Learning How to Whistle

Living Room Progress

On move-in day, our living room looked like this: 

It had to get worse before it could get better.  The first order of business was picking a new paint color:

Then our new sofa (and other furniture) was delivered:

Here's what the living room looks like now:

Here are the three projects we're still working on:

1. Have mantle built and installed.

2. Hang pictures and mirror.

3. DIY new-to-us chairs for either side of the end table.

I'm sure as soon as we mark off these three tasks, six more will magically appear ;)

Let's Go on a Date

Lance and I celebrated our 6th anniversary this month.  I found this gift idea on Pinterest and decided to take it and make it my own.  Here's what I came up with:

So we have 12 dates planned, one for each month of the next year.  Husband Man has to wait until the first of each month to open that month's date; it's the gift that keeps on giving!  I am super excited about all the fun dates I have planned!! 

Birthday Boy

On Caysen's actual birthday, we gave him his favorite treat, ICECREAM!! 

We decided to have his party a week later since we just moved into our house a month ago.  We're still not completely moved in, but I needed every day possible to get things put in place before the party!

Here are some pics from his "Very Hungry Caterpillar" themed party:

Thanks to my wonderful SIL for helping me make Caysen's party extra cute!!  And thanks to all the guests who came, Caysen had a blast and completely wore himself out! ;)

Funny Face

Our silly boy is so full of expression!  He still loves a good nose scrunch: 

And he loves the water!  It makes him go like this:

Here he is fake yawning:

And in this picture he is pleased as punch that he's getting pancakes for breakfast:

Let's not forget the "O Face":

 

He must think he's invisible when his shades go on because he gets completely still and quiet like this:

Silly boy!  How boring life would be without you.  ;)

Guest Room Progress

 I was going to call this post "Guest Room Before and After", but it's not really after yet since the room isn't completely put together (ie. bare walls, missing furniture).  But, we closed on our house about three weeks ago and things are slowly starting to come together.  The guest room is currently one of the most complete rooms in the house so I thought I'd post a little preview.

 Here is what the guest room looked like on move-in day:

I painted some swatches on the wall and put the bed together to see where I wanted to go with it:

Thanks to an idea from Pinterest, I DIY'd a window shutter headboard.  My parents have had the shutters in their attic (still in the wrapping) since they moved into their house when I was nine.  Nothing like a free headboard!!

After careful consideration, I decided I didn't like any of the swatches I chose, so I went with something different.  We picked up the paint last weekend and Hubby and I tackled the job today.  Here is the (sort of) finished product:

Here is the attached guest bath on moving day:

And, here it is now.  Definitely not a dramatic transformation, but I think it looks pretty cute:

So there you have it, one sort of complete room...10 or so to go.  ;)

Two.

Today, you are two! 

Exactly one year ago, we were getting ready to get on a plane in Taiwan to come home...with you.  :)

It may be your day for gifts, but you have been the most wonderful gift we could ever imagine and then some!  This past year has been so incredibly full of joy; what a blessing every single day has been!  We love you so much!!!

Here's what you've been up to:

You are starting to say more and more words like done, more, up, ball, snack, bot-bot, Papa, Gramps, book, get, boat, dog, and duck.  You'll pretty much copy anything you hear.

You can show us your ears, nose, mouth, and head.  :)

I don't know how much you weigh, but probably around 16 lbs.

You are getting so much better at eating solid foods!  You protest if we try to give you baby food!!

You still like to pretend yawn, but then it makes you yawn for real.  ;)

You realized that you can sit up on your own!  We had to break a habit of laying on your tummy to

play (I know most kids hate tummy time, but not you!).

You are still stuck to Mama like glue; I don't really mind. ;)

You have been sleeping great, 8:30 pm to 8:00 or 8:30 am and a 2 1/2-3 hour nap!

One of your favorite activities is running Zoey or Max down in your walker...we're working on that. ;)

 You can climb the stairs (with someone watching you of course)!

You wave Bye-bye.

You give smooches and pats on the back, love!

One year later, we still believe without a doubt that God gave us the most perfect baby boy for our family and we are so incredibly thankful!!