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

Smiling Paige

Kalyn and I were trying to capture Paige's smiles on camera. We put Paige in her Bumbo chair and she would just smile and smile, until we took a camera out, then she would just stare. We tried phone cameras too. This is my favorite picture that we got with the phone.It is not her biggest smile, but I think it is such a cute pose!! She is my little, adorable, happy cabbage patch girl!! Oh I love her! =>

Metting the Family!

Today we blessed Paige. More pictures of that to come later. Blessing her today means it was a family filled weekend! Both mine and Jared's parents came to be here for her special day! And this was the first time Jared's parents met Paige. Our families came over Saturday to play with us before the "big day".

This is the first time "Grandma" got to hold her little Paige! I had just gotten Paige to sleep when they arrived. (luckily Paige takes naps in peoples arms and not her bed) But of course, grandmas don't care if their baby is awake or asleep, they just want to love her! So cute! I am so glad they were able to come down and spend time with our little family!
"Grandpas" first time with his second granddaughter (and grand child for that matter).
The Miller family! Jared's sisters were able to make it down too! How fun! His brothers were caught up in work and church duties so they could not make it. It was fun to have Paige play with most of her uncles and all of her aunts (minus and uncles wife) this weekend! And all her grandparents!
Katie and Melissa (Jared's sisters) came over saturday morningto play with us, but mostly Paige. haha And my sister Kalyn came to borrow some clothes (she was teaching a sunday school lesson the next day) So Paige had all her aunts there! Ok, not really all because we were missing Jakob's wife, but Jared and I had all our sisters there! That was a fun occurance! Jareds parents came later, in the early afternoon, and my family arrived in the later afternoon.
My brothers just LOVE being uncles! They adore Paige so much!
Paige and Cole like making funny faces in pictures! haha
I think this picture was taken at perfect timing! I caught Paige right in the middle of a sneeze! Thats skill right there haha

Paige and "Poppa" cuddling! They love eachother so much! She is still so little but they do have a cute bond. "Granny" did hold Paige a lot, but for some reason I never took a picture of it! Bummer! And I am sure Trey held Paige, I was just forgetful with the camera again.

It was so much fun to have our family all together! I just LOVE how our families can get along so well and be together! It makes for a very fun filled family day! Thanks for coming and being with us this weekend!! We LOVE you guys and LOVE to see you!

Never Trust A Baby

Paige fell asleep in our bed the other day, not on her burp cloth.

My thought process....

"It will be fine. I trust her. She ate a while ago and already spit up. She will not spit up in her sleep, and I don't want to risk waking her"

What I learned:
NEVER TRUST A BABY.

Cousin Fun

This week we had two opportunites to play with family! On Wednesday we (Me, Jared and Paige) went over to Jenny's house for some smores and family! This was the first time a lot of my family would meet Paige. We had a blast up there, and Paige did so great meeting so many new people and being in such a loud environment (my family get togethers are FAR from quiet). I unfortunately forgot my camera and only had my video camera, so I have lots of video from that night but no pictures. Just trust me, we had a BLAST!

The next day Paige and I went over to Nikkis hosue to play with family again! I LOVED seeing them two days in a row!! The little girls could not get enough of Paige that day!

Paige playing with Sydney.
Hailey, I mean princess Snow White, and Paige.
Paige and Tess.
This little girl can not get enough of Paige! It is SO adorable! At the family smores night the night before Bella was ALWAYS by Paige's side when she met a new person. No matter who was holding her Bella would always help out and give lots of kisses and hugs to Paige. It was totally cute!
Raygan could not get enough of Paige either! She was not at the family smores night but when playing the next day, every five minutes she and Bella would come up to me and want to hold, Kiss, touch, talk to Paige. I LOVE that they love her so much! Hopefully we can live around them long enough for them to all play together! HOw fun would that be!?! We just LOVE family!!

Paige's Room

Here are some pics of Paige's room....ok corner of the room (other corner is the office)The complete view of her room! It is still trippy some times to walk in and see baby stuff. I wonder when having a baby is going to become normal and not so weird.
The changing table and bow holder. I would HIGHLY recommend a changing table to anyone. I absolutely LOVE it! This one my aunt Amy's husband made for their daughters and they so graciously passed it down to me! I can not get enough of it! It is so convenient and cute! (even tho I can't seem to keep it too clean, but its an organized mess haha)
This is a close up to the bow holder I made. This is the first craft I completed since Paige was born! It was nice and simple, and I really do like it, and its very convenient for her growing clip collection. (its all about cuteness and convenience with me)
And her crib. I am still just in LOVE with the bed spread! I think the dots and the colors are so happy, and basically just perfect!
This is my project that I just completed today! I am so proud of it! Way back in April, during conference weekend I was over at my aunt Nikkis house and saw these ADORABLE letters she had! She mod podges cute paper on them and gives them as gifts to ladies in her ward. So cute, and I just HAD to get some! She makes them as a display to put on top of a dresser or shelf, since I had neither of those I had to think of a cute way to display them. I have had many different ideas, and this is the final product, on the frame of a magnet board. I want to print pictures of our little family to magnet up there. That will come later. But I am very pleased with the way it turned out, and the way Paige's little room is coming!

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!

Sunday Family Day!

Today was Paige's first day to go to church! Up until now Jared and I would switch off sacrament meetings to go to (there are 3 that meet in our building) and todays we wanted to take Paige to see how she did (before her blessing) We still have not made it to our ward, it starts at 9 and its harder than we thought to get up and get ready after a long sleepless night.We went to the sacrament in the 11 o'clock time slot. Paige did ok. Well, she did pretty poorly actually, but she does have ear infections so we hope that played a MAJOR roll in her fussiness. She was calm is we were standing and rocking with her, so thats how the meeting was spent. But hey, we got thru it! Hopefully she will be back to her normal calm self for her blessing!! (please oh please!)

Today we also had our first family picnic! Ok so no food was involved, just lounging on a towel outside. It was a GORGEOUS day!

I am really LOVING going outside! Some time this week I hope to go to the pool to catch a little sun and take Paige swimming for her first time! We will see if that happens.
I had to put this picture up. Look at Paige's face! I thought it was hilarious! haha I wonder what she was going thru her mind to make a face like that haha.
Jared certainly loves his daughter.....especially when she is not crying => And he is hoping to make her into a real outdoorsy girl. We will see about that =>

When we gave Paige a bath that night we put her in her "rinsing tub" (she had piddled right at the end in her normal tub, so we had to rinse her off). She looked so cute and CHUBBY we had to document it. What a adorable little chubbers!

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. =>

First Sickies

Well, it finally hit us. The sick monster came to our family. Dang! It attacked Paige, the poor baby.
The last couple of days she has NOT been sleeping and has been the crankiest baby in the world. That is VERY uncharacteristic of her, she is normally the happiest, most chill baby ever! Last night she slept a total of 3 hours, not sleeping much the day before, and definately not sleeping today.
So Jared and I called the doctor to ask if there was anything we could do and they told us to come in. I took Paige to the doctors (Jared had to go to work) and they diagnosed her with an ear infection, in BOTH ears! Poor baby!
We got some medicine (the pink bubblegum kind haha) and went on home. As soon as we got home I gave Paige the medicine (hoping it would drastically improve her mood). She took it like a champ! I hope she is this good taking it everytime we have to give her some. And no later than 10 mins after I gave her the medicine she was out! Oh poor thing, she must have been so miserable!
I can already see an improvement in her mood, although it is not entirely back to normal. I just feel so bad for her! I hate being sick, I can't even imagine how horrible she must feel! I am so thankful we were able to figure out the problem and start getting it fixed!
And in other doctor news, the rash Paige has had for a while now, is due to te baby soap and lotion we use. Yep, the poor girl got my SUPER sensitive skin. Jared's big cheeks, hair, and big eyes and my stupid, ultra-sensitive skin. Sorry baby, I gave you a sucky thing! haha Luckily we already know what to do for that and how to avoid irritations. I guess thats one good thing about me having this skin haha.

Happy Father's Day!

Today is Jared's first Fathers Day as a father!! I think I am more excited than he is. => I wanted to do something special for him, so i decided to make him a nice cake (Jared doesn't like presents, mainly to spend money on presents, so I have to think of other ways to celebrate. & he can't get upset for me cooking haha. So a cooking treat it is!)

On one of my craft blogs I am addicted to they have a lady come and teach something about cake decorating each week. I have been reading and learning, so I figured I was up for the task of making a four layer fondant cake. The first step was to make the layers. Check. Second was to freeze them for at least 24hrs (make them not as crumply and easier to manage/frost). Check. Then I was supposed to stack them and frost them. I didnt even out the cake layers before I froze them, figuring it would be cleaner to cut a frozen cake than a warm one. BIG MISTAKE! Frozen cakes are HARD (who would have thought?) So I had to put even more force to cut the cake, and ended up slicing my finger pretty bad. Luckily Paige was asleep. So I cleaned the cut as best I could and got a paper towel to put pressure on it. After 10 mins I had soaked 1 1/2 paper towels in blood. I was getting nervous, so I called Jared and told him to come home. 20 mins after I cut my finger it was still bleeding. Jared got home and examined and cleaned it. Needless to say I was a little handicapped in the cake decorating department. While I was waiting for Jared to get home I finished dirty icing the cake (luckily I cut my non-dominant hand), but there was no way on earth I was going to make and mold fondant now. And Jared really wanted to eat the cake, so I let him. No more cutting frozen cake for me =>

As for Jared being a father...
His little girl just LOVES him! I can not believe how much of a Daddy's girl she already is! Whenever she hears him talk she will look around and turn her little body until she can see him and then she just stares. (She only does that for me when she is hungry, figures haha) And he can always make her smile!
And he is such a good Dad too! He loves taking care of her! He even changes diapers willingly, watches her when I need more sleep or to get out of the house, and anythign and everythign else needed to take care of a baby! And he never complains!
When I cut my finger yesterday Paige desprately needed a bath (her spit up got EVERYWHERE!) and Jared jumped right in and did it! He is such a dream! => Side note, Paige LOVES the bath! She will just lay there so calm and peaceful, and she is even starting to smile in it now! What she does not like is putting clothes back on. haha

This is Jared and Paige on their first Father's Day! You can often find them just chilling like this! They love eachother so much!!

And what kind of blogger mom would I be if I didn't post more pictures of Paige for her Grandmas (and anyone else who likes to see) => We took some pictures of Paige today to send to her Grandpas for Fathers Day, so that is what they are from.

Paige's little legs are getting so strong! She can hold herself up in a standing position for a couple seconds (i think 45 is her max) All we have to do is help her with balance! What an impressive trick at 5 1/2 weeks old!
She really does like to stand. She gets so frustrated sometimes and the ways to calm her down is to either stand her up or switch her around so she can see everything (social and curious baby)

I really need to hone my camera speed to be able to catch her smiling. This is the tail end of her smile, and its the onyl shot I got of her smiling spree. She went on smiling for about 10 mins and I either would not have the camera in my hands or had just taken a picture and it was loading. One of these days I will get a picture of her great, oh so adorable smile!
HAPPY FIRST FATHER"S DAY JARED!!!!

Dancing Baby

I don't like being home in a quiet house. I always have either the tv on or music playing. Last week I was dancing with Paige to some Disney tunes when Jared came home. He thought it was funny and made his own version of dancing with Paige (because Jared does not like to dance himself)

Milestones

Today has been a day of milestones:

-Paige turned 5 weeks old

-Paige officially outgrew all her newborn clothes and most of her 0-3month clothes. She is now wearing 3 month clothes!

-I gave Paige a bath ALL BY MYSELF!!! I normally have Jared to help me but I wanted to do it when he was working, so I did!! And we (Paige and I) both survived!! =>

-A rough weigh-in and Paige is 10 lbs, or very close to it!

Can she grow up and faster? I don't think so! My little baby is not so little anymore! I am a little sad about that.