Family Fun

I really cannot believe that it has been over a year since I have blogged. I am going to try and do better so that I can have some kind of journal for what is going on in our lives. The last few months have been filled with family. I can't help but think of the song by Phil Vasssar "Just another day in paradise." Life has been full of small and maybe to some insignificant events, some good, some maybe not so good, but all in all they make up the fabric that is my life, and I wouldn't change that for anything. I often reflect at night when I go in to watch my daughter sleep, that even the simplest things in life, when my daughter gives me a kiss and hugs me tight, or her laugh and giggles are more meaningful to me than any other external reward I ever had. When all is said and done, my relationships with others is what I have, they are the things that are not replaceable in life. Things you can replace, people you cannot. The more I live the more I come to realize that is our relationships with others that sustains us. Fortunately, we both have great families, and we have spent the last few months seeing some of our family.

Piper and her Papa on the boat ride to Alcatraz

Piper and Aunt Andrea

Piper and great grandma Penrod


Piper with Mama Jane and Papa Doc

Piper and her cousin Paysen

One of my favorites: Piper and her Nina reading together. Piper is named after her, she is so lucky to have her for a grandma. Even though you can't see their faces, I love this picture, I just think it is so sweet.

Piper and her cousins dancing in their princess gear.

Piper may not realize it yet, but she has some awesome people in her life who will help her along her path. She has so much enjoyed visiting with her family and is quite the trooper. On our way back from visiting Aaron's mom she developed ear infections in both her ears, but handled that quite well considering.

Updates

This last month or so we have been pretty busy. We have had company several times and have had some family events. Aaron has been working at the Dannon Yogurt Factory in a temp position and he has been busy with this. Piper continues to grow unbelievably fast. Piper loves to "talk" and spends much of her day "talking" with me and her dad. It is so sweet. I am convinced she loves to hear the sound of her own voice, which this is fine by me. I talk to her a lot to try and encourage her to do the same.

A couple of weeks ago, I took Piper to her first trip to see great Grandma Penrod, a trip which has been way too long overdue. Grandma spends most of the month rotating between her daughters and only spends one week in Genola. We drove down a couple of days in a row to see Grandma Penrod. I love my grandma so much!! She is so special to me and I'm continually amazed by what kind of a person she is. I hope that I can be more like her. I was able to take a picture of her and Piper and also able to get a generational shot.

Piper and great grandma Penrod.

Four generations of Penrod women: Grandma Hurst, Grandma Penrod, Mommy and Piper.

Just hanging out at Grandma's.

Of course no trip to Grandma's is complete without a visit to see the baby calves. Grandpa was a dairy farmer, and growing up I loved to go and visit the calves and help feed them. Of course Piper isn't old enough to feed them, but it was fun to go out and see them.

Piper's First Christmas

A little late to be blogging about Christmas I know, but better late than never I guess. This year we had Christmas down in Arizona with the Stringer family and had a fabulous time. We had a lot of fun and it was so good to see everyone. Piper had a great first Christmas and she was able to meet her aunt Rachel, Mama Jane and Papa Doc and Pops.

Piper with Mama Jane and Papa Doc

Piper and Pops.

Mommy and Piper with some of Piper's loot.

Nina and Papa and their three grandkids (Piper, Sydney and Annika). I love this picture because it really captures Annika's outgoing and fearless personality. She was a real crack up this Christmas.

Joe and Lynn and their posterity: Aaron, Rachel, Lynn, Paul, Joe, Marjean, Piper, Annika, Sydney and Mikelle.

We had a great time. Thank you Lynn and Joe for the wonderful Christmas!

Piper's Blessing Day

So I guess I'm really doing a bad job about blogging... still! I don't know why it has been so hard to blog since I left Oregon but it is. Anyways, I guess that can be one of my 2010 New Year's Resolutions.

Piper is almost two months old, I really can't believe it!! She is such a beautiful and happy little baby! My life has changed so much and I couldn't be happier. I find so much joy and happiness in some of the simplest tasks now. I find so much happiness in giving Piper her baths which she loves, and feeding her when she looks up into my eyes and when she smiles when she toots. She cracks me up every day, and every day I wonder how I made it so long in life without her. Aaron is so sweet with her and is such a great dad. My love for him has grown so much as well. I remember on my wedding day I looked at him and thought that I didn't know how he could be any more attractive than he was that day, but I was wrong. When I see him with her and see the look in his eyes as he holds her, I think that he is more handsome than ever, and I think it is the sweetest sight in the world.

Sunday we blessed her and she looked so beautiful in her dress. She did have a diaper explosion in her dress and a little poop got on her dress, but it came out after a little scrubbing (thank heavens). It was a great day.

She's FINALLY here!!!

Well, I know it has been a full week since our little Piper was born, but I am finally getting around to blogging about it. Last week was for obvious reasons quite eventful for us. Tuesday Aaron was sworn into the Utah courts and so that was a great milestone for us. After the ceremony I had my weekly OB appointment and we got great news. My doctor asked me if I wanted to be induced, that he felt that this would be appropriate. I was so excited, I probably scared him, because I was so excited. I just wanted to give him a hug. He scheduled me to go to the hospital the following night (Wed) around 8:00 pm. We went into the hospital and they got me started. It was a long night, mostly because I didn't sleep at all, but also because they told us they would break my water around 12:00 or 1:00, but it didn't happen until 6:00 am. This was kind of discouraging for both Aaron and I, since it slowed things down more than we would have liked. Well to make a long story short, after 20 hours of labor, I hadn't dilated anywhere close or even made improvement over those 20 hours. When my doctor walked in around 4:20 Thursday afternoon to check on me, and I saw the look on his face, I knew he was going to tell me I was going to have to have a C-Section. He told us that we would have to go by C-Section, that for some reason I just wasn't progressing like I should be and that he didn't feel comfortable letting me go any longer with such little progress. I was devastated and so discouraged and I tried so hard (but mostly unsuccessfully) not to cry. But I also knew that at least it would be over. Right after that the anesthesiologist came in, gave me whatever it was that they give you and wheeled me into the operating room and she was born at 4:54. I was amazed at how fast everything happened from when my doctor came in to when she was born. I cannot describe how I felt when I first saw her in her dad's arms. Of course for all of you who are mothers know exactly how I felt. I was so overwhelmed with love and I just started crying, but at least these were happy tears.

Our new family and first family photo
Beautiful baby Piper 7 lbs 12 oz 21 inches

So sweet.

He Passed!!!

So I know that it's been a week, but I guess late is better than never. The newest and most exciting development in our lives (at this time anyway) is that Aaron passed the Utah Bar!!!! So exciting! Last Thursday Aaron came home from his landscaping job and got in the shower. While he was in the shower, a fellow Willamette grad who also is living here in Utah and took the bar called him three times and texted him. When Aaron got out of the shower I told him Jared called several times. Aaron looked at the phone and then immediately said that he was going to get the mail. I didn't really think anything of it, Aaron always gets the mail. But I guess Jared let him know the bar results were in. Luckily Aaron didn't tell me this before he went to get the mail, I don't think I could have handled the drama or suspense. Aaron just walked in the door and said, "I passed." I looked up from the computer and saw the most amazing look on Aaron's face. It's a rare facial expression and one I haven't seen in a very long time. It was one of complete relief and excitement, he seemed like a little kid on Christmas morning. I jumped up as fast as my hugely pregnant body would allow me to and jumped in his arms. (I do not hide my excitement well). Oh I can't describe the relief we felt! I was sooo happy for Aaron and that he passed. I know that he really put all of himself into these last three years of law school and preparing for the bar. Aaron's far too humble to brag about himself, so I guess I'll do it for him. Really, Aaron is quite the guy and while he has his short comings (as we all do), he really truly is an amazing person who has so much strength, integrity and spirit.

While he still hasn't found a job yet, it still feels like such a huge weight has been lifted off of our shoulders, just to know he passed the bar and he doesn't have to do it all over again. And since I am a little selfish, I am also relieved for myself, so that I don't have to give up my husband again to the law books and be by myself. Of course I know that will be short lived, because everyone says that starting out in your career is worse than going to law school. But I will enjoy it while I can! Really, I feel so blessed to have experienced this part of life, and also to have it over. I have spent so many hours praying that school, finals and the bar will go well for Aaron. I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers, even though in some ways not the way we would like Him too. Luckily in this case He did, and I feel so blessed. I have an amazing husband who has worked really hard and has made wise choices, and I have a beautiful baby girl on the way who is getting ready to make her grand entrance, and while yes, some days I do feel overwhelmed with the future, I feel so blessed with my family.

Birthdays and Baby Showers

Last weekend was Aaron's birthday. His parents came up from Arizona and we got together with them along with Paul, Mikelle and the girls. We had a good time with them and hopefully Aaron had a good birthday. Aaron already received his birthday gift from me months in advance since I got him season tickets to the University of Utah football games, so there wasn't much excitement or mystery around what he was getting from me. The night before we somewhat celebrated by going to the opening game of the season with the Utes facing off the Aggies. It was such a mystery wondering who would win that game. I was one lonely Aggie in sea of red, although there were a few Aggie fans not too far behind us so I was not completely alone. I knew my Aggies would lose, but I still have to cheer for them, because I am NOT a fair weather Aggie fan. I do however handle their losses with football a LOT better than I handle their losses in basketball. Anyways, I hope these tickets will be something that Aaron will really enjoy. Happy Birthday Aaron, I love you!!!!!

Isn't he so handsome? I think so!

Saturday, my wonderful sister-in-law Mikelle threw me a wonderful baby shower. The food was delicious and I ate WAY too much! I got a ton of stuff for Piper and I am so excited with all of my gifts! Thank you Mikelle and Lynn for everything!

I had two very special helpers at the shower, my nieces Annika and Sydney. It was so cute! Especially Annika, because she would get so excited about the gifts and she would tell me what things were for and how to use them. It was hilarious!