Happy Birth Mother's Day Audrey!!!

The Saturday before Mother's Day is Birth Mother's Day. Our agency hosts a birth mother's day walk at Provo High every year. So, we went with our family and Audrey's family to celebrate!

 Westen was sporting his "I love my birth mom" onesie!

 We are so grateful that Audrey and her family are so active in our lives! They always make an effort to some see us and we love and appreciate them for that. (In the picture: Audrey's brother Alan, her mom Barbara, Audrey, and of course baby Westen!)

 Audrey's family (BYU fans) were glad Cosmo came.....we (Utah fans) made an exception and allowed our child to be in a picture with Cosmo :)

Uncle Kevin and Cousin Blake (Behind Cosmo) and this cute little adopted boy that talked to everyone!

 The mommies. We are go glad that this year we have a name to write on our "In Honor Of..." paper! And also glad to have an excuse to make Westen's cute little "I love my birth mom" banner for his stroller :)

 After one lap around the track, all of the adopted kids meet in the middle of the field, get a balloon, and release it in honor of their birth mom!

 We gave Westen a balloon. It took him a few seconds to let it go, so it was a bit behind the other baloons.

 Happy Birth Mother's Day to the best birth mom! We couldn't ask for a kinder, smarter, more beautiful, or more driven birth mom! We love Audrey!

 We are also grateful for our families who came to support us!

 Westen made it for about an hour and then he was out. As soon as Audrey's arm got tired, he took a little snooze in his stroller.

After the walk, we (including Audrey and her boyfriend Kevin), went to Grandma Leah and Grandpa Don's new house and had a yummy BBQ to celebrate Mommy's birthday, Daddy's birthday, Mother's Day and of course, Birth Mother's Day.

Audrey's Visit & The Zoo!

 Audrey came up a few weekends ago to visit. She visited with us 3 days in a row. We are always glad when she comes to visit. It's an awesome feeling when someone looks at your baby and you know that they love him as much as you do!

 On Saturday we went to the Zoo with Audrey's family and Branden's family.

 It was hot, but we made it!

 In May, Branden's brother Kevin graduated with his Bachelor's degree from the University of Phoenix. We are huge believers in higher education and we are so proud of Kevin. We are also super excited that Audrey starts school this summer. She moves into her first apartment today!!!

 Random nap time picture :). (Our kitty is not ill....we shave her on purpose every spring....too hairy)

Westen is getting so strong! He loves when he has tummy time and he is getting strong enough to push himself up. He was smiling and laughing at his daddy. So cute!

Spring Time

4 Generations....

 Grandma Helen and Great-Grandma Janice came out and we went on a walk around the neighborhood. We are happy that the weather is getting warmer because Westen likes to be outside.

Baby Shower......

 Our friends threw Westen a baby shower a week ago. There was a ton of yummy (and very pretty) food and lots of bright fun decorations.

 Thanks for Amanda for letting us invade your house!

Easter.....

 On Easter weekend, we went out to Branden's parents house for lunch and an Easter Egg Hunt. The Easter Bunny brought Westen and Easter Bucket with books, balls, a summer outfit, and toys. 

 Grandma Colleen also gave Westen an Easter onesie that he wore to the Easter party.

 On Easter Sunday, Mommy made Westen a cute little springy Easter outfit for church. He got lots of compliments on his cute little bow-tie and suspenders. After church we went out to a luncheon with Branden's extended family.

Thanksgiving Pointe.....

 Last week our neighbors invited us to go to Thanksgiving Pointe with them to walk around the gardens. They were getting ready for the Tulip Festival and there were lots of pretty flowers in bloom.  It was too bright for Westen to open his eyes for a picture though.....

Baby Shower #3.....

 I have really awesome friends where I work. They organized a baby shower for us just a few days ago. Westen and I drove into Salt Lake to my work for the festivities. I was overwhelmed by the amount of people that came. I can't believe how many people gave the little man presents too. It was really sweet. A cute little grandma at my work made him this diaper cake. Branden wanted a picture...so here it is in all its glory.

Blake's Birthday.....

Blake turned 2 this last week, so this weekend we went to his birthday party. We at pizza and cake and then we went swimming. The little monkey just got his bum wet in the swing and then sat on mommy's lap in the water for a few minutes. Then grandma rescued him while mommy and daddy played with Blake in the water. Just for the record...he is almost 3 months old and he is wearing a 6-9 month swim suit and swim shirt :)

Growing & Sewing

GROWING.......

 March 12, 2012 (7 weeks)

 Snugging my mommy in my sling - March 12, 2012

So stinking cute! - March 14, 2012

 First Stroller ride - March 15, 2012

only lasted 1 block due to wind

 March 23, 2012 - Almost 9 weeks old. Westen Went to the Dr. on this day. He is 14 lbs (95th percentile - meaning he is bigger than 95% of other babies his age), 24.25 inches long (90th percentile), and his head was in the 75th percentile. The Dr. showed us the chart for his size and he is the size of an average 6 month old. :) He really doesn't eat all that much for his age....so I think he is going to be blessed with the genetics from his birth mom's family. Mommy is hoping he will get their tall-genes!

March 24, 2012 - Saturday morning snuggie with daddy

Melanee's mom found a box with an outfit in it that Melanee's Grandma Jan had given to them when Melanee was little. They thought Melanee was going to be a boy, so Grandma Jan bought a baby boy outfit. So, when she was not born a boy, Melanee's mom saved this little outfit. There was even a Suzy Zoo card in there in Mel's Grandma's handwriting...."To Thumper. Love Grandma and Grandpa". (Thumper is what Mel was called before she was born). So, on March 24, 2012, 27 years after the gift was given, Westen was able to wear this cute, vintage from 1985, never-before-worn outfit from his great Grandma Jan!

..........AND SEWING

My mommy bought a sewing machine, and ever since then, I spend a lot of time in this chair in my mommy's sewing room. Usually, I listed to the podcast of This American Life with my mom and eventually fall asleep.

 My mommy made me a cute jungle animal rag quilt (this is before the edges were washed, so it's much more "raggy" now)

 Mommy also made my soon-to-be-born cousin Kade (that's the name for now) his very own car seat cover. We can't wait for him to be born!

 My mommy also made this flower pillow. She is sewing like crazy.

My Mommy has also made me lots of cute onesies. We will have to dedicate a post just to the onesies. But today, March 30, 2012, when I am one day shy of 10 weeks, I get to wear daddy's favorite home-made onesie with a robot on it.

7 Weeks

At 7 weeks, we went on our first trip to Grandma Leah and Grandpa Don's house to visit them. Grandma Helen came with us too. Not only was it our first trip to their house, but it was also the first time Westen hung out outside!

It was so bright, even in the shade, that he had a hard time opening his eyes. But he really liked being outside.

We improvised a feeding system by using Grandma Leah's neck pillow and some blankets. (Don't you love this cute little outfit! Those shoes are my favorite piece of baby clothing we own!)

Getting tired of mom taking my official 7 week pictures.....

Still chubby and still cute. You can also see his little herniated belly button. Apparently it is really common and will go away on its own.

There were chores to be done....so we busted out the (super cute) sling and Westen went to sleep while I unloaded the dishwasher, washed dishes, cleaned, etc.

I love that he still sleeps with his hands by his face.

7 1/2 weeks - having his usual 9am-11am nap in his bunny swing. I also love that he sleeps with his feet curled in. Sometimes I can't help it...I have to kiss his cute little toes. (I have learned that even babies get sweaty stinky tootsies - so kisser beware!)

My 5th and 6th Week Adventures

My daddy looks so manly when he carries me around in my new pack. I like to be in there, but only for about 15 minutes at a time.

 On March 1st (at ~5 1/2 weeks old) I sat nicely in my chair while my mommy sewed a baby blanket at her friend Rebekah's house.

On Saturday March 3, we went out to Branden's parents house for dinner...when we got there, this is what we saw......

 Is this country enough for you Grandma Merrell? Kevin was in Camo, on a folding chair on the front lawn, with his pellet gun resting on the fence, shooting at birds in trees across the road. (oh yeah, and the farm truck full of hay adds to the ambiance). What you can't see in this picture is that Branden's dad was also participating. He was across the street near the trees scouting out birds for Kevin to shoot.

 After a sufficient number of birds had been bothered, Grandpa Ronnie gave Westen some love and kisses.

 Blake is getting so big and so fun. Grandma Colleen has lots of fun toys for him. Branden and Blake were chasing each other through this tent...and blake was giggling and squealing the whole time.

Then after dinner, we drove over to Branden's grandparents' house to have cake and ice cream for his grandpa's birthday. This is a picture of Westen's Great Grandpa Glenn Ashley. He is holding Branden's newest cousin, Lexi, and baby Westen. Westen is 6 weeks old in this picture and Lexi is about 6 months. She is a pretty small baby, but still...it's crazy that Westen is almost as big as she is! He is a big boy!