Sunday Sessions

Over the past couple months Porter and I have taken pictures together after church. He just always looks so cute (these first two pictures were Valentine weekend) and why not? So here are a few of our "Sunday session" photos. =P He is usually fussy at this time from pure exhaustion being past nap time after 3 hours at church, but for some reason the blinking light from the self-timer makes him smile. Funny tot.

Counter Happy

We went to story time today and this is new thing: going up to the counter he can see over--it's so exciting! His job of giving them the library card and taking the receipt while I hold him isn't as good anymore. He wants to go to the counter by himself. So cute! We missed most of story time today because I could not find my keys (never happens; they're either on the key ring, in my pocket, or in diaper bag/purse). Took 10 minutes of looking before I remembered they were in the stroller from our walk last night. Duh! Porter is so cute and he had so much fun having friends over this morning to play. =)

Porter Patience

I love my Porter for so many reasons. He is such a good baby (ok kid...or let's just say tot) and he makes me smile all day long. Last night he was so tired and as I was doing something he laid down on his blanket. Think it was a hint. Oh my Porter with patience!!!! Waiting on Mommy for the relief of sleep! Tonight he kept putting his little potty in front of the sink to reach his toothbrush and see on top of the counter. Looks like I need to find him a stool! And tonight marks the second time he voluntarily handed me his binki before he went down to go to sleep!!!!!!!! I only ask for it when he gets out of his crib, not when he goes in, but tonight he just decided he didn't need it at night. I LOVE THIS KID!!!! He is so smart and his favorite word is "yeah". I can have conversations with him by asking him questions and his response to each question is "yeah".

Snowboard Bunny

One thing Aaron and I love to do together is go snowboarding. He's been snowboarding since he was a teenager and he got me started right after we got married. I think he would eat, breath and live it if he could. Last season I started turning and this season doing so much more than before and feel like I have so much more control and feel like I'm dancing on the snow. I'm REALLY starting to enjoy more than ever before.
This is at Brian Head Ski Resort in Utah. In the past 4 months we have gone together 3 times. The view of the mountains is just majestic.

So apparently I'm no sports photographer with my point and shoot camera; took it too early. Oh well; I'm proud of myself for getting any shot! Darn camera doesn't take when I want it to. We have fun and he is my snowboard stud and I his snowboard bunny. =)

Wait...a post with no Porter?! That's a first! I love my son and husband!

Sunday Family Quality Time

Sunday was a good day. Good day at church, home teachers came (we LOVE them; it's always so entertaining and we have fun talking and they shared a great message), yummy crock pot dinner (once again, dog torture...having to smell it all day...), Porter and Aaron did dishes together (really they just rinsed them off and I did the rest), visited Nana and Papa (Aaron's parents) and Aunt Becky, and the boys made cookies!
This is me from behind the camera. Just proof that I was here too!
Saturday night we had fun on our group date to go bowling and get shakes. =) This week I will be babysitting, have YW, Book Friends, hanging with friends, shopping, planting a garden, and having weekend visitors! Aaron's mission trainer/companion (his long lost soul-mate-friend...could've been brother's separated at birth) and one of my mission sisters with her prego belly and hubby will be visiting with us for the weekend. Isn't life GREAT?! *whispers* *the answer is yes*

Yard Work

Saturday was yard work day! That's actually been all week but today was filling in the planter box to start my garden this week. We payed someone to bring us dirt and dump it in our driveway (plant box filler). Does that seem strange to anyone else? I thought dirt was free. Shouldn't they be paying us for taking dirt off their hands??? I'm just sayin'. Porter was such a cute helper in his hard hat, although he kept taking it off and asking for Aaron's hat. Also had to share more pictures of the blooming nectarine tree; I love it! Wish it looked like this longer. The picture of Porter passed out in is car seat was taken Friday after planting my friend's garden. Exhausting work for an 18 month old.

Porter Enjoys

Anyone else think it's time for a hair cut? Geez. This is after his bath last night. Porter sitting on the steps enjoying a big chocolate covered donut was at my friends house yesterday while we planted her garden. He really dove into that thing. Here's a biggie: last night I put Porter in bed and he hands me his binki. HE WENT TO BED BINKI-LESS!!!! And voluntarily; I didn't even ask. I ask for it before I get him out of bed but this was new. AWESOME!!!! (Hey, he's got to get off it some time. If it's voluntarily, all the better.)

Porter's "Help"

Yesterday was one of the first days I felt like I had a real toddler. He started getting into EVERYTHING (hence the picture above of him after getting into my bathroom drawer); I couldn't clean up messes fast enough because there were new ones. He NEVER does that! Yesterday also marked the first time he actually played in the toilet. He came to me with wet tissue and sure enough there had been evidence it was toilet play. Ewwww. Onto cleaner topics--Porter loved pushing around Daddy's industrial vacuum around the garage yesterday. Past couple days he keeps going in the laundry room to grab the broom and likes to "sweep". He really likes to....um...."help".
He really is a great helper. A new "chore" or job of his is to take off his socks. Every time I ask him to do that when it's time to undress he does it. Everything else he needs help with. Another one of Porter's little duties that he has taken upon himself: getting the newspaper from the driveway. He loves it! Goes to grab it and is so proud to give it to me. I like to read the comics and Dear Abby (or is it Anne Launders?) and any major headlines, then I recycle it and wait for Sunday's coupons. I just remembered another Porter "job"/duty! He has the ever-so important job of handing the librarian my library card or showing my Costco membership card to the door greeter. He is also the 'receipt holder' when we shop. He gets so excited to grab it and hold onto it. It's always the little things in life isn't it?
Three times yesterday Porter climbed into his stroller that was sitting in the garage. I think he was trying to tell me something but not sure what....... =P First time we went on a tiny walk; just around the cul de sac (sp?). Second time I was calling for him to see where he was and he wouldn't answer; walked into the garage to find him sitting in the stroller. He got upset when I strapped him to his car seat so we could go shopping instead of going on another walk. Getting home from shopping he again climbed in so we took a longer walk in the cool evening breeze.

"I looked out the window and what did I see? Popcorn popping on the apricot tree!"
Our nectarine tree we planted few years back is blooming and it's so pretty! Aaron and I have spent a lot of time in the backyard this past week pulling weeds and getting things ready for a garden. Yesterday Aaron painted a toy box for Porter, took care of the trees, and we both used the leaf blower to get rid of dead leaves. I also poop scooped. Takes so little effort with these little dogs who poop Tootsie Rolls. I love doing housework and yard work; feel so good when it's done! Also shows your respect and gratitude for what you have. Plus you can put your head on your pillow at night knowing you got something accomplished that day. When I went to put Porter down for his nap he got really upset about going in is crib and was pointing outside the room. I decided to indulge him and see what he wanted. I followed his point all the way outside. He said good night to Daddy who was working in the yard and then went down for his nap with ease. He just wanted to say good night to Daddy!!! How cute is that?!?!
Yesterday I also had my first facial and let me tell you, it was heavenly! Facial cleanse, scrub to exfoliate, mask, toner, moisturizer (everything smelled so tasty), and arm and hand massage. Dark room with the rain/wind/chirping bird/harp/flute music and massage--it was so relaxing! Happy early birthday to me from me! (Only did it 'cause I had a deal; upcoming is a body massage and highlights.)

Nicknames and Duties

Here is Porter last night in his green bath for St. Patrick's Day. He thought it was pretty neat; of course I can't get him to smile for the camera (if only Daddy had been home). Onto other "hot topics", Porter has a few "nicknames": "Port-Port" is a famous, often-used one. I believe it was given to him by cousin Lincoln. One of my friends little 2 year old calls him "Hoarder" and another friend's kids think his name is "Quarter". How cute is that?!?! As mentioned in the past Porter likes to help me do chores but he has three chores that are all his own: putting his dirty clothes in the "dirties" (laundry basket in the laundry room), dirty dishes in the sink (have to hold him up but he does it), and what I call "diaper duty". That one he took upon himself. He loves to be the one to put his diaper in the Diaper Genie (or throw the plastic bag outside if it's a super stinky diaper). My little 18 month old is so cute and growing up fast! Does that ever stop being such a shock?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Me in my green today! Shirt says "Everybody loves an Irish girl". Not that I'm Irish, it's just an appropriate shirt for today. I also have a shamrock pin that my hair is trying to hide. Back beast! Tonight Porter will get a green bath (yet another use for food coloring) and have green cookies. I LOVE being a Mom!!! It's so fun! Have had a great day so far too; spin class, recycled, Mom and Tots at the park (Porter LOVED playing at the park), and the day isn't over! More festivities and fun to enjoy. Aaron and Porter came to the rec center too. After Aaron finished his work out he took Porter to the gym and "played" basketball. Porter loved it!!!! He is never happier than when he's with his daddy. Now he says "basketball" but comes out more like "ba-baa".
The extent of my St. Pat's decorations.

Porter learned to open the door to the garage all by himself last week. It's a whole new world to discover now!


This is Aaron and I Friday night at the Mini Indy banquet with the car and display. Good times.

Family Random-ness

Me and my green shirt today. =) You'll read about why in a minute.
Mr. Porter likes to get in the kitchen drawers and play with the oven mitts. Such a cutie!
This week is St. Patrick's so just for fun I decided to wear green all week. This was my green shirt I wore yesterday (above--I'm pointing to the green in case you missed it...hee hee). Below is Porter and I after church Sunday (I also had green shoes on below my jean skirt).
Porter likes to go for rides in the laundry basket. Yesterday he emptied it, brought it to me, and pointed inside (meaning he wanted to be in there). I took him for laundry basket rides and he LOVED it.
Sorry this picture below is sideways but we thought it was funny how we found him sleeping. Porter took a 3 hour + 20 minute nap yesterday after playing hard at Nana's house. He would have gone longer but we woke him up for dinner. Way to wear him out Nana!

This is a picture that belongs with the "Mini Indy" post. He had all knee-length socks, running shoes, St. G Marathon shirt, short shorts, medals, headband, and wrist bands. Was quite the sight. Man is not afraid to dress up, have fun, and show some team spirit.