we've got a mover...

So we aren't saying that Ryder is crawling, but he is what we would call "on the move and mobile". I was sitting next to him doing laundry and within a few seconds, there he was...

under the couch.

It's just a matter of time...

ps: We still have no teeth, just lots of "teething", which is a real hoot for the little man, poor guy. He is handling it like a trooper.

the holidays are here...

After a really fun play date with our friends Ann and Austin, Ryder and I tackled some Christmas cards, some gift wrapping, and some on-line shopping for some presents. It was a really fun day getting ready for the holiday season.

I don't know what it is but something about this holiday season seems so special with Ryder here. We have always loved this time of year, but getting to share it with him, even though he is only about 8 months old, it is so exciting! I can't wait for all of the holiday memories with our little man.

family time at thanksgiving...

We have spent the last few days celebrating thanksgiving with both of our families. It was a very special time. We are enjoying that Ryder is getting to experience the holidays for the first time with all these people that he loves.

Here are some of our favorite photos from our trip...

We were first with Kit's family:

Being with Kit's grandparents.

The whole group.

For my first thanksgiving, I took this picture, with a drum stick, so of course I had to take one for Ryder...

Three generations of Rae men.

Next we headed to my parents house and enjoyed some thanksgiving dinner and then some decorating for the holidays. This was the first christmas tree for our niece and Ryder, so their eyes were HUGE looking at all the lights and shining ornaments.

We look forward to having many holiday memories together as a family...

We love you all!

thankfulness...

It is really special to have a holiday like thanksgiving to reflect on ALL that we have to be thankful for. It's sad how this is more like an anual ritual as opposed to a daily one for me, but hey, I am really trying to grow in this area, so it's baby steps (with really big feet...)

So as we head off to be with family for the weekend holiday, I just wanted to share some things from my list that I do not articulate enough how thankful I am for them...

1. Jesus

2. Grace

3. My husband (who more times than not extends the grace to me...)

4. My healthy, happy, joyful, giggling baby boy

5. Our community of family and friends that make my life so much fuller and richer

6. Our house that because of our family, has become my home

7. Our jobs (that we love)

I hope that this season is a wonderful time for you and our family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

May we truly learn what it is to live with thankful hearts...

Kit Rae

Kit,

You are an amazing dad. It is so true that you fall more in love with your spouse when you watch them become incredible parents. I love how Ryder lights up when you walk in the room and I am so thankful that he has a dad like you.

I love you so much, and in the spirit of thanksgiving...

I AM SO THANKFUL FOR YOU!

Ryder is thankful for you too...

happy baby

Big smiles...

Ryder Rae, you are loved and wanted and were waited for.

We love being your parents!

good friends

Yesterday, while Kit helped our other friends move and do some demo on their new house, I got to hang out with our friends the Thrashes. Kit and Mark were room mates freshman year at Biola and were room mates until Kit and I were married almost 5 years later. We have loved getting to watch our families grow. Their daughter Hazel is two and their son Hank had the exact same due date (not planned) as Ryder.

Every time we get to be together, we are so amazed by these little people. They are such a joy!

And what would a day for these kiddos be without bath time? Seriously I couldn't snap shots quick enough...

Thrashes...

We love you so much and are so happy to have had such incredible friends like you in our lives, sharing life with us and all that that entails...I am holding onto the dream of our kiddos growing up and being crazy close.

Thanksgiving books...

I don't think it's a secret that we love books in our house and the holidays are always a fun time to add a book or two to our collection. Here are the books that we added this year to our thanksgiving holiday collection...

Happy reading!

glue, yarn, and styrofoam...

I have seen people do crafts like this and was inspired to try it myself. All I did was get some green yarn and twine, and got the dust off my hot glue gun.

I can't wait to really decorate for the holidays...

manicures

We painted our baby girls nails for the first time a few days ago and she was really excited about it. To be honest she has had her nails painted before, but she didn't really understand the concept of not touching things until the nails dried. All she wanted was to be like her mommy... So this time it actually worked. She is so precious!

I love our girl...

play dates...

It is so sweet to watch Ryder with his little friends... We just pull out a blanket, pull out each kiddos toys and just let them be. It is really sweet how Ryder watches what is happening around him. He is very aware of people, which is really fun to see.

So here are a few photos of Ryder hanging out with Micah...

They are 5 weeks apart

shopping...

For those that have recently looked at a calendar, thanksgiving is less than two weeks away which makes Christmas right around the corner. I really like to do my Christmas shopping early but I have had a little bit of a hard time being a fairly new mom with an infant to tote in and out of the car and stores, so I have had so much fun doing some shopping on line. So as a new mom, figuring out so many things, I wanted to share these sites that I have come across that have such great stuff and the recipient is sure to love their gift, great for purchases and for getting really fun ideas...

uncommongoods

anthropologie

delight.com

spitfire girl

and my favorite

etsy

Happy Looking!

PS~

If there is a web site that you do really well for gifts on, I would love to have the link...

midwest, here he comes...

Kit left at 5am this morning for a speaking engagement in Cincinnati and Indianapolis...I miss him already. You would think that I would have learned to put my big girl panties on and suck it up, but I just miss him when he travels. Ryder does too, I can tell...

We miss you Kit Rae and we can't wait to see you when you get back!

date day...

Kit and I have been wanting to incorporate more dates into our routine, whether that is weekly or monthly. It has been a little hard with work schedules and this time of year's business.

So it was such an amazing surprise when my parents offered to come out yesterday to surprise us with a date day. Kit and I went to our favorite sushi place in downtown Fullerton, Chomp.

Then we walked around downtown and got a fun coffee, and did some Christmas shopping...

It was so fun to be together and to really talk and connect.

I always love spending time with my Kit...

Mom and Dad~

Thank you so much for making our date day possible. It was so fun and so appreciated! We love how much Ryder lights up when he sees you and it was so special to know that he was with you both.

We couldn't love you more and we are so glad that Ryder has you for his Mia and Papa.

Sharing the love...

Our good friend Byron, from Chicago, sent us this Cubs outfit for Ryder and of course, that led to a photo shoot.

Thank you Byron for thinking of us...

We might have a Cubs fan on our hands...

(Maybe the Cubs will be Ryder's favorite National League team and the Angels will be his favorite American League team... Hey, anything can happen.)

Mama Mojo

Untitled from Kit Rae on Vimeo.

happy birthday dad!

Happy Birthday Dad!

We couldn't love you more and we are so thankful you are in our lives. We hope that you have a wonderful day being celebrated!

I love this time of year!

I love browsing the internet when little man is down for his nap and I can't help but LOVE all the stuff associated with this time of year. Everything is so warm and welcoming. This seems to be the time of year for having people over and sharing meals together and all of that good stuff. It just makes me so happy. Plus isn't this time of year all about being with the people that you love (even if you are surrounded by those people all year long, this time of year is so special to me because it's a season that seems to high light it.)

Here are some funs photos that I found in todays browsing time...

I just love this time of year!