New Things.

With Alex's birthday, homework and running errands before my big trip to Dallas (Which btw I'm probably on an airplane right now!!) I haven't had a chance to talk about all the new things Alex is doing! He still the 100% percentile in everything the doctor said, which is still no surprise.. I just want to know how much longer that will that! Funny thing is he's wearing 18-24 months and sometimes 2T and I can't figure out why his bum and legs are so chunky! I can't even think about get 12-18 months on the kid!



-Pointing and saying mine
-Trying to take off diaper and run around house (not a fun one)
-Stills sleeps amazingly well 830-930 or 10 am and a long 3 hour nap, boy I'm lucky.
-Trying to do summersaults (no idea where that came from)
-When I Shh him he puts his hand over his mouth
-Loves to be tickled especially his belly button and feet!
-Saying a bunch of new things "is this"(what is this), baby, no-no (all time favorite around our home), oh, wow, and yum-yum
-No longer walks but rather runs
-Inspect his food when we give him something to eat (kind of a smart eater, I wouldn't eat anything if I didn't know what it was)
-Is a definite fish lover (crab lover.. expensive taste!)
-Loves to play hide and go seek
-Has become a "tornado" when left alone, meaning when I come back to a clean room it's been destroyed in a matter of 5.34643 seconds
-Gives a huge happy almost over exaggerated smile when I say cheese and have the camera out
-Going through random growth spurts growing 2 inches at a time
-Has 16th teeth including top and bottom fronts, all canines and 4 molars.. geez.
-Likes to jump up and down when happy (dance as we call it)
-Gives me a kiss when I ask for one
-Almost off the bottles, and loves his straw cups
-Loves Backyardigans and Elmo

I know I am forgettng a TON of things, but this is what I come up with when I'm up at 2 am pre-blogged post and my son is sound asleep.


Extremely dirty but too cute not to show off!
I am so glad things are getting more fun, I really enjoy dressing him up now and buying him tons of shoes that I know won't last past 18 months! But how much long until nursery?!!? I can't wait to go to church and not have to walk around on my week of having Alex in RS! He's great for dad but when he's with me the kid just wants to walk around and play with the other kids!

I just got the photos from McKenzie of Monday night and I promise to post them when I get back from Dallas! They might be on my facebook first!

Alexander's Shot

I used a wonderful photographer named Mckenzie Deakins to do Alex's first birthday picture. I hope to one day be as good as her after taking all my photography classes!

Here are a few samples of how cute he was, he was being a little stinker at some points but she made him look like it was easy as cake!!
Photography by Mckenzie
She really captured what I wanted and I've learned my lesson of trying Alex's clothes on before I put him in them. Alex had one outfit that was 18-24 months and the shirt was a little big. Oh well... he still looks adorable! And despite him not touching this cake he sure loved his birthday cake!

Homework

Can I just say I looovveee the fact that I can schedule my blog posts? Because at this time I'm probably out of my mind after getting an ESI or Epidural Steriod Injection in my back to get ready for future tests. Long long story for a different post.

Well, I figured I'd share with everyone my homework and how I'll be progressing through out my classes. My first class was on Aperture and Depth of Field. I was asked to take 6 pictures in 3 sets of categories. Sounds extremely confusing, but I promise it's not and this is coming from someone who has a short attention span.


Storytelling f22

Storytelling f22

Singular-Theme f5.6

Singular- Theme f5.6

Who Cares f8

Who Cares f11

It's hard to explain the meaning of them all without making this post extremely long and boring since I always seem to over explain everything. But this is just a taste of the beginning of my work, I can't wait to look back on this months or even weeks from now and see how much better I am becoming!

So before I go out of town I have one request. I'm actually not looking to forward to leaving because Alex is on the PERFECT schedule and sleeps beautifully. He's in be by 8-830 and sleeps until 9-10am with no waking up or wanting a bottle. THANK GOODNESS but the best part is he takes a 3.5 hour nap from noon on. Is there anyway I can keep this going while on vacation??!! I enjoy everything being perfect! I even booked an late morning flight so he could get his nap and a super later evening flight back so he can been "in bed"! Any advice?

Just when I thought things were calming down..

I'm a bad blogger I'm just going to go ahead and admit it. I can't even set up my pre-written blog posts up so I don't have to worry about blogging! After Alex's birthday I thought I'd be less busy and have more time to get things set up before I went out of town... nope! Here's the long awaited birthday day.. sorry guys =]

Part Dos:


After the zoo I was beyond exhausted but I of course like a good helper went back over to Libbie's to help finish or more "watch" her work on the cake. We took Alex out to dinner that night and went to Tucano's which he loves (he loves anything involving meat, cheese and vegetable.. oh and sweets of course!) On the way home I had to make a few stops at random stores and at a famous toy store to get a last minute gift or two from distant family members.

We then went home and I went to wrapping and stuffing bags and boxes. I want to first of thank all of my wonderful family and friends for coming! We had close to 30 people and kids there!! I was shocked at how great everything went and Alex loved all of his gifts, he made out better that Christmas I think! (That's hard to top you know!) Alex got so many fun toys he doesn't even know what to do with himself, and he hasn't even been back to Texas to get the rest!


This is about half of his gifts.. yes half seriously he's spoiled. But don't you love to lonely unwrapped basket filled with clothes? If it hadn't turned Spring and I didn't need to dress him right for the weather the basket would of been overflowing. Can I just say in my defense I didn't realize how much I shopped until I started wrapping? I started liked 3 months ago, you can't expect me to remember!


The amazing and yummy cake my wonderful mother in law helped me make!!
The big day, Alex was actually clueless. And for once it a seriously long time he woke up at 7:30 to tell us we needed to get a move on. Oh did I forget to mention I barely made the cut off for the food order for the party? I'm such a procrastinator..


We decided since Alex is running around so much and we were trying to set everything up at Libbie's we'd tie Alex up with a ballon and at least know where he was at all time. Boy that kids loves fans and ballons I swear he'd be happy with just that for his birthday!
I was afraid Alex wasn't going to take to gettting his hands dirty. He's like his sister Jenny in a way where he'd rather not get his hands dirty unless it's completely neccesary. I guess this is one of those times..



Loves to share anything and everything he has, and especially some cake for me!
Opening presents with all the friends and family! The kids were such great helpers and even helped out by playing with most of them and getting them out of their boxes so they'd be easier to fit in the trunk! I mean we BARELY got everything in the car, and even had to squish some in between Jenny and Alex.


I love seeing Mads & Hannah play with Alex! I love when he gets to play with kids, he loves to interact with them and it's so adorable. He's always trying to just go with the flow, what and easy baby.

And this is what's going on around the house now... plenty of toys to last a few months until he displays the need for new ones. (Hopefully a lot longer than a few months!)

^^^Notice the powder all over him, dad seems to always "load him up" way to much and thinks it's hilarious when he has a "powder storm"
I have a feeling that the next few days up to me leaving for Texas is going to be crazy.. so I have a bunch of pre-blogged things to talk about so you guys don't go forgotten!

**Oh and John had to have me say that we did do the whole "Dr. Seuss theme with plates, cups, table cloth and balloons. Ya know since I made a "big deal" and all. So not true.

Going in Circles

The last week has been one of the most busiest weeks I've ever had to deal with in my entire life, who would of known a birthday party could be so time consuming! I figured I'd spread all the birthday stuff out in a few posts.

Part Uno:

Thursday and Friday involved the cake, I really wanted a Cat and the Hat cake and I knew the one person who I was lucky enough to have close by me and willing to help! Libbie aka Super creative lifesaver helped me design the whole cake. (To be honest she did about 80%, I just mixed cake batter and icing woo hoo) It was a two day process of trying to make him just right and me biting my nails that he might not turn out right! (Because of me not Libbie) But while dealing with that we got to spend time with Adam & Mandy and they're adorable 4 kids! We went to the zoo, which I thought Alex would love since last time he slept the entire time. Oh and he loved it all right for about 30 minutes until he hit the snooze button and almost the entire 3 hours.. lazy.

I think Adam & Mandy's kids are so much more fun to shot than my child, especially cause he sleeps during fun activites!


I love the fact that Mads always smiled even after the 500th picture I took of her.. and I swear she's a fast walker


Now Kate is so adorable with her fun and bubbly personality, I love the fact that she can talk you're ear off and still be so much fun!!

And we can't forget the oldest Ethan who seriously loves dragons and Lauren who has hair I would KILL for



Random shots of the animals that were there, I shot so many pictures I was amazed to see my card was half full after this crazy weekend! I of course had to use a bunch of actions in photoshop to spice everything up a little. I have tons of other pictures I want to post, and like I said I'm WAY behind. But the other ones are the ones I'll be turning in for homework for my class.

Happy Happy Birthday!

Alexander's long awaited day, I remember this day as if it was just yesterday and I still can't believe that it's been a year already. It's been so wonderful and full of so much joy. I thought instead of posting all his new accomplishments I'd post my favorite pictures of the last year of his life.


Alex still in my tummy at 33 weeks, I swear he still makes that face when he sleeps!


Just out of mommy's tummy and already knows who is daddy is =]


A few days old hanging out in the "tanning beds" as we called it


Alex one month old and already getting chunky, at his newborn photoshoot


2 months old and still being adorable regardless of the fact he didn't let anyone sleep


3 months old and already trying to pimp the ladies


4 months old in one of my favorite outfits


5 months old and sitting up, as happy as can be!


6 months old and Alex waiting for me to come get him in his crib and attempting to stand.. happy half a year! ALREADY!??!


My 7 month old little dinosaur! Halloween and so ready to be done with that costume!


8 months old and always striking a pose when the camera is on him


9 months old and royally being spoiled, ahh Christmas


10 months old and went from crawling to standing within days, definitely being a little rascal


11 months old and doing so many different things, always sticking his tongue out and being silly


12 months old and moving from baby to toddler and growing big!!
We're excited about having a wonderful time with friends and family at his big party and enjoy all the fun gifts he will be getting. If you're wondering why the pictures look funny, I'm practicing my photo editing skills and used some fun actions to give my pictures a pop, I wanted to add bordes and all kind of things but things are still crazy around here. I have tons more to post and will have tons from the party! I'll get to use all my awesome gear and things I've been learning to do my first homework assignment! YAY!

Alex, you bring so much joy and happiness into this home and we love you so much. You are such an amazing big boy and more intelligent then I'd ever imagined a baby could be. I can't believe you've been on this earth for a year and I can't wait until we'll be sealed and be together forever. You're the best baby a mother and father could ask for. We love you so much and hope you have a wonderful day all about you!!

Loss.

I don't know how much I'll be blogging this week, I had a bunch planned for Alex's birthday but after finding out some devastating news yesterday I don't know how much I'll get done. One of my best friend's mother passed away late Saturday evening in her sleep for no reason at all, I'm still in shock. I don't think it's seriously kicked in just yet, but I'm extremely beside myself with everything happening. I do have a few blog posts pre-scheduled and I hope to finish this.

Thanks for understanding everyone.