One Lucky Girl!

Life has been treating me really good lately. I have this sweet, perfect little boy who just keeps growing and figuring things out. He learned how to clap and he is always jabbering. He is about to crawl any day now and I can't wait to see it! (I know all the mothers with babies who are older are laughing a smug little laugh thinking "Oh, boy! She'll be eating those words when Gavin starts getting into everything and is always chasing her around and crying at her feet.") He has been more fussy lately and always wants to be held but I am told this stage will pass so I'm trying to find the joy in it. He really is such a good baby and he brings me so much happiness. Looking back I have no idea why I was so terrified to start having kids. It really is what life is about: family.

I also have an amazing husband who is always helping around the house or watching Gavin for me. Plus he works nights, which is really hard on him. He is such a genuinely good person. He is always helping neighbors move, or shoveling their walks, or just being a good friend that is willing to bend over backwards to help someone. He loves his family so much and is so good to them. He always is there for me to talk to and always leaves me little love notes. I am a really lucky girl. Both of us are getting sad because he will be leaving for a little over two months to go install security systems, but I will have to wait to go out with him because of school. It's going to be so hard! Luckily my sweet parents are going to come stay with me and watch Gavin. They are saints! And Riley will have his sister and some friends to keep him company. Riley was telling me that Pres. Hinckley had to leave his wife for about three months so he could go work, so that gives me hope and comfort. If they could do it, so can we!

I have also noticed that things just seem to work out for us. We have always been able to pay the bills and have always had a nice place to live. Our families have always been so supportive and helpful. Even just the littlest things seem to work out. For example, I was doing the laundry the other day and I found a little pastic thing in the bottom of the washer. I was about to throw it away when Riley walked by and told me it was supposed to go into the collar of his church shirt to keep it straight. Now this is really stupid and little,but if he hadn't walked by right then I would have just tossed it in the garbage. I don't think it would have been life changing or anything but I just notice dozens of little things like this every day and I don't think any of it is by chance. The Lord is truly blessing us in big ways and in small ways too. We will definately be counting on Him when Riley has to leave!

I have been trying to appreciate all the free time I have because very soon I'm afraid I won't have any. I start the LPN program at Bridgerland in less than two weeks and it's an all day, every day thing. I'm afraid I'm going to have a small come apart for that first while when I'm trying to adjust, but I keep telling myself that the Lord isn't going to forget about us and things will work out just like they always do. I just keep picturing myself going to school unshowered with bloodshot eyes because I had to wait to do all my homework until Gavin went to bed and I only got two hours of sleep. That's probably a little dramatic, but I'm just a little nervous! Well, this has been a long rambling post and I'm sure whoever decided to read this is probably getting bored so that's it for now!

This was taken a couple of months ago, but he is still always flailing around like this on his tummy, trying to move around. He gets up on his knees a lot but then usually just ends up scooting backwards.

Fantastic 2008!!

Riley and I had a wonderful New Year's Eve watching Lost season 4 (whoa, its so nuts!) and toasting with some martinellis. It was so wonderful to spend some alone time together! Well I have been trying to get our back room organized and was looking at some of our pictures from this past year. We have had so many fun times and wonderful things happen this year and I wanted to put some pictures on here to share, so here it goes:

This was on Valentine's Day when Riley spoiled me with roses, chocolates, dinner, and a comedy show. What a stud!

This was at Riley's birthday when his family came over for dinner and games. Here he is with his mammy.

Here we were celebrating our two year anniversary. Our parents were with us because we had moved into a new apartment that day, but we didn't mind they were there because they bought us that outragious dessert!

We celebrated Easter by going out to the sand dunes with Riley's dad and stepmom. We ate lunchables, flew kites, and had some laughs...what else is there?!

We were shopping and Riley talked me into using one of the scooters since I had the excuse of being pregnant. I was so embarrased...especially when Riley hopped on and kept making it beep by backing up. Needless to say I didn't stay on it for long.


This was one of the most amazing moments of my life. I got to hold my baby for the first time and he was absolutley perfect.

This was on my birthday, the day after Gavin was born. What a fantastic birthday present!

This was one of Gavin's first smiles. He could melt anyone's heart with those huge dimples!

The 4th of July parade was a blast and surprsingly none of the loud noises scared Gavin!

Gavin's baby blessing was quite the ordeal but it turned out great and brought the family together!

This was the first time he ever picked up and played with a toy! It was so exciting!

He survived his first camping trip in the freezing desert! We kept him bundled up tight!

We celebrated Halloween with a trip to Gardner Village to join all the other witches in town. Somebody turned Gavin into a horse though.

We finished up the Utah season with a huge win and were ecstatic to be there!

Well, I still don't have any pictures of Christmas yet but it really was a great year with so many fun adventures and big blessings. What a great year!