Family Photos {2011}

Here are some of my favorite photos from our shoot with Blue Lily in Santa Monica. I've loved getting to know Wendy... seriously, she's an incredible person and such a fun photographer.

Holden: 7 Months

Holy moly... those 7 months just flew by. I've tried to so hard to hold on to every moment but it just goes by too fast. Holden is still the most relaxed, sweet, and calm baby around. People ask me all the time, "He's so happy, is he like that all the time?" Answer is yes. He literally only cries when Weston hurts him {which is seeming to happen a lot these days because hugs = body slams} or when he's beyond tired. I loved the day I took these because I watched him discover his hands and it might have been the cutest thing ever. He'd stick them in his mouth, pull them out, investigate them, and then try and clap. I wanted to die watching him. He's been moving a whole lot more and is rocking back and forth on his hands and knees. Crawling here we come. He's been drooling and spitting up less {thank you}, he's loving solids and drinking out of a cup, he's got a thing for animals, and he really loves his toys and playing by his brother.  

Ladder Side Table

I needed a side table to go next to Weston's bed.... I had a pretty small space + I wanted to store some books + I wanted it to be cheap. It was seeming to be impossible till I found this guy at the antique store. 

It needed a lot of sanding because it wasn't in the best shape. Sanding didn't get me very far because it started to take chunks out of the wood and let's be honest, it's not the sturdiest thing around. It was decided that old paint drippings = character. Here it is all shiny and blue.

It's worked out perfect to hold his books, water, holiday crafts, and anything else he decides to stash there. 

Santa Monica

I like to drag my family all over the place for family pictures each year.... Cameron really loves it.  So a few weekends ago we met up with Blue Lily for some family photos in Santa Monica. We had a blast while we were there and it was so fun to get away. The expected the weather to be a bit chillier but instead it was full on beach weather and completely gorgeous. We headed to the beach one day and the boys had so much fun, even if our only sand toys were plastic cups. I could most definitely live in Santa Monica. Holden's face was fried when we left the beach... just in time for family pictures the next day. Not my most proud mothering moment. Google found me a miraculous aloe and his burn seriously disappeared over night. 

We hung out at Third Street Promenade one night and I'm obsessed with that whole area. Every store imaginable was there + pinkberry + the coolest kid playground ever + the nicest Santa and Mrs. Claus I've ever seen. Then we got to hang out with the So. Cal Rosenhan's and they've doubled since we saw them last. Davis and Dexter are the cutest things ever. We had so much fun hanging out and laughing about what happens when you put 4 little boys in the same room. Let's just say there was a lot of hyperness and crying going on. {pics below stolen from Hilarry}

Holden seriously thought Davis' hand was a chew toy...

Then we thought it would be fun to get a cousin picture. Not a good idea. We only got as far as convincing Weston to hold Davis and Dexter and he kept pushing them off saying, "too heavy." Then they all started to melt down

and we have documentation to prove it. Lot's of brothers and boys going on here.

Can't wait for next time {and I'll be in charge of bringing the ear plugs} 

Church Christmas Party

We had our church Christmas party over the weekend and we were lucky enough to have Santa there. They loved sitting on his lap and Weston made sure to tell him he wanted a garbage truck, backhoe loader, and firetruck. Holden was fascinated with all the fur.

Tilden Park Carousel and Santa

We went to visit Santa and his reindeer at the Tilden Park Carousel on Saturday. It was oh so memorable in soooo many ways. 

First we found out that Weston gets carsick driving on windy roads, while looking at my phone. What a pleasant start to our night to attempt to clean up Chipotle vomit from a toddler and every possible crevice in a car seat. I'm just grateful I had a full pack of wipes in the car. Seriously, such a nightmare. BUT, we weren't going to let that dampen our night. Santa would just get the added bonus of smelling my vomit covered child. 

The carousel was all decked out in lights and the boys loved the carousel, like usual. Weston chose his favorite rooster again and I was praying that the rooster wouldn't soon be covered in vomit. 

Holden seriously loved it and was all smiles when the carousel was spinning. 

Next Holden peed through his diaper and pants. Sweet. 

Then we found out that the reindeer didn't make the trip from the North Pole this year. Boo. But we didn't go down without a fight. 

Our pee and vomit covered boys saw Santa and they loved it!  And now I'm feeling guilty I made Santa hold AND smell them. Tis the season....

Good Clean Fun

One of the best things ever is when you can ditch the baby bath tub. We tossed ours months ago because I was feeling a little grossed out by the rust/mold/nasty things that were developing in the little crevices behind the tub. Holden's bum seems to be a little slippery so we've had a few slip and slides in the tub...... it just adds to their experience, right? Both of them love their baths. Holden's favorite thing to do is to splash which typically means everyone and everything is soaked in the bathroom. Weston's favorite is to lay on his tummy and to put his toys in buckets and dump them out.

 

Dido

I'm so excited for Christmas this year because Weston pretty much gets it. I think a few things got a little unclear when I mentioned the flying reindeer and chimneys. Then we started talking about Santa and how he brings presents to good little boys. I asked him what he wanted, figuring he wouldn't really have a response. No, no, I was wrong. He immediately said, "Backhoe loader, garbage truck, train, digger, firetruck." Clearly he gets the present part. 

We read our elf on the shelf book last night and introduced him to his new elf friend that is going to be watching his every move. I was explaining how we needed to give him a name and was giving him a few ideas.  He said no to everything and then he finally said, "Elf Dido." Not quite what I envisioned but I am hoping that Dido is our miracle cure for tantrums. I had to laugh today when he said, "Dido, drinking milk tell Santa good boy." Hilarious.