Oh, How Time Flies!

Well, I'm not quite sure where to start. It's been quite some time since I blogged. So much has happened and, as usual, I don't' have much time to tell you about it. We just got back from a really wonderful trip visiting my dad in Georgia. We were there for a week and it was very relaxing and the food was delicious (I am blessed to have a mom and dad who are both amazing cooks!). One day we went to Hunting Island, South Carolina and went surf fishing. It was really windy and a little chilly but a lot of fun. James caught two fish and everyone else got skunked!

Although the trip was nice, getting home is another story!! Our original flight home was delayed from Savannah so we missed all our connecting flights. To make a long story short, we spent about 20 hours in airports and planes trying to get back to San Jose. Once we got back, Steve came to the airport to pick us up and told James that the oil light on our car had just come on. James thought that was weird but decided we'd get back to their house and check it before getting on the road headed home. Well, we didn't even make it off the freeway before the car started making a terrible metal on metal sound and the smoking!! We pulled off the freeway to take a look and found all the oil was leaking out...from who knows where! We were able to put oil in it and drive the few miles back to Steve and Sherry's. We tried to get a tow truck that night but couldn't so we stayed the night and Sherry had an Easter basket waiting for Landon in the morning and also a little Easter egg hunt. It ended up being really fun and I'm glad we stayed. Once we got a tow truck, we got towed to Vacaville and James dad picked us up there (poor guy spent basically his entire Easter in a tow truck!). So although I missed Ashley's baby shower and brunch, Easter dinner at Julianna and Jared's with the fam and my car being broken down with no idea what's wrong, we did make it home safely and in one piece!

Landon went to the doctor yesterday and he weighed in at 19lbs., 14oz. (though he feels like 30 pounds!!) and measured 30in. long. He is doing well, coming right along. He now claps, high-fives, waves, feeds himself, drinks from a sippy cup, pulls himself up on EVERYTHING, and is definitely picking up a little of my stubbornness! But he is still a good boy, happy all the time and sleeps very well.

I started my "Boot Camp" yesterday. For those of you who know me, you know how hard it is for be to get up before 9:00am!! But I have exercise boot camp 3 days a week from 5:30am to 6:30am for six weeks and I'm determined to make it to every one! James is still in the CHP hiring process for the second time...not much to report there. He's is working hard, as usual, and loving being a dad!

To Neil, we're sorry we missed your 30th birthday but you know we love you and can't wait to celebrate with you! Also, CONGRATS ON PASSING YOUR TESTS! I'm very proud of you and I knew you would do it!!!!!! Until next time...

Whoever said this was easy was WRONG!

At the request of my mom (who is accusing me of grandparent abuse for not posting new pictures) I am once again going to attempt to keep my blog updated. My days are filled with playing with infant toys, wiping dirty bottoms, making lunches, making dinner, cleaning, bathing dirty babies, doing laundry, washing dishes, typing, etc., etc., etc. The list could go on for ever. I know I was leaving one full time job for another but I never expected this job to be so busy! I suppose I'm learing how true the old saying is: A mother's work is never done. I am really loving being home with my boy and it is such an incredible joy to see him grow and change every single second! He's is almost crawling (he's been army crawling for about two weeks) but still no teeth! At his last doctor's appointment he was 18lbs. 11oz. and 26 1/4 inches, that was a month and a half ago! He's growing by leaps and bounds. We also took the pacifer away about a week ago and so far no problmes...but stay tuned! So, mom, here are a few new pics!

A Day in History

Landon is now five whole months old. What is he doing, you ask? Well, keep reading - - - As of about a month ago, is eating baby food and rice cereal. So far, he's had peas, prunes, squash, carrots and green beans. I can't get the peas, prunes and squash into his mouth fast enough (he is his mother's son!). I assume because they are all sweet (it could also be learned behavior being that I have the unfortunate tendency to inhale my food). He mostly spit out the carrots and green beans but we'll keep trying. He is rolling over from back to tummy and getting his arm out on his own! No teeth yet but I suspect when they come, there will be many; he's been working on them for some time now. He is playing with his hands and has discovered his toes in the last 3 or 4 days. He grabs for toys and pretty much anything you put in front of him. Of course, everything goes right for his mouth! About a month ago, a friend of mine found a rainforest jumperoo at a garage sale. She picked it up for me and after I sanitized the crap out of it, I put Landon in it and he loves it! He gout the jumping down right away. When he's in the bouncer, he looks like a little puppet; like somebody is controlling his feet with puppet strings. Also, he spins the little rattle and loves to hear the monkey and elephant sounds it makes when he bounces. It has been just an incredible joy to watch him change every single day. It's amazing how children change your life! I have a new found respect for my parents. When you come to the realization that your parents love you as much as you love your child, it's amazing. There just isn't any way for you to comprehend that until you have your own! Please enjoy the pictures and thank you for your continued prayer for us as we take this leap of faith! I'll be working for less than 6 more weeks!! Until next time...

It's Time For a Reality Check

Today is the day I must leave this face and return to work...but there is good news! It won't be for long because God has worked out our finances in such a way that will allow me to quit my job at the end of the year so that I do not have to miss one more day of watching our son grow up. This is bittersweet for me as I really enjoy going to work (or at least I did before Landon came along) and I love my job. Not to mention the money is great. But I will say that since having a child, I have a better understanding of why parents will sacrafice just about anything for their children. We sold our car a few weeks ago which was hard but it went to a good home! We sold it to a girl from Iowa and needed a commuter car to go back and forth to the children's hospital becuase her little boy has a congenital heart defect. That made it a little easier. James and I are both excited to see what is in store for us as we make a few big changes but I have a feeling it will be good! Landon is laying on the couch next to me right now kicking me and he is strong...his little toes are like daggers! It's 10:15 now and in 12 hours I will begining my first night of graveyard, ugh! Coffee and Pepsi will be a daily requirement for me over the next few months! Until next time...(which probably won't be for a while!)

3 Years and 3 Months

September 17th was a big day in the Stark household. James and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary and our sweet baby boy turned 3 months old! We celebrated by going to AWANA first. Landon went to Grandma Lorraine's house but he didn't make it too long before he just lost it...only about an hour. Grandma Lorraine did her best to console him but it wasn't to be. So, I left early to go pick him up, then back to pick James up, and then the real party got started! We went to Red Lobster for endless shrimp. It was delicious! Landon actually slept almost the entire time so we got to enjoy each other's company. James gave me an opal necklace from Idaho. He went with a few other guys to Idaho for 10 days to elk hunt. While he was away, we went and visited Grandma Kim, Great Grandma Sally, Auntie Peri, Aunite Ellen, Uncle Bobby and all the Leon cousins. It was a fun time! My mom was really surprised at how big Landon has gotten. We all really enjoyed our visit but that isn't a drive I'll make by myself with a baby again(Redding, CA to Tacoma, WA!!). Since my last post, Landon has met so many new people! In the slide show are pictures of him with Aunt Stacy and Baby Kamalia; Aunt Chelsi and Baby Bryah; and, or course, with Miss Mackenzie! Enjoy the pictures. Sorry mom, but I love the pictures of you with your grandson so they got put on here! Until next time...

PS-Landon is now 15lbs, 3oz!