17 months!

Cade,

Again you and your sister have kept me so busy, I am weeks behind in completing your 17 month letter. In 2 more short weeks, we will celebrate you turning 18 months! We can hardly believe it.

You've been a real mover and shaker here these last few weeks. Not sitting still, not really sitting period, getting into most everything. I can see those wheels a-turning, and thankfully, I can get to where you are headed before you do. This has saved you from several accidents I am certain. I guess you are just as frustrated as I am at times, but when I don't let you get into something it really is for your own good. I promise!



You had a blast running on the beach over the 4th of July. You are a little dude that likes to play in the water-- preferably water where you can walk and get in and out of it at your own leisure. You also got lots of playtime in at Nana's and G-pa's in the pool they got for you and Alex.




Even though you still don't actually say a whole lot, you manage to comprehend most everything we tell you. I am grateful for that. I long for the day when you blurt out something a bit more recognizable, other than Momma, Dada, Nana and Ah-oh-- your preferred words of choice these days-- but love your little throaty talk, it is so unique and so cute.


You mastered the art of the weaning process this last month-- THANK YOU! I cherish our bedtime rocking and singing, and the sweet way you lay your head down on me, your little way of hugging and cuddling. You're also a terrific sleeper. You like to go to bed early and wake up a little before 7am. I so enjoy our special alone time in the morning hours, just you and I, while Daddy and sister still snooze. The way you love your turkey bacon, fruit and cheerios for breakfast. You are such a routine driven dude. That part makes it easy for me.

I also had to give you your first haircut this month. Those little curly locks were taking over and some people starting telling me it was time to cut it. So, even though I was sad to see the curls go, you are still so cute, and you look even more grown up!

You are indeed a momma's boy through and through. Secretly, I love that! Shhhh. Don't let your dad get wind of it. I know soon enough you will give me up for time with Daddy. For now, you can always count on me for instant cuddles and hugs. I love you peanut!

Blueberry Bliss!

It is finally that time of year...blueberry season! Since we eat so many blueberries throughout the year, I decided to take the kids today to pick our own at a local farm. With Cade packed into the backpack, and Alex and I with buckets in hand, we headed for the fields!

Alex and Cade both ate their weight in berries- another fun aspect of picking your own. We managed to pick 10 pounds in a little over an hour. The best part was that they only cost $1.50 per pound, verses the normal Chilean import price of $4.99 for 16 oz! Yes, something to be said about endless, tasty, fresh, locally grown gorgeous blueberries.

Tomorrow, when I am feeling spontaneous, I hope to work up enough energy to make some blueberry jam and some blueberry buckle coffee cake.

Fun at Disneyland!

The kids had a BLAST at Disneyland. We were fortunate enough to be able to go for 2 days, which allowed us to take our time, take naps in the middle of the day and to take it ALL in. It was so much fun to see Alex's eyes light up at everything. To our surprise, her most favorite ride this trip was the Pirates of the Caribbean. Of course followed by Small World, Winnie the Pooh and "probably" Nemo if her parents were crazy enough to make her and her little bro stand in the 4 hour line! As you can imagine, we just couldn't justify waiting in any line that long. Thankfully, we escaped by bringing many Nemo souvenirs with us instead!

Brandon with the kids in their UCLA gear!

A fun family shot

Alexandra hamming it up for the camera!

Me and my tired peanut!

4th of July beach trip

We had a great 4th of July with some CA friends while they were in Washington staying at their beach house. Here are some quick shots of the kids at play:

We're Back!

We're back...physically, emotionally, mentally. We had a GREAT family vacation- mixed with 1 airplane trip, 2 days at Disneyland, several hotel overnights, family dinners, wedding extravaganza, hubby's birthday, many lost naps and lots of fun! Once I get some pictures downloaded I'll have to share.

Ok, can you believe August is almost here? Where did July disappear to?

Whirlwind!

We've just finished one super busy week. Brandon was away all week on the youth group mission trip, the kids and I had Vacation Bible School at church and Tuesday we leave for a big wedding (Brandon's youngest sister) in California! There is too much to update, too little time at the moment. Look for more details soon!

Loving it!

Coffee, homemade bread, fresh berries have NEVER tasted so good. I am just cherishing these moments of tasting and smelling and never wanting it to go away. I guess until you've been where I have, that is lack of smell and taste, you really kind of forget all the things you associate with them. That clean baby bath smell as you bath the kids, your own fresh smelling shampoo and body wash, fresh coffee brewing in the early hours. I still can't believe I have managed to survive without these senses for the last 4+ years...I guess it was just one of those motherly sacrifices. Now, hopefully while I am in this state of bliss, I won't eat everything in sight, and I won't freak out about an unavoidable surgery.

Smelling revisited!

After day 2 of taking oral steroids to combat this demon living in my sinus cavity, I've been having what I'll call "moments" of smelling. It is glorious! Amazing, just plain heavenly. I can't wait to completely finish the 2 week dose. It should allow me to be comfortable for at least a month or two. Then I'll have this nasty bugger removed surgically. Oh, and another great side effect of nasal polyps that my doctor informed me about yesterday-- about 15% of candidates grow to have an allergy to ibuprofren and aspirin. Yeah, that can easily explain the asthma and coughing spells I have if I ever take ibuprofren. Basically he told me the next time I take it, it could be my last. Yikes! I guess I'll be sticking with Tylenol from here on out.

For now, I am going to enjoying actually tasting, smelling and getting air in through my nose! Appreciate it people if you have this ability on a normal basis. :)

Say it isn't so!

We've been having this gorgeous amazing weather here lately. The kind that really makes you appreciate being outside, getting dirty and loving the sunshine. So much so, that is basically how the kids and I have been passing the days. And, as you could quickly gather, also makes for some seriously cute photo ops. Which leads me to the real cause of my post...

I was quickly packing/loading the kiddos into the car after a great afternoon of playtime in the new pool G-pa got for the kids to play in at their house. While giving Alexandra a little boost up to her seat, I set our digital camera in its case (albeit soft :() down on the floorboard. Somehow between her climbing in and me setting it down it got bump into the crack of the car door, right in the hinge of the door frame. I thought to myself when it happened, "You should move that." Then I thought, "Don't forget to get the camera out before you close the door." "Don't worry," I told myself. "I'll remember." I proceeded to clip Alex's seat belt (Nana was buckling Cade into his car seat on the other side of the car). Clip, clip, clip. A little kiss on her head as I finished up. Then, out of pure routine and instinct, I.Closed.The.Door. :(

So yeah, camera is, ah, in need of a major repair...also known as a replacement. Brandon, though impressed on my ability to want to take pictures of the kids at any given moment, was less than thrilled that I had single-handedly destroyed the gift we got for each other not even 2 Christmas' ago. And of course, it had to be the expensive one.