Breathe

Just taking a moment to thank God for my healthy boys.

Tyler and Alex, I love you to the moon and back!

One for the books!

There is no better place to be that Seattle on a sunny day! And what a day we had. I started my day out with making a yummy breakfast for my hubby, cleaning the house and entertaining Alex with my best Yoda impression (as if I know what that is) while playing Star Wars with Tyler.

After Alex's morning nap we packed up and headed out to greenlake to meet my work gal friends for a non-PEPS mom's meeting. (Don't worry PEPS peeps, I still love ya, they're just jelous!)

There we played with Simone and Finn, or maybe I should say... There we met up with Simone and Finn and the Bugbee Boys proceeded to eat all their food. I promise, I do feed my kids!

After filling our tummies with all their yummy food we got down to business with some swinging and sliding.

Then it was off for a run around the lake.

We had to make our favorite stop at the turtle and I took advantage of a photo op with Tyler.

This is just about the point I told Tyler that he was far enough and turned around to put my camera away in the stroller. That's when I heard it... SPLASH! Tyler decided, or didn't decide, to go for a dip! Much to my disappointment I did not get a picture. The water was deep and although I thought about it, I felt that the 10 bystanders that witnessed the fall would be less than impressed with this mom had I turned to grab my camera rather than run to help my son. I can now say that that 3 years of swim lessons at Children's has paid off. Now he understands why he has to swim in his clothes on safety day!

Here is the aftermath, a very wet, cold, embarrassed little boy. I tried to bribe him for a picture but he was having nothing of it so this is all I got. Of course we had to warm up with some Starbuck's after all that!

Sun!

Meet Claire

She is...

the best 6 year old cousin ever!

the other "bugger"

the best Alex getter/watcher

fun, fun, fun

patient when playing Star Wars with Tyler

a great story reader

a good player of house

full of love for the Bugbee boys (as demonstrated here)

She kind of Rocks!

We love you Claire Bear!

Jumparoo guru

We are so grateful to have friends like the White's. We are even more grateful that they now have a little playmate for Alex.

Thanks for a fun morning Kathryn and Will. We can't wait to do it again!

Alex showing Will how to play with his new Jumparoo... the right way.

"You gotta do it like this. First jump up and down, then hit these little thingys, then make your best "bug face" (Alex's new favorite face).

"Wow, Alex, you amaze me with your Jumparoo know-how. I have been doing it all wrong!"

Some days are just like that...

Look who's on the move finally!

Happy Valentine's Day

9 months, say what?

9 month stats

16lbs 14 oz

27 1/2 inches

Sorry Bugs, this is a little late. But as with most things in life, better late than never!

Last week your were 9 months old. In true mommy fashion, I am not quite sure where the time has gone. You continue to rock our world each and every day!

You have developed quite the little personality this past month. You like to speak your peace, and have it heard loud and clear. You have learned some pretty fun tricks too! You are always willing to preform if it gets you the attention that you want. You can cluck, do "so big" with your arms, you give great hi 5's and have mastered the art of fake coughing. You are a genius, I tell you! You must get that from your father.

On the other hand you have become quite the needy momma's boy. Not quite sure if it's those four teeth that are trying to make their appearance or just a special treat for mommy. You rarely want to be put down, yet being held you are constantly pushing away. I have a feeling you will be much happier once you can get those arms and legs to work together to get you moving. I am perfectly content with having you stay in the same place I put you down. As for sleep, well, I am just not going to go there. All I will say is that it better change fast!

You love to eat and have quickly figured out what comes in those little paper bags at the coffee shop. We have yet to find anything that you don't like. Your favorites are bananas, steamed carrots and broccoli and yogurt. Although you went on a "nursing strike" for a few days you so kindly changed your mind and are back to nursing 4 times a day.

Alex, you amaze us every day with how quickly you are growing and changing. These have been the most amazing 9 months and it only makes us more excited to continue to watch you grow! We love you!

I will survive...

especially with the help of family!

This past week the boys and I packed up and headed to California in an attempt to give Dan some quiet time for studying. Although Alex was Mr. fussy pants and wanted no one but me to hold him, and Tyler spent the first 2 days laid up on the couch with a stomach ache, the trip ended as a success. The boys had some fun and I got some much needed breaks. Thank you Grandpa Jan and Grandma Jill for some much needed R & R, I don't know what we would do without you!

After Tyler recovered from his stomach bug he got to do some pretty fun things on the ranch. There were horses to be fed and rode, eggs to be collected, polywogs to catch, lambs to be fed, sprinkler systems to be fixed, dogs to be walked and much more. Grandpa's little side kick was sure put to work! Me, I got to spend some free time doing my favorite things... shopping, picture taking, reading a book and visiting with friends!

Alex's favorite place by the window, watching the horses.

*a few odds and ends photos that I took around the ranch*

We even got a visit from one of our besties, Margaret!

Ragamuffins!

*We are 2 weeks away from the end of the Bar. Oh, how I have dreamt about this day!

I WILL survive!*

(You like how I say "we" like I have been the one studying night and day for the last 3 and a half years of my life. I may as well have been!)

Me, a baby-wearer?

So, I have never thought of myself as a baby-wearer. You know, those who insist that wearing their babies all day long is the best thing that you could ever do for them. Don't get me wrong, I would love to "wear my baby" all the time. Unfortunately, I have been blessed with 2 very busy and active boys who would rather do anything BUT be strapped to me.

Well, that may be changing. Lately Alex has spent a lot of time doing this...

whenever he is put down. Not sure if it his teeth coming in or the overwhelming desire he has to make his mommy feel loved :) No matter what the reason is we have found the only thing that makes him happy these days is to be held.. all day. As great as this is it doesn't bode well for getting much done... until today! I finally forged into the world of baby wearing, and it was wonderful. Alex spent the afternoon on my back while I got the floors swept, laundry folded and dinner made. All the while he was happy. AHHHHH!

We may have to do this more often. Can't help but think about the added bonus of all the extra calories I am burning carrying around an extra 17 pounds!

Peek a boo, I see you!

This is what I get to wake up to every morning! And I couldn't be more blessed. I love you little man!