Sunday, May 29, 2011

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my handsome husband!

Grant makes me feel special so many days during the year so I want to show him that he is special too! Grant makes a big deal about my birthday, mothers day, anniversaries, etc. I try and do things through out the year that make him happy, but he usually tops what I do! So, I want to make sure this birthday is special. Not by doing anything crazy, just making sure he feels loved and appreciated by friends and family. :)

So many people came! Friends and family everywhere! And this year... LOTS OF BABIES! We bounced back and forth from the bay to the house. It was a beautiful day out! Perfect for a beach day! I'm so happy that everything turned out great. I had one of our favorite Mexican food places cater the birthday, and I made cupcakes. What a mellow fun weekend so far!

Since it's Memorial Day weekend, I went with an American theme (party planner in me)! Here are some pictures of the party.

Grant went to play golf with buddies this morning, and I'm getting ready for a walk with my bestie and Jake! I'll blog more later.

Here's some pics!
Babies! 
Jake crawling in the kitchen to find his Daddy!
The group!
They hated their hats! haha!
Karina and Elijah
Best buddies.
My baby boy! 


My girls! 
Cheers,

Friday, May 27, 2011

Mornings

My favorite part of the day is my mornings with Jake, and Brady. Jake wakes up at 6:30am. When he wakes up, he just sits there and waits for us to come in and get him. He doesn't cry. He just waits. :)

I feed and change him, and then we come downstairs. I pack him up and pack the dog up and we head out for our morning walk. It's usually around 8am. Sometimes we go around 9am. It's so peaceful around the bay. No one out yet, just the people that live around here. I'm able to think and pray as I walk around and watch the ocean. It's nice to be able to clear my head. 
This is a photo I took this morning. It was so quite... absolutely beautiful morning.





These palm trees are covered in jasmine.


Then I feed my little man breakfast when we get back. If we don't have a lot of errands to run or company over we go on another long walk. Our afternoon walk is after Jake's lunch. Sometimes he sleeps through the walk and other times if he's awake we go to the park at the end of our street.
I put my scarf under this face. He was so sleepy at this walk!
Brady enjoys the sun!
Awake during this walk. Jake loves to play with Brady. Brady loves to eat Jake's snacks that fall on the floor.


Can't complain about my life. I'm lucky to be a stay at home mom. I get to see everything happen with this little monster. Excited when it gets a little warmer we can go to the bay/beach! 

Excited to celebrate Grant's birthday tomorrow. I love my handsome husband! 

Monday, May 23, 2011

I love doing laundry... NOW! :)

I took this video about a week and a half ago (36 weeks old). I forgot to post it. I think once a week I'll start posting videos. I just love looking back at them and thinking how little he was then. He's just growing so fast!

Jake loves doing laundry with me... Well, actually taking it all out of the basket!

Hope everyone has a good week!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Lately...

It's always busy over here at The Stone house. But, sometimes it's even too busy to blog! I know... it's hard to believe. But, my family said they wanted an update with more pics... Hope this is what you were looking for mom! ;)

My little monster is teething. He's been teething... runny nose, sore gums, a little whiney when they hurt him. When will they come in? He is chewing on everything! His fingers, his cup, his bottle, his spoon, or anything he gets in his little hands!
Playing with his girlfriend Victoria.

He's so mobile. He is crawling fast! And he pulls up on everything. I started baby proofing the areas he's in the most. I think this weekend I will invest in baby gates.
Tearing apart the book selves.
My aunt Michele, uncle Jack, and cousin Nicole were in town visiting so they came by and saw Jake. Michele is my dad's sister (don't they look alike?). We had a great time catching up! Grant and I might try and go out to Utah this summer so he can meet more of my family!  Thank you Ferguson family for stopping by and saying hello! Love you!


 I have a whole area for Jake to play in now. A huge Alphabet foam mat, with millions of toys... and this kid prefers to play under his jumper with books. haha. He pulls them all off the shelf. So, I decided to clear out the bottom 2 levels.
Apparently I should have cleared 3 levels? I forget that my little man is actually pretty tall. He's already reaching for the next shelf! 
 This week I also went and met London Myers. She's perfect! It was nice seeing Heather and just catching up! It kinda gave me baby fever... How is that possible? Am I ready for another baby?
Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday. I'll blog more this weekend.
Cheers,

Monday, May 9, 2011

Mother's Day is the new birthday!

I woke up and was greeted with 2 beautiful smiles from the most important men in my life. Well, actually 4 boys including the animals that joined in on the snuggle time.

Shoreline Village
Grant and I relaxed in the morning as I opened up my card and gifts, and then we ventured off to lunch. We went to Shoreline Village ate, shopped, and then headed out for more shopping. One of my besties paints and I'm always telling her I want to paint with her. I just haven't had the time to get all the equipment. And when we were in Oklahoma, Grant's brother Ren had acrylic paints and they played around with painting for one of Vicki's birthday presents. So, Grant was interested in doing a little family painting as well. So, we went and bought canvases and paint. After that we ran some errands (that I wanted to run), and we headed home to play a little xbox. Grant got me the Michael Jackson Experience. If you know me... you know, I LOVE MICHAEL! So, we played that for a few hours as well. Then, Grant's cousins Amanda, Leanna and her little one Tessa came over for dinner. Leanna lives in Pennsylvania so it was so nice seeing her and meeting her little one! 
Lunch with my hottie before Jakey poo woke up.
Loves the high chair... like a big boy.
My boys.
The reason I celebrate.
I made baked ziti (because I decided last minute not to go out), and we all drank wine. Perfect day and evening. Grant made this day so special for me. He kept asking me what I wanted to do and was willing to do anything. I was just happy to be with my boys. Not to sound cheesy... but, seriously! It felt like it was my birthday. I got so many texts, emails, calls, cards, and presents! I have such wonderful friends and family. I know who are the special people and appreciate them all so much! :)

I didn't want the day to end... It sounds like the majority of people I talked to had a great day as well. Then I found out that my mom and Grant's mom didn't receive our present in time... hmm. I love when you put time into something and make sure you choose the correct shipping it still doesn't make it. Interesting. HA! Hope they like it when they eventually get it! 

I ended the night snuggling with my hubby watching a movie while our little monkey was fast asleep in his bed. 
Look at this face. Looks just like his daddy! ;)
Love and cheers,

Sunday, May 8, 2011

A year ago... Mother's Day.

A year ago, last Mother's Day, I had something happen to me that made the experience of motherhood become so real. I felt my baby kick for the first time! I was sitting on the couch... and BAM! A kick! I started to cry. My little man was telling me, "Happy Mother's Day!" So cool, right? That was the best gift I could have ever received.

This year, I'm officially a mother. He was my 30th birthday present. He was born 12 days before my birthday. He was actually due just 4 days before. But, the over achiever in him brought him early. he he.

As a mother it's an amazing feeling to have a life growing inside of you. It's hard to describe. How cool is it that God gives us women that right? AMAZING.

I'm Jake Bowman's mother. It's the best job in the world. Even though being a mother is the hardest job, it's the most rewarding. Even with the toughest days... that smile or laugh sets my heart pounding. Makes everything so worth it. The thought of not having this little boy kills me. I'm lucky to have him. He is God's gift to me for as long as God puts us here on this earth. How amazing is that?

As I write this blog I'm tearing up. How did I become so lucky? To have a handsome husband that loves me and now to be a mother? Wow. Thank you Lord. Blessed beyond belief.

Today is my first Mother's Day. And I'm so excited for what my husband has planned for me/us. He really does make sure that I'm happy everyday though. Even when we argue or disagree he makes sure we never go to bed angry. And that we kiss before he leaves the door for work. I couldn't be more happy or proud of this family we have and are creating!

Here are a few pictures from our parenting journey.

Daddy and Mommy - 34 weeks

The day that Jake was born - 38.6 weeks.
Cesarean because of my breech baby.
MY FIRST KISS!!!
I FINALLY get him after being in recovery for 3 hours! This was 1 am!
HEAVEN.
First day on this earth.
8 months old now!
Our family of 3.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all you mommies and mommies to be!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Happy Mother's Day - To my mummy!

With Mother’s Day tomorrow I wanted to reflect and thank my mother for all that she has taught me. How my mother raised me is playing a huge role in how I’m raising my son. I’m finding that I have a very similar style to my own mother. I would say that is a good sign of a wonderful mother, wouldn’t you? I truly believe your children are a reflection of the way you raise them.

My mom is loyal, kind, loving, and patient. She is wonderful. My parents got married when my mom was 17 and my dad was 20. They had me 8 months after. My brother Marty came 17 months after I was born. My parents were very young. But, they worked as a team. They taught my brother and I how important family is. Family is everything. My parents ended up having another baby later in life. He is 8 years old.

Motherly Touch.  When my husband and I learned that I was pregnant we celebrated and thanked God for our good fortune.  As the days and months flew by, I got caught up in all the excitement of being a mother.  However, there was a looming concern that ate at me at the end of the day, I was worried.  I was so worried about everything. I was worried about doing the right thing for my son. With my parents living in another state, it was just my husband and I. My mom had so many conversations with me saying, “your motherly instincts with kick in, and you’ll know what to do.” She was right.  We were fortunate enough to have my mom available to help me out when my son was born and her “motherly” touch helped me tremendously. I had a cesarean so I couldn’t get around as easily as I would have liked. My mom slept in the bed with me and put my son Jake in the bassinet by her side. For the first week of Jake’s life, he would cry she would hand him to me to feed him. I would then pass him back, and she would rock him to sleep while I got some rest. This also allowed my husband to rest as well so that he could continue to work and run his business.  She was only at my house for 10 days, but I’m so glad we got that time together.

Trying to take on the World.  As a new mother, I have experienced so many thoughts and emotions. I’m eight months into this journey, and I have so many wonderful things to be thankful for, but it did not come without a significant amount of worries and concerns. My mom has said, “You can’t worry about things you can’t control.” Now that my son is 8 months old I can say she is right. My mother and I have one of those unique mother/daughter relationships where we talk everyday.  Yes, in case you are concerned that this is a typo, I did say everyday!  It may seem weird to some young mothers to talk that often to their mother, but we have a very deep understanding of one another.  She checks in and asks about my son and I. If I have questions, I know I can ask her anything.

Little Bro.  Having an 8 yr old brother has given me a kick-start on what I can expect for my little man. When my mom was pregnant I was 22. Although it was strange for my mom and dad to be having another baby, it was amazing experience for me to be a part of.   When my baby brother was born I was present in the room. I have to be honest that this gave me a new level of respect for what our mothers go through to bring life into this world.  Dylan was beautiful, and the sacrifices my mother made then and continues to make inspire me today. I have been very active in my little brother’s life, and I expect him to be active in my son’s life, such is family!

My mom is strong. Even when she’s sick, she was packing lunches, cleaning the house, and making dinner. My role model is of a woman that cares for her family, and puts them first above anything else. I hope to be the mom that she is to us. I love my mom she is my best friend.

***The Partnership at Drugfree.org contacted me a few weeks ago asking me to write a letter for my mother this Mother's Day, so they can post it on their site. I sent in photos of my mother and I, when I was pregnant, and now with Jake. I feel honored they have been reading my blog and thought that I was influential. Here is a link to the slide show of a few other mommy bloggers. The letter hasn't gone up on their site... but, I wanted to post it here so that my mom can read it for Mother's Day tomorrow. Hope everyone is doing something nice for their mother on their special day.***
Pics of my mommy and I:
She made my day so special. My mom is a true designer and event planner! 
On my wedding day. April 18, 2009
My mom always buys the entire family matching PJ's for Christmas Eve. And yes we have to wear them! 
My mom threw me a baby shower in June 2010.
10 days after my son was born (first grand baby). Mom was there to help and celebrate my 30th birthday!
Love and cheers,
 
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