You'll NEVER Guess...

So you'll never guess what I bought for Taya at the grocery store yesterday...

A motorcycle magazine! HA!

She's OBSESSED with motorcycles and bikes and always looks at our magazines for bikes in them :) So I did her a favor and bought this magazine FULL of motorcycles! She couldn't love it any more! It's so cute, she just sits on the couch and says "woooowww" and "whuusss at?" to every single motorcycle. Cameron is excited because he thinks maybe this will help his chances of getting a motorcycle someday, haha.

Lounging on the couch flipping through the pages

Happy 25th!!

It's official, I'm old... or something like that. Today was my birthday. Started out the celebration at the doctor's office with a delicious glucose drink and a needle stuck in my arm. Happy Birthday eh? :) Went to lunch with friends (thank you!!), Mickell made delicious cupcakes, got a nap, went to the zoo and finished with a movie. Thanks everyone for a great birthday! ... Including Taya, who slept until 7:00 AND had a 2 1/2 hour nap today, which is pretty rare these days! I seriously never thought I'd see the day where I'd actually say I got to "sleep in" until 7:00. Ridiculous. Anyway, thanks for all of your phone calls and beautiful songs that were sung on my voicemail. :)

And since a post really isn't that great of a post unless there's pictures (unless it's Jami's Bachelor Blog which is a hilarious must read :) ) ...

This is me and Taya at the zoo today with the monkeys in the background...

This is Taya's best buddie, Cammie. She LOVES her!! Taya follows her around and gives her loves all the time! This is from last week at the zoo...

Taya watching Cammie do her elephant impression...

For some reason Taya has been obsessed with camels lately. Kind of random! She always looks at her animal book and reaches out to hold the camels, but gets so frustrated that she can't. Every time I video chat with anyone she always see's the skype logo (which has a camel in it) and says "ooohhh wuuusss aaaattt?" ...

I love taking Taya to the zoo, she LOVES the animals. The whole ride there she makes elephant noises and says "rhino", I think mostly because that's the only animal that's pretty easy to say :)

Potty Training

Taya is doing SO good on the potty!! I haven't wanted to fully train her yet because I'm going to Utah the end of the month (YES!!!), but she's basically been doing it all on her own! She won't keep her pants on at home so she's either been running around half naked or sometimes I can get her to wear panties. No accidents though, I can't believe it! I've even left the house a few times and come back and she's still been dry. She's been so good at telling me when she needs to go, but still just likes to look at her magazines so sometimes she sits on the potty A LOT! Gets annoying, but it's funny. She flips through my US Weekly and looks at the motorcycles and bikes :) I think we'll have to purchase her a bike for her birthday for sure! Here's a few pictures of our big girl!

I love this picture... "um, excuse me Mom, I'm using the bathroom". haha!

So into her potty book.

Biggest Loser Update...

Apparently I can't or shouldn't say too much because the network likes to keep things secret, but Cam's interview went good yesterday. We won't know anything for a little while, but we're still hoping he'll make it on the show and are so excited to find out!

BIGGEST LOSER... HERE WE COME!!!!!

About a week ago I found out The Biggest Loser was having an open casting call today in Chicago and I immediately called Cameron to tell him the good news. So today him, his friend Andrew, and his Aunt Dori went down and stood in line for 8 hours for the audition process. He said they took a group of about 10 people in at a time and asked questions to the group and you basically had to fight for time. Turns out he made buddies with the interviewer earlier in the day, not even knowing the guy was who he was, and after the interview was over the guy pulled the three of them aside and said how impressed he was with them and basically said they'd be getting a call back for individual interviews next week. He said they hadn't found hardly any people in Chicago so the chances of them getting a call back were huge! Cam thought he wouldn't be getting a call until later tonight, but they called him around 4:45 to set up a time to do a one hour camera interview next week!!! So if he makes it he'll be on the show with his Aunt Dori and his friend Andrew would be on with his sister. They're doing strictly family members this season so thank goodness Dori was here too! We're sooooo excited, it's been a crazy day!! Keep your fingers crossed!! :) He said the line was actually pretty hilarious, apparently one lady passed out from the heat and there were ambulances and fire trucks everywhere. Later in the day, the same lady, about 450 lbs sits on a stack of chairs and fell on her butt and couldn't get up. Cam and Andrew had to help her! Poor lady! The casting director told Cam they actually had people complaining that they didn't have anywhere to sit and they had to climb lots of stairs... are you kidding me!?! And your'e trying out for The Biggest Loser?! Hello!!! Anyway, it's been an exciting day, can't wait to find out what happens next week! I'll keep you posted!

Cameron got to meet a few of the cast members from last season... Kristen, in the middle, was one of my favorites. They got to talk to her for 20 minutes and said she was really cool!

Cameron and Jerry

Aunt Dori with Kristen and Cathy from last season

Full Day

Taya has been waking up every day at 6:00 now, so we either get a lot done during the day or absolutely nothing because I'm too wasted to move! This morning was an eventful one... apparently I left out our popcorn bowl from last night (you'd think I'd learn) and Taya got a kernel stuck up her nose at 7:30. I didn't know what to do or how to get it out, and it being so early I didn't want to call anyone. Already planning a trip to the doctor in my head, luckily I was able to see it and thought maybe I could get it out on my own. I ended up having to wake up Cameron to help me and within a minute it was out! Poor girl was crying and not happy about it! Thinking that whole scenario was over, about an hour later she sneezed and another popcorn kernel shot out into my hair. Nice! So either she shoved both in one nostril or one in each... no wonder she was crying!

A little while later I was laying on the couch- because that's just what a pregnant person has to do when their child wakes them up everyday at 6:00 - and I heard Taya saying "pawyee" so I assumed she was just going potty in her diaper. Well, she was being too quiet, so I got up off my lazy bum and walked into the room to find her pants off, diaper off, sitting on the toilet saying "pawyee pawyee" ... haha! It's been a hard day trying to keep her pants on, so we made a trip to Wal Mart and bought her a potty seat so she doesn't fall into the toilet, like she already did today :) Guess I'll be training her sooner than I thought! Apparently that's a good thing though! Our little girl is growing up so fast, hard to believe! It'd be so nice to have only 1 kid in diapers in October! If anyone has any advice on training let me know!

It's only 4:00 and I feel like the day should be over any second! I'll let you know what the rest of the day brings us :) ... I'll post pictures soon, I promise.

Silly Taya

So I still don't have my camera charger, but these are a few pictures I took on my phone again. I couldn't resist, they crack me up. She really is such a funny girl...

1. the glasses. 2. the mini stroller (again) notice the fine tape job! haha, seriously needs help. 3. her trying to put on Mommy's shoes.


This is Taya's "fake" sleeping. She pretends to be asleep all the time, it's hilarious.

Ever since our trip to Atlanta, thanks to Jami, Taya has to put on Mommy's make-up every day. Yesterday she got into my eye shadow and this is what happened. Oopsies.

New York Times

Cameron made the front page of the New York Times today!

About a month ago a reporter and photographer came to do a story on Pinnacle Security in Chicago and they followed Cameron and Andrew (his best friend and work partner) around for a few hours in the day. Turns out the article ended up being A LOT on missionary work, but overall it was pretty good. Click here if you'd like to read about my famous husband :) There's also a picture gallery on the left. He has two pictures published of him in the actual paper. Kinda cool!

Atlanta

Taya and I got back from our trip to Atlanta late Saturday night. We had so much fun and, more importantly, got to relax a little :) . Jami was so good to us and took such good care of Taya! I felt so bad when we left though, I'm sure she was exhausted from a week of Taya waking up at 6:30 and having to chase her and stroll her around all over the place. Thanks so much though, James, I really appreciated it! Here's a few pictures from our trip...

This isn't the most beautiful picture, but kind of funny :) ... Also don't look too closely, but right smack dab in the center of my forehead is a mosquito bite the size of Texas. And don't worry, it got even worse. Thanks Atlanta.


Jami and Taya watching the ducks in the pond.


These were the shopping carts a grocery store there. Taya had an absolute blast steering them, it was probably her favorite part of the trip. Seriously. Don't worry that it makes the shopping cart about three times the size! She also got a balloon from the nice cashier. What a shopping trip!

This was a little fire engine at a park we went to. She loved playing on it and steering the wheel.



This is probably the only picture I have of me "playing" since Jami took care of all that part! She seriously let me sit down on the bench while she chased Taya around. But the fire truck, I must admit, was so much fun and I fit so perfectly. Can't you tell? :)

Thanks again, Jami, for letting us come stay with you. And Trey, sorry Taya probably woke you up every morning chasing the puppies around in circles! Atlanta, we'll miss you and all of your ridiculous hills! Seriously, I've never seen so many hills in my whole life! I think I lost 7 pounds on our walk on Saturday! And the trees! Holy smokes, you can't even see half of Georgia because all the trees are in the way. There's probably a lot of dead bodies there. Maybe someone should check. Sorry, too much information.

Baby News

So we found out what we're having yesterday morning and it's a...


BOY !!!


We're so excited, and yes, Cameron is thrilled he'll have a son! So far he's been right guessing both times what we're having so he's pretty proud of that too. Guess this means I'll have a lot to do in October since we'll be gone in Chicago until then... yikes!

Atlanta Here We Come!!!

So I realize this is 2 posts in one day, but I had to share what Cameron did for me this morning... I've been having a really hard time in Chicago just with being pregnant and my crazy thyroid hormones all over the place. Taya's been really difficult on me lately and I've been needing a break SOOO bad already! Last night she was up 3 different times and I'd about had enough! Anyway, this morning I thought Cameron was sleeping, but he walks in the kitchen and said "here, look at this", with the laptop in his hands. I opened it up and there was my confirmation number for a flight to Atlanta (to see Jami, my sister) he'd booked for me and Taya for tomorrow morning!!! He was so cute, he thought I'd be so mad since I'm not a spontaneous person AT ALL (unfortunately) , but I was soo excited I just started bawling! I can't thank him enough, I need this so much! Isn't that so cute of him!? So we're off to Atlanta...

Camera Phone Post

So I ordered a new charger for my camera forever ago and it still isn't here so I've been taking a ton of pictures with my phone, which unfortunately doesn't have the most amazing picture quality. So I apologize about the fuzziness, but here's a few pictures of what Taya's been up to lately...

Giving herself kisses in the mirror...

Making funny faces in the mirror...


Pushing up her face in the screen door...


The other day I was in the kitchen and heard "ohh, puppy...puppy? oooh puppy" so I came in the living room and this is what I found... Taya looking at Jami and Trey's blog :) ...

I also came into the room to this... Taya ready for Mommy to push her :) If she's on the bed, her mini stroller HAS to be too! ...

And last picture I promise... we're still working on figuring out how to get Taya to sleep like a normal human :) This was one day during her nap, I thought it was cute...

We had to take off the bed frame and move her matress up next to the other bed in her room (they gave us an extra one) and we have to put our couch cussion on the end of her bed at night. She's basically still sleeping in a crib. Why? you ask? After checking on her every night to find her half way off the bed we decided we didn't want to deal with the hassle of her falling off 3 times a night! One night I went to check on her and she was on the floor curled up next to a box... didn't hear a peep! So who knows if she fell off the bed or got off herself and was too tired to move. I don't recommend moving a 20 month old into a bed to anyone, just in case you were wondering!


On a side note...

A friend requested an update on my pregnancy :) ... I'm feeling good, finally started to feel pregnant yesterday (besides the nausea). I felt the baby move for the first time a few days ago, which usually is exciting to most women, but me, on the other hand... not too big of a fan :/ Does that make me a terrible person?? The doctors are still trying to figure out my thyroid issues so that's been annoying, but hopefully it'll be taken care of soon. And for the big news... ok, not THAT big, but we find out what we're having on Saturday!! YAY!!

Also Cameron doesn't get any credit in my posts because he's not around too often, BUT he has been doing amazing and we're so proud of him! Last week he reached the big 100 sales so we're way excited about that!! He earned his incentive and upgraded our tube tv :) Now we won't have to deal with that stupid thing on the way home! And it'll fit nicely in my newly decorated (hint hint cameron) bedroom! :) haha.

Better pictures later, I promise! ... if my charger ever gets here.

Who Would'a Thought...

A one year old could be such a good example

Yesterday we were at the mall and got Taco Bell at the food court. We sat down to eat and immediately Taya folded her arms all ready for the prayer.

Then...

Today I took her to Costco and picked up a hot dog sample. I handed it to her and once again, she folded her hands all ready for the prayer again. It took me a while to convince her that it was ok and she could eat it already.

"NO"

Well it's finally here. Taya has learned the word "no". I love hearing that word all day long, it's like music to my ears.

Chicago Update...

So we finally got to Chicago for the summer of security sales again last week! It's been a rough transition this time for me... Taya hadn't slept good all of last week so she was pretty ornery. We figured she must just be uncomfortable in her little pack n play, so finally yesterday I went and bought her new sheets and bed rails and decided to give it a go in the twin bed. I was nervous about it all day but she was so excited about her new animal sheets and loved jumping on the big girl bed all day :) She cried for 2 seconds when I put her down last night and then didn't make a peep! Yay!!! That was probably the best night sleep she's gotten since we've been here so you can imagine how happy I was. I was nervous for her nap today again, but she surprised me and went right down and had a fantastic nap. She still hasn't figured out that she can actually get out of the bed all by herself, so hopefully that'll last a little while longer :) I'm so proud of her for the transition, and proud of myself too, haha. Not really, all I did was say a prayer BEGGING for her to just go to sleep for me! :)

Taya's been loving riding the elevator in our apartment and standing outside on our deck. She has a little friend accross from us that she talks to and waves to everyday, it's so cute. She loves watching the squirrels (or "puppies") chase each other in the trees right outside our apartment. She cries everytime we walk past the park and don't actually get to go play, but is happy with feeding the geese instead. She can reach every single thing in this place so I've had an awesome time picking up after her! Let's just say our house is not the cleanest thing lately!

We went to the zoo for a couple hours today and Taya absolutely loved it. It was so much more fun taking her this year. She loved seeing the rhino's ("ino's") and the hippo's ("boa's") and mostly the elephants. She made elephant noises all day, it was so cute. And by elephant noises I mean she pretty much just spit all day :) So adorable, haha.

Cameron has been doing so awesome with selling, he's somewhere in the 80's. He's been so motivated and we're so proud of him. Taya has loved spending what little time she has with him. He flew to Atlanta last week for a few days and everyday all day she'd hear a noise and ask "daddy? ...daddy?" It was so sad, she looovvveeesss her daddy!

That's about it for my massive update on what we've been up to. Sorry so long and boring! I would upload pictures, but I haven't been able to find my camera battery charger for one camera I brought out here and the other camera I brought out died on me today. Awesome. Good thing my birthday is coming up! :)