Wrapping up September

Shots from this month that I liked but didn't post...

I love this picture because he looks 99% adorable, but with a dash of crazy/creepy mixed in. Something in his eyes makes me nervous, but I want to chew on him anyway. (also, he still has traces of the impressive black eye he received when he crawled into the corner of my laptop.)

His favorite place on earth.

The view from the front porch of our Utah house.

Andy made what he calls the "Ghetto Daddy Rattle." Calvin loves the scrunching sound empty water bottles make, so Andy took one and added misc. pretzels and cheerios so that it rattles when you shake it. The boy loves it.

Just a cute face.

Coming towards the camera, wearing his most angelic photo face.

The New Backyard

Calvin has loved spending so much time outside over the last couple of weeks. There is definitely a chill in the air the last few days, so we are trying to enjoy it while it lasts.

This one was taken right before they slid down, and right in the middle the slide collapsed and flipped over. I guess it wasn't built for grownups. Luckily, Andy caught Calvin before he fell, and the slide snapped back into place. Quite the adventure.

My Favorite Things

Here are the pictures I like best from this week...

I'm Going Home...

Since my mom got cancer a few years ago, I have wanted to move closer to home. Just in case. So I mistakenly mentioned it to her, and she wouldn't let it go. She kept looking at homes, trying to entice us back. Finally in December she found a house that she loved (6 minutes away from her house, might I add) and went through it numerous times from January on, until finally Andy and I were in Utah in May, and went to see it for ourselves.

The problem was that we really could see ourselves living there. We weren't mentally ready to leave Virginia, and we weren't sure it would work with Andy's job, but in an ultra crazy impulse buy, we ended up making an offer and purchasing the home at the beginning of July. My mom thinks she won the lottery.

Last week since Andy was in Vegas, just a few hours away from my parent's house, we decided that I would come out to Utah while he was in Nevada and get some painting and cleaning done in the house, and then after his conference, he would join me for a week, during which time we are scrubbing bathrooms, cupboards, and closets, having carpet cleaners come, having a washer and dryer delivered, and picking up some odds and ends. That way when we sell our house in Virginia, this one will be ready to move into without a lot of additional fuss. It's been a lot of hard work, but a lot of fun as well.

I finally feel mentally ready to come back to the west. The mountains are breathtaking this time of year with all of their majestic colors. The view from our new porch is unbeatable. I have also missed the wide open spaces. I moved to Virgina because I loved all of the greenery, which I still do, but at times it has started to feel claustrophobic. I love that out here I can see for miles in any direction, with nothing impeding the view of the mountains. I had also forgotten how much more I love the dry heat than the oppressive humidity.

There are a million things I will miss about Virginia, and I will probably dwell on those later, but for now, I think this is a good move for our little family and I'm very optimistic about the future.

My sister put together a blog of when she first saw the house back in January. You can check it out here: http://thenelsonsnewhouse.blogspot.com/. Keep in mind it's covered in snow and filled with someone elses' furniture. Still, it's a very cute house.

Poor Neglected Blog

Things have been really busy lately, and I haven't been doing well at keeping things updated. Here are the highlights of the last week:

• Andy is in Vegas for a conference and seems to be enjoying himself. He didn't call or respond to any of my attempts to contact him last night, so when he called me early this morning (before or after he went to bed?) it was somewhat alarming that the first thing he said was, "I lost my wedding ring." He found it, and I trust him completely, but Vegas, no contact, and absent wedding rings are a bad combination. Tonight he couldn't talk because he was at the motor raceway with the guys. We miss him, but I'm glad he's having fun.
• I've been painting, scrubbing, and de-wasping our new house all week. I now have the perfect yellow laundry room. Pictures to follow.
• I'm working full-time again, which sucks. I'm covering for two ladies at my former job who are both out for maternity leave at the same time. I like the finance department, it's kind of fun, but overall it's a lot of hours and I don't miss having much less going on.
• Calvin has been spending a lot of time with his aunts, uncles, cousins, the horse, and the trampoline. He's having the time of his life.
• I met with some people in the graduate program I'm trying to get into, with a positive response. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
• I backed my dad's new truck into a basketball pole. It was his birthday present.
  

Here are some pictures from today.

Cute niece, Maria

BFF'S reunited
Grandma, Calvin, and Sailor the Horse
Carrie would bounce Calvin on the tramp really high, and he would laugh as he went flailing all over the place.


Grandpa, Aysha, and Aby

Garage

The other day Andy and I forgot something, so he asked if I wanted to be dropped at the front door or at the garage to run in and get it. I responded simply "garage" in what may have been a slightly husky voice, considering the unexpected question. Well, apparently, Andy thought it was hilariously guttural and chain-smoker hag sounding, because he kept saying "garage" in this nasty voice through the whole drive. My point is only that it is the context behind the following scene:

So whenever something strikes Calvin's funny bone, we do/say it a million times over until he's tired of laughing. That's just how desperate we are to entertain him and be the favorite parent of the day. Andy won the role yesterday when he reenacted the car scene on the unsuspecting child. I think if you're mocking the other parent, it should be against the rules to do it a million times. It's a dang cute clip though and it makes me happy to sound like a truck driver for his and Andy's (and now your) enjoyment. This is the end of it when he is mostly tired of laughing.

Two New Teeth

This has been a rough and grumpy week for Calvin. Sunday he was more clingy and whiny than usual, and we saw right away that he had two top teeth right below the surface of his gums. By Tuesday the tooth on his left came poking through, and today the right tooth finally made its way out. They are two sharp little spikes, and he has been a real trooper having them both come in at once. Today he was a completely different kid. He was all smiles again, and it was fun to have our happy boy back with all of the surface breaking finished.

This picture is of us making him laugh, not torturing him like we did the last time we wanted to get a glimpse of a new tooth.

(ignore the mac and cheese sauce up his nose)

This picture is of him playing toss and catch with his dad. He's just about to throw it, and is pretty good about catching it against his body. His dad thinks he's going to be a tennis player one day. In fact, you would think I was lying (and you would be incorrect) if I told you that Andy had wanted to name him Pete Sampras Nelson. He's still holding out for that name when boy #2 comes along. Hopefully I'll still be around to stop the madness and give the boy a respectable name like Larry Bird Nelson.

Bless the Sweet Little Piggies

Before Calvin was mobile, every morning I would sit with him on the deck and watch the birds and squirrels scampering around the back yard. We don't do that anymore because now every time we are outside, his sole focus is on getting WET. He will squirm down from my arms, make a beeline for the hose, and shake it until water finally comes out (after 5 minutes of watching his determination, I usually feel guilty and just go turn it on). Today when he woke up from naps, he was so sweetly disheveled and grumpy, so I took him outside, set him down on the grass, and it worked like magic.

Also, I have been thinking a lot lately about giving up most meats and just eating better in general so that by the time he's older, Calvin is used to healthier eating habits. But then tonight for dinner, we had waffles, fried eggs (Andy had scrambled. The whole Jack Sprat thing), and bacon. Since I met Andy, if we eat bacon at all it is usually turkey bacon, so every time I eat REAL bacon I remember that it's God's greatest gift to earth and wonder why I don't eat it more often - like for every meal. A minor setback in my plan to have a trim, healthy, happy little family.

Big Boy

He's getting so big. It makes me sad and happy. I'm bipolar, and change my mind about it every second. Here's a cute one from today.

Sunday is a day of rest?

We haven't grabbed any shots on Sunday for a long time, so I thought we should today. Here's the best one. (Notice that Andy is not wearing a tie. He doesn't like to put a tie on before we leave, for some reason. He just grabs one off the tie rack, shoves it in his pocket, and puts it on when we get there. Today when he pulled it out of his pocket, it was a black silky dress sash instead of a tie. It made us laugh. Even a blind man could tell a dress sash from a neck tie.)

And this one shows why church at 2:30pm is a horrible idea... There are no kids that do well with it in our congregation, but Calvin is one of the worst. It is right at his nap time, and he does not appreciate the interruption. Here is a picture of his weekly meltdown.

I used to love Sundays. It was a day to see friends, feel happy, take a nap, eat good food my mom made, and so forth. Now I hate them. Sundays seem to be yet another sad casualty of getting old and taking on responsibility. My boys are cute though, and that makes me happy.

Ten Months Old Today

Dear Calvin,

You are ten months old today, and are turning into a little boy full of energy, fun, and precociousness. We can barely keep up with your crawling all through the house, pulling things from cupboards, and plunging head first from every surface we put you on. Here are some of the highlights from the past month:

- You have started pointing at every person, animal, or thing that strikes your fancy. If you are interested in it, your chubby little pointer finger gets raised in that direction. It makes it a lot easier for those of us trying to figure out what you're looking at or what you want to touch/pick up/play with.
- You have started jabbering incessantly. You don't make a bit of sense, but you take whatever you are saying very seriously. You talk in the car, talk while playing with toys, talk while taking walks, talk talk talk. The other day you grabbed my face in your little hands, looked me directly in the eye, and chattered softly with your head cocked to the side. I knew just what you meant and said, "I love you too." You melt my heart with your sweet baby language.
-Last week I went out with some friends, and when I came home daddy had taught you to flush the toilet with your foot. Such a talent.
-You love brushing your teeth. Usually you let me brush them for about 30 seconds before you take the brush away to do it yourself.
-Bath time is still your favorite part of the day. We have a slip issue about once a week where you hurt yourself, but that doesn't stop you from playing rowdily anytime you get near water.
-You have great eye/hand coordination. You love to play a game where we sit in a circle and pass a ball back and forth.

Every day you make us laugh. You have a hilarious personality and do the most amusing things. Every day you make us happy. Every day you make us excited for what is yet to come, and sad that time is moving so quickly. Your dad and I both think that you are the greatest little miracle we have ever witnessed. We feel so fortunate that ten months ago today, you came to live in our home.

We love you!

Mama

If ever you are missing, this is usually where we find you.

Protecting our Home

Yesterday our frog came to visit, climbing the back wall and roosting above the door jam. He turned a weird white color and we were worried that he was going to die up there. I think he was just showing his appreciation by protecting our home, blending into the wall color and threatening to jump on anyone who came to harm us. Andy thanked him by dousing him with water, poking him with a stick, and practically stepping on him as he hopped away toward freedom. (He just wanted Calvin to see it move. Besides, it probably wasn't even the same frog.)


In other news, this is my favorite picture of Calvin in a long time. Lately he thinks that his dad and I are hilarious. I can't remember what we were doing, but I love this picture of him cackling. Zoom in so you can see the face.

New Pajamas

All summer the boy has slept only in his onesie, but for a few days last week it rained a lot and was pretty cold in the house at nights, so we bought him some new pjs (none of his others fit him anymore). He hated them and spent the whole night trying to get them off - especially the long sleeves. He kept chewing on them and pulling with his teeth, trying to get them away from his body. It's hot again and he hasn't worn them since.


P.S. Happy Birthday Carrie! Enjoy the big 2-0!

Our Little Musician

This video is for those of you who are bored enough to watch 2 minutes of Calvin banging on pots and pans... I think it's funny and adorable, as will his grandparents, but the rest of you may just roll your eyes.

My mother informed me the other day that I've become one of those mothers. When I asked what "those" meant, she said I took a million pictures of every little second to share it with anyone who would listen. It's probably true, but let's be honest, when you have ONE kid, you've still got time on your hands. My mom has eight kids, which means she was one of those mothers for the first two, but for the other six very few pictures exist because she was just trying to survive from one day to the next. Oh yeah, and she liked the first two best (chew on that lesser loved younger siblings).

I'm sure as we add to our family, they will be less and less impressive compared to Calvin, and therefore have fewer and fewer photos to document their childhood. Until then, I will enjoy being one of those mothers who posts videos of mundane daily activities for anyone who will listen.