Happy Fathers Day Grandpa Spinelli

P.S. Disregard the piles of folded laundry on the couch waiting to be put away!

A couple of chuckles

Secretly I had more fun!!!!

It all started out with Lindsay and I talking about backpacking trips this year. We relly wanted to take Erik on at least one overnighter, but we knew backpacking might not be the most feasible with packing out what you pack in (dirty diapers anyone?). So we talked about car camping later this summer, when was a bit older and could have more fun since he would be more aware of his urroundings. I know that sounds funny cause he could be crawling and putting things in his mouth, but in our family the dirt will be a constant companion in the warm months, so he might as well enjoy it, right?

Well fast forward to about a month ago when Lindsay tells me about this week long backpacking trip that he wants to go on. Ummmm hello, I can't go because Erik definitely can't go for a week so he starts planning with our friend Matt. I was jealous as Lindsay said, backpacking is a hobby that we started to have something we both enjoyed that we could do together as a couple and eventually a larger family. So I was disappointed that this was the first trip I couldn't go on. But I wasn't about to hold him back from such a great experience so I told him that I would drive to Arizona to stay with our friend Cindy and hang out poolside while he tromped through the forest. I am glad that I didn't stay home! We had a blast. It was a bit nervewracking driving about 9 hours with a 3 1/2 month old by myself but worth it. He did great in the car. He cried on and off the last 2 hours getting to cindy's house and the first 2 hours leaving her house, but other than that he was a happy calm baby. We are so lucky to have a great baby!

Once we got to Cindy's house a suspicion came to fruition and was happy to see that my mom met us down there for the holiday weekend! I don't have most the pictures from the trip cause they are on her camera...sorry! We did lots of shopping and some swimming. We ate yummy food and enjoyed great company. One day we even met up with a friend and she took some awesome pictures of the moon babe!

Thank you Bekki for your amazing talent and the fun we had with your kids...they crack me up and I can't wait to have a brood like yours!

While in Arizona Erik took to the television even more than he already has. Honestly whenever we needed to set him down we would put him on the couch as so.....

...and he would watch the noggin channel forever probably if we would have let him. He loved it and when we would try to distract him, many times he would try to look around us or would ignore us until we moved. Hilarious!

Also Grandma Spinelli got him to belly laugh for the first time while we were which was so much fun! He hasn't done it as much as he did that night with her, but we have gotten a few chortles and chuckles here and there!

Erik is now 4 months old and he is gaining new strengths every day! He no longer uses an infant bath tub, I just lay him in shallow water in the tub and he loves that he can freely kick and splash! He isn't rolling over quite yet, but he is moving around. The below picture was how I found him the other morning when he woke up. Looks normal right? Well we put him to be with his head where his right hand is and his feet sticking in the opposite direction, he will be a moverand shaker soon. Time to start baby proofing! Those my favorite pajamas by the way and also the first baby item I bought once we found out S had chosen us!

Today was his four month appointment and he is starting to average out. He is only in the 54th percentile for height now at just over 25 inches. His head is in the 45th, doc said that he probably had a large head when he was younger because S took good care of herself while pregnant. A big head as a newborn is a sign of good nurtition in the uterus I guess, so we feel fortunate about that! And now his head will take the lead from his genetics. His weight is back down to the 30th percentile so I think that is why he looks so long. He weighed in at 14 punds 7 ounces. He is getting chunkier and the doc didn't say there was anything to be worried about so that is good. Just a lean machine!

He cried more this time with the shots and seems to be running a low grade fever but I think he will come around in a few days. His personality is starting to show through and he is such a charmer! He smiles at anyone and loves to play. He hates to miss out on anything and will give up sleep to stay alert. He is a stoic much of the time in public but at home he is a little chatterbox. We love seeing him grow!

Shooossshhh!...No One Tell Sommer I Had Fun Without Her

Last week Sommer and I went on separate adventures. She let me head out with one of my friends from work, Matt, to go backpacking in Sequoia Nat'l Park. Backpacking is one of the things Sommer and I love to do together so she was a little envious that Matt and I were going. While we were gone, her and Erik headed to Arizona to spend the week with friends and family. Matt and I hiked around 40 miles throughout the week and saw many beautiful lakes and views. We started out hiking over Marvin Pass where we had a wonderful view of the Great Western Divide to our East. We hiked about 7 miles a day and some were definatly more difficult than others. On our first morning in the woods we saw one of two bears we would see throughout the week. We didn't get a picture of either but you can see from the "to scale" rendition I did below, it was scary.....

Matt was the one who noticed the bear running straight for our camp and I think he may have even wet himself, although I am sure you did also after seeing that picture. Once he made some noise the bear scurried off and left us alone.

Our favorite stop on the trip was Lost Lake which wasn't on our original itinerary but we were glad we made the adjustment. Here are a few pictures from that area. You can see in the picture with me collecting fire wood that one of the deer that came through camp walked tight up next to and hung out for a while before running off into the forest.

After staying at our favorite campsite we spent the next day traversing our most difficult terrain. We dredged through the snow as we climbed a couple thousand feet to cross Silliman Pass at over 10,000 ft in elevation. Luckily we beat the weather that was rolling in each afternoon so we never had to hike through the rain an thunderstorms. We got to our campsite each day as the rain started. We set up our tents and then would wait out the weather for a couple hours. As you can see from the pics, the mornings and evenings were great. Here you can see Matt and I on top of the pass with Twin Peaks rising behind us.

We ended up finishing the hike a couple days early but had a great time. It is always fun to be away from the phones and office but it also always great to come home to showers and a warm be. Sommer wasn't expecting us home so early so I had the first night home to myself and waited for her to drive back from Arizona the next day.

It has only taken me 4 hours to put this post together which I believe makes me current on posting for the next 6 months. I will leave most of the rest up to Sommer. It is great to have her and Erik back.

Seriously?!

Erik is getting so big, I can hardly believe it! He is almost 4 months old and is sooooo long these days. I took him to the doctor earlier this week and he is over 25 inches and just about 14 pounds. A most adorable string bean if I do say so myself. He is talking all the time now and has gotten more cuddly then he used to be. Pretty crazy! He can see us from much farther away now and has gotten a little bit of seperation anxiety when he watches me walk out of his line of sight. He wants to be held a lot more if he sees me near. It all melts my heart, truly! I don't get as much done, but I would much rather have him drooling on my shoulder and talking to me while I rock him, then be doing something like dishes. Can you blame me? Also with his new talking phase I've noticed just in the last day or two that I think he may be trying to sing with me when I sing to him. I sing to him a lot and lately he starts talking a bunch while I sing and when I smile he smiles and keeps going. I am not positive, but if I stop singing he stops too. So I gather he is trying to sing with me, but who knows- maybe that is just me imagining things.

(the video got cut off cause our card was full on the camera....and yes those are my pj's he is laying against on my legs...he gets ready before I do!)

I asked the doctor about the sunscreen issue, and for those of you who want to know.....he said using sunscreen was fine. He said the age limit is more for legal reasons against the company and that if I need to put some on that is fine. As long as I am taking all other precautions of using sun hats and keeping in the shade and such. Sweetness!

My first Mother's day was interesting. I had no idea what to expect as far as emotions go and was surprised that I didn't feel a ton of hype. That doesn't mean it was not a bad day, it was awesome! In years past, I always was anxious going to church on Mother's day never knowing what was going to be the hard part of church. Each year, some parts of the day were easy to deal with and other's were hard, but each year it changed. Sometimes I had a hard time seeing moms holding babies, hearing the talks, accepting the gift given, it was always different. This year I was not anxious to go to church so that was an odd sensation and I told Lindsay that I wanted to have Erik with me all three hours. Usually surrounding people like to hold him in the first hour, Linds takes him the second hour, and I the third. I told him I wanted to be selfish and hold him all three....it was wonderful! I also cuddled him and loved on him and took him in all day. After church I walked upstairs and found the following in Erik's room. It was family naptime in there, so cute!

Also this last week while I was getting Erik ready to bathe he decided to give me a nice warm present! I am actually it hasn't happened before now but it was worth documenting we thought. We get Erik undressed in his room and then carry him into the bathroom to get in the tub, that night the water wasn't quite ready so we were waiting when I felt a nice warm, wet feeling on my stomach...then legs, "oh man" is what I think I said out loud. I came down stairs to show Lindsay my nice surprise and he laughed and took a picture. He is the one who likes to let Erik be naked with no diaper for long periods but has never been given the precious gift I was given. I will take it that I am the chosen one!

Honestly who can resist those cute little cheeks? When I look at this picture I can't believe how big he is. Where did the newborn go? He is still young but so tall! We may have a great basketball player on our hands. And his fair skin is cute. I would say pretty but don't know if that is appropriate for a little man. One day I was thinking that I have my very own "Edward" who has stolen my heart! Erik's eyes can suck you in and when his skin isn't flared up is truly like porcelain and so gorgeous.

And I am so glad that I caught this smile. I try all the time to catch it on camera but it's hard, this one was bigger but I was lucky to catch it halfway through. His smiles are so big his whole face scrunches up and I love the wrinkles on the bridge of his nose and his dimples when he does that and of course his mouth opens wide! He will be a heart throb for sure one day. Back off ladies, he has to wait until he is at least 16!

Birth Mother's Day

1 nephi 21: 15-16For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.


Today we celebrate and honor birth mother's and the special women that they are. They have so many attributes that are beautiful. The sacrifice that they make to place their children's into other families homes is not lost on us. Today S has been on our minds and we are so grateful for her. We know that she loves Erik so much and we are excited to teach him about her and let him know that her love never goes away. We talk to him about her now, but one day he will understand more and we want him to know that he was her first priority.

He has been such a blessing to our family and we love to shower him with love and affection, he is our world now and it has been fun to see him grow and develop. But without S we would not having the blessing of being parents, we will never forget that.

matching socks? no thank you

If any of you have had the privilege of living near me and having me get comfortable enough to show some of my quirks....then you know that I detest matching socks! Much to my BFF Haley's dismay (she always points it out. She tried to lecture me at first, but now once she sees my mismatched socks she just laughs-it's great). For some reason matching socks is too tedious and annoying to me. I do understand that there is a time and a place to have correctly matched socks, but I say about 98% of the time as long as they are the same length I could care less. They don't even have to be two colored socks, I have no shame in wearing one green and one white...that's just how I roll. Due to my quirk, my husband has now begun the sock trend as well, because he doesn't want to match socks after laundry has been put away, so he now follows my fashion trend.

And now you see Erik may inherit the quirk as well. Usually I really do match his socks. His are easier since we do his laundry seperate and there are less pairs to match, but on this particular day I thought I would initiate him into the moon fam tradition. He didn't have any socks on and his tootsies were getting cold while playing on his mat so I just grabbed the first two I saw, then I laughed at the silliness and thought I would share. Do you have any family quirks?

Intently watching the smiling star as it plays music...........oh how he loves this toy. And I can usually get about 10 minutes of work of the distraction!

And who couldn't love this adorable face? Can you believe he's three months now-I sure can't. He is getting big and is so handsome! This weekend we found ourselves back in Santa Monica because Lindsay's sister had flown into LA to visit a friend and so we met them down there to spend the day. Most of the day was overcast and windy, but not freezing. We tried to keep the moon babe's head covered or the cover on the car seat closed part way, but we forgot the cool safari hat and he got a small sunburn on his cute cheeks. It was the first time that I felt guilty taking him out in public the next day. I make mistakes as a mother but this was one that other people could see. I felt so bad for him. It didn't really seem to affect him luckily, but I just wish we could get some sunscreen on him. I think I will look more into that as the weather is turning nice and I definitely want to be going to the park and things this summer.