6 Month photoshoot

Last month, our wonderful and talented friend Jana came over and took some fabulous photos of Arthur! I am so happy to have these pictures forever! Isn't she great? Oh, and isn't Arthur cute? I know I'm always saying that and posting pictures of him. And I know that you've probably run out of comments about him. I mean, I know that you can only say "He's so cute!" so many times before it loses it's luster. So, it's OK if you don't leave a comment. I'll just pretend that in your heart, you're thinking it. :)


I love how effortless the above picture is.


There's that smile!!!


Okay, he posed like this on his own! We did not coax him into it! He just loves that camera!


Sometimes we wonder if we had a baby human or a baby lizard.


Again. Effortless.


Do you see what I see?? RED HAIR!


Just hangin' in his room, reading a book.


So there you have it. I just love my little boy. Thanks, Jana!

This program contains material that may not be suitable for yournger viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.

Allow me to preface this entry for those of you who are entering late in the game. When I first had my tonsillectomy I made a poll on our blog asking if people would want to see the pictures. It was a unanimous and very enthusiastic YES from our readers. I was against it and am still having reservations about it, but I finally got up the guts to show the world my nasty mouth after surgery. I hope it doesn't gross you out too bad. There. You may continue at your own risk.

A little over a year ago, I had a tonsillectomy. For years and years my tonsils waged war on my defenseless body, leaving me only a few months in between bouts of swollen throats, so swollen I couldn't eat or drink, and sometimes I couldn't swallow anything.

I'm feeling like this is sounding really dramatic right now. But seriously, you guys. It was horrible! It always starting in the morning. I'd wake up with half of my throat so swollen that I knew this was only the beginning. My heart would sink as I would consider how I would be down, without a doubt, for at least a week. I would have to go to urgent care, get antibiotics, and just wait for the swelling to go down. I would run high fevers, sometimes because of the antibiotics I would throw up. Ugh. It was horrible. And this happened just about every three or four months. So I was looking at three or four times in a year. It got that bad after my mission and I moved to Mesa. When Derald and I went on our first date, I had gotten Mono and my tonsils were out of control. (Snicker all you want, but it was from a roommate.)

So, why didn't I do it sooner:? I had heard horror stories from people who had gotten a tonsillectomy. And besides which, when you're feeling well, the last thing you want to do is invite someone to take a knife to your throat. And that's the way it would have to be, too. You can't get them out if you're sick unless it's an emergency, like your tonsils are going to explode and you'll die if they aren't taken out now. So I kept putting it off until I was pregnant with Gregory and I was hit again with a swollen throat.

The trip to the OBGYN to get antibiotics that I could take during pregnancy was when we found out there was something wrong. That week I was sent home with the threat of losing our baby and completely taken over by this sickness. The following week, we lost the baby.

After that, Derald and I talked about getting my tonsils removed. The doctors didn't say that losing the baby and being sick were related, but we didn't want to take any chances on our next one. Obviously, it's best if you're in top health through an entire pregnancy. So about a month and a half later, after many appointments with an ENT doc, we had the surgery scheduled for September 4th, 2008.

If you remember, I had quite the passionate description of that experience. Read about it here.

After that I had some requests for pictures, but I never posted them. I think part of me was still bitter about the experience. From that surgery I lost my sense of taste for about a year. Everything tasted like mashed up asprin. Literally. Sugary things didn't taste good at all (I kind of wish I still felt that way...) and I was pretty bitter about the whole thing. Especially since no one had told me that this was a possibility. From what I have read, this happens when the doctor clamps your tongue down too hard and damages a nerve. Specifically, the nerve for taste.

Alright, alright, I've gone on too long. Now for the good stuff.

If you have a weak stomach, you might not want to look. There's no blood or anything, but to me, it's disgusting.

Seriously, you can go. No one will think less of you.

Because I am slightly embarrassed of my post-tonsillectomy gore, I have uploaded all the pictures to this website . If you would like to see them, they are there just waiting to gross you out. In the meantime, we won't have to look at them every time we visit the blog! Hooray!!



The happy, non-gross me and the handsome husband!

Arthur and Cousin Carter

Here is that video I was talking about of Carter doing tricks for Arthur. So funny!!!

This smile that I love.

I was going to make the title of this blog a lyric from a song, but I didn't think anyone would know that it was a song and they'd just be like.. "that was weird.."

So lately I've been tapping into my more creative side. It's been on vacation for a while and I'm so happy that it's back. I think it's the Jen that comes out when I'm not pregnant. So I've been listening to some great music, taking pictures, editing, thinking of some things to write. I've been painting furniture and I'm excited to paint some more.

Here I have taken some pictures of the little squirt for your viewing pleasure.


I think I will stash these pictures away for a day when Arthur is being a stinky boy to remember the innocent and sweet days.


Cousin Carter came to play with us today. Arthur just loves him so much! Carter can get Arthur to laugh by doing tricks for him. I will hopefully post a video of it later tonight. It was classic.

Arthur loves eating baby food!! He makes a mess, and he is obsessed with holding the spoon himself and trying to steal the bowl from me, but most of it makes it into his tummy either way. In these pictures, the delectable meal of choice was sweet potatoes.

When I'm feeding Arthur his baby food, Derald will sneak up behind me or off to the side and make faces at him. We get some of our best smiles this way. It also gets his mouth open nice and wide so I can attack when he's least expecting it. Bwhahaha.

And that's what we call in the biz, "a wrap".

Halloween, you've been good to us this year.

Halloween this year was a BLAST, if I do say so myself. I haven't had a good Halloween since I was a little girl. So it made me all sorts of happy to have a real good one this year.


It started out by purchasing some candy corn, some other assorted candy, and yummy scented candles and put them in our front room. For me, you gotta get the atmosphere right. You just do. Everything else will fall into place if you can get the right feel in the house. Other than those two things, I had changed our welcome bear on our door to his pumpkin outfit. (You'd have to see him to understand. Maybe I'll dedicate a post to teddy someday.) And that's about it. It's not too hard to make me happy.

Then on Friday night, we had a few friends and some family over to have a Perfect Pizza and Pumpkin Carving Party. That's what our friend Ellie called it, anyway. It was so much fun. We had Costco pizza, made Pumpkin Spice caramel corn, carved pumpkins, made a huge mess, played with the babies, and stayed up way too late. As a family we decided to be unified, so we all slept in on Halloween 'till 10am. (Magic.) After that, we lazily got ourselves ready for the day and headed over to Laguna Park for a picnic. Arthur and daddy played while mommy soaked up the cool weather and the nice breeze.



By the time we were done there, Arthur was hungry and tired. So, we got him a bottle and promptly put him down for a nap. He has gotten so good at naps -- I just put him in his crib with a blanket and his wind up giraffe that plays a lullaby, oh and don't forget the pacifier! Then he's out. Again, magic.


This picture was not taken on or even around Halloween, but I love it anyway. My very first attempt at editing something. Maybe it's too red or too glowey, but I love it. That little face makes me so happy!!

After Arthur's nap, we headed over to the church for the Keating ward's Annual Trunk-or-Treat. It was a fun time. We displayed our pumpkins, and Derald had a fog machine that really set the mood. I'm not one of those people who just can't get enough of the spooks, but this year I kind of wanted to go to a haunted house or something. But then knowing that it would just be hokey made me not want to do it. Then I realized that what I really wanted was to go to Disneyland and go through the Haunted Mansion. Someday we'll do that as a family, hopefully. I always loved it when I was a kid.

So, there you have it! A perfect Halloween. Not too much, not too little. Just the right amount of Halloweenery, which is the way I like it.

Stick a needle in me!

Arthur had his 6 month check up today. Which included 5 shots!!! (I think it was five.. don't ask me, I was trying to calm a screaming baby.) All I know is that he got the flu shot and our pediatrician highly recommended the H1N1 shot. I'm no doctor, so I said, "Sure, why not!"
I had a couple of q's, but he seemed confident that it was necessary. I was kind of a fence sitter about the whole thing, so he helped me come to a decision.

Wait!! This post isn't about shots! It's about how perfect my little man is! Don't let me get off topic like that.

Here's how we checked out this time around:
Height: 27.25 inches. 75th percentile
Weight: 15 lbs, 13 oz. 25th percentile
Head Circumference: 17.25 inches. uhhh I think 50th percentile.

So, if you haven't noticed yet, Arthur has a bit of a flat head. Some kids get it cause they just don't move their head around too much. Anyway, in an attempt to give Arthur a head start (ba dum CHING!) we've decided to look into a helmet. I just don't want him getting teased someday for it when we could have helped him out. It's not like it's medically necessary -- it's purely cosmetic. Flat head and all, he's perfect to me!

(A shout out is in order to Jana Acereto for taking Arthur's pictures. He really hammed it up for her a few times. More to come! No pressure, Jana!)

Grateful LIst

Last night as I was getting ready for bed, I thought to myself, "Self. It would be good for you to make a list of things that you're grateful for." For me, the holiday season brings memories as a child. Some of those memories are pretty rough, but a lot of them are really good too. So, my grateful list is kind of a mesh between the things I'm grateful for now and the happy holiday times which I'm grateful for that made me who I am today. (The rough times contributed too. In many good ways.) Go with me.

I am grateful for.... (In no particular order.)

- Candles that smell like Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Spice.
- Fires in a fireplace.
- Hot Chocolate
- Lots of blankets -- being all cozy warm under the blankets when it gets cold.
- Orange Cinnamon Rolls.
- Parents who love me, no matter what.
- Lots of siblings, nephews, and nieces.
- A loving, kind, generous, and wise husband.
- A beautiful son who smiles and makes my day.
- Not getting a full night's sleep because I'm being a mom.
- General Conference. I love being spiritually filled.
- Having food in our cupboards. It might not be gourmet or anything special, but we have enough. I am so grateful that Derald has a job and works so hard to support our family.
- A home. Someday we'll have our own. It will be so much sweeter when we do since it will be a journey getting there.
- Reading the scriptures. Even if I only read a few verses, I feel happier and calmer.
- Prayer.
- Good music. When I was a bit younger, I remember being at my brother's house late on Christmas eve. We listened to music and just talked and told stories as a family until it was way past midnight. I loved this since I was finally old enough to stay up late with the "grown-ups".
- Driving with the windows down.
- Afternoon naps.
- Feeling the love of God in the small simple things of life.
- Friends. Sometimes I wonder how people can really love me so much. It's overwhelming to realize that I have real friends who care about me.
- A good poem that really hits home. (My favorite poem is by T.S. Elliot, titled: "The Love song of J. Alfred Prufrock." )
- Cheeseburgers. (Red Robin, Island Burger, and In-N-Out are all tied for best cheeseburger.)
- In-laws that are so kind to me and very giving to me and Derald. It's great having two families.
- Speaking of my in-laws. My grateful list wouldn't be complete without saying that I am grateful for cooking out with the Mullenauxs. I have some great memories already.
- Road trips. (Even with a baby, I can somehow still love them.)
- Talking to my mom on the phone.
- Cuddling with my husband.
- Some good country music.
- A great ward with many friends.
- Clothes to wear, a truck that works, and shoes on our feet.
- Good health. And when we don't have good health, we have insurance. And even when insurance costs an arm and a leg, we have it.
- This time of year also brings back the memories of being engaged. Happiest times. (Even with chronic tonsillitis and mono!)
- Good books.
- Laughing with my family. (Klippels and Mullenauxs.)
- Serving others. Have you ever noticed that you feel so much happier when you've done some good old fashioned service? I need to do more. And more often.

Well, I could keep going, but for now I am happy with this list.
So, now it's the end of the blog post. What are YOU grateful for?

I guess this means I'm a big nerd because I thought this was fun.

82 words

Speed test

More cuteness than you can handle. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Looking through our pictures, I have realized that I only take pictures of Arthur. Sometimes of Derald. And never of myself.

Oh well! You'll get over it!


We're trying to *love* tummy time. We're not there yet. BUT it has produced some rolling over onto his back! It's amazing the motivation that springs from frustration!


Look at those back muscles! They're amazing! I mean, dang.


Do you see that scratch on his right cheek? Yah, don't call CPS just yet. He was mad that he had to be in his car seat and scratched himself WHILE IN THE BACK SEAT when I was with my sister-in-law Mindy. I don't think I should be held accountable. Although, it makes me sad every time I see it. These things just happen.


I love this picture. The caption would read, "What up, G??" He was posing, I'm sure. He was like, "Mom, I know! I'll pull up my pant leg and make a gang sign and act aloof! Quick! Take the picture!" It worked out perfectly.


More tummy time. He makes his best funny faces while on his tummy. Or in his bumbo seat. He hates that thing for some reason.


He kind of looks happy in this picture. In reality he was not happy. He yells at me sometimes. "Woman, what are you doing??" I cower. He yells. It isn't perfect, but it works.


Beautiful blues.


I just love that smile. Like one of those kiddo shows says, "You make my heart so happy!"


Last night we braved the night-time routine alone while daddy worked all night. It wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. I sure don't want to be a single mom, but I was impressed by how much I could do alone. Being a mom is great. It really is. I love it.

It's time I told you the truth.

I've been on playlist.com making a new playlist to play on my blog.

And I've decided. I can't keep it a secret any longer.

I love music. No, no, you misunderstand. "Of course!" you say, "We knew that you loved music! You even posted that pretty cello solo a couple of weeks ago!"

Well, yeah, I like that classical stuff. It's what I grew up on, listening to in my room until it was so late my mom would tell me I had to go to bed.

But I LOVE music. All kinds of music. That includes rock, alternative, emo, country, hip-hop, and SOMETIMES rap. (I said sometimes. Don't you tsk at me.) I love drums. I mean, I really love drums. The rhythms can be so intricate and complex. I love the guitar. I LOVE a good electric guitar.

A few weeks before Derald and I went on our first date, I went to a concert for the band "Muse" and it was AMAZING! It was the last concert I went to. (Derald hates crowds.) It was such a rush being a part of that huge crowd -- everyone knew the lyrics and sang along. There was such energy. Man, I loved that.

In fact, concerts are one of my favorite things. I haven't been to many because they can be pricey, but if I could go to a concert every week, I would. Is there anyone out there who loves concerts too? Anybody who shares my love for music? Anyway, here's a sampling of a few of my favorite songs to the right. Browse, flip, listen, love. And see a little glimpse of me that maybe you didn't see before.