Skiing 2014

We were lucky enough to get up on the slopes a couple times this season. We ski-ed at both Brighton and Alta this year and loved both of them. It is so beautiful up in the mountains! We'd get off the lifts, catch some amazing views and then race to the bottom.

Love me some time with my man!

Skiing in Utah is amazing. Just a short drive and we're on top of the world.

We even got to ski some powder this year. Love me some Utah powder!

Until next season!

Easter 2014

Easter was so much fun this year! I've decided that kids make holidays 10 times better...just like everybody told me :) 

We started off the weekend with an easter egg hunt on Saturday morning. 

The hunt was divided into age groups and also limited the group sizes which was perfect. No crazy crowds or older kids trampling the younger ones.

Here's Jayne checking out the loot, planning her route...

...more like dad planning the route! He was the designated "helper" for Jayne. When they said "GO!" he made a dash over to a certain candy he'd eyed on our way in.

Then, in his words, he "suppressed his competitive-ness, sat Jayne down and simply gathered the eggs around us".  

We still got some pretty good loot so Jayne (and dad) left happy!

Later that day we went on a bike ride down the river trail and had a picnic in the park.

We loved being together outside and enjoying the beautiful weather. We love Spring!

Then Easter morning we woke up to some special goodies

Then we got ready and then headed off to church and a fun day with my

 family.

I loved spending this time of year with my new little family. Easter is a great time for remembering what is most important in life and guys, family is where its at.

Happy Easter!

Jayne - 7 months

Our 7 month old cutie!

Jayne's 7 month stats

• Weight: 18lbs 5oz. She's still chunky but is thinning out a bit-meaning I can pull her out of the bumbo without her thighs getting a little stuck :) This is probably because she's such a mover these days. She can get around great on the wood floor by rolling or rotating and pulling herself around while on her belly. She'll push off her toes and pull with her arms which looks like she may be getting close to crawling.
• Eats her solid foods like a champ (cereal, pureed veggies and fruits, pears, bananas & crackers). She loves just about anything we give her. She has gotten much better at chomping lately because....
• Jayne has 2 teeth! They're the bottom, middle teeth. When she smiles and I get a glimpse of them, I seriously can't believe our baby has teeth. 
• Her personality is showing more and more. She'll often play the game of "avoid looking at mom/dad when they're trying to get my attention". Even when we move into her line of vision she'll shift and look another way. She's very aware of what she's doing! The other day I was playing this "game" with her and after a bit of playing she just turned and looked at me and gave me a big, cheeky grin. That girl!
• Sitting up very well on her own. She loves being in high chairs when we're out, and will play with her toys sitting up...until she decides to lunge for something out of her reach-sometimes gracefully, other times, not so much
• Loves to have her tongue hang out, puppy style. All the time, anytime. We joke that she's learned this from Koda. 
• Chuckles to herself when we give her a toy. She's a happy camper.

Loves Tim Tams-like a true Aussie!

 My baby is growing up...

I laid her down right by my feet, did something for a couple minutes and looked back and there she was...

...halfway under the couch. Seriously, this girl has got some maneuvering skills!

"Enough with the pictures already mom!"

That's our girl this month. Seriously, what did I do every day without my little mini around? We love our Miss J!

Like parent, like child

Who does she look like? I feel like that's the question parents get asked a lot during the first months of their child's life. With Jayne there hasn't been a clear winner for the answer to that question. We get different opinions from different people. I was curious so I dug out some baby photos of Phil & I. Here are some comparisons...

Blessing Day

Their expression (eyes and smile)...and their cheeks!

I am 1yr old in this photo....maybe Jayne will grow more hair by then? :)

So who is it?

I'd say a mix...a perfect mix :)

Jayne - 6 months

How did this happen? We have a 6 month old!

For some reason, 6 months just seems so...old (but still young, but not newborn...well you know what I mean)

Honestly, to say that I have changed since welcoming Jayne into our family would be an understatement. She's not only changed me, but has changed the whole world around me. I love her more and more everyday and I'm still not quite sure how I'm ever going to let her grow up and go...anywhere...without me. People tried to describe motherhood to me prior to birth but I don't think its something you can put into words. Because there aren't words to describe how much I love, admire, and just adore our Jayne.

Now on to the update...

Jayne's 6 month stats

• Miss Roly-poly here! She's rolling everywhere and anywhere these days. If we put a toy on the ground, she'll find a way roll her way to it, even if is not in her direct rolling line. Meaning, I have to be careful where I put her down because one second she's laying vertically with her feet toward the TV, and the next she's laying on the other side of the rug with her head toward the TV. She's movin'!
• Dances up a storm. I shared her dancing movie in her 5 month post and she's still got the groove. Especially when music comes on. She loves music.
• Loving her toes! They're in her mouth a lot. At least its a toy that's always around :)
• Eating cereal and rice crackers. She does ok at the beginning of cereal time but eventually we have to try hard to keep her occupied while eating, but last night she loved her cracker!
• Happy as can be. She's found out how to give us a "half" giggle. I just take that to mean "try harder mom" :) She does a little fake cough too and just grins afterward.
• Still grabbing everything, and she's quick! We're on guard all the time. When she sees something she wants, she gets excited, puts her arms out and kind of shakes them (like she's flexing all her arm/hand muscles). Its cute!
• Sitting pretty much on her own these days but topples over when she's reaching for something she wants, or her toes.
• Loves her bouncer and will grin away while bouncing happily. (see video here)

The other day I was having Koda chase a laser which I was pointing at the floor. When I first started, Jayne gave a tiny chuckle so I turned on the camera hoping she'd keep laughing, and boy did she...

Oh she is just so happy! And we are so happy to have her in our family.


Happy 6 months baby girl!

Great Grandma & Grandpa Grover

We're lucky to be close to some of our family here in Utah. Last week Jayne, my mom & I visited my grandparents (Jayne's great grandparents). It was sweet to see them interact with her. 

Good family times!