More Spokane Pics!

SPOKANE!

I was so glad to head home and see my parents and little brother! Anton had grown up sooo much since being there last. We had such a blast visiting with our old neighbors and seeing Grandma and Grandpa Vance! My parents have a foreign exchange student from Ecuador named Santy... he was a lot of fun and Anton just loved him... in fact him and Grandpa Tony were the only boys that Anton warmed up to instantly... Uncle T.J. scared him a little bit at the beginning but he's like a giant to this little guy!! We had lots of fun we went to Riverfront park and rode on the Carousel and Anton rode with Grandma Jackie on the one and only goat!! We went down the big red wagon, fed the ducks and the metal goat!! We also got to go to the park by my mom's house and we flew a kite which was A LOT of work for me and my mom!! I saw a friend from high school there and got to catch up! We went to Coeur d Alene and played in the water a little bit and went to the Cd'A hotel and had ooey gooey's!! YUM!! Anton ate pretty much all of Grandpa Tony's Huckleberry Sorbet!! Anton had a few firsts while we were there... he started clapping his hands and started to wave a little bit... I know he's going to miss his G&G sooo much... I can't wait to see them in June for T.J. and Bailey's wedding. It was such a fun trip and I'm so glad to have had the opportunity to go there!!

SO MUCH FUN!!

We've been doing so much lately, Anton and I took a month long trip to the states and had a blast visiting our family!! We went hiking in Moab, UT at the Arches National Park! There was A LOT of complaining had by me... but hey give me a break, I flew 15 hours with a 7 month old all by myself who slept maybe 5 hours and then woke up and drove 3 hours to Moab... I was Kaput!! I'm sure Anton was too!! He has been crawling since about 5 1/2 months and HATES to be tied down so being on a plane with no where to really crawl, and a car seat, and a hikers pack... I'm surprised this little guy didn't cry more than he did!! Our first hike was a long semi flat hike we saw a few arches and Anton did pretty good, until of course he got hungry!! It was really windy and kinda cold... which I wasn't expecting at all I thought I was headed to the warm desert... ha ha... Our second hike the next day was straight up a rock... it wasn't as long and we saw the Arch that is on all the Utah license plates... It was CRAZY windy once we got up there and I didn't feel very safe with Anton up in the hiking pack and me on the steep rock so we headed to a flat spot down the rock a little bit... once we got there I smelled a ROTTEN smell... yep, Anton had a HUGE poopy diaper and I HAD to change him on a flat rock... so there is a rock in Moab that has an Anton butt print... thank goodness he didn't get any on his clothes!! We saw lots of fun stuff... but I must say my favorite part of the Moab trip was when Anton was in the grass and stood up by himself for a few seconds!! Also getting to see all my Welcker cousins and their babies was soo fun!! I can't wait until all our little ones are older so they can actually play together!! Oh and hike on their own!!

My Loves

As it is the day after Valentines day I thought a post about love is best fitting for getting back in the saddle of blogging!

My two loves: Daddy and Baby.

I never thought we'd make it this far... Anton is almost 6 months I remember back to the first few months thinking I'll never make it he'll never grow out of crying all the time and needing to be held 24/7... but he did. He's doing soo good. Today I had him in his crib and he entertained himself for almost 30 min... and then I brought him to our bed and the laundry basket entertained him long enough for me to fold and put away clothes!! I guess this means no more excuses on how I have the baby and so I can't get something done :) But with a Dad like Ivan it wouldn't matter anyway. Ivan is such a great dad and great husband. Anton LOVES his daddy and can't wait to see him. He gives Ivan his HUGE smiles and holds his hands up for Ivan to pick him up! They are two peas in a pod! I remember when Anton would scream if anyone else but mommy would hold him even daddy and how it hurt Ivan to think his baby might not know him... but again we've all grown and now daddy is our prized possession at the end of the long day with mommy!

Anton has started crawling a little bit well at least he's learning to he's been belly crawling and actually using his hands instead of his face to move forward!! Sigh... I can't wait for him to grow and learn new things as long as he stays my cute little snuggle bug forever!

Hello Good Friend!

So it's been a while since I've sat down to write something on here... we've had a lot going on and seems like more and more everyday. In November we went and visited my parents and sister in Spokane... We rode over Space A which was a huge C- 17? Ivan will probably correct me on this later... Any who... It was very loud and cold but we were able to lay down and walk around! Anton and Daddy even got to meet the pilots!! Once we got to Spokane we had a blast we got to see our little niece Gretal and she was such a little cu-tie. I think she is a mini Bridge I just loved getting to hold her and snuggle with her! Anton had a great trip he adjusted to the time change going over perfectly... but coming back took about 2 1/2 weeks to get back on schedule! He was always surronded by family and good friends who wanted to hold and cuddle him! He did great except at night when he only wanted Mommy... which drove Grandma crazy! He got sooo many cute outfits and an amazing quilt from the neighbor and good friend Beth! But mostly he got to meet his family! Bridge and John just ate him up... Uncle T.J. was a little unsure what to do as most children run and attack him the moment they see him!! Soon hopefully! And he got to see his grandparents again!! Grandma hardly ever put him down we have pictures to prove it!! It was just an all around great trip!! On our way home we flew into Maryland and we rented a car to drive down to Delaware to get on another plane that would take us home... so we very quickly stopped and took pics of Washington Monument! When we drove by them on the Highway we were like WOW we are in our Nations Capital and I got some major goosebumps... then Anton started crying and were like back to reality! We can't wait to see our family again... hopefully next time we go we can go and see Ivan's family too!!

HARD

This mom thing is harder than any other job I have ever had. At least when I started a new job I got either hands on training or I got a manual. No one gave me a book or prepared me for litterally exausting nights, no "ME" time...even the cats want to sit on me or want me to hold them. The only thing I am ever lonely for now is adult conversation. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't trade being Anton's mom for the whole world he's the cutest little boy and so much fun when he's not screaming bloody murder! Sometimes I don't feel like I'm doing anything right or I feel like I can't do anything right I'm not sure which one. Forget a schedule I don't remember which breast he ate on last let alone how long he's been asleep or what time I changed his diaper last...was that one poopy or was it the one before that?? I feel bad for Ivan I know he's not getting much sleep either and every time he trys to complain a little bit I come back with...Oh your not getting enough sleep?? I have decided to not do that anymore...sleep means different things for different ppl...I'm ok with waking up during the night...but the hardest parts for me is when I'm tired at night and want to go to bed and Mr Anton wants to be wide awake and cry...or in the morning I need a slow wake up process crying is not slow...it's very loud and abrupt....This whole thing of sleep when he sleeps that in theroy sounds great but I have in-laws coming and my house is literally a disaster area what excuse do I give them...oh I had a baby 2 months ago. Ivan says just let him cry and get done what you need to get done...this sounds great and I have done it twice...this is really hard for me crying at night when it's sleepy time is all well and fine but when I'm awake and can be there to play with him and interact with him I feel guilty for putting anything above his needs...what can you do?? I'm sure I'll get the hang of this mommy thing eventually but until then I thought I'd just vent into my blog...gotta go he's crying....I know why am I on the computer when I could be cleaning the bathroom???

All Smiles!

Our Big BOY!!
So Anton is now 6 weeks old and he's giving us a run for our money!! He defenitly knows how to make his mommy and daddy's heart melt though...he has started smiling...and not just smiling for any old thing...he smiles when we talk to him and look at him it is so wonderful...Also he's been taking naps with mommy and daddy...were pretty sure the mommy and daddy enjoy them more than him...but don't tell Anton!!!