Tuesday, December 30, 2008

One Month Old

Each month I am going to take a picture of Carson holding an index card saying how old he is and I am going to write a monthly update. Here it goes!

I am growing so fast, mom and dad are amazed! I sure am a good eater. I eat about every three hours. I usually wake up around 8:00, eat breakfast and like to stay awake until my next feeding at 11:00, even though mom wants me to take a nap! I like to take a long nap in the afternoons and a shorter one in the evenings. When I wake up I like to stretch out my arms, legs and neck. Mom and dad think it is really cute! I love to be wrapped tightly in my mom’s carrier and observe all that is going on. Most of the time I end up falling asleep in there. I like to go with mom when she runs her arons and am very well behaved. The best part of my day is when dad gets home and talks to and holds me. I love to suck on my pacifiers, but still can’t keep them in my mouth by myself. Once I was six weeks old I started smiling at mom. She loves when I smile at her! I go to sleep for the night around 9:00 and have started sleeping four hours until I am hungry again. Sometimes I only wake-up twice a night and mom and dad are so proud! Mom says I am a very peaceful little boy. Everyone thinks I am cute and love to hold me. I like to snuggle and love it when mom and dad hold me close and talk softly to me. I’ve already met my Grandma and Grandpa Kelley, all my Kelley aunts, uncles, and cousins, and my Grandma Bonner. It’s fun having such a big family. I can’t wait to meet all the Bonners. I am a very good baby and mom and dad love me so much!

Make sure to check out the other new post below.

What a Christmas!

Things are starting to get a little bit crazy at the Kelley house when the whole family gets together. There are 18 of us now and we don't fit very well into my parents house. For the past few years my parents have even stayed at the Marriott in Pasadena to make more room for us, but I think we have officially outgrown the house! Despite the close quarters and strep throat (brought by one of the families) we managed to have a great time. What is great about big families is there is never a dull moment. I am blaming all the excitement for neglecting to take very many pictures. Here are the few that I took.Carson in his Christmas onesie our friend Leesee sent him.Steve trying out the Moby Wrap. Dad isn't as comfy as Mom, but Carson didn't seem to mind.
Laura, Mom and Chelsea with Carson at the La Brea Tar Pits.Steve and Carson at the La Brea Tar PitsLaura and Brian playing in the tar, where the shouldn't be (of course).

Monday, December 22, 2008

Carson's Blessing


We are in La Canada this week with my family. Everyone is here, my 5 sisters, 1 brother, 3 brother-in-laws, 1 sister-in-law, husband, parents and 3 neices and nephews. Needless to say it is a full house! Since everyone is here we decided to bless Carson while we are here. In the Mormon religon we bless babies when they are a month or so old. Here is a picture of the whole fam minus Regan and Noelle (she wasn't feeling well) after blessing Carson in the bishop's office. Steve did a good job. What a good daddy he is!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Love the Moby!!

My sister-in-law raved about the Moby Wrap when she had her daughter last year, so when I saw one at a garage sale for $1.00 I thought it was worth trying out. Let me tell you, it is great. It's the perfect thing to use when Carson wants to be held and I have things to do, or when he needs to fall asleep and doesn't want to. The wrap is about 10 feet of fabric that you can tie in various ways to achieve different baby carrying positions. He loves to be placed facing out to see what's going on and he also likes to be snuggled deep inside when he wants to sleep. It's also great in the winter because he says so warm.

*For anyone who was wondering, last night went much better. He went back to waking-up 3 times. Hopefully he'll decide he likes the 2 times a night again soon!*

Picture #1: Carson when I first put him in.
Picture #2: Five minutes later...

Monday, December 15, 2008

sleeping...

So, Carson had two nights in a row where he only woke-up twice! I thought I was the luckiest mom in the world, but then last night struck. Lets recount the amount I was able to sleep shall we? 10:30-12:15, 3:30-4:20, then, luckily 6:00-8:00. He wasn't cranky or anything. He just thought he was hungry all night long and wanted to be up hanging out with mom.So we ended up watching a few episodes of House Hunters and as luck would have it there was a House marathon on USA. It is 12:25 in the afternoon now and he has yet to take his morning nap, and that means no nap for me either. I'd post a picture, but I am too tired... Isn't being a mom fun?

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Time for a change...

So I finally did it. I've been talking about doing it for so long and I finally got up the courage... I cut my hair! I haven't had a drastic change since the early years of college. 8 inches!! There was so much hair on the floor. Too bad it wasn't just 2 inches more, then I could have donated it. Oh well, I wasn't going to go any shorter. It feels so good, and now it won't take me an hour to blow dry and straighten. So what do you think???

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Carson is so funny. He somehow figured out how to wiggle his little thumb out of his hand covering thingy.

Steve went to an early sacrament meeting today so he could stay home with Carson while I went to ours. It was so nice to go to church after missing for a few weeks. It seems like everyone and their kids have the flu right now. I'm glad we kept Carson at home. Here is son and dad rocking in the rocking chair. Carson decided to pacify himself by sucking on his entire fist. Such a cute boy!

There is always time for Christmas decorations!



Things have been really busy with a new baby, but that would not stop us from decorating for Christmas! I'll admit we didn't go all out this year, but at least it feels like Christmas now inside and outside of our house.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Two Week Check-up


Carson had his two week check-up on Wednesday. He is 8 lbs and 21 1/2 inches. I can't believe he grew 1 1/2 inches in two weeks! Yesterday we took him to get newborn pictures taken. He was such a good boy and his pictures turned out adorable! I get to pick them up next week, then I'll put them on the blog. He really is a good baby. He is very content and happy. We are still struggling with eating at night and I am not getting a lot of sleep, but other then that things are great.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Carson's first walk.

Carson in a "big boy" outfit!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Carson soothing himself by sucking his thumb.
We tried to put him in this cars outfit at the hospital and it was too big. What a difference 10 days makes. He is growing so fast!
Carson's umbilical cord fell off last night, so he was able to take his first big boy bath. He loved it! Look at how skinny his little legs are =).

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Gobble 'Til You Wobble!

Carson's First Thanksgiving!

It's hard work being a baby...
Carson and Grandpa Kelley video.
(For more videos you can check out my Mom's blog. It is The Kelley family link on the right).

Saturday, November 22, 2008

3 Days Old




Hi everyone! It's Leah this time. Steve's been great putting pictures on, but I thought I'd take a turn. It's crazy that we are parents all of the sudden! The whole house is dedicated to Carson now. He is so cute and sweet. I do have to say that he has is days and nights confused. He'll sleep for 4 hours straight during the day, but at night we are lucky to get an hour... There is a good reason babies are so snuggley and cute... He had a check-up yesterday at the hospital and they said everything looked great. I am feeling pretty good, much better then I thought I would be. It feels SO GOOD not to be pregnant anymore! Thanks for all your phone calls, thoughts and prayers. Here are some pictures from today.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

A couple more pics

Carson left the hospital today. Below is a picture of him in his car seat about to leave the hospital and one of him asleep after arriving home for the first time.


Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Carson Steven Bonner

Here are some pictures of the newly-born Carson Bonner and family. He was 20" long and 7 lbs 5 oz, born at 4:41 am November 19
Carson the conehead, fresh from the womb, contemplates the meaning of life.



Carson and family pose for a quick pic. Doesn't Leah look good for having just gone through labor?


Carson and his mom ~10 hours after delivery


A closeup of Carson at same time as above.


Watch for more pictures and videos later!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Food Hints & Household Tricks

Bananas: Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little 'stringy things' off of it. That's how the primates do it. Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Cheese: Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!

Peppers: Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

Cooking Meat: Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

Mint Brownies: For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Put Andes mints on top of brownies when they are hot from oven. Let set for a mint frosting.

Garlic: Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.

Expanding Frosting: When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

Reheating refrigerated bread: To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

Newspaper weeds away: Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and for- get about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.

No More Mosquitoes: Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away. If you are having a party, buy dry ice and put in a far corner of your yard, they will go for the dry ice. It emits Carbon Dioxide which is what attracts them to you!

Squirrel Away: To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant but squirrels won't come near it.

Reducing Static Cling: Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and ... ta da! .. static is gone.

Measuring Cups: Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

Foggy Windshield: Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

Reopening envelope: If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include
something, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.

Conditioner: Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.

Get Rid of Ants: Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

Clothing Dryers: The best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush at least every six months.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Life Really Boils Down to These Two Questions...

1. Should I get a dog?
2. Or Should I have children?

My sister Becky sent this to me and it was just too funny to keep to myself!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Third time is a charm!

I am in the Young Woman presidency at church and have worked with the Beehives (12-13 year old girls) for the past 3 1/2 years. Well, this week the Young Womans threw me a baby shower. It was such a fun mutual activity! It was more for the girls to play baby shower games and help celebrate my upcoming baby boy. We played a few fun games like; estimate with yarn how big my tummy is, guess the melted candy bar in the diaper and name that baby food. The girls each wrote me a card to read while I am in the hospital. They also put together a new mom's coupon book full of babysitting, cooking and house cleaning coupons. Such thoughtful girls! I am so lucky to work with them. The leaders and advisers did a great job pulling this together. There was a delicious dinner and yummy cake. The leaders got me a few spa treatments so I can feel pampered these last few weeks and a toy chest for all of baby boy's toys. I feel so loved =). Thanks everyone!!

My youngest sister Chelsea decided to drive up and visit me from LA yesterday, so she was able to come to the shower too. Today we spent the day shopping at the outlets and we went to the Jelly Belly factory for a tour. She is doing an excellent job keeping me occupied and distracted. She has to go home tomorrow though. It has been a short, but fun visit. My sister Becky is flying out next Friday to visit. She is hoping she's timed her trip perfectly for the birth. A week early...Sounds good to me!