Week in review!

Sorry I've been such a blog-slacker lately. Life has started to get that holiday-crazyness to it and I can't figure out why. For some reason, Shawn and I have had to turn down plans because we've already had plans...um, that NEVER happens to us! LOL.

Okay, Jeremiah has been so hilarious lately. I'm not sure why but for some reason I feel differently about him. I can't put my finger on it but I think I'm finally comfortable being a mom. Huh...that only took 17 months! It doesn't hurt that J is getting 'easier' and by that I mean more fun! Look at him use his spoon..he'll get the hang of it. Probably by the time he's 18.


Fridays is our music class with Miss Jenny. J has had so much fun and is really starting to 'get' it, I think.

Yes, that is my child being held by Cory. Your kids don't like being held by other people's parents??? Hmmm.....at this point in my life, I'll take it.


The hoops are always a big hit.


Storytime is only usually this organized for about 30 seconds.


Saturday was 'chase the pigeons' day at Encanto Park


Monday was the zoo with Jayden and Michelle. It was a gorgeous day. I am back to being in love with living here again.

Watch out for the baboons!!


Jeremiah doing his impression. (he was unhappy because I wouldn't let him walk or push the stroller...toddlers!!)


The boys after lunch.


Jayden fell asleep in his stroller and Jeremiah just could not believe it. He kept signing 'sleep'....


And then did an impression of Jayden.


And in case you ever questioned that J was a boy...he loves:

Girls (who seem to love him back, like his girl Bailey here)


And tools. Not in that order. I think tools would win over girls at least these days.

What a morning!!

Today started out great. J slept til 715am - that's good for him - we're working on pushing his bedtime back to 7pm and hoping he'll start sleeping in later, too. When I get up with him I usually turn on the radio and he likes to hang out in his crib while I get his clothes ready. Then we'll dance a little to the music and play before I change his diaper and get him into his clothes for the day. About 30 seconds into dancing, I remember that I have a doctors appointment in Ahwatukee at 810am. I should have been out of the house at that very second!! EEEK!!

So of course we rush, I drag J downstairs without his shirt, grab his morning milk and rush back upstairs, get dressed in a rush and try to remember to brush my teeth, put my contacts in, and do something with my crazy hair. Back downstairs to feed the dogs, let them out, put shoes on, pack a breakfast, get J's water, get myself water, put J's shirt on, and we were out the door by 730am. I don't know how that happened, but it did. THANK GOD.

We got to Shanna and Bailey's house (Shanna watches J while I'm at the doctors office) at 804am. I basically talked fast like a crazy person trying to explain my morning then ran out the door. I walked into the dr's office at 810am exactly. Phew!! Then I waited for the doctor for 20 minutes - surprise!!

Anyways, after this crazy morning was Bailey's 2nd birthday party. Yes, she's 2. Well, almost, she'll be 2 on Saturday. But I can't believe that little peanut is so big already!!

Before all the guests arrived. They were being cute and holding hands.


Attempts at a group pic before we loaded them up with cupcakes:


Almost...


Yay!! Success!!


Mmmm......


Cupcake trance???


Yummy!!


Playing in the giraffe tent - lots of fun!!


Happy birthday, Miss Bailey!! Thanks for having us at your 'playgroup' party!!

I love these guys...

It's so fun to see them together.

So thankful...

This year there are so many things I am thankful for.

1) God - I don't know where or who I would be without His love.
2) That I get to be married to this awesome man:

3) That I have this crazy but amazing son:

4) My crazy family - I love that we have a lot of family here in the Phoenix area. Today we travelled to Tucson to eat at my cousin Kristen's house.

Here is Jake playing (but NOT PLAYING) football:


Shawn and J by the emptied out birdbath:


Not sure what's going on here.


Noah kept himself very busy by taking all of our 'orders' for drinks. Much better than last year, when he charged us per appetizer!


A bunch of us hanging out on the patio. It was cool and rainy, but still nice enough to be outside!


I'm very thankful for this turkey. It was incredible and looking at the picture is making me hungry all over again!


J playing catch with Uncle Mick:


And then he found a sword - he loved it.


The pretty table (J kept pointing to the guy pilgrim and saying: "Dada!" very funny)


And J's first thanksgiving dinner. Last year he was 5 months old and I refused to give him any of the food - how silly! He loved the cranberry sauce and the rolls. And he ate a couple pieces of turkey.


Silly Ari and Cher:


Non-silly Ari and Cher:


This is the last pic on my camera because the battery died and I didn't bring the spare..but the kids (Noah, Ari and Jacob) put on a 'play' for us while we were waiting to have pie. It was a 'western-pilgrim' story, then it changed to just a plain western story. Noah was the Sheriff, Ari was Crystal the waitress, and Jacob played dual roles as Mad Dog Cannon and a henchman. It was hilarious and the kids did a great job. I'll never forget Jacob's very serious "mad dog" face or Ari popping up and down from behind 'the bar.' I hope it's an annual tradition.


5) (you didn't think I forgot about my list, did you?) I'm also very thankful for my friends. In the last year I've been blessed with friendships that I could have never imagined, and I'm so thankful for every single one of them.

*Exhausted sigh*

I'm sorry I haven't been posting much, life has started getting crazy it seems! But here's an update (for pics of J, skip about halfway down the page)

Friday night and Saturday I was invited to the "Women of Faith: Infinite Grace" conference at Jobing.com arena. I went with my friend Suzy, who I haven't seen or spent any time with in probably over a year!! What a blessing. Can I just say...that it ROCKED?!? It was amazing. God definitely spoke to my heart but I cannot tell you what He said, I just know that something has changed and it's for the better. I took lots of videos...

Here is Nicole C Mullen, who has arms a lot like Kim. But I bet she has to work for them. :-)


Mandisa, who has an incredible voice!


This is Sandy Patti and her husband, I guess a singer, too? I text'd Shawn during this performance and told him we should be doing this. Watch for our new CD!


Nicole C Mullen again plus her backup dancers, I'm pretty sure they're signing to the words..


Now, Patsy Clairmont was my favorite speaker. If you have about 10 minutes, watch this video (she told this story.) It's heartbreaking but also so amazing.


Now, for the J-man. He's been harassing the dogs like nobody's business lately. He loves Patches, because she doesn't run away. (I think she just doesn't want to give up her 'spot')


Hugs...


Today we went to the park...J goes down the big slide like a big boy.

Zoooooo!!

Today we headed over to the zoo. J wanted to drive but I didn't let him.


Look at these cute kids!






Oh that's a monkey, not one of the kids. :-)

When I don't let J play with the camera...

he tends to get a *little* upset!


We've been making hot lattes here in the mornings since it's soooo cold (50 degrees). J is fascinated, disgusted, intrigued and a little scared of the foam. I gave him a bowl with some in it and this is about all he did.


Finally, today @ Fry's I spent $11 on all this stuff. Great deals included the Reach toothbrushes - they were two to a package and $1 each. I had a coupon for buy one, get one free...so I got 8 toothbrushes for $2. Pretty sweet!


Finally, just a pic (old, obviously, his hair is still long.) I just think it's so funny and I'm pretty sure he's saying 'cheese!' in it. Cute.

Time for Carrie!

Shawn and I had a date night Friday night. Kim watched J and actually put him to bed (he did great, good to know for when Baby B decides to make her appearance!) Our date was to the Carrie Underwood concert - he got tickets for his birthday back in July. It was so much fun!

I know country music isn't for everyone but it's really not that bad. One thing I realized at the concert is that the singer isn't just some pretty girl with a so-so voice - she actually can sing! Most pop music is not that way - a singer sounds one way on the radio and completely (awful) different in person. Now, we did listen to a song by the opening band ("Little Big Town") called "Good Lord willing and the creek gonna rise," so....(I laughed so hard at that title)

No pics of Shawn and I (no surprise) but a couple of pics of Carrie and some videos.
Ok, check out these boots!! They were the tiniest stilleto I have ever seen. It's hard to see in the pic, though. Also, she is even skinnier than you see on TV, as if that's possible. Girlfriend is tiny!!


Here is a clip of "Jesus take the wheel" - you can see the crazy lights come down, those things moved during the entire concert, it was a little weird.


There was a runway with a little stage at the end of it - people kind of went crazy when she walked out there.


This ain't your grandpappy's country...


For you, Michelle!


We got back home around 11pm (very late night for us!), crawled in bed, and had to be up early for photos with Joe Brackman. Afterwards, J and I relaxed on the couch.


For lunch, J had a cheeseburger...with ketchup for the first time. He was more interested in just eating the ketchup. That does count as a vegetable, right?!?


Before nap Shawn gave J a tiny piece of Sour Patch Kids candy. Surprise, he loved it! He's signing for 'more.'

First haircut...

Sunday I finally took the plunge and we took J to Great Clips to get his first $6 hair cut. He did amazingly well, even with the little clipper thingies.

Thank goodness for that binky, not sure what we'd have done without it!




The clippers that tickled...


Enjoying his new short 'do:




Great Clips saved a little piece of his long hair and taped it in a little card that has the date, how old he was, etc when he had his first hair cut. They also spelled his name "Jermieh," but hey, for $6, what more do you really want? She did a great job.

And here's a picture of what I really look like - I think I've exploded over the last week. Shawn even said that I look "really pregnant" - well I hope so!! (I'll be 20 weeks on Thursday)

Jeremiah showing off.

A couple of videos, he is 'talking' in the first and then in the second he shows a few of his signs.