Easter Parties...

Cru inst quite old enough to understand Easter yet, so Casey and I didnt do much to celebrate it this year. First we had my family Easter party, Cru got his first Easter basket FULL of finger puppets!!! He loves those puppets!!! Such a smart thing for a little baby.


At my family party...
Cru, found a couple eggs too...

Then we had the Van Wagoner Easter party ~
Casey and Corey always hide all the eggs...
Then, the kids all crowd around the front door in anticipation to go find the eggs!
Pam puts Bunny Money in some of the eggs and then after the hunt, the kids get to go to her Bunny Store and buy things with the money they found. Cru got a new book and a ball!
Our little family, not the best picture, but we got one...

8 Months!

I wish I could stop time and keep you right where you are. Each day you get bigger. Each day you become a little more independent. Each day I love you more and more.

This last month has been one of my favorites.

When I get home from work you are usually playing in the living room. I say "HELLO!!!" and you very excitingly look up from what you are doing, raise your little eyebrows, start gibberishing and army crawling over to greet me. It melts my heart. I know you miss me when I am away, but we have TONS of fun when I get home!

You know the sound of the garage door and can hear it when daddy comes home. My favorite thing about you being in your highchair, feeding you dinner is when you will randomly lean forward so you can see the garage door to see if someone is coming inside, when he learn that no one is coming inside, you lean back and pierce your lips wondering where dad (or nana) is.

You are completely obsessed with the door stops. You will play with them forever. Yesterday, you managed to pull one off and put it in your mouth...I about had a heart attack.

Its almost impossible to get you dressed on the changing table, you are too curious to just lay there now.

You still love books and will turn the pages back and forth as I read them to you. One of my favorite things that you do...is lay on your tummy looking at the pictures, turning the pages by yourself as if you are really reading. Its so sweet.
You get excited to see people that you recognize. Some get a big smile, others a little grin or twisting of your hands (you do that when you get excited and have for about 5 months now).

Your love for the bath still stands too. One night, we played for 45 minutes and you would have loved to be in there longer. I think you will love swimming and being in the water your entire life...I knew it the first time we put your head under the running water in the hospital and you closed your eyes and enjoyed every second of it.

You are completely fascinated with the laptop and power cords. Wherever I put the dang thing, you find it!

You love sitting on the front porch with me waiting for dad to come home, wrapped up in a big cozy blanket.
You love music. If the TV is on and a song comes on, you will stop whatever you are doing and just stare at the TV.
You melt my heart by reaching out to me. It reassures me, that you really do want me to hold you.

Oh, and you and dad, wrestle on the bed...he guys roll all over the place, he tosses you up and down and you think it is hysterical.

You seriously have made my life so much sweeter. We cant imagine not having you with us and sharing our life with you.

7 Months

7 months...really? Where is the time going? It feels like, just yesterday you were lying on my chest deep asleep, mouth open, just dreaming. Now, Im lucky if you even close your eyes during a feeding.

You are so curious, you watch everything with such great intent. You are really curious about the treadmill and how our feet can move that fast.

You sit up ALL BY YOURSELF now. And have such excellent posture...im jealous.

Then one day, out of the blue you started army crawling. I put something about 5 feet in front of you - and off you went!!!

You blow raspberries. Sometimes, not intentionally, you will be crying and will accidently blow a raspberry, it will totally distract you and you will sit there for 10 minutes blowing them.
Weve converted your infant bath tub to a big boy bath tub, you sit in it instead of lay. You LOVE the water and try to grab the bubbles that the faucet makes. Not to forget your rubber ducky...the little bugger is so slippery, when you drop him, your reaction is HILARIOUS.

You like to 'shake it' when I sing "Shake shake, shake shake, a shhhhake it" and if I am holding you in front of me and make you shake it - you laugh.

You could jump for hours in your jumper, you are actually quite vicious with it. I wonder if you will like the trampoline as much as your dad does.

I love saying night prayers with you. I lay you on the bed and kneel down next to you, you will usually just sit there and stare at me or put your hand on my shoulder. I think it is really sweet.

You still love bath time and car rides.

You love when 5:30 pm comes around...I place you in your high chair and you get SOLIDS!!! You love sweet potatoes, squash, pears, carrots and blueberries - you are NOT fond of green veggies, you seriously gaged when I fed you green beans.

And...you cry when I leave the room - I LOVE IT!!!

On your 7th month birthday you started saying 'bababababa' - I feel we are getting close to Mama!!! Or will it be Dada first???

Oh my little man, I love you SO much. I look forward to seeing your smiley face everyday and cherish every moment I have with you. I really didnt believe time would fly by so fast and that I would miss 'when you use to' times. But you are growing too fast...right before my eyes.
I hope you will always love me as much as you do now.

And when I say, "Little Man" - I really do mean little man, everyone thinks you are so handsome and look just like a Little Man.

Happy Valentines Day

I love Valentines Day. This year, I had two special loves. Two lovers that I love in two totally different ways. I am such a lucky girl!



Lucky Cru had 7 Valentines, lucky boy!!!

6 Months

Cru is 6 months! I just love this little boy so much I can't stand it!!! We went to the Docs yesterday and this is what we learned...

Weight: 17 pounds 14 ounces - 60th%
Height: 28 inches - 95th%
Head: 17 3/4 inches - 90th%

The poor little man got a newbie nurse, who took FOREVER giving him his shots. She poked his twice in one leg and it took her so long to get the shot ready for the other leg, that he stopped crying and then she poked him again...it was so sad. Casey picked him up off the table and Cru immediantly turned around and gave the nurse his scrunched eyebrow look...like...what the heck is wrong with you? It was pretty funny.

Some of the things Cru does now...
- He has taught himself how to blow raspberries, I think it is super cute.
- He can almost sit up all by himself without toppeling over; he is still a little top heavy and can sit there by himself, but will usually face plant it if I leave him there too long. We are still working on this one.
- He still loves story time and will sit there forever if I just keep reading. His favorite book as of now (well, at least I think) is his touch and feel animal farm book. When I turn the page he knows exactly where to touch to feel the animals fur/skin/nose ect that we are reading about. The poor dogs hair is probably going to be gone here pretty soon.
- He has found his toes, he doesn't suck on them very often like most babies...he mostly just grabs them and looks at them.
- However, he has found his little 'pee pee' if you will and if I dont distract him in the tub, he will just play with it the whole time...dad and I think it is pretty funny though.
- Still loves the tub...last night he stayed in the tub for 25 minutes while I cleaned out and organized the baskets in the lined closet...and I know he would have stayed in even longer if I would have let him. He kicks his legs like crazy in the tub, and water gets everywhere...I cant wait to take him to the pool this summer!
- Last but not least...You have 2 teeth coming in. Your bottom 2 teeth have broke through, and you are handeling it so well! I didnt even know till he started sucking on my hand.

6 months pictures...They turned out so cute! Everyone thought I was crazy for wanting to do pics with just his jeans and a tie on - little did they know how stinking cute they were going to turn out...

This is my favorite...

This is my 2nd favorite...

I've been moved...July 17th

My mom was just talking to me about a fireside she went to with my little sister last night...it was on 'pitching your tent towards the Temple'. They have asked the youth to read 3 pages out of the Book of Mormon a day, if you do that, you will have the entire book read by July 18th...which just happens to be a day after my birthday.

3 pages a day? That's nothin! I easily read half a magazine when I crawl in to bed at night....what's 3 pages?

So, with that said...I have another goal I will accomplish this year and its reading the entire Book of Mormon by my birthday, July 17th.

Happy New Year...and Cru of course!

Casey and I decided this year would be a good year to really start making resolutions...where in all reality, I would love to list all 9 of our goals that we made while we were out eating on New Years Eve - I'll spare you. However 1 goal is already completed and January 2011 has already been good to us! So here is to a new year, full of goals and happy endings.

And here is to a full year of this kid... I just can't seem to get enough him in a single day...

5 Months

You turned 5 months on December 29th. I seriously cant believe how quickly time is flying by.
You are such a sweet and sensitive boy. We are so blessed to have you in our life.
On Christmas Eve we went to the Cathedral of the Madaline and listened to their Christmas choir. You LOVED it in there. All the stained glass windows and the music had your attention. Your little head would look to the left and then to the right then to the front back to the left and up at me, you loved those windows. We can already tell that you like music, it calms you right down. Maybe it is because you already have your own Ipod that you listen to every night or because we have so many play lists in the car just for you. Or maybe it is just because you remember the angels singing in Heaven.
You also LOVE to read books. You will sit in my lap for a good 45 minutes while I read stories to you. You touch the pages and sometimes try to lick them, but you are so intrigued by them.
You still love bath time. Your kick your little legs like crazy, or if you are really tired you will just lounge and put one foot under the faucet and the other up on the side of your tub. Its hilarious. Dad also just introduced you to your rubber ducky, whom you are fascinated by.
You have become very interested in my water bottle. Every time I take a drink you reach for it, Ill put it up to your lips, you'll grasp it and pretend like your are drinking it. Now we give you little sips. I think it is so cute, you want everything I have, and this is the one thing I can share with you. So I do it.
You love it when I tickle your face with my hair, you giggle as I sweep it across your forehead.
You always have a bib on in all your pictures because you are the drooling king.
You also enjoy sitting (propped up of course) on my bed as I get ready in the mornings, I either put you in the boppy or with some pillows and you will sit there playing with your noisy book or stare at your baby Van Gogh movie. It is so cute...here is a picture...

Something I absolutly love that you do now, is when we put our face close to yours you reach up with both hands and gently put your hands on our cheeks. It isnt when we hold you, but when you are laying in your play gym or down on the floor or are laying in bed with us. I think it is so sweet.
You seriously are the love and joy or our life. I cant imagine not having you here with us.
I love you Cru.

Christmas morning...

Cru gave Casey and I a wonderful Christmas present this year...he slept in until 9:40!!! I woke up at 7 and put the Christmas casserole in the oven and went back to bed, an hour and a half later the oven timer was beeping and Cru was talking in his crib. Perfect timing.
We got up, ate breakfast, fed the babe and Casey and I opened our gifts...yeah thats right, we opened our gifts first and then let Cru at his. We are awesome. haha
Casey and I spent a whole $11 bucks of Cru for Christmas. Everything else he got from grandparents. However, he has currently only played with his new soccer ball, listened to his singamagigs and played with his easy grasp ball.
I loved Christmas when it was just Casey and I, it was even better starting a few new traditions now that we have Cru and I have a feeling they are just going to get better and better.
Cru with all his toys...
Casey's mom and dad asked what we would like them to get Cru for Christmas, I told them that I wanted to start an education fund for Cru and would love if they wanted to make his first deposit. They went beyond that and are actually doing the research for the best one that actually plays to stock market. I am really excited about it, and really really grateful. Education is so important to Casey and I and we are excited to start this fund for Cru so that he too can experience and appreciate the importance of a college degree.

Santa came to Nana's

Every year Santa makes his grand appearance to my mom's house (Nana's). All the grandkids LOVE it and it is something we all look forward to during our family Christmas party. The year's Santa had a fake beard, as soon as we put Cru on Santa's lap, he we for it on almost pulled it downed, Santa had pretty quick hands though, and was able to hold it in place while I pried Cru's fingers apart. It was quite entertaining, well at least I thought.
Cru received his first stocking from Santa filled with a gift card to Babies R Us. It was perfect!
I am kind of bummed that I didnt get a good shot of Cru with Santa. But at least I got something...
Thanks mom for yet another fun Christmas party!

Gardner Village

To start out this year's Christmas festivities, Casey and I decided to venture out and take Cru to see the Elves at Gardner Village before it got too cold. Of course as soon as I got Cru out of his car seat and started walking it started down pouring. Cru was a trooper though, we were still able to get some pictures and spot a few elves. Christmas is SO much better with little ones!

Casey's 27th and Mom's 50th

The love of my life turned 27. The lucky boy got the day off of work and I of course did not, so he got to spend the morning with Cru until I got home. I got him a PS3. I think it is BY FAR the best gift I have ever given him. I have never seen him that excited to get something. We ended up taking it back and getting the bundle package with the PS3 Move - which is super fun. Anyway, happy belated birthday post babe! I love you!

My mom turned the big 5-0 last month. I sent out an invitation to have her party at my house...but because Cru had RSV I was no longer feeling up to it, so we partied at Outback and let them clean up the mess, it was perfect. Happy birthday momma, I love you dearly!

4 months.

I feel like this sweet little man has always been a part of my life. But I swear everyday he changes so much.
Cru is such a good baby. I still don't think Casey knows how good we have it (or maybe I am naive and really just have no idea).

4 Month stats:
Weight: 14 pounds 11 oz - 50%
Height: 26.5 inches - 90%
Head: 17 inches - 85%

The past month Cru has still been enjoying the same things he always has:
- Car rides
- Bath time
- Going to bed

But he has learned some new things too:
- Rollin over! For about a week he would just go from his tummy to his back, but last week he goes, tummy to back to tummy to back. He gets really proud of himself when he goes back to his back and loves it when we start clapping and cheering him on.
- How to grab absolutely everything and stick it in his mouth.
- Pull on my hair. It is the first thing he goes for EVERY time I pick him up.
- Talking to his 'Liger' in his pack n play - he seriously will just lay in that thing forever talking to her, its so cute.
- He loves eating rice cereal off a spoon. He took it like a champ in fact! He watches the spoon get the rice cereal and make its way back to his mouth, he opens wide and doesn't spit a thing out. He loved it. However, yesterday the doc just told me to put it in his bottle for now, till he is eating more.
- Family prayers. He lays there and coos the entire time and tries to put his feet on dads face.

Here are some pics from Monday November 29th, his actual 4 month mark -

Its time!

Its time!

We got our family pictures taken with all of Casey's family for his parents Christmas gift. Poor little Cru, I felt like an awful mom taking him out when he was all RSV'd up. But he was a champ...we even got a picture of him smiling. Doesn't surprise me though - you would have never known the little guy was sick.
So, it took one look at the huge shot of the fam for me to realize that its TIME for me to start working out again. I keep thinking, its only been 4 months and my c-section incision is still numb - but seriously, will ever not be? Anyway, Ive every once in a while been riding the bike, doing P90X or Insanity...but for some reason, I just cant get into it. This is how my mind works..."Cru will be alseep for about an hour, do I get in the shower or do I work out?" The shower ALWAYS wins. Bummer!
So I decided to take an easier approach. I tried to find something that will only take a couple of weeks and is somewhat easy to get back into the swing of things and to help tone up my arms and tummy...what else is there...PUSHUPS and SITUPS!!! So I am doing the 100 pushup and 200 situp challenge. Its 6 weeks and on the last day...Ill be able to do 100 pushups and 200 situps straight. Im totally excited about it. Casey and I did the 'initial test' to rank ourselves last night. Casey pumped out 45 pushups like it wasnt anything, and I could barely make it up on numerb 15. You would think that toting a baby around for the past 4 months would have helped - it didnt. So there you have it, I can only do 15 man pushups and in 6 weeks it will be 100!

Cru and RSV

You know, I always knew I was going to be an anal over protective mother. I have always been overprotective of those that I love - but when there is a 'little' man who relies on me to help him grow big and strong, I'm even worse. I have hand sanitizer attached to my diaper bag and won't let a soul touch Cru until they've sanitized. We don't take Cru to church in fear of him getting sick by another child whose mother "has to go to church" and puts the rest of us at risk. He practically sweatss every time I take him into the cold weather because of how bundled he is. I wake up multiple times a night, just to check on him...the list goes on. Cru has been sleeping through the night for about 2 months now, two weeks ago, he started getting really restless and kept waking up. I would go into his room and attempt to give him his binky, but everytime I put in in his mouth, he sounded like darth vador from how congested he was. I though he was getting a cold...So...I took him in that morning to the doctor. They first told me the poor babe has ear infections. I was a little upset and taken back just because I 'heard' that nursed babies usually dont get their first ear infection till you stip nursing - guess you can't beliece everything you read. We started talking about how congested he was and the Doc said he wanted to test him for RSV "OK", I replied...I wasn't prepared for the awkwardness they were about to put my baby through. They had to stick a q-tip type thing about 3 inches up his 1 inch nose for a nasal swab test. I was by myself. The nurse came in and told me to lay him on my lap and to hold his head., and if I didnt "hold it good enough that the swab could go too far up and really hurt him" - great. I started preparing myself for his high screeched pain cry, the same one he let out when he got his two month shots...but to my surprise, he didn't make a sound. I was shocked. When the nurse was done, he scrunched his eyebrows together and gave me this VERY dissatisfied look...like a "are you kidding me" or a "why the hell did you just let her do that to me" or a "you just sat there and watched her" - Whatever it was, I must admit, his facial expression was pretty funny. But, not a tear shed. The Nurse told me that he was the first baby she had ever done that to that didnt make a peep! She was quite impressed.
20 minutes later, the Doc came in and told me my baby has RSV. My heart sunk. Seriously? What does this mean, what do I need to do? I was scared. I knew that was something that people seroiusly fear and my baby had it.
Cru slept in our bedroom in his little bed for a week, any peep he made had me on my heels. The last thing the Doc said to me before we left his office that day was that he will stip breathing, turn blue, start crying and then pink up again...doesnt that sound lovely?
We took Cru in almost everyday the past 2 weeks to get him checked. We were told that we caught it early (day 2 to be exact)...my babies ears are now infection free, he doesnt have anything in his lungs and he is sounding SOOOO good! We didnt have to hospitalize him, he wasnt able to be on any meds for it because of how young he is, we sunctioned he little nose like Nazis and had the humidifier on full blast...he made it through like a champ!

Octobers Best

Cru go to go to his first pumpkin patch! We had to pick out a pumpkin for him, but of course he loved being there. HAHA. I was not daring enough to put him on a bail of hay or surrounded by pumpkins, so in dad and moms arms is where he stayed...Doesn't Cru look EXACTLY like Casey? So cute!

On Friday evening we took Cru to the 5A girls soccer state championship game (which was totally lame) at the Rio Tinto Stadium...he was quite the trooper and was loving every minute of him - it was a good practice round for his first REAL soccer game.

It was so fun figuring out what our little family would dress up as for Halloween. Cru loved is get up. He even fell asleep in the pot - it was hilarious. We took him to 4 Halloween parties in 2 days and he totally stole the show at Casey and my work places.