Third Anniversary Getaway

Jay and I planned a little beach getaway for one night for our third anniversary. We stayed at the Coho Oceanfront Hotel and LOVED it! It was beautiful and so relaxing. We had an amazing view, king size bed, fire place, and jacuzzi tub. Can I say spoiled? It was the perfect night away and just the relaxing break that we both needed.

We dressed up and went out to dinner at Fathoms on the top floor of the Inn at Spanish Head. It was a nice restaurant and we loved our food. We normally don't spend a whole lot on eating out but we splurged just a little for a nice dinner. It of course had an amazing view of the ocean as well. Here is the classic self portrait and timer portrait to show us dressed up. Am I looking ginormously pregnant in the bottom picture or what. Just so it is documented somewhere I am 26 weeks and 3 days pregnant in these pictures.

Out on our balcony overlooking the ocean.

And our wonderful room...

We also got to eat a free breakfast at our hotel which is always nice.

Every married couple needs a night away a few times a year! It is so good for our marriage and helps us refocus on us. We love being parents more than anything in this world but our marriage still needs to come first and this was just one little way of making sure we make our marriage a priority.

Mama's Big Helper

This is Carter's first time helping me in the kitchen. We made Christmas cookie dough together. He LOVED every minute of it! He was so good at helping and did everything I asked him to do or not to do. His favorite part was turning the crank to bring the mixing bowl up and down each time.

He was so proud of himself for being able to be such a big helper. I didn't realize how fun it actually can be to have a little helper. Of course, it takes a little longer but it is so worth it. I am looking forward to having his help again.

I handed him the bottle of vanilla just to hold and he instantly turned it upside down and tried to pour it in. He knew exactly what to do with it. I love this kid!

I Love My Husband

Three years ago today I married Jay.

Three years ago today the ground was covered with snow and ice and we were wondering if anyone was even going to be able to show up to the wedding. Salem was hit with the craziest winter storm we had seen in a few years and it made for the most unique, interesting, beautiful, and exciting day of my dreams. I remember being calm and happy without a single doubt in my mind that I was making the best decision of my life.

Three years into our life together I have learned many things. I have learned that I love Jay more and more each day. I have learned that marriage does take effort and work but that it is completely worth every moment of it! I have learned that marriage is a huge blessing from the Lord and that it makes me better and work on who I am as a person. I have learned that I am selfish and have to intentionally work on that character flaw every day.

I am thankful for many things, but here are just a few...

I am thankful for what a hard worker Jay is. I am thankful for how deeply he loves me. I am thankful for how deeply he loves our little Carter man. I am thankful for how often and how hard he tries to make me smile everyday. I am thankful that he calls me when he can while working just to say hi and that he calls me the minute he leaves work to tell me he is on his way home. I am thankful that he puts his family first and always considers us when making decisions. He puts up with my mood swings and emotions (especially when I'm pregnant) and has more patience in one day than I do in a whole month. He really is my better half and the perfect man for me.

Thanks babe for marrying me three years ago!! You made my day :) And year :) And life :)

I love you!

What is green and yellow and goes vroom vroom?

A John Deer Tractor, of course!

How did you guess?

We had a 50th birthday lunch at our house on Sunday for Jay's mom. Jay's grandparents from Mosier came and brought Carter his Christmas present a little early. With weather in the gorge, you just never know when they can get back over here so they wanted to give it to him early. This little wonder of a tractor is from Jay's grandparents and two uncles and Lane. I don't think there are words to express how much joy this brought and is still bringing Carter!

He was napping when they arrived so we hid it in the kitchen when he first got up. Sometimes it takes Carter a few minutes to wake up and with all the people in his house, we didn't want to overwhelm him right away. Once he woke up a bit, Jay and Grandpa brought it around the corner. Oh my, was he surprised and excited! He had to check everything out. And may I add, this tractor is pretty amazing!

It has a real radio on it...like the exact same thing we would listen to in our car. Carter loves having his radio on when he is hanging out in his tractor. It has a pedal to make it go (do you like my tractor lingo?) and has two different speeds and reverse. It has a little trailor to haul all of his animals and arm rests that go up and down.

This little man is in heaven!

He loves to sit in it and do nothing. We can't have the battery hooked up without our supervision or else he would destroy our house by running into things. But he still loves to just sit in it and check everything out. He watches Mickey Mouse while sitting in his tractor every morning and pretty much spends every waking moment...sitting on his tractor.

Thank you Grandma, Grandpa, Dave, Grant, and Lane!!!! Carter LOVES his new tractor!

Rosy cheeks and bed head included in his first tractor ride on his new tractor.

Carter has loved tractors since his trip to Iowa when he was 15 months old and got to ride on all of Jay's dad's real tractors out in the corn fields. He gets so excited when he sees them, usually in books since we live in the city, but every once in a while for real as well. This was a dream come true for him :)

I must be honest here...

I am kind of glad he got his tractor before Christmas. If he was opening this gift as well as the gifts Jay and I got him...our gifts would look a little pathetic ;)

What a special gift from some special people! Thanks guys!

Christmas Photo Shoots

It took three tries this year to get some great Christmas family photos. Carter is so not into photo shoots anymore! I was determined to get some great shots and we ended up getting some between the second two shoots we did. Thanks Hollie and Ashley for trying so hard to get some great shots of our family! We love them!

21 Months

Carter man, you are 21 months old already. I feel like the days of monthly blog posts are coming to an end soon...probably only three more to be exact.

You are sweet and silly, goofy and stubborn...

You make us laugh a hundred times a day...

You make mommy feel like going crazy once or twice a day...(but what almost two year old doesn't?)

You love snuggles and will give out kisses every once in a blue moon...

Some days you will eat anything and others you won't touch a thing I offer you...

You love giving high fives and knuckle bumps over and over...

You sleep perfectly (11-12 hours every night and 2-3 hours every afternoon)...

You LOVE everything Christmas...the lights, trees, snowmen, decorations...

You are still a great shopper and passenger in the car...

You are in all size 2T clothes and size 5 diapers...

You are now associating Christmas trees with "ball, no, no"... This is because I keep telling you that you cannot touch the Christmas ball ornaments on the tree so you say "ball, no, no" everytime you see a tree now. I hope you still like Christmas trees by the end of the Christmas season this year...

You love looking at pictures, especially when you see mommy and daddy in them...

You are not a great picture taker anymore which breaks my heart...

You love being outside no matter how cold it is...

You love going to the nursery at church but sometimes have issues sharing with your friends...

You are strong willed, stubborn, and independent...Just like your mama...

But along with those qualities, you are sweet, kind, sensitive, happy, and silly...

You are great with the elderly and do a nice job of making them feel special...
Your Grandma told me yesterday that you walked right up to a sleeping elderly man at Mrs. Muntz's retirement home and said "hi" and woke him up. Then you proceeded to look behind you waving and saying "bye" as you walked away.

You definately know what spankings and time out are now...
We try and do time out the most and it seems to really help. I never thought I would be much of a time out kind of mom but I like that so much better than spanking you. And it helps get you out of your naughty mood and change the direction of your attitude.

You love giving baby Madelynn zerberts on my tummy...best thing ever!

You bring more joy and laughter to our world than we ever thought possible! We love you Carter man! We think God made you just perfect and amazingly perfect for our family. You are our biggest blessing!