Go Go Go!

Adventures in Mommyhood

It's funny how even the most mundane things become fun and interesting when there are the sticky fingers of a 10 month old involved. Here is our week in pictures.

  Big sticks are always a good find

Growing a mustache is hard work

We couldn't think of what to make for dinner so we had cooked Wyatt

Eating fresh carrots

Helping Dad mow the grass

Get me out of here

Making cookies for Daddy

Gross it's sticky

Tune in next week for Wyatt and Mom earn their Ph.D...

10 down, 2 to go

 10 months only comes once, here are a few pictures I took to mark it. Maybe one day I'll get to be in some of them! =)

Obviously I'm a first-timer

The past couple of days Wyatt has been fussier then usual. And for a boy that can go most days without fussing or crying at all, when he does fuss we know that something is up. So I felt around in that little mouth of his and sure enough, he has two teeth on the top that are trying their hardest to come through. Right now he has 3 teeth, his two bottom middle teeth and one on the top just left of his center tooth. They all came through relatively easy, but these ones are proving differently so far. So the other night as I was getting him ready for bed I though, "hmm Wyatt, how about a little ora-jel on those teeth?" Well...he has never had this before so what an adventure that was. First trying to put some on a little squirmy boy that doesn't want your fingers in his mouth to begin with was a challenge, but his face that followed I'm not sure words can even describe. I thought steam was going to come out of his ears he turned bright red and his eyes got nice and wide and the most startled look came across his face followed by pure shock. I'm sure if he could talk the next words out of his mouth would have been a string of profanities followed by "What the heck was that?" As if that wasn't enough.....I gave him the ora-jel before I finished nursing him for the night, so I attempt to finish and what ensued had me laughing so hard I was crying! Apparently in my attempt to bring some comfort to his gums I had also numbed his lips because he kept trying to nurse and close his mouth to do so but couldn't feel his mouth and would pull away and squish his mouth up and make the funniest faces, he tried again and again, I'm sure he was so confused! At one point he even reach up and grabbed his lips like "work you stupid things!" I felt bad but it was so funny that Wyatt even started laughing because I was laughing! At least he's already learned to laugh at himself, now I just need to learn proper application for Ora-jel!

Historic Day!

Not only was this the day 40 years ago the we landed on the moon, this was the day 10 months ago that my wiggly Wyatt was born! It is hard to believe that just around the corner is his first birthday! I think I am in a little bit of denial about him turning one. I see it as a transition from a baby to a toddler, yet in my eyes he is still my little baby! I suspect in a mother's eyes though, her children are always her little babies. Nowadays my heart swells with pride when I look at his smiling face. He is on the verge of walking, and is getting into and exploring everything! He is so happy and easy going and I want to just hold him and cuddle him close in my arms, but my squirmy little boy just wants to get down and play instead. So I may be guilty of rocking him a few extra minutes at night, and letting him fall asleep in my arms. His rosy cheek resting on my arm and his mouth falling open just like his Daddy's. But I just cant resist, and he always smells so sweet and clean when I kiss his soft skin. I sit in the dark silence of his bedroom and listen to him breath and try to record every detail of the moment in my mind, and lock it away. Then on those days when he is a teenager and giving me hell, I can look back at these days that mean everything to me and smile. So here's a look at my boy, 10 months old and full of fire!

Also even though I'm a little late now, On July 11th my parents celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary!! Congratulations!

Home Sweet Home

Well we are back from yet another vacation and settling back into our normal routine. We took a trip to Georgia for the wedding of my brother, Josh, and Misty. It was a beautiful wedding, that took place on a perfect cloudless day, and everything went off without a hitch!! I didn't take a lot of photographs in Georgia because I was trying my hand out at being a single mom (Justin had to stay behind for work) but man were my hands full. Luckily I have a very helpful and willing family that pitched in with Wyatt so I was actually able to lay by the pool and get a tan! My Aunt Kathy however did take the pictures at the wedding and they turned out amazingly! We had the perfect picturesque golf course to take the pictures on, but even so her creative eye and skill made for a ton of great pictures for Josh & Misty. You can see them here http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathygray/collections/
Here are a couple of my pictures from our trip to Papa's farm.

Wyatt and Papa reading "Pat The Bunny"

Pet peacock on the farm

After roasting in the Georgia sun to a nice crisp, it was off to Oregon to meet up with Justin and his family. I had never been before so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I have to say, Oregon, you surpassed my expectations. Aside from weather that was mostly gray, we were able to get out and see what Oregon had to offer. Despite the weather we visited a few great beaches, and I have sand in everything to prove it. Wyatt could have built a house and moved right in. He was in love with the sand! He was crawling in it, rolling, digging, eating =) just having a blast. He also had his cousins Lilli and Haydn there with him and they are the best of friends despite the 6 and 7 year age gap. Wyatt's face lights up when he sees them! When you get a family together in a beach house for a week, it can go one of two ways, a great time, or a disaster, and I'm happy to say that this trip was the first. We hope to make the family trips an every other summer event. Hopefully Justin finds some extra gold at work to pay for these trips =) Here are some pictures of our time in Oregon, enjoy!

Wyatt, Haydn, and Lilli trying to wash some sand off

Naked handstand

Buried in the sand!

The whole family, Seaside, Oregon

One of my favorites!

Justin and I along the Oregon coast

Sandy Face!

CRASH!!

Well it finally happened. My trusty old computer that I got when I graduated high school has finally met its demise. It came in the form of a power surge. Luckily I had all of my pictures backed up! So for now we are computer less which means less blogging(although I have to admit I've been slacking lately). But with a crawling, climbing, cruising, teething, eating wonderful son, I have my hands full anyways! We are very much enjoying or summer though we have had great weather in the 70's mostly, with much needed breaks of rain every few days. Right now I'm used to this "hot" alaskan weather but next week it is off to Georgia! Wyatt and I will travel down for my brother Josh's wedding on July 4th. With family coming in from the surrounding states and a lot of wedding details to take care of, it won't be as relaxing as our normal visits to Papa's but it will still be great to see everyone again. I think I'll have to start cranking up the heat and running the humidifier in Wyatt's room at night to get him used to the 100 degree+ weather that they have been having in Georgia! After we spend the week in Georgia we will be flying over to Oregon to meet Justin and his family on the coast in Seaside. We have rented a beach house for everyone to stay in which will definitely make for a interesting trip! By the time July is over Wyatt and I will need a vacation from our vacations, just to rest up and sleep in our own beds! I will definitely post pictures of the upcoming nuptials and our vacation antics when I get a chance. Until then I hope everyone is soaking up the summer sun!

Happy Anniversary!

This day two years ago I married my best friend and my soul mate. Surrounded by our family and friends we said our vows and enjoyed a great time. Two years later our love has only grown with the addition of Wyatt to our lives. I love you Justin, Happy Anniversary! Here's to many more to come!

Summer Sun Calling My Name

I have been asking and asking for a new tree for our yard. So for Mother's Day, Justin bought me a crabapple tree that we planted along the driveway opposite our chokecherry tree, let's hope it makes it through the winter!

With our summer in full swing and temperatures in the 70's we needed a little cool down. So we broke out Wyatt's pool and he took a dip. I was tempted to climb in there with him, but I spared the neighbors that sight

Maggie and Macie showing some summer loving

Minnesota!

Well, I have to apologize, I've been caught up in the lure of the summer sun and have been out enjoying every minute of it! So as you might have noticed, it's been a while since I've updated so I'm going to do my best here to travel back in the past month here and play catch up!

At the beginning of May, Wyatt and I accompanied Justin on our very first trip to Minnesota. Justin's dad's family lives there so we were able to visit with all of them as well as attend his cousin CJ's wedding. Justin had warned me that Bemidji, Minnesota didn't have much to offer, and let me tell you he was right. It was pretty small, but we did get to see several neat things. We took a drive with Justin's dad up to the headwaters of the Mighty Mississippi, which isn't quite so mighty at the beginning, but it was a beautiful location to see. We also took pictures with Paul Bunyan and Babe the blue ox, Wyatt looked like a speck next to them! The highlight of our trip was the Wedding. CJ and Lexi had a beautiful wedding that was a lot of fun. We ate and danced and I was able to meet so many people from Justin's extended family. While we were down there we stayed with Justin's relatives and I think Wyatt would have been happy just staying there. He was in love with his cousins Maija and Taylor and his face would light up when he saw them. He even let Uncle Karson and Aunt Wendy babysit him! That is a big deal considering his only other babysitters have been his grandparents! He loved the whole family and probably would have been happy to move in! So even though at first Minnesota sounded a little boring to me, I would be happy to go and visit again anytime!


Wyatt at the headwaters

Busting a move with Maija at the wedding


With Paul, can you see him there on the ground?

Us at the wedding

All of the grandchildren and great grandchildren!