A year ago today...

Matt and I got engaged. 1 year later and all the planning that I have done so far is a tentative guest list...ha!

It was also a year ago today, that I told my family that I was pregnant. Everyone was so suprised and so happy. Now he's here and celebrating his first Christmas. What a whirlwind this year has been.

This is how Matt dressed MJ today

Matt changed MJ's diaper after a huge blowout...I will spare you the details but this is how I found MJ afterwards.

uhhh, I think you forgot something...........

Photoshoot for Aunt Liz!

He smiles like this when he sees the camera

"MOM, what's this thing on my head?"

I love you, Auntie Liz!

Big brown eyes

Happy 30th...

to one of my favorite people in all the land. As you are celebrating this important milestone, I want you to know that you are a beautiful person inside and out. This is our 12th year of friendship. I'm so lucky to have you as my friend. Love you!

Wise words from a favorite blogger....

"It's a startling thing that takes place the very second you enter into motherhood (and I'm talking as soon as you get pregnant, or even make the serious decision to endeavor to become a parent). You are ushered unknowingly through doors that don't open again behind you. You are subject to all new levels of fear, and pain, and loss, excitement, and love, and complete joy and amazement. It's the most difficult and rewarding thing I will ever commit myself to. I have never felt more needed and in need at the same time. What a delicious dichotomy, motherhood."

Well it happened...

MJ was sitting in his bumbo, enjoying his favorite pasttime...watching Charley eat a bone. Well MJ decided to grab the bone and was hold it while Charley went to town chewing on the the other side. It was so cute but I was too slow with the camera. It was then that MJ decided to try it out himself. Yep, he stuck the rawhide in his mouth. YUCK! haha....josie grossie for sure.
Here are some other pics of the best buds....

PS: Check out those thighs!!! Rolls on top of rolls.

Sneak Peak

Merry Xmas to all!

4mo and 3 weeks old

grumpy boy

giving grumpy baby a toy to cheer him up= fail!

He's a happy boy in his pj's

Thanksgiving10'

MJ had a great time with his dad's side of the family. We ate a ton and had some yummy desserts....and MJ had some green beans. He's getting pretty good with the eating thing.

I dont have any pics from thanksgiving until I get them from Matt's sister so until then, here are some of MJ with the card from Gramma Dar in the mail.

Happy Thanksgiving!!! 25 things I'm thankful for this year :)

1. My beautiful healthy son. He's makes life worth living. The fall leaves seem more vibrant, the gray sunless days dont seem so gloomy, and he makes regular everyday things exciting again.

2. My wonderful fiance. He took such great care of me when I was pregnant, he was so comforting when I was going through a little health scare, and he's been such a great hands on father to our lil chunker. I'm a lucky girl to have such a great partner in life.

3. My family. My family has been so supportive and helpful with my son and with our big move back to the Midwest. MJ is lucky to have such great grandparents, Aunt, great Aunt, Great gramma, and cousins.

4. My health. I will never take this for granted again.

5. My sister for being understanding when I was(is?) a hormonal crazy mess after having the baby and continues to be my best friend through it all. She is one of a kind.

6. Matt's family. They have been incredibly helpful in our move, with getting cars from here to there, finding a house, staying at their house, flying with our dog, helping with the baby, giving the baby all kinds of clothes  and gifts. Phew!!! Thank you.

7. Bella: My Florida puppy dog. She loves the cold as much as she loved the sun. She drives me nuts sometimes but she's still my baby.

8. Charley: I love that she still thinks that she is MJ's mom.

9. The opportunity to stay home w the baby for the first year of his life.

10. My amazing  Chicago friends: Jenna, Heather, Marcy, JoAnn, Miller.

11. Seeing MJ eat his first bit if baby food. Hilarious.

12. Playing Fetch w the dogs in our new big yard.

13. Florida friends: mubs, adam, liz, drew, dolan, liz j, marianne, dani, caitlin, tara, amg

14. decorating our new place

15. Free babysitters (Gramma Dar and Peaches)

16. Seeing the fall leaves in person this year

17. Hardees burgers

18. Introducing MJ to friends and family

19. Visiting w outta town friends

20. A good cup of coffee after a long night w the baby

21. When matt lets me sleep in and does all the night and early morning feedings

22. planning an easier trip from the QC to see family for the holidays.

23. Spending time watching "its always sunny" and "the league" w matt after successfully getting the baby to bed....with a glass of wine

24. seeing 2 deer eat out of my neighbors bird feeder every night after dark

25. Hearing MJ's laugh

MJ this week in pics

Kinda dark but cute, napping w mama

first taste of green beans

"not so bad?"

pretty gross, I guess

mj's cool one-sie!

hammin it up for the camera

ahhhh!

I'd rather be naked...

Although our lil sunshine has left the warmth behind, he still likes to be sans clothes. Its cute until you get pee'd on, so here are some pics of MJ with just his diaper on. He such a cute lil chunker.

Fall Day!

Matt usually spends a few hours every weekend on yardwork now that we have a house and not a condo. We had some fun with a pile of leaves. All MJ wanted to do was put them in his mouth. Figures.

First time eating cereal!

MJ cannot last 2 hours between feedings anymore, this means we can start our bouncing baby boy on cereal. Here are some pics from his first tasted of anything besides breastmilk. 2 of the 3 nights that we have given him cereal in his bottle before bed, he has slept the whole night! YESSSSSSSSSS! From 830pm until 6am (roughly). I forgot what it was like to not wake up at 3am and like a zombie walk to the baby's room, feed him, burp him, and get him back to sleep.

MJ's 4mo checkup

MJ has his first check up with his new Iowa Doctor. Everything went great. We got the "go ahead" to start MJ on cereal and then slowly baby food. I cant believe how time flies. My baby is already going to start eating baby food!!! This should be fun! I plan on making my own baby food at home. I know this sounds awful "hippie mom" of me so feel free to poke fun :)
MJ weighed in at 17lbs 6oz and 24 & 3/4 inches!!!! MJ is still in the 75th percentile for head size, weight, and height. The Dr. commented that it is clear that MJ is NOT missing any meals. HA!

3 months old!

Catching up!

We have been in Iowa less then a week but I am already loving being closer to home!
Matts new schedule is great too! No weekends or nights. This means a lot more family fun time.

YAY!

Happy Birthday to the Best Dad EVER!

Today is Matt's birthday....he is the big 3-1!!!
Thank you for everything you do for our little family. I could not be happier then I am when I am with you.
MJ is so lucky to have such a good role model.
Happy Birthday and we love you!!!
Love,
Carly, MJ, Charley, and Bella!!!

Living in Limbo

Here are some pics I have taken while MJ and I were living in limbo....we left Florida but did not quite move into our place in Iowa yet. Good news is now we have moved in and we are working at getting settled. Unpacking is not so easy with a 3month old (almost 4 months!!!)

Before leaving Florida...

Matts mom was nice enough to fly to Fort Myers to help in the moving process. Here she is watching MJ.

Pics of MJ in his romper!!!

Haha! I think its called a romper. Its so cute. This picture was taken after one of his famous diaper blowouts and subsequent sponge bath. I'm pretty sure he ruined another one-sie. Boo! Anyway, I thought we would do a little photo op.....Oh and by the way, this particular diaper blowout leaked onto my jeans. Yeah, great! But guess what! they were my PRE-PREGNANCY jeans so I have plenty more that I fit in. The gross thing is that I still wore my poop jeans for like 20 minutes before I had time to change. AhHH! thats gross