recap...eerrr we're back?

I won't give any broken promises about recapping the last 6+ months. Sorry friends, I don't want to start this year off on a lie. Let's just say the summer, fall and half of winter have had their ups and downs and have been semi busy for us.

I will tell you that we are still in North Ogden, enjoying living with my parents for about a year now. Chan works for Rio Tinto now. Started there in September. He gets to commute down to Salt Lake each day. That's about 70 -  85 minutes each way. He doesn't love that, but it is getting better now that he re-discovered books on CD.

So AJ and I play. And that is basically my life. We play a lot and we love it.

Here are a few pictures to show you how much he has grown up! He talks like a pro, eats ok, his run makes me laugh each time. He only rides his horse with his cowboy hat on (and sometimes only that). He plays with other kids decently, loves to take bassss (bath). Says 'have a bite' to anyone with food. My favorite, 'yay yay eat?' (AJ eat?)  we love him.

 (these bike pictures...taken January 14th. it was 40 degrees and sunny. Reminded me of a San Diego January!)

This is a new favorite. His face was so funny!

We love the 4th of July!

 We had Superman for Halloween. Yes, we spray painted his hair!

 First black eye, August, 2011. Look how BLOND he was over the summer. Blond and TAN!

 I love this picture about as much as he loved the swings.

And here's to hoping we keep in touch more. I love looking at blogs, I just don't get around to blogging like I should. excuses, excuses.

Beach Camp

Beach Camp June 11 - 17, 2011

My sister Jayme has been going to beach camp for the past 10 years. I FINALLY got to go this year. AJ and I loved it! Can't wait to go back.

OneYear

It has been such an amazing year with AJ.  We love him so much!  This week we had two family parties to celebrate:

28

Happy 28th Birthday CHAN!  We love you so much!

LAME

I give you permission to call this blog lame. Not us...just the blog. I'm now going to try and attempt to redeem myself. Would you believe that I have 1663 pictures on my camera? It's true. Think they will actually get posted? Don't get your hopes up.  I had a goal of making a picture book of our years in Pittsburgh in the month of January....it's May 11th and I've worked on it twice. I think I need to extend that goal to January 2012. Or at least September when my groupon coupon expires. I don't even have a legitimate reason for the lack of posts. Just enjoying Family, oh, and walking around with AJ...he doesn't stop. Or cleaning up after him, he can sure leave a messy trail in the 2.5 hour increments he is awake. Whatever...we all know I am just lazy and have too many TV shows to catch up on during nap times. lame. 

However, we did have one Holiday I should document as well as another trip. 

EASTER

How come everything so much cuter/fun when you have a little boy?

We had a little Easter egg hunt on Saturday morning in my parents backyard. I think he liked it, even though it was nap time.

seriously, precious.

We might have given AJ a little head start...he's fast, just not fast enough to keep up with these cousins. (sorry for the bum shot, boo).

Saturday night we drove down to Salina to spend Easter with Chan's parents. They are always so good to us. We had a great time.

PRESCOTT, AZ

Salina was also our stopping point on our trip to Prescott, AZ. Chan's brother, Paul, lives there and invited us down for a visit and for some help on the yard work.

We built a walking path across the front of their yard. We really enjoyed working with Paul and Staci. They are such a great example to us.

While we were there we also went to the Zoo, played with the rabbits, went out to dinner, drove around Prescott, and fed the ducks. AJ loved playing with all his cousins. They were each so cute with him. Shalyn always knew where AJ was, what he was doing and sure told him a lot of stuff. That girl is FUNNY!

GRAND CANYON

On our drive home we decided we might as well hit up the Grand Canyon. We were close enough. I am SO glad that we did. I had been once when I was little, but couldn't remember it and Chan had never been.

He turned 10 months old this day. Still can't believe how fast it is going.

 Their second National Park to experience together for the first time. I will always have a visual of the two of them walking around the entrance, with AJ holding Chan's finger. I love watching Chan be a dad, he is the best.

Does this make anyone else nervous? Yes, I let him walk around...Chan has having a heart attack. I have been having panic attacks since we left...what was I thinking?!

I was a little nervous about the 14 hour car ride home...all in one day. But AJ did fabulous! So glad the little guy likes to travel! It is going to be a busy summer!

p.s. I have been accused that when I take pictures of Chan with AJ, I tend to crop Chan out of them and just take pictures of AJ. Above is proof that I can take pictures with all of Chan in them too. :)

Cruisin along...

9 Months

We have had the BEST 9 months with this little man,
and look forward to the next 9 - this summer we may even get a little tan!

He makes us laugh every day,
with his gibberish and fun communication ways.

His favorite thing is to get into a nice warm bath tub,
where he can splash and splash then get a full body lotion rub.

His eyes have stayed big and blue,
they curiously look for new adventures too.

His legs are long, chubby and always on the move,
when the music plays he turns on his groove.

He is sweet and has a tender heart,
he has wrapping us around his finger down to an art.

He loves balls, hair and to be tickled,
when Daddy plays with him he gives the best giggles.

He is most definitely a momma's boy,
which is great, because he is my love, pride and joy!

9 month stats:
30-3/4" (97%)
23 lbs 6 oz (87%)

Current favorites:

-Walking while holding our fingers or a walker.
-Not motivated to crawl unless you have food. He will army crawl for food.
-Loves to watch people, especially little kids.
-A much improved traveller. He is well traveled too, including trips to/from: AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, ID, MD, MT, NV, PA, UT, WV, and WY.
-He thinks fake coughing is so funny.
-Has 2 bottom teeth and is cutting 4 right now on the top.
-Favorite foods: cottage cheese, vanilla ice cream (bad I know, but seriously the cutest thing), rice, avocado, mashed potatoes, bread, apple sauce, mandarine oranges, peaches, carrotts, baby puffs, baby yogurt, cheese. Luckily he is not a picky eater, he'll try just about anything edible or not!

Our days are filled with...

short day trips and going to the park.  Here are some pictures from Logan, the Golden Spike museum and AJ's first time in a swing.

blue skies

Happy Birthday!

To AJ's Mom!