Happy Birthday Christian Dear!!!!

Christian turn one yesterday. It seems weird that this year has already passed. Christian has brought much happiness to our family. We can imagine our life without him. It has been enjoyable to watch him grow. We thank Heavenly Father every day for sending Christian into our lives. Our lives have change for the better since Christian came to our family. Here are some pictures of Christian celebrating his birthday with family. My parents, Troy, Tiffani, Rachel, Rebekah, and Melanie all came to his birthday party.

Christmas Pleasures

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas with my parents. We went to Nathan and Sarah's for Christmas Eve dinner. This is what we had for dinner: Cook shrimp, cold shrimp, clam chowder, rolls, a vegetable tray, and rice. In my family growing up we had clam chowder. I like Nathan and Sarah tradition with the clam chowder. They put some kind of nut in their clam chowder and who ever gets the nut, gets a surprise. I was the lucky one that got the nut. The prize was the game Janga. I was really excited for two reasons: one that Christian has blocks to play with and two that the game is just plan fun.


We stayed to for the Christmas Eve activities: watching Disney Christmas carol, acted out the nativity, and watched Luke II.

Christian eating the wrapping paper after opening his present.

Christian with his mom.

Rebekah playing with Christian

On Christmas, we had fun just watching Christians first experience with Christmas. Christian go a bike that plays music. He loves it. He mostly just likes the music. He got a phone and some clothes from Grandpa and Grandma. Here is a cute video of him playing with his bike:

Chris got: a cell phone, shoes, white dress shirt, a wireless router, flash drive, micro SD card, and a fun game to play in the summer time.


I received: towels from Chris, a shirt, a digital picture fame, SD card, micro SD card, and a new pantry. My sister-in-law, came up with this idea to put shelves in our coat closet to make a pantry. My dad and brother made this present a reality. I am so happy with this present because we need more space to put our food. Thanks so very much to all who helped with this project!!!

Christmas pictures at home!!!

I been wanting to get some cute pictures of Christian during Christmas season. I haven't had much luck due to how busy he is. It has been fun to see his reaction to the Christmas. I wasn't going to put up a tree this year because I knew Christian would pull off the ornaments. Chris and I came up with this great idea to put it in between our couches. It works like a charm until I think he wants me to hold him, really he just wants to get the ornaments. Our Child Proof Christmas Tree

Choosing an ornament!

Studying the Ornament.

Tasting the Ornament.

I really liked how this picture turned out.

Thanksgiving

I am sorry it has taken me awhile to post our 2008 Thanksgiving pictures. I kind of went on strike for a couple day. We went to Chris' parents house for Thanksgiving this year. Chris and I went on Monday night and it was fun to be able to stay for almost a week. Half of Chris' family was there: Mike and Tammy and their children, Jon, Veronica, and Reuben, David, Chris' parents, and us. We had a great time talking, going to the black Friday sales, and going and visiting Chris' Grandma. She had a hip replacement. It was great to see her because the last time Christian saw her, he was only 3 months old. Christian had a great old time at the rest home. He kept want to go to the salon. We thought was funny because a week before he got his first haircut and hated the process. Here are some pictures of some of the people that were there.

Christian's first Thanksgiving

Cory and Christian

Dylan and Christian

Christian and his dad. Can you tell Christian's teething?

Reuben

Christian's First Haircut

I gave in and let Chris have his way. I let my mom cut Christian hair. My mom, Greg, and Chris thinks it looks a lot better. I just miss the cute tight curls. He still looks really cute. We are going to try to have family pictures done this next week. I hope it will work out and turn out cute.

Needless to say, Christian didn't like his haircut. Chris is sure happy that I gave in and let it happen.

All Boy!!!

Christian has been really into balls. He loves to bounce his ping pong ball across the coffee table to me. Here are some cute pictures with different balls.

Christian showing off his ping pong skills.

Christian's uncle Greg was nice to let him play with his basketball. Greg hopes that Christian will someday be in the NBA. Greg is trying to teach Christian at a young age.

Christian has been pulling this face lately. I think it is so funny. Christian's dad hopes that he will play football or wrestle. Chris has been telling me that we will teach Christian wrestling first and then let him choose between basketball or wrestling when he gets old enough to make that decision.

Christian is getting so big. I am amaze how fast they grow. Next month he will be a year old. It's crazy to think, it has almost been a years since we went to Alabama to adopt Christian.

Christian and his Grandpa playing ball before bedtime.

Greg and Christian playing football.

Tagged

This is my fourth picture from my fourth folder. This is a picture of my cute nephews: Kaden and Jacob. This picture was taken at Discover Gateway children Museum. Cheree and her Children were so nice to invite us to come. Christian had a lot of fun. Tag to whoever wants to be tagged.

Catching Up

I haven't posted for sometime now. There are a few exciting events of late worthy of mentioning. During October I passed Microsoft 70-291 in the MCSA/MCSE series of exams. I failed on my first attempt and then passed with the bare minimum score of 700/1000. I am surprised at myself that I didn't my passing sooner, but maybe this stems from knowing I need to pass three other Microsoft Exams before the end of the year. I think I bit off more than I could chew. Nevertheless, I am going to do my best to get the most done that I can before the semester ends. After submitting some of my Comptia Exam scores to Microsoft, I achieved the status of MCSA with an emphasis in Security. This sounds like quite an accomplishment but really it doesn't mean a whole lot until I have worked in the IT industry and have some experience to back it up. I really find it hilarious when individuals participating in online forums and message boards put A+ or MCSE after their name, like they are a MD, CPA of whatever. I don't want to downplay IT certification or my own success, but just because someone can pass a test does not mean they really know how to solve real world problems and show creditability and dependability in the work place. Certification does, however, demonstrate your interest and willingness to study and learn technology.

On to another matter: table tennis. I have played more of this game than I should of late and have developed such a love for this game. Last weekend, I played in a tournament and finished in the top 4 of my division of about 9 participants. I played in the D division, but there were six divisions in all: Open, A, B, C, D, E. There were a lot of people there. In my initial pool there were only 4 players. My first match I played an oriental girl named Javza. I played her last year at the same tournament and lost. I lost to her again this year 3 games to 1(you play to 11 points and have to win by two). After losing, I watched another guy in our pool, Ryan, defeat Javza so I figured that I was going to be out really quick. I played a teenage kid also in our pool and won easily 3 games to zero. I then played Ryan. Our game was little later in the morning and I felt more warmed up, so my shots started to land. I got out to an early lead in the first game and never looked back. I won 3-0. I was happy to get to play another game in the top four. I next played an old gentlemen named Merrill. He is really good and has a lot of tricks up his sleeve even though he doesn't move as fast as some of the younger people. I played my best an got some good shots in but ended up losing 3-1. I think it is funny, I lost to a woman and a senior citizen. In the final four there was also a youngster who is only 12. The diversity in table tennis is really amazing to me.

Climbing Christian

Christian has started to climb on his gate, much to our dismay. I really wish that he hadn't figured this out. I now have to watch him when he gets close to the gate. The worst is when he sees me or Chris at the bottom of the stairs. Then he tries to climb over the gate to get to us.

Christian learned how to climb the stairs at his Grandma's house. Its funny because I guess he likes to show off at both of his Grandma's houses because that is were Christian has learned to crawl, walk, and climb. He is a cute little show off.

I love him to death. He keeps me busy during the day. Christian's new favorite game is for me to put his ping pong ball in my mouth and spit it out and he has to go get it.

8 Movies We like to watch...
1. August Rush
2. We are Marshall
3. Martian Child
4. Miracle
5. Akeelah and the Bee
6. Father of the Bride
7. Newsies
8. Land Before Time


8 Restaurants We Like...
1. Joe's Crab Shack
2. Papa John's
3. Pizza Hut
4. Ixtapa
5. Applebee's
6. Wendy's
7. La Villa
8. Sizzler(Steven, would you like to come?)

8 Things that happened yesterday...
1. Went to a Table Tennis tournament
2. Went to my parents house
3. Played with Christian
4. Checked my email
5. Got Christian to bed
6. Went to a wedding reception
7. Went and got in trouble with one of my old roommates.
8. Read The New Moon

8 things We are looking forward to...
1. Getting Pregnant
2. Having Chris done with School
3. Adopting another child
4. Fencing our yard
5. A bigger house
6. A newer car for Chris
7. Going on a vacation as a family
8. Christian getting his first haircut (Chris only)

8 things on our wish list...
1. We want a new floor coverings in kitchen and dinning room
2. We want to have a fence
3. We want to go on a Vacation with just Chris and myself
4. We want to be out of debt
5. We want more food storage
6. More storage space in our house
7. Be able help people less fortunate than ourselves
8. Eternal Life

Halloween Fun

On October 28, our ward had a Trunk or Treat. Christian just had fun walking around. He wanted to be independent in walking on the cement. It made me so nervous because Christian still falls often. Once we went in side, I let him walk on his own. It was so cute to see him walking along in his tiger costume.


On Halloween day, Chris' work had a Trick o Treating event. I decided that we would go because everyone at Chris' work things Christian is so cute.

Christian fell down and so did his trick or treat bucket. He decided to help himself while he was on the ground.

While chewing on the wrapper, Christian bit a hole in the wrapper. Christian got his first taste of Chocolate. Chris had to get right back to work but I wanted to get one more picture of him holding Christian.

I was happy that I was able to get this picture of Christian. It is hard to capture a smile on Christian face.

Christian and my mom on the front porch.

My niece Ashley with my mom.

My niece Analiese with my mom.

My niece Camille and my mom

Our future little piano player. Christian decided to play us a Halloween song.

Who's side are you on?

So lately Heather and I have had an on going discussion that essentially goes something like this:

Chris: Don't you think Christian needs a hair cut? I think his hair is getting really long and uneven.

Heather: No, I don't think we should cut his hair until he is a year old, besides people think his hair is cute.

Who's side are you on? Let us know and vote in our poll!!!!

what's new with Christian???

Christian has been walking a ton lately. He started on Sunday walking long distance between Chris and I. Now he is on his own. He falls quiet often but seem to be pretty excited to walk. He will clap his hands as he walks and it sounds like he is saying yeah.

Tonight when he was walking around, he found out how to open our garbage can cupboard. He was so excited to pull out cereal boxes. I on the other hand was not so excited because now it means child locks. I didn't want to start that so soon but maybe that is normal for a ten month old baby.



Christian is our little monkey. He likes to Climb on his walker more than walk in it. I am afraid that we are almost out of the walker stage. I am so sad because I now have to worry more about him. Can I just say I hate the stage where they put things in their mouths? I feel like I am constantly digging out things out of Christian's mouth.

Our Little Scamper Updated

Christian is growing up so fast. I can hardly keep up with him now. On a daily basis, Christian grabs on to my finger and takes me on a tour of our house. His favorite rooms to go into are the office so he can pull open our filing cabinet and the bathroom where he can get into the garbage and also pull on the toilet paper. Christian also loves the bathroom because he likes to stand and hold on to the tub. I am so scared that one of these days, he's going to fall into the tub.

Christian has now moved up in the world, he now can crawl normally. Chris likes to call his old crawl the breast stroke. Chris likes to say he's our little land swimmer. Christian will trade off doing the breast stroke crawl to normal crawling.

Christian has taken his first steps. He likes to walk in between Chris and I. We think it is so cute how he walks so we call him our little scamper. Christian has started to be more cautious when he walks because he has fallen too many times. Today Chris and I started putting support on his back and kind of give his a little push to get him to walk. It will be interesting if Christian ends up walking at 10 months. In ways, I am looking forward to him walking because I am hoping he will be able to play on his own. On the other hand, I might be constantly chasing him.

About My Chrisy Baby

Husband Tag:
1. Where did you meet? Cedar City, Utah
2. How long did you date before you got married? It was a total of 5 months in an 8 month span.
3. How long have you been married? 5 1/2 years
4. What does he do that surprises you? Last Christmas, I was surprised. I didn't know what I was getting for Christmas.
5. What is your favorite feature of his? I love his smile.
6. What is your favorite quality of his? I love how he alway helps other people in the ward.
7. Does he have a nickname for you? He calls me heatherkat.
8. What is his favorite color? Gray
9. What is his favorite food? He likes Chicken Enchiladas
10. What is his favorite sport? wrestling, table tennis and soccer
11. When and where was your first kiss? It was in his truck.
12. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Just being with one another. It doesn't matter what we do, we seem to have fun together.
13. Do you have any children? Yes, Christian
14. Does he have a hidden talent? He can do a cartwheel.
15. How old is he? 27
16. Who said "I love you" first? I probably did but I can't remember.
17. What is his favorite type of music? I don't know
18. What do you admire most about him? I admire what an awesome father he is to Christian. I love to watch him play with Christian.


I tag Cheree, Melanie, and Veronica

Fun Times At The Park...

I took Christian to the park on Tuesday. He seemed to like it but was deep in thought in all the pictures. I wish I knew what he was thinking. I will now show how cute he looked at the park.