recently

Just turned 24 here :)

Day 10

2010-05-10T08:55:00.000-07:00

A photo of you taken over 10 years ago

Gotta love the 80's! I think I was maybe 2 here.

Day 09

2010-05-09T11:23:00.002-07:00

A photo you took

This was taken from the top of the replica Eiffel Tower in The Paris Hotel in Vegas on our very first trip together in July 2006! I think it's pretty awesome...especially since it was taken from my old sub-standard digital camera :)

Day 08

2010-05-08T14:30:00.001-07:00

A photo that makes you angry/sad

The Cove

If you don't know where this is or have even heard of "The Cove" check out this http://www.takepart.com/thecove/ and this http://thecovemovie.com/ which won an Oscar for Best Feature Documentary.

Even though I am not a member of PETA or a vegetarian, etc. this situation in particular really, really bothers me. A lot.

Day 07

2010-05-07T08:54:00.002-07:00

A photo that makes you happy

This was taken when Connor was a little over 4 months old. Isn't he adorable? I always smile when I see this one :)

Day 06

2010-05-06T12:53:00.005-07:00

Whatever tickles your fancy

Everyone right now is trying to save money in this economy, so it's always a good thing when you can find a great deal. My best friend introduced me to Groupon several months ago and it's a pretty amazing thing!

Groupon is "One ridiculously huge coupon on the best things to eat, see, do, and buy in Phoenix (or whatever your city may be)." Just go to their site www.groupon.com and sign up! They send you a new coupon to your e-mail each day...sometimes they are as much as 90% off! For example, a recent daily deal they had was $40 for $90 worth of salon services at Dolce Salon & Spa. Another recent one was $10 for $20 worth of Organic Pizzeria Fare at Zpizza. Such amazing deals!! And they are like that EVERY day. You have to act fast though because you only get one day to purchase the deal.

I love love LOVE Groupon...they have saved us so much money.

Day 05

2010-05-05T11:48:00.002-07:00

Your Favorite Quote

I am going to cheat today and pick two favorites for this one because I can't choose between these two:

"Do what you feel in your heart to be right- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”

~Harriet Beecher Stowe

I live my life according to the first one and always think of the second one when life becomes difficult and seems out of my control.

Day 04

2010-05-04T16:47:00.002-07:00

Your Favorite Book

Amazing story. Beautifully written. I read this when I was in 5th grade and I love it now just as much as I did then. The movie is definitely worth seeing as well.

Day 03

2010-05-03T12:33:00.001-07:00

Your Favorite TV show

For as long as I can remember I have always been interested in medical things. Sports Medicine and Anatomy were my favorite subjects in school. So it should come as no surprise that my favorite shows are medical reltated. ER, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Deliver Me, etc. I love them ALL. I don't get grossed out by surgery, I can handle blood (just not when it's from me) and have/can stomach through many procedures I've seen done. With these shows I not only get the medical side of things, I get all the good TV drama to go with it :)

Day 02

2010-05-02T12:46:00.000-07:00

Your Favorite Movie

This again is a hard one to pick. I love love love watching movies (who doesn't?) so it's pretty challenging to pick just one as a favorite. However, The Notebook probably holds the highest place in my favorites list. I read the book before the movie came out and was really shocked to see how closely the movie related to the text. It's such a great love story and I think they matched the characters in the book perfectly to the actors that portrayed them in the movie.

Day 01

2010-05-01T15:52:00.002-07:00

Your Favorite Song

Of course the list would start with a toughie! For a lot of people this answer is simple but not for me. I love so many genres of music that it's almost impossible to pick just one favorite. But to follow the rules of the list I would have to pick Over My Head by The Fray. This song came out right around the time Jared and I started dating and I have such happy memories from that time! It probably got way overplayed on the radio but I could listen to that song over and over :)

30 Days of Blogging- A challenge

2010-04-28T20:38:00.000-07:00

So I came across this fun idea a few days ago. A challenge to blog 30 days in a row about lots of random things...the list is on the left. So starting May 1st I will begin the challenge with Day 1! We'll see how it goes!

Until then, below is my favorite picture of the moment :)

Connor's 1 Year Photoshoot!

2010-04-16T13:16:00.004-07:00

It's still hard for me to believe our baby is 1. We wanted to make sure we would never forget any of these special moments while he's so little so we had our amazing wedding photographer take Connor's 1 year pictures at the same place we got married, Villa Siena. I am soooo happy with them! She is so talented to be able to capture such awesome pictures with an active toddler who was way more interested in exploring everything than smiling for the camera! There is a link to her website on the left! These are just a few of my favorites...and there were A LOT of favorites to choose from!!

Easter

2010-04-07T08:38:00.001-07:00

Easter this year was so much fun. On Saturday we took Connor to Kiwanis park in Tempe for an Easter Egg hunt. He mostly loved having a huge grass area to run around in but he did pick up a few eggs along the way! Then that night we had dinner and colored eggs with my parents and brother which is something we haven't done in a long time! On Sunday we had brunch at Crackers & Co. Cafe. They have the best breakfast ever there! Later on, we went over to Jared's parents' house for dinner. The weather was gorgeous both days which made everything so much nicer! I am definitely not looking forward to the summer temperatures!

Taking a mini break from egg collecting

Walking with Daddy :)

Easter morning!

His cute dinosaur basket

Sitting at brunch with his 2nd cousin Emmery!

All of us at Crackers

Party Time!

2010-03-30T13:26:00.000-07:00

Sunday was Connor's big party and I think he had a lot of fun! He loved when everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to him but he didn't really eat his cake! He just wanted to get back to playing with all his new toys. I guess we should have done cake first and then the presents. We will remember that for next year! I am still getting used to the fact that he is 1 now and not technically a baby anymore :( Ok Connor, time to stop growing up!

1 Year!

2010-03-23T11:11:00.005-07:00

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY

CONNOR WADE!!

One year ago today, at exactly this time, I was pushing through contractions and Connor was born about an hour later at 12:21 pm!! He was 8lbs. 6oz. and was 21 in. long. He was perfect. And he still is! I never in my life thought a year could go by this fast.

3 hours old

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

1 YEAR!!!

First Haircut!

2010-03-20T13:26:00.004-07:00

With Connor's birthday, his 1 year photo shoot, and Easter all coming up we thought it was probably a good time to take him for his very first haircut! He did so good and was really brave!

He was so happy in the beginning...

Getting a little nervous now...

Ok, get me out of here!!!

Lollipops make everything better (sort of)

Such a handsome boy!

Look Who's...

2010-03-09T21:15:00.008-07:00

WALKING!!

Just in the past week or so, Connor has been walking everywhere! He walks faster and faster everyday which is exciting and scary at the same time! I think I'm going to have a runner on my hands very very soon :) Now if I could only get him to wear his new shoes...

Raise your hand if you DON'T like Girl Scout Cookies

2010-03-03T13:16:00.002-07:00

Sadly, my husband would probably be the only person in the room with his hand up. I however happen to LOVE girl scout cookies. Since they are only available 1 month out of the year I make sure to buy a few extra boxes and freeze them. Am I the only one who thinks it's crazy they aren't available more often with how unbelievably popular they are? Which one is your favorite? Vote on the side!

New things for Spring!

2010-02-28T11:36:00.003-07:00

It is amazing to me how quickly babies learn things. Just in the past week or so Connor has begun to walk almost exclusively. I'm sure it'll just be a matter of time before he starts running around everywhere! He has also learned how to wave good-bye. You don't even have to wave to him first, you just start saying buh-bye and he starts waving at you...so smart! Oh and he gives the best high 5's now too :)

The countdown begins!

2010-02-23T15:46:00.003-07:00

Connor is 11 months today so that means the countdown to his **FIRST BIRTHDAY** has begun!! Invitations for his party are going out tomorrow and I'm going to try and finalize all the other details this week such as the cake, decorations, etc. There are too many options to choose from so I am having a harder time than I thought! We are so excited for the big day!

L-O-V-E

2010-02-14T20:07:00.005-07:00

We had a great Valentine's Day this year...mostly because it wasn't just about us anymore. It was about Connor too! He was definitely mommy's favorite valentine :) I made a little gift bag for him with a new light up interactive book and some bubbles. He really loved playing with the heart balloons that came with the bag though. After the gifts, Jared and I went out to Monti's for dinner. The same place we had our rehearsal dinner! I love all the memories there!!

First Steps!!!

2010-01-31T18:47:00.008-07:00

Last night, Connor took his very first steps!! 3 steps to be exact :) I was practicing walking with him, holding on to his hands then I let go for a second and he just started walking toward me! His official age yesterday was 10 months, 1 week, and 1 day old so he is definitely an early walker!

We are so proud of you Connor Wade!!

A little person meets The Little Gym

2010-01-29T13:53:00.008-07:00

I've been so bad a blogging lately! Going to try and work on that :)

The past few weeks have been pretty busy...but fun! Connor started his first classes at The Little Gym. He is the youngest in his class (I think we're a little ahead of the game) but he has a great time...I think he especially likes the huge red mat that he can crawl all over on! We also just finished a 3 week workshop at the Chandler Library which was great. I never knew that particular library had so many fun things for kids!

(Connor in his brand new hat Aunt C gave him!)

Gerber Graduate

2010-01-10T12:07:00.007-07:00

Connor has moved on to "Stage 3" foods and is officially a Gerber Graduate! At his last check-up our pediatrician gave us the green light to start introducing a lot more foods such as yogurt, cheese, pasta, etc. to his diet. So far the only new thing he really loves is yogurt!

In a few weeks he is going to start a music and movement class which I think he will love and we are also going to start going to story time at the library now that he has a little bit better attention span!

It is so hard to believe the he will be ONE in just a few months!

Two Years

2010-01-05T10:15:00.004-07:00

...and I love you more everyday.

It was THE most perfect day.

I love you, Jared! Happy 2 years!!!

"The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more; that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. That's what you've given me. That's what I hope to give you forever."

Our Christmas 2009 and San Diego!!

2009-12-31T21:20:00.015-07:00

We had such a wonderful Christmas this year, and what made it even more exciting was that it was Connor's first! As the only grandchild on both sides of the family right now, he was one lucky little boy with all the new toys and clothes he got! We are so lucky to have such an amazing family who loves him so much. It has definitely been one Christmas I will never forget :)

To celebrate our 2 year anniversary which is coming up on January 5th, we took a trip to San Diego and sort of re-created our honeymoon by staying at the same resort, Paradise Point, and doing a lot of the same fun things, as well as some new things too...Sea World, Seaport Village, Old Town, a beach day, La Jolla, etc. We always joke about moving to San Diego but I think I secretly hope that we really will move there one day!

Here are some pictures to re-cap everything:

Hope everyone has a Happy New Year 2010!!!

Christmas time is here!!

2009-12-16T14:32:00.011-07:00

We've been very busy these last few weeks preparing for Christmas, attending parties, etc. I love this time of year!!! We're all excited because Jared will be taking a few weeks off from work starting this Friday and we'll be taking Connor to see Santa and Zoo lights. I can't wait to see his reactions to these things...hopefully he likes them :) Only 9 days until Christmas!!

FINALLY!!

2009-12-01T09:41:00.008-07:00

A long time ago, probably 6 or 7 years ago, me and my mom found this amazing Christmas cookie recipe for Chocolate Mint Sugar Cookie Drops. They are amazing!! So, we decided to make it a tradition to make these particular cookies every Christmas. However, Nestle decided to stop making the mint chocolate chips that are used in the recipe so we were never able to make them again! Then last week while shopping at Target I found the mint chocolate chips!! Nestle says they are "limited edition" but I am hoping they keep them around for a while :)

Here is the recipe:

2 1/2 C. flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
3/4 t. salt
1 C. sugar
3/4 C. margarine
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla extract
1 1/2 C. mint chocolate chips
Sugar for rolling

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
*In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
*In a large bowl, combine sugar and margarine. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in mint chocolate chips.
*Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls (you may need to add additional flour to dough if it is sticky)
*Roll balls in sugar.
*Place on cookie sheets and bake 8-10 minutes.
*Cool on sheets for 2 minutes and then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

~Makes 5 1/2 Dozen

I am Thankful

2009-11-25T21:11:00.009-07:00

For...

*My amazing/caring/supportive husband
*My precious baby boy who has taught me more about life than I ever dreamed possible
*My wonderful family and friends who are there for me no matter what

And for these less "serious" things...

*A shower that lasts longer than 2 minutes
*Trader Joe's spiced cider
*SEPHORA
*Cooling weather
*DVR
*TARGET
*...and Subway.....yes, the sandwich shop :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Taking a break...

2009-11-23T13:48:00.008-07:00

I love my best friend...and her awesome surveys. So I borrowed once again. TU/LU!! :D

1. Mood:
Happy but tired at the same time

2. Celine Dion power ballads?
I remember liking one of her songs when I was around 10 but not a fan now

3. Least favorite vegetable?
Brussel sprouts...they make my stomach turn

4. Thanksgiving plans?
We will be going over to Jared's parents' house for lunch then heading over to Las Sendas to have dinner with my side of the family (32 people coming this year!!)

5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:
Neutral shimmer shadow, SEPHORA gloss in Bronzed Beauty, MAC Springsheen blush

6. Do you have any wardrobe pet peeves?
Like many others, I find wearing socks with sandals pretty unattractive

7. Ever kept a beauty product you bought for someone else?
Probably once or twice

8. Last yummy thing you prepared for yourself?
I will be making gourmet burgers tonight (low carb style for me though)

9. Outfit:
Dark wash jeans, F21 fuchsia tunic, black cardigan

10. Weekly goals:
- Do my best to stay away from carbs and sugar (with the exception of Thanksgiving)
- Maintain my 15+ lb. weight loss and hopefully lose more!
- Research ways to help Connor go down easier for the night (it's been taking us about 2 hours each night to get him to sleep the last month...it gets easier right?!)
- Have the house decorated inside and out for Christmas by Nov. 30th!!

Where in the world?

2009-11-17T12:35:00.005-07:00

It seems like it's been a while since my last blog post so I thought I'd give everyone an update on what we've been up to!

Connor is no longer army crawling and has moved on to "true crawling" on all fours. He is so fast now! He has also discovered that he likes to climb stairs for fun (with us right behind him of course!). He loves to laugh at everything and loves to put pretty much anything in his mouth so I feel like I am constantly cleaning everything!! It's sometimes challenging to keep up with him but it's so exciting to watch him grow and do all these fun new things.

Jared recently switched departments at work and is now the director of marketing and finance for Parks and Recreation which he really likes so far (the shorter commute is definitely a plus!).

We are all looking forward to the holidays and are so excited for our first Christmas as a family of 3!!!

Halloween Weekend!!

2009-11-02T10:00:00.005-07:00

It was Connor's very first Halloween this year and we had so much fun with him! We dressed him up as a cute little teddy bear :) On Thursday, my parents had us over to carve pumpkins, always a lot of fun! Then on Saturday Connor visited Grandma and Grandpa Wilson's house where we ate lunch with Daddy because he had to work. After this, we went over to my parents' house and Connor helped pass out candy to all of the trick or treaters!!

The Wilson's

My Valentine's

Sea World here we come!!

Kendall's Firsts!

Oh January, we are SO glad you're over

A bit behind but here's our Christmas 2011!

Santa visit minus one

First photo shoot as a family of FOUR!

Thanksgiving 2011

~*~6 Months~*~

October!!

Connor-isms

~Hall of Flame~

3 Months and an Announcement!

~*~SuMmEr FuN~*~

*Update*

First 3 Weeks

She's Here!!

May is here!

It's finished!!!

Easter Bunny

Connor and a cupcake

Lots of Celebrations!

Happy Birthday Connor Wade!!

Countdown has begun!

So much going on!

Someone is growing up!

Desert Fitness

Christmas, A New Year, Anniversary...and some BIG news

There is always a story behind a picture...

An Early Christmas Surprise

3+1=4!!

Happy Halloween!

Flagstaff!

AZ State Fair

Playgroup Fun

1.5 & The Summer that will never end

Growing Up!

Summer is almost over!

So You Think You Can Dance?

Daddy's Day Off

Just because

That = This

Two Simple Words

Red, White, and Blue

It's that time again!

2nd Father's Day!

June Happenings

Amazing would be an understatement

Day 30

Day 29

Day 28

Day 27

Day 26

Day 25

Day 24

Day 23

Day 22

Day 21

Day 20

Day 19

Day 18

Day 17

Day 16

Day 15

Day 14

Day 13

Day 12

Day 11

Day 10

Day 09

Day 08

Day 07

Day 06

Day 05

“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”

~Harriet Beecher Stowe

I live my life according to the first one and always think of the second one when life becomes difficult and seems out of my control.

Day 04

Day 03

~~6 Months~~

~~SuMmEr FuN~~

Update