Road Trip - Utah

Last week Winston and I took a little road trip to Utah. Winston was a champ driving to and from Utah; only fussing for about 30 minutes on the drive up (which we did straight from L.A.), and for only about 15 minutes between Salt Lake and Las Vegas on the way home. We enjoyed the beautiful autumn weather and loved watching the first big snow there. I forgot how beautiful Utah is!! And how cheap, and how country (there may have been a yak around the corner from where we stayed), and how Mormon- I want to live there, but Tyler said no :(

My favorite part of the trip may have just been wandering through the BYU bookstore looking at all the Christmas stuff. Tyler's lucky I didn't buy every last thing there. I love that Mormons celebrate holidays so well!

I think Winston's favorite part of the trip was breaking the rules and shnuggling with mama all nite every nite, and luckily he hasn't had a problem going back to sleeping in his own bed again. Winston also loved Nick & Dyanna's dog, Prez. Unfortunately, Prez did not reciprocate the love so Winston would just get really excited (i.e. squeal and bounce) whenever he saw Prez and then Prez would leave :( Good to know it's safe to get a puppy though!!

We also both loved visiting with friends and family. Apart from Nick & Dyanna (where we stayed), we managed to squeeze in several college/London friends including Jess and her brand new baby girl, Dottie, some friends from L.A. who recently moved to Utah, Ang & Mary, and Emily and Amy's families. I wish I had been better at taking photos, but we were so busy so there are only a few. Enjoy!

W and his pal, Jake Turner

 

W mesmerized by the falling snow

 W (with his new warmer hat) enjoying his first snow

 

  Temple square all covered in white

The fam after we all met up for dinner. From left to right: Amy, Adelyn, Step, Nolan, Ryan, Shelby, Emily, Mary & Ang. In front: W, Zach, and Kali.

All bundled up! He is the cutest!!

Happy Halloween [two days early]

Tyler and I cooked up a delicious lobster for our ward's Trunk' or' Treat Saturday nite. He was the yummiest lobster I've ever had, and a popular lobster too. I think he might've won best costume had there been a competition. In fact, Sunday at church everyone (including people I've never spoken to before) kept saying, "Oh, there's that cute lobster!" What can I say? Everyone loves my squishy, little babe!!

This Naked Squish...

 ...is 4 months old!! I know, once upon a time, I said I wasn't going to do monthly updates on Winston, but this is my journal and I've changed my mind :) So here's the update:

• W is now 18 lbs. and 26 inches long
• He rolls over both ways (the first official roll was October 14th from back to tummy and we haven't actually seen him roll from tummy to back, but we know he can do it)
• He isn't as fascinated by his own hands anymore, but mama's hand is definitely cool
• He talks a lot, especially in the morning. If he's not talking a sure way to get him to is to stick your finger in his mouth- no idea why. Also, he's very polite when it comes to talking; he never talks when someone else is talking and waits a minute after you're done before answering.
• He is very into his toes right now

•  He's pretty ticklish- feet, neck, armpits, and tummy!
• When he's sad or a little scared (like when a fire engine flies past us with sirens blaring) he makes a turtle face- it is soooo cute and soooo sad at the same time!
• He likes to read books
• He still loves standing, and sitting in a big kid chair by himself
• He's becoming very social and smiles back at everyone who smiles at him
• He loves his blanket/swaddles and will immediately pull it up over his face when you give him one

 

• He loves walks and watching cars
• He loves wearing cardigans... or maybe mama loves him wearing cardigans :)
• He has a pretty set routine now- sleeps 11 hours a nite, eats four times a day, and takes one, long afternoon nap.
• He sleeps mostly on his side and loves to keep his hands up by his face, though he still rolls around and ends up with his head in a corner or at the opposite end of the crib at nite (we have become creeper parents and go in his room to stare at him sleep several times each nite)
• He likes to shnuggle in mama and daddy's bed in the morning
• He enjoys playing on his stomach...

 

...until he doesn't...

 ...and he just goes to sleep :)

 The end!

I Love Autumn

There was a definite chill in the air today which means fall is FINALLY here! Rainboots and baby cardys welcome!!

Life Lately

Winston is much more interested in toys now, though you can tell his mind is ahead of his hand-eye coordination. He gets frustrated when he can't keep the toy in is mouth sometimes. He also keeps his feet up in the air whenever he's playing now.

 Winston enjoys tummy time on his tummy pillow and is soooo close to rolling over. In fact, he's starting to play on his side a lot more and he is a major wiggler. The last couple of mornings he's woken up with either a leg or an arm sticking out of his crib. Bumpers coming soon.

 

 Winston still loves standing, especially when we stand him up on the changing table right after we change him. Can you tell?

 

 I think he was also excited about his new seersucker pants. I think he's going to be a little preppy like his daddy :)

 

For about a week and a half now Winston has changed up his morning routine and right after he eats breakfast falls back asleep for about an hour. I usually just keep him with me and shnuggle. It's my favorite thing right now, and he almost always turns in towards my chest which makes it even sweeter!

Jessie & Marcus are Married!

Jessie & Marcus Meteer

On Saturday Tyler's sister Jessie was married. We love both her and her husband, Marcus, and we were so excited to spend the day celebrating with them. The sealing was wonderful and Jessie was beautiful, of course. Getting to know Marcus' family was also a blast- they were all so friendly and fun and now I need to go visit Nanette's candy shop in Ohio!

The wedding reception was held at a friends house on the cliffs in Palos Verdes and it was absolutely gorgeous. It was like a little English garden party complete with croquet and mis-matched china. The day was more rushed than we anticipated, so I don't have any photos of just us or Winston with the bride and groom, but I think someone does so I'll have to try and track them down.
 

 Impromptu family photo at the reception- too bad it was so windy.

 My two favorite men! Gotta love the drool... Winston's I mean :)

The cute china and beautiful gardens in the background

Like I said, we had a lot of fun and we are so excited for the happy couple!

 

Kelly snapped this photo of Winston while we were waiting outside the temple. He's such a dapper dude :)

Space Shuttle Endeavour

On Friday the Space Shuttle Endeavour took its last flight on top a 747 jet around California and then landed at LAX. Soon its new home will be at the California Science Center and I'm excited to have a space shuttle so close to us!

Tyler was able to see it fly by a couple of times in Santa Monica and W and I managed to time our drive to the airport perfectly so that it flew right over top of us on the 405 freeway. I wasn't expecting to see it until we had actually made it to the airport and it completely took my breath away. It was so close and I may have teared up a bit :) After it flew over us we headed to the airport anyway and saw it fly by another two times before it made one final loop and landed right in front of us. We had a great view because we, like hundreds of other people, just parked on the 105 freeway which runs parallel to the LAX runways. It was awesome!!

The final fly-by

I wish W was smiling because he saw a space shuttle, but he's just smiling because he saw mama! Even better!

3 mos

 

 16 lbs. 5 oz., 25 inches

 I can't get enough of those eyes! And cheeks! And fuzzy hair!

Today Winston is 3 months! The last couple of nites both Tyler and I have been amazed at how big he suddenly looks in his crib. I miss that tiny little newborn, but at the same time I am loving his constant smiles and his interest in everything.

Right now Winston's favorites are:

• standing up with his arms out like superman
• shnuggling in mama's bed
• taking walks in the stroller (especially if I smile and talk to him the whole time)
• playing peek-a-boo with his diaper on the changing table (though we've learned that this is best done before the dirty diaper comes off... pee all over the place... )
• reading books with mama
• watching his daddy
• playing with his pals on the play mat
• kicking his feet straight up in the air
• and, of course, those sweet, chubby hands

 The best toy in the world

Winston loves to stare at and suck on those tiny little fists and fingers more than anything else. And when they're not in his mouth or in front of his face they are either tapping carefully on his chest or grasping his swaddle, mamas hair, daddy's watch and everything else! I love how much he loves his hands!!

Daily Life

Winston and I have a good routine down now which consists of shnuggle time, running errands, walks to the park, keeping the house clean, napping (for W), eating, and of course playtime. A couple of weeks ago Tyler and I bought W a play mat. We had previously decided not to buy one, however, W loves to play on his back and I thought he might like to have something more interesting than the ceiling to look at. The mat has turned into a big hit over here! W will lay there and talk to his treetop pals all day and he can now grab onto those little critters and crinkle their wings and soak them in yummy baby drool. The other day I looked over to find the bird in one hand, the squirrel in the other and his feet happily kicking Mr. Owl to make him jingle. So much to do!! This play mat came with two other toys, a bird rattle and an apple with a mirror on it, but I thought I'd wait until he got bored with these guys and then switch them out to keep things exciting over here. I've also discovered that W much prefers tummy time on the little tummy pillow that came with the mat so he can look at the tree and other fun stuff beneath him. Money well spent!

San Francisco

Over the weekend Tyler, Winston and I flew up to San Francisco to hang out with Jess & Garrett before they move back to Utah. I originally wanted to go up over Labor Day, but then we found out that Brent, Aubrey and Colton were going to be there this past weekend so we followed suit and made a party of it!

W and I flew up Thursday afternoon to meet up with Jess and Aubrey before the boys joined us Friday evening/Saturday morning. I was a little nervous to take W on his first flight all by myself, but it was a successful trip! The airport crew and airline stewardesses were so helpful and with light packing and a perfect babe, I really had nothing to worry about. I decided to go ahead and take both a carseat and our big stroller and I didn't know how lugging them both, plus our luggage and baby bag, through the airport would be, but I was able to check the carseat (free of charge, who knew?!) at the ticket counter and then Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray was kind enough to help me get the stroller through security. Needless to say, I had "Every Morning" stuck in my head for the rest of the weekend :)

 I don't think W was as excited about his first flight as I was. He fell asleep before take-off and woke up just before landing. On both flights he was as sweet as can be! (Side note: When he's not sucking on his fist-pop, W is either staring at his fist/fingers or folding his arms across his chest. When he's awake he taps his fingers together oh so carefully. I love it!!)

 As soon as Jess, Ubs and Colton picked us up we headed over to Alamo Square across from the famous Painted Ladies- you may recognize them from the Full House opening credits.

On Friday we took Colton over to the Discovery Museum at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. He loved every minute and it gave us girls some time to chat. It's so fun having Jess pregnant for the first time, me with an infant, and Ubs with a toddler and number two on the way, because we all have so much to share/ask each other. And watching Colton (who is an awesome two-year-old) made me so excited for Winston to discover trains, letters, dirt, etc.

 

After the museum we grabbed lunch and then headed to Ghiradelli Square for something sweet.

 We were all a little sad Monica wasn't able to join us for the weekend, but then we found her lounging in a fountain at the square :) This photo was taken on Jess's phone and unfortunately it is the least blurry photo I have of all three of us.

I was surprised at how close Alcatraz was to the city. Last time Tyler and I were up here we visited the island but it was so cold and foggy I didn't realize it's just right there.

 W and I chilling by the wharf

Tyler, Brent and Garrett joined in on the fun Saturday. We headed over to Baker Beach at the base of the Golden Gate and chatted while we watched Colton eat sand and a very brave man don a seal suit and dive into the water. Apparently he missed out on shark week, but I guess all the great whites were further out cause he survived.

 Our happy little family and the Golden Gate. (The Pett's happy little family is in the background.)

 The Golden Gate Bridge (The weather this trip was perfect! Sunny every day, but still cool. And clear skies meant we got a much better view of the bridge than last time.)

 Daddy and his boy

Sunday we all went to church at a very cool building and, as a bonus, Jess & Garrett just happened to be speaking. Afterwards we headed over to Golden Gate Park, which is HUGE, and wandered around a duck pond. Then Jess made us a delicious dinner and we headed back home.

Little fella all dressed up in his Sunday best

Tyler meddled around with our new camera and adjusted the setting to 'vivid colors'. I didn't realize this at first so some of our picture look really intense. Judging by W's eyes in the second photo I think he agrees that it is a little too vivid.

Getting ready to head to the airport- I think W had fun because he was tuckered out. And yes, we sometimes let our babe sleep on the streets of San Francisco :)

The last time we were in San Francisco we didn't have any local friends to show us around and we really only saw a few tourist destinations. This time was different and I fell in love with the architecture and quirky San Francisco style. However, I also discovered that San Francisco is way too organic for our family, and I didn't care for the naked men sitting around either.

Jess and Garrett were such gracious hosts, especially with two families visiting. We had sooo much fun and I can't wait to see everyone again and meet Baby Gee and little Lucy Pett! We're so lucky to have such great friends!