Did it myself.

 I like Pinterest as much as the next person, but sometimes my "DIY" list gets too long to handle. SO many good ideas, so little time and means to actually carry them out. But when I saw this little scrabble type board it sparked an idea...an idea I knew I had to carry out...in the form of Ryan's Christmas present.

the Pinterest version

I LOVED this. I also happen to be married to a man who asks me to play scrabble with him on a daily basis. I almost always answer no...it takes too long. Anyways I knew he would love this BUT...I know Ryan...and Ryan is a man who likes to keep score. He wouldn't want to play some abstract game on a board with no "triple word score" squares to strategize around. So I had my mission. To make an actual magnetic scrabble board...scoreable (not an approved scrabble word) and all. After throwing around a few different ideas, here is the final product. Not perfect, but so fun! We have it hung in a central location in our house, so we can play everyday!

We keep the letters in a cute jar on a nearby shelf, which also has a score pad attached. We have already had a lot of fun playing our game, a few moves a day. Ryan is a big fan. Now instead of asking to play scrabble daily, he is just constantly reminding me its my turn. Love it. 

How bout it?

my new year in a two word list

keep laughing

run faster

feel more

talk more

work harder

save more

remember more

make goals

create daily

facebook less

watch less

camp more

thrift more

more style

read more

creative cooking

lose more

be nicer

show love

be patient

stay ahead

sleep earlier

wake earlier

dust often

be grateful

love myself

floor time

red lips

blond hair

try zumba

worry less

here. now.

embrace motherhood

beautify hair

sew clothing

family trip

romantic getaway

temple attendance

home study

love sunbeams

compare less

fur vest

colored jeans

testimony growth

more faith

teach baby

be present

road trip

enjoy babies

be crazy

stay calm

self esteem

fly kite

more veggies

spend less

drop it

be me

ready.set.go.

sounds like a lot of abstract cliches, but its all what I am thinking. I have a more concrete list in a more private place. new year. new start. bring it 2012.

A sick little tale

I guess it really all started over a month ago. We were in Idaho and Kyle started throwing up. It went on for over a week, and they told us to take him off the lactose formula. He stopped throwing up as soon as we switched to soy, so we thought it was just a lactose intolerance.

Things were fine, until about two weeks ago. The throwing up started again, but this time it was worse. They ruled out the flu for various reasons. After a few days we switched to allementum formula, it is lactose free and soy free. He continued to throw that up. He had lost a pound, and was getting worse. He just laid there most of the time, wouldn't eat, couldn't sleep, and never wanted to play. It was very sad to watch. We went to the doctor every other morning to monitor his condition. They had tried to get blood to test but he was too dehydrated to bleed. Finally, Monday morning, they decided to admit him to the hospital for dehydration and to run tests.

Watching him get the iv was the saddest thing I have ever seen. It took him hours to calm down. After even a few hours of being pumped with fluid he made big improvements. He ate more than he had eaten all week combined, and his color returned. They were all so good to us. They were able to get blood samples from him and do some other tests they needed as well. He even got his own room service menu...adorable.  And the mini hospital gown? Too cute to handle. We only had to stay one night, and Kyle has been doing so much better since our return. He has yet to throw up, and has even handled the cow's milk totally fine.

 After the iv

 After a few hours of fluids

 Thank you netflix....(we watched backyardigans until kyle fell asleep)

 back shot

Feeling like a new boy before going home!

We are so grateful to have a healthy boy. We won't hear back from the tests until next week, but Kyle is doing really well. We are really trying to get him to gain weight now, so I went on a junk food shopping spree and bought everything I swore I would never let my child eat. Never say never I guess!

A Very Lundgreen Christmas

This year we did Christmas our way, with very little visiting or traveling. We love family, but we also love our own little family, and we rarely spend time at home just the three of us. Kyle also ended up being sick, so this plan really worked out. We did spend a meal over at my parents, but since they live next door ish, it was easy. We didn't get to carry out all our plans because of the sickey, but we had a great time, and we were grateful Kyle had a few feeling good hours on Christmas day before his big decline. I will tell the rest in pictures.

 Sick boy watching some Tim Tebow with dad on Christmas Eve

 Eve present opening

 Liking what he found..

 Our family on the Eve

 Oh Christmas Tree

 Discovering the full stockings

 The men

 The fam

 My baby

Merry Christmas to all!

What a mighty mighty good man

I am not really one for PDA or online gushing about my husband, though he would deserve it. BUT. Yesterday I thought it was time we celebrated Ryan. He works so hard. Until this past September he has worked 40+ hours a week while going to school full time in a program so demanding most students don't work at all while doing it. In September he was able to start as a part time research assistant while going to school...it has been fabulous to see a bit more of him. Anyways my point is this guy works soooo hard and never complains. EVER. He just plugs through doing what needs to be done. He is also so helpful at home. He is constantly asking, what can I do for you? And is the first to jump out of bed if Kyle needs something in the middle of the night. My point is...he is one of the good guys.

So yesterday I realized...his finals were over (one of which took 3 full days to complete..not joking..and it was only two problems...bleh)...and his first year of grad school was behind him! This was big news. Ryan isn't one to act stressed, he always remains calm, but who isn't at least a little relieved when finals are over? So I informed him we were going out! I had been told the lights at the Riverwoods were fun, and it just so happens one of our fave restaurants is also in the Riverwoods. Fate I tell you.

We had a delicious and fun time. The lights were fun, the food was yum, and the company was the best around. Then we roamed Costco (one of our favorite activities) and headed home to fire up the cocoa-latte and watch Elf. Good stuff.

 Love Kyle's face

We like to party.

There were many reasons I looked forward to having a baby someday...and I would be lying if I said throwing a big 1st birthday party wasn't on the list...among other things like dressing them up in adorable miniature clothes...anyways. My little man turned one, stepped from babyhood to toddlerhood. It was a big day. And this family likes to celebrate, so celebrate we did!

Kyle's favorite book has always been Personal Penguin by Sandra Boynton. There is a music video that goes along with it and for as long as I can remember that song can cheer Kyle up faster than anything else. It has crazy power over him. So this, combined with the fact he has a winter birthday...the theme practically picked itself! Winter ONEderland...penguin...combination. We had a good time.

I had a little too much fun making decorations and baking a six layer tall penguin cake. Kyle quite enjoyed the cake too. He also enjoyed getting WAY too many presents from all his guests. We ate a soup and bread buffet, pb&j, jello jigglers, donut snowmen, cheese ball and crackers, and cake of course. I mixed some more adult foods along with the little guy's faves. It all went down with only one minor breakdown when Kyle was attacked by all the "helpers" while opening his presents.

I was sad I didn't  get better pictures... but the party was great, and that's what matters.

Kyle enjoying a leisurely tub the morning of his big day.

favors!

Kyle with his two biggest fans

Admiring his penguin cake.

 There was penguin bowling.

 Kyle coloring his penguin pic.

 Presents!

Cake cross section

 Penguin rocker shirt of course

 No hands!

Happy Boy!

After the party Kyle got a suspicious rash...headed to Instacare to find out he is allergic to Amoxicillin...a day is not complete without a little adventure right? Then we came home and let Kyle enjoy some lactose free ice cream, which he loved. It was a fun day. We loved celebrating our baby and thinking about the last year. Kyle is such a blessing, we are just obsessed. Here's to many more fun filled birthdays with our boy!

One year older, wiser too.

My baby is ONE! It blows my mind. It has been the fastest, craziest, hardest, most life changing year of my life so far. But this is not about me. Let's talk about my favorite little boy.

I feel like Kyle grew up even more than usual in the last month. He is so full of personality. My favorites?

• All of his talking! Hi, No, Up, Out, Oh dear, Oh wow, and What's this?..all his most common words.
• He says "hi, hi, hi, hi, hi..." until whoever he is greeting acknowledges him.
• He fake sneezes about ten times after any real sneeze.
• He loves stairs. He can get up and down in no time at all.
• He loves peaches n' cream oatmeal and granola bars.
• He loves his soy milk.
• He loves to play outside, even in the cold.
• He loves Christmas lights.
• He loves to sit and look at books,  and really loves to turn the pages.
• He has started hiding his face when he feels shy, then pops his head out with a big grin.
• He sings along with songs, not words, just his sweet little singing voice.
• He loves to be played with. Especially playing with other little kids.
• He knows how to throw a good fit.
• He loves suckers.
• He loves playing with puzzles.
• He likes to talk on the phone.
• He walks a lot, but never lets go.
• He likes to carry things around with him.
• He loves pillows..sleeping on them, throwing himself on them...and stealing mine.
• He is SO happy and smiley.

I always feel like I forget things..mostly I wish I could just capture a bit of his personality and document it. He is so sweet and funny and cute and perfect. We love him so much. I am so grateful he came to us. This first year was so much fun, and the older he gets the more fun it is! I love watching him turn into a little person. Happy birthday little man! (party details to come)

My good friend Mike was nice enough to take some pics of Kyle for his big day. I love them.