Oh my goodness! Kidlet!

I've never guest posted on another blog, but today is the day! Remember my etched glass bowls I made with my mom over a year ago? Yea, they are now famous. And I guess that means I am too. ;)

Check out Kidlet for the most awesome cute kid things around. And make sure to etch some glass when you have some time, because it is super easy and fun.

PS - Working on my new header. So awesome!

Natural History Museam {little dino meets big dinos!}

My mom texted me yesterday and asked if I'd like to go to the Natural History Museum with James. Of course! My little dinosaur would love to see big dinosaurs!

As I've done about a hundred times as of late, I was kicking myself for not bringing my camera. Seriously, what was I thinking? This place is classic and E and I have so many found childhood memories of going there. Plus, they are moving to a new building next year, so this might be the last time I visit their old digs.

So anyway, James loved it. He looked all around and touched the children's displays. He happily showed off his AWESOME walking to my Mom (yes, I need to get an updated video soon, seriously, he's so good). He ate graham crackers and played in the dinosaur footprint that I remember playing in as a child.

And then near the end of our outing we went into this funny little photo booth that has been there for years and snapped some photos of the tree of us.

Happy Tuesday!

PS - We might have our new autumn header tonight. Check back later.

PPS - I added new photos to the firehouse blog below. Make sure to scroll down to see the newest ones.

Firestation

Yesterday my Mommy group and I met at the Sandy City Firehouse for a children's show on fire safety and a look at the firetrucks. James is still too little to really get anything out of these types of activities, but he did dance through the "stop, drop, and roll" song. And I loved seeing my Mommy friends.

Best part? How awesome the fire helmet they gave all the kids tasted. James would not wear it. Only eat it.
Aren't James and his little friend too cute?
James must take a closer inspection of this little guy...
And visa versa.

Relaxing Sunday in the garden

With our very scary Saturday trip to the ER, E and I were looking forward to a very relaxing Sunday. And because James was feeling all better (amazing what your elbow popped back into place can do!), we decided to head up to Red Butte Garden, which as I'm sure you know, we love.

James is getting so good with using his hands and fingers. He now uses his little pointer finger to touch everything. And he touches flowers so gently. It is so sweet.

Boys walking across the bride. You might be wondering why we are holding him like this less than 24 hours after his "arm indecent". Yea, well, he's not quite stable enough to walk on his own and he wants to walk so badly that he'll launch himself out of your arms when holding him. We just tried to be really careful.
Looking at the ducks.
Love this one of my boy and I watching the ducks.
Walking along the floating path. Look how much he's changed in just one month.
Red Butte Garden is amazing.
And we spotted a little bunny. There were some cute boys looking at the bunny as well and I asked them if they thought this was the Easter Bunny. They said "no" and I said "I think he is the Easter Bunny." They thought I was crazy for sure. But they we heard them telling their parents that the "bunny was Peter Cottontail." So cute!
Later we put the baby down for his afternoon nap and chilled. Looks nice, doesn't it?

Not my idea of a good time {trip to the ER}

We are all fine. James is back to his normal self. I'll make this short. I'm tired. Both emotionally and physically.

James, E and I were at Barnes and Noble earlier this evening. James was walking with his hand in mine like HE ALWAYS DOES and took a step off of a ledge in the children's area. I was holding his hand, and most of his weight as he took the step. I heard a pop. Then he started to scream and cry like I've never heard before.

E and I tried to calm him down to no avail. He was crying harder and longer than I've ever seen him cry. Every time he moved his arm he would start another huge round of tears.

We drove quickly to a little instant clinic. They saw us and thought it was his elbow (children this age can easily pop their elbows out of alignment, and it is very painful). They couldn't pop it back so they thought they better take X-Rays.

James was still screaming and there were so many tears running down his belly that now his pants were wet.

Taking him in the the X-ray room is one of my worst moments of parenthood so far. He was hysterical and I was supposed to hold him still while he lied in a dark room he was unfamiliar with, in extreme pain. Let's just say it was a new parenthood low.

The X-rays showed something was wrong and they weren't sure what. We were told to go to the Children's Hospital ER. At this point I was sobbing. The ER? Would he need surgery? The doctor did not know. This moment was a second parenthood low.

The drive to the hospital was long and horrible. James had luckily calmed down and was even smiling to E in the backseat. I kept my eyes on the road and blinked away the tears.

At the ER they saw us quickly, didn't think he needed more X-rays and within a moment had popped his sweet little elbow back into place. Within 30 seconds he was his old self. Ready to walk, playing with his calculator, and watching Shrek on the hospital TV.

We are home. Baby is in bed. I'm going to bed shortly. Glad tonight's outcome was as good as it was. I can't imagine how scary it would be to have been told something worse.
After he was all fixed up. You can see he is now able to lift his arm (which he was unable to do before) but notice he still has tears on his sweet little face.

Another preview photo

Notice the reflection of the leaf in his eyes. Awesome.

Die of cute {baby raccoon}

On our walk this morning (taken with my cell phone):

Planning for winter

I spent part of my morning today picking tomatoes, rinsing them, cutting them, drizzling them with olive oil and freezing them. These babies will taste amazing come January when I toss them into hot pasta.

Pssst... did you hear?

Pssst.... did you hear? It is October!

I am in love!

Erin posted preview photos over on her blog. She said I could post them here too. LOVE!

I'm so stink'n excited! {Family photographs!}

For a year now I've been longing for something. Something that is expensive but oh so worth it. I've been wanting to have professional family photographs taken of our little family. Time moves too quickly, and the way we are now (especially the way James is now) is only a blink in our long happy family story.

So I've been shopping. I've looked at some wonderful Utah photographers that charge a bundle (and rightfully so!) to take family photos. Finally I found someone that we could afford. A high school friend, Erin, and she is oh so talented.

We picked a day (yesterday!) and a location. We drove up and met her in the STUNNING Utah mountains on a perfect day for the aspens. The air was warm and heavy. All three of us were dressed in sweaters and we all felt a little warm but the aspens were magic. They were putting on their best autumn show ever. Gold and wonderful.

James wasn't in much of a smiley mood. He didn't even really want to look at the camera. There were plants and birds and rocks and things that were way more exciting to look at than the boring old camera.

But that said, I think we got some. I think Erin was able to capture my family as it is, right now, because before we know it things will change. James will grow bigger and never again will we be able to capture this moment in time.

And because Erin has all the images (200+!) and she wants to spend a little time editing them, the only previews I can give you is the storyboard of our outfit selection, because in addition to the weather, I was quite excited about our outfits! And some photos of the beautiful aspens I took a couple of years ago.

So, within the next week or two, you'll see these photos, and a BRAND NEW header with our family photos. Can you tell I'm excited? Because I am.

Park on a Thursday

On Thursday my Grandma needed a ride to the dentist. I told her I'd be happy to help. We met Melissa and my mom at Sugarhouse Park before the appointment. Grandma had prepared lunch for all of us. What a fantastic impromptu picnic.