Lately, part 2: VA to NC

Getting out to Virginia on Monday morning was interesting. Walking wasn't all the easy at this point so I had to be wheeled through the airport & security by an airport employee. My mom was pushing Caleb in his stroller. It almost felt like VIP treatment, bypassing lines and having someone else take care of me, however it was also slightly mortifying being wheeled through the SLC and Atlanta airports. Caleb did great on the flights and with traveling though and my mom was very attentive to both me and him. We landed in Virginia around 7pm on the 23rd.

We spent the 23-26 in Virginia. We made a few trips to the beach, did some shopping and enjoyed some yummy seafood. Between my sister, mom and dad I didn't have to worry about picking up or carrying Caleb during the rougher days of recovery. Caleb got his first introduction to sand and being in the ocean. He wasn't too sure about the texture of the sand but he loved kicking the waves.

On the 27th we drove down to my hometown of Gastonia, NC. Heather and I hadn't been home in 3 years because my parents moved to Virginia, so whenever we go to visit them we just stay in Virginia. It had been three  years since we have seen relatives and our home we grew up in. We had a lot to do in the short time we were there. We visited the essential places to eat, RO's bbq, Tonys Ice Cream, Sake Express and drove around town to see all the changes that had been made. We had a wonderful family cookout on Saturday night, we were able to visit with our sweet cousins and aunts, we haven't seen them in forever it felt like. We spent a lot of time at my Aunt Betty's, she took great care of us while we were there and even had bought so many cute toys for our kids to enjoy. We visited our home ward on Sunday and saw old friends. Then on Monday we went downtown Charlotte to Discovery Place for the kids to play. That night we had ice cream with family then played putt-putt. We crammed so much into our short visit but it was awesome! I hope we can get back there more often, I miss my relatives!

Caleb was a champion eater this trip. He never stopped wanting food, I think he had to gain a few pounds at least!

my beautiful cousin, Kelsey

Carolina blue through and through!

 

 

See you later, Queen City!

It was a great trip and even better, it offered the time for recovery I needed from surgery. I can't express my appreciation enough to my parents for their generosity in getting me to Virginia and helping me with Caleb!

Jumper to dress

This last weekend we were in SL looking at homes and decided to stop by the DownEast warehouse clearance store in South Salt Lake (West Hope Ave). My sis had gone there a few days ago and said they had swim suits for $12! When we went there weren't many suits in my size but I did get a tankini for $12 which is such a steal. For the last several months whenever I've gone into a DownEast I've been eying this jumpsuit. It looks so easy to wear and comfortable, but the price was always way too high for me since it would kind of be an experimental outfit. Anyway, the clearance center had the jumpsuit for only $10! Granted they only had one and I didn't know it at the time but it was probably two sizes too small (there are no dressing rooms at the center and every sale is final). I got home and tried it on..yikes. I still loved it and thought it had potential so I went to work on it. I was able to turn it into a tea-length dress and I love it!

Still would love to own this jumpsuit...just in the right size

I think this may be my first big transformation of clothing and while I don't want to have to re-purpose all of my clothes, it is kind of fun once in a while :-)

Happenings

 We haven't been up to much lately, just enjoying the summer! Justin's new job is going well, we are still adjusting to the change in our evenings though. Whereas Justin used to be home around 5:30 and we would all eat together, I feed Caleb, prepare dinner for Justin and I then eat when he gets home around 6:30. We will play with C for a bit then put him down around 7pm. Justin doesn't get much quality time with C during the week now, mostly on the weekends. The night before C's 1st birthday though, he was totally tuckered out at 7pm (not sure what we did that day but it must have been exhausting). Caleb gave dad some 1st rate snuggle time, which is beyond rare. I don't think Caleb has cuddled/slept on us like this since he was a newborn.



On Caleb's birthday, I tried to make it a special day for him. We had breakfast & balloons, in between naps we played with bubbles (& I tried my hand at a 1st birthday photo shoot, which did not go very well). That evening we had cupcakes and attended the Strawberry Days Rodeo. It was the first time Caleb and I have been to a rodeo, kind of a fun atmosphere! When you are in that strong, country atmosphere you feel like it is the coolest thing to wear bejeweled leather outfits and ride horses around...then you leave the rodeo and reality sets back in. 

Have you ever seen such a look of determination??

And then the innocent eyes that follows the cupcake destruction

We have been frequenting the pool, blessed pool. Caleb still is so happy in the pool and I am so happy to be enjoying the sun. Justin joins us on the weekend, we love our do-whatever-we-please Saturdays.

We have also started the house hunting a bit more seriously, we have contacted a realtor even! There are still so many unknowns...mostly where he want to live exactly. But that is also taking up our evenings, searching for homes online and then driving around areas on the weekend. Utah doesn't really offer our preferred, traditional/colonial two-story (brick) home, we are mostly seeing split levels (eck), but we will probably end of living in a split level, compromise is the name of the game! At least we are living in a beautiful area with family nearby.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer, it is going by super fast. I know what comes next, so I am really trying to enjoy these long summer days as much as possible!

Caleb's 1st Birthday

In some ways this last year has been the hardest ever...sleep deprivation, hormonal craziness, adjusting to being a stay-at-home mom. But without a doubt, it has been the happiest and most fulfilling year of my life and of our family's. We are so blessed to have Caleb in our family. He is so full of life and happiness. He is curious and investigates everything in sight. He has the most hilarious stare that he gives everything he is unsure of, Justin and I even get it from time to time. Who would have thought the baby that cried so hard he stopped breathing would grow into this gleeful, happy infant (who truly rarely cries, just fusses loudly). He makes being a stay-at-home mom a sweet job!


 
Here are some updates:
+ Weight: 19 lbs 2 oz (6th %tile)
+Length: 29.5" (33 %tile)

+ Caleb has three words in his vocabulary now: Dada, Momma (granted he doesn't say this very often), and Nana
+ Caleb is pretty great at feeding himself with his little pinchers. He loves cheerios, bread, well... he is really a big fan of any normal food, its baby food that he doesn't care too much for now. He hasn't warmed up to cow's milk unfortunately. I'm hoping he starts to enjoy it soon, I'm ready to be done with formula!
+ Caleb loves sitting up and playing with his toys. He can still navigate around on the ground to get what he wants, but he does it in a mixture of rolls and scooting on his back. Not a crawler yet!
+ Caleb LOVES the pool. He is so content floating around in his baby float, I don't keep track of time but its long enough for his toes to turn into prunes!
+ Caleb has started clapping and patting his belly and doing all sorts of silly hand movements.

 We had a birthday celebration for Caleb last Saturday night. We had pizza & cupcakes, opened presents then we took the party to the pool! It was such a fun evening and even better, we were surrounded by all our family and friends. Thanks for coming everyone!