Balboa

Wednesday my Mom and I took the three little boys (and Paige) to Balboa. It was Paige's first time to the ocean! Wahoo!! When we first got there we went on a tour boat to see sea lions! I didn't take pictures of us with the sea lions but my Mom did, so I will have to get them from her later. =>

After the sea lion tour we ate some delicious, greasy, fattening, really good pizza. =>

We then road the ferry across to the actual island of Balboa to get some Balboa bars.

Those of you who don't know about Balboa Bars let me enlighten you. They are a big rectangle of yummy vanilla ice cream on a stick. When you order them they dip the ice cream on a stick into DELICIOUS chocolate then roll it in any topiing you want. Kaden had his rolled in rainbow sprinkles. There is also nuts, crushed up candy bars and cookies, more chololate, etc. Basically it is huge, unhealthy and oh so delicious!

Yum! We are so excited for our Balboa Bars!

After we indulged in some Balboa bars we walked back to our car, which we had to walk thru downtown Balboa to get to. Ont he way we stopped in the cutest little candy store! They had any type of candy you could think of! It was a kids heaven! haha Then we went home. It was a long day but so much fun!

We Made It!

From our pit stop in Vegas we drove about 3 hours to my parents house. Paige was great again, up until the Cahone (is that how you spell it?) Pass. I think she had just had enough of being in the car. But she had her little moment then fell asleep and slept from about Rancho Cucamonga to Claremont (20ish mins with the traffic we had). When we got to my parents house we were greeted with one of the best treats EVER! A giant cookie cake from the Great American Cookie Company! Yummy!

Everyone was so excited to see us, and especially Paige! She is truely one loved little girl!

The boys and my Mom had bought some books for Paige as a "welcome to our house, we love you" present. So nice! And the boys wasted no time each picking a book and reading it to Paige. They are such good uncles!

I am so glad we made it, and especially glad Paige did so well on that long drive! Horray for vacations!!

Paige's First Vacation! Driving There

Vacation Time!! Sat Aug 14th Kalyn Paige and I drove down to Utah! We left our (Mine and Jared's) apartment ten minutes til 7:00am. Early.

Paige did GREAT in the car! She loved to look out the windows and also sing along to the songs Kalyn and I were singing! SO CUTE!!! I just about melted when she sang along to a song for the first time! Thats my girl!

We had a pit stop in Vegas to have lunch with my cousin Cera!! It was perfect timing because Paige was starting to get tired of the car (who could blame her after 5 1/2 hours?) and it was great to get here out and moving around for a couple hours. It was wonderful to see Cera again! The last time I saw her was a couple weeks before my wedding, 2 years ago!! Far too long! =>

Cera is about 29 weeks pregnant with a little girl, Paisley! Paige and Paisley were already just hanging out and chilling together! => So Cute! I hope they are able to play together when they are both older!

Thanks for meeting us for lunch Cera!! I just LOVED seeing you again!

Now onto the home stretch of driving! Claremont here we come!!

Jared Working

Jared started a window cleaning/pest control/christmas light buisness last year. At the height of his buisness he had 8 (or 9, I dont really know) technicians working for him and 4 sales men selling for him. He and his buisness partner decided they wanted to clean and spray some accounts too (more money). I am not always a fan of his work, but he really enjoys running his own buisness and "building and empire out of nothing". While its not an empire yet, he has really built it well. Although there are LONG and ridiculous hours he has to put into it I can support him..... until I get a picture message like this: (sent to me from his buisness partner)All the caption read was "Your husband". Mind you, they use a three story ladder. So this is a very tall window. Great Jared, way to be so safe. => I told him if he falls, gets hurt, or dies, he is sooooo grounded! haha I just love my hard working man!!

Long Drive

Friday was an eventful day, full of events from morning to night! The morning I took Paige to Beehive Clothing to meet the ladies I worked with. She did great and the ladies just loved her! That afternoon I went to craft day with my family. Jared was working and went to the temple. That evening was Jared's friends wedding reception. The invitation said it was in the Ogden area so we figurged we would go (we didnt go to the wedding itself because it was in Idaho Falls). The reception was from 6:30-9:30 and we left at6::15, figuring we would get there around 7ish. While driving thru Salt Lake there was a double rainbow! I tried to take pictures of it but the second one was not coming out in the pictures. I was wearing tinted sunglasses so I decided to put them over the camera (thinking of them as a filtered lens). It worked better, suprisingly! The picture was tinted red/brown tho so I had to do some editing to make it normal hues. Here is the finished product:

You can see the one rainbow really well and to the left of it you can slightly see the second one! So cool!! Can you just imagine how much better an actual filtered lens would be!?! Well anyways, back to the story. We ended up driving past Wolf Mountain and Eden! We got to the reception right around 8:45pm. What a long drive! The funny part was we got there, were the last ones thru the recieving line, it started to rain/thunder/lightning (the reception was outside) so we said our "congrats" got in the car (they ended the reception early due to the weather) and drove the 2ish hours back home! We were not even there for 10mins!! haha What a time! But in the over 4 hours of driving Paige did great! It makes me more at ease for my trip to CA this weekend!

And again last night we drove a long ways, up to Layton to go to my aunt Heather's for dinner. Paige did GREAT again! And she fell asleep in Heathers port-a-crib! Which was another thing I was nervous about, to see if Paige would sleep anywhere other than her crib. She does! Wahoo! Now I am even more excited to go down to CA!! =>

Marking Her Territory

I have come to the conclusion that it is natural instinct, both animal and human, to mark your territory with bodily fluids. => Paige will spit up on you if she likes you (yes, i think its because she likes you and feels comfortable with you and not just because you are holding her. haha, sometimes =>) She has ejected her bodily fluids on many people but none as much as myself, Jared and Kalyn. Kalyn and I are the only ones who have been graced with the honor of Paige's poop => (me twice in the last week alone) haha. And last night, Jared had a VERY close call with the spit-up.
Just a stitch to the left and Paige would have hit the jackpot haha. I'm not gonna play this down, it was HILARIOUS!! And Jared was grossed out by it yet amused haha And no, he was not holding her upsidown or anything. This girl just has remarkable aim and projectile spit up.

And look at this baby, doesn't she just have "guilty" written all over her face?

Jared and I are officially property of Paige, and we got the loads and loads of bodily fluid soiled clothes to prove it. So just a note to all, if Paige wants to claim you, there is no stopping it. No matter how hard you try or how prepared you think you are. =>

First Hair Cut!

I gave Paige her first hair cut today! She was such a brave girl! =>

I just had to. Her hair was lop-sided and it was really buggin me. => haha
The left side has always had more hair and now you could really tell. The right side looks like normal baby hair, but the left side was all shaggy and such.
You could even see the difference on the back of her head. (yes her hair does slant more to the left too). Jared didn't want me to cut her hair. He wanted it to "run free and wild", and thought she had to be older to cut it. Once I explained she could be however old to cut her hair he was not so opposed to it anymore. He still wanted it to be wild tho haha.
So I began cutting my 10 week 5 day year olds hair. =>
She was so good! She just sat there and played with her burp cloth! She is such a good little baby!
I only trimmed little bits on the left side. And I am by no means a professional hairdresser, but it will do for babies hair. =>
Just a little trim off the top, still shaggy like Daddy likes it => haha
A little more cleaned up on the side (remember, not a professional)
And cleaned up on the back. I know it looks like Paige has bald spots but she actually has a LOT of hair! Jared and I are suprised about that. All her hair she is growing in now is blonde! Jared calls the hair she was born with "two toned" because the ends are brown but the roots are blonde! Maybe I will have my blonde haired blue eyed California girl after all! => And we are also surpised she has straight hair so far. Both Jared and I have curly/wavey hair. We are betting her curl will come soon tho.

My Little Shopper!

Today was the first time I took Paige to the mall! It was actually my first time at the Gateway Mall in SLC too! LEt me just say, I LOVE that mall!! I so want to go back! => Paige and I met my friend Julie for a little girls play date! We shopped around for a while, had dinner at Costa Vida and went home. It seemed to go by so quick but it was so much fun! I want to do it again! => And Paige did GREAT! She stayed in her car seat and just looked around for the first couple stores. Then she got fussy so we held her. And as soon as she was held and able to look around she was a perfect little shopper! I am so proud! haha While we were in the Claire's store we found out Paige is old enough to get her ears pierced! Oh I am so excited! I want to pierce her ears so bad, Jared on the otherhand really does not want her ears pierced. He thinks only adults should have their ears pierced. I will win this debate, and our little girl will have her ears pierced before she is 18. haha =>

Thanks for coming with us Julie! We had a BLAST!

First Time Swimming!!

Today Nikki and her kids came over to swim! I have been wanting to go swimming FOREVER but was way nervous to take Paige by myself, purely because I didn't know what to expect. So it was a perfect set up with Nik and her kids! And we all had a BLAST!! I am so excited to have them come over again, and more of our family too!!

There was no shade in the pool area, and Nik and I had anticipated that, so I brought two umbrellas to make shade. Nik had the idea to pull two chairs together. IT made for one pretty cool little station for Paige. =>
My friend Julie gave Paige this ADORABLE swimming suit! This suit had a big part in making me want to go swimming so badly! I wanted Paige to use it and look so cute! And she did. =>
When we first got to the pool Paige fell asleep for a little while, which was totally fine with me haha. When she woke up clouds had covered the sun (but it was still a bajillion degrees) so I wanted to brave the pool with her. We went in the "cold pool" first. She obviously did not like it too much.
I felt like such an evil Mom, but I thought it was so cute at the same time! =>
So I decided to try again. This time Paige did not cry, she was just unsure and not enjoying it too well, but it was definately a step up from teh first atempt!
We had survived the cold pool!!! Now time for a shade break. =>
After a little shade break I decided we should try the "little pool". I had tested the water out first and it was not hot, it was as warm as we make Paige's baths (but it was certainly not cold like the big pool). As soon as I put Paige in her eyes closed and she just relaxed.We could not get her to open her eyes for anything while she was in the water. When I took her out of the water she would open her eyes, but put her back in and closed they would go. haha
The cute little girls swimming. A little before Paige and I came in the small pool Nikki and the kids went in there. That quickly changed to their favorite pool and they stayed in there for most of the rest of the time.
Paige and I just chilling in the jaccuzi.
I can not believe how much Paige liked the warm pool. Well I guess I can because she LOVES baths, and it did feel like her bath water.
I know we were there only a couple hours ago, but I can not remember why I was laughing during this picture. haha But I do know we all had a BLAST playing together in the pools!
Nikki and her kids in their favorite pool.
Sydney was learning how to snorkle. She got pretty good at it!
After all her swimming adventures Paige was tuckered out. She went right to sleep in her little cove while Nik the kids and I continued swimming. What a great little baby!
I just HAD to put one more picture of Paige in her cute little bathing suit! I might be a tad obsessed with it haha. I just can't get over how precious she is in it!!
While I was packing up the towels and gear I had to make some shade for Paige. This was the best I could come up with that would stay by itself. haha I amuse myself. =>

I LOVED playing with Nikki and her kids! I am so glad they could come over! And I am so glad I was able to take Paige to the pool and survive! Maybe after a couple more times with company I will be brave enough to take her by myself..... we will see. But Paige will become a water loving/California girl yet! haha

Survived First Store!

We have not taken Paige to any stores yet. We don't want her to get sick, and one of us is always available to watch her while the other one goes out. Well today was different. Paige had 2 diapers left.......at like noon, and plenty of poops to come in the day. Jared had complications with some of his employees and had to work long hours and was not able to get home. Kalyn was in class and then studying. So it was up to me to brave the store alone with Paige! Adn we survived!! Paige was WONDERFUL! She did not cry and only fussed a little at the end, but a pacie put an end to that right away. I was so proud of us! => haha

At WalMart I bought little hair ties and cute bow clips. I had to see if I could do a "waterfall" on Paige.... guess what, I can! And I am totally in LOVE with it! You can't really see the hair sprouting up in this pic, but just trust me, its soooo cute!
Later that day I called my sister and asked her to come over. I was in DESPRATE need of grown-up interaction. Jared has been working like a mad man this week (putting in at LEAST 12hr days) so my adult interaction was drastically reduced to almost nothing.
I am so thankful Kalyn was free and willing to come play with me! Thanks so much! It was much needed! And we even went shopping and found Paige the cutest blessing dress!! I am so excited for her to wear it! =>

Overall, this was a very successful day! Paige and I survived our first trip to the store, and alone, and I have some fun girl time with my sister and daughter!

Day of Firsts

Today was a momentous day! More for me than for Paige, but she did do new things. Today was Paige's first time to play outside! I got her al ready with a cute and appropriate summer outdoor outfit. I loved it! Thought it was just so adorable!
I took her on a walk to get the mail. The whole walk (4 mins) she was fine, no crying or anything and was just looking all around. When we got home I wanted to document the big occasion, snapped this picture, then began the crying. For some reason (still not known) Paige just started screaming/crying. For like 5 mins! I could not do anything to calm her down. (But I do this this picture is so cute, just look at those CHEEKS!!!!) I called my Mom to see if there was a better way to ease Paige into new environments, so she doesn't freak out everytime. My Mom suggested trying to take her out again and if she cries when we come home a second time we know thats why she was crying, if not she was crying for some other reason.
So I decided this time I take her out we will find a good tree with nice shade and hang out underneath. Paige was WONDERFUL! When we first got out there she was a little skeptical, but that lasted less than two minutes.
She soon became wide eyed ans looked around. She even became a little chatter box! I LOVED it! She was so ADORABLE chatting around and gazing at all the new things. We stayed out for over an hour! It was a much needed change of scenery for me and a fun little adventure for Paige. (PS love this pic, it looks like Paige has my eyes! Yay!!! =>)

The next big this was Jared and I leaving her for the first time! We have both had her alone, and one time I even left her with my sister while I ran to the store for no more than 20 mins, but tonight we left her for a date! => Kayn was nice enough to offer to watch her while we get out and have some grown-up time!
We stayed out for just over 2 hours! (I couldn't leave her any longer than that. Baby steps, baby steps =>) It was AMAZING! I LOVE going on dates with Jared! Even tho our date was nothing big (dinner and ice cream) it made a HUGE difference in my attitude! And we came back home and everything was fine! Paige was alive and well, and Kalyn was still sane (Paige did not drive her crazy with fussing) and still in love with Paige! => I think thats a sure sign of a babysitting job gone great! =>

While these things probably do not mean much to Paige they mean a whole lot to me! I love getting out of the house, with or without Paige, and I love that I am getting comfortable with doing more things! Maybe I can survive this motherhood thing afterall. =>