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!

The Countdown to 30!!

We celebrated James' 29th birthday which means in less than 365 days, less than 52 weeks, my husband will be 30 years old! (I'm not even 26 yet! Haha) I can't believe it! He was just 19 when we met and it seems as if no time has passed at all! Except that during that time, we've both had at least 9 birthdays, we got engaged, married, bought a car, bought a house, bought another car and then had a baby! And took quite a few trips in between all that, too. As I said in previous posts, time goes by so fast and especially when you're really enjoying life! In September, we will be married for 3 (yeah, count 'em, three!) years...I feel like I just got done planning a wedding! Anyway, here are pictures from James' birthday (Neil gave him this tube thing that is supposed to sound like an elk when you blow in it. How do they do that?) and our beautiful son in the crab suit Grandma Kim got for him. He went for his two month check up and he is now 13lbs. 13oz. and 23 1/2" long! He's in the 80th percentile for his height and weight! Wow! Enjoy! Until next time...(PS - James and Neil both got bucks on opening day of archery season)

Six weeks can go by so fast...

So on Tuesday our son was officially six weeks old. When he was born, he weighed 7lbs, 8.6oz. When he went for his well baby check up at two weeks old he weighed 8lbs., 5oz. Well, I've been noticing that his size one diapers are already getting a quite tight so I called his pediatrician and asked if I could come in and have him weighed. You won't believe that in just four weeks, Landon has gained almost 4 pounds! When I saw 12lbs, 3.5oz pop up on the scale my jaw dropped! I knew he was gaining weight and getting chunky but 12 pounds! Wow, how fast they grow. It's such a miracle and a real joy to watch our beautiful son grow and change every day. It seems as though he goes through a different stage almost daily! As you can see, he is a very smiley, happy baby; especially in the morning. He loves his nursery. He will just lay in his crib looking around for sometimes 45 minutes at a time. He loves the bright daylight and he loves to be outside. He doesn't mind his car seat and almost always falls asleep when we're driving. I think James is truly enjoying his little boy! He is so patient with him and loves for Landon to sleep on his chest. I'm still dreading the day I have to return to work. I am in denial and therefore have not started looking for any daycare yet! I continue to pray that the Lord will allow a way for me to be able to stay home as I feel in my heart this is where I belong! I can't stand the thought of missing one second of this, it has been the best thing that has ever happened in my life! I'm so sad for my mom, my dad and my step-mom that they have to miss the joy and happiness this little boy brings to our lives! Check out my slide show from the past week or so (I took all these pictures with my new camera...I love it!!!).

Please keep James in your prayers as his third psych eval didn't go too well. He is still so optimistic about it; this is one of the things I love so much about my husband! We continue to pray that law enforcement is what the Lord has in store for him and for our family as this is where he feels his heart really is. Landon loves visitors so if you want to stop by, please feel free to! Until next time...