9 Months

It is true that each month just gets better and better. This month was all about discovery, curiosity and exploration. Roman is so much more interactive and interested in everything. He is completely obsessed with the remote, cell phone and basically anything that lights up when he touches it. He is starting to play independently and gets a kick out of throwing anything off his high chair. He smiles all day, but can also get fired up easily. He does not like to wait for his food and throws a fit when he sees it taking too long. I always remind him, "Patience", but I have a long way to go before he understands that.

This little boy makes me so happy everyday and I just can't get enough of him. His personality is quirky, happy, funny, emotional and busy. Today the pediatrician said to me, "You have a busy little boy. Once he starts crawling, he will probably be into everything." I better get going on baby proofing the house. I think he may be crawling by next month.


He is starting to understand how toys work.


As he is obsessed with Puffs, he now thinks that everything is food (especially leaves).


His favorite toy is the remote. Typical Man!


We got spoiled that Roman was such a good baby out and about at night. He would fall asleep in his carseat and sleep through all kinds of noise. This next month he is moving to a bigger carseat, so we will no longer have the luxury of him sleeping while we are at friends houses.


Attended his 1st Warriors Game.


Twins

Roman Meets Santa's

This past weekend, Roman got to meet 3 different Santa's.


Scott, Tyler and Roman met Santa at the Walnut Creek pancake breakfast. I love this picture since it is a classic. Roman did not like this Santa.


He was much happier with Nana holding him.


Roman loved Santa Bucklew. He even got a special gift of a Christmas book.


The Classic Santa. Meeting this Santa even warmed my heart.




Can you tell I am loving all this holiday stuff with a baby. SO FUN! It is the best.

Oh Christmas Tree

We would have loved to have gone to a festive Christmas tree farm and chop down a tree in the spirit of Roman's 1st Christmas, but in reality he was asleep in the backseat, it was raining and we are on a holiday budget. We heard that Nob Hill had a great deal on trees, so we headed there this weekend in search for a good deal. All trees were $35. What a bargain! However, we then realized that at the price of $35 it did not include any help with getting the tree on the car. Of course, Jason told me he would carry the tree home (in the rain). But I came up with the idea of opening the sunroof, while he held onto the tree. Luckily we only had to go a few blocks and I went 5mph. We made it home and our tree is beautiful. We laughed hard at this adventure and the best part is Roman got a nice nap throughout the whole experience.


Jason kept begging me to drive faster since his hands were freezing. He did not find it amusing that I couldn't stop laughing and then decided to stop and take a picture.


The tree through the sunroof.


We made it home.

The Holiday Card

I have now attempted 3 photoshoots trying to get that perfect picture for our holiday card and have been unsuccessful. Sure there are a few good ones, but I am looking for a great one. I think it is time to call the professionals.


One size fits all isn't quite a perfect fit for Roman's Santa Hat.


Lesson Learned: Do not attempt to take a photo of both your baby and dog in costume by yourself. Marley was actually behaving, but Roman was having a meltdown.


My heart just melts. He is so cute...even when crying.


I thought a candy cane would be a good prop until it got all over his clothes.

Thank goodness it is only December 1st. I still have a week or so to get that perfect shot. And I guess this also proves that I will not be going into the photography business on the side. I'll keep my day job of mom.

Pre-Thanksgiving Day

The Maddox Family adopted a new tradition for Pre-Thanksgiving Day, we headed to Napa. It was 70 degrees, gorgeous with all the leaves changing colors on the vines and so relaxing. We decided this would be a tradition that we hope to keep each year.


We started off at Mumm for champagne tasting. We had never been and it was great. They have an awesome patio and were very dog friendly. Yes, we decided to bring Marley. She was very happy to have joined us and yes, she got the passenger seat in the car.


Can you believe how gorgeous the leaves are right now?



We then headed to lunch at Oakville Grocery. Doesn't get much better than the Hot Turkey and Brie sandwich sitting at a picnic table. This is our favorite spot for lunch.


Although Marley won't ever be the most perfectly behaved dog, she is always so much fun. Here she looks very calm, but is probably just begging for a piece of turkey.


We then headed to Rubicon (the old Coppola) where Marley walked the red carpet. We enjoyed a nice glass of Chardonnay and hung out at the beautiful grounds.


Look who tried to go swimming.


We had so much fun and can't wait to make this an annual tradition.


We are so thankful to live near Napa. One of our favorite places to visit.

Go Bears!

Roman has now become a Cal fan (just like his Daddy and Grandparents). Jay grew up going to Cal Football games since both of his parents attended Cal, so we knew this season couldn't pass without going to a game. We just made it by going to the last home game against U of A. It was a cold night, but we had a great time and Roman lasted until the 3rd quarter, which I thought was pretty impressive.


Roman sported his Jahvid Best jersey.


Grandma and Grandpa were so happy to have Roman at the game cheering on for Cal.


It got pretty cold and windy, but we were bundled up.


Our little marshmallow by the end of the night. We even got to stop by Top Dog for a late night snack.

Can't wait to go again next year.

Friday the 13th = 8 Months

Tomorrow is Friday the 13th, which is actually a special day to us since Roman was born on a Friday the 13th. To our family, it no longer means bad luck, but instead a day to celebrate.

The best way to describe the last month is absolute JOY. Roman is a happy, smiley baby. It has been so fun to see his actual true personality shine through. I think this past month we have seen the biggest changes as he is becoming so aware of his surroundings and just wants to explore everything.

Here is a re-cap of the last month:


We no longer use his carseat in the Bob and he loves being forward facing for our walks. However this means he no longer naps in his stroller. Rarely do I even hear a peep from him during our hour long walks.


Socks no longer stay on his feet, but instead end up in his mouth. Anytime I get him out of the car I have to hunt for the socks since they never remain on his feet.


Now that he is rolling more and more I often find him in his crib on his tummy. He is also a fan of spitting his pacifier out of the crib into the middle of the room. Not sure how he does it, but he can really launch it far.


He loves his doggy and has figured out how to pet/pull her fur. Thankfully she tolerates everything so well. Marley just loves him so much too.



Gymboree is his favorite. I wasn't sure if he would like it at first, but it is awesome. It is so good for introducing them to new experiences, music and activity. I get such a kick out of it and he loves parachute and bubble time. Each time the parachute goes up he screams and laughs.


His 1st Baby Einstein video captivated both him and Marley.


He has really started creating a special bond with his Daddy. Whenever he sees Jay at the end of the day his face lights up and he gets so excited. I often like to dress him in an similar outfit to what Jay is wearing. I guess that is the one of the simple joys of having a boy.


He is a character! He loves to pull on our noses and poke our eyes out. Especially when I am trying to get him to nap. It makes me start laughing which then makes him start laughing and then we have to start all over. He is the King of Cat Naps. Mostly he takes (2) 30 minute naps a day. I know this is not normal, but at least you are sleeping throughout the night.

You are our everything and bring such happiness to our family. We are so excited for the holidays to be approaching and can't wait to celebrate with you. Happy 8 Months my Happy Little Man!

Ballin on a Budget

I have always been one to look for a good deal, especially when it comes to clothing. AND...with now becoming a 1 income household I have taken my skills to a new level. Thought I would share some of my fav places. I am proud of how I have been able to save in the last few months, but deeply know that I still need to cut back on my shopping.


OK...I cannot verify you can expect great things for people our age, but for babies it is the best. Everything is marked down to what seems like $5. The clothing is good quality and the pajama selection is awesome.


Sales
I refuse to pay full price for anything. With this economy you know that everything will eventually go on sale. Just last week, I went to Aeropostale for some pants and the whole store was 50% off. Also The Gap recently had almost everything in the store marked down and than an additional 30% off at the register. With all these sales I have gotten so spoiled that if it isn't on sale, I simply don't buy it.


Forever 21
This place is overwhelming with the amount of selection they have, especially when trying to shop with a baby. I was thankful that Roman was asleep, even with the techno beats blaring. Currently this store has the cutest coats. This store allows you to stay current with the trends without breaking the bank.


I used to have little patience to go through the racks, but recently found some cute, trendy dresses from Ross. Case in point: got a plaid flannel dress for $9.99 that was originally $50. It will probably be out of style next year, but for $9 who can deny it?


I have a love/hate relationship with Target. Love it for so many reasons. Hate it since I can't leave without spending $100. Target is the cheapest place I can find Roman's super expensive formula, so they are competitive with their sales pricing.


There are hundreds of discount shopping sites online, but this one is truly AWESOME! They take popular lines and discount them up to 50% making them affordable for everyone. I have bought clothing, sunglasses and even baby toys from here. Sign-up to be notified for their daily sales. It is definitely worth it.

Let me know some of your good shopping finds. I'm always looking for more to add to the mix.

Happy Halloween

We decided to throw a Halloween/Trick or Treat party at our house for all the littles. We had so much fun with family and friends and it could have been one of my favorite holiday celebrations of all time. To see all the babies and kids in their costumes is truly priceless and it was so fun to be able to head out in our neighborhood.
Here are some pics from the night.


Look who showed up in Walnut Creek? Ryan was in town for a football game and Lauren was at home in the OC. On Friday night I went online and found a one-way ticket for $40. So Lauren hopped on a plane and joined us for the festivities. We had so much fun!


The Zoo Keeper doing what they do best...cleaning up poop before the party begins.


Roman loved snuggling up to the Joker. Some thought he might be scared, but somehow he seemed to love the make-up.


Ellie "The Elephant". Quite possibly the sweetest Elephant ever. She even rocked out late night to Thriller, following in her Mom's footsteps.


We hit the streets for a little Trick or Treating with the strollers. It was pretty comical. We only made it to a few houses, but mainly walked the streets like a parade.


Noah "The Vampire" was adorable as always.


Yes, this man was with us.


Scott "The Soccer Player" leaving one of the best decorated houses on the block.


I wish I had pics of all the kids, but we never got organized enough to take one. There is something about celebrating the holidays once you have a child that makes it all so magical. All the memories of being a kid come back and you just want to have the best night to make new memories for your kids. Thank you to my parents and Betty and Bob for helping out with everything. What a great night.

Playgroup Halloween Party

Roman's playgroup had their Halloween party today and nothing is cuter than seeing a bunch of 7 month old babies in their costumes. It has been so fun seeing all these little ones grow older each month and it is adorable to start seeing them interact with each other (even if it is to simply steal a toy or chew on someone else's foot.)


Our little Koala bear. I couldn't resist on this costume, it was just too hilarious (especially the ear hair).


So many great costumes.


Jason loved seeing all the little ones in their costumes.


Dean and Roman.


Jason and his little monkey, Ethan.


Dayna and her little flower, Paige (Ethan's twin sister).


Caden and Roman.


Everyone playing before costumes.

7 Months

7 Months will be classified as the month of Happiness. Now that we have a happy little man, life is good. Here are some highlights from the last month leading up to 7 months.


I finally got some professional photos done and it was very entertaining. Betty and I went to The Picture People and I have to admit they are GREAT! Very professional and they did an awesome job. There were so many good ones that I had a hard time choosing. Roman was a natural, total Ham the entire time. I was proud that I didn't fall for the $500 plan, just settled on a few 8x10's and wallets.


He discovered his tongue and is sitting up on his own. He even finally rolled, but still doesn't love being on his tummy. We have a while to go before any crawling takes place.


Master typer. OK...not yet, but he did get his 1st laptop. They think of everything these days.


1st tooth! And it isn't the typical one. It is on the bottom, but one over from the middle teeth. Everything is going into the mouth, especially JoJo-Raffe.


A love for animals has begun. Roman can't get enough of his Marley. He loves watching her chase balls, eat food and go on walks. This is definitely a love that will be forever.


Loves being with kids. Whether it be friends, playgroup, nephews, Gymboree or Friday Funday he is always happy around other kids and babies and likes to observe.


Lastly, his chuckle is contagious. This video is priceless. We actually have 2 dogs in our house: Marley and The Rocking Marley.

So much has changed in this past month and I know time is just going to fly by faster and faster. This truly has been the best time of our life and we love you so much. You are our little man and nothing beats that smile that you give us every morning.

HAPPY Baby!

We have a happy baby. After Roman's 6 month check-up, the doctor really felt that something had to be affecting his fussiness. She said it just wasn't normal for babies to still be fussy at 6 months. Last week she recommended that I try stopping breastfeeding and only feed formula for a 1 week trial. I am happy to report that within 48 hours of switching over to the special formula he was a happy boy and has been all week. He is no longer wimpering in discomfort and pain throughout the entire day. I am such a happy mama and so excited that my little man has a smile on his face.

I have a new appreciation for parents that have babies with ongoing health issues. When you see your baby is unhappy, it truly breaks your heart that there isn't more you can do to help fix the problem. I was proud of myself that I remained patient, loving and comforting knowing that the fussiness would eventually end. I never thought it would take almost 7 months, but am so thankful to Jay, my family and everyone else that helped me remain positive.

When I brought Roman in for a follow-up and his doctor saw how happy he was, she said to me, "This is your baby. He is supposed to be happy and now he truly is." THANK YOU DR. SMITH.

Weekend In The OC

We just got back from The OC to celebrate Ryan's 30th Birthday. We had a great weekend in Dana Point and Roman loved his 1st trip to the beach. Here are some pics from the weekend.


Loved lunch on the pier in San Clemente.


No vacation with these 2 is complete without trying out some fruity cocktails.


The Boys relaxing with a Pacifico and some college football.


Our little waterbug LOVES going in the pool.


Ryan loved swimming with Roman.


The view from Ryan and Lauren's new house. They signed the paperwork while we were there and close this week. CONGRATS! Can't wait to visit again!


Both mornings we started out the day with an hour long walk by the beach. Can't get much better than that!


Dream Vacation Home. Just give us 5 more years. (Or a winning lotto ticket)


Roman's buddy for the weekend, Miss Hula Pie. He was in love with her.


Roman, Ryan and Hula cheering for Cal. Too bad they didn't win.


Happy Birthday Ryan! Celebrated at the St. Regis with some Strawberry Mules, delish food and amazing view.


Enjoying the beautiful sunset.


Happy Birthday Ryan! I had to include this photo since Ryan is famous for making a crazy face for every photo. We love you guys so much and had such a fun trip. The whole weekend was so much fun and filled with so much laughter. Can't wait for the next roast. Lets just hope it isn't me.

6 Months

Roman turned 6 months.
It amazes me how fast the time flies by and I can't believe he has been with us for half a year. My life is better with him and I am a better person because of him. I cherish each day that I get to spend with him and even though there are tough days, I wouldn't want to be doing anything else than being his mom. I love you Roman! You are my everything.

Here are some of my favorites of this month

He laughs and smiles all day long. Even when he gets fired up (which can be frequently), we are still able to get a smile. His chuckle is so cute!

The exersaucer is no longer his enemy, even though he has a love/hate relationship with the starfish. Thank you Paris and Knute for loaning it to us. He only likes it for about 20 minutes, but at least that gives us enough time to eat a quick meal.


His stuffed animals are his favorites. He loves playing with them in his crib.


He loves his Daddy and can't get enough of pulling his beard.


Roman is becoming so much more aware of Marley and everything else around him. We started Occupational Therapy this month to work on strengthening his trunk and helping with gross motor development. We are so thankful to qualify for the extra assistance. We are so proud of our little guy and all that he has accomplished in his 6 months of life. We love you Ro!

Sunday, A Day of Reflection

As today marked the 1st day of Sunday football, I realized that I needed to make a new commitment to my Sundays and that was going to church. I love going, but sometimes don't make it a big enough priority in my life to go every Sunday. I am always so happy when I am there, but have to admit that (especially now with a baby) it is easier to want to lounge around instead of getting ready.

I was feeling stressed this weekend after a long week filled with lots of emotions and by Saturday night I was drained. Going to church this morning gave me just what I needed. The sermon was awesome, the music was uplifting and I left with the energy needed to keep positive.

Today I was humbled as I prayed that God would continue to give me patience and strength to care for Roman. As I finished praying, I looked up and saw a family walk to communion with their son that is in a wheelchair. Whenever I see this family at church they always amaze me with their smiling faces that radiate nothing but happiness. It was that simple moment that gave me the energy to come home and be rejuvenated to shower Roman with the extra love and attention he needs right now. It was one of those moments that I knew God was talking to me saying, "No matter what challenges come your way, ALWAYS remain happy."

AMEN.

Surprise...One Month Later

We threw Jay a surprise 30th Birthday party yesterday, which was about a month after his actual Birthday. AND...I'm excited to say that he was TOTALLY surprised. We did a football theme and my parents were so generous with hosting the festivities. We were so thankful to have friends and kids there to help celebrate. Here are some pics from the night. Thank you to everyone for helping pull off the surprise (especially Vince).


Best Story of the night: Vince and his friend showed up at OUR doorstep (30 minutes before the party) thinking that the party was at our house. They were shocked when Jason answered the door since they knew it was a surprise. They had brought 3 packages of hummus, 4 packages of pita bread, a bouquet of flowers, 2 bottles of Chardonnay and a watermelon to the party, but then had to pretend as though they had just stopped by while in the neighborhood with these gifts. It was hilarious and didn't even throw Jay off at all. Later we found out that Donna (Vince's mom) was hiding in our garage since Vince told her to run when he saw Jay opening the door. We all got a good laugh to hear their version of the story once we got to the actual party at my parents. We laughed for hours.


Here is a picture of their wonderful gifts. Once they left our house, Jay said, "Vince has always been so generous. But it is kinda weird he bought so much hummus. He must have been pretty drunk."


Another one of Walt's famous cakes. Isn't this one amazing. We keep telling him to get into the business. He even made goal posts. Thank you Dad! I know this one wasn't easy and it was delicious.


How cute are they? All the littles wanted to help blow out the candles.


Friends from LL




Roman wasn't in a big party mood. He lasted for just a few minutes before wanting to sleep.


Thank You Family for all the help pulling this one off. I truly couldn't have done it without you. Mom and Dad...thank you hosting this event, for all the food, preparation and the cake. AND Betty and Bob...thanks for the fun decorations, Roman's jersey and all the help.


Happy Birthday Jay! I'm glad that I pulled this one off.

Our Lil Waterbug

Roman has always loved the water. It seems to calm him and we have had so fun hanging out at the pool the last few weeks. We love going to ClubSport and hanging in the Baby Pool area (wow...times have changed for Jason and I. No more sun and tanning, but instead lots of shade and sunscreen). Had to share some pics from our recent adventure in the water.

Cooking Club Season 3

I hosted Cooking Club this past week and we had a great summer BBQ. Made some kabobs, pineapple rice, asparagus and champagne Sangria. It was a beautiful night and we were able to prepare everything outside. We have 2 new members and as always, I'm looking forward to another fun year of dinners with these girls. We even got organized (thank you Paris) and put together a calendar for the entire year. Cheers to Cooking Club, Season 3. One of my favorite days of the month.


We definitely made enough kabobs for everyone. It is hard to estimate how much food is needed for 12 people.


The Kabob Cutters.


I think we finally ate at 9:00.

5 Months

When did my little prince turn into the little man? It feels like overnight. So much has changed in the past few weeks and today marks 5 months for Roman. This past month he gradually began to get a lot happier and I finally feel like this past week he had a major breakthrough. YEAH!!! This whole week he has been smiley and so much fun. He is always moving and making hilarious new noises. This week resembles wild bird calls.

Here are some of his "Firsts" that happened this month.


1st Swim
He started out in my parents backyard baby pool and then graduated to the pool at ClubSport. He really loves the water.


1st Concert
OK...don't know if this really counts. But we went to the Jazz Night in Broadway. Although the music wasn't too memorable, Roman rocked his jazz hat and boogied down. He loves loud music (this he definitely inherited from his Dad).


1st Physical Therapy Appointment
Yes, you heard me right. They actually have therapy for babies (it is pretty cute and luckily only lasts 15 minutes). At his 4 month appointment the doctor noticed he was leaning his head to the right. It is called torticollis and therapy helps to strengthen his neck muscles. They are not sure why this happens (I'm blaming it on the forceps), but we have exercises to do everyday and at our last therapy appointment they had already seen lots of improvement. Roman has a really hard time with tummy time, but we made a big accomplishment in the last 2 weeks when he was able to tolerate it for over a minute. So proud of him!


1st Foods
We started on solids and it is so much fun. I knew he was going to love it since he has always been a BIG eater. Every time I take the spoon away he makes it very clear that he wants more. It is so cute to see their reactions to new tastes.


1st Vacation
Roman did great on his first trip away from home. We had such a good time and can't wait to make it an annual trip up to the mountains.


1st Trick
The feet have found their way into the mouth. This entertains him constantly.

I love this age and I know that it is only going to keep getting better. His smiles, noises and laughter keep me entertained all day. We have realized that we definitely have a little character on our hands. He loves to flirt with the ladies and smile at everyone. He has a bit of a temper, but will win you over everytime with his beautiful blue eyes.


We love you Roman. Happy 5 months! They have been the best 5 months of our lives. At times not always the easiest, but I wouldn't change a thing. You are perfect for us.

Tahoe Wedding

Tahoe could be quite possibly the most beautiful place to get married. We went to Sqauw Valley this past weekend to celebrate the wedding of Christian and Kelly. It was a great destination wedding since lots of our friends were there and everyone was ready to have a good time. Kelly looked absolutely stunning and the ceremony was beautiful with the clouds pearing through the skies.


This was a picture I got as they said their vows.

Here are some pics from the weekend.

Our view from our room in the village. This was Roman's 1st vacation and he did great. We loved bringing him.


Roman and Hunter ready to go out on the town for the Welcome Cocktail Reception. It was unseasonably cold in Tahoe, so we had to bundle them up.


Who could resist the handsome brother of the bride? All the ladies love Corey.
Be sure to check out his blog at Hunanbeef.org for some stories of humor, drama and everyday life. This man can write.


Knute decided to joyride the bike.


Steve and Nishant feeling the love.


Reunited with MeShelle, my BFF.


Roman lasted til midnight. We made it to the wine bar and the Irish pub. This guy loves to sleep through loud music. I think it has to do with getting him used to it during my pregnancy.


H and H


Saturday we had to visit our local fav, Sunnyside. Had lunch with Nate, Heather, Nishant, Erin and Ish.


Jason even got crazy and ordered a Chi Chi.


By the end of the weekend, Jay had mastered holding 2 babies.


The reception was outside and it was beautiful with all the trees around.


Love the Iagulli sistas.


YEAH!!! MeShelle caught the bouquet. Should I look into buying a ticket to Scottsdale any day soon?


I miss Melissa now that she lives in SoCal. Can't wait to plan a girls trip to see her.


Kelly and her Dad. Too sweet!


What a wonderful weekend. Thank you to the McKenzies for throwing such a fun weekend and beautiful wedding. The dancing went all night long and we couldn't have had more fun. Your family is so welcoming and loving and we felt the love.


A Big thank you to Betty and Bob for coming to take care of Roman and Hunter on Saturday night. And Heidi and Danny for helping out. I am sure they got VIP treatment.


On a side note: Jay and Lex competed in the Wedding Olympics. I did not see any of the events taking place, only heard of it. But beware if you invite them to your wedding. Round 2 could take place. Don't say I didn't warn you.

The BIG 30 for Jay

Happy Birthday to you Jay! Today marks 30 years. In honor I thought of doing the appropriate and popular blog tradition of reflecting on the 30 things I love about you.

1. No matter where we are or what we are doing. We ALWAYS have fun.

2. You love life.

3. You are passionate. Whether it be watching sports, fantasy football, working out, anything related to Marley, politics and of course, now being a Dad.


4. You don't sweat the small stuff...which is very important (especially now that we have a baby).

5. You are generous.

6. You are a good, loyal friend and someone everyone can always count on.

7. You are such a hard worker. Even when working from home you make sure to work non-stop so that you can provide for our family. (If only your client's knew that you do business shirtless.)


8. You take good care of yourself. Who can complain about a husband that goes to the gym a minimum of 4 times a week? Just look at that body!

9. You make your family, my family and our family a top priority in life.

10. You always make my Mom feel so welcome. She is my best friend and you understand how important our relationship is.


11. You have always had BIG dreams.

12. You have an entrepreneurship spirit. I know this next business is going to make it. I am so proud of you and all the excitement you have for this new venture.

13. You cherish our pets and truly spoil them. You would do anything for them. You are the only person I know that wakes up at 4am to feed their dog.


14. You always do your fair share of the chores (and maybe a little more than me).

15. Your love for music. (Except country, but Betty and Bob are trying to convert you)

16. You are a wonderful and caring Uncle. Whenever we are with Scott or Tyler you play with them non-stop. They love their Uncle Jay so much. You have a very special relationship that I know will last a lifetime.



17. Your spirit is filled with nothing but love. You radiate positive energy.

18. You never hold a grudge.

19. You love to dance (even more than me). I always know that I have a partner on the dance floor.


20. You make me want to be a better, nicer person.

21. You have never made me feel anything but beautiful and love complementing me.

22. You would do anything I ever asked. AND I've made you do a lot of crazy things through the years. (Remember when I wanted you to dress up like a cat for Halloween?)


23. You support me in everything.

24. You make the hard times easier, the sad times happier and everything better with you by my side.

25. You have good style, but please stop buying sunglasses. You have more pairs than ANY girl I know.


26. You have ALWAYS made me feel so loved. After 11 years, you still treat me with the same love and affection from Day 1.

27. You let me have time with my girlfriends, which is so important to me.

28. You are an amazing Dad and I can't wait to see your relationship grow. I know that you are going to have so much fun together.


29. You gave me the best gift of my life, Roman. I couldn't have asked for a cuter baby and I know where those handsome good looks come from. He is my Mini Jay.


30. You don't mind being married to an OLDER woman. I'm glad I no longer need to tell anyone that my husband is in his twenties.


You are my everything and I wish you but nothing but happiness, love and fun times as you enter your 30's. I know the best is yet to come. Good things happen to good people and I know that you are destined for good fortune. I love you Jay. Happy Birthday.

5 Years

This Friday marked our 5th wedding anniversary. My parents were so sweet to offer and babysit, so we could go out to dinner. We had a great meal at The WC Yacht Club and it was nice to be out with just the 2 of us.

When reflecting on this last year, it definitely has been the best year of my life. To have a baby with the man that you love, is an indescribable feeling. What an adventure it was through pregnancy, birth and now having a 4 month old. Last year on our Anniversary, we had just found out that we were pregnant. It is amazing how much can change in 1 year. I am honored to be married to Jay who fills my life with such joy, happiness and love. I truly am married to my best friend and I can't wait to experience so many more fun times ahead with him by my side. Thank you for being so caring, supportive and loving through it all. I love you so much! Cheers to a lifetime of good times together.


I was going through my pics and found this one from Jay's 21st birthday. This year marks 11 years of us being together.

Ballet Class

Did anyone else take ballet as a kid? I remember all the positions and took class at the neighborhood church in Clayton. Every year we would have a performance and I would always have the leads. My favorite was when I played the part of smoke in Pinocchio. You may be thinking what part is that. Well it is when the whale swallows Pinocchio and they have to light a fire inside the whale to get out. That is where the smoke came in. So yes, I was being sarcastic when I said that I always played the leads.

Anyways...I tried Ballet Bar Class at ClubSport today. I was hanging out with Shae and thought it would be something she would enjoy since she likes dance classes. I can't believe what good shape ballerinas must be in. It was such a good work-out and we were doing VERY simple stuff. We did a set where we did mini jumps at the bar and I was completely out of breath at the end. I almost thought something must be wrong with me to be feeling this way. Needless to say, I loved my workout and am interested to see how I will be feeling tomorrow. You always know you get a good work-out when you are sore the next day.

It feels great to be back at the gym. I had put my membership on hold for the last 2 years and am so relieved to be back, but have a long way to go before I am back in cardio shape. On a side note, I left Roman at Kid Care today and when I went back to pick him up, he was at the front desk being held. I've never seen any babies up front, but not surprised that it was him. I have a Diva Baby at times.

Career Change

Many of you have listened to me through the past few months with debating about what to do about work. It truly was an inside battle that I was having with myself on whether I would be happiest to stay at home or go back to work. I think it is one of the hardest decisions for women to make these days and I didn't take the decision lightly. I have always been driven to succeed and worked so hard to get where I am in my career. Starting out with internships in TV and radio and working my way through the competitive world of advertising. While some people thought I was crazy, I loved working long hours and thrived on deadlines and challenges.

Three years ago I joined Diablo which was closer to home, less stress and easier hours. I knew it was the right direction I needed to make in order to eventually start a family since I would no longer be commuting. When I went on maternity leave, Diablo was hopeful that I would be able to come back Part-Time, which would have been ideal. Unfortunately with how the economy has turned in the last few months, my position was eliminated and I found out this morning that I will not be returning to Diablo. It took a few moments of me being sad to then realize that it really was all a blessing. When I went to bed last night I prayed that all would work out how it should. AND...I really do believe that everything happens for a reason. When I would talk to my friend, Jen about what to do she would say to me, "I know it will all just work out how it should." And she was right. I didn't have to make the decision, it was made for me. And now looking at Roman I smile and think how much I am going to cherish the time I am able to be at home with him.

Through it all, Jason has been so supportive to me. He never worries and always reminds me that everything will be fine. I am so lucky to have a husband that wants whatever makes me happy. He is AMAZING!

So I am joining the world of stay at home moms. Of course, I will always be working on something on the side (I just have to, it is in my blood).
SIDENOTE:A new blog is already in the works and at least it will help my creative juices flowing. Stay tuned for details.

I am ready to hit the gym, schedule playdates, go on morning walks with Marley, make Jason lunch and most importantly shower Roman with all the love and attention I have.


My new boss. Isn't he a cutie? When I came home today after my meeting, I picked up Roman and said, "OK man, you are stuck with me 7 days a week." I think he smiled.

Relay For Life

Last weekend, Jay and I participated in Relay for Life. The American Cancer Society was one of my clients at work and Diablo put together a team to walk and raise money for the event. The walk lasts for 24 hours from 9am Saturday to 9am on Sunday. I got assigned the 1am shift. I persuaded Jason to walk with me since I didn't know how many other teams would be walking in the middle of the night. We actually had a really fun time walking together and were able to talk and actually got quite a good work-out. When we arrived there was only 1 other woman walking the path, so we were glad that we went to keep the relay going. We made it for 20 laps and were back home in bed by 2:30am.


The path was lined with luminaries that were in honor of those who have fought cancer and also in memory of those who have lost battles to cancer. It was very touching and inspirational and allowed me to reflect on my friends and family that have been so brave and have battled cancer. It helped me realize what an impact the American Cancer Society makes on so many people's lives.

4 Months

I can't believe Roman is now 4 months old. Time really does fly when you have a baby. He had his appointment this morning and is now 1 ounce shy of 16 tipping the scales at 15.15. I am looking forward to this month since things are becoming much more routine and I am happy to announce he is now sleeping through the night. YEAH!!!! He goes to bed around 8:30 and wakes up around 5:00. I wasn't really strict about getting a routine down, but it kind of just naturally happened so I'm one lucky Mama. He is still sleeping in our room, so hopefully his sleeping will stay just as good when we move him to his crib (in a few weeks).


I just love my little man so much. He is full of personality and loves chatting and making lots of noise. He is starting to hold his head better and is getting really strong. Sometimes he pinches me and it really hurts. He has started to play more with his toys and is so much more aware of everything around him. He is still a spit-up machine and I now carry a towel with me wherever we go. It isn't a matter of IF he is going to spit-up, it is how much. Luckily now with his medicine he isn't in so much pain, it is more just a matter of changing outfits (his and mine) a few times a day. Thank goodness this man's closet is packed with lots of clothes.

We love you RO!

Coldplay

Jay and I went to see Coldplay last night and they were AMAZING!!! I left the concert totally satisfied and loving them even more. They put on such a great show and sound better live than anyone I have ever heard. After I got over the initial "I Miss Roman" feelings, I had a great time out with my hubby. We both love to dance, so we were rocking out to all our favorite tunes. If you have a chance, don't miss Coldplay. It is worth every penny.

It was packed! I was so thankful we had seats. No one sat down the whole time, which is the kind of concert I love.


Nachos, beer and red vines. All of my favorites. I also wanted Ben and Jerry's, but the line was too long and I wasn't willing to miss a song.


During the song yellow, a bunch of yellow balls were brought out and roaming around the crowd.


My favorite part of the show was when butterfly confetti was shot into the audience.


Everyone got a free Coldplay Live CD when we left. What a fun surprise, so we were happy to rock out the whole way home. We even got one for Danny since he missed out on the concert.

Thank you Betty and Bob for taking care of Roman. I'm sure he loved hanging with his grandparents.

MeShelle Comes to Cali

I was so excited to have an afternoon with Michelle and her fam. The Iagulli's came on a family trip to California and we had a BBQ afternoon with them and the McKenzie's. Michelle is one of my best friends from high school and the sweetest and most genuine friend anyone could ever ask for. I also got to meet her boyfriend, Rene who is a perfect match for her. It was great to catch up and the only thing I wish was that she was closer by. Can't wait to see her in August in Tahoe. She loves to dance (and so do I), so we will be sure to have lots of fun on the dance floor. Love you Michelle!




Scottie loved bouncing on the tramp with Michelle.


Michelle brought Roman this outfit the last time she visited, so he had to wear it to the BBQ. I think he looks like a future golfer.

Happy 4th of July

I have always loved the 4th of July since it is all about hanging out with family and friends, eating and just relaxing. Our neighborhood has a parade that begins close to our house so we had a little pre-party with friends and then walked the parade to the Bucklews for their front yard BBQ. Thank You Mark and Claudia for hosting such a fun party and always being so welcoming to my entire family. You are so thoughtful, caring and inviting to everyone.

Here are some pics from the day.


Roman and Jay getting ready for the parade


Roman loved his shades


Grandma brought over lots of fun stuff for all the kids. It was so thoughtful and her and Scott even decorated little visors for everyone. Thank you for all the cute stuff. The kids loved them.


The ladies getting ready for the parade.


Charlie and Scott got ready by riding around the backyard


The parade has a firetruck that leads the way


Roman passed out for the parade


Ellie's car was decorated and she looked so cute!


We were near the very end of the parade


Our dear friends, Jen and Keith


All-American girl, Maddie


Knute and Ellie dancing to some tunes. This girl loves music and dancing with her Daddy.


The 2 Maddie's and Claire having some fun girl time.


What is a blog post without a pic of Roman and Hunter?


Our friend, Stacey put together this adorable collage from the 4th. She is starting a photography business and has such a good eye, especially capturing children's expressions. Please visit her new blog to see her latest and greatest @
www.staceypphotography.com

Ahoy Grandma and Grandpa

Since Betty and Bob are sailing in the British Virgin Islands and have internet access, I thought I would post some recent pics of Roman. Here are some of my favorite from the last week. (I think I average about 100 photos per week...maybe more. Thank goodness for digital)


We have 2 playmats, so both Roman and Marley can play at the same time.


The smile is captured on camera. This man is chubby!


Just chilling with my girl, Hunter Rae.


Tyler loves his little baby cousin.


This is the cutest toy. It is a seahorse that glows and plays lullabies. I couldn't resist.


We went to cheer on Jay play softball on Tuesday. Roman wore his baseball tee. They won by 1 run!


Today we went to the pool and Roman sported some cool boardshorts.