9 Months

Sometimes my little guy is a little camera shy. And other times he's not.
Standing is his favorite thing to do.
But he still loves getting into a little trouble.

He's now moved on to the bookshelf and left the DVDs behind.

Michael turned 9 months yesterday & I took him in for his check up today. Here are the stats:

He weighs 22lbs 7.1oz---77th percentile

He is 28.44 inches tall---50th percentile

His head circumference is 46.75 cm---85th percentile

The doctor said he's a Gerber baby. I think the stats agree.

Guitars make music too

Sunday I got Joe's guitar out so he could show Michael that music doesn't only come out of the T.V. and the computer. Joe loves introducing him to all kinds of music on the computer.

Michael even gets a good beat going for a minute. In the background was him for a couple seconds. Andy McKee is amazing, it's all guitar! Joe wanted it to look like Michael was playing it but I wanted to see what Michael could do so I turned it off.

If you didn't watch the first video of Andy go watch it! It's amazing!

For those of you who never saw me with a belly...

I probably shouldn't be posting pictures of myself looking like this but hey there's a baby in there & no not another- just Michael. Here are a few pictures of when I was pregnant for those of you who missed me looking like a huge ball on a stick. Hey I have to laugh at myself & my stretch marks (not shown).

Most of you saw me like this & wondered if I really was pregnant.

This is me 5 weeks before I delivered. My belly button looks like it popped! Check out my stick legs & ankles- can believe they're holding all this up? Oh and the scar was from reaching in the cabinet above the stove with a hot pan in the way of my belly.

Here I am three days before I was due but had Michael 10 days later.

I think he was worth all my stretch marks. Don't you?

Happy Thursday

In his mouth is what you think it is. He loves to crawl around with it hanging out. We just get a kick out of our little puppy.

Mmm Fried Cheese Ravioli & Garlic Creamcheese Breadsticks

We tried this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! I bought frozen cheese ravioli for the recipe found here. For the breadsticks I bought garlic flavored Pillsbury breadsticks & spread room temperature cream cheese on them before folding and twisting them. I bought store brand marinara sauce to dip the ravioli in and it was all so yummy. Joe liked it so much he had seconds and I was stuffed. This was so easy to make yet very satisfying. I would recommend it to anyone who loves Italian style food. We were going to have salad too but I forgot it. We were too full anyway to have eaten it I'm sure.

Several giveaways...

Check out this post here about several giveaways.

Who doesn't love to win something?

Don't know these people you say?

Well neither do I!

But I'm still going to enter.

Be sure to read all the requirements for entering.

Hope someone I know wins!

Like me!

Or you I guess.

Cereal prize

I remember there being way better prizes inside boxes of cereal when I was growing up. Or maybe it was just the fact that you wanted to get it before your siblings so it made it so much more desirable. I thought this "comic activity book" was lame. I think just about anything would be better than a few pieces of paper being called an activity book. I guess it just doesn't appeal to me.

What is the best thing you've found in the bottom of a cereal box?

I love the 80's

Joe's 80's work party in pictures...

~Most of the gang~

Joe loves to play DDR but this was on the Wii & it was a lot harder! I stunk at it!

Family photo- Michael even got dressed for the party.

Our rad clothes

Does my hair do the 80's justice?

Fathers

To my dad who has taught me many things like honesty, hardwork & dedication. I love you Dad. ~This is my favorite picture of us.~

{Michael with Papa}

To my Father In-Law, Gary, who raised my husband to be the man he is today. Thank you.

To Michael's Father -fun, loving, protective & a wonderful provider. This picture shows the love & endearment he has for Michael.

note: Take more pictures of Daddy & Baby together before he grows up!

Conducting

Here is Michael trying out his new toy I bought him yesterday at a used kids store. It also converts to a learn to walk toy. Does it look familar Laura? I swear I didn't break into your house!

I took this video this morning. He's been eating Cherios for about two weeks now and is getting better although it takes him a bit to get one today. I think Joe is secretly teaching him how to conduct music. What do you think? This is the first time he did this & I caught it on video. He cracks us up everyday with his new face expressions & things that come out of his mouth that make no sense at all. We love our little boy even though he's changing so much everyday.

My surprise & my pathetic gift giving

Yesterday morning I climbed out of bed, scooped Michael out of his crib & headed for the stairs. I happened to look into our spare bedroom & saw this.

{It was set up but I added the sewing supplies}

{Can you believe my mom carried this sewing machine on the plane for me?}

Yup practical- did you catch this post?

Now with the new table it's officially the sewing/craft room and occasionally the guest room. We've actually had it occupied only once. (Hint- anyone want to come visit us? We may not be as good as host's as these two but we'll sure try). Now I can get started on these with the fabric I bought.

When Joe arrived home yesterday I told him he also bought me this for our anniversary. ;)I then gave him his pathetic gift of a years subscription to Men's Health Magazine, which he loves to read- in my defense! Let me explain- I had originally had this gift in mind for Father's Day but when Joe arrived home with this about two weeks before, after discussing it only a few times, I was quite surprised so I said like my mom always does "this is for ___" Fill in the blank-Birthday, Christmas, Easter - you name it- it's been said. So I decided that was his Father's Day gift & the mags were for our anniversary.

I think back to last year on our anniversary - 6 months pregnant & had just driven three days straight to TX then having to sleep on an air mattress. (Joe was there a few weeks prior so he actually had the brunt of it all. My mom drove down with me). So we arrived and a day or two later was our anniversary. I bought him a MH Magazine from Costco a few days before we took off to TX. So that was his gift- terrible I know! Especially when he actually took the time to buy me a cute purse. Hey I had placenta brain! That's my excuse!

What was my excuse this year? I dunno. I don't have a reason. Next year I'm going to have to go all out.

Don't worry I did get Joe a little something for Father's Day- hey it's his first I can't totally ignore it.

Last night we did go out to eat at our all time favorite steakhouse. Michael joined us and dined on cheese & bread. It was really yummy but not up to their standard but we were still stuffed. Since we didn't have room for dessert this weekend we'll keep on celebrating & have dessert here. I can't wait!

Oh and last night for the first time ever Michael stood up in his crib! I agree with this post whole heartedly!

Happy Anniversary to us

We were sealed for time & eternity FOUR years ago; in which we moved more than THREE times. TWO of those moves were back & forth from the same city! We now have ONE cute little boy added to our eternal family.

Happy Anniversary Joe!

Have you ever had a blondie?

I can now say that I've had one & made them too. I had never heard of Blondie's until I saw them on "Throwdown with Bobby Flay". I made mine from this recipe here. Did you see who the "chef" was? Yup not a food network chef - but I must say these were delicious. I ate three in the first few minutes after they cooled. Although I didn't have white choc. chips so I used butterscotch instead & left out the nuts- they were still just as yummy. But I didn't have to tell you that because, like I said- I scarfed down three within minutes!

I have something baking in the oven and it smells o so good. When they're done I'll tell you what it is. Any guesses? Until then, I'll let you enjoy a little video of my little man laughing for no reason at all.

Today when he was in his crib for his morning nap I heard him laughing just a few short minutes before he fell asleep. I had to laugh.

Weekend trip to the Nursery- the tree kind

On the way to the nursery I came across this & ended up missing my exit. The funny thing was that the guy driving in front of me was taking out his camera phone at the exact time I was- wonder if he was going to blog about it too. Can you spot my exit?

It was a pretty decent morning outside although it rained shortly after we left. Even though it felt cool, I shouldn't say cool- just not scorching hot! Michael was still sweating in his new hat. {Michael & I at the Nursery}

Joe looks like he's undecided about the whole thing... He wanted my input - but I have no clue where to start. So we didn't end up getting anything but it sure was beautiful to walk around and see all the beautiful flowers, plants & trees around us.

Sorry some of these pictures are not very good quality I took them with my camera phone. I did take my digital camera but was too chicken to take it out and use it :)

Giveaway...

Congrats to the winner! What does this lovely gal win? This cute little necklace:

What was I going to make with all that fabric you ask? I am going to make 5 of these cute tote/purse/bags. I plan on surprising Joe's neices with them for Christmas or sooner if I get them done way before then.

There were several of you who guessed it right so I did a drawing. I had to keep it fair right?

I think Michael had more fun helping me with this than I did- he was squealing as he rushed to the finish line. I think he could have won the fastest crawler race. He was pretty quick to get to the finish line- for the string of course!

Ya think he wants some?

More clues

I think some more clues are needed for my giveaway.

• I will be making 5 of these
• They will be gifts for people
• You all own one

No one has guessed it yet so keep on guessing. I might just add more clues Sat or Sun- if need be.

Giveaway

If you can guess what I'm going to do with all this fabric ~ I'll send you a prize. I'm not quite sure of the prize yet. If I have already told you what I am going to do with this fabric please don't give it away. I'll give you all until Monday at noon to guess as many times as you'd like.

Clues:

• This is 10 yards of fabric but not all of it is needed.

• I will be using at least 1/2 a yard of each fabric.

Close call

Monday night Joe received a call from someone at work at 10pm, he didn't answer it. He was curious why the would call so late. There was a message left- so he listened to it. The person said another soldiers name-Cody, so Joe called him back to ask if he meant to call him at all. He said he meant to call both him and Cody. He was told that either Joe or Cody were going to be submitted for deployment the next morning & leave sometime in July. They both have the same job so only one of them was needed to go.

The past 6 months Joe has been in the hospital for various health concerns (needing to be fit for a c-pap machine, a septoplasty, possible melanoma under his thumb nail-negative, and ulcers in his throat). With these in mind Joe felt bad at the idea that because of his frequent trips to the hospital that Cody would go. He was right. Well we don't know for sure if this was the reason but it's definitely a possibility. So Joe doesn't have to go. Hopefully we can make it to Physician's assistant school or Medical school before this could happen again.

I am thankful Michael will have his daddy around.

I am thankful I won't have to do everything all on my own without my hubby .

I am thankful for those who serve our country and leave their families to do so. Women who survive their husbands being gone for long periods of time are amazing. But I am thankful I don't have to go through it yet.

My kind of breakfast

I had to share this with you. It just looked so good. After putting Michael down for his morning nap I decided I wanted french toast instead of taking my routine nap. Doesn't it look o so yummy! Yes that is whip cream on top & guess what? There's a big pile of butter underneath!

O by the way it was delicious!

I feel accomplished

What I've managed to get done today:

• grocery shopping for dinner
  
• cleared counters in Kitchen
  
• washed dishes in sink
  
• put away the clean dishes in dishwasher that have been sitting there for 2 days now!- Wow that's bad!
  
• vacuumed the living room, twice -I gotta try to get rid of these darn carpet fuzzies!
  
• two loads of laundry- still waiting to be folded- but I will get it done!
  
• started dinner using this recipe, thanks Jan for informing us all about the group!
  
  Best of all Michael was sleeping through 90% of this. I'm loving two and a half hour naps! So I've taken advantaged of that to be productive today. Hooray for me! I've been lagging lately and I'm not sure why. I haven't cooked or cleaned in almost a week! Although we did cook together for Memorial Day, so I guess that counts and I did dust our TV stand on Tuesday. Maybe all this work today will even out my laziness from this week, or should I do more? Hmm some dessert would be good tonight as I watch the season finale of this~

{Lost}

Pool Time

Here are a few pictures of Michael's first experience at the pool. He finally got the chance to wear his $1 Gap swim trunks! We went to the pool on post, best of all it was free!

It took some time for him to warm up to liking it. He did pretty good once he got used to it.




The perfect dessert to a hot summer day at the pool.

He did it

This isn't a very good quality video but I captured Michael crawling a few seconds yesterday. I missed recording the very first time he did it but I managed to catch this one. Of course I kept recording his every move after so I could catch him doing it. Just ignore what Laura says in the background. :)

Yesterday was Memorial Day & Laura had a really neat thing happen to her read about it here.

By request ...

Here you go Mom~some Michael for ya. Here he is getting around ~ getting closer to crawling. I'm sure he'll have it down in just a few weeks or less- he's gettting it down fast.

Joe discovered the other day that Michael likes to knock things over already. He not only uses his hands but other parts of his body as you'll see. You'll also see in the background more DVD's out of place by Michael. :) He's getting good at getting up on his knees but only can stay up on them when he goes backward.

Thank you tax rebate!

Here is a picture of the deck before it was stained.














Here it is stained- it's not a huge difference but we wanted it to still be natural looking. We love it. Good job hun.

Here is our cute patio set! We love it! Now we just need a nice cool breeze on a nice evening with a tall glass of lemonade! Thanks tax rebate!














I think it's about time to tackle the weeds! You can't tell but about two months ago I pulled about half of the ones along the back of the fence- on the left. They have grown back as you can see. Our weeds look more green than our grass! Our poor puny grass, it's trying to grow so hard. We just don't have enough rain right now.