Emi Updates

One of my favorite baby stages is when they play with their feet and suck in their toes. Emersyn is really enjoying munching her cute baby toes.

We started her on rice cereal and she eats it like a champ. Even though it's a different way of filling the belly I don't think it's much of a step up from breast feeding or bottles. I think actual baby food that has flavor might get her more excited.
Tummy time is still rough...
She still isn't rolling over, though we're pretty sure she's capable. As much as she dislikes tummy time you think she'd have figured it out by now.

Cape Cod

Chris, Emersyn and I travelled back east to visit the Bell family in Cape Cod. It was everyone's first time meeting Emersyn and she loved all the new faces. Emi was a stellar traveller. She was amazing on the plane and hung in there when nap times weren't quite right. Many people have said it, and I believe it, that around five months is the ideal time for traveling with a baby. Time seemed to pass far too quickly, though. Having a baby adds a bunch of things to the list of what it takes just to get ready to hang at the beach so it was more like we were packing for a short trip when we were only spending a few hours at the beach.

The waves and water were wonderful. The older cousins spent most of the days catching waves

With the nice ocean breeze Emersyn would easily fall asleep in our arms. We would either hold her while she slept or lay her on a blanket in the shade. The sound of the ocean was her live noise-maker that dulled out a lot of the noise from the other beach-goers and she seemed to be able to nap soundly.

Our ride to and from the airport: an 80's style stretch limo. It was the only car that could take four adults, two kids in car seats and a whole load of luggage and a stroller. The ride was pretty comfortable, but I felt more like I should be standing out a sunroof driving around a city like a scene out of the movie 'Big'.

Quck post move update.

Since moving back to Utah we have been super busy. We painted and painted and painted our house - it took a long time and our house isn't even that big. Painting the garage is what took the most time. Every thing goes slower when you have a little one that needs attention every now and then. Emersyn has been a super star with the whole process of moving. We were sad to have our renters go as they are such good people. They took great care of the house - a few more dents and knicks, but what else can you expect with three kids.

Thanks so much to family and friends who helped out. We got welcome back treats and meals just when we needed it. Extra hands to help paint, take care of Emersyn, and move furniture. One of the many wonderful parts of living where we do is the abundance of people we know and who are willing to help out.

As much as we enjoyed California, Chris and I realized we are not meant to live in the city. We enjoy wide open spaces with green fields, mountains, livestock, three-legged dogs, and where we can see a tractor driving down the road every now and then. We hope to stay where we are for quite a while.

While we aren't hoping to move any time soon, Emersyn seems to do something new every day. It has been great for her to have so many family members around to give her new songs to sing and games to play. She has started to try communicating, but it's in a language that I think only she and Chris understand.

We're moving back!

Sometimes in life things just work out. Chris and I left our cozy home in Utah for Chris to expand his practice and do a fellowship in sports medicine. After the match landed us in Southern California I wondered how we would ever get back to what we consider our little taste of paradise in Mountain Green. Even after enjoying the beautiful California weather we knew our hearts were made for the mountains and not the beach. With a lot of prayer and hard work, Chris was able to get a job in Bountiful working with a friend who knew Chris was looking. Even though it wasn't the position Chris had his eye on it turns out that it will be even better than he expected and pretty close to the perfect sports medicine position. The only downside being the commute from Mtn. Green to Bountiful (which isn't much to complain about, really). We attribute all of our blessings to the continued and righteous prayers of my faithful and charitable mother. We are very excited to be moving back to our homeland, and in fact, back in to our original home. We had the perfect renters and are sad that they are moving out of the area as we would have really liked to get to know them better.

There is so much we are going to miss about California. It was my first experience living outside of Utah and away from family. I definitely missed my family, but learned who I am without them and was able to grow tremendously from it. I realized a lot about how the Church immediately brings people together who need one another so much more. I have a profound love of the diversity seen in the chapels here. I have appreciated my calling as the Beehive counselor in the young women and have enjoyed the goodness of the girls I have taught.

Chris and I, seemingly, had two completely different experiences while being here. He was constantly busy having places to go and things to do with his fellowship. Events to cover and games to go to... I, on the other hand, had an open book as far as schedule goes. I always figured I would easily be able to fill my open days with bike rides, runs, and swims, and a few crafty projects on the side. However, the pregnancy diagnosis that was discovered only a week after our arrival in California changed all that. Feeling too sick to do much more than a 45 minute workout for the first 3 months kept me on a schedule of couch - sofa - kitchen - bed - and back to the couch. I didn't have the motivation to get out and be social and the idea of getting a job and having to do training when I felt so terrible didn't seem like a great idea. So, when I did start to get over the morning sickness I still had few places to go. Thanks to some inspired people and great visiting teachers that soon changed. I quickly made some great friends with people I hope to always have an association with. Many of whom I wish I had known better because I could have learned so much from them.

That being said here are a few things I will definitely NOT miss in California:

1. Smog - I think at least 50% of the people here have asthma

2. Traffic

3. Loud trucks and motorcycles

4. Living in an apartment on the third floor

5. Living in an apartment

6. The overabundance of franchise restaurants and lack of small specialty ones

7. Shopping carts being left in the parking lots and not being returned to the store or the cart return that is one parking spot down

8. Stopping every block for a stop light or stop sign when riding my bike - thus having a ride take twice as long as it should

9. Triathlons and races that cost 3 times what it does in Utah

10. Lots of people everywhere, even when you're nowhere

11. In-and-Out restaurants every 3 miles (How dare I!?)

12. Having to travel far distances to mountain bike or ski

There are so many things I will miss, primarily people, and so a list of some of my favorite parts of California is in order:

1. The weather - cold is having to wear shoes instead of flip flops even though you still have shorts on

2. Being able to swim year round in an outdoor pool that is right outside my door (probably my very favorite part of living in California)

3. Friends, of course!

4. Being close to Chris' brother and his family

5. Going to the ocean whenever we want

6. Flip flops being my number one shoe choice

7. The Pacific Rail running and biking Trail

8. The unbelievable amount of outlet stores in one place

9. The awesome parties the Oka's throw

10. BJ's Restaurant and Panera

11. Not having to work

12. The Terravista Ward and Hermosa Branch

(This list may be altered at any time)

I cut my hair just before I left and now it's pretty much grown out. I was pregnant and delivered a baby and now I'm back to my original size. We are moving back into the house we had before we came to California. When we get back to Utah it will seem like it is the same as when we left, and it will be as though we were never gone. But only on the outside (minus the baby). Everyone says that you should move away from home at least once; that it will be the best thing for yourself and your marriage. I would definitely say that it has been a growing year on the inside. I know I'm young (is 29 young?) and still have a lot of growing up left to do, thankfully we have Chris to be the mature and wise one of the family, but I think I am better for having had the experience and look forward to our next adventure back at home.

Hush Little Baby...

Chris and I were singing (as good as our off-tune voice boxes would let us) to Emersyn on night and didn't really know the words to Hush Little Baby. I looked up the lyrics and thought someone had made them up.

Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird

And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring

And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass

And if that looking glass gets broke,
Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat

And if that billy goat won't pull,
Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull

And if that cart and bull fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in

So instead Chris and I made up our own words to the song:

Hush, little baby, don't say a word.

Daddy's gonna buy you a mockingbird

And if that mockingbird won't sing,

Daddy's gonna buy you a diamond ring

And if that diamond ring turns blue

Daddy's gonna buy you a big canoe

And if that big canoe starts to sink

Daddy's gonna buy you a bike that is pink

And if that bike happens to get a flat

Daddy's gonna buy some skis that are fat

And if those skis don't go through the pow'

Daddy's gonna buy you a nice big cow

And if that cow makes nothing but pies,

Daddy's gonna have to sing you some more lullabies.

I do have to say that the whole part about the cow and pies came up because of the cows on my dad's ranch...it works.

Emersyn's Baby Blessing

Chris and I traveled back to Utah for a sports medicine conference based out of the Grand America in Salt Lake City. While we were going to be around family we took the opportunity to bless Emersyn. The entire experience was amazing and perfect. Chris was very thoughtful and inspired as he performed the blessing and we were fortunate enough to have a lot of wonderful priesthood holders join in supporting our little family.

We are so grateful to everyone who came - family and friends. It was very touching to both Chris and I to see how many people came and showed their love for us on such a special occasion.

This is a four-generation picture which includes my grandmother, mother, myself and Emersyn. I have a four-generation picture taken on my blessing day and it has always been very special to me.

We were glad that Opa could make it to the event and even join in the circle.

Our little angel

We are so grateful to have Emersyn here and to have the opportunity to raise her. We love our little eternal family and look forward to many adventures to come!

Emi's first Easter