Simple Sunday: Hot-tubbing.

Maybe I should stop watching the Bachelor with Charlie in the room.  He seems to have the hot-tub thing perfected.  Oh, man... girls better watch out for this little cutie!

Simple Sunday: His Big Shot

We were blessed with incredible weather this week, so Carter finally got to run around outside and play for awhile.  Of course, I wouldn't miss an opportunity to snap a few photos of my favorite basketball star.  I just love the look on his face - so much concentration, such focus!  Love this little man.

Linking up with The Simple Things!

First Time in the Swing

This afternoon was a particularly beautiful day - blue skies, not too cold - the perfect setting for a neighborhood walk.  Charlie woke up this morning with a yucky, snotty nose and a little cough, and I thought a nice, long walk in the sunshine might make him feel a little better.  We walked all the way to the not-so-nearby park (about a mile).  He was totally content in his stroller, just taking in the sights of trees and houses along our route.  When we got to the park, we headed straight for the swing.  His first time in the swing was great! He was all smiles and seemed to forget all about being sick.  It was great to get out of the house for a bit and enjoy such a gorgeous day.  Here's hoping there is another nice day headed our way, so we can get back to the park again soon for another ride in the swing!

January 2012

January was good to us.  What a wonderful way to start a brand new year!  This month began with our family finishing our holiday trip back home in Phoenix.  It was extra wonderful to see Gigi - Carter and Charlie's great-grandmother.  The boys loved spending time with her, and so did I!  We enjoyed the amazing weather in Phoenix, then returned back home to Washington to beautiful snowfall.  Carter had his very first snow day EVER!  It was so exciting to have an unexpected day off from school, and we spent the morning outside making a snowman and having a snowball fight.  Carter also finished his indoor soccer season this month.  He was the best player on the team by a mile (momma is so proud!).  Charlie is getting more mobile and active every day, and we are sure that he'll be crawling any day now.  Time to hurry up and baby-proof the house!  January has just flown by, but we're ready for a new month filled with new adventures!

Simple Things Sunday: Food, Glorious Food!

When I sit and think about my life... I mean really think - I can see how many things I have to be thankful for.  The obvious ones are the ones I tend to photograph the most: my adorable kids and my handsome husband.  But, as a part of Simple Sundays, I am hoping to help myself think outside of that box more regularly.

Today's photo is of a meal I made this week.  It represents how blessed we are to always have access to a mountain of food in our home, never having to go without.  It reminds me of how lucky I am to be able to gather around the table at night with my family.  Even if the table is sticky with gooey handprints and crumbs are covering the floor... these moments together over a shared meal are something special to me.

What is your Simple Moment this week?

Happy Half Birthday!

Sweet Baby.  How has half of a year flown by?  As your daddy reminded me... we are 1/36th of the way until you go to college.  Eek.  He shouldn't have mentioned that.  I already feel like you are growing up wayyyyyy too quickly.

Another month, another bunch of firsts and great little memories.
During your 6th month:

• You are weighing in at 19lbs, 15oz and are 27.5 inches long. 
• I went away for 2 nights.  Dad took really good care of you, but you were super happy to see me when I got back.
• You had your first bottle of formula.  You were NOT impressed.  Lucky for you, that isn't something that you need to have again!
• You celebrated the turn of the new year... by sleeping.
• A new tooth has popped through!  It is a sharp little guy, and you are chewing on everything and everyone to make your mouth feel better.
• You have some definite favorite toys:  Your rocking horse (you love to look at his face and try and eat him), your stuffed monkey (you like to sleep with him... and eat him), and your Sophie (one for home and one for the car... you love eating her!)
• Your sleep patterns are not improving, thanks to the arrival of new teeth.  You wake up 2-4 times each night, but thankfully sleep from 6:30pm-8:00am with 2 naps a day.  I can totally deal with that.
• For some reason, you seem to think 10pm is a good time to wake up and play.  We disagree.  You get pretty mad when we make you go back to sleep.
• When you wake up in your crib, you roll onto your back, try to grab your toes (even though they are always in footie pajamas), and babble to yourself until we come to get you.
• You are a super roly-poly baby!  You can roll from room to room and have even learned how to pivot to change directions so you can get to whatever you want.  We've had to vacuum extra to keep the floors clean for your busy hands. 
• You are a big fan of riding in the stroller, but you still love to be all snuggled up in a wrap, too.
• You started eating solid foods - you love carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, squash, apples, pears, and bananas.  There isn't a single food that you have refused or even made a yucky face at.  Such a good eater!
• You try and steal any food that is within your reach - even our spicy curries! We can't wait until you are old enough to eat some.
• Your babbling is getting louder and more frequent.  You love to be heard!
• You bang on your high chair and yell if we don't feed you quickly enough.  
• You practice blowing raspberries and "pffftttt"-ing all day long.  Drool everywhere.  But seriously cute.

As I sit here writing this, I am hearing you wake up (it is 10:45pm - you must be hungry)... now I get to go and give you some extra snuggles before you go back to bed.  I'm pretty sure I have the best job in the world - even if I do work 24 hours a day/7 days a week.  I wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING.

Simple Things Sunday: Ah... Love.

Have you EVER seen love like this? You might have already seen this photo on my facebook page... but it is worth seeing again.  There is really nothing like the pure love of a baby for his parents.  Charlie knows just how very important his daddy is.  So glad to have captured this sweet moment.

Thanks for joining me for our simple moment of the week.  Take a minute to visit simple as that's blog for more great moments captured this week from friends across the globe!