Happy Birthday Munchkin Man

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I know this is a little long, but I had a hard time deciding what pictures to use. I can't believe that he is 1 already, but I can't wait for the rest of his life!

Happy Birthday little man. I love you!

Christmas Catch-Up

So I'm finally getting caught up on my Christmas posts. Granted, it's been almost a month, which is why there are going to be more pictures than words, but at least I'm getting the pictures up.

Yes, most of the presents under that tree are Keegan's. What can I say, he got a little spoiled. Hence why his birthday celebration is going to be SUPER SMALL.
Not one to rip big pieces of wrapping paper. Oh no, my little boy would only rip off small pieces and then he shook his hands until the paper and tape came off. He doesn't like anything sticking to his hands. It's kind of funny. I'm loving his hair in this picture too. So "I just rolled out of bed".

Apparently opening presents is hard work, so Keegan had to take a brief water break.

Mom and Dad's present from the kids, hung-up on the wall and everything. They loved it. Cynth, it was a great idea. Mom said it was a nice reminder of how marriage is for eternity.
Playing with the toys Christmas morning. Yes, Keegan is the only one who is dressed at this point. The rest of us were a little bit lazy.
Wishing the camera would just go away.
Wearing Grandpa's new hat from Emily. I love the string hanging down in the middle of the forehead.

The funny thing about this photo is that neither AJ nor I went to BYU...although since everyone else in my family has gone there, including my mom and dad, it's somewhat appropriate that he's wearing this hat. Especially since AJ and I are totally fine with Keegan going there someday (I know, I know...go figure, but we both agree it's a great environment).

Great Expectations

AJ and I are once again entering a phase in our lives where time is measured in weeks and trimesters, instead of hours and days. Where my body is once again no longer mine alone...and where we will be adding TWO feet to our home this summer. That's right...we're pregnant!!! We will soon be adding another little "jelly bean" to our family (and for the record, I really did have the flu a few weeks back..it wasn't me just hiding morning sickness or anything like that, I promise. The morning sickness just decided to show up right after I got the flu and it has decided to stick around for a little while. SO NOT FUN!!!).

Despite my saying that I would not get pregnant again until I had lost all of my baby weight from Keegan (yeah....who knows if that will ever happen), I am once again pregnant. Seven weeks and five days along to be exact, and while it's somewhat overwhelming, and sort of crazy, I guess you can't really tell the Lord "No" when he sends you the prompting that it is once again "the right time." He knows better than anyone whether or not we can handle it, and we really are excited for this new little addition to our small family.

So here's the latest addition to the Durfee clan: *Not the greatest picture I know, but unfortunately my scanner isn't compatible with my laptop, and my digital camera kind of sucks.

So, mark your calendars for Aug. 29th, which is when they say this little guy or gal will make their world debut. We can't wait! (and if any of you out there have some tried and true morning (afternoon and evening) sickness remedies, drop me a line. They would be MUCH appreciated).

And I'm Back....

I feel like it's been ages and now I have a ton of catching up to do. Christmas posts will be coming shortly (yes, I know it's now the 15th of January...what can I say, I'm slacking a little) but I have to download photos onto the computer first and then figure out how to download video as well (that's what I get for not ever reading the user manual on anything), then I've got Keegan's birthday coming up soon (how can he only be 10 days away from turning 1???? Where did the last year go? I vividly remember what I was doing this time last year and it scares me how quickly things change). I'm working on something special for that...although I do need to get some videos downloaded to help finish my project, so we'll see if it actually gets done. But for now, I'll work on actually writing down my resolutions for the new year in hopes that I can stick with them and accomplish something positive this year.

So here they are...in no particular order (and you can check back with me in a year to see how well I've done):

1. This year I will be less critical of myself. I need to learn to love who I am...post-baby body and all, and then work on changing the things that I have control to change.
2.This year, I'm going to make sure that I spend a lot of quality time with Keegan so that he will never have a chance to doubt just how much I love him. I will continue to rock him to sleep each night as we hum songs together. That way we still have the closeness that we had while nursing even though he decided to wean himself at 10 1/2 months old.
3. This year, I will spend more quality time with my husband. We've both actually resolved to make date night a part of our lives again. We were doing really well until I was about 6 months pregnant. I miss just talking to him and having time alone with him without Keegan being there as well.
4. This year, I will improve my relationship with my Heavenly Father. I've let some things slack over the past year and I need to make sure that I don't get too complacent with my spirituality and my relationship with my Heavenly Father and with my savior, Jesus Christ. I will study my scriptures more. I will make sure to have daily, personal conversations with Him, and share all of my burdens with him, so that he can help me with all of my shortcomings. I want my son (and any future children) to know that I have a personal relationship with my Heavenly Father.
5. This year, I will read more. I will use my library card to the hilt and make sure that I get books both for myself and for my son. I will read fun and frivolous books as well as books that educate, enlighten and improve my mind and my personal self.
6. This year, I will learn to let things go. I can be stubborn...and I can hold onto things for a really long time. This year, I'm going to work on just letting things go, and not taking things so personally all of the time.
7. This year, I will be a better housekeeper. I will take care of our home, and truly make it a place that AJ and I can be proud of. But I promise that I won't let it consume me...and take me away from the really important things in life.
8. This year, I will keep in touch with my family and friends way better than I have been lately. I'm a horrible corresponder. I take forever to call people back and I hate that there have been times when months have gone by before I manage to get back in touch with some of my closest friends. Each person in my life has helped make me who I am, and I want to be better at showing them how much I appreciate the impact that they have had on my life.

To my loved ones, near and far...

if you haven't done it yet, I strongly encourage all of you to GET YOUR FLU SHOT!!

Seriously, don't delay.

*The previous public service announcement was brought to you by Shauna who is currently sitting on the couch after 15+ hours of puking her guts out (seriously, I think all of my major organs have now been flushed down my toilet), 2 IV bags and finally keeping some ginger ale in her very upset little belly. AJ is the bestess husband ever (he so hooked it up with the IV bags - although he swears that it's not the flu but actually food poisoning, which if it is...DON'T EAT AT RUBIOS) as he has had to pretty much take over caring for Keegan right now, along with still having to go to work today...and for calling his mom to come and watch Keegan so I could get said IV bags without towing the little munchkin along. Oh yeah...and seriously, thank HEAVEN for little boys who seem to have picked up on the fact that mommy isn't feeling well and has therefore showered me with numerous hugs and kisses as well as happily playing by himself for most of the day (and who only tried to shaghai my ginger ale once).

Normal blogging programming will resume when I can keep more than just ginger ale in me...I have some serious catching up to do with Christmas and New Year's and my resolutions for the upcoming year.

Love you all and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Looking Back on the Year That Was

I actually meant to get this post up on the 21st, but with having to finish up my Christmas shopping and running errands to help AJ out with his secret santa gifts for work the days just went by a whole lot quicker than I had planned.

This time last year AJ and I were moving and settling into our house. It's hard to believe that it's been a year already (seriously - where does the time go?). We closed on our house at 4:30 on Dec. 21st and then I picked up the keys the morning of the 22nd (from the shadiest real estate agent I have ever known). It was so completely overwhelming at the time to think of ourselves as homeowners...and I guess if I'm being completely honest, it still is an overwhelming feeling. We joked at the time that this was our Christmas gift to each other for the next 30 years (yeah, there's a lot of truth to that statement). I was as big as a house (literally) and really frustrated with how little I could actually help with the whole moving process. My sister Val was a rock star and made sure that we were packed and ready to actually move in...not to mention helping me paint Keegan's room, along with painting his bathroom all on her own (and yes I painted even though I was only a month away from delivering) and the members of our ward we totally amazing. The youth helped paint our bedroom and they had us moved and ready to go in no time a few days later.

Home ownership brings a whole new set of worries, problems and issues that we never had renting. There's also a whole lot more stress over plumbing problems and utility bills and mortgage payments, but it's pretty rewarding as well. I recognize that AJ and I are pretty lucky even owning a home at this particular stage in our life, and we feel really blessed that we were lucky enough to even get into a house, let alone one that is as big as ours is and in San Diego nonetheless.

I looked for pictures of our house from when we were moving in and I couldn't find any (I think my sister Val has them somewhere since she was really the only one who had the foresight to take pictures). Not too much has changed from when we moved in...there's a little bit more furniture now, and some of the windows have changed, but essentially it's just like the day we moved in...and yet there's a different feeling to the house every time I walk through the door. Maybe it's because there is more furniture, or because there aren't boxes everywhere, or because we now have a year's worth of memories, good and bad, to look back on...but the house just isn't a house anymore. It's our HOME, and I have to admit...it's pretty amazing.

Let's Go Surfin' Now...

While the rest of the country deals with snow, floods, rain and ice, San Diego gears up for MASSIVELY BIG SURF. I'm talking HUGE...like 12+ feet waves. The funniest thing about this...people don't get scared about the waves. They get excited for it. Granted, they board up windows if necessary and put up sandbags, etc., but the beach is almost as crowded when the surf is huge as it is on a warm and balmy summer day. Seriously...people love this stuff. So, I figured I would go and check what it was all about (and get Keegan out of the house while I was at it)...and take some pictures to document it while we were there.

If you look really closely at the top of the following picture you will see a bunch of surfers out in the water (no AJ isn't one of them...although he did go out earlier in the morning with our bishop). I personally thought they were all nuts, but I guess with the lifeguards in a boat right in the middle of them all they figured that they were relatively safe.

Most of the day was actually beautiful and sunny and clear, but towards the end of our little walk the mist and the fog started rolling in. It was actually kind of pretty.

Welcome to winter in San Diego!!