...on car seats and furniture

I woke up early this morning and couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to get up early and take advantage of some quiet time.  Really, I should get back into the habit of doing this every morning....
Man, the wind is a blown' this morning!  You know it's going to be an icky weather day if the wind is already blowing at 6:00 in the morning!  I suppose that will make for some creativity on my part today!  Thank goodness for pinterest, blogs, and the experience of working with toddlers for 2 1/2 years!

Yesterday was kind of a big day for our little toddler-we finally turned his car seat.  Yes, I know, I know, you are technically supposed to wait until 2 but he was just looking crunched back there so we flipped him around.  It was so fun driving yesterday and easily seeing this sweet little face behind me.

Jack, on the other hand, was playing it cool.  I think he was just trying to act regular like, "yeah, I'm a big boy, no big deal."  Probably in his head was thinking, "really mom?  Do we have to take a picture?"  Well, I don't know if he really cared either way but we were very excited.  

(note the pink smudge on his cheek-I'm pretty sure that is lipstick...)

On Sunday my mom headed back to Phoenix, did I mention she came out for a visit?  She hadn't seen Jack in a while so she made the trek out here for a quick little visit.  Hopefully Dad can make the next trip!  Sunday we also headed over to Adam's grandparent's house one more time to pick up some furniture.  We decide to try and salvage some pieces which means that we now have a garage full of projects.  I'm super excited about these for a few different reasons.  1:  They are family items and while they probably aren't fancy or worth much, I think it's great to have pieces of furniture that have some kind of story or meaning behind them.  2:  Adam is actually excited about refinishing furniture!  My dreams have come true!  and 3:  I get to do a little sewing-they had this lovely chair that is in great shape but in need of new cushions.  I'm especially "psyched out of my mind" about this project!  Hopefully we'll get them done sometime in the next month or so, give or take a little because I have pretty much lost my husband to tax returns for the next month and half.  

P.S.  Parenthood season finale is on tonight!  I just love that show-kinda sad the season is already over! 

...on decorating and contentment

So, I'm not gonna lie, I have spent the majority of Jack's nap time shopping online for things for our home. I guess I should say window shopping.  Don't worry dear, nothing has been purchased.  I just would love for someone to give us money and design expertise so that we could get our house totally finished.  We have lived in five different places in the almost six years that we have been married.  Wow, I had never thought of that before-that is a lot of places!  The difference now is that we are finally staying put!  We have no plans to move anytime soon and love this house that just kinda fell into our laps a little over a year ago.

Sometimes I wonder if I am struggling with contentment when I struggle with wanting our home finished.  Am I being materialistic?  I don't know...maybe to an extent I am.  But, i've said it before and I'll say it again...when you stay home, it is hard not to want things finished.  I spend so much time at home that I want it to be just right.  I suppose I could start by not spending nap time on the computer and maybe actually clean something.  Hmm....

Well, Happy friday, folks!  I'll leave you with this little treasure...

After Bible Study on Wednesday Jackson was pretty cranky so I sat him on my lap while I played the piano....he fell asleep.  So precious.  Maybe I'm not as rusty and I thought I was!..

...on chalk, brushes, and olive garden

Jack and I were hanging out in his room before nap today.  He was playing by his little table and I was folding some of his little clothes.  We had some music on in the background and it was just really pleasant.  I found a piece of chalk on his dresser and gave it to him so that he could color on the chalk board in his room-he was so excited!  I turned my back to put some clothes in the drawer and thought to myself, "wow, I feel like this is almost getting easy".  Kind of like, I'm comfortable having one kid, it's gonna be ok, we have this thing down.  I turned around to gaze at my precious little one only to find that he was munching away on the chalk.  BIG mouth full of chalk.  Great.  I couldn't help but laugh to myself at the conversation that had just gone on in my head about how having a kid is easy.  I guess I got a bit ahead of myself.  Oh well, no harm.  It just gave me a good laugh.  

I'm just curious, did anyone's child have an obsession with some strange object when they were Jackson's age?  His favorite things are brushes of any kind.  Paint brushes, make up brushes, brooms, etc.  He will wake up in the morning and say "brush, brush, brush".  Sometimes he even naps with them and almost snuggles them like a blanket.  It's kind of bizarre but, at the same time, It's just another quirky thing that makes us love that little guy all the more!  

One last item.  Adam, Jack, and I went out to dinner on Sunday night.  We had a gift card to Olive Garden so we decided to be thrifty and go there.  We pulled up and could hardly find a parking spot so Adam dropped me off to check on the wait.  I walked in and was one in a SWARM of people waiting.  Not even waiting to be seated but waiting to put their name on the list!  WHAT?!  As I waited not so patiently to see how long the wait was I heard more than one party around me say that the wait was, are you ready?  AN HOUR AND A HALF!!!!!  I just turned around and walked right back out.  I mean, this is Olive Garden we are talking about people, Olive Garden!!!!  Who waits an hour and a half to eat at Olive Garden?  It's not that cheap, it's not the best food in the world, I just don't get it.  Maybe it's the breadsticks, who knows...  We headed over to a local italian restaurant that we LOVE and ended up being seated right away.  It was nice, quiet, and local.  We had a great evening and we were home before we would have even been seated at dumb old Olive Garden.  

...on being awesome

Yeah, I only wish I was talking about myself.  Not a day goes by when Adam and I don't catch ourselves saying something like, "Man, our kid is so cute," or "Jack is so cool," or "We just have the best kid ever."  I mean, come one, what parent (especially first time parent) doesn't say that about their kid.  Well, lucky for you all, I actually have a little bit of proof that our kiddo truly is incredible.

Exhibit A:

Yeah, that hair is pretty amazing.  I'm pretty sure he gets that from me.  I'll spare you the pictures of my crazy hair but I'm thinking that Jack is coming in a close second to his mama on crazy hair.  The best part about this picture is that it was taking after dinner, after Jack smeared cheese in his hair which is how we got it styled just so.  

Exhibit B:

Did you catch the tear in his pants here?  Yeah, that happened.  That, my friends, he gets from his daddy.  If you have ever been to a wedding where Adam was in attendance you know that he has split more than his fair share of britches doing some crazy moves on the dance floor.  I really hope that Jackson gets Adam's dance skills too.  

Need I say more?

...on love

Happy Valentine's Day!  I normally don't care about Valentine's day but this year, for some reason, I'm kinda into it.  I think that having Jackson around has made me appreciate every holiday a little bit more.  Our big valentine's tradition is to get take out from an italian restaurant and eat at home.  This year we are changing it up a bit-getting a little wild and crazy and cooking instead.  There is something to be said for a designated date night at home just sitting at the table and talking.  

My littlest valentine is napping (after playing in his crib for an hour) and I think when he wakes up we are going to make a card for Adam.  I kind of wish that I had been bit by the valentines but a little earlier in the month so that I could do more!  Oh well, I suppose any day is a good day to celebrate the people that you love.  *insert corny music here*

Happy Day!

...on our little sicky sickerton

We've been missing for a little while for a couple of reasons.  Reason #1:  Adam kidnapped my computer for the week so that he could use it at work.  Reason #2:  One of us has had a very grumpy week due to a recent diagnosis of RSV/Bronchitis.  So there you have it.  All I have to say is I am so glad it is Friday and this week is almost over.  Here are some photos from before Jack got sick.  Notice the spatula and paint brush-two of his favorite "toys".  

Lastly, here is a little tribute to "Papa Grande" who passed away this week-91 years young.