Christmas 2012

This Christmas was especially fun for us because it was Aspen's first one! We were very lucky to have been able to spend our Christmas time off in Dubois, Wyoming where we spent time with Billie's family. Before we left, we had our own little family Christmas present opening. Aspen got her very first dolly from cousins Kylie and Quinny. Here she is with it! You can see how excited she is. :)

We did some sledding with Taylor at the cabin. Aspen loved riding on Taylor's "salmon-bill" sled. Aspen has started to get a little clingy to mommy these days. We found this week that she will stop crying either when I hold her or when Taylor holds her. It cracked us all up when she was being passed from person to person and was screaming her head off until the very second Taylor got ahold of her and she was as content as could be!

There is really nothing like spending Christmas with small children to be able to see the pure joy and happiness as present after present are opened. 

Taylor was definitely into the presents...Jordie, not so much

  

Aspen had her special Christmas jammies on with Santa on the toes and bum part of the outfit.

Taylor put one of the bows from the presents on Penny the next day and it was so stuck to her hair I was scared to rip it off...

...so I let her nap in it too

Then we had a family snowmobiling trip where we all got a turn to ride.

I took a close up of everyone who was there with us. I guess Billie's close up was with the babe. Here are everyone's best poses for the camera:

We ended the trip by driving to Pocatello to visit Grandma Esther. We got to see the Tetons on the way! What a fun trip! Merry Christmas.

Being a new mom

I was asked to write a paragraph for my church's newsletter about what it's like being a new mom. I wanted to put it on the blog so that Aspen can read it later and know how much we loved her from the very beginning!

It's a huge task to try to sum up my feelings about being a new mom. Everything I can think to say seems like it's either already been said before or the words just don't seem to do the experience justice. But I will do my best! I have experienced more joy in the last six months than I ever knew I could. I've also experienced more weight of responsibility, more realization of my important role in her life, and honestly more sleep deprivation than I could have ever imagined. I know I'm still new to motherhood so I feel kind of silly writing about motherhood as if I have any idea what I'm doing. There is truly nothing like having this sweet little girl in our family to love and take care of. She has already taught us so much. And the little thing makes us laugh! I've learned to love more than I ever thought possible, to truly care more for another person more than myself, and what true and pure joy feels like. I feel like I've had some pretty amazing glimpses into the love that our Heavenly Father has for us and for that I feel truly blessed. There are good days and harder days but at the end of those days, good or bad, when I look at my little girl asleep in her crib and ponder for even one minute about the love I have for her, I can't help but want to explode with gratitude, peace and joy. I am so grateful for the blessing and privilege it is to be Aspen's mom. 

Just call me Poindexter

Aspen got a new pair of glasses and wanted to show them off.

Snowsuit Sweetie

We had our first real snow storm of the year and we decided to give the snowsuit a run for its money. Penny's little face looks so chunky in that hood! We couldn't stop laughing the whole day because she constantly had the biggest smile on her face when she was wearing it. 

First snow experience was a success!

This is what her smile looked like all day!

Aspen loves her daddy. I really like him too :)

She loves her dad even though he likes to do mean stuff like this...

After getting dunked in the snow, we went for a family walk and a few minutes into the walk, here's how we found Aspen. 

Sandy Eggo

This weekend we were lucky enough to take a quick trip to go see Jordie and Kirky who just bought a house in La Mesa. Grandma and grandpa were able to come down and visit and it was a really fun family time! Aspen got to see the ocean for the very first time. Here are some pictures of the weekend. 

 

Auntie Jojo is cray cray

Such a happy baby!