OK, SO WE'RE NOT JUST BIAS PARENTS

"So apparently our son is cute," were Bryce's words as we put the groceries in the trunk. We had made our way to Costco on Saturday - the best time for samples...the worst time for lines - and it happened again...tons of people staring at CJ! If they didn't flat out come up to us and say how adorable our son was, they did double takes with huge grins on their faces, or they pointed at him and smiled as we walked by, commenting to whomever they were with about "how cute that baby is." We had to check a few times to make sure they weren't laughing because one of his shoes was missing, which happens often, or because he had dried prunes from lunch still on face or something. But to our complete pleasure, they were simply fascinated by our son.

When we first moved to Spokane, CJ was only three weeks old, and everywhere we went, people made comments. If we went out to eat, not only did our server go gah-gah over him, but other servers from across the restaurant would come over to see him. If we went to the grocery store, not only was the cashier complimenting him, but people in line as well. It definitely made the transition to living in Spokane a little easier, that's for sure :).

As he's gotten older, we've expected the comments to kind of disappear, but to our surprise they haven't. And lately, now that CJ is coming more into his own - smiling at strangers, talking up a storm (or more like yelling up a storm), sitting in the cart, etc. - we're getting comments as often as we did when he was a tiny newborn! Even last Wednesday, Rebecca Taylor, a woman in our ward who is in the Young Women's presidency with Paige, was complimenting CJ on how cute he is and told Paige to send his picture to J.Crew Kids - they feature an adorable baby in their catalog once a month - she said "he has the face." We didn't think much of it, but after Saturday, maybe we should. Who knows...maybe CJ will be our moneymaker! We already thought we would live off his millions one day when he's in the NBA (if you've seen his massive hands then you know why we'd think that). But maybe he'll be our child star in the meantime!

Disclaimer: This post is in no way meant to brag about CJ, but rather, archive a special experience in a semi-humorous way

OUR NEW PLACE

We said we weren't gonna move again until after Bryce finished law school. But after living in our current place for the last 8 months, though it's nice, we realize that if we're ever gonna add more children to our family, we're going to need more room. So after much deliberation about moving, and looking at various places, we ended up going back to the first place we looked at, and today we made it official - we put down the deposit for a two bedroom townhouse (in case there's any confusion, we are renting...and will be until after Bryce finishes law school). The Somerset complex, where we'll be living, is small and quaint, with only 8 units, which is nice. The complex itself is older, so it has somewhat of a dated layout, but the new owners have completely redone everything - new carpet, new paint, new doors and fixtures, new appliances, new everything - and we're gonna be the first to live in the newly remodeled unit! Besides not having a garage, and the basement not being completely finished, we're bummed that it doesn't come with a washer and dryer. But we figure that we're gonna have to buy a set eventually, so we might as well invest in one now (we can probably afford it more now...after law school we're gonna be even poorer since we'll be paying off all our school loans). Anyway, we won't be moving in until after Bryce's finals are over in mid May, and there's some things they haven't finished yet, but here are some pics of what will soon be our new home (we'll have to post more after we actually move in). Click on any of the pictures to make them bigger:

2834 E. 35th is our soon-to-be new address!

Here's the stairs. But don't worry, there is a small entry way so you don't open the door to the stairs (they're actually off to the right behind the door). There's also a small guest bathroom to the left, but our camera was dying and didn't register the pic :(

The newly remodeled kitchen with all brand new stainless steel appliances. The picture is actually being taken where the dining area is (yes, we will finally have tile under our table and no longer gross carpet!)

And the fridge is actually connected to the sink's water line so we can use the water tap and it makes ice (anyone who knew our apartment in Provo knows that our fridge had this stuff but wasn't connected, and our fridge in our current apartment here in Spokane is just old :)!!

There's some light fixtures that still need to be hung, and the fireplace will probably never be used (it's not gas), but this is our living room. It's big enough for what we have...especially without the awful electric baseboard heaters that seem to be in every apartment in Spokane (thank goodness we will finally have gas heat!!)

Here's our cute little back patio. Looks like we need to get come patio furniture and a BBQ :) There's not really a yard, but just across the street is an elementary school, so we can take CJ to play there. And the fun part is that the window just beyond the fence is the townhouse of our good friends, Becca and Levi Adams (and yes, before we move in the landlords will put up our blinds too)

This is the unfinished basement where our washer and dryer will go. The insulation will be finished before we move in, and they're planning on putting up dry wall as well (but the landlords wouldn't commit to a date for that) At least the floor is painted, right :)

I actually had pictures of the upstairs hall with the linen closets, but like I said before, our camera was dying. Anyway, this is CJ's room, which he will share with a future sibling (we're planning on one more before law school is over...but no announcement yet people :)

I don't really dig the layout with the vanities in the bedrooms - I can only imagine what mischief CJ will get into with this one when he's a toddler - but the rooms are pretty big despite the vanities, so that's a plus

The two rooms upstairs are joined by a bathroom (with just a toilet and a shower/tub). You can't really tell in this pic, but Bryce loves how deep the tub is

Here's the master bedroom's vanity (don't worry, a mirror will be there before we move in)

Not a very good angle of the master bedroom, but I was trying to get the TWO closets in the pic (and we'll definitely be taking down the cheesy curtains in the rooms as well)

LET ME CLARIFY...

Okay, when I put up my last post, I meant it to be a blog about something I was thinking about. After receiving several encouraging and supportive comments - thank you to those who cheered me on - I felt it my duty to let you know that I have in no way actually committed to running the Rock 'N' Roll marathon. In fact, even my father-in-law, who is an avid marathon runner, thinks it would be a pretty difficult thing to train for in just two months, though he supports me 100% and will even run it with me if I choose. Soooo, I'm still thinking about it, but seeing my wonderful father-in-law's hesitancy made me rethink my decision. Maybe I'll have to put this marathon on the back burner for now...

I KNOW...I MUST BE CRAZY

I've gotten it in my mind that I want to run a marathon again, and I want to run it this summer. I'm not exactly sure what I'm thinking, especially because the marathon I want to run is only two months away, but I think I just want to prove it to myself that after having a baby, and not having my husband by my side this time, I can still do it. Plus, I think if I'm running as fun of a marathon as this Rock n' Roll marathon looks (it's ranked as one of the top ten marathons in the country), it will help me get through it. What do you think?

(click HERE to check out the website about the marathon)

(click on the map to see it enlarged)

2/3 OF A YEAR!

CJ's 8 months old today and he is just the joy of our lives! As you can see, he loves to get our attention with his screeches, blowing raspberries, and grabbing everything he can get his hands on. He loves to read books and sing songs, he loves to sit on the counter in his Bumbo chair and watch his mommy do the dishes, he loves it when his "friends" (his stuffed animals) talk to him and he likes to talk to them too, he loves it when his daddy makes funny noises, and he loves it when his mommy swishes her hair (especially if it's in reach for him to grab :). He hasn't started crawling yet because the instant he's put on his belly, he rolls right over (always to his right), and he prefers to sit up and play. He's just like his daddy - a picky eater - but he LOVES his veggies and would drink water out of his sippy cup all day, if we let him. He enjoys his toys that he can pick up and fling, and he just cut his first tooth yesterday (bottom left). We look forward to what the next four months have in store for us and can't believe our little boy is growing up so fast. We love you, CJ! Thank you for all your smiles, laughs, cuddles, and love!

SPOKANE IS MORE INDECISIVE THAN I AM!

This is how Spokane looked this morning :( ...

...and by the afternoon, this is what we had (warm and dry enough for Paige to go on a run :)

CJ's FIRST TOOTH

CJ's first tooth came in yesterday! That would explain the need for lots of naps, and all the pools of drool :) If you can't tell, it's on his bottom left...guess we need to go get him a toothbrush.

CJ's FIRST EASTER

CJ's Easter outfit

Did you catch the matching argyle socks? :)

CJ's Easter basket from the Spokane Easter Bunny

CJ's looking at the ball because it lights up

CJ's so happy about his swimming alligator tub toy...

...that he's going to eat it!

After a nap, CJ woke up to find that the Seattle Easter Bunny had left him a basket as well (it was actually a bucket). One of the toys inside was this puppet.

CJ LOVES it when stuffed animals talk to him!

Another toy in his Easter bucket was a plushy turtle that had little sea animals in its shell. Each animal is a different shape and makes a different sound. CJ's playing with the square, crinkly fish!

Besides clothes, bath toys, stuffed animals, and play dough, CJ also got bubbles!

Oooo! CJ loved the big bubbles Daddy made for him!

EASTER BREAK

The great thing about Bryce attending a Catholic law school is that not only did he get a day off for Easter, but he also got a day off for Good Friday, which made it a 4 day weekend for us...so of course, we headed west. The weather was beautiful, the activities were fun, and most of all, the company was the best! Here's what we did in Seattle:

-Thurs. Mar 20: Bryce skipped his softball game (which the other team ended up forfeiting anyway, so it didn't matter) and we took off to Redmond/Bellevue/Seattle

-Fri. Mar 21: Paige got her birthday gift from Sheila and Greg, Bryce's parents. They gave her the Nike+ Sport Kit and some headphones to go with the iPod nano Bryce gave her! She's so excited to use it! Bryce and Paige took advantage of the weather, and the babysitter, and went on a great run. Everyone went downtown to the Seattle Aquarium, but it was closed, so they went to Niketown and got the last part of Paige's birthday gift from the Mackay's: a pair of new running shoes to go with the Nike+! Then we all went out to eat at a great seafood restaurant overlooking Lake Union, McCormick & Schmidt's, where we met Jason and Rachel Nichols (Rachel is an old family friend).

Paige's new Nike+ running shoes. She decided to go with something fun and funky!

The Nike+ Sport Kit

The Nike Vapor adjustable sport headphones

Apparently CJ would prefer his shoe to any other food :)

Eating at McCormick & Schmidt's

-Sat. Mar 22: Bryce's sister, Kelsey, got her drivers' license - yea! And CJ tried prunes and Cheerios for the first time; he liked the prunes, but just kind of gagged on the Cheerios :). Then we all went back down to Seattle and went to the Aquarium. After the Aquarium, we headed back to Redmond where we dyed Easter eggs and did some last minute Easter shopping. That night we watched Dan in Real Life (LOVED it!!).

It looks like chocolate pudding, but I promise, it's prunes

CJ at the Seattle Aquarium touching starfish in the water

and now trying to grab the starfish that's in a tank

How does CJ measure up to a shark?

As always, CJ has Bryce in his snare :)

We were actually inside an aquarium so fish were swimming above our heads

Bryce and Paige with the eggs they made for each other

This is the special egg Paige made for Bryce...

-Sun. Mar 23: CJ's first Easter! Everyone went to Church at 9 AM. Then CJ got his first Easter basket filled with books and toys. Then he took a nap while everyone worked on dinner. After CJ's nap, we all got Easter baskets (including CJ again). Then we all took naps, ate a yummy dinner of steak and salmon, had strawberry shortcake for dessert, then watched Enchanted and went to bed.

Our first Easter as a little family

-Mon. Mar 24: Paige and Bryce had cleanings and exams at the dentist, got Bryce's mom her birthday gift, and came home for lunch. Then Paige, Sheila, and Kelsey all got pedicures, while Bryce took CJ to his dad, Greg's office. Then we went home and had take-out Mexican for dinner, packed up our stuff, and took off for Spokane. Before leaving Redmond, we stopped by a Modbe rep's house and got Paige a swim top for this summer, and somehow didn't actually get back on the freeway until 8 PM, but Bryce cruised home and we were at our place by midnight. As we went to bed, Paige told Bryce how great the trip was and that, more than ever, she really feels like Seattle is the place that she wants to be (which made Bryce very happy :).

Could Paige's toenails be any brighter?! :)

This is the swim top Paige got from Modbe. Do you like it?

FAMILY PICTURES

While we were in Utah a couple of weeks ago we had our first family photo session. Haley Warner is an incredible photographer and these are just a few of the great pics she took: