all over the place

Sometimes my mind is all over the place.

Derek just went to bed, Connor's been asleep since 8, & Radar is snoring next to me in the family room

& here I sit

this week, i didn't go to school.. at all...

it was nice

& it made me not want to go to school anymore

I spent my days simply enjoying my baby, my husband & our life... & didn't even think of school once

but I know I must push through... easier said than done

Im watching the CMA's.. I love country music... they make me wanna put on my cowboy boots & take a ride in Derek's lifted truck down some backroads... cause I do that all the time ;)

Then I thought... I want to be a photographer.. So I texted my SIL & proposed the idea of teaming up... since she is amazing at what she does & I wanna be like her :)

But then I think.. Do I really have time to do photography? ... no

I look to my right... into my kitchen and my eye catches our BRAND NEW appliances.. Thanks hubby!

Then I look a bit more right... next to that beautiful new microwave I see the inside's of my spice cabinet... yup because there are no doors on my cabinets.. Why you ask?

Well, since our lives our so boring, you know Derek just works 40+ hours a week, I go to grad school, not to mention we have a precious 8 month old, well yes since we have SO much free time, we decided to paint our cabinets! All 26 doors & 4 drawers... yes only 4 drawers... it's not easy to keep those drawers organized....

Anyways.. so our kitchen is to say the least "under construction"

Just seconds before I began this post.. I was looking up suburbans for sale within 50 miles of Vacaville...

Cause there is only 3 of us, yet we NEED a car that seats 7 right?

oh my mind sometimes...

Tonight, Connor was SO quick to fall asleep. Even though he only nursed for a few minutes & then was OUT, I held him close long after he was asleep. He is so perfect. For several minutes after he was done nursing, his little lips continued to suck until he entered deep sleep and his sucking motion turned into a wide open mouth and his limbs went limp. I kept holding him. I whispered into his ear softly and told him how much I loved him. I took a deep sigh and Connors mouth went from wide open, to a smile. What a perfect moment.

Regardless of our busy lifestyle with school, work, thoughts of being a photographer or buying a suburban, and our kitchen being half painted, half not....

those things matter little to the beautiful baby boy that i get to tuck into bed every night... well I don't actually "tuck" him in but you know what i mean...

Getting to nurse & rock a healthy 18lb 8 month old to sleep every night makes my WHOLE day perfect.

He is my life

Seeing his daddy make him giggle & smile melts my heart & never gets old.

My mind may wonder, my desires my change hourly but no matter what, no matter how busy or how chaotic life gets, I stare at Connor in amazement every second I look at him & I no that I am truly blessed...

not only to get to be a stay at home mom, but a wife, a daughter & a grad student.

I am lucky & I never want to take my life for granted. 

Superhero Captain Con-Man

What a happy Halloween we had!! Connor got decked out in his superhero outfit & flew all around the house! Unfortunately we did not get a family picture... thats what happens when your 4th family member is 4 legged! Regardless, we enjoyed walking Connor around the block & eating the candy we collected from the neighbors! 

Pumpkin Patch

Our trip to the pumpkin patch! 

Going to the pumpkin patch is one of my FAVORITE things to do. I love the feeling of being there, surrounded by the big pumpkins, hay pails, fresh trees & dirt! I love that Connor can ride around in wagons & most of all because we get to take family pictures!

The first of many fun trips to pick out the best pumpkin! 

Cooler weather

The weather has been so warm most of the month of October that I warmly welcome this cooler, rainy time. I didn't blog a lot this month due to being so busy with life so I wanted to share a few pictures of our final weeks of summertime. Just last week Connor was hanging outside with us in his jumper. 

The beginning of the month, we spent almost a week in Chester. Daddy went deer hunting & got his first deer. As soon as he shot it, he called me and said "get Connor dressed up in all his camo. I want to take pictures with him". I thought that was so cute. As much as I hated seeing the dead deer, it was very cute that daddy wanted to show his boy his buck! I see many years of hunting in Connor's future... whether he wants to or not :)

We spent a day as a family fishing on the river. Derek encouraged me to drink beer, even though I dislike it. When I finished my first beer, Derek didn't believe I drank it all!

 Connor & I went on a walk with the ergo since he was sleepy and I knew it would make him fall asleep. As we were walking, Daddy threw the ball for Radar and she ran right by us as he snapped a picture. We all started laughing because it looks like she is going to run us over!

As summer is now over, I am grateful for the memories made & the time spent as a family. I can only imagine the summers in the future as Connor grows, spending our days swimming, trips up to Donner Lake and enjoying the woods in Lake Almanor. 

Whats up?

We have had quite a FUN weekend! 

Our weekend started Thursday evening, with a fun rehearsal dinner for Matt & Mikaela. We then woke up early Friday morning and met Derek parents, brother & sister for breakfast at Babs. It was super yummy! Connor sat in a high chair for the first time & LOVED it! Next we were off to Costco & loaded up 5 large carts with lots, lots, lots of alcohol for the wedding! We then went and unloaded it all & helped set up. Connor & I left daddy in Benicia and enjoyed a nice night while daddy hung with the guys. Saturday morning I woke up early and did my hair  & makeup before Connor woke up, got him all ready & we were out the door by 9:45am! A quick stop at Starbucks and we were in Martinez by 10:30am for pictures. The wedding was so beautiful and the reception was lots of fun! Connor did so good, for most of the day. He walked down the aisle with mama and did really well until about 7pm. He then hit a wall of tired! He napped with GiGi around 9pm for an hour but woke up screaming crying. We then knew it was time for us to leave! Connor feel asleep in the car and didn't wake up until 9:30am! Sunday we relax, MUCH NEEDED! This morning we woke up and listened to the rain for a bit then off to the pumpkin patch we went as soon as it cleared. Dereks sister went with us so as soon as I get all the pictures from her I'll share them! After the pumpkin patch I took an online midterm & what do you know? got 100%! Not to shabby for a mama who hardly opened the book :)

I've realized the best weekend are shared with family & friends! I also realized that a 3 day weeding weekend is ALOT to handle with an 8 month old.... but I am SO lucky for all the help I received from everyone with Connor! 

Just one picture to share... Lots more will be coming soon :)  

fall

It's feeling like fall around these neck of the woods & we are excited for it!!! 

Life has been busy, yet when is it not?

This weekend Im helping Photography by Katelyn Russell & we're heading to Sacramento for a wedding! It will be a fun night with my sister in law snapping pictures of a gorgeous wedding! Photography & weddings make me happy so it will be a fun time!

Next week kicks off the beginning of a fun wedding weekend for M&M! 

In my true procrastination fashion, Im heading to the seamstress tomorrow to get my dress taken out at 10am... yes just 10 days before I need my dress to wear!

However, Connor & daddy's outfits are all ready... well actually Connor needs shoes, yet we all know the likelihood of him wearing anything on his feet is rare :)

Because Im reminiscing ...

It finally feels like fall out, which Im so excited for. 

Today as I put out a few more halloween decorations I thought back to last year at this time

I was 20 weeks pregnant with the most amazing little boy

It was around this time I started feeling him kick and move on a daily basis. 

I started growing bigger and bigger everyday.

The maternity clothes were in full force

And I was loving every second of it.

I find it interesting when people say they don't like being pregnant... 

of course it comes with tiredness, mood swings, aches and pains, and anxiety

But I loved being pregnant.

I loved that feeling of knowing my child was growing inside of me

I loved feeling all those kicks and jabs

I loved seeing my husband stare at my growing belly (probably thinking to himself 'holy crap she's getting huge' or taking deep breathes thinking 'i can't believe were having a baby' =)

Our time will come again when I get to break out the maternity clothes and eat $17.00 worth of taco bell... (remember that post?) However, Im not in any hurry. Just like I tried to cherish those 9 months of growing Connor, I want to cherish every second of him growing. I don't want to rush life. I do that too often. 

When Derek & I were dating, I wanted to be engaged.

As soon as we were engaged, I wanted to be married.

As soon as we got married, Lets have a baby!

Im quick to jump to the next 'stage' in life as soon as I reach the next stage... 

Its worked out great in the past but I don't want to do that with Connor and baby #2. 

It still doesn't mean I can't look back at pictures and smile, remembering exactly what I felt like in that moment with my little man growing inside of me.