Analyze This

We have yet to interpret Jakson's reactions when Storey starts to cry.

Since Storey's birth, he has started carrying around his two favorite stuffed animals ("Red" and "Animal") as well this blanket EVERYWHERE he goes. I'm letting it slide. Today when Storey started fussing for food and I was getting her bottle ready, my mom made me aware of the fact that Jakson was throwing his favorite blanket away in the kitchen trashcan. I quickly handed over the bottle and went into the kitchen to fish the now garbage encrusted blanket out of the trash. Underneath I also found his friends, Animal and Red. I asked him what he was doing, but my question was only answered with a blank stare. I tried to explain that it would be really sad if Daddy came home and threw his friends in the big trashcan, but my lecture was greeted again with a blank stare. He reached out for his comfort items and took off in the other direction.

Meaning? Is this Jakson the martyr? "I'll do anything if you just stop crying..."
Analyze away, my friends. Analyze away.

Cheese!

My friend, Jen Wyeth, mother of two and photographer extraordinaire is coming to the West Valley on Saturday, August 30th (of Labor Day weekend) to take pictures of my beautiful baby.  I am trying to fill all the sessions that she has available that day and I have ONE left to offer to you!!   

A few logistics: The price is $150 (a great deal considering Jen normally charges $200!)-and the BEST part is that you get a CD with your images, so you can use them for baby announcements, Christmas cards, grandparent presents, etc.

If you would be interested in having your family pictures taken on August 30th, please email me at bethanycr(at)gmail(dot)com and I will give you all of the details.  Check out more of Jen's photography on her blog: I'm Calling the Shots.

Major Breakthrough

Jakson wanted to give Grandpa Criddle a very special birthday present. Un-shun.

Storey is mid sneeze in this picture.

What you don't see is that five seconds later, when Storey's sneeze sprayed all over Jak's arm, he attempted to push her off the couch. Re-shun.

Monday Giveaway: Cute Frames by K and A Sentimental Affair

This week's giveaway is coming to us from two very busy ladies!! The mother/daughter team run TWO shops, A Sentimental Affair and Cute Frames by K. They create and sell everything from purses to wedding favors. They have been generous enough to offer one lucky commenter a beautiful handmade scarf!!

This giveaway is only open to residents of the US and Canada due to shipping costs.

To enter:

1. Click on Cute Frames by K or A Sentimental Affair and take a look around.

2. Come back here and leave a comment on THIS POST telling me your favorite item from one of the shops.

3. Please, please either leave me your email address or blog link so that I can contact you if you win. Comments with no email address or blog link will be deleted. If I cannot contact you, I will choose another winner.

4. You have until Friday, August 22nd at midnight PT to enter. Check back on Saturday to find out if you are the lucky winner!

5. ***For an extra entry-blog about this giveaway with a link to Cute Frames by K or A Sentimental Affair then come back and let me know where to find it!!**

GOOD LUCK!! Be sure to check back next week for another great giveaway!!

A little TLC

Jakson has been so patient this week with parents who are trying to adjust to two children, that we decided to have a "Jakson Saturday".

Earlier this year, our optometrist suggested that we take Jak to the Glendale Airport Cafe (at a small local airport) and eat breakfast while watching the planes take off. Zak and I decided that with Jakson's recent infatuation with planes, we would try it out (normally as a rule, we do NOT take this child out to eat. I like to actually enjoy my dining experience, not have someone jump off the back of the booth into my salad-true story). We were pleasantly surprised to find that the food was good (and inexpensive!) and we had a front row seat to watch the planes come and go.

Then this afternoon, Zak took Jakson swimming. We have gone swimming an average of three times a week all summer, but I always forget my camera. Since I wasn't able to get in the pool today, I took the opportunity to take pictures instead.
I LOVE this picture-it's too bad I didn't time it better and chopped Jakson's head off.
A little video of swimming fun with daddy.

All of the extra attention paid off because tonight before he went to bed, Jakson KISSED Storey on the cheek!! Hooray!

Winner-Beat Black

Thanks to those of you who entered this week's contest! I entered the numbers into the integer generator on Random. org and the lucky winner is....

77-KIMBERLY!!

kimberly said...
Do I have to pick just ONE favorite???
I LOVE the Nutty Truffle Necklace. That looks good enough to EAT!!!!
My daughter LOVES the Nerds bracelet and we both agree that the Jaw Breaker earrings are adorable too.
Thanks for a fun giveaway!

Congrats Kimberly-please send me your mailing address so that Sarah can send out your winnings!

And even if you didn't win, you can click over to Beat Black and purchase your favorite item!! Be sure to check back on Monday for next week's giveaway from Cute Frames by K!!

One Week

We went a little crazy with the camera today, so if you are not a grandparent/aunt/uncle, I apologize for the excessiveness.

One week old. Almost back at her birth weight. Today she weighs 7 pounds 14 ounces.

Trying to catch flies. Extra vitamins.
How does she sleep like this without getting a crick in her neck?


Things you may be curious about....

• Jakson is still shunning his sister, although we did have a major breakthrough today when he patted Storey on the back while Zak was burping her. He was watching a movie at the same time and I'm not sure if he was fully aware of what he was doing, but I'll take it.
• Storey's umbilical cord fell off this morning, so we took advantage of the situation and washed away the milk deposits that have been building up in her neck rolls. Bath time was a total bust.
• Yes, she may have a future career as an Elvis impersonator (look at that hair!!). Between Jakson working for Cirque de Soliel and Storey at the wedding chapel, looks like we'll be vacationing in Vegas quite a bit.

A little craftiness

• Storey is wearing a little skirt that I sewed for her. Little girl things are so fun to make!
  
• I got this cap in the mail today from Warm and Fuzzy Baby. I absolutely LOVE it! It's a little too warm (and too big) right now, but in October it will be perfect!
  

It would be a little big....

but soo cute nonetheless!!!

Nantucket Weekend Shirt and Short Giveaway

I'd like to thank the Academy

So many people pulled through for me this past weekend. I'm sure I'm leaving a whole ton of wonderful deeds out, but here are some highlights.

• My friend Mandy accidently bought some maternity pants, so she handed them off to me--they turned out to be extremely comfortable, although unflattering (and a size XS-talk about a confidence booster!). Every time I put them on, I would breathe a sigh of relief. Sorry to anyone who had to see me wear them everyday for the past three weeks-I promise I did wash them....at least once. Here are the pants in all their glory, in the pregnancy picture that everyone has been asking for-this picture was taken in the two minutes between contractions, you may be struck by lightning for thinking any bad thoughts about the way I look.
• Nationwide Vision finished my new glasses three days before they originally promised....just in time for me to wear them to my trip to the hospital (as opposed the frames I've had since high school). Because of them, I was a much more fashionable laborer, they maybe even made up for the fact that my pants were unflattering.
• Zak had to hold my hands and repeat "You are doing good" about 500 times while the guy gave me an epidural. Then he had to deal with the hyperventilation and uncontrollable shivering that followed-by far the worst part of our birthing experience this time. Have I mentioned I don't like needles?
• Holly took Jakson all day Friday. She may be a saint.
• Zak's sister Katy IS a saint and watched Jakson all weekend AND thought it was fun!! May she receive many, many blessings in heaven (she even had to turn down a date-I told her she could have taken Jak with her, but for some reason this did not sound like a good idea to her. I can't imagine why.).
• Storey was born one week early, despite all my fears that she would stay inside of me FOREVER. And her halo is intact-I don't mean to brag but 6 hours of sleep two nights in a row-amazing!!
  
• My mother flew in today, so I won't have to worry about cooking or cleaning and I can just enjoy holding my new baby (well, and preventing Jakson from killing himself).
  

Shun

Jakson's behavior towards Storey (and anyone who is holding her) can best be explained with a clip from our beloved show "The Office."



I hope that eventually he lifts the "shun" permanently, but I am not holding my breath.

Monday Giveaway: Beat Black***GIVEAWAY CLOSED***

This week's giveaway is going to make you hungry! Sarah of Beat Black creates yummy looking jewelry and accessories among other things. Don't these look good enough to eat?!?

Beat Black has been generous enough to offer one lucky commenter a set of truffle magnets!! Don't they look real? What a fun way to dress up your fridge!!
This giveaway is open to international entrants.

To enter:

1. Click over to Beat Black and take a look around.

2. Come back here and leave a comment on THIS POST telling me your favorite item from this shop.

3. Please, please either leave me your email address or blog link so that I can contact you if you win. Comments with no email address or blog link will be deleted. If I cannot contact you, I will choose another winner.

4. You have until Friday, August 15th at midnight PT to enter. Check back on Saturday to find out if you are the lucky winner!

5. ***For an extra entry-blog about this giveaway with a link to Beat Black then come back and let me know where to find it!!**

GOOD LUCK!! Be sure to check back next week for another great giveaway!!