Thursday, September 29, 2011

What's in a name

Remember when we did the giveaway a little while ago and I asked you to ask questions? Well, my dear friend, Kate, asked where Chase's name came from. I guess I've never really talked about it on here. I'll give you the long version :)

Hubby and I went to a baseball game in 2010. I think we had just found out I was pregnant. We definitely didn't know the sex of the baby. It felt like we would suggest a name to the other person and the other person would always veto it. We couldn't agree on any names! One of the players on the San Diego Padres at the time was named Chase Headley. I suggested the name Chase and Hubby didn't veto it but that was kind of the end of it.

Fast forward a few months and we have moved to nor cal and are looking at houses but still don't know the sex of the baby. I was convinced we were having a girl so my mother in law decided we would name her Izabella. She didn't know how popular the name was. So as a joke when we were looking at houses we would talk about where Izabella's room would be. I remember we went out to pizza and were talking about different names. My mother in law's maiden name is Ames and I suggested that name (this was before Ashley's bachelorette season). We have very close family friends whose last name is Chase and I remember that being suggested but again that was the end of it.

In December, I went to my first ob appointment in nor cal with my mom. Since I was 20 weeks at the time they wanted to do the ultra sound that day. Since hubby was at work mom and I closed our eyes when the tech went exploring to find out the sex of the baby. She printed a picture of the goods and wrote what the sex of the baby was and put it in an envelope. That night when Hubs got home we opened the envelope together in front of my parents and on video and then called his parents. I was so shocked when Hubby said, "It's a boy!"

We had already decided on our girl name so I was a little frustrated that we had to pick a boy name. We can all agree that boys are more difficult to name right? Since my name was the 11th most popular name the year I was born and I usually had another Megan in my class I wanted a more unique name. Hubby's name was #101 so he wanted a more popular name for our son. I ended up printing two copies of the top 100 baby names for 2009. I gave one copy to Hubs and I took the other. We were supposed to circle the names that we liked.

I remember starting off a little slow. There were a few names I liked and a few I didn't like and crossed off. At some point we said pick 10. After Hubby had sat down with the list he said there was a name that he really liked. I was excited he had found a name he really liked and hoped it was one I liked too. After we had circled our top 10 names, we compared our lists to see if we had any names the same. We had TWO names the same. You can see why it was hard for us to decide on a name we both liked!

I asked Hubby what the name was that he realized he liked a lot was and he said it was Chase. Luckily it was one of the two that we both liked. One Dec. 24th, 2010 we had pretty much decided we were going to name our son Chase. We didn't tell anyone at first because we didn't want to hear people's opinions or have people talk about the name behind our backs. We also kept the other name as a backup in case the baby arrived and didn't look like a Chase.

When we were admitted to the hospital we told them the baby's name was Chase and we never really discussed whether or not he looked like a Chase once he was born. We started calling him Chase the second he arrived.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Help! Pick my outfit for today!

Which outfit should I wear to the wedding we are going to today? The bride and bridesmaids are wearing cowboy boots and the groom and groomsmen are wearing jeans.

1.

2.




3.




4.




5.

6.










Thursday, September 22, 2011

I don't care it is September, I'm getting ready for Christmas!

Since we moved into a new house this year I figured why not put all the things I need on my Christmas list! I like to dream big!


My Christmas list so far:
Dslr
Workout video I can do with Chase
Bar stools
Sectional
Case for sunglasses
6 vinyl or non cloth placemats
Pizza cutter
Curtains
5ftx8ft beige rug

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Sleep training

Tips and Tricks Tuesday




I think I might have said I wasn't going to talk about sleep any more. It is our issue and today I'm sharing some good news! Last time I think I asked about cry it out. I was exhausted from walking around with Chase and knew he needed to learn how to put himself to sleep. My sister-in-law's sister had the answer I was looking for.




She told me about the pick up/put down method which I tihnk is in an old version of the baby whisperer. When you see the baby is tired, they are rubbing their eyes or whatever they do when they are tired, you go in their room and do 15 minutes of quiet time. I'm sure you've heard the different bedtime routine things. We started Friday morning with nap #1. Our nap/bedtime routine/quite time is rocking in the rocking chair reading or listening to music. Sometimes he's too tired to sit and listen to me to read so we just rock and listen to music. After 15 minutes I swaddled him up turned on music, said, "It's bedtime, goodnight" and put him in his crib. The first time we did it I'm not sure if I did 15 minutes of quiet time. I also don't think he was tired enough. He hung out in his crib for 30 minutes before getting upset. Then it took him about 45 minutes to go to sleep. With the pick up/put down method you can go into their room and pick them up to calm them down as often as you like but you can walk around or jiggle them. She said it shouldn't take longer than 45 minutes for them to fall asleep.




I'll be honest it was awful. I thought he would do a lot less crying than he did. I'm not sure if we even needed to do this, but we did. It took him 55 minutes to fall asleep for nap #2. Things got all messed up that day and I was trying to put him down for nap #3 way too late. My sister-in-law's sister said they get 2.5 hours to nap. The crying/falling asleep part counts for the 2.5 hours. I think I made a mistake with that part the first day. My husband came home and that made things more difficult. It was taking longer than 45 minutes so we gave in and walked him around.




We tried again the next day with nap #1 and Chase fell asleep while I was rocking and reading. So we thought we had trained him. He was probably just tired for all the crying the day before. But the good news is that Chase and I are working on getting him to put himself to sleep. Today he put himself to sleep for naps 1 and 2 and didn't cry! I have faith that he will be putting himself to sleep for all his naps and bedtime soon!



I was reading about stranger anxiety on babycenter.com last night and read this article How do I teach my baby to soothe himself to sleep? I love this part, "You can't really teach your baby how to self-soothe, but you can provide him with the opportunity to teach himself. Given the right circumstances and the right stage of development, usually between 3 and 6 months of age, it will happen on its own. It's like learning to crawl: If you always carry your baby, he'll never have a chance to discover crawling, since he'll never be on the floor long enough to figure it out. It's the same thing with self-soothing: If you always nurse or rock your baby to sleep, he'll never have a chance to learn how to soothe himself to sleep." I also believe this, "What happens if you've given your baby plenty of chances to self-soothe and he just can't seem to do it? Take a step back and try to figure out why. Perhaps he's simply too young and doesn't yet have the developmental ability to self-soothe, just as a 3-month-old can spend hours on the living room floor yet still won't be able to crawl .In this case, wait a few days, weeks or even months before trying again. Or maybe your baby is too tired — and thus too overwrought — to settle down by himself. In this case, try moving his bedtime a bit earlier so he isn't a complete wreck by lights-out. Finally, think about whether you're really giving your baby an opportunity to find ways to soothe himself, or are rushing in to comfort him at his first peep and depriving him of the chance to figure it out on his own."

Monday, September 19, 2011

Question number two

The lovely Rebekah asked if I have always lived in California and what my favorite part about living here is.

My parents met, fell in love, and got married in California. They moved to South Dakota after the wedding for my Dad's job. He worked in the tv industry. After South Dakota they moved to Kansas where my Dad was a news anchor and they had me! (sidenote: My Mom never even thought of having my Dad stay in the hospital with her and I when I was born. He went to work the next day and announced my birth on the air) A few months later they packed up their two cats and me and headed back to California to be closer to family.

They ended up buying property and building a house in the same town as my mom's sister. Since I'm an only child growing up close to my cousins that are close in age to me was a lot like having sisters. When I was in 2nd grade we moved to a bigger house about a mile away from our first house. The new house was in a different school district so I changed school districts in 3rd grade.

In high school I wanted to have the four year college experience and I was desperate to move out! I went to college 90 minutes from my parents' house. It was just far enough away that I felt like I had left home. I went from a girl that was desperate to move out to a girl that talked to her parents on a daily basis. I think they were glad their only child fell in love with a local boy. All parents worry their child will fall in love with someone that lives far away right?

Well that local boy took a job after college 8 hours away from my parents' house in San Diego. We thought it would be a few year adventure and liked that he had a predictable schedule and wasn't traveling a lot. The economy tanked right after he got that job. He was lucky enough to hang on to the job, but it left us stuck in San Diego for four years. We had friends and family there but I missed my parents and cousins. I remember one year we didn't go home for thanksgiving I called them crying hysterically.

Obviously, we loved living close to the beach in San Diego. There are so many great restaurants and tons of things to do. The weather is wonderful. We experienced two pretty big earthquakes and were evacuated for a fire while living there.

When we started talking about starting a family, our plan was to ask for a job transfer after the baby was a year old. God had a different plan. Hubby got a job transfer to a location really close to where I grew up when I was 4 months pregnant.

We always planned to move back to be close to our families. We never knew we would be as close as we are. So we bought our house in a town that was first, close to work and Hubby wouldn't have to get stuck in traffic on the freeway, and also in a nice area with good schools and parks.

Since moving back it seems like we are always on the go and I love every second of it! We try to let Chase see his grandparents as often as we can. We love that we are close to San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Napa, Tahoe, Reno, etc. In San Diego you were close to LA and could drive to Vegas. We like that we don't really have to worry about hurricanes, tornadoes, and natural disasters like that.

Hope that answers your question!!! If you are a new follower and have any questions, introduce yourself and ask away!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Vlog number 2

Chase and I recorded a vlog answering questions from Caroline at Simply Smithwick's vlog.



Here are the questions you are supposed to answer:
1. How did you and your husband/bf meet?

2. What is your job?

3. Where are your favorite places to shop?

4. What is your favorite thing to do on a date?

5. What is your go-to meal to cook? (post recipe if possible)

You should record one too!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Question #1

When I hosted the giveaway recently I asked people that entered to ask a question. I figured it would give me stuff to blog about. The lovely Tara asked how I met hubby. I actually blogged about how our relationship started a few years ago so I should probably tell you all again.

The story begins my freshman year of college. I was a liberal studies major. As a freshman you have to take some general ed classes, but there are some teacher versions of some general ed classes as well. I chose to take the teacher versions whenever I could. The first day of my teacher biology class I sat down by some girls that looked nice. We started talking about what year we were and where we lived. I found out one of the girls lived in the same "village" as me. I said, "We should be friends!" (yes I am a dork, but that is why this girl, you, and everyone else love me) Honestly, that isn't something I would normally say. Definitely glad I did!

The girl I met in bio, lets call her R, and I did become friends. We had several classes together and lived really close to each other. She took another teacher psych class with a girl named B and they too became friends. When we were all deciding where to live my friends and R's friends coincidentally decided to live in the same apartment complex.

R and I became close friends. We talked about everything. Her roommates, their friend's their boyfriends, things they were up to in their classes, etc. Our sophomore year, R had a birthday party.


I have a terrible memory. We went out a lot in college. Lots of people had birthday parties. We took lots of pictures. Maybe I remember a lot of the details of R's party because we took pictures that night, I don't know. But I remember what I was wearing, how I did my hair, etc. I remember walking into my friend's kitchen and being introduced to B's boyfriend, Hubby! I also remember thinking, "Wow! He's hot!". You guys know, you have seen his pictures ;). But I was no longer in the business of home wrecking, so I think I took some jello shots and continued on my merry way.

Hubby remembers this night too. That is why we say it was love at first sight. He remembers meeting me and thinking I was pretty. He doesn't remember meeting any of my roommates (that is pretty strange because they were pretty hot!). Weird huh?!

I think I have some new followers. Don't be shy! Introduce yourself! If anyone has any more questions about me, the fam, or hubby and I, ask away!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011


When do you find time to blog?!

I wanted to write a blog post tonight but some other things came up and now it is 9:30 and I'm exhausted. I am struggling with trying to find time to blog. I just want to sleep!

Friday, September 9, 2011

GIVEAWAY WINNER!!!!

Congratulations to...







And today is her Hubby's bday! How exciting! She's super cute you guys should go check out her blog!




I guess Brittany will contact you and figure out all the details. This is our first time! We didn't talk about that part!




If you didn't win, don't forget you can still get 10% off for the whole month of September at Brittany's etsy shop! The coupon code is HELLO10

Thursday, September 8, 2011

50/50 update

Have you entered the giveaway?
1. Organize desk (in the process)
2. Organize guest room (kind of talking about it)
3. Wedding scrapbook for mil (I need to print the pictures!)
4. Wedding scrapbook for me
5. Baby book (worked on it)
6. Get a good paying job (been applying!)
7. Make cookies
8. Get chase on feeding/sleeping schedule-the last few days things have been pretty predictable!
9. Decorate nursery- there is stuff on one wall now!


10. Decorate living room- we hung a few things up!




11. Decorate bedroom
12. Family vacation summer 2011-done! We got two things done and went to Tahoe! See #31!
13. San Diego trip spring 2012- Hubby has been so cute already making plans for this trip!
14. Cut Chase's fingernails-this needs to be done like weekly!
15. Cut blue's nails- complete! we need to do it like once a month though
16. Go to Europe
17. Go to NYC
18. Get abs again- working on it
19. Go on an overnight date with hubby
20. Take chase to meet his great grandpas- he has met both now!
21. Take chase to chico-done!
22. Take chase to my parents house- done!
23. Start college fund for chase-done!
24. Take chase to Disneyland
25. Help dad edit wedding video
26. Go to Yosemite
27. Go to MLB spring training
28. Go to high school reunion
29. Start Christmas card album
30. Go to a rivercats game
31. Go to Tahoe-done!


32. Go to Disney world
33. Go camping
34. Go to Christmas eve service at bayside church
35. Stay at four seasons biltmore again
36. See movie bridesmaids
37. See movie bad teacher
38. Watch princess bride with mil
39. Go on Mother's day garden tour
40. Volunteer in Chase's classroom
41. Buy a new pair of jeans
42. Finish 40 day love dare
43. Finish What I love about you
44. Get a children's bible
45. Get a Froggie book
46. Take parents and in laws wine tasting
47. Go with dad to Hawaii again
48. Make mouth guard-done!
49. Put pictures in coasters-done!
50. Buy new coasters
51. Watch something borrowed
52. Go to Seattle
53. See the musical Wicked
54. See movie water for elephants
55. Read book water for elephants
56. Go to Oregon
57. Go to Chicago
58. Watch Hall Pass-complete. not as good as I thought it would be!
59. Send a pic to Regis and Kelly
60. redo family room

Saturday, September 3, 2011

See that bandwagon? I'm jumping on it!

Accent vlog! I didn't watch it. There is no Chase appearance :(



The instructions are to say these words:


Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught
And answer these questions:
•What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
•What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?
•What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
•What do you call gym shoes?
•What do you say to address a group of people?
•What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
•What do you call your grandparents?
•What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?
•What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
•What is the thing you change the TV channel with?

What do you think? Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Friday, September 2, 2011

A lot of firsts happening over here!

It is time to get excited! I am doing my first ever giveaway!!!! Not only is this MY first giveaway, this is my pal, Brittany's, first time doing a giveaway with her amazing designs!


Brittany has an etsy shop you need to check out. She opened her shop a month after we got married and I'm kicking myself for not thinking of using her designs when we moved or had Chase. I'm definitely going to have to get one of her prints for the home.






So, what can you win? A 5x7 or 8x10 art print from her shop!!! These are some of my faves:















So what do you have to do to win?
1) Follow my blog publicly and leave a comment with a question for me. I've never done a question and answer blog and would like to know what my readers want to know. It can be a question about me or a question about tips and tricks from moms. Also check out Brittany's etsy shop and put in the comment what art print you want if you win. (1 mandatory)
2) Like Brittany Garner Design on facebook. (1 extra)
3) Follow BG_Design on twitter (1 extra)

I will pick the winner and announce on the blog Friday, September 9th.

Even if you don't win, Brittany is giving all of you a coupon code for 10% off for the whole month of September! The coupon code is HELLO10

Good luck and happy shopping!


Thursday, September 1, 2011

Chase is 4 freaking months old!!!

Holy moly! 4 months! We did a lot this month!



We went on another weekend getaway. This time we went to Capitola. Chase did great sleeping in his pack and play. We have more trips planned this fall. Hopefully we will have a baby that likes to travel as much as we do!
We celebrated Nana's birthday and the one year anniversary of finding out we were going to be parents!

I caught Chase rolling over for the first time on video! It wasn't a fluke either he rolls over all the time now!





He got a jumperoo which has been a lot of fun.


He is now in size 3 diapers and 9 month clothes fit him perfectly which makes sense because he is still in the 90th percentile for height and weight. He is 27 inches long and 17 pounds 14.5 ounces!

The doctor seemed to think everything looked and sounded pretty good. We have been working on getting him to put himself to sleep and he can do it if we get him before he is overtired. She said not to stress about his 40 minute naps because he does know how to put himself back to sleep if he's doing 5-6 hour stretches at night and randomly does an hour and half nap here and there which was such a relief to hear! She said we could start giving him rice or oatmeal cereal mixed with water or breastmilk once a day around 5 months old. She said it might help him go longer at night if we gave it to him before bed but that big babies like him take awhile before they sleep 8 hours. She said he should be rolling both ways at 6 months and can sleep however he wants then.

I had heard she recommends physical therapy for babies that have stiff necks going one way and was a little nervous about that with Chase. She just said we could try to get him looking the way that is stiff when he is on his belly and kind of stretching his head that way. She said he is strong and has good head control which sometimes comes later for big babies.

He really started squealing and laughing a lot this month which has been so fun. He smiles at everyone even after getting his shots today during nap time he was smiling at strangers!