Oh Christmas Tree



Matthew likes to crawl up to the tree and pull on it. The ornaments are a little big for him to grip with his little hands so he just swings at it. He's still getting use to it. We are still working on putting up the second tree in the family room and the rest of the decorations.

The lights are up outside and the wreaths are hung on the windows.

I am getting SO excited for Matthew's first Christmas!

A Sweet Frog and a Monkey

Two date nights in a month?!

Grandma and Grandpa watched Matthew on Friday night so we could go out.

He had fun, until it was bed time.  The kid gets cranky when he's tired (I don't blame him).

Grandpa was able to put him down in his crib.

I can't wait for  Matthew to spend more time with his grandparents when they move back.  Instead of Skyping, the grandparents will get to play with him in person!

We went to dinner and then went to Sweet Frog.  It's a new frozen yogurt place that is self serve with lots of different flavors and toppings to choose from.

Yummy!!  Definitely will be back.

And I love the decor, especially the green/pink colors and the lanterns were so cute.

Thanks to one of my blogging friends who told me that Wal.greens had BIG sock monkeys!
We stopped by and picked one up for Matthew's birthday party.  Isn't it cute?!

On Saturday, the weather was perfect to put up Christmas lights outside!

Matthew sat in his exercauser while we hung lights on the trees.

The monkey hat didn't stay on long.

It was a great weekend.  I felt like I really got to enjoy it!

Oh, and I am a fan of shopping at midnight on black Friday. Crazy loooong lines, but such great deals!

Grateful for the Journey

We spent Thanksgiving with Steve's family at his brother's and his parents came down from NY (yay!they are moving back in a couple of weeks!)

Erin cooked up a feast and a great time was had eating and spending time together.  Matthew ate mash potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie and even some fudge!

I have SO much to be thankful for in my life;

family, faith, health, home, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I can go on and on.

But the one thing that I truly am grateful for this Thanksgiving is MOTHERHOOD.

It is an amazing experience.

I have been blessed with a beautiful baby boy who I ADORE and he gives me reason to get up every day.  I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has trusted me to care for this child.

I am grateful for the journey that got me here.



Indian Thanksgiving

Matthew wants to wish everyone a

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!



Matthew is 9 Months

How is that possible??!!

You are growing like a weed!



You weigh about 19 lbs, 28 inches in length and your head is 45 1/2 cm.

You are wearing size 6-9 months clothes and size 3 diapers.

You are eating baby food three times a day and taking about 4 ounces of milk five times through out the day. 

You still have NO teeth!

You are still army crawling and are moving around fast!

You love standing up, while holding on to the table or couch.

I don't think we're ready for you to be walking yet, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time!

You are starting to have a little bit of separation anxiety.

But your face still lights up when mommy and daddy reappear.

You love to watch videos of yourself laughing.  It brings a smile to your face.

You are sticking out your tongue A LOT!

You are still a very happy baby!

This Thanksgiving we have something extra special to be grateful for....YOU!

You fill our lives with such a happy spirit.

We love you to pieces!!

BabyShoot and Date Night

My sister asked me to take pictures of her new baby girl.  This is her 5th baby under six yrs.

(I did my nephew's newborn pictures last July).

Baby Jessica is two weeks and is just precious.

I bought her the headband, tutu and shoes (ahh, to have a baby girl!)

Matthew and grandma.

We finally had a date night on Saturday!

We went to dinner with another couple, then went to see Breaking Dawn.

It was a good movie. Can't wait for part 2.

We hadn't gone to the movies together since Matthew was born!  It was nice to go on a double date without having to entertain a baby. (The last time we went to dinner with Matthew, Steve was ready to pull his hair out!).  I think it's important to have date nights with your husband. Quality time together as a family is important, but quality time with each other is equally important!

Gator Fun



Steve came home from work with this alligator and said he needed to take a picture of it with Matthew.  It has something to do with his team doing a good job on something so it was their turn to take the gator home and snap pictures of it to show that the gator has been around. 

It was fun to snap pictures of Matthew with it.  I wanted to get Matthew AND the gator hanging from the chandelier, but that wasn't going to work!  My favorite is the one with Matthew and the gator head to head.  And I like the one with him sitting on the gator outside. 

Well, now the gator has been out to Winchester and will be making his way back to where it came from.  (I hope they sanitize that gator!!)

Sneak Peak: Family Photoshoot

We took family pictures on Saturday.  Matthew was good at first, then he was over it real quick!

We may do a re-shoot since I feel like we didn't capture THE family shot (that's Christmas card worthy).

My photographer was awesome!!

My little guy is 9 months today!! 

Life is a little busy right now so I will have do his 9 month post later this week. 

Monkey Business

Matthew loves his Johnny Jump!  We took it out last weekend and he seems to really like it.

I can't believe in three months, my little guy is going to be 1 yrs old!  How has time flown by so fast?!

We are going to do a sock monkey theme for his first birthday.  I have been pinning tons of ideas! I'm also on the look out for (cheap) sock monkeys to decorate.  I scored the two in the picture at Hobby Lobby for 50% off.  I still have lots to do in preparation for his big 1!  It will be here before I know it!

We are taking family pictures this weekend.  I hope Matthew will cooperate!  It takes a LOT of patience to photograph babies!  You never know when they will have a melt down.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! 

Thank you to all the veterans who have fought for our freedoms!! Happy Veteran's Day!

One GOOD Looking Cowboy!

Isn't he the cutest little cowboy you've ever seen?!

I just love kissing on those thighs and squeezing those cheeks.

And the denim diapers! Oh so cute!

This 'lil cowboy makes our lives brighter and our hearts bigger with each passing day.

He is pure JOY!

My big boy

Last month, I put Matthew down for a nap in his pack and play and short-time later, I heard him waking up.  I went into the family room to get him and found him pulling himself up.

So we lowered it immediately! I was so fearful he would pull himself over and out of it!

I know he is bound to get hurt, he's a boy, it's almost guaranteed that they will play rough.  I don't know how I'm going to handle it as he gets older and REALLY start getting into things!

I wish I could just bottle him up and keep him little for longer!

But, they grow up.

My little guy is now in a big boy high chair. 

Look at how big he looks! 

No more sitting in the bum.bo for feeding time.

And I think he's going through a growth spurt or maybe he didn't get the memo about day light savings time, but he got up at 1:00 AM and was hungry, went back to sleep, then up again at 5:30 AM, and has been wide awake!  I am STRUGGLING to keep my eyes open long enough to finish this post!  Looks like it's going to be a long day!

Closing Eyes

I've been teaching Matthew to 'close' his eyes (in Vietnamese).

I'm glad he's slowly starting to understand a (very) little bit of Vietnamese.

It's never too early to start, right?

He's such a little ham!

I love that toothless grin.

Have a great weekend!!

Thanks to all who entered the Shutter.fly giveaway.  The three winners have been contacted.  If I don't hear from them by next Thursday, I'll draw new names.  Go here to view the winners.

Proof My Husband Loves Me

Last Friday as I was working in my home office, the door bell rang and I received these deliciousness. 

It was a total surprise! 

Wow, I was wondering who loves me this much to send me chocolate covered strawberries??!!

Turns out, it was my totally awesome husband!

And the card simply read....'Just to let you know that I do love you.'

It's nice to be reminded that I am loved.

I We ate all 32 strawberries (NOT in one sitting).

Delish!

Don't forget to enter the Christmas Card giveaway. Three lucky winners will be announced on Friday!

My little Punk'in

Around this time last year, I was 5 months pregnant with my little pumpkin.
Now my pumpkin is a thriving 8 1/2 month old!
I am very lucky blessed!

Mama pumpkin with her baby pumpkin.  Daddy was suppose to be a scarecrow, but he said it was way too hot to put on his flannel shirt and straw hat (such a party pooper)!

We didn't take Matthew trick or treating this year (because we really don't need the extra candy around here).  We stayed home and gave out candy together.  It was fun to see all the kids in their costumes.  Matthew actually wasn't really interested in the costumes at all. He just wanted to eat the candies himself.

My pumpkin needed to refuel 'cause you know it's hard work passing out candy.

I love my little pumpkin and can't wait until next Halloween so we can dress up again.  Now I need to run off to Tar.get to get a good deal on a costume for next year!  (Just trying to plan ahead and SAVE $$).