I am so behind on my posts!  I have been trying to post more frequently over the last week, so I can catch up.  There is just so much going on this summer!  One of the biggest highlights of the summer thus far was our trip to NYC (June 21-24).  It was also the first time that I was away from Ian.  He stayed with Jason's parents and did fabulous...mommy did pretty darn good too!  It was nice to have a "break," but Jason and I missed him like crazy.  We called every day...sometimes more than once, or twice... :)

Okay, on to the trip...we went with my mom and stepdad.  It was a gift from them to us and kind of a "Our 5th Anniversary" and "My 30th Birthday" celebration (both of which occurred this summer).  I have ALWAYS wanted to go to NYC, and I was so excited to finally see the Big Apple.

When we arrived at the airport, we headed out to catch a taxi.  I have never seen so many taxis before in my life!  They were lined up like 10 across and 20 deep. It was fun to see the "official" NYC taxis. :)

 

One of my friends recommended that we eat at the Carnegie Deli.  We were starving after the flight, so the first thing we did after checking into the hotel was go get some lunch.  Here is the famous place!

For lunch, we had the reuben sandwich.  Good thing that Jason agreed to split it with me...it was gigantic!  Times two!

Yummy reuben

Delicious NY Cheesecake

Here is a view of Times Square.  It was just like you see on TV!

Out to dinner before seeing "Memphis" the musical

At NBC Studio Store

We had to go to FAO Schwartz to get Ian a toy.  During our look around, we found the piano from the movie, "Big"

It rained quite a bit when we were there.  Luckily our tour bus provided ponchos. :)

Since "Memphis" was so good, we decided to get tix to another Broadway show..."Mamma Mia!"  We had seen this before in Ft. Worth, but LOVE the music.  My mom and Chuck joined us and really enjoyed it also.

Jason stealing a kiss in Rockefeller Plaza...such pretty hydrangeas!

We went to the TODAY show on the last morning that we were in NYC.  Jason went up close to the window to snatch this shot of Matt Lauer and Ann Curry.  Bruno Mars was the guest artist that day, but we couldn't get close enough to the stage to see him :(

 

 

 

9 Month Pics...Some of My Faves

One of the girls from our church, Chelsea Foster, is really interested in photography.  She is planning to attend KU this Fall, and she's been accepted to the Photo Media program in the School of Design.  She watched Ian in the daycare on Wednesday nights, and she offered to take some pics of him this summer.  I was really impressed with how they turned out!  She did such an amazing job!  Although I loved all of them (I'm the mom, right! ;), here are a few of my faves :)

Ian Learning to Walk

Ian is learning to walk!  I was in the kitchen and I heard him pushing something on the floor...I turned around and he was "walking."  (Filmed on 7-10-11, 9.5 months)

Fourth of July Weekend

Ian had a great "first 4th of July" celebration!  We were so busy, but got to see lots of friends and family.  We started the weekend off in Enid at my mom's house.  She got Ian a cute new pool floaty, and he really seemed to like it!

We hit up a few garage sales on Saturday morning and scored this awesome ball pit for $5...gotta love good deals!

On Saturday night, we headed over to my Aunt and Uncle's house for swimming and a cookout.  It started raining after we had been in the pool for about 30 minutes, but I think Ian was "done" by that time! ha!

This is a pic of my cousin's little girl...Ian's 3rd cousin!  She is so much fun!

This is my other cousin's wife, Ashley, and their little boy.  He was born in January, so he's almost 6 months old.  He is just precious!

Haley enjoyed showing the boys "how it's done!"

Love this pic!

Daddy and Ian

We headed back to Wichita on Sunday because Jason had to work, so we spent the actual 4th of July in Wichita.  Here's my baby in the morning...getting ready for breakfast!

My friend, Erin, came over with her little boy.  The boys went "swimming" and played both IN and OUT of the splash park!

The boys getting ready to watch the fireworks "show" (it consisted of smoke bombs, sparklers, fountains, and a few noisy surprises (accidently...Ian didn't like those at all!)  Also, the "show" occurred around 7pm, so it was still pretty light out! ha!

 Erin and baby J

Erin showing the boys a sparkler

Erin's husband, Kevin, lit a lot of the fireworks for us :)

 Okay, momma!  We're ready to go inside....it's HOT out here!!

 

What's the best thing about a holiday weekend ending?  A short work week!

Father's Day 2011

We celebrated Jason's first Father's Day this year!  It was a special one...I think Jason would agree!  We ended up celebrating on Friday night because Jason has to work on Sundays.  I had to be in Enid on Saturday for a baby shower.  We started the evening off by giving Jason his gifts.  Ian's gift to his daddy was a photo book containing pictures of the two of them.  It was really sweet!

 Ian gave his daddy a card...complete with a special "kiss!" :)

 Daddy loved his card

And...he loves his book!

Jason got a card and a gift from me also...a Kindle!  I'm so proud of the type of father that Jason is to our son!

After gifts, we went to eat dinner at Palmer's Grill (a new restaurant in Wichita), then headed to Yogurt Explosion for some dessert.  Yum!

Ian loves the spoons at the yogurt places...they are always bright colors. :)

 

Since Jason had to work on Sunday, Ian and I ended up staying in Enid for the full weekend with MY dad.  We went to breakfast on Sunday morning with my dad and grandpa.

My dad and I...such an incredible man!

My dad with his dad...my grandpa Frank

Grandpa Frank and I

We had such a good weekend!  On Monday night (the day after Father's Day), we headed to Norman in preparation for our trip to NYC (Ian stayed with Jason's parents).  That night, we took Jason's dad out for dinner to celebrate Father's Day.  Unfortunately, I didn't remember to take pics.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE WONDERFUL FATHERS IN MY LIFE - MY DAD, MY STEPFATHER, MY GRANDPA, AND MY HUSBAND!  YOU ARE ALL LOVED DEEPLY!  MOST IMPORTANTLY...MY HEAVENLY FATHER!!