All Good Things Come To An End....

Thanks to our good friends Ryan, Stephine, Ricci, Blair, Theresa & Kyle for hanging out at our house with us on New Year's. We had a blast and are so thankful for you and all of our great friends and family who have made this year so special. Thank you especially to Mike for being the best father and husband that I could ever ask for. His neverending support and love makes my life just that much better. 2008 brought many great new friends, a new job for Mike, and of course our beautiful healthy boy Chase. I couldn't ask for a sweeter gift and I can't wait to watch him grow!

Much love to all and best wishes for a healthy and happy 2009!

Merry First Christmas!

Twas the night before Christmas....

Tamales and beans at Aunt Julie's house

Chase's VERY FIRST Christmas Day!

Dad can now make sure he runs on time with his new Garmin

And Rigley got a new bow...(and bones, her favorite!)

Chase sporting his new sweater...

and his new velvet Christmas outfit (everyone should have a velvet Christmas outfit!)

Nana came for Christmas!

Chase's first Christmas was perfect...in our eyes anyway. It was just another day in the life for him, with the exception of a lot more pictures being taken on one day. We had a great time with family - we were able to spend Christmas Eve with Grandpa Rudy and Aunt Julie, Christmas morning with Nana Linda and Christmas day with Grandpa Tom & Grandma Elizabeth. We sure made the rounds but it was so much fun to be able to celebrate our very favorite gift, Chase. While we look forward to the years where he can really participate in the fun, we were able to have plenty of Christmas cheer just having him with us. It came and went so quickly, I am sure this is just the beginning of how fast time will fly from here on out!

Yesterday Chase had his first round of shots. The shots themselves were not so bad.....but......the next 12 hours were HORRIBLE. Poor Chase was SCREAMING. This is not a kid who cries. He may fuss a bit, but crying just really isn't his thing. Well, not yesterday. Poor guy...it took a lot of consoling, rocking and baby Tylenol before we were able to get him to eat and sleep a bit. Today he woke up like nothing ever happened and he was happy as can be. Rough going, but at least we know he won't be getting Hep B anytime soon :).

He is gaining weight and growing in length right on pace, but he has apparently inherited yet another of Mike's traits - a small head! I had to laugh when the doctor was telling us, wondering just how many characteristics will be Mike's and not mine. If I hadn't delivered him I would be wondering if he really is mine at all!

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year's Eve tomorrow night - be safe!

XOXO

Chase is so excited for Christmas - here he is waiting patiently to open one from Pete & Katy! (don't worry, he hasn't opened it yet)

hey...where did my present go?!

why am I obsessed with the funny pictures of him...?

Can I just say that I have one great kid? I totally get that he is my kid and I am supposed to think he is great, but every day I look at him, I see changes and it is so much fun to see him grow. He is getting SO very strong...I tried to take video today of him during tummy time (but I had an issue with user malfunction :)) - he totally is doing baby push ups and already doing a half roll onto his left side. He cannot push himself all the way over but he totally gets that there is a world to explore and he is already trying to do so. I think that he is having a bit of the baby boredom blues because he is too young to really undertand that he can play with his toys but he is realizing that it is pretty boring sitting in someone's lap at all times. Thus, he is trying to push up and roll a bit...it is really amazing. I will try again tomorrow to catch him and post the video.

CONGRATULATIONS to Shanelle and Adam Sanzi (well, Shanelle is soon to be Sanzi) on their engagement tonight! I am so excited for them both - and for the destination wedding!!!! We love you guys!

We are getting very excited for Christmas around here - and will be very busy making the rounds this holiday season! I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and love to all!

Snow...a progression...

1 o'clock... 2 o'clock... 3 o'clock...

4 o'clock...

5 o'clock ...and a pretty sweet snow family...

I hope that people reading my blog understand that snow in Las Vegas is a rare thing.

Snow sticking to the ground in Las Vegas is an even rarer thing.

Thus, my childlike obsession of posting pictures of snow to my blog.

At least this time they are of my own house.

Snow?!

I am totally stealing this picture of her pool from my friend Erin because although we had snow in Southern Highands, it did not stick quite like it did in Summerlin and I needed proof that it seriously snowed in Las Vegas! It made for a very cozy day and almost made me feel like I was living in Portland again - it was awesome! Chase loved it too and was occupied by the snowfall outside for quite some time (even though he had to admire it from inside I was afraid to take him outside all day for fear of a cold!).

In other happenings...we got out for our first night alone (and with friends) since having Chase for my work Christmas party and the Annual Pulliam Toys for Tots Party on Saturday. It was a strange feeling to leave Chase for the first time...but not quite as strange as putting on a dress for the first time in months. Oh, and heels too - that's right, I really worked it. I don't think Mike recognized me! We had a blast as usual and hopefully raised a lot of toys for those in need. This year more than any has made me so thankful for everything that we have.

Also, a big congrats to Dave & Erin Merrill for the news that they are pregnant with their first!

Mike teaches Chase some of the finer points in life...

Do you think Chase will hate me for this one?A beautiful Las Vegas sunset... Chase and Rigley love the lights!