More Blue On The Horizon

That's right, there will be more blue at our place when we welcome another bouncing boy into the family! It was confirmed today that a baby boy will be joining us on May 17 or thereabouts. :) We're extremely excited for Aaron to have a playmate so close in age and are so thankful that the baby appears to be healthy and well! We hope that Aaron and his little bro will be close buddies. I think it'll be great!

I must say I was surprised as I was so sure this baby was a girl (even had a name picked out and everything). And I like to think I have ESP. :) Oh well, maybe next time! ;)

Special Visit

My Mom is on the left and her sister Linda, on the right.

My wonderful Aunt Linda came to Virginia for Thanksgiving this year. They drove up to New York to see my sister and her family for the actual holiday, but she and my parents drove down to see us one day. We enjoyed having them over and seeing Linda after so long. This was the first time she had met Aaron -- it was love at first sight. :) Thanks for the visit! We loved seeing you again!

It's All Cute and Little :)

Aaron chillin on the couch with his cute little friend Alison.


Aaron with his cute little cousin Madelyn. They were so cute together!


Aaron with his cute little rocking chair. (Can you tell that it's late and that I'm tired? Hence no deviation from the same adjectives!)

'Tis The Season ...

... to eat, and eat, and eat and eat and eat. And socialize. ;) We had so much fun this weekend attending three different Christmas parties: one for some friends from church, one for one of Mike's colleagues, and one for some of our neighbors. Whew -- I'm pooped! :) (I'll have to do a separate post on our wonderful neighbors. They are seriously so kind!) I wish I had brought my camera to all three shindigs, but I'm never that prepared. I did happen to have my camera in my bag at one of them, so I snapped a few shots. I just love Christmas festivities and seeing how others decorate for the beautiful season. This particular house looked spectacular!

Giveaway!

p.s. She (Amy) is doing a giveaway for many of her crafty, beautiful creations! Check it out and find out how to win here: http://mommyandbeyond.blogspot.com/

I Love My New Bag!

Isn't this bag darling? My great friend Amy, an amazing seamstress, made it for me for a belated birthday gift. I love it! It features two inside pockets, just the right size for diapers, and a cool key hook (perfect for people like me always losing their keys!) She also used red stitching to make it pop! I love the contrasting, yet coordinating, fabrics inside and out.

I wanted something classy yet fun, and I think Amy chose the perfect prints. This is my new diaper bag. Thanks for a gorgeous bag, Amy! (On a side note, must add that Amy's a pretty darn good matchmaker too ... she's the one who introduced Mike and me back when. Thanks for finding me a great husband, Amy!) Creating bags and matchmaking -- Amy's got some skills. ;)

Amy actually sells her bags, which come in the most amazingly beautiful fabrics. You can check out her blog here and her etsy shop here! Not too late to order a great, customized Christmas present!! Thanks again, Amy!

Here are a couple of examples of bags she just finished. Aren't the colors great?!



Watch out, Vera Bradley! ;)

Some detail shots of my bag:





(All pictures taken from Amy's blog.) :)

Baby Number Two On The Way!

I went to my last doctor's appointment and learned that I'm further along than I thought -- I'm 14 weeks! That puts me due on May 22, and we find out the gender (in theory) on Dec. 17 ... just before Christmas! So fun. We think little Aaron will be a great big bro. We're so excited for another addition to the family.

So far I'm feeling great ... just tired. The fatigue has waned a little now that I'm over the hump of the first trimester. I feel my energy returning, little by little. But that still doesn't mean I have any desire to stay up past 10 o'clock! :) It just feels so good to sleep ...

Also, my appetite is returning. Seriously, the only thing that tasted good the first trimester was soft-serve ice cream. Could it be anymore cliche?? :) (It was that way when I was pregnant with Aaron too. That would explain the 40-pound weight gain!! I'm determined to gain significantly less this time.) That's a trademark of my pregnancies -- I totally lose my appetite the first trimester, which is bad, because you have to eat! But now I'm craving other things like spaghetti and apple juice (my new addiction.) I really hope other things start sounding good too. The first ultrasound is tomorrow! We'll keep you posted. :)

Much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving: the Gospel, family, friends, a warm home, a baby on the way, and let's not forget soft-serve ice cream (I don't care how cold it is outside!) ;)

Father-Son Bonding

(In bottom picture): What better way to bond than by watching a previous year's Tour de France? ;) Worked for these two! Mike says Aaron's getting prepped to watch the Tour this July. Now if we just had cable ... ;) Minor detail!

Aaron's First Haircut

A couple weeks after the fact, but here are some before and after shots of Aaron's wild and then more-tamed do. Notice the curls in the third pic down and then poof! Gone! Just like that! (Don't worry all you curly hair fans, it'll be back. No escaping it in this family!)

Our friend, Amy, took the "after" shots just after Mike's mom took him for his first official haircut. Thanks for the darling pics, Amy, and thanks for taking him to get the haircut, Dianne!





And after the cut ...

A Few Updates

Added a few pictures to the post below.

Also ... a friendly reminder to vote on Tuesday if you haven't already! :)

When I Dream, I Dream Big

Here's how it happened ...

Wheels started turning New Year's Day 2008. Our European excursion has been in the works since then. I woke up that morning fixed to go to Europe within the year -- it was my New Year's resolution you could say. I had a dream the night before that this was the year. I told Mike about the dream and he kindly humored me and went along with it. :)

As chance would have it, a few days later I ran into a friend from church at the mall (this was in Oregon.) I was talking to my friend, Barb, and she told me that she and her husband (the bishop of our church's congregation) were heading to Europe soon. "Europe? We're going to Europe this year, too!" I told her. I figured if I talked about it with confidence, as if it were going to happen, that it would indeed come to pass. (Positive thinking.) :) After a few more minutes of chatting with Barb, telling her that Mike and I wanted to visit Germany, France, and Switzerland, Barb suggested that we stay with her son and daughter-in-law in Germany and use their home as a base for our touring adventures. "Really?" I asked. "Well, you should probably run it by them first to make sure it's okay." So she did, and it was a go.

Barb's daughter-in-law, Kristine, and I started communicating by e-mail and she was very gracious about opening their home to us for five nights. (We stayed at B&B's two nights.) I thought this was especially gracious considering they didn't know us. So in the end, everything totally worked out and I can check my New Year's resolution off this year. How many people can actually say that? I know this is probably one of the very few times I've actually fulfilled my New Year's resolution. I'm a total believer now! :) I saw a part of the world that I have longed to see for a very long time. It was beautiful, it was interesting, I loved it. I loved experiencing -- even if only for a short time -- a totally new culture, new languages, and new surroundings. I am especially grateful to Steve and Kristine for opening their lovely home and for allowing us to stay with them. We enjoyed getting to know them and their two sweet boys. They are wonderful people -- obviously! Oh, and as if Steve and Kristine didn't do enough for us, they insisted we use one of their cars during our stay. That, along with their GPS, was a huge help!!


McLean Family
---
The actual trip ...

So we departed October 20 for eight glorious days in Europe, making day trips to France; Switzerland; and cities, villages, and towns in Germany. I've never seen anything so beautiful as Europe in the fall. It was lovely, picturesque, and totally memorable. I loved all the quaint little towns and villages we saw. Stuttgart (where our hosts live) is perfectly situated for visiting nearby countries, so it worked out perfectly.

We spent our first night near Wiesbaden, Germany, after spending a wonderful afternoon with a dear friend/my former boss from BYU. She happened to be in Germany at the same time -- talk about great timing! I loved seeing Melody and her two beautiful children.


Here's a shot of Melody, me, and her two kids in Wiesbaden. I love how our outfits blend in with the background. :)

Among our favorite stops on the trip were Rothenburg, Germany, a darling Christmas town where it feels like Christmas everyday, and Bavaria, Germany, home of Cinderella's Castle.




Rothenburg - I love the flower boxes in the windows!

As for Bavaria, in the southern part of the country, I've never seen anything quite like it. Truly a magical place! Just the drive alone was totally scenic and breathtaking. And yes, we took a carriage ride up to the castle. I felt like I was in a storybook! :)


Here's the castle! Also known as Neuschwanstein Castle.


Here we are!


We toured the castle. The view from inside was unreal! (Sorry, we weren't allowed to take pictures of the interior of the castle. We were only permitted to hang out the window and take pictures of the outside!)


Another view. Isn't it gorgeous?


The castle grounds. Wouldn't be too bad living there!

We also spent a day in Munich - a very cool city where, if I had unlimited funds, I would do some serious shopping. Definitely the best window shopping I've experienced! I loved seeing the European trends and styles. I was surprised by how many people in Germany spoke English. Apparently those who are educated in the country speak some English.

France was neat -- I loved that the city we were in (Strasbourg) had a river running down the middle of it. We enjoyed yummy sorbet and a crepe for dessert that night.


Strasbourg, France


Aww! :)

And Switzerland was just too beautiful for words. We were able to see Rhein Falls, kind of a miniature Niagara Falls, but extremely impressive and stunning in its own right. We especially loved the pastries we enjoyed at a Swiss bakery. :)






Rhein Falls, Switzerland

It was a great trip! We loved our adventure. It almost seems like a dream now. It started as a dream and ended as a dream, bringing us full circle. :-) Mike, I promise next year's New Year's resolution won't be quite so grandiose -- it'll be something like get in better shape -- something a little less expensive. . ;) Thanks for humoring me and for helping make my dream become a beautiful reality. I'm so glad I could share it with you!

We loved our trip and feel very grateful and fortunate to have seen such a magnificent part of the world.

----
Sweet reunion ...

One of the great things about having kids is that it makes it a little easier to return home. :) We were so excited to see Aaron again. He looked so different, so big! Mike's mom graciously watched him for us while we were away -- that way we were able to take in more on the trip. She took him to get his first haircut at a barbershop. She said he did great! She said by the end of the haircut he actually seemed to be enjoying it. Thank you so much, Dianne, for watching him. A priceless gift. :)

*These are just a few picts from the trip. I'll add more soon! Just wanted to get some up.

Off to Germany!

We leave for Germany in a few days where we'll see the beautiful sites of the country, including Cinderella's Castle (pictured above). We'll make our way to the entrance of this stunning fortress via carriage ride! Does it get any more romantic???

Check back in a couple weeks for pics of our adventure!

p.s. Happy birthday to my brother, David, today!! You are a prince in your own right. :)

The Hair Of Years' Past

1964


1972


1974


1978


1982


1994

You gotta love the hairdos!!! ;) I couldn't help it; I had to join in the fun. I always wondered what it'd be like to live in certain eras ... now at least I know what I'd look like! (Scary.) Ever wonder what you'd look like in a previous decade? Well, find out. Visit this site and upload a photo of yourself ... or of someone you love. :) Let me know if you have a favorite look/year. :) I love the 1964 secretary look!! The natural texture of my hair isn't far from the 1994 look, so it wouldn't take much to create that do. Guess I'm forever a 90s girl (minus the bangs). :)

Thanks, Laura, for sharing the fun link!

The Face Of A One-Year-Old

Here's our birthday boy at his favorite spot: perched at his bedroom window. He likes to look outside and see what's going on. He often points at things, looks at me, and starts "talking," as if he wants to have a conversation about what he sees. I wish I knew what he was trying to say! For now I'll just have to use my imagination!
p.s. Don't mind the outfit! ;)

Can you believe he's one? I can't! Yes, little Aaron turned one today! My good friend, Stephanie, who also has a one-year-old, recently commented on her blog that if she could relive the past year, she would. I feel the EXACT same way. The past year has been amazing. I thought I would note some of Aaron's little characteristics and favorites. These are, of course, from my observation and experience. He could have totally different ideas!

Favorite foods: He loves it all, but I'd have to say watermelon, marshmallows, Cheerios, and bananas. He also loves his tri-vitamin drops. Good thing! ;)
Favorite things to do: Take baths, go for walks, look through books (that are usually upside-down,) push the stroller around the house, and pretend like he's sweeping or mopping (he's obsessed with both the broom and the Swiffer ) -- I only hope this obsession lasts! Oh, and how could I forget his obsession with phones (real and fake ... he doesn't discriminate.)
Trademark: Giving hugs and big, open kisses. He also hums as he eats food he enjoys.
Favorite words to say (or probably the only words he can say!): "Daddy" and "yeah"
Favorite time of day: When daddy comes home:)
Favorite skills: Clapping, doing his little dance (still does it!), learning to walk -- he's gaining more confidence!, waving bye-bye, and pointing.
Favorite people to visit: All the grandparents -- he lights up each time he sees them.
Favorite music: Any! We dance all the time. He loves it! :)
Favorite game he LOVES to play: Peek-a-boo. Now he likes to participate by "hiding."
Latest discovery: Shaking things -- tables, chairs, objects, etc.
Things I love about my boy: He's very quick to smile and laugh, and his eyes squint when he does. Sometimes I think he's laughing just to make me feel good. :) He often laughs when I put his shoes on; it must tickle because I can't think of anything comical about it! He's also very friendly with people in public and is quick to smile and wave. And he gives the sweetest hugs
-- I just adore them! There's nothing better. :)
Sleeping habits (this one's indisputable!): He's down to two solid naps a day and has slept well the past couple of nights. We're hoping this continues!
Things he'll do if you're not watching: Pour the entire container of food onto his tray and proceed to pick at it, pull all the clothes out of the drawer and put some on his head, pick up the phone and call 911. :)

Like I said ... I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat! It's been so much fun. We love this sweet, friendly, happy little boy and feel incredibly blessed and happy to have him in our home.

Happy birthday, Aaron!!! We're celebrating pretty low-key this year ... next year we'll party it up when he knows better what's going on. :)

Update on the 'First Words' Post

Last night Aaron said "Mommy," so not too far behind "Daddy". :) Mike was even there to witness it. It may have been a fluke, though, 'cause he hasn't really said it since.

(Sorry, this is kind of serving as my online journal, too, so I'm posting things that are probably of little or no interest to some of you! Thanks for humoring me.) :)

Mike's Trip To Utah

Mike just returned from a quick trip to Utah to see his Grandma Mathis. The night before he left, we all drove north together to see our wonderful friends, the Oshitas, who were visiting the area. They were in town doing the D.C.-touristy thing, so we had them over for dinner at my parents' house. I met the Oshitas on my mission, and we all ended up in Roseburg -- go figure! It was so great to see them, and their daughter Jaime, again. Brought back so many great memories -- from both my mission and from living in Roseburg.

Mike's parents were able to join the bunch for dinner, too. It worked out perfectly, because a highlight of the evening was seeing Aaron take his first steps! Three or four consecutive ones! It was perfect timing since we were all there to witness it. (Frankly, I think Aaron hammed it up for the audience!) ;) He looked so cute doing his wobbly walk. It was bittersweet seeing him walk for the first time. So cute!

The next day Mike left and had a great visit with his grandmother in Green River. (Mike's family grows and sells the famous Green River watermelons, if you've ever heard of them.) I'm glad he was able to see her again. He also spent time with his brother and sister and her family, among other relatives. He also saw our dear friends from Roseburg, the Ambrose family, who moved to Salt Lake about a year ago. He greatly appreciates everyone's kindness and hospitality. He was sad to leave but of course happy to see Aaron (and hopefully me) again! ;)


Oshitas


Mike and his Grandma Mathis


Mike's sister, Ann, and her son, Jacob


Ambrose family

Evidence That Fall Is Upon Us

I love this season! Nothing says fall like a little (literally) sweet potato pie. Yum. And I noticed today that our gorgeous leaves are already changing to vivid shades of red, yellow and orange. (This also means insane leaf raking is upon us!) :/ My favorite season is here. Besides fabulous food and spectular fall foliage, I love the glorious weather; the crispness in the air; the sweet, cozy sweaters; fall festivals; the anticipation of upcoming holidays; hot apple cider; and my absolute fave, pumpkin pie. Happy autumn!

What does your fall look like?

p.s. I found this charming, shabby chic entry table for super cheap at T.J. Maxx. :)

Our First Run-In With the Local Authorities

This morning I saw a sheriff walking across our yard, and then he starting pounding on the front door. When I went to answer the door, he said, "We got a 911 hang-up call from this house."

"Oh that must have just been my son playing with the phone. I apologize," I said. Sure enough, I turned around to see Aaron playing with the phone. "When did you receive the call?" I asked. "Just a few minutes ago," he responded. "We tried calling the number back."

Oops!

Those police sure are responsive!

When I told Mike about the incident, his response was, "Well, did you offer them breakfast?"

Well, no. Was I supposed to?? :)

First Words

So Aaron's been saying things like "hi" and "hey", especially to cashiers and people in public. At least that's what it sounds like he says. But tonight he started saying one word over and over again, consistently: DADDY!!! What? you ask. Not mama? I know, I was shocked too. :)

It's still up in the air, but we think he might really understand who "Daddy" is ... when Mike was using the facilities tonight, Aaron kept banging on the door saying "Daddy" (his funny version of it) over and over.

It's funny to hear words come out of such a small person! He's growing up too fast!!!

Maybe someday he will say "Mama" too. :)

A Little Lip ;)

Aaron's come a long way since this picture was taken at about two weeks old. For one, he's grown into his lips, as my sister-in-law, Traci, insightfully pointed out yesterday! Gotta love this old-school pic ... and these bubba-licious lips!

Goodbye, Gina!

One of my closest friends, Gina, left for Egypt last week with her sweet family. Her Foreign Service assignment was changed from Jordan to Egypt, and they'll be there for two whole years. We will surely miss them! Goodbye and good luck, Gina! Wish I could say we'll visit ... ;)

p.s. Yellow, anyone? :) (This was not planned.)

We Have A Kitchen!

The plumber came a few days later than originally scheduled, hence the late post. We are so thankful for the following things: running water at the kitchen sink, countertops, appliances, cabinets, a floor that doesn't squeak, food in the pantry, and a happy place to prepare meals. I appreciate these things so much more after having gone without them.

It's been almost exactly a month since we moved in, so to have a fully functioning kitchen is very, very wonderful. Thanks to the many people who helped and provided good design advice. It came together!! We're so happy!



Don't worry! These are the "before" pics. :) Yes, we actually bought this house!

And, some after shots.


We decided to go with light maple cabinets, and we chose dark countertops for contrast.





I found the cute valance on the clearance rack at Lowe's, and my Mom custom-fit it for the window. Thanks, Mom!


We custom ordered this rounded corner so no one (short people) would poke an eye out. ;)

It's done!! It looks better in person! ;) Doesn't it always?!