Stephanie and Mathew

Happy Easter!

2010-04-10T16:27:00.000-07:00

Easter was so much fun! We went down to Grandma Linda's and Daddy's and hung out with everyone! Aunt Lacee and Uncle Daryl were there with little KeKe and we had a blast! After a nice relaxing day at Linda's we headed to James' dad's house to see Grandpa Dan, Amy and Gabby! Mathew ran around like a wild animal and had so much fun playing with Grandpa! James' family is so wonderful! We're really lucky. We still have a TON of candy and I'm trying desperately not to eat it so if you live by me or I'm going to see you soon PLEASE help us eat it :)

Mr. Naughty Pants

2010-04-10T15:56:00.001-07:00

You're looking at the busiest kid on the universe! Mathew is 2 going on 5! He thinks he's so big and can do anything he wants! We've reached the point where naps are few and far between, the "No's" and "I DO IT", "stop it", and "QUITE" are the most common words in his vocabulary! I never realized how challenging this stage was! I heard all the "terrible two" stories and figured I would have Mathew in check and there's no way that will be me....HA in my dreams! I will say, for as many rough challenging days we have there are a number of really good days where he's as loving as ever! It makes me forget about the hard days all together!

I have to admit I'm incredibly jealous of the energy this kid has! Mathew runs around the house all day long!

The Thursday before Easter Mathew came down with a virus that turned into Croupe. We had a big day planned Sunday so I really wanted him to rest and get better. Saturday I put Mathew down for a nap, of course he had a movie going and was very quiet so I thought he was sleeping...About an hour after I put him down I hear him cry, it was a different cry so I wasn't sure what the heck was going on. I walked in his room to check on him and find his leg is STUCK between the bars in his crib! Of course I totally panic and call James, what am I supposed to do?!?!?!? I remember the full house episode where DJ is babysitting and the kid got his head stuck in the staircase, but butter is SO not going to do the trick here. I ran downstairs and grabbed my tool box and tried to pry the bars apart so I could push his leg out, I don't know how the heck he got his chunky leg in there but his knee was stuck and wasn't about to go anywhere! The whole time this is happening James is on speaker, Mathew's crying, I'm crying James is wondering what the hell is going on...so I make the decision to just break the bar off...I snapped the bar as much as I could and pushed Mathews leg out. Mathew had a couple scratches and bruises around his knee but he was out YAY!

So after Mathew and I settle down from the main event, Mathew lays on my bed and falls asleep, reality sets in and I'm like "oh no, now where is Mathew going to sleep?!?!" He's not ready for a toddler bed, how the hell do I even make this crib into a toddler bed??? Well luckily I found some pictures of the crib online and figured out how to change make the crib into a toddler bed. I was really worried he would fall out of the bed the first night or get up and get into trouble in the middle of the night but he didn't at all! He did great! I went out and bought a safety rail a couple days later and it's been wonderful! He LOVES being able to get in out of bed by his self, and to celebrate I got him a Cars pillow!!! I never realized how fast kids grow up! I can't believe he was ever a baby! It's a lot of fun though and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Best Birthday Ever

2010-04-10T15:39:00.001-07:00

This year I turned the sad age of 27 yuck! I did have reason to celebrate though....My dad, brother Mike and his cute girlfriend Bre came up to see us!!! We had so much fun while they were here! It was great to have a house with lots of room too.

I had only met Bre once, the last time I was in Salt Lake, and I thought I liked her then! She is so awesome! My brother and her have such a sweet relationship, they're perfect for each other (no pressure Mike, but you MUST marry this girl!) Mathew had so much fun playing with them it was great! Mathew would go around the house yelling "Mike!" all day long!

We did so much stuff while they were here! We drove up to Blaine, WA to pick up one of Mike's friends who he met in Slovenia on his mission who now lives in Canada. We also did the Seattle Underground Tour and had some fun on the Ferry's. I love my family SO much I wish I could see them more....I can't wait until the next trip XOXO!

New Camera

2010-04-10T14:35:00.000-07:00

So a couple months back my camera totally broke :( I knew my family was coming in town so I was in a rush to get a new one. After doing some research and asking around I found the most amazing camera EVER! The only thing I wish it did is shoot video, but with everything else it can do I can live with that!

I ended up purchasing a Canon Rebel, click here to see it's awesomeness! Here are a few great pictures I've taken with it! This camera makes me feel talented at photography, can't complain about that!

Mom

2010-01-30T13:47:00.000-08:00

This post is extremely difficult for me to write, in fact as we speak my hands are shaking. As a lot of you may have noticed, I can blab all day about Mathew, about being a mom, the things I'm doing in my life but I don't open up about the fact that I lost my mom 5 years ago to Leukemia. I am not a writer and as I mentioned this is difficult to write so I might jump around a bit!

I recently had a very close friend lose her mother, and as we were talking on the phone I tried desperately to find comforting words to say and search for ways to bring her a sense of peace. After we got off the phone it made me realize I don't share my feelings about my mother often and maybe just maybe someone will come across this post who is going through a similar situation and I can help them in some way.

Okay, here I go. I was 22 when I lost my mother. Although we knew she was sick and Leukemia would ultimately take her away from us, we didn't realize how quickly it would actually happen.

After she was diagnosed we knew it was going to be about a ten year battle, but unfortunately her fight ended five short years later. This is something that has always been hard for me to deal with...not enough time. I will always cherish the time I had with her, but because I didn't realize the seriousness of her disease I never took advantage of that time.

My mom was so sweet, and really funny! She was really talented when it came to arts and crafts. Although I didn't inherit that gene from her I'm still hoping for it to come! My mom was a bit of a "ditz" per-say, and it used to really hurt me when I heard people say comments about her or poke fun. Now I realize that's what I love most about her, she didn't care what people said or thought! Although she had this funny side to her she was always the one I could go to for advice, in fact some of the best advice I've ever received was from her.

As soon as my mom found out she was sick, she would always mention how she wanted me to help her cook and clean and how one day I would be on my own and need to know these things....Of course at my age I brushed it off "yeah okay mom, tomorrow let's do that". Today I wish I was the cook she was and really just wish I had the same drive she had! If my mom wanted to do something it didn't matter her age, it didn't matter how busy her schedule was SHE DID IT!

It has been a really long journey these past five years. I have always had a tough skin when it came to losing my mom. I never wanted anyone to see how bad it truly hurts, how it may have effected my life etc. This is the hardest thing by far I have ever been through. The worst thing I ever did was bottle up these feelings. For about two weeks after she passed I would drag myself out of bed, go to work, go straight home and lay in bed and cry. I pushed my friends away, only because they had no idea what I was going through. Nothing they could do or say made me feel better, they had never been here before. I have had the same handful of friends all my life and we remain as close as ever! Because they've stuck by me through all my craziness I love them more today then ever before!

Shortly after my mom died my dad announced he was engaged to a long time family friend Chris. Let me just quickly say, I have grown to love Chris SO much, and we have all accepted and welcomed her to our family :) But after we heard this news so quickly after my mom passed it devastated my brothers and I. How could this really be happening?!?!? Can we please have time to grieve here? We were all still young and of course still trying to deal with everything so we didn't make it the easiest for my dad and Chris and it was a long time before the tension was lifted. I'm not going to get to in to detail here because It doesn't matter anymore! Chris makes my dad so happy, she's really funny, and she loves and has a deep respect for my mother. She is also very sweet with Mathew and Kale! We just really love her!

The most difficult part of being without my mom these last five years has been becoming a mother myself. As soon as I discovered I was pregnant I panicked! She is not here to help me through this, she can't answer my questions! She's not here to tell me her stories. I really need her right now! Luckily I found comfort in talking to cousins and James' Mom Linda. Without them I would have been a wreck!

Most of all now it's difficult knowing my son and future children will never know her.

New Years Eve this year It hit me harder than ever. Why do I have to go through the rest of my life without her? My children will never get to spend time with her and will never know how truly wonderful she was. IT'S NOT FARE! I had a bit of a break down. But a good one, like I said I bottle up my feeling so much, I needed a good cry! Now I'm comfortable enough to share my story, and my difficult journey! That's a good thing right!

One good thing to know is I only have good memories of my mom. When I think of her it's never memories of her when she was sick or during the last stages of her life. It's the beautiful, healthy mom! I often dream of her and they're always fun dreams of us hanging out, or dreams where she thinks I'm crazy for thinking she's passed she's right here! This is especially wonderful, when Mathew first started talking about 7 months ago he pointed to a picture of my parents and pointed to my dad and said "bampa" then I asked Mathew "where's grandma?" and he pointed at my mom. Could have been a coincidence yes, but I'd like to think it's because he really does know of her! I wanted to share some good stories too here :)

The most important advice I can give to anyone going through the loss of a parent or anyone special in your life is:

-Cherish every second you spent with them.

-Remember all the great and wonderful times.

-Each day gets easier and easier.

-After the loss take whatever time necessary to heal, don't push your feelings aside thinking you're fine! It will kick your ass later!

-Start a journal, write down all your feelings GET THINGS OFF YOUR CHEST

-Stop asking the "what if 's", "whys", "should haves" etc, it will drive you mad.

-Know you're not alone! Accept all the love and support around you.

-Most of all, life is short! Don't take it for granted!

I love you mom. I hope I can be as great a mom your were to us kids.

playlist!"> Ringtones">

Baby No More

2010-01-29T19:35:00.000-08:00

This week we celebrated Mathews 2nd Birthday. I just CANNOT believe how fast he's grown up and that yes indeed he is now a boy! Lately whenever I see baby pictures of Mathew it just shocks me how fast time has gone by and how quickly you forget things. I used to always ask my friend Wendee questions when I was pregnant and "how do I do this?" questions after Mathew was born and I gave her so much crap for not remembering certain things! Here I am two years later and I hardly recognize the cute little baby photos hanging on my wall!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures I recently ran across.

For Mathews birthday we kept it really low key. We went down to James and Lindas house, Aunt Lacee and Uncle Daryl came over with Keagan. We had a nice dinner, opened presents and ate yummy cake! Mathew is obsessed with Thomas right now so the Thomas Train and Thomas book and Pajamas were a hit! Mathew was really shy when we were singing happy birthday to him, it was really sweet! After the birthday song was over he put his head up and blew out 2 out of 3 candles! It was so much fun just hanging out with everyone! Keagan is growing up right before our eyes! He was SO close to crawling when we saw him Saturday and a few days later he was off and crawling all over the place!!! Mathew calls him "KeKe". It's so cute and sadly I think it will stick with him forever! That's okay, when Keagan starts talking I'm sure he'll come up with a dosie for Mathew!
Mathew had such a fun time with everyone and LOVED all his presents! He's been having so much fun with all the cars and the remote controlled dump truck! Mom has fun with his toys too :) What can I say, it's a new age these toys are awesome!!!!

Zoo

2010-01-29T19:15:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago Mathew and I ventured down to Tacoma to spend time with his dad and we decided to go check out the zoo! This was Mathews first time there, except one other time in my belly! James, Linda, Mathew and I had a great time. We went to the Point Defiance Zoo, I don't know if it was the time of year we went or what but there wasn't a lot going on....Next time we will have to check out the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle!
Mathew had so much fun running around, looking at all the fishies and sharks AND going on his first carousel ride! It's so fun to see children make connections when seeing animals, cars, characters etc! This is such a fun stage!

Christmas 2009

2009-12-27T19:30:00.001-08:00

This Christmas was so much fun! Mathew is old enough to really interact with family and figure out toys and play, play, play! Christmas eve was spent with James' dad's side of the family so we all headed to Port Orchard to Great Grandma and Grandpa Woods house. This year the weather was much better, there was no snow on the ground and it was actually sunny all day! I have to admit I do love snow on Christmas, but with the mess it caused last year it was really nice to be able to drive places worry free!

Once we arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's all the family was there and after a few minutes Mathew was off playing and saying hello to everyone! He LOVES LOVES LOVES babies so little Keagan was his buddy all night! Any time he cried Mathew was all over it seeing if he could lend a helping hand! When it came time for opening presents I was hoping this year Mathew would be more into actually ripping off the paper and seeing his gifts...nope. He still wants nothing to do with opening the presents but he doesn't hesitate to play with whatever toy is inside! Mathew got his first Craftsman Chainsaw, books, clothes, a remote control car and much more! Mommy got some much needed drawer organizers-THANKS DAN AND AMY! They work really well!!!! We all got many wonderful things and are so so so grateful for everything! We are really lucky to be apart of such a wonderful loving family! Here are some pictures of our wonderful evening!

We then headed to James' mom's house so we could spend Christmas with Grandma Linda, Daddy, Uncle Daryl, Aunt Lacee and baby Keagan. Linda has a nice hot tub so of course I had to take advantage of that while I was there, ahhhhh it felt so nice! Christmas morning Linda made her yummy breakfast! It's become a tradition, three years in a row and it just keeps getting better! I was really excited for Christmas morning, James and I stayed up to put together a tricycle my dad got for Mathew! It was sitting by the tree all shiny Christmas morning and of course Mathew saw it right away and had to hop on! His legs are too short to reach the pedals but James pushed him around the living room and he was happy as could be! About half way through the morning Keagan got pooped and fell asleep on the couch , he's such a handsome baby boy!

This year any large bag lying around or box was much more amusing than any toy! It's funny what will entertain a two year old, if we would have known this we could have saved a lot of money on gifts lol! Mathew got lots and lots of toys from Grandma Linda! He got a really cool roller coaster, a little pretend (almost real) cat, a little doggie, a cell phone, and more! The roller coaster is so awesome! I've never even seen one of these, it's really sturdy and safe! After a few times going down with help he was doing it on his own! Towards the end he was even going down with no hands!

This Christmas we were so incredibly blessed! I couldn't ask for a a better family! I'm so grateful for everyone in our lives! I wish my family in Utah were closer so we could have seen them too. We've been lucky enough to see everyone throughout this entire holiday season and for that I am one happy girl! We hope you all had a wonderful Merry Christmas too!

Almost Two and On The Move

2009-12-13T17:03:00.001-08:00

I am absolutely amazed at how much Mathew has grown and blossomed into a little boy! I knew all along that he would grow fast but it seams like literally overnight he went from a baby to a boy! He can pretty much repeat anything you ask him to, so PLEASE watch the language around him :) I've been working on that myself lol! He tries to sing the alphabet, walk up and down stairs alone, and be your helper any which way he can. He also absolutely LOVES animals, which is great! James told me even when the cats would hiss or scratch at him about five minutes later he wanted to love them. He also loves babies. It's amazing how in the middle of a meltdown mentioning a baby or an animal gets him to cheer right up! His new favorite thing to do is grab a blanket and a book and climb on the couch and "read". He wants to do it himself so if you try to help he says "no"!

It's pretty crazy seeing how much he's grown and developed in the last couple years! He has the funniest personality and I can't wait to see what the future holds!

Our First Home

2009-12-13T16:23:00.000-08:00

Yay I finally did it, I bought my first house! It took FOREVER to get the approval etc. so just as I expected everything would be finalized right around my vacation to Utah. Well as always, everything always works out and as we arrived from Salt Lake it was time to start packing! James was really sweet and took Mathew the whole weekend so I could get packed and moved without any interruptions. Mathew had such a great time with his daddy and grandma Linda! He got to visit grandpa Dad too and they all have cats so needless to say Mathew was in heaven! Here are some pictures his dad snapped while they were together! Mathew had an obsession with hanging out on the bathroom counter turning the faucet on and off.

It was really nice having Mathew with his dad during the move but after one day without him I couldn't wait to see him! The move went great! I was out of the apartment and back at home unpacking Saturday afternoon and had about two days to get unpacked! After hours and hours of unpacking I was finally done after work Monday evening and I couldn't be happier!

I finally have a backyard! I can't wait until spring when Mathew can run outside and play! He's just loving all the room here can't get enough of all the cupboards and closets he can get into!

Utah Adventure!

2009-12-13T15:51:00.000-08:00

Mathew and I got to go to Salt Lake again for Thanksgiving and we really had a blast! As soon as we got there we had to help my dad get ready for a Christensen family get together. We all managed to find each other on Facebook and decided there was no better time to try to make this happen! My mom's side of the family is HUGE so there was a lot of family to prepare for! Many of cousins and aunts and uncles made it and DOH me forgot to take pictures :( Hopefully we can do it again and I will remember to snap some photos! It was so wonderful to catch up with everyone and see all the new kids and babies.
We also got to spend a lot of time with my brothers and sister in law and my nephew Kale! I can't believe how much Kale has grown! He is still such a cuddler and I took advantage of that!!!

Mathew had so much fun with his Uncles. Everyone that see's Mathew mentions he looks just like my younger brother Mike. I can totally see this, it's really crazy!

We had a great time visiting friends! My friend Michelle has an adorable little girl Isabelle and we've already decided Mathew and her are going to get married.

Unfortunatly I didn't get to see all my friends and family BUT I really tried and I hope none of you hate me :) Here are a couple other pics of our trip! We can't wait to come back! Thanks Dad and Chris for everything, we miss and love you all a ton!!!

Trick or Treat Nemo Style

2009-12-13T15:22:00.000-08:00

This year Mathew dressed up as Nemo! This was also the first year he got to actually go out and trick or treat! He was so adorable walking up to all the houses with Hunter, Natalie's son, and Savannah Molly's little girl. He tried to walk into houses and once we left half way between the next house he would yell "thanks!". It was really cute. We only made it one street and that was just fine with me!

Good Ol' Friends

2009-12-13T14:51:00.000-08:00

My good friend Mythia came to visit a few months back and we had such a great time! Mythia and I met back in high school at one of my first jobs the Amber Restaurant. We've had our ups and downs but through all the drama I can say I found such a wonderful friend, a best friend! I love this girl so much! She never forgets a birthday, holiday, or special event. Unfortunately I cannot say I've been that on top of things...She moved to Arizona a number of years ago and we still have managed to see each other once or twice a year! I'm so happy she came up to Seattle to visit us!!! We got to do a couple tours I've been wanting to do since I moved here. The first is the Seattle Underground Tour, to see their website click here. This tour was really informative, I never knew just how Seattle had an "Underground City"! Here is an interesting picture I got of an original sign:

It's not every day you see a sign with your initials in Seattle! We also went on the Ride The Ducks Tour, click here to see their website. We got to go around in an old truck/boat on a tour of Seattle where at the end you dip into Lake Union for a water tour. It was such a blast, freezing but really fun! I managed to get a few really great pics while we were driving around!

We had such a great time and I really can't wait until the next time we get to hang out! Hopefully next time I will be chillin in the warm Arizona desert! I love ya Mythia xoxo

Labor Day Surprise

2009-09-13T23:48:00.001-07:00

Mathew and I were planning a chill ultra low key Labor Day weekend and I was DANG surprised when I got a call from my dad Saturday before labor day saying he and Chris were getting ready to come up here! He made sure he wasn't imposing first and my answer to that was "get up here!!!" So Sunday afternoon my dad and Chris got here! It was so nice to see them, it's been way too long! We enjoyed a nice dinner at The Keg, ate breakfast at a nice little spot by my house and just hung out! Dad and Chris watched Mathew one night so me and Molly could go on a girl date and they also spent the day with Mathew Tuesday when I went back to work!

They taught Mathew thumbs up, which sometimes turns into a gun so we still need to practice a bit!Mathew enjoyed saying "hi" to them every time one of them got into his eyesight at any time of day, he loved blowing bubbles, and calling my dad "Bampa". I know it's hard on my family not to see Mathew a lot but Mathew is incredibly friendly and has an awesome memory. He always remembers everyone! He crawled up and looked at a picture of my dad and said "Bampa" after not seeing him for a few months! I wish they all were closer! We will see everyone this Thanksgiving when Mathew and I fly to Salt Lake! Wish me luck, this flight is going to be interesting! Thanks for coming out Dad and Chris we miss you guys and love you tons xoxo!

Buddies

2009-09-13T23:29:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago Mathew and I got to hang out with Keagan. Mathew loves babies. He tries to be so helpful! Keagan and Mathew played on the floor for a bit while watching the Backyardagans. I don't know if you have seen this show yet, but it's AWESOME! Mathew has been hooked to this show since he was about 6 months old! I might be a bad mom in some peoples eyes for letting my baby watch TV but honestly this show has saved me from many a break down! Here are some pics I snapped during our fun day.

The Andrus'

2009-09-13T22:28:00.000-07:00

My wonderful friend Wendee and her cute little family came to visit us a few weeks ago and it was SO great to see all of them. I can't believe her daughter Jhordan is already 10 years old. I remember her as a little tiny baby like it was yesterday! Wendee and I have been friends since 9Th grade, we've pretty much been inseparable since. Too bad I'm a jerk and moved to Seattle. One day, one day, maybe one day I will move back home OR even better they will come up here!
The one thing I love the most about Wendee is no matter what kind of crazy shenanigans we have going on in our lives we both know no matter what we're there for each other and always will be. I love this girl. I know I've said this before but I really truly have the best friends a girl could ask for! I love that we could go months and months without seeing each other and we pretty much pick up right where we left off! We're both nerds and get hooked on the same TV shows and she's trying to push the Twilight books on me and I'm giving them another shot OKAY Wendee!

Any who, we had a great time while they were here. We ate dinner at the top of the Space Needle. We got there right at sun down and it was absolutely beautiful! I have never been there at night and neither had James so it was amazing!

Mathew just LOVED having Jhordan and Tyler over at our house, every morning we would play on my bed and Mathew just couldn't get enough!
Tyler was Mathew's age when I lived at Wendee's house (which feels like yesterday) and I can't believe he's already five! He started Kindergarten this year, which reminds me I need to see how everything went! Alright, back to their visit....We also went to the Museum of Flight which was ten times cooler than I thought it would be! Click here to check their website. Mathew was super grumpy so James and I had to take turns going through the planes. At some point we totally lost Wendee and her family so for about an hour, maybe more we tried to walk around and find them. They thought we were in the same building we started out in and were wandering around there the whole time OOPS! He he, meanwhile James, Mathew and I had toured the whole rest of the museum and were taking double takes wondering where the heck they were. Ha ha, I can't stop laughing about that!

After the Museum of Flight we went to the Ballard Locks in Ballard. The Ballard Locks is an area where the Puget Sound links to Lake Union and Lake Washington. Boats go through here to go from Lake Union to the Puget Sound and visa versa. Since the water levels are different the boats have to go through the locks to be transported. Click here to learn more. It was a beautiful day and we saw some amazing boats going through, man I wish I could afford a yacht....Some day some day. We also walked down to the fish ladders where we saw HUGE salmon just swimming along, it made me pretty hungry. Here's a pic a nice guy took for us.

We had a great time with the Andrus family and I can't wait to see them all again!!! Jhordan and Tyler were a hoot and we had a blast taking funny pics the whole way home! I miss you guys and love you! Come back ASAP!

Daryl & Lacee Wood

2009-09-13T17:24:00.000-07:00

It took me what seems like forever to post this because I was waiting and waiting for pictures! Once the wedding started I forgot to take my own pictures oops! It was such a beautiful wedding. Dan and Amy, James' dad and step mom had it at their home. It was Hawaiian themed and it was noted on the invitation to dress as such. I went to a party store and found Mathew and I a couple Leigh's, it didn't take much and we fit right in!

James was one of the Daryls best, (men) would you call it?!? Anyways, so he was a part of the wedding. It was very sweet and romantic. The weather turned out perfect as well. There was dancing, drinking, swimming, and my god it was fun! It will be a memorable night for us and we can't be happier for Daryl, Lacee and Keagan. We love you guys!

Newest Blue Angels Fan

2009-08-02T23:32:00.001-07:00

Say hello to the newest Blue Angels Fan, Mathew! Seafair was this last weekend and James was gearing up all week to take Mathew to see the Blue Angels Airshow. If you've never heard of them and would like to know what I'm talking about click here. James first took me to Seafair when I was about 3 months pregnant and I remember the air show being so loud I was worried my sweet little Mathew was freaked out in the womb. I really thought for a minute I could be doing damage to my little fetus, then I did a quick scan of the people around me and realized I wasn't the only pregnant girl there....I then relaxed and enjoyed the show.

So this time around when James told me he wanted to take Mathew I panicked, Mathew gets scared when the landscapers come Wednesday and mow the lawns! I couldn't bare taking him to the show and watching him freak out....I begged and begged for James not to take him but James had his heart set on it so off they went. I'm a freak so the whole time they were gone I was wondering what could happen to them, what Mathew would be doing and how I wasn't there to comfort him. When they came home I was ready to hear all about it. I was preparing myself for a sad story and it was the exact opposite! Mathew had a blast. James said he sat in his lap and just watched them, he cried at the very end but mostly because he was being a stinker and James wouldn't let him run off. We're so happy Mathew handled the show as well as he did. When I say it's loud, it's LOUD!

Mathew has been spending a lot of time with his dad lately and he loves it! It's really nice for me to have a break to do things I need to do as well.

~Finally~

2009-08-02T23:10:00.000-07:00

This month was AWESOME to say the least! I finally had my first friend come out and visit me!!! Sheila and I have known eachother since first grade! We've managed to stay in contact even though we haven't lived in the same state for at least 5 years! The picture above was taken a few years back when I went to visit her in Colorado.

Sheila and I had a BLAST while she was here. James was really sweet and hung out with Mathew pretty much the whole entire time she was here, so we were free to go and do whatever our little hearts desired. I totally felt like I was on vacation myself! The weather was perfect, nothing but sunshine the entire time! At that point it wasn't as hot as it's been lately so I was thrilled about the weather and almost didn't let her leave for fear of it changing....Fast forward to last week where record breaking heat hit Seattle and it was hot! There was little relief from the heat. Any who, back to mini "staycation"....I took Sheila to Pikes Place Market on a Sunday, since it was later in the afternoon we were able to talk to the guys at the fish market! If you ever want to go to Pikes Place and actually walk around, have room to breath and not feel totally claustrophobic I highly recommend going later in the day! We did a lot while she was here and I miss her like crazy! Mathew loved her to pieces as well, he always wanted to be around her and "help" her with whatever she was doing.

Good friends are hard to find, lucky for me I have the bestest friends a girl could ask for!

Busy Week = Long Post

2009-06-21T21:57:00.000-07:00

This week was very busy yet full of wonderful moments! First off last Sunday 6/14 Mathew got his first cousin on his dads side, Keegan Lyndon Wood. He is so tiny and sweet. Mathew gave him lots of hugs and kisses and enjoyed seeing all the family as always. We are very exited to watch him grow and I can't wait until he's big enough to play with Mathew. I have a feeling whether he's big enough or not Mathew will include him in playtime.

I also decided to try to give Mathew his first "official" haircut. I thought he looked adorable with his crazy long hair. It always made me smile. I got word that he kind of looked like an old man or Albert Einstein on the really crazy days, and I decided to stop being selfish and give him a haircut. After all, one day he could get pissed at me for letting him walk around looking like that! So what did I do.....I stuck him in his high chair, let him feed himself some apple sauce (which eventually got dumped on his head, by Mathew of course) made a couple cuts and here was the result :(

Now you would think I would have got the hint and stopped there.....Nope I butchered his hair. I couldn't really tell what kind of damage I had done because he's my baby and I think he's cute in the worst of situations...After I looked at my hack job and realized there's no way he can step foot out of our house looking like that, I went to the nearest Great Clips and got him a hair cut by a professional. He was a good sport for the nice lady who cut his hair. She was also very sweet not to judge my horrible attept at a haircut. Here is my new and improved young man. He instantly grew up before my eyes, new attitude and all! Here are a couple before and after pics where you can really see his wild hair.

Then Thursday was James' dad's birthday and we met the whole Wood family down at a restaurant on Tacoma's waterfront to celebrate. We love seeing family as much as we can and it's really hard to do since we live so far away...We always have such a great time. Everyone got to enjoy Mathews new attitude and thank goodness it usually doesn't last long. I always swore when I saw kids being naughty and throwing fits in public that "that would NEVER be my child"...Well that day has come and you know what, it is my child. It's totally my child and I just have to hope to god he gets over whatever he's freaking out about in a quick like matter. He's very sweet and fun and cute when he's in a good mood, so if you're around to see him freak out, I'm sorry and it will pass! Regardless of Mathews meltdowns, we had a wonderful time! The food was great, the company was as good as it gets and the view from where we sat was spectacular.

Saturday we had a birthday party to go to for Hunter, he's the son of Mathews babysitter Natalie. He turned 4! We had a really good time. Mathew was scared to death of the Sponge Bob bouncy house. I tried to get in with him and he almost had a heart attack so we stayed clear. He ran in and out of the house for about 3 hours laughing and playing with everyone and as soon as the meltdowns started we excused ourselves and went home to nap! I forgot to take pictures, even if I did happen to get one it would be one big blur! He didn't stop running for a minute. Needless to say we had a blast. Happy Birthday Hunter!

Last but not least, Happy Fathers Day Dads! We spent Sunday hanging out with James and relaxing at the house. Mathew has a lot of fun playing with his dad! They've been spending a lot of time together lately and Mathew just can't get enough! I wish I could be in Utah to give my dad a huge hug and kiss. I love you dad! You're an amazing dad and I love you! You're a wonderful grandpa too! XOXO.

New House

2009-05-27T21:43:00.001-07:00

Hey everybody, you're looking at the two newest residents of Lake Stevens, WA. In October that is. I'm having a home built for Mathew and I, and it will be ready October 15th ish. I know all you Utah'ns who are reading this are cursing my name but if I didn't take advantage of these wonderful first time home buyer deals I would be forever mad at myself. The main reason's I'm buying a home:

I need a house
I'm sick of paying rent
I need a house!!!!

But honestly, the main reason is I want Mathew to have everything he wants and needs in his lifetime and I feel if I got a house that would open doors for me to invest in something huge and make a stable life for us. Since the house won't be ready until October I have plenty of time to save some money and feel out the situation. If it doesn't feel right in the end I just won't do it! Simple as that! If you'd like to take a peak at the floor plan click here. We're getting elevation B with an attached garage, if you really want to see the particulars. Feel free to share your comments, advice, upsets :) etc.

Mothers Day

2009-05-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

Mothers Day this year was so wonderful. Mathew was being extra sweet which, is a huge plus now a days! We spent the afternoon with James' dad and their family. It was really nice to see everyone, it had been a while. Mathew had lots of cuddles for the family. James brother Daryl and his fiance Lacee are expecting a baby boy July 4Th so they also had a baby shower for her! I love baby showers, but they always make me baby hungry ughhh.
We then ventured over to James' aunts house where we hung out with his mom's side of the family. Mathew had a lot of fun playing with everyone. Then we went to James' house and we were surprised with a decorated house and gifts! It was such a very nice surprise! Mathew is very excited to start preparing for Fathers Day now!
I dressed Mathew in this adorable tie you'll see in the pictures below. James' cousin Carmen sent it to us after Mathew's first birthday and I just LOVE IT!!! Mathew brings me such joy, I couldn't imagine my life without him. Thank you for being the best baby you can be! I love you baby boy.

The Big "1"

2009-05-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

Mathew had such a wonderful first birthday! He was a little scared of the cake at first but shortly there after went in for the kill! Mathew got a lot of really fun toys and spent some quality time with family. What more could any growing baby ask for?

Mathew's Feeling 09'

2009-01-18T16:57:00.000-08:00

Mathew has really "blossomed" per-say the last two weeks! A lot of my friends and family have told me funny stories about all the crazy mischievous things their kids did growing up! Well folks that day has finally come! Mathew is as busy as ever and has to be watched like a HAWK. It all started a week and a half ago when he followed me into the bathroom, when I left the room to grab something, by the time I got back...less than ten seconds later he had unrolled an ENTIRE roll of toilet paper! A new one too! I was so tired I just threw the unrolled TP in the garbage! I should have taken a picture, there will be a next time I'm sure.
That was just one story out of many! No matter what he does, I can't help but laugh it off! He's just so dang cute! I love him so much and cannot believe how big he's getting! This last year has gone by so fast! Mathew's birthday's coming up stay tuned for birthday pics!

New High Chair

2009-01-18T16:06:00.000-08:00

Mathew got a new high chair from Grandpa Dan and Amy and let me tell you...we L O V E it! It is the best high chair I've ever seen! It has a lot of awesome features like wheels, a removable tray for easy clean up and best of all it folds for storage! Our kitchen isn't the biggest so I wasn't sure where a new high chair would even go. Problem solved! We just fold it right up after Matty's done grubbing! I highly recommend this high chair for anyone who'll be purchasing one in the near future! Click here if you want to check it out HERE.

On another note.....I've been trying to introduce more food into Mathews diet and could use a few tips. I give Mathew juice in a sippie cup but he doesn't know how to suck the juice out, he just chews on the spout. How do you get your baby to learn to drink out of a sippie cup? And out of a straw for that matter?

Also, I've been giving him different foods lately and sometimes he chokes, not completely but enough to throw up all over the place. They were small bites but he's still learning how to chew. What's the best way to introduce more textured, chewable food to your baby???

Thanks again Dan and Amy for the high chair!

Madelyn Rose Odonnell-Hugo

2009-01-03T11:14:00.000-08:00

My good friend Molly had her baby December 26, 2008. Madelyn is such a beautiful baby! She is so tiny and sweet! Molly is a wonderful mom! Savannah is exited to have her little sister here and I hear she's a big help! Congratulations Molly and Jason, we love you!

Merry Christmas To All

2009-01-02T16:51:00.000-08:00

James, Mathew and I had such a great Christmas...once we were able to leave our house!
We got stuck just as we were backing out Christmas Eve, I guess I forgot how compacted the snow was! That was it, we weren't going anywhere! James had to drive from his dads to our house with HORRIBLE roads and dig us out! We finally arrived at James' dads aka Grandpa Dan, just in time for dinner! It was so great to see everyone, I had no idea how much I missed them! A lot of the family hadn't seen Mathew since he was just a couple months old so it had really been a long time! Mathew had so much fun opening presents and being cute with everyone, we can't wait to see them again! He got some really cute outfits and A LOT of toys! James' Grandpa also made me an absolutely beautiful jewelry box, he does a lot of woodwork. I feel so special to have received one of his pieces!

Christmas morning we had a yummy breakfast with James' mom Linda aka Grandma Linda, Mathew really loves her sticky bread....sadly I do to! I contribute my Christmas weight gain to these. Thanks Linda! Mathew got a really cool train from Santa that he won't sit on but will push around all over the house. He got a bunch of other toys that are so fun! He has more toys than he knows what to do with, which is pretty great for me so I can get stuff done :) The rest of the day was very nice and relaxing. It was so wonderful to spend time with James' family, we really don't see them enough! That is definitely one of my New Years resolutions!

We had such a great Christmas, we were very spoiled. We're very grateful and feel truly blessed for all our wonderful families and love and miss you guys so much! We all hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Looking forward to 2009 and what it will bring!

Ode To Julia

2008-12-22T16:34:00.000-08:00

Julia called today and received her new mission calling! She will be leaving February 18, 2009 and heading to Hartford Connecticut for 18 months! This was the best picture I could find and it looks spectacular! I'm going to try really hard to get Mathew and I to Salt Lake for her farewell.

Julia has helped me out SO much over the last six months . I knew she would be a great nanny but I really had no idea what an impact she would have on us! Julia would play her guitar and sing for Mathew, dress him up in crazy wacky costumes and always made sure he ate all his fruits and vegetables! Even though I'd do just about anything to get her back here, I'm so happy she's taking this big step in her life! I know she'll be a wonderful missionary! Every time I ask Mathew "where's Julia?" he peeks his head around the corner to find her. Our home is definitely boring without her here, but I wish her the best!

Julia, you have no idea how much you've done for me, I can't imagine what our lives would be like without you! We will always remember all the fun times we had and can't wait to share more!!!! We miss you and love you a ton! We're so proud of you! Congratulations!

"Baby It's Cold Outside"

2008-12-22T16:10:00.000-08:00

Finally thank goodness the snow stopped.....for now! I decided to venture out to go get the mail and drove to the end of our street and saw a car stuck in the snow ahead so I parked the car and walked. I was going to take my camera but forgot so the pictures you see are from my patio! It looks like I'll be spending another couple days at home, but I WILL drive down to Tacoma if it kills me for Christmas. The snow is so beautiful I had to post more pictures! This doesn't happen every day around here! Mathew isn't phased what-so-ever! He's enjoying playing with his toys and making messes all over our apartment!

Snow In Seattle!

2008-12-20T19:11:00.001-08:00

Although it happens about twice a year, we're never ready for it and when it hits it pretty much shuts down the whole city! This was the best picture I could get because one, it's way too cold to walk far from my house and two I'm lazy and didn't even want to walk off my padio. So there you go! It's beautiful and I love it but it makes for really bad driving conditions. Being from Salt Lake I know how to drive in snow, however these roads are next to imposible to drive on! The only streets that are plowed are main highways! The side streets are covered with ice and until it warms up or you go pour sea salt-Molly that one is for you, outside on the ice it's not going anywhere. We have about 8 more inches coming our way so I'm looking forward to being stuck at home for two or three more days and am praying I can drive down south in time for Christmas!
Take a look see at the picture I've posted below. I managed to snap this as I was driving to my office yesterday and WOW is all I have to say! People really don't take precaution and take it slow when it's icy outside! If you can't tell what it is, it's two tour buses that went through a wall almost falling onto the major freeway I-5 in Seattle.

Christmas Decorations

2008-12-20T18:43:00.000-08:00

This year I decided not to buy a tree. Mathew has me pretty busy as is, he goes 150 mph all over our house. Next year we will for sure get one! Our decorations are in one section of the house and so far it's working out great!
I got Mathew his first ornament on Snapfish.com I have recently became addicted to this website! It's amazing! Mathew will get an ornament from James and I for Christmas every year!
I'm pretty much ready for Christmas to get here. Because of recent storms I have a feeling the gifts I've ordered for family and friends will not get here in time for Christmas. I wish everyone good luck who isn't quite ready! I look forward to talking to my family and friends on Christmas day! Mathew and I will be driving down to his dads Christmas Eve for a family party with his Grandpa Wood and Christmas day we will be at Mathews grandma Linda's! We always have a good time when we visit them so we're looking forward to it!

Merry Christmas!

Mathews New Room

2008-12-20T18:35:00.000-08:00

As soon as Julia left we had an extra room so finally Mathew could have some privacy!!! Although we miss Julia like you wouldn't believe it's really nice to have Mathew in his own room. It took me all day to put it together but it's done and is working out great!

Home For Thanksgiving

2008-12-20T18:12:00.000-08:00

Mathew, Julia and I traveled home to Utah for Thanksgiving. Julia stayed in Salt Lake as she will be serving an LDS mission as soon as she gets her new calling. Julia was Mathews nanny, he misses her like crazy. Anywho, we went to Salt Lake for about ten days, it was a really great trip. Mathew and I have gone to Salt Lake before when he was younger and it was a piece of cake! This trip was completely different! Mathew is set in his ways, he knows his bed, his "stuff", his nap schedule and his friends-Mom, Dad, and Julia. I now know when Mathew is without these things he becomes a stinker! On top of being out of his element, poor Mathew started getting his top front tooth so he was anything but pleasant for a few days! It's a good thing he's cute!
There were a few reasons this trip was monumental! Mathew met his uncle Mike for the first time and they became buddies! We also met Kale for the first time! And we said goodbye to Julia who has helped us out more than she'll ever know!

We enjoyed our time mostly kicking back and relaxing at Grandpa's house. Mostly because I was afraid if I took Mathew to see any of my other friends they would never talk to me again. JK, because of everything going on with Mathew we stuck close to my dads house. It was still so wonderful to see everyone and we can't wait to come back!

My Adorable Nephew Kale

2008-12-20T17:35:00.000-08:00

I officially became an aunt on 9/19/2008. My nephew Kale is so adorable, I love him! He looks just like his mama! He has such a cute and sweet temperament. I recently went to Utah and met him and instantly fell in love! I hate that he and Mathew do not get to see each other often, I know they'll be best of friends as time goes on though. Marci and Keith are such great parents. I wasn't sure how it would be seeing my brother as a dad, but honestly it didn't even phase me!

I was lucky enough to be there for his blessing and it was beautiful! I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family! I love this little guy so much and can't wait to see him grow up!

Mathew with One "T"

2008-12-20T16:50:00.000-08:00

I always get asked why I spelled Mathew's name this way. When thinking of a name for Mathew I wanted something different, however, his dad did not...So one day I fell in love with the name Mathew and knew that I wanted it to be original. So I decided to be creative, not really, and spell it with one "T". I think it's great, BUT, it's spelled the other way all the time-ALL THE TIME! I usually just go with the flow when this happens. I should apologize to Mathew now for making this a lifetime issue for him!

So do I regret it....Some days yes! Like after having to re-do his birth certificate, health insurance cards, social security card etc . I think people think I'm slow or something when I write my sons name, "we'll just fix the mistake for her, why would anyone spell Mathew with one "T"???"

Honestly for those of you who've done it, and lets face it, you all have :) I still love you and I don't care. But it's Mathew.