Chris and Rebecca's Adventures

Say What You Mean

2012-01-25T20:59:00.000-05:00

I had a hilarous 'laugh out loud' moment with Shayden yesterday that I had to jot down on here so someday I can remember it.

We were playing (I was cleaning up) in the basement/play room and I was working on picking up all the boys' matchbox cars. Shayden was about 8 feet away and near the bucket they are kept in so I asked him to do me a favor and "toss me the bucket for the cars".

He registered the request on his face, looked at me and then flung the bucket in my direction! I was shocked and almost pulled a bad mom move but thankfully my response was, 'hey buddy, why did you do that?'.

Plain and simple was the reply..."you asked me to toss it to you".

Yes, Yes I did.

Quinton's Room Makeover

2012-01-19T14:27:00.000-05:00

If I start this post honestly, I would have to tell you that I need to take a break (after only entering the title) to go wipe Shayden's bottom for his second potty break during nap time...can someone say 'milking it'!

Ok, here we go...Quinton's room!

I can honestly say I have had a total blast getting to decorate Q's room. There is just something about doing a nursery that makes you feel all warm inside. It was particularly fun because while not too many changes were made, kept bedding, kept furniture, etc., great things were added and the painting of the room brought it all together.

Here is before we moved in:

And after:

While I still have a few things I want to put on the wall, it is definitely a little boys nursery and we love it.

Now on to Shayden's.

Theater First

2012-01-12T10:31:00.000-05:00

Shayden and Quinton made their first visit to the Theater today when we were invited to attend "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" at the Riffe Theater in downtown Columbus.

I am happy to report it was a total success. I knew Shayden was going to enjoy it but I wasn't so sure I could keep Quinton quite for the entire performance. He did great - laughed at funny moments, clapped when everyone else did and sat on my lap like a champ for the entire 45 minutes.

The only downer - my minor ticket for paying only the partial fee in the parking lot slot. Its all about choices and mommy made a poor choice. HAVE CASH ON HAND MOMMY!!!

All in all a wonderful morning and a great first time experience for both boys!

Thank you to my sis Kristen and her gaggle for sharing this fun event with us.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-30T15:57:00.000-05:00

Well I think it's fair to say we have had a full December. We returned from California to finish packing up our beloved home in Clintonville and embarked on an even greater blessing in Powell. Moving in brought out all of our great friends and family who helped us accomplish the large task and we were settled in nicely when Chris returned from more training in NY. Then just one week later we started celebrating Christmas with family and friends and before we knew it we were ringing in the New Year....what a difference a month can make!

I can whole heartily say that God has blessed this family and we are truly and deeply thankful and grateful.

A few pictorial highlights from the past month...I'm not even sure where to start.

I have to admit, I loved every minute of driving this baby...28 feet long and she cruised the highway like a champ. Looking back I wished I looked a little bit cuter doing it but this woman on a mission was not worried about hair or makeup.

Christmas Day at Grandpa and GranDanna's

Christmas Day at our house...

The two coolest gifts from Shayden and Quinton's GAL (Great Aunt Linda) - a sibling trike and a forklift. These two were over the moon!

Deep Breathing in Progress

2011-11-25T09:04:00.001-05:00

and relax....

Whew, it has been a crazy last few weeks and I have been remiss in my blogging duties. I know you all forgive me, those faithful few who still check this blog. :)

We have been TRAVELING, and by we I mean the whole family but not in the same directions. Chris has started a new position which is AWESOME and took him to New York for 2 weeks so the boys and I packed up and shacked up with his parents in California. It was a wonderful two weeks and helped the time fly while we were apart.

Highlights from my trip...

Being in Palm Springs where the weather was fabulous

Feeding a giraffe (Shayden was so into it and got in line 3 times)

Getting to experience Disneyland for the 1st time

Spending the weekend with John and Marilee (my Arizona parents)

Working out with my mother-in-law

Long walks, messy meals and days filled with entertaining two little boys

We had a blast!

And now the Disneyland Pics...I should preface these by saying Chris thinks I had the most fun there, and he might be partly correct, but Shayden and Quinton were captivated as well. All in all it was a wonderful surprise from Grandpa and GranDanna and I will always remember the boys faces that day. Especially when Shayden "saw" Buzz Lightyear - priceless!

Thank you Grandpa and GranDanna for taking us on a wonderful adventure while Chris was away. We love you!

Singer Songwriter

2011-11-03T20:47:00.000-04:00

Trick or Treat

2011-11-02T22:09:00.003-04:00

What Fun!!! I have to say that I love little children in costumes and the process of cheerfully taking all your neighbors generous sugar handouts. We had another blast trick or treating this year and the boys kept us smiling and laughing throughout the entire evening.

Shayden of course is a seasoned pro at 3 and needed no encouragement to hit the streets. Quinton was much too young last year to enjoy the entire process but caught on very quickly this year. He loved the "pick and drop" process and wasn't bashful at all climbing stairs and trotting up to perfect strangers.

All in all a great evening with family and friends.

Our little lion

worker man

getting ready to head out

treasured time with Daddy

Charlotte Jane

2011-10-30T19:58:00.001-04:00

I am one proud Aunt tonight as I introduce my newest niece, Miss Charlotte Jane.

My brother Sam and SIL Jen welcomed little Charley into their family just 1 week ago and we are smitten.

Welcome Home Charley!

Zoo day with Daddy

2011-10-17T18:20:00.000-04:00

I love Zoo days and I love them even more when Daddy is there to lend a helping hand! We had a great day last week when Chris was able to slip in some time between appointments to join us at the zoo with our play group. It was a beautiful fall day and we soaked up the sun, cool breezes and animal encounters.

Bubbles

2011-10-10T19:53:00.000-04:00

Shayden's 3rd Birthday

2011-10-04T15:04:00.000-04:00

*Warning - Construction Site Ahead*

This weekend we celebrated Shayden's 3rd Birthday Construction style. Yes, that would be two years in a row for the same theme, but what can I say he knows what he likes!

We were super excited that Uncle Tom and Aunt Beth were willing to host us at their farm so we could create a real job site for the party. It was amazing and Uncle Tom outdid himself with the equipment, rock pile, caution cones and all the tools.

We let Shayden skip his nap on Sunday so he could help us set up for the party and it was definitely a highlight time for him. He dug in the rocks for a long time and even helped Uncle Tom drive the bobcat...his favorite part of the whole day!

A cool project, that Uncle Tom came up with, was mixing cement for the kids and letting them make hand prints. The boys especially were total concentration when the cement mixer fired up and I am pretty sure you could have waved an ice cream cone in front of them and they would not have moved a muscle.

Dinner, for the kids, came in a brown bag complete with Twinkies and chips (I mean come on, have you ever seen a construction worker pull out a caeser salad on the job site, I don't think so). You should have seen all the kids faces when they opened those up...sheer joy.

The evening topped off with a delicious cake and singing happy birthday to not only Shayden but his GG (Great Grandma Lilian) who turned 92 and his Aunt Nancy who flew all the way from Grand Caymen to celebrate. All in all it was a great celebration. We had so many family and friends join us, the weather was a total gift from God (after DAYS of rain and freezing cold) and we are so thankful for the blessing of Shayden that God has given us.

Happy Birthday Shayden - we love you so much, Mommy and Daddy

Flashback Photo

2011-09-26T21:00:00.002-04:00

I jumped on Chris' computer tonight to do a little vaca research and found our Europe photos from 2004. Had to post a pic of the two of us, pre move to AZ, pre engagement, pre wedding...but so in love!

Awwww....

Venice, Italy

Hired Help

2011-09-23T09:40:00.000-04:00

Shayden experienced the joys of being paid for his work recently and boy did he love it! Our neighbors, who are incredible with the boys, love to have them come over and help. So when John asked if Shayden could help pick up his trimmings and work a little I was more than happy to hand him over the fence. Once he completed all his work John rewarded him with a whole dollar!!! His smile was priceless...

His dollar is proudly displayed on the refrigerator and I am contemplating framing it for him...over the top? I haven't decided yet.

Costello Vaca 2011

2011-09-09T14:12:00.000-04:00

One week ago we embarked upon another Costello Family Vacation to the Outerbanks of North Carolina. Now you might be asking, 'hey wasn't there a hurricane?', and yes you would be correct but that didn't stop my family of 27 people from hitting the road and praying for the best. And we were blessed, we were able to enter our beach house on Tuesday with no damage except piles of sand on the decks and pool. The weather was incredible, the kids had a blast and once again my parents pulled off an incredible week for our entire family.

This was an especially enjoyable vacation for me as it was my first in 4 years that I was not pregnant, breastfeeding or had an infant to care for...hello, it was awesome! The boys LOVED the sand and played so well at the beach. Shayden was a digging machine with his boy cousins and Quinton dabbled in just about everything including his favorite - running straight for the ocean with no fear! I think one of our favorite highlights was taking Shayden crab hunting on the beach one night...watching he and his cousins Eli and Maddie shriek with delight was something I will always remember.

Enjoy a few of my favorite pics...be thankful I didn't burden you with all 384.

Shock Wave

2011-08-22T14:04:00.000-04:00

Pay close attention to the end of the video and you will see the "shock wave".

Shayden's 1st Camping Trip

2011-08-08T14:08:00.000-04:00

This weekend marked the 2nd Annual Sibling Camping Trip for my family and I was not going to miss it for anything. Last year we had just welcomed Quinton to the family and while I was tempted to take him my rational side said, 'maybe I should wait a year'. Just days before the big night I told Shayden a little of what we would be doing and he was thrilled. I think the major point of pure joy came when I showed him the headlamp he could use (just like his cousin Eli). So with tent, sleeping bag (we only have 1), swimsuits and all our wannebe camping gear we hit the Delaware State Park with my 5 siblings, their spouses and all 13 kids. It was AWESOME!!! Now, not everyone stayed the night...some little ones and those not fond of camping (Chris being the first on that list), but all in all we had a great time.

A few things I learned...

- 2 yr olds will not sleep in a sleeping bag, but will sleep on top of you and your single blanket.

- 4 inches of rain in one night will find its way inside your tent and you will wake up wet.

- When the State Park you are camping in holds a street fair - GO. It will be so hill billy you will be glad you didn't miss it.

- Unless you have a head of hair equal to a goddess - bring a hat. I believe my SIL Jen's comment was 'I have never seen your hair so big'...a little heat and humidity can do that.

- No matter how late your toddler gets to bed, they will wake up at roughly 6:20am as the sun peaks through the trees.

- Bring a bottle of wine! When you are trying to fall asleep on the ground with a tree root in your lower back its best to be VERY ready for bed.

Taken just moments before Chris and Quinton headed home.

Maddie, Eli, Shayden and Abby waiting to do Smores.

Good morning Mom! (and yes, I put him in his sleeping bag for this shot)

Shayden, I loved getting to spend your first night in a tent with you. Seeing you so excited for a new adventure and wanting to learn all you can made my heart so happy. A few moments I won't forget...you swimming at the beach, you took on the waves like a champ and laughed for more. Getting to show you how to take a camping shower was a riot. Trying to make it to the bathroom when you decided you really had to go - very hard. Seeing you dance at the street fair and play with your cousins, priceless. And wrapping you up in you sleeping bag with your headlamp was awesome. I can't wait for next year and more memories. I love you, Mommy

Summertime Shades

2011-07-28T15:41:00.000-04:00

Shayden 2009 - Quinton 2011

A Downtown Weekend

2011-07-17T22:14:00.000-04:00

Well we checked out downtown Columbus this weekend with the boys and I have to say I am impressed. I feel as though coming back to this city as an adult after living somewhere else has made it more difficult to fall in love but more and more I love what our city is doing. We hit two places this weekend that are brand new, Columbus Commons and The Scioto Mile and both are great, especially for the kiddos.

Enjoy the pics!

Columbus Commons:

Fridays are all about the kids with free carousel rides, bounce houses, music and bubbles.

Scioto Mile/Bicentennial Park:

Oh yeah..."Look everyone I'm walking".

Quinton's Birthday Celebration

2011-07-11T22:20:00.000-04:00

I am in the midst of uploading all the pics and video from last nights party but wanted to put up my top photo. It makes my heart happy.

Birthday boys include Quinton, Uncle Sam and Grandpa

(note Shayden, he just can't help himself)

Quinton's First Year in Photos

2011-07-07T20:34:00.001-04:00

Happy 1st Birthday Quinton

2011-07-07T09:28:00.000-04:00

To my sweet little Quinton,

You are an amazing child of God and we feel so blessed to have you in our family. From the moment you arrived you have added pure joy to our home. I love how you light up when you see us (especially Shayden) and your loving nature is contagious. Your hugs are amazing and watching the wind blow through your hair while you smile is a seared image in my mind. I hope you always know our intense and everlasting love for you and that you continue to grow to be the man God has called you to be.

All my love,

Mommy

A birthday breakfast - with a hint of syrup, a first.

Birthday smiles.

First present of the day...our amazing neighbors John and Jean bought Quinton his very own lawn mower so he and Shayden can 'cut the grass' together.

Practicing for the Big Day

2011-06-27T09:49:00.000-04:00

I'm almost One...

Gearing up for the big day

2011-06-16T20:46:00.000-04:00

We are just weeks away from celebrating Quinton's 1st birthday (sniff, sniff) and with that comes many changes, some great and some sad, but today the UPS driver brought a fun upgrade that comes with turning 1 year....a new car seat! That brown truck couldn't have pulled up at any better time. The boys had just gotten up from their afternoon naps and were super pumped to have a big box at the front door. Needless to say it didn't take long to have everything unpacked and the box ready for their use. I am pretty sure it was a hiding spot, a space shuttle, a food truck and a sleeping spot before they turned in for the night. Here are a few pics from the day.

Hey, what am I so excited for?

Riding in style

Boys in a box

Final trip in the space shuttle before bed

(side note: this is Quinton's new "cheese" smile, hilarious)

Thanks Grandma and Papa for my early Birthday present...I can't wait to ride in it. Love, Q

Much Needed

2011-06-11T13:28:00.000-04:00

After almost a year of not seeing my BFF Andrea she came to Ohio for a visit and her sister's graduation, so it was with great excitement that she came to Columbus for 2 days to see ME (oh, and her sister...but really ME - just teasing Natalie). Along with getting to see Andrea it was my first time getting to meet her new little boy Lincoln (10 months old) and spending some quality time with her oldest Noah.
We hit the Zoo in 95 degree heat and I have to say the kids did really well considering how awful it was outside.

Together Again

The crew (Lincoln, Noah, Jaxson, Quinton and Shayden)

Tiger Demonstration and we arrived at the perfect moment...it was incredible.

The following day I was able to slide away from the kiddos for a few hours and get some coffee with Andrea and some shopping therapy.

We had a great time together but it was much too short. Thanks for coming Andrea and taking the time away from your large family to see us. Miss you already!

Amish Country Day Trip

2011-06-05T21:43:00.000-04:00

Really this blog post should be entitled "Only the Strong Survive". This past week our play group decided to take a day trip to Holmes County, OH for a visit to Amish Country. Four brave moms strapped in 8 toddlers for a 4 hour round trip car ride and a whole lot of excitement in between.

Our big stop was a working Amish farm where the kids were steeped in a history lesson (which only the moms absorbed), played in a barn with all the baby animals, took a ride in an Amish buggy and toured a school house. While they totally enjoyed the whole adventure I think the real highlights were the Noah's ark playground on the farm, the animals and the buggy ride. All other interesting facts and amazing views were lost on them.

A tour of the farm house.

Enjoying some baked goods in the shade.

Checking out the baby bunnies that were born the night before.

The buggy ride was awesome! There is something to be said for open air travel.

Up close and personal in the school house.

I think some of my most surprising moments were how well everyone did under the circumstances. The little babies didn't get morning naps, it was SO hot all day, the house tour was 45 minutes of talking and walking, the school house tour was 15 minutes of talking and even some didn't nap on the way home. Through all of it I was so glad we made the leap and plunged in. These are the experiences I want my children to have, whether they can grasp every aspect or not I believe it will affect them and shape them in some way or another for their future. And for me it was a day of full appreciation for my modern conveniences and the reminder to slow down and treasure what I have around me, my family and friends.

Miss June

2011-06-05T20:27:00.000-04:00

Meet our newest niece, June Olivia.

It took us a few weeks to meet her as we had some colds to get rid of but she is the cutest and sweetest addition to my brother Luke's family. Our first few moments with June...

5 years together

2011-06-05T20:13:00.000-04:00

On May 20th Chris and I celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary. I know right, crazy! While on one hand it seems like we have been together forever (8 yrs dating and 5 married), on the other hand it was just yesterday that I walked down the aisle to marry my best friend. This anniversary was particularly special because since having children we haven't been away just the two of us. So it was with much excitement that we dropped the kids off with Chris' parents and had a mini 'stay-cation' here in Columbus. And I have to say, when done right, Columbus can be a pretty cool town to hang out in.

We had an awesome time living it up at the Hilton Easton (courtesy of Ryan and Steph and their crazy amount of Hilton perk points that they blessed us with) and enjoyed fabulous meals all over town with gift cards that we have accrued for probably over a year now and some from Chris' parents given to us just for the occasion.

Many thanks to everyone who assisted in our time away. It was much needed and even more appreciated.

The Hilton Easton - we highly recommend when visiting Columbus.

Sunday brunch, delicious and free of little hands.

Hyde Park for dinner - our vote for best steak in Columbus.

All in all a fabulous celebration.

Summer is here!

2011-06-05T19:38:00.000-04:00

And it has brought us busy days. I was reminded, very nicely, by my brother last night that I have been remiss in updating my blog. Which made me think 'slacker' on one hand and then, 'hey, my brother actually reads my blog' on the other. So here come some updates...enjoy.

Our first few days of sunshine meant constant begging from Shayden and back door clinging from Quinton to be outside. Makes me so thankful for our backyard and the space to play.

The back steps where we watch the gentlemen mow our lawn, from start to finish without a word uttered. This is by far Shayden's highlight of each week and he talks about his lawn mower guys year round, he knows them by name and anticipates their high fives and short conversations. Quinton is starting to join in and certainly enjoys the noise and activity.

I love that this picnic table is now gracing our backyard...its history, almost everyone in my family has had it in their backyard for their children at some point.

Makes me Laugh

2011-05-20T15:46:00.000-04:00

Quinton just makes me laugh. He is such a funny little boy and his actions reflect his zest for life.

The other day his GranDanna bought him a new book - a touch and feel - which he was super pumped to look at and experience. After reading it once I placed it on the ground for him to continue to look at and when I checked back on him minutes later this is what I found.

Hey, this is soft.

No ones looking, right!

MMMMmmmm

He takes "touch and feel" to a whole new level.

4th Annual Cinco de Mayo

2011-05-06T21:30:00.000-04:00

Yes folks, its that time of year again...the Annual Cinco de Mayo party hosted by you know who...these guys! I wish I could tell you that we celebrate the history of this day but in reality we just use it as a great reason to hit the patio and hang out with our family and friends. Plus the kids love smashing into a pinata filled with candy...oh yeah and did I mention I make a killer margarita (thank you Mama Kay). So as we enjoyed glorious weather last night, and after days of rain it was appreciated even more, I was thankful for this 5th of May and the wonderful tradition we started 4 years ago.

Enjoy a view of the party from my lens.

Your hosts, Pepita and Pepe

Casual outdoor dining...may fav

The mad rush for a sugar high

Quinton is 9 months

2011-04-14T23:02:00.000-04:00

It seems unbelievable that Q is 9 months old. Wow, that was fast!

So what is our little guy up to right now, EVERYTHING. He is crawling, pulling up on everything, falling on everything and also destroying everything he can get his hands on. Its a riot and a mess and I love it.

We had his 9 month check-up today and while he is doing great I did get a talk about his weight, or lack thereof, and so now we are on an aggressive approach to a high caloric intake and have a weigh in 6 weeks. Don't worry, I am not stressing too much, he is healthy and happy and certainly well fed. He's just our little peanut.

Quinton, we love you so much and your smile is infectious. Can't wait to see what fun adventures you take us on.

March 2011

2011-03-22T20:38:00.000-04:00

This month has not been a grand one so far in the Testa household. While I wish we were celebrating St. Patty's day in style and romping about in the early spring weather, we have been battling ear infections, pneumonia, stomach bugs, viruses, and the average cold. Ugh! I have to say this might go on record as being our worst winter ever due to sickness.

Quinton has taken the brunt of the hit, most items listed above he has had and we are still battling an infection in his ears that has required 3 different antibiotics (please Lord let it end with this one).

I on the other hand am SO ready to have healthy children and I need a serious house cleansing as I feel that until all has been sanitized and washed with hot water we are still susceptible to enemy germs. I know I am not alone, the word on the street is that this winter has been tough on lots of folks and the waiting room in my ped's office is a testament to that fact.

I don't want to make it all sound gloomy, on the bright side we are a happy and loved family. Quinton is pulling up on things now and desperately wants all items out of reach. He is BUSY the entire time he is awake and has discovered his tongue can make amazing sounds when applied between his lips. He is still constant smiles even when sick and loves to make Shayden laugh and to laugh with him. Shayden is always the inquisitive one. He wants to know about everything and will stick on a subject until he feels he has exhausted all information from me he can. His knowledge of machines and construction is amazing and he now corrects my limited truck terminology. We have hit a period of defiance and Shayden wanting to do many things his way. While he still accepts reality and our instruction well, we have definitely seen our first tantrum this month and now understand exactly how that feels when done in public. Wow! I think that about sums up that experience in one word.

So maybe I needed to write this post to see that all in all this month hasn't been so bad after all...and hey, we still have two weeks to go. So here's to the rest of March being a dream and Chris having a wonderful birthday this weekend.

Cheers!

Hoarder

2011-03-13T13:52:00.000-04:00

Everything looks normal in this picture, right?

Enter our new little hoarder:

List of items:

cell phone

monkey

9 books

Chris' belt

2 trucks

guitar

alligator

2 cans soup

baby toy

pull toy

drill

pliers

protective eye wear

moose

bucket of alphabet letters

blackberry

change purse

Shayden, your secret hiding spot has been found!

Daddy's are cool

2011-03-05T21:08:00.000-05:00

Because they...

always let you cook with them.

let you come to work and hang out for as long as you like.

make you and your buddy super cool desserts.

think setting up the tent in the family room is as cool as you do.

Chris - you are a super cool dad and we LOVE you!

Laughable Moments

2011-02-17T10:03:00.000-05:00

Two fun videos of the boys that just make me laugh....enjoy!

Quinton update

2011-02-10T19:26:00.000-05:00

I was reminded earlier today, by another blog, that I have been remiss in updating our blog on Quinton....who is turning 7 months this week! So here are some fun facts and updates on his movements these days.

1. Teething is in FULL swing...which means I rub some whiskey on his teeth/gums and then take a shot for my own sanity :)

2. Crawling is in motion just not in the right direction. He can go backwards and sideways but has yet to do a full knee, knee, arm, arm in the forward motion.

3. Babbling, well lets just say he LOVES his own voice. His favorite babble, to Chris' delight, is "dadadadada". But he has no idea what he is saying so I still have hope that the true "first word" could in fact be "mama". I have Shayden working on this each day along with myself, so Chris is outnumbered.

4. We are totally out of 6 month clothing.

5. Quinton is a full inch taller than Shayden at this point and a pound lighter.

6. We are in full food mode...veggies down, starting on fruits and his favorite is pretty much anything mixed with oatmeal.

7. He is still all smiles! I love his easy going attitude and constant joy. He will just beam at anything and lights up the most when he sees Shayden.

Shayden and the Potty Train

2011-02-05T20:21:00.000-05:00

I guess some mom's would call me lazy seeing as Shayden has been using the potty in some form or another since he was 18 months old...but on January 20th at the prime age of 2 years and 3 months I decided we were officially getting on the potty train and not turning back. You see, I didn't want to fail and I certainly didn't want to fail because of any silly reason like, 'I am enormously pregnant and taking this child to the restroom is hazardous to my existence', or 'He loves to pee and just won't poop so now we are forcing him to sit there for over an hour and work it out', or my personal favorite 'I am going to make you go pee or you are going to wish you had never existed'....Ugh, all of that just seemed awful and well tortuous to both parties involved. So I waited, waited until I felt he was good and ready and that honestly so was I. And I am happy to report that for this occasion in life it was timed perfectly. It went a little something like this...

Me: Shayden we are going to wear big boy underwear now and use the potty all the time. You need to keep your underwear dry and if you do all day you can pick out a present from the basket on the top of the toy shelf. Oh, and every time you do use the potty you can pick a treat from the basket and put a sticker on your potty chart.

Shayden: OK

Day 1 - no accidents

Day 2 - 2 accidents

Day 3 - no accidents

Day 4 - no accidents

.....and on and on and on

(I think in total since the 20th he has had maybe 5 accidents and Chris and I can take full blame for at least 3 of them due to not being available when a request was made...oops!)

So all in all it has been a real treat and even a fun event to potty train and I couldn't be happier. Shayden is proud of himself, we are proud of him and the cost savings is making our bank account proud of us too.

(side note for all moms reading this who want to know how in heck he is not having more accidents...we are still doing diapers at nap and nighttime (although they are dry most of the time) because frankly I am not ready yet for him to announce he is out of bed and working his way to the bathroom at 3am...not yet little buddy, maybe in a few months.

A few pics to mark the journey:

And yes those would be all his stocking stuffers from Christmas that I saved for this occasion...Chris was so proud.

Get Your Read On

2011-01-19T15:01:00.000-05:00

While I have never recommended anything on my blog, I am still not quite sure anyone reads it, I thought I would go ahead and do it this once as this book has become our new favorite in the house and for good reason.

Behold 'Mrs. McGee's Coconut'....

Chris found this book for Shayden for Christmas and it has been a blast to read and reread...even up to four times a day. This quirky lady, Mrs. McGee, has a great adventure with her coconut. For you parents, its not too long and not too short with just enough comedic flavor to keep you reading again and again.

I think my favorite part about this book was Shayden's fascination with coconuts and how excited he was when Chris surprised him by bringing one home from work one night...

After playing with it for an hour or so he insisted they open it up just like the monkey's in the book...and now we can officially cross off Shayden's list - coconut breaking, eating and drinking! Well done Dad, well done.

T.M.A.L.

2011-01-07T22:13:00.000-05:00

If you don't have an Aunt Linda then you may not really be able to fully appreciate this post. But Shayden and Quinton do have an Aunt Linda and she is the Queen of making all little kids dreams come true which is why this post is entitled T.M.A.L = That's My Aunt Linda...this Christmas she surprised Shayden and Quinton with an incredibly awesome Power Wheels. That's right and its the Smart Car Power Wheels so of course they are also going to learn how to be eco friendly from the start! :)

Here is Shayden rocking the car on the first decent day we had after Christmas.

Thanks Aunt Linda - you rock our little guys world and we love it!

Christmas pic

2011-01-01T19:24:00.000-05:00

I think this is my favorite picture from our Christmas Holiday....melts my hearts.

First Bite

2010-12-23T09:50:00.000-05:00

A first time for anything is exciting so when Quinton took his first bite of rice cereal 2 weeks ago we had to document the occasion. It took a few days for him to catch on but now he begs for his cereal and LOVES every bite.

I can't get enough of his sweet spirit and wonderful smile. He is such a joy.

Mind of a Child

2010-12-16T17:47:00.000-05:00

While baking dozens upon dozens of cookies at Grandma's house Shayden had some free time to roam around and play. This is what I found when cleaning up at the end of the day. Apparently the donkey wasn't good enough...

...and baby Jesus makes the best driver (can't really argue there, He is perfect).

What the What

2010-12-01T23:07:00.000-05:00

Yes that's right, Shayden's favorite saying has adorned this blog's title as it is going to encompass way too many events all in one...but life is crazy and I don't have time to split them up nor do I want to. So here it goes...

First up...Quinton is rolling! He started over a month ago but wasn't really rolling his way across the crib or around the floor until the past week. It has been fun to watch and also challenging as he gets a bit "stuck" at times when he can't figure out his next move.

Next...Thanksgiving was a blast! We started our holiday a week early with my family (you have to make these compromises with so many siblings and in-laws) which was great. It made one of my favorite holidays a whole week long and I loved it. Shayden did not love the meal as much as I thought he would but of course didn't hesitate when it came to the pie!

A hunting we will go...We followed up our Thanksgiving weekend by heading out to Timbuk Farms (a Testa/Romano tradition) to find that perfect tree to adorn our home. We bundled up (it was freezing and SO windy), picked the finest hand saw off the hook and climbed aboard the 'christmas bus' out to the fields.

- I should mention here that Chris and I had talked before hand that if we didn't see a tree that was great for under $40 we were going to come home empty handed...I mean come on people, Home Depot can do better than that and we are sick of being the losers who pay the most for their tree and it looks the worst-

Shayden was super pumped and for good reason...1 he gets to ride a bus, 2 he gets to hold a saw, 3 he is outside, 4 they have a tractor, 5 Santa was there, 6 can you say way too much popcorn and cotton candy (thank you Jamie and Deidre) and finally number 7 he was 2 HOURS late for his nap...and all in one day!

After traipsing around for awhile and sawing some tree stumps we happily headed inside for a sit on Santa's lap and some snacks. The only hitch in the plan came when we were climbing back in the car and Shayden says, 'Mom, there isn't a tree on top of our car'???? Huh, what was that honey...ugh, well ours is coming later (as in when we go to Home Depot and pay half the price as they are offering here).

Shayden surprised us by being more than willing to sit on Santa's lap and he was very clear in telling Santa that he wanted slippers for Christmas!

And now you know why this post was entitled 'what the what'.

Date with Mommy

2010-11-17T23:18:00.000-05:00

Since the addition of Quinton to the crew Shayden and I haven't had a chunk of time just the two of us...which I am sure he was missing (at least I tell myself that). So this past Saturday when Chris offered to take Q with him I jumped at the chance to hang out with Shayden and take him tailgating at the OSU game.

We jumped on the bike and hit the trail downtown to join all the madness around the stadium. Shayden has been infatuated with the marching band since his introduction to buckeye fever last year. This year proved to only increase that passion as we march around the house, play the drums, guitar, take off our hat and bow (like the drum major) etc... So as soon as we had lunch at the tailgate we jumped on the chance to see both bands enter St. John's Arena for the skull session. Shayden had a blast and did not take his eyes off the band members until they had marched out of eye sight. It was a great afternoon and I was happy to have the memory with him.

Quinton - 4 months

2010-11-16T13:32:00.000-05:00

Quinton had his 4 month check up yesterday and is growing like a weed!

Weight: 15 lbs (47%)

Height: 26" (79%)

Head Circumference: 43 1/2 cm (76%)

He is such a joy and all smiles...we are happy and blessed parents!

Country Time

2010-11-08T21:34:00.000-05:00

"Uncle Tom has a farm...eeeiii eeeiii oooo" - was the song of the week last week as we headed out to my brothers farm to spend some time with he and his wife Beth. It was a perfect fall day and the weather was nice and crisp which made the roaring fire Tom had going picture perfect and also required wood to be fetched...and who do you think was up for a ride in the truck and the manly job of getting wood...that's right, you guessed it, Shayden.

If you haven't met my brother Tom then I should fill you in on how he mesmerizes children and even more so little boys that love trucks/machines/and all things boy. So when the offer came to go out in the truck with Tom to get wood Shayden was more than happy to help and was overjoyed when he was allowed to get behind the wheel and drive (his hands only on the wheel) all through the fields, barely dogging the rows of corn.

Quinton held down the fort inside with Aunt Beth and Chris who slaved over some awesome homemade pizza (a personal quest that Chris is on right now for the perfect homemade pizza for under $10).

We finished the night off with the boys in bed and a four wheel ride through the fields to check out the stars and a fire side chat. Thanks so much Tom and Beth, we had a great time and can't wait to get back out there for another visit.

Shayden chucking wood off the back of the truck

Quinton holding down the fort (or at least the floor)

Our delicious pizza...well done babe!

November 1st

2010-11-01T23:21:00.000-04:00

As we head into a season of thankfulness I thought I would give all you ladies (or gents) out there with a dishwasher something to be thankful for....

my sink after a nice dinner :

(this equals no paper plates and more than 1 course was prepared)

Start time: 10:20pm

Finish time: 11pm

My counter, oven and yes even the highchair with everything drying upon completion:

And please don't read this wrong, I am not complaining...I know full well my blessings here too...HOT water, nice rubber gloves so my hands don't get chapped, a wonderful sponge brush that fills itself with soap so I don't have to take an extra step and squeeze out droplets of soap as I go....you get the point. But, and a small but, when my day comes and I realize the american dream of owning my own dishwasher I will bask in its beauty and possibly but not probably toss my rubber gloves under the sink.

Welcome to November!

Boo

2010-10-28T21:30:00.000-04:00

We had a blast this evening with the boys going trick-or-treat. Shayden was totally pumped up to get candy from anyone and Quinton was just so sweet in his little costume. I love our neighborhood this time of year with everyone out on their front porches and ready to greet the kids...Its like one large block party. Enjoy the pics from our evening.

(Eli, thank you for sharing your giraffe costume with Shayden)

Family Shot

Our little Giraffe

and our little pea pod

Demolition Day

2010-10-25T22:12:00.000-04:00

A section of High Street near our home is being demolished to make room for improvements and I thought Shayden would enjoy a close up look. So today for lunch I packed us a picnic and we parked across the street for a demolition lunch special. His face was priceless and I was shocked he was actually able to consume any food at all. Had my camera battery not worn out this blog post would have been filled with pics.

Carving Time

2010-10-22T15:00:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite aspects about the month of October (besides the birth of Shayden of course) is the pumpkin carving leading up to Halloween. Last year Chris got Shayden totally involved in this tradition and he absolutely LOVES every aspect of it. Here is a snapshot of the two of them carving pumpkins last year and this year...

Fall Fun on the Farm 2010

2010-10-21T14:19:00.000-04:00

Each year my fabulous Uncle Jim and Aunt Rose host "Fall Fun on the Farm" at their property out in Amish country. I look forward to it every year! This year Shayden was enamored with the tractor and it took much bribing with food and treats to get him to even leave it for dinner time. While much of the family couldn't attend this year John, Rachel, Eli, Norah, Papa and my gang had a blast taking in the scenery, hayride, homemade donuts over the fire and getting to catch up with our relatives.

Laughter is good for the soul

2010-10-19T09:17:00.002-04:00

Setting: breakfast in the kitchen, Shayden is in his highchair, Quinton is in the bouncy seat and Chris and I are sitting on the bench - Chris' arm is around me.

Shayden: Hey, what are you doing?

Chris: Were cuddling?

Shayden: No thank you.

Chris: Why not buddy.

(Shayden pauses for thought)

Shayden: I'm eating!

Thank you

2010-10-14T20:52:00.000-04:00

We want to give a big "THANK YOU" to our friends the Wannemacher's for coming to see us this past weekend...we had a blast getting to hang out with them over the Columbus Day weekend and more importantly getting to catch up with Sam, their adorable little boy.

Shayden and Quinton were pumped to have another guy to hang out with and we had a great time packing in the activities. Here are some fun pics from the weekend.

Breakfast Buddies

Bath time

Brushing the goats at the zoo

Big Week

2010-10-04T13:54:00.000-04:00

We have a big week ahead and I am looking forward to it and yet dreading it at the same time. Shayden turns 2 this week, Oct. 8th. Quinton turns 3 months, Oct. 7th. And one our closest friends, the Wannemacher's, are coming into town for the weekend!!! It is going to be a week to remember and I am sure busy with lots and lots of activities. Get ready for some pics and posts.

Back to work...much to prepare for

Shayden turns 2

2010-10-03T21:47:00.000-04:00

Shayden celebrated his 2nd birthday today construction style. All the family and a few close friends gathered to join us in a fun afternoon full of good food, a bulldozer pinata and a real life excavator - courtesy of Grandpa, which might make him the coolest one ever!

Shayden has been sick all week which made the party tough to pull off, we had to reschedule it once, but he pulled through and we officially kicked off his week of celebration. Thank you to all our family and friends who joined us today and were super flexible with all the adjustments we made.

Mom's Rule

2010-09-29T14:45:00.000-04:00

This past weekend was "guys weekend" for Chris and all my brothers. Each year the guys hit the golf course and have man time for a weekend...totally needed and deserved for all of them. But those that remain home - well I believe we deserve medals for these weekends. Which is why I put on my super woman costume and then shacked up with my SIL Rachel to tackle the weekend with another adult. (My mom didn't raise a fool)
We had such a good time and the weekend flew by. Eli and Norah were troopers sharing all their toys, crib, etc. and Rachel was a super host. Activities included, many meals out on the deck, Apple picking, Party with the cousins and sisters, church and a family meal at Grandma and Papa's house. All in all a wonderful weekend with great memories.

Saturday morning pajama party

The apple orchard

Hay ride and apple picking

Flashback

2010-09-28T14:38:00.002-04:00

I never shared this photos of Quinton right after he came home from the hospital, so I thought I would flashback and include them now. This was a little photo session Chris did with him.

(fun fact: this toy shelf was built by my father for my siblings and I many years ago...still looks good Papa!)

Classic Moment

2010-09-23T20:17:00.000-04:00

Scene: Day after arriving home from the beach and the house is a disaster and nothing is put away.

Me: (from the other room) Shayden what are you doing?

Shayden: (yells) I'm cutting the grass

Me: Okay buddy, good job...keep it up.

(Shayden comes into the kitchen while still "mowing")

Me: Hey buddy, what's in your ears?

Shayden: I'm listening to my music

side note: yes that is a walker and I already feel bad that one day all too soon I am going to have to tell him he has to share his lawn mower with Quinton who needs it to learn how to walk. Oh boy!

Promises and Corn

2010-09-22T20:07:00.000-04:00

I am going to attempt to update the blog more frequently now that Quinton is a bit older and I have so much more time on my hands.....HA HA HA!!! (as I roll my eyes) In my sarcasm I am kind of serious, Quinton is doing such a good job at being a baby...I am sure you ask yourself 'how hard can that be right?'....well talk to my first son Shayden and see what he says. As I type, I have 2, yes 2, boys in bed and happy to be there (at least I like to think so). Quinton has been going to bed so well and now that he is officially out of the bassinet in our room and in his crib flying solo I am getting much more rest. (WOOT WOOT)

On to more important things...we had our first official "Corn Day" at the farm this past week and it was a blast. My SIL Beth organized an awesome day full of fun and lots of corn. We ordered 300 ears of corn, that were picked fresh that morning, which we then shucked, cooked, de-cobbed (not sure of technical term here), cooled and then bagged for the winter. Which means come January when you are itching for some fresh Ohio sweet corn you will have to come calling to one of our homes begging for the bag of gold in our freezers! Enjoy a few pics - ps. Thanks Beth for such a fun day!

(no babies were harmed in this process...that steam is much further away from his face than it looks, promise)

2 months

2010-09-20T16:31:00.000-04:00

Quinton had his 2 month check up last week and was rocking the scales on all levels. He is perfectly healthy and we are so glad he is growing so well.

Weight: 12 lbs 9 oz (61%)

Height: 24" (76%)

Head Circumference: 41 1/4cm (72%)

for those curious...in comparison to Shayden at this same point Quinton is 1lb larger, 1" longer and and his head is bigger. I love how unique they are while also being so similar.

Big Changes

2010-09-19T20:32:00.000-04:00

This weekend marked a big step for Shayden as he moved into his big boy bed and out of the crib. Shayden was super pumped leading up to the big day and was most excited about putting his bed together....Chris and I on the other hand were worried that somewhere in the cloud we were going to lose our silver lining and have to talk him into actually sleeping in this new bed. However it was just the opposite, Shayden acted like it was no big deal, climbed right up in and slept like a champ. We are now on Night 3 and absolutely nothing has changed in his normal routine. To be honest it was almost anti-climatic but like Grandpa said, it just means he was ready.

Enjoy the pics of our big boy in his new bed.

Family Vaca 2010

2010-09-17T08:58:00.000-04:00

This past week marked the annual Family Vacation (officially our tenth) where we all head off to a predetermined destination and shack up together for a week and have some family bonding time. Now for some families this would equal tragedy, bickering, and possibly end in a divorce for one couple...but in the our household it just equals good old fashioned fun!

This years destination = Corolla Beach, Outerbanks NC

# of Family Members: 25

# of Nannies: 2
# of bedrooms: 9
# of bathrooms: 10.5
# of days cut short by Hurricane Earl: 3 (boo)

Some of my favorite moments were 1st's for the boys.
Shayden and Quinton's 1st time staying in a hotel:

Quinton's 1st road trip (and he was a total champ):

Not a total first but Shayden old enough to really enjoy the beach:

more to come...

Brotherly Love

2010-08-18T20:24:00.000-04:00

Just a few shots of the boys loving on each other...

Up Close and Personal

2010-08-16T22:01:00.000-04:00

We decided to hit the Zoo on Friday night and were totally rewarded when the Grizzly Bear in the new Polar Bear exhibit was swimming in his pond and gave us some up close and personal face time...let me tell you when they get that close you realize just how much you would never want to meet one in the wild. Yikes!

He is totally staring Shayden down...this shot was taken moments after the bear had his nose to the glass checking us out.

Quinton - 1 month check up

2010-08-11T14:57:00.011-04:00

Quinton had his 1 month check up last week (technically 5 weeks old) and all went well.

Weight: 10lbs 13 oz (65%)

Length: 22 1/2" (70%)

Head Circumference: 39cm (58%)

Looks like our little guys is growing just fine....and packing on the pounds like a champ!

Up and Coming Designers

2010-08-03T16:49:00.000-04:00

Before I allow you to preview the amazing designers I am featuring on my blog please let me preface this entry by stating this design was COMPLETELY original and TOTALLY uninspired by any adults. My fabulous nieces, Madeline and Abigail (ages 9 and 7 respectively), got a stroke of genius yesterday while I was hanging with them at Grandma's and while no one was looking created this one of kind piece for my front door. (I will be totally honest here and say they offered it to Grandma first, very respectful of them, but I scooped it up before they could turn me down...I mean come on, I have been looking for a wreath for my front door for 6 months!!!)
Okay...so your on pins and needles now right....

behold their masterpiece:

(Left: Maddie - Right: Abby)

Gracing my front door

Take a close look Martha Stewart, these girls are going to give you a run for your money!

Shayden meets Quinton

2010-07-11T20:39:00.005-04:00

Shayden came to the hospital to meet Quinton and it couldn't have gone any better. He is so in love with his new baby brother and so far things are going great. Enjoy the video of his first impressions.

Quinton James

2010-07-10T21:08:00.000-04:00

Quinton James
DOB: 7-7-2010 at 6:39pm
Weight: 7lbs 9.5 oz
Length: 21.5"

He was welcomed warmly by his big brother Shayden who greeting him with a kiss and tickled his little toes.

We are settling in at home and feel so blessed to have these two precious boys to love and raise.

...more to come (but sleep is calling)!

Lawn Mower Man

2010-06-18T21:43:00.010-04:00

If you have spent any time with Shayden you know his deep deep love of all machines, especially those that are related to lawn care. One of his favorite things to do with the flyers that come in the mail is to search for ones containing lawn equipment. He will then sit, anywhere, and study each page until he has talked about it at length.

One of our favorite words Shayden says is "lawn mower". He has a way of changing how many syllables are in the word each time he says it and you never know what version you are going to get. Recently his grandfather taught him how to correctly say it (which was kind of sad) but I nabbed this video just before he corrected his baby language mistake.

few pics

2010-06-13T20:17:00.008-04:00

I jumped on Chris' computer tonight and realized he had some cute pics of Shayden that I thought I would share. I feel like he is growing up so fast now and definitely all little boy and no more baby. Whew, that is hard to swallow sometimes and makes me tear up just typing it out. I am excited to see how he reacts/adjusts to his baby brother and what the next few months will bring.

We love you Shayden and are so thankful God has allowed us the opportunity to raise you.

Sous Chef

2010-05-30T21:44:00.003-04:00

My Little Sous Chef

I love that Chris captured this little moment with me and Shayden. Shayden loves to cook, is always in the kitchen when I am and cannot get enough of the grill! At the start of each meal he will ask for the step stool and push it around the kitchen to observe how and what we are cooking.

Many mornings the first thing out of his mouth is what he would like to eat for breakfast and when we reach the kitchen it is quickly followed by a request for either a spatula or tongs to play with. Lately, he will create a grill from just about any item around the house and start cooking food to serve to anyone around.

His regular menu of items include but are not limited to:
Hamburgers
Hot Dogs
Grilled Chicken
Happy Birthday Cake

So, if your in the neighborhood and need a meal please feel free to stop by, Shayden's kitchen is always open...be warned however, your imagination will have to tell you when you are full.

Wedding Weekend

2010-05-24T20:50:00.005-04:00

This past weekend was my oldest brother's wedding and it was amazing! They, Tom and Beth, planned a phenomenal event on their farm that was like a page out of a bridal magazine. While I don't have many shots to share, too busy running around, here are a few shots I managed to capture....enjoy!

1st Haircut

2010-05-16T22:29:00.004-04:00

Shayden had his first big boy haircut this weekend after a year of Chris and I attempting to trim it when necessary. He was really excited when we got there and was definitely talking up the experiance but when it came to getting in the chair and putting on his cape it turned ugly. He basically had to be held down by Chris until we got a lollipop in his mouth and he realized this crazy lady with the scissors wasn't going to hurt him. The sad moment came when he was all done and we realized our baby was now a little boy.

Meet Norah

2010-05-01T21:13:00.004-04:00

My beautiful niece arrived today early in the morning and it was so exciting to get to greet her. She kept her mommy and daddy guessing as she arrived a full week late!

I can't wait to hang out with you Norah and watch you grow.

31 cents of Bliss

2010-04-29T09:03:00.004-04:00

Shayden was in heaven last night with his 1st real ice cream cone. Baskin Robbins had a 31 cent cone from 5-8pm and we headed over to meet our friends while Chris was working. While in line waiting our turn I decided to ask Shayden what kind of ice cream he wanted (since he has never been given this choice I was interested to see what he would come up with), he didn't even hesitate and stated very simple "blue ice cream"! Huh, what, are you kidding me...no way buddy but good try. So Mommy had to veto that and order up some strawberry which was just fine with him. I then decided to not interfere at all with his experience and just let him go at it...he was so focused he barely looked at anyone else and didn't say two words until he was done (err..when Mommy kindly cut him off and threw away the rest).

Enjoy these sweet moments of bliss..

18 Month Checkup

2010-04-27T21:04:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe Shayden is already a year and a half old! We visited the doctor this week for his check up and all is well. Of course Shayden knows exactly what is going on now and cries every time a nurse or our doctor comes in the room but thankfully this time the cabinets and ladder were a new area to explore and kept him happy....for awhile anyway. :)

Stats:
Weight: 23 lbs 11 oz (19%)
Height: 33" (66%)

Keep growing little buddy...we love you!

Saturday mornings

2010-04-17T09:18:00.006-04:00

I am sure every mom loves Saturday mornings ... but I really do! It's so much fun to have a relaxed day in which a big breakfast is always on order and there is no rush. This morning Shayden requested "baby pancakes" and after finishing a nice portion of them Chris decided he would make smoothies as well. Of course anytime toddlers get to use straws it is a fun time and Shayden was pumped to get to share a smoothie with his DaDa.

Good Graffiti

2010-04-08T16:28:00.001-04:00

Spring and summer just wouldn't be the same without sidewalk chalk so of course when Wally World had a box for $1 I was a total sucker and had to let Shayden have a run at it. Needless to say we didn't pick the best day as it rained all morning and left it breezy and chilly this afternoon, but what kind of mom would I be if I didn't follow through on a promise.
So, we hit the back sidewalk and went after it. Shayden did great keeping it out of his mouth and enjoyed switching all the colors from each hand and making one mark on the cement before moving on to another color. I had a large mommy moment when I realized just how messy sidewalk chalk can be and we both had to strip down when we came inside...wow, can you say this should be done right before bath time and only in play clothes!!!

Egg-stravaganza

2010-04-03T20:05:00.009-04:00

Happy Easter - He is Risen!

Shayden participated in his 1st Easter Egg Hunt this morning with his pals Izzy, Caleb and Sophia. It was a blast. We literally approached a large field filled with a million little kids and even more parents with cameras, strollers, diaper bags and all the gear that comes with your little one. Then a huge horn blasted and before we could really explain what was going on we had to throw Shayden into the fray and tell him to go for the eggs. Needless to say he did not disappoint. It was as if he knew exactly what to do and had no problem running around, gathering eggs and throwing them in his Easter basket.

When it was all over (about 4 minutes later) the next thrill was seeing him realize there was something in the egg. Now in Shayden's case that wasn't the highlight of the event as he chose every egg in the field filled with stickers and he very much dislikes stickers if they touch him and are placed on his body or clothing...but when the Easter Bunny's helper gave him a package of pretzels...well he was in heaven.

It was a beautiful day with wonderful friends and a memory I will definitely treasure forever.

Enjoy the pics.

Mommy's Big Helper

2010-03-28T19:55:00.004-04:00

Shayden has become increasingly fond of our vacuum. If he hears me open the closet door that its contained in he will run over and inspect what I am doing in hopes that it is coming out and we are going to get to work/play. Needless to say with a toddler running around this happens quite frequently!
Lately its not enough that he chase me or get in my way the entire time but he wants his turn at using the hose and sucking up anything and everything he can get his hands on...thankfully nothing other than crumbs and dust thus far. Saturday morning I was hitting the kitchen floor and let him have his turn while grabbing the camera - below are a few still shots and one video of him at work. The best part, in my mind, is when he realizes the camera is on and he tries to get around it to see the screen in the back...he's just so bright.

March Madness

2010-03-23T21:51:00.013-04:00

March has been a busy month so far with many birthday celebrations in the family, a start to swim lessons for Shayden and the sunshine of spring finally shedding some light on our lives. It has been a fun month and instead of breaking up my posts I just decided to show some of the best pictures from the month thus far and highlight the moments for you.

Shayden absolutely LOVES swim class. The hardest part is keeping him contained on the side of the pool until our instructor lets them get in the water. He has no problems going underwater, has a good kick when you prompt him to do so and goes crazy when they open the 3-story slide for us to slip and slide down. Chris came this past week and Shayden was in heaven!

On a beautiful sunny saturday we hit the town and Shayden met up with some firemen and the firetruck...he was on cloud 9 and when they gave him a hat, he still puts in on each day and places it carefully on his toy shelf each night (those are Daddy's sunglasses).

Another highlight to our winter has been our play group dates, this past week we went to Shayden's pals Izzy and Caleb's house where they have a real guitar...oh my goodness, nothing else mattered once that came out to play. Shayden was in love and spent the rest of his morning sitting on the floor embracing his true love. I think we may to think of upgrading his toy guitar soon as he is totally ready for the real thing.

Little Moments

2010-03-09T21:22:00.000-05:00

There are days when being a full time mommy can wear on you and you need reminded of why you are choosing to stay home each and everyday and just love on your babies and raise them up to be good people. Most of the time these moments come when you least expect them and they are so refreshing and rewarding.
Each day when Shayden wakes up from his nap he has a snack, this particular day I came into the kitchen to find he had brought his buddy Elmo into the kitchen for a snack as well...I caught him sharing his "fish" with Elmo...what a total sweetheart! Although as you will see in the second picture I think Elmo started choking at one point. Sorry Elmo, sharing concept is still being worked on.

Praise Jesus

2010-02-20T22:54:00.003-05:00

If you have never had the pleasure of listening to 'Psalty Sing-a-Long' CD's, or in my day cassette tapes, then you have not lived. Over Christmas my parents gave all the grandkids some Cd's which we have been enjoying. Shayden had a great play date this week in which he had his buddies join him in his coffee table dancing (yes we allow him to dance on the coffee table), and they had a great time. Joining Shayden is his cousin Eli and their gal pal Izzy. Enjoy the video below...it just makes me smile.

Weekend Highlights

2010-02-08T19:30:00.002-05:00

We have had a wonderful stay here in Palm Springs but this weekend was really special as our "Arizona family", John and Marilee, drove in to stay the weekend with us. It was a great time together and we enjoyed getting to catch up.

Also in the highlight reel we will include Shayden on the potty as he has started to tell us when he is going to go "poo poo" and then has proceeded to use the restroom properly about 7 times. Am I about to claim he is on track to be potty trained - no way - I am not going to blow the mojo but at least he is getting the right idea and enjoying the ride. As if I have to say it but....He's just so bright!

Birthday in Style

2010-02-04T14:21:00.001-05:00

On Monday I celebrated my 28th birthday and it was fabulous. Everyone pitched in to watch Shayden all day and I was able to come and go as I pleased. I started my day with a workout followed by a pedicure with Momma T (while sipping my Starbucks, thank you very much) and then enjoyed a wonderful afternoon nap and hitting balls at the driving range.
For my birthday dinner I chose a menu of gourmet burgers, salad and sweet potato chips/fries...sounds delish right! Chris really stepped up to the occasion making homemade buns that were unbelievable and Dad brought a surprise from the clubhouse, homemade potato chips that came in the bag below....as you will see from the pictures they had a blast filling this entire bag which has turned into over 2 meals worth plus snacking this entire week.

It was a wonderful day and I was so blessed by all the love and affection!
Thank you.

Desert Fun

2010-01-31T23:20:00.002-05:00

Each year Chris' parents head to La Quinta, CA for the winter and we absolutely love the chance to get to break up our winter by visiting them. Last year Shayden was only 5 months and couldn't really get into the trip but this year he is all over the putting green, tennis courts, pools, fountains and basically anything he can get his hands on. Thanks to Grandpa and GranDanna a golf club was waiting for him and he has put it to good use each and every day.

This is my favorite picture taken so far...it was our first full day here and he had just woken from his nap for a nice snack out in the courtyard. With the warm sun we stripped his shirt off and he was in heaven. I can't blame him, I was a little jealous myself.

Then and Now

2010-01-24T20:11:00.000-05:00

I jumped on my old computer this weekend and looked through some pictures of Shayden when he first joined us. As I was near tears I came across this picture of he and his cousin Eli and realized I had taken one of them just this week...Amazing the difference a year makes. I hope these two continue to be best buddies for many more to come.

(February 2009)

(January 2010)

Trash Diver

2010-01-10T19:41:00.000-05:00

What do you do in the evenings for fun? I doubt it includes searching your trash for items that don't belong there!!!
Lately Shayden has increased his fetish with the trash can by throwing all sorts of things away. Friday night was a Huge hit as this was the loot collected from just 1 hour of playing with Dad...who won't admit to any of this because he never thought it peculiar that Shayden was running to and from the kitchen in pure joy and never returning with the toys that he was heading in there with.
Ah Lysol wipes, what would I do without you.

Snow Day

2010-01-07T20:05:00.002-05:00

As the snow came down today we decided to bundle Shayden up and get him outside. As we explained what we were going to do he could not contain his excitement...see pic below. It was so much fun to see him out there having a great time.

This is our neighbor Jean who Shayden adores. She was teaching him how to shovel which you would have thought was the greatest thing on the planet. He was all smiles and big eyes!

Stocking Madness

2009-12-29T10:38:00.000-05:00

Each Christmas Eve Eve my mother and I exchange stockings as it is my favorite tradition. This year as I pulled out her stocking she commented on how hers may not be as good..etc. No biggie right, I mean last year she forgot all together so I was up for anything. As she rounded the corner this is what she had in her hand... I nearly lost it, I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe. Not only did she make up for forgetting last year but she really hit it BIG this year. I thought I was going to pee my pants.

The next morning we had to stuff Shayden inside just to show how large this thing really is.

Way to go Mom - you rock!

Morning Routine

2009-12-25T20:53:00.007-05:00

Shayden loves the Christmas tree and each morning as he comes downstairs he goes through his morning routine. I have enjoyed these moments so much I wanted to capture them to remember...here is a video right after waking up.

Annual Christmas Tree Hunt

2009-12-19T12:20:00.005-05:00

We headed out a little late this year for our annual Christmas Tree hunt but it proved to be a wise move as it is a few less weeks of "reminding" Shayden not to touch the tree, pull the tree, pull the ornaments, etc.... you get the idea!

Shayden absolutely loved the excursion and while he had trouble maneuvering between the fields (picture lots of divots, stumps, all nothing to an average adult but a huge mountain for a 14 month old), he was totally into the sawing of the tree and carrying it home.

Every morning he asks to turn the lights on, then tells us there is a star on top and when he sees the Santa ornament he says "Ho Ho Ho". Personally I love to have a reason to have the lights on all day - contrary to Chris' energy saving requests to turn it off. :)

Laugh out Loud Good

2009-12-06T19:28:00.008-05:00

So I might be a bit of a Starbucks fanatic...in reality it is just coffee in general. So this past week when Shayden and I headed to church to help decorate for Christmas a little coffee was definitely in order.

side note (important for story): For those of you who have the pleasure of attending our church and have met "Uganda John" (which for the record he likes being called) then you would know his trademark phrase which is "Hey Paw Paw" in his very African accent and booming voice.

As we pulled through the drive-thru a very familiar voice greeted us on the other end...it was the professional starbucks greeting but since I knew it was John on the other end I shouted "Hey Paw Paw" when it was time to give my order. As John is laughing through the speaker at me and saying Hi, Shayden is in his car seat in the back losing it...I mean peels of laughter are ringing through the car...it was such a belly laugh that I tried it again and again and again. He and I laughed all the way to the pick up window where I am relaying all this to John. As we could not pass up the opportunity we shot some video to share. Shayden is still loving it and now has his own rendition that is just as cute!

Like Father Like Son

2009-12-01T09:42:00.001-05:00

This just cracks me up...

Dallas Visit

2009-11-22T11:57:00.009-05:00

Okay so this post is a little late, but we had a GREAT time in Dallas a few weeks ago visiting the Wannemachers and meeting baby Sam for the 1st time. Let me just say Shayden was enamoured with him and did not want to leave his side. Sam loved the attention - except when Shayden decided to kiss him SO much the layer of slober was visible from 10 feet away.

Along with getting to hang out and see Dallas again the boys enjoyed their 5 yr reunion and we all had a great time at the Homecoming Parade. While the boys enjoyed golf the ladies were pampered...all in all it was a fabulous week - thanks for the invite guys!

SMU Campus - in front of Dallas Hall

The boys loved the parade and Shayden was dancing to all the music.

Shayden tried his 1st pair of cowboy boots - Ryan's childhood pair that Sam will soon sport

Our little guys

For the faithful who read all the way to the bottom - enjoy this special treat!

Trick-or-Treat

2009-10-31T20:05:00.002-04:00

We had an absolute blast this weekend taking part in our first trick-or-treat with Shayden (my first one as well I should admit). He and his cousin Eli took to the streets with a fury and were not in the least shy about approaching whomever might have candy/pumpkins/anything that would light up or was an animal. It was a complete riot and we were in shock as to how well they did. I still have a smile on my face and cannot wait to do it again. Enjoy the pics!

Fall Fun on the Farm

2009-10-23T18:07:00.005-04:00

My Aunt Rose and Uncle Jim started years ago (30 to be exact) a great tradition that welcomed family and friends out to their Christmas Tree farm to celebrate fall. Not only is the scenery beautiful but we get to see all our family while enjoying hay rides, wonderful food and of course the infamous homeade donuts that always end the day. This year was Shayden's 1st and he absolutely loved it. Thanks A. Rose and U. Jim for the great day!

Pumpkin Time

2009-10-16T22:20:00.006-04:00

Shayden and Daddy had a great time this past Thursday night while Mommy was away...Chris decided it was time for he and Shayden to carve their first pumpkin together and by the looks of things it was a huge hit. Now so that I can get in on the action I have forced Chris to take us to the real pumpkin patch this weekend - woohoo!

Chris' handiwork

Here is a little video to enjoy...hint hint he is saying "Hello" into the pumpkin.

1st Birthday

2009-10-12T16:35:00.005-04:00

Shayden's 1st Birthday:

This past week we celebrated Shayden's 1st Birthday...absolutely unbelievable that we have hit this milestone. I knew it was coming but I just couldn't grasp that he was going to be a whole year old, it rocked my world. We had a gorgeous fall day to celebrate and all Shayden's biggest fans (the fam) came out to celebrate with us.

Shayden shared his big day with his Great Grandma Lilian who turned 90!

He had no problem digging into his cake and going to town...that is once he figured out cake was inside that icing circle.

***

Shayden, your father and I love you so much! We feel so blessed that God has allowed you to join our lives and we are excited each day to see how you grow and develop. My heart melts each time you smile and when you give me hugs...its indescribable. Thank you for being a boy and getting into all of my things and carrying them around the house - I am sure I will find them someday and smile! You are a true pleasure and I am so thankful to be your Mom.

Love you, Mommy

Pimp My Ride

2009-09-27T23:06:00.006-04:00

Watchout ladies!