Show and Tell: Baby Talk

I couldn't not link up with Becky today for show and tell baby talk! 1. Tell us your favorite baby names? Obviously, Chase. You might remember when I talked about how we selected his name we picked our top 10 favorite boy names from the top 100 for 2009 and then compared. We only had 2 names that we both liked, Chase and Matthew. So we always said if we have another boy we will name him Matthew. Lately, we've been having second thoughts. We recently agreed that if God blesses us with another son we will do the same thing we did to pick Chase's name. We will be keeping the name a secret because I did not enjoy the grimace from my bil recently over Matthew. But honestly, when I think of Chase's brother and our 2nd child I always think of him as Matthew so we will probably end up naming him that. Our girl name is Lauren. We talk about Matthew and Lauren with Chase too so it will be interesting to see what happens!

2. Show me your "dream" nursery {can be your baby's nursery or one that you love}
You might also remember that we moved into our house when I was 7 months pregnant. We didn't have the time, money, or engery to give Chase a dream nursery. His bedding is plain sheets to match a hand-me-down crib skirt. We plan to keep the room as a nursery and let Chase pick whatever he wants to take from the room to his big boy room next door. I also am hoping for another boy so I can keep the decor the same. We want 3 kids and I want the third to be a little girl. I want to keep some things in the room the same like the brown curtain and beige rocking chair cushion and then add pink. I love this beige and pink nursery from pinterest!

3. How many children would you like to have? How far apart?
Like I said before we want 3. If I got pregnant today they would be 25 months apart. I think that would be perfect but probably not going to happen. I'm definitely ok with them being 2.5 years or more apart. It is all in God's hands and I have liked his plan so far :). Now that I know how my body acts when I'm nursing I might wean the next one a few months sooner but who knows!

4. Tell us what you think the importance of parenting is?
As a substitute teacher I see a lot of kids on their worst day. RESPECT has been a big thing for me lately. I think it is so important to teach our children how to be respectful! With the economy being the way it is I hear a lot about children moving back in with their parents. I think it is important to teach your children how to be intrinsically motivated and a hard worker. I see and hear a lot of people getting things handed to them. On Suze Orman there was a 12 year old that got an allowance of $80 a month. Not gonna happen for little Chase. I think it is important to teach your children how to be a healthy eater, a lover of fitness and the outdoors, polite, unprejudiced, a lover of reading, how to handle his finances, how to cook and clean, how to be a good friend, a good husband, about God and Jesus, etc. I could go on and on! It is a big job and I hope I do it well!

5. Show us your favorite newborn photo
We didn't take professional newborn photos. But this is a great picture of my favorite newborn!

I seriously die over this picture! This is Chase the day we left the hospital. I don't ever remember him being that small!

6. Tell us some things you promise to never do as a parent {and if you are a parent, did you stick to it}
I distinctly remember my friends 1 year old wasn't sleeping through the night and saying if Chase is 1 and not sleeping through the night he will be crying it out. HA! I'm such a softie now! I said I wanted to breastfeed for a year and I did. We never wanted to give him medicine and we definitely have given him advil for teeth! I was going to try to not have an epidural. After two weeks of labor I asked for the epidural man to come as soon as he could when it was offered to me.

Challenge my Closet

I'm linking up again with my pal Shannon for Challenge your Closet.

This week I had substitute teacher orientation for the school district Chase will most likely be going to. I wanted to look professional. I pinned this working girl outfit collage and wanted to try to wear an outfit inspired by it. I liked the white with khaki. This shirt is one of my most professional looking white shirts. I also wore heels which I wouldn't normally choose. 

Saturday morning I was supposed to go to a playdate but ended up being too busy packing to go out of town. This is the outfit I picked to where to the playdate and out of town. I was inspired by this styling a basic white t blog post. I ended up wearing a beige tank because the white t that was clean had a stain (mom life!). It was over 90 that day so I didn't wear my jean jacket. I'm thinking if I do this outfit again I might try tucking the tank or white shirt in. 

P.S. My bathroom floor is always a distaster (mom life)!

Those summers

You know those summers? Where you have a great job and meet people that capture your heart?

When I moved to San Diego in May of 2007 I had no idea I would meet people I would cherish for a lifetime.

I was a daycamp counselor that summer. Which means you get to hang out with a group of people your age and supervise (play) with kids all day.

We had all day to spend together talking, laughing, and being crazy. Then we would spend all weekend together.

Most of the other counselors were home from college for the summer so a lot of time was spent at Hubby and I's apartment. Our little 600 sq ft apartment with our bunny we had brought 800 miles with us.

I miss those nights staying up late talking and laughing.

It was almost like an extra summer of college.

I swear to you the song "You're gonna miss this" was written about my life!

Now that I have a baby that needs to be put to bed there doesn't seem to be as many late nights just hanging out and talking. Maybe when we retire!

Label Whore

I am pretty far from a label whore. But I do own a few designer items and you know what? No one really notices. My latest obsession is the Michael Kors Large Runway Watch.

I 100% blame all you bloggers. I'm guessing if I sweet talked the Hubby into getting me one none of the other moms would even notice! I'll be looking for a knock off asap!

Boob Tube Babble

• I got caught up on Tori and Dean Home Sweet Hollywood. I forgot how much I love Tori Spelling. When they went back to the spot where he proposed it was so sweet! I will be devastated if they get divorced. There aren't any rumors but it is Hollywood so I expect it.

• Are you watching this season of RHONY? I love what Aviva is doing for amputees. I taught in a classroom with a little girl that has a prosthetic leg and all I could think of is I wonder if Aviva being on tv has changed how people treat her and the questions they ask her.

• Amber and her new boyfriend on teen mom are so weird! Bummed that it is over and I can't enjoy their weirdness more. You know how they have butterfaces? He was a butterteeth. I thought he was good looking until I saw his teeth and heard him speak.

• Did you hear Holly Madison is pregnant?! So happy for her but the baby daddy sounds like he's got some issues!

Photo from people.com

• Snooki finally had her baby. That was like the longest pregnancy in history!

Fall is in the Air Show and Tell Monday and Challenge your closet

Ok, I might post the post I wrote and forgot to link up with Becky. Not going to forget to link up this time!


1. Tell us what you are looking forward to this fall?
So I know everyone is so ready for fall. I'm not. I haven't pinned any fall outfits. I have let our summer crab picture stay hanging. All I am looking forward to is our 2nd annual kiddo halloween party :)
2. Show us your fall style.

brown boots and a cardigan
3. Tell us your favorite things to do in the fall. If you have children, activities to do with the kids?
I love going to the pumpkin patch, carving the pumpkin, taking Chase to trick or treat and passing out candy.
4. Show us your favorite fall beverage.

 

apple cider. Might have to try this spiced cider recipe!
5. Tell us, how you will be participating in halloween this year. Plans? Costume ideas?
As I mentioned earlier, we will be having our 2nd annual kiddo halloween party. I may have already bought Chase's costume.

So cute, right?
The adults don't dress up. I still need to get him some Halloween pjs for answering the door in.

I also told you I'm going to be participating in Shannon's challenge your closet.
So, first, I washed all my clothes, organized them by things I can where to work and casual and turned the hangers around. I took a before picture because I'm thinking a lot of that will not get worn and will be donated.

 

 

(I thought I had hung up all my clothes but I had another laundry basket full! This isn't my jeans or dresses either!)

I realized when I was doing this that I am not a wear a dress to work kind of girl.
Shannon's challenge was inspired by Kate at the small things doing a 30x30 challenge. I thought about doing a 30x30 challenge but realized I have no cute jewlery :( So my challenge is to wear it or donate it for now.

Outfit #1

I've always wanted to be someone that wears a maxi dress on the weekend for no reason so I did. This dress is Nordstrom like 3 years ago. It is also like the longest maxi dress ever made. I'm 5'10 and it is long on me. We ended up going to Target and Costco. At Costco I somehow got caught in the cart. Thank goodness Hubby was there to untangle me! I had to change into comfy clothes when I got home.

Outfit #2

 

Totally forgot I had this shirt but found it because of this challenge! Love a good photo bomb. He's trying to put a headband on. 

16 months!

Chase is 16 months old! I haven't really been doing monthly updates since he turned 1 for a few reasons. But I wanted to do an update since he is at such a fun age!

We went on our first camping trip. It was only one night and thank goodness because Chase was getting his molars and did not sleep well. He looks like such a big boy in all the pictures from that trip.

Speaking of my little giant, he is so tall! His 15 month appointment was a few weeks ago and he was 33 inches tall! We go to the park and he is taller than some 2 year olds!

 I love taking him to the park. Today, he was so cute! We went with his friend, Carter, that he has known since he was born and they started figuring out throwing the ball to each other. He was throwing the ball with another little boy and then ran over to Carter to throw the ball to him.

A little girl went down the slide in front of him and he clapped for her.

We brought his buckets and shovels to play with in the sand and he did such a good job sharing. I can see that "I want that toy I'm going to grab it" motion and I tell him to share and I can see him hesitate. So hard to have self control! Makes me so proud!



He loves books and his daddy. The other day he grabbed his hand and dragged him over to something. So cute. When he hears the garage door go up when Hubby gets home he runs over to me and wants me to pick him up and take him to see his daddy.

 

The weather has been pretty nice lately so we can spend a little time outside after dinner doing Chase's favorite thing, watering the plants. He's seriously obsessed. He constantly wants to be outside playing with the hose.

 

 

 

 

 



Last night a woman probably in her 80's walked by using a walker and Chase was just beaming at her. I'm sure I've said it before, but I truly pray he continues to have such a sweet heart and continues to share his smile with everyone he meets.

Chase has been spending lots of time with his Grandpa when I go to work. I am so relieved that it has been a pretty easy transition. Makes me glad I trusted my gut and the timing worked out that we could wait this long for me to return back to work. Chase has been awesome at taking naps for Grandpa which was my big concern. They have always had a special bond but I see that bond growing. So sweet!

 

We started working on night weaning and getting him to sleep through the night in his crib recently. I know, a little late but it is the right timing for us. It was hard the first time he woke up the first night but has been getting better. I'm hopeful that he will be sleeping through the night soon.

 

He loves to point to things and say "this". His favorite word is still Dada. He tries to say bye, bye but it kind of sounds like dada but he waves. Sometimes he will say duck or dog. It is crazy how much he understands. He surprised me when I said, "let's go in the back yard" and he walked over to the gate. Or when I was singing a song I rarely sing, "little bunny foo foo" and I said, "bopping 'em on the head" and he pointed to his head. We sing "head, shoulders, knees, and toes" a lot and he has the head and toes part figured out. Precious.

 

He has started using a fork. I have to get the door knob baby proof things because he has started opening doors. He climbs on everything! He pretends everything is a phone. He loves to brush his hair. He likes to color.

 

He is such a little helper around the house. He loves to vacuum. I saw his friend, Carter (again), wipe up a spill and had to teach Chase how to do that right away.

 

I'm just a very proud mama. When his Daddy gives him kisses before bed he pushes our heads together so we kiss. It is so cute! I am so blessed to have such an adorable little guy!