Easter Weekend 2011

We have had such a great Easter weekend with Ian!  I took off of work Friday to spend the day with my boys and because Jason's parents came into town for a visit.  I think Ian was happy to have mommy and daddy both home for the day!

 Ian was excited to see his Nanny, and Nanny was super-excited to see her little grandson!

 Ian and Nanny played together and watched cartoons.  They had a great time!

 Saturday, April 23rd, was also the day that Ian turned 7 months old!  I can't believe how fast time flies!  He doesn't hardly seem like a baby anymore...he's turning into a little boy.  I'm excited for all of the fun times to come, but also kind of sad to move past the infant stage.  He just changes every single day.

Jason was able to install Ian's new car seat, so he got to try it out this weekend.  He seems to really like the extra room, and he's sitting up more than usual.  This allows him to see out of the windows, so I think that he's enjoying the new view.  Here is a pic of him on our way to church on Easter Sunday.

We went to the 9am ("early") church service because Jason had to work at 12:30pm.  This allowed us to have lunch together as a family before he had to leave. Here is a pic of our little family on Easter!

 Ian with Nanny and Poppa

 All of us!

This is just a pic of Jason walking Ian out to the car after church.  I thought it was sweet...and since I had my camera in hand...

Hope everyone had a blessed and Happy Easter!!  It is the most important day of the year in the Christian faith!  He has risen!

Bunny Tale

On Tuesday night, I thought it would be fun to take Ian to see the Easter Bunny at the mall.  We took him to see Santa at Christmas, but he was only 2.5 months old at that time.  He just kind of sat in Santa's arms...not too interested.  You always see the kids that get upset by large, costumed creatures, so I wasn't sure what to expect now that Ian is older.

Fortunately, he was in a good mood that night, and we went right after dinner.  When he saw the bunny, he just felt the fur and smiled!  The photographer and I just called his name and made goofy noises to get him to smile.  He grinned from ear to ear!  It was so cute!  All of the people around the Easter display were oooing and awwing because Ian was so smiley.  I was definitely a proud mama!  We got several cute pics, and it was hard to choose.  Here is the one I picked!  It will definitely go in the baby book! ;)

Sittin' and Strollin'

Ian has been able to sit up for a few weeks, but it's hard to keep him in one place!  He's always pushing forward onto his belly so that he can move around.  In effort to help him practice sitting, I piled lots of toys in front of him to keep his attention.

On Saturday, Ian's new stroller arrived!  We just had a frame stroller for his infant seat, so we new that we would eventually have to purchase another stroller when he got bigger.  After several weeks of research and "best price hunting," I found this great item!  I love it and it's super easy to fold!  Ian likes it too...he has really enjoyed facing forward.

Then and Now

Since September 2009, right after we moved to Wichita, Jason and I have been involved with a couples LifeGroup (bible study) through our church.  We've gotten to know some great couples through this wonderful ministry, and we've been able to share important parts of their lives.  Last year, 5 out of the 6 girls in our group were pregnant at the same time...all for the first time!  The 6th girl, Mikah, has two children already, so she was our "mother hen." :)

Here is a pic from last Summer of all of us....

...and this week, we got a current pic with all of the babies (and Mikah's kids)!! 

It was such a blessing to share my pregnancy journey with these girls.  We are so thankful for God providing us all with beautiful, healthy children!!

Okay, change of subject....we have recently been planning to build a deck in our back yard.  Most of the houses here in Wichita have decks, but, for some reason, ours doesn't...probably because our basement is entirely underground and our main level doesn't sit up too high.  Our main rationale for building a deck is to have more space to entertain and spend time outside.

We have started collecting items to add to our pending deck.  Last month, we bought a patio set.  This past weekend, my dad and stepmom gave us their chiminea (I have always wanted one of these...I LOVE the smell of pinon wood!).  Anyway, we tried it out tonight.  Ian loves to play on his blanket in the grass, especially during a beautiful Spring evening! :)

Here are my two boys!!  I love them so much!!

Decor Updates

I've been in a decorating mood lately!  There are several things around the house that I've wanted to get done for a while now, and finally, we're making some progress.  First off, Jason and I have been wanting to move the TV from our bedroom to our living room.  We have a TV in our basement, but I tend to spend more time upstairs now since that's where all of Ian's toys are located.  We debated about mounting the TV on the wall vs. placing it on a stand.  We also agonized over the location.  We finally decided to mount it...and decided on the location...only to find out that the cable company wouldn't install another outlet where we asked.  Apparently we are at the "limit" for our house.  They said an electrician could come out an move an outlet, but that sounded like a lot of work...and $$$!  So, we opted to mount it in a different location.  My biggest concern was hiding the cords.  I REALLY didn't want them hanging down the wall, so I spent tons of time reasearhging different options.  Here is what I finally came up with!

 I'm pretty happy with it!  I would prefer to have the cable box on the bottom shelf, but Jason said that we can't use the remote easily...so, I guess I will compromise.  I just have the cords taped behind the shelf now, but we plan to attach them a little better eventually.

My next project was to create a photo "collage" wall above our staircase.  My friend, Trina, is an Interior Designer, and she came up with this arrangement.  I love it!

Finally, I've been wanting to do some decor updates to our bathroom.  I really just had some towels that we got for our wedding, and that was about all of the color we had in there!  I found some new towels that I liked at Target (see below), and those were my color inspiration.  I then found several other pieces.  The wood plaque was from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  The colors matched perfectly to the towels!  My friend, Mary, works there and held another plaque that is a slightly different design.  We still need to hang that one.

 The other day, I was at Kirklands and saw these sconces.  I could hardly believe how great they matched my pictures!  They resembled the dandelions, and they had nearly all fo the same colors!

 Finally, I had been wanting to decorate with apothecary jars.  I found a set of 3 at Kirklands, and then I had to decide what to put in them.  My friend, Ali, had this bird's nest idea.  I thought it was so cute, and again, the colors matched perfectly!

We also got some other dark brown accessories (i.e. cup, toothbrush holder, trash can, towel rack, etc.) .

Every thing looks really good!  Hopefully one day we can redo the tile, shower, countertops, lighting, and mirror.... :)

Volunteer Opportunity

For the last several months, I have felt compelled to volunteer in our church.  I put it off for several months due to being preggo, then Ian being born, but I think I'm getting closer to being able to handle another challenge and opportunity.  For the last 3 months, we've taken Ian to the "Cove" at our church...this is the name for the nursery.  Every week, I see the same people volunteering in there, and I kind of wondered if they ever got a Sunday off?!  At the last service, the pastor mentioned that they could use help in the children's ministry, so I decided to sign up.  I hesitated because it won't necessarily be convenient for me, but I know that service isn't about convenience...it's about honoring God!

Anyway, today was my first day to "shadow" in the Cove.  I had fun holding the other babies, and I feel a lot more comfortable around them now since I have one of my own. ;-)  Ian was in there too, and he was so well-behaved!  I was definitely a proud mama!  I know that the Lord has good things in store for me through this opportunity, so I am excited to serve Him!

Future Fun...

I don't have too much going on right now...just working and playing mommy to my sweet little one.  So, I thought I would write about a few upcoming things.  July 2011 is a big month!

On the 8th, Jason and I will celebrate our 5th Anniversary.  It's hard to believe how much we've accomplished in the last 5 years.  We've lived in 3 states, worked various jobs, bought a house, had a baby, etc.  We first met and started dating in 2001, so this makes 10 years that we've known each other.  My love for Jason grows each day.  He's such a loving and caring husband to me, and a great daddy to Ian!

On the 15th, I will celebrate the big 3-0!  I can't believe that I'm going to be thirty!! It is so strange.  I still feel like my parents' little girl. 

As part of the celebration, we are going to be taking a trip to NYC in June with my mom and stepdad.  I am soooo excited!  I have wanted to go to NYC for as long as I can remember!  We already have tickets to "Memphis" on Broadway, and I can't wait to sight-see.  I am nervous to be away from Ian, so I capped our trip to 3 nights.  I think that this will be enough time to feel like a vacation, but hopefully I can handle being away for this long. 

We are also planning a few other fun things this summer: a trip to Kansas City in June, and a trip to Red River, NM in July.  My parents have a condo in Red River, as well as my aunt, uncle, cousins, and their families.  It should be a good time!

That's all for now...

6 Month Stats

On Thursday, Ian had his 6 month check-up.  Everything went great, and the doctor said he was doing well!  He was 27 inches long (69%) and 16 lbs 7 oz (28%), making him long and thin.  We also got the "official" go ahead to start solids, even though I cheated and started last week. :)  He has been "talking" a lot more lately...saying more of the consonant sounds.  Pretty soon, he'll probably be telling me "no, mama!"  haha!

6 Months Old

Today's the day!  Ian is 6 months old!  I cannot believe how fast time has flown!  I feel like he JUST arrived...a tiny little baby.  He definitely isn't tiny anymore.  He is growing so quickly!  Here are a few pics from today.  I'm sad because I wrote him a 6 month letter, but saved it on another computer.  I will have to post it tomorrow.
Here are a few pics from this evening:

Yumm...carrots and rice cereal

Sitting up on his own....(still not for very long, but getting better!)

I love you, Ian!

Ian's 6 Month Letter

Here is the letter that I intended to post on Wednesday.
Dear Sweet Ian,
It has already been 6 months—half a year!—since you came into our lives.  I cannot believe how fast time flies, or how much you change every single day!  You are turning into a little boy and don’t look like a little baby infant anymore.  You have so many little expressions and sounds that you make…daddy and I love to play with you and get you to make all of your fun faces.
Your biggest milestone over the past 2 months has been learning to roll over.  You did this the first time on the day after you turned 4 months!  You still only roll from your back to tummy…to the left…but this seems to get you by just fine.  We joke that you’re going to be a marathon runner because you are always kicking your legs and moving around.  Even when you’re on your back, you have done complete 180 degree turns!  One day, daddy put you in your crib for a nap, and came back later to find you facing the end of your crib and playing with your bumper.  It was so adorable!  You are becoming more active with playing, and love to reach and grab for anything in the vicinity.  Your favorite things to play with are your blue crinkly elephant that daddy got you when you were “a good boy,” Sophie the Giraffe, any type of ring or hoop, and all of the toys on your Jumperoo or Exersaucer.  You also like to play with mommy’s hair and try to grab at our food on the table.
Mommy and daddy sing lots of songs to you, and you LOVE them!  It’s probably because we act goofy while singing.  Your newest favorite is “Skinamarinky Dinky Dink,” but you also still like “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” and “Patty Cake.”  You still like watching Baby Einstein videos, so we let you watch those occasionally.  Bath time is one of your favorite times, and you are splashing more and more!  Mommy usually gets so wet during bath time!  You like to play with your water toys and smile when mommy sings “Splish Splash” to you.  You are making lots of new sounds, especially one that involves rolling your lips together and making little spit bubbles…haha!
Last week, you had your first taste of rice cereal.  Up until now, you have been nursing and having some formula supplementation.  You made some funny faces with the rice cereal and didn’t seem to be a big fan at first.  By the third day, you seemed to get more used to it.   Last Saturday, you tried your first vegetable – yellow squash – and you seemed to like just fine!  I’m thinking that you’re going to love food, just like mommy and daddy!  After your 6 month doctor’s appointment tomorrow, we will start getting more aggressive with the solids, and will probably start feeding you them twice a day.  I wonder what you’re favorites will be?  I’m going to guess carrots and bananas.  We’ll see!
Mikah is still babysitting you when mommy and daddy are at work.  This is generally Mondays and Tuesdays from 2-5pm and all day on Wednesdays.  You love to be with Mikah and enjoy time with Karly and Silas (Mikah’s kids).   The weather has been warming up, so you’ve been spending some time outside.  Mikah said that you walk backwards around the patio in her walker.  So cute!  You also attend the church nursery on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings.  Everybody talks about how you are such a good and happy baby!  We still have our LifeGroup on Thursday evenings.  All 5 babies are here now, and it is so fun to watch you all grow together.  You all definitely keep us entertained...and busy…during our group nights!

I think that you recognize family now.  March 3rd-6th was your first vacation – we went to Dallas!  On Thursday morning, we left right after your 6am feeding and you slept until we got to Norman.  We made a quick stop at All-Saints so nanny could show you off to all of your friends.  You smiled so much when nanny held you and talked to you!  After that stop, you slept the rest of the way to Flower Mound.  During our time in Dallas, you had so much fun playing with Eden.  She did all kinds of things to make you laugh.  Aunt Heddie would hold you and walk around the house.  Eden would run behind her like she was chasing you, and you just giggled and giggled!  You must have known that we were out of our routine because you didn’t sleep well while we were on vacation for the first few nights, but the last night was better.  We also got to go and visit Chad, Ali, and Eme.  You and Eme were so cute hanging out together in your bouncy seats.  It was funny to see Eme (almost 3 years old) in her bouncy seat!  The trip back home wasn’t quite as smooth.  We left in the early afternoon and I don’t think you were too tired. You were a little fussy on the way home, so we made another stop in Norman to see Nanny and Papa.  This break helped to tire you out and you slept better the rest of the way.
You have been doing great when we are at home and in our normal “routine.”  You generally wake up around 8:30 or 9:00am and play with daddy, he feeds you and you take a morning nap.  After your early afternoon feeding, you typically take another short nap.  You love to play in the afternoon and you’re excited when mommy gets home from work.  You eat again around 5:30 or 6pm, then we play, run errands, and have bathtime.  Your last feeding before bed is around 8:30pm, then you’re off to sleep for the night.  You had been waking up around 3:00am and mommy would feed you because you were fussy; however, last Saturday night, we tried the “cry it out” method because you’re getting too old to need a middle-of-the-night feeding.  You cried for a little while, then went back to sleep on your own.  The next night, you slept until 6am!  We will see if things continue to work out well.  Mommy can hardly stand to hear her baby cry, but I know you’re not hurt or sick.  I just want you to learn to soothe yourself.
Well, I’ve pretty much written a novel, but I love to document all of these little details.  Time is going by so fast, and I don’t want to forget everything that we’ve enjoyed and seen from you thus far.  We love you, Ian Jace!
Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Solid Start

Ian turns 6 months this week, and I knew that the doctor would give me the go ahead to start solids. I was impatient and couldn't wait until his 6 month check-up on Thursday the 24th. I decided that I would go ahead and start giving him a little rice cereal...just to see what he did.  He took the first bite pretty well, but tried to suck it off of the spoon...haha!  After that, I don't think he liked the texture very much and kept making horrible faces.  I tried it again the next night, and things were getting a little better.  He started licking it off of his lips, then he actually opened his mouth when the spoon came closer.  Here are some pics from his first time to try anything.

Last night, I tried giving him some squash.  He seems to like this veggie a lot!  I'm starting to worry that he's going to love food like his mommy and daddy...uh oh!!   :)

Don't you just love a baby with food all over his face!  Awwww....

Gotta Love That Laugh...

Here is some video of Ian laughing at my silly animal sounds.  We were playing with a rubber duckie, so don't ask me why I made some dog barking sounds occasionally.  I think I was trying to see if he would respond the same to other animal sounds...haha!  The things you do to get a baby to laugh....

President's Day

One of the perks to working in a government job is that I get all of the federal holidays off from work!  From September - February, there is one (at least) every month.  After President's Day, we hit a dry spell...no holidays until Memorial Day at the end of May.  March, April, and May generally seem to go by slowly because of this reason, so I always try to plan something during these months to make them more "exciting."  In March, we are making a trip to Dallas to see our friends and some family.  It will be great to see everyone again and return to our old "stompin' grounds."  I already have a list of my favorite restaurants to hit up...although my absolute favorite place, Cuba Libre, closed!!!  Not because of lack of business, but because they wanted to transform it into a "fresh new dining experience."  Argh!  It was great the way it was!  Hopefully they will still have some of their yummy food and drinks.

Anyway, back to this weekend...we had a lot of fun!  On Friday night, Jason and I went out for our Valentine's Day dinner.  It was a little late, but worth the wait!  We went to a place called Mikes Wine Dive.  I had the Lobster, Crab, and Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese, and Jason had Honey Chipolte Baby Back Ribs.  We finished off the delicious meal with a dessert called the "Chocolate Bag."  It looked like a little brown paper bag made out of chocolate ( by Coca Dolce, a local chocolatier), and it was filled with vanilla bean ice cream and berries.  It was so tasty!  My co-worker, Valerie, and her husband, Dave, graciously offered to watch Ian so we could enjoy a date.  Thanks guys!!

On Saturday, we went to Oklahoma to see Dave Ramsey Live with my dad and stepmom.  Jason and I went through Financial Peace University in college, but it was difficult to apply all of the steps because we really didn't have a consistent source of income.  Hopefully, we can use his steps to become debt-free, sooner rather than later (stupid student loans!!)  Ian spent the afternoon with Jason's mom (aka: Nanny).  We did a lot of driving that day, but it was a good time!

Sunday was church and relaxing, and yesterday was breakfast with my boys and a massage at Healing Waters!  My mom got me a massage gift certificate for Christmas, but I have been waiting for my incision to heal before I used it.  I actually had an appointment back in January, but had to cancel when I got my wound vac.  Fortunately, I got my wound vac off on Friday and by Sunday, the wound was completely closed!!  I am soooo thankful!  God is good!  It seems like it took FOREVER, but now it's over. 

Well, back to work today...I will leave you with a pic I took at breakfast yesterday. :)

Valentine's Day!

Guess who I got to spend Valentine's Day evening with this year....

Since Jason had to work, we are going to celebrate this Friday.  Thanks to my co-worker, Valerie, and her husband, Dave, for their willingness to watch Ian.  I'm excited to have a nice dinner with my Valentine!

Amber and Lawon Visit Wichita

 We had a great weekend!  Amber came to Wichita for a much-needed weekend getaway, and she brought her little 6-month-old son, Lawson!  He is exactly 5 weeks older than Ian, and he's such a little doll!  Amber's husband, Kurtis, stayed in Tulsa with their daughter, so it gave Amber a nice "break"....well, she just had to watch one kid instead of two!  We had a great time catching up and watching the boys play.  Lawson is soooo happy and smiley!

 This is so sweet!  It looks like Lawson is introducing himself to Ian!

 

Since Amber's big 30th birthday is coming up on February 25th, I wanted to help her celebrate early (since I probably won't see her again for a while).  We had planned to go have a "girls night" while Amber was in town...Jason offered to watch the boys.  We were planning to go to this great wine and tapas bar called Press. Anyway, I had Jason get a b-day cake and take it to the restaurant earlier in the day.  Then, I called up some of my close Wichita friends to see if they could join us for a night out!  They were awesome to come and hang out, even though they didn't even know Amber.  After our yummy dinner and drinks, the waiter brought out the cake...fully lit!  Amber was so surprised, and I really think she enjoyed having a special night.  After all, it's not often that a mom of 2 gets to go out and have some fun with the girls!

 

We had a blast and it was sad to see her head back home.  Hope we can get together again soon!

Let it Snow!

 Let it snow! My friend, Jenny, told me how to start blogging from my phone...so, we'll see if this works!  The weather has been crazy here, with lots of wind, snow, and terrible wind chills.  Although many of the area schools are cancelled, as a healthcare worker, I don't get snow days. Fortunately, we get to leave early some of the time if the weather  We've been having problems with the draft coming in through one of our clinic windows. Apparently, it's worse than we thought!

New Header

I've always been envious of the blogs with cute, personalized headers.  I thought that you had to be really computer savvy to make one, or pay someone else to create a custom header.  Well, thanks to Google, I was able to find a way to do this (easily) on my own!  I found this awesome tutorial, downloaded Picasa, and made the header you see above! I can create one for your blog for only $9.99 plus tax! (haha!)

Happy Four Months, Ian!

Dear Ian,

Time sure does fly!  It seems like I just wrote that you were turning 2 months, and now you're 4 months!  I just can't believe how much joy you've brought daddy and I since you arrived in the world.  We have had so much fun watching you reach little milestones.

The most fulfilling thing that you've done thus far is show us your big, beautiful smile...and laugh.  We will pretty much do ANYTHING to get you to give a full belly laugh!  It is so precious and we can't help but want more and more.  You've started to spend quite a bit of time on your belly, and you're holding up your head really well!  You love to play on your activity mat and grab at all of your toys.  Sometimes, you arch your back and push yourself around with your legs.  Recently, you've started to enjoy your Jumperoo.  We have to put a box underneath you because your legs don't quite touch the ground, but it is so much fun to watch you act "grown up" because you can stand and bounce.  You also "talk" all of the time!  It is so adorable to watch you babble on and on...you seem to know exactly what you're wanting to say.  Some of your favorite "games" are hold mommy's hands and act like you're riding a horse, play patty-cake with your feet, and have daddy bounce your bottom on the bed and move your legs.  Oh...I can't forget....you LOVE having your clothes off!  If you are crying, we can almost always lighten your mood by taking off your pants.  Ha!

The last 2 months have included some big "firsts."  In November, we celebrated your first Thanksgiving in Enid with family.  This was the first time that mommy's extended family got to see you, and everyone thought you were so cute!  We also celebrated your first Christmas in Enid and in Norman. You were so spoiled with love and gifts!  Mommy and daddy had a fun time opening your presents.  You are set on clothes and toys for a LONG TIME! You were definitely the center of attention at the holiday gatherings.  Your Aunt Heddie and Aunt Kellie fought over who could hold you more!  They adore you so much!  Over New Years, we traveled to Kansas City to see Uncle Alan and Carrie.  This was your longest car ride to date, and...you did great!  You had a hard time "finding your groove" at a strange, new location, but we had a lot of fun.  Uncle Alan and Carrie gave you a handsome outfit for Christmas, and this happened to be what you wore for your 4 month pictures.

Physically, you are growing like a weed!  Your hair is coming in more and more, and it's funny because you and daddy have the same hairline.  Surprisingly, your hair is darker than we expected, but it lays down perfectly!  You are also long and lean.  At your 4 month appointment, you were 14 lbs 10 oz (45% - doubled your birth weight), 25.6 inches long (72.8%), and head circumference was 20%.  Daddy took you to your doctor's appointment and said that you were such a brave big boy for your shots.

Our daily routine is becoming more and more comfortable.  Mommy goes to work Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm.  You spend lots of time with Daddy when he's home, and when he has to work, you go to Miss Mikah's house!  You have a lot of fun seeing her and playing with Silas and Karly.  We are so thankful and blessed to have such a great friend watch you.  It sure is nice to know that you're safe and well taken care of when we're at work.

Ian, our love for you grows more and more each day.  We can't wait to see what the future holds!  We thank God everyday for blessing us with you!

Love, 

Mommy and Daddy

January 23, 2010 - 4 Months

Pics by Jenny Myers

Babies Everywhere!

About 5 years ago, everyone I knew was getting married!  I guess we're past that stage and on to the baby stage.  This past week has been filled with all things baby.  On Thursday, our LifeGroup had a baby shower for Shelby.  She is the last of the 5 of us in group that were all pregnant at the same time.  She is expecting a little girl and is due at the first of February.  Can't wait to meet her!

 On Saturday, Ian and I headed to Moore to meet up with my friends from pharmacy school.  We showered Alycia and Lindsay (both expecting boys)!  Ashley is also preggo, but only about 18 weeks along right now.  We are holding off on her shower so we have another reason to get together. :)

 Also on Saturday, my cousin and his wife (Scott and Ashley) had their first little one!  Hudson Cade arrived around 1:30pm.  He was 7 lbs 12 oz and had a full head of hair!  Ian has been waiting for the pending arrival of Hudson so that he has a boy cousin to play with at holiday get-togethers. :)

 Here is a pic of Hudson with his mama!  Doesn't she look great!?!?  I can't wait to meet him!

Finally, I received news that one of my long-time best friends is also pregnant!  I am so excited for her because I know she's been waiting a long time!

On another note, the Snodgrass family has had a rough week with sickness.  All three of us had flu symptoms, but I think we're finally about over it all.  It is definitely NO fun being sick with a baby...or having a sick baby. Hopefully, we are finished with the bugs!

Little Chatterbox

Ian has really started "talking" a lot lately!  Is is adorable, and fun to have little "conversations" with him.  I think he has his own language!

Sleeping Cutie

Sometimes, I think I'm in denial about how fast Ian is growing!  I still feel like he's so small.  When I look back at pics, though, I can definitely see a change.  Here he is at 1 week:

And again at 3 months:

He's definitely growing and changing.  I love watching all of the new milestones!

On another note, we spent New Year's in Kansas City!  We got to spend time with my brother and his fiance, and we did some shopping.  It was a fun time...complete with a Sooner victory in the Fiesta Bowl!

****Many blessings on 2011!!****