blessed...

aah...Thanksgiving...so much to be thankful for...especially a little one with the initials CPH. Pure bliss..every moment I am with him. Enjoyed doing just that for Thanksgiving day with my family. Had a delicious dinner at my aunt and uncle's house...even had seconds of my grandma's noodles and yummy wild rice stuffing which I really need that recipe cause I want more of it.

did some Christmas shopping today with dave and carson and ran into these silly geese. Hope they make you smile.

Just a few happy snapshots from the last few days. (Gotta love that adidas outfit a friend gave Carson...thanks sweet Chrissy. Miss you tons!) xoxo

notes for mommy:
is 4 1/2 months old
starting to imitate us
makes fishy faces by puckering his mouth
there isn't anyone that can make him laugh bigger than daddy. :-)
loves rolling all over his ABC...mat
wearing 6 month clothes
xoxo

whew...

sick mommy and sick baby...not so much fun! Much better today but have been wiped out the last couple of days with a cold. We are sure making baby's immune system stronger. He is as happy as can be...has just had a stuffy nose. Would never know that he was sick since he is such a happy-go-lucky baby.

I love reading and singing (even if I sing off key, he has no clue and makes him smile great big) to Carson and a new favorite author is Todd Parr. A friend of mine gave Carson the book on Peace and now I would love to buy him a couple more. Parr even wrote a book called Underwear do's and don'ts ...will definitely make you smirk and wonder what's inside...and how can this be a children's book.


for mommy to remember
4 months and a few days old
reaching for toys
rolling ALL over the room now...can't leave the room or he will run into something
loves to put his feet in his mouth
loves to pull off his socks...and then put them in his mouth...I'm sure that will stop when he is walking (ewww)

xoxo

tag...

welp, guess it's hard to avoid when you're tagged twice...once by my friend Susan and then by another friend Emily. So here are 7 random facts about me.

1. When I was little I used to chew on my books. My mom used to cover the chew marks with masking tape. Guess it was due to my love of paper.

2. I absolutely hate mustard. Just the smell of it gives me the heebie geebies.

3. Dave and I eloped. yep, just the 2 of us in paradise (Hawaii) with the wedding coordinator, photographer, videographer and minister that reminded us of Don Ho. We came home and had a great reception to celebrate with family and friends.

4. Before I was pregnant I didn't care for carbonated water. Once I was pregnant, I craved it all the time. Now that's all I drink...just carbonated water (and just one cup of decaf pumpkin coffee in the morning).

5. I was a band geek in high school. Was a flag in the color guard. Met Dave while I was a member of Fantasia an indoor guard at Riverside Community College. He was the drum instructor.

6. Referring to the random fact above...We started dating when I was in high school; our 20 year dating anniversary is next year.

7. I was in the miss teen california pageant when I was 16. They had best interview award, best talent award and more...I won the best scrapbook award.

Now I'm suppose to tag 7 more people, but all the people I would tag have been tagged already so I will call it a done deal.

And now for some Carson sweetness.
xoxo

new music...

a few months ago I was in Borders and heard a musician named Korrie Paliotto ...she was playing live in their coffee place. I loved her voice and lyrics to her songs...just magical. Wrote my name and e-mail in her guestbook and have received updates from her regularly. It was a great day when she came out with her first CD. You can purchase her album on itunes. Have a listen...think you will enjoy her!
xoxo

the garden, back to work and grammie...

I'm going to try to make this one a quick one even though I have a lot on my mind...

Photo courtesy of twopeasinabucket -designed by Rhonna Farrer

One of my favorite places for some scrappy inpspiration is two peas in a bucket. They have a group of talented ladies who are referred to as garden girls. The garden girls post amazing projects on the 1st and 15th of the month. Today I went to look at this month's garden; theme is fuzzy photos. Was looking at my friend Rhonna's artwork and stumbled across one that had a photo of Dave and with closer inspection I noticed me too! The photo was taken on a street corner in Austrailia on our last night. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Love ya sweet Rhonna...and miss ya tons!

Unfortunately I have been back to work now for 2 weeks and having a really hard time being away from Carson! People say it gets easier but I'm having a hard time thinking that it will. I have to remember that this is the best for my little family right now. Carson loves the place where I take him (and they love him too)...they even fingerpaint. (photo is of what I came back to in my office...done by a couple sweet co-worker/friends of mine)

Today grammie picked Carson up early from school and brought him to our place and played with him, rearranged our furniture to get it ready for the crawling stage, made us homemade soup and cupcakes, bathed Carson and put him in new pj's, did laundry and more. What could be better? I wasn't expecting any of it...except I knew she wouldhave fun with the baby. How lucky are we? The best part was that Carson was so happy and had a great day with his grammie. Love you mom! Thanks oodles and oodles!

notes for mommy to remember:
rolling over tons (first time on 10-28)
loves his "lilly pad" and "horsie" toy. (lilly pad can be seen in photos above-grammie decided it was a hat...silly grammie!)
loves when we sing to him (ABC's, Old Mcdonald, Beautiful Boy, You are my Sunshine and the Good Morning song to name a few)
he gets so excited he sounds like a panting doggie
miss Marita says he has a BIG laugh and is such a good baby (which I knew but nice to hear someone else say it)
has slept through the night 2 nights in a row (10-30 and 10-31) (9pm-6am) yahoo!
xoxo

shower and a big day...

went to a great baby shower for a friend of mine yesterday in a beautiful historic home with fabulous people. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The mommy-to-be had that glow about her and am excited for her to experience all that I have experienced in the last 3 1/2 months. (thanks Cara (and Pam too!) for hosting such a fab party and for taking that photo of Carson and me...have a couple ?'s for you and don't have your e-mail so if you're reading this send me a little note so I will have your e-mail please.)

today was so fun! Carson rolled over today. He has been rolling over for the last few weeks but has a hard time pulling his little arm all the way around but not today. Three cheers for Carson! xoxo

safe and sound...

thank you for the concerning e-mails regarding the fire situation here in San Diego. My family is fine and no evacutations are in affect for our area. I do know many people who have been evacuated and don't know if their homes are still standing. We continue to have positive thoughts about them and hope for the best as they are allowed back into their neighborhoods in the next few days.

thanks again! xoxo

new show...

have you seen Pushing Daisies on abc yet? Oh my...I love this show tons! It reminds me of a show that I watched through Netflix called the Wonderfalls...kinda reminds me of something Tim Burton would create. You can watch all three episodes on abc.com. Can't wait until Wednesday to watch the next episode.

made another little 4X6 book and decorated a little frame too. One of these days I'll have more time to do an actual page but until then these are fun to do too.

and a little Carson love.

xoxo

beetlejuice and more...

went to the beach yesterday with my mom and Carson for a little halloween fun. Dressed him in the outfit my brother and future sis-in-law sent from Japan. It's a beetle with eyes, antenae and legs...have never been a fan of insects until now. Hope you enjoy the little video...love his little cooing voice and smiles!

Also been busy with birthday's, movies (1 great movie in fact with fantastic music), shopping, visiting and just having a great time lately. Added a few photos from all that fun the last couple of weeks.

Really excited to have UPS deliver some 2008 "designing with" calendar goodness this week. Hope you get a chance to check it out too!

notes for mommy re: Carson:

still a happy-go-lucky baby

hair is looking a bit on the auburn side

lots and lots of drool...looking like he might be teething...pulls his bottom lip into his mouth

loves his "spike" toy and "red car fabric" toy

loves to put everything in his mouth...blankets and toys and especially hands

slept through the night once last week...mainly wakes up once during the night

been sleeping in his crib for about 3 weeks now but still loves an occasional nap on mommy's chest

grasping thing in hands more...the hair on daddy's chest (ouch), grammie's jewelry, mommy's clothes...and more.

loves to be outside

almost rolling over...not too long for that one

xoxo

we're here...

just sharing another simple, little album I put together for more photos of my sweet baby boy! Love him sooo much can hardly stand it. Can't imagine my life without him!

Went to the pumpkin patch last weekend for a picnic and had a great time. The cutest pumpkin in the patch was a sleepy boy. For more photos, check out my mom's blog.

Love this time of year when the air is crisp and pumpkin pie is being served. Think Fall is my favorite time of year!

xoxo

happy, happy birthday to...

my mom! I would like to shout from the rooftops a BIG birthday wish for the best grammie/mom ever! How do I ever tell you how much we love and adore you?
Let me list just a few reasons...
you pour your heart and soul in everything you do,

you spoil your grandson with hugs and kisses and stuff like there is no tomorrow,

you take care of our place when we are out of town,

you are the most positive person I know,

you can sew anything and everything,

you are so creative,

you enjoy hearing about everything we (Gary and I) do and are so proud,

you would put notes in my lunch when I was a wee one,

you support your children in whatever we do,
you are a good listener and give advice if requested,

I say, "jump" and you say, "how high!",

now that I know what labor and delivery is like, I have to add...you went through labor and delivery to bring Gary and I into the world,

and last but not least or else this post will be a mile long,

you love your friends and family unconditionally!

When I asked her what she would like for her birthday, she mentioned she would like to have a day with her grandson at the pumkin patch to take pictures of him in his halloween costume. Made the little scrapbook page to let her know her wish is granted.

Did I already say that you're the best mom! Well, I'd like to say it again! I only hope and wish that I am as great a mother as you are! Wishing you the best birthday ever!

xoxo

enjoying...

our walks to the beach lately. These photos are from the weekend. Trying to stay low key since Carson has had his first cold and then had icky shots this week. You'd never know it now though...happy as can be. Just fussy on the day of his shots. Think it was more painful for mommy and daddy. The doctor recommended purchasing a cold mist humidifier and of course they have all kinds of characters for children. We opted for the penguin...who would've known they make such cute humidifiers.

memories for mommy-

11 weeks old

2 month check up this week...even though he is 2 1/2 months...long story

13 pounds 3 ounces (go buddy!)

loves playtime on his play mat

loves any toy with eyes
enjoying sucking on his thumb-trying to change to the pacifier now-hard to resist when he wasn't feeling well this week

trying to exercise those motor skills-by hitting the buttons on his "ocean" crib toy, going for his glowworm to try to turn on the music and lights and holding onto small toys

still has amazing dark blue eyes

hair is starting to be more visible

xoxo

my new necklace...

love it so much! My mom treated me for my birthday to this really cool necklace with the names from our little family. Just us 3...henkel party of 3...just the sound of it makes me smile and all giddy inside. xoxo

the weekend of the 15th...

we had our first date night and what a date it was. Went to the Hollywood Bowl with friends to see Pink Martini. I have been wanting to see them in concert for while and it was worth the wait and anticipation. Carol Channing was a guest performer and she was an amazing entertainer. What a memorable time!

Where was Carson when we were on our date you ask? With grammie sue! You know that saying, "when the cat's away, the mice will play"? Carson, his sock monkey and Grammie Sue had fun playing. A couple of the photos were inspired by a photographer that is a true inspiration and is such a great gal, Tara Whitney...have met her through my dear friend Em. Carson looks adorable in his sock monkey gown which has been sitting in his drawer since our baby shower due to th warm weather. Glad he was able to wear it if it was just for some fun with his sweet grammie. She also brought him a glow worm...which he loves! Thanks Grammie for the photos and for taking such good care of our sweet everything! xoox

show and tell...

wanted to share a little book I made to carry with me. The album came from target and just changed the cover. Was fun to do a mini scrapbook page.

I've had a few people stop me and ask about one of my favorite things...these and these blankets. They are from a Australian company called Aden and Anais. The mod prints are my new favorite...sporting apples, bumble bees, goldfish and caterpillars. They are lightweight and perfect for warm weather...but great for cooler weather cause you can fold them up and swaddle baby with them. The mod pack I ordered from a store not too far from me called the Flying Pram. Ordered them last Monday and they arrived before noon on Tuesday. Now that is great service. Just a little tip if you need a baby gift. (you can see the goldfish blankie in one of the photos above)

Had to share the "hat" and "serious face" photos since they are just too much! Love that little butterball, chunky monkey, precious one, etc...we have all kinds of funny names for our little sweetie now.

For mommy to remember-

Took Carson to work Friday and they all thought he was beautiful...with such a perfectly shaped head...thought he was a C-section baby and he wasn't.
holding head up by 2 months

drooling a little now

likes to blow bubbles

smiling more at strangers...not just mommy and daddy

likes to watch baby einstein

likes going outside for walks to the beach

kicks off his covers

always warm like a little heater

xoxo