Movember- Take 2

I guess Movember is becoming a tradition for Tyler. He gets one month a year to have some major facial hair and feel really manly because of it, while I get to be married to a creeper for an entire month :) W didn't seem to mind as much as I did- in fact, he rather enjoyed stroking daddy's mustache every chance he got. Yesterday we visited Tyler at work so we could get a photo of him and W together with their mustaches, and since we now have photographic proof of the manly facial hair, it was shaved last nite! Hooray!! Just in time for family photos :)

Our friends the Smiths gave us this cute mustache pacifier for W, but do you notice Tyler holding W's hands down? Yeah, he won't take a pacifier to save his life and I'm not complaining :)

A couple of firsts

Winston experienced two important 'firsts' on Saturday:

1. He rode in a shopping cart for the first time. He wasn't too sure about it and kept his arms out to the side the entire time :)

and 2. He picked out his first Christmas tree!! Although he probably won't remember anything about his first Christmas, I'm soooo excited for him! And we're going to go look at Christmas lights, snuggle up by the tree listening to Christmas music, read Christmas books, sing Christmas songs, and the whole shebang!

First Thanksgiving

I get so caught up in the moment sometimes that I completely forget to capture it- but I guess I'd rather really be in the moment than watching it happen through a camera lens!

Winston celebrated his first Thanksgiving yesterday and I think he loved it. Mostly I think he loved that daddy was with us all day. But he also had fun singing songs with his aunts and watching all the hustle & bustle around him. I haven't given W any real food yet, but yesterday I let him lick some mashed potatoes off my finger and suck on a piece of apple for a minute and he definitely loved the apple :) We're so excited for the Christmas season now (W and I have secretly been listening to Christmas music all week!), and I promise to get some real Christmas photos. As far as Thanksgiving goes, W barely ate anything last nite before he crashed:

  

Sooo cute!! 

As always, I am so grateful for so many things this year that I can't possibly mention them all, so I'm going to keep it simple. It was a big year and I am most grateful for this squishy, healthy babe, motherhood, and, of course, my love, Tyler!! Happy Thanksgiving!!

5 mos

 "Made in California" - 18.5 lbs. 27 inches

Winston is a hard-core roller and has recently figured out that he can roll to get places. Because of said rolling and all that accompanies the teething process (i.e. frequent diarrhea) he only gained half a pound in the last month. No worries though, he still has those famous chubby cheeks and he grew another inch! W is also a little drooling machine and is talking a lot more- playing with the fluctuations and volume in his voice.

Some of his favorite things right now are: standing (still), blowing raspberries, bouncing, popping noises, tickles, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star & Patty-cake, reading books &turning the pages, hanging out with daddy, going for walks & watching cars, singing songs, his hands, his blankets/swaddles (especially pulled up over his face while he sleeps), chewing on anything & everything, and breathing. Breathing? Yes, W enjoys breathing deeply, breathing loudly with his mouth wide open, and holding his breath. All for fun!

 Whenever W is sitting on my lap, every so often he looks up at me just like this. It is soo cute and I think he is just checking to see if I'm still there.

 

 We just bought W a bouncer since he likes to stand and bounce so much. 

P.S. He is wearing a diaper.

 

  Happy boy!

 

W prefers to be sitting up to poop (unfortunately for his carseat). He is concentrating on just that in this photo :)

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 :)