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!

SO TIRED!

Thursday November 15th

I was on the phone and CJ was so fussy, so I was just pacing around holding him on my side while I finished the phone call. Next thing I know, I looked down and he had fallen asleep! Poor guy!

YOU GOT IT!

In the last week or so CJ has started reaching for things. To some it may look like CJ's just waving his arms about and happens to hit his toys. But as this picture clearly depicts, he is definitely going after his toys on purpose. Each day his motor skills improve and it's so wonderful to get so much joy out of his seemingly little triumphs. Keep up the good work, CJ - we're so proud of you!!

UPDATE: CLIENT COUNSELING

Saturday November 10th

Here's the update on the Client Counseling competition that Bryce and Shay were a part of. They competed with 48 other pairs on Thursday, and on Friday, Bryce and Shay were one of eight pairs that were called back. So Saturday morning the other teams of two competed in single elimination rounds. Bryce and Shay made it past round one, so they were now one of four teams left. Each pair competed against another pair and the winning teams competed against each other for the championship. Though Bryce and Shay did exceptionally well (just ask they're judges...they had so many great things to say about them), they weren't able to best the third year law students they were up against and got eliminated in the second-to-last round. They had gone into the competition not expecting anything and ended up making it as one of the last 4 teams, so they were happy... Now they're just planning on taking it next year :)

VICTORIOUS

Friday November 9th

Bryce's flag football team - made up of all 1L law students - swept the intramural competition and took the championship. In two very anticlimactic final games (both games were ended early due to a mercy rule), Elders and Heathens came out on top, again, and proved that a bunch of Mormon boys really can play some ball. Go team! (back L-R): Beau Juassi, Nate Anderson, Shay Wells, Nick Lemon, Levi Adams (front L-R): Taylor North, Jake Brennan, Bryce Mackay, Tyson Dobbs, Chris Luires

LITTLE MAN

Tuesday November 6th

CJ in some of his new clothes (babies are great because they're always growing and I'm always looking for an excuse to buy new clothes, even if it's not for me :). Don't you love it when little kids dress like grown-ups?

FULL OF PRIDE...BUT IN A GOOD WAY

Moment #1: Yesterday Bryce participated in a law school competition - Client Counseling. Any of the first, second, and third year law students could compete and the winners will get to go on to a competition in Canada and participate in Gonzaga's prestgious moot court. The first round ended yesterday, and of the 48 pairs that competed, only 8 pairs were called back. And this morning we found out that Bryce and his partner, Shay, were called back (only 3 of the 16 called back were first years)! Bryce went into this competition not expecting anything, but really just wanting the experience. And after their session last night, even though they received good feedback from the judges, Bryce really didn't think they'd go on...but he was so glad he did it because he felt like he learned a lot. And then this morning (thanks for the call, Beau), Bryce was so surprised...and excited! When it comes to relationships, Bryce is one of the most talented people I know. He has such a gift for making people feel comfortable and truly cared about, and I know that whatever path life takes us on, Bryce will bless the lives of those he comes in contact with all along the way. I love you, Baby!!

Moment #2: Bryce came home this morning around 9 AM to grab some stuff. CJ was just waking up and so he was happy and still cuddly. As I got some papers together for Bryce, he held CJ, and CJ immediately wrapped his little hand around his daddy's fingers and leaned his head against Bryce's chin. Bryce sighed and said, "Oh I love being a dad!" Of course, my heart swelled! Aren't those just the moments we live for?!

MANITO PARK - CJ's 3 mo PICS

CJ's 3 mo PICS

Thursday November 1st

Props to Angie Gurney for doing such a great job with CJ's pictures! We had to reschedule about a hundred times due to the weather and the finicky sleep habits of an infant, and even though she had a tough job, Angie was able to pull it off (fussy baby + cold weather + bright, bright sunshine = difficult to take great pics) - these pictures are great! Seriously, Angie, we couldn't be happier. Check out Angie's work at http://agphotography2007.blogspot.com/

BOOK CLUB

Thursday November 8th

Yes! I finally have something that I do, something that gives me some "me" time! Bryce has his sports, and now I have my book club. Thank you, Erin, for hosting such a wonderful get-together. I've never been a part of a book club before so I didn't know what to expect, but it was so much fun! P.S. the Twilight series is totally worth the read!! Bookworms (back L-R): Janyse, Jessica, Angie, Becca, Maggie, Kathryn, Anya (front L-R): Michelle, Erin, Paige

CJ'S FIRSTS...

Since we've moved, everyone is missing all of CJ's first moments - his first coo, his first smile, his first rollover, his first laugh, his first football game, his first Halloween... So we thought we'd share some of those moments with you. Wish you could be here!

FALL LEAVES

Saturday November 3rd

Can you believe that this is the first time that Bryce and his little sister, Kelsey, have ever jumped in a pile of leaves?! The Manito Park area has got some piles that are perfect for it! Even if you're driving, you've got to take advantage while you can!!

Football

Saturday November 3rd

One thing Bryce hasn't missed out on by moving is sports. He plays basketball once a week, is on an intramural flag football team with his Gonzaga law school buddies (the championship is Friday - they're undefeated), and just won the Spokane stake's flag football championship on Saturday, November 3rd - go Spokane 6th ward!

CJ - 3 months at a glance

Only for you, Mom

Okay Mom, I know you wish you were here to see so many things...like CJ's smile, or me back in my pre-pregnancy jeans. But I also know that you wish you could see what became of the apartment that was lying somewhere under all those boxes, right? Especially CJ's room? Well here you go - here's some pics of "the nursery" (the nursery that we never use...soon enough though). If we could only paint the walls... Anyway, it couldn't have happened without you! Love you - miss you!!

Spokanese

Okay, for all those friends and family out there who are dying to know what life is like in Spokane, we dedicate our first post in our first blog to you! Here are some pics of what Spokane has to offer (we'll let you decide whether it's worthwhile or not :) -