Mommy's birthday weekend.

Shelby had a blast hanging out with Nonna & Granddad.  Even just chilling on the couch became a party full of laughs.Thanks again for coming!!!They never forget Abby, either.  She even got a new toy from her Nonna & Granddad.
This is Shelby happy, thinking he's going "on da airplane" too.

And he's off.

Why's Nonna hugging me?  I'm going too!

I debated if I should share this video, as it felt a bit private, but I wanted to show how quickly Shelby became somber when he started to grasp they were leaving without him.

Bye!  We'll miss you!!!!!!!

Jammin' With Elmo

Shelby was so full of energy and ready to show off for Nonna & Granddad.

This dancing session with Elmo is hysterical!

Fabulous 30th!!!!

Wednesday turned out to be the most amazing birthday!  My husband ensured my 30th far far exceeded any expectations I could have thought up.  When I got home from work, he was sitting on the patio with 2 glasses of wine and Shelby on his lap.  When he toasted me for my 30th, two wonderful people came around the side of the house with a cake singing Happy Birthday!  I was in shock.  I was a babbling basket case for a while.  

Thanks Stacy, Mom and Dad for making my birthday so amazing!

Blue October

The other thing I hadn't yet blogged....

On March 16th I was on cloud 9!  Stacy, Dave, Lenecia and I all went to San Francisco to The Fillmore to watch Blue October.  Not only were we at an amazing venue, we were watching my #2 (borderline #1 only to Korn) favorite band, Blue October!  

Christine Walzak Mucker introduced me to Blue October the fall of 1999.  I expect some Happy Anniversary flowers from Justin this fall.  LOL!

Stacy attended BO's CD release for Consent to Treatment at Hastings while I was in Arlington for a job interview the spring of 2001.  I was so upset that I couldn't go, so he surprised me, even though he had no idea who they were, with a signed poster and CD.  Between that and the day he showed up at my house with a gallon of milk b/c I said my roomie finished mine off, I knew Stacy was "the one." 

So, I was a complete freak at BO this year, just in heaven for the whole set.  After the show, the band...still clearly grounded...came out and like in the past enjoyed hanging out with their fans.  We told them we'd been following them since College Station and talked about a few of the concerts.  They were sincerely excited and told us, "No way!  That's old school." and posed for a picture Dave so graciously took.

Sigh......I'm still elated thinking about my special moment.

If you haven't caught their new CD "Approaching Normal" please do!

So, my dream is to take some serious photography courses and at their next CD release be the photographer for the CD.  Hey, I can dream, can't I?????

Pat Tillman Run

So, speaking of the military, I realized I hadn't ever posted our photos from the Pat Tillman run we did as a family on April 25th.  Stacy has worn a remembrance bracelet for Pat for quite some time now.  When we moved out here close to San Jose, he said he wanted to do the run.  We were out of town last year, but this year we were excited to participate.  Stacy ran 4.2 miles straight for the first time ever!  I was so proud of him!http://www.patsrun.com/
And when I say we ran as a family, let me clarify.  Stacy ran.  And though I've normally been the distance queen in this fam....I walked.  Shelby chilled in the stroller.  He did great until we hit mile 3.  The snacks ran out, he was tired of staring at the same rear ends in front of us and he had a total meltdown.  He cried till he crashed out and slept through the children's race I was so excited about.  Oh well.Before the race started we went to the area for kids and let Shelby get some energy out before sitting in the stroller.

Since Dad insisted we leave the house at some rediculous hour that morning, we were all beat.  We laid around in the sun trying to warm up when we got home.  

Until next year!

Future Military?

Stacy swears that had he not met me, he would have joined the military.  Thank goodness we were serious when 9/11 happened.  Now, the thought of my son doing such one day just scares me crazy.  But, that will be his choice.

My Nonny has made me a few costumes for a line CAJ Photography will one day offer...as soon as I can afford more fabric! :->

I wanted to ensure Shelby wore the outfits before he outgrew them.  Daddy had to work today, so he and Mommy had a blast doing a photo shoot together!Army?

Listen here, Sergeant!I'm getting bored, Mom.Mean mug...Military ID shot.US Navy?

All pooped out, Sailor.

Mother's Day at the Zoo

For Mother's Day, the guys let me sleep in until 8am when they woke me up with breakfast in bed.  Shelby was carrying a rose and a precious card with his baby photo and a current photo on it.  Then, they honored my request for a fun day at the Oakland Zoo!  (See full slideshow above)  We had a blast!  Shelby was absolutely zomped when we left.  He fell asleep in the car on the ride home and then easily transferred to his bed where he proceeded to nap for 2 1/2 hours.  (Hence all the blogging I did today.)

Here's a fun video from the Giraffe exhibit.  This one was my favorite. 

There was also a petting zoo.  Shelby really liked this little goat.  I make a comment about Daddy's melon head, but please also note that my 2T body toddler is wearing a 3T-4T hat!

And though they're in the slideshow, I wanted to hilight a few of my favorite pics from the day.

Dad, I cannot believe you made me look rediculous in that bunny rabbit.  I get it.  I have a big head like you, but that crossed the line.  I'm soooo not smiling.

Tonight when I put Shelby to bed I asked him to tell me Happy Mother's Day.  He just smirked at me.  I said, "Okay, but thank you for a wonderful Mother's Day anyways."  After I closed his bedroom door and started to put laundry away I heard him say faintly, "Happy Mother's Day."  I went back in so excited and he was all smiles.  I gave him a big kiss good night.

Thank you to my amazing men for my perfect Mother's Day!

Arrrriiibbbaaa!

As if the long, wonderful day wasn't enough, we got to have dinner with the Zapp family at Casa Orozco.  Look at how big baby Tyler is getting!

The marriache (yeah, I can speak Spanish, but I have no idea how to spell that) guy came over and Shelby just LOVED it!

He didn't stay in his seat for long...

On the ride home he was still jammin' out.  Check out the sunset's color cast in the back windshield.

ROCK ON, SHELBY ANDER JONES, ROCK ON!

Vamos a la playa!

After a long nap from the walk in the park, Chaila and Aaron came over and asked if they could put on their swimsuits and let Shelby spray them with the waterhose.  I said yes, but then I thought...I can do ya one even better!  So, off we went to Shadow Cliffs for a fun few hours in the sun and water.The kids made friends quickly and decided to build their own lake.The lifeguards called a time out and everyone had to get out of the water for 15 minutes.  All were advised to reapply sunscreen.  With the water fair game, the ducks came a swimmin'.  I was so proud of myself for thinking that even in a hour and a half me may need snacks, so the 15 minutes were covered.Let me share with you a chain of events between Chaila and Shelby.  Understand, Chaila is a little mommy.  She ADORES Shelby.

Here's how it started.  Shelby didn't want to get in the water anymore.  So, he stood aside and watched.  I had taken the kids to the Dollar Store and they all picked out a different color spray bottle for the event.  Something went wrong with Shelby's so he was clearly upset.
Chaila immediately came out of the water (I was such a bummer, I only let the kids go to the waist-high marker so they practically laid on their bellies on the bottom to swim around.  Hey, I don't know if I can keep up with 3 kids yet!)  So, it only took her a sec to get out and assess the problem. After an explanation of the problem from Shelby and watching him try to fix it himself with his teeth, she jumped in and saved the day.And, as a typical male, he broke her heart as she tried to love on him and he shunned her away, annoyed at the affection.  You little toot!  She jumps at your every command!

A walk in the park

Saturday morning, Shelby and I went for a long walk.  We had such a great time together, just the two of us.  We decided to let Daddy enjoy a day in the woodshop working on a very special present.  (No, not for me.  I'm hoping the bathroom cabinet is done for my 30th, too.  But, this one is more special than my own birthday. :->)

On the way home, Shelby was too exhausted to walk.  We'd seriously walked for miles by this point.  I begged him to keep walking and he started crying.  I had the camera and his backpack in my arms and decided to put him on my back.  I was beat.  After a few steps he started giggling and said, "Mommy, Shelby cry 'Wah-wah' and I'm on back."  He not only manipulated me, he was so proud he had to brag about it!  I swear.....

PeekABoo after Naptime

Shelby and I sometimes play peek-a-boo through the slats on his crib.  I took in my camera, but wasn't fully thinking, as I didn't take a flash and it was dark for the nap, so the photos are grainy.  However, he'll soon be moving on to a big boy bed, and I wanted to ensure some of my favorite memories with him are locked in.

It takes him a little while to warm up.

But not long!And even less time to get sassy with the camera!Making an effort to squeeze in the photo.  

Dear Shelby,

It's happening.  You're growing up too fast.  Soon it will be time to set aside all the baby items and move on to the big boy stuff, like a big boy bed.  Before you do, I wanted to say THANK YOU.  Thank you for all the smiles your infancy has brought me.  Thanks for what a happy morning-baby you are (even though you arise between 5:30-6:00am).  Thanks for loving to play peek-a-boo and laughing so hard that it's that sound I focus on around Wednesday afternoon during a tough week at work.  And it's your smile that warms me up on Monday mornings when it's back to the grind.  Who needs coffee?  (That's metaphoric of course.  Please don't take away my coffee.)

I can only hope those moments between us mean only a smidget to you what they mean to me.  Maybe it'll be somewhere in your subconscious when you're dealing with a tough day at daycare; when you're just not getting your way, we didn't pack your favorite mac-and-cheese for lunch and someone else's mommy and daddy did, or when your eczema breaks out so bad all you can focus on is scratching.  Maybe you'll look forward to time with Mom, because in your heart you too know that I am nothing without the joy you bring me.

Peek-A-Boo!

Mommy