I Took the Plunge

I took the plunge and bought a new car seat for Cruz. After A LOT of research (Brendan would say I was obsessed and a little bit annoying) and A LOT of convincing of Brendan I decided to get the Recaro Como Convertible Car Seat. It is compared to the Britax Boulevard and from the reviews that I read the people who have had both Britax and Recaro have loved their Recaro more. What is even better is I found it on sale for over $100 less then the Britax Marathon. If you are a guy you probably recognize Recaro as a race car seat brand and it is the same. They are one of the top race car seat manufactures around and they use the same concept with the child car seats as their racing seats. Now I just can't wait for it to get here.

Car Seat Dilemma

So I have a car seat dilemma. It is about due time for Cruz to graduate to a convertible car seat. I know what your thinking, "Why in the world is he still in his infant seat?" His infant seat is built for babies up to 35lbs and I think 30 inches. Cruz is almost to the point where he can't stretch his little chubby legs out. I have been looking at a few car seats and the ones that I would love are over the budget (that would be my tight wad husband, Brendan's, budget). He would love not to spend over $100 on a car seat. Maybe I'm a name brand snob, but to me the car seats under $100 don't do it for me. One they're aren't as cute and two, it seams like I should be spending a little more money on my sons safety. Any advice on what car seat to buy would be wonderful. Especially if it convinces Brendan to up the budget a little (like to be able to by a Britax), but if you have found more affordable car seats that are cute and safe that would be great to. Come on us girls have got to stick together?

Las Vegas Baby!!

Last weekend Brendan, Cruz, and I had the opportunity to visit our great friends Ryan, Stephanie, and Conner Heaton in Las Vegas. Brendan had a Pillar To Post convention their, so we decided to mix business with pleasure.

We got there Thursday night and went to In 'N' Out and had Animal Burgers, I should have gotten the Animal Fries as well. Oh, there will always be next time. Friday morning we all went disc golfing. Cruz got to go down his first slide as well, he thought that was pretty fun. Brendan got to go on an inspection with Ryan and see how easy it is to do inspections in Las Vegas (no crawl spaces, Brendan would love not to have to get in a crawl space)!! Friday afternoon Steph and I sat around while the babies took a four hour nap, hallelujah! The boys had their award banquet that night and Steph and I shopped H&M. This was my first H&M experience and it was a pretty cool, cheap store.

Saturay the boys left at 7:00am and Steph and I lazed about. We went to Cafe Rio for lunch and let me tell you what, it was as good as I remembered. Let me just say Cafe Rio is HEAVEN! Then we went back to house and lazed some more. Saturday night we met the boys, my dad, and brother Jeff on the Strip. We had enough time to walk thru the Bellagio, see two water shows, and have some Las Vegas Prime Rib Special Dinner (it was surprisingly good), before it started raining.
Sunday the boys left once again at 7:00am and Steph and I went to church. We lazed around all day and it was great. Cruz was in heaven all weekend with Conner's toys. I don't think I had to entertain him once.

Overall it wasn't what someone would think as a fun filled Las Vegas weekend. But I sure did. Brendan and Ryan learned a ton and Brendan got revamped and motivated. We unfortunately ended up bringing the rain with us from Washington. Cruz and Conner had a lot of fun together. Cruz always loves having other kids around to play with. This was the most relaxing weekend I have had in a very long time and, if you can believe it, Cruz was around the whole time. Thanks Ryan and Stephanie for such a great weekend.

The Bad Mom Syndrome

Do you ever feel like a bad mom when you read other peoples blogs? I know I do! Don't get me wrong, I love seeing what everyone is up to, but then I start comparing myself to every person alive out there. I start wondering if I'm a lazy mom and should my child be able to do this or that as well. I look at Cruz and think that he is pretty darn smart and then I see what everyone else's child is doing already. His not walking, the doctor asks if he is saying any words and I wonder is that a bad thing that he can't, he knows where his head is and that's about it, the boy gained less then half a pound in three months..... and the list goes on and on. I tell myself that I shouldn't compare and Cruz will develop at his on pace, but then the thought sneaks back in my head, "Am I trying hard enough, am I just lazy?" You can ask Brendan and he would agree that I am the worlds best worrier. Maybe I just need to learn how to turn this stress into a dessert.

Happy Birthday Brendan!

Yesterday was Brendan’s 29^th Birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU HUNK OF BURNING LOVE!! And here are 10 reasons why I have the best husband in the universe. Yep, that’s right, the universe:

1. He puts up with my crap on a daily basis.
2. He puts up with Cruz’s crap (literally) on a daily basis.
3. He knows who’s the boss (Cruz, duh).
4. He sacrifices the needs of himself to make sure the needs of his family are met first.
5. He gets mad at me when I read books, only because he wants me to pay attention to him.
6. He helps with cleaning the house.
7. He has the best combination of dark hair and bright blue eyes.
8. He is very financially savvy.
9. He teases me because he loves me.
10. He loves being able to stay home with Cruz every Monday.

Here are a few fun facts about Brendan as well:

1. He was born in Salt Lake City, UT.
2. He served his mission in Salt Lake City, UT.
3. He is the oldest of 8 kids (5 boys, 3 girls).
4. His family moved to Missouri when he was 8 because his dad liked the dirt.
5. He owned a 1988 white, 4-door, Volkswagen Jetta whom everyone referred to as “Greta the Jetta, the grocery getta’ ”. All of his friends would always ask how Greta was doing, as if she was another member of the family, and for about two years after we left Rexburg we still got reports of sightings of Greta.
6. When Brendan was 8 he had two pet lambs, he named Maisy and Daisy. He would ride them like a horse and then he sold them at the fair (you can only imagine what happened to them after that).
7. I think Brendan has only called in sick one day of his life and only because I made him.
8. Brendan’s due date was January 13^th, but was born on the 18^th and Cruz’s due date was January 18^th, but was born on the 13^th.
9. Brendan’s dad claims that Brendan was so fat as a baby he couldn’t crawl because he would high center.
10. Brendan hates anything pumpkin, sweet potato, or squash flavored. You can thank his mom for making a pumpkin soup when Brendan was a teenager and he is now scarred for life.

Happy Birthday Brendan. I love you more then anything in the world (well, maybe Cruz)!!

Cruz's 1st Birthday!

I can not believe that we just celebrated Cruz's 1st birthday yesterday. I made him a carrot cake, with the hope that maybe I could sneak in some veggies, but that kid is smart, you can't sneak anything by him.
Where has this year gone? It feels like yesterday that Brendan and I were driving home from the hospital wondering, "What in the world do we do now?". Now we have this little guy who never stops moving and is into everything. And I'm sure it is only going to get worse. But in the mean time lets reminisce about the last year we have had with Cruz.

Brand Spankin' New

1 Month

2 Months
3 Months
4 Months

5 Months

6 Months

7 Months

8 Months

9 Months

10 Months

11 Months

1 Year!

Our Christmas Vacation

Wow, what a busy two and a half weeks we had. I was going to write this whole blog in Missourin', but it is way easier to speak it then to write it. I guess all it is is really bad grammer.

This is the normal attire for Missouri

We flew to Missouri on the 17th and it was a surprisingly good flight with Cruz. We gave him some children's benodryl hoping to knock him out, but Cruz is one of the few exceptions where it makes him very hyper. That little boy was the loudest I have ever heard him, just yakking and yelling away. Good thing he was happy loud and not crying loud. The second flight the benodryl finally worked out of his system and he actually fell asleep and if you know Cruz, he does not fall asleep unless he is in a crib.

We were able to recoup from our flight for a day and then Friday it was off to Nauvoo (a 3 hour car ride) for Brendan's little sister Shelly's wedding. The wedding was beautiful and the weather cooperated, considering two days before there was a huge ice storm. After the wedding we drove right back to Moberly for the reception.

I feel like this is a "Where's Waldo?" picture. Can you find us?

Brendan and his siblings. What a cute miniature family.

This was our first time meeting Shelly's husband Jershon and Brendan and I are very excited to have him join the Marchant clan.

Things were able to calm down after the wedding (as much as things can calm down at the Marchant home) and were able to just hang out. Cruz had more attention then he knew what to do with. He would get put down and then someone else would come and swoop him away. His Aunts and Uncles taught him how to click his tongue, stick his tongue out (and now it is constantly hanging out), and they helped him master shaking his head no and nodding yes, along with raising his arms up when we would say, "Sooo BIG". I know what you are all thinking, we must have the smartest baby in the whole world. If he was the smartest baby in the world he would really know what NO meant. Oh, and the army crawl is no more. Cruz is a big boy crawler now.

Cruz's first Christmas was fun and memorable. It was simple, because money is a little tight right now, but like he really knows if he got any presents at all. All Cruz really wanted for Christmas were his two front teeth and Santa granted him that wish. To bad he still can't wish us Merry Christmas.

Cruz's Christmas present from Santa aka Grandma

After Christmas it was off to St. Louis for Brendan's brother, Gary's, wedding. We drove over a day early and got a hotel. We were able to have a mini celebration of our fourth year anniversary. Well, as much as you can with a 11 month old in the room. Thanks to Shelly and Jershon (the newly weds from the week before) for watching Cruz while we went and got food. I know we're cruel to make a couple babysit on their haneymoon. But, hey, you have to take every oppurtunity you can get to have a free babysitter. We considered it a great form of birth control.

The wedding went well. I felt bad though, because there was a huge rain storm right as they got out of the temple and Gary and Carla weren't able to get pictures in front of the temple. How sad.

Then it was time to drive the two and a half hours back to Columbia for a wedding reception from 7-10pm (what newly weds really want to hang out until 10pm on their wedding day?). The wedding was fun, I got to dance with Brendan for maybe the 3rd time in our whole history of knowing eachother. We also got to see our good friends, Jake, Sariah, and Jay, whom Brendan grew up with.

Waiting for the ring ceremony to start. I think Brendan needs some help.

Cruz got to be the ring bearer.

Brendan and his good friend Jake.


We also got to have a mini birthday party for Cruz at Grandma and Grandpa Marchant's house. Grandma made Cruz a chocolate cupcake and their was no hesitation from that little boy. He devoured it in about 5.2 seconds.

We flew home Tuesday the 30th and got to enjoy and few days at my parents house. Cruz was able to have his Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa as well.

Now were home and still trying to unwind from two and a half weeks of vacation. We are still living out of our suitcases. My argument is that I'm a busy mom and wife, but what it really is is pure laziness. I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas as well!

Blogspot is being retarded so more pics to come.