Summer Lovin...

I have a special relationship with reading. There is NOTHING I'd rather do on a hot (or rainy) summer day than curl up with a good book. To lay on the beach, at a lake, in my backyard, or curled up on my couch or in my bed is perfection. Unfortunately life seems to get crazier and busier through the winter months (or maybe I'm just too busy watching my plethora of TV shows...) so I don't end up reading as much as I'd like to. But when the sun finally comes out, the flowers bloom, and with the smell of cut grass in the air, the "stars align" for me to clear my schedule for some good old fashioned reading. Here are a few of the gooders that I've read this summer: (What have you been reading?)

This is an amazing book series, and I can't wait to read the 3rd book.
It JUST came out. I was a little skeptical when I read the cover,
but it was definitely worth the chance. Seriously awesome.
(ps I'm so excited they are going to make it into a movie - due out next year!)

I've been on a bit of a Nicholas Sparks kick this year, so I figured
I better read the actual book to the classic movie that I LOVED.

This is the 'sequel' to the Notebook. I loved it too.

This was a little 'out of the box' for the usual Sophie Kinsella style,
but was still a fun, easy read.

Nick's Mom is really into Nora Roberts, so last year we gave her the
1st book in this series. I ended up borrowing it, and loved it.
Then I totally forgot about it. Until I saw the third book at Costco,
and then I got really excited because then I get to read the 2nd and
3rd books back to back. For a lover of all things wedding..... it's hitting the spot :)

Next on my reading list:

Since I've never read it, I figured I'd better get on with it!
(Besides..... there's a new sequel - who knew?)

P & P sequel, as mentioned above. Should be good...

Love Mitch Albom. Hopefully it's good

And lastly - I want to reread this series. It's 5 thick books, with an
extra shorter book that was written later. I should be busy for awhile....

A little Home Decor...

After getting our pictures done with Nick's family, I finally filled a couple frames I'd bought and was able to put together the display in my front entry that I've been dreaming about. Whoo Hoo :) I love how it turned out! It was definitely worth the minor fight(s) with Nick as we dropped (and broke) our level, (together) balanced precariously on a ladder to put up the vinyl lettering and leaned dangerously over the banister. No big deal. Like I said........ TOTALLY worth it.

I totally lucked out with a single trip to Michael's, and found the vase, beads,
and flowers that went perfectly with the other colors in my entryway.

I LOVE the frame I bought from Alli, and the Vinyl that
Lindsay gave me for Christmas! Thanks girls :)

Since I've been on a bit of a Home Decor kick, I thought I'd include some random pictures of things I wish I could buy. I'm starting to realize that as much as I love contemporary or classic items, I always seem to gravitate towards vintage/antique items. Hmmmm..... I guess we'll just have to see how it plays out as we develop and decorate our home over the next few years.

I would DIE for this mirror.
(And to have a room with a ceiling high enough to hang it)

I love these antique chests

Love the distressing on this dresser

And last but not least, I would love something similar to this chair,
but as an armchair to go in my future living room. I love black and white.

Look Who's Three Months!

"Who me????"

I don't have many pictures of the two of us, so I must resort to self-portraits...

I know it's so cliche' to say, but I can't believe how fast time is flying by and how much Nixon is growing! I figured I better do an update for those of you that don't get to see him often enough, and for my own record. Around the 6 week mark he was still having a hard time gaining weight (and keeping it on). We decided to go fully to feeding with formula, and he's been thriving ever since. In the few weeks after that, he basically gained a pound a week and was inching toward the top of the growth charts in height and weight. I went in for his three month checkup today and he is 15 lbs. 13 oz.(95% in weight), 24.5 inches long (75% in height) and 75% in head size. He's out of all his newborn clothes and is into 3-6 month sizes (except all his pants are either too tight on his belly or WAY too long.) Go figure.

I wanted to get a picture of him in all his Oilers paraphenalia, but I think i was a bit too late in getting one where the hat fits. So funny how his head is all
smushed into it....haha

He was much happier once we took the hat off.....

Nixon has been a pretty good sleeper from the beginning so we are VERY lucky! He sleeps well at night, and had started having really good afternoon naps, but his mornings were pretty inconsistent and more like catnaps. So the past few days I've been reading "the Baby Whisperer" and applying some of her techniques and it's DEFINITELY been making a big difference. He usually sleeps about 10 hours at night, with 2 -3 good naps during the day now. Yes, I am bragging. It's pure bliss. Routines are AH-MAY-ZING.

All tuckered our from playing on his mat

Nixon also has an awesome talent; feeding himself. haha jks
(don't judge me....I was still supervising him.)

Nixon is getting stronger and stronger everyday. He does pretty good with tummy time and has been able to hold his head up since birth. Though sometimes he gets tired and then resembles a little bobble head....so cute. He like to be carried facing outward so he can see everything that's going on around him. He loves laying on his little play mat and will stare inquisitively at the stuffed octopus above his head. Othertimes he will stare and just coo and smile at it. It's pretty funny. He loves his baths and would be content to lie in his little tub splashing and squealing for extended periods of time if I'd let him.He also loves to kick his legs and when he's in his crib he somehow manages to scooch from the middle until he's up against the bars (even while he's tightly swaddled!).

Tummy time with Gaffe the Giraffe.

Bath time

He recently discovered his hands, and now loves to slobber all over them. He was a spitter-upper for a little while, but that's now made way for some serious drooling. Who knows, maybe he'll be an early teether. He's also realized he has a voice and has started to coo and babble so sweetly, and then give the odd pterodactyl shriek. Seriously, it's so random and so loud! And last, and certainly the most exciting thing is that he now smiles all the time. He's even giggled a few times - but he still makes us work hard for that.

"Just chowin down...don't mind me..."

The first smile I caught on camera. A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.
(if I do say so myself.....)

I love his smiles!

We sure love our little boy and are enjoying watching him grow and discover the world around him. What a wonderful blessing he is to us. We couldn't be happier!

Workin the camera...full of giggles and smiles!

Hull Family Reunion.

My family does regular summer vacations with the Schow side of my family, but not as much with my Mom's family. Why is that? Maybe because everyone is soooo spread out and getting soooo big! Regardless, my Uncle Bob & Aunt Lorraine hosted a reunion at their cabin near Eureka, MT this year and it was SO much fun! I saw cousins I hadn't seen in YEARS, and Nick was able to meet a bunch of people for the first time. He really hit it off with a few of the guys (Dan, Trevor, Jason and Steven) and said he had a great vacation. That makes me happy :) We were lucky to have fabulous weather pretty much the whole time there, and the lake was beautiful. Most of our days were spent at the lake, and in the evenings we'd have a big meal together (there were like 70 people there!). We also had lots of fun just visiting with everyone, playing cards, enjoying a family talent show and camping in the trailer. Nixon did great, and actually started sleeping in 7 hour stretches while we were there, waking up at 5am then going back to sleep after eating. Pure bliss. Enjoy the plethora of pics - I had a lot more good ones, but didn't want to bore you.

The kids had a great time playing with each other in the water all day everyday.
By the way...I'm pretty sure the ration of kids to adults was WAY higher on the kid side!
(ps I love how Kami is captured frozen in running position on the left of the pic. So cute.)

We basically forced my oldest nephew, Ian, to go on this ski/tube thing first
so that the rest of the grandkids would follow his lead. After some jealous competition,
they all ended up deciding that they had to do it just because the others had.
Haha. so typical.

Dani was 2nd to give it a try, and after about 5 minutes she even smiled ;)

My brother, Shane, and his littlest - Landon.

Nick, Dad and I at the lake.
(Dad and I were trying to suck in our bellies and look skinny. haha)

Nick with my cousin Andrea's littlest, Natalie. She had the BEST cheeks and eyelashes!

My beautiful mom, and Grandma Hull (the matriarch of this whole family reunion)

Ryan, Dad and Nick enjoying one of our nightly shampoo sessions
in the chilly (but gorgeous) water.

Everybody enjoying the lake.

My dad's boat was probably running 90% of the time while we were down at the lake.
I don't even want to know how much was spent on gas..... Thanks Dad!

Nick enjoying some wakeboarding.

Family Talent show. Jennica & the kids singing some songs, Dawson & Jackson
"break dancing", Brooklyn and the girls teaching Steven a dance,
and my Mom and her siblings singing a song from their childhood.

My cousin Brad, and Nick escorting Grandma over to the fire pit. So sweet.

(Not sure why this picture is sideways...) Nixon and Kingston (Megan's littlest)
were born just 2 days apart, but Kingston was born early
- hence why Nixon looks like such a fattie.

Trevor and his kids, Brooklyn, Bryson (sp?), Dawson and Madison

My dad took this picture. Way to get everyone to look, Dad........