Our Holiday Happenings

I can't believe that December is almost over and that our little one has been with us for 5 weeks already! I figured that before I post about New Years I better get Christmas up so that I do not fall too far behind. We started off our Christmas fun by meeting Blake and Liz up at the temple to look at the lights on the 20th, and as luck would have it we both forgot our cameras so the picture we did get was taken on our phones. The lights were beautiful and the temple was packed...it is great to see so many people there celebrating the true meaning of the season. The next day we took Bailey to church for the 1st time so that we could see the Christmas Program, and I have to say that her dress was pretty darn cute! Later that night we had Blake and Liz over for Sunday dinner (sorry we missed you Kevin and Melissa), cookie decorating, and the annual Clinton Christmas tradition of watching The Christmas Story. This year is The Christmas Story's 25th anniversary and my parents got Clinton a gift that included the movie, a Christmas Story apron, cookbook, and cookie cutters. We didn't quite get all of the cookies frosted, but the ones that did were pieces of art! Then it was off to Long Beach for Christmas.

Me and my bundle of joy enjoying the Temple Lights

1st Sunday at Church and looking like an angel

Our Christmas Story Cookie Extravaganza

On Christmas Eve we opened our traditional Christmas PJ's, sorry the pictures don't have us in the pajamas, I'm not very good at capturing every moment yet! Christmas morning was very fun watching our niece and nephew open and play with their gifts, it is so great seeing Christmas through their eyes and I can't wait for Bailey to be big enough to enjoy it too. The day after Christmas Brent and Sandi rented electric Duffy Boats that we took around Sunset Harbor to look at all the Christmas lights. It was a lot of fun and the lights were pretty amazing. Clint got to drive our boat which I know he enjoyed, and after watching the boat almost get taken out by a much bigger yacht I actually felt somewhat safe!!

We ended out the weekend by attending Church to be a part of Rylan's baby blessing. This was our first time meeting the not so little guy and he is adorable. He and Bailey may have weighed the same at birth, but Rylan is chunking up and I guess our Bailey is working on her girlish figure already! Donovan did a great job with the blessing and I am so glad that we got to be there to celebrate with them. After the blessing we ate and visited with family and then it was time to head home to AZ. All in all it was a great trip and a great Christmas, thanks again Brent and Sandi!!

Three weeks ago today!

Bailey is 3 weeks today and we are slowing starting to ease into a schedule, a schedule that changes almost daily, but we are working on it. She is a good sleeper (which hopefully will last), totally mellow and alert when she is awake, and a crazy girl when it comes time to eat. She goes from 0 to 60 in no time and her arms become weapons as I try to nurse her. We have nicknamed her Bailey, the Barracuda and we will continue to work on it! I really can't complain though, she is a great baby and has given us the best and craziest 3 weeks of our lives...Happy 3 weeks Bailey!


Ready to shop with mom and grandma (when my mom was still in town)




Smiling for the camera




Tired of tummy time!

Two Weeks Today...Oh how time flies

Bailey is two weeks old today and I can't believe how much she has changed already! Last Tuesday we had a photographer come to the house to take pictures of our little girl (only 5 days old at the time) and they turned out great. Bailey did great for her first "real" photo shoot, she slept through most of it, opened her eyes for a few, and screamed a little when we put her in a cold room in just her diaper. She was a trooper and we have some great shots to prove it...Baby Gap here we come! I will post a few of them on the blog, but we are most likely going to use some of them for our Christmas cards so I can't put them all on display just yet.

Other then getting the pictures taken and heading off the the doctors office for her check-up we haven't done a whole lot around here. Trying to plan life in three hour blocks to work around feedings is a little difficult, but according to all my friends with kids it will get better in a few weeks so I will just hold out a little longer. Clinton went back to work on Monday and I dropped my mom of at the airport this morning so today was our first official 1/2 day on our own. Things are going well, but I will say that it sure was nice having other people around. Tomorrow is a new day, and Bailey and I will begin our adventure together of trying to figure this thing called parenting out (wish us luck)!

*Thanks to my MOM*

Nobody can even begin to prepare you for how your life will change after having a baby. I was prepared for labor and in control of what went on there, but once this little person was in my arms I quickly realized that I was not in control anymore. What do I know about being a mom? Thankfully I had my mom here for the last two week to remind me (usually in the midst of a break down) that I know enough and the rest will come in time. I am so greatful to be a mother, and I am equally greatful to have a mom who knows me the way I can only hope that I will know and understand Bailey one day. So thank you mom for everything you did these last two weeks and for teaching me (my whole life) how to be a great mom! I found this quote and used it to tell my mom we were expecting and I now know how true it really is...Mothers and Daughters become closet when Daughters become Mothers. I love you MOM!