One year.

One year.

A whole year managed to escape us. I knew time would fly, but I didn't know it would go this fast.

Kinda breaks my heart, but were on to this stage. This stage is so much fun! You are one funny kid. Always making us laugh. You go a mile a minute.  Never stopping for a minute to look behind you to see the trail of destruction. Oh how much I love watching you learn and change everyday. You were the missing piece to this family. Without you we really wouldn't be the same. You've changed everything. Life certainly isn't as easy, but it sure is better. You've taught us all a lot of lessons. You've taught us to be way more patient than we ever were before. 

Time seems to move at light speed. The weeks go so fast with two kids. There is something going on every second. And I love it. 

You are learning to play on your own, but only for a few minutes at a time, then when you sense one of us isn't by your side you let us know and come running to find us so you can be held. Maybe you just like to see the world from our point of view so you always want to be on our hips like a little monkey.

Your vocabulary is growing! Mama (on occasion) Eee-uu (Lelu) Bye bye, Hi and many more.

You shake your head no at us now. I think your going to be our little cleaner. When we give you a baby wipe you walk around wiping things down! Your also pretty good at putting the toys back into thier baskets! You have a big obsession with the phone. Anytime it rings, dings, beeps you go running to whereever it is and point to it. You like to dance, which includes you waving your arms in the air and doing little squats up and down!

Our dear friend Linda snapped your 1 year photo's for us. As always she captured who you are perfectly. No words needed, this is you.

She also got a few of Jaxson too. He's 4 now! Getting too big. My babies need to stop growing up!

Check out Linda's work here. I've said it before, but this girl has some serious talent. Her work is AH maze ING!!

Thank you so much for the beautiful pictures!

XO boys

Jessica

11 months

11 months.

A month late, but that is to be expected at this point right? Mattix turned 11 months on September 18th.

He's a full on walker now. His arms flail up and down, side to side as he walks like a drunken sailor. He still swerves quite a bit. While watching him you would think that he is about to topple over. However he somehow maintains his balance, even on the rockiest of terrain. By rocky terrain I'm referring to the clothing and toys that are always strewn about the house floor. This will be the new normal until their teenagers and can pick up after themselves? Wait, who am I kidding...Teens don't pick up after themselves!

So my house is doomed to a messy state for the next 17 years. Don't expect an invite anytime soon.

You have perfected shaking your head NO at us, quite cute even if it's considered disrespectful. You know when it's bed time, you say "ny ny".

Other new words to add to your vocabulary are: 

Done

Lelu

Momma

Ja (Jax)

You are waving bye bye and pointing up when we pray for Amen, and clap when we tell you good job!

You are now shaking your little booty when music comes on...This consists of you squatting up and down!

Oh I wish you would stay this size forever!

Without further adieu, a very blurry 11 month shoot that ended in a war over the chalkboard!

You can see the brotherly love here can't you?

I love these boys,

XO,

Jessica

Tutorial: How to create a whimsical succulent terrarium... by Jes

How to Create a Whimsical Succulent Terrarium

A while back I was throwing a baby shower where my concept was

"vintage botanical"

Obviously terrariums were a must.

So, late one night with the help of my handsome and ever supportive husband we created the 

cutest darn terrariums I ever did see.   

Step 1: Gather your materials

A container to house your terrarium

( I would suggest one with a lid. This will create a true terrarium, mimicking a greenhouse.)

A small trowel or a large spoon

Gravel

Activated Filter Carbon

 (This can be found in the fish section at a pet store. It keeps the water clean and keeps funky stuff from happening)

Moss

Potting Soil

Plants and any decorative items you would like

Step 2: Layer your materials like so:

1) Gravel - a good inch or so -

 This gives the water somewhere to go, so you don't end up with soggy soil that could get stinky or even kill your plants.

2) Activated Carbon - about half an inch -

This filters the water as mentioned above, this will also help keep your terrarium mold free.

3) Moss - however much looks right -

This keeps the soil in it's place and adds a nice layered effect.

4) Soil - however much looks right, but a good few inches at least -

(remember to leave enough room for your plant to be completely inside) 

I would probably do a bit of light watering now, before your plants go in. 

5) Plants and accessories

Always choose plants that have the same water needs if you plan on keeping your terrarium for a while.

I found succulents fared the best, they are low maintenance and cute.

To create a diorama feel, print out small animals onto cardstock,

 cut them out and tape them to a toothpick.

(If you want them to last a while a layer or two of mod-podge wouldn't hurt)

Arrange in your terrarium as you like.

Enjoy!

Jes

My Maternity Shoot by Jes

So, I have obviously not been keeping up on the updates...


However, now that I have a little more time on my hands (sarcasm) 
I will do my best to post at least twice a year.
(on a good year)

So...

Here is my Maternity shoot.

Enjoy.

  

I fully recommend to anyone who is pregnant that even if you don't feel like getting your picture taken all huge and pregnant, do it anyway.
You can burn the pictures if you hate them.
But you wont be able to go back and change your mind once the baby is here.

If I get brave, I'll post my underwater maternity photos 
(doubt it)

Till next time...

Jes 

Babymoon by Jes

 The concept of a babymoon is that first time parents take a last trip as a childless couple to enjoy time alone and do thing that may be a bit harder with a little one, such as:

 sleep,

talking,

 showering,

shopping,

eating at a restaurant,

brushing your hair,

putting on shoes

...

you get it.

I am an advocate of anything that encourages a vacation, so I jumped on the babymoon bandwagon with both feet.

Most people probably choose to take their babymoon closer to the due date, but I always figure there's no time like the present, so we went when I was 5 months (this also gave me time to try to sneak in another "babymoon" when Danny wasn't paying attention).

 This should have been posted back in May when said Babymoon actually occurred, however that was not to be...

So without further ado:

Glacier, Washionton

May 2012 

Glacier is a tiny ski town about a hour and a half north-east of Seattle.

I'm not kidding about tiny.

Like, the population is 211.

I'm not exaggerating. I just googled it.

Anyway, we hit it on the last weekend of ski season, and since we obviously weren't there to ski, we had the place mostly to ourselves. It was perfect.

      

We had amazingly beautiful scenery around where we were staying, but as there wasn't much to do besides go for walks (we did alot of walking), we ventured into the nearest city of Bellingham.

It's charming. We loved it.

   We found an amazing park in the middle of town with lots of trails and waterfalls. We even caught a wedding taking place on this bridge.

We also found an amazing home decor shop called DIGS.
If you ever are in Bellingham, GO!
You won't be sorry.

 

Another day we drove up into Canada from Vancouver to Whistler on the Sea to Sky Highway. 

  

If you like scenic drives, then this is a great one. 

So the moral of the story is:

Babymoons rock.

And if you aren't having a baby,

go on vacation anyway.

It's good for the soul.

Jes 

One year ago today.

One year ago today, Mattix was born!

Seems like just yesterday!

How did time go so fast?

Our family would not be the same without you baby Mattix! 

We love you,

XOXO

Jessica

10 months.

I'm about two months late on this post. Sad. Summer flew by and all we got around to doing was taking your monthly pictures. Even if they were the day before you turned a month older.

This is the month that we expected you to start walking. We know that all kids are different but we kind of suspected you to start around the time Jaxson did, and you did it just before you were about to turn 11 months. They were just a few steps here and there. Walk, crawl, walk, crawl..You just kept getting braver. You walk around like a drunken sailor with your arms raised up and out for balance I suppose.

Your vocabulary is got more extensive. Your list now includes: today, momma, dada, bye, lelu. Granted maybe we heard those baby babbles and assumed it was those words. Momma and Dadda are definite everyday ones. You walk around saying dadadada all day long. Sometimes it's just Da- Da- and I think you are trying to say Jax. You and your brother don't always get a long great, but when you do you guys are so fun to watch. Playing ball, cars, and random little made up games that only the two of you understand. I can't wait to watch you two grow to be best buddies:) We know when your tired because you say "Nye Nye"

Your back to not sleeping through the night and nursing every two hours or so. Mostly my fault for being the enabler here. Oh well, your only little once.

I actually pulled you both of of bed the night before you turned 11 months because that's how big of a procrastinator I am. Here's the few pictures that made the cut:

Time is flying...In a couple very short months you will be one. Where did the time go?

Love you both so much!

Announcing Eisley Grey by Jes

Welcome to the world baby girl!

General update by Jes

Pop Quiz

Since my last post I have

a) gone on vacation

b) had a "not-a-baby-shower" luncheon

c) decorated a baby room 

d) had an anniversary (8 years woot woot)

e) had a baby

f) all of the above

the answer if f. 

I will be posting at irregular intervals all these happenings, starting with the baby and possibly working my way back to other items listed above.

We shall see...

So I felt this post was needed, as my next several posts will most likely be out of order, and coming from the mind of a sleep-deprived mom at 2am.  

Thank you for bearing with me...

(or not. No one is twisting your arm to read this blog)

 Kisses!

Jes

 

Nine months.

9 months came and went. Fast. You turned into a serious little wilderness man as we took you on your first camping trips this month. You took tenting like a champ. Maybe not the sleeping in a tent part, but the rest of it. Your always messy, and camping definitely confirmed your Nini's words when she says you are "a dirty boy" (somehow your always covered in some kind of dirt or food or boogers...) You loved the rivers and lakes, you got your first little tan. Your hair is even blonder now. Speaking of hair, you still don't have very much more than one little flip of a curl at the crown of your head. I'm praying for curls just like your brother had. There are 4 teeth on the top now and two on the bottom! You have not gained any weight which the doctor doesn't like, but when you crawl at the speed of light and never sit still, I'm guessing your burning as many calories as your taking in daily. You don't like to eat real food either. So I've been trying to stuff you full 3+ times a day, plus nursing so we don't get another weight lecture. Your also cruising all over the furniture now. I suspect walking is on the horizon! Can't wait for that! I can't imagine what life is going to be like once you can actually run after your brother! One morning, at the beginning of the month you surprised us when you said TODAY! I know it wasn't a fluke, your just smart like that:) Dada still remains in the lead as your favorite word. I've heard Momma a couple of times this month. The cutest was when we were in the car getting ready to come home from camping and you said BYE! Maybe we have a chatterbox on our hands? Biggest milestone of the month is you sleeping in your own bed all night- all through the night..can I get a Hallelujah?!

An overload of pictures

Some shots before meeting.

Nothing says goofy quite like you two do.

(photo's taken when you were about to turn 10 months...Better late than never!)