please keep him in your prayers.

My sweet nephew Lorenzo is in the hospital with pneumonia. Please keep him in your prayers. 

xoxox

love cate

nine months in nine months out...

Just because we are always looking for a reason to celebrate:

we bought a magaleby's chocolate cake. After the first bite I new my life would never be the same. I had know idea a cake could even taste like that. That chocolate cake and I were a match made in cake heaven!  Now I have been putting on my thinking cap for another good reason to celebrate with a  slice of that goodness....easter....tax day...the fact that it is Monday....I am sure I will come up with something ;) 

We even invited two of our favorite people over for this momentous occasion.

Then we celebrated the 9 short months (opposed to the 9 long months that he was inside me) that the little mister has been part of our family. 

 

I have a hard time remembering what life was like before him. I am sure I was awfully board. All I know is that he keeps me on my toes.....annnd  that The Husband and I are completely smitten by this little boy.

xoxox

love cate

for the love of man: love notes

image from here

last week I did everything in my power to look beautiful(because of this challenge.) This was not an easy task. If I were to say I had a blemish on my chin that would be the understatement of the century...I had Mt Everest and it had a heart beat....I had no other choice but to put a band aid over that monstrosity... I felt so so so sorry for myself ....and....  then to make this challenge trickier on Sunday right before we were going to rush off to church, I had a brilliant idea. I decided to cut my bangs....why? Thats what The Husband keeps asking me.

But despite the obvious obstacles my chin, bangs and I definitely would consider last week a success in the marriage department. 

I think it must have been my perfume. Lets just say that their was a lottttt more handholding (during movies,) pinching bums (when I was bent over putting the little mister in his car seat,) and way more flirting (we need some practice in that department....;)

Week 2 Challenge: This week I am going to get creative with the way I say "I love you" I will stick love notes in his back pocket, on the dashboard of his car, write it with lip stick on the mirror, I will call him text him (if I had text)......write it with mustard on his turkey sandwich.......or any other way to let him know i love him.

xoxox

love cate

p.s. how did last week go for you lovelies and your lovers??

for the love of salsa

last night The Husband and i made homemade salsa and guacamole. 

the husband added a lot of garlic and even more onion.

this morning when i went to feed the little mister he took a sip and spit it out...now he keeps wanting to eat then changing his mind as soon as he gets near me....this is not a good sign!

have a beautiful day!!

xoxoxo

love cate

things i never knew i couldn't live without.

a while ago I wrote all about baby products that had changed my life as I once knew it.

Recently a new item  has made it to the  top of my holy grail of baby items list.

 That item would be none other then the little misters OXO tot - sprout highchair. It is LOVE my friends! 

I spent hours researching the perfect highchair and now the little mister is sitting in it! 

not only is it a beauty but it is incredibly easy to keep clean. 

By far the best part of it is the 20 minutes a day the little mister is completely contained...in one spot:)

I think it might just be pure bliss....for all those involved ;)

xoxox

love cate

guess what?!?

no i am not going to be a dad.

but i am going to be an auntie for the 49th time

my TWIN is having a baby! i am pretty sure this makes me her babies god mother ;)

i am so thrilled I can hardly stand it! this really is such great news!

the only thing is....

for the first time in my life i have wondered if twin-epathy is true...i have been experiencing morning sickness right along with her!

xoxox

love cate

I never expected to be your whole world...just your favorite part.~anonymous

i have made a unanimous decision that "with a touch of pretty" really should start a series. so every friday I will be posting sweet little ways to court the person you already fell in  love with. 

i have a really good marriage that is full of love, respect and admiration....but i have decided that i know longer want to settle for a "good" marriage i want an amazing one. I want  my husband to look at me and see *sparks* i want to feel butterflies.

 because a great marriage is worth fighting for.

i came to the conclusion that i can't change The Husband, trust me folks i have already tried ;)but i can change the women he chose to marry.

i have been thinking that if i were a man i sure as heck wouldn't want to date me! somedays The Husband gets home from work and i can't remember if i brushed my teeth let alone my hair...well... 

when we were dating i remember quite a bit more primping, flirting and a whole lot more kissing(sorry madre i am sure you could've gone your whole life with out that information;)

so for the love of man i will be hosting weekly challenges. also check out my sidebar, not only will it tell you what day of the week it is but will have a simple sweet daily reminder taken from the book 365 Ways to Say I Love You.

week one challenge: Everyday this week I am going to  look smokin fine for my man. This includes the whole nine yards...makeup, perfume and even breath mints (no stretch pants or exercise pants allowed this week..sorry ladies unless you actually are  planning to workout...in that case make them really, really tight hehe)

I would love for anyone else to take part of these weekly challenges....i would love even more to here how it goes for ya....no need to be shy :)

xoxo

love cate

The best part of waking up

my mornings always go something like this:

At around 4:30 a.m I hear the little mister stirring or screaming

with my eyes half shut (I figure that there is no sense of opening them up it is much to dark to see anyway) I trip over everything in my path then I snatch the little mister up and bring him in to bed with us. 

I really love the idea of going to bed as a couple and waking up as parents ;) 

we are back to square one on the bed department and all three of us have no other choice but to snuggle on our full size mattress.

A few hours later The Husband pushes the snooze button three times before he starts getting ready for work.

A while later he comes and kisses us good bye. He always aims for my cheek, I always turn so he kisses me and my morning breath on the mouth.

I then attempt to grunt something that is supposed to sound similar to "Good bye darling, I hope your day is as wonderful as you are." 

Then I open up my eyes to the Little Mister who is jut inches away from my face smiling. 

I can't help but smile. He really is just so cute.

I ask him about his dreams and he then tells me an animated story in gibberish.

The Little Mister then becomes what we fondly refer to as the "baby monster" and trys pulling my hair and pinching my cheeks until I am forced into submission.

I finally rule out of bed and on to my knees. I thank my Heavenly Father for another wonderful day.

xoxox 

love cate

p.s. With all the devastation in Japan it is easy to feel completely helpless. The Husband and I decided that this would be a good way to help those in need. And of course a lot of prayers on their behalf. 

Today.

(image found here)

if this is true....which it is, does that mean i have permission to completely love and except myself... for exactly who I am today? Just a thought. would it mean that i can stop waiting to become the person i would like to be and just become her? 

my whole life i have been waiting to become the person that i know is some where inside me. maybe just for today i can be her. 

i am going to love a little more deeply...or completely. Be a little more tidy. listen more carefully. be a lot more healthy. show gratitude. Today i will count my blessing twice over. 

I am going to kiss my husband passionately when he gets home from work.

I am going to use my nice glass plates for dinner.

I might even buy myself flowers. 

I will read stories to my little boy without thinking what else needs to be done.

I will simply be present in the life I am living......because if i look closely i do have the life i have always wished for.

xoxox

love cate

look who woke up with some confidence!

Jett is 8.5 months old and is pulling himself up on everything and ever so slowly is starting to creep along the furniture. Today he stood for a couple of minutes with out holding on to anything!! I was seriously so amazed! He seriously has gained so much 

confidence over night!

we just love him.

Today is my Dads birthday and while he is no longer with us  on this earthThe husband, the little mister and I will be celebrating with a little cake and a lot of ice cream the birth of a man that will always be bigger then life. He was truly loved and has been sincerely missed.

sometimes the very human side of me feels angry that his time on earth was so very short, shorter then any of us would have liked. I feel badly that my Mom had to lose her husband and when my siblings need him that he isn't here. Then I always smile to myself as the overwhelming peace and reassurance wash over me because he still is with us. I am grateful for the knowledge that families can be together forever.

last year me and my pregnant self celebrated this oh so very special occasion with my six older sistas' with a fun filled  weekend in SLC! the fun o meter was definitely broken that weekend ;)

Happy Birthday Dad!! We Love you!

I Am

As of late I was introduced to this little Mrs sunshine. I love her blog it is so optimistic and inspiring! She invited everyone to do an "I AM" poster where you write an affirmative statement about yourself....not what you would like to be but what you are.

I made this!

 

 

 

 

 

the world is yours for the taking

Dear Jett,

My greatest hope is that when you see your self  you see exactly what your Dad and I see. And most importantly what your Father in Heaven sees in you.

I hope you see that the world is yours, please take it.

I hope you see that this life is a gift, please love it.

I hope you know that you have endless potential, please use it!

I hope you see that dreams are worth chasing and  love and beliefs are worth fighting for, please never lose sight of that.

And last I hope you see that you my little boy can and will make this world a better place, please know you have made mine.

love always,

Mom

I could write a book!

The sweet Savannah from the joy of living nominated yours truly for the stylish blogger award....could it be because she loves my blog...or is it because we have been best friends since grade school.

Thats for you to decided ;)

So here goes 7 embarrassing or funny moments. I really could write a book but most of them are a little bit to fresh for me to fully appreciate. Or even laugh at quite yet....but

• When Candi and I were 5 years old we used to try to impress and wow adults with our super human strength (as if our matching oversized pink glasses and matching bobs weren't enough.) We would walk up to a helpless grown man and each grab a leg and try to lift him up. I am still not sure why we would do this. Candi ended up with a hernia.
• 
  
• My 5th grade pleasantly plump self thinking that I was completely alone and busting dance moves that would have made Brittany Spears envious and the Backstreet boys want to date me. Only to discover that I had an audience watching through the crack in the door.....I still remember the horror I felt when I looked over at my sister who couldn't breathe she was laughing so hard.
• 
  
• My 7th graded flat chested self borrowing with out asking my older sisters nursing pads, only to be discovered by another older sister ... in front of all of her high-school friends. My first mistake was being a non lactating 13 year old wearing nursing pads. My second fatal mistake was wearing a white shirt that was a little to sheer ( of course it was paired with a Cow print pleather jacket and black pleather pants.....got milk anyone.) On second thought my outfit  was definitely my first mistake. 
• 
  
• My 9th grade extremely shy sleep walking self waking up snuggled up to my brother in law. I am just recently able to make eye contact with him again.
• 
  
• Having braces, glasses acne and a bad perm at the same time. It was a deadly combination and knowing that EVERY guy at Prospect middle school liked me.
• 
  
• After The Husband and I shared our first kiss him saying "thank you CANDI." sorry mister wrong twin.

• Or on my honeymoon coming out in something sassy only to completely trip and injure The Husbands leg. If you want to kill the mood that will work like a charm every time. Guaranteed.
• 
  
• I just found one of my high school journal and feel a need to write an 8th embarrassing story....this is a direct quote mind you I was 17 " I drove my Moms escalade home from church today, it is a 45 minute drive up windy mountain roads. I was really nervous and am still not a very good driver but it is coming slowly but surely."........when I read that entry I couldn't stop laughing.....maybe I shouldn't have been given the keys to a luxury vehicle.....
• 
  
• Have a beautiful day!! 

Edit: I completely forgot to nominate a few of my favorite ever so stylish blogger for this award....drum roll please...Candi from New Kidds on the Blog and Korin from These are the Days! along with this prestigious award (this award is prestigious right??) you have to share 7 embarrassing/funny moments. I really am on pin and needles and cant wait to here your guys!

Look who is crawling!

On February 16, 2011 this little guy whose main form of transportation was being held  rolling anywhere he saw fit to go...  

suddenly spotted a lonely cellular phone across the room that had been carelessly 

left on the floor.

To the shock and amazement of his parents with out warning he started CRAWLING making a very slow dash towards it! He was a baby on a mission! But naturally he had to stop and take a several short breathers along the way before he made it to his final destination.

but oh he did make it, and nothing has been safe ever sense. 

On another note

at Jett's 8 month appointment he weighed 20 lbs and is 28.5 inches long.

 and his head is in the 80% 

(not exactly a shocker considering the size of his parents heads ;)

a labor of love

since I snapped these photos we have rearranged the living room three times my home is a work in progress.......but I kinda love the process...

finding items for my home as been a labor of love. I am in love with simplicity and love the idea of  texture taking front stage.

I think it is safe to say I am not the only one that loves our furniture. The little mister thinks that the ottoman is his own personal jungle gym!

xoxoxo

Love Cate

*we purchased most of our pieces from the Gatehouse in Orem Utah. Every single person that works there is so sweet and down to earth. Not to mention their show room is breath taking! And did I mention that they are ALL seriously so nice. Customer service speaks volumes to me folks and they my friends have been a dream to work with. They even know the little mister by name...yep that is how often The Husband little mister and I have graced them with our presence....we have been part of the frequent visitors club...