You Aint Nothin But A Hound Dog!

This photo of Jake puts Elvis to shame.

Royal Wedding and the Goring Hotel

The night before her wedding Kate Middleton is sleeping at the Goring Hotel with her family! It made me reminisce about our trip to England last year. Almost exactly one year ago to date, we stayed at the Goring with my family. It is exquisite! One of the best hotels I have ever stayed at! It is very formal, but also the people who work there are really silly and professional. We loved our experience there. I briefly talked about it in my London I love thee post from my old blog.

During our stay, we enjoyed fresh English breakfasts with organic foods from across the English countryside. My mouth waters just thinking about it. We ate dinner there every night and I ordered the Beef Wellington every time. It was incredible and something to be desired.

One evening, after coming back from sight-seeing, I had the hiccups really bad. Our server noticed and came over to me and said he had something verrry special in the kitchen that could get rid of them quickly. He went to the kitchen and came back with a smile. In his hands he steadily held the most beautiful little tea cup and an equally beautiful saucer.

"This should do the trick," he said.

I anticipated what could be inside. Some tea, alcohol, or coffee drink I cant partake of?? I would feel horrible rejecting it!

As he came within reaching distance, I reached up for the cup, just as he tripped. The cup tipped in my direction. I panicked fearing something hot would burn my legs, and I waited for something. Anything. Nothing. I looked up and saw him laughing. I looked over to the kitchen to see the Chef and other workers peaking out laughing.

"That did the trick miss, didn't it?" he said.

My hiccups were gone. Fancy that!

Ahhh the Goring Hotel. Such a silly place! Cheers to the Royal Couple!

Miracles do Happen!

Guess who slept 5 hrs straight night before last and 4 last night?

Jake!

Thanks for sticking with us and cheering us on!


He sleeps in his own crib, but this was just a really cute picture I couldn't resist posting! He looks so big!

Jake 3 Month Update

Behold, our fat Cherub.

He is an angel, even if his mom is a sleep deprived devil, we love him so much. It's not his fault! He has grown 2 lbs and 2 inches in one month! Go Jake! Here are some of his updates so we can remember them!

-He weighs 13 lbs 11 oz. and is 23" long.

-He can hold his head up, even if he refused to do so for the doc and kicked and screamed on the exam table and sucked his fists in rebellion, he can. I have pictures to prove it.

-He loves to gurgle and growl
-He loves to suck on his hands and look at them.
-He is discovering how to bring things to his mouth and loves to chew on our fingers.
-He has just started reaching for things, but gets pretty frustrated when they dont go to his mouth like he would wish they would.
-He kicks his feet in excitement and his hands shake when he sees something he wants to play with

-He still loves his girlfriend Minnie Mouse

-He lets out little bursts of kicks and giggles and squeals of delight, no belly laugh...yet!

-He has the most beautiful bright eyes of blue

-He loves making eye contact, if he's in the mood

-He has started smacking objects and hitting.

-He loves to have a book read to him

-He is happiest in the afternoons and has long stretches of no napping.

-He goes to bed around 8:30 or 9:30

-He wakes 2 hrs thereafter

-He wakes 2hrs after that

-He wakes 1hr 45 mins after that

-He wakes 1 hr after that

-He wakes 45 mins after that

-You get my point

-We love him SOOO MUCH!

Easter Weekend Fun!

We had a wonderful Easter Weekend that started out with Andy taking Friday off and my parents flying to town. When I say flying, I mean, my dad was the pilot! He flew himself, my mom, and a teacher to the Van Nuys airport on little jet from Oklahoma!!! He is getting type rated on the Cessna Mustang, and he came all this way to see us! He even flew us to San Francisco for lunch on Friday. He is a really good pilot and I wasnt afraid. He has taken us up several times in his Cessna, and he has some of the smoothest/ safest landings and takeoffs around. We're so thankful they came to see us.

Jake loved flying on the plane! The jet engine put him right to sleep. We put him in his airplane shirt to celebrate his first flight with Grandpa Carson!!!

Andy has his private pilot's license so he was so excited about the flight. He loves listening to the conversations on the radio and said he picked up most of it! I enjoyed spending time talking with my dear mom.

Saturday we chilled at home and watched Jack Bauer on 24. Let me just say that if this nation was in trouble, I would believe Jack Bauer could save us all. We love that show. Then we went to Cafe Rio with the Jones and chilled back at their place, mostly talking baby talk with their lil man on his way. They'll be like the best parents in the whole wide world! I cant wait to meet that little stud pants.

Sunday we went to church. I taught my primary kids about Jesus's resurrection, whilst watching Jake because he got fussy in Andy's class (Andy teaches the 12 year old boys at the SAME time), and lets just say the lesson went down the toilet and they colored pictures. It was really hard watching 6 5 year olds and a 3 month old. Remind me never to give birth to sextuplets, mmkay? They were, however, really cute with Jake when he was brought in the classroom. They all gathered round his car seat and laughed at his fat cheeks. His fatness brings joy to many people's hearts. Too bad being fat only is cute for the first few years of a person's life. Momma has GOT to get an exercise routine going here.

For lunch on Sunday we enjoyed some Costco pizzas, but I felt okay about that considering our nice lunch on Friday in San Fran. For dinner, we attempted to make a yummy steak, but that too went wrong when it burned on the grill. There's only so much two parents can do with a 3 month old that has a constant belly ache. Poor sweetie. We are beyond sleep deprived seeing it has been 3 months now that I have not slept more than 3 hrs consecutively, but I will not complain, just sayin' if I am really incoherent or a bit "out of sorts" that is why. It's not YOU, it's the fact that I don't sleep much AT ALL. People tell me it will get better. I'm holding on to that. Weekends are nice cause I can take naps and hand our little cherubim to his dad and take a rest.

All the wonderful family time was what made Easter special. The love of our little boy makes our family complete and we are so thankful for the reason we celebrate Easter. We are grateful for a Savior who lives and gives us a reason to live and die, so we can live again forever with all our loved ones. We hope you all had a Happy Easter!

Someone doesn't feel good...

Windows of the Soul

I could stare at these deep blue eyes forever!

3rd Street Promenade

We spent our Saturday afternoon strolling the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. We were going to go on a Whale watching tour off Long Beach, but it was a chilly morning and Andy caught a terrible cold and babe kept us up most of the night. The cold ocean breeze didnt sound too inviting. Luckily, the sun came out so we packed up and ate dinner on top of the Santa Monica Center. It is gorgeous up there! Ocean views, palm trees, and some sushi!

Jake 2 month update

Our sweet little boy is just over 2 months now! He is a delight! He is now 'talking' to us and discovering his voice. He is sleeping better and is getting on a schedule. It is so much fun seeing his sweet personality come out!

Here are some updates on Jacob:

-He weights roughly around 12 pounds and is around 22" long now.
-We haven't seen his neck since he was born
-His cheeks are so huge he looks like a bulldog.
-He loves to smile and tell stories during diaper changes
-He no longer cries when he toots (it used to be a really big deal, thank heavens it isnt anymore!)
-He sleeps in 2-3 hr increments at night (much better than the 45-1 hr wake up calls he had his first month)
-He has a girlfriend. Her name is Minnie Mouse. He stares at her and grabs her ears and face. He drools all over her.
-He loves his bouncy chair and his legs get super excited when he's in it. He kicks and kicks and loves every minute, until he realizes he's not being held.
-He loves to sleep in our arms and is a snugly one
-He tends to overreact to hiccups sending himself into full hysterics within seconds after they start
-He loves bath time and loves to 'swim'. He kicks his feet like he's swimming when I hold him on his tummy. He often lets out a cute yawn when he is placed in the tub.
-He loves being swaddled and knows that it's his cue to calm down and go to bed
-He lets out a squeaking/squealing sound when he's about to wake up as a warning sign about 5 minutes before he cries.
-He entertains himself better and loves to suck on his hands
-He's a really loud eater and a slurps
-He looks like an angel when he sleeps
-When we place him on his tummy for tummy time he thinks it's time to eat and he gets frustrated often ending in crying
-During tummy time on his boppy he kicks himself over the boppy landing on his face...again..crying
-He will smile, look away, and then smile again.
-He is ssoooooo loved!!!!

Mon Ami Francais

Phillipe et Jake!

Sorry we havent been posting much! We've been hosting a the Esmieu family from Montpellier, France this week. I met them on my mission and they are here having a ball!