Charlie Bear.



This little guy came by accident 15 months ago...well he was conceived accidentally- I guess about 25 months ago...but really- what would life be without him.?




Slobbery faced Charles.  (photo courtesy of Ruby Wright-with her very own camera)



One of his 'unique' daily rituals is this...to throw absolutely everything out of his crib as he awaits someone to save him from his cage...then he dares give me that smug..."yep I did it again" expression.

Another 'unique' characteristic is his shyness (my other kids were not like this; to this extreme anyway) he can't stand for people to look at him or watch him eat...he closes his eyes and grunts...then he will continue to eat or drink with his eyes closed until you stop looking at him.  It's the oddest thing! If he's in a good mood he won't care and smile and laugh right back at you-but if he's even just a little tired or feels threatened by an overbearing face...he absolutely cannot stand it -he'll bury his head, close his eyes, cover his face-anything to get out of your view and wait for you to kindly look away.

He worships dogs...what baby doesn't?...maybe we should get one?  naaah.

His passion (one of his few) is EATING...he eats like a banshee and if I don't feed him fast enough he is a 'screamer'-what?! What do you do about that?  I can't discipline him and tell him "NO-YOU NEED TO ASK WITH WORDS OR SIGNS?!" ha!  It's just such a frustrating stage because it gets so loud that no one can hear each other speak and then we all end up yelling at each other!  ah.
 ps-despite his eating habits...he hasn't gained weight for months and hasn't grown length- wise since his 12 month appt. (Okay, I get it, I get it...we are all short but he's a baby still-he should be growing) Should I be concerned? Anyone know a good pediatrician...lest I decide to get a 2nd opinion?  His head is in the 70% percentile though...yeah, I remember that all too well. (see here)



He loves the MEN in his life..esp. this one...and he is SUCH a snuggler- besides his open mouth kisses...he gives the biggest, strong-hold around your neck- hugs you ever knew.



And this MAN...his grandpa that just recently moved back to California...we MISS you.!

Charlie's been in this stage of walking for a couple months.  He likes to take steps and stand alot...but nothing consistent...it's the stage where he wants to be 'down' in a public place but you'd rather die than put him on the floor to crawl around and sweep up the McDonald's floor dust and grime.



This big sister takes care of him 57% of the time...I think between me and Marty -we make up the other 43%!



So it's been said by my MIL several, upon several times that Charlie and my Mom look alike...'ya right' I always said- 'that's crazy talk'...  now, I can see that resemblance...thanks to another photo taken by Ruby...they really do look alot alike to me! Who'd of thought.
  I love you dear Charlie Bear and hope you grow up to be just like this woman you look so much alike...in a manly sort of way that is.

A Shower + tutorials and MORE...




Two of my friends and I threw a shower for my dear friend Nichole who is having a baby in 3 weeks!  Love her.  And I love the way this shower came together. Thanks to Az for her gorgeous (I wish I had you) home to host (not in a stephenie meyer sort of way) the Bloomin' Shower!  It was a smashin' hit!   

 


The decor all blended so well. (click photo to enlarge) I love the vibrant yellow, blue, greens and a touch of silver.   Such a perfect time of year to have a baby!!  OHHH I love babies.  The pom pom's are a martha stewart project ....found HERE.  The felt streamers (made by Tasha) are different size circles cut out in coordinating colors of felt and sewn together (so creative!).  The napkins, cups and straws come from IKEA.  The candles (Tasha)(all lit) were beautiful for color/decor and gave off a wonderful fragrance.  Lemons and limes fit right in on the color scheme and made delish citris water, so refreshing!





The food included chocolate covered strawberries (yum) , mini cinnamon rolls (double yum) (made by Az- Rhodes rolls thawed, stretched out, cut in half and sprinkled with cinnamon/butter/sugar and rolled back up...after baking top w/cream-cheese-divine- gooiness-frosting), chocolate/butterscotch bird nests (found HERE) and bowls of candy and nuts. 

 

My gifts were a car seat cover...gotta love those.  Just patterned after one I had given to me for my baby.  VERY simple to make actually.   And with so many cute fabrics/patterns; it's fun to create your own.  Nichole has very refined taste so I didn't want to do anything with bright colors or animals and such.  Turns out she liked it !  yeah! 



And one of these little tie/suspender onesies.  Designed by Trisha (my friend), and attempted by Me.  The blue and yellow one I kept for Charlie...he sort of looks like a clown in it, but baby clowns are cute , right?  The suspenders are just a length of 'double fold bias tape-quilt binding' sewn down on both ends and again under the buckle.  The buckles are sold at Hancock for 1.49 (pack of two) in silver or gold. (they were out of silver when I went-dang it)  On the right onesie, the tie is only sewn down on the top portion and the the bottom half is loose-hanging...gives it a different- more playful look.

 


And here is the guest of HONOR, beautiful Nichole.  And the 3 three hostess's...Az on the left, Tash on the right.

 

The party favors (made by Tasha) -what a great idea! And I love, love the name tags. (not sure where she got the pots, name tags were homemade)



The wonderful friends that make getting together worth while.!  It's so good for my heart to see everyone and be able to relate with them on so many levels.  Love all these gals.  (we missed those of you that live far away, sniff)

 
 

Speaking of spring; check out this tutorial  for ruffle pants found HERE.   I think I want to attempt this get-up for Ruby,...and maybe Charlie too.  Kidding!  Clown shirt is enough for now.  Babies can only pull off so many things.! ha!

 

One more idea someone gave me.  I made this apron for my cousin, Katie, (who is to be married this weekend!) for her shower.   I love the line at hancock called - top drawer fabrics- this is one of the patterns. I wanted to add a splash of color  (her kitchen color is red) so I spent ALL this time looking at JoAnn's and Hancock for a sew-on applique in red, (a flower made out of fabric that can be washed).  I know I've seen them before on bags, shirts, aprons etc.  But I could not find what I was looking for anywhere.  A lady at JoAnn's told me to just get a flower that clips or safety pins on and they can remove it before washing...duh~ what a grand idea, never thought of that.  Once I switched my brain to that avenue...there were TONS of options and cheap too!  I found this tulle flower, that is pin -on- ready, for 2 bucks. SCORE. 
Happy Day Everyone.

5 years and Cancer Free

Today I drove down to the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the U of U.  I have been going for about 5 years every 6 months.  And today I was diagnosed as Cancer Free! And no signs of 'new sites' were found.  I haven't had another incidence of Melanoma since my first two initial sites in 2005.  Why did I get this type of Cancer (the worst type of skin cancer to have) at such young age?  Well first (and probably)  foremost...I was a sun- worship- er.  I loved laying out and had the mind frame of; summer =tan skin.  When I spent a year in Hawaii, I again thought; tropical weather = tan skin.  How lame was I!?  I got MULTIPLE sunburns.  Some bad enough I would blister and peel and ache.  I  also have melanoma in my family.  Not an immediate relation but my grandpa (on my dad's side) had it (found in a mole on his back) when he was in his 40's.   Additionally, I have all the right body defaults that make me more prone to getting it. 



BLUE EYES





(not necessarily blonde), but...LIGHT HAIR




and LIGHT SKIN WITH FRECKLES    
(An estimated 40% to 50% of fair-skinned people who live to be 65 will develop at least one skin cancer.)




Here are my two scars from surgery (to remove the Melanoma Moles)-one on my abdomen...



...and one hideous one on my back...about right- dab in the middle...definitely visible with a swim suit.  BTW, the procedures were NOT fun or comfortable.  Healing time was painful and long- lived...but it could have been ALOT worse. (I'm definitely not complaining)

Obviously I am not sharing this because I am proud of my scars or my past...but to reveal the consequences of sun damage (apart from wrinkly, dry, leathery skin).  I have learned my own personal lesson and have a couple friends who have gone thru the same thing as I have.  I also know someone that died at a young age (with young children) from Melanoma.  Both of my 'sites' were considered  'insitu' meaning the outermost layer (hallelujah).  So I have an 80% chance of NOT getting a third mole involvement.  Fingers crossed. 

I know this is kind of nasty to look at...but some moles can get this bad...mine did NOT look this obvious and I wouldn't have picked them out myself (until they got to this point). I only went in for an overall check (because my mom made me); and the Dermatologist found a few that looked suspicious - two of those ended up being Melanoma.  The smart thing to do...(esp. as spring and summer beckon)...go see a DERMATOLOGIST, (not just a regular doctor) if you have ANY abnormal areas or have  a history of 'loving the sun'.   A great referring website from WebMD...go here

Info from my dermatologist himself...Most products contain sunscreens...they prevent sunburn and may protect against both UVA and UVB, but they are short lasting.  More effective products also contain sunblocks (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) which reflect UV rays and are longer lasting.  He recommends products that contain either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Some examples...Blue Lizard, Vanicream Sensitive Skin SPF 30, Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50 or Sun Protective Swimwear (http://www.sunprecautions.com/).

If anyone has any advice, stories or personal experiences with anything related to this topic. Please share.  Kuddos. Be safe and smart this summer! 

count the little fingers...

That's right... 6...Ruby is the big zero six! and what a day it was.

For breakfast in bed she had the usual (well the same as last year, which is becoming the 'norm')...monkey bread, (recipe here) grapefruit, yogurt and chocolate milk! (talk about sugar overload) After overload she opened and played with presents from Gpa's and Gma's (can't wait to show off the skirt Grandma Di made) then we went to a book store, out to lunch and a baby shower!  phew! I'm tired?  Yet there is more.

 Don't judge me by this cake, it certainly wasn't my best.  Sometimes, somethings gotta give.  How come red food gel dye does NOT dye your food red.  Only PINK , I added the whole flippin tube and this is the color I got.! H-E-L-L-O. 

 LAST minute we decided to do a 'little' get together with a few of Ruby's school friends for cake and ice cream...well this shin-dig turned BIG (bigger than we'd planned) in just a few hours....so Marty and I scrambled to get some games planned and put some make-shift things together to make it seem party-ish. ahhh...crazy couple of hours prior.

In all we had THIRTEEN kiddos at our house!  Have you SEEN our house.  Not to mention it was freezing outside and we had to stay in our 4x4 living room.  I think they had a good time though.  We kept it to ONE long hour.  I had Ruby and Liam watching a movie while everyone got here then I brought them upstairs and they yelled 'SURPRISE!'  and threw  balloons at her.  It was a keepsake moment....she had no idea we had this planned and she kept begging for a party, but we told her no.

 Marty was a good sport and played as our stand-in cat in the hat.  'Pin the bow tie on Marty'  (thank goodness it was tape not pins.)

 Then a round of relay race balloon popping... 

This is most the kids after we played 'pass the present' where each kid unwraps a layer of wrapping till the music stops then they pass it.  This was what was inside at the end...new faces.

 Finally after some more silly time-wasting games...we had cake and ice cream! yeah. 

 Most the kids didn't even want cake (sniff) just ice cream, and if they did have some on their plate they were too full of treats to eat it!  boo.  poor little cat in the hat- he was ugly and distasteful.  (notice Ruby having the time of her life) (does that tell me the party was worth it?) yes indeed.  One short hour from us. A night full of memories for her.

Her presents from her family (how'd she have energy to open ALL 3. ha)... LOVE YOU SQUIRT -HAPPIEST DAY TO YOU.

Buttermilk Pound Cake.  Worth the cal's.
 (yes I had to taste-test first)(should have made this for the party)
Ingredients
1 cup shortening (i added 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup applesauce instead)
2 cups white sugar (scant cups)
4 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour (i added 1 cup of ww flour and 2 white)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
(i added 1 tsp of almond extract too)(makes the cake!)
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Lightly grease and flour one 10 inch tube pan.
2.Combine shortening, white sugar, eggs, buttermilk, sifted flour, baking soda, baking powder, and lemon extract and beat with an electric mixer for 3 minutes at medium speed. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3.Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for one hour. Remove cake from pan after it has cooled.
  Serve with whipping cream and some sort of fruit syrup. (I had coconut syrup to drizzle-yumm!)



My sister's new baby!...(a must see)



Welcome to the world...Webster D. Gilson!  My sister had her baby yesterday, her 6th boy!  9.4 lbs!



...love baby feet!



his other brothers are so named...Dexter T. Gilson, Everett James Gilson, Isaac Howard Gilson, Lincoln Timothy Gilson, Owen Henry Gilson ... they will all be senators, presidents; or at least great missionaries!



Love him!  New babies are so special and sweet.  I love to be a part of it, it's such an amazing thing to me.




sweet little finger grasp...

 

Check out those cheeks!

I love my beautiful sister and her more than adorable new addition! 

you can leave a comment for them here if you like...