Turner Family

Sum Sum Summatime

2010-07-25T17:15:00.000-07:00

A few highlights...okay, a lot of highlights...

brotherly love

spa day with the girls. happy mother's day to us!

backyard fun

legoland waterpark

GAG weekend ~ san simeon, ca ~ 11 ladies, 8 babies, pure joy

swim lessons

food!

sea world

father's day, matt's birthday, lobster bake!

cousin time

4th of july ~ mammoth, ca

first fruits...we have yummy necterines! we are also growing pumpkins- hopefully they will be perfect to pick in mid-october. so far they are growing like weeds!

wild animal park. we mostly played in the water because it was 110 degrees. yuck!

miles loves the exersaucer, johnny jumper, and scootin on the floor. this age is sooooo much fun!

Museum Madness

2010-06-02T12:39:00.000-07:00

The kids and I ventured down to Balboa Park with some friends to check out the Reuben H Fleet Science Center and Train Museum. Although it was super crowded (due to it being free admission day for SD residents) we had a great time. There was so much for AJ to play with...and learn...okay, just play with. In another couple of years he will be able to actually understand what most of the exhibits are intended to teach you. If you haven't been to either of those museums, I highly recommend it.

New 'do

2010-05-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

Before...

After...

As much as I would kill for his perfectly straight, thick, shiny, naturally highlighted hair, goldilocks is going bye-bye for a while. I decided to get out the buzzers and give him a short haircut for the summer. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. His hair grows crazy fast so I figured we could bring the shaggy back in a couple months if we wanted. For now, he will be rockin' the short & spikey look. Makes him look older, huh?

Jump Jump

2010-05-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

Seriously, who thinks about putting the pot on the jump jump?

This crazy boy!

I'm not sure who even checks this blog(i am a very, VERY bad blogger) but here are the culprits for demanding all my time and not letting me blog or blog-stalk anymore.

I guess they're worth it. ;-)

1 month young

2010-02-09T22:12:00.001-08:00

Selfies with my boys

2010-02-09T22:02:00.000-08:00

AJ's buddies

2010-02-09T21:34:00.000-08:00

What a week!

2010-01-13T19:46:00.000-08:00

Before I forget all the crazy details leading up to Miles' birth, I thought I would blog about it, laugh about it, and thank God for his impeccable timing. Never in my wildest dreams would I have pictured it going down this way but His ways are always above ours...aren't they?!

So last Wednesday I started to feel like I was getting a head cold. I went to bed that night with a runny nose and a slight headache and woke up around 3 am with the worst pain in my face. It felt like someone had punched me right between my eyes. I went to work Thursday morning to finish up a few things before officially going on maternity leave but I could barely look at the computer screen because my head hurt so bad. I called my doctor and was able to get an emergency appointment at noon to see if I had a sinus infection. Sure enough I did and was prescribed antibiotics. The pain was so intense that I slept for the rest of the day (or tried to with the help of Tylenol) and woke up on Friday feeling a little better. Friday night AJ caught a nasty stomach bug and didn't stop throwing up until Saturday morning... followed by diarrhea for 2 more days. Ewww. Alex caught it on Sunday and was pretty much out the whole day. So basically all of the intense cleaning I did in the beginning of the week was now covered in germs, throw-up, and soiled laundry. I tried my hardest to clean up and sanitize the house on Sunday just in case Miles decided to come on Monday but between tending to AJ while Alex slept, still feeling the effects of my sinus infection, and being 40 weeks pregnant, it wasn't going to happen like I hoped.

Sunday night my entire dad's side of the family was getting together for dinner in Carlsbad. My relatives live all over the country and they all flew in to attend my grandma's funeral service on Monday. I hadn't seen some of my cousins in over 5 years and had never meet 2 of my cousins' kids so i was really looking forward to this dinner. Alex and AJ stayed home while I ventured out by my lonesome to meet up with them. It was a super fun night of reminiscing and catching up. I came home from eating a large steak dinner with all the fancy trimmings and went straight to bed. In the middle of the night I woke up with a horrible stomach ache and proceeded to get sick until the morning.

After taking a shower I decided that I was well enough to attend my granny's funeral so Alex, AJ, and I headed down to Point Loma around 8:30. Before leaving I grabbed my hospital bag, just in case, and sure enough on the drive down I had a couple contractions. I was determined to make it through the funeral/celebration of her life even though I was still feeling the effects of the stomach bug and my contractions were nearing 5 minutes apart. The service ended around 11 and everyone was going back to my grandma's beach house to hang out for the afternoon. Alex and I decided to leave AJ with my parents while we drove home to quickly grab a few things before heading to the hospital.

We headed to the hospital around noon and I was admitted by 12:30. At this point my contractions were about 3 minutes apart but weren't terribly painful. I was given a huge, newly renovated delivery room that could have fit at least 10 people comfortably.

Too bad we were only allowed 2 visitors at a time due to the CDC's recommendation as a result of H1N1. The nurse checked me when I arrived and I was 90% effaced but only 2 cm dilated. Because my labor with AJ was quick and the fact that my contractions were frequent and constant, I was told to stay put and that I could soon get an epidural.

By 2:30 my contractions were starting to get extremely painful (way more intense than with AJ) but the anesthesiologist was still busy with someone else. The nurse checked me again and I was 4 cm at that point. At 3:30 the anesthesiologist finally came in and by 4 the pain started to decrease.

The anesthesiologist and nurse both left the room shortly after and all of a sudden I had the most painful contraction ever and felt like I needed to start pushing. Alex rushed out to get the nurse and she came rushing in with a couple other nurses and finally my doctor. They set up the bed in a hurry and I began pushing at 4:20. At 4:26 Miles came out, gave out a couple good squeals, and then was a peaceful as can be. They handed him to me all slimy and gooey and I just marveled at how tiny he was. I thought for sure he was smaller than AJ but he ended up being the exact same weight- 6 pounds 15 ounces. He measured a couple inches shorter than AJ although at his doctors appt 2 days later he was the same size as AJ, 20.5 inches, so I don't think the nurse that measured him at the hospital stretched him out all the way. Miles and I bonded for a few minutes before they took him to the warming bed to be cleaned up and checked out.

Because everything happened so fast, my mom wasn't able to make it for the delivery which made me sad. :( But of course Alex was an amazing support system throughout the entire labor, praying over me and letting me use his hand as a squeeze toy.

So why the name Miles William? Alex and I had a hard time deciding on a first name. We knew his middle name was going to be William after my dad and both of my grandfathers. We made a list of about 10 boy names that we really liked once we found out he was a boy and slowly they dwindled down to a handful. Because Alex is a teacher and coach, he deals with hundreds of kids per day (some not so good kids) which made it even more difficult to choose a name. There are a couple boy names that I really like but they reminded him of annoying students/players so we had to scratch those off the list. I first heard the name Miles when I was like 10 or so because my cousin had a friend named Miles. I had never heard the name before and for some reason thought it was really cute. It always stuck with me and every once in a while I would hear that name and it just made me feel good. It's a manly name and yet it has a cutesyness to it which I like. It wasn't Alex's favorite name on our list so I thought we might wait until he was born to decide. Then on Christmas he gave me a super sweet handmade gift which was a frame that he painted with different sports embellishments and the initials MWT. He had given into my love for Miles and agreed to name him that. Hooray for our little 'Soldier'.

Back to the story...Once Miles was all cleaned up most of our family had arrived and were waiting to meet him. Two-by-two they came in, except AJ. No one under 15 was allowed beyond the main waiting room of the hospital, even siblings, so AJ had to wait at home to meet him. Boo.

By Tuesday morning I was really missing AJ and I felt fine and everything was great with Miles so we decided to go home. We left the hospital around 12:30 which was about 24 hours after checking in. I was ready to get home, introduce AJ to Miles, and relax without nurses checking me every 4 hours.

My mom and AJ waited outside for us as we pulled into the driveway. AJ was so excited to meet him. He kept pointing at Miles and saying "Baby Brother!" in the cutest little voice.

For the most part AJ isn't that interested in his brother but every once in a while he walks over to him and just stares and smiles. When Miles cries (which is only when I change him...otherwise he is super quiet), AJ says, "Don't Worry." It's really cute. This morning the first thing he said when he woke up was "Where's baby brother?" It might take a little while for him to get used to having Miles around all the time but I know he will be an awesome big bro and hopefully they will be great playmates.

So that's the story of our new bundle of joy. At this point he definitely resembles AJ but also looks like his own unique person. He doesn't have nearly as much hair and his skin is lighter. But then again, AJ looks completely different than he did when he was born so who knows what Miles will end up looking like. All we know is that he is perfect in every way.

Welcome to this crazy world, son. We love you.

Our big 2-year-old

2010-01-09T20:13:00.000-08:00

AJ is in love with the movie Cars so we decided to throw him a low-key Car-themed birthday party the weekend before his actual birthday.

On his actual birthday (the 15th) we took him to Chuck E. Cheese. Neither Alex or I had been there since we were kids so we didn't know what to expect. Although they had some toddler friendly games, most of the stuff was geared for older kids. I think we will wait a while before visiting Chuck again.

And to top off his birthday we moved him into a new room and a new big boy bed! He was a champion sleeper in his crib but the transition to a bed has been rough. It's almost been a month now and he is finally getting the hang of it...just in time for brother to arrive!

Surprise!

2010-01-09T19:33:00.000-08:00

On the afternoon of December 6th, Alex, AJ and I headed down the street to our good friends house for a Happy Birthday Jesus party. As we approached their home, I noticed my mom's car parked outside as well as couple others that I didn't expect to be at the party. Sure enough it wasn't a birthday party for Jesus but a baby shower for Miles! I walked in the house and was greated by some of my closest girlfriends and family and handed a invitation to my baby shower. It was such a special afternoon of celebrating our new little guy and everything about the shower was totally me. Ronya had us do a craft (i love crafts!) which was an ornament that had a little tag attached to remind everyone of Miles. We played a couple really fun and unique games, ate a great lunch, and had the most adorable and tasty cake ever which was made by my friend Heather.

The Grandmas

One-handed wrapping game

Holidays

2010-01-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

New Years
We spent New Year's Eve at the Davidson's house with our Growth Group. It was a fun night of playing Rock Band, cards, darts, and eating birthday cake for Andrew, Shraddah, and Chrissie. New Years day was beautiful so we headed to the beach and let AJ ride along the boardwalk on his new scooter. He's a natural on that thing!

Christmas
Christmas morning was at the Coulson's. AJ wasn't as excited about opening gifts as I thought he would be...in fact, he was a bit overwhelmed. He would open one, play with it for a bit, and then eventually come back for more. Here are a couple of his favorites:

Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve morning we had Alex's family over to our house for brunch and then we headed up to my parents house. We went to Christmas Eve service at my parents church, looked at Christmas lights, and then spent some time with Alex's aunts, uncles and cousins in Phillips Ranch.

The best time to visit Disneyland has got to be during Christmas. They decorate it so well and the parade is really fun.

Thanksgiving
We hosted Thanksgiving at our house for the first time. I decided to attempt my first turkey and it actually turned out okay. Definitely not as challenging as I anticipated. I spent most of the day cooking while Alex and AJ played outside and got the house ready for dinner. It was a beautiful day in San Diego...hence the picture of AJ in the pool. My parents and Alex's parents came over for a low-key dinner

Some cute videos

2009-12-01T22:11:00.000-08:00

Alex and I aren't very good at capturing our little guy on video but when we do I love it. Here are a couple recent video clips that I just adore.

AJ dancing (galloping is more like it)

Gobble Gobble

Treats!

2009-11-03T14:17:00.000-08:00

One thing I learned from Halloween this year is that AJ has a big fat sweet tooth. All he wants to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner is candy. Getting him to eat actual food has been so frusterating...and wasteful. He takes 2 bites and says "Nums?" (Nums is his word for anything sweet). I just hope this candy-craze ends soon! Any suggestions?

We decided that AJ should be Bamm-Bamm this year because he loves to hit things. My mom saved a plastic club that I used when I was a cave-girl back in elementary school and I threw together the rest of the outfit. I didn't realize how hard it was to make shorts! Maybe next time I will use a pattern.

Here are some fun pictures from the little Halloween party we had at our house.

Firefighter, Bamm-Bamm, and Ariel

Trick-or-treat!

AJ and his buddy Matthew, the cutest firefighter ever!

Tired Family

picnic, pumpkins and of course, football

2009-10-18T20:54:00.000-07:00

The first sign of fall in the Turner household is FOOTBALL! Alex has been coaching football for 5 years now and although it is super fun for him, the time commitment is unreal. I feel like a single mom from Sept-Nov. AJ loves visiting daddy at practice and passing out water bottles to the guys. We also enjoy cheering for his team at the games.

A couple weeks ago we decided to pick up our favorite pizza (sausage with extra sauce from Pizza Port) and take it to the beach for a dinner picnic. Unfortunately, the marine layer rolled in early which made for a chilly evening. We still had a great time and look forward to our next one.

Last year we went to Bates Nut Farm on a blazing hot Saturday. I vowed never to go on a weekend nor on a ridiculously hot day again. Well...we decided to go today after church because it was the only day we could all go together before Halloween and it turned out to be abnormally warm and absolutely packed. And to top it off, AJ wasn't feeling well. At least we got some cute pictures, hung out with good friends, and left with 1 decent pumpkin. As much as I dislike visiting the pumpkin patch when everyone else in the county is there, I'm sure we will end up at Bates on crowded Saturday or Sunday next year with the kiddos...and I bet it will be warm again because it seems like October is always blazing in San Diego.

Marci & Jack got hitched!

2009-09-12T07:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend (Labor Day weekend) we celebrated the union between my sister and her wonderful husband, Jack. It was a beautiful wedding and a fun weekend of hanging out in Laguna Beach with the fam. Marci was stunning as a bride and Jack didn't look so bad either. ;) The highlight of the evening for me was the first dance. Marci and Jack took private dance lessons and did a killer disco routine. If someone puts it on Youtube, I will make sure to post it on the blog.

Rehearsal dinner (I realized that I never got a picture of Marci and Jack!)

Getting ready

Wedding time!

Day after BBQ
Before Marci and Jack left on their honeymoon, my parents hosted a barbeque for all of the relatives and close friends. We hung out, played games, went swimming, and best of all...found out if we are expecting a boy or girl! We decided to take the gender card that the doctor filled out to Babies R Us and have a sales person look at it and put either a boy or girl blanket in a box for us. At the barbeque we opened the box and discovered it was...

Before the ultrasound I thought it was a girl because this pregnancy has been so much different than AJ's. But after the ultrasound I had a feeling it was a boy mainly because the doctor was totally confident on the gender and she kept saying 'he..uhh, or she'. AJ is really excited to have a baby 'bruder' and we are stoked to be able to use all of his cute clothes again. :)
Some more pics from the bbq

The fun never ends...

2009-09-08T21:37:00.000-07:00

Alex's Birthday

2009-09-08T21:32:00.001-07:00

Zoo

2009-08-22T15:02:00.000-07:00

We took AJ to the SD Zoo for the first time and all he wanted to do was run around! That kid can sure move. I think his favorite animal was the leopard but he also liked the hippo, monkeys and elephants. Can't wait to go back when it is a little cooler and less crowded.

Marci's getting married!

2009-08-22T14:29:00.001-07:00

We celebrated my sister's last couple of weeks of singlehood by hanging out in downtown San Diego. We stayed at the Hard Rock hotel (which is quite funky), lounged by the pool, and hit up the night life. Those girls sure can party...I could barely keep up with them (not to mention being pregnant!). It was a fun weekend with the girls. 2 more weeks until the big day!

Anniversary getaway

2009-08-17T21:57:00.000-07:00

I woke up on our anniversary to fresh baked banana chocolate chip bread shaped like a heart, sitting on top of a little wooden table. Alex made the bread for us to share on our drive to Santa Barbara and the table as a miniature replica of our next furniture purchase. 5 years is the 'wood' anniversary so we decided to finally get a dining room table and chairs.

As soon as we arrived at Bacara, we changed into our suits and lounged by the pool. It was a beautiful Santa Barbara day.

That night we watched the sunset and ate a yummy dinner at one of the resort restaurants.

We woke up on Sunday and went for a hike/walk in the cool morning fog. There are lots of hiking trails surrounding the resort and in the neighboring foothills. Bacara owns acres of land in the hills and has avocado and citrus groves that they grow specifically for the restaurants on the resort.

Our plan was to lounge by the pool again but it wasn't nearly as beautiful as Saturday. The fog never lifted so we played lots of Yahtzee, Boggle and Gin and tried our best to keep warm. We decided to go into town that night and on our way out to the car, we saw Michael Jordan in the lobby! He had a hat on and I did not recognize him but Alex did. I didn't believe him so I walked by him again and got a good look. I then asked the valet attendant if he was here and he said yes. Not bad for a celebrity sighting! We ate dinner on the SB pier and cruised State St.

It was a perfect mini vacation for Alex and I. We missed AJ dearly (and talked about him a lot while away!) but were grateful to spend some uninterrupted time together. AJ had a fun weekend with Mimi, Popi, and Auntie Marci. They went to the park, the zoo, and even taught AJ how to walk down the aisle holding the ring bearer pillow. Only 3 more weeks until the real deal...we better get practicing. :)

Little boys in hats make me melt

2009-08-17T21:55:00.000-07:00

5 Incredible Years

2009-08-08T18:03:00.001-07:00

It is hard to believe that 5 years ago Alex and I began this AMAZING journey of marriage. I look back at our wedding day and what I see is two innocent young adults with no cares in the world and very little on the to-do list. August 8, 2004 was the most perfect day. We stood in front of our families and closest friends and pledged to live our lives as one, before God, from that day forward. On that glorious day I married my best friend, my soul mate, my lubs.

The last 5 years have been filled with beautiful memories as well as heartbreaks. The Lord has surrounded us with incredible friends to help us along this journey; some that were around pre-Melissa&Alex and others that we have met as a married couple. We bought our first house and have enjoyed making it our home. We grieved the loss of our first child, celebrated the birth of AJ less than a year later, and are so excited to meet the newest addition to our family in January. He gives and takes away- blessed be His name!

The to-do list may be a mile long and the cares and concerns are ever-present, but I am beyond grateful and humbled at this journey God has taken us on in 5 short years. He knew Alex was perfect for me and allowed him to be the one to walk beside me along this incredible adventure. I pray that this is only the warm-up lap to a long and fulfilling life as husband and wife.

I love you, Alex, and thank you for 5 unbelievable years!

Playtime!

2009-08-02T14:16:00.001-07:00

We have been enjoying our summer! It has been so hot recently that we have taken refuge at the pool, beach, and in our air conditioned house. AJ loves playing with his friends and with anything that has wheels.

The neighborhood gang

Putt Putt date night. The belly is growing!

Cheers to 40 Years!

2009-08-02T13:59:00.001-07:00

Today marks 40 years of matrimony for my mom and dad. They have such a fun and strong relationship and I admire their loving devotion to one another. Staying committed to the vows they made 40 years ago and solidifying their marriage on the rock of Jesus is the best gift they have ever given me. They are beautiful examples of husband and wife and a testimony to the sacredness of marriage. Congratulations!

In honor of this milestone, my brother, sister, and I threw them a surprise party on Friday night. About 45 of their close friends and family helped celebrate with us aboard the Dream Maker yacht in Newport Harbor. My parents were totally surprised when they walked up to the yacht and were greeted by a loud ‘Happy Anniversary Bill and Judy!’ It was a beautiful evening of cruising the harbor, catching up with friends, and loving on my parents.

Then (aren't they adorable!)...

And Now (they are still adorable!)...

The toasting flutes they used on their wedding day

100th Post!

2009-07-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

For my 100th post I thought I would share some grand ole news with my dedicated blog readers. The Turner family is expecting a new Turner tot! Yep, AJ will have a brother or sister around the middle of January. We are so excited for the new addition to our family and are soooo thankful that this pregnancy has gone well (besides lots of morning sickness!). God is amazing!

And in the spirit of being pregnant and having a new baby soon, I would like to share with you an AMAZING maternity and baby boutique that my dear friends own. It is located in Roseville, but they just launched a website store! Now even us San Diegans can enjoy Bellybou's incredible selection. It's at www.bellybou.com and it's got a great selection of designer maternity denim, and designer maternity brands you can't find in your chain maternity stores! It also has a fun selection of hip baby clothes and all the newest baby accessories! It's a Sacramento Maternity boutique but now they are able to offer more than just Roseville Maternity, with the webstore they've made stylish maternity clothes available to everyone! So check them out at www.bellybou.com and help spread the word!

4th of July Fun

2009-07-06T22:05:00.000-07:00

We decided to make the trek to Mammoth for a little vacation and 4th of July celebration. We hiked, swam, relaxed, watched a parade, saw fireworks, played games, shopped, and relaxed some more.

AJ's Favorites

2009-06-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

AJ has been learning and discovering so much recently. He is learning a new word a day it seems like. My favorite word he says (besides Mama) is 'Pease' (he can't quite make the 'pl' sound). I give Alex all the credit for teaching him that word and hopefully 'Thank you' will come next week. :)

Going to Trader Joe's is his new favorite errand with mom because he always comes home with a new toy. A balloon can entertain that kid for hours.

AJ loved visiting dada during baseball practice. He even got to drive the tractor a couple times.

AJ's new favorite ride at Disneyland

And Daddy's too!

Some other fun pics

Month in review

2009-05-10T12:44:00.000-07:00

Cute Cousins

Our water baby

We celebrated Easter at our house this year. Both sets of parents came over for a yummy dinner and egg hunt. He is Risen!

AJ's new thing is that he has to eat all by himself. He refuses to open his mouth unless he is the only one holding the spoon. Sure makes for a big mess!

Last month I took my high school lacrosse team to San Francisco for a tournament. We had a blast and the girls took 2nd place!

Big day

2009-03-31T11:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday AJ had his first hair cut. We went to this cute little place called Hair Bear. The stylist was awesome...quick, fun, friendly...definitely a seasoned kids cutter. His hair cut is sooooo cute (and extremely blond must I add...where did that come from?). My baby is growing up!

After the hair cut we went to South Coast Plaza to have his picture taken with the Easter bunny and to ride the bunny carousel. He wanted NOTHING to do with the bunny and EVERYTHING to do with the carousel. Maybe next year he won't be so freaked out by the huge, talking, fluffy white thing. :)

cleaning out the camera

2009-03-29T21:49:00.000-07:00

Some fun events from the past month or so...

Back in February I got to visit my good friend from high school, Erin, and her 3 adorable kids (all under 5...yeah, she's super-mom!). It is always a treat to see her and hopefully next time we can actually sit and talk for a while! :-)

March 1st was my 29th birthday. Happy bday to me!

My cutie patootie nephew, Logan

AJ pretending to be Logan while playing the recorder

Kids table (we got this awesome folding kids picnic table from Costco for $50...go get one)

AJ loves his new playhouse

One proud coach

2009-03-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

The varsity lacrosse team I coach (Carlsbad High) took home a 3rd place trophy at the Surf, Sun & Stix tournament last weekend. They played their tushies off and I couldn't be any prouder.

Baby elephants are the cutest!

2009-03-18T22:08:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Nana-banana and GG, we get to visit the Wild Animal Park and SD Zoo all year long! AJ liked petting the deer (I think that's what they were...not so much the animal expert) and wandering around the grounds with his friend Cailin. He doesn't quite know what the different animals are but hopefully by the end of the year he will know more than his mommy. The highlight was seeing a 2-day old baby elephant. He was adorable!

I've waited my whole life for this...

2009-02-17T19:32:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are confused, let me explain. Ever since watching A Christmas Story as a little girl, I've always wanted to push a little kid dressed in a marshmallow snowsuit down in the snow. I would feel terrible pushing someone else's kid so I said I would wait until I had my own to do it. Strange and a bit demented? Yes. Did anyone get hurt? No. Nothing wrong with harmless fun. I can't wait until next year (or maybe a couple years down the line) when I can really tackle him. :) I have a feeling AJ will get revenge on me someday when he is bigger than I. Eek.

Some other fun pics:

Shoe Tree

AJ's first saucer ride...and he was sound asleep!

Always a good time in Park City. Can't wait until next time...maybe AJ will be in ski (or snowboard) school by then!

Just for Fun

2009-01-26T13:41:00.000-08:00

Apparantly AJ thinks Lemon Cooler Cake is hilarious:

All 3 of us cheering for the Chargers. They won that night...but didn't win the next week. boo. :( Twinsies: AJ LOVES his Radio Flyer. Thanks Nana!

The Joy of Christmas

2009-01-14T22:07:00.000-08:00

(funny how my last post started out with me reflecting on the freezing weather when it's been in the 80's almost every day since.)

So here are some pics from our Christmas festivities and more. We took a roadtrip up to San Fran to watch Alex's brother, Gabe, graduate from USF the week before Christmas. Then we went to Disneyland. Christmas Eve was spent with my parents as well as Alex's Dad's side of the family. We opened presents with my family on Christmas morning and then drove to my in-laws for Turner Family Christmas. We saw lots of family in the span of 2 days which made one extremely exhausted 1 year old. AJ had fun playing with all of the boxes, ribbons and wrapping paper. I had fun playing with my Dyson! Alex got a shed for the backyard (as well as some toys). Gotta love how the gifts get more practical as we get older. Anyways, we had fun celebrating Jesus' birth with our loved ones. Can't wait to do it again next year!

Snow on the Grapvine

some of my favorites

2009-01-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

Since it’s been so frrrrrrrreazing outside, here are some things that make me warm inside:

going out to breakfast…pancakes, waffles, french toast and eggs are mmm mmm good, snuggling under my down blanket with a good book, going for a run in the crisp morning air…and feeling sore the next day, kissing my hubby, seeing him return home from work, sneaking up on AJ after he wakes up…i love seeing his huge smile, half-opened eyes and frazzled hair, spending time with my family, playing games, reconnecting with old friends, having deep and meaningful conversations, my moccasin slippers, holding hands, snowboarding in fresh powder, getting a good tan, finding a great deal, saving 50% or more at the grocery store, looking at old photo albums, crossing off items on my to-do list, Costco…just walking around the store makes me happy, frozen pizza- it’s cheap, quick to make, yummy and it makes Alex sooooo happy, a long hike to somewhere I’ve never been, traveling, a good long worship session, bonfires, staying in my PJ’s as long as I can, a clean house, warm summer nights, crisp autumn days, getting my hair done, seeing AJ smile, helping someone, yogurt covered pretzels, not setting my alarm, …and many more.

Happy 2009

2009-01-07T10:39:00.001-08:00

We rang in the new year with some good friends, good food and good games. If you've never played Loaded Questions you should try it. You really get to know one another well. :)

May 2009 bring you closer to the Lord. Thank God that He never changes but that with His help, we can. As it says in Lamentations 3:21-23, "This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." May the power of God help us to bear much fruit this season as we abide in Him.

Christmas pictures to come....

Happy 1st Birthday AJ!

2008-12-15T08:29:00.000-08:00

One year ago today I was nervously clinching Alex's hand in the delivery room as a flood of emotions came rushing in. When would I be able to hold him? What would he look like? Will he be healthy? Will he have blue eyes? Will he really be a he? What is motherhood like? Will Alex and I know what to do for him? Would he look like daddy? Would this epidural last until I delivered him? Man this epidural is fantastic!

So many questions were crowding my brain and before I knew it, it was time to push. After a few painless pushes (seriously, I couldn't feel a thing!) Alexander Joseph Turner, Jr. arrived at 12:07 pm screaming his head off. He was perfect. I held him tight and with tears streaming down, I knew he would change my life forever. He has changed my life and the past 365 days have been the greatest days God has given me on earth.

AJ has a sweet spirit. He loves to be held, cuddled, and kept close. His first word was "Yay!" and says it every time someone is cheering or clapping their hands. He goes crazy when watching The Price is Right! He loves to wave and say "Hi" in a soft, gentle voice. He loves the remote control and can spot it from a mile away. He can stand and take a couple of steps on his own but hasn't quite walked yet. When he wakes up, he will hold his arms up like he wants to be picked up from his crib and then he falls down and crawls away really quickly. He thinks it's hilarious. He loves the vacuum cleaner. He loves playing with water. Bath time brings him so much joy. He just stands at the edge of the bath while it's filling up, claps his hands, and screams "Yay! Yay! Yay!" He has a handsome smile and is a big flirt. AJ one of the happiest one-year-olds I have ever meet and melts my heart every day. I love you sweet son! Happy Birthday to you!

Here are some pictures from his birthday bash on Saturday

My mom and I created this masterpiece ;)

Cousins

Alex, family, and friends had been slaving away at our backyard for the past month trying to complete it by AJ's birthday party. It was finished (concrete, curbing, sprinklers, sod...just not the plants) on Friday and we couldn't even utilize it because it was raining and freezing! Oh well...all 35 of us were cozy in our home.

Opening presents in his new rocking chair from Nana (actually it is an old rocking chair that Alex had when he was a boy!)

Devoring his cake...he LOVED it...almost as much as he loves his girlfriend Cailin (on right) :)

The Family

Nana

Popi and Mimi

Don't you think AJ looks like Alex? Those were taken on Alex's 1st birthday in Honduras. What cuties!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-25T18:20:00.000-08:00

Thank you for taking the time to check out our blog over the past (almost) 2 years. I'm not sure it's really a blog since I don't write much...it's more like a photo gallery of our little family. In any case, it's been fun for me and I hope it's been fun for you. Have a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving, all you faithful turnertot readers/lookers. :)

p.s. A BIG thank you to Max and Sarah for putting their photog skills to use on our crazy family. They managed to get some awesome shots despite the 50 mph winds! We are thankful for you!

WHOOOAAAAA!

2008-11-19T11:18:00.000-08:00

thanx, max, for this cool pic of me flying in the air. :)

Scarecrow and friends

2008-11-04T09:14:00.000-08:00

AJ's first Halloween was quite the experience. He got to meet up with all of his neighborhood friends for the Rancho Santalina Halloween Costume Parade. All the superheroes and princesses were there along with Micky Mouse, a dinosaur and the most adorable penguin ever. Then he went trick or treating and got a kick out of knocking on doors. Who knew that would bring him so much joy?! To finish the evening, he cheered for daddy's football team only to watch them lose. Boo. If he could talk, I think he would say the highlight of his day was eating the marshmallows that Mimi gave him as a treat for being such a great scarecrow.

Scarecrow friends

Mimi and Popi love AJ sooooo much

Walking the parade route

Most of the kiddos in our small community

Pumpkin picking time

2008-10-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

We spent Saturday at Bates Nut Farm with some good friends. The kids had fun feeding the farm animals and we enjoyed picking pumpkins, taking pictures and eating homemade goodies.

Fall fun

2008-10-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

Mr. Model

Celebrating Natalie and baby girl

Cameron checking out Baby Barker's amazing Wagamama bed

view from our backyard during a random early morning thunder storm

Logan William is here!

2008-09-25T19:15:00.000-07:00

I am finally an Auntie!!!

*not that I don't count GAG babies as my nieces and nephews...but you know what I mean.

My sister-in-law, Diana, labored long and hard all day yesterday (at one of the most beautiful hospitals ever, the brand-spanking-new Kaiser Irvine)and finally had to have a c-section this morning. She is a rockstar. Her, my bro and Logan are all doing great despite the lack of sleep and food. I got to hold the cutie pie this afternoon and it made me want a tiny baby again...kinda. He is a beautiful mixture of Di and Matt, with the cutest little chin and big chubby cheeks.

Congrats Matt and Di and HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN! Welcome to this crazy world.

AJ says, "Hurry up and come home so I can give you knucks, couz."

9 months!

2008-09-23T21:37:00.000-07:00

Some recent happenings in AJ-ville

-He's 9 months, almost 17 pounds (5th percentile...not looking good for a lineman position...maybe he'll be the kicker), and 28 inches (40th percentile)
-He has 4 teeth
-Crawls super fast
-Loves to hang on mommy's legs...until I give in and pick him up
-Enjoys watching daddy's football team WIN!
-Smiles really big and has the cutest laugh (see post below)

Happy Grandparent's Day

2008-09-07T13:37:00.000-07:00

AJ loves his Mimi, Popi, Nana and Grandpa! Here's a cute video to brighten up your day.

A few favorites

2008-08-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

High School Reunion

2008-08-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

So I decided to compromise on the whole High School reunion thing. I didn't end up going to the actual reunion but I did meet up with some close girlfriends beforehand. It was GREAT to see familiar faces from the past, chat for a couple hours and realize that although it has been 10 years, our personalities haven't changed much. Everyone that went said it was better than expected so for all of you who are contemplating it, GO. Now the countdown begins for the 2-0.

Roseville and Jackie's wedding

2008-08-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful time visiting friends in northern California. We stayed with the fabulous Pray family, helped steam clothes and wash windows at the super hip Bellybou' store, said hi to the governator and attended a gorgeous wedding for my college roommate, Jackie. Although it's hard to imagine having a relaxing vacation with an 8 month old, we truly felt rested and refreshed.

Disneyland...again

2008-08-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

Some kids get freaked out when approached by huge Disney characters. AJ LOVED them. It was so cute to see him pet their faces and just stare at them.

A highlight of mine was test-driving a Segway. It is a little awkward at first but once you figure out your center of gravity, it's really fun.

Hesseltine Wedding

2008-08-22T23:31:00.000-07:00

Coach Becky finally got married! I have coached lacrosse with Becky for the last 3 years, 2 of which she was engaged to sweet Jake. They are absolutely perfect for each other and it has been a joy to watch their relationship blossom from dating to engaged to married! They were actually high school sweethearts but broke up when they went away to college. What are the odds of high school sweethearts actually marrying each other these days?

Their wedding was beautiful and so much fun. Becky's family is Jewish so they incorporated many Jewish traditions throughout the ceremony and reception. My favorite was when they floated around on chairs held up by some of the guests. Congratulations you two!

Me, Coach Becky, Coach Lv

Cowboy Crawl

2008-08-22T23:04:00.000-07:00

AJ is no longer content with sitting in one spot for more than a couple minutes. Although he hasn't quite mastered crawling, he will somehow get from point A to point B. I call it the cowboy crawl. He will do a couple normal crawls and then he falls on his face and scoots on his tummy like a dehydrated cowboy barely surviving in the desert. See for yourself...

Here's AJ dressed in some of his Texas garb. Thank you Texan friends for your fun gifts. We hope to visit you soon.

Little Fish

2008-08-22T22:40:00.000-07:00

AJ gets gitty everytime he sees or hears water. His eyes get really wide, his arms stick out and his hands start turning in circles. It's hilarious. If he is acting cranky, I can give him a bath and he instantly turns into smiley baby. And the pool makes him go absolutely insane. He loves everything about it. Here's a cute video of him and daddy splashing around.

Facebook

2008-08-20T12:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lag in posts. We have been traveling almost every weekend and my new favorite computer pastime (stupid facebook) have taken up my few spare minutes. I promise to post a gazillion pictures soon, very soon. Stay tuned...all 5 of you.

A sad, sad day

2008-07-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

Last Friday was supposed to be a fun family day at the beach. Alex finished teaching his last day of summer school on Thursday so we decided to celebrate by lounging at sunny Carlsbad beach and then meeting up with good friends for a bonfire. We packed up the car with TONS of beach gear, a slab of marinating tri-tip for dinner, and all the baby essentials and headed out.

On the way there I noticed that AJ was not feeling good again. Before leaving we had to wake him up from a 2.5 hour nap and he fell right back asleep in the car. I tried feeding him but he couldn't even keep his eyes open. Kinda like what happened on Wednesday although he was not nearly as warm. I called the pediatrician and she recommended we take him to Children's hospital since it was a Friday and the test results at Children's are almost instantaneous. Before hanging up the phone I held AJ's limp hand and started to sob. I was terrified. Are we really taking him to the hospital? Does she think it's that serious or is she playing the safe card?

We prayed as we drove to downtown San Diego (PTL that the Comic-Con traffic wasn't bad) and the powerful peace of God helped get us through the next 5 hours of waiting, paperwork, blood work, x-rays, and an IV. Poor Alex took a HUGE one for the team and had to endure the whole process in a soaking wet shirt filled with SMELLY formula throw-up. Gross.

Test after test came back negative and after he finished getting pumped with fluid, his coloring came back and his fever went away. Because he was such a trooper, we rewarded him with a Happy Meal. Having a McDonald's in the emergancy waiting room was a brilliant idea. Ronald McDonald can brighten up any ill child.

Dr. Simpson and the nursing staff at Rady’s were comforting, helpful and very efficient. Thanks to all who made our visit as best as it could be. We hope to never see you again.

So long, Pharr well

2008-07-24T15:59:00.001-07:00

Our friends JT and Annah decided to move back Misery...I mean Missouri. JT was stationed at Camp Pendelton and just finished his 4th year in the United States Marine Corps. After 2 deployments to Iraq and many months of wearing camo each day, he decided to high-tail it out of there and go back to school. Thank you JT for serving our country and thank you Annah for standing by his side through it all.

We will miss the Pharr-out Pharrs but we know you are stoked to be back home. Our guest bedroom is always open for you to stay in whenever you get the S.D. itch.

Our silly Growth Group saying goodbye

Elation and desperation

2008-07-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a roller coaster.

I woke up to the most exciting text message from my sister. It read, "Jack proposed!!!!!!!" What? My crazy, socialite, baby sister is settling down? Has this day really arrived? Yup, Marci is getting married to a wonderful man named Jack. He made her a gourmet dinner, said some mushy gushy stuff, and plopped a GORGEOUS ring on her finger. Now I must get started on my speech because her wedding will be here in no time (fall 2009)!

I was on my tippy toes all day until my mom says, "AJ isn't acting like his normal self." She brought him to the beach while I coached my last lacrosse clinic and all he wanted to do was cuddle and sleep. He is a cuddler but this was extreme. When we got home I took his temperature and it read 103. Are you kidding? He was really hot but that seemed high. I immediately called my brother (pediatrician) and asked for advice. He didn't seem too worried and assured me that a fever meant his tiny body was working properly to fight off the bacteria or virus that crept in. But how could I not be worried? He was lifeless, burning up, and uncomfortable. I found myself in desperation on my face before the LORD. "Please heal my baby and take this pain from him. Bring him back to his smiley and energetic self." After a night of restless sleep, he woke feeling a little cooler and even cracking a few smiles. Thank you Jesus. He isn't back to normal yet but hopefully this is the beginning to a speedy recovery. As a parent, holding your ill child has got to be one of the most heart wrenching experiences ever. I just pray that they are few and far between.

Dilemma

2008-07-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

So I've been pondering this decision for a couple months now and I just can't make up my mind. I am usually a very decisive person so this is killing me. Bloggers, I need your help.

My 10 year high school reunion is next month at some fancy hotel in Newport Beach. Should I stay or should I go? For all of you that have gone before me, was it worth it? If I go, should the hubby tag along or should I leave him at home to watch the kid at play Xbox?

Most of my close high school friends are not going but there are a handful of people I would love to see and catch up with. But is $100 worth 4 hours of small talk (where do you live, what do you do, married, kids, blah, blah, blah), a few email/phone number exchanges, a bland hotel dinner, and a tired Sunday morning (in which I am hosting a baby shower at my house at noon)? Oh, but I would so enjoy seeing those familiar faces from BOHS again.

What do you think I should do?

Milestones

2008-07-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

AJ is growing up way too fast. Here are some recent discoveries:
1. He cut 2 teeth...and did it like a champ. Those teething tablets work wonders.
2. He can sit up all my himself...which he thoroughly enjoys.
3. He eats all kinds of yummy fruits and veggies (that mommy so graciously makes) in his cool booster seat.
4. He makes Indian chant noises with his hand and mouth...thanks to his daddy
5. He has punk rock hair due to his long bangs. (Just like his buddy Matthew). And no, this was not purposefully done. The rest of his hair fell out but his bangs kept growing. I did trim them once because they were in his eyes. And now he's a blondie.

Happy Birthday Brother

2008-07-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Matt's birthday by going to a 4D ultrasound facility to see his baby boy. It was a trippy experience to see so much detail at 26 weeks. He is sure cute and will only get cuter as he chubs up in the next 2 months. After the ultrasound we barbequed at his house and swam in their huge clubhouse pool. AJ even had his first beer!

Celebrating Natalie Kelly and GAG friendships

2008-07-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

I absolutely LOVE my college girls. Any chance we have to get together is such a treat. Recently we celebrated the birth of Kaitlyn's daughter, Natalie. Since we are all scattered throughout the state, we decided to make a weekend of it and enjoy the OC. We played at Laguna Beach, ate yummy fondue at The Melting Pot, stayed up late chatting about whatever, barbequed, and of course showered Kaitlyn and Natalie with our love. She is the sweetest and CUTEST little baby girl.

Family Reunion in Mammoth

2008-07-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

All of my aunts, uncles, and cousins on my mom's side of the family decided to have a family reunion in Mammoth. We had a blast enjoying the beautiful outdoors by hiking, fishing, golfing, boating, bird watching (we saw a bald eagle!), playing Frisbee golf, swimming in the cold lake, barbecuing, and going to the 4th of July parade. I love when we all get together as a family...especially in such a gorgeous setting. Mammoth in the summer rocks!

AJ and friends

2008-07-18T12:20:00.000-07:00

AJ loves playing with his cool friends. Here are just a few of them: Aliya, Cailin, Taylor (and Gina), Matthew, Carter, Macy, Cameron, Natalie, Luke, and Hannah.

M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E

2008-06-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

AJ had the privilege of visiting the Happiest Place on Earth at the ripe old age of 6 months. It will be a trip that he will remember for the rest of his life. Ha! Disneyland is definitely not made for babies but we couldn't resist a free trip. The first ride he went on was Pirates. He really liked the big drops and the guy with the muddy foot. He LOVED the Tiki Room but wanted nothing to do with Heimlich's Chew Chew Train (see above pic). We didn't make it on any roller coasters (sigh) but we saw some killer shows (It's a Bugs Life 3D) and AJ got his first set of Mickey ears.

And to top it all off, AJ met his birthday buddy, Vincent. We met Vincent and his parents on the parking lot tram. We noticed that Vincent and AJ looked similar in age and discovered that they were born on the same day, same hour, and same minute! He was born in OC though.

My Dad is the coolest!

2008-06-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

Yup, that's right. My dad took me to the US Open on Friday to watch some INCREDIBLE golf. We almost saw 2 of the rarest golf shots...a hole-in-one and a double eagle (I mean like inches from them happening). I wasn't sure I would enjoy watching golf live because my golf knowledge is limited but it was truly an amazing experience. What was even more phenomenal than Tiger's mad skills was watching the THOUSANDS of people follow him for 18 holes. His entourage was ginormous.

Not only is my dad a GENEROUS man, he is one of the most selfless human beings I have ever met. He reminds me of Daniel. God gave Daniel wisdom, insight, and power and yet Daniel remained grounded in his convictions and rightly related to God. My dad has worked extremely hard to become a successful businessman and yet you would never know it by his lifestyle. He puts himself aside for the good of others every day. One example I have of this was before my wedding. My dad took ballroom dance classes (he would rather clean public park toilets than dance) with me for a couple months so we could do a stellar waltz during our father-daughter dance.

I could blog forever about how cool my dad is but work calls. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. I LOVE YOU.

Party in a cup

2008-05-27T22:25:00.000-07:00

One of my fave spots in SLO is Bali's frozen yogurt. I used to go there at least once a week during my 6 years of living there. My favorite flavor was cookies n' cream but I probably tried them all...sometimes I would cram up to 8 flavors in my little white Styrofoam cup. I never left Bali's with the same concoction. Who could? The toppings were endless!

Last week I found a coupon in the weekly coupon mailer that said, "Yogurt Factory...a self serve yogurt shop." I was so excited to see if it lived up to the legend of Bali's. Here is a picture of my beautiful creation:

I still think Bali's is better but this one is only a couple miles from our house so it will have to do. Mmm.

A few favorites

2008-05-27T19:54:00.000-07:00

I feel like the paparazzi these days with all the pictures I take of AJ. Thank Heavens for digital cameras or else I would spend a fortune on developing film. Here are some of my favorite shots from the past couple weeks:

We celebrated Uncle Gabe and Auntie Cassandra's birthdays yesterday at Claim Jumper. Yummm! After stuffing ourselves to the brim, we got to tour Gabe's new RV, a Bluebird School Bus. Him and 6 of his buddies from USF bought an old bus and converted it into a legalized RV. They have a couple beds, a fridge, stove, and a disgusting port-o-potty contraption. I couldn't last more than a couple hours on that thing but hopefully it will provide many lasting memories for those guys. They plan to spend the summer travelling around the U.S. and burning holes in their pockets as they fill the 70 gallon tank with $4+/gallon of diesel fuel. Yikes. God Speed ahead!

Mother's Day = My Day?

2008-05-23T20:45:00.001-07:00

I felt so treasured and loved during Mother's Day weekend. It started on Saturday morning with my mom and sister-in-law Diana (due in September with her first child...a BOY!). We had brunch at my mom's church and listened to an inspirational Mother's Day message. We then headed to Laguna Beach to get massages and facials. It was my first facial and I am hooked! I might have to make it a Mother's Day tradition. We ended the day with a nice dinner with the guys at The Beach House.

Sunday morning was quite surreal. After many years of graciously serving my mom breakfast in bed, it was finally my turn to sleep in and eat yummy pancakes in my comfy bed. This day had finally arrived! Chef AJ did a fabulous job...with the help of daddy of course. We finished the day eating dinner at Johnny Carinos with my in-laws.

Thank you LORD for allowing me to experience Motherhood. You have only given me a taste and boy is it sweet.

Mom kissing 'her other man' outside the spa Feeling nice and relaxed after our treatments.

I love Mimi and Popi

Auntie Marci, Uncle Matt, Auntie Diana

Great Grampa 'GG' and Nana Banana

A real Californian

2008-05-01T21:44:00.000-07:00

We took AJ to Carlsbad Beach last weekend to introduce him to sand and salt water. He wasn't too sure what to think about it...it was all a bit overwhelming for the 4 1/2 month old. At least daddy and him got a good nap out of it.

A fellow beachgoer walked by while they were sleeping, looked at me and whispered, "Isn't that beautiful?"

Yes ma'am, it is beautiful. I love my boys.

Baseball Game

2008-04-23T23:00:00.000-07:00

My gracious parents took us to an Angel game last weekend. It was AJ's first major league game and our first game of the season. The game was boring until the last inning when the Angels almost came back to win. At least the junk food tasted good and AJ behaved himself. We can't wait to take AJ to Petco to see the PADRES!

Thanks for my cool hat, Mimi and Popi

Life is exhausting!

2008-04-23T22:59:00.000-07:00

Jam Out

2008-04-23T22:46:00.000-07:00

My favorite lacrosse ladies and I got together a couple weekends ago to represent the Cal Poly Alumni team at San Diego's Jam By the Sea tournament. We may not have scored the most goals but we definitely looked hot (and felt hot...when is it ever 85 degrees in La Jolla in April???) Thanks girls for a fun time and for giving me one heck of a workout. I was sore for a week!

Swimming

2008-04-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

Our play group decided to go swimming since it was a HOT and BEAUTIFUL Friday. The kiddos loved the pool so hopefully we can do it again soon.
All sunscreened up and ready to go

Cute Cailin

Aiden the race car driver

Aliya and Ana

Just Chillin'

Too much sun!

Matthew and Chrissie

Drew and Jake

First Plane Ride

2008-04-13T21:48:00.001-07:00

AJ and I flew up to San Francisco with the Carlsbad High lacrosse team to coach a tournament at Stanford. Although we missed Daddy for 3 days, it was a super fun trip and AJ was an angel. He had LOTS of attention from the high schoolers and chaperones which made it really easy for me. The team played awesome and took 2nd place in the tournament.
"I love planes!"

The Team

Cable Car Ride

Golden Gate Bridge (in the distance)

Pooped after a long weekend

Cousins

2008-04-13T21:40:00.000-07:00

My Cousins Melanie and Bradley came down from Danville to visit Disneyland and SoCal for Spring Break. We had a fun and yummy lunch at Ruby's on Balboa Pier. AJ misses you guys. Can't wait until Mammoth!

2008-04-13T21:35:00.000-07:00

Thank you Gruncle Tom and Grauntie Myra for my cute outfit. I love you!

Sister

2008-04-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

I love my sister, Marci. She is beautiful, intelligent, thoughtful, and hilarious. Only Marci gets some of my jokes and quirky behaviors. She also has a great boyfriend, Jack. Jack is perfect for Marci and brings out a radiant joy in her life. Thank you Jack for treating my sister like a princess. Jack is also a trooper when it comes to family games such as Mexican Train and Ups & Downs. Can't wait until we can all get together again. Love you sis!

Happy Spring

2008-03-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

Helping Mama in the yard

AJ's first slide ride

Happy 1st Birthday Sophia

Easter photo shoot (sorry there's so many...they were just so cute!)

Bunny love

Silly hat that Mimi made him wear. I think he likes it though!

San Luis Baby

2008-03-19T22:30:00.000-07:00

We took AJ on his first road trip up to Paso Robles for Debra and Tim's wedding. He did GREAT! He slept the entire way there and back except for the brief diaper changes. He normally does great in the car but I never would have dreamed that he stay sleeping for over 5 hours straight. Hallelujah!

The Romano wedding was beautiful and tons of fun. It was great to see so many Cal Poly friends and to introduce them to AJ. Debra looked gorgeous and Tim was beaming. I love weddings.

One of Alex's co-workers knitted this sweater for AJ. Thank you Andrea!

2008-03-18T23:03:00.000-07:00

Summertime

2008-03-11T21:13:00.000-07:00

AJ is getting ready for the beach. He loves the beautiful 80 degree weather we are having. Surfs up!

Happy Birthday Mom!

2008-03-07T19:33:00.000-08:00

Auntie Marci and Mimi spent last Saturday with AJ so that I could coach a lacrosse tournament and get my hair done on my birthday. Thank you mom and sister! AJ loves hanging out with you and he appreciates your sense of fashion. The rest of my family joined us for dinner at my favorite local restaurant, Bistro West. Birthdays are fun.

Auntie Marci

Auntie Di and Uncle Matt

MMM...cupcakes are good

Thank you AJ for the...

2008-03-07T09:16:00.000-08:00

what a champ!

2008-02-23T16:19:00.000-08:00

AJ had his 2 month checkup which included 5 yucky vaccination shots to his cute little thighs. He was a champ though and only whimpered for a minute before falling asleep. He weighs 11 pounds 12 ounces and is 22.5 inches long. Both are in the 50th percentile so our little stud is as average as can be.

2 months

2008-02-16T12:19:00.000-08:00

2008-02-14T09:33:00.000-08:00

Growing up

2008-02-08T22:42:00.000-08:00

A lot has happened in AJ's life over the past week. He watched his first Super Bowl, played with some toys, hung out with Mimi while Mommy went to work, grew out of his newborn clothes (most of them at least), started saving for college (thanks to Great Grandma Jody), and he is smiling! It's amazing how the littliest things can mean so much.
Cheese!

Friday play group

Play time

Auntie Marci and Jack

Super Bowl Party

Uncle Matt

Play time

2008-01-28T22:19:00.000-08:00

AJ had fun playing with his friends Luke, Noelle, Mickey, Jr. Asparagus, and Raggedy Ann. Okay, so he slept most of the time but at least Luke and Noelle had fun. :)

Who's the cutest teddy bear???

2008-01-28T18:12:00.000-08:00

As you can see, he wasn't too stoked at mommy to be classified as a stuffed animal.

A new post!

2008-01-19T19:15:00.000-08:00

I am so sorry for the month long blog fast. It took us a while to get our Internet hooked up and I have been busy with the little guy! The 3 of us are doing great and feel so incredibly blessed. AJ is a wonderful baby and he brings Alex and I more joy than we could have ever imagined. He is growing like crazy and starting to make little expressions. I think he smiled at me today but it could have been the gas relief he was feeling. In any case, he is adorable and so much fun. The 2 things most people comment on when seeing him are his great skin coloring and his full head of hair. I credit both of those to his daddy. He does have blue eyes so at least I can give myself the credit for that. I am praying that they stay that way.

This was taken 5 hours before I went into labor. Yikes!

The 3 of us

We love our beach walks

Kissy face

San Marcos Knights Fans. He LOVES looking at daddy.

Already sucking his thumb

Celebrating New Years with good friends in our new home

Tummy Time. He's 1 month old!

Christmas came early!!!

2007-12-19T20:25:00.000-08:00

Alexander Joseph Turner, Jr. arrived on 12/15/07 at 12:07 pm. After a swift 10 hour labor, A.J. decided to make his debut. He weighed in at a whopping 6 pounds 15 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. He is so handsome and a really good baby already. Alex and I love being parents and are amazed at the most precious Christmas gift God could give us. We also received another ginormous present over the weekend which was our house! Our families and friends spent the weekend moving all of our stuff into our new home, painting some rooms, completing the nursery, and organizing the sea of cardboard boxes. We arrived home on Monday to a comfy and beautiful brand new home with our brand new baby. Talk about overwhelming! Here are some pictures of our stocking stuffer for you to enjoy. Thank you for your prayeres!

Pot of Gold

2007-12-08T22:34:00.000-08:00

Alex and I were driving north on I-5 and we saw a gorgeous double rainbow. It looked like the start of the brighter rainbow was so close to us but then Alex had to ruin the 'magic' and go into this thorough explaination of how rainbows work and why you can never find where it begins or ends. He may be right (he usually is!) but I will never stop believing in the Pot of Gold.

LAX love

2007-12-07T10:27:00.000-08:00

When I went to Cal Poly in 1998 I had never seen a lacrosse stick nor did I have any interest in learning the sport. At the end of the first quarter of my freshman year, I watched my dorm Bible study leader, Natalie, play a lacrosse game and that was all it took for me to be hooked. I talked to the coach afterwards and asked if I could practice with them. She agreed and thus the journey began. I left Cal Poly in 2002 with 2 lacrosse National Championship trophies and photo albums full of memories. It was a wonderful addition to my college experience and has changed my life forever.

Every November I visit Cal Poly for the alumni weekend where all of us old farts dust off our sticks and challenge the current college team. We had never won an alumni game until this year. Unfortunately, A.J. kept me from playing but it was still fun to see my old teammates and cheer them on to the victory.

When I worked for Campus Crusade for Christ after graduation, I helped coach the Cal Poly team. It was a great experience and something I wanted to continue doing once Alex and I got married. When we moved to Carlsbad in 2004 I started coaching the Carlsbad High School team and have been with them ever since. I enjoy passing on my passion for the sport to these young women and watching them grow a love for lacrosse. They will always hold a special place in my heart.

Last night after practice the girls and some of the parents threw me a surprise baby shower. I was TOTALLY surprised which doesn’t happen often. I can’t believe all of the 14-17-year-olds were able to keep it under the radar for so long. Way to go girls! A.J. received lots of cute clothes, blankets, books, and encouraging notes. I guess he is going to be the new mascot. What a stud.

And the Christmas parties begin...

2007-12-06T13:14:00.000-08:00

Our Growth Group celebrated our last meeting of the year with a fun Christmas fiesta. We ate enchiladas, chips & dip, rice, beans, and some yummy BTS cake. The kiddos kept us entertained as well as the the gift exchanges we had. My favorite time of the evening though was taking communion and reflecting on God's goodness to us over the past year. We have so much to be thankful for and it is all because of Him. Thank you Lord for your grace on our lives. It's definitely been a year that we will never forget.

36 Weeks and Growing!

2007-11-27T12:37:00.000-08:00

As you can see, AJ will be making his debut very soon!

Thanksgiving in the desert

2007-11-27T12:23:00.000-08:00

The Coulson family decided to spend Thanksgiving this year in Palm Desert. We had a relaxing and fun long weekend of playing lots of games (Mexican Train, Canasta, Ups & Downs, Yahtzee, and croquet) and eating yummy food. Oh, and we also spent a good couple hours of taking Christmas card pictures. My mom wanted to take them in front of every fountain and tree in the entire Marriott resort. Love you mom.

GAG shower

2007-11-27T12:06:00.000-08:00

My wonderful college friends threw a baby shower for me in the central coast. It was fun to visit SLO and to hang out with my girls. Like always, they spoiled me with baby love and gifts. I love you!

2 boys and a girl

2007-11-09T12:29:00.000-08:00

God welcomed 3 of his beautiful children to the world this week. Brady Pray came first (11/2), then Matthew Williams (11/3) and finally Hannah Vanoli (11/8). Kelly, Chrissie, and Michelle are wonderful friends and I know they will be fantastic moms. Congratulations ladies...can't wait introduce your little ones to AJ. :)

AJ's first shower

2007-11-06T11:04:00.000-08:00

Four of my mom's great friends threw me an over-the-top baby shower. It was fun to spend the afternoon with family and friends and a bit overwhelming to open so many generous gifts. It makes AJ's arrival seem even more real (and soon!) with all of the baby stuff taking over our living quarters. Thank you to all who showered AJ and I with baby love!

The adorable and yummy petifores

Auntie Myra (who flew all the way from Austin, Tx just for the shower!), Me, Mom (or Mimi to AJ), and my mother-in-law (or Nana to AJ)

I love this shirt!

My dear friend Jenny and I

Halloween Fun

2007-11-01T15:15:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures from Matt and Di's Halloween/Housewarming party. I went with a low budget costume and resorted to a Pumpkin trash bag and a toilet paper roll stem. It was comfy and my round belly filled out the bag quite well. It was fun to hang out with family and friends and to celebrate the beautiful new home my bro purchased in Portola Springs. We look forward to next year when little AJ will be with us. :)

Pumpkin and Jack Sparrow

Mom, Dad, and Matt

Jack and Marci