Hi.

I confess. I have been bad at updating this blog.
We have been busy having fun!
We have been going to the beach and pool, watching Kate WALK!, signing paper after paper for loan stuff, watching "The Bachelorette" and "Dating in the Dark" (anyone?), etc.
I promise to update sometime soon!

I love Matt.

Tell someone you love them.

Progress

Last week when I stopped by, this is what I saw through the windows! Scary!

Everyone seems to think it will close on time. Here's to hoping!

Thoughts on a Monday Afternoon

Counting down the hours until The Bachelorette start tonight. (I am still sad over Reid, and I am not a huge Ed fan. Jillian is so super flat. I love all her clothes.)

Why do I love chocolate so much?

I just got Kate summer clothes for next summer. Thinking about her being so big made me want to hold her and squeeze her more while she is still "small".

All I can think about is our future home...I have decorated every inch of it in my head already. (Not to worry, all the work for the mold will be done before we close. We are being very careful about it. It is coming along. We should be in by the end of Aug., hopefully sooner.)

Do you have a "hot day outfit?" My mom had (has?) this red mexican looking moo moo. Whenever it got super hot, it came on. I love my "hot day outfit" but my moms is better.

Disclaimer...not ready for baby #2. Not for awhile. But lately I have been thinking about how fun/different it would be to have a boy. I saw the name Hudson, and though that it was kinda cute. The next day I realized my kids would be Kate and Hudson. Kate Hudson. Lame. But still like it.

Why can't I get motivated to work out?

I am really loving flat bread crackers with Skinny Cow Light Swiss Cheese and Italian marinated cucumbers.

I am in love with my lemon basil that I planted. Everyone should have lemon basil on hand.

I miss my friends. Laying out with Bree and using veggie oil since we ran out of tanning oil. Riding our rusty bikes around Hawaii with Liz and Leona (Jenna). Staying up talking til the wee hours with Carly. Riding our cruisers in the middle of the warm Provo nights with Char. Lingerie shows in the Belmont apt. Running around Vienna. Fish club with Juliet. Miss them.

I can see Kate changing before my eyes. It is so fun to watch, but a tiny bit sad that at the same time. Time is FLYING. She is getting so smart, and so funny.

Summer is going too fast. Slow down, Summer.

14 months

Oh my Baby Lover, (Kate bug, Munchy, Lover Buns, Sweet Baby, Princess, Baby Girl)

You are getting too big. My back is constantly in pain from carrying you around. But, I know there will come a day when you would rather be running around, and than on your mama's hip. I am trying to savor these days with you as my "baby". You are still not walking independently. And I know if it because we hold you too much.

You have taken some steps here and there, but you are very cautious, and get scared if my hand is not near. You are very curious and explore every nook and cranny. You love to get into my makeup and look at each item. You are also obsessed with Grammy's boom box. You crawl over to it, point, and start to dance. That is our signal that you are ready to party. You are becoming quite the dancer! You are also a social butterfly already. You love being around people and smiling and showing off to them!

You are really smart. You are communicating better every single day. I am amazed at the things you pick up without us consciously teaching you. You love to read, and I often find you with a book open, flipping through the pages by yourself.

You are such a delight. I love spending my days with you. And I even secretly love it when you wake up in the night, so I can love and snuggle you. You are a happy girl, and I am so happy to be your Mama.

I love you Bug.
Mama

6 pm

Like every other household I am sure, we count the hours until 6pm.
We usually head outside to wait and welcome Matt home after a long day. Kate's face is priceless when she spots that car come around the corner. It is the happiest she is all day long.
She is so in love with her "Dada".

Busy

I have been neglecting this blog.
Lo siento.
We have been busy in the Spanish Branch.
Kate has been working on getting 6 teeth at once.
We have been having fun at the pool and beach.
Kate has been hanging out with her cousins and some friends.
And what has been taking up most of our time this:

a few more days and I am sure some mushrooms would have sprouted.
kitchen countertop
mold mold mold


Our future abode.
Holy Moldy , right?
Nasty. Bank owned. Flooded. MOLD.
They are re-doing EVERYTHING (flooring, walls, cabinets, counter tops, appliances, doors, paint, carpet, everything!)
It is currently stripped down to the bare bones.
We started escrow yesterday.
I am going by today to see the progress. Maybe I'll take some photos!
No promises to be better at blogging. But I'll try.
xo

James Nachtwey

Came across this amazing photographer. Once in awhile we all need a little reminder of what life is like outside of our safe bubbles. Click here. I will warn you that some photos are graphic and quite emotional.

My favorite holiday

Went to the pool with Steph and Jon, and walked past this strange sight... everything all set up, and not a soul to be seen.
This baby looked so cute in her bikini.
She played so hard.
She loves her Daddy.
Me and my Baby Lover.
Kate crashed the minute we got back in the car. She took a loooong nap while we had a yummy BBQ with the family.
Then off to a... (special event)
where we took many pictures like this...
and this....
and this...I wanted to eat Kate she looked so cute.
These picture of my lovers makes me want summer and the Fourth of July to happen all year long.
Kate and Carter showing some USA pride.
Kate wasn't a big fan of the fireworks. She acted like they were going to fall on her. She cautiously watch in the arms of her dad. She would squint and turn her head away each time!
It was the perfect day!
Until at 1am the neighbors decided to throw a party. While on the phone with the police at 1:30 am I had this strange conversation.
Me: Calling about a loud party and fireworks going off.
Man: Ok, do they have a DJ?
Me: I don't know. I just hear really loud techno. Man: So..... you don't like techo? Me: Yeeeeahh. I like techno.....?
Man: Just not at this hour, right?
Me: Right.

20 minutes later there was silence.

Guest blogger: Kate

Hi Everyone,
This is Kate. I have been a busy one-year-old and my mom hasn't been updating very often. So I wanted to show you what I have been up to.

My parents took me to a Quinceanera where I was totally in my element (loud music, yummy food, and lots of people). I danced my heart out.
These are my amigos from the Spanish Branch. Me, Arlette, Andre, and Allen.
I thought we were going home since it was 9:30, but they skipped out exit and drove to Oceanside to see some friends. I was super tired, I get really serious and get big eyes when I am tired. I didn't go to bed until 12:00 that night!

We went on a bike ride to get some breakfast.
I like this kinda breakfast.A lot.
So much that I wanted more and more.

I have been spending a lot of time with this stuff. It smells gross but it sure feels good!
My mom took me to the beach and for some reason she kept giving me snack after snack after snack. My favorite were the dill pickles, and the Popsicle from the lifeguard. I think she was trying to keep my hands and mouth busy and not eating any sand. She says it give me "diaper issues". I don't like the sound of that.

I got to hang out with my cousins and party with Maile who was leaving for Hawaii for school. This is Carter (born in April), Ashlyn (born in October), me (born in May), and Jenna (born in November). We are just missing Sydney (born in August), Malia (born in March) and Steph's baby who is coming in October! We have had a busy year.

I love Saturdays when my Dada is home and we go to the beach.
I had a really good time, and ate lots and lots of sand. I wish I had not done that. I am still having some "issues". Also, look at my legs, I think I am slimming down a little bit. My mom makes me work out now. I think she needs to work out.

We have been hanging out with my cousins a lot. My auntie likes to buy me and Addie matching outfits. We look pretty cute, huh? I crawled all around the hot concrete and got blisters on the tops of my toes. Ouch.
My mom says that I can't just have fun all summer. I have to keep learning as well. So in the afternoon we work on sign language and read. I am picking up a lot of signs. My favorites are dog, dad, more, and cow.
And sometimes I make up my own signs.
It has been a pretty good summer so far. I am getting tan and my hair is getting lighter. My mom keeps dunking me under water, and I don't cry anymore! I am such a big girl. Oh! And my top teeth are coming in! One broke though, and the other is almost there. They sure have been hurting. I am still sleeping in some weird "pack-n-play" thing, so I am hoping my parents find a house soon so I can get a real bed.
Well, I will tell my mom to start blogging more. I think she has been busy taking care of my cute little bum all week.
xoxo,
Kate

My pretty girl