Taladega Nights

HAHAHAHAHA. Ok, I'm sorry but am I the only one who CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT NASCAR when you look at Kris with the handlebar thing going on? You would be every women's dream out there in the stands, honey. HA! Yes, it was just for the pic, he shaved it right after. I must say though, you're a babe - white trash or not.

I'm one to talk. I look like a ridiculous poser in half of these. We're pathetic. Only the baby is innocent. Although he's kind of trying to look studly in the first one. Yea, you noticed, didn't you? ;)

San Fran

I don't imagine things...

When we went to San Francisco people kept staring at us. Why? Because we are uncommonly goodlooking and have magnetic personalities? HA! No, the baby. I swear he was the only baby in that entire city, well that corner of the city anyway. It wasn't a tourist spot.

It was strange and it was almost like he wasn't welcome...(something about depleting the earth's natural resources, im sure - ha). To make sure I wasn't imagining things, because I'm really not dramatic that way, we even verified this information with some of Kris's coworkers the next day. They laughed that we noticed, agreed, and said all their friends move out of the city when they have kids.

I had a very profound experience that night, most of which I will keep to my journal but I WILL say, our little son was full of light, a shining beacon on a hill in a place that didn't really want him there. I felt such love in my little family. Such a power in this union. The "rightness" was tangible. Not only could I feel it, but as I made eye contact with the on-lookers, I could actually see it in their eyes. They were affected. How can I ever really explain it? I can't but it was so profound to me, I will never forget it.

We loved our trip. We really love San Francisco. Such an amazing place. It was the beginning of two two-week voyage. Baby's first vacation. He did AWESOME! Here are some pics.

The classic ones, naturally.



We went all over sightseeing, to restaurants, the city, etc. We've been here several times so we tried to explore Marin County a little more (the place where mountain biking was basically created). We even went mountain biking! First time since the baby! I took a pic on my phone I'll put up when I figure out how.






Father and son outing. Kris took Tofer out for a few hours one night to an awesome building next to our hotel that he wanted to see.

Firsts

I know, I know. It's been over a month. It's been so busy!! San Francisco to Lake Tahoe to Texas to Huntington Beach 4th of July. Phew. Lots of firsts this month. First trip for Tof. First swim. First airplane. First hotel. First time at Grandma and Grandpa's ranch. First 4th of July. It's too overwhelming to catch up so I'll start with his first swim with his Dad in Texas and we'll see how far we get in the next few days.

Seriously though, how cute is he???? I could stare at that face all day and never get bored. Oh wait, I do and no, never boring. Would you? Sheesh, he's like BabyGap Gerber King. ;)

Dear Husband

Dear husband chartered a sailboat with "The Pelican Army" (AKA - group of buddies he has down here who came up with this boy club) and is sailing from Newport Beach to Catalina Island for the weekend.

Dear husband left me with a list of to-do's to take care of while he is gone on vacation playing Peter Pan. Ahem - Pay bills, sell car, take other car to the shop, mail pics to photog clients...


Dear wife was not amused.

P.S. To make myself feel better I'm scheduling a hair appointment for next week. Cut and dye. Seriously, I look like a rat and I couldn't stop thinking about it after that last post. And since he left the house a mess when he departed, I may just have to get a massage too for my poor muscles that spent all weekend cleaning it ;)

P.P.S. He's lucky he's so good looking.

"Liberated and Unhappy" - Just Food for Thought

Interesting article from the New York Times

Op-Ed Columnist: Liberated and Unhappy By ROSS DOUTHAT

In the 1960s, American women reported themselves happier, on average, than did men. Today, that gender gap has reversed. Male happiness has inched up, and female happiness has dropped.

"...all the achievements of the feminist era may have delivered women to greater unhappiness. In the 1960s, when Betty Friedan diagnosed her fellow wives and daughters as the victims of “the problem with no name,” American women reported themselves happier, on average, than did men. Today, that gender gap has reversed. Male happiness has inched up, and female happiness has dropped. In postfeminist America, men are happier than women."

Side Note: I've had a lot of fun running around Corporate America and am grateful to be treated equally. I DO think however that men and women are just plain different. And while women are certainly MORE THAN CAPABLE of ROCKING the workplace and even tackling labor jobs successfully, maybe these numbers just illustrate the point that we are most happy when we find joy in our God given strengths? What's wrong with excelling at and embracing motherhood? Certainly more satisfying than documenting profit and loss margins at HP, trust me.

Could it be we've spent all these years trying to "prove" we are equal to men, by simply trying to BE men?

I am woman, hear me...?

Oh how life changes...

Before Marriage

1. Monthly Spa Trips
2. Anthropologie/BCBG Shopping Sprees
3. $100 hair cuts
4. Handbags: Prada
5. Shoes: Lanvin
   

After Marriage

1. Massage from Kris
2. Shopping, what's that? Oh, you mean the grocery store?
3. I actually cut my OWN hair last time
4. Handbags: Rrright
5. Shoes: Wearing the old ones

You could say my life has changed a bit :) Kris's fault? Actually, no. We set aside money every month for each of us in our "kitty account" to use at will. When we first got married I plowed through it, but I started using it less and less and after a year I gave it up entirely. It all goes to the house fund now.

So maybe my life isn't as glamorous but if I really wanted that stuff, I'd get it. Somehow it's just not as enticing. Interesting....

The Vote of the People Stands :)

The ruling was announced this morning. Prop 8 was upheld in courts.

Tof's First Modeling Gigg

Toy Box Tees

Love it! Love it! So our buddies Ryan and Steph Blad made an online t-shirt company for kids. These t-shirts are awesome and a GREAT idea for baby showers, birthdays, Christmas, whatever. We have two onsies already. Go get one!

Saturday we had a photo shoot for the company website. It was a blast. And Mr T's first modeling shoot :)

He's lookin' all tough and studly in this one. Really, he was looking at the camera, wondering what on earth it was and why he was laying on the really hard, uncomfortable wood floor - hence the furrowed brow.

These kids were SO DARLING! It was a blast for Kris to help with the shoot. Seriously, look at them. Soooo cute.

Ok so I can't remember what cartoon character this reminds me of. Somewhere in between an alien and a beetle. Cracks me up.

BURNT EXPOSURE

Seems like Kris has been out shooting pics several times a week lately. I try to come when I can. I've got to say....I never get sick of looking at his stuff. He rocks the photog world.

Below are a few from the latest shoots. Check out more: http://www.burntexposureblog.com/

Miracle Product

Not to sound like an infomercial or anything but you know all those miracle drugs out there and they have all these "testimonials" of people who swear by them, and really, it's just crap? Yea, that's like half of the products out there.

Anyway, I feel it is my duty to report a product that is actually AMAZING.
Note: I have no affiliation with this company ;)

So, it's called Colic Calm
http://www.coliccalm.com/?gclid=CIrF78q3vJoCFQRkswod3mA1cA

Bottom Line:

It's expensive, it's all natural, and it is AMAZING. It works for gas, acid reflux, colic.... I've had SEVERAL great experiences with this. Just yesterday Tof was getting fussy and not wanting to eat. I think his throat may have been irritating him from the acid reflux (although the meds ARE helping a ton). Anyway, he wouldn't eat for about 7 hours and screamed every time I tried to feed him. Finally I gave him some of this and ten minutes later he sucked down 6 ounces.

I LOVE THIS STUFF

Warning: It is BLACK and does stain but I would stain all my clothes just to have this on hand. Follow the link and read more about it.

Unexpected

You never really know what kind of side effects meds will have... :)

I'm thinking he's more of a blonde :)

P.S. Other side effects: Last night he slept from 9:30 - 6:30. NINE HOURS!!!!!!