Christmas Fun

Dayna putting the first ornament on the tree.
The Dicksons (and Austin) posing in front of the tree

Hans thought using caulking would be easier than icing

Our gingerbread house

Our gingerbread house and the the Dicksons

Dayna wanted a taste. Yum!

Baby Claus

Hans and I have a tradition that every year we buy a real Christmas tree from Home Depot (b/c it is cheap) and decorate it while listening to our favorite Christmas CD...The Carpenters! Hans and I both grew up listening to same Christmas CD so we didn't have to compromise on that. This year we invited the Dicksons over to help because it is way more fun with kids around. Dayna noticed that we didn't have a star to put on the top of our tree so we made one and she decided it HAD to be pink. She got the honors of placing it on the top of our tree. After decorating the tree we made our gingerbread houses and Hans decided that he needed to use caulking because the icing just wasn't doing the job. Silly Hans! Anyway I think the houses turned out pretty well. We love Christmas around here and now our house smells like pine. I love it! I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas holiday!

Time Out for Women

Chillin in the van
Hiding licorice in the baby wipes container (we are resourceful!)

Eating at Demos for lunch

Posing with our super cute new totes

Getting a photo with Hilary Weeks

This past weekend I had the great opportunity to go to Nashville for "Time Out for Women" which is hosted by Deseret Book. I went with some wonderful friends: Natalie, Janelle, Ashley, Brinn and Ashley. The day started at 4:30am waking up to get ready for the 2.5 hour drive down there. We all piled in Brinn's van and of course she came prepared with bagels, juice ect. It was nice having the chance to spend some quality time with my girlfriends. As you know with 6 girls, we never ran out of things to talk about. The event was really amazing. It was spiritually uplifting which is something I was in need of. Hilary Weeks was the musical guest and she was making us cry the whole time. She has a great voice and sings with conviction. I would recommend the song "Just Cry" off her new CD. I am grateful I had the chance to go and I am planning on going again! It will be in Cincinnati in the Spring for whoever wants to come with me :-)

Thoughts of the day

After becoming a parent I have realized the following things

1. The drive-thru is a great invention. That way you dont have to get unstrapped and strapped back into the car seat. It saves alot of time
2. Whoever invented the pacifier was a genius
3. Who knew the Baby Einstein videos would be so entertaining to a 3 month old
4. Sleep is precious- you dont realize so much until you are unable to control how much sleep you get
5. Showering and shaving your legs is a luxury
6. Whoever invented the baby bjorn was also a genious. This way I can actually get things done and hold my child at the same time. It is like baby trickery. haha
7. I dont know how mothers with several children get anywhere on time!

My best friend's wedding and Austins blessing

The bridesmaids (Lauren, Jessica, Sara, Mel, Melissa, Jodi and I)
Besties gettimg ready for the big day

First moments in the dress...literally

The fams at Austins blessing in Turner Valley

Family pic

Well the big day has come and gone. Melanie has gotten married! Mel and I met when we were 3 years old and she moved next door to me. We have been besties ever since. She was the most beautiful bride and the whole day was perfect! Who knew that it would be 70 degrees in Calgary in November? It was perfect for the pictures. I am so happy for her and Mark and so glad I could be part of their special day. The day after the wedding we blessed little Austin in Turner Valley at my moms ward. It was very spiritual and then Hans bore his testimony and had my whole family in tears. That Hans!

Friends + cousins = Frousins

Chillin at Papa's house with Logan, Austin, Evan, Carter and Michael
Bath buddies with Carter

Chillin at Granny Lanny's

This past week I went to Canada to visit the family and to go to my best friend's wedding. It was a little crazy travelling with a newborn but worth it! Austin got to meet all his Palmer cousins....all boys so far. It is going to be really fun in a year when Austin has some playmates. In our family we call our cousins frousins because we are all so close. What is better than a best friend that you are sealed you?......enough said.

Smiles and laughs

Cute little smile
Favorite toy to look at

laughs

More laughs

Austin is getting to be so much fun. He has started smiling and laughing. It just melts my heart! It erases all the night of no sleep. He now likes to lay on the ground and look at things and laugh and kick his legs. So much fun!!

Mothers Day out and Zoo fun

All the mothers and kids at Olive Garden
Austin and the Giraffe- His first time to the zoo!

Austin and the Elephants (okay I'm not risking waking the child up to take him out of his carseat!!)

Dax, Kyrie, Janelle, Dayna, Natalie, Austin and I at the zoo

Starting to smile!

I love this picture

Well it has been a great week. Austin is now a month old and is really getting big. He already weighs 11 lbs which I cant believe. He is also starting to track things with his eyes and starting to smile. Okay I dont know if it is a real smile but I like to pretend it is. On friday we had "mothers day out". I have to admit when I was at BYU, I was envious of all the mothers who got to go to this coveted occasion. Now I know it is a way to keep sane and to know that others are going through the same thing you are (eg. sleep deprivation). Austin also had his first zoo outing. Well he slept the whole time but I am sure he was still being enriched with animal knowledge.

Updated pics

Look! I have the Palmer toe (2nd to last toe)
Grandma comes to visit!

Bathtime fun

I love getting my hair washed

One Week old!

Birthday friends

One week old birthday cake...I know I am a nerd

Wide eye look
We love our little guy!



Auntie Mel has come for a visit

Thanks Uncle Justin for bringing us this baby swing

Dressing up for his first football game

I cant believe a whole week has gone by since Austin was born! So far he is a pretty calm baby. He lets his mum sleep at night which is greatly appreciated. He likes his baby swing and being in his car seat. He does not like getting a bath or having his diaper changed. I guess he is a little modest :-) We are falling in love with him more and more each day. Now I know what everyone is talking about when they have kids. I worry about him all the time!

Welcome to the world Austin!!

Cute little Austin
Tummy time with daddy

My best friend...the epidural ;-)

First moments on Earth

The weight pic....a must have

What a handsome boy!

First moments in our home

Like father...like son

Well we are pleased to welcome little Austin into our home. He was born on August 24th and the delivery went really well....thanks to my new best friend Mr. Epidural. I did not feel any pain at all which is pretty amazing. I know that when I worked in labor and delivery that people would tell me how awesome the Epidural was but to experience it myself is another story. Austin decided to come 8 days early....thank goodness for that because he weighed 7 lbs 11oz and was 20 inches long. When I look at him I think it is crazy that he was all cramped up inside me. He is huge! Anyway we are at home now and loving it. I forgot that in the hospital you get NO sleep. Austin was good but those dang nurses (haha) kept waking me up. Today we went to Austins first appt. and he passed with flying colors. Horray for healthy babies!! Being a nurse gives me paranoia about every possible disease/condition he could have. Well we hope that you can all meet our sweet little boy soon. We love you all and thank you all for your support!

Recent Preggo Pic- 36 Weeks

Brittney and I workin it out