Fall is in the air...

 Life is good around here.  Baby is sleeping threw the night (although he doesn't always sleep very good during the day), and is very smiley and talkative!

I know that all I've been blogging about lately is Andrew... but he is pretty stinking cute, and grows every day!!!
Any who, there are other things going on around here!
The Mums are blooming!  I planted them in the GH bed 2 years ago, they came up again last year (because they are a Perennial) but didn't bloom.  So, last year my boss asked me to dig them out and throw them away.  I asked her if I could have them and plant them in my garden.  And this year they bloomed!!! Aren't they beautiful?

I've also picked alot of Tomatoes... and one really big Bell Pepper (thanks for the plant Pam!).  I'm going to take them up to my SIL's and we are going to make Salsa in the next week or so.

 I discovered the secret to fast blogging... uploading pictures from my phone!  They upload in 1/3 of the time!!!  But, that said... it is pathetic that a photographer like me isn't taking more pictures with her nice camera.  And I have to take like 10 with my phone before I get one I'm satisfied with.  But, there are still some cute ones... and some pictures are better than no pictures at all.  Right?

Here are some things we've been up to:

Smiling

Bumbo!  Won't sit in it for long yet, but loves it for a few minutes!!  He really likes to stand up too!

Tummy time on the bobby pillow is much more affective!

Trying on 3-6 months clothes... and they are fitting great!!!  

Little man is getting bigger...

 ...everytime I pick him up I feel him getting bigger!

I got a haircut! 

 It was time for the locks to go... Andrew couldn't figure out 

how to let go of the hair after he got hold of it!

BEFORE...

 ...AFTER!!!

 My dad said I look heavier after the cut.  I think he though I was talking about my weight when I showed him the pictures... and he didn't know these pictures were taken one day apart.  Oh well, I think I look more my age... :/

While Briant was doing his MBA visits (He went to North Carolina and Michigan), I did the 

chalkboards for Great Harvest.  

I'm so glad my boss let me come do them again, I really enjoy doing the boards and seeing the finished product after I'm all done!

Here are the 17th boards... I did the ones Downtown too!

Another day while Briant was gone, Andrew and I

 went to see a good friend of mine.

Her little boy is about a month older than Andrew.  

They both love to watch the TV!  Ha ha.

It was really good to see her and visit like old times at work! 

 Love her, can't wait to do it again!

Andrew found another friend that he loves to play with.

He really likes to suck on his ears, and his friend doesn't mind at all!

Lately, Andrew has been lifting up his head while in his bouncy seat.  Now he has started doing it while he is laying down.  Wow! Awesome ab muscles little dude!  Can I have some back please?

I blanched and froze 49 cobs of corn!  Thanks Pam!

Like I said earlier, he hasn't been sleeping very well during the day the past few weeks.  He also has been getting fussy for food earlier than normal.  So, we started feeding him more. We also don't swaddle him anymore (except he would sleep better if we did).  We want him to learn to fall asleep with out it for when he starts mastering the roll.

We really like it when he sleeps.  He is just so cute!

Really cute picture... except for the spit up.

Milestones

This is how he rolls...

Jackson Hole

While Briant's parents were visiting us this past week, we decided it would be fun to go to Jackson Hole, WY.  Andrew's first trip out of the state!  I was a little skeptical about Andrew and worried he wouldn't do well on the drive (he had had a few episodes of not doing well in the car lately), but all in all he did VERY well!!!

Actually this is what he did the whole way up there.

We had lots of fun there.  We mostly just walked around and looked at the shops and saw the sights.  We also had had a yummy pastry from a bakery, and saw the Great Harvest store too. Briant and I went to 3 or 4 Art Galleries.  I didn't get my fix seeing the photos at the fair this year so I absolutely loved all the photos and paintings in Jackson!  Thank goodness for the stroller that the Bailey's let us borrow!  Thanks again!!!

Andrew is getting more and more alert.  I absolutely love the facial expressions in all our pictures.

We got pictures in all the traditional places...

Then we drove out a ways to get some pictures by the Tetons.  This is what Andrew did on the way out there...

...read Chugga Chugga Choo Choo...

"engine black and red caboose"

...watched himself in the mirror above his car seat...

... he really was intrigued with that handsome baby staring back at him...

When we got there we took a few pictures:

Then, we fed Andrew.  Another cute alert facial expression after he ate...

We had such a great time with GG and Pop Pop in Jackson!!

And Andrew did too... even though he doesn't look happy in any of the pictures they got with him.

When we were about 30 minutes from home, Andrew let us know he had had enough of being in his car seat.  He wasn't hungry, just bored (and it was dark, so he couldn't see anything).  After trying everything, as a last resort I got out my phone.  It has a flashlight app with some cool features, one of which is called disco. It changes colors every few seconds and has a spinning pattern.  Once Andrew saw it, he was fascinated!  He watched it for a good 15 minutes, & every time it turned red, his eyes would open bigger.  It was really funny, I couldn't stop laughing.  He does like to watch TV...
After he got tired of that we just turned on the flashlight and showed him a book.  He loves Tugga Tugga Tug Boat too. (Thanks Julie!!)  I think he's going to like reading!

Ha!  The things we do for our kids so they don't scream in the car.

Another cute one of Andrew chill'n sometime during the week...

Love that boy!

Andrew's Day in White

This past Sunday was a special day for our family.  We dressed Andrew in white and his dad gave him a Name and a Blessing.

I've watched my brothers bless each of their children over the years and I was really excited for our turn.  It was special to watch Briant "bring him unto the elders before the church", and give his new little son a blessing that is recognized by God.  How blessed we are to have the priesthood.

A couple weeks ago, I was asked why we were going to dress him in white clothes.  I responded that white is a symbol of purity, virtue, cleanliness, and integrity.  It is a reminder of qualities required and that we intend to develope to enter into God's presence.  We wear white when we are baptized and when we are sealed in the temple.  And while it is not necessary to dress your baby in white for their blessing, we chose to because it is a memorable ordinance.
In our church we do not baptize infants because we learn in the Book of Mormon (Moroni 8) that children are not capable of committing sin.  They are perfect in Christ and therefore saved through Him.  Andrew is perfect right now.  He came to us straight from our Heavenly Father's presences.  So essentially, dressing Andrew in white is not a reminder for him but a reminder for us of how we should act.
We believe that we can be a family forever.  We are not just handed that blessing, because we have to work for it.  Through our agency we have to prove that we are willing to follow God and do as He has asked.  Seeing Andrew in white this past Sunday helped me remember all that.  We make choices and work hard so that we can be with Andrew forever, and all of us together return to live with God again someday.

It was a wonderful blessing and the Spirit was felt so strongly.  We know our little Andrew was sent to us straight from our Heavenly Father.  He is a blessing to us and we love him so much.  He has a sweet little personality and we are excited to see him grow.  In Mosiah 3:19 we learn that we must become like a child to put off the natural man and submit to the will of our Father.  We know that we will learn a lot from him.


After church, my family (and Briant's) came over for a small luncheon.  It was wonderful to have us all there!  We had to take an up-to-date family picture for Mom's wall.

We also took one with just Mom and Dad with their original 6 kids... my how we have changed!!

I love my family.  The one in which I came from but also the one that live with now.  Families really are the most important thing on this earth.  They are the very center of our Heavenly Father's plan.  I know that through our faithfulness, we can be together forever!!

White Shirt and Tie

Call it what you will...

Future Missionary, Future Priesthood Holder, or Future Retirement Fund Source.

Here are some funny captions we made up.....

Yeah!  I'm going on a mission!

Wait.... I'll be gone for 2 years?!?

I'm going to miss my Mom!!!

Some more cute ones...

HEEEEAAAYYYY!!!  Look at my nails.

Mommy's little smiler!!

Had a good laugh after this one!

6 Weeks Pictures

Well now that he's 7 Weeks I'm finally getting around to posting these.

Enjoy!!

Love those stretches!  Notice the purple dots on his head.  He always gets those when he stretches, then they go away right after. What are they?  Should I be concerned?

My favorite:

He makes this face alot... I love it!

Love this little guy!!!  He is changing so much everyday.  He already fits in 3 Month clothes!!!