2 years old!

We celebrated Kyle's 2nd birthday with a train-themed party at the park behind our house. This kid loves his choo choo's, and he was pretty stoked when an actual train arrived to take the kids on a ride around our neighborhood! For the next few days every time we'd leave the house he would put on his fake pouty face and say "choo choo bye bye" - meaning he didn't want to say goodbye to that thing. It was pretty cool.

And check out that amazing train birthday cake that my mom got for him! The entire front part was made out of a rice krispy treat, and then the three train cars were chocolate cake, topped with hard candies, cake pops and cupcakes. Kyle was pretty obsessed with it and actually woke up early the next day, snuck into the kitchen and climbed up on the counter to stuff his face with blue frosting before I even woke up! Oh, and he pooped blue for 2 days :)

Since we kept Kyle's 1st bday party relatively low-key (just invited the family over for some cake and ice cream), this was our first time throwing a kid's party. I tried not to go too over-the-top, but I did want to throw a fun party for all of his little friends. We splurged on the train, but other than that I just had some train coloring book pages and crayons/colored pencils out, lots of outdoor toys for free play and sent the kids home with a cute little goody bag filled with a train cookie made by grandma, a train whistle or little wooden train, bubbles and a sheet of Thomas stickers.

Since his party was on Saturday and his actual birthday was two days later on Monday, we wanted to do a few things to make the day special for him. We snuck out to get him some birthday balloons and a birthday muffin, and then took him and his cousins to Chuck E. Cheese's for pizza dinner. Overall I'd say he started his 2nd year on a pretty happy note!

xmas jammies

 Can't. handle. this. picture. 

Bed head! Big boy pose! Jammies! Stop it.
Kyle has entered the dreaded phase of "point a camera at me and I refuse to smile or look cute," but our photographer worked her magic, and I am eternally grateful for that sweet smile.

thankful.

This year, I'm thankful for:

• My healthy FAMILY! A supportive, hard working husband who puts all his love and trust in me. A sweet, smart, adorable, silly son who melts my heart and blows me away every day. A patient dog who loves us unconditionally. A mom who I go to for everything, a sister who's always there for me, a brother, dad and grandma who I wish I saw more of, and a niece and nephew who I love very much.
• My mother-in-law, who would drop everything (and does on a regular basis!) to help us out, and who loves Kyle with all her heart.
• The gift of staying home with Kyle most of the week, and the ability to make money when I do leave for work.
• The ability to use my education and writing experience to work from home.
• A great group of friends who I can be myself and laugh with, and who love Kyle as much as they love me & Brian.
• The means to indulge in fun things all year round, like Knott's Berry Farm, Discovery Science Center, a wine tasting weekend away, pedicures, train rides, dining out and family mountain trips.
• A good night's sleep.
• The fact that my back has not gone out since April (KNOCKING AS HARD AS I CAN ON WOOD ALL DAY LONG).
• My eyebrow girl.

'tis the season... to watch TV

Nothing gets us in the spirit like some good ol' holiday classics!

NOVEMBER

– Nov 26, 8:00PM: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (ABC)

– Nov 27, 9:00AM: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC)

– Nov 28, 8:00PM: Disney’s Prep & Landing (ABC)

– Nov 28, 9:00PM: Frosty the Snowman (CBS)

– Nov 29, 8:00PM: The Flight Before Christmas (CBS)

– Nov 29, 9:00PM: The Story of Santa Claus (CBS)

DECEMBER

- Dec 1: ABC Family’s “25 Days of Christmas” starts. For the daily schedule of the holiday shows they will be airing, click here.

– Dec 1, 5:00PM: Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (ABC Family)

– Dec 1, 6:00PM: Christmas Vacation (ABC Family)

– Dec 1, 8:00pm: CMA Country Christmas (ABC)

– Dec 1, 8:00pm: Elf (ABC Family)

– Dec 1, 12:00am: Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (ABC Family)

– Dec 2, 6:00pm: Elf (ABC Family)

– Dec 2, 8:00pm: Toy Story That Time Forgot (ABC)

– Dec 2, 8:00pm: The Santa Clause (ABC Family)

– Dec 2, 8:30pm: A Charlie Brown Christmas (ABC)

– Dec 3, 8:00pm: Christmas in Rockefeller Center (NBC)

– Dec 4, 6:00pm: The Year Without a Santa Claus (ABC Family)

– Dec 4, 7:00pm: The Polar Express (ABC Family)

– Dec 5, 6:00pm: Disney’s A Christmas Carol (ABC Family)

– Dec 5, 8:00pm: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey) (ABC Family)

– Dec 5, 9:00pm: A Very Grammy Christmas (CBS)

– Dec 7, 8:00pm: I Love Lucy Christmas Special (CBS)

– Dec 8, 8:30pm: Elf (ABC Family)

– Dec 9, 8:00pm: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (CBS)

– Dec 11, 9:00pm: Scrooged (ABC Family)

– Dec 13, 8:00pm: It’s A Wonderful Life (NBC)

– Dec 13, 9:30pm: Frosty Returns (CBS)

– Dec 13, 10:00pm: Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (ABC Family)

– Dec 16, 8:00pm: A Charlie Brown Christmas (ABC)

– Dec 16, 8:00pm: Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas (NBC)

– Dec 16, 8:30pm: Home Alone (ABC Family)

– Dec 16, 9:00pm: America’s Funniest Home Videos Christmas Spectacular (ABC)

– Dec 20, 8:00pm: I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (ABC)

– Dec 20, 9:00pm: CMA Country Christmas (ABC)

– Dec 24, 8:00pm: It’s A Wonderful Life (NBC)

– Dec 24, 8:00pm/24 hour marathon begins: A Christmas Story (TBS)

– Dec 25, 10:00am; Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration (ABC)

(thanks for the info, Breezy Mama!)

cheese!

This morning I held up my iPhone to take a selfie with Kyle at the bike parade. I told him to look at the camera, smile and say "cheese!" - AND HE FREAKING DID IT:

He said "chisssss" and smiled for the camera! This picture makes me so happy, my heart hurts. That smile, those ears, that double chin! My little man.

I hope everyone had a fun 4th of July! I had to go into work at 5:00 (again, the joys of restaurant life), but we made the most of our morning and afternoon. We did the bike parade in the morning, had some bloody marys and beers with friends while Kyle took a nap in his friend's crib (that was a first, and a pretty frustrating experience getting him to go down in a strange room), and BBQ'd at my dad's house for lunch. Jammed packed day with friends & family!

father's day gift

We're celebrating Father's Day today since I have to work tomorrow (the joys of restaurant life), so this morning we took a family bike ride to breakfast and Kyle gave his daddy his gift: this super cute board book from Pinhole Press: 

These are just a few of the pages - every one is a different color with a picture of Daddy & Kyle, and I had Kyle "sign" the first page for him. I think it turned out so cute! We're also taking Brian shopping for some new work clothes later today. 

I hope all the daddies out there are having a great weekend! Can't wait to continue our celebration when Kyle wakes up from his nap. Brian is such a great daddy and we are so lucky to be able to spend some time together as a family today in his honor.

corsage

When you work in a restaurant, chances are you have to work on Mother's Day - one of the busiest days of the year. Definitely not my first choice for the way I'd like to spend my special day, but I've accepted it because this is the road I've chosen so that I'm able to stay at home with Kyle the majority of the time. Last year I happened to be on maternity leave on Mother's Day, but two years ago I remember seeing the mommies wear their corsages at work (a gift from our manager) and wishing so badly that I would be able to wear one some day. I was in the thick of trying to get pregnant and wanting to be a mommy more than anything in the world. Little did I know, I would get pregnant with Kyle just one month later!

The corsage was such a small token for us moms who were working all day and who would much rather be at home with our babies, but it made me happy because it represents something so special. We're all moms... including ME! As my co-worker pinned the corsage to my uniform, I couldn't help but tear up because it made me think of how badly I wanted to wear this flower two years before. It made me think of Kyle at home with his dad, and how much I love being his mom. It made my hectic day just a little bit sweeter, because I knew my boys were spending time together and waiting for MOM (ME!!!) to get home from work. It was a reminder of why I'm there and it meant so much.

my fellow mommies at work

NYE

This week I learned that having a sick baby means losing all track of time and reality. Kyle has his 1st ear infection, which means that pretty much all of my energy and brainpower since Christmas has been dedicated to making him feel better. He hasn't been sleeping well (naps or at night), so Brian and I are both running on fumes and learning what it takes to care for a sick child, which is one of the saddest things ever.

I honestly didn't even realize that today is New Year's Eve until I woke up this morning and checked Facebook and saw everyone's "year in review" posts. I guess it's safe to say that we'll be ringing in 2014 at home, and (HOPEFULLY) fast asleep. Brian and I haven't really gone "big" for NYE in a few years anyway, but funny to think that instead of toasting champagne with friends - or even watching Ryan Seacrest on TV - we'll be trying desperately to catch some zzz's and hoping our baby gets some too so he can be well.

Even though we're ending 2013 on kind of a low note, this year was absolutely the best year of our lives. It's amazing how much everything changes with the birth of your first child, and how much you learn. Everything I do is for him, and my heart explodes every day watching him grow. He is truly a blessing and has turned me into someone I've always wanted to be - a mommy!

Feb 2013                                                                                        Nov 2013

My hope for 2014 is that I can continue to grow as a mother and wife. I want to always put my family first, and to keep learning what's best for my son as he grows from a baby to a toddler. Kyle turns 1 in just 6 weeks, and I know that things will be much different with him than they were this year. I'm going to have to start disciplining him (waaaaaah) and teaching him how to become a respectful, smart, fun and honest little man. I truly can't wait.

Christmas!

Kyle's 1st Christmas was ridiculously fun. He spent a good chunk of the day getting some good naps in, and he was so happy spending time with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and of course mom & dad.

We did breakfast at our house with my family, and then headed to Grandma Suzie's for dinner. Kyle's big present from Santa was his big red wagon, and he also got so many fun toys from everyone that should last him all year!

What a lucky boy!

hey, it's Christmas Eve!

I hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas Eve! I spent my morning making this amazing candy cane fudge while Kyle took a glorious 2-hour Christmas nap. Brian only had to work half-day, so he's home now putting the finishing touches on Kyle's Christmas present (he's in the garage making a custom seat for his new red wagon!). Penny is in her xmas jammies and we are all enjoying the beautiful sunny day. So far, Kyle's first Christmas is filled with chocolate and family, what could be better?

8 days 'till Christmas

Just in case you don't have a calendar handy, guess what - only 8 days till Christmas. That means only 7 days until Christmas Eve and 6 shopping days left (because who wants to go shopping on Christmas Eve?).

Kyle will be 10 months in 6 days - just in time for Christmas - which means I'll post a 10 month update soon. But in the meantime, here's a video of the cutest thing I've ever seen: Kyle saying "bye bye" and waving to us in Target. I almost cried, right there in the check out line.

Kyle's letter to Santa

I came across this blog post from The Ugly Volvo called "A Ten-Month-Old's Letter to Santa" and I couldn't stop laughing. My favorites are the laptop cord, an iPhone, dog food, a wall-mount entertainment center (AKA the toilet paper roll) and a handful of dog fur - all of which greatly excite Kyle on a daily basis.

This post inspired me to create a list on behalf of Kyle with all the things he really, really wants at 9.5 months:

1. A bite of mommy's burrito
2. Mommy's earrings, bracelet and watch (which she doesn't even wear anymore!)
3. Permission to open all of my dresser drawers and pull out all of my clothes
4. A day pass for no diaper changes - will they ever stop?
5. A fresh newspaper, preferably from the ground, to rip apart and chew
6. More doors to open and close all. day. long.
7. More cutting boards to pull out of the cabinet (see below)
8. Knee pads to protect my little legs from bruises I get from crawling on the tile
9. A piece of daddy's beard
10. Penny's ear. Or tail. Or leg.

breakfast with santa

I love this tradition. Santa drives in on a yacht and hangs out while we eat a yummy breakfast, and then take a picture with him. This year it was raining, which made it feel extra cozy inside! My sister & I have been taking my niece and nephew every year, and it was fun to bring Kyle for his first time.

little man

I can't resist this little man! First of all, he's in size 12M clothes here. Whaaaat! (That sweater!) Second of all, he sat on the box so still and just smiled at the photographer like he knew what he was doing. We were in and out of this mini photo session in 3 minutes.

This Christmas is already my favorite thanks to this handsome guy. Now if only I could find time to decorate the house!

Long Beach Turkey Trot

Kyle and I had so much fun at the Long Beach Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning! A turkey trot is something I've always wanted to do, but never got around to until this year. I had the 8 a.m. start time, so I woke up at 6:30 a.m. to get dressed before waking Kyle up to bundle him up and head over to the beach for a 5K run. Brian and Penny dropped us off so we didn't have to worry about parking, which was a nice treat so we didn't have to get there early and walk an extra mile to the course.

I'm a little ashamed to admit that this was my 1st time exercising since I found out I was pregnant. I've always been pretty active, but the day I found out I was pregnant I stopped working out just to be safe (even though the doc said it was perfectly ok). I am a worry wart and just didn't want to take any chances! And then once he was born, well - it's easy to make excuses. It felt great to finally get out there and burn some cals. I ran the entire time (except for a couple pit stops to adjust my baby's beanie and blanket) and even loved feeling sore the next day.

It was our first time using the jogging stroller, and Kyle seemed to like it. He was checking everything out, didn't make a peep during the course and loved eating his breakfast outside by the beach. We were home in time to get the turkey on the BBQ and put Kyle down for his morning nap. A successful Thanksgiving morning!

I'm going to try and take him for a run at least once a week now - no more excuses :)

holiday pictures sneak peek

Joseph Martinez Photography

I LOVE our holiday family photos! This was our first photo shoot with Kyle and we got pictures we'll love forever. The second I got them back, I looked at them for an entire hour (there goes his morning nap time, oops!), and ordered our Christmas cards. I can't wait to send them out!

christmas bucket list

Having Kyle has made me about 8,533 times more excited for the holidays than last year. I know he's still young and probably won't have a clue what's going on, but everything is just going to be more fun with him around. Brian & I even bought his big Santa gift already!

I wanted to make a Christmas bucket list so I don't forget all of the festive things I want to do this year, so here goes:

1. Pick out the perfect tree & decorate as a fam.
2. Get a special ornament for Kyle's 1st Christmas.
3. Send out photo Christmas cards with personal notes on the back.
4. Figure out a cute way to display the Christmas cards we receive.
5. Put up our outdoor lights soon after Thanksgiving... (last year they went up less than a week before Christmas, hilarious!)
6. Find the best neighborhoods to drive around and look at lights.
7. Don't wait until Christmas Eve to do my shopping (like I do almost every year!)
8. Take Kyle to go see Santa.
9. Take Penny to go see Santa at PetSmart.
10. Make a festive holiday breakfast for Brian.
11. Make peppermint hot chocolate with marshmallows. 
12. Invite my niece and nephew over to decorate Christmas cookies.
13. Buy cute stockings! (Need to get on this one ASAP)
14. Make a new Christmas playlist, with lots of new Kelly Clarkson songs and give copies to my friends :)
15. Schedule dates with friends.
16. Practice silent night on the piano and have it perfected by Christmas morning.
17. Get one new decoration for our house that I LOVE!
18. Continue our annual tradition (me & my sis) of taking the kids to Breakfast with Santa.
19. Hang mistletoe in our kitchen.
20. Watch tons & tons of Christmas movies.
21. Read Christmas books to Kyle.
22. Surprise someone with an unexpected gift.
23. Buy Kyle Christmas jammies.

trick or treat!

On Halloween, we took Commander Kyle around Grandma Suzie's neighborhood to meet the neighbors and of course everyone thought he was adorable :) He even grabbed some candy from Ken's bowl! (Which mommy ate... plus about 50 other pieces of chocolate. Oops.)

After we made the rounds, we had a nice quiet night in with Grandma with some sloppy joes and cole slaw. Yum! The perfect 1st Halloween for our little guy.

ready for launch

Commander Kyle is ready for his 1st Halloween!

pumpkin head

Kyle's "red" (aka orange) hair and round noggin go perfect with the pumpkins, don't ya think? :)