Silly boy

Why did we even buy him toys? These are his favorite things:

The mirrors on all our closet doors. He has discovered a fun friend lives in them. Every morning when he gets up that's the first things he wants to do; play with his new-found, super-smiley friend.

He is fascinated by his binky clip. He especially likes to shake my multivitamins. Really, who needs silly baby rattles?

Soy nuts in a huge plastic container and the doorstop to our bedroom.

My water bottles. He loves to shake them up and down (empty) so the lid hits the side and makes an oh-so-fun noise.

Happy Birthday Brent!

I know you don't do birthdays (bah humbug!) but too bad. I'm glad you were born and today no matter how much you protest we're going to celebrate it - with or without you! Here are some of the things I love most about you:

• I couldn't ask for a better husband.
• You're an amazing dad.
• You have a beautiful testimony.
• You bought an adorable house for our family.
• You work hard so that I can be home with Reed.
• You go without things that you want (saltwater tank, bike, boat...) so that our family is comfortable.
• You scraped, puttied and painted our house and refinished the floors in our bedroom right when we moved in and did everything you could to make our house a home.
• You finish the projects you start!
• You mow the lawn.
• You worked and continue to work hard to plant a garden so we can have healthy yummy food.
• You bought me the mixer I have been wanting so I can make bread easily and have fun making other things too even though there were probably 100 things you'd rather have spent the money on.
• You are supportive of my goals and other endeavors.
• You'll play boardgames with me - and enjoy it!
• You cook us yummy things and pretend to like everything I cook.
• You make me omlets on the weekends just because I like them (even though you don't).

I could go on and on, but I just want you to know I appreciate you and am so glad that you were born. I love you.

Happy Birthday!

Colorado

Brent, Reed and I drove out to Colorado at the end of June to visit my aunt, uncle and two cousins. Brent flew back home the day after we got there :o( but I was able to stay and visit. My mom and another aunt and uncle also flew out and it was a fun little family reunion. When we all lived in San Jose, I took for granted the frequent family get-togethers and close proximity that we were able to enjoy. I really miss it here in Utah. It was nice to get a little dose of family time and let them get to know Reed.

We saw the Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform at Red Rocks, visited the Molly Brown House and enjoyed the beautiful scenery that is practically in my aunt and uncle's backyard (see above pic).

Reed wouldn't leave their dog alone - poor Shelby.

He had his first pickle, teething biscuit and first real babysitter (while I went to Red Rocks).

Overall, a very nice time. Thanks, Susan and Paul!

An added bonus was that my uncle, who was also visiting is a very talented photographer. He did our wedding pictures and during the short time Brent was there he was nice enough to take the time to shoot some pictures of our family and a little session with just Reed. I'm so grateful to have what I know will be sweet, treasured pictures of our family. I can't wait to get a glimpse of them!

Faux Hawk

Little man is fianlly getting enough hair to have fun with!

Get over it Caroline

This has me bummed out and frustrated:

I feel like such a drama queen - the doctor has me in a cast and I didn't even break anything!

So here's the story: My thumb started hurting a few weeks after Reed was born and I finally went to the doctor in January. He told me it was tendinitis and to take Alleve. Well, a few months ago when I took Reed in for a check-up I mentioned that it was getting worse, the Alleve was doing nothing and the pain had settled in my wrist. He said it should have gone away by now and referred me to a orthopedic specialist. I didn't call him until last week though. I thought I'd just deal with it, but not only was it HURTING, burning, popping and freezing up it would sometimes just totally give out and I was afraid I was going to end up dropping Reed one of these days. The ortho doc took one look at me carrying Reed into the office (with nothing obviously wrong with me) and said "I bet I know what's wrong with you". I thought he was teasing me, because there were obviously crippled people coming in and out of that waiting room and I was not one of them. But he said "what hand is it?" (I hadn't told him I was there for my hand, but gave him my right hand), he then moved my wrist in exactly the way that hurts it and said "that hurts, right?" I said "YES!" and he said "DeQuervain's - textbook case. I see it all the time in mom's with young kids." A golfball-sized Cortizone shot in my wrist and three weeks in a cast and I should be cured. Otherwise, surgery.

So, now I'm a one-armed mom to a very busy boy and sick of it already. He said that he used to give people removable casts, but they didn't work because people took them off. I've wanted to take this thing off hundreds of times already and it's only been 2 days. I would have taken it off "just for a second" dozens of times already, so I guess it's good that I don't have that option. But it makes it hard to cook, change diapers, impossible to do dishes, water the yard, bathe myself, bathe Reed...ugh. Typing is fun too...

To help get me out of this cast-wearing funk, I thought I'd post some things I'm thankful for:

-I'm left handed, so at least I still have the use of my more coordinated hand. Life could be much harder!

-These two guys (so cute together on Father's Day - and everyday!)

-Have I ever mentioned that we have 40+ rose bushes in our back yard? Well, we do and I have bouquets all over the house that get replenished daily. They make me happy. Anyone want some roses? We have plenty!


-It has rained almost daily for the last three weeks. I haven't had to water since May! Our garden and other newly planted landscaping is very happy. I'm not so diligent with the watering thing, so I'm happy too! Now, it's finally hot, June weather and I'm going to have to figure something out...I tried to put a giant kitchen glove over my wrist, but it wasn't giant enough.


-Our garden. Brent worked long and hard in back of our garage to turn the grassy area back there into our garden. We have corn, squash, zucchini, green beans, peppers, cucumbers, lots of differents kinds of tomoatoes and herbs. We got our fist zucchini last night. So exciting! Our herbs are in Earth Boxes. I love them. They're easy to water, they were free and they're full of 10 different herbs that our neighbor gave us from her herb garden! She got roses...

There's lots more to be greatful for, but I feel better already. It's only three weeks, get over it Caroine.

Happy summer!

First Father's Day!

Reed loves playing with his dad. When Brent comes home from work it's fun, fun, fun. He bounces and squeals when Brent walks in the door. It makes my heart melt.

Binky boy cuddling with dad. Brent has the perfect hold to get Reed settled down.

This last winter, Brent would get bundled up with Reed when we went outside. He'd usually fall asleep and just be a little nose sticking out of brent's coat. So cute.

Reed loves trying to climb on Brent. He makes the best jungle gym.

Brent does the ABCs with Reed quite often. He's been starting to pay attention and thinks it's funny when we tap him as we say each letter.

Brent snuggles up with Reed on the couch and they have the best naps.

Sweet Nieces

Last night, for the very first time in we can't remember how long, Brent and I went on a date. A real Reed-free evening with just the two of us date! (We went to a Ben Kweller concert - hence the temporary change in playlist. We haven't been to a concert together since we were dating and felt like it was worthy enough event to leave Reed for the first time). Brent's brother and sister-in-law were nice enough to watch Reed for our first evening away from him. We got him good and tired, fed him, dropped him off asleep and hoped for the best.

Of course, he woke up and no one but our niece could get him to stop crying. When we came to pick him up, we found him asleep on her bed, wrapped in one of her blankets surrounded by her toys and clutching one of her little dolls. So sweet. Elli has been really sweet with him, but last night she earned her babysitting stripes! Thanks for being such a fun, patient cousin Elli!



For Mother's Day we went over to Brent sister's for a BBQ and our neice Carrie, who is also so good with Reed, drew the cutest picture of him. Looks just like him, don't you think? She has also been sweet enough to pass along many of her baby CDs to Reed and has prepared several adorable scrapbooking pages for his scrapbook. Thanks for being such a kind cousin Carrie!



Nicole, loves babies and jumps at any chance to hold Reed. He's 6 weeks old in this picture, but every time we see her she asks to hold him and is so gentle and motherly with him. No one can get Reed to laugh like Nicole. Thanks for being such a sweet cousin Nicole!