An Eventful Weekend

Reese and I were able to spend the weekend in Utah. Before I tell you about it just let me say I'm sorry to all my wonderful Utah friends who I didn't get to see. This weekend was all about family.

We flew out Friday morning. I have no idea how people travel with babies by themselves. I am so glad I had Mom and Dad to help me with all my stuff! Reese did awesome. She slept during take off, woke up and played during the flight and then fell asleep right before we started our descent. It just could not have gone any better. The reason we went to Utah was for Grandma Edna's 90th birthday. She didn't know that Reese and I were coming, and it was so fun to surprise her. She is an amazing lady.

Friday night we had a bridal shower for my sister Megan. Reese got to meet her great-aunts on my Mom's side. Everyone just loved her of course. She was all smiles for everybody.

On Saturday, Ed and Lorie came down to see us. We went out to Grandma and Grandpa Porter's house in Bountiful. They were thrilled to meet Reese. Grandma Shirley Porter is the "S" in Reese's name. Ed and Lorie took us out to lunch at Wingers- yummy- and then we went shopping for some father's day gifts. I'm so glad I got to see them for a minute- Reese was too. She has grown so much since they came up to see her when she was just 3 weeks old!

Sunday was Grandma Edna's 90th birthday. We had a big party at Layton Park to celebrate. Lots of our family and friends were there and again Reese was so great. We really have the best baby. She smiled at everyone and was passed around. It was great to celebrate Grandma Edna and her many accomplishments. Her cousin and neighbor came down from Idaho and were able to tell us stories from when they were all young and growing up. It was so fun. We enjoyed the rest of the day just hanging out. Grandma Edna loves Reese so much. It was fun to see them talk to each other and play together. I took some video, which will be fun for Reese when she is older so she can remember her Great- Grandma. We took a walk later and Reese sat up in her stroller for the first time. She loved being able to look ahead and see where we were going. Unfortunately it was cold (in June- come on!) so we had to bundle her up really good. We played games that night with Megan and her fiancee Boone and Josh and Kara came over too. They read Reese "Underwear" which was always our favorite book and Grandma Edna's house.

Monday we went shopping for Reese at the Carter's outlet in Salt Lake. Josh was the worst- he just kept holding things up and saying "Kara look how cute- we have to get her this." Reese is so spoiled. I'm hoping she will get some cousins soon the balance things out. Monday night we flew home and Reese was excellent on the plain again (the 3 year old sitting behind us was not!) We were both so excited to see Spencer. The whole way home she just looked at him and smiled. It was a wonderful weekend, but it was nice to get home again. I love my family- immediate and extended- and I am so grateful for my knowledge that we can be together forever!

The big two-five

So last Thursday was my 25th birthday. I don't worry too much about getting older- I'm sure I may feel differently when I hit those bigger mile stones. But for now, I am just really enjoying the age I am and the stage I am at in my life. I had an awesome birthday. When I was growing up, my mom would decorate the kitchen with streamers and put all our presents out on the table so we could see them when we first woke up. Spencer has continued this tradition for me. In Spencer's family you get a special birthday breakfast- we continue that tradition as well. I absolutely love Rice Krispy Treats cereal and you can't find it here in Washington. My sweet husband bought me two boxes in Logan a few weeks ago and had been hiding them in the garage! I am easy to please. The day was great- Reese was awesome. My mom took me to lunch at Panera and we went shoe shopping. That evening when Spence came home from work he let me open all my presents- most of them were clothes (it is so nice to not have to accommodate a big pregnant belly.) He took me to a nice dinner at Coho Cafe and we came home and had ice cream sandwiches. It was a great day.

Then on Saturday it was sunny (Finally!) so we headed south to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. I love doing stuff like that. It was a gorgeous day and the Zoo is right up against Puget Sound (I think... I get a little mixed up with the bodies of water around here.) Our favorite things were the elephants, the snow leopard, the polar bears (Spencer had never seen one before!), the meerkats, and of course the Asian River Otters.

My not-favorite animal was this peacock. As many of you know, birds freak me out. Well, of course we were at the zoo all day so Reese needed to eat. So we found ourselves a nice spot in the sun on the grass to feed her and eat our picnic lunch. Well this peacock came out of no where and was just roaming free. It walked right in front of me- like 3 feet away. It was pretty and all, but I was kind of defenseless sitting there feeding my baby. Luckily it didn't attack me, and it walked off while being chased by someone's toddler. But other than that- it was a perfect birthday.

Baby Update

It's been awhile since I've posted pics of Reese. She is doing great. She is just smiling like crazy and I think she is getting pretty close to laughing. At her last appointment she was up to 13.5 pounds and 24 inches long.

She is starting to figure out that her hands belong to her. She has sucked her thumb a couple of times, which at first I was really against, but she still struggles taking a binky so if she wants to suck her thumb I'm going to let her. It's funny though- because sometimes she will sit there with her mouth open, and she is trying to get her thumb in but she keeps hitting herself in the forehead. It's so funny.

We try to do some "tummy time" everyday. It's not her favorite, but she doesn't hate it. She talks a lot when she's on her tummy though- just jabber, jabber, jabber. She is a great baby because she likes to be held and played with, but she also likes to be by herself. We have one of those "gyms" where she can lay on her back and stuff dangles over her. It has a little mirror on it and she likes to look at and talk to herself. She is my little buddy and we have so much fun together.

Lost

So I feel like a special time in my life is now over. Tonight, Spence and I watched the final episode of "Lost." I am so happy- and so sad. We started watching "Lost" while they were broadcasting the third season. It was the middle of the semester, and Spence and I would stay up until 3am watching the first and second season to catch up. Some of the most fun nights ever were watching "Lost" on Wednesday's with the Wimmers, the Lewis' and the Binghams. The night we all dressed up for the season 5 finale was hands-down one of the most awesome times ever! (Spence and I are on the far right in the picture- he was Richard and I was Charlotte.) We introduced the Latimers to "Lost" when we stayed with them in Mountain Green. We spent almost the whole weekend in front of the TV but we had the greatest time. The finale was great- everything we needed it to be and more. I know I sound a little crazy- but we got attached to this show and it really did provide such good times with friends and each other. It is the end of an era!

Spring in Seattle

I just wanted to share the weather report for the next 10 days. Lame, Lame, Lame! Although, several times last week the forecast was for rain and then it was totally sunny. Sometimes I think they just don't care or they just don't know, so they guess and rain in Seattle is usually a pretty good guess. So much for my plans to run every day and lose this baby weight. I guess I'll just have to snuggle up with Reese, eat some ice cream and watch a movie. Life is rough!

Today
May 23

Showers

53°

Mon
May 24

Partly Cloudy

60°

Tue
May 25

Few Showers

61°

Wed
May 26

Showers

58°

Thu
May 27

Showers

55°

Fri
May 28

Showers

54°

Sat
May 29

Few Showers

54°

Sun
May 30

Few Showers

61°

Mon
May 31

Cloudy

66°

Tue
Jun 1

Showers

62°

Outings

We have started to be a little more adventurous in taking Reese places. This week my parents invited us to a client event for my Dad's work. We felt a little out of place- the event was for the top clients from my Dad's branch of Morgan Stanley- Smith Barney. Basically it was a lot of wealthy older couples and us with our stroller. It was fun though- they held it at the Seattle Aquarium. Reese slept most of the time, but she did wake up at the end to look at some fish. The river otters are usually our favorite attraction (we want to have some as pets one day) but they were cuddled up sleeping. But the sea otters kept us entertained for awhile- especially this little guy. He was swimming around on his back and just did not want to get his little face wet.

The event included a nice dinner and a 45 minute presentation from some financial speaker. I pretty much tuned out, but Spencer found it interesting. I was so proud of him: we were at a table with these older gentleman and they started talking about the energy sector and some new wind farm. Spencer piped right up and shared his infinite knowledge of wind farms. They were asking him questions and he was answering all articulately and stuff. It was awesome.

The weather has been beautiful, so yesterday we decided to take a little hike. We drove up to the Denny Creek area and hiked to Franklin Falls. The scenery here is always to pretty and we had a great time. Reese pretty much slept in her little carrier the whole hike. Having a baby definitely changes how you do things- everything just takes a lot longer, but of course it is worth it.

Josh and Kara

So we had our last set of visitors- my sister Kara and her husband Josh. They have been so good to little Reesie- I swear that half of her clothes have come from them. We had a great time playing games and hanging out. My sister is hands-down one of the funniest people I have ever met. She always has great stories. We love Josh- they got married this summer and he fits right in. Josh, Spence and Almen have a great time together. We were so happy to have them here.