The Story of Us

We've moved... follow our family adventures at www.4spinnings.blogspot.com

Coming Home.

Yes, once again - my blogging is non existant. I wont be making any promise that I will be better about blogging. Because obviously I completely suck at keeping that promise. I will however try to blog more than once a year! That I think I can do. So much is going on our little life, it's to important not to blog about. On that note…

Vinny and I are finally in the process of doing something we have worked so hard to do. We are buying our first home. I am absolutely so excited about this adventure we are going on, but I think Vin is like a kid on Christmas morning. All he has ever wanted is to give our family our own home, something that is ours, and we did it. He did it! He never gave up and worked so hard to better his career, so we could get here! We close March 8, 2012 - and it couldn't come fast enough. 

This is what I call my “affordable dream home” I am so excited for this adventure. It's a scary thing to purchase your first home, doubling what you pay in rent. But it will be SO WORTH IT! I am obsessed with paint colors, window treatments, furniture… it's so fun to plan! So thankful for my wonderful husband who works hard, commutes everyday and makes sacrifices so we can stay in the valley with the comfort of family, doctors, babysitters, schools, friends, and my career. I am a very lucky girl!

Really?

...really, it's been FOUR months since my last post. SHAME ON ME! I better get back to this blogging. Start fresh! I'll be back soon with a few posts...

The Birthday Boy!

DEREK @ 1 YEAR

 

After nine minutes of pushing on March 11, 2010 @ 3:39 a.m. We welcomed our little guy into our world. I can not believe it's been a year, and a fantastic year it's been. I am having a bitter sweet sort of day. Vin and I decided we would only have two children, and we are so lucky to have one of each. I am feeling a little sad today, because I realize that my last baby is growing up. I want him to stay my baby for as long as possible. He is the sweetest little boy and I am so blessed that he is apart of my world. He brings so much joy to me everyday. 

Let me tell you a few things about this little DUDE!

HE LOVES his mommy...he is becoming quite the mama's boy. If it was up to him, he would have me in his eyesight at all times. 

He absolutely ADORES his big sister. AVAH can make him laugh like no one else. He lights up when she walks in the room, and all he wants to do is play with her, and her things, most of the time she allows it.

HE loves to go to bed, especially at night. Bedtime for this little guy is a piece of CAKE! 7:30 hits, and it's time for a milk and then soon after to his bed. He practically jumps out of your arms when you walk into his room. But like clock work, he is up at 6:30 a.m. HAPPY AS CAN BE!

Derek - six months.

HE looks just like his DADDY! Spittin' image. (Although I get some “he looks just like you Lindsay” every once in a while.)

HE loves to play with toys...ANY toys. His favorite thing to do is drop his bobby (aka binker) behind, into, out of anything he can get his hands on... he will sit and do this forever. 

HE will eat EVERYTHING. He loves FOOD. I am not sure I can break it down to ONE food he really LOVES. Because he really does like everything. A few would be soup, pasta, hamburgers, french fries, chicken and veggies...

   

HE has PERFECTED crawling. Not so much WALKING. He has taken many steps, but still is a little scared to fully commit. He has also found his LOVE for stairs. 

HE has SIX teeth, four on the top and two on the bottom (with two more coming through on the bottom). Don't be FOOLED when he smiles, it looks like he is missing a top tooth, no worries, that's just a BIG GAP!! We can thank Vin's side of the family for that!!

HE loves to PRETEND to talk on the phone.

HE can say MA MA and DA DA, and occasionally I swear he says AVAH. 

HE is a BIG sweetheart. He LOVES hugs and gives the BEST kisses.

Dear Derek,

I can't BELIEVE that an entire year has passed since the your first day here on earth. You have brought so much joy into our lives. You are my last baby, and I will CHERISH every moment that I have had and continue to have for the rest of our lives. I know you are going to be something GREAT in this world. Remember, the world is YOURS if you let it. You can do ANYTHING you set your mind to, don't ever give up and always do your best. There are so many emotions I have today. I love you with all my heart and soul, and there is NOTHING I wouldn't do for you. Be happy, be strong, be respectful, but most of all BE YOU!

I love you little buddy. Happy FIRST birthday!

Love, 

Your mommy

 

 

Christmas 2010 Part 2

They may not look it, but yes, these are two very excited little 3 year olds on Christmas morning...

Tell me that is not a face of pure excitement. Just exactly what she wanted...

And here is that pink guitar, just what she asked Santa for...

Which she has not put down since Christmas morning... She is totally rockin'.

 

So I was so consumed by Avah Christmas morning, and her pure excitement, I didn't get one pic of Derek, What kind of mother am I? Seriously... This is the best I got. But it's the two of them, the loves of my life. Oh and how much does she love her little brother! 

Christmas 2010

WOW! Is Christmas really over? I can not believe how fast the month of December went. The anticipation of Christmas was so fun this year. Avah is at the age of understanding the magic of this wonderful holiday! She finally was ready to visit Santa, there was no crying, or frightened three year old, just a happy excited little girl, ready to tell Santa she wanted a pink guitar. 

Avah brought home reindeer food with sparkle dust to to help the reindeer keep up their strength to fly. She has been waiting to sprinkle this on the lawn for the last two weeks. She was so excited to go out and finally do it!! Later that evening when we got home from our xmas eve party, she walked right out to see if it was still there. She couldn't see it anymore - SHE PANICKED. She immediately ran up to her room and said, I have to go to bed, I have to go to bed. Santa has already been here... It was pretty funny! Love this girl.

One of my favorite traditions is Christmas Jammies. I LOVE this. This year my cute nephew Jack got to spend Christmas with us. It was so fun to have two little three years olds running around getting ready for Santa to come! 

(Note the look on Avah's face. She didn't think she had a top, just pants.)

Jack and Avah, preparing cookies for Santa and celery and carrots for the reindeer.

My sweet, sweet children. I love these two so much, they bring so much joy to my life.

*Avah, 3.5 years - Derek, Almost 10 months.

 

9 Months... Already?

Yes it's true, my little boy, my last born, one of two loves of my life, is NINE months. I can not believe it either. Where are earth has the time gone? It feels like yesterday (really) that I was watching (trying to watch) Hurt Locker, and I was starting to have contractions...

This little guy melts my heart. The joy he gives me is hard to put into words. I don't mind waking up early on Saturday mornings with him. It's our time, just me and my little boy. I also don't mind when he cries in the middle of the night and he comes into my bed... when he does sleep in his own bed all night long. I miss him. He loves to laugh, and LOVES his big sister. He can light up a room when he is happy, and you know when he is not. He has a bit of temper that is starting to emerge, but I love it. He loves trying new foods. He pretty much will not eat baby jar food anymore, he would rather the good stuff off my plate. He doesn't like to be left alone, and will crawl to where ever he hears noise. He has found the love for stairs, and thinks it's ok to climb them... (got to stair number four today with grandma...gates are up.) He LOVES toys, and loves to sit on your lap while playing with them. He pulls himself up on everything, and loves to let go, and boy is he proud of himself when he does so, and he makes sure you are watching every moment. He is beginning to walk around the couches holding on, and getting more daring everyday. Don't let his chunkiness fool you, he may look like a big boy, but he is only in the 40th percentile in weight, and 4, yes I said FOUR in height, which means he is 19 lbs and 26 inches. OH! Did I mention he has two front teeth... Goodness, I love this boy.

 

Sophie and Lou Boutique

My sister and I along with our mamma have started a boutique on Etsy. We are so excited to finally be doing this. This is something that we have talked about, and been wanting to do for some time now. I have to give the credit to my sister Jayme for jump starting this little business. She started creating these amazing handmade items, which inspired me to start the logo design. Between the two of us I think we have started something amazing! Our mom is also involved... she will be contributing her amazing sewing/design skills which you can see in the above picture. She made the skirt... We call this fabulous little item Little Miss Sassy Holiday Skirt. 

You can see how perfect this skirt is for our two little sassy girls, who are the inspiration for this boutique... Sophie and Lou.

We hope you start following us on facebook and check out our Etsy  shop, you can also follow us here... we have adorable items for girls of all ages... even this adorable stocking that is perfect for the holidays!

PASS IT ON AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

First Family Photoshoot!

Yes, I did say the first. I know, I am a terrible mom/wife/person. I never did get family pictures when it was just the three of us. I never did get the pictures I wanted while I was pregnant with Derek and it was still just the three of us. Most of the reasons for me not getting pictures done, was I couldn't find a photographer that I loved, and was reasonable in price, second - because of how I looked. I have been trying to lose weight, and I am not having very much success, I need to work harder... and I will. But in the mean time, I wasn't about to let another year go by with out documenting it in a professional way. Because yes, I do have a beautiful family. I am so lucky to have the most adorable kids, and the perfect husband (as perfect as someone can be.) SO!! The next time we do family pics, I will be smaller, BUT still as lucky and as happy as I am now!! Having said all of that. Here are some of our favorites... 

Shawn Loveland Rodeback - Photographer

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

  
 
 
   

 

 

Just some of my favorites.
 
 
 
   

More Derek at 2 Months

 

 I snapped a couple pics today while Vin was home for lunch... I just love this picture... these three people are so precious to me. I feel so blessed.

 

 

  
  May 2010: Avah Lou - 3 years Derek D - 2 months