"Baby in a picture frame!"

I am not sure if this is a well-known baby trick, or just something my family does, but regardless, Xavier has mastered it! Baby in a picture frame is simply when you say the phrase in a high voice and the baby responds by framing their face with their cute little arms :)

We started this about the same time he started clapping. He loves to show off his new trick and giggles when we play this game :)

I swear we have the cutest baby in the world.....

Sick Baby :(

Lately, Xavier has been sick on and off due to teething. He hasn't been sleeping well (at all) and his symptoms include runny nose, cough, fever, and crankiness!

Last Thursday, I stayed home from work to monitor his fever and baby him. He was cranky all day and cried more in this one day than in his entire 7 months of life combined. I did manage to catch a few pics of him hanging out and playing...

The next day, I went back to work and he went back to homecare. Miss Susie told me that he was happy all day and played per usual. She was convinced that the day before, he had simply "Put on a show" for me because he knew if he did, I'd hold him all day long (which I did). Little stinker ;)


On a side note, when I returned to work the next day, I was welcomed with a card for Xavier. My co-teacher had organized it and all 40 of my kids had written him a cute little note. It was adorable!

I can feed myself!

About a week ago, we gave Beanie a bottle and let him try to feed himself. He has been holding the bottle for months, but only while we hold him. It was apparent that he had been ready for this milestone for quite sometime because he is a pro! He is so proud of himself too! Here are some pics of our cutie drinking away! :)

Beanie Clapping!

Dustin taught Beanie a new "trick"...Clapping! He does it allllll the time now! In fact, today he peed on me (and everything else) while I was changing his diaper and he proceeded to clap and laugh...he thought he was pretty funny.

He's learning new things all the time!

Finishing the Race :)

Dust and Xavier were waiting for me at the finish line...here is a short video of me finishing :)

I added on a couple seconds to my time to kiss my baby :)



After the race we walked out to the beach...where Beanie wanted to play in the sand all day. He is so cute!! Check out this cute video!

Mama's Race!

In September I registered and started training for a 10k. It was an effort to lose the baby weight (and more), get healthy, and to simply set a goal and achieve it. Well, this Saturday was the big day...the day I had been training for for nearly 5 months! Dustin was so supportive the entire time and I think he was as excited as I was Saturday. After waking up early and getting ready, we decided (per usual) to take 1,000 pictures :)

 :)

I love this little man!

My world :)

I, of course, had to take pics of my babies too!

My life!

Football hiney :)

Silly!

A banana, 3 Ibuprofin, and 2 cups of coffee later, we were on our way!

On our way!

Kristin, my running partner!

Supportin' Mama!

Before the race!

Nikki, a co-worker, ran the 5k!

my love!

Reppin' IU!

So cute!

Tampa Bay Ray mascot!

After watching my friend Nikki finish the 5k, it was time to start getting ready for the race. There were LOTS of people there participating in the 10k (6.2 miles). My adrenaline was rushing and it was an amazing moment! I was so thankful to have my boys there supporting me :)

The crowd getting ready to start!

Dustin caught several candids

Nervously looking to my boys before the race started!

Dustin photographing the Start line!

Once the race started, we headed North on Gulf Blvd., so there were several beautiful ocean views throughout the race. They closed off major roads for the race so we ran on those roads as well as through the beautiful beach neighborhoods. The first 3 miles were easy and when I got to the 5k point, there was a volunteer there telling us our times. I had completed the 5k in 30:20. I was averaging a 10minute mile and I normally run an 11 minute mile so I was a little worried about pacing. After the 5k point, it was all a mental challenge...not a physical one. I followed the course until I got to mile marker 5, where my boys were waiting cheering me on!

Mile number five!

After seeing them and the fifth mile marker, I knew I was only 1.2 miles from the finish and my adrenaline kicked in again.

As I made my way to the finish line, complete strangers were cheering me on. I began to think of the hard work I had put in since giving birth to Xavier. Months of dieting and exercising. I got goosebumps. Before beginning the training for this race, I set three goals for myself. 1) I was going to enjoy this and lose weight. 2) I was going to run the whole thing...not walk at all.3) I wanted to run it in 75 minutes.

I accomplished all of those goals :) I did not stop running, I finished in 68 minutes and I have lost a significant amount of weight. I have truly come to enjoy running and have already signed up for 2 other events with intentions of signing up for even more

When I crossed the finish line, my friend Nikki was waiting there with her husband cheering me on. Kristin was finishing right behind me, and the two most important people were waiting at the end with smiles on their faces :)

Dust even videotaped it...that video coming soon!

We did it :)

Proud mama!

The runners and their men!

Kristin and I, after running 6.2 miles!

After mingling with the other runners, we walked out to the water and took some cute pics. It was a beautiful day! Beanie got to play in the sand for a bit (and LOVED it). We took a video of that too so I'll put it up as well.

L<3ve!

Beanie wearing 2 medals!

Obsessed with the sand!

Overall, it was a wonderful day. I am very proud of myself...and I have a very proud husband. I am on cloud nine!