Wednesday Confessional

#6 - I turn 25 this weekend. Ahhhh I'm getting old!!

Okay so not really, but 25 is a pretty big milestone! It says to me "You're on the downhill climb to turning 30". Scary thought. haha. I still don't feel any older? My college-age sisters act like it's "weird" to go on double dates with their married sister that has a baby. I didn't even realize we were in that different of stages... I still feel like a college student (and the fact that Jared still is a college student makes it even more so) So it was funny when I thought of myself from their perspective.

But other than that... I don't really feel like blogging tonight. I'm tired. I have a cold. I had to grocery shopping tonight which was wearisome, and while there I happened to lose my shopping list midway through.  I found out today I could potentially have Tuberculosis. Okay so I probably don't haha but I had a reaction to the TB skin test, so the doctor said she "couldn't consider it negative." Interesting...  So I'm calling it a night! Until next time blog readers!

Boog's First Half Birthday!

I think it's safe to say that no one has witnessed the amount of change that I have by the time their baby is 6 months old (Emmetts adjusted age). Physically, mentally, emotionally... my little guy has done a complete 180. Times 5. Then maybe doubled.  See for yourself.

                                          THEN                                                        NOW

Would you ever even guess this was the same baby? I wouldn't!

The first time I looked at him, I didn't think it was possible to ever have more love in my heart than I did at that moment. It was overflowing at full capacity. That being said, it continues to amaze me that I really love him more and more every single day. Look at that smile! It lights up my life, and when he wakes up and sees me and responds by giving me that one-of-a-kind grin, my heart just melts. It's a drug-like state where I am completely overcome and intoxicated by the little bundle I hold in my arms, my head clouded and oblivious to all other things around me. I am aware this sounds somewhat crazy, but I wanted to try to put in words what that "indescribable feeling" really feels like... and that is what came out.

• Weighed 18 pds, 10 oz at the doctors today
• Emmett can pretty much sit unassisted now!
• He loves to spin himself around when he's laying on the floor. I'll look down and he will have scootched himself all the way around so he's facing the opposite direction.
• Started eating solid baby foods! So far he's had bananas, applesauce, peas, and peaches.
• He is such a go-er! He loves to be out and about - doing anything. Consequently he has become the best little shopping partner! He loves to be pushed around his stroller in the store and watch everything going on around him. We try and go somewhere everyday to get out of the house, and he is SO good. I can even try on clothes with him!
• He got a new big boy swing which he loves to be in again (YES!). This one sits more upright and has toys for him to play with on the the tray. In the mornings he loves for me to move the swing in front of the TV and he just chillaxes.
•  Fills out his 6-9 month clothes already, and is starting to even be able to wear some 12 mos! (with the pant legs cuffed of course. lol)
• Finally has enough hair to style! Which is lots of fun :-)
• Is all the sudden starting to look so much older to me! His features are so much more defined, and he's starting to not look so "baby-ish" anymore
• Watches cause and effect, and mimics the action. He sees me press a toy and turn the music on and then repeats it himself. The other day my sister was waving her hand under this motion sensor halloween decoration to turn it on, and when she stopped he starting sticking his hands under it. haha

Big Boy got his shots and was so tough!

Showing off his Mo

Hard. Core.

Wednesday Confessional

#5 - I got my first Provo Library card yesterday, and I'm like a little kid all over again!

Emmett and I are always looking for places to go and things to do during the week. So yesterday we headed over to the library with the stroller and the baby bjorn in tow. It was originally just an idea to pass the time, but I have a feeling our little trips to to the library are quickly going to become a favorite pastime.

I was so excited when I realized I could rent movies, CDs, books on disc, and magazines in addition to books! Since I'm still reading Mockingjay (the last book of the Hunger Games series), I don't need another book yet, but I loaded up on tons of fun/reference books. I got one on Shabby Chic decorating, one on vintage clothing, and a cookbook to try out. I even got some Spanish audio discs because I have always wanted to try to learn... I doubt I'm going to become fluent, but I'm excited to even learn simple phrases!

Then we headed over to the Childrens wing. We picked out some fun big board books for Emmett, and a book of nursery rhymes (Sidenote: Some of those rhymes are SO weird. They don't even make sense. It baffles me that they have made it through  the ages

Take for Example:                                          I Had a Little Hen

I had a little hen, the prettiest I've ever seen,

She washed up the dishes and kept the house clean.

She went to the mill to fetch us some flour,

and always got home in less than an hour.

She baked my bread, she brewed my ale.

She sat by the fire and told a fine tale

 So random. Who is this person that is turning their hen into a slave? Animal Abuse. And it just ends so suddenly... "she sat by the fire and told a fine tale". Whatever haha.
 The childrens movies were really picked over, but I'm hoping I will be able to rent some of the Disney classics for him.
I was as excited as a little kid checking all my books out! And so excited to show all the cool stuff we found to Jared when he got home. I have to admit it still feels pretty important to have my own special card :-)

Travelin' Fools

I know, I know, I missed this Wednesday's Confessional. I already feel guilty. But the post you're about to read is so amazing you'll forget all about it...
***
Last weekend I took Emmett on his first REAL roadtrip. 10 hours. And Jared didn't even come (Poor guy had to stick around for class and a test). I was so brave!! Luckily I had my mom, my sister Kendall, and my little bro Caysen to help me. Emmett did incredibly well, and had a blast finally meeting my side of the family! I have been wanting to introduce him to his great grandparents for the past 9 months, so I finally bit the bullet and got it in before winter hits.
I am so happy I did because it was really nice being "home". It made me realize how grown up I've become while visiting my grandparents. Their homes hold so many memories, items of my past, and experiences I'll keep with me for the rest of my life. It's been a long time since I've visited their houses, and to return for a visit that was not for myself but for my son, really put things into perspective. I'm not the little grandbaby coming to visit anymore, I'm bringing over their great-grandbaby. It's a funny feeling, I felt more like their peer rather than the grandchild they were watching this trip, and we had a wonderful time.

Warning: Lots of Pictures to come, but I want them all in there for my own memories :-)



Great Grandma Roe



Great Grandpa Roe

Great Grandma Whittaker "Lola Whittaker"

Great Grandpa Whittaker "Lolo Whittaker"

While we were there we visited a Halloween store to get ideas...

...but none of these made the cut, believe it or not. Hahaha. I know, right? [Stay tuned to see the ADORABLE costume that won out for Emmett]

We enjoyed each others company...

Above with Great Grandpa Whittaker and Uncle Caysen, Aunt Kendall, (Great?)Aunt Erin, my cousins Mark, Matthew, and Alyssa, and (Great?)Uncle Todd

...Said Goodbye :-(

  

  ...And had two very tired little boys on the drive home



Thanks to all our family for giving us such a great weekend, and to my Mom, Kendall, and Caysen for putting up with a six month old baby [and his frazzled, sleep deprived mommy] on our first road trip adventure! It was quite the ride (a 6-year-old and a 6-month-old sitting next to eachother for 10+ hours = a little crazy), but we had so much fun!! We love you guys!



PS-I swear my mom was on the trip, but she has a way of hiding from the cameras...

Wednesday Confessional

#4 - I'm a Bookworm

Most people that know me well are already familiar with my book obsession. So it's not exactly news. But I recently started The Hunger Games series, and I am in love. It's so creative, gripping, suspenseful, and romantic (c'mon there's always got to be a little love story thrown in there). I'm hooked. As I was finishing the last 100 pages of book 1, I already began my frantic search for #2, knowing I had to have it on hand or I'd die waiting!

It's not my usual thought provoking, semi-dark, deeper novel but I was in the mood for something lighter and thoroughly entertaining. These hit the spot. Perfect for reading during the day while simultaneously caring for a 5 1/2 month old baby. Trying to read something too deep that requires a lot of concentration is usually unfruitful.

So there you have it. A short confessional, but it's been a busy day and my OCD prevents me from letting a Wednesday pass where I neglect to post. No one out there would probably even notice, but I would. And I'd probably lose sleep over it. Seriously. [Hey you just got a second confession within my confession!] So no complaints!

Wednesday Confessional

#3 - I Love Yard Sales (and other good second hand deals i.e. Craigslist, KSL)

I love getting good deals!! It's so fulfulling to me! Bargain hunting, no matter the place, knowing that I got something really nice that everyone else paid five times the price for. I just bought Emmett a practically new, beautiful Britax convertible carseat for $65 on KSL! I am so stoked about it! Those things can be anywhere from $200-$300! He has started trying it out already, and he feels pretty good about himself sitting up like a big boy!

I also love thrift stores and yard sales because I love finding one of a kind items. Rare, vintage items that are unique and have character. Ones that no one else could ever copy or imitate because there's no other ones for sale out there. Last weekend I hit up a book sale from a retiring elementary school teacher who was clearing out her collection of childrens books. I picked up this loot for $4 for everything! Lots of them are brand new condition (and my sister whos going into elem. ed helped me pick out the good ones they've talked about in class).

And to my surprise... turns out the booksale was also a Yard Sale of other items! Imagine my excitement when I found this totally cool antique lamp for $5!

The pictures don't really do it justice, but I love the detailed parts on the top and bottom! I might switch out the lamp shade, that huge 70's shade is slightly ghetto fabulous. But at the same time it has character.

The best part? You can choose to light up just the bottom, crystal part of the lamp, just the top, or both at the same time! Genuis! Do they still make lamps like this? haha. All I know is I have a new reading lamp!

Oh and if you haven't watched the videos yet from my last post, go there now - you won't regret it!!

This is what happiness looks like

Here's a peek into playtime with Daddy

                                                             and this is Mommys version