My Valentines

I swear Valentines Day has gotten better each year, ever since those awkward teenage, valentineless-days.   I was lucky enough to spend the entire day with my two favorite people.  Woke up to a surprise scavenger hunt from the husband, ate heart shaped waffles together, took McKay to play in the snow for the first time, and then went on a romantic date with my valentine.  Today was perfect, probably the best Valentines Day ever.

Wasn't too sure about experiencing coldness for the first time.

 ...But sledding won him over

Hope your day was filled with love like mine.

Someday I will catch up

But it's not today.  

No more excuses though.  Someday I may blog about his birthday, Christmas, tahoe, ect.  Or maybe it can just go in his Shutterfly book.  These past few months have been kind of a blur.  And about the nonfunctional camera cord?  Guess I will just use phone pictures for today.

McKay is growing way to fast.  I felt the need to post because I felt this was a big developmental week.  

Firsts for this week:  

1.) Hands me books he wants me to read, then hands them again, then reads it to himself. (Used to just read it to himself.  This week is the first time he handed them to me.)

2.) Throws a ball back and forth for the first time.

Love Sunny sundays.  Off go the church clothes!

3.) Grabs my hand, says "ma" and takes me places (usually it is to try to go outside to see the bunny or get in the wagon.)

4.) Got in the wagon when I wasn't looking by himself.

I eat this like an apple, right?

5.) Scrubs the ground with a sponge (used to just eat it).

6.)Gives high fives for the first time

7.) Says "ba" when he comes out from under his blanket (trying to see "boo).

My favorite Monkey blanket

8.) Takes consistent 2-3 hour naps and 12 hours at night.  He has seriously never been a good napper until this week, and before this week he was doing 11 hours instead of 12 at night.  Guess he has needed a lot of sleep for this big week!

Other things he is obsessed with lately:

1.) As soon as he is let outside, he runs to the dirt and starts digging.  He is seriously like a dog!  I have had to give him midday baths multiple times this week.  Sometimes I am ok with it if I'm already going to bathe him, until he starts putting it in his mouth.  He is over putting non-edible things in his mouth for the most part, except dirt.   Don't understand that one. 

2.) Walking around with a blanket over his head, trying to play peek-a-boo, except he runs in to walls, and has battle wounds to show for it.

3.) Food!  This boy is seriously a eater.  Doesn't matter what it is.  
Exhibit A: I was talking on the phone.  McKay was too quiet and this is what I found.  Mini muffin in each hand and one in the mouth.  Grabbed them off the counter

Mom, what's the big deal?

Exhibit B:  Brought dad pizza for lunch.  Bry took the first piece- Mckay grabbed it.  Bry went for the second piece- Mckay grabbed it.  Bry went for the third piece- Mckay bit it right out of his hand.  I guess we starve our child or something?

Will someone please feed me?
Even though toddlerhood is busy busy busy, Motherhood is still a dream come true.  I love every single bit of it, and McKay makes me smile every day.  My husband is hard working as ever.  You can now call him Master Clevenger (passed his masters comprehensive test).  Dental School in San Francisco starts in July.  I cannot wait to explore the city.  Monterey day trip tomorrow, Mckay is going to be in heaven I'm sure.

An Eventful Week

I guess it's more like an eventful month, so eventful that I haven't had a chance to blog about it.  My son is one, what?!!  Still need to post on that day, but we'll just start with this week for now.  

1.) Mckay got his first haircut today 

Before

Look how old I am!

Why is this lady cutting my bangs straight across dumb and dumber style??  Hope mom says something.

 Whatever you do, don't take away my sucker.  And please excuse my mom's random curly Q hair.

After

I look goood!

2.) Bryan got accepted to dental school

He is my inspiration.  He is the most hard working, tenacious, persistent person I know.  Don't let someone tell you you can't do something because they are wrong and my husband is living proof of that.  We had a stressful few years with lots of prayers and lots of tears.  We learned patience.  It would be nice if I could perfect that skill so I wouldn't have to keep learning it.  We grew closer together.  We learned to turn to our Heavenly Father who comforted and directed us.

It feel so good to have a plan, when we have live a pretty spontaneous life our first three years of marriage.  I don't even know how to do this whole planning thing anymore.  
Oh, and I finally get to use my wedding gifts that are stored in my parents attic. No more furnished apartments for us!

I'm Late

But late is better than never right?

Happy Halloween, from our little cow.

Miami Zoo

About a month ago we took McKay to the zoo for the first time. 

My fav were the giraffes.

Bry loved the Rhino

And McKay was most excited about leaves.

 The best part was that we saved $40 and got in for free.  Thank you library card (and miamiflonthecheap.com)! 

 

Pictures by Grandma

About a week ago my mom took some pictures of McKay.  He was kind of out of his element so he wasn't his smiley self, but she did a fantastic job.  How is my sweet boy almost a year?  He is growing up way to fast.  He took a step on his own yesterday.  It makes me sad as he becomes more and more independent.  My baby is becoming a toddler.  Part of me wants time to freeze and for him to stay in this sweet, innocent, and still very dependent stage forever.  However I love watching him experiencing new things.   He is so giddy when I take him to the park and he swings and slides.   I love the excitement on his face when he sees daddy walk through the door.  I love watching them play, while dad is so happy and baby laughs so hard he gasps for air.  Every time he eats, he reaches over for me to have a bite and giggles when I do.  He is the only person in the world that enjoys my singing.  He smiles at strangers and will let almost anyone hold him.  However, when he is sick, teething, or tired he is clingy to me, which I kinda love.  This little boy makes my life so full and meaningful.  He is my little buddy that goes with me everywhere.  I am so humbled and grateful that Heavenly Father trusted me to be his mother.  

Mommy Flying Tips

Only in Miami...
Would our evening walk include a random woman interrupting her phone call to tell us, "You need to cover him.  He's cold!"

WHAT?  It's 85 degrees outside!  And he has footed jammies. 

This pic isn't the best quality...but you get the idea.  There is a higher chance that he is sweating than him being cold. 

On a side note, McKay is an expert traveler.  Every time we fly people say, "Is this his first flight?"  The follow up question is, "do you always fly alone?"  I laugh at the first question because I calculated that McKay has been on 7 flights (14 including departure and return).  6 of them had at least one layover.  Therefore he has been on 28 Different planes at 10 months.  Crazy!  That kid is a trooper.  Because of this he actually flies quite well.  Or maybe I am just less frazzled because it is no big deal now and it rubs off on him.  Regardless, when I reflected how I flew most recently without any random people helping me, I realized my flying skills are improving.  Especially in comparison to the first time when random people were helping me left and right.  I realize this is no major feat in comparison to the many women that fly alone with several kids, but for me it is!

Because I would have loved these tips before flying with the babe, I will share a few things I have learned.

MOMMY FLYING TIPS:

1.  Don't try to breastfeed on the plane- It is extremely awkward when you are elbowing large men sitting next to you.

2.  You can fill bottles with water to go through security.  How did I not know this till the most recent flight?  I knew they did this for breast milk, but not plain water.

3.  Keep it simple- backpack, shoulder bag that goes over the stroller.  Check the carseat.  If there is a chance there is an open seat next to you and you have someone helping you bring it to the gate, but I usually don't have those luxuries.  I bring a big shoulder bag and backpack now because it fits more than my diaper bag and I don't have to check a bag.  I throw a smaller bag in my shoulder bag that I'll be able to use on a day to day basis.

4.  Books!  McKay is entertained by books forever.  He gets tired of other toys but can look at books over and over again.  His favorites have mirrors or random things to feel.

5.  Aisle Seat.

6.  Pacifier- helps their ears.  (this is the one thing everybody told me to do before first flight.)  Use a clip for the pacifier so it doesn't fall in the toilet on the airplane...yes this has happened before!  Don't worry I threw it away.

7.  Hand sanitizer- the kind safe for babies to put their hands in their mouth after use.

8.  Tylenol and teething gel- just in case.
9.  If all else fails, there are people all over the place more than willing to help you!  People love babies.

If anything, writing this down will help me next time I have a baby!  Anyone else have any travel tips?