...& why they're called bumper pads...

Jesse likes to stick all sorts of stuffed animals in Lincoln's crib. Does it look like Lincoln likes them? (haha... actually he does...)

Before having a baby... I never knew the purpose of these or why they were called "bumper" pads. About 5 months old... Lincoln got really good at scooting up in his crib using his heels. Now we find him in the morning in one of the corners of his cribs. Recently he has started nuzzling his head into his fuzzy blankets for comfort. Hopefully he doesn't end up like Linus on Charlie Brown...

Go BYU!

I have had a few posts ready to go for quite awhile... like this one was supposed to be before Christmas for the BYU game...

I'll try to catch up. It may take me a while.

Go Cougs!

Cute little BYU track suit from Mimi & Papa - already almost too small for Lincoln!

Dead Car Battery

Does anyone else have this problem? It seems no matter how careful I am about turning off all the lights in the car (or closing the trunk all the way) this happens at least once a year...

This was the 2nd time Nathan came to help us this day (outside Cafe Rio)

The battery died overnight (I popped the trunk and forgot to close it... leaving that tiny little light on all night). Later that day, while I ran in to get dinner for Jon & Jenn, Jesse stayed in the car with Lincoln & listened to the radio. It didn't even last 10 minutes before it died...!

Lincoln & Flora

Cousin time!

Lincoln & Flora

Less than 4 months apart

Hiking Paradise Rim & Chuckwalla

Nathan & Audrey and their baby, Flora went on a hike with Jesse, Lincoln & me. We went to Chuckwalla & Paradise Rim. I love how many different hikes there are in the area - and a lot of them are really close! There are also a lot of famous rock climbing spots along this hike.

I can't believe how sprawled out they look!

Mindy, Jesse, & Linc by the arch at Turtle Wall

Lincoln & Jesse at the rock shrine/view point.

Every time we take Lincoln out on the hikes, he gets so worn out!

Audrey, Nathan, & Flora getting situated

On our way back to the car
Nathan, Audrey, & Jesse

Lately, the weather has been perfect for hiking (although it is raining today...). I love getting outside to go exercise! It is so much more refreshing than a gym. Cold weather is ahead...

Thanksgiving & a Visit from My Parents

I invited my parents to come for Thanksgiving, and they surprised me by coming! I was excited for them to come. I didn't take any pictures of the actual Turkey Dinner, but it was delicious! My mom even brought blackberry pies - the blackberries picked in Oregon! YUM. (I ate every last bite... in fact the last piece of pie I ate for my birthday breakfast - I figured it was my birthday & I could eat what I wanted to, even if it meant pie for breakfast.)


More on cooking the turkey. Jesse had seen shows on the Food Network last year about making "the perfect turkey" and wanted to try it this year. I got him all the supplies he needed and he did everything else. (I had a pretty relaxed Thanksgiving with little cooking/preparing myself... that was nice.) Needless to say, Jesse researched every in and out of the recipe (e.g. why so much salt in the brine? why brine a turkey? why kosher salt? etc.) which definitely paid off - that was probably the most delicious turkey I have ever eaten! You can find the recipe HERE. It may just be Jesse's job every Thanksgiving from now on... :)

The day after Thanksgiving we took my parents on the hike we call Slots. (We took Emily & Christian on this hike when they came to visit - it's one of my favorites!)

The first set of petroglyphs
Jesse, Lincoln, Mindy, & Craig

Mary & Craig with the red mountains & Utah hill in the background

Mary in the slot canyon

Jesse & Linc

It was such nice weather! (I understand why my parents wanted to come!)
Notice the short sleeves...
Jesse, Linc, Craig, & Mary

After the morning mayhem, we even went shopping on black Friday. It wasn't even bad at all and we got some great deals. It is really nice when we get visitors - especially Grandma & Grandpa! The last time they saw Lincoln was at his baby blessing. I'm glad Lincoln was able to see them for the few days they came to visit. :) Thanks for coming!! (& Thank you for the early birthday & Christmas presents!)

Sleepy Linc

Lincoln wakes up pretty early (for me) to eat. After I feed him in bed I'll sneak out and he'll keep sleeping for an hour or so. I thought it was cute how tiny the big bed made him look. He sure likes to sleep with his hands by his ears.

Man, those cheeks are getting chubby!!

Paintball & Turkey

The day before Thanksgiving a bunch of us went out to play paintball in the desert. It was Ben, Matthew, Nathan, Ashley, Kurt, McKay, Jonny, Matt, Cody, Dryden, Freeman, Grace, Jesse & me. (I think that was everyone...)

First thing... Ben decided he would show his kids EXACTLY what it feels like to get shot by a paintball gun. So he shot them each once. It was kinda funny.

Jesse getting his gun ready with Grace & Freeman getting shot in the background

Adam in his bright white shirt & Nathan in his new camo gear

Jonny all decked out - even the sweet hat!

Matthew got shot on the head...

Kurt, Ashley, Nathan, McKay, Dryden, & Matthew

Last time Jesse went paintballing, I was pregnant (therefore I didn't go... crouching & big bellies don't go together well...) so I was excited to go for my first time. I LOVED it!!! (We even got a gun for me!)

That night Jesse put the turkey in the brine... Jesse was excited to make a turkey for our potluck-style Thanksgiving. More on the next post...

4 Months Old!

Time flies. It is hard to believe how much faster time goes after having a baby.

Here are a few pictures of Lincoln at 4 months old:

Checkin' out his hands

Crazy big smile!

Tongue roll

What a SWEETHEART! I love my little man. Sorry about going overboard on the pictures... it doesn't feel overboard when it's your own babe!

4 Month Check-up: 13 lbs 12 oz

Turkey Triathlon 11-14-09

A month ago I signed up for THIS Sprint distance triathlon (using an indoor pool) to help motivate me to work out. I'm glad to say it worked! Although it was difficult to work out with a baby... going on a bike ride or a run was that much more of a pain (not to mention I didn't feel like working out since I wasn't in shape).

Anyway, the day before the race Sabrina called me and said she was also doing the triathlon. So we were able to do some of the bike together which was fun. :) (Sabrina had some friends come down from Ogden to participate also - in the pictures.)

Heather, Sabrina, & I waiting our turn

(They have 11 lanes and 2 per lane -

and 75 female & 79 male sprint distance...

we all just got in line.)

Sabrina's Dad & Jack watching Sabrina start the bike leg

Starting the bike

Sabrina & me

The group from Ogden & me

My results:

7th of 9 (20-24 age group)

45th of 75 (overall women)

01:31:36.74 - Overall time

00:12:23.89 - Time back from 1st place in my age group

00:24:35.52 - Time back from overall women

00:09:46.97 - 400 yd swim (SHAC pool)

00:36:43.63 - Transition 1 (2nd triathlon... 2nd mistake on my transition time - switch with 10 mile bike time)

00:08:51.12 - 10 mile bike (no way did I take 9 minutes to get dried off & dressed...)

00:01:48.47 - Transition 2

00:34:26.54 - 3 mile run

BIG Eyes & Rolling Over

Everyone always tells me "He looks scared!" or "Look at those eyes! So big!"

Here are 4 examples why...

And I also got a video of Lincoln rolling over...
He still doesn't do it hardly ever even though I put him on his tummy every day.

Baby Cousins

I babysat Flora while Audrey went to school a little bit ago. I got a couple pictures I thought were cute. :) (Notice Lincoln grabbing her blanket..)