A day in the life of a five-almost-six month old.

I cannot believe its been six months.
Everyone says that, right? But really.
That seems like a long time, feels like one too.

Graham man STILL won't take a damn pacifier.
At least now he's starting to hold on to it on his own and chew on it.
He can roll from front to back and straighten his arms while on tummy.
We've started solids, his first was rice cereal followed by prunes, sweet potatoes, and carrots.
He can sit up on his own, still working on balancing himself fully.
He loves to scratch/feel things and he grabs everrryyyythingggg.
His hair has grown back in and looks blonde sometimes and auburn-y others.
He's got his daddy's cowlick that's impossible to manage.
He loves to gurgle and squeal, and it's the most adorable thing in the world.
His sleep habits aren't the best. Hoping to fix that soon.

Over all motherhood is getting easier and a lot more fun.
Don't get me wrong it's still more difficult that I ever imagined...
but he's worth it.

Wine Country

I blogged. Watch out! 

It's definitely been low on my priority list these days. 

Now that I'm a mother, there's just never enough time in the day. 

Last week, my mother and our friend Zola (also my high school choir teacher) 

came to visit me here in No Cal! It was fantastic and too, too short. 

We went to both Napa and Healdsburg and it was beeeautiful. 

I can't believe how close we live to such amazing places! 

I'll have to take Jake back for sure. Maybe after Graham stops hating the car seat.

Thanks for brightening my days and cleaning my microwave ladies.

Come back soon. 

More blogging to come... hopefully. 

Not making any promises :)

If you comment I might be more inclined. Just saying. 

P.S. Is anyone out there watching The Good Wife? I AM DYING INSIDE. 

3 (almost) 4 Months

Well hello there... 

I've been in frigid Idaho for a few weeks now.

Jake's still in Africa but will be home soon! 

I can't believe Graham is nearly four months old. 

My life has been madness since the day he was born,

 but I love him more and more each day. 

- loves his new jumper, thanks grandma!

- starting to grab toys, always manages to grab my hair

- chews on everything he can get a hold of 

- sleeps 6-8 night hours at a time

- his head is getting so big that his hair can't keep up.. patchy grandpa hair :)

-starting to laugh, squeals like crazy no more grunting!

- loves bath time, kicks and kicks

- has an aversion to feeding from my left side... have to trick him into it

- still will not take a pacifier, vomits a lot when given one

-getting much better at putting himself to sleep

- weighing in at about 15 pounds

thanks nicole maxfield for these beautiful photos.

A Year In Review: 2013

January: Hawaii. Take me back right now!

 February: Thunders Game and the big move to... Altus. Yuck.

March: We found out we were pregnant! Also visited our new home in California. 

April: Easter in Dallas 

May: Memorial day with OK friends and tornado season!

June: It's a boy! We shared the news with family and friends.

July: Moved to California and took a Euro cruise with the family 

 August: Third trimester and baby shower number one

September: State fair, baby shower, peach days and 25th birthday! 

October: The birth of our son! 

November: Family visits and tours of San Fran.

December: Muir Woods and Christmas at home.

What a crazy fast year it was! We moved our little family to California and became parents. I'm excited to start a new year. I hope to be more a more organized, positive, and productive me. 

Blessing Day

a gift from nana nance

four generations and his uncle/twin

 always studying...

Baty and Bart Baty, his namesakes.

 those cheeeeeeks!

blue steel.

After almost a month unplugged in Idaho, I'm back home trying to recover from an amazing Christmas vacation. Our living room is covered in dirty clothes, leftover candy and mail. lots of mail. After a ten hour drive I was thrilled to be home with my little family. We hadn't been home 24 hours before Jake was told he needs to leave again for a 21 day mission to Africa. Ugh. Will life ever slow down?

I'm taking a break from the craziness to reflect on this special day we had last weekend. My aunt and uncle were generous enough to let us use their home for the event and it was jam packed with our family and friends. I was overwhelmed with how many people drove out of their way to see little Graham. Jake used the priesthood to give him a tender heartfelt blessing. There was such a strong spirit there, it was a wonderful way to start off the new year.

January be kind to me!