GROWING UP SO FAST

CJ's first try at eating rice cereal...we need to keep practicing :)

"I CAN DO IT ALL BY MYSELF"

Thursday December 27th

CJ's learning how to sit up all by himself (I promise, my hands are not touching him in this pic - that's all CJ)

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN COEUR D'LANE

Monday December 17th

GOT TO KEEP IT IN

Sunday December 16th

On Sunday we went to check on CJ while he was taking a nap and this is what we found. Even in his sleep, he loves his binkie.

2 BLISSFUL YEARS GOING ON ETERNITY

Saturday December 15th

Saturday December 15th was our two year anniversary. I awoke to a bouquet of lilies, my favorite flowers. Bryce was about to start making breakfast, but I had planned on making his favorite - German pancakes - so he let me take over. After a relaxing morning, we got ourselves ready, dropped off the baby (thank you again, Rachel - you're the best!), and Bryce took me out to Spencer's Steaks and Chops, a five-star restaurant in the Doubletree Inn in downtown Spokane. I don't know if it was the fact that we hadn't been on a date alone since CJ was born, or if it was the romantic atmosphere of the restaurant, or if it was just the fact that I felt more than ever how blessed the last two years of my live have been, being able to share them with the love of my life, but it was definitely the best date I have ever been on (I'm thinkin' it was due to the last one I mentioned)! I love you the most, Bryce...come what may!

BRRRR, IT'S COLD!

Friday December 14th

Yes, that IS ice all over the bush!

A 360 OF TUMMY TIME

Friday December 14th

Pretty much CJ is balancing on just his belly...we thought it was funny :)

CELEBRATION

Thursday December 13th

After two intense weeks of finals, we thought it only appropriate to celebrate Bryce completing his first semester of finals (which means he completed his first semester of law school - yea!) by enjoying a good meal with some good company. Bryce has worked so hard this semester and truly enjoyed his experience. We feel very blessed to have the Lord's hand in our lives, and we have seen it work in so many different ways since we've been here. Thank you to our families, our friends, and all of those who have gotten us to this point in our lives. We love you!

L-R: CJ, Bryce, Paige, Polly and Nate Anderson at Chili's in downtown Spokane

THANK YOU, GRANDMA SHEILA

Sunday December 9th

On Thursday, CJ got a package from Grandma Sheila, Bryce's mom. Inside were some cute little socks and an adorable overall set. If you look really close, you can see little penguins on his onesie, on the leg of his overalls, and even on his socks. What would babies do without their grandmas?!

O CHRISTMAS TREE

Thursday December 6th

So we're Scrooges this year, and are not doing a Christmas tree. Thank goodness the law school has a great tree right in their lobby. If we edit it right, we could send out this picture on a card and no one would ever even know it's not our's...shhh, don't tell...

LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING

Thursday December 6th

On Thursday, I had some work that I needed to get done on the computer, so I thought I'd put CJ down for some tummy time next to me and I'd get some much needed typing finished. I put him down, and then turned my attention to the computer. CJ was cooing away, so without even looking at him, I knew he was fine. After several minutes I looked down, and to my surprise, this is what I saw - CJ, face down, but still babbling up a storm!

AND SO HIS MALE MODELING CAREER BEGINS

Haley Warner is an amazing photographer who has taken our engagement photos, my bridals, our wedding photos, and CJ's announcement pics. And now she has chosen a pic of him to use on an example Christmas card on her blog.

CJ has pretty much got his "blue steel" look down (for those of you who don't know, that's a reference to the movie Zoolander...that's for Bryce :). Check out Haley's work at her website: http://www.haleyannwarner.com/

DO WE WONDER WHY HE'S DOUBLED IN WEIGHT?

LOOK WHO LOVES TUMMY TIME

Monday December 3rd

JUST FOR FUN...

For something silly, check us out at : http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1146052970

CHRISTMAS PACKAGE

Saturday December 1st

Paige's mom sent a fun Christmas package with a wonderful Christmas book, Christmas Day in the Morning, a cozy, festive blanket, and a traditional advent calendar (Paige has had an advent calendar every year for as long as she can remember, and now the tradition continues with CJ). Thank you so much, Mom! We love you and can't wait to see you soon!!

CJ's 4 mo CHECKUP

Wednesday November 28th

So here's the update on CJ: at his 4 month checkup, Dr. Lee (CJ's pediatrician) was pleased to hear that CJ is right on track developmentally. CJ is rolling over from his belly to his back, he's holding his torso up with his hands when he lies on his belly, he's sitting up and standing with assistance, he's cooing, babbling, squealing, and laughing, he's repeating sounds (i.e., if you talk to him, he coos back in response), he reaches for things and grasps them, and he turns toward a speaking voice. Way to go, CJ - keep it up!

CJ also weighed in at 14 pounds 8 oz (exactly double what he weighed when he was born), which puts him in the 42nd percentile. He measured 24 1/2 inches long, which means he's grown 5 1/2 inches over the last 4 months, and that puts him in the 33rd percentile. And finally, his head circumference was 16 1/2 in, which puts him in the 40th percentile (yes! his head is growing! when he was born his head was in the 25th percentile). They say anything between the 25th and the 75th percentile is average, so it's good to know that even though he's a little small, overall, he's average. Of course, we don't think he's average...we think he's perfect!!

HOW COULD YOU NOT LOVE HIM?!

Wednesday November 28th

BUMBO BLUES

Wednesday November 28th

CJ got his Bumbo chair today, and I think it's gonna take some getting used to :)

THIS IS NOT MY IDEA OF "MILD"

Monday November 26th

When we were deciding where to go for law school, Bryce told me that Spokane is like Utah, in that it has all four seasons. But he promised that it would be better because Spokane is supposedly more mild, i.e. cooler summers and warmer winters. Well Bryce...this isn't looking more mild to me!

These pics were taken from the hallway, a.k.a. wind tunnel, just outside the door of our second-story apartment...and I had no shoes on.

CJ's 3rd MONTH AT A GLANCE

October 26th - November 25th

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND 2007

Thursday November 22nd - Sunday November 25th

Due to law school finals that are about to start, we stayed in Spokane this year and Bryce's wonderful family came and had Thanksgiving with us here. It was a great 5 days and here are some pics - mainly of CJ - of all the fun we had.

HERE's THE REST OF OUR APARTMENT, MOM

Sunday November 25th

It's taken me 3 months to post these, but it's finally done, Mom - here you go! And I want to thank you again for helping us get this place together. Thank you for driving with us those 14 hours to Spokane and sitting in the back with CJ the entire time, and for making some sense out of the overwhelming mound of boxes that we lived in those first few days. Having just had a baby, moving from the only place I'd ever called home, and being new to the whole law-school-wife thing, needless to say, I was a useless mess, and you were my light in the darkness. So this is what became of those rooms that were once nothing but piles and piles of cardboard. This collage is dedicated to you, Mom, with much gratitude and love. P.S. Let me know what you think of the place -k-

UNIPOD

Saturday November 24th

We like to swaddle CJ's arms when it's time to sleep so that he doesn't keep himself awake, and he often ends up getting one or both arms out eventually. But today he was satisfied with just getting a leg out :)

CJ's FIRST SHOWER

Thursday November 22nd

CJ was spreading his arms to get all he could and he was even eating the water - he LOVED it!!

"I'M SO TIRED...BUT I CAN STILL EAT"

Wednesday November 21st

THUMB-SUCKER

Saturday November 17th

CJ has gone from fist to thumb. And so it begins...and we're desperately trying to stop it!