Three Amazing Years

On August 1, the hubby and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary (yes, this post is almost a month over late). I cannot believe it's already been three years, but yet it also feels like we've been together a lifetime...Well, we basically have... at least since October 11, 2000, the day we started dating. I absolutely love this man and couldn't imagine spending my life with anyone else.

I have to say that we aren't great with planning in advance a celebration around our anniversary (is that the woman's job? Fail.). For the most part, we've just tried to spend some time together when our anniversary comes around, however, that wasn't the case this year. I was actually in Vegas for work and flying back that night AND to top it off both the hubby and I were sick. What a terrible way to celebrate THREE years together.

So, what are we going to do to celebrate you may ask? We are going to try and find some time in the near future to get an overnight sitter for little man, get a hotel room, plan dinner and drinks and just spending some time together. And I can't wait. It's been too long since we've went out on a date...just the two of us...and I used to love our date nights.

Now the question is: what do I get him that falls under the 3rd anniversary material: leather? I can think of some things, but they aren't appropriate for this blog. :)

Some pics of one of my most favorite days ever...three years ago.

Walking down the aisle with my handsome pops

Loved Bethany Lutheran Church and my cathedral veil 

First kiss as husband & wife!

Little Ace came right up, plopped down on the steps
& enjoyed his sucker - lots of laughs over this little guy

We did it!

Love

The Paxton where we held our reception in downtown Omaha

Cousin Love

On Sunday two of the cutest cousins got together at my cousin's wedding shower for some fun and play. I had to share ALL of these cute photos of the play-by-play as DeLaney was feeding and helping toeat Cruz's Plum pouch.

C - "Just chillin' and enjoying my Plum."
(Miss Laney insisted on holding the lid, grabbing it from Cruz & putting the lid on for him.)

D - "Here. Let me help."

D - "I think you've had enough for now."
C - "Huh? You're taking the good stuff from me? But I'm not finished."

D - "Ok, you can have a little more."

D - "Here. Let me just shove this right into your mouth."

D - "Auntie Kate, look at me helping Cruzer eat his food! Aren't you proud of me?"
C - "Hey, I'm not done with that." (as his eyes never leave the food.)

D - "Let me just put this lid back on. I think you're finished."
C - "Whatever you say, cousin D."

They were just so stinkin' cute and I loved watching them play together since they really haven't had the chance to spend so much time with each other in the past. It was TOO cute...and makes me realize the brother and I need to make more of an effort to get these cute cousins together!

Photo Bomb: BOON!, Lounging & Food

The fun and excitement continues around the Mango household, so I had to take some pics and share them.

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NEW BOON HIGH CHAIR

Yet again, Boon continues to impress me with their awesome baby gear. Not only do they offer things that are extremely useful, but they creatively come up with new gadgets that make baby life that much easier! Ever since spotting it on their website, I've been in love with the Flair high chair. At first I wasn't a fan of the price tag and after much prodding from the hubby I researched some cheaper models, even to the extent of purchasing one and bringing it home. Only then did I look at reviews for this specific chair and they were HORRIBLE. Terribly difficult to clean (which I'm learning is not for me b/c we make a mess EVERY meal), the fabric was meant to be vinyl, but was not and stained easily... you name it.

After we did more research, we both decided the Flair would be our best bet. It's super easy to clean, has adjustable heights, moves easily around the kitchen, etc, so I ordered it when I found a REALLY great deal online.

Monday night after work I walked into the house to find a big box with our new high chair and couldn't wait to put it together...I think little man was as excited as I was. And after day 3, I LOVE it!

Boon Flair High Chair

First time in his new big boy high chair

He loves it!

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LOUNGING OUTSIDE

The other night was gorgeous....so the Cruzer and I spent a long time lounging out on our patio, playing with toys and soaking up the summer weather.

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TABLE FOOD

Little Mango continues to be an excellent eater, and while the messes are major and bath time afterwards is a must, he has been open to trying any and all foods I put in front of him. Below is one of the messiest meals to date - pasta, cheese and peas! Check out the mess on his face, chest, mushed in his hands, slimed all over the tray....it was everywhere. But meal times have become one of my favorite times we spend together each night and I find myself looking forward to seeing our little guy try different types of foods.

Fixin' Up Our Ears

This morning, our little guy had surgery to get tubes put into his ears. We arrived at Boys Town National Research Hospital around 5:45am this morning, got him checked in and changed into his scrubs. Aside from the fact that we woke him up from a deep sleep, changed him and dragged him to the hospital, he was in such a great mood.

Big boy in his scrubs
(really grainy pictures for some reason)

Hanging with daddy before he goes back for surgery

After all of that we had to wait about an hour until they came and took him from us to start the anesthesia. I hadn't realized we wouldn't be with him when they put him under and was able to hold myself together as they took him away. A mere 20 minutes later, Dr. Allen came in to tell us everything went perfectly and little man was just coming too while being cuddled by the nurses (I've got to admit I was a bit of a jealous mama). And they decided to keep him in recovery a bit longer because of his past with RSV and wheezing.

I was grabbing a coffee in the waiting room when I heard the doors to the surgery center open and looked straight into the face of our little guy, who just lit up when our eyes met. He reached out to me and I snuggled him to pieces.

Our nurse told us we would be there for another hour or so as they checked his vitals. We stuck a bottle in his mouth right away since he hadn't been able to eat or drink anything since midnight and he fell fast asleep.

After surgery...this pic doesn't show it because he hated
the oxygen thingy but he was so good afterwards

I took the day off work so we could heal with little man and he's done so well today. In addition to all of his other meds, he now has ear drops three times a day which he hates and he's had some bleeding in his ears (which they said is normal), but I can't wait until he's back to normal AND finally free of those dreadful ear infections!

Tomorrow's The Day...

Tomorrow our little guy is going into surgery to get tubes put into his ears...while I know it is a very common procedure, I'm scared to death of him being put under. He is just so little...only 9 months and shouldn't have to be in the hospital. It breaks my heart.

But I know many little ones have this done and everything turns out perfectly. And it will with our guy too. The best thing that can happen is he will be DONE with those dang ear infections. Last week he racked up number six and I'm so ready for him not to have to go through another one...or at least not as often.

So...tomorrow's the day.  Wish us luck!

My Baby Boy: Forty One Weeks

Happy 41 weeks, Little Mango!

(Someone - eh, me - is super excited for Halloween...can you tell from the skeleton/candy PJs??)

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

Saturday night we headed to the Storm Chasers game to host customers from work. Originally the hubby was coming along with little man and I, but at the last minute he headed to Sioux Falls for a poker tournament, so we went it alone.

It was actually a bit cool that night, so fortunately we had tickets for the Club Lounge and were shielded from the wind. Little man was a hit - every day I'm asked about him from our customers, so it was great that many of them were finally able to meet him in person!

He is definitely going to be our little baseball player...and LOVES going to baseball games!

Jill was a GREAT babysitter, so mommy could mingle

Chillin' with the Beasleys

Mommy & Cruzer night out

No Turning Back...

It's official...there's no turning back now. I just signed up for the Omaha half marathon.

I've been wrestling with this idea for some time now. To be honest, I love distance running and running outside, but haven't ever ran 13.1 miles at one time...EVER. My runs consist of 4.5 to 5 miles around Lake Zorinsky or at the gym and I'm happy to be done after those distances. I didn't think I would be able to make it much further...I mean it's been a LONG time since I've ran over five miles.

On the flip side...it's only 13.1 miles. People run full marathons all.the.time. (not me, but many people do). My bestie participates in Ironmans...full marathon, full bike ride and full swim (she's crazy, yes, but oh so inspiring). It's not that big of a deal.

But it is to me. It will be the longest distance I've ever ran at one time. And I'm excited to check it off my bucket list (which is actually a list of things I want to do in my lifetime that are jotted down on a notepad I keep in my purse) and complete it within a year after having my first child.

Last week I put together a modified version of a training schedule and told myself if I follow it this week, I'm going to sign up. Well, I did five miles, eight miles and another five miles. There were a couple of days I didn't get to my runs in because it's been a hectic week with the hubby playing long days/nights at a local poker tournament. But I took the plunge and signed up today. There is no turning back now...and I'm really excited to actually do it. Wish me luck!

Sunday At The Park

On Sunday, Little Mango and I had the ENTIRE day free...with no plans...that has been virtually unheard of these days, so we made the most of it. We got up early and headed to the gym...I love going Sunday mornings because he's the only infant when we get there and has the undivided attention from two of the day care workers.

After the gym, we got ready for the day and then headed to Aksarben Village for the Farmer's Market. I had every intention to fill up the stroller with tons of veggies, but when it came down to it the first two things I bought were fresh Kettle Corn (how can you pass that up?) and cheese. Two types of cheese, actually. Garlic curds and an aged cheddar block. And they had samples of the cheese...as you can imagine I tried many different kinds before settling...just to be sure. Then we walked around for another half hour deciding which peppers and tomatoes to buy.

We headed over to Jones Brothers and had lunch on their patio (it was absolutely gorgeous out), checked out some of the shops and then took a walk in the park. Cruz even got out and played in the grass for a bit...though he definitely wasn't sure he liked it. Then we headed to the swingset where my boy could've swung for HOURS....he LOVED it. Giggling, laughing and smiling the entire time.

We ran a few errands to pass the time until daddy got home from a poker tournament in Sioux Falls and then got dinner, put little man down for the night and cuddled up to watch a movie. It was a perfect day.

Interested in this stuff he was sitting in...he kept running his hands
through it and making funny faces.

Not too sure

Having fun & clapping!

Loves swinging!

We're Moving!

We have been working with Little Mango for quite some time on crawling and he's been thisclose for the past week or so. It had gotten to the point where last Friday night the Lynch's and I were bribing him (yes, BRIBING my 9 month old) to crawl towards the banana puffs that he adores so much...and he almost did...

So after many failing attempts...last night little man and I were playing hard core with his light up/loud toys and he kept giving me the hand held toys (he LOVES when you acknowledge he is sharing & say Thank You). Of course, I decided to roll said toys away from him. He was SO excited and wanted to grab them, but they were out of reach. After much waiting, little man gave me FOUR "steps" (what do you call the crawling movement?) forward!! I think I scared him to pieces when I shrieked with excitement!

Of course, he hasn't done it again, but we will continue to work on it and we will get there soon.

(Am I seriously sitting here getting excited about when our little guy will no longer sit in one place?)

Table Food!

Last week at Little Mango's 9 month well check we were told we could start table food....what!?!? You mean little, solid pieces of food from food we can eat? I'm right on top of that, Rose! (for you young'uns out there that is a reference to one of the greatest movies of my time, "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead").

We immediately went to the grocery store - because if you know me, you know my kitchen is generally quite bare and the hubby & I prefer picking up our meals or dining out rather than making them - and picked up a ton of stuff that little man could nosh on.

The first night we had ham, cheese, green beans and a couple cheerios. Then we became a bit more adventurous and I pulled out the pots & pans and whipped up some spaghetti w/ a bit of marinara sauce. We've done pancakes and scrambled eggs. As well as mashed potatoes, corn and applesauce.

I'm telling you my kitchen has had more love the past week than it has in the past three months prior to this! I have dishes to wash, veggies to clean & chop and messes to clean up. And do I mean clean up. Babies + hands + food do not equal a clean kitchen. There is food smooshed in the chair in behind his thick little thighs, near & in his nose & ears, mashed in his hair, squeezed in his hands and all around his near vacinity. Bath time is a MUST each night.

All clean and ready to eat! I envision a knife in one hand & fork
in another and him pounding them on his tray. He was READY

He loves mushing it his hands before it makes it anywhere near his mouth

Hmmm....I've seen this face before from his daddy
(hence the reason I don't cook!)

Swirling the noodles all around his tray.

THE MESS

Messy face

Tossing noodles EVERYWHERE

In his hair...of course we need to run our hands through our hair during dinner.

My happy boy...loving his table food!

I'm excited to continue trying out new foods and seeing what he really enjoys and what foods we will need to get him to like. Another stage in his life I can't believe we're at, but excited for it nonetheless!

It's A Zoo

Best day ever....the hubby recommended a trip to the zoo yesterday during the gorgeous weather we've been having....and what a great idea it was. We got a family zoo membership at the beginning of the summer, but have only used it once prior to this. I loved checking out the zoo with our little family.

Jungle baby

He loved the aquarium....favorite part of the zoo

Penguins! Mama's fave

Look at the fishy

Galapagos turtle...whoa

Loved Skyfari & checking out the animals from above

Gorillas!

My Baby Boy: Forty Weeks Old

Happy 40 weeks, Little Mango!!