Big Bear

This trip goes way back to the end of September, but we had so much fun I wanted to document it. We went with my parents for Friday-Sunday and my sister, Claire, and her family joined us as well. We had fun riding the Alpine Slide, playing tetherball at our cabin site, going on a boat ride, driving around the lake and eating out. Poor Will screamed going up and coming down the mountain, we realized later it was probably his ears hurting from the pressure.

It's always nice to get away to the mountains and it was a refreshing break from the hot weather at home. Here's to many more trips to Big Bear!

Month 12

It has been a wild past couple of weeks! This is the final month I am doing owl shots. Will is 1 year old--I can't believe it. And thank goodness because it was getting pretty difficult to get him to sit next to his owl on the chair. These aren't my best, lighting is horrible in our little apartment. But I wanted to document my little man.

12 Month Statistics:

Weight: 22 lbs 13 oz (45th percentile)

Height: 31.25 in (85th percentile)

Head Circumference: 18.5 in (60th percentile)

• Will is in size 12 month clothes and size 18 month pajamas. He's still in size 4 diapers. He has 8 teeth and 1 top molar just starting to come through.
• He still loves reading his books. Only now if he sees a book somewhere he will grab it and bring it over to you and sit on your lap while you read it to him. Most of the time when the book is over he will get upset and start crying until you read it again. And again. It was cute at first and now I have most of his books memorized.
• He also learned how to climb down the stairs all by himself. We have all been working on this with him and telling him "feet first" and he finally got it one day after bath time. 
• He now gives KISSES!! He wouldn't for the longest time and every time I would ask he would cover his face with his hands. When we were in Utah I asked and he finally gave me one! I am one happy mama.
• Will took his first steps on October 12! He walked from our large couch to the chaise lounge, about 5 steps away. He just turned and walked all by himself. My parents were in the room with me and we all saw it. After we all cheered and clapped, which I think scared Will and he started crying. 
• He also started dancing to music, which I love. If he hears music anywhere he will started bopping up and down to the music and he gets a huge smile on his face.
• He started squealing and screaming when he's letting us know he wants something. We are trying to squash that and I actually started teaching him some signs.
• When he is finished eating I ask him if he's all done and he throws his hands in the air above his head to tell me yes, he is all done. At first I think he would do it because I said "All done" but now he knows what it means and will do it on his own now. We are also teaching him the sign for 'milk' and 'more'. He gets a little frustrated with 'more' because he wants it now and doesn't want to wait :)
• He still loves baths--more so the playing in the water than actually scrubbing or dressing afterwards. He is insistent on standing up and walking around the edge of the tub so I have to watch him carefully.
• Lately I've been putting him to bed about a half hour later and he has been sleeping until about 8, which really helps me when I get some extra sleep.
• He absolutely loves getting all the attention in the room and will put on quite a show. He will wave, clap, do war woops, make kissy noises, walk across the room, dance, give kisses, etc.

Me oh my, has it been one year already?? This little boy has grown so much. I think back to when he was a newborn and how I wished he would forever remain that tiny so I wouldn't lose my sweet little baby. But each stage is just so great (and not to mention it gets a lot easier!). Here's to many more months and years ahead of this sweet boy!

Month 11

I am so late in posting this, but things have been a little crazy with getting ready for our move to Michigan. Plus Jono leaves tomorrow and is taking my laptop, so talk about last minute.

My little William. You just get more and more fun as the months go by. 

• Will really mastered feeding himself this month. He usually squishes it before he eats it, but that's ok.
• He still loves being chased and will now chase us when we crawl on the floor. He has gotten really good at walking with his walker and can even steer it and reposition it. He gets very upset and has a short temper when it gets stuck.
• He has become so much more social. He plays peek-a-boo behind his blanket or anything else that hides him from view, he will copy-cat our actions, loves to wave, clap, high-five (to sound effects), and do an Indian woop. He loves reading stories and singing songs.
• He now remembers who people are by their names and if we ask him where someone is he will look around the room until he finds them.
• He has also picked up some naughty habits like playing in the toilet bowl, unrolling toilet paper, dumping out anything that's in something, unfolding laundry and climbing the stairs when we are not around you.
• When he's on a hard surface (wood, concrete, grass, etc.) he will go up on all fours with his butt up in the air, which we call the "Mowgli Crawl."
• Still loves bath time and loves to play in the water running from the faucet. He gets upset when we turn the water off or when the water drains from the tub.
• He is about done eating pureed foods from containers and much rather prefers eating table food. He's really good about trying everything we give him--especially fruit, bread/toast, drinks and noodles. 
• He sleeps about 11 hours at night and still takes 2 naps a day. When I would put him down to sleep I would put his blanket on him and then wave goodbye. He picked it up one day and started waving back, so that has become part of our routine, and I love it.
• My family went to Big Bear the end of September and had a blast. We also celebrated Will's birthday a little early because we wouldn't all be together for his actual birthday. We had a lot of fun, but he refused to eat his birthday cake.

2,182 miles

Or 34 hours in the car.

That is how far our little family is moving.

All the way to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Jono got a great job offer we just couldn't refuse.

We are excited, really. It will be a new adventure for our family of three.

Jono leaves one month from today.

Will and I have a trip to Utah the end of October and then we will be joining Jono in Michigan afterwards.

We are trying to soak in the last rays of sunshine here in California.

Which includes many trips to the beach, pool, beach club, and perhaps Disneyland (if I can convince Jono).

And Jono will have two and a half weeks off before he leaves to drive across the country with all our belongings.

We are meticulously planning out our last days in California and filling them with the things we love, including family and friends.

We are sad to be leaving California, but we know Michigan is where we are supposed to be heading.
And we can't wait for the adventure ahead of us.

Month 10

This boy of ours has become so much fun! 

• Will now has 8 teeth! That's right, 3 new teeth this past month. It's been fun.
• His new favorite things to do are climb up the stairs (we're still working on down), play in the toilet (NOT something we condone), unroll the toilet paper (again, a no-no), dance to music, walk with his walker, get chased and play hide and seek, play with the tv remote, play with laptops, dump out and empty anything in a container, and "flip" down the backrest of the couch with Jono.
• He still loves to rock with Gaga in Papa's chair, get his feet rubbed, play pointer finger, play in the bathroom, jump in his jumper (he's learned some new tricks!), play with the cats, watch tv, wave and clap.
• He is so wiggly! Rarely can we get him to sit still. And church has gotten to be so much fun. Eight more months, eight more months... All this moving has come with the bumps and bruises. The newest one he's donning is a scab by his left eyebrow that came from face planting on the kitchen tile.
• He loves eating anything and everything we eat. When we are eating something he'll come over and get antsy until we give him a bite. And he loves it all.
• His crib is finally finished and it looks beautiful! My mom and I still have to make the bedding, but hopefully we'll get him in there soon. Pictures to come.
• He has a playful look. If I look at him from the side and smile at him he'll tuck his head down and smile. Such a flirt.
• He loves when I crawl and chase him around the house. When I catch up to him I turn him over and tickle him and he giggles. He also likes chasing me and I'll hide and pop out and say "boo!" and he'll laugh.
• We are having so much fun with this boy. Every day brings a new adventure and a new skill to master. It is so neat to watch Will grow and become a little boy.

This face just melts my heart.

5 Years

Friday, the 24th, was our 5 year anniversary! I cannot believe its been 5 years already. So much has happened and we have so many good memories together. Not gonna lie, marriage is hard work and it stretches you and makes you into a better person. And you do it because you love the other person. I love this man of mine so much. He is so good to me and for me. I can't wait to see what our future brings and I know that whatever happens we will support each other and cross the finish line hand in hand.

After Jono got home from work on Friday we kissed the babe goodbye and drove to Dana Point to stay at our hotel. Then we went to dinner at Charthouse, which was also where Jono took me for my Christmas present when we were dating. I gave Jono an introductory airplane flight lesson and he gave me my second wedding band! I was not expecting it at all and he totally surprised me. He did a good job :)

The next morning we checked out and got breakfast. Turns out all we can talk about when we are away is Will, so we went home after that to see him. We went to the beach club later that day together and had a fun time.

Month 9

My little boy is on the move!

9 Month Statistics:

Weight: 21.2 lbs (74th percentile)

Height: 29.75 in (90th percentile)

Head Circumference: 46.25 cm (95th percentile)

• He learned how to army crawl while we were in Utah at my sister's house. If he wants to be picked up he will crawl over to us and hit us with his hands or pull himself up onto our legs. He also pulls himself up on furniture to standing. (He started crawling a couple days after he turned 9 months and I took these pictures a little late so that's why he is crawling on all fours.)
• We had a great time in Idaho and Utah visiting family and friends. Will did great on the road trip. He met his newest cousin, Blake, and wanted to touch his nose and eyes. Every time he saw Blake's bottle he would get upset and want his own. He also loved watching his cousin Connor run circles around him.
• He has four teeth with more on the way.
• He has dawned a few bumps and bruises now that he is mobile. But he only cries a little before he's back in action. He got his first fat lip when he tried pulling himself up on the trash can in the kitchen and when it slid away he did a face plant into the tile. It was so sad. 
• He is totally enamored with the cats...still. Only now he can chase them, which they are not too happy about. We have to watch them and make sure the cats don't take a swat. He has gotten a few scratches already. He squeals whenever he sees them and will laugh hysterically at them and will say the hard "c" sound.
• He is still a great sleeper and I am so grateful. I can usually squeeze a nap in during the day while he sleeps. He started sleeping on his stomach and knees while we were in Utah. 
• He loves his books! When we read to him he brings out his pointer fingers and points at all the pictures.
• He still loves TV. Mickey Mouse, Jake, Doc McStuffins and the mini-series Small Potatoes (which has a very catchy tune).
• He sure loves his dad! After not seeing him for a week and a half when we were in Idaho and Utah he has to be around him. His favorite times of the day is when Jono is getting ready for work and when he gets home from work.
• He can clap, wave, loves being tickled, wants to eat everything you are eating, loves playing with balls, touch our pointer fingers together, and explores all over the house. He's my little dreamboat. 

Fourth of July

We were all up in Utah to visit my sister and help out with the new baby over the fourth. Jono flew up the night before and Will and I met him at his sister, Sarah's, house in Lehi, UT. We had breakfast, played outside in their play pool and then ate lunch. Later we went to a BBQ with extended family, and it was so good to see everyone. Afterwards we drove back to Ogden and pull Will to bed. We all watched many firework shows outside my sister's house, which overlooks Ogden Valley. I'm so glad we could all be together for the holiday.

Look at those two goofballs--cousins just a couple months apart.