The day after...

I really thought the day after Christmas was supposed to be mellow...no? Well, not the case this year. Beyond the normal playtime with Owen, we hurried to get the house clean and decorations down! We leave tomorrow for Phoenix, so we need to pack and do ALLLL the laundry (my least favorite chore). Of course none of Mike's presents fit him, so it's back to the mall where they came. Oh, and did I mention we are putting our house up for sale today. YIKES Owen loves to soar above me, on my knees!
This is currently my favorite picture of Owen!

(If you look real close you can see Owen's birthmark on his thumb.)

When he is concentrating hard he always sticks out his little tongue!

Gymboree

This was our shout out to Owen when we were in Hawaii a couple months back!
My baby giraffe

Look at that smirk...someone knows they are cute!

I just like to thank Gymboree for a sweater such as this! What a cutie pie.

Happy Holidays

Can you spot Owen???

New haircut! It took me my whole pregnancy to grow out my bangs...and what do you know I go and cut them again, so I can wait another year to get them out of my face. Also I completed one of my goals for 2008, by purchasing a new sweater (still need to work on the fat rolls).

Owen has never loved a toy more than this one. And to answer your question...he is waring a swaddle... and no, we do not keep him in this all day!

Lastly, with the help of our trusty friends we were able to complete this puzzle in 20 minutes. Very exciting day...and another check off the list for our 2008 goals.

We are so excited for the holidays this year...granted we won't be with family, but this will be our last opportunity to spend Christmas with some very dear friends here in Albuquerque. Also, at the end of this week we start our house shopping adventure!! We have about 7 houses that we love, and are anxious to see them with our realtor. After the holidays die down...Mike is off for a two week training with work, and I am off to my parents for two weeks in Ohio. We are just very blessed, and we are excited for all of the new opportunities in 2008. We wish you a Merry Christmas.

The only present I need...

Owen loves to talk and smile through clenched lips
You are guaranteed a smile if your name is "dad", and if you are ANYONE other than mom!

Best Christmas present EVER!

I have come to the conclusion that the only gift I need this year is Owen. I have lost my appetite for finding out what it is "I" want, or need for Christmas. That is a trait that only motherhood can bring, (I used to be very stingy during this holiday season). Now I look forward to time off with Mike...12 days to be exact, and just enjoying our time as a family.

Like father , like son!

What are the chances that Mike, and Owen would share this one random thing. EVERY night without fail Mike will have one missing sock...not sure why, or where the sock went. So the past few nights I go to change Owen's diaper in the morning, and what do you know... his missing just one sock. I go to investigate the missing sock...and they are wrapped up in our bed sheets, and Owen's bed sheets. SO WEIRD!

Albuquerque friends we will never forget!

Megan and Aaron- we will miss our favorite babysitters, our travels together, playing Settlers of Katahn, sharing our birthday's, Sunday night dinners, having you present at the birth of Owen, and all the GOOD laughs we have shared over these past two years. You have been our dearest friends, and we have truly been blessed to have you in our lives.
Brittany and Steve- We will miss dinners at Mimi's Cafe, making gingerbread houses at Christmas, gossiping about girl stuff (brittany), and all the love and care you have given Owen.

Sophie and Jonah - We will miss the best home teacher, your candid comments (sophie), your advice on parenthood, and seeing every week at church!

Jenny and Brett- We will miss our first friends in Albuquerque! We have loved watching Noah grow, and seeing you pregnant with Luke! We love our Survivor nights, and evenings at Flying Star. We have loved collecting Bretts artwork, and watching him blossom with it. Jenny we will miss your sense of humor, and your genuine personality.

We love you all, and vow to make the most of the time we have with you before we move. Thanx for your great friendships!

Arizona HERE WE COME!

Mike has been interviewing since the end of October for a District Manager's position in Phoenix. We both knew the competition was stiff, and there would be a very tough chance of him getting this job. Well the interviews kept progressing and after one month, 3 interviews, and a head of grey hairs later Mike found out the job is his!!! This is Owen's excited face! I am SOOOOOO ready to house shop.

Christmas Card

Um yeah...I am feeling as though I am not going to get these Christmas Cards out on time. (I am having troubles even copying this photo to a CD) Therefore, I present you with a seek preview just-in-case this card never reaches you by mail.

Weekend with Owen

Nice strategic placement of the bath toy, Owen!!
Owen is looking a little sleepy as we are off to our ward Christmas party, which was actually a big hit this year.

Owen LOVES sitting on his knees while dad serenades him with the finest show tunes!

It's winter

Taylor, thank you for knitting me this adorable hat. It's finally cold, and it finally fits...I love it almost as much as sucking in my finger.

Goals for 2008

Finnish puzzle, get through interviews!!!

Keep food in Owen's mouth

Get Owen to smile more

Get rid of fat rolls, get new sweater!

Jenny, Noah, Mike, Owen and 'Crazy'

Our good friend Jenny stopped over last night with precious son Noah. We are all obsessed with 'Survivor' so she came to participate in our couch potato-ing ways! Owen loves having other kids around too. I think it inspires him to consider progressing more!

However, there are times when Lizzy gets crazy with Mike after I have had a long day with Owen. [Let me expand on the long day...I get all ready in the morning (which is a rare thing), I give Owen a bath and dress him up in his cutest Gymboree outfit to take him out in the snow, for a big day at the Gymboree play class. After a long 15 minute drive to this place with Owen throwing a fit, they tell me "oh I am sorry, no one ever comes to the Thursday class so we will have to cancel." It took everything I had not to scream!! ] Therefore, Jenny was a whiteness to one of those 'crazy' times last night, and now I realize why friendships stop after a baby (or maybe just mine). We carry a baby, give birth, why do we ALSO have to deal with the ups and downs of post delivery hormones???? Luckily she understands 'crazy', and didn't think much of it! Somehow we did manage to have somewhat of a pleasant evening.

New Decor

I am so excited! This is my first attempt at making flower arrangements (with the help of my mother-in-law). I think they turned out pretty good, and Owen is appreciating something new to stare at in the house.

Our FIRST Christmas Tree

Sadly I have been without a Christmas tree since I was 19, and living at home. After 4 years of marriage, and one baby later...the time has come to grow up and enjoy the true atmosphere of Christmas. I packed up Owen and we headed to the 50% off sale at Hobby Lobby. Finally... few less dollars in the bank account, one back ache, and a messy house leaves us with a tremendous tree for Owen's first Christmas!

Done with Thanksgiving...on to Christmas!

They sure moved on to Christmas Decorating QUICK.

Owen, you are looking a little crazy during tummy time

That's much better, thank you.

Hummmm, what do I want for Christmas?

Grandma, I have never had this much fun with anyone!

This sums up how everyone felt after the Thanksgiving feast!

We had such a wonderful time visiting Mike's brother, J.J., in Colorado. They recently moved for a work promotion, so we were able to see their GORGEOUS new home! Luckily Mike's parents also agreed to spend Thanksgiving there too, so we we were able to see one half of the Roth family. This trip definitely proved the importance of living near family. I have NEVER seen Owen smile as much as he did in the presence of loved ones. (Thank you guys for such a wonderful time!)

You give me FEVER...

Mike and I knew the day would come when Owen would be SICK, but we had not idea what to expect. Owen came down with a 101.1 degree temperature after getting his routine vaccinations. On one hand it was terrible to see him in pain, but on another it reminded me of when he was so little and helpless (not like the wiggle worm he is now). He snuggled mommy all day, and in those moments I was happy to stay inside and tend to his every need!!