i knew i liked sandra bullock

i've had a place in my heart for sandra bullock ever since i saw her in "while you were sleeping" (still one of my all-time favorite movie). maybe it helps that i can pretend we're in some way similar because she comes off as a down-to-earth yet beautiful brunette (who doesn't want to pretend they relate to that?) but i'm all the more impressed with her now that she appears to be as genuine and real off-screen as she is on.

i applaud her selflessness in giving $1 million to Haiti relief efforts (her earnings from "the blind side," which i loved her in as well). however, i probably could have done without the rant at the end about how hollywood is so noble and always stepping up to the plate {gag} (but, because we disagree on this point, i can pretend it never happened, right?).

first steps?

my friend autie posed a great question on her blog the other day:

how do you determine what day they start walking?

for the past week we've been debating how to make the official call on when christian took (or takes) his first steps. i think we might call it for today, feb. 16. since i was the only one home at the time i may have to wait and have shane or kayla confirm my decision when christian gets up tomorrow. but still, exciting stuff! he's so close either way. he still laughs as he goes so he's obviously not taking it as seriously as we all are. ;)

sippy cup

this boy cracks us up ALL the time. here he is stubbornly keeping his sippy cup from leaving his mouth for nearly 10 mins. he wasn't drinking from it, merely playing around and working his teeth on it. maybe he just didn't want his time in the high chair to end? i walked away and came back and he was still at it. funny kid. finally he gave way with a big smile. {we have ikea to thank for the "frog-like" bib and sippy combo. too bad the matching bowl didn't make it in the picture}

surviving the snow

i'd say we held up pretty well during "snowmaggeddon" and "snowpocalypse" or whatever you want to call the historic snowstorms we've dealt with over the past week or so. {after loading up on goodies from trader joes, we were good to go.} although, by day four we were pretty stir crazy. federal offices (along with many others) closed halfway through the day on friday, feb. 5 and didn't reopen till friday, feb. 12 we we spent a lot of time indoors altogether. christian didn't know what to do with himself with all of us around full time. his napping schedule was totally off and he lost his appetite for a bit too (although it probably didn't help that during our time indoors he came down with a violent stomach virus that left him puking eight times in one evening).

our parking lot after the second round of snow. not as bad as the first but still pretty bigtime for DC {confession: we got caught without a snow shovel -- we had never needed one before in the four-plus years since we have lived here}

finally, nearly a week after the first snowflake hit the ground, we got some sunshine and stretched our legs a bit

christian was sure anxious to get out. in fact, he REFUSED to come back in once we let him out on the balcony to see the sights

he had no fear of getting around on the snow. even reached his hands out to catch the snow melting off the roof -- till he figured out how cold it was!

eating spaghetti

daddy's old shoes

shane's sweet mother saved several of his baby gear for his posterity. lately christian has been modeling his dad's now-vintage shoes. they are a tad heavier than most baby shoes these days but he still manages to get around in them.



did i mention that he LOVES the kitchen these days, with all its cupboards and drawers to explore? he even gets on his tiptoes to try and grab the dishwasher switch. we have such a blast watching him figure things out.

10 months

hard to believe this little guy has been out of my stomach as long as he was in. i'm totally in denial that he hits one year in april.

we didn't get much of a photo shoot in today so these will have to do. even if the lighting is a little off, he's still stinkin' cute.

what he's up to these days:

• claps his hands for joy, gives high fives (down low) -- clapped the other day when he heard me walk in the door after work -- smart boy!
  
• plays "peek-a-boo" all by himself -- meaning, he holds the blanket and pulls it up and down
• cruises ALL OVER the place
• uses his four teeth (two top, two bottom) to chomp big bites he can't even chew out of everything -- especially bananas
• babbles, babbles, babbles -- he happily gabs all day long
  
• never tires of opening cupboards, although his favorite spot is the drawer under the oven with all the noisy pots and pans
• sneaks right up the the toilet to splash in the water if we don't keep the doors closed
• laughs his head off when we try to get him to walk to us -- thinks it's a total game
• loves watching and popping bubbles we blow for him
• gets a hold of the tv remote and promptly points it AT THE TV and PUSHES all the buttons (and squeals when we take it away)
• bounces his mini soccer ball to you and catches it when you bounce it back
• enjoys smashing any block towers we build up -- he's all about the demolition these days
• still into ANYTHING water related (maybe that's his draw to the toilet?) -- loves baths, showers and anything in between (can't wait to get this kid in the pool!)
• still sticks everything in his mouth -- including dirt from our plants on the balcony
• favorite spot to be is on shane's shoulders -- most of the time he's holding shane's ears
  
• gives wet, open-mouthed kisses
• still loves to cuddle when he's ready for sleep
• "reads" his board books aloud to us while turning the pages
• still prefers sleeping in OUR bed, but is sleeping in his crib more than before
  

yippee!!

christian and i had a moment of clapping today to celebrate the news that my sister, megan, had successfully delivered her first baby -- a little boy named max.

so here's a little shout out to auntie megs -- way to go!! and, of course, to her husband, davey -- congrats, guys!!

megan and christian at christmas time

for those wanting a bit more info on max evan guerrero's arrival, here ya go: 8 lbs, 9oz., 21 inches long. born at 4:20 p.m. on feb. 8. happy, healthy, and hairy.


this means shane and i now have SIX nephews and no nieces. {however, we did receive word this week that those numbers will soon change -- my sister, chelsea, is expecting a little girl come july!)

playing at the park

christian wearing his dad's old shoes

a couple of weeks ago, christian and i made our way across the border to maryland to bake bread with our good friends the christensens.

while there we took advantage of a nearby playground and christian happily tried to keep up with the "big kids" -- ches and ellie christensen. (sadly, i didn't think to get any of me with my dear friend tiana and her cute prego belly!)*

ellie's not sure what to think of christian's cold hands on her face

ches digging with all his might along with his friend damian

ellie shows christian how to go down the slide

getting around like a big kid (sigh!)

cute ellie being her silly self

*i know i said i have no access to photos till i find my camera cord (yes, still missing!) but these were taken on my blackberry (hence they are a tad blurry) and i just rediscovered them during lunch today (yea!).

already behind for 2010

yes, i know i haven't posted anything since christmas. i've got to find my silly camera cord so i can get all the pics i took off my camera and onto my computer. so frustrating. i've been all excited to blog lately too.

so here's a shot taken by my sister on christmas morning, just for kicks:

i think it might be one of my new favorites. christian sure made for a cute and cuddly christmas elf.