it's the little things...

Sometimes the smallest things have the biggest impact.

Case in point:

The other day Kyle was sitting on the fireplace, Cannen was crawling all over the living room and I was chillin’ in the recliner. I decided to go sit in front of Kyle on the floor while Cannen explored the living room and worked on his basketball skills (video on that coming soon).

Anyway, Cannen was minding his own business while Kyle, with his arms draped around me, and I sat there and watched, discussing our day. All of the sudden Cannen looked up and gave us a big 4-toothed smile and crawled like the wind towards us. It was as if he simply could not wait to join us in our little embrace. He hurriedly crawled up my legs and onto my body and stood up in my lap and smooshed his little face into mine, all the while reaching up towards his Dad. He was squealing with delight the entire time, so happy to join us.

I laughed and laughed and my heart was so happy. It’s like he knew that we were his parents and that we all belong together, one happy little family.

Throughout the last 11 months I’ve experienced emotions I never thought I’d feel, I’ve loved deeper than I ever knew possible and had incredible moments that I’ll cherish a lifetime.

But this simple act of Cannen rushing towards us, like he couldn’t wait to join us, was one of the best moments of my life.

so we had an earthquake

On Saturday morning shortly after 2 a.m., Oklahoma had an earthquake. I did not feel the earthquake and felt like I really missed out on something. I complained to friends and family. I complained via Twitter. I complained to strangers. I said, "I WANNA FEEL AN EARTHQUAKE!".

Well, the ole adage, "Be careful what you wish for" became a truth in my life when later that day, at approximately 11:38 p.m. Oklahoma had the largest and strongest earthquake in the state's history, a whopping 5.6 on the Richter scale.

Kyle and I sat in the living room, wide-eyed while our entire house shook. "EARTHQUAKE!" he yelled as he took off for Cannen's room, taking down the picture that hangs over his bed. I jumped up and started walking around. In circles. Not quite knowing what to do. "EARTHQUAKE!" I yelled, to no one in particular. "We're having a freaking earthquake!" I said to myself. Then I prayed. Then I went outside to see if there was still an outside. Then I came back inside and sat down. Then I kept feeling little tremors. Then I freaked out.

I take it back. I never, ever want to feel an earthquake. Well, never again anyway.

not so little cannen ace

Well, of course, I haven't updated this ole blog in ages. My life is quite busy. Cannen is just a few weeks shy of 11 months and is a complete and total mess! He's so much fun.

Here's what's been going on.

He STILL won't say "Mama". Only a few times has he said it and I think it's just because he messed up saying something else! He says "Dada" all the time, though. I do have to admit that it's pretty darn sweet. He also repeats sounds and noises he hears ALL the time. It's quite funny!

Crawling...oh, crawling. He started out with this crazy little army crawl where he would pull with his right hand and tuck his left arm under. Then he'd push off with only his right foot/leg and the left dragged behind him. It was hilarious! Then, when we went to Balko for my 10 year reunion (Sept. 9) he started pulling up on everything and nearly crawling correctly. Now after a few weeks, he's crawling quickly and is all over the place. He's pulling up and "cruising" around. It's exhausting and a mess and I wouldn't change it for the world.

Playing Blocks with Pops, Taylor & Cade and other stuff

i love the 4th

Independence Day is my favorite holiday. I love patriotic songs, the ceremonies and fireworks. The food. The heat. The American flag flying!

We went to my parents house for the day and had a great time. Cannen was quite fussy so we headed home before dark and, much to my horror, I realized that we were NOT going to see any fireworks. The child in me cried. The adult that I am nearly cried. (I said nearly!)

As we made the trek home from north OKC, Kyle was so kind to point out that we would probably see fireworks on our drive home.

::rolls eyes::

But! Much to my surprise, he was right! In fact, we saw a lot of great fireworks. As we turned east on Tecumseh and neared our Norman home, I noticed an excellent display several miles north of us. So my sweet and uncharacteristically patient husband pulled on a side street, turned off the car lights and told me to enjoy.

And enjoy I did!

For about 15 seconds.

Then Cannen interrupted the fireworks show with some fireworks of his own...so Kyle flipped on the lights and we headed to the house.

::cry::

Oh well...I know Independence Day isn't really about fireworks, although it doesn't fully feel like the 4th of July without them. I can't help it - I just love those colorful explosions in the sky.

But, more importantly: I love America. I'm so thankful to the men & women that are fighting, have fought and have died for my freedom. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Cade, Cannen & Taylor (and the rest of us) had a great 4th! How did you celebrate?

Get the Bloopy. I mean the Blumpo. I mean the Bappy.

Kyle and I are totally new to this whole parenting thing. We've learned a lot of new words throughout the pregnancy and the last 4 1/2 months*.

Words like fundus. And anterior position. And colostrum. And mucus plug. (Ack! Sorry, I'll stop.) 

But one thing that neither one of us can master is what to call that little rubbery seat that Cannen loves.

Perhaps you know what I'm talking about? It's a Bumbo and even Microsoft Word recognizes it as an actually word.

You think we'd know what to call it since, oh, I don't know, it's WRITTEN ON THE APPARATUS. But neither one of call it by the correct name. Ever.

We're special.

Kyle and I have called it pretty much every weird "b" word we can. Bloopy. Bilpy. Bloppy. Babbo.

I think Cannen is looking at us saying, "It's Bumbo, you idiots".

Poor kid has weird parents.


----

*For some reason I wrote this two months ago but didn't post. And in fact, Cannen doesn't really need it anymore. But I still wanted to tell you that we're brand new and we get a good laugh at ourselves now and then.

I and Love and You

I am in love with this song right now!



I don't know why the player is so big...can't get it to shrink. I'm brand new. But whatever. Enjoy.

-Wendy

I hate that cancer stuff ...

My Dad has cancer and it 100% totally sucks.

And he’s not the only one in my family that’s had cancer.

My Papa had cancer.

My Grandpa had cancer.

My Auntie Sandy had cancer.

And now my dad has cancer.

I hate cancer.

So, I decided to participate in Relay for Life this year. The walk is on May 20 at the Norman High School track. 

I’m walking in honor of my family members. I'm walking with the hope to have cancer eradicated before it affects another member of my family.

I’m walking for those that can’t.

If you’d like to donate – please visit my personal page by clicking here. 

-Wendy

what has happened here?

We all know "having a baby changes everything" and I can tell you it is completly true. I've always been a bit of a neat-freak and constantly cleaned my house.

Now, not so much.

See?

But just for the record this was as bad as it ever got. Actually, I cleaned my house right after I took this picture. But still!

Cannen Ace {Update}

Been sick.

Getting better.

Lots of laughter.

Rolling front to back.

Smiling. All. The. Time.

Grasps & holds onto objects. 

He's an all-around awesome & happy baby.

-Wendy

Where the Wind Comes Sweeping Down the Plains

So, it's windy today.

Wheel Wishes

I’m an avid Wheel of Fortune fan. I never miss an episode. And no, I’m not 75.

If I do happen to miss an episode I don’t fret. Know why? Because I have my DVR to record the show. In HD.

So, it’s probably no surprise I want to go on the show. I need to be on that show. In preparation for my fictitious TV appearance, I play Wheel of Fortune on my iPhone. Daily.

I also got Kyle addicted to the game. 

Lots of times when we’re in bed but don’t want to sleep…what do we do? No, not that, silly.

We play Wheel!

He’s not very good, bless his heart.

For instance one time he thought the puzzle was "Albert Einstein" but it was actually "Corporate Espionage". Good one, Kyle.

Anyway, Wheel rocks. Like, totally.

Baby Laughs!

WARNING: Do not watch this if you are in a bad mood and don’t want to get out of it, you don’t like smiling, you think babies are uncool and/or you hate the sound of laughter.

Friday Favorites: Installment 1

Gather 'round folks.

I'm starting something new.

It's called Friday Favorites (creative, huh?) and each Friday I'm going to do my best to post one of my ... you guessed it, favorite things.

I'll give you a minute to process the awesomeness.

Anyway, tonight's the first installment. After pondering what my very first Friday Favorite would be I decided to highlight my favorite movie.

If you know me well, this is no surprise. My favorite movie of all time is...

{Spaceballs}

Good golly I.love.this.movie.

Here's one of my favorite clips.

And here's one two THREE of my favorite quotes. 

"I'm a mog: half man, half dog. I'm my own best friend!" - Barf

"What's the matter, Colonel Sandurz? CHICKEN?" - Dark Helmet

"WHAT? You went over my helmet?" - Dark Helmet

My bro and I could seriously quote the entire movie start to finish. It's a thing of beauty.

Thanks for indulging me! What's your favorite movie?

l o v e l o v e

Valentine's Day. {blech}

I'm really not a fan. I'm just not.

Calm down. I'm not heartless. I love love. Who doesn't? It's one of the greatest things in this life. But V-Day just doesn't do it for me.

Anyway, in the spirit of Valentine's Day, Sean & Mandy on Air1 radio gave this marriage & relationship tip the other day and it totally resonated with me.

::Demonstrate love::

It's so easy.

And so completely necessary.

http://rebeccamanneyphotography.com

I’m Not Narcissistic, Just Bored

Sometimes when it’s just me and Cannen at the house and he falls asleep in his swing and I don't want to clean or cook or fold laundry or read or watch TV...I get bored.

So I take pictures of myself.

Then he'll wake up so I take pictures of him.

And of us together.

Oh! Now I Get It

If you know my brother Nick well then you know he hates Snuggies. You know, those slightly silly, we're-all-gonna-wear-them-to-the-ballgame blankets with sleeves? Yeah. Those. That's what he hates. With a passion.

His level of hate is kinda remarkable, really. Kyle even wanted to buy him a Snuggie for Christmas just to make him mad. I didn't allow that to happen. I didn't want to put him over the edge.

Anyway, I was kinda in Nick's camp on the whole Snuggie issue. I didn't really get it. It's basically a robe worn backwards, right? So, why don't people just save some money and put their robe on backwards?

But today...I finally got it. I had Cannen all wrapped up in a wonderfully fuzzy blanket but he was not happy. Not one bit. And then it occurred to me...

HE COULDN'T MOVE HIS ARMS! THEY WERE TRAPPED INSIDE! He desperately needs a Snuggie.

See?

And, just for the record, Nick did not get his hatred of Snuggies from our parents. Here they are at the last 2010 tailgate proudly wearing their matching Snuggies.

Aren't they cute?

My Kid is a Genius

That's right. I'm putting it out there. Just like that.

See, this last Saturday we were in Weatherford for the SWOSU Bulldog game to cheer on Bud. Afterwards we went to a local restaurant and Pops (my dad), Gramps (Kyle's Dad), Kyle, Cannen and I were all at table together.

I had Cannen sitting on the table facing his two grandpas. My Dad started waving his fingers trying to get Cannen's attention. It worked. And then, right there in the middle of a mediocre Mexican restaurant, the most miraculous, astonishing and down-right fascinating thing happened: Cannen waved back.

People! The kid was only 10 weeks 5 days old at the time. This must be some kind of record or something. I know, I know, you want proof. But I don't have it.

You'll just have to take my word for it.

And Baby Makes Three...Read About My Life as a Mom!

I work at a pretty cool place that let's me brag about being a mom and Cannen and stuff.

Click here for the Wimgo blog post.

He's a great picture of my smiling boy!

Blessings -
Wendy

My How Time Flies!

Well, Cannen is 7 1/2 weeks old. I cannot believe it! Time really does fly by. It's amazing how much he's changed. He's cooing so much - the other day he said, "Ah-goo" and it just melted my heart! He also holds his head up high, kicks 'Tummy Time' in the butt and holds onto things with his tiny but strong hands. He's just a cool little dude.