Our Bristol is 3 months! 08/08/10

August 8, 2010

Dear Bristol,

You are now 3 months old. My how the time has just gone by. You are just a wonderful baby and you are changing so much. You are really showing your personality now and it is so fun to watch you smile and giggle. You have such a cute personality, you almost seem shy. We were all in Oregon for your 3 month birthday for your daddy’s cousin’s wedding in Tillamook. We had a fun day with you, spending time with grandma and grandpa Kelly and uncle Steve. We played at the beach and enjoyed the refreshing Oregon chilly weather. You have traveled so much in these past 3 months and you are such a trooper. You are so happy whenever we take you anywhere, but you do get worn out.

I love how curious you are at this stage. You are really starting to interact with the world around you and it is so fun to see you discover all the new things. This month you learned a lot and started doing new things. You are also changing so muchThese included:

You are growing so fast. You now weight 15.4 lbs and you are 25 inches long. You are in the 95th percentile for both height and weight. Your rolls are so cute and everyone just wants to kiss your cheeks. Your grandma Kelly wants to just sit you on her lap facing her so she can just kiss your cheeks. It is so cute.

You won’t let grandma Kelly do that for too long because you now like to only be facing out. You want to see everyone and see what is going on.

07/12/10 daddy was talking with you and you reached your hand out to him. Daddy was so excited that you did that to him.

07/10/10 Your first rash- it was all over your body- we think you are allergic to sunscreen. You have sensitive skin just like mommy. You also have baby eczema. We are putting lotion on you day and night.

You cannot get enough out of your hands. They entertain you and you look at them all the time.

Your mouth has become the one way you are figuring out the world. Everything that you touch or that come nears you, you have to put in your mouth.

You love sucking on everything. You suck on my arm, on daddy’s arm, on your blankets, on your fists, on everything. You end up slobbering on everything too.

Your eyes are so dark. They were very dark when you were born, and now they seem to be getting darker. They are beautiful and you get comments about how beautiful they are.

You have developed that inevitable bald spot on the back of your head. I think it is because when ever you get really tired while lying on your back you roll your head really hard from side to side. Luckily you have beautiful dark hair that can cover it, sort of.

Your hair is growing so fast. It is already about 2 inches long. You are going to have beautiful long locks in no time.

You have been spending a lot of time with just daddy because I am back at work part-time. He loves this one on one time he has with you and you seem to love it too. It is so fun to see you two interact and to see him care for you. You are so lucky to have a daddy who loves you so much and loves taking care of you. There are so many people who see this and are so impressed.

Your daddy and I love getting you to smile at us. You do it all the time and even at some strangers too. Everyone loves making you smile because your smiles are so contagious. When you do smile you put your hands up to your mouth in fists like you are so shy. It is so cute.

You also giggle every once in awhile. It is so cute to hear you do this. It is not very often but when we can get you to giggle, usually daddy can, it is so cute!
You are also talking (baby talk) so much. You can just lay by yourself and jabber all day long. It is fun to walk in on you just talking away. You will also talk with us when were talking to each other. It is fun to see you interact with us.

Bristol, your mommy and your daddy love you so much. We can’t get enough of you and we love being able to take care of you. You are such a loving and beautiful little girl who is so loved by everyone around you. We are so proud to be your parents and so happy that you are in our family. You are teaching us so much everyday and we love this opportunity we have to teach you about the world around you. You bring a smile to everyone you meet and they just want to hold you and play with you. I know you will continue to do this as you get older and you will continue to make those around you so happy. You have such a sweet little spirit about you and your joy radiates. We want you to know that we are always there for you, loving you and wanting the best for you. We can’t wait for the years to come.

Love always and forever,
Mommy

Oregon in August

We drove out to Oregon for a long weekend to spend with our families and to attend another one of Sam's cousins wedding. Katy and Justin were married on Saturday August 7th in Tillamook Oregon. We left on Thursday night, right after Sam finished his last final for summer semester. Yay for him! He has completed his Physics class for Dental school, now he is just finishing up the last semester of Organic Chemistry and his Physics lab. We arrived in Tillamook at 2am on Friday morning. Tom and Tracy rented out a beach house in Netarts,OR, right on the beach and just a few minutes from Tillamook. The weather was exactly as expected in Oregon, misty and cool. It was beautiful, none the less. We had a great time being there with Tom, Tracy and Steve and we really enjoyed all the festivities. We visited the Tillamook Cheese factory, walked on the beach and took a beautiful drive back to Salem, along the coast. Tom officiated the wedding on Saturday, which was fun to see. The cake at the wedding was the most amazing cake I have ever had and that is a big deal considering I don't even enjoy cake. It was a poppyseed raspberry cake from Beaverton Bakery. If anyone has this recipe, please, please, please share it! Bristol turned 3 months that Sunday, crazy, huh? We spent Monday in Salem, well Bristol and I did, Sam, Craig and Tom went on a 26 mile bike ride on the McKenzie river trail in Eugene. I was able to catch up with some friends and spend time in Portland with my mom. On Tuesday we headed down to Hood River to see my family. We stayed that night and then headed back to Utah on Wednesday, I had to get back for work on Thursday. We had a great time in Oregon and it really made us both realize just how much we do miss being close to home. We love you all and it was wonderful to see you!!
Here are some pictures from the coast, more will come from the rest of our trip a bit later.

Pioneer Day in Payson

We headed down to Payson this last weekend to spend some time with Scott, Michelle and the kids. We went to a BBQ on Pioneer Day, July 24th, at one of Michelle and Scott's friends. There was great food, fun people and lots of kids. Scott had to be at work most of the day, but when he came home we went swimming. Michelle had to go to work that night so she couldn't join us at the Payson pool. This is one thing I love about Utah- all the fun stuff they have for kids. This pool was amazing- lots of slides, a lazy river, and a little kiddy pool. Bristol and I hung out mostly on the deck in a chair, with her love of water and all, because she wasn't having any of it. We enjoyed our time none-the-less and it was fun to play with Reagan and Kyler at the pool. It was a good weekend in Payson. It's fun to watch Reagan and Kyler interact with Bristol. They are so cute with her. Reagan kept saying she is just so cute that I want to squeeze her. I wonder where she heard that.. and Kyler kept kissing her feet.


Do you see Sam's long legs?

This Might Be the Best Picture... Ever!

Bristol is at such a fun stage. She is now 2 months and 2 weeks and she is cooing and smiling and laughing all the time. Sam and I just love laying her down on her back and making her talk and laugh at us. She is so cute and so interactive with us. She gets a little shy around people and really wont do it as much to them. She is also camera shy, I've been trying to get a good video but have been unsuccessful. She is more interested in looking at the camera then laughing and talking. Nonetheless, she is a doll and we love her so much!

2 Month Vaccinations

It was a sad day having to take Bristol in for her 2 month vaccinations. I felt so bad knowing what was going to happen and that this happy little girl had to go through this. The good news was that 2 minutes later she was happily asleep in my arms (and probably forgot about it all!)

Bear Lake

So this last weekend, July 9-11th, we headed up to Logan to spend time with our good friends Gary and Jess Wilkinson. Chris Medina joined us up at Bear Lake for a fun day on Saturday. We all had a blast hanging out with eachother and enjoying the lake. Gary and Jess rented wave runners and we all got a chance to play on them. Bristol had a little dip in the water with daddy and really didn't enjoy the cold water. It was a nice day, a little cloudy, but still warm. We all had a blast! Thanks Gary and Jess for inviting us!

Bristol is 2 Months Old- 07/08/10

07/08/10
Dear Bristol,

You are 2 months old today. Time passes so fast and you are changing so much. You are such a special little girl and I am so blessed to be your mommy. Motherhood has been something I never expected it to be, it’s better. The love I have for you is indescribable. I love this new experience and I am grateful that you are such a trooper and allow me to learn with you. Your daddy and I have been watching you for these last 2 months and are amazed at how much you are learning and growing. It is such a privilege to be your parents, to take care of you and to give you all that you need. We feel so blessed everyday to be able to have you in our lives. You will always be so special to us.

This month you have done so many new things that have been fun to see you discover. You are learning day by day and we love watching you do so. The new things that you do are:

You have discovered your hands. By week 6 you were putting your hands in your mouth all the time. We thought it was just to suck on something but it turns out you now know you have them. As the weeks passed, you were able to find your ear and your hair with your hands. You use your left hand most of the time to do these things; are you left-handed?

You have learned to rub your eyes when you get tired. This probably went along with the fact that you found your hands, but now you do it all the time.

You love to smile and “talk” to us. We will just sit in front of you for hours making you smile and coo. Your favorite noises are ahh, ooh, and ahh-goo. It is fun to hear you make noises. Daddy thinks that you have now discovered that you have a voice and you love to hear yourself. As for me, I just love seeing you smile and talk to me. I love that interaction we have.

You slobber all the time. We first thought that you were starting to teethe, but it is way too soon for that. We then found out it is because you don’t know how to swallow your saliva, yet.

You love to stick out your tongue. At about 5 weeks daddy said he could stick out his tongue and you would stick yours out at him.

Your left ear sticks out more than the right. We think this is because you love pulling on your left ear with your left hand. Daddy wants you to wear the headbands all the time so that your ear won’t stick out. When he puts you in your swing, he makes sure you have a headband on so that your ear stays back. Sometimes the headband goes over your eyes; you used to get mad, but now you smile. I think you are just getting used to beauty being painful, or annoying.

You are getting stronger and stronger. You kick us so hard now and you like to move your arms and push at us, especially when we are changing your diaper.

When you make a fist with your hands, which is all the time except when you sleep, you put your thumb inside all your fingers. You never leave your thumb out; it’s so cute.

When you suck on your fist, you go for your palm. You love to suck on things. Thank goodness you have the binky mastered now.

You had your 2-month appointment this month. It was really hard for me to watch you go through getting all your vaccinations. You cried so much and I felt so bad. The doctor said you were such a strong baby. You weighed 12lbs and 11oz(95%) and were 23 inches long.(80%) Your head circumference was 15in(40%)

You are such a great baby. You are so calm and you hardly ever cry. We have taken you to 3 movies already and you love them. You like to sit on our lap and watch the movie with us. I think it’s because you love seeing all the lights. You love to look at lights; it calms you down.

You are still a good sleeper. You like it when I read to you at night; it helps you fall asleep.

This month daddy blessed you. It was such an amazing blessing. He blessed you with strength and courage. He blessed you to be an example to others and being strong in the gospel. He counseled you to lean on the people in your life, especially your family who is there for you, to marry in the temple and to have an eternal family. He blessed you to accomplish the goals you set in your life and to follow what you desire to do. Your daddy did such a great job. You had so many family members and friends attend your blessing. You are so loved by so many.

Bristol, your daddy and I love you so very much. We are here for you for whatever you need in life. You are such a special daughter of God and our Heavenly Father loves you so much. He has an amazing plan laid out for you. At this time in you life we hope you continue to discover yourself, to learn new things that will continue to help you grow. You are progressing so well, right on track with where you should be. You are learning new things every day and doing new things too. We are so grateful for our eternal family, and so happy that you chose to be a part of it.

I love you,
Mommy

(So I have taken a lot of videos but Sam thinks they are lame because she hardly does anything.. So if you aren't into lame videos.. don't watch this.)