Has It Really Been a Year?

The nurse at our birthing class gave us a great idea. She told us to take a picture with our baby and a select stuffed animal so you can chart his growth. Its like putting a ruler or a coin next to some object in a picture. You can't really tell how big something is unless you compare it to a known object. When we received this cute bear at the hospital from Cassie Murphy I knew that had to be the object. So far we have taken a picture with Korb and his teddy every month (except one because we were moving and the bear was in storage, oops). Here is our little boy throughout this past year. We are so grateful for his spirit in our home. And although I have spent many a restless night and have baby food stains on my clothes, I would never give up this chance to watch him grow.

September

October

November

December

February

March

April

May
June
July
August

We had a wonderful birthday party with friends and family at our house. There is a definite benefit to living close to family. They are more than willing to travel a little bit to celebrate Korban turning one (and I think to get free food). Korb, of course, was spoiled and got way too many gifts. Lots of toys and clothes. But the highlight of the whole evening was the cake. I loved decorating it. It was the cutest purple hippo I ever made. I spent many hours on it and it was very rewarding to watch Korban jump in and mush it around.
If you look closely you will see that there is at least an inch of frosting all over it. Korb loved licking it off his fingers.



Korb started for the Whopper eyeballs but there was so much frosting and cake in his fingers that he had to wipe his hands off. You would think the blanket would suffice. No, Korb chose to wipe his hands off on his butt. You can kind of see where his arm could reach.


Time for a bath. I am glad I didn't have to touch that messy kid at this point. Jason was eager to do the bathing.

A Victor 4th of July

This was our first 4th of July with Korban. We got to go up to Heidi's house and celebrate the Victor way. Well sort of. Victor has a great hot air balloon festival. But due to the endless chatter of the womenfolk (me, Heidi and Gretchen, and my mom and Juju) we stayed up too late and were too tired to wake up at the b*** crack of dawn. But we did get ready and attend the parade. And suprisingly enough it was really good for a small town. Yes there were the redneck floats and the 200 member Mormon family float but all in all it was pretty good. Korban was so tired though so he and I cuddled in the truck while the rest of my family (mostly my dad) helped McKinley collect the most candy. My mom (in grandmother fashion) decked the kids out in matching outfits. They were so cute.


This is Heidi's husband Jared who is a volunteer firefighter. He got to drive the remote controlled firetruck the squirts water on you. My mom got hit which was awesome.





I would have gotten pictures of Korban enjoying his first firework show too. But he fell asleep. So like the night before, the womenfolk stayed up and watched the fireworks that the neighbors lit and we ate brownies and cobbler until we were sick. It was a very fun weekend.

Summer Fun

I know I am horrible at keeping this up to date. So when I finally think of doing it I have to include a lot of subject. So today I am encapsulating it in Summer Fun because that is what it what we are doing.

Several weeks ago Jason and I went on our first vacation without Korban. I can tell you it was hard not being under the same roof as him. But we had a blast. We went with our friend Nate and Roberta to Bear Lake. It was the perfect time. Officially the season wouldn't start until the next week (Memorial Day weekend) so we got to be there when it was beautiful and no one was around. Other than some car problems we had an excellent time. We woke up early and saw the sun rise. We ate good food and of course the famous raspberry shakes.


Inspired by Rachael, I took the opportunity to throw a themed baby shower for my friend Roberta. I had so much fun coming up with the idea. It was all about art. I painted abstract designs for the invites which said "Color Me Excited Roberta's Having a Baby!" I decorated with all my art supplies. The food was based on creating your own yummy masterpiece. So everything was separated and they used their "palates" (plates) to combine the ingredients. Everything was bright and colorful for the caribbean chicken salad and individual fruit pizzas. Then as the activity we painted onesies for Roberta's new little boy. It was so much fun. Thank you Rachael for inspiring us all to think outside the box when it comes to throwing parties.


And how can I forget about my little boy. Korban is also loving the summer. Although it has been raining we have been able to enjoy a lot of the sun and spend time with our friends.
Here my parents try to keep cousin Logan from attacking Korban. Good Luck Grandma!


Here Korban enjoys his first trampoline time. Eventually I just picked him up and he loved it!


I got to see my really good friend Kristen Starr. She and her daughter were up from Phoenix to spend time with family. I got to steal her away for a while and eat and play. Boy do I miss her! Here we are trying to feed Korban and Sasha at Bajios. We literally left the restaurant with the floors a mess. So embarrassing.


One really fun part of this summer is the amazing ability of Korban to grow teeth. For one month we were blessed with a new tooth cut every week. He is now up to 6. And we just got over his first ear infection. My poor little boy. At least most of the time he is happy.


We planted grass. Here is a pic of my little seedlings. This rain has made them much greener and fuller. We hope to have a full lawn by the end of the summer.


Not only did Korban get to jump on the tramp for the first time. He also got to go to the park and swing on big swing. As you can tell by his drooly smile, he enjoyed it.

Extended Family

Since we have been in Idaho Korban has had more of an opportunity to meet his extended relatives. Cousins, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, and uncles. He is very lucky to be living close to them now. Here are a few pics of Korban meeting his family.This is Korban's great-grandpa Jack Taylor and step great-grandma Charlene Taylor.

Here is Korban with his two cousins Colin and Quinn. Quinn is exactly one year older than Korban.

Colin is Gretchen's baby. He is about 3 months older than Korban but is a bit smaller. But just like his mom, being small does not mean you can't pick on those around you.

We finally got my sisters and me together with our three little boys, all born in the same year. Heidi's Logan, Gretchen's Colin, and my Korban. We thought it would be fun to take some pictures of them in matching outfits. But as you can see that is better said than done.

I think this was the best shot I got. Hopefully one of the other 3 camaras got a good shot. Boy, can't I wait until family pictures.

Crazy Eight Tag

Thanks to my wonderful cousin Michelle and sister Heidi, I now am going to participate. I don't do these very often. But it seemed kind of fun and I am stuck in the house so I might as well do something. Right?

8 Favorite TV Shows:
This is hard. When we moved here we decided to no longer have tv (as in cable or tv shows). We use our tv for movies only now. But here are my choices before I went cold turkey. (yes there were withdrawal symptoms).
1. Glimore Girls (luckily I have all seasons on dvd)
2. So you think you can dance?
3. The Office
4. Biggest Loser
5. America's Next Top Model (Heidi, don't worry. It is also my guilty pleasure)
6. Hell's Kitchen
7. Project Runway
8. Top Chef

8 Things I did Yesterday:
1. Grocery Shopping
2. Listened to "Spanish Immersion" so that I can understand when my husband starts speaking in hushed spanish tones. I know it is about me.
3. Got my husband to watch Charly with me. This is only the third time he has cried in front of me. He also told me he is never watching that movie again.
4. Read most of The Notebook
5. Played with Korban
6. Continued on my Weight Watchers Diet (yes I have begun again)
7. Worked on landscape designs for the front and backyards.
8. Reserved lots of garden books at the library because I suck at landscape design.

8 Things I look Forward To:
1. No longer having to deprive myself of my desserts (part of the diet).
2. When I can drive into my garage on concrete. They poured part of it today. We have to wait a week now.
3. When Korban can just tell me what he wants instead of crying.
4. When I can see the sun and feel its warmth. I miss you Phoenix.
5. When my husband comes home everyday.
6. Going on a second honeymoon with Jason.
7. Watching Korban and any future kids go up.
8. Being able to design again for a living.

8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Red Robin (I have this red meat thing right now. I am always hanckering for a hamburger)
2. Johnny Corinos
3. Oreganos - Those from Phoenix will understand. I am sorry for those that have never had the pleasure of the 2 inch thick stuffed pesto chicken pizza
4. Fontera Grill - Went with Russ, Tia, and Wendy in Chicago. Amazing mexican inspired food.
5. Bajios
6. PF Changs
7. Gelato Spot - They don't serve food but they do serve a mean gelato
8. Home - for me I don't really enjoy going out a lot. I like to cook something and eat it in the privacy of my own house.

8 Things I Wish For
1. The rain to stop so my driveway can actually cure and not get screwed up.
2. The rain to stop so I can see the sun and warm up
3. A never ending cup of calorie free hot chocolate
4. To be able to put in a sprinkler system, grass, a cool designed backyard and a fence all this year. Not a chance.
5. To be content with what I have.
6. To travel the whole world.
7. To be multi-lingual
8. World Peace :)

That wasn't too bad. It gave me a chance to tell everyone what is going on in a round about way. I guess I am supposed to tag someone now. But I am not. Instead, if you would like to do this please feel free.

A Happy Reunion

Thanks to the amazing computer detective skills of Diane Lambert (College roommate and friend), a new alligator was acquired on Ebay. I consider myself the sentimental person but I definitely went beyond the normal line on this one. I could not sleep the night I posted the wanted sign. I was so upset (1) that I had lost the alligator in the first place and (2) that I couldn't find it online anywhere. So at about midnight I started my search again, determined to find it. After about an hour of no luck I resigned myself to just check my email and head to bed. There I miraculously found an email from Diane with a link to a new alligator, just like the one I lost. I bought it immediately and received it last Saturday. Here are pictures of the happy reunion. Korban definitely remembered it and has been hugging it more closely since. Thanks again Diane!

Wanted: Single Green Alligator

I am now officially guilty. I lost my son's favorite toy, his little hand puppet alligator. He loved that toy. It always made him laugh. I think it fell out of my purse while we were leaving church. And so far I have not been able to find it in the lost & found or anywhere. So as to relieve me broken heart (and Korban's) I have searched all over the internet to find another one. No luck. So I send this out to all those moms and dads who have misplaced something of their kids. Please let me know if anyone sees one in a store. It was given to us in Phoenix so I imagine that will be the most likely spot. Thank you.