Joe-love

I feel like a horrible mom because I try to write what Joe is doing in my journal, but I want to have something for him also, so I'm going to do a little thing called Joe-love.
*My 13 1/2 month old has picked up walking frequently this past week. He has been able to stand propped up on couches, ottomans, and mom's leg since he was 7 1/2 months. Since he is such a SPEEDY crawler he hasn't taking to only walking yet. Yes, Chelsea I know you still think he resembles Franklin the turtle, but he doesn't act like him. He crawls so fast and hard that he has little bruises sometimes on his legs :(
*He gives kisses now, only on Joe time though. He loves to kiss me, loves to kiss the phone mostly when Grandma asks for it or when Aunt Chelsea asks for it. He has started with hugs also and those are the best cuddly hugs I could ask for.
*We have started the shape sorter and that is fun. He pounds the shapes in so hard, I hope one time his little finger isn't in the way. He loves his piggy bank also, but he'll put a coin in the slot only to hope that when he opens the bank, tons will fall out. He gets that from his mother!
*He's crazy in the bath and loves sliding and dunking basketballs.
*He is not a great eater, but I found something in the past couple days he will eat. Cereal! So we eat about 3 bowls of cereal a day...at least it's not 3 cans of lil crunchies!
*He loves getting Steve from the bus stop and as we watch the buses stop at his stop, Joe quickly scans to see if his dad is on that bus.
*He still has 8 teeth and has become quite the little pro at "brushing teeth" time.
*Is doing better for the camera, as you can tell, he was helping me take our picture.
*He claps for most of the contestants for American Idol and sometimes sways to the music.

*For the kicker: He is his grandma's boy, when he sees chocolate (in the wrapper or not) he starts smacking his lips out of control and waving his arms. It is hilarious!
Hopefully I'll be more on track with the Joe-loves so they aren't so long!

The ABC's of me

I love reading this tag on others blogs so I followed my friend Kiersten's lead! Enjoy!
Attached or Single: Attached, sealed to sounds better
Best Friend: my hubby Steve
Cake or Pie: well I love pies, but I love cakes, they are easier for me to make
Day of Choice: Sunday, I get to relax and spend the day with my boys
Essential Item: garments, my cell phone, and my mom
Favorite Color: I have a few, white, black, brown, red, pink, blue (on Joe), green (on Steve)
Gummy bears or Worms: um sour worms, but love gummy bears in vanilla yogurt from Golden Spoon
Hometown: Valencia, CA
Indulgences: Cookies, I will probably be like my mother and have a VIP card to Lady Di's one day
January or July: Well both, my baby was born in January and July is vacation time
Kids: 1 very stubborn, funny, sweetheart boy
Life is incomplete without: my family, & my favorite 2 women, mom and Sista Sista
Marriage date: August 6, 2005, great day wonderful weather, sexy groom
Number or siblings: 7 brothers, 1 sista sista
Oranges or Apples: Apples are easier to eat, but oranges are yummy too
Phobias: Losing a child, parking garages, heights
Quote: In all of living have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed not just endured.-President Gordon B Hinckley
Reasons to smile: Joe discovering new things like kisses and hugs, Steve getting home from work
Season: I like them all! Seasons always look different in the places we've lived so I've come to like mild winters, REALLY colorful falls, hot swimming filled summers, & bright springs!
Tag Others: Whoever wants to do this...Molly, you're a new blogger so do it!
Unknown fact about me: Went to a CMA after party once with friends (and a parent who was a bodyguard at the event) and Blake Shelton sang Austin to ME! Then came up to me afterwards, and asked if it was too early to call it love...Too bad I was 16 and he was wasted :)
Vegetarian or Meat Eater: Definitely meat eater...I've been enemic a couple times, so to not have to take iron pills I got my act together and really started eating meat
Worst Habit: Biting my nails, and pointing out Steve's bad habits :)
X-rays: only on my teeth
Your Favorite Food: I'm a meat and potatoes kind of girl...love California Pizza Kitchen, PF Changs, Cheesecake Factory...
Zodiac: Gemini

Discovery Museum

Joe & I were invited to go to the Discovery Museum by Heather & Kena. I told Heather this, but I don't think she believed me...This was the best day Joe & I had had since we have been in San Francisco. We've tried the beach and some really cool, nifty parks, but this was so awesome. I've never seen anything like it. I get so nervous to try and go out by myself in case I get swallowed up by the craziness of the city! My release every week is to try and go to play group which is our favorite thing, and sometimes I get nervous with that! Poor Joe, he has such a cautious mom!


Here is Kena and Joe right after she kissed him, I don't know if you can tell but he is nervous and is probably turning away so she doesn't see him blush!
Here is my baby fishing and he was trying to climb into the pond even though it was pretty cold water!
Heather & Kena found a real ladybug that they got to hold. Look at Heather, so cute and pregnant with a baby boy, yay!
Joe pretty much latched onto Heather, smiled for her camera more than for me! The museum had such cool tunnels that the kids liked playing peek a boo in. It was so nice to not have to say no no no! He could do what he wanted at this huge play place.
I think his favorite was the ultimate fort. The pictures don't do it justice. Maybe one day I'll have the builder of this child's fantasy come build it in my backyard. The kids played for 3 hours! Heather and Kena, thanks for taking a chance on us! We really appreciate it and hope to go back soon!

Tuesday Tell All-I've Never

I've never...been to a different continent. My sister has gone and toured Europe for the summer twice with her best friend, but me no.
I've never...tried sushi
I've never...done a thing to my eyebrows, they're so light.
I've never...broken a bone.
I've never...let Steve win Settlers.
I've never...loved a ward as much as I love our current ward.
I've never...liked the smell or taste of beef jerky.
I've never...graduated from college.
I've never...liked nutjammers, wings of any type, or peeps.
I've never...changed a flat tire.
I've never...mowed a lawn.
I've never...seen any of The Lord of the Ring movies.
I've never...met a cookie or cupcake I haven't liked.
I've never...gone bungee jumping or sky diving and probably never will.
I've never...watched The Simpsons.
I've never...laughed so hard I pee-ed my pants, but my sista sista has.
I've never...liked speaking in public or playing the piano in public.
I've never...loved my 2 boys as much as I do now & I'm amazed at how it continues to grow.

Tagged!

10 years ago...

I was 12 years old attending Placerita Junior High School in Valencia, CA.
A few things that haven't changed since 1998 is that I still love shopping and still am good friends with most of my friends from junior high, Meags, Jess, Linds, Meg, Heather, Brooke, Whitney, Brittany, Terri, Pax, and I could continue on...
A few things that have changed, no more braces, no more skater shoes, and I'm not obsessed with Nsync anymore. I don't live in Valencia anymore, unfortunately and I try not to be such a nerd.

5 things that are on my list to do today...

1. go to church
2. make some cookies
3. relax
4. clean up
5. play with my boys

What would I do if I became a millionaire?

I would pick up and go on a week long vacation! When I came back, Steve & I would pick where to live, buy a home, and I would have my mother decorate it. I would have my sister go shopping for me, and then I would have fun bringing family to see us. I love hanging out with my family!

5 Jobs that I have had...

1. teaching assistant for the wonderful Mrs. Chandi Bird
2. Little Things Mean A Lot, baby clothes
3. Thomasville Home Furnishings, designer & hanging out with the parents
4. Hollister
5. piano teacher

5 Things People Don't Know About Me...

1. I am self conscious about what people think about me
2. I HATE playing the piano in front of groups, I get so nervous
3. I have become quite the bargain shopper
4. I have never gone to a different continent
5. I love photography, but don't know too much about it so I'm not very good at it

I'm tagging lots of people specifically since no one did my picture tag...for my far away friends, Lacy, Dee, Mare, Kathryn, Chandi (I know you won't do it, but I had to include you), Sammy!
For my San Francisco friends, Kera, Tami, Heather, Ang, Hillary, Stephanie! Hopefully a couple of you will really do it!

Weekend Visitors

Steve's parents and brothers came for the weekend and we seriously went ALL weekend long! I have a new love and appreciation for my little boy the I didn't even know I could have. I now call him Hero! He went from car seat to stroller to high chair to car seat ...Any of you who know Joe are probably thinking this is not possible! Well I didn't think so either! He pretty much had 1 good nap in 3 days! On our way back from Alcatraz. We live in such a cool place! It was our first time going there and it was well worth it. We really enjoyed it!
Joe liked the boat and thought he could stand all by himself and it was hard to convince him he wasn't stronger than the rocking boat.
We played video games, and I knew my sweet daddy would really appreciate this game of golf made in 1928, I sucked at it, but Steve got the ball in the hole on one try! That's my man!
The fam at Alcatraz, we all looked so cool with those earphones on.
Steve's brother, Mike, helped a performer on the pier and it was pretty cool. The performer said he needed 4 skinny tall guys and I KNEW Mike would be picked out like a sore thumb. Some of his family calls him the spoon. He is a stick and is the guy whose head is dead center in the picture. Kind of cool, all of the chairs got taken out from under them and they stayed strong.
Joe riding his first horse, such a cutie! He enjoyed it and wanted to ride two times, his grandpa spoiled him and let him!
Still happy, loving his grandpa! Joe was really attracted to the mustache. When he found it, I let him touch it and he shrunk back like it was going to bite him. It was hilarious! Grandpa Steve is so cool and helpful, I was sad to see him go!
Mom, don't leave me here!
I know, it's fuzzy, blurred, and my boys are looking at another camera, but hey I like it anyways! Last but not least, I really owe my Joe for pulling through and being so awesome!

XoXoXoXo

I love Valentine's Day! I love the meaning of the day, cupcakes, sugar cookies, parties, cards, etc... I LOVE MY SWEET HUBBY! He is the best! A couple of my favorite things about him are how sexy he looks in business dress, how motivated he is, what a good father he is, what a helpful husband he is, & that he is just such a genuine person.
My other true love is my baby boy. I love that he is crazy, I love that he is putting himself down to sleep now(I tell him he's the best when I walk out because I'm truly amazed at how far he's come), he's so cute, I love his laugh, I really appreciate that he helps me put away the dishes(even though it takes about twice the time), and I love that he's all mine & Steve's!
I love my big family! I couldn't imagine having a family any other way! I love how close we are and that our mom & dad hold us together! I love that we are all so different, but have such a blast together! And I love how much everyone has just loved Baby Joe even when he can be pretty feisty like his mom, but I think she gets that from her dad!!
Baby Joe loved opening and reading and folding and sucking the chocolate out of Valentine's! We had a blast at a party with all of Joe's little friends and I think Joe has decided this is his favorite holiday!
We took cupcakes to Steve's work so that all of the finance people could have a REAL Valentine's Day! Joe was smacking his lips together & panting so Steve helped him have a bite! He is like his Grandma and can smell treats a mile away!
I did a craft with a friend one night and because I was so late getting my supplies together, I had to buy HUGE paper! All I need were like 12x12 and normal sized paper and I got poster board! Yay for me & Megan, we were both rolling out our paper over everyone else's and cutting was a real experience as well! I had a ton of left over so I made my family cards! Now I know why I buy them, they take awhile!
Here are the cupcakes I took to my honey's work, hope they liked them & hope I spruced up their work VALENTINE'S day!
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! XOXO Thanks for being our friends! We love you!

I love Sundays!

Yesterday was such a great day! The weather was so nice, our talks are over, and we all got naps! I love Sundays! We decided to get out so Lil Joe could show his dad some of his favorite spots. He loves the beach and is surprisingly not crazy in the sand. Of course he plays in it, but doesn't get too much in his mouth and it is the only time he sits still! We then took Steve to the park and Joe loves the swing, the slide, and the teeter totter! He is a strong little man and it was hilarious to watch him try to walk up the slide, his little legs moving but his body not so much. He looked like an American Gladiator trying to go up the moving walkway! All in all such a good family day, they are hard to come by with Steve working so hard! We love our amazing daddy! Thanks Heather and Tami for watching Joe, saved us, even though I will admit, my heart was breaking to look down from the stand and see him playing and so happy without me!

Picture Tag!

1. Favorite pair of shoes right now...
That would have to be my Joey O's, wore them for Chelsea's wedding, they were a pain in the booty, but they are so cute!


2. New Year's Resolution...
Stand a Little Taller! My Joey O's help with that :)!
3. Are you listening to music right now?
I love this song...it's getting close to Valentine's Day and I love my sweet husband. The video has a red and white hotel in the background and that's where our family goes every year on vacation, so I love that it's in this video.

4. If you had $200 to spend on yourself...
I'd go to Anthropologie to spend $300 and get a new pair of my favorite True Religions...I guess if I had money to spend on myself I'd probably try to double the amount!

5. Random thought...
Does anyone grocery shop on the internet? Well I do and tonight I reaffirmed to myself why I do that. I left Steve with the baby so I could get out and I figured I didn't need that much stuff anyways, so off to the store I go. Dumb me, got there at rush hour and seriously they were out of tons of stuff. I needed stir fry mix and the one I need they didn't have, but of course my $1.19 mix is on the web site!6. Favorite place in the city that you live in...
I really like places by the water, we have only been to this one and I loved it, not to mention I was with my 2 boys. Thanks Mark & Tami for introducing us to the great view!
7. Book you are reading...
Steve & I are so privileged to give talks on Sunday about President Gordon B. Hinckley! If you would like to give any advice, favorite quotes or anything...leave me a comment! I mean it!
For any of my friends who read this, I don't have many because none of you ever leave comments :) but anyone who wants to YOU ARE TAGGED! Don't try to act like you didn't see that, yep you are tagged...