A few of my favorite things...

Watching Brade and Bent spend quality time together.

He is the cutest dad to "his girl."

This morning as I listened to his morning routine with Bentley, it brought me to tears. Every morning he walks into her room, nearly shouts (in a very high pitched voice):

"Good morning my sweetheart!" She immediately starts to giggle and vigorously wave her arms and legs and reaches up for him. He gives her a long hug and kisses her head. He proceeds to get her changed and gives her a run down of what to expect in the upcoming day.

"Mommy is going to take you to Cely's and you get to see all your friends and play with them. Mommy will pick you up and you guys can hang out and have some girl time until Dad gets home tonight. Hey, what do you say we work on crawling tonight? You and I will spend some time on the floor and get those muscles built up so you can start cruising around the house like a big girl!"

I love them both and I am so glad Bent has the dad she does!

You Asked For It and Your Gonna Get It!!

I have to do something to take my mind off the pain throbbing in my finger(sewed it in a sewing machine last night) and the anticipation of Christmas....why not update my blog a little!!
I will do one post a day until Christmas to get all caught up!

Lets see, let's start with OCTOBER! That is the magical month when I stopped blogging!

We took a little trip down to the St. George with my cousins and their kids! We had such a blast and so many FUNNY memories!! Anytime you stay in a house with three couples and three kids 2 and under, there is bound to be some laughter and chaos!!

For instance:

Trying to get three kids in bed when their rooms are all next to each other and they choose to "talk loudly" through the walls.

Do they look calm and ready for bed?

Again, trying to all three kids bathed and ready for the day!

Trying to get all of them to get along at the park.

We had such a great time, memories forever and moments that would melt your heart!

Bentley and Mason are five weeks apart and the best of friends. They often console one another after a hard day!

Enough said, who could resist that look of desperation?

Bent and Brade enjoying some quiet daddy daughter time at the duck pond!

Welcome to the World!

Please Welcome

Greyson Rory Borchert

Nov. 2nd, 2008

7 lb. 4 oz. 21"

You have honestly NEVER seen two parents so in love with their new addition to the family. Even at four in the morning on Sunday, Jen and Rory's emotions were so contagious, the entire medical staff was struck by their immediate joy and overwhelming love for this little guy!

Congratulations you two! You are such an example to your ENTIRE family!

Laundromat Anyone?

A little family photo action from the acclaimed Veronica Reeve

Happy Halloween!

Nothing like wee ones to make a scrooge into a party animal. I find myself over doing it a little with each holiday. For some odd reason, I think Bentley will appreciate it.

Today we had the most HILARIOUS and FESTIVE party to kick off the Halloween festivities.

Cupcake and Costume Extravaganza!Picture this...eleven CRZY mom's chatting it up whilst frosting spooky halloween cupcakes, laughing hysterically at ourselves, TWELVE crazy kids running free and playing endlessly! One of THE funnest playdates yet. I have some of the best friends a gal could ask for. This group of gals are my high school pals that have become even closer since we have all moved into the world of motherhood. We ALWAYS make an excuse to celebrate...holidays, wedding days, baby days, new park opening days, new restaurant days, you name it, we will celebrate it!! Thanks for being such great friends. Unfortunatly, some of our gals live out of town now, but we try and get together as often as possible. Miss you gals!

I was a little lame and did not bring any camera sort of items. Check Libby's, Jennie's and Veronica's blog for the darling pictures of the kiddos!!

Thanks again Vern for such a great party!

Convention Life

Convention life can get a little boring at times. We had the chance to spice some items up with a little costume action in Tucson last week-or two weeks ago.

Mother Goose Baby Shower!

My sister-in-law, Jenny, is due in November with her first baby, Greyson. I have been on this entertaining kick since we got our yard in and was really excited to honor Jenn and Ror after trying for this little guy for over five years.

We are so excited for them to finally feel the joys of parenthood. They are going to be WONDERFUL parents.

I chose to do a mother goose themed baby shower, focusing on blue/brown, the colors of her nursery. I forgot to save or take a picture of the invite, but this is the wording I used.

It’s a Boy!!
Cows jumping over moons and dishes running away with spoons,
Just a few things Jen will learn of all too soon.
Mother Goose invites all to come on Saturday,
An open house from 12-2, including curds and whey.
Lindsey may not be an old woman living in a shoe,
But on the 27th her home will be open for you.
Nick, Knack, Paddy Whack give Lindsey a call,
Let her know who’s coming, you are sure to have a ball.

I then did themed food:

Humpty Dumpty Egg Salad Sandwiches on Rye (thanks Vern for the idea)

Little Miss Muffet Curds and Whey: Cheese, Crackers, Fruit and Yogurt

Rub-a-Dub-Dub, Three Men in A Tub: Fruit Punch

Jack and Jill Water Pail

Cow Jumped Over the Moon Sugar Cookies

I had such a blast doing it! Good luck and Congratulation Jen and Ror!!

Speaking of Birthdays!

Jackson Markus Drake

tiene dos anos hoy!

Who would have thought someone so small could impact so many people in so little time. When this little guy came into the world two years ago, he was immediately surrounded by people that loved him.

Amy and Mark are some of the most amazing parents. Amy did not skip a beat when she entered into the world of motherhood and Mark has never shown such patience and love!







My mom has always been a sucker for little kids, but no one would have guessed Jackson would melt her the way he does. She will do whatever, whenever, however she can to make him happy. It is not hard to make this little man happy. He is the most easygoing, carefree, smiley kid you have ever seen.


My dad has never connected with a child (in my opinion) like he has with Doobie. He LOVES him. He wants to see him grow and learn and loves to just lay on the floor and play and observe his little grandson.

Brade had never really had the opportunity to interact and play with kids until Jackson and Tanner. He has turned into a huge teddy bear to both of them.


Emma has always been a kid spoiler, but WOW! Ask and she will deliver. She babysits him two times a week and SPOILS him rotten.


My brothers could not have been more proud to be his uncles. They hover and protect this child like he was their own. If you happen to spot our family in public, you will instantly notice the "bodyguards" surrounding Jackson!

Last, but certainly not least, yours truly. I am a little bit obsessed with "Doobie" He is so easy to love. He makes me just laugh when I am around him. He love to wrestle, to be chased and to just plain rough house. He loves praise and encouragement. Even before I became a Mom, I learned how much a child can impact a family!!







Happy 2ND Birthday Doobie! I hope you have a great day filled with Thomas and Signing Time. I hope you find all the mirrors in the world to dance in front of and you can run through long wide hallways!! Love ya little man!

Happy Birthday to a Great Gal and a WONDERFUL Friend!!

A quick BIRTHDAY shout out to my great friend,

MELANIE J. BASSETT

Here are some of my favorite memories of Mel:

*Driving her parents car in the back yard when we were probably about nine

*Practicing our 2nd Grade Talent Show Showcase in her "Solarium"

*She was always the fastest runner at Valley Elementary and won all the races on Field Day

*I attributed her success to the fact that she had to walk three miles to the bus every day

*She had the coolest bedroom off the laundry room at one time

*Great sleepovers in the new basement

*Her very contagious laugh

*Her fabulous surprise party for me when I moved

*Overall good person who could always make you laugh

*I called her daily in the last few weeks of pregnancy for advice!!

*She pulled me through those agonizing days

I hope you have a wonderful Birthday today Mel. You deserve it!!

Here are a few pictures to take you back Mel!!

Photos courtesy of my great pal, Stac!

Happy 8 Months Cesa!

Bent is the ripe ol' age of 8 months today! Wow, how time flies!

Just a little entry about the happenings in her world at this time!

She said her first two words this week-Dada and Mama.

I thought I had trained her so well. I would practice over and over-MMMAAAAMMMAAA-accentuating my lip motions, but to no avail. Dada was definitly it for her. She says it mostly when she is really excited or REALLY mad!

She rolls at about 83 MPH to anywhere she needs to go. She has no interest in crawling.

If she can't get to it by rolling, she lies on her back and does a pelvic thrust that in turn flails her body in an upward motion. This move is especially fun when she is in her crib and does not want to take a nap.

She loves her dad, LOVE LOVES her dad!! Funny how that works.

She still HATES solid food. She is slowly learning to like carrots and peas, but still gags at the first taste of anything sweet.

She puts EVERYTHING in her mouth. She loves anything that crinkles or makes noise.

Give that girl a piece of paper or wrapper and she is set for hours!

She loves comotion, noise and people. She gets bored when we are just home on the weekend. She sleeps best at a loud concert, in an auditorium or at the circus!

Love my girl!

P.S. Cesa is her nickname of the week.

Attempt at Domestication

Cold, snowy day

+

WAY TOO much time in airports and on airplanes reading

"DOMESTIC" magazines

=

My attempt at domestication

Crackling Fire and Hot Cocoa Anyone?

You know those mornings on a cold weekend when you wake up and crave a nice, cozy crackling fire and some hot cocoa while you read the paper in your pajamas? We finally got one of those weekends.

We have waited and worked hard for that little slice of heaven, but in the end it was all worth it.

This was our living room this time last year.

(warning: grainy phone pictures)

..and this year. Yes, that is real wood ablazing!

Hair Today, Gone tomorrow!

Three posts in as many days...I am exhausted.

My shaggster had her first little trim yesterday. She may not have quite as many hairs as some folks, but she definitely had the hair muffs and the widows peak to be proud of.

I took her into my sister-in-law, Jenn to work her magic. Yes, this is probably something I could have just chopped myself with the kitchen sheers, but I was worried she would come out of it looking like a rookie marine. It was best left for the experts.

She immediately went into a trance when Jenn started combing her hair.

As long as she could look in the mirror at all the action...she did not move.

Finished product! Jenn found enough hair on that head to give her a bam-bam pony.

It was a day of grooming for Bent. Ever since I cut TWO fingertips while trimming her nails on the morning of the Fourth of July, I have thrown in the towell on torturing my daughter. Something about drawing blood on your five month old makes you think twice before the next attempt. This too is better left to the experts.

I tried filing her nails when she was younger...don't try this. Did not work.

Now, my sister-in-law, Keesha, cuts her nails weekly. Thank goodness for in-laws!!

My One Wish

My one wish for my daughter...to be a respectful, nice, friendly girl to everybody. That is one thing I stress about so much. I just want her to be NICE. We all remember the "bratty" girls growing up. (if I ever came across as the "bratty" girl to anyone, I am really sorry).
My one dream...SHATTERED. My SEVEN month old already thrashes and throws fits. Really? Can this really happen? Is she giving me a glimpse into her life as a socialite?
She is the happiest, most laid back, smiliest baby in the world until...she does not get her way. If I don't give her the phone when it rings, I have to hold on to her with both hands or she will thrash herself out of my arms to the floor. If I take her out of the bath before she feels she has had sufficient play time...she has a COMPLETE meltdown until we give her a bottle and put her to bed. Really? Should you have to have a ritual of draining the bath water and making her realize the water is gone before you can pry her out of the porcelain vat?
If I decide that maybe she needs a nap and she decides it is not on her agenda, she will yell this little "Baahhh" over and over and thrash her legs in the crib until she has shoved her head into the corner of her crib.
Oh and the worst one...heaven forbid I decide to try and look at a piece of paper without letting her taste test it first!!
Am a raising a "mean girl?" What do I do? I don't feel like I can ruin my child at the age of seven months. She is so sweet and so innocent and I just laugh at her because it is so funny for such a little girl!
Any advice here would be great!
Oh yah...on one other side note...my child won't eat. Plain and simple...she gags on EVERYTHING I put in her mouth. OK, anything that is food that is. Give her paper, a phone, lotion bottle, Motrin bottle, skin, fingers...she loves it, but DO NOT give her food!

Mayor of Slackerville

I have so many things to journal from the last month, Seattle girls trip, Uintahs with the fam, San Diego, Vegas, Florida, Bentley (of course), but I thought I would just throw this in for the halibut.

My mom has really wanted an updated family picture for some time. We agreed to turn our Sunday picnic into a photo session since our last one excluded Brade and Mark and I am pretty sure I was barely legal to drive.

The smell of Autumn was upon us and the typical brown sweater family picture was inevitable. Snowbasin is absolutely beautiful this time of year and we have the cutest stinkin little mom that desperately needed a photo to adorn her wall.

We picnicked and Trev's darling girlfriend snapped some shots. I have not gotten any of the "real ones" yet, but here are some sideline snapshots!

I LOVE this one of the kids. This completely captures their relationship!
Jackson despises his useless girl cousin and she just sits and stares in amazement. Thanks Cass!
Stay tuned (if you want) for Jeff's 50th surprise birthday party and a Mother Goose themed baby shower!!

To My Close Friends...You may Pick Your Jaw Off the Floor!!

I have been thinking about this so much lately, I thought I would award my thoughts with their own post.

Two years ago, I was the proud member of the DINK (double income, no kids) crew. Happy to be there and really thought I would spend my years as a faithful member. This all changed last summer when Brade and I found out we were having our beautiful little girl. We were both estatic. After a VERY difficult pregnancy and delivery, I knew she was going to be our only. She is beautiful, perfect, humbling and the most precious of gifts. There is nothing I need more in this world...except a sister/brother for my special little princess!

I know I am preaching to a choir when I say the love of a mother can hardly be contained within the confines of my chest, but I just can't imagine there is only enough love in there for just one. I never knew I could love someone SOO much. I never knew the joy that comes from every smile. I never knew the hurt that comes from every painful tear from her eyes. I never knew the laughter that can be shared by someone so naive. I never knew the joy that can be shared between a father and a mother. I never knew it was in me. It was buried for some time, but there is no denying it and there is no need to contain it.

Tall and thin...just like her mother!!

I need to post about Bentley's 6 month appointment before I forget all the details!! Remember Bentley, the child I birthed a few months ago, I know it has been a while since I posted so I thought I would just remind you of who I am talking about. Brade and I took her to the doctor yesterday for her six month routine check up. It was anything but routine!
She has been a dream lately, but started to act really grumpy on Sunday and made me a little worried... I found out why.
When I picked her up from the sitter yesterday to take her, she was doing the "sniffle". You know that one that says "Mom, I would like to rip on the heartstrings and let you know I have been crying solid for the last two hours." That one. She was miserable. I felt so bad!
We got her calmed down by the time we got into the office, just in time for her to be stripped from my hands and placed on the ICE COLD scale! (little exaggeration) She starts screaming again. Heaven forbid they want to measure her head...wow you would have thought they decapitated her with that little measuring band. OK, the MA is finished and we once again get her calmed down, sleeping soundly in my arms...snot dripping of the cap sleeve of my new black shirt...the same one I was supposed to be wearing to my afternoon sales presentation...no biggie.
Dr. Ann (the best pediatrician out there) walks in and starts speaking jovially, as she usually does..Bentley awakens. We discuss some details about Bentley with her...the constant need for mmmmmmm....how do I put this....bowel assistance by her parents, our growing concern about the shape of her head, Bent's runny nose the last few days and how grumpy she has been etc. etc. etc. We are now talking twenty decibels above normal to overpower Bentley's now raging cries. Dr. Ann decides to start at the ears. My child produces enough wax in her ears to feed a small nation, always has. Dr. Ann has told me not to try and clean them, so I just let it be. If any of you have ever had to hold down a child while they get the large chunks of ear goodness cleaned out of their ears...you feel my pain, or Bentley's pain. Come to find out, her poor little ears are FILLED to the rafters in an infected mess!! I felt like the world's worst mother. Every time my child gets a cold, it goes straight to her ears. ENT here we come and tubes it is.
So we get that done and she decides she needs to feel her stomach because of her belly issues...yep, folks, you guessed it, rock hard abs. I am pretty sure this isn't the rock hard abs a six month old should have. We are now giving Bent a "special diet" of prunes, apple juice, dark Karo syrup and Mucilax..or something like that.
Meanwhile, Bentley cries so hard she vomits all over my skirt, in my shoes and down Brade's leg!!
Dr. Ann takes precise measurements of her head in order to assess, in one month from now, the rate of change with her skull before she decides to order a CT scan. Bentley continues to cry...or should we say...scream!
I am sweating, Bent is gagging and crying, Brade is a nervous wreck and Dr. Ann again keeps her cool...love her. Brade gets her calmed down with a bottle while Dr. Ann goes over some dietary and developmental guidelines.
All is well on the home front...oh wait, she is six months old...she needs four shots!!!
WOW, that about sums it up, except for the title of this post:
Bentley J. Ketcham
6 Months
Height: 27 3/4" 95th percentile
Weight: 15 lbs. 25th percentile
Head: 17 1/2" 75th percentile

Aside from this last couple of days, Bentley is a very happy baby that is content to do most anything. She sleeps nearly thirteen hours a night and takes two to three naps a day. We are so lucky!!
She rolls as soon as she is placed on her back and LOVES to grab at all toys and faces. She especially loves her dad's scruffy face. She is happiest when she is lying on her back, eating her feet. She smiles at anyone that talks to her, but it takes a certain "charm" to get her to full belly laugh. She loves her thumb. She takes it with her wherever she goes and it accompanies her to bed and nap time daily.
She love, loves her dad and gets so excited when he walks in the room and smiles at her. She sits if she is assisted and loves her bouncer chair.
She has the most AMAZING little sitter, Mel. I found her through my best friend, Stac. It is her sister in law and I tell you, this has been an answer to our prayers. Mel and I were in the hospital together. Her little boy was born the day after Bent and is so DARLING! Mel has gone through several classes at WSU on childcare and is SO thorough with everything she does. I can not say enough great things about she and her husband, Cody!!
On a sentimental side note, I can not believe how much our lives and hearts have changed over this last six months. Bentley is the best thing that ever came into our lives. She makes everything in this world seem so significant, yet so insignificant. She is what matters and what makes our hearts melt daily. She has shown Brade and I what love is and why the love a parent feels is something no one can ever explain. WE LOVE HER MORE TODAY THAN WE DID YESTERDAY AND THIS LOVE CAN ONLY GROW!!

Adios August....

I can not believe it is nearly September and my last real post was in JUNE, on Joanne's birthday, in fact!!
I said I was going to post a little catch up when I got home from Florida, well Las Vegas, San Diego, Texas and the Uintahs have since passed and I still have not updated.
Bentley is nearly a grown woman, I traveled from sea to shining sea in a matter of weeks, I came home from my last trip to a little surprise from my darling husband...some much needed landscaping and Brade, well, he is just Brade...darling, wonderful husband that has been home with Bentley by himself for 16 of the last 21 days, and just plain lovable!
OK this is NOT my most proud month as a mother, to say the least. We are just packing for one more trip this weekend and then I have really set a goal to get my blog updated from the last two months!!

Alive and Rolling!

No, I have not given up on the blogger world. I am still what you would call an avid blogger on sabbatical.
From Fourth of July to Flu Virus...two a.m. office closures to TOO many IKEA boxes to even count...outdoor summer concerts to outdoor fun in the Uintahs...boating at Pineview to basking in Florida, we are still here!
It has been one crazy month, but I will give a little summary, mostly for my own journal reasons, when I arrive back in town on Wednesday!!
Welcome to Blogsville Nate and Keepic!!

Fashion Friday-ish!

Brade has been out of town this weekend and...when the boys are away, the girls will play. Bent and I have not been home all weekend so Fashion Friday comes a bit delayed. (I really should have picked a less busy day of the week, but what do you do?)


Last week I promised...jeans/pants for every size and occasion!


A good pair of jeans is ESSENTIAL for every gals wardrobe. When I say GOOD I don't mean expensive, just one that fits well and is comfortable.


First, a few basic rules when shopping for jeans.


Take a real objective look at your body type.


If you are stick thin and a bit of a boyish figure-we all hate you, but that is another story! No, really, you look great in almost anything you wear. To accentuate your bottom or to create a bit more of a curvy look, opt for some dramatic back pockets. This will create the illusion of a more drastic shape. This year's skinny jeans look great on a boyish figure. Pair them with a great ballet flat for day or a black strappy sandal for evening!!

This pair is a little pricey at $69.95, but a great investment. This is the BKE Sierra from the Buckle. It has a great wash, a little bit of stretch and great pocket detail.

If you are bit vertically challenged, like myself, opt for a wide leg capri that does not taper and falls just below the knee or right above the ankle. This will give the illusion of height and will not accentuate a large bottom or thighs.

This is great linen pair from the Gap. Notice that the hip width is the same as the leg opening, giving the illusion of less curve. This is the only style of capri I wear!! Love them!

This is perfect pair from Target. They are Isaac Mizrahi tie waist cropped pant.

This same concept is true for pants as well. Do not choose a pant/jean style that tapers at the leg opening if you want to draw the focus away from your hip/thigh area. Pair a wide leg DARK jean with bright colored shirt to draw attention upward. Do not try the opposite. A light colored jean and a dark shirt will automatically dry the eye to the brightest part of your body, the lower half! Opt for flat front and cuff free to give the illusion of longer legs!

I just picked up this pair at the local JCPenney I love them. They have a wide band at the waist to keep in the "unmentionables". They have just enough stretch to make them ultra comfy. They have a sewn in seam to give a bit of a more formal look. They are wide leg and they are a dark wash! Just exactly what I like. Yah, the model looks stick thin in the photo, but I promise, they will flatter any body shape! Go check them out!



One last bit of advice-do not wear pants that look like you have been poured into them! Nobody wants to see every little fold and crease of your skin underneath your skin tight pants. I don't know how else to put it. Wear something comfortable, a bit loose fitting and flattering. Opt for a pant that minimizes the dreaded "muffin top" while in a seated position. i realize no one is immune from this problem, but just choose something that minimizes, rather than accentuates!