The loves of our lives.....

On the move

2009-02-17T19:56:00.000-08:00

So after weeks of doing this funny type of crawling by basically standing on his head, walking his legs up and then lifting his head to move his body, Drake has figured out this whole crawling buisness. And boy does he move!!! He is so quick and determined once he has his eye on something. Right now he has about 4 different versions of crawling, it depends on what kind of flooring he is on. In our house the floors are all wood so he does an army crawl and occasionally will push with a foot. Watching him use his one foot actually reminds me of when our friend Noah was crawling. On the carpet he will crawl regularly or a combo between an arm and regular crawl.
Yesterday we were at my parents and he moved across the whole living room just to get a pencil behind a chair he saw earlier. I can see that he is going to love Vanessa's room and all her little "treasures". She had better watch out.

Christmas

2009-01-01T22:44:00.000-08:00

So this year we were very fortunate to have my parents, grandmother and brother join us for Christmas. It was wonderful to have the extra people around, typically it is just us since our tradition is to do Christmas in our own home.

Vanessa and I decorated sugars for Santa as per tradition, she is becoming a very skilled with piping frosting and sprinkles. Nobody slept very well on Christmas Eve, I think the excitement was just too much. Of course we HAD to read The Night Before Christmas and put out the reindeer food before going to bed.

On Christmas day we had a wonderful breakfast, opened presents, hung around, the grown up played with Vanessa's new Littlest Pet Shop edition Monopoly. We had an amazing dinner and a great day.

Food....

2008-12-16T16:37:00.000-08:00

Since Drake started waking up more in the night and getting very excited and then upset when seeing us eat we decided to start him a little early on food.

First we tried mashed avacado and you can see how well that went......

Obviously he didn't like it at all, so a few days later we tried butternut squash. At first he liked it but a few bites in he did not know if it was that great. After several days of eating that he finally has decided he enjoys eating it. Today we tried carrots and of course he absolutely LOVED them and couldn't not get enough. When I was pureeing them he saw a spoon and just lunged towards it to eat. We definitely have a eater in our hands, hopefully he is not as picky as his mother.

Drake's Four Month Checkup

2008-11-26T12:31:00.000-08:00

So last week Drake went to the doctor for his four month check up and vaccinations. Last time he got shots he had a really rough time with it so I was a little apprehensive to have them done again. Much to my surprise he did awesome!!! Just cried a little bit when the shot was administered at that was it. So for his stats....

25 1/2" tall

16lbs 5oz

He definately is a chunky monkey but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Nutcracker

2008-11-21T09:08:00.000-08:00

On saturday Vanessa was in the Nutcracker production at the college, she was a little mouse and then an angel. All the kids were adorable and such troopers, they had to be backstage for about 7 hours and only on stage for maybe 5 minutes. It was so cute watching the girls dance around in their costumes while waiting for their turn. Vanessa loved being part of the performance so much that she is already looking forward to next year and a few down the road when she can have more time on stage.

Tagged

2008-11-21T08:56:00.000-08:00

1. Brian P Barrow, I like to tease him by calling him Brian Pee Barrow.

2. I met him out and about in Redding. His friends that both had crushes on me always would bring him along when we hung out, it wasn't too long before he had a crush on me too. ;o)

3. We were together about 9 months before he actually proposed. The first proposal was with a vending machine ring from a restaurant in Meford as we were leaving. Then on Mother's Day a few months later he gave me my real ring.

4. 11 months

5. We have been married for 6 years.

Taggie

2008-10-30T21:59:00.000-07:00

A most wonderful friend (Ter) made an adorable taggie blanket for Drake. Immediately he loved it and of course shoved it into his mouth. Now every time he sees it a huge smile breaks out and he squirms with joy. No doubt it will be cherished for years to come, I see it getting very "loved" in only the way children can love things.

Pumpkins

2008-10-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

Tonight we decided to carve a few of our pumpkins since tomorrow is just going to fly by.

Brian was very ambitious and creative with his design, he drew it the night before.

Needless to say it took him several hours to carve his out.

Vanessa drew on her design and I carved it out for her. After one handful of pumpkin filling she was done for the night. She was more than happy to take pictures, jump rope, hulahoop and patiently wait for dinner until I was done.

And Mr Drake was more than happy to hang out in the swing and watch all the fun.

Happy 6th Birthday Vanessa

2008-09-29T13:33:00.000-07:00

Vanessa was a very lucky girl this year and had 2 birthday celebrations. On friday (her actual birthday) we all went out to her favorite place, Piemont. The waitresses there just LOVE her so much and of course made a big deal over her (more than normal). Then on saturday we did a bbq with some friends and family for her. She loved having everyone come over to our house and of course all the different people to play with. She was the center of someones attention all day, which was great since we have been rather busy with Drake, getting settled in and all that.

Miss Prima Ballerina

2008-09-09T17:38:00.000-07:00

Today Vanessa started ballet and Irish dance. She has been wanting to take ballet for years and was beyond exicted to start her classes. She is so stinking cute I wish I would have put her in it when she was smaller but think it is a good age for her to start. I can't wait to see all her performaces and how she grows into a graceful young woman.

First day of school

2008-08-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

On wednesday Vanessa started the first grade. She was beyond excited, it was just too cute.

She is going to Mt. Shasta Elementary just like I did, but I started there in second grade. She wanted to know all about it, who my teachers were, if she would have the same ones.......

I am so glad that she is so jazzed about school this year and hope it continues. So far the girls seem to be pretty nice, so that is a major plus.

Overdue Update

2008-08-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been so long but I am back.....

Drake Riley was born on July 6, 2008 at 2:15pm. The labor was very quick and easy. He weighed 7lbs 6oz and was 19.5 inches long. He has light brown and blonde hair with beautiful blue eyes.

Our July flew by and not for the the good reasons. Two weeks after Drake was born our landlord decided to kick us out of our house. They gave us 3 days to get out, so my AMAZING parents came down, helped pack, load everything into a POD and move me and the kids to their house. Brian had to stay in Truckee to work and look for a place for us to live. We have been apart ever since. Rentals have gone way up in price and houses are still way too expensive for us to buy in Truckee. We are contimplating a relocation, but are leary to give up our excellent jobs.

So onto the good stuff........

Drake is doing great. I just took him to the doctor yesterday and he now weighs 11lbs and is 21.5 inches. Obviously he is enjoying his meals.

His first bath.....

Holding up his head like a champ.....

Vanessa is a great big sister as we knew she would be, she just wants to love him all the time. One day she was pushing his stroller and she said that she bets everyone will think it is her baby. Too cute!!!

Vanessa starts school next week and is beyond excited. I hope going to a new school goes well for her and the girls here are not as snotty like they are in Truckee. As for now she is loving life at Grandma and Grandpa's house, rides in the Jeep, playing outside, swimming lessons, riding bikes......

I just love this one....
She puts the front wheels of her stroller over the back of the tricycle to haul her babies around. The diaper bag is from the hospital, she fills it with receiving blankets (hers from when she was a babe), bottles, pacifiers and lord knows what else.

Last year she met a girl named Remi that was also staying with her grandma at swim lessons, she was able to meet up with her again this year.

I am sorry it has taken so log for me to update you all, I will be better from now on.

Getting the show on the road....

2008-06-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

I have decided since we live so far away from pretty much everyone and don't always keeping in contact that I would do this blog to keep you all up to date.

As you know I am just almost 2 weeks away from my due date and we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our little guy. A couple weeks ago a great friend and awesome photog took some family portraits and pregnancy pictures that turned out amazing.

Here are a few that she has forward to me....

Vanessa has just finished her first school year and is enjoying summer vacation already. When she was asked the other day if she wanted to go to the library to get some new books, her reply was that she didn't, she is on vacation and doesn't need to read. Silly girl.

Vanessa also is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her brother. She loves him so much already it just melts my heart. Every night she tells him something about her day, that that she will see him in the morning, she loves him and to hurry up and get here.