Bow Baby!

Okay, so I took these a little while ago, but I haven't been an faithful blogger, despite my vowing to be better. So here we go...
I had my bow box out on my bed because I was putting some things together, and Carly started to get into it! She was having such a good time, I of course could not resist getting the camera out. I even got carried away and tied a ribbon around her head (which wasn't such a hot job BTW!)So here are a couple of those cute shots!

This is for Uncle Taylor!

We have just been thinking about Uncle Tay-tay a lot and we just wanted to tell him how incredibly special he is and how grateful we are for his wonderful example. Taylor, we love you so much! You're just awesome-
So I wanted to give a personal shout out to ya, and Carly and I wanted to thank you for helping us pick out such a GREAT basketball for Ryan for Father's day! What would we have done without your expertize! HOpe you enjoy these pics!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE

This is my first time using this (except for right after Carly was born). Hopefully it turns out. I just wanted to wish my wife a Happy Birthday. She is the most compassionate, empathetic, caring woman I know. She has turned our house into a home and I don't know what I would do without her. She is truly beautiful in every way. I don't know what I did to deserve her, but I am sure glad that she took a chance on me. I am the luckiest guy in the world. So please join me in wishing Kate a Happy Birthday. I know she would love to hear from you.

No more monster!!

Just thought I'd redeem Carly's reputation with the "sweet" photos I took of her the same day as the "crazy monster" pics.
I am so grateful for my little Carly. She really brings so much joy to our lives! The past year has been a wild one. It's been difficult with Carly's extreme food allergies-not knowing what was wrong for the first 6 months, ear drum rupturing, trying to get her terrible reflux under control, her major attachments to mommy-not being able to leave her with anyone, Ryan being gone all the time, etc..But I know there's people out there with MUCH worse, and we've survived. As pathetic as may seem, I feel like I'm just barely getting the hang of things and being a mom. Carly is starting to discover some independence (with a little nudge or two) and she's just a happier baby now that she can get herself around. She is so much fun-I think Ryan and I could watch her all day. I feel so blessed to have the best most darling baby in the world, as well as the best husband in the world. He's really been a trooper throughout everything. I don't know how he handles being a doctor in training and then coming home to an exhausted wife and child every day. He helps out so much-in fact he's had to do more than his fair share and hasn't complained once about it. I am truly blessed!

One SAD baby!

I was just wondering if anyone else thought this was the most heart-breaking, oh so sad picture of a baby ever!! Aren't I such a mean mom that instead of picking up my baby, I picked up my camera instead?! Well, actually, I was kind of already holding it and taking pictures, but I did continue and take this shot instead of being a good mommy and picking her up. I actually don't even remember what made her cry, but boy, was it a good cry!! No worries, I aborted my bad mommy ways immediately, picked her up for a good cuddle, and ALL BETTER!!!

We've got a monster on the loose!!!

We took these last week. Carly was having a CRAZY night, and as you can see her hair was too!! I'm sure it's not hard to tell from these pictures that she's quite the character!





She actually scares me in this picture....no really.

Congrats and Good luck Auntie Karen!!

My little sister Karen is starting as a freshman this coming week at BYU. We are so proud of her and Carly was so excited that her aunt is swimming for BYU that she decided to pay her tribute by wearing mommy's swim goggles!! HEhe-what a goof!
We love you Karen!! You'll do great!! Enjoy every minute of it! = )

I need some advice........please, HELP!

So right now, I'm having a problem (among others!!haha~). Carly sleeps with a binky at naptime(this is so not happening with the next child...or so I say now). She doesn't really ever have a binky at any other time of the day. We occasionally take it with us when we go out in case a Carly crisis breaks out, but that's it!
Right now she's doing this thing where she is dropping her binky outside her crib and sometimes along with her little giraffe blanky square-Both of which she cannot/WILL NOT sleep without. At first when I started to notice that this was becoming a habit, I tried to not go in there and get it-I figured that she was doing it just to get me to come in(and she probably is), but then she just cries for hours and refuses to nap. I thought if I try to ingnore it, then eventually she'd get the idea to not toss them out. No luck with that strategy!! So I don't know what to do. I hate going in there when I hear that's she's dropped them on the monitor and I don't want this to go on forever! Should I try to wean her of her binky at naptime? (She has one to go to bed with at night, but I take it out before I go to bed, and she sleeps through the night without it! We were lucky on that one!)She doesn't do the extra binky in the crib thing either. My mom said to clip it to her but she doesn't like that and just messes with it and gets it off as well!! I need some suggestions, or hear what any of you have done!! Even if I've said stuff that you've done that hasn't worked so far, I want to hear it!! I need encouragement desperately!! Thanks moms!!

Okay, be patient with me.....

Alrighty, so as you may have noticed, I haven't been the best blogger lately. I have been sick for the past few weeks, and have been lazy about posting. In fact being sick really isn't my excuse, as I haven't really ever been good about consistantly posting! I won't post for a while, and then I'll post about ten different posts to catch up, but that's not as fun for daily readers/bloggers!! I love to see friends and families blogs that post more often...So, I am going to try to follow their example (Brittany-You are the best at this! Thank you!) Even if I don't have pics, I have so much I can say, and have many things in my daily life that I would love to get advice on!
Okay, so you're hearing me say it, and I want you to call me on it when I slack!!
BUT, since I'm starting this today, you'll have to forgive me for a quick "catch up," for the last time. I have tons of pics from the last week, and so slowly but surely, I am going to post them over the next few days. I also have been "tagged" by Liz, so eventually I will put that up as well!
Thank ya bloggers!

She's growing up~!

Here Carly's watching her favorite and only show, "The Backyardigans." It's the cutest show ever! I know, we're terrible parents-

So nice to turn from the tv to pose!

Bed Head!

"Baby Long-Lashes"

Side shot of "the do"

"What are YOU lookin' at?!" Hehe~

Carly had crazy hair this morning!! We came in to get her and she actually had a fever(that's why her cheeks are kind of rosie) She's getting FOUR top front teeth all together-NO FUN!! ANyways, she was just so sweet and we got such a kick out of her mohawk hair!! You'll have to blow up each of these pictures to really appreciate them! They're just so cute, and you can see her hair better!!

Eating or wearing our lunch?

Okay, so I'm having a terrible time keeping a bib on Carly. She's EXTREMELY strong willed, and refuses to keep her bib on. She loves to rip it off, and give the most defiant face and look at us as she tosses it overboard. I tell her no, I praise her when she keeps it on, I keep my hand on it to try to keep her from taking it off-I don't know what else to do!! I tried using the hard plastic bibs that she can't get off, but then she just sits and yanks and yanks on it till she's hurting her neck!! You'd think that'd stop her, but nO! By the last leg of meal times, I've given up and let her just make a mess because it just takes too much energy and time to keep putting it on! HElp me! I can't get out all the stains on her clothes! Such a mess! I'll take any and all suggestions!>....




So much work, but who can't love those baby blues?!?...saves her every time!!

Pack'n Play!

We have this wonderful Pack'nplay that isn't the typical pack'nplay. It's by graco, and it's call the Tot Block. I love it because it's square and a lot bigger than the standard pack'nplay! Carly lasts so much longer in it because she has room to move around! I love it! I also love that I got it practically brand new (used once at a grandmas house) off of Craigslist for $35 bucks!! That's $65 dollars less than in stores!! Yahoooo!!! Gotta love a steal!
P.S. I swear Carly doesn't always "sport" such nastified clothes!! She's practically wearing her lunch!! Good grief! Don't worry, I changed her....eventually!! LOL

Ms. "One-Eyed Jo" saying goodbye!

Ryan's mom flew out Sunday night, but his dad and Carsen stayed till Monday morning to see San Fran on the drive home. SO here's pics of Carly's goodbyes!
I don't know what's up with Carly's smile these days! She loves to scrunch up her nose and half close her left eye!!(Maybe we should get that checked?hehe) It's not the most attractive thing ever, but it's pretty funny. I call her "One-Eyed Jo." She looks like she's trying to make some kind of pirate face!! ARRRRRRR!!! I just wish I could get a normal picture every once in a while!! Silly baby!
She'll probably grow out of it before Kindergarten school pictures, right?!

Carly and Carsen...

Carly has so much fun with her Uncle Carsen!! I was a little worried that Carly might not take to everyone soon enough before they had to go(she's a HARDcore Mommy's girl, and doesn't do so well with other people), but luckily she did just great with everyone! We think that maybe having my sister Annie here (2 days prior to the weekend) for 8 days broke her in a little!!! It was nice to have someone else hold her for a change!(Not that I don't love holding my baby!)



Carly taking a moment to herself to reflect upon the day...