Utah Trip: Episode 2

Our New Niece


Gideon next to Kelsey, his new cousin, who is 3 weeks older. This is the closest we could get to both of them smiling.

Our Cabin Trip


Smores at the cabin. I could actually hear the pyro in Gideon click to "on" when the fire was lit.


Our Evening at the Park


The point when I realized how weak my arms are.






Our Baby's Blessing


I loved his little hat!

Utah Trip: Episode 1

Since the trip was so long and we have so many pictures, I'll post a few at a time for the next few days.

Our Fourth of July


Gideon getting his big 4th of July meal while the rest of us wait on the grill.

Tristan lighting fireworks with his nephew, who cautiously ran just as (or before) it was lit.

Our Car

Tristan standing next to our car as we wait for a tow. Notice the prison in the background. I was on the lookout for hitchhikers in numbered jumpers.

Turns out our radiator exploded...yes, exploded. Took about 2 weeks to get it fixed.

Bowling

Just to update our blog, here's a picture from a few weeks back when we went bowling with some friends. When I bowl, I'm lucky to get near 100. The top score is mine. You bet I'm going to blog about this!!

I'm the one

I'm the one who:
*needed something unusual to post about...just because I could
*picks up pennies
*hates sleeping alone
*eats chocolate chips straight out of the bag
*wears clothes out of fashion and doesn't realize it (or tries not to care because we can't afford the latest)
*is tired of her hair because it is untamable (not even stylists can give me useable advice)
*thought I was completely ready for the "natural mother" to kick in, only to realize I couldn't find my "natural mothering" gene and had to develop it from scratch
*was surprised by this last fact and thought it all came naturally
*can count to 99 in German and say a few words
*wonders if all the other mothers really have it all together and how they do it
*tried to learn the phrase "dirt bag" in every language
*loved the movie "Grease" for years
*discovered with my college roommates that if you mix one of each blueberry, cherry and rootbeer Jelly Belly's together, they taste like Red Vine licorice
*doesn't like when a good book comes to an end because I like to think the story continues
*doesn't understand the reason for mosquitoes
*laughs sometimes at inappropriate moments
*wants a bullet bike and snowmobile
*doesn't believe in aliens
*never wants to get into a proposition 8 argument because I know what I believe, and I know that they don't know what we know
*knows who I voted for in the presidential election
*hates being pushed for any reason, with words or physically
*despises solicitors and car salesmen and basically any salesman
*loves naps
*feels lucky and completely undeserving to be Gideon's mommy
*thought parenthood wouldn't be so hard
*eats the last bite of sandwich thinking it's smaller than it actually is, and ends up with half of it not fitting in my mouth and I have to stuff it in...and I hope no one just saw what happened
*is just realizing how much effort we need to put forth as a Latter-day Saint
*always has good intentions, and somehow they flop
*isn't offended when someone doesn't like my food
*looks angry or upset when really my face is just relaxed
*loves A&W Cream Soda and orange and grape Crush
*can't waste anything
*hates litter (not as in kitty litter)
*loves jigsaw puzzles
*hopes animals are in heaven
*can't understand why some people are mean on purpose
*recycles
*daydreams when I should be sleeping
*recently visited D.C. and was very proud of our country
*supports our troops but selfishly is glad Tristan isn't serving
*can't handle foreign food very well
*won't go in murky water because I saw Jaws when I was really little
*would rather leave than be left
*loves watching "America's Funniest Home Videos"
*no matter how had I try, can't take a quick shower
*is somewhat obsessed about having a clean house because it makes me feel good
*amazed at other moms that look amazing when I feel lucky to have even showered
*loves following instructions to assemble things from the store
*loves wrapping square/rectangular gifts
*could live off canned fruit
*loves potatoes in almost any shape or form
*could eat Jello for every meal for ever and ever
*loves the anticipation of opening gifts
*hates inconveniences, like living out of a suitcase
*thought dust from the ceiling was what made sleepies in your eyes
*often wears make-up to bed because I was too tired to wash my face
*cuts coupons like crazy, only to pull them out after their expiration date
*does the finances
*has no idea what escrow, etc. is and is scared to ever buy and sell a house without help. I just sign where they say and totally trust them
*is too kind to strangers
*hates when things are unfair, even if I am getting the better deal
*forgot
*can whip out a PB&J sandwich in 30 seconds with both eyes shut
*doesn't feel old enough to own a home and have a baby, but loves it all the same
*hates being left behind
*loves being an adult and not having to ask permission
*pushes people away but really wants them to stay
*absolutely loves being married to Tristan
*hated the dating scene on the most part
*isn't obsessed with the scale or my weight
*loves wave runners...talk about your leg workout!
*wonders if I'll be able to handle having an infant ever again
*drives so well (Tristan only agrees to an extent)
*loves when people are happy and good things happen to them
*was disappointed when Brad and Jennifer broke up
*has never gotten a ticket
*still misses Feral who ran away almost 2 years ago
*checks my email once an hour if I can
*believes a lot of things I see on the home shopping network, and is surprised to hear from friends they really don't work usually
*sometimes follows blindly
*can spell almost anything
*dominates at the Mad Gab game
*had a crush on Luke Skywalker when I was 12 and wrote him for his autograph
*is sensitive (bawls) to being yelled at by anyone
*has most my childhood stuffed animals and wonders why I can't bring myself to part with them
*wants to be a librarian
*hates having a job (unless it's in a flower nursery or library)
*felt tricked into the car I bought 4 years ago
*sometimes wishes I were Anne Shirley's friend
*tries to religiously keep a journal
*hates taking medicine unless I have to
*thought RedBull had alcohol in it
*is going through a smoothie phase
*wants to live when Laura Ingalls lived for a short time
*lives vicariously through others
*can't hear very well over background noise
*collects necklaces from places I've been
*loves gardening
*misses Utah weather
*knows all family's anniversaries and birthdays and remembers them the day after
*quits more often than I should
*wrote this
*is impressed if you read the whole thing

Gideon and...uh, more Gideon

I just knew this boy would take over our blog once he arrived. We were testing out our camera to see if we could take our own pictures without going to a portrait studio. I think some of these turned out pretty good! These are our favorites. :)


















































































One of the rare smiling pictures!



















Gideon wondering if we actually finally caught him smiling on camera.










Mommy mauling this little guy. We just adore our smallest member.

Father's Day

I've been wanting to post ALL day, and I finally get the computer and here the day is almost over. I couldn't let the day end without telling Tristan what an amazing daddy he is. Sometimes no matter what I do I can't Gideon to calm down, and Tristan will just hold him and suddenly the baby is asleep. Surely he has a calming touch. Whenever I think I can't handle anymore, Tristan steps in and becomes super dad, and being a parent becomes do-able again. I couldn't do it without you, Love. You do it all, and then some. Happy first Father's Day!!

Halfway There!

Officially on Friday, Tristan finished up his 2nd year of Dental School!! Now I get him all day and Gideon and I are loving having him home. He's worked so hard, and we are SO proud of him!!!
Gideon can't verbalize it yet, but I can see it in his eyes. He is so excited to get teeth so daddy can clean them. :D

Ballgame

Gideon's first baseball game with daddy and mommy.

The Sleep States of Gideon

To our boy, sleep states are not as we know them.
R.E.M. to us means Rapid Eye Movement. Gideon translates it to: Reclining, Elevated or Mobile.













N.R.E.M. or non-Rapid Eye Movement to Gideon means "Not Reclined, Elevated or Mobile.


















Our baby boy is one month old now. I can't even believe it. Today he had his doctor's appointment and is quickly on his way to the NFL, much to his daddy's delight. He is 23 inches long and 11 1/2 pounds. Our goal is now to get him to sleep through the night. Gideon is a very good baby. He is just starting to focus on objects. He smiles once in a while, but not at us yet...can't wait! He's big on eating and gets so excited, he usually swats his own bottle away with his flailing arms and then looks at us like WE took it. He grunts to get our attention and if he's really frustrated, his grunts turn into yelps...it's so cute! 

Our Memorial Day ended with a game of Bocce Ball. Best story ever! We were throwing the balls against a tree ad a squirrel ran down and stopped a foot off the ground. We threw one more ball thinking it would scare him away and he actually jumped off the tree and chased it! It was HILARIOUS!! 

Gideon thoroughly enjoyed himself as you can see.

















One of the few pictures we have with his eyes open.

Our chubster chilling with mommy.





Ever seen a baby "Smoke" a bottle? Gideon takes feeding time seriously!


How Gideon travels in the car. Notice the curled toes...Seriously, our driving isn't THAT scary.













We love our little Gideon.

Life in Fast-forward

I can't believe it was 2 weeks ago already that our little guy joined our family. I'm sure all the parents know what I'm saying when I say how time speeds up and they grow so fast. Yes, it hasn't been that long, but still, he is already beginning to look different! I'm trying to enjoy every minute I have with him (that's easier said than done at 4am). He's such a good sweet baby.
Here are lots of pictures, and he's sleeping in most. I pull out the camera probably 15 times a day! :)




Baby Bear with mommy









Baby Bear with daddy...he loves to curl up with daddy cuz he's SO toasty warm.








In his cute clothes that consist of more than just a onesie. The shoes were given to us by some friends...aren't they adorable?! BTW- they might be on the wrong feet. I can't tell and I seriously looked at them for 5 minutes!






Doesn't he look spoiled? "Feed me while I lounge here."






I LOVE this picture. That little smirk kills me.







Finally, probably my favorite pic...he knows just how to pose to melt his mommy's heart.

Happy Mothers Day

Here is my tribute to the Mother's in my life. First my mother Angela. My poor mother........ I don't know how she has put up with it for so long. Between me and brothers I am surprised she still has her sanity, not to mention the dogs that she also serves as a mother to. We use to play a game to see who could drive my mom so crazy that all she could do was laugh out of frustration. So here is to you mom thanks for always caring and worrying about my welfare. Thanks for putting up with all my teasing and joking over the years. I am still surprised that you consider me your favorite son :)

My mother in-law Kathy. The word I can use to describe her would be selfless. I don't know if I know someone who works harder than she does. She never thinks about herself just about others. Even though she doesn't get my jokes she will always laugh anyway.

My dearest Wife:  Happy first mother day! I am so proud of you! You have been and will continue to be a wonderful mother.  Our little Gideon is a lucky little guy to call you his mom.  I love you sweetie you are my world I am excited to be with you for this thing called parenthood, because lets face it babe you are carrying this team.      

Baby Gideon

The latest edition to the Taylor family!

Our BIG boy at 9lbs. 2oz., Gideon.

The best is his blonde hair and huge hands and feet!

Love those baby blues.

Week 38/39

Here are weeks 38 and 39...especially for those who checked last week and only got a picture of a gorilla. :)
I swear, every other week my belly gets bigger then smaller.

Week 38

Week 39

Some random pictures of us at the OKC Art Festival yesterday.

Week 38

I've been on the countdown for, oh...let's see...38 weeks now. I looked at my most recent pictures and my first thought is, "Seriously!! I thought I couldn't get any bigger at 7 months." Anyways, majority wins...I voted not posting them...yet. So, these will do for now. :)

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 2nd Love! I can't believe it's been 2 years already, and at the same time, it's only been 2 years. You are my best friend and I'm excited every day to be your wife!
Love, Me