Today was a beautiful day!

     Yesterday Michelle made tator tot casserole at my parent's house and we were invited.  It was delicious, and we ended up playing karaoke songs on Cox Demand and singing.  Adrian got really excited during one song; I think it was Gangnam style.

     Today was a beautiful day!  Matt got off early so we went to the park for a walk.  We saw a mongoose. Then we had my car washed and went to Outback for dinner.  Adrian did well in the high chair for about 5 minutes but he wanted me to hold him.  I am an expert at doing things one handed.  It was really nice to be able to go out and about as a family.  I remember when I had baby rabies I would picture a little baby in a high chair next to us in restaurants.  Am I crazy?  Well yes.

    We found out Adrian is going to have another new little friend!  Emilee and Aaron are having a girl in August.  I'm so excited for them!

     My crafts are at a halt for the moment.  I was dumb when I got yarn for the blanket and I didn't get enough for the whole project; I only got two spools.  So now Hobby Lobby is out of my yarn and according to their facebook page, people have been waiting for it for a couple of months.  There is no known date that they will restock so I think it's easier to start over. I'll pick a better color this time and I can do a better job since I've had a lot of experience with this pattern. Tomorrow Michael's is having a sale so I'll be able to get back on track.

     Tomorrow is Good Friday.  I thought about putting my black halloween death wreath up but the neighbors would think I'm nuts.  I'll just put my spring wreath up on Sunday. I'm excited to put the Easter basket together!

8 years together

     8 years ago today, Matt asked me to be his girlfriend.  This was after we watched Anchorman and the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie with our friends.  So romantic.

2005

2005

Now-ish

Happy Anniversary Matt!

     In other news, Adrian did a good job sitting in the highchair at Texas Roadhouse on friday.  Plus it was so loud, no one could hear all of his ear piercing noises.  I loved him in his little overalls and sneakers.

     Matt doesn't like casseroles.  This is a travesty because hot-dishes are so easy and so hard to screw up. I even have a whole hot dish cookbook.  Also we are Lutheran, so come on.  My parents do like them, so last Wednesday I made dinner at their house for them.  It's called "Old Standby Hamburger and Rice Bake".  Here's the recipe if anyone is interested.

http://www.showcaseminnesota.com/recipes/recipe_detail.aspx?rid=4142

I am the slowest cook ever and I need to work on not overcooking the hamburger but I think it's a good, easy recipe.

     Here's a video of Adrian clapping.  If you fast forward to 30 seconds, you'll see it.  It's two minutes long because children don't perform on command.
   

For your viewing pleasure, 6 month studio shots

     I think I promised to share Adrian's 6 month pictures and then never did.  Matt let me use his computer because mine doesn't have a cd drive, so here you go!

We got the most of this one.

This didn't make the cut, but I got all the pictures on a disc.

This went on the back of the book we got.

We got some Valentine's cards with this picture.

This was a cute idea, but my hair looks disgusting.  I did absolutely nothing to myself because I didn't want to get hassled into buying pictures of the both of us.  Win!

We have a friend that does outdoor pictures as a hobby.  I really want to have her do his first year pictures and some family shots.

So that's it; we chose 4 different shots as print outs.  I was pleased this time around.  

A swollen lip, and back to crafting

   

     Yesterday I woke up at 6:00 AM and my lip was swollen.  Just the upper lip; it looked like I got botox. I have no idea what caused it. Anything I could have been allergic to, I would have come in contact with hours before.  I've also been getting random hives though so maybe this is all some sort of lasting postpartum gift.  Just in case the stretch marks and hair loss weren't enough.  Adrian had no reaction which is good...I guess.  I mean, I looked freakish so what does that say about the rest of the time? I'm still getting over a cold so my voice does not sound normal.  Just when I was convinced that I would be stuck with it for two weeks (thank you Google) the swelling started to go down and it was gone by bedtime.  At least it didn't hurt or itch, and I didn't have to leave the house.  I would have died if Adrian had a doctor appointment that day.

     Today I played catch-up with housework. Also I started to work on one of the several projects I have lined up. First is a blanket I started for my aunt...a year and a half ago. So much fail.  To be fair, pregnancy and the beginning of motherhood took a lot out of me. Now I'm excited to get back into crocheting!  When I  finish the blanket I have a list of other projects:

• Adrian's bedroom curtains
• Adrian's crib skirt
• Dining room curtains
• Painted quotes on canvas for Adrian's room
• Some bird art for either the bathroom or dining room; I haven't decided yet.
• A summer wreath

     Also Eric asked me to make him a wreath so once I figure out what kind to make, I'll do that too.  I'm so excited to have projects lined up!  I can normally clean the house pretty fast and I do one or two big things every day.  So I have time while Adrian is napping or when he's having a little bit of quiet time.

     Speaking of Adrian, he is doing well at sitting up by himself.  It will last for a couple minutes at least.  He doesn't hate being on his belly so much anymore and he's attempting to get things out of his reach.  Did I mention that he knows how to wave?  It's so cute.  He's done it four times so it's not a coincidence. I know he's not old enough to learn the alphabet but I still sing the song, and I go through the alphabet using all the sounds the letters make.  Yesterday I got to Z and he started laughing.  Zzzzzzzzz is a funny sound.                                                                                                          

Colds

     Adrian and I got Matt's cold.  He's a trooper though, I can tell he's sick but he hasn't been too cranky.  We've just taken the opportunity to cuddle a little more.  When this illness is over I'm going to start spring cleaning!  I found an awesome list on a blog and I'm going to customize it.  I would like to move without too much junk, so I plan ton eliminating said junk again.  Adrian sure has a lot of stuff though.  Even though Matt insists he is our last child, I'm not getting rid of the baby clothes he's grown out of yet. Don't think I'm totally crazy, I wouldn't even be thinking of this topic if Matt hadn't brought it up first.

     Notice the pink bowl on the floor and the smiling face.  I was about to take a picture of how much Adrian was finally loving bananas when he grabbed the bowl and threw it on the floor.  He thought he was hilarious.

     This is his Easter outfit.  I didn't like it when I saw it online; it's cuter in person.  Just wait til you see him in it!

     We woke up one morning and I put Adrian on my tummy so he was in a sitting position.  He was looking towards the window and the beautiful lighting mixed with those huge lashes looked like a perfect picture.  I attempted to get a photo but he got distracted by my phone.  I did get some cute ones though.

This is the closest I got, and it's blurry.

This is blurry, but the way his lower lip is locked is a Matt face.  When Matt is tired, deep in thought or sleeping he locks and pushes out his lip like this.

It has been pretty quiet around here but when we get better I'm going to start working on my projects.  Until then I'll be watching that crazy Jodi Arias. 

He's going to look like he owns a yacht

    Matt came home early today because he isn't feeling well.  Personally I think he's exhausted from getting about 4 hours of sleep every night.  He's sleeping right now, so hopefully he will feel better soon.

     I bought Adrian's Easter outfit today!  It's a blue blazer and white pants with little blue stripes.  He's going to look like he owns a yacht.  A little baby "Mr. Howell" if you will.  He even has brown loafers.  Matt wanted him to be more dressed up than normal for church; he wanted a light colored suit.  It is impossible to find a light colored suit for a 7 month old.  Girls have it way easier, there are 1000 dresses to choose from.   That's my complaint for the day.  I'm sure he'll look cute though and the material seems comfortable.  He might have to wear his bow-tie onesie under it; I haven't decided yet.  I'm glad I didn't wait until the last minute.  Now I have to see if any of my old clothes will fit me.  Cue depressing music.

     I also bought everything for his Easter basket.  I got sunglasses, a reusable swim diaper, sippy cups, bubbles, and a bunny hat with ears.  Next year will be a more fun basket with summer toys but I have no idea what he'll be able to do this summer besides chew on things and start crawling and walking.

       We got a hammer!  My dad picked one up for me, so I'm going to try to hang some things this weekend. I've been stalking this website: http://www.jameshance.com/prints.html for when he puts more "Wookie the Chew" posters up.  I'm going to get two for Adrian's room.  It's a play on Winnie the Pooh, but with Chewbacca and Han Solo instead.  They are so cute.  He also draws Dr. Who, other Star Wars characters, the Muppets, Labyrinth, etc.

     Be on the lookout for my baby in his old man millionaire outfit, a nursery, and some other pictures of the completed rooms of my house.

An emerging nursery and a geek challenge

     I finally started decorating the nursery!  Adrian is...7 months old.  But hey, I just got my house together.  I would love to hang some things up but Matt's hammer is lost.  I have no idea what could have happened to it but I hate losing things and I'm very annoyed.  Besides I bought that hammer for him, along with most of his manly tools for Christmas one year.  I'll just make him buy a new one and then we'll find it.  I'll do a post when the nursery is finished, I know you're at the edge of your seat.

     There's a project I want to do for the nursery that I mentioned before.  I want to put quotes on two canvases for his wall.  I know I'm going to use this quote from Harry Potter:

"It is our choices Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." -J.K. Rowling

I probably have to choose one from a comic book to appease Matt. I like this from Superman, but it's probably a little heavy for a baby:

"One day...you'll have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be. Whoever that man is, good character or bad, he's going to change the world."

So if anyone is a geek or married to a geek and you come across an inspirational quote from a comic book or any other literature, please share :)

   

7 months

     Adrian is 7 months old today.  Lately he has been a little more difficult.  It's hard to get him to sleep and there's lots of crying, and screaming involved.  Adrian screams and cries too.  See what I did there?  Even though it takes forever for him to get to sleep, it's been easier to put him down or get him to sleep in his swing.  Then I can clean and do laundry or bake cookies like a normal stay at home mom.

     Other than the difficult naps, everything is going well.  He is now eating solid food once a day.  He is still mostly formula fed and partly breastfed (which the doctor said still keeps him from getting sick.) He seems to be more interested in what we are eating.  Good thing we are making our own meals and trying to eat kind of healthy.  

Eating Gary

So here is what Adrian is like at 7 months:

Hobbies:

• Jumping in his jumperoo
• Dancing
• Flirting
• Playing with anything he can chew; especially his giraffe.
• Listening to me sing 
• Hanging out with his dad

Milestones:

• Able to roll from his back to his tummy
• Eats solids
• Can get his foot in his mouth

Random other tidbits:

• He cracked up yesterday when I had the hiccups.  He was trying to eat.  Every time I hiccuped he would pause, look at me and laugh, then go back to eating.
• I let him watch Kipper while I shower or make dinner sometimes.  He loves Kipper.  Kipper is a dog cartoon. 
• He is a serious drooler. One time I told Matt I didn't want a St. Bernard because they drool a lot and it's disgusting.  I think Adrian drools more than that.  But it's not disgusting.  Just wet.

RAWRRRR!!!

I love how his little toes curl