A Boutwell Update

+We had a low key weekend, but it was a good one none the less. On Friday we went to a Med Group (Ryan is part of the med group) event on base. It was much more casual than the normal military events. It was outside and we didn't stay too long after dinner, but I was glad to experience that none the less. Saturday we went to the Horse Expo on base. Dominick was too young to enjoy it, but we went with friends and it was nice to get out of the house. Saturday night we met friends in Lancaster and they had a Halloween event on the Blvd. It was a good time, but got quite cold. Afterwards we went to a going away party a friends house. Sunday was our low key day. Ryan went out shooting with a friend and Dominick and I hung out at home.

+I have become a Key Spouse. It kind of fell upon me randomly, but I had a hard time saying no even with all the other things going on. I don't think I'll regret it in the long run, so I guess that's all that matters. With that said, I don't know if my personality is one to be a key spouse.

+This is my last week of maternity leave. I'm kind of dreading leaving Dominick for those three days, but at least it's only three days. I don't know if I mentioned it, but I got a new job. I'm excited for something new, but like I said sad to be leaving D.

+This upcoming weekend Ryan is running in the Color Run San Diego with friends so we are going down on Saturday and coming back on Sunday. It should be a fun weekend and we are glad to be doing something as a family before we are both back to work.

+Dominick is going to be a dragon for Halloween. We are having dinner with friends in one neighborhood and then coming home and going trick or treating with friends in our neighborhood (the same friends we'll be going to San Diego with). I had kind of a mom fail and didn't order his costume until yesterday (Sunday 10/28). Thankfully for diapers.com, I received it today and all is good in our little first Halloween world.

trying on his costume

 +Once (sometimes twice) a week I meet with a few of my mom friends. It's nice to get out of the house and to be around other moms. I feel a little more normal and they all have 2+ children and all but one of them has a baby within 5 months of Dominick. He is pretty much the same size as all of their little boys too. I love having these ladies as friends. They've encouraged me so much and answered lots of my first time mom questions. I am really thankful for all of my friends, but especially these group of girls during this somewhat crazy time. Since we're not home with family and friends for the support they've definitely filled in so they are really special to me.

+Speaking of how big Dominick is we weighed him the other day and he's already 15 lbs. He will be 2 months on the 3rd.

 +We are going this week to get 2 month shots. Neither one of us are looking forward to that.

+We will be in Michigan in just a few days...literally days! We wish we would have waited to buy tickets now that I have a new job and could have came home for  Thanksgiving, but we are just thrilled to be headed back to the midwest.

+Ryan has a CDC test this week (I think), so hopefully he passes and can start thinking of his SSgt test this upcoming Spring. He has a lot going on with the AF and it's all kind of exciting. Like I said he tests for Staff in the Spring AND he is quickly approaching his 2 year anniversary on November 2nd. Also, he only has a little over a year (give or take) until he is done with his Bachelors. At that point he is planning on commissioning (for those of you non military, he's planning on becoming an officer) so he will be starting the paperwork on that in the next few months as well.

+Happy Monday, Happy Halloween Week and Happy November Week

Two Years Ago

Two years ago I became a wife and I got myself a husband.

We had been engaged for 13 days and he was leaving for basic training 12 days later. It seemed like any other day. We woke up and we went to work only a half day each. It was a cold and somewhat dreary fall day in Michigan.

When I got home from work, I curled my hair, put some make up on and put on a gray dress. Our friends and in laws met us at our house. We drove to the court house. My parents were there waiting for us.

We walked in engaged and walked out married. We didn't make a big deal out of it, but it really was and sometimes I wish I would have made it a bigger day than I did. We didn't tell many people until after we were married.

After our "ceremony" we went to Outback with our parents and friends and then we went out to the bar that night. It was a good day.

So much has changed in two years. Ryan joined the AF, we moved across country and have been living in CA for 1.5 years, we were blessed with the greatest gift God could have gave us, Dominick and we've had lots of fun experiences.

Our lives are far from perfect and our marriage is anything but. However, we love each other with our whole hearts. We support each other every day. We dream together. We ground each other. We trust each other. We push each other to be do our best and to be better people.

Ry,

I love you more the words can say. You're the best partner I could ask for and I am so glad I get to spend my life with you. You're my best friend and I thank God for picking you to be my husband.

Love you to the moon and back,
Allison

Thursday Favorites

Source: livestrong.com via Rachelle on Pinterest

water with lemon

I've actually been obsessed lately

Source: flickriver.com via Cortney on Pinterest

Detroit Tigers

Source: rita-may-recipes.blogspot.com via Allison on Pinterest

New Recipes

this one is Cream Cheese Chicken Chilli-SO, SO, SO yummy

Friends

Dominick-1 Month

Since Dominick is already a month and a half old I figured I should finally post his 1 month stats. These pictures were actually taken on the 14th of this month also. I'm such a slacker already!

Weight

Birth: 7 lbs 13 oz

1 month: 12 lbs 10 oz

Length

Birth: 22 in

1 month: 22.5 in

Diapers

You are in size 1 diapers this month.

Clothes

You wear 0-3 months still

Eating

You are still exclusively breastfed and still the messiest eater I know. You eat every 3-4 hours

Sleep

  You do NOT like to nap, but you are such a good nighttime sleeper. I'd really like for you to sleep in your crib, but you will sleep in the pack n play bassinet so I'm okay with that.

Dominick,

You are officially one month and it seems like just yesterday we were waiting to meet you. I just cannot believe how fast this month went.

You had kind of a rough month with your surgery, but within a week it was all healed up and we could go back to a normal "routine". You got your first real bath and you love them. You totally just lounge out in your little tub; it's really so cute.

This month you went out and did quite a bit, the most recent being the Aquarium Of The Pacific. All of our day trips out are trips you'll never remember, but it's been fun being a family of 3. You have definitely completed our little world and we are just so in love with you. Your daddy has gotten more and more comfortable with you and I absolutely LOVE being your momma.

Love,
Momma

Tired out after our trip to the aquarium

Riding in the car

after his surgery

sweet sleeping baby

Monster Baby

cuddles with momma

Our 1st Day

Yesterday Ryan had to go back to work after being off for an entire month. I am so thankful that he got to spend those precious days with Dominick and that they started to bond, even if at times it was forced. I know that he was ready to go back mostly because he had to, but he was also sad leaving Dominick us behind.

On his first day back the baby man and I had a pretty successful day...if I do say so myself. Our day looked kind of like this:

• Breakfast
• Went for a walk with friends. Actually, I pushed the stroller and carried a crying baby who wanted nothing to do with the stroller, but was as happy as a clam in my arms.
• He ate and I chugged a gallon of water because unlike nearly all other parts of the US it is still in the 90s and 100s every day here in the desert.
• He took a nap and I did a work out DVD
• Had lunch
• Started laundry and put dinner in the crock pot
• Started working on our Christmas lists
• Got a job offer and accepted said job offer.
• Finished laundry
• Caught up on the DVR for far too long
• A friend stopped by to chat
• And then Ryan finally got home and we were together again.

For our first day I think it was pretty successful. Way more successful than our second day has started. All that's happened so far was I got peed on while giving Dominick a bath and we've had breakfast. With that said, I guess I should probably get going. The floors aren't going to get swept and vacuumed by themselves and since that's not gonna happen, I should also know the laundry isn't going to get washed, hung and put away by themselves either.

And because he is too darn cute here's my baby monster (picture taken on Saturday)

I will be ONE month old tomorrow!