Best Daddy Award

I have the most amazing husband. When Colin was born, Kevin was able to take 6 weeks of paternity leave to spend with us. It was so great! I can't even tell you what a special time it was.

Well, ever since he went back to work the last week of January, he has been working like mad. Then he started travelling...a lot. Just this year he has taken 3 trips to Stuttgart, Germany, 2 trips to Jakarta, Indonesia, a trip to Dubai and a trip to Moscow. Each trip usually consists of 4-5 working days in the country and then travel time on either end. Keeping in mind that it takes a long time to get to each of these crazy places (Jakarta = DFW-san francisco, san francisco to hong kong, hong kong to Jakarta...36+ travel time EACH WAY!!) and that he has been taking several of these trips back to back, well, you can see why I haven't seen much of him.

Needless to say it has been a crazy last few months. I've missed him. When he has been home, he's either been prepping for a trip or doing recap work from a trip or more often, he's been doing both at the same time and working 15+ hour days and weekends.

Kevin is currently on his last trip of the season. He's in Jakarta and he's coming home FOR GOOD on Friday. I am ridiculously excited about having him around again. Who knows? Maybe we'll even go on a date :)

I am so thankful for Kevin and how hard he is working for our family. He is so amazing. He works so hard. I am closest to him and even I don't truly understand how hard it is for him to travel so much and work as many hours as he does. I just love him so much and look forward to seeing him more often (hopefully!) He still has lots of work to do, but at least he won't be travelling :)

My two favorite boys!

Kevin is so great with Colin! I couldn't have asked for a better husband and father! Here's to the best daddy!

Funny Eating Habits

Colin is the quirkiest eater! As posted previously, he did very well on his first cereal eating, but since then feeding him has been such a challenge! We've tried it all and it comes down to this: he gags on rice cereal...he hates it! I still feed it to him, but I have to "dress it up" with lots of yummy stuff to get him to swallow it. I don't know what to do with this kid! I took these pictures while he was eating peas and pears and I just think his face is hilarious!

He's not happy!

Doesn't want to swallow!

Now he's getting mad!

Other Random Pics

Colin is loving his new 6 month toys from his Grandma Grady...thanks Grandma!

While in Utah, we went to Cheesecake Factory - yum!

Colin loves playing with Nana's toys!

We also went to Orange Country Mining Company

sadly disappointing steak but great company and a great view!

Happy Birthday Grandma Donna!

Grandma Donna turned 90 last week and we had a big birthday bash in her honor. We celebrated 90 years of service, love, and hard work with a Chinese lunch (her favorite and a family tradition) with close family and then an open house for the extended family.

My cousins Dallin and Daniel (brothers, not twins!)

Grandma and Uncle Dale (who was also celebrating his 60th bday)

My cousin Shannon and her new husband Eric and my cousin Tyler's wife AmiCheri

The newly engaged Mitch and Stacie

Steve and Colin

Steve and Dad playing with their iPhones (as always)

Mom, me, Colin, and Grandma

My cousin Bekah and her adorable little girl Kennedy

Me and one sleepy baby!

My mom and Kennedy

My Aunt Kathy and her granddaughter Danielle

Steve, Grandma Donna, and Mom

My Uncle Jerry and Colin

At the Open House...

Grandma Donna and her brother President Packer

Ruth's Diner

Have you ever watched Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives (especially late at night), seen a restaurant that tickled your fancy and VOWED to go there someday (see post about the Salt Lick restaurant in Austin) ? Well, these vows are SACRED and are only second to my marriage vows. Yes, people, this is a food tribute post.

On my trip to Utah I was able to scratch a restaurant off my must-eat-here-before-I-die list. Ruth's Diner has been conquered! I have now experienced their mile high biscuits. I love biscuits and gravy and that just happens to be what they are famous for. I am just so thankful that I was able to guilt my brothers into taking me :)

Steve and his amazing looking omelet

Kevin and his cinnamon roll french toast

Mmmmmm....biscuits and gravy

My roommate Jessica wisely advised me to ask for a table on the patio and it was soooo beautiful! The diner is located just minutes up Emigration Canyon in Salt Lake City and is surrounded by gorgeous trees and mountains. How I miss the mountains!

Dear Texas - GROW MOUNTAINS! Thank you!

Not only was the food and the location good, it was so much fun to catch up with two of my brothers (Mark had to stay in CA and work). Steve lives in Florida and Kevin is still at BYUI, so it isn't everyday that I get to see these guys!

I wish we lived closer to each other...we have so much fun when we get together!

We're Back!

I just got back from another great trip home to California! Kevin was in Moscow and it happened to be my grandmother's 90th birthday so I packed up the baby (AGAIN!!!) and flew home for a week+ of visits, family time, and reconnecting with friends. Colin has proven to be a great little flier...this was his third roundtrip and he did great again. It really is such an exhausting process, though.

Anyway, I was able to see soooo many people! The big birthday bash was in Utah, so after a day of flying, we hopped in the car for a 10 drive. Colin didn't handle that part so well, but then again I can't blame him! Two travel days in a row are hard on anyone, let alone a baby - a big thanks to my family for being patient with him!

With only 2 days, we had to really pack in the fun. I had so much fun visiting my former roommate Jessica ROGERS Ivins and her awesome husband Reece who just had the most adorable little baby boy named James. While holding their week old baby and watching Colin play with their daughter Lola I realized how much Colin has grown! He's ginormous :) It is so much fun to visit old friends and see your kids play together (well, as much as Colin can play with other kids that is).

Lola and Colin

Doesn't she look amazing just a week after giving birth?

I was also able to spend a couple hours with my dear friend Chrisy Hains and her son Marshall. Chrisy and her husband Will became our friends in Williamsburg during Kevin's first year of law school when Will was getting his MA in History at William and Mary. We instantly bonded over living in the same dumpy, crime-ridden, leaky/often flooded apartment complex! Will is now also an attorney, but we haven't been able to convince them to move to Texas!

Don't we look like sisters? No? Well, I think we do :)

Marshall and Colin

Six Months

Colin is six months old and such a big boy!

As many of you know, Kevin has been travelling A LOT (Stuttgart, Germany, Dubai, and Jakarta in the past 2 months and is headed to Russia and back to Jakarta in the next month). Well, on his trip to Jakarta he had a day lay over in Hong Kong and came home with the cutest little outfit for Colin. Of course, it is supposed to fit a 2 year old Chinese child, but oh well! Isn't it ADORABLE?

Colin is an expert roller and rolls from one side of the room to the other. He also loves to roll in his crib. The first night he did this he ended up with the blanket over his head...needless to say, he sleeps without blankets in a little sleep sack.

He is sitting up all by himself. He still topples over every once in a while, but he is so ridiculously proud of himself it makes me laugh!

Although they have yet to be captured on camera, Colin has two "teefers" that came in about two weeks ago.

This kid has so many quirks! One of my favorite is the fact that he has a "kicking leg"...He only kicks or bounces his left leg. It's been this way since birth and cracks me up.

He still likes to give me concerned looks.

He also loves the heat and being outside. Yesterday at church his grandma was trying to get him to sleep so she walked him outside and he promptly passed out. Three different times she tried to walk back inside and every time the air conditioning hit him he woke up angrily. Funny kid! Not sure where he gets this one - Kevin and I keep our house at a brisk 71 degrees!

Six Month Stats

28 in long (95th percentile)

18 lbs 2 oz (50th percentile)