What We Came Home To

This is what we found when we came back from California! Luckily, we flew out before the big snow storm hit and it was done by the time we got home. Seeing all of this snow did make us wish we were back in sunny California! BUT, some angel had plowed our driveway so we were able to get into our garage at 3 in the morning when we got home. Thank you whoever you are!!!

Christmas with the Hess Family

We spent the last week and Christmas in Merced, California with Nathan's parents. It was great to spend time with Nathan's parents, with Nathan's brother Ryan, and Nathan's sister Shelley and her husband Alan. Tate could not get enough of his grandparents, aunt and uncles! It was a nice break for our backs because he often only wanted one of them to hold him. Tate often went for anyone who would take him outside. The weather was gorgeous and it was nice for him to get to play outside. Nathan's parents also have an outside cat (along with about 5 strays) and Tate loved getting to see and touch a cat for the first time. We ate a lot of great food and had a really nice Christmas. BUT, there was one major down side to the trip. Tate was very sick with some crazy 7 day stomach flu. He started throwing up the day before we left and stopped the day we came home. The whole time in Merced, poor little Tate threw up on everything (including one of Alan's Christmas presents). It felt like we were changing diapers, cleaning up throw up on Tate's clothes, our clothes and the carpet the entire trip. Marlean was busy doing laundry the whole time because of us!! It was hard for Tate to be away from home when he was sick, but it was great to have so much help and be around so many people who love him.

We had a great time in Merced and really love spending time with Nathan's family. We love them very much and are grateful for all they have done for us (you know who you are and what you have done to help!!). We are very blessed to have such wonderful family on both sides!

Here is a video of Tate with his Grandpa Hess:


Here is a video of Tate playing with his Aunt Shelley (or Shea Shea as Tate calls her):

Christmas with our Little Family

On Sunday, Dec 21 we had a little Christmas morning with just the three of us. We were leaving for California later in the day and didn't want to have to bring all of our presents. It was nice to be with our little family and watch Tate open his presents. Christmas presents were leaner this year, but it still ended up being the best one yet. Tate's main present was a little basketball hoop I bought on ebay. He loves throwing balls through the hoop and hearing the cheers. He is a little baller in training. This morning was very low key and special. We are so blessed and I love our little family so much!!!

Christmas with the Howards (Well, my Mom and Sister)

We had a little Christmas get together with my mom, sister and my sister's husband. We had a great time eating ham, playing with Tate and opening presents!

O Christmas Tree

Tate loves our Christmas tree. I anchored it to the wall with a rope thinking that he would try and pull it over on himself. He hasn't tried to do that yet, but he does love to point at the tree and babble. He also discovered the ornaments and has pulled any off that he can reach. I anticipated that and only put cheap ones on the bottom. Tate's new thing is to have someone carry him in to the room where the tree is so that he can touch the tree. He has you pick him up and then points to the tree saying he wants you to go there. And, if the lights aren't on, he points to the plug for you to turn it on. He also learned the word tree and whenever we say it, he points to it. It is fun to see him so excited over simple things.

Tate's First Snow Experience

We had a pretty decent snow storm this weekend, so we took Tate out for his first experience in the snow. It lightly snowed a few weeks agao and we were in the garage and Tate noticed that something was falling from the sky. He freaked out and started pointing at the snow and talking in crazy gibberish. So, when the snow stuck this time, I thought he would like going outside to play in it. I love how it took twice as long to get him ready as we stayed outside. Tate cried when we put his feet down in the snow and then clung to Nathan. Tate was happier on the driveway (which Nath had shoveled) where he could move his feet.

The Albertson's Santa

Nothing but the best for our little boy!! :) Today Tate and I were picking up a few things at the grocery store (bracing for the big winter storm), and they had a Santa that you could take pictures with. Of course, Tate cried and wouldn't let go of me. So, I ended up getting in the picture (as you can see, I was NOT planning on being photographed). Oh, the memories. Afterwards, Tate got a cookie and a candy cane so he was happy and ate his cookie while I shopped.

Fourteen Months Old and a Little Surgery

Tate is now fourteen months old! He is a crazy boy and literally runs around the house all day. He loves to throw balls and tosses his footballs and basketballs all day long. (Nathan is so proud!) He is such a funny, active little guy. He has so many quirks and I love getting to see more of his personality.
Also, we were up at Primary Children's Hospital on Friday for a little surgery for Tate (on his boy parts). It wasn't a big deal (nothing like his head!!), but they put him out and we had to meet with the surgeon, anestegiologist (sp?), and nurses. It felt just like before. The only difference was that it was quick and he was able to go home soon after. When Tate woke up, we were there and he was most happy to get something to eat. He hadn't eaten in about 17 hours and he was not happy about that (I wouldn't be either!) He got a bottle and some Cheezits and he was a happy boy! I am happy to be done with that (and hopefully with surgeries forever!). Here is a picture of Tate running around in the hospital room before the surgery (notice the little hospital bracelet on his ankle).

Christmas Lights

This year we put up Christmas lights!! Well, actually Nathan put up lights and I mostly watched. We haven't put up lights since we have been married and it was great to see them on our house. I love Christmas time!!!

Hess Family Fun

We had a great time with Nathan's family last week. Nathan's parents were here visiting and we had alot of fun playing games, sports and playing with all the kids. Tate loves being around his cousins. We were all sore afterwards, but we had a lot of fun. I especially had fun taking some sports action shots of the family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful and stress-free Thanksgiving. My mom came over and we hung out, cooked and ate. It was a great day! We have so much to be thankful for. I have the most wonderful husband, who I love more and more everday. I have the most wonderful, sweet, cute and funny little boy. We are all healthy, we have a nice house, we have food and we have a lot of great family members who love us. (Note that in the photos of Tate eating his Thanksgiving dinner, he is eating Cheezits. He wouldn't eat anything but that. Oh well....at least we tried!) :) I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving as well!!

TWILIGHT MOVIE!!

Last night was one of the greatest nights ever! We went to see the Twilight movie. I thought it was fabulous and I was more excited than I have been for anything in awhile! There were parts of the movie that I thought weren't perfect, but overall, I loved it and thought it was great. I wanted to see it again last night, but since I didn't drive, that wasn't an option. I went with a big group of family and we had a great time! I LOVE TWILIGHT!!

Fun with Grandpa

My dad was here for a few days and we had a great time together. Tate hadn't seen his grandpa since the spring, so it was great for them to spend time together. Thanks, Dad, for coming out to see us!

Nice Weekend

We had very nice weather this past weekend and Tate and I took advantage of that by playing outside. Tate is doing a better job with his walking, but he is still a little wobbly. He is getting better everyday and we sure were loving the beautiful fall weather!

Seven Things

I have been tagged and I am supposed to write seven quirks I have. This was really hard and most of these are lame. So, here goes:

1) I hate potatoes, but I love french fries. I only love french fries when they are mostly oil and batter and not too much potato. I wish I had some right now....

2) I don't know if this is a quirk, but you may not know that I have a scar on my right eye brow (like Luke Perry), which my hair won't grow over. When I was little (maybe 6??), some stupid boys at my babysitters threw a cat at my face.

3) My favorite movie is Adventures in Babysitting. It is an 80's movie and I have loved it as long as I can remember. I once took my friend's VHS of the movie and didn't give it back. I am not proud of that, but I told you I love this movie.

4) I feel like I missed my calling in life: a professional dancer. I think that if I wasn't such a tomboy when I was little and would have been in dance classes, I would lead a very different life. Now I am old and feel like I have missed my the boat on this. I will have to settle for putting music on and dancing for Tate when we are home alone. At least he likes my moves....

5) I was a weird kid. I could separate all of my weirdness as a child, but I decided to lump them together. When I was 5, I had a club called, "The Pretty Girls and Boys Club." We met in my friend's garage with some girls and my friend's little brother. We had a theme song, which I can sing for you sometime. When I was in the third grade, I made a video with two of my friends called, "Midget Aerobics." (Sorry if that offends anyone, I was a kid.) We pulled our arms in our shirts, put socks and shoes on our knees and talked in high voices. My friend, who played the host, also used a British accent. I had a card making business (which I actually made quite a bit of money from) called Young Pawprints, I had a singing group called Hands On (we made a music video for MTV), and I had a newspaper (which I sold copies of for 25 cents) called the Kid Times.

6) My favorite food is Calamari. I would eat it everyday if I had lots of money and if it was acceptable.

7) I stick my tongue out when I concentrate. It is quite embarrassing because we have many pictures of me playing sports or the drums or something and I have my tongue out. That may not be so interesting, but....Tate also does this. This proves he came from me (along with the C-section scar).

Well, that is me. Since so many of these seemed to be about me when I was little, here is a photo of young Megan:

Walker (Texas Ranger)

It's official: Tate is walking. He first started walking from the couch to his stand up toy (about 5 steps) on Monday night. I was watching TV and saw him and I freaked out. My heart started to physically hurt and I cried. Now, Tate is walking back and forth all over the place. He can take about 10 or so steps to get across the room. He is still a little wobbly, but he is getting more confidence all the time. Look out world, we have a toddler on our hands!

I have yet to get a really good video of him walking because I never know when he is going to take off. But, this is a few steps proof. :) (This is also on the Tate Channel.)

Rascally Boy

Tate can be a little rascal. It is a good thing he is so cute! :) Here is one day's example of Tate being cute while being a rascal. I love this picture. It embodies Tate because he is sitting in the middle of his mess smiling at me. He got into the left over Halloween candy (which was on a table) and had it spread out everywhere. At least he doesn't know how to open the candy bars yet!!

Later in the day, Tate decided he was done with his dinner and threw the

jar on the floor. I am looking forward to more of this throwing stage. :)

So Close And The Cheesecake Factory

Our little Tater Boy is SO CLOSE to walking. Just yesterday, he started walking around the house with this little walker toy. I bought this dang toy forever ago thinking he was going to be an early walker (like I was), but it is finally serving its purpose. Tate spent hours yesterday walking all around our house. He barely uses the walker sometimes, so I am thinking he should be walking pretty soon. He is balancing much better and takes small steps to get to us or furniture. He couldn't walk with this walker two days ago, so I was so excited when he was cruising around yesterday. I guess he insists on growing up..... Here is the link to the Tate Channel on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/tatehess23

I posted three walking videos, two Halloween videos, and one from the Cheesecake Factory. (Please note that Tate is wearing just a diaper in two of the videos. I am very embarassed by this, as I have issues with babies in diapers- it is all a little too WT for me. However, Tate refused to let me put clothes on him and he was having so much fun being almost naked.)

Speaking of the Cheesecake Factory, I finally got to go!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been waiting since the Utah location opened, but we wanted to wait until it wasn't a 50 hour wait. I was out with Shelley (my sister in law) the other day and we drove past and my heart skipped a beat. So, we went there. It was everything I had dreamed it would be. Here are some photos of our wonderful experience:

Happy Halloween!!

We had a wonderful Halloween! Tate dressed up as a monkey and I dressed up as a banana. We had fun playing outside and watching all of the neighborhood kids walk around. Tate loved being in his costume and also loved playing in the candy bowl. It was such a great night!

Before we dressed up Tate, I had some fun taking pictures of him playing outside. Please note that he is STANDING in the first picture. He is such a big boy and I would guess that he will be walking pretty dang soon. He breaks me heart when he looks so old.

Weather Baby

Tate has developed an interesting fascination lately. He LOVES to watch the weather on TV. We watch the news every morning after he wakes up and he gets very excited when Al Roeker comes on with his weather map. He either laughs, points, or just stares. I think he loves the colorful map, but it is pretty funny how obsessed he is with it.

Fall Fun

The last week has been so warm in the evenings that we have had a lot of fun playing outside. Tate loves being outside and would crawl and climb around all day if we would let him. I love this beautiful weather!