Monday, August 18, 2014

Living in the land of the sun...hotter than you know where...

Hello all!
It's been awhile.
But I blame that on packing (again), prepping a 3rd anniversary video, unloading all our stuff, and now attempting to create my home.
Which with a 1 year old is not easy!

So, like I said...we moved.
Again.
In our 3 years of marriage we have moved 5 times.
Yes, you read that right...FIVE.
1) Our initial move in to our first ever apartment at the UofU Family Housing.
2) Alex's grandparent's basement in SLC.
3) Move out of Utah to California.
4) My in laws sold that house so we moved to their new house.
5) And here we are....Arizona.
Let's just say I am over the whole boxes, paper, and tape routine.
Goodyear, AZ better pan out for awhile because the thought of doing this in the near future makes me want to cry.

Alex moved down to our little house about a month ago to start job training.
I stayed in CA until last week.
So my mother in law, dog uncle, Kameron, and I set out to join him...


Here we are in Banning, CA for a pit stop.


Kameron did so well!
He really is a trooper.
He could have cried a lot of the way, but he just got a little whiny on the home stretch.
Which I'd be too if I couldn't see anywhere around my car seat and was bored with the same dang toys.
But we finally arrived in Arizona!


And it's hot.
oooooo.....it's hot.
Yesterday when we got in the car after church I seriously felt like I had just jumped in with the rotisserie chickens at the grocery store.
Poor Kameron faces backwards so the AC gets him WAY later than he would like.
By the time we got home the kid's face was as red as a tomato and had sweat dripping down his face.
I think a car fan is our next purchase.

But besides it being an oven, AZ is pretty good so far.
Granted I don't leave my house much....
Unpacking takes about 3-4 times as long when you have a toddler.
He either wants to help, takes things out of something when I want it in, puts things in something when I want them out, pulling things out of cupboards, getting into drawers, attempting to open the toilet, trying out this climbing business, standing on his car (that has wheels), or throwing a fit because I say no to going outside in the 104 degree weather.

But then there's moments where he toddles on over (because he's walking now!), claws at my legs for me to pick him up, and gives me a big hug.
And that makes up for everything I said above.

Kameron's digging this refrigerator set up.
My in laws have their freezer on the bottom, so he's never been able to get in the fridge.
He just helps himself to whatever he can.
This morning he ate an entire strawberry.
Leaves and all.
I just laughed.


So we are settling in!
We've already had 2 family dinners with both sets of sister's families.
The Target, Costco, and Home Goods are close.
There's a Cracker Barrel down the road.
And our neighborhood has a big pool, kiddie pool, and baby swings.
If you want to see where we are living go to parkshadows.com
I'll post pics of our place when it doesn't look like a bomb went off.
I was feeling pretty overwhelmed til last night when Alex said, "It's coming together, babe.  Our home is coming together."
Ok...if he notices...then it must be getting there.

We miss the beach, 75 degree weather, our dog vacuum, and extra grandparent help...but overall it's been fun being our own family unit and getting into our own swing.
Wish me well!  I have a goal to have everything done by this weekend!

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Kam's 1st Birthday!

Well, whether I wanted it to or not...July 31st came.
My baby is 1.
ONE!
I remember thinking the first month was never going to end....uhhh....haha.
But then it just flew by!

His birthday was a success!
The night before was spent decorating the family room for the impending festivities.
His birthday was "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" themed.
We have read that book to him every night before bed since he started sleeping in his own room at 2 months.
He has SO many hungry caterpillar toys and such.
It was only fitting...
(Big shout out to Pinterest, the Eric Carle website, and my sis who helped put it all together.)


Kameron must have been so excited it was his birthday because he woke up 30 mins early for the day!
Which meant we had to wake up 30 mins early as well.
He loves balloons so he was very happy they were all over the ground!


Once the whole fam was ready, we headed over to Tupelo Junction for breakfast.
Which was delicious!
We enjoyed loads of beignets, french toast, waffles, breakfast wraps, grits, and more.
Y.U.M


Before nap time Kam decided a little more balloon play was necessary. :)


During his nap I took a mini nap myself on the new outdoor furniture my MIL bought and then finished up the cupcakes and Kam's cake.
I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. 
Especially since I am not very crafty or culinary.


And Kam was STILL so excited he woke up an hour early from nap time.
He was quite the grouchy birthday boy!
So we decided to open up presents.


He got quite the loot!
Including: a puzzle, a book, a ducky pull along, some nice wood blocks, and a caterpillar rocker!
He loved them all and it definitely put him in a better mood!


Then it was cake time!


He was a little reserved at first.
Not quite knowing what to do...


But once he figured it out and a little sugar got to his head...
He went for that caterpillar cake!
He had so much fun for a good while.
I just can't handle him.
Cutest caterpillar I've ever seen.


Then it was clean up and bath time because we had to head to LA for Kam's first baseball game!


By some amazing chance of God, the Braves were playing the Dodgers ON his birthday!
So Kam wore a little of both.
But deep down he knows who's really the best.
(Ahem, Braves...*cough*)


Here we all are:
My mom and Krista came in to town and Alex was able to come back from AZ.  Plus my in laws...so we had quite the showing at the game!
And thankfully there were a few Braves fans around.
This guy behind us was hilarious.


It was SUCH a fun game!
Kameron did waaayyy better than I thought he was going to.
With him waking up early, taking a short nap, and not even taking a cat nap in the car, I thought he would be a crank.
But he loved it!
There was so much going on that it kept him pretty entertained.
He would cheer and clap when people got excited and he charmed the socks off of everyone around us.


One of the ushers saw the sign I made (that said "I am 1 today!") to try and get on the Jumbotron. (It didn't work.  Boo.)
But she left and came back with this little pin for him to wear!
So sweet!


 After the game he promptly fell asleep in the car and didn't even make a peep when we had to transfer him to his crib.
What a trooper.
And what a partier!
He sure had quite the first birthday.

I'm so thankful we could have a fun day!
It was just everything I wanted it to be.

And now a few fun facts about Kameron:
24 lbs 15 oz, 30.5 inches.
Can stand on his own indefinitely and is starting to take steps.
Loves broccoli, meat, apples, cheese, and Goldfish.
Dances whenever his musical toys go off.
Points and looks up for planes.
Has 5 teeth.
Got his first hair trim. (Not a fan.)
Is still the happiest, funniest, cutest baby boy!

Happy 1st Birthday, Kamo.
It has been the best year with you!
Can't wait for all the future years ahead of us!