tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90864690025511016372024-03-18T12:00:06.316-08:00Immeasurable BlessingsFollowing my life as an incredibly blessed mother and wifeCrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-24258351399385675312013-05-30T14:32:00.000-08:002013-05-30T14:33:29.990-08:00Successful SiblingsThe hardest thing about living in Alaska is being so far away from my family...especially when big events occur. This last week I was quickly reminded that my siblings are no longer little and instead are growing up and truly beginning lives of their own. In the last few months my family has been blessed with graduations, new school degrees, US Navy enlisting, a pregnancy, and a wedding! <br />
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I am so stinkin' excited to know that I am on the way to becoming an auntie!! I love being a mother and have secretly (ok, maybe not so secretly) hoped for one of my sisters to get pregnant. Amanda will be 15 weeks tomorrow so we are getting closer to that highly anticipated gender reveal. I can't wait to have a new niece or nephew this November :) And in addition to baking me a baby, she just got her Associates of Art in Medical Office Administration. I know she didn't feel like it was a big deal since she's still pushing forward, but I'm very proud of her recent accomplishment. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHxmUhtaiXtzTwyw3JRXY73sc9e9b_1PjHd4ymOhRxmWQoLmvwyDoVEugpCGZ6blGwNX8pcNR_IyGXNtQRQsFhVNCo2i8GsJCnPpNr5nR1VHeTCe1ZlR4V0o5Jdu38rM-2Mv58s1i5ATJ/s1600/942262_10201304744240134_1557604522_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHxmUhtaiXtzTwyw3JRXY73sc9e9b_1PjHd4ymOhRxmWQoLmvwyDoVEugpCGZ6blGwNX8pcNR_IyGXNtQRQsFhVNCo2i8GsJCnPpNr5nR1VHeTCe1ZlR4V0o5Jdu38rM-2Mv58s1i5ATJ/s320/942262_10201304744240134_1557604522_n.jpg" width="180" /></a>Amber is doing very well for herself these days, too! She is currently living in Pensacola, Florida where she is completing her schooling for the United States Navy's IT program. She is set to finish up there soon and will hopefully get a nice duty station. I know she's keeping her fingers crossed for San Diego, which is great for me because I definitely need another excuse to vacation somewhere warm. Last week her boyfriend, Mitch, flew down to visit her and he proposed on the beach at sunset. And the next day...they tied the knot! So she is now officially Mrs. Kochishan! It was a very quick engagement, but they had everything already planned out ahead of time. She knew that he was coming to propose, but the details of the event were left as a surprise for her. I wish everyone could have been there, but they had a nice intimate ceremony for themselves. I look forward to getting to know my new brother-in-law and hopefully spending some quality time with the newlyweds. My fingers are crossed that she will be home around the same time as we are in August/September. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLeApRoOoPbIfbOjtdA-h98y6N9TG6y0Y8wOvXDxx-mAutSjgidTaLRGmM8shD6qywnEv0ttPBV54vrQ5X_0U9s79R-F2wsEGuKObB3aGY3xtCWkVfhMN3uri1q7o-pThaII-DJnk7WMd/s1600/IMG_5380.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLeApRoOoPbIfbOjtdA-h98y6N9TG6y0Y8wOvXDxx-mAutSjgidTaLRGmM8shD6qywnEv0ttPBV54vrQ5X_0U9s79R-F2wsEGuKObB3aGY3xtCWkVfhMN3uri1q7o-pThaII-DJnk7WMd/s200/IMG_5380.jpeg" width="150" /></a>Another reality check for me was that my brother Brian just graduated from High School. High School? Seriously? Out of all of the recent events, this one was by far the most shocking to me. Sometimes I feel like time stopped in place after we moved, so I still tend to view Brian as my 11 year old baby brother. I can't believe that he's done with school and is about to start the next chapter in his life. Sounds like he is very interested in working with our dad instead of going to college, but hopefully he'll change his mind. He had a few academic set-backs in school that posed a threat to him walking, but he pulled through and got to cross the stage just like everyone else. I'm really proud of all the hard work he did to get where he is now. Congrats to the class of '13! </div>
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And we can't forget little Cameron! Can you believe he is now 6 years old? Crazy, right? He's almost a 1st grader. I have been gone almost all of his life so sometimes its hard for me to picture him as my little brother. Being as he is only 18 months older than Lucas, I often feel like he is one of my friends kiddos. But even through the distance I try to be very involved and up-to-date on his life. I am so proud of all that he has pushed past and overcome, and I am so excited to get the boys together this summer. I love this little guy and really miss him. I wish more than anything that he and Lucas could grow up together. Hopefully someday that will be a reality. Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-37563143884699375882013-05-17T14:02:00.000-08:002013-05-17T14:02:09.455-08:00Bring on Paradise!Graduation is right around the corner and I <em>cannot</em> wait to hop on the first plane out of here. <br />
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Nursing school has confined me to this state for far too long. I honestly don't think I've been in Alaska more than six consecutive months since we moved up in 2007. I get a little stir crazy from the isolation away from my friends and family and find myself returning home (or to Hawaii!) quite frequently. Levi's traveled and vacationed a bit during my schooling so you can imagine the jealousy and resentment that has caused. This mama is beyond ready for a vacation. And I mean a <em><u>serious</u> </em>vacation!<br />
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I plan to leave for <em>at least</em> a month as soon as school is all said and done. I will be flying down to California with the kids shortly after my recognition ceremony and Levi will join us a week or so after that. For the first time since having two munchkins, we are going to leave the kids behind and take a <em>true</em> vacation to paradise! My graduation and our wedding anniversary fall within a few days of each other so this is a perfect opportunity to get away and spend some quality time as husband and wife. <br />
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We took a cruise on our honeymoon and have been wanting to do another one ever since. I've had my eye on a particular one for a few years so we decided to take the plunge and finally book it! <br />
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We will be departing out of Galveston, Texas on a 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise. Our destinations include Montego Bay, Jamaica...the Grand Cayman Islands...and Cozumel, Mexico. Can you say heaven?! <br />
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Of course I intend to spend nearly two weeks in Cali before we depart to ensure that the boys are comfortable, and probably an additional week or two after our cruise. I'm excited to hang out with my family and take a short getaway with all my girls. And there are so many activities that I want to take my boys to experience back home, too. My list just keeps growing! <br />
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Rumor has it that I can't take my state boards until late September, so I see no need to sit around Alaska when I can just as easily study back in Cali. August <em>cannot </em>come fast enough. Senioritis has hit me hard and I'm already falling into vacation mode! <br />
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Now that my cruise is officially booked, hopefully this will give me the incentive to get in better shape. It's amazing how one can be so skinny yet flabby at the same time. Time to get beach ready! Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-34081631085506541502013-05-16T09:27:00.000-08:002013-05-16T09:27:40.008-08:00Champagne and glaciers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This past weekend I was invited to join some friends on the Champagne and Shoes Glacier Cruise. It was a 4 hour long trip out of Whittier and thankfully for us the weather was quite nice. <br />
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I left the boys home with Levi and got to spend an entire day out of the house. That is a rarity these days so I jumped on the opportunity to sneak away!<br />
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We saw porpoises, eagles, sheep and of course, lots of spectacular glaciers! I was nervous that I was going to get motion sickness, but the boat was large enough that I was able to focus my attention away from the water when needed. They put on a fashion show and catered delicious food and champagne. We got some orange juice and enjoyed some much needed mimosas while staring out into the beautiful scenery. Blissful! <br />
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Every time I start to get depressed and lonely up here I am quickly reminded of the beauty all around me. I'm making a pact to myself to travel and truly enjoy this summer (whenever it finally decides to make its appearance!). Can't wait for warmer weather and lots of camping!<br />
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<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-26412980498245739602013-05-02T12:59:00.000-08:002013-05-02T12:59:52.076-08:00Nearly 30<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Monday was Levi's birthday. We had a mellow celebration at the house where I made him baked salmon, rice and artichoke. And the boys (with a little help from me) baked him a cake! <br />
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Over the weekend we went to the indoor greenhouse and the Potter's Marsh Boardwalk. Nothing beats a fun weekend with these boys. <span id="goog_1281100065"></span><span id="goog_1281100066"></span><br />
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It's crazy to think how far we've come together. I was only 17 when we got together, and somehow Levi is now 28. And if you haven't noticed, that's darn near 30. It's amazing how fast life seems to be passing us by. Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-91340797897347431382013-04-25T09:30:00.002-08:002013-04-25T09:30:39.922-08:00Bruiser<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh little Levin...where do I begin? Well for starters, he's not so little any more. At 20 months old, Levin is one of the wildest little men I've ever known. He has absolutely no fear, is quite the little daredevil, and <u>always</u> keeps us on our toes. <br />
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His new nickname is Bruiser. As you can probably guess, this kid is always covered in bruises. He loves to climb, jump and be as wild as he possibly can. He's even sporting a lovely black eye at the moment. Lucas was always very mellow so this second experience has been quite a different turn of events! <br />
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His vocabulary is evolving more and more each week and the level of communication he has is constantly growing. He doesn't speak as much as Lucas did as his age, but he can easily express himself and his needs. The first and the last thing out of this kids mouth every day always revolves around food. You wouldn't be able to tell just by looking at him, but man...this kid can put down some grub! <br />
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Levin absolutely loves music. He loves to sing and dance and shake his little booty to the beat! Its not a surprise to hear him in bed singing away at night. His favorite songs at the moment are the ABC's, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle/Twinkle, and Old McDonald. And he also likes to do art. He has a pretty short attention span and still tries to eat all the paint and crayons, but that doesn't stop him from making his own little masterpieces. <br />
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He definitely took after me in the cold aspect. He doesn't really care for the snow at all. As soon as his fingers get chilly... he is done for. But as the weather has been warming and the snow is slowly melting, we've discovered his new found love of parks and puddle jumping! <br />
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Levin thinks his big brother is just the coolest person in the world. He loves to copy and imitate everything that he does and join in with whatever Lucas is playing. We're very blessed that Lucas enjoys spending time with him and helping him to learn. They definitely fight like brothers, but they love each other just the same! <br />
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He has a mouth full of teeth, a head full of hair, and a daredevil attitude! I feel awful that Levin hasn't traveled much with my school schedule, but we're excited to take him down to California in August. He loves water and is definitely going to be our little fish out of the two. I can't wait to open his eyes to more than just a world of cold and snow. Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-20749215118151880072013-04-24T14:13:00.002-08:002013-04-24T14:13:30.476-08:004 going on 16<br />
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Next month Lucas will reach the ripe old age of 4.5. I swear it feels like he just turned four and yet we're halfway onto 5 already. I really don't understand how this keeps happening faster each and every year. <br />
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Lucas is only a few weeks away from finishing up his second year of preschool. My oh my has this school year flown by. Unfortunately, he does not get to proceed onto Kindergarten like most of his friends. Being a November baby definitely has its disadvantages. Even though he is physically, mentally, and cognitively ready, I am okay with the notion of keeping him back one more year. I really don't want him to be the youngest of his friends as he progresses through school. Last to drive, last to work, etc. The thought of all that peer pressure and trouble making already stresses me out! Instead, we will wait one more year and he will instead be one of the oldest. His current teacher already mentioned that he is going to be one of the leaders of the preschool next year :)<br />
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He is full of attitude and sass, and lots of his own opinions. I cringe every time a smart/sarcastic comment comes out of his mouth because it honestly feels like the teenage years are upon us. But he is also the sweetest, most generous and loving child. He is a fantastic big brother (who takes credit for all of Levin's new accomplishments!) and can be the greatest helper when he wants to be. <br />
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He's very excited for summer and moving into a new house. I just purchased a groupon for a Karate class, but we're debating on what other activities to sign him up for. This summer will be very busy for me as I finish up my last semester, but I'm hoping to find something fun for him to do now that he's old enough to participate in many different extracurricular activities. .<br />
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Back in January he took a special trip to Hawaii alone with daddy. It was awful being away from him for two whole weeks but he had such a great time. He now wants to live by a beach..no surprise there. He sure loves his daddy!<br />
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Lucas loves to read books, play outside, and most of all be with friends. He isn't very interested in arts and crafts anymore and instead likes to play...<em>hard</em>. He loves to kung-fu, battle with his beyblades, and pretend he's an avatar with earth/water/fire bending powers. He's quite an active kid, but I've caught him meditating on a couple of occasions too! <br />
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But even though he's constantly trying to defeat or battle us, he genuinely loves to cuddle. He tells me at least five times every day that he loves me and begs for us all to join in on a family cuddle. He can be so sweet and I fear the day he'll no longer want to spend time with us. <br />
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-23140972110903246682013-04-23T15:04:00.001-08:002013-04-23T15:04:49.768-08:00The end is in sight!It's hard to believe it, but I am almost finished with school! I remember shedding many tears after receiving my acceptance letter for fear of being away from my children, but this time has really flown by. I struggled with the decision to start the program while Levin was so little, but I am so happy that I made that hard decision back then. Now I'm only months away from starting my career and I can focus more on the important things in my life. <br />
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I just completed the fourth semester and only have one more to go. Yes, only ONE more! The first seven weeks will consist of community nursing, along with a course on Management and Legal. During the final seven weeks I will be working alongside one nursing doing a Preceptorship. We just signed up for our top choices and I'm sure it's no surprise that I'm hoping for NICU, L&D, or Mom/Baby. I'm excited to work with one nurse for 160+ hours to really get a good feel for what nursing is all about. <br />
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The last two semesters have included Med/Surg, Community, OB, Peds, Psych, Research, Transcultural, and Critical Care. I've enjoyed rotating through the units and getting to experience a wide array of nursing specialties, but it's also been a hindrance. It's very frustrating moving around so much. As soon as you get comfortable in a unit, you are quickly whisked away to an entirely different one. It's not easy being a student when many experienced nurses act bothered by your presence. But I've also worked alongside some fantastic nurses who made me feel wonderful about myself and my potential. It'll also be nice to start working just three twelve-hour shifts a week. That is what I am most excited for! Yes, I'm going to be exhausted by the end of the day and probably wont see my children much at all on my workdays, but I will have four whole days each week so spend with them. I'm really looking forward to being Nurse Mommy, not Nursing <em>School</em> Mommy. <br />
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Even with the disadvantage of having two young children while in the program, I've been doing wonderful. In fact, I've been excelling! I was just inducted into <a href="http://www.nursingsociety.org/Pages/default.aspx">Sigma Theta Tau</a>, an International Honor Society for Nurses. It was a great honor to be among the few who were nominated and I do not take this accomplishment lightly. <br />
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I was also recently inducted into the <a href="http://www.societyleadership.org/">National Society of Leadership and Success</a>, and was invited into the <a href="http://www.goldenkey.org/">Golden Key International Honor Society</a> for a second year. I must be doing something right! (Even though I personally see myself as the biggest procrastinator on the planet.) <br />
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So wish me luck as I pursue the final four months of schooling. All my hard work is coming to an end and the job hunt is right around the corner. After passing my boards and a long, long, long vacation of course! Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-27541347927185863982013-04-23T13:59:00.000-08:002013-04-23T13:59:13.323-08:00Back to blogging!My sister brought it to my attention that I haven't posted a single entry in the year 2013. I knew I was slacking, but I didn't realize just how much. So here I am...back into my blogging! <br />
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2013 has been a busy and very chaotic year for us. The boys are getting bigger and we are quickly outgrowing our home. For that reason, we are on the hunt for a second house! We decided to buy a foreclosure/fixer-upper that we can work on while renting out our current place. There has been a great deal of discussion lately about us relocating and heading back down to the lower 48. We realize that a lot has changed since we left California nearly 5.5 yrs ago, but we can't shake this lonely feeling here. Whether we return to Cali or find somewhere new, we're giving ourselves a 2-3 year plan. <br />
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By fixing up a home and re-selling it in a year or so (along with our existing property), we feel confident that we'd be leaving with a good investment on our hands. And it's only a matter of time before I land a good nursing job. Levi's already joking that I get to be <em>his</em> sugar mama. <br />
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The house hunt has been beyond frustrating and not at all what I expected. Heck, I thought buying a house would be fun. But buying a foreclosure has proven to be much harder that we thought. There are a lot of investors out there right now that keep swooping in, offering cash, and stealing all the good ones. And who's going to say no to cash? I don't blame them one bit. <br />
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We had one home that we were absolutely in love with and we even offered above the asking price. We let ourselves get too invested and shopped around and designed all the repair work. Apparently it just wasn't meant to be, so the hunt continued. We just placed an offer in on our second choice and it seems very promising. The current owners are going through a divorce and the wife has left state. The husband has accepted our offer and now we are just waiting on the wife to sign papers on her end. I'm still a bit heartbroken over the first house and the excitement of this one hasn't really kicked in, but I do see great potential in this one. We are beyond ready for a nice big house with a matching big lot! Lucas spotted the giant two story tree house in the back and that's all the convincing it took to get <em>him</em> on board! <br />
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So we should hear a confirmation by the end of the week. And I have all of my Pinterest boards full of repair and decor ideas. I know this is going to be a lot of work, but I'm excited to fix up a house with my hubby. What's the point of being married to a Contractor if we can't take advantage of it?! Sounds like a new hobby brewing :) <br />
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Expect lots of new posts this week! I sure have missed writing. Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-57151622742292031222012-11-15T10:53:00.002-09:002012-11-15T10:53:55.300-09:00Winter Wonderland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As much as I've tried to avoid the notion...winter is definitely here. My 4-Runner just got a nice new set of studded snow tires (thanks to hubby!), the vehicles need to be plugged in at night, and we can't forget the obvious blanket of white snow that's covering the entire city. <br />
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I spent a week or so pretending that it hasn't really happened and secretly hoping that the snow wouldn't stick. But now it's time to face reality. Winter is here. It really really is. <br />
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I realized that I am about to endure my 6th Alaskan winter and yet this California body of mine still hasn't quite adapted. I'm already dreading the dry skin and cracking scalp that I know is about to happen. Between the crisp dry air and having to wash my hands every 15 minutes at the hospital, my poor skin is a mess. Mental note to self: use more coconut oil!<br />
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So even though I am not a huge fan of snow I find it absolutely adorable that my boys are. They love to play outside regardless of the temperature. And the best part....preschool and daycare help them get that daily fix. I love that they get out, but even more when it's not me having to do it! This California girl prefers to hibernate all winter drinking hot cocoa and watching the snow through a window. But I'm sure there will be many days of snow play in my future. Now that I'm outnumbered I'm bound to be drug outside a time or two. <br />
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<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-45819755354155468692012-11-04T17:04:00.001-09:002012-11-04T17:04:44.025-09:00ToddlerhoodA little late, I know, but our littlest man is officially a toddler. No more infant. Such a big, handsome, happy man he is, too. It's crazy to think that I was holding him for the first time just a little over one year ago. Feels like he's honestly been in my life forever. He has been walking for months and is quite the runner these days. He loves to follow his big brother around everywhere and I've even caught them play wrestling on a number of occasions. I'm sure it wont be long before those turn into full fledged wrestles. <br />
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He absolutely loves music! He dances, claps and sings anytime he hears a song. I recently took him to a book party in the park and it wasn't long before he made his way to the music tent. I turned my back for two seconds and he crawled up onto the drums, stood up, and was dancing away. I'm thinking of putting him in a weekend music class for babies since music is such a big part of his life. He loves all genres of music and will even head bang to the ABC's. But the cutest of all is his singing. His can actually sing to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle. <br />
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He is so outgoing and can put a smile on anyones face. He is talking quite a bit and really comprehends commands and questions. It's so fun to ask him to grab something and watch him follow through with the request. His amazement, and even frustrations, are so amusing to watch. Little people really are the coolest! <br />
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Since Mr. Man started walking our lives have forever changed. He used to be so easy going but he is really starting to push his limits. I'm pretty sure <em>he</em> should have been named Danger because I find myself constantly gasping as I discover him climbing or standing on random objects. My bet is that he'll need stitches by two! <br />
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He absolutely loves dogs and will spot them out everywhere we go. On a recent hike he didn't miss one single dog that passed us by. His little "dog, dog, dog!" never gets old. <br />
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As crazy as it is that my baby is now a toddler, my oldest is about to turn 4! Holy smokes...is this even possible?!<br />
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This kid has got the funnest personality around! I honestly have never gone a single day without him making me laugh. He is sweet, smart, funny and an amazing big brother!<br />
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I try to spend special "date" time with Lucas because it's not often that we get to be alone. With the change of semesters my schedule now allows me to take him to school a few days a week. We often have a bit of time to spare so we are creating new morning traditions together!<br />
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I just had his Parent-Teacher conference and was told that he is doing fantastic! This year we put him in the Pre-K program as well so Lucas has made many new friends. He is so sweet and all of the kids just gravitate to him. Not to mention to the buddies he's made from daycare also. Who wouldn't want to be Lucas' friend? He's a pretty amazing kid!</div>
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He has an extra special birthday party coming up this weekend so I am busy prepping all the Superhero details. I can't wait! Four whole years have flown by since this little munchkin made me a mama. And what an amazing four years it has been!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-54241564094068539442012-11-04T16:30:00.002-09:002012-11-04T16:30:32.029-09:00Levin's 1st Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am busily prepping for Lucas' birthday party next weekend and it dawned on me that I never posted anything about Levin's 1st birthday. He is such a unique little person so I wanted a birthday theme to resemble that. Nothing caught my eye while shopping around so I figured I'd get creative with all of his favorite things....airplanes, snakes, and blueberries!<br />
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I carved an airplane out of a watermelon and stuffed it full of grapes, cut out airplane pb&j's, and dipped marshmallows in delicious blue colored chocolate to make propellers. The snake bread sticks with olive eyes ended up being a pretty big hit, as were the yummy blueberry muffins (instead of cupcakes).<br />
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For the cake I stuck with angel food cake and fresh strawberries. It was adorable and took only a few minutes to make. Best of all, the birthday boy enjoyed it. And mom was happy that his belly was full of healthy strawberries instead of sugary frosting!<br />
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We had such a great turnout and the weather thankfully cooperated with us. It was a tad windy, but the kiddos sure didn't mind. We even had a surprise moose visitor run out onto the open field. We reserved one of the nearby parks so the kids were able to play on the structures as well as run around the fields. All it took was a bucket of balls and the party took care of itself!<br />
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My goofy little man is so loved by his family and friends and it warms my heart to see people come together to celebrate his existence. I love this boy more than I ever imagined I could! And I even love making fun of his silliness...hence the "Baby Gollum" photo above!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-39626413714324430302012-10-26T22:58:00.000-08:002012-10-26T22:58:02.347-08:00Pushing limitsYes world, I am still alive. I miss this little blog of mine and the satisfaction that I get from writing it. As busy as I am, I'm going to try and devote more time to keeping this lifeline of mine going. <br />
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My life just continues to get crazier and crazier and I find myself buried in the midst of all of its chaos. Some days...well <em>most</em> days to be honest, I find myself questioning why I continue to torture myself with all that's piling on my plate. I feel like life just keeps dishing me up another dose before I've even managed to finish up my first. I'm trying my best to keep a smile on my face and a positive attitude around my kids, but I'm sinking. Or more like floating. I'm keeping myself afloat for the time being, but we all know that you can only tread on for so long. <br />
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School is truly taking up more of my time that I am comfortable with. I am struggling to keep a happy balance and lately feel a wide array of emotions. I feel overwhelmed, guilty for not being as available to my kids, and even embarrassed by the parent I'm becoming. My children have always been my entire life and I'm constantly reminded that they are on a temporary back burner. Don't get me wrong, I haven't abandoned my children by any means, but my head and heart are not always in the right place these days. My mornings consist of herding everyone out the door with full bellies and all their belongings, and my evenings consist of feeding those tummies again and getting everyone settled into bed. In between those few hours each day that I'm actually around my kids, I'm juggling school, housework, and a number of other responsibilities. When did my life get so fast tracked? Where did my countless cuddle hours go with my kids where our biggest worry of the day was choosing which activity to include ourselves in? <br />
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I have officially passed the half way mark and I am beginning to see a little light at the end of my tunnel. I try to be optimistic in realizing that I'm half way done, but it's hard not to wonder "am I seriously <strong><em><u>only</u></em></strong> half way done?!" I'm ready to have my simple family life back where all of my energy and focus stays on my loved ones. I'm ready to enjoy my nights and weekends again instead of feeling continuously exhausted and overwhelmed. I miss taking my children to weekday activities and having play dates with friends. And I especially miss the happy, energetic, up-beat mom that I used to be.<br />
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I talk to other nursing students and I know that I'm not the only person feeling this way. I know we are all just taking it day by day until this madness of a program is over, but I hate that I decided to take on this responsibility while my children are so little. I pray for time to quickly pass by so I can be done with this phase of my life. But I also want time to stop in its tracts so that I can savor these precious moments with my babes. Either way, I can't win. I'm secretly hoping that they are young enough not to remember my absences so that I don't carry around this guilt forever. I'm doing great in school, but wondering if that's at the expense of my family? Lucas asked me recently if I always take him to preschool and daycare because I'm <em>"tired of him."</em> Needless to say that one instantly sent me to tears and ruined my entire day. Please Lord, tell me that my child is not going to hate me and grow up with unresolved abandonment issues. Tell me that everything is going to work out just fine and that it will all be worth it in the end. There are countless working families around the world functioning just as we are now. So why do I feel so guilty all the time? <br />
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I remind myself that I'm not doing this for me. Yes, I want a career. I want to be successful and have a rewarding life to look back on. But I want my family even more. This education allows me to have the family I dream about and to give my children the many opportunities that I want for them. This isn't for me. It's for <em>them</em>. And as long as I can keep reminding myself that, I will continue to float. <br />
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These are the faces that keep me going, and these and the faces that light up my world. I never forget how blessed I am to call myself their mother. <em>This</em> is what life is all about!<br />
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Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-24641027527957167282012-07-24T16:28:00.001-08:002012-07-24T16:28:26.605-08:0011 Months!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Levin is eleven! Eleven months that is. Hard to believe we're only one more month away from toddlerhood. How exciting yet incredibly sad at the same time.<br />
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He is one wild little creature! Big boy toys absolutely fascinate him and he loves to act like he's already a toddler. Maybe having an older brother prompts him to want to do certain activities, but I feel like he never wants to play like a baby anymore<br />
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If you can't tell, he loves vehicles! He loves riding in/on them, playing with them and imitating their noises. It's amazing how much of a boy this little man is already. He is in love with airplanes most of all! He spotted his first one flying above a few weeks ago and it nearly made me and Levi tear up. He heard the sound, gasped, and pointed his tiny little finger at the sky. He stood there, wide-eyed and pointing, until the plane was out of sight. Shortly after coming back inside we found him playing with one of Lucas' cars, but pretending it was a plane. He was swooping it around his head making airplane noises...loving every minute of it! There's nothing greater than watching your children learn right before your eyes! His expressions and actions were absolutely priceless to watch. <br />
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He loves being outside and is really comfortable crawling around in the dirt and grass now. That cautious little baby is gone...now he's hard to keep on eye on! He is walking around and taking as many as 10 steps at a time. He loves to stand and squat. I think he's pretty proud that he can get up without something to hold onto these days. <br />
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He's also a big fan of hiking! He's always loved to be worn so it was no surprise that he would love it while hitting the trails. Nature is so inspiring to babies and I just love watching him explore his surroundings. Some of his favorites are sticks, rocks, trees, and leaves!<br />
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The biggest development this month (other than practically walking!) is his huge stride in communication and understanding. He loves to mimic our actions and demonstrate how to properly use certain items. He knows that phones are for talking on and if I say <i>"hello"</i> he will put it to his ear!<br />
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He will also follow commands and shake, tap, clap, and bonk items if I tell him to. He isn't talking near as much as brother was at eleven months, but I am still so proud of his words. He now says <i>dada, mama, dog, ni-night</i>, <i>more</i>, and my all time favorite....<i>tickle-tickle</i>! I can't help but giggle every time he pretends to tickle. He is very attached to his green blankie and a few days ago I could tell something was wrong. He was crawling around looking for something and was obviously sad that he couldn't find it. He looked at me very pitifully and wimpered '<i>ni-night</i>?" I knew he wanted his blankie (as he's asked for it a few times before) so I went and pulled it out of his crib. His eyes lit up, he squeeze it super hard and then he started rubbing his fingers all over it while laughing "<i>tickle-tickle ni-night</i>". It was the cutest and funniest thing I have ever seen him do!<br />
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He is also very communicative while eating. Every time I tell him to open, he says <i>"ahh"</i>. And when you ask him if something is good he immediately smiles and says<i> "mmm!"</i>. I probably ask him both questions like 20 times each meal because I think it's just super stinkin' cute! I'll even admit that I'm waiting for him to mix up the answers...but he never does. He's a smart little cookie!<br />
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He is still a super eater, fantastic sleeper and now a determined climber. I have such a hard time keeping this boy on the floor. He'll climb boxes, buckets, chairs, you name it!<br />
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He's almost too big to throw into the sink for a quick bath these days. His hair is starting to get so long that it's curling at the tips and he even has 3 teeth (working on #4). One of the top teeth decided to come out by themselves so he looks so goofy at the moment. I can't help but laugh every time he smiles! The other top is beginning to protrude through so hopefully it's a quick advancement. Teeth are so evil!<br />
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This last month has been so full of excitement! As big as he's getting, I love that I can still look down at him and see a tiny little person. He has the greatest personality and is such a magnet of happiness!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-70086409225264807982012-07-24T15:36:00.002-08:002012-07-24T15:36:32.088-08:00Birthday Relaxation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSzoGtzFFQXYqaBICLi1CGAeXntqJ1qD6sro-W6WZDTflNYf3bwxiTzqtcD0d4D1JD58dkpUpeNJO_Kgg-59x0LU0PFz9iqOtcmsWmTAbLo4trmeIKpV45wEVczcGbxMgXkwrxRCJL4Bc/s1600/IMG_8391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSzoGtzFFQXYqaBICLi1CGAeXntqJ1qD6sro-W6WZDTflNYf3bwxiTzqtcD0d4D1JD58dkpUpeNJO_Kgg-59x0LU0PFz9iqOtcmsWmTAbLo4trmeIKpV45wEVczcGbxMgXkwrxRCJL4Bc/s200/IMG_8391.JPG" width="150" /></a>I just had the most amazing birthday weekend ever...all thanks to my awesome hubby! After classes on Friday I was sent to the top floor of the downtown Sheraton to be pampered at the <a href="http://sheratonicespa.com/icespa/home.html">Ice Spa</a>. I got an amazing hour long massage, followed by a manicure <i>and </i>a pedicure. Wow! What a relaxing way to spend my day! I have never had so many services done at once and the view was spectacular! I stared out at the ocean while getting my nails done...perfection! <br />
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I got home, thanked hubby for the awesome time, and was then instructed to pack my bags. What?! Where in the world were we going? And what about the kids? <br />
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Apparently hubby had all the details figured out. We got the kids settled down and then we headed out of town. I was whisked away to <a href="http://www.alyeskaresort.com/index.aspx">Alyeska Resort</a> in Girdwood and couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear. I've always wanted to go and didn't see it happening between school and the boys. But both of the kids sleep wonderfully through the night and are angels for our sitter, so we made the leap! <br />
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Not only did he book us a suite on the very top floor, but he also made us mountain top dinner reservations for <a href="http://www.alyeskaresort.com/dining/seven-glaciers-restaurant.aspx">Seven Glaciers</a>! We took the tran ride up and got to sit and enjoy a gorgeous view while we had the most amazing meal of our lives. Honestly, I have never raved about a meal as much as this one. Best food and best drinks EVER! <br />
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The next morning we went to breakfast and then decided to take a swim at the indoor salt water pool. We must have gotten lucky with the fishing weekend because we had the place practically to ourselves! It was so nice to swim, enjoy the hot tub and take a nice sit in the sauna alone with my man. Made us both realize how much we truly miss the water.<br />
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What an awesome weekend! My husband has never been the big romantic type and can never really keep a secret, so I was ecstatic about all the effort he put forward for my birthday. It was great to spend some alone time and pamper ourselves as a couple. I couldn't have asked for anything better!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-73166526600962250662012-06-30T14:38:00.000-08:002012-06-30T14:38:08.989-08:00Danger is my middle name!<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lucas is sure growing up fast! As of last month he is now 3.5 years old. I still find this hard to believe at times. Where is the world did my first born <em>baby</em> go? </div>
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We have hit the wild age that I knew would someday come. Lucas has always been more of a cautious child and definitely more on the timid side. He really stepped out of this shell once pre-school started and he is only becoming more brave and independent by the day. </div>
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I knew that his middle name would come back to bite me in the butt eventually. I guess I just didn't expect it to be this soon! There have been five incidences this month where he pulled the name card. FIVE! Oh lordy...it begins!</div>
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The first time completely threw Levi off guard and he laughed pretty hard. Lucas took it upon himself to climb up a rather large ladder and get onto the roof of our shed. When Levi asked what he was doing and warned him that he could fall and get hurt, Lucas simply replied, <em>"I'm not going to fall. My middle name is DANGER!"</em> </div>
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Now any incidence where safety is a concern he seems to think that he is immune. Maybe this is just a normal tendency for a toddler boy, but the name choice sure doesn't help.</div>
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He's all boy though. His recent obsession are superheros and you'd better believe this boy can tell you all about any character you ask. He's watched all of the movies, and even likes the old school cartoons found of netflix. </div>
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Surprise, surprise...he also loves motorcyles just like his dad. </div>
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Any chance to take a ride around the block and this kid jumps for joy. He recently took a ride with his Uncle Pete and they passed a fire truck. Apparently Lucas thrusted his arm into the air and yelled <em>"Motorcycle...yeah!"</em> to the firemen while grinning ear to ear. He wouldn't stop riding and was nearly blue and frozen when we convinced him to put the bike away. </div>
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He's also really into climbing!</div>
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He loves some of the indoor rock walls and is getting pretty good at climbing them solo. There is one at his favorite indoor bounce place and a number of birthday parties that we've recently attended had one. Levin takes a lot of interest in watching him climb the walls...I forsee two wild little climbers on our hands!</div>
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He's also a huge fan of climbing outdoors, too. Who wouldn't love climbing around on rocks while pretending to be a superhero? Expecially in this beautiful Alaskan summer that we've had. </div>
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He loves parks, walks, hikes and just being outdoors in general. Summer has been fun with all the water play, but he's even content just having a picnic and flying a kite. We've even just had a number of picnics in our front yard per his request. </div>
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Along with the hard play of summer comes a really tired boy at the end of the day. We've been having quite a few meltdowns in the late evening so we recently bumbed bedtime up to 7:30-8p. The sun has been waking him up way earlier than it should so we had to make some adjustments on the other end. It seems to be making a difference and I really don't mind the extra quiet time in the evenings! </div>
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</div>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-81122926015142654082012-06-26T12:18:00.000-08:002012-06-26T12:41:24.469-08:00Super Dad!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Not that we need a special holiday to celebrate how wonderful of a father Levi is, last weekend just so happened to be Father's Day... so we did just that!<br />
I am continuously impressed at how amazing he is with our boys. I am beyond blessed to have him as my partner as we tackle this crazy little thing called parenthood. I can always trust that he will go above and beyond and put their best interests first. I couldn't have chosen a better daddy for my children. We are a great team, but we differ in just the right amount of aspects. My children are oh so lucky to have him!<br />
<br />If only all his old friends could see him now...he is 100% <em>daddy</em>. Poop changing, bath giving, story reading, bike riding, play fighting DAD! Seeing my three guys together just melts my heart. The boys obviously adore, love, and admire him. No one can break this bond!<br />
So I did learn something very important this year....three year olds are <i>awful</i> at keeping secrets! I think next year Lucas may have to be kept out of the loop until the last possible minute. Levi walked in the door after work one evening and Lucas blurted out <em>"tomorrow is going to be a very special day but I'm not allowed to tell you about it!"</em> All night long he would reference to the gifts, but would also throw in the fact that Levi's not allowed to know. It was hilarious.<br />
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I got a few cute ideas off <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a> and we went to work. We started off by making a <a href="http://korner-by-kim.blogspot.com/2011/04/fathers-white-shirt.html">card</a> that was folded as a tee-shirt. Lucas loved doing this with me since he just recently discovered the wonderul art of origami. <br />
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Next we decided to make something special and surprise him with his all time favorite...fruit snacks! We covered a 6-pack case of root beer with scrapbook paper to match the tie on the card. I got some adorable print outs <a href="http://www.kmckaydesigns.com/projects/fathers-day-projects/">online</a> and we got to work filling each bottle. This was also a difficult task to do with a three year old since many of the fruit snacks somehow made a detour into his mouth! Regardless, I think it turned out really cute. <br />
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Needless to say, the bottles didn't last very long. Levi is a true fruit snack addict. <br />
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We also made a picture of all of our <a href="http://father.tipjunkie.com/framed-family-handprints-crafts-for-fathers-day/">hands</a> together. I still love looking back at the handprint art piece we did for Levi's very first Father's Day in 2009. Baby hands are just too precious!<br />
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It's a little difficult to see in the picture because of the glare, but the scrapbook paper was really nice quality and has a bit of a shimmer to it. I am still pretty blown away at how similar the boys' hand sizes are. Levin is growing entirely too fast. <br />
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Overall, we had a really good day as a family. We went to Friday's for lunch and were surprised when we found out that children eat free on Sundays, Dads got a free slice of pie, and they had a $5 drink menu. Score! And the weather was gorgeous all day, too. It's not often that we get to spend an entire day together as family, but I'm happy we were able to on this occasion.Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-9810315936841080782012-06-26T12:05:00.001-08:002012-06-26T12:05:28.546-08:0010 Months!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My oh my...it's about time to start the countdown until Levin's first birthday already! This year is flying by!<br />
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He is now 10 months old and getting wilder by the day! He continues to destroy our house every chance that he gets, and never fails to help himself to anything and everything. But now he <em>knows </em>when he's getting in to something that he shouldn't. He's started a new game where he will wait until we look and then throw everything around while giggling. He has quite the arm and will even play fetch with himself for a half hour at a time. It's also the same when he's sneaking back into one of the rooms. He'll patiently wait at the door until he makes eye contact. Then he races away as fast as his little body can crawl laughing the entire time. This is <strong>such</strong> a fun age!<br />
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As mobile as he has been for a bit it's no surprise that he's already trying out his next big leap...walking! He is getting really brave and has taken a few steps on several occasions. But right now what he's most comfortable doing is just standing around. I've seen him stand for upwards of about 30-40 seconds at a time. He's even getting comfortable enough that he can twist around while standing up. Walking is surely in the near future, but i'm not in any rush. Yes, I'll even admit that I've pushed him down a time or two. I love the crawling phase and want to get the most out of it!<br />
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I am so excited that it is summertime! We have been blessed with some gorgeous weather lately and you can sure believe that we've been taking advantage of it! This child LOVES the water! I wonder if being born into the water has created this effect because Lucas sure wasn't this intrigued at 10 months old. <br />
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One day was even a scortching 70 degrees so me and boys went and spent a few hours at the lake. I didn't expect Levin to be as adventurous as he was. But then again, I shouldn't be all that surprised. Apparently there's not much relaxing at the beach with this one...he couldn't sit still! He literally crawled along the shore line and even booked it straight out into the water. He could care less that the water was getting deeper and deeper! So I spent quite a while walking him outwards. Boy did he get mad when I tried to walk him back to shore though. Thanfully he realized fairly quickly that the sand was all that tasty. Quite the success if I do say so. <br />
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Although still not a huge fan of grass, he's doing much better. Like I said before, we've been spending lots of time outdoors. He is quite the little mimicker theese days, too. He loves to copy actions and repeat words and his newest favorite it clapping whenever somebody says <em>"yay!"</em><br />
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He's even big enough to enjoy playing with some of the outdoor toys. Not to mention the nice little tan he has going on! I'm glad that he enjoys the outdoors so much. Nice way to tire him out!<br />
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Although he is mostly on the go, I can still get a few little cuddle sessions in with my little monster. Isn't this a great picture? It was taken by my little photographer, Lucas!<br />
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<br />His verbal skills are really picking up and he is still a wonderful sleeper. His is also a great eater! This kid will eat just about anything I put in front of him, and will even beg like a dog if you're eating in his presence. He still only has two teeth, but we suspect the top ones are coming in soon. <br />
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<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-79819111216987204962012-06-08T15:04:00.003-08:002012-06-08T15:04:42.419-08:00Hazelwood Teething Necklace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lucas was an <i>awful</i> teether. Each and every tooth popped up individually (never in a pair) and the process was long and painful....for everyone. Half of me thought that I deserved a break this time around, but then I slapped some sense into myself and decided that I shouldn't just sit around waiting on luck. Chances are I wouldn't get my way anyways.<br />
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I've heard many good things about teething necklaces but I was so stubborn and didn't want to put a necklace on my son. Period. Had I have had a girl I would have be more open to the idea, but it just wasn't something I saw as an option. This time however, my parenting has changed in many ways. I find myself more laxed, less cautious, and more open to new ideas/experiences. I guess that goes with living and learning!<br />
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So I did a little research and decided that it couldn't hurt to get one for Levin. I ordered mine from <a href="http://www.tinyteethers.com/page/page/5114724.htm">Tiny Teethers</a> and it was here in about one week. We went with the grey and green beads in an attempt to have it look as masculine as possible. Many people chose to use the Amberwood, but I decided to go with a Hazelwood one for many reasons: it'll all organic and has various natural healing properties in addition to teething relief.<br />
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Hazelwood has the medicinal property to neutralize the body's acidity levels. Teething causes acidity levels to rise and results in pain, acidic drool/diaper rash, and even eczema. Unfortunately, Levin's poor skin was covered in eczema so I figured the hazelwood would be a win-win for us.<br />
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And what do you know...it worked! His skin has been clear (with a few minor areas) ever since we got the necklace. He has two teeth at the moment but I can tell more are on their way. He doesn't seem near as fussy as he was with the firsts and I have to admit that the necklace has totally grown on me. It gives him this hippy/hawaiian baby kind of look :)<br />
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<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-18845158942003562832012-05-30T16:30:00.000-08:002012-05-30T16:30:23.019-08:009 Months!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My oh my, where has the time gone? Levin is now NINE months old and really turning into a little boy. Sadly, I watch his babyness dwindle away a little more each day. It's not fair that they grow so darn fast, but I truly do love watching him develop. Words cannot describe how much I love this little soul.<br />
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He's into everything and always on the go! We've had to bust out the baby gate to keep him secluded in the front of the house. If he makes his way to the kitchen he goes straight for the dog food, and he races to play in the toilet any time he can. He also tries to book it out the door as soon as it's opened. I had forgotten how diligent you have to be with a crawler. He's so determined and so so sneaky!<br />
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I was shocked to find out that he actually lost a pound during this last month, but also that he shot up a whole inch and a quarter. Levi made a comment that he seemed taller and boy was he right! I'm afraid these chunky legs are going to start thinning out soon with all his speed crawling and couch cruisin'. I love baby rolls...hopefully they stick around a while longer.<br />
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He is trying so hard to walk already, too! He is a pro at cruising along the couch and I swear he's close to running along side it. He loves his little push walker also and is starting to "walk" all around the living room. <br />
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Levin loves to be outside just like his big brother! We've been going to a handful of parks lately since the weather has been so nice and it's wasn't a surprise to find out that he loves to swing. Who doesn't loved to be pushed?! <br />
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He's also a huge fan of the bike trailer. My heart about melted when I came home early from class one day and found Levi pulling the boys up and down the road. Both boys usually end up passing out after a short amount of time, but it's something that they both love. And it's definitely a workout!<br />
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We've been having our fair share of picnics these days. Levi built a fire pit out back and we had dinner outside recently. I was so impressed when he sat at this mini-picnic table to eat his snack. Food always gets his attention! Oh, and speaking of which...he now has TWO teeth! And he's been trying lots of fun new foods with his little chompers. <br />
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This is him doing the "<i>Itsy Bitsy Spider</i>" song with me and Lucas! His all-time favorite song though is <i>"I'm a Little Teapot</i>" and it's hilarious to watch him light up when I start singing. There have been a handful of occasion where I've sung other songs back to back and he shows little to no interest. As soon as I begin his favorite song, his expression changes and he starts dancing. It's adorable! He also has a singing toy he got from his Great Grandma Debbie on Easter that he dances with. He sways his arms and his body while singing "<i>hop, hop</i>." I really need to get it on video!<br />
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He spends most of his days terrorizing his big brother! I give it a few more months and they'll be full on wrestling. I'm amazed at how strong Levin is already. <span id="goog_708964807"></span><span id="goog_708964808"></span><br />
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His vocabulary is really starting to expand! He's made up his own word...."<i>gog</i>". It's our ongoing family joke and we always find ourselves shouting "gog" at everything. He is so serious when he says/shouts it. I wish I knew what he was really trying to say. <br />
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He says <i>"dada</i>" all the time but I'm still waiting for mama. He'll say it on occasion, but it's nothing like the ways he calls for his daddy. Sometimes he even just yells <i>"DAD!".</i> He also says <i>"ni-night</i>" when he's going to bed. It's beyond adorable! He's very attached to his blanket and insists on holding it while he nurses and sleeps. While he was boobing today he kept feeling around for it and couldn't get a grasp. He unlatched, looked at me with the most pitiful face and whined "ni-night". I about died of cuteness overload! He's even put the two phrases together a handful of times and said "ni-night dada". I love our night time routine....it's one of the highlights of my day. We go around and he kisses everyone and says his goodnights. I lay him down, cover him up, and he smacks his lips until I kiss him! <br />
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On the sleeping note I am very jealous of his cuddles with daddy. He rarely cuddles with me these days. It appears that those are all reserved for Levi. For some reason both of the boys prefer to be nuzzled up next to their daddy. I shouldn't complain though...at least I get to witness all the love!<br />
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Lucas and I call him our little Mohawk Man! I can't believe how much hair he has already. After we rub him down with lotion we run a tad over his scalp. Doubles as a perfect gel!<br />
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I love love love this boy! He's so happy, smart, energetic, and attentive. So excited for him to explore the Alaskan outdoors this summer. Our backyard make-over is in effect. Time to build more structures for this wild one!<br />
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<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-9245630702027363992012-05-08T13:53:00.000-08:002012-05-08T13:53:06.865-08:00Last Day of PreschoolI cannot believe that Lucas' first year of preschool is already over! Today we had a large party that included games, a magic show and an ice cream social. I'm so glad that I was able to participate before getting slammed with school again myself. <br />
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The classroom caterpillars that have been in their chrysalis' for the past few weeks finally hatched! What perfect timing, too. Lucas really enjoyed toting around the butterflies and showing them off to all of his friends. <br />
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The magic show was a super hit! Lucas woke up this morning at 6am asking to go. He was really looking forward to it! It was put on by <a href="http://www.magicbyrobbie.com/">Magic By Robbie</a>, one of the student's father. He did an amazing job and the children were in absolute awe the entire time. Lucas was asked to come up and help demonstrate a trick and was told that he had "<i>magic pants</i>." Robbie tied two handkerchiefs together and looped it through Lucas' belt loop. He then pulled on one end while another student pulled on the other. I about died laughing when they pulled the handkerchief right off his pants and everyone saw a pair of underwear tied in the middle! Lucas was so embarrassed and immediately looked in his pants to see if his underwear were still on. Levi and I honestly thought that he was about to start crying as he ran away. It was definitely a must see! I recorded it on my iPhone and then was informed that I didn't have enough memory left, so it couldn't be saved. I'm really bummed, but Levi and I will never forget the look of pure shock and embarrassment on our child's face! I doubt he'll ever volunteer for a magic show again.<br />
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He ended his final day running around the playground with his two best friends, Autumn and Jacob. I'm so happy that they are all continuing on next year in the 3-day class because they've all bonded so much over this past school year. Thankfully, the preschool organizes weekly play dates at various parks so that the children and families can all stay in contact.<br />
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I can't believe how much Lucas has grown and changed during this year. I've watched his imagination and creativity blossom, and his social skills surpass my expectations. He's no longer the quiet little boy I once knew. Coming into the preschool setting he was shy, standoffish, and merely and observer. Now, he jumps right on in to activities and fulfills many dramatic roles. He has become very independent and so confident in himself. He loves to sing and dance and has gained some pretty extensive knowledge! He's formed genuine friendships with a few of his classmates and he absolutely adores his wonderful teacher. We sure love <a href="https://sites.google.com/a/acpre.org/acpre/">ACP</a>!<br />
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Now we've just got to figure out how to entertain this energetic child all summer long! <br />
<br />Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-29855121533780569002012-05-05T14:07:00.000-08:002012-05-05T14:07:40.136-08:00The big cut<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We finally did it...we cut Lucas' hair! I have been wanting to do this for quite some time but he made it <i>very</i> clear that he wanted to keep his long hair. Although your child's appearance is somewhat of a reflection on your parenting, his hair was just that...<i>HIS </i>hair. Even at three, he had strong opinions on how he wanted it to look.<br />
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One day he got very frustrated when his hair kept getting into his eyes and he screamed out, <i>"I need a haircut!"</i> I asked him if he was sure and he kept assuring me that he wanted to have short hair now. We waited a few days so that he could contemplate his decision and be certain that it was truly what he wanted. Levi picked him up from preschool a few days later and they made a pit stop at Great Clips. Apparently Lucas did fantastic! He jumped right up into the chair, pointed out what he wanted his hair to look like, and sat perfectly still the entire time. I am so proud! Levi said that he acted like he was ten and had been getting haircuts his whole life. I love his new cut and think that it makes him look so much older. Isn't he handsome?! Sure is a mini version of his daddy!<br />
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But most importantly, he loves it. I haven't heard a single comment of regret and he seems very content with his decision. Big strides for independence and maturity!<br />
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(Sorry Hannah...he's no longer <i>"Buzz Longhair." Time for a new nickname!) </i>Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-8561276390709431322012-05-01T16:17:00.001-08:002012-05-01T16:17:38.693-08:00Life with boys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I always wanted my first born to be a boy. <i>Always</i>. And after having Lucas I just knew that I wanted another. So here I am. A one woman wonder in a house full of testosterone.
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So because I am a mom of boys, I suppose that means I'm doomed for a life of fart jokes and inappropriate penis gestures. It's already beginning and I can see this hole only getting deeper.
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Lucas is at the age where he knows what is right and wrong, what <i>is</i> and <i>is not</i> appropriate to say, and what actions he is to refrain from in public. But when it comes to the comfort of his own home...he is all about making a funny.
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He loves making people laugh and will say the funniest and most random stuff all the time. He is a total goober and he sure knows it! Sometimes I can't help but laugh at the things he says and does.
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Lately, however, he has been making lots of references to his 'parts' and turning them into a joke. He ran out of the bathroom recently with the head of his little member sticking up above his undies. He was laughing hysterically and asked "<i>aint that cool, mom?!</i>" What could I do besides laugh?
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I have always found myself laughing at inappropriate times and I just knew that it would come back to haunt me when I became a parent. I used to laugh at awful moments when I was younger, especially when one of my siblings got hurt or into trouble. Sometimes I just can't help the snickers, but I really need to make sure Lucas doesn't misinterpret. When he sees me laugh, he continues on with his funny behaviors. Yikes!
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I've never really considered myself very feminine, nor would I say I'm a tom-boy. However, I think being surrounded by boys all the time is starting to push me more into the feminine side. Could also be my path to a professional career, but I really enjoy pampering myself these days. And of course it's making me wonder what my life would be like if we had a girl. Lucas is all about action, fighting, super heroes and cars, and I'm sure Levin will follow suit. It's amazing how they have gravitated to such toys/behaviors without much prompting from me. I know society places pressures on what is and what isn't gender acceptable, but I have never pushed nor followed true to that. Heck, Lucas' favorite color is pink! I love my boys and couldn't imagine my life any differently....but what if? Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-57922724714385782462012-04-23T09:43:00.001-08:002012-04-23T09:43:00.643-08:008 Months!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI1c8nyjD0ws8kFgBcqCeSxawUlT1SrT7t0KvAEKElvH-fZlKxkV5EIrFB3DuAHe4YjgPQLM__0WDv3gtjSa4cPnxNHq7Xb1oGUTmXgBorRXjCUdZuLfVT4Fhyphenhyphen1m9LLEBX8E-Ee1HeS-5/s1600/IMG_7324.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI1c8nyjD0ws8kFgBcqCeSxawUlT1SrT7t0KvAEKElvH-fZlKxkV5EIrFB3DuAHe4YjgPQLM__0WDv3gtjSa4cPnxNHq7Xb1oGUTmXgBorRXjCUdZuLfVT4Fhyphenhyphen1m9LLEBX8E-Ee1HeS-5/s320/IMG_7324.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734284434297221074" /></a>Levin is hands down, without a doubt, our wild child! But you'd never know by looking at this perfectly innocent little face of his!<br /><br />At eight months old, he is always on the go! I can't keep up with this kid. Lucas was such a mellow baby who I never really had to worry over. But Levin is an entirely different story! I've lost count on the number of times he's fallen and bonked his poor head. And he eats nearly everything in sight....paper, business cards, wrappers, etc. He has already choked more times than his brother ever did. This one sure keeps me on my toes! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeomjE8SonUdqgpXWfDTqsIE5UsG8IO4dR_6jW8df4BT8gYRVkehN3Zcn0y_MN5w0P_74ldP0SMP8SObu4u1rDkosevBpajfYF-jpFL21BuQFR66EFp-5l4DCCgzibarcfsSdbUvn6j65B/s1600/IMG_7350.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeomjE8SonUdqgpXWfDTqsIE5UsG8IO4dR_6jW8df4BT8gYRVkehN3Zcn0y_MN5w0P_74ldP0SMP8SObu4u1rDkosevBpajfYF-jpFL21BuQFR66EFp-5l4DCCgzibarcfsSdbUvn6j65B/s320/IMG_7350.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734284437222670898" /></a>With crawling comes pulling up onto <span style="font-style:italic;">everything</span>. He isn't content sitting around anymore and nearly every time I turn around he's standing on something different...and in a different room! No matter how many times he does it, I still always worry about the falls. I know it's a natural part of learning to get around, but at the rate this kid is going I feel like he's going to have his first ER trip before his first birthday. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlr__n8lXLfUy9sOQqp15Lg6ySQFCoOBc28RaKOn3sOfti2WjO4oIZ-ydPS-cqnKfMJWWRwxOVvhqRBXRra_cvO-hNMBdueNDh-FrSto1W__Hy-Xhk68r15Ijv9j9Wm_IYkH6Kip3s5NNv/s1600/IMG_7306.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlr__n8lXLfUy9sOQqp15Lg6ySQFCoOBc28RaKOn3sOfti2WjO4oIZ-ydPS-cqnKfMJWWRwxOVvhqRBXRra_cvO-hNMBdueNDh-FrSto1W__Hy-Xhk68r15Ijv9j9Wm_IYkH6Kip3s5NNv/s320/IMG_7306.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734284098188290434" /></a>Levi and I have this ongoing joke about our little tornado of a child. We seriously should have made his middle name <span style="font-style:italic;">'Destructo'</span> because he demolishes everything in sight. Levi sent this picture to me in class and all I could do was laugh. Of course he would trash the living room and yank the trim off the wall. I wasn't even surprised!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KEb0pVNVyVl71P54M0Ej_kFLtdGcuE4YpRD2NYW-zv4O14ACr5Hgwi8fMEhcupoNjzoxeaDb4z86SXzVbj0fJDmww4WTv6qRNfHUVEKlBxpMJT05mRQ_NpSQfvtm2QOV-MoHmQzx9hP-/s1600/IMG_7249.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4KEb0pVNVyVl71P54M0Ej_kFLtdGcuE4YpRD2NYW-zv4O14ACr5Hgwi8fMEhcupoNjzoxeaDb4z86SXzVbj0fJDmww4WTv6qRNfHUVEKlBxpMJT05mRQ_NpSQfvtm2QOV-MoHmQzx9hP-/s320/IMG_7249.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734288472719268738" /></a>And have I mentioned that he is <span style="font-style:italic;">HUGE!</span> He hasn't been weighed yet this month but my guess is close to 22lbs or so. He has nearly outgrown his car seat and it's about time to pack up the 12-month clothing too. I look forward to the day that I don't have to continuously go through clothes because my children outgrow them just as fast as they grew into them. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhv_ekw8o6gkdSw5RfXCgSzDBHS3xaHlaXQ8l3hhnkeJKzQ1ebuz0qO3fchtRFhcNNiJ8Bu2N_RHgv6N94tBxgt6-11795EPsQcWaSxMKrcwFpZQUddwPN7IVvm3tqEFi11HladiJtDMFS/s1600/IMG_7242.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhv_ekw8o6gkdSw5RfXCgSzDBHS3xaHlaXQ8l3hhnkeJKzQ1ebuz0qO3fchtRFhcNNiJ8Bu2N_RHgv6N94tBxgt6-11795EPsQcWaSxMKrcwFpZQUddwPN7IVvm3tqEFi11HladiJtDMFS/s320/IMG_7242.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734284072391787858" /></a>He has to be involved in everything that is happening and apparently he thinks everything belongs to him. Lucas has been pretty great about Levin snatching up all his things lately (with a few minor outbursts). No matter what's going on...Levin's right there too. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETLVzUHHQE6nJTIgLhrBCBNL3eRB-8Zw5LnIUxfZ-6vqRyfH0U938bxvASEVBlJ3ctQz9QkAUqo29zVwo2U-NV3s8KIXx0y_-ZR9sue45HxxZu7utA7qyd_f-pXiRFp1Omy9GHHlaV8P8/s1600/IMG_7248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETLVzUHHQE6nJTIgLhrBCBNL3eRB-8Zw5LnIUxfZ-6vqRyfH0U938bxvASEVBlJ3ctQz9QkAUqo29zVwo2U-NV3s8KIXx0y_-ZR9sue45HxxZu7utA7qyd_f-pXiRFp1Omy9GHHlaV8P8/s320/IMG_7248.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734284079773340418" /></a>And of course, he still loves the Ergo! I don't know what I would do if I couldn't wear this child out in public. He's no longer content sitting in the front of a shopping cart these days. Little wiggle worm never sits still!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFOh-lBeoAo_N-fmfZE3NwJpkAVokgNJqlmhwGa6nLRZ1cJ5lyRlv5QsR0pzav2tijxXpxyy9EWV8kkoIqUme_juFJWIldeVzi7uN1hhNxEcvdXzzpSSxIKBbfBGgigXDc83J6Tjux_Qh/s1600/IMG_7255.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFOh-lBeoAo_N-fmfZE3NwJpkAVokgNJqlmhwGa6nLRZ1cJ5lyRlv5QsR0pzav2tijxXpxyy9EWV8kkoIqUme_juFJWIldeVzi7uN1hhNxEcvdXzzpSSxIKBbfBGgigXDc83J6Tjux_Qh/s320/IMG_7255.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734284086547791938" /></a>...unless brother is pushing him and racing through the store like a mad man. In that case, he's content sitting still and laughing hysterically!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwWgiGA7qmVrUL9bEc9kwcO4Yz8w2hsFvcvFDNERGh5QnMp_LCn7jeNckYjjYbIKT3JmzZ2pKOKQ_0RaoR_i3z0MRkQ0eCVgL8qykJy6gSWxrMgDvEK-mWyWQYWLL2apTV_NyXfDtMVny/s1600/IMG_7353.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwWgiGA7qmVrUL9bEc9kwcO4Yz8w2hsFvcvFDNERGh5QnMp_LCn7jeNckYjjYbIKT3JmzZ2pKOKQ_0RaoR_i3z0MRkQ0eCVgL8qykJy6gSWxrMgDvEK-mWyWQYWLL2apTV_NyXfDtMVny/s320/IMG_7353.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734291105562407842" /></a>He loves his big brother and mimicking everything that he does. Bath time may very well be his favorite activity. The moment he sees the tub filling with water his eyes light up and he nearly jumps out of my arms. I had to run back out to grab my phone once and he freaked. He did <span style="font-style:italic;">not</span> like leaving the bathroom once he knew what was going on. And it's the same when pulling him out. These boys would play in the tub for hours if I allowed it. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJFfniI9LbNlt6bxrx82OIo19BDzK5SxYSpc2azjbSAx06B-CJ967Rux8XNCWeBYGAxZUiMFdhmUcRdUgESe0xeZl8xyI40mbbS9TKF5maXe6W8MYpJ7YaiZbbhDb7GXUd1BIdkCK6X6q/s1600/IMG_7275.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJFfniI9LbNlt6bxrx82OIo19BDzK5SxYSpc2azjbSAx06B-CJ967Rux8XNCWeBYGAxZUiMFdhmUcRdUgESe0xeZl8xyI40mbbS9TKF5maXe6W8MYpJ7YaiZbbhDb7GXUd1BIdkCK6X6q/s320/IMG_7275.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5734291117915864898" /></a>He's a silly little baby who absolutely loves attention. His personality is hilarious and he always has this household laughing. He says <span style="font-style:italic;">'hi'</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">'dada'</span> all the time, but his newest verbal accomplishment is yelling. Yes, yelling. Not in a negative way, but as in <span style="font-style:italic;">'I want to be the loudest one in this house'</span> yelling. He thinks it's hilarious and he squawks, barks, and growls. It's very fitting...he's such a little animal!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-50259608144231163382012-04-22T10:57:00.001-08:002012-04-22T10:58:06.579-08:001 down, 4 to go!Woohoo...I survived the first semester of nursing school! What a relief to get through what many claim to be the hardest semester of all. I am so excited for our clinicals to start now and the real fun to begin. I just purchased my scrubs, shoes, and medical accessories and I cannot wait to use them! I honestly cannot believe how fast this first semester went. I'm going to be an RN in no time!<br /> <br />For some odd (and downright STUPID reason), the School of Nursing decided to alter their grading scale. Their rational was that if students needed to obtain a higher percentage than normal, that they would strive harder. But in all reality, I've seen just the opposite. Many students, and even myself, were actually deterred from really trying at the end. To receive an A, one needed to get between 93-100%, B: 84-92%, and C: 75-83%. I ended one class with a super high 80 and the other two with low 90's...so I ended up getting all B's. I went into my finals with this somewhat negative attitude because I felt that no matter how well I did, I could never get that A anyways. So I studied briefly and passed with enough points to keep my B's. And you know what....it was <span style="font-style:italic;">SO</span> nice not to feel rushed or crammed. No wonder laid back people seem happier! <br /><br />I honestly don't think it's a fair representation to alter the scale like this because I still felt that I performed A quality work. I am a bit disappointed on how this affects my GPA, but I realize that I can be bummed all I want and nothing is going to change it. I am proud to have done as well as I did and that I will be moving on to the next semester. There were many that were not as fortunate. <br /><br />I am happy that we have figured out this juggle struggle for the most part. I couldn't do this without the support of my amazing husband! I think he may even be more excited for me than I am. Or maybe he just can't wait for me to be his sugar mama! <br /><br />So now I'm on break for the next two weeks. (Well, as much of a break as one can get being a single mom while hubby is away.) Thankfully the sun is shining and the weather has been fantastic. I've been spring cleaning, relaxing, and enjoying this much needed time with my boys!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9086469002551101637.post-21378559830671879962012-03-24T13:01:00.001-08:002012-03-24T13:05:12.158-08:007 Months!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAPNNrbJd-uGmMAx8evsg9m1MDbDgFzRf9Qw1ZcGWHMSXpRpT1uOeX94AuzxIzmk6HvAED5LxXKclTFDv1dBZjbB0bOECV9OOcRSn_UHorileEDcNIcNJ8rXYaLF6wwu0g0LVcTkdatRC/s1600/IMG_7066.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAPNNrbJd-uGmMAx8evsg9m1MDbDgFzRf9Qw1ZcGWHMSXpRpT1uOeX94AuzxIzmk6HvAED5LxXKclTFDv1dBZjbB0bOECV9OOcRSn_UHorileEDcNIcNJ8rXYaLF6wwu0g0LVcTkdatRC/s320/IMG_7066.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723562132957584242" /></a>Seven months old and not much of a baby anymore. Since when did he get big enough to sit in the shopping carts?! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCQJ5YxHXz8WsfamAslAOuhThxLDKiVOlcf1IkQgGv02abAUfhhMqTATwbLrca1Jb1hwBNOfwPh3Scs5SJJ1-Yp5-8DL6qfPoHd3BjRytw4otDxa103mvjVt9wPy5BuA_3QVQEmq1duL_/s1600/IMG_7091.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCQJ5YxHXz8WsfamAslAOuhThxLDKiVOlcf1IkQgGv02abAUfhhMqTATwbLrca1Jb1hwBNOfwPh3Scs5SJJ1-Yp5-8DL6qfPoHd3BjRytw4otDxa103mvjVt9wPy5BuA_3QVQEmq1duL_/s320/IMG_7091.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723562138541513346" /></a>He's trying all sorts of new feats this month. I've witnessed him pull himself up a number of times and he's trying oh so hard to crawl. At a whopping 20+ pounds, it's definitely got to be a workout for those little arms. I have no doubt he'll get there soon, but I am in absolutely no rush this time around. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoY5QSVllNMnqrZb8uCXue5mvumacvel74vK-6rBGaxzRh3q1pgMUEhpKJBf96Xb87wFouQi8cU6yn5s2NjcPRePmEwV2p60JE0Qg_3TVy5p48zPxc7vnRUbq9dg6DApzCzlGDB1nRgvAV/s1600/IMG_7080.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoY5QSVllNMnqrZb8uCXue5mvumacvel74vK-6rBGaxzRh3q1pgMUEhpKJBf96Xb87wFouQi8cU6yn5s2NjcPRePmEwV2p60JE0Qg_3TVy5p48zPxc7vnRUbq9dg6DApzCzlGDB1nRgvAV/s320/IMG_7080.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723562706522229282" /></a>He rarely sleeps on me these days so I had to take advantage of his sick moment recently. He was so pitiful, but I really enjoyed the cuddles. <br /><br />I have never met a baby that actually <em>enjoys</em> going to bed. There is no rocking him down these days, and even nursing down is becoming obsolete. When he gets sleepy and fussy all this boy wants is his bed! When we lay him down he gets so genuinely happy. After we cover him up, kiss him goodnight, and walk out, he may fuss for 30 seconds or so...if at all. He really prefers to just stare at the ceiling until he dozes off into dreamland. It is definitely much different of a process than we had with Lucas, but hey, it works! If he wants to act like a big boy and soothe himself to sleep, that only makes my life easier in the long run. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyB-RRzWzG7SjdEZGQTb8vVCcbAOUm_AsMC4R3xFD1oeIRs2iqRWYDEXHOp-l7L4mqa3lZEc8COLQ42SdP3xtP8D4yAPKn8tpOVk9oklvUBPWr3TY6H1YncveLvQLCO_tPGr0cVGztKax/s1600/IMG_7048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyB-RRzWzG7SjdEZGQTb8vVCcbAOUm_AsMC4R3xFD1oeIRs2iqRWYDEXHOp-l7L4mqa3lZEc8COLQ42SdP3xtP8D4yAPKn8tpOVk9oklvUBPWr3TY6H1YncveLvQLCO_tPGr0cVGztKax/s320/IMG_7048.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723566023886979810" /></a>Now how many babies have you actually seen that look like this when it's bed time? Or even wake up this happy? Sometimes I wonder if he's really my child. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVyrlzT7hyZwfk53larg0eMpaNlaNOTILXCLYQAk9d0__7WDOYDe8b9kft2xonoq4iax9cLYx-ewl8NvLHMhVYdk3T4YwAD2jU4sHVEfPorRyYBqIQ_6oWw1X8UcxSG_WQnYIxwyoZIW5/s1600/IMG_7030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVyrlzT7hyZwfk53larg0eMpaNlaNOTILXCLYQAk9d0__7WDOYDe8b9kft2xonoq4iax9cLYx-ewl8NvLHMhVYdk3T4YwAD2jU4sHVEfPorRyYBqIQ_6oWw1X8UcxSG_WQnYIxwyoZIW5/s320/IMG_7030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723562128520860434" /></a>He's such a happy guy and loves to be involved in everything around him. Baths have become a fun night time activity and he loves to sit in baskets while his daddy and big brother push him all through the house. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqZQzGUGQJ0ezeA-9VjBmIjNd3gFIzfspnjgdp3n94Z-4TwI8ygQ2BzfZGYMlKGsZUI1eMOk98ylNf6zrAxpHGm99kvAlvx8GfDPenDyX81ATHsIRfJ0vxo2aLT6nhp3aJuGvSCDtmZba/s1600/IMG_7166.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqZQzGUGQJ0ezeA-9VjBmIjNd3gFIzfspnjgdp3n94Z-4TwI8ygQ2BzfZGYMlKGsZUI1eMOk98ylNf6zrAxpHGm99kvAlvx8GfDPenDyX81ATHsIRfJ0vxo2aLT6nhp3aJuGvSCDtmZba/s320/IMG_7166.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723561750713763026" /></a>He's also become quite the little eater! He loves his mum-mum crackers, drinking water from his sippy cup, and practicing his pincer grasp with small food items. This boy caught on fast! Anything to do with food...he's all over it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvvsfuzRqI28mwClDg2QxYEL9IB_E8eTfMeQtMJusHmK27Qs_reovy_HQnA07R3gRGOQMFK-HUQpoFnePGRUSLEG7lyis4jBVmEsakwXNUBUQENNFEb5eaqf2zvT0COOyPGUgxtn63AQ1/s1600/IMG_7120.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvvsfuzRqI28mwClDg2QxYEL9IB_E8eTfMeQtMJusHmK27Qs_reovy_HQnA07R3gRGOQMFK-HUQpoFnePGRUSLEG7lyis4jBVmEsakwXNUBUQENNFEb5eaqf2zvT0COOyPGUgxtn63AQ1/s320/IMG_7120.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723561744170221874" /></a>He still loves to be worn in the ergo, too. Its no wonder why babywearing has been around since the beginning of time. It's impossible to get things done without it...especially when you have multiple children. Daddy wears him more often than me, but he's not partial. He just loves the closeness!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRyHi7N_OKvFgqiYOD4xrznl3hcLgj71PbeX9f-LYbMS3FcAo63Wk3PEUClfCen-JZSurRpMCmjA5R-5tcEvBYoSgxj7m9BsEYr-d7f3Z5tTliD6l6f9EmbHCIeinKwFf-nR4Oe_u-G6_/s1600/IMG_7153.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRyHi7N_OKvFgqiYOD4xrznl3hcLgj71PbeX9f-LYbMS3FcAo63Wk3PEUClfCen-JZSurRpMCmjA5R-5tcEvBYoSgxj7m9BsEYr-d7f3Z5tTliD6l6f9EmbHCIeinKwFf-nR4Oe_u-G6_/s320/IMG_7153.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723561746117979570" /></a>Sometimes his level of attentiveness and participation really does surprise me. He has been joining in on activities we do and trying hard to imitate. Lucas and I were singing him the <em>itsy bitsy spider </em>and it was only moments before he was trying to imitate our hand motions. Such a smart, smart, boy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzqS3UZFPXpuiKR9fGiJnh6igvJ58eeiZlyYrlM-60f0UnxeKClyUzbLZOh3vbvXeQUTvxbbD7WQcK3MEE1Qu3okt5oa9G0AmH0VAzp0jYgU19I7Jh00Av_vH3ojY77Djfg9361Djn5ho/s1600/IMG_7152.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzqS3UZFPXpuiKR9fGiJnh6igvJ58eeiZlyYrlM-60f0UnxeKClyUzbLZOh3vbvXeQUTvxbbD7WQcK3MEE1Qu3okt5oa9G0AmH0VAzp0jYgU19I7Jh00Av_vH3ojY77Djfg9361Djn5ho/s320/IMG_7152.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723563862486883298" /></a>He is sure one cool cat! Couldn't imagine our lives without this handsome little fella!Crystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10579074021715174740noreply@blogger.com0