Oh what a beautiful morning!

When I woke at 6:45 and saw this:
(Kate's bottle all ready for middle of the night feeding untouched)
I almost peed my pants!


This little sleepyhead:
Slept the whole night!

I woke Matt up to make sure I wasn't dreaming. He smiled when he realized he never got up to feed her (he was the designated nighttime feeder, one bottle a day=mama gets break). Then we both had a mini panic attack and I ran in to check on her. The little peanut girl slept until 7:10!
Let's hope this is a new habit.

She Rice Cereals

This tiny girl is getting so big. She was showing all the signs of being ready for rice cereal, so we gave it a try. She lovessss it! She opens her mouth when the spoon gets close and doesn't spit it out at all! I was holding her while eating dinner last night and she was so fascinated with the my food. She watch my fork from the plate up to my mouth! I feel like she went from this tiny little newborn to a chubby little baby so fast!

Weekend Report

Have I said how much I love sun, sand, and surf? Well, I do.
The weekend started off with a YUMMY dinner at Romano's with some friends, then we headed to our Branch Party. And boy was it a party. It was a blast. Our Branch really knows how to throw a good party.
We had a lazy Saturday morning and then headed to T-Street. Saturday was clear and warm, and just how I like it. Kate was so good and is proving to like the beach just like us! I love that. You gotta train 'em early!
Saturday evening we went to the mall and surprisingly did not get Kate one item!
Sunday morning was spent in our Pjs, church, and then some Wii. I smoked my Dad and Matt, it was awesome.

I am obsessed with this chubby face






A major shout out is deserved by by brother Mike and his wife Megan, my brother-in-law Aaron, and my Uncle who all rode in the MS Bike Tour in Santa Barbara this weekend. Those of you who don't know, my Dad suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, and they did this ride in his name. Over the weekend the riders raised 1,000,000 toward research for MS! Isn't that great? I am so proud of them. They did 75 miles and raise $5,000. I heard there were LOTs of hard hills, but they did it! I really wish we would have been there to cheer them on! Good work guys!

Last week I went to the mall to get some clothes for myself and returned with this:

Why is it so much easier to justify spending money on your child than yourself???

124 Days

Dear Little Peanut Girl,
It has been one hundred and twenty four days since you came into our lives. Each of those days has been filled with pure joy. Sure, there have been a lot of other emotions mixed in there somewhere, but the joy is what we have felt most in the past four months. When I picked you up out of your cradle this morning, it was just as exciting as it was one hundred and twenty four days ago. I thought I loved you more than my heart had possible capacity to love with, but I have learned that my heart grows just as fast as you do. I love you more and more every day. We have loved watching you learn and grow. Your smile makes my day, and your laugh makes my week. Every milestone you reach is celebrated like you wouldn't believe. You have brought us so much happiness. You are our entertainment. You are our favorite topic of conversation. You are the center of our world. You have stolen our hearts. We love you little Kate bug. This has been the best one hundred and twenty four days of my life.
Love,
Mommy

i love love love summer. not fall.

You know what, I hate Fall. There I said it. All you people keep blogging about hot chocolate, sweaters, rain, leaves falling, and crisp air. Crisp air?! I dislike it all. Except hot chocolate. I love hot chocolate.
Every year when it starts to get a little cooler, or when school starts or when the leaves fall, I get a pit in my stomach.
I absolutely love everything about Summer. Summer is it for me. I love hot weather. I love the sun. I love laying out. I love the beach. I love going to the pool. I love eating yummy fruit all Summer. I love BBQs. I love sand. I love waking up to blue skies every morning. I love the carefree feeling Summer brings. I love being tan. I love wearing shorts and breezy skirts. I love sandals.
And I think I hate Fall because it takes all that away. And it means a whole year until I can have it all back.
My parents have a tree that is prematurely letting its leaves fall, I hate it. I also hate that I was trying to lay out because it is still Summer (until Sept, 21) and the dumb leaves kept landing on me.
So rude Fall.
Go away.

The day that changed our lives

A year ago today I woke up at 4am, walked into the bathroom with a nervous stomach and little box in hand, and came out forever changed.
"Oh. My. Gosh." as I watched the two pink lines appear on the test almost instantly. Then I laughed.
I got back into bed and laid there for a good 20 minutes trying to imagine what my new life would be like. I also was thinking how funny it was that I was laying right next to sleeping Matt and he had no idea what 9 months would bring!
I wanted to tell Matt in a fun way, but after 20 minutes I couldn't stand it. All my moving around had woken him up and he probably thought it was strange that I was wide awake with my eyes open as big as Oreos. He kept asking why I couldn't sleep. Finally I turned on the light, sat up and asked him, "So, do you want to know why I can't sleep? We are having a baby!"
He looked completely confused and shocked. "What? No?!" So, I went into the bathroom to get the proof. Then he went into a weird round of asking really irrelevant questions like, "Where did that test come from? (I secretly bought it) Where did you get? When did you get it? When did you take it? Are you sure?" So funny.
So, it is a good thing that it comes with a second test because he couldn't believe it. I don't think we went back to sleep! We just kept looking at each other and laughing and hugging!
September 17, 2007 was one of the most exciting days of our lives. That day we found out we would be parents.

Yum

A fun night out

We had a fun night out with Scott and Jenni to the Angle game. We left Kate with my parents and got some yummy dinner at Bad to the Bone and then went to the game. It was nice to get out and get a little break!

Couch Potatos

MoJo

Consider yourself lucky is you live in San Juan Capistrano, Tempe (AZ), Thousand Oaks or West LA. This place opened on Saturday and I have already had it 3 times. It the love child of Pinkberry and Cherry On Top, but on steroids. You MUST try it. I thought Pinkberry was it, nope, MoJo.
My fav. flavors: Pomegranate and Original.

Go get yourself some.
And call me before you go. (I am in walking distance, yes, a tender mercy.)

My rollie pollie

She rolls!

8439 steps in my shoes.

Today has been a good day for no particular reason. I remember in the midst of college finals and boy problems, my sister telling me about her day filled with crying babies, diaper changes, making dinner, etc. etc. and feeling totally jealous and wishing my day could be like hers. How much more fulling than studying Statistics. And boy was I right. I love my little life. It is simple, happy and full of love. Sure, there are stresses, problems, and bad days, but for the most part, it's great.
This post is for me, I want to remember today. (AKA=boring for others)

The day started at 7:50 when Matt's alarm went off. We always snuggle for at least ten minutes until he gets up. He knows not to talk to me too much in those 10 minutes because I like to fall back asleep when he leaves. If he starts a conversation that I have to participate in, it wakes me up fully.
Sometimes I remind him, "too much talking, don't wake me up".
He returns showered and smelling yummy to say goodbye to his girls. He wakes up Kate and puts her in bed with me before he leaves. I love my little family.
Kate and I snuggle in bed for a while. Diaper change! Much needed one. I now know what those funny sounds were at 7am. Get her dressed in cute cozy outfit. It is foggy and a little cool out.
We peak into my Dad's office to say good morning. Kate loves her grandpa. We go outside and lay on a blanket under the tree. We read "Horns to Toes", Kate's new favorite book. She still obsessed with "The Shape of Me, and Other Stuff" by Dr. Suess. She kicks her little chubby legs, and makes funny noises when we read these books to her. We look at the trees. I take some pictures with my new camera. Don't want to forget this morning. The sun is hitting her skin just right and making it look like a soft fuzzy pink peach. Of course I have to nibble and kiss it a million times.
Usually I have made her giggled by now which gives her the hiccups, so inside for a few sips of water, which always does the trick.
Now she is complaining that she is hungry. I love this time with her. She stares up at me as she nurses with those big brown eyes. When we make eye contact she stops nursing and breaks out in the biggest smile. Makes my heart melt. 25 minutes later, burp burp and off we go.
Into the stroller for a quick walk. She is loving facing forward. She likes to stare at the trees. We pass a few neighbors. To Ortega and back.
Just about time for her first nap. She says goodnight to her grandpa. Diaper is changed. I rock her and sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", "I am a child of God", and "I'm trying to be like Jesus". Lay her down. Kiss the top of her nose, inbetween her eyes and tell her I love her. And boy do I. I rub her nose until she stares to close them and then I sneak out.
Downstairs for a quick work out. Gilad from Fit TV is awesome. I finish up and realize I haven't had breakfast. Honey Bunches of Oats this morning. Check on Kate and can't help up stare at her sleeping. I love watching her sleep.
Quick get ready before she wakes up. Check my "Google Reader". Watch some McCain and Palin on the news.
Throw in some laundry. Andddddddddd she is awake. She is always crying when she wakes up and right when she sees me she breaks into a smile. It is my favorite.
Nurse nurse nurse.
Outfit change. Warmer now, and taking her to the mall. She must look cute. She wears a red, white and blue plaid tank top with ruffles down the front, and a white denium mini skirt with a big white bow. I also put on white sandles, first time with shoes in public.
Race to the mall. Only one hour until next nap time! Returns at Nordstom. Try on and buy shirt. Kate is "talking" in the dressing room and people are laughing at her. Run to Old Navy, and race by the sales. Without slowing down grab Kate a bikini for next summer. Too cute. Speed through a few other stores and then to the car. It is now exactly 2 hours since Kate has woken up from her nap and she is letting me know she is tired.
Falls alseep in the car. Big no no. Get home 20 minutes too late. Change diaper I missed my window of opportunity. I tried to put her down but I fail. Nurse nurse nurse. Burp, burp burp.
Kate plays under her little baby gym while I finish my blog reading. Then we have some laughing time. I love this little girl and she melts me when she giggles.
Second attempt for the the nap. Rock and sing. Rub and hum. Sucess. Matt calls to tell me he forgot his "undies" for his soccer game. Opps. Sound like a person problem to me. Three options, wake up Kate and take him some "undies", let his G's hang out, or...nope, not an option. I tell him he'll have to come home. Home he came, and off we went to his game.
Grabbed Arby's on the way home. I get super excited because they have Jalepeno Poppers again!
We come home and get Kate ready for bed. I love getting her all cozy for bed. New diaper, little massage with Baby Bee's lotion (Burt's Bees...the best!). For some reason we always comb her hair before bed. Matt usually picks out one of her millions of pink PJs. I have a hard time not eating her when she smells so good and looks so darn cute. Nurse her, and we sang her songs. I was getting a little tired of Twinkle Twinkle, so now we mix it up a little:
Kate, Kate, close your eyes,
We will see you when you rise.
We love you, oh yes we do,
We love you so, it is true.
Go to sleep, our little Kate,
We will see you when you wake.

After one of two songs she is ready to sleep. We kiss her little nose and creep out of the room. Every night at this time I instantly feel so tired! I am off duty. Watch Prison Break, but I fall asleep! 11:00 is finally here, off to bed!

I walked 8439 steps today. No wonder my feet are tired.

Sleeping bootcamp

Last week I was about to loose my mind. K did not sleep ALL day long. No naps. Nada. At the end of the day I felt like I was a zombie. After she went to bed I raced to the bathroom (no time to use the potty with a fussy baby all day, I think I had been holding it for 6 hours), reread Babywise, and skimmed though Health Sleep Habits, Happy Child. My mom said I needed to empower myself. I went to bed at 9:30 and prayed I could help our baby learn to nap. I would let her cry. I would make her sleep. I felt empowered. And nervous. How could I let my sweet baby cry and cry? I know the second I go in to sooth her she would stop crying and smile at me. But, I knew it must be done.
I woke the next morning with knots in my stomach. But, empowered I was. I started the day off with a pep talk from my sister and nap training began. Kate woke up at 8:30, and I played and played and played with her. At exactly 10:20 I began the "soothing process" of singing and rocking. I layed her down at 10:30 (putting down 2 hours after waking is totally the key) and she cried for 10 minutes and then slept until 1!!!!! I repeated the whole process in the afternoon and sucess! No crying. SHE NAPS! Mama is happy. Baby is happy.
However, her night waking is still in full swing. She is still in our room with us. I am ready for her to move out, but Matt is still not ready. So, there is no way we can let her cry it out while we are in the same room! Just too hard. So, we will take the naps and wake up once at night.
Just as long as I have time to shower, get dressed, and use the bathroom durning the day, I am a happy camper.

love.

love her smile. love his smile.
love her eyes.
love her mouth.

love her. love him.

Look who's moving up in the world!

Kate's riding like a big kid now! She loves it!
(this post is for the grandmas)

Labor Day

There wasn't too much labor going on in our neck of the woods. Matt let me sleep in until 10! (And let me go to bed early the night before!) He even got donuts! We played Wii, ping pong, and went for a walk. We ended the day at the park with the family for a picnic. It was a perfect day! Not ready for this long weekend to be over yet!

Kate and Carter are really into their hands.

Carter even borrowed Kate's hand for a little suck. She wasn't too happy about sharing.


Carter thought it would be fun to pinch Kate too. Funny boy.
Cute cousins!

Night out!

Matt and I got to go out twice this week! We went to dinner on Monday night (our anniversary) and we also went to the Jack Johnson concert on Saturday night. The concert was really fun. It felt nice to do something with just the two of us, even though we sure missed our little peanut. She stayed home with her grammy and grandpa and did very well without us. The concert was packed! We got there a little late and had a hard time finding a place to sit but finally found a little spot on the lawn. Jack is amazing live, we can't for him to tour again. (Next time we are going to get some better seats!)

2 Years Down! Monday night.

Matt came home with these beautiful flowers!

Saturday night

We had to kiss Kate a million times before we left her.
At the concert. If we look high, it is probably because we are. Everyone and their brothers were smokin' a little somethin' somethin' and it was hard to not breathe it. Yuck.

Can you say nose bleeds?
Amazing Jack.


Thanks for the fun dates Mattie. I love being married to you!
And thanks mom for babysitting! I love living with you!

Cute girl