Love

I might be somewhat biased, but I think these are the two best looking fellas out there.

Like anywhere.
Ever.

Sorry. :)

Big Baby

Funny thing about this kid - he was obviously ready for solid foods since he was guiding the spoon to his mouth by grabbing my hand and would yell at me when I would go to scoop more from the bowl...I couldnt get it into his mouth fast enough. Honestly, I'm thrilled.

(Even though he's getting too big.)

Tasty Lil' Morsel

Isn't he just delicious? I could just eat him up - even in those little old man pants. Wyatt @ 6 wks. Check out those monkey toes.

Chunka Munka

9 1/2 lbs. and 22 in. @ 4 weeks.

(and that's my arm, not my boob)

2 weeks...

We are in LOVE. It isn't right how fast this kid is growing.

Why can't they stay little longer?

Introducing...

He's here!

Wyatt McCrory Gilstrap

was born Wednesday night, July 29 at 10:13pm.

7 lbs. 21 in.

After a short 3 1/2 hour labor (which really began after the Dr. broke my water). We came home Friday afternoon and are loving every second of this new little one. Wyatt has been a dream - almost in a very surreal way. We can't believe he's actually here AND that he's so mellow and easy going. We'll post more info and pics soon!!

WHOA!

Does anyone SEE that baby counter over there????!
(it's not moving FAST ENOUGH.)

Um...Super Yum

For all my girls out there...just sharing the love.

Being nine months pregnant and sweltering hot is not much fun, but this gave me a little burst of energy... giddy like a dang school girl.

Pretty pathetic.

Amongst the Birds and Bees

Whoa, mama. Nice c'ankles.

I just wanted to share a few photos from the beautiful baby shower that Lilian and Niki did. It was so relaxing and enjoyable (for me anyway - especially since they wouldn't let me do a THING for it). I know that they both (including their tired husbands), did so much to make it special. I'm so blessed to have such wonderful friends and thank you to everyone who came. Your cards are in the mail!!

Yes, it says "Welcome Mother Sucker". Ne'er truer words.

The paper birds and lanterns adorn.

Pretty flowers and drinks.

Pretty Gaea (whom I have nannied for 6 years) and the gifts.

The biggest gift - our new crib! Thank you!!

Our New Adventure (aka: Saddest Day Ever)

I've moved plenty of times, and even moved from places I've lived in for much longer periods of time, but this was probably the hardest of them all. I didn't want to do it - I didn't want to go. (I'm teary and snotty even now, remembering that day.) We loved Pasadena. We loved this house. We love our friends we made here. (Forgive the awful picture, but I had just said a teary goodbye to our sweetest friends ever, the Moore's - and mom wanted a pic of us in front of the house before we got into cars to leave. As you can see, I wasn't even in the mood to get dressed that day.)

(The other thing that broke my heart, was seeing this: my poor truck being towed back to Sacramento, after it's made so many trips back and forth. It's final trip back... and $600 later, still broke. So sad to me.)

Of course, we will be back, but it won't be the same. Thank you Mike & Lilian for all of your help, sweat, and love. Thank you Niki for saving Owen from boredom and lending us Max. Thank you Sam for driving down to rescue us in our last few days. Thank you Mom & Dad Spohn for breaking your backs and doing all the things that you didn't have to do - but did because you love us. Thank you Mom & Dad Gilstrap for giving us these memories.

On to the next adventure...

Fat Feet...and dry skin...lovely

Just sharing for the enjoyment and disgust of all...

Falling Apart!

Okay, so Owen and I got back to Pasadena just Thursday night. I woke up Friday to the sprinklers coming on (which I usually do because they are loud) only to hear instead of the usual spitting spray, a river flowing. It was dark still and all I could see was a large puddle - so I turned off the sprinklers and went back to sleep. When I went out later to see what was up, I noticed that there were several spots on the grass that were totally dying from no water...what?? The sprinkler head was laying across the hole with it's top completely missing. It also looked like it hadn't been mowed in that area for at least a week. Could the gardeners have broken it? Then I noticed that two of the sprayers that connect to the dripline out front in the flower bed were broken on the tops and sending fountains shooting into the air. Yesterday I decided since I was home alone, I would scrub the bathroom and then treat myself to a nice bath. A few candles...soft music...lovely. EXCEPT, the hot water would not shut off! It maintained a steady and noisy stream of water flowing the whole time. NOT very relaxing. Not to mention it has been running all night because my wimpy muscles cannot manage to turn the water main off in front of the house! (drip trickle tinkle $$$$$$$....)
Most of these little issues would not be a huge deal and could very easily be taken care of in an afternoon - IF TOM WERE HERE! But he's not...I'm here by myself, with a basketball in my belly, waddling around. Packing up boxes that I cannot move from one place to another. Not able to move the heavy furniture around that I need too...not able to get up into the attic to store the boxes of stuff we will be leaving behind until we have a place to put them. I have about 4 doors and jams that need to be painted along with the fireplace mantel, several window sills, kitchen cabinet doors, a garage to pack, an entire house to scrub, a backyard to keep alive and and a livingroom in desperate need of an overhaul all in the next three weeks. I'm officially feeling helpless and overwhelmed. I really wanted everything to be fabulous for Tom's parents to come home too...but I don't think I can do it by myself. With Tom being gone, we are about 8 months behind in the projects we had hoped to complete. Guess it will just look the way it always has and our time here was wasted. I really wish I could be doing more.

Guess I'll have to hire this guy.

Newest Baby Pic

Pretty darn cute.

Change

I haven't posted for a long while...mostly due to our changing scenery. Tom has been working out of town in the North Bay Area for eight months now. During that time, we have seen him only about every 2-3 weeks or so. In order to keep my sanity - and probably his also - we have spent a lot of time recently up in Lincoln with my parents so that we could see each other on weekends. (A two hour drive is a lot easier than 8). Since Tom's parents will be returning to Pasadena in early June, we are planning to go and stay with my folks for the summer, have a baby, save some much needed money, and regroup as a family. It all sounds like a smart plan. Not the ideal sure, but upon our last return back to Pasadena...I have been really sad. Not that I don't wish everyday to be close to my darling husband and have a mama close by to help out with a new baby, but because I have truly come to love this place. I love the city, I love our ward, I love this house, I dearly love each of our amazingly wonderful friends that have brightened our stay here, helped us make unforgettable memories and made this place our HOME. Lincoln is teaming with family, cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers...even old friends from high school. But starting over, especially in a temporary area will probably make it hard for us to make good connections with new friends. I know I should be optimisitic and have a little faith that it will be fine... But moving stinks. No doubt about that. I'm gonna miss you, Lili.

BLUE!!! (updated version)

(for those of you who cannot figure this photo out, its a view from the bum up...the white lines to the right are pelvic 'bones' and tip of spine...the fuzzy top of the pic is a leg...and above the words "It's a BOY!" is a distinct 'boy' part, the other leg is not fully visible in this pic but part of a hand is peeking at the bottom of the photo...and I know, if it's not your own ultrasound, you would never figure it out.)

Attention please! Here ye, here ye! Big news! It's a Gilstrap BOY!!

Boy! A boy! A boy!

Girls are drama anyway, right?...Owen can't wait to have his little skate crew...The beginnings of a baseball team...Skateboards...Firetrucks...Hotwheels...Manly men...and I still get to be the princess. (Guess those adorable little dresses will have to stay at the store for now...)

We are so THRILLED with the surprise of this news - everyone (including us) was so sure we would be saying girl. Little Wyatt, we can't wait to meet you!

(this is a 4D image of Wyatt...you can see his little face in the middle area of the pic...kind of a profile view.)

Peek-A-Boo...I See You!

It's real! There's a baby in there. And I was right on! July 31st is the day we are counting down to. That's a head with eyes and nose and hands on each side, a tummy and even a little foot pushing up toward the camera! And seriously, what a little wiggle worm. This kid was all OVER the place, which made it hard to get a very good heartbeat consistantly - but I heard it! Strong little bitty! So we're so excited, everything is going great and I am feeling so much better lately. Yea baby!!