Life's little accomplishments

According to Taylor, I need to post more....(Now Taylor, I expect to be seeing some pictures of a special day you and Erin shared a few weeks ago!!!) For those who blog-stalk daily - here are some little tidbits of life as it evolves in my little household. My handsome son is going through another growth spurt and woke up on Sunday at 5:30AM - which threw off his sleeping schedule - and we didn't quite make it all the way through church. So we headed home early - but the good news is...... He took two separate naps - both 2-3 hours long!!! And yes, I got to take little naps as well!!! I love Sundays! Here we are on our way home from church. On Saturday - my friend Erica and her son Bentley were able to join us on a little excersion to find me some new shirts.... I'll explain that a little later. But while we were taking advantage of a GREAT sale at Old Navy - we found some really cute Halloween outfits and we just HAD to try them on with the boys. Bentley was a dragon, and LJ was a monkey.... fitting, I know!


NOW - for the exciting news that is not about LJ!!!! The Army has some weird requirements when it comes to the weight scale for most women... and since having my son, I have been struggling with getting back down to standards for the military (I know most women have problems losing the baby weight - but I had a deadline with the military). But thanks to my doctor, I've been able to do a diet program that has been working AMAZINGLY!!! In the past 6 weeks - I've lost a total of............................................................................ 33 LBS!!!!! Can you believe it!!! I'm so excited about it. And I'm not done! I'm continuing to work towards a weight goal of 185 - which I haven't been since high school. And do not worry, I am under doctor supervision, so even though it's a lot of weight in a short amount of time, I'm being watched closely. If you want to get hooked up with the same deal, just let me know - and I can help you get some discounts! Anyway - Erica went with me on Saturday because I needed some new shirts. Only shirts because I'm not done losing weight, so I wanted to hold off on buying pants and such. Even though I did use a pair of pants off the rack that would semi match all the shirts I was trying on. And guess what?!?! For the FIRST time EVER... I had to ask for a smaller size of pants!!! YAHOOOOOOOOO.... I was so excited! Normally I have to ask for a larger size. Ok - so here are some of the shirts that I got. Now I have the task of finding undershirts since most of these were a little low cut. But I still had a fun time with Erica - even though the boys were getting a bit cranky towards the end. Thank you very much for going with me Erica and for helping find these great deals and styles of shirts!!! And a big THANK YOU to Valerie Ross for telling us about that AMAZING sale... $4 for Old Navy shirts.... Who Wouldn't GO!!! Along with my little accomplishment of weight loss, LJ has finally decided to show other people that he can move forward - typically only towards a remote (yeah, he's a little man.... gotta love the tv remote!) - and Hollie gave me the idea to catch him on video - she got some really cute ones of him on Friday (or was it Thursday? I don't know...) So he may not be completely Army crawling - but at least he's figured out that moving around is beneficial to his goals of capturing his toys... even though the remote isn't his toy.

The growing months

For those who all ready knew - you can skip this first part as I explain this picture...

On 24 August - I tore my right quad muscle - and let me tell you what.... IT HURT! - and it still does. I wasn't able to walk much at all - even with crutches - (mostly wheelchair) for the first week - but while at work, instead of trying to get the chair into the bathroom, I'd just crutch myself very slowly. And since they were just sitting there... one of the guys I work with decided that he would entertain us a little and found this random hat that's been in our office and a little flag - he pulled up his leg - and here's what we got!!!



Raz.... quite the entertainer - and much appreciated in the job that we do!


My Dad was able to come down and help me out with things - helped coach my volleyball girls for the first couple of days - and then I went with him as well to watch my old high school and they played over in Nampa for a tournament. Here is Jonathan getting some much desired Grandpa Time!



Now I all ready posted about my newest nephew, Taylor, but I didn't add the pictures of my little man while we were up there in Couer d'Alene.



My sister gave into the pressure of kitty kats... and she has a couple of characters!!! Gideon and (i can't remember the other one's name) - anyway - it's the one that I can't remember its name that was always on my bed and so LJ got the oppotunity to cuddle with a kitty!





And wouldn't ya know.... my mom's dog had more puppies! And since they were only a day or two old - she had to bring them up with her... Aren't they cute little weiners...



After our short plane ride back to Boise (I love the 50 min flights!!!) we got to spend a little time just hanging out before I went to my volleyball game. Isn't this guy just getting big!





What man doesn't like to have his clothes off... I swear - this kid would be naked all the time if you let him.... And it's only just begun!!!



In the early hours of the morning, it's not very often that he wakes up now before I go to work until I pick him up to drop him off at Hollie's - but a few morning he does. However, he is still so tired and not awake yet that he has a hard time staying upright. Here he is working on his "come hither" bedroom look... what do you think? Does it work?



These next two are just hilarious. He really is a tired little boy - and doesn't wake up too fast in the mornings.... He was barely holding up his head... I just love it!






My little punk rocker lookin' sweet boy... I'm excited to keep watching him grow.

Taylor Bryce Armstrong

Over Labor Day weekend - I was able to attend the baby blessing of my newest nephew, Taylor Bryce Armstrong!!! My oldest sister, Tera (mother of Owynn, Bryant ~BryBry~, and Skylar) had her 4th child - and gave our mom the best birthday present - on August 13th!!! Check out this handsome little man...







Great Grandpa got in a little snuggle time with Taylor on Saturday afternoon when they finally arrived in Couer d'Alene.



Taylor, in his completely oversized blessing outfit - but he's still so stinking cute!!!!







Welcome to the Piper clan little Taylor buddy!!! And good luck keeping up with your siblings!!!

Very late - but finally posting...

SHANDY VOGT PHOTOGRAPHY!!!

Shandy was able to fit LJ and I in for his 6 month mark - and it was so much fun walking around 8th Street Marketplace and just finding little places to set him down and get some great shots....

So without further delay - check them out!!!

Where did August go?!?!?!?!

The time has come and gone - and the fall time is fast upon us. Jonathan is getting closer to crawling - which means sports are just around the corner!!! (I'll try to be patient while he at least learns how to walk)... But we've enjoyed the time to grow together as a little family.

In the peaceful hours of the early morning - I am always amazed just how incredible it is to just look at him. AND...... this was that last morning that he got to sleep in my bed!!! Yup - that's right - he sleeps across the house now!!! It only took him a couple of nights and then he figured out that I wasn't coming with each little cry so he might as well just stay asleep!!!




Some days after working and coaching - it's nice just to relax and hang out together on the floor. I have such a sweet boy - and here he is showing off his flirts!






A MAJOR BLESSING IN OUR LIVES!!! An immeasurable THANK YOU goes to Hollie and Caleb. Without them, I don't know where I'd be. It is completely evident that they both love my little man, and I'm so blessed to have them be a part of his development and growth. And Caleb is continually practicing to become a big brother someday!






And wouldn't you know - this little one found that it's easy to put his toes in his mouth!!! What's even more comical is when he bites his toes with his teeth - and then gets mad because it hurts - and turn around and do it again! It cracks me up!!!




After church - just chillin on the floor being a big boy by sitting up and entertaining himself!!!



Another BIG BIG BIG THANK YOU goes to Erica, Spencer, and Bentley. They helped me out so much the last week of August after I tore my quad and was unable to do much of anything - let alone take care of LJ very well. They stayed the night and took care of him during the night and dropped him off to Hollie in the mornings... Bentley was an awesome help in trying to teach LJ how to crawl - so hopefully we'll have the two chasine each other before too long!

But with all the crawling and exploring around - Bentley deserved a much needed nap - and what better place than in a puff bag - that's nearly 10x's bigger!!!