Girl Stuff

My friend Joanna has been living in Santa Monica the last few months so it has been fun to see her more than once a year.  We had lunch at this cute little restaurant I found in Pasadena called Abricott.

I had the most amazing steak salad.

Joanna and I used to work together at Stores Online.  She was the friend I bought my first Louis with, so she's pretty important :)

The other night a few of us had dinner at Sushi Roku to celebrate Laura's Birthday.

These girls are so great, love them all.

We saw Hunger Games at the most amazing movie theater ever.

It's hard to fathom what movie could cost $25, but when you sit down in the chair with your very own pillow, blanket, and button to recline the chair it all makes sense.  There is also a button on the table that calls the waiter for food, drinks, and popcorn.  It's a good thing Al doesn't like movies or it could get expensive:)

I loved Hunger Games and can't wait for the next movie to come out.  Happy Birthday Laura.

Birthday Toys

On Alex's actual Birthday we gave him our present which was a Cozy Truck.  Al claims it wasn't a Cozy Truck until he built it since it came in so many pieces.  It's a little bit higher than the car, so his feet don't quite touch the floor yet, but he loves it and he is obsessed with honking the horn which sounds like a semi truck...lol

I made him a Funfetti cake that he only got one bite of :)

He's learning to blow so it's hilarious to watch him with candles.  

Playing with some of his Birthday toys.... his lawn mower

Firetruck

and Farm.  Yay for Birthdays!!

Twelve Months

 12 Month Stats

Weight 21 lbs 8 oz 25th percentile (I'm convinced he lost weight while he had the flu and should have weighed at least 23 lbs)

Height 30.5 inches long 75th percentile

Head 46.5 cm 75th percentile

Woo hoo we made it 1 year!!

At 12 months Alex is......

Mimicking things we do like one day I had a bag from Zara and he carried it around until it was destroyed.  He put random thing in it like the remote, toys.  Does this mean he's been shopping too much?

Plays Peek A Boo with the shower curtain every night during bath time

Likes to hang out on the couch with us.

Let's me wipe his nose.  He will not be one of those kids with snot constantly running down their face, so gross.  

Around 11 months he learned how to stand up on his own instead of using the couch, chairs, or toys.

Likes to brush his teeth at night.  Start good hygiene early :)

When he gets mad or wants something he puts his head down on the floor and cries.

Loves to empty the drawers in the kitchen and run around the house with dish towells.  

New foods he likes:  Raisins, pizza, cheese, rice

Likes to feed himself.  If I try to put something in his mouth and he doesn't know what it is he will get mad until I let him do it himself, very independent.

Started using his tongue to make noises and talks like crazy.  I will post a video at the end of him talking to my mom over Skype.  

Still loves to click his tongue and will look at you everytime he does it to see if you will do it back.

Loves to push any kind of button especially car keys.

Hides things everywhere and it's usually our remotes....lol

Still obsessed with Baby Einstein.  I'm hoping it changes to something else soon.

Waves bye bye

Likes to rock in the rocking chair.
Learning how to blow.
Loves touch and feel books, but he still isn't into me reading them.  He likes to hold them and turn the pages.

Still nursing at bedtime.  Wish me luck at weaning him this month.

Getting all of his Molars.
Officially switched to 1 nap.....it took about 1 day.  His 1 nap is usually at 11 and lately it's only been 1 1/2 hours.  I hear stories about how kids are supposed to take 1 2-3 hour nap a day.  I guess he doesn't need a long nap, lucky me:)

 He has this new smile where he schrunches his nose, too cute.

1 Year Pictures

While we were in Utah I had Alex's 1 year pictures taken.  I'm still convinced that Utah is the best place to get pictures taken because everyone is a photographer there and it's sooooo cheap compared to LA.  I don't have the files yet so the resolution isn't great on these, but here are some of my favorite pictures from Alex's 1 year pictures.

The next one is my favorite.

The next one shows his personality perfect.  He is always walking around our house talking with his hands.  He's very expressive!!

Sick Days

I've kind of been slow the last couple weeks because we've all been sick. Without fail everytime we go to Utah one of us gets sick.  Next time we might have to wear masks.  Alex was in heaven with my mom.  She played and played and played with him.  He's been so bored since we've been home.

Getting to know Great Grandma Ranes.

Having some yummy Vietnamese food at one of my faves, Shanghai Cafe.

Alex ready for church in his outfit I bought him for Easter.  I couldn't resist letting him wear it early.

He went to bed late almost every night, so the insomnia was crazy.  He gets so funny when he's tired.

I spent hours making Marshmallow pops for the big birthday bash.  If you put them on wax paper they dry ugly, so I found styrofoam and went crazy.

Enjoying some St Patty's breakfast at Einstein's.

Al being a supportive husband helping me measure where to properly place the strawberries and marshmallow pops.

We got to eat at the Copper Onion with some old friends.

Last time we went to dinner with Chad and Danielle we both lived in Vegas and didn't have kids, crazy.

We went to Als' parents house for Sunday dinner and found ourselves in a Winter Wonderland.

I don't miss the cold or driving in the snow.

The last day we were there we had lunch at Chick Fil A.  Shortly after Alex got the flu and now we won't be eating at Chick Fil A for a very long time :( 

We debated staying another day or driving home that night and we decided to brave the drive.  Alex was such a good boy, watched Baby Einstein on his new tv we bought him for the car (best investment ever), slept, and only threw up once.   There is nothing more sad than seeing your baby sick.  We hit the worlds worst snowstorm in Beaver, I seriously was about to pass out from nervousness.

The last week has been like this.  He never lays still and this is all he wanted to do, so sad.

He even fell asleep on me.

We had popsicles and are still trying to get over whatever awful bug we caught in Utah.  

Alex Turns 1

The first guests signing Alex's book.

Alex is in his Cat In The Hat onesie with the number 1 on it.  I made a DVD of all the pictures from Alex's first year.  Al said something like is this a wedding?  haha, but as I recall it was his idea.

It's always fun with Grandma Ranes!!

This blog would be really long if I uploaded every picture that was taken in the photo booth, so here are just a few.  Megan and I 

Lexi and Chad

Josh, Danielle, and Crue

Vai,  Jessica, and Andrea

Denise, Ryan, Cade, and Deaven

Mary, Rolf, and Blake

Nikki, Kaj, Briyler, Ryker, Kajsen, Kinley, and Baby #5 on the way!!

The Birthday Boy (yes I had us wear red and blue for Dr Seuss)

The Bush Family (thanks for all your help Ton)

Great Grandpa and Grandma White

The Party

The Presents

Alex totally overwhelmed

Al's favorite present

Alex's favorite card from Grandpa Cameron.  He is still playing with it 1 week later...I keep hoping the monkeys will stop shrieking every time he opens it.

The Smash Cake.  I tried to teach him how to blow out a candle, but we are still working on it:)

He wasn't quite sure what to do at first, so I stuck his hand in the cake and then he got the hang of it.

He hasn't really had sugar, so he was wired about an hour after the party, running in circles, laughing.  It was crazy.  

Enjoying his new toys.

and playing with the decorations that didn't get to stay up long enough.  

It came, it passed, and it was the best birthday ever.  Thanks to everyone that came to celebrate with us.