Recent Happenings

Recent happenings: no order, lots missing, instagram editing. 

New faces for Baby Will:

A welcome discovery: Kale chips are darn good!

Rock Star line-up.

Bustin' a move.

Playdough and Presidents.  (He loves practicing his presidents.)

Sensory bins for the Bubba.  "It stays in the bin..." is my new favorite phrase.

Easter eggs.  Loved it.

Shoes too big, running too fast = wa-bonk.

Dry-run for his first camping experience.

Busy season at work.  A flattering award.

Cutest, cutest, cutest.

Baby with Glasses

No, he doesn't need glasses.  But he looks darn cute in them.  This is the Willister helping Daddy pick out some new glasses. (These were not the pair we decided on...)

Little Sir had his 18mo. check up yesterday.  He's in the 12% for weight and 50% for height.  Oh, and he was medically deemed awesome.  This morning he said "milk" (after being pestered to do so for 10 minutes...)  He's the best.

18 months

The bubba is 18 months old.  I can't believe how fast time flies.  The most exciting part of turning 18 months is that he gets to start the nursery program at church, (read: Grant and I actually get to pay attention because someone else will be watching our kid!!)

We're so proud of our little Willister.  He talks a lot these days (although most of it is babbling).

He's obsessed with Cars and Lightning McQueen.  He carries around either the DVD case or the booklet that comes inside of it and gasps repeatedly while pointing to it until one of us turns it on.

He's super social and loves being around other kids.  He's very good at "sharing" as long as he can hold onto the desired object the entire time.

He can identify random parts of his body if you ask.  His favorites are nose (below), tummy, and...

Hair! He loves hair.

He's a pretty easy going dude.  He gets super crazy sometimes, mostly when daddy gets home from work, and he loves music and dancing.  (Dancing mostly consists of running around in circles, doing somersaults and a one-legged downward dog.  No idea where he learned that... we don't do yoga...)

He's also been climbing a lot lately.  He can get onto chairs and couches and does so often.  His favorite is one of the wingback chairs that I've yet to finish the cushion for.  It's very springy and he uses it like a trampoline.

Oh, and he loves his birdie mobile.  He ripped it down a while ago and I just repaired & rehung it.  He's obsessed... clearly.

We love our little Sir. Happy 18 months.

Tanner Projects

More big news.  (It's shaping up to be a big year!)  And no, we're not pregnant, Mom.  We've started a new blog!  

Tanner Projects

We're still working on the blog layout (just like I'm still working on convincing Will that Desitin is not a food...) so it's a little arcane, but we're excited to start sharing our home renovations.  We've got a little house tour up as well as a few other gems, so check it out, follow our page, and DIY with us!

Will's clearly excited about it. Almost excited as he was when he found that tube of Desitin...

Looking Back. Looking Ahead.

Looking back. We had an amazing Christmas.  We spent a few days in Winter Park (got to go skiing!) Robbie got married (yay!) and then we spent Christmas at the Tanners, playing games, watching Tanner classic movies, and eating chocolate (of course).

Looking ahead. We are excited for a new year.  Hopefully, a year without cancer and migraines (fingers crossed).  Today we started the first day of a year-long "Tanner Health Makeover."  This is serious business.  Pictures will be coming to detail the seriousness.  It's serious.

Bring on 2013.

Back in the Game!

We've been busy.  I decided to give blogging a break and focus on more important things.  Like healing from cancer (what?!), perfecting egg-in-the-holes for Grantie:

Playing with my bubba: 

And finishing our first reupholstery job!!  (Nevermind that this project started in FEBRUARY...)

We went with the first fabric back from the ones we were looking at months ago, Bedazzle Silver Lining by Waverly.  We are stoked with how it turned out.  Just one more to go!

Catch-up

Okay... I'm way behind.

But things are going great around here.

I finally feel back to my normal self (mostly).  Today marks 3 months since surgery which means I have ZERO restrictions.  I went running twice this week (a pitiful attempt compared to where I was 3 months ago), and I'm leaving this Sunday for a rock climbing trip with First Descents.  I'm stoked (and mildly terrified).

Will is doing great.  He's officially walking.  And he's the cutest baby in the world.  Have I mentioned that before?

And Grant has been busy around the house.  Latest projects include painting (of course), building a compost barrel, installing a hitch on his Camry, and assembling a trailer to tow our various crap around.  He is impressive.

While there are certainly overwhelming 'motherhood days," we are so grateful to be healthy, happy, and most importantly, together.

Prep Day

Today is prep day.  My mom & I ran 4 miles this morning, (a distance PR for yours truly), took G's car to get the oil changed, I'm getting a haircut, picking my dad up at the airport, and we've got lots of cleaning and picking up to do.  I'm also packing all sorts of bags: my hospital bag, Will's clothes bag, Will's food bag, Will's toy bag...

It's very strange to be planning for 6 weeks of recovery when I feel completely normal right now.  While I may be feeling fine after a week or two, I still won't be able to pick up a gallon of milk (let alone the Willister) for at least six weeks.

Our families, friends, and our church have been amazing about offering to help.

Will is staying with his Mumsie & Grumsie while I'm in the hospital (Thanks M&G!)   Mumsie & Aunt Lauren will have him two times for at least a few days each, my friend Emily & Logan are coming for a few days, and Will is even taking a trip to California to hang out with his cousins, Kate & Gwen.  How do you thank someone for playing "mom" for you?! (I have recently purchased some really cute notes to write 'thank-yous' on, but somehow, that doesn't seem to be enough...)

Tomorrow is surgery day.  I have to be there at 5:30AM, surgery starts at 7:30AM and should last 2-3 hours.  I'll be on an walking epidural for about 3 days, and will probably stay in the hospital for 4-5 days.  I've asked Grant to post when I'm out of surgery, and then I'll be updating from the hospital as well.

Thank you so much for all your thoughts, prayers, and kind notes.  Grant and I talked a lot last night about everything and we both feel at peace.  The Lord knows what we're going through and will be with us through everything.  And it will be okay.  (As long as they'll let me eat lots of raspberry sorbet...)

An unexpected bump in our journey...

I had a CT scan this week to check out a lump in my abdomen.  I heard back today from my doctor that I have a tumor on my right kidney.  It is 7 cm, so close to 3 inches across.  I go in to see the urologist tomorrow afternoon and hopefully he'll be able to give us more information.

They can't tell whether it is malignant or not, so I'm assuming they'll be doing more tests, and chances are high that they will want to remove the whole kidney.  There were no signs of abnormalities in my lymph nodes, liver, or anywhere else, which is good.  

My sweet mom is flying in tonight and will go with me to the doctor tomorrow.  And my dear daddy cleared his schedule so that he can drive down tomorrow as well.  

Despite my fears, I feel quite at peace with everything.  I know things will work out even if I don't know exactly how.  Of course, prayers are more than appreciated.

Five weeks ago, tomorrow, I was in the hospital waiting room, anxious to hear how my mom and grandma were doing after their kidney transplant.  My mother gave up her right kidney.  To call this situation ironic would be a gross understatement.

Little Updates

I've officially been Botox-ed.  The doc said it takes 10 days before I'll see results and I can't wait, especially after the hellish migraine I had yesterday.

Will and I took a trip to Utah last week as well.  I didn't take any pictures because my camera was making strange beeping noises and wouldn't take a picture.  Yesterday I realized the self-timer, the beeping self timer, was on.  Nice.

And our planter box is finished!  Planting has officially started.  Tomatoes, strawberries, onions, carrots- yum!

2 whole months

I can't believe that Will has been alive for two whole months! (as of yesterday)  

He had his 2 month appointment, complete with shots.   We both cried.  Angry baby wailing is completely different than injured baby wailing. And Will's injured baby wail breaks my heart. 

But all is well.  Here are his stats:

Weight: 13lbs. 1/2oz.    80%

Height: 22 3/4in.  50%

Head: Can't remember.... 50%

Our little chunker is growing fast.  

He slept through the night last night. (Yay!)  He was in bed from 10:30-8:00.  

How much of that was sleeping... we'll never know.

But Mama was feeling good with a hearty 7-8 hours of hardcore sleepage.

Will really is so wonderful.

He is super smiley in the mornings.

He has super strong legs and likes to be standing most of the time.

He does little dances where his legs are straight but he bobbles his hips around.  Super cute.

He hates taking a bottle.  He's been having bottle lessons with Grant lately.  No luck yet.

He screams "Hun-geeeee!!" when he's hungry... or angry... or hot.

He is quite the chunker and so I find myself picking lint out of his baby rolls a lot.

He still has quite the serious forehead.  

He's the best baby in the world.  

Except for right now because he's crying in his crib and I want to make him feel better... but can't.

Darn that crying-themselves-to-sleep stage.

Catch-up

It has been a crazy few weeks!  Will has now successfully completed his first four airplane rides with trips to San Diego and Chicago.  Before I post pictures from our long-distance adventures, I wanted to catch up with the few weeks before that.

I had a birthday!  Being four days after giving birth, I can't say it was the best birthday I've ever had... but Leslie & Lauren made me an awesome birthday cake.  Twenty-three is going to be a good year.  I can feel it.

B-ma came to visit for two weeks!  Not only was it fun to have my mom around, but she was so helpful with little Will.  She has been going through Will withdrawals since she left (who wouldn't?!) which means she should come visit again soon... :)

Grandpa also came to visit for a weekend.  He loves babies and had lots of fun with his second little grandson.

And of course, he had to take Will to Player's Bench for his first hockey store experience.  Maybe he'll be a Penguin someday...

Bma made sure Will got a picture with Sidney Crosby.  Good ole' Sid was my mom's first choice for my future husband before she met Grant... :)

Will has also been spending a lot of time with his Mumsie & Grumsie.  It is so great to have them close by!  

The weekend of Will's blessing, Matt & Rachel came to visit as well.  We hadn't seen them since Christmas so it was great to catch up with them.

And of course, Will's been spending a lot of time sleeping, eating, and pooping.  

And now, smiling!  Although this picture doesn't exactly show that off...

He's Here!!

Will Tarrant Tanner

Born July 14th, 2011, 9:38am

7lb.4oz., 19 1/4in.

We feel so blessed that little Will or "Baby T" is here, healthy, and perfect in every way!

Mama and Will are both home, doing well, and cooking up a birth story post.  Won't that be exciting?!

Smiles

There are lots of reasons to smile:

-We're officially Coloradoans- plates, drivers' licenses and everything.
-The Baby T countdown is less than 20 days.  (Assuming he doesn't make a late debut.)
-Painting is officially done.
-We had gyros from Bucci's Greek & Italian Specialties.  Yum.
-My latest migraine is over.  Hooray.  Embarrassingly, this one was caused by a sugar-overdose.  (As was the last.)  I'm officially off sweets for the next month.

What are you smiling about today?!

Settling In

We made it.
We busted out the 14 hour drive in one day somehow.
We've unpacked most of the boxes... sort of.
We're attempting to adjust back to sharing a queen-sized bed.  Unfortunately, I'm a little bigger than the last time we had to share a bed.
Baby T has his own room but he doesn't sleep there yet :)
And pictures are coming eventually.
The End.

Change is in the air

Life is truly excellent right now: Graduation is next week, only SIX days until Grant & I are officially reunited, my parents are coming, we're moving closer to family, and Baby T is only 2 months away!!

But with all the goodness comes a lot of change.

First, I'm coming to the realization that for the first time in eighteen years, I won't be in school next year!  School is something I have always enjoyed and been good at.  I love learning and I enjoy the structure and consistency of grading each semester.  School is predictable and grades become an easy way to track progress and to feel recognized for hard work.  I will now enter the wonderful world of motherhood, which will be exciting and new, but  will also lack the regularity and reward of grades (as well as the consistent breaks!).

Second, it is hard to leave behind everything we have built here in Texas.  Granted, it has only been two years, but the friends we have made, the callings in which we've served (my cute little sunbeams!), my girls at the studio and all I've worked to build there, and even just the comfort of knowing where I am and how to get around will be hard to leave.

Third, the irrational, hormonal feelings I can't help but have that I haven't done enough in the last two years.  We may (okay, will) never move back to Texas.  Have I learned all the lessons I needed to learn here?  Have I served those I needed to serve?  Did I truly dedicate myself to my school work and teaching like I should have?

And of course, the inevitable baby nerves that are sure to hit.  Luckily, those haven't set in yet.  I feel quite calm about Baby T coming and I'm hoping I will continue to feel that way.

Overall, I am excited for what the future will bring, I am more than excited to live with Grant again, and I am ecstatic that Baby T will be joining us soon.  Like our Bishop says, "Life is a series of separations," from the time we leave our Heavenly Father to come to earth until the time we leave those on this earth to return to Him.  The struggle of those separations is what will help me grow and become more like Christ.  Bring it on.

Short Update, Short Pity Party...

My brain is exploding (for multiple reasons).  Share in my small pity party if you so desire:

1. Bad morning for head and tummy.  I have been so blessed to have good days for the last month or so.  But today is not one of those days...

2. Grant is gone :(  He got transferred to Denver (yay) and started working there last week.  I have to stay here until graduation (boo) and although having the bed to myself is oh-so-glorious, I'm really really not a fan of long-distance marriage... (More details on the move later)

3. I'm going home to visit Boise tomorrow!  Not only do I get to see my parents but Linds, Tay & Gav are coming too as well as my Gma & Gpa!  Only negative: I fly through Denver... and don't get to see Grant...

4. Because I'm going home I'll miss my ballet final on Thursday.  I was going to tape it today so I can make it up, but seeing as it's not a good head/tummy day, that just might not happen...

5. The rough draft of my culminating project is due in less than two weeks... ahh!  Considering I'll be home for quite a few of those days, it will be quite an adventure attempting to get that finished...

Such is life at the Tanner, or rather, the Kelsey Tanner household.  Excuse my pity party.  My mama always told me I was allowed to feel this way every once in a while & then I have to move on... I'll move on tomorrow... after my 2nd flight leaves Denver far behind...

What the Baby?

The rumors are true! (As if you've heard rumors...)  Grant & I are excited to announce that we are expecting a little "Baby T" in July.  This sonogram is a little old so he still looks like a little peanut.  

July is the (only) month for Peterson women to have babies, apparently.  My dad, sister, brother, nephew and I are all July birthdays so Baby T will fit right in.  In fact, I'm due on July 17th, the day before my birthday!

I'm 13-14 weeks along and it's been quite the adventure so far.  Morning sickness and migraines have kept me in bed, on the couch, and even in the ER once.  It's been tough, but we're hoping things will start clearing up in the next few weeks.  And of course, it will all be so worth it to have little Baby T in July.

We don't find out whether it's a boy or a girl until March, but we have both felt strongly that it is a boy.  We refer to Baby T as a "he" so it will be a big shift in mentality for us if "he" is actually a "she." 

Woohoo for babies!

Tis' the season to provide updates

With the holidays behind us, (and thanks heavens, the semester too), I finally feel like I'm ready to leave my blogless cave.  Unfortunately, that cave has also been fairly camera-free, so here's one of those full of junk, no picture posts:

• We spent the Thanksgiving holiday relaxing and refraining from cooking (because that cave of mine doesn't have a pot, spatula, and certainly not an oven).  We ate our turkey dinner at Mimi's Cafe, which wasn't bad, but certainly wasn't home cooking.
• We saw Harry Potter!  We decided to ignore the fact that we're no longer sleep deprived college students and went to the midnight showing.  We paid dearly the whole next day and didn't catch up on sleep for at least 3 days afterwards. 
• I sang in the choir as part of our church's nativity program.  It was an amazing program with a big orchestra that included percussion and a harp, our choir, a video that went with the music, as well as actors that played out the Nativity scene in front of a beautiful stable and manger.  It was pretty incredible.
• I somehow made it through the semester.  I graduate in May and I have only one semester to put together my entire culminating project.  Blech is what I say to that.
• We spent a wonderful Christmas in Denver with the Tanners!  I'm going to do a separate post about all those fun happenings.
• We're back in Texas and back to real life, at least, for Grant.  I start work again next week and then school a few weeks after that.  Yay for free time once more.  It's almost time for New Years Resolutions (as if we make those...).  The first on my list is to fatten up Grantie :)

A Big Drop

It's been a lengthy drop. 

The drop I have taken off the face of the blogging planet.

I have a new computer, which is awesome.  However, it doesn't have a port for my memory card like my old computer did.  For some reason, the effort it takes to connect one extra cord to my computer was just a little too much for my lazy little self.  

Luckily for you, life hasn't changed too much (read: at all) in the last week or two at the Tanner household.  

Highlights?  BLT's, nasty colds, subbing extra hours at the studio, horse races, and camping.  

Pictures?  When I work up the moral courage to upload and edit a few of the hundreds.

Have patience.  It's a virtue.  Unlike my slothfulness.  Amen.