This Morning

Kyle woke up from his first night in his big boy bed
Danced with Nolan to Colbie Caillat
Watched Kyle put on his first pair of underwear!! (cross your fingers for us)
Laughed aloud doing photobooth...

It's only 9:20.
A good morning.

San Diego

We were able to make a quick family trip to San Diego before heading back to San Antonio. I was so excited to take our first vacation as a family of four. I have so many fun memories of vacations with my own family and many of them include trips to see my cousins in Mission Viejo. I wish we would have had time to see them!!

Our plan was to wake up on Friday and do the San Diego zoo and beach, and then on Saturday go to the beach with some friends, and then on Sunday take Kyle to the San Diego temple before heading home. Lesson learned: When taking vacations with kids, don't bother planning.

On Thursday night--well really Friday morning-- it took Kyle forever to fall asleep in the hotel room. This was expected. However, at about one in the morning he woke up WIRED. He was talkative and wanting to do things. We tried to get him to sleep in different spots in the hotel room. He would not fall asleep. Finally around four in the morning we took Nolan out of the pack-n-play and put Kyle in there even though he was really too long for it. He cried for thirty minutes that he was stuck and then ended up falling asleep close to five am!! That was a loooong night. So, our plans to wake up and head to the zoo right away went out the window. Instead we went to the beach.

After waking up after our long morning:

Kyle loved playing in the sand, and even though the water was cold he loved having the waves "crash" against him. He wanted to walk further and further into the water.

Nolan was a champ. Although this UV shirt said 18-24 lbs on the tag, it just couldn't cover his belly!

Nothing like a little beef jerky to make Kyle happy:

The next day we headed to the zoo in the morning. I have to say that I think the San Diego Zoo is overrated. I accidentally said that aloud and ruined part of the experience for Tim. We had fun though and it was so nice to be outside and not be sweating! The weather was perfect!

This dog and leopard are friends:

My skittle-faced boy in front of the zebras:

At the polar bear exhibit kids could climb into a little cave. Kyle was convinced the vent was another spot to hide in:

My favorite animal at the zoo:

Nothing makes me feel more like a mom than a pair of tennis shoes and shorts!:

That night we met up with my longtime friend Kassidi and her family and Jon and Kara. We brought our camera but didn't take any pics. We went to Islands together and got frozen yogurt afterward. There's nothing like being with old friends. It was so fun but too short!

Oh, and on Sunday when we went to the temple the gates were closed so you couldn't get out and walk around. Tim did a couple drive-bys and that satisfied Kyle. My other favorite part of the trip were the hotel breakfasts. I always love hotel breakfasts! haha

Last First Day

   Today was Tim's last first day of law school! It's hard to believe that two years ago we were just moving into our home and getting set up for life as a family in law school.

I love the chub on Kyle!

   So far I haven't had the experience I had hoped for in TX, and I may be found telling Tim every now and then that I feel "robbed" of our law school experience. It hasn't been a bad experience, just different. I just remember my parents talking so fondly of their days in law school and the friends they made. Maybe it was because they were in San Diego?!? For me, I never fell in love with San Antonio--I have one year left to try and change my mind!  On the other hand, I will miss the people I have met and I am grateful for some of the friends I have made who I know I will keep in contact with forever!

 What I will always remember about the past two years is how much the Lord has blessed our little family.  I remember being in our apartment in Provo and calling my mom crying while working on a budget. I just could not figure out how we were going to survive law school! My mom told me that it would never work out on paper, but to trust the Lord, pay our tithing and fast offering and to just continue trying to make the best choices. As I got Nolan ready for bed in a pair of pajamas we got for really cheap, Tim and I were talking about how much the Lord has helped us and blessed us. I would have never imagined the amount of clothes I would receive for Nolan from people. I figured since I was having a second boy in a row nothing new would be needed. Boy was I wrong--with opposite seasons Nolan really had nothing from Kyle's to use. The clothes and gift cards we received were such a blessing! While we have had unexpected expenses, there have also been unexpected assistance. There are other things that I have both wanted and/or needed that have gone on sale, opportunities for Tim to do odd paid jobs here and there, hand-me downs (for the boys and me!), the perfect coupons, etc.
  
   For Christmas last year we used a gift card from a returned gift from our wedding to buy Tim a new pair of church shoes. (Yes, we hold onto gift cards forever!) Well, we got him an expensive brand of shoes with that gift card and figured the shoes should be comfortable and long-lasting for him. Come to find out, since last December the shoes never really "broke-in" and Tim never liked wearing them because they hurt. We were devastated since we used all of our gift card. Six months later, this summer, Tim took them into the department store and with no receipt or proof of purchase not only did they take them back, but they gave him brand new, even nicer shoes with Nike technology in them as a replacement. Tim couldn't believe how comfortable they were! He was completely honest with the store about how long ago they were bought and how often he wore them. We were shocked! Tender mercy!!

I know that when we pay our tithing and fast offerings and are patient that the Lord will look out for us.

And now, if you're still reading, a little video of Nolan loving his hands. He had already been doing this for awhile. He's noisiest toward the end:

Nolan All in White

Here are some pictures of Nolan in his blessing outfit. I just couldn't pick one. 

Whenever I talk about Nolan I am always saying what a sweet boy he is. Nolan brings me so much peace. He is the best baby. He loves to lock eyes with people and then he gets excited. He starts to kick his legs and coo and smile right back. I am so lucky to be his mom. I can already tell he is going to be a special guy. I love my Nolan boy.

Rewind

Two days after giving birth to sweet Nolan we were home from the hospital.

Three days after that Tim drove to AZ to begin a clerkship.

Four days later my mother, Kyle, Nolan and I boarded a plane to fly to AZ where we would live at my parents' for the next two and 1/2 months.

Nolan was only ten days old.

 I was freaked. I'm a person who has the viewpoint that you should keep your newborn inside for at LEAST a month, more like six weeks. Church? That's the worst place you could bring them.

   So, to board a plane with my little newborn worried me and went against everything I believed in but it had to be done. It could have never been done, however, without my wonderful mother. My mom flew out the Monday before I had Nolan and stayed with me the almost two weeks in order to help me fly home to AZ. She took care of Kyle while we were at the hospital, cooked wonderful food, cleaned like only she knows how to clean and probably most importantly, helped me deal with "Special K" at the time.
  We only left the house to go to doctor appointments that I had scheduled before flying so my little house got even smaller fast! Those were the longest days, but my mom never complained. I owe you so much mom!!!

Now, our summer is over and we are back in TX. Our house is the same, but we have added Nolan. Our closest friends have moved away, but hopefully we can make new ones. I'm trying to get our house put together but of course I'm going to have to take breaks to do a little blogging of some fun activities we did and sweet memories we made during the summer!

We miss our family in AZ!

It's Getting Closer

Kyle has shown more interest in going "potty." I knew this day would come. Yes, it means less diaper       changes but I'm so scared for the "accidents." Toddler poop freaks me out (as opposed to newborn poop.

 hah.)

So, before I begin this adventure, can anyone give me advice, books or websites to read about potty training, ways that have worked with little boys in the past, oh-- and sympathy??

We're not going the little potty route like above. He's doing well sitting on the regular toilet so far.

In other news, yesterday I was packing up some maternity clothes when I thought it would be fun to try on a pair of shorts from pre-pregnancy with Nolan days. It was not fun. What was I thinking? I felt like a watermelon trying to fit inside a ziplock bag. I haven't lost any weight since he was two weeks old. I need to work on that!

Thanks!

Frumpapotamus

Yesterday I walked out of my room around nine-o'clock a.m. dressed and ready for the day. Kyle turned, looked at me, and excitingly asked, "We go bye-bye Mama?"

Yep, it's true. I don't get dressed unless I'm going somewhere.

I then was reminded of a week ago when my siblings and I took our kids on a walk and Curtis dubbed me, "Frumpapotamus."

That would be me, above, in Tim's basketball shorts and a black t-shirt. Hmmm. I think I fit the name quite well.

Problem is, I like to be comfortable! I've never considered myself to have style. Stylish people can wear jeans in 100 degree weather. That would be my sister:

Who looks that cute camping??

Or my sister-in-law Cbug:

Can we say gorgeous?

Or my sister-in-law Jenny 

(who I don't know if she can wear pants in 100 degree weather but she looks cute all the time)

I guess what I'm trying to say is, if someone in my family has to take the title of Frumpapotamus it's going to be me. And after thinking about the name for thirty seconds, I'm just glad it's that and not Hippopotamus! 

Now, who wants to nominate this mama for What Not to Wear??

Like Father, Like Son

 This year marked twenty years since the death of Tim's dad, Mario. On Sunday we got together with Tim's family to watch home videos and talk a little about his dad. Tim's Aunt Mary talked at the end about Mario's love for Carol. She said that Mario loved Carol so much that he would do anything for her and would always do it without complaining. This really touched my heart because it reminded me of just the way Tim treats me.

  I don't know much about Mario, but it was neat to hear him described exactly the same way as I would describe Tim. I'm lucky to be married to a guy who does so much for me. I hope my boys will grow up to fit the same description as their dad, just like Tim does his.

(We also blessed this little man on Sunday, more pics to come!)