Dear Henry...

Well. Here we are, son. Nearing the end of week 39! You've been the best baby in utero! Can I just say that I can't wait to meet you?? Tonight I held a one week old baby and you know what? I am SO ready to hold you too! Your brother James did so good when I held baby Josiah, he was so curious, I can't wait to see his reaction when he meets you!

Tomorrow we have an appointment to make sure you're still doing good. But please take your time, there's no rush, I'm feeling pretty good these days, considering how awfully uncomfortable the end of pregnancy can be for some moms. Dad & I even took your bro to Disneyland yesterday! Walking is supposed to encourage you to make your debut, but honestly, I think you're just too cozy. Maybe you'll be a September baby like your mama? :)

Anyway, I just have to say I'm so proud of you for turning over two weeks ago! I was a little nervous about you being breeched at 37 weeks, and all the doctors and nurses were so shocked that you actually flipped over at 38 weeks! You, my sweet boy, seem to like to do things your own way! You stumped the medical world! And you are a testament that prayer truly works! We had a lot of people praying that you'd flip in time, and that's exactly what happened! I felt you turning over on Tuesday morning at 4am, had 4 contractions within' an hour, and then you were so still and quiet at 5am, I knew you'd gone to sleep from all the excitement of flipping over. And then on Wednesday morning at our special ultrasound appointment to see if you'd flipped or if we'd have to schedule a C-section, the tech confirmed that you were the right side up (down!). Here's a little photo of your fist from that morning. I like to think of it as you saying, "I. GOT. THIS."

We are so thankful for the community of friends and family that rallied beside us to pray for you and your amazing summersault skills! We love you and can't wait to meet you!!! See ya soon baby Henry Robert!

-Mom

Thanksgiving...

Where have I been? Well, I've been to the grocery store, Target, Wal-Mart, doing laundry, washing a never-ending amount of dishes in the sink (one day we'll have a dishwasher), playing with a chubby bunny named James, walking Teddy, and spending time with my handsome Mitchell. Oh, and Arizona!

This Thanksgiving was so much fun! We weren't too sure how James was going to do with the 5+ hour car drive thru the desert, but he did so so good! He played Fisher-price games and watched "UP!"on the iPad which helped a bit. All in all, it was a pretty good drive to and from Arizona.

While we were there I was able to see my immediate family, which was amazing since half of them live in Florida. It was sooo great seeing all of them in the same week, not to mention the fact James got see some family he hasn't seen since he was born.

the men.

We spent Thanksgiving at my dad's house, which was nice because I also saw some of my step-siblings and their families. It's crazy how big their kids are! James had turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, bread, + pumpkin pie! He didn't care for the turkey too much, but he sure did love that pie!

where'd that pie go?

Seriously, where's the pie?

Confession, I went "Black Friday" shopping with my brother at Toys-R-Us. We got a few good deals

:)

On Friday we woke up and took a stroll in Old Town Scottsdale, only a few blocks from our hotel room. We enjoyed a cup of coffee at Starbucks, and bought some baby Minnetonka's for James. We made a snap decision to take a drive up to Montezuma's Castle + Sedona as we walked back to the hotel room. The drive up was about 1.5 hours, not too bad, and totally worth it!

crooked/timed photo op! (we lost the camera after this was taken. So on Saturday before we checked out of the hotel, I called the shop where we bought James' moccasins, and they had it! The shop was called "Lucky Goods + Jewelry", ha!)

"Southern Sinagua farmers began building this five-story, 20-room dwelling early in the 1100s CE. It stands in a cliff recess 100 feet above the valley. Early settlers marveled at the structure and assumed that it was Aztec in origin, hence the name Montezuma Castle."

-National Park Service U.S. Dept. of the Interior

A little fist pump for Montezuma's Castle!

This tree was beautiful! The photo does no justice...

leaves + blue sky!

Mitch, James + javelinas!

James wasn't sure about this guy...

Sedona is so gorgeous. Red rock = wow! 

On Friday night we made our way back to Scottsdale and had dinner at Grimaldi's Pizzeria. It was delicious. That's all. Just delicious. And James LOVED it too, which was a bonus. We met the owners too! They just so happened to be visiting from New York City! 

No cheerios! I want pizza mama!

Howdy y'all!

On Saturday we got ready to come back home, but we stopped by my dad's to have lunch (Pete's Fish + Chips til we diiiieeeee!) and say adios, until next time!

James + tata Bob

On Sunday my mom + sister stayed the night at our place. They had to drive back to Arizona to return their rental car & catch their flight to Florida. It was so nice having them over for a night/morning.

Nana + James

James + aunt Moriah

And now, bring on the Christmas everything!

Day 10...

Day #10, I am thankful for :

Guitar playing. 

The other night as I got James ready for bed, I sat him down next to me and I played a tune for him. As his eyelids got heavier, and his smile started to fade into a deep sleep, I realized how incredible it feels to play an instrument for others to enjoy. Especially when that "other" is your son.

So I guess I'm also thankful for taking Mr.Hall's guitar class at Mesa High. Who knew 11 years later I'd be playing for my little one?! 

ps-those smudges are from his chubby baby fingers. I love it.

Day 9...

Day #9, I am thankful for :

Artists/Art history/Museums!!!

Today I saw my all time absolute favorite artist, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio! I was so excited! My heart was racing, my hands clasped together in anxiousness, my eyes huge, it was surreal for me! I'm absolutely serious when I say this, I almost cried. Literally, choked up when I stared at the brushstrokes. "His hands created this. Such a gift", is what I said in my mind. I was that museum go-er that shoved their way to the front of the crowd to get a better look, and honestly, I didn't even care! This is my rockstar, people! True, he was a murderer, a tough guy, but he was genius! Regarding his painting The Calling of St. Matthew, 

Caravaggio's solution is much simpler: Light indicates the touch of grace. It pours in behind Christ and falls full upon Matthew, while the rest of the painting is plunged into dreary shadow. Caravaggio pioneered this chiaroscuro style, which is characterized by extremes of light and shadow. -Secret Lives of Great Artists

G E N I U S.

Georges de La Tour, Magdalen with the Smoking Flame, circa 1638-1640

aka the painting in the Little Mermaid's secret cavern. 

My boys + Chris Burden's Urban Light, 2008

The little + Michael Heizer's Levitated Mass, 1969-2012

love.

Day 8...

Day #8, I am thankful for :

Gifts from my mama!

So my mom sent me this coat last year. She said it was perfect for those cold California nights and chilly winter days. At first I thought, "This is kind of cool", then I quickly realized it wasn't exactly "me". I love that my mom gives gifts that are kind of kooky! 

Also, I'm seriously considering wearing it anyway. I love that about adulthood! You can be yourself and not care what others think...except for the possibility of getting paint thrown on me by someone from PETA. That would make me sad. 

Day 7...

Day #7, I am thankful for :

Great friends. 

So excited for this amazing couple! In case you haven't had the pleasure of meeting these two, they're getting hitched next year + I couldn't be happier for them! Love you both so much! Yay for weddings! 

ps-thanks for going on the Matterhorn with me! It was the first "big kid" ride I had been on since before I was pregnant last May! *I have to add, this ride still hurts, even after the refurbishment. I have a bruise to prove it! But, I still love it :)*

Thankfulness, Day 6...

Day #6, I am thankful for :

Music. Good music. CHRISTMAS music. The kind of music that makes you sit and reflect on your hope and His goodness that is real, alive, and all around me---that's my favorite kind of music.

Gungor, 11-5-12

ps-we took James to hear Gungor play last night. It was his 1st concert out of the womb, but  I technically count his first-FIRST concert to be The David Crowder Band last year...

Thankfulness, Day 5...

Day #5, I am thankful for :

Strangers that take the time.

It's a rare thing to encounter others that will take the time to chat, compliment, or even smile at you. Today I'm thankful for those that take the time to connect and LOVE others in little/big ways. You strangers make this world livable + less scary! So, thanks!

Thankfulness, Day 4...

Day #4, I am thankful for :

Disneyland passes!!! We've been pass holders since we were bf + gf, and now we go to the park as parents. It's seriously so surreal! It's been an amazing 9 years. Thanks Uncle Walt!

stud.

"whoa."

Baby boy + grampa 

(yeah, the carpet was probably gross. Guess I'm also thankful for decorated carpet so you can't see it!)

I love making him laugh! 

Thankfulness, Day 3...

Day #3, I am thankful for :

Theodore "Teddy" Russell!

Who knew almost 4 years ago, we'd become pup parents to such a good boy?! Today, I am so thankful for his companionship, middle of the night snuggles, and the pure excitement he has every time we come home. What a pup!

Thankfulness, Day 2...

Day #2, I am thankful for : 

Them. 

My boys. 

My family.

I'll never completely understand how I was chosen for such a gift!

 I love you both so so much. 

Like, a lot. 

This many, *arms spread out*

Thankfulness...

I cannot believe that at the end of this month we will celebrate the beginning of the holiday season! But before I get into Christmas, I want to talk about Thanksgiving. It's a holiday where we gather with friends and family, eat a bunch of food, and discuss what we're thankful for...I completely understand why this holiday is my husband's favorite! A day to just relax, eat and contemplate our blessings?! Yessss!

One thanksgiving in particular was a very special one to me...I was about 10 or 11 years old, and as I sat amongst my aunts, uncles, cousins and nana, we all went around to say what we were thankful for. Some of us said we were thankful for one more year of life, others said they were thankful for my nana's cooking (If you only knew! This woman had a serious gift for making delicious food) and I remember saying, "I'm thankful for all of you. Everybody here is special to me." So deep for a 10ish year old, right?

So this month, I am promising one post a day about something I am thankful for. I'm pretty excited, also pretty nervous that I might get behind, but let's cross that bridge if we get there.

Day #1, I am thankful for : 

Posted on 11-30-07, this was my first blogpost photo!

This blog! A place I can share my thoughts, the happenings in our household, the everyday adventure called parenthood, and the blessings that come with the ups and downs of life!

So what are you thankful for today?