Celebrating the actual day of birth

Happy birthday to our sweet boy. On his actual birthday, Dave, Audrey and I went to go get him out of his crib singing with our fabulous morning breath. I video taped it, but I don't know why I didn't take any pictures of that. Oh well. We ate breakfast as a family (Dave had the morning off school) and then we had what Audrey calls, "giggle time!" (She calls wrestling, giggling...I don't know why).

Giggle Mania

Joshua got to do all his favorite things that day, one of which included a very long bath. He could sit in the tub forever.

Memor and Fafa went to dinner with us (California Pizza Kitchen) and as always, it was so fun to have them along.
Bruce, with his only son, with his only son.

Happy birthday, our big one year old.

Party on...

Birthday? More like birthweek. My grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousin Tim came to visit so we celebrated Joshua's birthday, again,.
We had cake on Thursday (and again on Sunday). When Joshua saw the cake he flapped his little arms and kicked his little legs like a mad man.
Here he is diving for the cake...

Audrey and her Grandma Great (her great-grandma). Audrey is teaching her how to jump, twirl and clap at the same time. Grandma Great was a great sport!

D and all her grandbabies.

My dad was able to ordain Tim an elder, and it was a very neat experience.

Joshua with Grandpa Great.

On Sunday night we did yet another birthday celebration for sweet Joshua. Cake is his new favorite food.

I know this picture is kinda random, but I am obsessed with my hair in this picture! My fabulous sister cut my hair that day, and I love how sleek it looks. For those that see my on a daily basis know that my hair has not, nor will not, look that good again. One day Mimi, I will pay you to come flat iron my hair every day.

Our sweet kids.

Three generations.

Don't mind if I do...

The weather was so beautiful today so we had a nice little family (plus Maggie) walk down to new trail to the beach. Too bad the path leads right to the nude section of the beach, but thankfully we were able to divert the kids attention elsewhere.

Let the party begin

My little man is almost one. I know it is so cliche to say, but where did my baby go? Why does the time have to go by so quickly?It just makes me want to love and squeeze on him that much more knowing that this baby stage goes by way too quickly. We had his first, first birthday party with Dave's family last Sunday. It was also Kristin's birthday, so the lucky duo got to celebrate together-complete with a train cake, and a homemade cherry chip cake.
Joshua and his Memor

Birthday girl with Audrey (Audrey wanted it to be her birthday so badly).

Opening gifts (Joshua has a love/hate relationship with this tiger).

Cake time.

My sweet boy

Audrey giving Joshua his first taste of the goodness of sugar. Isn't that what older sisters are for?

He loved it, obviously.

Happy birthday Ritz and Joshua. I couldn't ask for a better sister-in-law or son. We love you.

Joshua

I love you little man.

Friday, February 27th was the last time I nursed Joshua. It was a bittersweet day. I will miss that special time, but AT LAST I am back in the world of dairy. My sweet friend Kathy brought me this homemade ice cream and I couldn't. eat. it. fast. enough. Ahhhh, I am lovin me some ice cream, milk, cheese, and cream cheese!!!! I almost forgot how yummy all this stuff was. If you need me, I'll be in the fridge.

Sums it up perfectly

When Audrey was about a year old, my friend Merrily gave her this shirt. This shirt sums up Audrey and Dave to. a. tee. Audrey has her daddy wrapped around her finger quite nicely. They have such a special bond. Dave used to deny the fact that he was Audrey's favorite, but now he admits it. In fact, when I was newly pregnant with Joshua, Dave told me he hoped it was a boy, only because he would feel sorry for me if we had another little girl who loved her daddy so much. Well, we had our little boy, and although I try to convince Joshua to be a momma's boy, his dad is his favorite.

*the shirt has a picture of a little girl with a monster on a leash. She is talking to her mom who looks frazzled and the little girl is saying, "Dad said I could..."
*the chocolate was from a smore we made in the microwave-white trash style. Yum.

Must be his third (and final) year

Despite how busy Dave is, this is the least busy he has been since starting dental school. The first two years were full of stress about doing really well so he could into specialty school. Dave was the underdog coming into school, he had never taken a biochem class, he taught himself chemistry, and he hadn't taken anatomy since his freshman year of college (1992!). Needless to say, he is a very hard worker, and he spent many, many, many hours studying so he could accomplish his (our) goal of getting into endo school. His beloved guitar has sat untouched for the last two and half years. When I heard him play the guitar today, I knew things have mellowed out for him. Ahhh, third year-you are so very bittersweet.

Eight years ago today...

Eight years ago today Dave and I got engaged! We were living in Utah at the time, I was going to school and he was applying for business school. February 16th, 2001 was a Friday night.Dave's sister was coming into town so the plan was to go to Salt Lake, pick up his sister and then head to my friend's wedding reception. Once we got to the airport, Dave had me go inside to wait for his sister while he circled the car outside. While I was waiting, I felt someone come from behind me and give me a big hug. It was Dave and he had a dozen roses, and two packed suitcases. I was VERY confused. He took my hand and just said, "Let's go."I had a so many questions but he wouldn't answer any of them. We had designed my ring together and the ring store told us it wouldn't be done for at least another two weeks. I thought Dave had planned the trip hoping to get engaged, but since the ring wasn't done we were just going on a fun trip. We flew to Oakland, and our rental car was waiting for us. I felt so excited, but a little disappointed because I really wanted to get engaged and I thought the ring wasn't done. Dave blindfolded me and drove me to a beautiful lookout of San Francisco, where ironically we now live. It was there that he asked me to marry him, and of course (and obviously) I said yes. He then pulled my ring out of him pocket. It was finished! The ring store had to work extra hours to get it done in time, but they promised Dave it would be done for Feb 16th and they delivered. We then drove to Dave's parents and knocked on their door and surprised them with our visit, and with our good news. We then drove to my parent's house and totally surprised them as well. Our families got together on Sunday night to meet each other and start planning the wedding. It was a perfect way to get engaged. I love Dave eight times more today than I did on that day, and my love will just keep growing.