Micah is ONE!

Today, at 1:01 pm, our baby boy turns ONE! This past year has been a whirlwind but I'm so grateful that God chose me and my husband to be Micah's parents. 

He is such an inquisitive, and mostly serious, baby, but when he smiles, his entire face lights up and you can't help but smile back at him.

Being a mom this past year has, hands down, been the hardest, yet most rewarding thing I have ever experienced. I know the challenges will undoubtedly keep coming through the years, but each challenge brings an opportunity to mold and transform our son.

A few of his favorite things are bananas, using sign language to ask for more food, bananas, running around the house with Daddy, bananas, playing in water, and more bananas. This boy's love for bananas runs deep! If he sees a banana and you don't give it to him, there will be a full meltdown coming your way.

It truly amazes me how much baby's can understand at such a young age. He thinks it's so funny when the Hubby and I hug or kiss in front of him. Most times, he runs over to us for a big group hug. It's pretty much the cutest thing ever!

Micah loves watching Cooper play fetch and walk next to the stroller. We are working with him to be more gentle to the dog, but Cooper just lays there and lets Micah hit him, pull an ear, or steal a toy. I'm excited to watch their relationship grow as Micah gets older and is able to actually play with Cooper.

Here's a dump of some of my favorite pictures from the past year.

Our little 6 pound 10 ounce baby is now a 19 pound toddler who loves exploring, giving kisses, and bananas.

I'll love you forever, little man!

What's Up Wednesday {August 2016}

How is it the last Wednesday of August already?  This summer has definitely been packed full of family and friends and memories I will cherish forever. My little family has some fun things planned for the next month, so let's dive right in and give you a sneak peek into what lies ahead. Thanks to Mel, Shay and Sheaffer for hosting this fun link up!  

Every month, we answer these same questions...

Along with the questions above, the hosts provide a bonus question each month. This month's bonus question is, What is your favorite summer to fall transitional piece in your closet?

1. What we're eating this week...

Left over Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin from Sunday's dinner, salads for lunches, egg salad sandwiches, and anything with rotisserie chicken. Exciting stuff!

2. What I'm reminiscing about...

This sweet, sweet baby of mine. On September 13th, you may find me in the corner bawling my mama eyes out as our baby turns 1. As exhausting as the newborn days were, I miss those endless snuggles. And the fact that babies can't move, because we now find ourselves with a man on a mission every waking second. Though I'll forever miss being able to hold Micah in my forearm, I'm so looking forward to shaping him into a man of God for many years to come.

3. What I'm loving...
I've been planning Micah's 1st birthday party since July and am loving getting my creative juices flowing. I'm DIY'ing a lot of the decorations and can't wait to see everything come together in a few weeks. I plan on posting step by step instructions for some of the decorations, so be sure to check back in the coming weeks.

4. What we've been up to...
Camping with family, bike riding and long walks with new friends. We are gearing up for a lot of travel in September, so the slow pace of August was welcomed with open arms.

You better watch out because there's a new driver in our household!

The helmet looks enormous on his little noggin. He actually has a really big head, which makes my previous statement hilarious.

Headed out for a quick swim in the pool with my cousins.

5. What I'm dreading...
We will be flying to Minnesota on Friday to visit friends and I'm so anxious about flying with a (almost) 1 year old. I have things that will hopefully entertain him for the 2 hour flight, but I'm just so nervous that his ears will pop and then we will have a screaming baby the entire time. I'm giving it up to the Lord, and I know everything will be okay. Leave me any tips and tricks for flying with toddlers in the comments!

6. What I'm working on...
So, I have a confession for you all. I caved an bought an Adult Coloring Book. And, you know what? I find myself coloring, while listening to a TV show, almost every night before bed and it's so relaxing.

7. What I'm excited about... Visiting our friends in Minnesota! Here's the lowdown on how we met Khang and Johanna. Both husbands worked on the same client in Ohio and quickly bonded because they were both born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The following year, all 4 of us happened to be visiting Vietnam at the same time so we all met up so the girls could speak English. HA! Our son was born in September and their son was born in November, so Johanna and I have bonded over that. This will be the second time seeing one another in person and I'm excited to get to know them and finally meet their son!

8. What I'm watching...
Aside from the obvious Bachelor in Paradise, Real Housewives of (Anywhere), and Big Brother, I just started watching The Good Wife on Hulu last week after reading Shay's review and am hooked! Each episode leaves me wanting more and more.

9. What I'm listening to...
A Worship music CD from the Praise & Worship team at church. Playing music motivates me to get things done around the house....so, I should really play more music. Maybe my house would stay clean.    10. What I'm wearing...
A dress from Old Navy I snagged for $2 and a jean jacket!

11. What I'm doing this weekend...
Minnesota! Woot woot!

12. What I'm looking forward to next month... Celebrating Micah turning ONE with friends and family!

13. What else is new...

I just got these booties for fall at DSW for 60% off!
14. What is your favorite summer to fall transitional piece in your closet... I find myself wearing a jean jacket more often this time of year. It's 60 degrees when I leave for work in the morning but 80+ degrees after work, so the jacket provides just enough warmth and is fashionable. Win, win!
That's a sneak peek at what our past month has been filled with and what some of our plans are for September.
What was one thing you did in August to close out summer?

Micah's 11 Month Check In

11 months. Let that sink in. It's true when they say the days are long, but the years are short. You are such an independent and curious little boy and I love watching you explore the world around you. Just last night, you sat in your highchair eating dinner and noticed the wind picking up outside. A few minutes passed as Daddy and I watched you stare out the window taking it all in. These simple moments are my favorite memories of us.

Meal time has been nothing short of an adventure this past month. You prefer solid foods now and refuse to eat any purees. Your favorite foods are banana, cheddar bunnies, hummus, and broccoli. Dropping your sippy cup on the floor is a fun dinner time game you've recently taken up. Cooper now lays right under your chair while you eat so he can snag any pieces that drop on the floor. This was the first time you had tomatoes and you loved them!

We went on our first camping trip as a family of 4 (yes, Cooper counts!) and you loved being outside all day, swimming in the pool, and...

eating dirt!

Mommy and Daddy got bikes this summer and finally got a bike trailer for you. We've gone on a few family bike rides and it's becoming one of your favorite activities - minus the helmet!

Here you are waiting to go on your first boat ride. Why do babies look so ridiculously cute in life jackets?

"Where to, Mom?"

The next three pictures depict the struggle of getting a decent picture during your monthly pictures. Life is never dull around the house with a baby on the move.

This picture really pulls at my heart strings.

Cooper's turn to try the sticker.

I'll love you forever, little man.

Micah's 10 Month Check In

I figured it's time to post an update on our little guy. I've slacked off since the last update and we haven't even taken his picture with the monthly stickers. Life is so much more exciting and less exhausting lately. Micah loves, loves, loves his Daddy and will laugh at almost anything he does. It makes my heart full, in ways I didn't even know existed, watching my Hubby interact and love on our son. I can't even believe that in a month and a half we will wake up one day and have a toddler living in our house. I've been embracing the phrase, "The days are long, but the years are short" more than ever these days. I always want to remember how much a little 6 pound 10 ounce baby we brought home from the hospital has forever changed our lives.

This boy loved standing in the bucket foll of water from the Cut. The water was not even 70 degrees, so we didn't want to let him sit in his floatie in the Cut, but this was just as good.

"How big is Micah?" "SO big!" He loves when we do this and will almost always stop whatever he's doing to raise his hands in the air. Do you think he knows he's cute?

Last month, we attended my college roommate's wedding, so our little guy got all dressed up. Nothing too fancy since it was an outdoor wedding, but his little outfit was adorable. He did so well the entire day and even fell asleep in his car seat at the reception, which was amazing!

Another "first" included eating broccoli with chopsticks. He knew exactly what to do and didn't try to chew on the chopsticks.

This boy loves to eat! He will eat anything we give him and then share a little with Cooper. His favorite foods so far are sweet cherries, broccoli, asparagus, and banana. I've also started using spices in his purée and he loves cinnamon and nutmeg. In the picture below he was eating sweet cherries. It's one of my favorite pictures. (Notice the cherry in his hair.)

I absolutely love being this little boys mom and can't wait to watch him explore the world in the coming years.

I'll love you forever, little man.

Dreaming of Vacation

I absolutely love to travel, explore a new town, and immerse myself into local culture. It's been almost a year since our last vacation and I've had the itch to pack up my family and get on a plane to anywhere, but preferably somewhere warm. Since I'm stuck in a cubicle for 40 hours a week, I decided to put together a bucket list of places around the world I'd like to visit at least once. If you've been to any of these places, leave a comment telling me what your "must do or see" things are. 1. Grand Canyon

My ideal visit to the Grand Canyon would include visiting the Hoover Dam, hiking all around, and riding a donkey. I'm pretty sure I could spend hours at the top just looking out and admiring God's work all around me.

2. Italy

Anywhere in Italy is fine by me. Landing in one city and then taking trains or cheap flights to all the major cities and then stopping by the sea would be my ideal trip to Italy. I'd also want to swing by to see the Pope while in Rome and eat all the pasta and gelato my belly can humanly hold.

3. South Africa

An African Safari has always been on my bucket list along with visiting Cape Town, South Africa. Traveling to Cape Town would allow be to knock out two birds with one stone.

4. Australia

The Opera House in Sydney, Kangaroos, Deep Sea Diving, and the Outback would be on my list of things to do and see while in Australia.

5. China

Someday I will see the Great Wall of China and walk as far as I can along it.

This list is most definitely not all-inclusive as there are many more places around the world that I would like to visit and explore. I'm excited to take Micah on a plane for the first time and show him the world. Here's to learning about how others live, talk, and eat around the world!

Micah's 7 Month Check In

Oh, how my little love bug is growing ever so quickly right in front of my eyes. I've never been more in love with anyone in my entire life and all of the emotions that come along with that are overwhelming - in the very best way.

You are finally sleeping through the night in your crib and, without fail, you roll to your tummy as soon as we lay you down. You always smile when I come to pick you up in the morning. After you've had breakfast, you are a little chatter box.

"What's that, Mommy?"

Jumping in your jumperoo and rolling all over the living room are your favorite daily activities. You love being outside and never make a sound in your stroller on our evening walks. This particular night, you were channeling your inner sexy cologne model.

You celebrated your first Easter this month and were so handsome in your little tie. We got to spend time with Nose Papa and Nose Grandma, where Nose Papa gave you Alfalfa hair. Our Easter weekend was jam packed with travels and quality family time with Daddy's family, too. On this day, you played in the church nursery for the very first time and were the hit of the nursery.

I just want to remember you in all your camo gear. Uncle Mike said, "Where's Micah?" when he saw the picture of you in the stroller in all camo. Ha!

Grandma and I had a girls night which meant you got to spend a few hours with Uncle Karl and Aunt Elysia. I'm not sure who had more fun - you or them! I'm so glad you were able to spend this special time with them. 

There were also a couple firsts this month. You ate Belgian Waffles for the first time that weekend and loved them. We went to Olive Garden for dinner and you were such a big boy sitting in a high chair and eating Puffs. Stop growing up so fast!

I hope you know how lucky you are to have Cooper in your life. He will always forgive you after you pulls his hair, he will always be willing to lick your bare feet, and he will always be there when you drop food on the floor.

I just love your smiley and inquisitive little self and can't wait to teach you all about life and how to be a gentleman.

I'll love you forever, little man.