More pics!

Samuel with Ryder and Audrey.

He's not hungry.

Happy Birthday dear, Brilee!!!!!!

Just hanging out in the living room. Mommy loves this hair-do.

Happy Birthday to Samuel!!!! He's very excited about the Office. :)

It's been a while...

Audrey just hanging out in her crib with the binky.

Hi!

Ryder opening his birthday present from us. It's a piano!

Audrey getting to know Aunt Shari.

She's a happy girl on the way to Wal-Mart.

It's been an eventful few months of 2010. Audrey is starting to talk and cruise along the side of the couch. Her great-grandma Ethel gave her a little lion push toy that she loves to push around the living room. She's eating more and more solid foods, which is great. While she refuses to eat baby food, she loves potatoes, eggs and bread. We're working on the vegetables. She's getting to be such a big girl. She can say "Please, Mama, Dada, Grandma, and bird". She loves reading her lift-the-flap books with Mommy and Daddy. She can make roar like a lion, cluck like a chicken, and so many other animal noises. We're so excited to be watching this little girl in action.

Happy Valentine's Day Schatz

This year for Valentine's day, I decided to surprise Nicole and use the blog as a way to show her how much I love her. This way anybody in the world can look at it and know that I love Nicole.

So I chose the best song that I can think of to describe her. I hope that as she reads the poem I wrote for her, and listens to the song that should be playing right now, she will know that she truly means the world to me. Here is the poem. (Reminder I'm at about a third grade poem level, I'm working on it.)

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My Schatz

Valentine's day has come once again,

What better way to celebrate than to reflect on back then.

Back then I was young and loved mostly sports,

But you were so patient while I played on the court.

I would try and be cool and make the tough shots,

In hopes of you watching and thinking I like him lots.

Back then I returned from a mission and knew,

That someday I'd like to go on a date with you.

But I was awkward and shy, and most likely goofy,

Yet you dealt with me well and we saw a good movie.

Back then we went on a few more little dates,

Yet somehow I blew it and we both had to wait.

I went to school for a summer in Germany,

Then you prepared for your mission west to Cali.

Back then a couple years had already gone by,

From our first date to the first time we went to Manti.

That little trip changed my life and everything in it,

We spent the whole day together but only felt like a minute.

Back then we started to fall madly in love,

And I know that I felt guiding hands from above.

Alas, I waited to long for the love and the laughter,

So we planned on you leaving and continuing after.

Back then I remember missing you so much,

But I knew that it was right even without your touch.

So I waited and waited and longed for the day,

That we could snuggle in the front yard and just lay.

Back then I was willing to wait months for your return,

But tragedy struck and my emotions took a turn.

My dearest grandma was taken so she wouldn't have to suffer,

And not having your comfort made life even tougher.

Back then you came home after much prayer and thought,

To make my life complete, and to tie the knot.

So we wed before Christmas on the 22nd of December,

And since then each day has been even better.

Right now my love for you is greater than ever,

Yet somehow I think tomorrow will be better.

We now have the absolute most beautiful baby,

And I'm the luckiest man to have you as my lady.

So to you I say thank you, I think you're first class,

I love you and want you to say you'll always be my Schatz.

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I love you Nicole. Happy Valentine's Day.

Love, Samuel

Audrey crawled!!!!

Today, January 1st, 2010, Audrey took her first little crawls on our living room floor! Sam had gotten up with her at 7:30 to give me the chance to get a little more sleep. All of a sudden, he popped into the bedroom and announced, "Your daughter just crawled!". I don't think I've ever seen a prouder Daddy anywhere. She crawled about a foot, chasing after a plastic bowling ball she got for Christmas. I'm sad I missed it, (I'd definitely miss a little sleep to be able to see her first little crawl), but I'm so glad Sam was able to see it. She's growing up so fast and is getting so mobile! We're so proud of our little girl.

Audrey's surgery.

On Tuesday, Audrey had surgery on her little throat. She had one of the best doctors in the western United States performing the surgery, which was a comfort to us, but it was still nerve-wracking. She was a little trooper through all of it, and it will hopefully make life a little easier for our precious girl.

Here she is, snoozing in the car on the way to the hospital at 7:30 in the morning.

The nurse is taking her blood pressure before she gets into her little hospital pajamas.

I don't know about these pajamas....

I guess they're ok!

Audrey really enjoyed playing in the waiting room. She liked having Daddy rock her on the little blue rocking horse.

She did NOT want to be removed from this little red wagon.

All in all, it was a successful surgery. She woke up from the anesthesia groggy and a little cranky, but she recovered pretty quickly. She slept most of the morning, and when she woke up at 1:00 pm, she was HAPPY! She was happy all afternoon, and all evening, and most of the night, when she was supposed to be sleeping. Sam and I didn't get a whole lot of sleep. She was so good, though. She didn't get cranky unless the nurses were trying to give her medicine. Once we got home the next day, she acted like nothing happened. She slept really well that night, and we didn't even have to give her any Tylenol. She didn't show any signs of pain or crankiness. We're so, so, so grateful she came through safe and hopefully a little better than before. We're so grateful for the many friends and family members offer prayers and good thoughts. Thank you!

Audrey's Winnie The Pooh tree

Nicole's Aunt Cheryl offered to paint a tree in the nursery for Audrey, so one weekend, she and Nicole's cousin Krystal came and painted this wonderful, custom tree on the wall of the nursery for Audrey. Here are some pictures of the finished product.

It was Audrey's first Halloween and she is so stinkin' cute! It was pretty quiet. We went to a Trunk or Treat and spent some time at Grandma and Grandpa McFarlane's house. Then we went home, where Nicole's Aunt Cheryl and her cousin Krystal were working on a mural of a tree in the nursery (we'll definitely post pictures of the finished product).

Audrey and Daddy at the Trunk or Treat. Her little Halloween costume was kind of hot, but so cute. She's a little pink leopard.

Brilee being fiercely Supergirl at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Audrey and Grandpa.

She really hated Mommy painting the nose and whiskers on her face, so it's all a little uneven, but very, very, very cute.