the nursery before we moved

I wanted to document what Parker's nursery looked like before we left utah- so one day he can see- and so that I'll remember.

I love this. I found a vinyl sticker set- it came with all these stickers and then you put the whole thing together however you wanted. I had my mom & Brett help, I loved it!

One of the saddest parts of leaving his nursery was knowing I was going to have to take the stickers down. I saved the pages they came on, but I wasn't sure I'd be able to do it without ruining anything. I mentioned this to my sweet husband one night before I went out, when I came home he had taken the whole thing down for me and put them perfectly back on the pages so that I can re-use them! What a stud! :)

This little guy came with the crib- great deal yea?

This is also another favorite thing in Parker's nursery. Parker's middle name, Vance, is after my grandpa- my mom's dad- so my clever mother found some of my grandpa's old socks-
( and washed them) and made this sock monkey!! It's a real legit sock monkey made from the real kinds of socks they use for sock monkeys. I love it, especially since it has such a sentimental value to us.
we named him ted, after my grandpa. vance was his middle name.

there's the nursery! not to fancy shmancy- but I love the jungle theme and found so many fun things, like the awesome lamp to go with it.

My baby talkin

Parker talkin to Dad

this video is from the beginning of September.. I know I say
'I love you' a lot in the video- sorry if it gets annoying :)

Don't try to hide things in the trash

Ice cream is definitely both mine and hubby's treat of choice- we would both pass up cookies, cakes, and anything else for a big ol bowl of ice cream.
Since baby has come and hubby and I are trying to lose the pregnancy weight :) - we haven't bought ice cream in a while, it's hard to do, but I knew it wouldn't last...
So of course a few days ago I was walking through the ice cream aisle at the store-
I needed some ice cream- bad. And I knew he wouldn't complain if I brought some home
So I meticulously stood in the ice cream aisle going back and forth between flavors & brands- and then I saw it.
Ben & Jerry's "Fair Goodness Cake"- I read the description and I knew I was done for.
You see, next to ice cream, german chocolate cake is the next best thing on my list, so when I saw that this flavor was ice cream and german chocolate cake combined- it was a done deal.

I grabbed it, my mouth already drooling- and began to skip away from the ice cream aisle, happy as a clam. But then- I stopped, This is only 1 pint, definitely not enough for both hubby & I!
{we both struggle sharing desserts-we're working on it}
Panicked, I run back to the ice cream selection, wondering what to do. Should I get him his own pint? But what flavor? And that's so much $ (ben & jerry's ain't cheap!)- for so little ice cream.
So i decided to be selfish, and buy a quart so that I could have my pint of Ben & Jerry's and then for the next few days enjoy the quart of ice cream too. And the hubby could still enjoy the quart, without wanting my Ben & Jerry's. Brilliant right?!

So I come home and go through my pint in a few hours (horrible, I know)- and throw the carton away, knowing Brett wouldn't see it so then I wouldn't feel guilty for not sharing.

He came home from work, and we had a great night with Parker and going on a walk. Right before bed Brett goes to throw something away- and he sees it.

"What is this?!" he exclaimed,- "Oops!" I say smiling.
"I wish I could have tried it" he says
then i feel guilty. Luckily I bought the quart so he got his ice cream fix. He still couldn't believe i downed a whole pint in a few hours. One huge difference between the hubby & I;
- SUGAR INTAKE ABILITY-
he can't believe how much candy I can eat on road trips and I can't believe after 1/2 pack skittles he's 'sugared out' for the whole day. Blows my mind.
moral of the story: don't hide things in the trash- take it all the way out to the dumpster :)


I bought this little monkey a new hat when we were in CA- it's to die for.
I realize you can't see much of the hat, but you can see the chin strap, which might just be my favorite part of the hat.

good friends & a little napping trouble

I'm so lucky to have these two as my life-long friends.
They are hilarious, smart and not to mention beautiful.
Jamie (red head) & I were supposed to be born the same day!- except we weren't, I was a day late and she was a week late- we're pretty sure we were just hangin out in heaven, laughing. Because that's what we do when we're together.
Our moms were friends even before we were born- it was meant to be.
Sadey (brunette) & I go waaay back to when we were 5 I think. We have pictures from birthday parties when we were in that annoying 5-7 yr old phase when every picture is ruined by a a crazy, annoying- get's in everyone's way face and hands in the air phase. Love it.
It's always a blast when we're together. We have so many memories, from softball, pool parties, t.p.ing (anyone know how to spell that??) marine world, dramatic teenage girl fights :), driving- like when Sadey convinced me to take the car when I was 15 and drive her and I down to go get ice cream.. what were we thinking?!, third eye blind, laughing in class, laughing in class some more, getting in trouble for laughing in class... those were the good 'ol days.
But now we are growing up... fast! But we are still great friends and I can't wait to see how far these two go!

Next item of business.. a certain little man in our household has decided he doesn't like his crib for naps anymore.. I usually set him in his crib while he's still awake and he would drift off to sleep, lately I set him down and 2 minutes later he's ANGRY crying. I can't handle angry crying for very long- so after 5 minutes I'm in there calming him down. I've tried to set him down again and leave but it has a been a viscous cycle lately.
I think it may have something to do with a little runny nose he has- when I pick him up from the crib there is always a huge wet spot from drool/snot- so I'm hoping after this runny nose is gone things will go back to the way they used to be.
Ya know, since he is so set in his ways being 10 weeks old and all.

So, this morning after refusing to nap in his crib, guess where he wanted to take his nap??
Dad's side of the bed, on dad's pillow.

I let him- because he is so gosh darn cute.

a smiley sunday

thanks aunt kate for making the adorable onesies with ties- I look great in them!
p.s. did you notice my super cute shoes?? Mom had to practically hold my feet down to put them on because I was so squirmy! Dad says I'm a lot like mom because I hate wearing shoes...
(but why would I need shoes when I can't even walk??) that's what I'd like to know!

Love, Parker

10 years later

"Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free..."
-Langston Hughes


I cannot believe it's been 10 years since the 9/11 tragedies.
We have been watching some 9/11 memorials lately and I am so amazed and in awe of all the brave men and women who took a stand that day, and gave their lives, and energy to help save others. I like to think if I was in a position like that I would be brave, and courageous like those we heard about- but I'm not sure I would have the bravery that a lot of the men and women from 9/11 had.
Thank you to all the firemen, policemen, and civilians who gave their lives in heroic acts