Carving Pumpkins

Biggest Loser - Vegas Version

So, I was reluctant and slightly embarrassed, but I gave in (thanks to Kara) and signed up for a Biggest Loser competition with 19 other people from church. We are doing a 12 week challenge to see who can lose the most weight, even during the holidays. That was kind of the point - let's at least not gain weight during this time of year. We each pitched in $20. The winner with the lowest percentage of weight loss wins the $400 pot.

So, with that extra motivation I finally went back to the gym this week. I went to a kickboxing class on Friday - apparently you don't call it kickboxing anymore though. It's Body Combat. Basically it's kickboxing but you act like you're beating up an assailant. So, kickboxing meets self-defense?? Regardless, it was fun but I'm out of shape. Two years ago, I was THAT girl - the one up front who knew all the routines and who would spar with the teacher (yes, I know, those girls are annoying) and now I am the one in the back who is getting a drink every five minutes.

But the point is, I took a step in the right direction and I am excited for a little friendly competition. The trash talking has already started - church should be fun on Sunday...

Meeting Grandma Ray

I feel so fortunate to have all four of my grandparents alive and kicking - my Grandma and Grandpa Johnson recently came to visit, and they had just gone golfing together. How cool is that? My Grandma Dennis (Grandma Ray, to us) flew out from Kansas for my cousin Jace's wedding last weekend in Bakersfield, CA. I couldn't pass up the chance for her to meet my kids for the first time. Plus Bakersfield is a nice halfway point from Vegas to Sacramento, so my parents came as well.

It was a short trip but so fun - my dad joked that my mom had been so excited to see Claire and Miles and that's all she talked about for that week. I know that we are now just the caretakers to the grandchildren, and I wasn't offended in the least to know that my kids are the main attraction.

I thought this was funny - Grandma brought Claire a doll that laughs (for a long, long time) and Claire named it Matt Hiller (don't be mad Grandma, but we are taking the batteries out ASAP).

My mom took the photos with Grandma Ray that I really wanted to get and they turned out so cute. Claire was off running around at the park but we got a few with her too.

Miles - 2 Months

Miles had his two month well-check and he is definitely catching up - his percentages are much higher than at one month.

Height: 23 inches (50%)

Weight: 12.5 lbs (50-75%)

Head: 39 1/2 inches (25-50%)

He is smiling and talking, lifting his head pretty good but is not ready for the bumbo chair just yet. Close though. The longest he has gone at night between feedings is 5 hours, and I was awake after 3 hours, then every hour after that to make sure he was breathing.

He is a pretty mellow baby - and very patient with us. He only really cries hard when he's very hungry or tired. I think the second child just has to be more patient than the first - at least I'm grateful that that seems to be the case with Miles so far. All in all, a happy baby.

The Pumpkin Slide

September wasn't even over yet when the "Pumpkin Slide" across the street from our neighborhood started to go in. In Las Vegas, we don't let the fact that real pumpkin patches are practically non-existent in our desert community, oh no. We just ship one in and set it up across from the CVS Pharmacy. Add in a bouncy house, petting zoo and Claire's favorite, the blow up slide with a giant pumpkin on top, and you are good to go.

After a few weeks of driving past this corner attraction and hearing "Pumpkin Slide! Pumpkin Slide!" all day long, we decided to stop taking alternate routes home and just make a stop this week to check it out. It was actually set up pretty cute with places to take photos and lots of pumpkin displays.


Claire was too little to climb up the "steps" to the slide so Matt had to carry her on his back to the top. She hated the bouncy house and hated the petting zoo - which surprised me. So, now we have some extra tickets - guess we'll have to make another stop at our neighborhood pumpkin patch before too long.



Here is what Miles did the whole time - he is so good!

Baby Rosy

My brother Erick and his wife Megan had a new little baby girl last month (on 09-09-09), and I have some photos to post of Rosy - and I like to have photos of all the family members, especially those who live far away, on our blog so Claire can see them all the time and know their names. Rosy looks a lot like her big sis Lily, at least to me. We will get to see her over the holidays - all these cousins will get to play together, hopefully more often someday.

So, one month later - welcome to the family Rosy!




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First Haircut

I cut Claire's hair today - not bad, huh?

Miles' Baby Announcement

Ready or Not...

Pump cleaned, sanitized and packed? Check

Laptop charged and ready? Check

Healthy lunch with WW approved snacks? Check

Pictures to show off cutest baby boy? Check

New non-maternity work clothes in a size I hate to admit? Check

Guess I'm ready as I'll ever be for...

My first day back at work.

Last of the Visitors - Steph

Stephanie, a friend since 1st grade, was able to fly in from LA for the day during my last week of maternity leave. I thought it was a very glamorous thing to do - I'll just fly to Vegas for the day, she said.

I was told to not take her picture, but this was too cute to pass up! There is something so great about seeing your friends and family love the people that you love and take care of every day. Stephanie quickly found that reading books is a sure way into Claire's heart. We went to the park and just got to hang out and chat. Next time we'll have to play with Ryan too!