17 Weeks

A little late but here's to being 17 weeks! He is such a sweetheart. His favorite songs are currently, You Are My Sunshine, A Bushel and a Peck, and The Little Green Frog (with facial expressions). He's at such a fun stage and we're loving it!

Anniversary weekend

A couple of weeks ago we celebrated our two year anniversary. We decided to keep it low-key and it was great!

We started off the weekend with dinner at a BBQ place here called Lucille's. They have these sweet biscuits that they bring to you with some type of delicious sweet butter. It was amazing. Ethan got some ribs, and I, like always, got a nice cheeseburger. It was fantastic! Nixon had a good time too. We had him in a car seat sling up to the table and he was SO loud. He wasn't crying or fussing, he just wanted to make sure everyone heard him talking, and the did. People kept smiling at us and I just had to smile back. Hey, at least he wasn't screaming right? 

Saturday night we had our friends Leslie and Martin in town. I cannot tell you how much I miss this girl! The funniest thing happened. We met them at a restaurant, and right when we saw each other we had to laugh. This is what both of us wore to dinner. We hadn't even talked to each other that day. Great minds think alike! (I'm so mad at myself for not getting a picture with all of us!)

 Her kids Calvin and Corina were having fun in old navy with all of the mannequins they had. Corina gave each one a hug probably five times. It was adorable.

Sunday they decided to go to church with us and we were so happy to have them with us. We said our tearful goodbyes after Sacrament meeting and it just reminded me why I love their friendship so much. It's so easy and we can pick up right where we left off, as if we had never left.

Sunday evening we had my favorite part--our Nothing Bundt Cake Bundtini. It's basically the cupcake version of our wedding cake we had. It was so delicious!! It's kind of fantastic that we have one less than a block away, (although that's the first time we've gone).

It was the perfect ending to a fun filled weekend. I can't wait to see what this upcoming year brings!

Meeting Grammy & Pa

This past week Nixon got to meet his Grammy and Pa for the first time (in person). They were an instant hit and he was all smiles for them most of the week.

Sarah (Grammy) flew in last Tuesday. Ethan was still having to work, so we spent our time just hanging out and getting her fix of our sweet little guy. Dwayne (Pa) flew in on Thursday and everyone was finally here!

On Friday, we decided to do, what else, a trip to the beach! We packed everyone in the car and drove down to Aliso Creek Beach down in Laguna Beach. Dwayne and Ethan decided to jumped into some of the waves (which evidently were surrounded by red flags warning not to go in the water), and Sarah, Nixon and I enjoyed the weather being dry.

After a couple hours we decided to drive on the Pacific Coast Highway along the coast. You can only drive along the coast so far before you start to get into the heart of Laguna Beach, and it just gets way too packed. We decided we had enough of the traffic and headed back home.

We got back home and put Nixon down for a nap, and the rest of us got rinsed off and ready for dinner. We went to Claim Jumper which is one of my favorite restaurants here. Other than a fast food In N' Out burger, Claim Jumper has the best burger hands down! I savor that thing. We ended the night with cake, ice cream, card game and lots of great conversation.

Saturday we decided to hit up the Orange County Marketplace. This is the same marketplace we got so much produce for super cheap when we went last. It was a great day for walking around because it wasn't too hot which made it a lot more enjoyable. We spend a good three hours or so there, and then it was time for the fair to close. We headed home and spent the rest of the night watching a movie (while I worked on my lesson for Sunday), and more games and conversation. Those kind of nights are my favorite!

Sunday morning we had church and it was great. I love that every Sunday we get to hear uplifting messages and to feel the spirit. I decided I wanted some photos of Nixon with Dwayne and Sarah while they were all dressed up, and it turned into a little bit of a photo shoot which I loved! Nixon was on which made it even better!

Nixon with Grammy and Pa.

 Our little family.

 I wanted to make sure that I got a three generation picture. Don't these guys look great?

 My two favorite guys in the entire world. I love them both so much!

 Is that not the cutest little face you've ever seen?

 I absolutely love this picture.

After our little photo session, we headed home to get ready for a family dinner with Dwayne's uncle and aunt, Paul and Cheri, that lives in the area. We made some Oreo truffle pops and cake mix chocolate-chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

Dinner was great and there were lots of people there! I think there was about 35 people there and they only had half of their kids there. I brought my camera to get a few pictures since they only see each other every five or ten years!

And because we hadn't taken enough pictures that day, one more of the group!

We had to say our goodbyes today. It's always hard to say goodbye to family, but it just makes us that more excited to see them when we go out to North Carolina for Christmas!

Thanks for visiting us Grammy and Pa, we loved having you here and can't wait until we see you next!

16 Weeks

Is that not the most precious face you've ever seen? Nixon is at such a fun stage right now. He so smiley and jabbers like nobody's business. In the evenings, he'll be hanging out with us while we are watching TV, and I'm assuming he's trying to compete with it because he'll start talking louder, so we'll turn up the show, he'll get even louder so we'll turn it up again. Soon, the TV and him as so loud that it's too loud so we turn it all the way back down and start the process all over again. I have a feeling talking will come sooner than later with this guy.

He has also now discovered his toes.

Can't see from that angle very well? Here's another.

Yes, he has almost master the toe sucking and may very well, eventually, have as many pictures as I do sucking my toes. Yes.. I was also a toe sucker. When I tell people that, they tend to ask if that's why I hate feet–possibly, I'll never know. 

He is such a sweetheart and he's getting even more fun!

Two years

We've made it another year and it has been a big one!

In our second year of marriage there has been a graduation, a big move to California, a new job and a baby a couple weeks later! It hasn't always been the easiest of times, but I wouldn't change my decision for a second.

Here's to our first two years, and an eternity to go!

15 Weeks

We've been a little MIA on here, but we've been busy trying to get this man's room together for Grammy and Pa to visit! Monday, he spent his first very first night in his crib. He's been in his room since we got back from Idaho back in June, but we just barely got the crib on Monday. I know, a little behind, but it's done so we can check that off the list!

I actually had some fun making this crib sheet. It was so easy! I've made one more in an orange fabric, and I have one left to make that's gray. We've almost gotten his nursery done and I could be more excited! There have been quite a few things we've done ourselves which makes it just a little more special to me. We decided on a modern tribal theme and It's exactly what I wanted! Pictures to come soon!

He's done great transitioning from the floor to a crib (as if that would be a hard transition), and he sleeps like a champ. I will say, he is never in the same direction I lay him down in, but at least I know he's going to be in the spot and not across the room!

14 Weeks

You may not be able to be able to tell, but this boy is such a happy camper! He had a bit of a rough week, but after a nice blowout, he was our happy little guy again! I swear, he smiles and giggles all the time but he doesn't like to perform much for the camera.

Not only am I in love with his smile, but look at those big eyes and cheeks! Just dreamy!

We also have a bit of a roller on our hands! He flips from his belly to his back and has now successfully flipped from his back to his belly! Of course, when I pull out the camera to take a video of him doing it, he just looks up at me like, "What? I'm not doing anything."