robert b. lee

better known as bobby lee. happy birthday to my big brother. he is one of a kind and one of THE most generous people i know. he works hard and plays hard. he is so incredibly loyal to his family...he moved all the way from reno to be close to us. he adores jacob and is great with kiddos. we are so very thankful for bobby...we love you so much!!

{jacob & uncle bobby}

{bobby & cindy unee}

{celebrating bobby at ringside}

happy birthday big brother!!

2011 family fun day

2011 nike family fun day

WOW. this set up was amazing...it was a lot to take in for us, so not sure what was going through jacob's head. it was a bit overwhelming at times for him but he did better than i expected. we are excited for next year when jacob will be a little over a year and a half and will be running around at this event. thanks nike!!

{dad & jacob...jacob was trying to take all of this awesome craziness in!!}

{halmohnee, jacob & mama...halmohnee was the most excited to be there with her grandson}

{this picture doesn't even show the magnitude of how nike went all out for this event. we're already excited for next year!}

{this was taken as we were leaving...jacob was so tired he rested his eyes for a moment on my shoulder & then fell asleep... ~ best

ta-da!!

our little jacob will be turning 8 months in just two days...and though it has indeed been a long time, there are days that seem to drag on forever and others that slip away and all of a sudden your baby is turning 8 months old. i am proud and slightly embarrassed to say that i finished his shadow box. {a little self praise..yay me!!} this has been on my list to do for a while now. and now, it has been completed. part of the process entailed a vision, commitment to a theme of colors and finding the perfect pieces. i also waited patiently for sales to happen at various places to purchase the few things i wanted. so here are a few photos of the process and end product! hoping jacob will love it as he grows up...

{finally found a shadow box i liked at michaels. i also found his initials, double sided velcro stickies, paint & paint brushes there too. i fell in love with the martha stewart line of paper and mini tissue pom poms - also found at michaels. the things that went into the shadow box were two of his teeny tiny preemie onesies. i also saved the hospital hat he came home in and the hospital bracelets that belonged to me, scott and jacob. i had a really good copy made of his footprints and added it in too...and i didn't add it in the picture above but i also saved the original piece of information they put on the bassinet telling the world of your new bundle of joy with all of his stats...}

{i pieced it all together to see my 'rough' draft. i added a few more details in the end...}

{i really liked these letters. committing to a paint color was torture but in the end...i really liked how it turned out. the brand of acrylic paint is craft smart and the color: lush foliage. i put two coats on...}

{and ta ~ da...here is the end product!!}

the simple things...

one indulgence i'd treat myself to would be pedicures. however, the last time i got one {which was back in february} the lady picked too much skin around my toe and got it infected. now, i'm a germ-a-phobe so i started thinking about all those 20/20 investigations about how nail salon's don't clean their soaking tubs properly and how my toe was doomed and was destined to fall off...{dramatic much??} well, good news - i still have all 10 toes...but i haven't gone back. and, to save a few $$ i've been giving myself mini pedicures at home. now that i'm not pregnant it's much easier to reach my toes BUT they're long...as in 'i've got talons for toenails' long because i don't have a whole lot of time. when i do finally get around to it though...it feels amazing - like i've got a little sass to my step after my mini pedi. here are my essentials for this simple treat that i give myself:

{i always moisturize my feet with aveeno lotion. i swear by this nail polish remover called remove +. i cut & file nails. then i use that little purple/black thingy. not sure what it's called but i find that it smooths out the surface of my nails, making for a easier application of the polish. then, i choose my nail color and finish off with a clear top coat.}

{my 2011 summer choice has been the second opi color in. it's called bright lights * big color. it's a bright coral-y shade that's perfect for tan, summer feet - which mine are not}

p. t.

jacob had his evaluation today for physical therapy. at six months, our pediatrician had a slight concern about his motor skills. he had no interest in rolling over or sitting...funny thing is, a few days later he turned into a rolly polly!! SO...i delayed my phone call to the pt but finally bit the bullet and went for the eval. it went well!! we got more confirmation that our little guy is a thinker - he likes to know what he's getting into rather than jumping right in. he's a thinker like dad and a bit more cautious like his mama.

the outcome is that we're going to be working on some stuff {ie...sitting, rolling...}and go back in a few weeks...i love how our pt really evaluated and sought out jacob's personality rather than generalizing who he was. we found out that because he was premature that his "corrected" age is seven-month-ish. meaning he should be doing what a seven month old would be doing rather than an eight month old.

jacob gave lot's of smiles to the pt AFTER a while. he's observant and knew that we trusted her and so by the end, they were buddies. i'm falling more and more in love with his little personality...i see God's thumbprint in him each day and thank Him for who He will mold jacob to be...and on those "off" days, i find peace knowing that God doesn't make mistakes.

{we're practicing!!}

fact: jacob likes small intimate settings

fact: HATES crowds...too overwhelming

fact: he loves his auntie änna...thank you for loving on me yesterday...

addicted.

* grande light iced chai: my husband recently put the starbucks app on my iphone...man oh man is it DANGEROUS. it's like drinks and treats are for free!! i never pull out cash or my visa so i forget how it actually costs money...

{via}

* pinterest: i can't stop pinning...and searching...and looking at beautiful things. {sigh} here are a few i found today...

{via}

{via}

{via}

* my baby boy...lately he's been a bit of a snuggler. i L O V E it.

* crafting: i'm not into crafting like i used to be but i do feel good about saving our family some $ by doing some projects around the home that i can do. jacob and i have been frequenting michael's quite a bit this week.

* SYTYCD: i have huge amounts of respect for people that can dance.

{via}

* diet coke: last but not least...

{via}

newbie!!

i finally joined pinterest. i almost gave up registering because it was a bit overwhelming. i'm still getting the hang of the whole concept and not even sure i'm doing it correctly...but must say, the things i see on there are BEAUTIFUL. if you have any pointers or what i should be doing please feel free to explain...i think the links to the things people sell on etsy is great...good idea pinterest!!

on another note: my mil {mother-n-law} came over this morning and watched jacob for a few hours while i escaped to run errands sans baby...it was GLORIOUS!! please don't don't get me wrong or think i'm a bad mama...i love my jacob with every ounce within me. but there is just something about getting out of the car without taking out the very heavy car seat, putting it in the stroller, walking around with a crying baby...it's just a breath of fresh air and if there are any new mom's reading...get out on your own! it's good for you and for your sweet bundle of joy!!

{march 2011: on our wii won trip}

W O W

i am BLOWN away by all the gifted people out there. i read blogs and get inspired by many things: photographs, fashion, their lovely homes...i can go on and on. so i go through this phase where i want to re-do SO many things, in particular ~ our home...but am restricted by budget. my problem is, i want to do everything all at once. if i had it my way i'd sit down with one of the many "gifted" people i am inspired by and give my vision and give a few essentials and let them wave their magic wand and have it be D O N E. here are some projects and inspirations i have for our home:

{via: pinterest}

{via: jdc}

common sense is to set aside a budget and begin one project at at time. my husband is in total support of this...we both love our home and now it's time to make it feel like a home. this coming Christmas will make it our 2 year anniversary since we bought it and it still looks barren. the walls BARELY have anything on them because i'm afraid to commit. it's also hard because i'd love to change the paint color of all the walls and this is why i find myself very hesitant to purchase anything...{sigh} here i go again...feeling too overwhelmed to even start.

goal: by the end of 2011, i will have finished one {or two} projects.

wants & wishes

from: potterybarn

w & w: daily system - white

{i have been eyeing this for a while now...i may just do it soon since it's on sale, and we love sales. no need for all pieces...a bit excessive. i would love the linen pinboard, letter bin and office organizer. hopefully this will help the wanghouse to be a bit more organized and look good while doing so.}

wants & wishes

from: nordstrom

w & w: marc by marc jacobs

stripe v-neck cover up

i adore this.

too bad oregon hasn't had much of a summer to really use this beautiful piece as a swim cover up.

btw, friends...who wants to build a pool in their backyard to enjoy for the summers to come?? any takers?

{i think i may use this as a series...i've always wanted someone to create a program/website where people could add things to their on-going wish list so that when birthdays, Christmas, special occasions or just to put ridiculously beautiful things they wish for to find the perfect gift. i'm very much a rachel in believing this statement: STICK TO THE LIST!!}

do over

{taken the day he was born...what a face}

do you ever have one of those days where you wish you could do it over? i get those a lot...i look to the heavens and ask God desperately for a do-over card. being a mom of a fussy one brings a lot of these kind of days...

most of the time when i run into friends or meet for playdates, jacob loses his cool. it entails a shy smile at first but once he's had it, it bumps up to full screams, deep sobs and more 'give it my all' crying. being a first time mom, i am quick to make excuses saying: he's tired, he's hungry, it's nap time...i also find my cheeks turning rosy red and my body temperature rising a quick 10 degrees hotter to make me feel very uncomfortable. at times, this would imprison me at home...fearing the trek out into society. i would feel so defeated...{sigh}

these days, i let him cry it out. i do try to make it the best scenario for the little guy...fed, clean diaper, revived from a nap...but life isn't always peachy with even the best efforts. EVERYONE has bad days...a do-over kind of day. so now i embrace that my jacob is a challenging one. i do find myself raising my voice and getting frustrated because i don't know what to do. i don't know how to "fix" him...then i am gently reminded by the holy spirit of how absolutely precious and perfect my jacob is...because he was FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made in HIS image. there is nothing wrong with jacob...he too, has his good and off days. i'm learning that he likes {more like LOVES} his alone time. he's not a fan of big, overwhelming crowds and hoards of people getting in his face invading his personal space. who would right??

right now, my little sweet pea is napping peacefully up in his room like a big boy. i already look forward to him waking up even after this OFF day and hearing his coos over the monitor. i love how he talks to his mobile friends and the thing that refreshes my soul and day are his smiles...he scrunches up his little nose and gives me the biggest gummiest, toothless smile - and this makes me forget about a do-over card that i asked for earlier. i know he accepts me for who i am...faults and all with his smile. he's teaching me how to forgive and to love unconditionally.

i am learning that this is a phase...a phase that i will look back on and miss {someday}. i will always pray that jacob will be who he was created to be.

jacob...you are created in HIS image. and always know, that Jesus loves you far greater than i ever could. i am so proud to be your mama and will love you till the ends of the earth. i love you my sweet baby...