Like a Fish to Water

A local place called DeMont Family Swim School generously offers free mommy and me swim lessons for babies 2-6 months. It's a short 20-30 minute lesson, and since it's free I figured it would be a fun activity for Tyler and I to do during the week. He loves the feeling of the water during his bath so I figured he would love it, and he sure seems to. A new friend of mine generously took some time out of her day to snap some pictures so I can share the experience with all of you!

Waiting for class to begin.

A group shot. So far it's been us and one other pair even though 7 are registered in the class!

Splashing in the water

Aww

An activity where we "swim" to the turtle

I thought this was cute cause we're making the same face ha!

Practicing the back float!

Showing off his cute trunks after class

We are really enjoying this class and I know getting comfortable in the water at this age will help him learn more skills as he grows! Hoping to do ISR next summer or so. To watch my friend Shauna's video about the importance of teaching your kids about water safety go here. Especially here in Arizona where pools are everywhere. Thanks for stopping by and hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Enjoy the tasty food and be sure to be thankful for everything you have in your life!

The Silver Lining

On facebook I am doing the 30 days of Thankfulness. I think it's very important to be thankful in your every day life, it helps curb your shopping, it helps you be happy with what you have, it is just a good thing! Anyways, today I am thankful that the election and all its drama is over. Even more so, I am thankful that I went to bed at 7:30 and missed almost the entire thing. But I do have some thoughts, not about who won but about the process. Not the electoral college but the toll it takes on the people, our relationships, and our lives.

People get so passionate about politics! Honestly, even if they don't really know what they're talking about. They have ideas about what they want from the government and get so upset if someone contradicts them, even the most mellow peson will let their fangs show in the face of politics. I think what upsets us the most is that both sides seem to have an argument. They both seem to have good, logical reasons for choosing one side or the other (even if your reasons are better). They all have legitimate concerns and beliefs. I view it like the glass half full/ half empty kind of thing. Not in an optimism vs pessimism way but rather in the way that both points of view play a role and one or the other can be more beneficial based on your goals. Are you drinking or pouring?

However, at the end of the day, it is just you and your ballot, and you and everyone else will vote according to their own convictions, goals, and point of view. Then the majority wins, but why stop there? We are entering the holiday season, a time of thankfulness and giving. This is a perfect time to support your goals, to support each other. Consider what your goals were this election and turn them into something positive this holiday season consider donating to  Operation Christmas Child  or your local food bank, buying your gifts from small businesses, sending a care package to the troops, those are just the beginning of so many ways you can make your goals for the politicians part of your every day life. You can make a difference and arguing with your friends and family is not going to do it!

The election is over. Time to move on and pray for and support those in office. But more importantly let's band together as Americans, help each other, show those politicians why we voted for them, and rebuild this country one step at a time.

Halloween Photo Shoot

Today is Tyler's first halloween! Being 2 months old there's not much he can do but dress up and look adorable in pictures and for trick or treaters. So I took full advantage of the day time sun and snapped some pictures.

 Wishing you all a fun and safe holiday! 

2 months!

Wow! Another month has passed already! And look what I finally caught on camera.

Doesn't that just make your heart sing? A smile is such a beautiful thing. We really do underestimate its power.

While I was waiting and hoping for those "social smiles" I couldn't help but think of a little girl who is very close to my heart, Cici (her mommy's blog: The Fisch Tank) Cici suffered a brain injury from a choking accident at 11 months old. A little while after her accident we were hanging out doing some floor exercises during her siblings' nap time. Cici was listening to her twin sister, Penny, over the monitor, not napping of course. Anyways out of the clear blue Cici's face lit up! That smile took over her face, her eyes lit up her mouth formed that perfect happy shape and she let out the most beautiful laugh. It was over as suddenly as it started and I almost thought I had dreamt it. That smile was amazing. It showed the world that Cici was there, she knew her family, and she was HAPPY! What a precious gift.

Little one's like Cici and Tyler find joy in the simplest things like the voices of the ones they love. True joy. When grown ups seem to think they need all this money and stuff to be happy. So I encourage you to take a moment and find joy in the simple things.

Have you smiled today?

And Bampa Came to Visit

This past weekend Kevin's dad, Alan, and his lovely lady friend, Debi, came to visit. It was a really nice visit. I really put them to work. Alan with the cooking and Debi with organizing Tyler's closet! (Don't worry... they don't mind.) They loved meeting baby Tyler for the first time.

We also dared to venture up to Mt Lemmon. It's a great drive, you see the scenery change from cacti to evergreens in a matter of minutes. It was about 30 degrees cooler up there and actually quite cold for us desert folks. And look we have the beautiful yellow aspen trees too.

And I just have to share this gorgeous pepper thing they brought us from Hatch, New Mexico.

We really enjoyed their visit and will be spending the week  recuperating before Kevin's birthday and a visit from his mom next weekend. Oh and be on the lookout... someone turns two months this week and unfortunately that comes with some downfalls (aka shots). Poor boy, I am not looking forward to that.

The Tales of Tyler's Tummy Time

I have consistently been impressed with Tyler's ability to hold his head up for his age. Though I'll be honest, I haven't had much experience with babies his age and tummy time! So I have no real way to know if he is average or the baby Hulk. Any ways I thought you all might appreciate a little peak into our world. So without further ado, the Tales of Tyler's Tummy Time:

Ok mom let's do this thing!

Hmmm I think I like being on my tummy.

I think I can...

I think I can...

Look mom! I did it!

I'm not sure I like this anymore.

All done!

Friends and Nature

It's been a couple weeks since I posted so I figured I better put something out there. Truth be told things have been decently uneventful. I did celebrate my birthday, though I'll be honest it didn't feel like much of a birthday. I think being a new mother overrode that in my head. We did get out of the house and did some shopping and lunch, it was really nice to get out for a bit, and Kevin made me a pineapple upside down cake. Mmmm I haven't had one in years and it was good!

The day after my birthday my best friend and her husband came to town. It was so amazing to see them! She was a great help going out with me to get a little shopping done as nothing but my sweats fit and you can't live in sweats forever, though I am proud to say I am half way back to my pre pregnancy weight, so that's a start! Jordan with Tyler:

She doesn't look at the camera cause she hates pictures of herself, but I take them anyways as a good friend should. We were at the desert museum taking a break and having a cool drink. It was lots of fun! I also played around photographing the butterflies and hummingbirds.

Tyler doesn't have a lot of patience for my photography, but I got a couple shots I like. And who can resist this cuteness???

 

He is growing so quickly! We are starting to get more "social" smiles and hopefully I'll get a good one on film soon! Ta ta for now!