Cousins!!!!

Bradshaw's cousin Jack, Aunt Dani & Aunt Elisse received buddy passes (thank you Teri!) and came to visit last weekend. We know these boys are going to be great friends and it's fun to see them begin to interact. And, of course, it was fun for me to catch up with Dani & Elisse.

Bradshaw & I look a lot a like in this picture. hehe

This was right before the sweet little guy got drenched by a wave

Our Wedding Day

Today is our 3rd anniversary. I'm not very good at writing/I feel silly broadly sharing. But Dustinn knows how much he and our marriage mean to me.

Here our a few clips from our wedding day: (our friend Erika videotaped and seamlessly compiled an AMAZING wedding dvd. This clip is a choppy because I pieced it.....I just can't do it like she can.)

And I HAD to post this clip from our wedding reception. (sidenote: sound slightly off)

Dustinn & I didn't know my family was planning this. Singing/dancing in front of a big crowd is really uncomfortable for most of my siblings--but they did it anyway--for us.

There is a 14 year age gap between me and my baby sister...but we are all so very close.

7 Months: Le Petit Prince

7 months old! We are so grateful for him. I particularly love when he throws his arms around my neck and buries his face in my shoulder or gives kisses (a face press with a little open mouth like a fish.)

Ice Castle

Do you notice anything unusual about this picture?

The smooth snow on the left is the roof of the cabin! (That's how high the snow is.)
This much snow created a problem. The snow was growing heavy on the roof but it couldn't slide off because it had no where to go. My mom recruited the guys to shovel snow/smash ice.

Bul-Gol-Gi

Gen took us out for Korean food (which was delicious) but she made the mistake of mentioning how her friend Brian "ate so much Korean food" and she was really impressed. Dustinn, of course, took it as a challenge and downed the bowl of Kim chi in 2 bites. =)

My mom, sister Lindy & sister Genny

They grow 'em big...

Bradshaw is a large baby (95% or higher his whole life.) Well, this is his handsome cousin Jameson, who is 2 MONTHS YOUNGER than him! Pretty amazing, eh?
I think it runs in the family. All of my dad's brothers are in high end of 6 feet and their sons are even taller.

Hello! Hello!

Bradshaw has recently begun "waving hello." I know it's a small thing, but I love it! Dustinn & I are so proud of him:

I'm a sucker for bathtime pictures....

Something about the smell of a freshly bathed baby and cuddly jammies is just irresistible.

These are a few of my favorite things...

One of the most wonderful things about coming to Utah is seeing family. I have Grandparents, Aunts & Uncles, Cousins, 2 sisters and a brother all living in Utah. Sadly, there are a lot of loved ones we didn't get to see.
However, Bradshaw did get to meet his Great, Great, Great Aunt Tella. I'd like to describe her so you get a better picture. She is as tall as I am (5'9") but she has better posture. Even though I am one of her sister-in-law's descendents (and she has children, grandchildren & great grandchildren of her own to mind) she is aware of and inquires about current events in my life. She has big beautiful eyes and when she was asking me about my life....I just felt so much love and understanding from her that I began crying without any intention of doing so. Reflecting, I can feel that she has had this effect on many other people.

Bradshaw has gotten a lot of attention from famliy members. Here is a clip of my sister Kate entertaining him:

She's home! After a year-and-a-half in Korea, Genny's back! Bradshaw & I flew to Utah this week to spend time with her.

A Weekend in Palm Springs

Dustinn is inspired. He decided that we should visit his Grandparents in Palm Springs over Conference weekend. Not only did we get to see the whole extended family; but we found out it was probably the only weekend we could've spent a Saturday with them. (His grandparents work in the temple all day Saturday but the temple was closed for Conference.) They told us some great stories:
When Grandpa (Sam) was 13 years old, his Papa handed him a small pillowcase containing socks and few necessary items and told his son he would be going to Wolf's Pass to herd the sheep with "Joe." Sam's job would be to cook for Joe, pack the horses, and help herd the sheep (3 flocks totaling 10,000).
Sam, "But... but Joe doesn't speak any English!"
Papa, "I know."
"But I don't speak any Spanish!"
"I know."
And that was it. No "avoid falling off your horse" or "watch out for bears." Sam wouldn't see his father again for several weeks.

Years later, Sam was a veterinarian in LA. I heard how one time he was helping a horse when the horse's heart stopped. Sam said "with a dog you can massage the heart with your hand but a horse is too big." So he started jumping on the horse and the heart started right up again. The owner was standing to the side saying, "You're the best, Dr._, the best."

At dinner, Grandma (Pauline) was telling us how her father was a great athlete. She said he took first place in javelin, shot put, and high jump. Then Grandpa quipped in "yeah, it was between him and one little old man." Grandpa's always joking! And Grandma didn't get upset; smiling and laughing she said, "oh Sam!"

I'm grateful to be part of this family.

Bradshaw loves his daddy's stuff better than all of his toys:

Green Beans

There is a legend in my family that goes something like this:

Little Genny didn't like vegetables. The most hated vegetable was the green bean.
However, Mom & Dad wanted us to grow up to be healthy, have well-balanced diets, and most of all, be appreciative (this included green beans.)
One night at dinner, with the entire family gathered at the table, my dad suggested Genny try just a few bites of green beans. He traded seats with one of the kids and sat beside her and lifted up the fork with one lone green bean. With tears running down her face, Genny plugged her nose and took the bite, but in an attempt to swallow quickly, she began choking and gagging. With a loud burp, the green bean flew out of her mouth and over the table.
Genny sat back down with a grin; she had beaten the green bean.

Bradshaw is following in his aunt's footsteps:

Yum, yum, green beans!

This outfit is Dustinn's. He used to wear it when he was little and his family lived in Nigeria.

First Solids

The face of anticipation

For a couple of weeks, Dustinn & I have been trying to coordinate a time when 1.Dustinn is not at work & 2.Bradshaw is awake, so that we could give Bradshaw his first taste of food.

Last night, Dustinn called from work and, making a big fatherly sacrifice, told us to go ahead without him (he ended up getting home at 2:30am and was out the door this morning at 6...we miss him.)

Bradshaw LOVED rice cereal. And he was actually a very clean eater. He didn't push any out of his mouth (his face is only messy because he was relentlessly grabbing the spoon.)

"I loved that Mom"

P.S. Bradshaw had his 6-month check-up today and after a short hiatus he's back on the growth chart, weighing in at 22 lbs. and just over 29 inches. He also surprised me by taking 3 shots with nothing more than a grunt. Way to go B-Rad!

First Swim

" SWIMMY PANTS "

We took Bradshaw swimming for the first time in his cousin's pool. Initially, Bradshaw acted frozen and stared at us with saucer eyes. Towards the end of the swim, he relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed himself.

"Hi cousin!"

Bradshaw loves his Auntie Elisse Can you see Jack's first tooth?

This towel is from the family home and native land. (Thank you Grams & Gramps!)

Dustinn never misses an opportunity to cocoon his son

Saturday at 11:54pm my sister Genny returned from her mission to South Korea. Welcome home Gens!

Easter Weekend

Cousins:

For weeks, Dustinn & I have been looking forward to go to Phoenix to visit Dani & Seth. It's a 6 hour drive from LA so we arrived at 2 am and went right to sleep. When I walked out of the bedroom the next morning--SURPRISE--Elisse was sitting on the floor (she's at BYU and we had no idea she was going to be there but she got a ride up at the last minute.) Hooray! It was so fun to be all together.

This was our first time to see Seth & Dani's new home. It is spacious, beautifully decorated, immaculately clean & very comfortable. (Dustinn: that's the best I've slept in weeks.)

On Saturday we had a BBQ with Aunt Teri & Uncle Ken (he made delicious steaks.)

Could not get chubby bunny on the right to smile

(This lesser grimace is the best I got)

While we were in Phoenix, Bradshaw also went swimming for the first time. Coming soon...

6 Months: Happy (Half) Birthday Boy!

Countless nights, Dustinn & I have stood beside Bradshaw's crib watching him sleep. We love to talk about how perfect he is--his sweet little mouth, his cherub cheeks, his dark eyelashes, how he sighs in his sleep.

5 am this morning marked Bradshaw's 6-month birthday. Dustinn and I agree it's been the best 26 weeks, or 182 days, or 4,368 hours, or 262,080 minutes, or 15,724,800 seconds of our lives.

M42 and Runningman

My uncle took this picture from his backyard. I think it's pretty amazing.

http://www.pbase.com/ktydeck/astro_images

Snips and snails, and puppy-dog tails

Usually, when Bradshaw wants something, he reaches towards it and grunts. (I love how communication is progressively more direct!) Lately, I'll be carrying Bradshaw and, without warning, he'll dive for what he wants! So far, I've always been able to catch him, but I'm afraid he'll get hurt pulling these stunts!
This is what he most frequently dives towards. He understands that we push the buttons on the keyboard because once I left him near an open computer (to observe) and he filled a word document in a minute or two. That opened a can of worms.Computers are not the only form of technology he loves. He'll sit through the evening news without a peep.
(Sorry this is such a long post...years from now I don't want to forget all his little eccentricities.)
Bradshaw has a music mobile and in the middle of the night he chooses to sporadically turn it off and on (sometimes shutting it off at the first note; other times waiting several measures.) When he wakes us up, we don't know whether to pull our hair out or laugh our heads off.
I have recently begun nannying for a baby girl near Bradshaw's age. Since she is away from home, I want her to use the crib during naptime. Bradshaw has been an absolute gentleman by going down for his naps on the bed pleasantly & without fussing. I have been so proud of him! Also, I was pleased as punch that I got both babies on the same eating & sleeping schedule!
Last but not least, Bradshaw has a lovey (or as my pysch books would say, "an attachment object.")

Whales in Santa Monica

I saw a whale today. I was driving on the PCH (a freeway that runs along the beach), and I saw a whale in the water! (obviously I was not watching where i was going.)