26 April 2010

Life is Good



It has been five years in a row that both Shell and I have been 'pink slipped' and then 're-hired'. To be honest this time really did not phase us. I think having little Landon has changed the whole job security perspective. However, it is good to be officially employed.

Some of you may remember the ping pong room that is no more. It is slowly taking the shape of a family room. We even got a tv believe it or not! No we do not and are not planning on getting cable. The coolest new addition to the room is a painting we just had painted by a real artist! Let me tell you, if you want art, hit up eBay! It took us 6 months to find the artist we liked but it sure was worth it. We could not be happier with the piece. eBay is dangerous though. I bid on a painting thinking there was no way I'd win and I did! Now we have TWO really cool paintings.
The not so fun part was re-stretching the work once it arrived. I was not happy with my work but Shell says only I will notice the imperfections.

Landon is starting to develop a little personality. A new form of love is found/ discovered when you have a child. It has definitely been an encouragement to my faith. What an amazing type of love it is that you have for your child! Indescribable and unexplainable. This little person is all of a sudden one day in your life (literally) and it changes forever.

Here are some new pictures. Much love. SheremyandJelley

Laguna Beach: Montage Hotel

La Jolla on a winter day :-)
He has started to sit up!

The bond that has already formed between these two is precious.

05 April 2010

Easter and a week off!


Jer and I have been looking forward to this week...a week home together with out little guy...one of the benefits of both of us being teachers. It is so fun to spend the day together with Landon. He is becoming so interactive! He is beginning to learn to sit up. He lasts for about 4 seconds before toppling over. If he has something to hold on to he lasts a little longer. He is making all kinds of new sounds and choses to make them most of the day. He loves to talk! If there isn't a toy in his mouth, then his shirt is, he is a big fan of chewing on his clothes. He still only rolls from tummy to back, but seeing how much he hates being on his tummy I am not sure if he will. Why would he? He loves it when we blow on his tummy, neck, or legs and bursts into laughter when we do. I can't believe how well he can manipulate things in his hands. Just yesterday he was passing a toy form one hand to the other. It is amazing how fast they learn a new skill!

All day long we are in awe of how much we love him. Being a mom is truly the greatest thing I have ever experienced. Even now as I write this all I want to do is to go into his room where he is sleeping pick him up and give him the biggest hug and kiss.

His first Easter was quite eventful with the earthquake and then Dozer (my brother's dog) caught the Easter Bunny(a baby jackrabbit)! My parents have loads of rabbits on their property. Dozer has been on the hunt for about 6 months now and Easter of all the days was the day he finally did it. Don't worry, the Easter Bunny lived.

Here are a few pictures from the week so far.




















Dying eggs at Papa and Grandma May's. Mom and dad each made me an egg!

What else are Easter Baskets good for other than eating?
We had Easter Dinner at my parents. Landon watched his cousin James hunt for eggs. Next year he will be ready to go!

Ok mom! Lets go!

I may not be old enough to eat in my high chair, but that doesn't mean I can't eat my high chair!

Ahhhhh! Nothing like the taste of clean warm sheets!
I learned to read in one week! So advanced!
Dad keeps getting me. I think he likes my laugh and squeals!

17 March 2010

Life Update





It has been awhile since we posted anything besides pictures. So for anyone who still reads our blog this is a life update.

I could not start a life update without starting off with our precious new son. He tipped the scale today at 16 pounds. Lately he has been developing and doing new things each week, the biggest being rolling over. The rest of them have been stuff like grabbing things better or putting his big toe in his mouth. Monumental I know! Lots of smiles! We call him our little heater because no matter how cold you are if you hold him you warm right up. One funny thing about our kid is that he has sweaty and stinky feet. We don't know what side that comes from?

We are loving this stage in life for all the good and not so easy parts. Some days we feel like we have this new parent gig down and then there are the days like last Thursday. I had to stand up all day to keep from falling asleep, especially at the staff meeting. I have no real complaints. The hardest part is that Shelley has to be away from Landon all day. We try to get him at 3PM every day but between naps and his bedtime at 8 the time seems very short. We are very thankful that next year he is going to be staying with his current day care where he will get one on one attention. He will also get a day with his GoGo grandmother who he is really loving.

Shell is very busy. She is very go go go at work so that she can get out of there asap to be with Landon. I used to think she would make a very warm and caring mother. I was right, our kids will be so very blessed. We are both trying really hard to save money so that she can stay home for a year after we have another child. No she is not pregnant, we are just trying to plan into the future a little.

For me I have quite the routine down. Get home at 5 to cook dinner. Clean and sterilize all the bottles and breast pump stuff. Do the dishes. Play as much as possible with Landon. Go on a walk while we push the sleeping boy in the stroller. (I love this time with my wife, great talks, good connecting time each day, + we are both losing our pregnancy weight still) After the walk we do bath and then it is bed time. Lights out by 9!

Job wise it is the same drill as the last 5-6 years. Pink slips and doom and gloom. We manage to hang on every year. Last year was the closest and this would have been the real deal if the district had not offered early retirement. Thankfully 70+ elementary teachers retired and I am pretty confident we will have jobs even though the district keeps telling us we won't. There is a strong chance that I will get moved to a different school. Change might be a good thing, though it would be the first time in 10 years I did not work with Shell. The hardest part about all the budget cuts is that we will be taking another salary cut of 8%, getting 5 more furlough days, and possibly more out of pocket health care costs. Still though, I am so thankful to have a job and count it a blessing every year I get hired back.

Looking to the future we have 11.5 weeks left until summer time. We are looking forward to being with our boy 24/7 and taking a break from our crazy routine. It will also be nice to catch up with our dearly missed friends. Thankfully they are very understanding and busy themselves.

07 February 2010

Quick Post

Good times with baby LJ. We are having a blast!
Check out my Christmas 'diggs'.
Looking a little on the elfish side.
At our secret San Diego spot! SShhh, don't tell anyone!
"Could not resist, could you mom and dad?"
Tough guys wear bibs.
Our little family!
Dads two favorite family members!

"I think I may have found something else that is attached to me." Extremely cute guys wear bibs!

20 December 2009

Pinch Me, I'm Dreaming!

Landon slept through the night on his 7 week birthday. That's right, from 9:00-5:00. More importantly, his parents, sheremyandjelley, slept for an uninterrupted 8 HOURS! I personally feel like a new man.

Hopefully this is a start to a new habit for our little love bug. Then again, maybe it is just the dino jammies. One time thing or not, Shell did say she was disappointed not to "see him" in the middle of the night. Another example of how post pregnancy hormones make moms a little crazy.
We are loving our new adventure!

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family reading. Thanks for being you.

11 December 2009

Loving Work

The title of this post is a little misleading. Though I do love what I do this post has more to do with the pictures that get sent to me each day. I must admit that since Shelley began sending me a picture a day of Landon at home, I have begun to check my email much more.

Here are a few of the pics from the last 3 weeks while I was at work.















27 November 2009

Exciting Times


We continue to have new experiences and meet new friends! Here are a few snap shots from the last few weeks. Things have been going well. . . errr. . .as well as you can hope for with a newborn. It is funny how you have these grandiose visions of what parenthood will be like. Then the reality hits and your visions turn in to prayer requests for sleep and sanity! Just kidding! It has been such a fun experience and we would not trade any of it for anything. To be honest I love getting up with Shell in the middle of the night and marveling over our little guy. We are literally having the time of our lives. This beats traveling and all our adventures put together. Each day I feel like a gift has been given to me. I am so excited to be a father to this little boy.
This was our first family outing to our favorite place along the bay.

Go Broncos!
Every day last week, while I was at work, I got an email from home! It was the best email I have ever gotten!
ZZZZZZZZZZ............finally! For both of us! :-)
Landon got to meet his great grandparents, Billy and Marie. They are our prayer warriors! We cherish them.

So cute! Landon and mom have a very special connection.
Our beautiful Goddaughter, Summer, brought over her parents to hang with us and meet Landon. Summer checked out our tree. Needless to say she was captivated.
Summer couldn't keep her hands off Landon. Babe magnet already. . . and an older woman at that (5 months older).
Summer liked Landon.
Landon is still afraid of all girls except his momma!

I love the way he looks at his mum.
Family photo from Thanksgiving. Gotta love a San Diego sunset.