Bringhurst

We're Baaaack

2012-01-31T21:59:00.001-08:00

....and as cute as ever. Don't worry about that. Cuter, if possible. Yep, it's possible (See above).

So we got a lovely virus on our poor computer and due to limited funds were not able to fix it for about, oh, three months. So I have some catching up to do. And catch up I will. I've missed my creative outlet and my place to brag shamelessly about my baby.

Hope you have as much fun reading as I do writing three month's worth of Afton. Can't wait :-)

Prison

2011-10-27T13:11:00.000-07:00

I feel like the older Afton gets, the less I document the little things she does every day. The first week I wrote down and took pictures of everything and as time went on and Afton grew older, I slowly stopped. Not altogether mind you. We got her crawling and standing, you know, the important stuff.

But the little things have definitely been forgotten more often than not.
And I don't want that to happen. The little funny things she does everyday remind me how much I love her and how the last year has been the best of my life.

So to remind me of her disdain for baby gates, I give you: Afton and Oliver in prison.
Baby-gate prison that is.
Compared to her normal cries of anger and pouting this little reach through the bars is nothing. Usually I listen to at least 5-10 minutes of crying while I am prepping dinner.
And let's face it, Oliver is her partner in crime for everything nowadays. So it's only fitting he be in prison with her too right?
Oliver also gets mad when he gets stuck on the other side as well. But his anger is more because he can't get to his food and water and less because he wants me to hold him.
And when Afton does manage to escape "prison" she's a magnet for Oliver's dog food (the whole reason for the prison in the first place).
Ahhh free at last.
In this case jail is completely necessary. We can't have cheeks full of dog food all the time now can we? Hopefully she will forgive me one day?

We like to be comfortable

2011-10-26T15:44:00.000-07:00

I have always been a sweat pants kind of girl. I LOVE to dress up and go out but the minute I hit my doorway I am out of the uncomfortable clothes and into the stretchy pants. That's what I call them :-) You know sweats, yoga pants, any kind of stretch material pants really.

Then when I got pregnant I practically lived in them. It was a good thing I had a job at the time that didn't require me to dress up because I am pretty sure stretchy pants are about as casual as you can get.
And post pregnancy it took me a good 6 months to feel good in regular clothes again.
And lets be honest, even now my favorite non-yoga pants are a pair of "stretchy" jeans. I think you get my drift.
So it's really only normal that my daughter be comfortable as well right?
And don't worry she is learning well I promise.
Most days she is wearing her stretchy jeggings from Target. I am already thinking I should go and but the next size up just in case they stop carrying them. Other days she can be found wearing a cute onesie with some even cuter leggings.
She can crawl around, flop on Oliver and then I can lay her down for a nap and know she's comfortable. I love baby jeans don't get me wrong. But I always feel like they are digging into her cute pudgy stomach or that she won't be comfortable in them when I put her down for a nap. And let's be honest I already do enough clothes changes for the both of us, I don't need to add in more wardrobe changes for my daughter.
Future offspring beware. If you want to wear skirts and/or jeans everyday that's great but just know that our house is a "stretchy" pants kind of house.

Perfection

2011-10-25T15:07:00.000-07:00

No one is perfect.

We are human.
We can't do everything.

It seems that many days I have to keep repeating these statements to myself.
I love to get things done. Maybe I should say I like to accomplish things.
Now this doesn't mean that I always have the motivation to get things done or the time or energy or desire.
At the beginning of the week it seems like I have a huge to do list and I just KNOW that this week I will get EVERYTHING done.
It never happens.

Last week I decided to just start small and write out a few goals:
1) Be home for my visiting teacher to come (sometimes I forget...woops).
2) Make my visiting teaching appointments
3) Work out (Yoga and Pilates at home) 4 times this week
4) Cook dinner EVERY night

Only four things.
I only completed one thing completely and that was be home for my visiting teaching appointment. Ha.
Again, I was disappointed. I didn't feel like I got anything done that week.
I made one visiting teaching appointment for Saturday and then she canceled 1 hour before. Bummer.
I only worked out once, maybe twice can't remember.
And I only cooked about 1/2 the week.

But then I thought about it and I realized... it's ok.
I TRIED to make my visiting teaching appointments.
I worked out twice, that's better than not at all. And At least I am thinking about keeping my body healthy right?
And I cooked four nights out of seven. I'm pretty sure there are a lot of people that eat out four nights a week and at least we don't do that. (hardly ever)
Also Chad was gone last week a lot because he was helping his dad tile their floors. So I was somewhat of a single parent last week.

There are always projects and fun things I want to do. I have had the material to make a new pencil skirt for about 2 months now. Still not done.
I want to scrapbook and read more. Those have both been lacking lately.
I try to clean my floors (hardwood) at least once a week. Sometimes it's a week and a half before they are clean again.
But you know what? That perfect woman is just not me. Sometimes I would rather lay on the couch and watch TV than clean my floors.
Sometimes I would rather bake some banana muffins than sew my new pencil skirt.
But most of the time, my excuse is that I am taking care of Afton. And what a good excuse it is.
I feed her 3 nutritious meals a day (even if mine aren't). I give her a bath and change her diapers. I clean up after her and I make sure she has toys to play with and that she isn't pulling Oliver's ears too often or climbing up the stairs.
I play with her and make her laugh. I put her down for naps and rock her before bed.
I nurse her and love her.
And somedays I would much rather watch her laugh at Oliver or play with a box of unopened safety pins and marvel at the sound they make than do anything else.
So I am completely OK with the fact that I am not perfect. I am going to start giving myself more credit for the great mom, wife and human being that I know I am. I will stop comparing myself to other women (or at least try) and feeling somehow not good enough when they get so much accomplished and I feel like I don't. And I will be happy with a blog that is all about Afton with a few occasional tidbits about me.

Because right now a Mom is who I am and I feel VERY happy and blessed by that fact.Someday I will be perfect, but not today.

Bones and Biscuits

2011-10-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

I bought Afton some teething biscuits this week.
Turns out Oliver thought these teething biscuits smelled pretty good and really wanted to try them. And Afton was only too willing to share. So to remedy the situation I pulled out a bone for Oliver. And I THOUGHT this solved the problem. Guess not...
Afton: "Hmm that looks pretty good..."
Afton: "Maybe I'll just try a little." (Don't worry mom intervened before it reached her mouth.)
Afton:"If I can't try your bone Oliver, wanna try some of my biscuit?"

Oliver:"Maybe just a little."

Ahh the joys of mother hood and pet ownership. Although sometimes it can be a little overwhelming having a dog and a baby to take care of during the day, especially when Oliver has to pee right when Oliver needs a diaper change and one is whining at the door and one is crying on the floor, I still wouldn't change it.

They are starting to interact more everyday and Afton just loves him. Oliver tries very hard to love Afton but sometimes the ear pulling is a little much for him. But he loves to make her laugh by running by her really fast and licking her face just as he passes. This is becoming a daily occurrence and I just love hearing Afton's little laugh.
So good news Oliver, looks like you'll be in this family for the long haul. Meaning many more babies pulling your ears and many more teething biscuits to share.

Morning Yoga with Afton

2011-10-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to do Yoga or Pilates at least a few days a week in the morning before Afton wakes up. Sometimes I get in a good 20-30 minutes before Afton wakes up and sometimes... I don't.

Sometimes I make a little room on my mat for one more.

And I think she has pretty good form.

Who says babies can't do Yoga?

Getting ready for fall

2011-10-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

We had about a week of fall weather early in October and although it got warm again we enjoyed the fall weather while it lasted. We unpacked the winter clothes and Afton donned a fuzzy hooded jacket handed down from her cousin Brielle. About 70% of Afton's wardrobe is from her cousin. We are lucky that Aunt Nichole has great taste!

We threw a beanie in the mix while watching Uncle Jake's foot ball game.

Ahhh Fall. We love you.

Finishing out the Summer

2011-10-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

This was a great summer. I have this little girl, a wonderful husband, and a beautiful California summer to thank for that.
Afton had her first swing experience a couple weeks ago. I'll let the pictures explain how much she loved it.

(She can this cute little smile on her face the entire time.)

Goodbye summer.

Goodbye.

A birthday for Uncle Cody

2011-10-16T21:04:00.000-07:00

My brother Cody turned 22 this year and we headed to Chevy's to celebrate.

Of course Afton was the center of attention. Not trying to brag but she IS pretty cute. Luckily Cody didn't mind sharing the attention :-)

My brother and I are only a year and a half apart and have always been very close. I love having him live so close. Happy birthday little brother!

New Shoes & New Jeans

2011-10-16T20:42:00.000-07:00

Luckily I haven't had to buy hardly any clothes for Afton. And the clothes I have bought I probably didn't need too. But making clothes hardly counts as buying them right?
I found this really cute tutorial for baby sandals and I couldn't pass it up. So I found some cheap vinyl on sale and went to work. I thought it would be very easy and I would be done in a few hours. You know, like 2 hours, 3 tops.
Turns out it took 7+. Yeah. But once I got about half way I couldn't NOT finish them. So these were definitely a labor of love.

This is what Afton did while I sewed... Doesn't it look fun?

I also made an accompanying headband.

I just love my girl and I love making cute clothes for her. Even if she takes the headband off after a minute and loses a shoe every other minute. I just keep telling myself it's worth it.

And what is a new pair of shoes without a new pair of jeans?

Jeggings look ridiculous on most adults but VERY cute on my baby. Don't you think?

Developmental Crying

2011-09-26T20:52:00.001-07:00

Lately we've (and by that I mean Afton) been having some sleeping problems in our home. Up until the last month Afton had been a pretty good sleeper. Even if she woke up at night we could usually get her right back to sleep.

Then August happened and suddenly Afton started waking up at least once a night and sometimes it took us more than an hour to get her back to sleep.
This usually involved rocking and soothing and even sometimes feeding when we got desperate for sleep.
This last week Afton has been waking up 3-5 times per night and it is HARD to get her back to sleep. It gets to the point where I'm so frustrated and half asleep that I just put her in her crib and crawl into bed (plus I usually stomp back to bed. I have to take my frustration out somewhere right? It might as well be on the floor.)
So last night was no different. We finally brought Afton back to bed with us after 2 hours of unsuccessfully trying to her back to sleep in her crib.
So today I called the Kaiser nurse line to get some advice. This was hard for me because I am not a ask-other-people-for-advice kind of mom. I am a google it or read a book or ask my sister(she doesn't count as other people. But both of her kids sleep like angels so that was out.)
After explaining the situation to the The Kaiser nurse, she immediately said it sounded like "Developmental Crying." In a nutshell it just means that babies start to abruptly wake up in the night often around 4-12 months of age after they have been sleeping through the night. There is no real reason. And she told me what I really was already thinking and dreading: you are going to have to let her cry it out. Go in and check on her every 10-15 minutes or so. Comfort her, pat her back, kiss her and lay her back down. Then leave. Repeat X amount of times until she goes to sleep.
Tonight I put Afton to sleep at about 7:30. She woke up crying at 8:30 and so it started. We are now on about the 4th cycle and she is half halfheartedly crying now off and on so I am thinking it shouldn't be too long until she falls back to sleep for good. Not too bad.
Now let's see how I feel about it at 2 in the morning. That will be a whole different story.
So, the moral of the story? I have learned since becoming a mom that life will NEVER be the same. Not only does life change once you have the baby but then it KEEPS changing after said baby gets older and older. I will certainly not take for granted my precious sleep ever again that's for sure. I got used to sleeping 8-10 hours straight and then WHAM, Afton throws developmental crying at me. Ha.
But, through it all, seeing her beautiful smile in the morning after a long night still makes me happy. And her laughs make my heart melt and throb at the same time. And her weird one legged crawl makes me continuously laugh. And... I could go on but I think you get the picture.
What I am trying to say is she could wake me up 2-3 times a night for the next 18 years and I would still love her. Because that's what being a parent is all about. Selflessly giving your precious sleep up and then not being grouchy about it in the morning.

(And Afton if you are secretly crawling out of your crib at night and sneaking onto the computer and reading this, it would NOT be cool if you woke me up at night for the next 18 years. I wasn't serious about that.)

New Car Smell

2011-09-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

After almost 6 years with Flora (Yes, I name my cars, don't you?) it was time to trade her in.

It was bittersweet. While I won't miss trying to get Afton out of her carseat in and out of a two-door vehicle, I will miss my first car.

I had many a fun moments in Flora... She drove me to Utah after graduating college to start college at BYU.
She drove my around with my wonderful friends during those said BYU years.
She was there when Chad and I met and drove us to Utah to pick out my wedding ring.
She lived in Salt Lake with us for the first 3 years we were married and endured the snow and salt.
She moved us back to California and spent the next few years driving us from place to place.
She was there for us when others weren't...ahem...The Audi who we do not speak of.
She brought our first baby home safely from the hospital.
And she took Afton and Oliver on their first road trip to Idaho and Utah.
She saw many great scenery and mountainside views.
But alas, all good things must end someday and unfortunately Flora's days were numbered. But I am sure she will make some other family very happy.
As for us, well, we got a newer model. And we are very happy.
Say hello to out 2012 focus. Not sure what we will name her yet. Any suggestions?

9 months

2011-09-22T22:26:00.000-07:00

Dear Afton-

(First of all can we address how hilarious this picture is? Note the squished food in her hand. That habit makes for a very fun cleanup. Also note the huge chunk of peach stuck to her chest. This just makes me laugh. Not to mention the face. Now THAT is a funny face.)

Where to start? These past few months have brought so many new exciting adventures to our family. You mastered sitting up and then went on to scooting around on your butt. You entertained yourself often with that maneuver. But of course that wasn't enough so you taught yourself how to stand up in your crib. Then you were pulling yourself up on anything and everything. Then came crawling. Now we can't leave you in a room by yourself for more than 30 seconds (if we're lucky!). And all that in a 3 short months. Whew!

I'm tired just thinking about it. But it is so fun to see you learning something new everyday. When your face lights up with a smile because you know you accomplished something big, my heart melts.

You also have your first two teeth now and I am pretty sure you are working on more due to your mood swings. But don't worry we love you all the more for those. Except could you PLEASE sleep through the night maybe once a week? Right now you are waking up at least once a night (the last few nights has been more like 3-5 times) and it is killing your dad and I. See what you can do about that, k?

You also know how to feed yourself pretty good now too and have been trying lots of new foods lately. I still try to feed you mainly fruits and vegtables but we have tried beans and corn now. Of course all your grandparents and aunts and uncles sneak you some good stuff now and again (I.E. mashed potatoes, popcicles, ice cream and ketchup).

You love Baby Einsteins and always give me a big smile and a scream of excitement when you hear the music or see the caterpillar at the beginning of the DVD. You also are starting to explore the house more. You have tried to eat Oliver's dog food on multiple occasions now and are getting pretty good at cleaning our floors of any lint.

You have waved once for Grandpa Terry although we can't get you to do it again. You also clapped your hands when Dad was playing patty cake with you the other night. AND you repeated "Mama" for me the other day. No one else was around to hear it but I am thinking about putting it down in the books as your first word. We shall see. We shall see.
Afton you are such a sweet little girl. I get told everyday from strangers how beautiful and well behaved you are. You are the center of my world now and I don't know what I would spend my days doing without you. Thankfully you still let me rock you sometimes and those are my favorite times. I am trying to remind myself to slow down everyday and spend time with you because you are growing up so fast. Thank you for bringing me so much happiness and making your dad and I better people. We love you.

Mom and Dad

Like daughter, like dog

2011-09-19T09:00:00.001-07:00

Afton is watching this because she likes dancing chickens that sing.

Oliver on the other hand just likes to eat chicken.

These two constantly keep me laughing.

Who knew a dog and baby could be so much alike?

Afton, don't eat that fuzz.

2011-09-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

She mastered the art of sitting up in a few months. Now she can play with toys like this.

Then she mastered the art of pulling herself up in a few weeks.

And finally, she's working on crawling.

So I've been using phrases like "Afton, please don't eat that fuzz." or "Afton, Icky." a lot lately.

Next, we will move onto walking and at the rate we're going she will probably master walking in just a few short hours.
Slow down life!

Payback

2011-09-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Most people that know me well, know that I am pretty opinionated and very passionate, no strong willed, fine, stubborn.

No kidding, when Chad asked my dad to marry me, my dad replied, "Are you sure? She's really stubborn." Yeah. And by the way I get this stubbornness mostly from my dad...
Chad and I are a perfect match because we both have this quality. So he didn't mind answering yes to my dad's not so subtle question.
Fast forward four years which is how long we've been married and I think I have toned down a little on the stubbornness and learned how to compromise. You really have to to be successful in a marriage, right?
Well then came the baby in the baby carriage. Enter Afton.
My mom teased that maybe I would get a stubborn baby as payback for being such a hard baby for her. Apparently I wouldn't go to sleep or something like that. Hmmm...
Well I think her wish came true.
(In her defense this picture was right after a nap. One, I am cranky after a nap too. Two, I would be mad if the flash went off in my face right when I woke up.)
(And this was isn't so much throwing a fit or being cranky but it's just so dang funny I had to throw it in. It looks like she's making a westside sign and making a "yo" face. To answer your question, no she's not in a gang.)
Moral of the story: don't be stubborn because you will pass it on to your children and then you will have to deal with their stubbornness and your stubbornness.
*cough cough* Dad.
Don't worry he doesn't read my blog. Not that I know of at least.

Saturday Morning Cartoons

2011-09-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Remember how Afton inherited my stubbornness? Well from Chad she inherited his cartoon watching abilities. Yep. Chad's idea of a stellar Saturday morning: Batman, Superman, Justice League, Jetsons, Tom and Jerry, Etc. Afton's ideas of a perfect Saturday morning: Baby Einstein on mom's phone.

Enthralled.

"Seriously mom. Go away. I'm watching cartoons."

"No really. Why are you still here?"

"Okay fine. You can watch cartoons too."

MY Saturday mornings would be so boring without her around. Who need cartoons?

Friday Night Lights

2011-09-16T16:44:00.000-07:00

Fall=Football
Friday Nights=Football games
While I don't pretend to like football it is fun supporting Chad's younger brother at his games every week. He is one of the star players so it's exciting to see him make goals, I mean touchdowns. (I really don't like football)
A few weekends ago Afton attended her first football game.

And really we know that everyone actually comes to the football games to hold Afton.

Believe me, she gets passed around plenty.

The grandparents hog her.

Can you blame them?

Maybe someday I will actually pay attention to the game. Probably not when this cutie is around though.

It's going to be one of THOSE days

2011-09-15T21:40:00.000-07:00

Garbage day is Thursday.
Which means we need to put the garbage can out Wednesday night.
Last night we are already in bed asleep and I remembered we hadn't put the garbage can out.
I tell Chad and he starts to climb out of bed (I love him) but I tell him to lay back down and say he can just do it in the morning. He happily grunts and rolls back over and falls fast asleep.
Thursday morning rolls around and Chad leaves for work at 4:30 am (poor guy) but doesn't put the garbage can out. I will let it slide because of the 4:30 am thing. I can barely function at 8:30 am.
Well 7:45 rolls around and I am torn from sleep by the garbage truck beeping down our street. I swear they install that beeper on all the trucks to wake up the snoozers who forgot to put out their garbage cans. Right?
So I literally jump out of bed and luckily Afton is just waking up next to me (she got in bed with me at 4:30 because she woke up and wouldn't go back to sleep in her crib. Give me a break ok? She was also up at 1:30 as well. Teething, not fun.)
So I throw some clothes on, grab Afton, run downstairs and plop her in front of baby einstein for a few minutes while I sprint to get the garbage can out front.
And then I see the garbage truck lazily making it's way down out street. It already came by our house. Ugh.
Our garbage can is full so waiting until next week is out.
I don't think the garbage man would appreciate me running after him, nor would be self esteem appreciate me running after him. That's out.
Idea.
I checked our neighbors can across the street. Success! Still full.
So I trudge our can across the street and hope I can fool the garbage man into thinking my neighbors have two garbage cans. I'm new to this whole "garbage can" etiquette thing.
I have no idea if this is allowed in garbage can land.
Then I make my way back inside to find Afton happily staring at Baby Mozart, who by the way, is a very gifted musician and is one of my heroes because he can entertain my daughter while I am doing the dishes... or fixing breakfast, or dinner... or cleaning the toilet. You get the picture. And don't worry I DO spend more time with my daughter then Mr. Mozart, I promise.
So I feed Afton nectarines for breakfast. She manages to get more on her nose/hands/feet/hair/anything else in the vicinity than she does in her mouth. This is a common occurrence lately. All the while I am stealing glances across the street waiting for the garbage man to get to my neighbors house.
Finally he does and it's the moment of truth.
Aha!
In goes my garbage.
Success again!
I think I may have actually done a little dance and whooped.
Then it hit me.
Dang, I'm sad. If tricking the garbage man into emptying my garbage is something to get excited about, it's going to be one of those days.
You know, the ones that make you so tired to the bone that you fall into bed exhausted.
Or maybe, it was one of those days yesterday and that's why I am getting so excited about garbage and the fact that I found a loophole for procrastinators like me.
What I am getting at it is, sometimes we need to celebrate the little victories in life or else we let the little failures (i.e. Afton spitting her food out and making a COMPLETE mess EVERY meal, Afton waking up every 4 hours at night, Oliver pooping in Afton's room, Oliver eating a poopy diaper I accidentally left on the coffee table) in life get us down.
So I WILL be happy about my garbage success and I WILL NOT feel like a loser for it.
Thank you very much and have a good day.

Oh and don't forget to put your garbage can out?

Summer according to my iPhone

2011-09-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

It has been a wonderful summer, has it not?

My iPhone has managed to capture all the little moments when my camera wasn't in hand.
The silly Afton moments...

Which believe me, are many.

The days spent outside on a blanket.

Or inside on the couch playing with Oliver.

The lazy Saturday mornings spent sleeping in.

The weekdays playing on mom and dad's bed.

The weekday mornings getting ready for work.

The bath times.

NAKED BABY ALERT!

CUTE NAKED BABY ALERT!

And the Sunday naps with dad.

It's been a pretty good summer folks. But I am happy it's September and that fall is nearing closer.
Thanks iPhone.

Discouragment and Encouragement

2011-09-02T12:54:00.000-07:00

It's crazy how every new day with Afton brings something new. This last week I decided to let Afton feed herself with a few finger foods (mostly cut up soft fruit).

There was a lot of smearing and smooshing on her tray.

But she did manage to get quite a few pieces in her hands...

And even a few from her hands to her mouth.

But don't worry because I had my vacuum on standby in case any drooped on the floor. (Oliver has realized his life just got a whole lot better now that Afton's feeds herself once a day).

Eventually Afton got tired of the effort it took to get one little piece of banana in her mouth and resorted to this...

And this...

And was pretty dang proud of herself. And I have to say her mom was pretty proud too!

And yes there was some gagging...

But mostly just my smart little girl growing a little older and wiser.

Monterey

2011-09-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Bringhursts, Monterey is one of our favorite getaway spots now. We haven't been there in a while so we decided to take a day trip with the Fronks a few weeks ago.
We started the day by a late breakfast at Breakers Cafe,which was very yummy.
Brooke and Afton's breakfast of choice was the jam packets on the table...

Then we headed to the aquarium to use our season passes one last time...

As you can tell from the face, Afton Loved it!

It was a perfect day, not too hot or cold.

Our last stop was the beach for dinner and a fire.
It was Afton's first time in the sand.

And while she mostly stuck to the blanket or our laps, she did venture in the sand once...

We shared a yummy peach from Casa De Fruita (a must stop on the way there or back).

Relaxed and people watched...

And snuggled into our hoodies...

Eventually it got time to leave (Binkie in the mouth is a sure sign that Afton's ready to go...) and sadly we had to leave wonderful Monterey.

Until next time Monterey.

My bookshelf- Edition #4

2011-09-01T15:34:00.000-07:00

It's been almost two months since I posted my last bookshelf book reviews.

Since then I have read 10 books. That is a little more than a book a week.
Some I read in a few days and others took much longer than a week.
I have been trying to diversify my picks a little.
Lighter, then heavier.
Young Adult Fiction, then a classic.
It's nice to read something different. I find that if I get stuck too much in a reading rut then I will never get out of it.
So here's what my mind(and my fingers, after all they have to turn the pages) has been up to the last few months:

1) Before I Fall
Synopsis(Taken from goodreads): What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?
Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.
Instead, it turns out to be her last.
Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.
Rating(Out of 5): 5
Notes: This is really one of the best books I've ever read. So different. I NEVER got bored. I enjoyed every page and the story was always different so it kept me on my toes. It was such a beautiful message and very well written. Definitely one of those books that I stayed up until 2 in the morning because I really wanted to finish it. Then I was thinking about it for days afterword and didn't want to start another book because I didn't think anything could match it. It is more of a mature book. Has some swearing and adult themes. But really not too bad. It actually fits into this book and is important for the story line. PLEASE read this book!

2)Uglies, Pretties, Specials & Extras
Synopsis: Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that?
Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.
Rating: 3.5
Notes: This was a really entertaining story. The first two in the series were the best. The last two were ok. I definitely liked this series but it also isn't the first that would come to mind when giving a book recommendation. They were very easy to read though and were good, clean books. I bought them on a whim with a gift card to Barnes and Nobles and I'm not disappointed they are on my bookshelf. I am sure I will read them again in a year or so.

3) Water For Elephants
Synopsis: Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.
Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.
Rating: 4
Notes: The only reason I was dissapointed with this book and didn't give it a 5 was because of some swearing and sexual content. But it was definitely different from what I had been reading and it was a nice change of scenery(as far as books go). The characters were all great. There were a few oddballs, it is about the circus after all, but they just added to the story even more than the "normal" characters. It is definitely a page turned, especially at the end. This story helped keep me awake on the drive back from Utah :-)

4) My Cousin Rachel
Synopsis: My Cousin Rachel is the gripping story of a Victorian young man
whose placid life in the English countryside is turned inside-out by an
older woman. The young man is Philip Ashley, the novel's narrator.
Orphaned at an early age, he's been raised by his bachelor uncle
Ambrose, who falls in love and marries while traveling in Florence, then
dies there in suspicious circumstances. Shortly after her husband'1s
death, Ambrose's widow turns up in England, setting the stage for the
unfolding of a relationship between the callow Philip and the beautiful,
sophisticated, mysterious widow. And while Philip impetuously embraces
the role of the moth flapping full-tilt toward the flame, the widow
never puts a foot wrong. Is she designedly luring Philip to his doom?
Might she even have had a hand in Ambrose's death?
Rating: 2.5
Notes: I was laughing a little when the synopsis says a "gripping" story. Uh, no. Maybe a few times I was pretty into and mostly at the end. This story was dull. That's probably why it took me months of reading a few pages, maybe a chapter, and forgetting about it and then going back to it. I originally picked the book up because I love the author's more popular book Rebecca. I read that book in high school and again a few years later and loved it. So I figured I would love this book. But I just didn't. It is interesting at parts and mysterious in others but just not that gripping and in the end the storyline just was too plain. So I'm glad i read it but probably wouldn't read it again.

5) The Count of Monte Cristo
Synopsis: Falsely accused of treason, the young sailor Edmond Dantes is arrested on his wedding day and imprisoned in the island fortress of the Chateau d'If. Having endured years of incarceration, he stages a daring and dramatic escape and sets out to discover the fabulous treasure of Monte Cristo, and to catch up with his enemies. A novel of enormous tension and excitement, The Count of Monte Cristo is also a tale of obsession and revenge. Believing himself to be an 'Angel of Providence', Dantes pursues his vengeance to the bitter end, only then realizing that he himself is a victim of fate. One of the great thrillers of all time, The Count of Monte Cristo has been adapted for film and television many times
Rating: 4.5
Notes: This book really is a classic for a reason, it's great no matter when you read it. I have seen the most recent movie made many times and loved it so I picked this book up at Barnes and Nobles a while ago and it has been on my to read list for a long time. I was a little daunted by how long it was and never seemed to have the time to delve into this kind of book. But I finally did and actually got through it in a couple weeks. Which is still long for me so you will definitely have to devote some time to this book. But it is well worth it. I promise. I actually liked the first half of the book the best. It is more about hope for the future and has everything a good book should. And while I still liked the second half too it is a little depressing. The most recent movie definitely does not portray the book ending correctly. But overall this is a wonderful book and really a great literary feat.

6) Jellicoe Road
Synopsis: My father took one hundred and thirty two minutes to die.
I counted.
It happened on the Jellicoe Road. The prettiest road I’d ever seen, where trees made breezy canopies like a tunnel to Shangri-La. We were going to the ocean, hundreds of kilometres away, because I wanted to see the ocean and my father said that it was about time the four of us made that journey. I remember asking, “What’s the difference between a trip and a journey?” and my father said, “Narnie, my love, when we get there, you’ll understand,” and that was the last thing he ever said.
We heard her almost straight away. In the other car, wedged into ours so deep that you couldn’t tell where one began and the other ended. She told us her name was Tate and then she squeezed through the glass and the steel and climbed over her own dead – just to be with Webb and me; to give us her hand so we could clutch it with all our might. And then a kid called Fitz came riding by on a stolen bike and saved our lives.
Someone asked us later, “Didn’t you wonder why no one came across you sooner?”
Did I wonder?
When you see your parents zipped up in black body bags on the Jellicoe Road like they’re some kind of garbage, don’t you know?
‘Wonder dies.’
Rating:4
Notes: I liked this book because it kept me on my toes to the point of even being downright confusing sometimes. But it all works out in the end and comes together in one of those "aha" moments. I love mystery books because finally understanding everything is so satisfying. This book is also very well written and is different from most other books I've read lately. This was a new and refreshing point of view and way of writing. I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a light read.

7) Passion (Fallen #3)
Synopsis: Luce would die for Daniel.
And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.
Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.
Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.
Rating: 3.5
Notes: I do like these books, I do. I read through all three of them. This one is the third in the series and just came out a few months ago. But...(you knew it was coming) sometimes the plot lines gets a little too far out there for me. It is about angels and fallen angels, and this book introduces a character who is meant to be Satan or the devil or whatever name you want to use. Now it isn't explicit or dark really but the story line still kind of bugs me a little. For one, the author never gives you the whole story. It's the third book and I am still not sure what the books are about completely. Yeah, annoying. A little suspense is great. A little, I said.
With that said, I do like the story line in other ways. The third was probably my favorite. It took you through different time periods and I think the author really hit the different era's head on. She did a great job making them seem authentic. The story is also very unique and definitely isn't another vampire story, which is nice for a change.
So there are things that annoy me and things I love. I'm really split but would definitely still recommend this series.

8)Daughter of Earth(Tales of the Guardian #2)
Synopsis: The second installment in the Tales of the Guardian Series
An impending war nears and little seems stable in Emily's life. Determined to fulfill her duties as the prophesied Daughter of Earth, Emily enters Eden and begins to find her place in a supernatural world. Alexander's disapproval of the course his elders have charted for Emily threatens to break his bond with them. Long-kept secrets of his kind prove to be destructive to his trust; but Alexander has a secret of his own. A dark secret that could not only destroy their love but could also destroy the hope that lies with them for the survival of mankind.
Rating:2
Notes: I bought the first one on my nook app on my phone because it was 99 cents and someone who's book taste is very similar to mine recommended it. Meh. That's what I thought about it. Sometimes I would see a glimmer of hope in the writing and then sometimes I felt like I was reading a really bad soap opera script. The writing was so simple and boring at times. But the plot was good at times and the ending kept me interested so I read the second one. It was about the same. Maybe the writing improved a little and plot was still interesting at times. But compared to many books I've read lately I just can't say this was very good.

Overdue

2011-09-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

It's a long story why I am not just posting Afton's newborn pictures, so I won't tell it. But I will say how I have already forgotten, only 9 months later how small our baby was when she was born. These were taken when she was just a week old by a friend of ours in our old ward. We were lucky enough to be her last session before she decided to take a hiatus from photographing newborns. She did a wonderful job and I am so happy to have these special pictures as a reminder of

"The Help"

2011-08-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

For my mom's 50th birthday (She still doesn't seem 50 to me!) I took her to see "The Help." We both read the book and were very excited to see it portrayed on the big screen. I am always a little skeptical of books turned into movies because let's be real: you can NEVER make the movie as good as the book. It's just a know fact. You can come close, but you will not succeed. And while I again will not say the movie was as good as the book, because it wasn't, it came darn close!
It was so wonderfully done and they really didn't leave out anything too big (they couldn't have added anything else, the movie was over 2 hours). The characters were all cast perfectly, every single one. My favorites were Skeeter and her mother and Minny of course. It was the perfect amount of humor and serious, which the book was too.
I just can't say enough good about the movie. But you need to read the book as well!
Thanks for a fun date mom and happy birthday!

Teething and BBQ's

2011-08-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Afton cut her first tooth a few days ago and I believe she is working on another one, because she has been CRANKY with a capital C! To appease her crankiness even a little bit we have been giving her anything we can think of to chew on (safely).
I remember someone telling me a big thick carrot is a great teething toy. She doesn't care for the frozen ones so we tried this out. And she loved it! She chewed on that thing for a few hours. Then we left that evening (we were being brave, what with the crankiness and all) to go to a BBQ at the Fronk's house.

Then she was so interested in the other little kids that she lost interest of her carrot. And it was getting a little gross anyways... so Toby (the Fronk's dog) snatched it up and finished it off for her. Thanks Toby.

We had yummy chicken kebabs, corn on the cob and watermelon for dinner. Sounds like summer right? I have a feeling I will be more than a little depressed once winter hits and I can't shop at the farmers market anymore for peaches and watermelon.

Summer BBQ's are wonderful (especially when I get a night off of cooking AND the food fits into my new eating habits.) Thanks again to the Fronks and the Adams for a wonderful evening.
Oh and to Oliver and Toby for the entertainment. (They are playing, not fighting. Don't worry. We aren't running a dog fight club or anything.)

Sitting and Standing

2011-08-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Afton is officially a sitting girl! She hardly ever falls over anymore except when she is mad about being on the floor by herself and does it on purpose, which I don't count.
Here she is playing with dad after work...
and by that I mean she is playing and dad is sleeping because he is tired from his long 10 hour workday in the sun.

She is also starting to experiment with standing. Her legs have always been strong so she doesn't really have any problems if she has something sturdy to lean on...

Such as Aunt Katie's legs...

Here's to another few months of sitting and hopefully she will wait to crawl for a little while. I am enjoying the peaceful playing and not really looking forward to baby proofing quite yet.

Welcome to the Neighborhood

2011-08-09T22:33:00.000-07:00

Friday night Chad had to work until about 1 am (poor guy), so Oliver, Afton and I ventured out on a walk around the neighborhood.
We really love the neighborhood we live in and often dream of buying a house there someday....someday.... So needless to say we were so excited to find the townhouse we are now renting. We get all the benefits of living in a nice neighborhood but still have the simpleness of an apartment dwelling.
Oliver and Afton ready for the walk: can you tell they are both excited?

My beautiful baby!

All the houses in our neighborhood are older and unique but wonderfully beautiful. They are tasteful and not too big but big enough. Another thing I LOVE is all the old wonderful trees. They are so big and shady. You simply can't find that in new track home neighborhoods.

I especially love a house with a terrace (is that what you call it?). The white one in the upper right hand corner reminds me of the house on the notebook a little. That house is directly next to us. The one on the bottom left corner is across from us and I am pretty sure is a million dollar home.

Still happy...

I also love that fact that everyone keeps their yards nicely manicured and the homes just look so neat and clean.

We live not too far from Enslen elementary school which I hope is where Afton might go (I just might put her in a Charter school, so we'll see. But we certainly have a few years to figure it out.) It is a beautiful school.
Did you know that they still have ACTUAL sand boxes in elementaries anymore? I didn't...

And finally...Our humble abode.
Upper left: This is our townhouse. There are two in the front. Our's is on the right.
Upper Right: The two in the back.
Bottom Left: A nice little patio area.
Bottom Right: Our car port and laundry room.

We love our new place and neighborhood. Even though we can't buy a house yet this place makes us feel a little less like apartment dwellers and this way we can dream up our future house on our afternoon walks.
Still Happy....

Love him

2011-08-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago Chad took a much needed "guys day" and took the boat out with his friend Jason. The young single adults just happened to be at the same lake that day so they took some of them for rides too.
One of Chad's friends snapped these photos and posted them on facebook and I just couldn't resist sharing them here. I am usually not a gushy-i-love-my-husband kind of person on this blog but can I just say, that these pictures reminded me why I fell in love with this guy.

He is outgoing, confident, handsome and so nice to everyone he meets.

Not to mention a great wake boarder!

So for once I am going to gush and brag a little about my husband because he is amazing and you know what, I just don't say it enough!

Dear Afton, Love Oliver

2011-08-04T21:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Afton-

I'll be honest, when they brought you home from the hospital, I thought you might be another stuffed animal for me to rip up. But they got really mad when I tried to get too close so I figured you had to be something else. Then I realized after a week that mom and dad loved you a lot and the only way I was going to get any attention was if I was close to you. So I figured I would see if I liked you and get to know you a little. Then I licked your foot for the first time and you tasted good. That's about all it took to convince me, I like people pretty easy.

I got pretty worried when you cried in your room and it puzzled me why mom and dad let you cry sometimes. But don't worry I had your back. I would sit outside your room and even sneak in it sometimes if they left the door open, until you stopped crying.

And now I think you're pretty cool. So I like to lay by you whenever you are on the floor. You know just to make sure you have something to entertain you so you don't cry.

And okay, I get you're getting older and are moving around a little more so I'm just gonna sit by you on the couch too just so you don't fall off. Don't worry I won't smother you, just keeping an eye on you. Like I said, I have your back. And you know I might even let you pull my ear once and a while or chew on my tail, but just don't do it too often okay? Because it doesn't feel that great.

So anyways I guess it's okay that you're around... just as long as you don't ALWAYS hog mom and dad. Not gonna lie, I do like to cuddle. Maybe when you're older you can convince mom and dad to let me sleep with you? I promise I will take a bath more often and work on not peeing on my stomach. Let me know about that...
I guess you can stick around for another few months if you want to.

Love, Oliver

Kissing

2011-08-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or could you kiss your baby a hundred times and day and still want to do it a hundred more? I kid you not I really think that I do kiss Afton a hundred times a day, not exaggerating at all.
How could I not want to kiss those pudgy little cheeks and that little button nose. Don't even get me started about her cute little baby bum! I don't kiss it but I do plenty of squeezing in between the changing table and the bathtub. I also like to exclaim "Naked Baby" about 10 times in a high pitched yell. Afton thinks that's pretty funny.

A little narrative for your reading pleasure:
(top left): Okay, mom once kiss is fine.
(Top middle): Seriously mom enough with the kissing.
(Top right): Okay, one more kiss.
(Bottom): Finally she stopped kissing me and I can breathe. *Sigh*

Sun-shiny day on the lake

2011-08-02T20:58:00.000-07:00

We took the boat out for the second time as a family this summer.
This time we invited our new found friends the Fronks.
When we started attending our new ward a few weeks ago Chad ran into one of his mission companions in the hallway between meetings. Turns out he and his wife and daughter are in our ward. Small world! He got a job here in Modesto and they moved here a few months ago. It was very random but turns out to be great because we all get along really well and our girls are only 3 months apart!

Stephanie and Brooke(Fronk)

Mark(Fronk) is on the left.

Our friends Steve and Breanne Bolton also got to come! Chad has been friends with Steve since high school. We haven't had the opportunity to hang out with them much lately so it was a nice chance to catch up.

Afton had a better time the second go around on the boat although she still was not a fan of her life jacket.

Can you tell by her face? She looks pretty miserable but she really did have a better time I promise.

Stephanie and I took the girls on their first inner-tube ride ever and they weren't very impressed. We went about 3 MPH and the ride lasted maybe a minute. Then Afton started screaming because she tired and hungry. So unfortunately our ride came to an early end.

What Afton did love was hanging out on the inner-tune (without her life jacket, that's the important part for her) while we stopped and ate lunch and swam around. Don't worry I was VERY careful with her while she wasn't in the life jacket. I'm a good mom, I promise.

It's pretty hilarious how annoyed Brooke and Afton look in every picture that they have a life jacket on.

Afton is still getting used to Brooke and she likes to just stare at her, but guess how I know she likes her?

...Because she sucks on her toes of course! Believe me she doesn't put anything in her mouth she doesn't like at least a little bit. My daughter has a thing for feet what can I say?

And that was our sunshiny day at the lake! Only one person (cough cough Mark) got burned like a lobster. I'm happy to announce I only got a very mild sunburn on my shoulders and my dear baby was so lathered in sunscreen not even a walk ON the sun would have burned her!

A day in the life

2011-08-02T11:48:00.000-07:00

I love my life right now. I really do. I work part time a few days a week but I get to take Afton with me. So it really doesn't seem like work which is my kind of work. But mostly I get to stay home with my baby. And I can't tell you how much our strong bond means to me. You can't know just how much your little bundle of joy means to you until you have had 8 months with her every day and you know each other better than you know the back of your hand.

So for your information (I'm expecting you to take notes by the way) here is a little of what our days look like lately:

During the week days Afton and I will wake up in bed together. Mind you she doesn't sleep all night in our bed- no way Jose. She usually wakes up anywhere from 5:30- 7 am and then sometimes we go back to sleep for an hour or two after I feed her. It's nice because I get to wake up to this...

...or maybe a stretch or two. Love that stretching face...

...and there is usually some eye rubbing going on. She always rubs her eyes when she is tired or just waking up.

Then we get out of bed and Afton will perhaps play in her crib while I get ready for the day.
I have been trying to get her to love this Kitty stuffed animal, conveniently named Kitty by me when I was little. And while she enjoys chewing on kitty's tail she is by no mean infatuated with it...yet. We will keep working on that. I am really hoping to tell her when she is older that she loved that toy the most.

Then Afton will chill on the couch, sometimes in the buff(aka her diaper) and play with whatever I can give her to keep her happy (aka Oliver's leash) while I make our breakfast.

Then she might take a morning nap, thankfully that has been more and more often lately. And when she wakes up VERY refreshed and happy we will play some more.

This is probably one of my all time favorite pictures of her...EVER. This picture portrays her personality perfectly...happy and loving.

On the fun days like last week we will have visitors like my Aunts and Afton gets a break from boring old mom :-)

Then in the afternoon we will usually spend time running errands or working at my dad's office. Afton is always such a trooper on these afternoons. She does amazing in her car seat. As long as she has something to chew on, she's fabulous.
Then daddy finally gets home from work and we have some dinner and playtime. Then it's bath time (and i'll admit this isn't regular every night. Lately she has been getting in the shower with me in the mornings or we skip the bath altogether sometimes. Gasp. Don't worry she's not even crawling so she doesn't get too dirty). And finally bedtime.

The weekend is usually a different story lately we have been gone A LOT. So Afton gets used to napping in her car seat...
or wherever she can really. (This is the floor of my dad's shop.)
Lately we have been spending time seeing family and friends and usually our activities have something to do with water.
We got to meet up with my best friend from high school Blair. Afton was also ALMOST born on Blair's birthday, the day before. So of course Blair always reminds us of that.
Afton stripped down to her diaper and had a little impromptu swim session with Blair.

She loved trying to eat the floaty. What's new?

And of course we spend lots of time at Chad's parents house, usually in the back yard admiring the garden or the chickens. Afton was especially happy when grandpa picked her a special baby carrot from the garden just for her.

And Grandpa Terry is always a favorite for a babysitter. After seeing Harry Potter Chad and I came back to this:

Except just a few moments before this picture grandpa was also sprawled on the floor asleep. I guess the apple never falls far from the tree right?

And Sundays are always my favorite day of the week to spend with this little lady.
We get to:Dress her up in pretty bows/headbands and Sunday dresses.
She gets to: Chew on dad's shoelaces during Church.

We get to: Show her off to everyone at church :-)
She gets to: Chew on her fingers and babble as loudly as she likes during church.

We get to:Cuddle our sleeping baby and listen to the wonderful messages at church.
She gets to: Cuddle with us and have a peaceful nap at church.
Then we go home and...
We get to: go for a lovely walk in our lovely new neighborhood.
She gets to: get pushed around like a princess and eventually fall asleep on our walk.

And that my friends just about sums up our week with the love of our life.
And this picture just about sums up the love our life...

Silly, Silly, Silly! We couldn't love her more!

Summer Days

2011-08-01T23:18:00.000-07:00

Although this California summer hasn't been as hot as some, it still reaches the 100's some days.

So the perfect equation for a hot day is:
Swimming and Popsicle...

And this little baby with her chubby cheeks.

Grandma and Afton by the pool

Afton and her cousin Jo Jo

Ariana (who will be in 8th grade in a week! Ahhh!)

I make smoothies a lot for myself in the morning so I just put some leftovers in these nifty homemade Popsicle makers and voila! A popsicle Afton and I can both enjoy.

She loved the popsicle but almost loved chewing on the popsicle stick more. She will chew on just about anything lately... toys, dads shoe laces, Oliver's ear, tail, feet etc. You get the idea. And mom and Oliver DO NOT like when she chews on those last few things mentioned.

Fourth of July

2011-08-01T23:15:00.000-07:00

Our Fourth was relaxing this year.
We spent the day BBQing with Chad's family and then went to fireworks in Ripon.
It was an awesome show that seemed to last forever!
Afton loved the fireworks but eventually got too tired and fell asleep in my arms, even with the fireworks in the background.

We were able to watch fireworks with my Mom, stepdad and sister, Chad's whole family and our friends the Lee's. It's always great to be surrounded by the people you love especially to celebrate the wonderful county we live in.

Afton+H20= Our Fishy

2011-08-01T23:07:00.000-07:00

Afton's first time swimming was a success. We went to our old apartment complex where are friends the Lee's still live...

...and had a wonderful day swimming. We can tell already that Afton is a fish out of water. She loved splashing in her floaty but loved swimming out of it even more.

Why does it seem like I can never get a normal smiling picture of my husband?

Oh wait, it's because I can't!

Ariana graced us with her presence as well.

Our baby is already on her way to becoming a star water polo player and following in her parent's foot

Beckham and Afton Meet

2011-08-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

After the Bringhurst reunion was over we traveled down to Utah to visit my sister and her family. Afton had never met her aunt and uncle and cousins so we were extremely excited for this visit.

Beckham and Afton loved each other (and my sister and I MIGHT have forced them to like each other but hey their babies, they don't know any better!)

Afton also got to meet her Grandma Adams. We were so happy to visit her as well.
Chad was the apple of Brielle's eye this visit. Aunt Clair who? Uncle Chad! Where's Uncle Chad?
Oh and Brielle adored Oliver. She kept asking, Where's Weiner Doggie? (that's what she called him. So cute.) And what's he doing? Where's he going? It was hilarious!

After some visiting and a lunch of Cafe Rio we headed up American Fork canyon to make smores!

Sadly our visit was short, only two days.
So we loaded up Afton's car seat with toys...

And introduced her to Mr. Sippy cup- thank you for hours of entertainment on the car ride home.

Oliver got comfy...

And Chad drove us home...

And Afton didn't start screaming until Sacramento. Not bad. 11 hours of non-screaming, one hour of screaming. I'll take it.

Bringhurst Reunion

2011-08-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

So at the end of June, our little family of four (yes I include Oliver in that count) drove to Idaho for the Bringhurst Family reunion that happens every other year. This year it was at Chad's Grandma Bringhurst's farm in Rupert. The drive there was long. We drove at night so that Afton could get sleep, which she did. She did so good and hardly fussed at all. Chad and I however were very tired to say the least. We traded off driving a lot and had to pull over and sleep once. Remind me to NOT drive at night again.
Oh and Oliver kept trying to get in the front of the car so he could lay on our laps. He even tried climbing over Afton's car seat a few times. We would hear a whimper from Afton all of the sudden and look back and Oliver was standing on her trying to get to the front. It was so late at this point we were thinking Oliver didn't even know she was there. Luckily Afton didn't even wake up and Oliver eventually went to sleep in the back.
Remind me NOT to bring our dog next time.
(Also note the middle picture of Olive growling at someone outside the car. He did this EVERY time we stopped.)

We finally made it to Idaho and enjoyed ourselves at the reunion. There were so many people there to talk and visit with. Never a dull moment.
(Clockwise from top left: Chad and Parker fixing the OLD motor bikes. Afton asleep with Aunt Diane. Afton, Aunt Katie and Dixie. Aunt Diane and Afton. Tony, Katie and Tyler. Matt riding the motor bike. Center: Amanda, Dixie and Jill.)

One thing I love about trips is that I get to spend more time with my hubby and now my Afton!
(Clockwise from top left: Me and Chad taking a motorcycle ride. Afton and Daddy hanging by the campfire. Me and Chad at the cemetery visiting family gravestones. Mommy and Afton at Grandma Bringhursts.)

I have an absolutely amazing husband who likes to help anyone and everyone. So needless to say he is always busy at family gatherings. (Sometimes I get cranky about that fact because I don't see him as much as I want, but I wouldn't want my husband any other way. He is so generous.)
(Grilling his famous BBQ chicken for lunch one day. Hanging with Oliver. Tending to the fire. Tending to Baby :-)

(clockwise from top left: Afton and Grandma Bringhurst. John and Tony. Dixie. Katie, Afton, Becca and Jill. Lydia and Afton.

We love the Bringhurst family. They are the most loving and outgoing family and we are always laughing and having a good time around them. I am so blessed with wonderful in-laws!

First Boat Ride, Second Dog Crush

2011-08-01T11:26:00.000-07:00

We are lucky enough to have access to a boat whenever we want so we decided to take it out for the day with my brother. It was Afton's first boat ride and we were pretty excited to see how she would do.

So we donned our swim suits and lather up with sunscreen...

And bought Afton a pretty new life jacket...safety first.

And....she didn't like it. Not one bit. I'm sure she wouldn't have minded so much if the life jacket(the smallest we could find mind you) didn't consume her tiny little body. You know that seen in A Christmas Story where the little boy can't move because he has so many winter clothes on...yeah it was like that except think sun and life jackets instead of snow and jackets. Poor thing. But she was a trooper and tried to pretend she was having a little fun for the pictures.

And then she fell asleep. This child can fall asleep ANYWHERE.

But we had fun none the less. And that night we swapped our swimsuits for some dinner attire and went your friends Kelly and Alex's house for a little dinner and game night.

And Afton fell in love with their dog Maddy. She loved to sneak under the table and lick Afton's feet...and face...but mostly feet.

And Afton loved to smile coyly at her and play hard to get. Such a flirt! :-)
And just to be clear, Oliver is still her number one. He was a tad bit jealous when we came home that night and sniffed another dog on Afton but a few licks in the face reconciled that quickly.

6 months

2011-08-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

(Excuse the lateness-she is now almost 8 months but I really wanted to record some 6-month happenings...)

Dear Afton-

So much happened in the month of June when you turned 6 months old. At lot more firsts. It's starting to get hard to keep up with all the new things you do. You have started to sit up although you are still VERY wobbly and fall over a lot. Luckily you are a pick-yourself-up-and-do-it-again type of girl. You still despise being on your stomach for more than a minute and seem to care less about crawling but I am OK with that. Instead you like to sit or lay on your back and play happily. You still aren't sleeping great and wake up a few times a night but we are working on it. You are however an awesome eater. You like just about everything mommy gives you (with the exception of peas and really I can't blame you. They are gross). Mom loves to make most of your baby food and you love to eat it!
You are a very happy baby. Always smiling and talking to yourself. You love to laugh at dad when he's being silly, which is just about all the time. I can already tell you are turning into a major ham just like him. You still have a soft spot for mom though and want me when you get cranky or tired. And I am ok with that. I love cuddling with you and will be sad when it doesn't happen as often. Out favorite time of the day is when you wake up in the morning. Usually about 4:30-5:30 am. I get you out of your crib and you get in bed with me! Dad is usually at work by this time so we have the big king bed to ourselves. I will feed you and then we fall asleep again for a couple hours. When you wake up you are all smiles and playing. You just want to roll around on the bed and make as much noise as you can so that mom will wake up to. Not gonna lie- it's nice sleeping in till 9 and I am taking advantage of it while I can!
You have had so many firsts lately. Your first ride on the boat (which you sadly didn't like very much because you hated your life jacket). You also got your very first sippy cup to drink from and drank water for the first time. You LOVE that. You got to meet A LOT of family for the first time this month. You met your Aunt Nichole and Uncle Chase and your cousins Beckham and Brielle. You and Beckham are best buds already (at least your moms insist you are and you guys go along with it because you don't know any better). You also got to meet your Great Grandma Adams and your Great Grandma Bringhurst who both adore you. And you met a ton of other Bringhurst at your first Bringhurst reunion. You also made your first trek to Utah/Idaho. You did great there and back and are such a great traveler already.
Your dad and I can't believe you are 6 months already and are wondering where the time went. We love you more everyday and love to see you learning new things all the time. We know you love us too because you smile for us on command ;-) We want you to know how blessed we feel every day to be your parents and we hope to be the best parents we can. Forgive us for not being as patient as we should sometimes and know that we pray every morning and night to be better for you. We love you.

Mom & Dad

Why we love Whiskers

2011-06-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

My little sister Ariana has a cat names Whiskers, aka Whisky as Chad so lovingly nicknamed her. Chad has a thing for nick names...
This is why we love Whiskers...

Yeah that's definitely her swatting a few diapers from underneath our door.
(By the way I promise we don't leave used diapers around all the time.)

This video is the second reason we love Whiskers.

Watch and enjoy.

Baby talk and funny faces

2011-06-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

I think... I think... she has her parents wrapped around her little finger.

What other reason could there be for the baby talk and funny faces?

Spending the day with dad

2011-06-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

A day with dad consists of...
A little Wii.
Dad plays while Afton chews on the controller wristband.
Naturally.

They're both having fun...that's what matters right?And did you know even dad's like to play dress up?
A little walk in dad's boots and they called it a day. As you can see, Afton was starting to do what I like to call "the puppy-dog-lip-curl" which means she's tired.
(Oh and her shirt says "I Moose have a hug!" A gift from Grandpa Terry. How cute is that?)

And that concludes a fun day with dad!

A toe-sucking good time

2011-06-14T19:33:00.000-07:00

(First of all, get your mind out of the gutter. Seriously guys, this is a family blog.)

I am constantly amazed by how babies can suck their toe, finger, toy, etc for like half an hour and not get tired of it. Does that amaze anyone else? No? Just me... Well it does.

Afton does like to be held don't get me wrong, but sometimes she is perfectly content just to lay and suck her toe. And it's dang cute if I do say so myself.
My baby constantly amazes me and makes me laugh.
Even if she is just sucking on her toe...

But Why?

2011-06-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

There's this thing that I do that may or may not annoy everyone around me. I don't know.
I like to question everything.
My husband knows better than anyone else I often have the question, "But why?" on my lips?
Maybe that's why I got my degree in journalism or why I was so attracted to writing controversial articles for my high school newspaper.
Maybe that's also why I like to double check things such as a mechanics quote or a price at the grocery store I just don't think looks right.
It's also why I have become one of those parents that reads as much as I can about how to be a good parent.
I decided early on I wasn't just going to take my pediatricians word for it.
I was upset about the way the hospital treated Afton's birth.
I went into having Afton definitely not wanting to get induced and not wanting an epidural and ended up with both because my mid-wife told me I was in labor when I really wasn't. So I ended up being at the hospital in what I like to call a fake-Pitocin-induced labor for a long long time. Thus the epidural.
For some reason I picked this time to NOT question everything like I usually do. I'm thinking maybe it was because I was majorly stressed due to having a baby and dealing with contractions but who knows?
I didn't ask why they insisted I start a line of Pitocin even though I was barely dilated to a 3-4 and was NOT having regular contraction.
I didn't ask why they kept running the Pitocin after 12+ hours of barely-there contractions instead of just sending me home until I was actually in labor.
And by the time they decided to break my water, I definitely didn't think to ask why.
Then when I was actually in labor and having actual contractions I DID ask for an epidural because I was too tired to raise my hand let alone push a baby out (sorry for being blunt).

Obviously I knew everything wouldn't go exactly the way I wanted to and I am not ashamed in any way for having an epidural or for being induced. It happened the way it happened and I was given a beautiful baby girl.
I guess what I am trying to say is I will know next time to question EVERYTHING.
I will not be induced.
No Pitocin.
I will go to the hospital because I am having contractions and my BODY is telling me it is time, not my doctor.
And hopefully, I will be strong enough to do it without an epidural next time.
I know it sounds crazy but I want to be as clear as I can (in the head that is) to greet my next baby.

But why the rant you ask?

I guess I am just getting a little tired of everyone telling me HOW to raise MY child.
It seems like there is "The Way" to do everything from putting them to sleep to feeding them.
I went into parenting thinking:
1. Co-Sleeping was horribly wrong
2. Do NOT rock your baby to sleep. That is just a bad idea. They NEED to fall asleep on their own.
3. Try to breast feed but it's ok if it's too hard- there is always formula.
4. Rice Cereal is a must for the first solid food.

Let me address each one of these ideas and why I have a problem with them.

1. I never thought I would want to co-sleep. I value my sleep more than anything else and was scared to death of rolling over on Afton because I am such a heavy sleeper. But my views have changed A LOT. While I didn't co-sleep with Afton and don't plan on starting now I don't see it as such a bad idea with a newborn.
Think about it... instead of rousing myself from sleep 4-5 times a night to feed simply feed her in bed as often as she needs and nod back to sleep when she is done.
More sleep for me, less trauma and stress for her.
And turns out I am a lighter sleeper than I thought. In the last few weeks Afton has been waking up in the night occasionally and I bring her back to bed with me to nurse her laying down. I often fall back asleep before she is done and wake up hours later to return her to her crib. My body was aware of her every second and would never have let me roll on her.
2. I cannot tell you how many people I have had tell me that I should not rock Afton to sleep.
We tried letting her cry it out even at 8 weeks old like babywise tells you to. It didn't work. She would cry so hard and long until I was nearly in tears and Chad was so worried. We gave up on that. Then we figured we would try it as she got older. Nope. Still cries for an hour and a half if we let her. I will check on her every 10-15 minutes and comfort her and then she will scream her head off as soon as it hits the blanket. So we gave up again.
I just can't see her upset like that.
And I enjoy rocking her. It's the one time in my day when I get to look at her and listen to hear breathe. Even now when she won't let anyone but me put her to sleep I still enjoy it. So why does my pediatrician look at me like I'm a monster and tell me I MUST let her fall asleep on her own when he finds out she won't go to sleep unless I rock her. WHY? Why is this such a bad thing? Please someone give me some concrete facts and then. maybe just then will i believe it.
3. The first few months of Afton's life were hard. Really really hard. The hardest months I've ever been to. Obviously breast-feeding hurt. I envy the women that it doesn't hurt for. They are really lucky. To be honest I almost gave up after the first week. I was terrified Afton wasn't getting enough to eat and was fed up with having to pump in the hospital when Afton had jaundice. That was a MAJOR setback for me and Afton.
And it seems like I was getting more nurses telling me just to try than actual advice.
I finally had a lactation specialist that actually helped me get over the major hurdle that is breast feeding and that made all the difference.
I am so glad that I stuck to it because it has been one of the best experiences of my life so far.
4. This last one was the tip of the iceberg for me. I bought a box of processed rice cereal for Afton's first solid food. She HATED it. She refused to eat it. Plus it made her constipated for a week or more. So I stopped giving it to her and tried light easily digested melons after some research on what the best first food was. I dug a little deeper than what the mainstream doctors and sources would have us believe.
Withing a week of stopping Rice Cereal Afton wasn't constipated, in fact she was having healthy bowl movements and was much happier.
I still can't quite figure out why rice cereal seems to be the first choice baby food but it definitely didn't work for Afton.

So... now that I have ranted and raved for paragraphs and paragraphs it all comes down to this: I DO NOT believe there is a certain way to be a good parent. I DO believe that we have parent's intuition and we should rely on that and on prayer.
We should do what feels right for us and our baby.
And Please don't let anyone tell you you are doing something wrong when you don't believe you are.
I know that I am raising Afton the best way that I know possible.
I know that I love her and want whats best for her, even if that includes rocking her to sleep until she's 20 years old and never giving her another bowl of rice cereal in her life!

Watermelon Juice

2011-06-13T21:14:00.000-07:00

I started Afton on rice cereal like you would usually do. But after a week or so of that her poor stomach just wasn't agreeing. She was having a hard time going to the bathroom and that's just sad. So I did a little research and got some tips from the same woman, Natalia Rose, that I am getting my diet from. She has some tips about how to feed your babies from 6-18 months and also a free e-book called Life Force Energy Children that gives great recipe ideas once your children start eating table food. I LOVED it. The ideas fit me and Afton perfectly. I'm sure it isn't for everyone and every baby but it is really working for us.
She suggested that if rice cereal is constipating your baby, stick with the easiest foods to digest first, melons and fruit.
So I pureed a little watermelon and put it in a bottle and let her go to town. She loved it to say the least. I had let her suck on a big piece of watermelon before but this was great because she could do it herself more or less. After a few days of this her constipation was gone and she was going to the bathroom again regularly. Relief.

I have moved through most of the fruits now as Natalia also suggests. I plan on moving on to veggies in the next few weeks.
I also let her try an avocado tonight. She liked the first few bites and then decided she didn't want anymore. So maybe in a few more weeks I'll try that again.
What I love most about Natalia's views on starting babies on solid foods is that she doesn't stress me out.
It's all about seeing what your baby likes. Letting your baby decide how much to eat. Etc.
So far I love feeding Afton healthy fruits I make on my own.
I'm pretty proud that I haven't had to buy a single jar of baby food yet. I am sure once we move up to feeding her three times a day with solid food that might change but I am still going to try to do most of it on my own.
But for now Afton is enjoying:
Watermelon juice
Pureed Cantelope
Pureed Peaches
Pureed Pears
Applesauce

She has also tried Carrots and loves those.
I am really enjoying this non-stress way of feeding Afton. I feel like parenting should really be as little stress as possible and more trial and error and fun.
If it doesn't work try something different but don't stress!
I also love the baby-shake idea and will try that out soon...

Sitting up... or trying at least

2011-06-12T20:46:00.000-07:00

Most of the time this is Afton's favorite position...sprawled.

Sometimes she will sit between my legs while I take a picture and try to steal the camera.

And sometimes she gets it right...and manages to sit by herself...

At least for a few seconds anyway.

Life in the fast lane

2011-06-12T17:20:00.000-07:00

Afton's newest adventure has been the "walker." She LOVES it. We were able to borrow one from my aunt. I always hate to buy expensive baby items especially if Afton is going to use them once and decide she isn't a fan, like with the swing we borrow from my sister-in-law. But this item will definitely be one to invest in.
Of course Oliver is never far away when I get the camera out.

Afton loves to have her toys in front of her. Oh wait nevermind. I love to put them in front of her and she loves to throw them and then get mad when she runs out of toys to throw. Repeat that 10 times and that's my day. (Kidding. This only happens about 50% of the time she is in her walker.)

Her little feet just barely reach the ground. But she can walk herself around a little bit... on accident of course.

This is Love.

And this is a double chin my friends.

That's all.

I don't like it Mom...

2011-06-11T16:35:00.000-07:00

So I started feeding Afton solids this week. She didn't mind the rice cereal on the first try. I don't think you can say she really really enjoyed it, but she at least had fun playing with the spoon after she was done.

The second time however was a totally different story. She HATED it. I couldn't help but laugh at all of her faces though.

And here is a video of her jabbering. She loves to talk. I always know she is happy when she is talking. Sadly I did not catch her growling on video but she also does a lot of that.

So I was supposed to post this a WHILE ago and it didn't get posted for some reason. Woops.

Birthday Weekend

2011-06-08T13:13:00.000-07:00

I spent my birthday at the cabin, one of my favorite places to be. It ended up snowing, at the end of May. Yep. But it was wonderful. I loved having the cold a little longer this year... a little less of 100 degree weather is fine by me.
We did our usual snuggling on the couch and watching movies.

Especially Oliver. That dog KNOWS how to snuggle. Even more so when his paws are cold from the snow.

Ariana came with us too which ended up being great because she was able to entertain these two rascals...Brennan- who insisted on wearing this mask most of the weekend...

and Brady- who was a little camera shy at first.

But he eventually warmed up to the idea and let me snap a shot. These two are my step-sisters boys. They are both so cute and fit perfect in our family. I didn't get a picture of my step-mom Micki and her daughter Heather. Sadly...

In addition to the movie watching and couch snuggling we also braved the weather and went fishing. I think the fish were getting warm in their fish beds at the bottom of the lake, but Ariana and I learned how to fish from my manly husband, aka the expert fisherman. He should be on a much safer, more tame version of Deadliest Catch! Ha.

Afton and I kept each other warm...

and looked at the beautiful scenery during Ariana's lesson.

Oliver barked at the non-existent fish...

and pawed his way around the dock.

Ariana and I also took the Prowler for a spin but that didn't last due to the snow splattering in our face. Still fun though. Oh and Oliver joined us in the back much to his dismay. In his defense, he would much rather be warm than cold. Who can blame him?

Afton ended out the weekend by watching a Vince Gill concert on TV with my dad. Let's just say she sat mesmerized for half an hour. Not a peep. It was so cute. Apparently she loves Vince Gill, who knew?

All in all, a wonderful Birthday!

Family :-)

2011-06-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

Chad's sister Jill and her family recently came to California to visit for a couple weeks. When this happens we usually spend as much time with them as we can because we don't see them too often due to the 700+ miles between us...

Dixie, Emily and Afton playing. The cousins liked each other as much as cousins that small do. They had fun staring at each other and stealing each others toys. Ok, Afton took Dixie's dog and chewed on it... That's my daughter!

They were pretty unsure of each other at first but eventually warmed up by the end of the visit.

We also took a little day trip to San Fran which was fun considering Chad and I hadn't been there in years. We mostly spent the day on the pier.
We ate bread bowls. Always yummy.

Afton was a trooper in her stroller all day. She always is so good on trips. As long as she has her duck and a few good chewing toys, she's

Afton and Daddy
We also watched the Sea Lions for a while. I swear, they are the laziest animals on the planet and somehow they still manage to be entertaining. Between the constant fighting for the best sunny spot and watching the huge ones lift their hundreds of pounds of fat onto the docks, it really turns into an entertaining show.

We also stopped and got an ice cream cone on the way home. McDonald's has pretty good soft serve for a dollar (really the only thing we ever eat there).
Plus I got to hug and kiss my baby girl which always makes my day better!

The main reason for Jill and Phil's visit was to see Katie graduate. We went to her graduation and ate at Sushi Garden after- of course, it's the best. Even if you don't like Sushi it's still has great alternatives. It even followed my diet pretty well! Super bonus.
Afton was passed from hand to hand during the ceremony. The one picture I managed to take at the graduation is Afton pulling someones hair. Typical.

We had a fun visit as usual. It's even more fun now that the cousins can get to know each other.

And here is a picture of my silly girl. She really is her father's child...

That's all I have to say.

Another one...

2011-05-18T21:13:00.000-07:00

So most of the time I don't even have time for one blog, but I decided to start another. Crazy right? Well I am determined to continue this new way of eating and living and I need somewhere to focus on that alone.
I will be blogging each day(hopefully) about what I ate that day, my weight loss, awesome recipes I tried and ones that weren't so great.
This was I can be accountable to others (although I can't imagine many people besides my mom and sister will read this)!

Here's to being healthy!

The new blog is: www.clairsdetox.blogspot.com

The Raw Food Detox Diet

2011-05-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

I decided to save this book for it's own post because it deserves it. I read it in two days and have been re-reading sections of it since I bought it. Busy Bee Lauren turned me onto this book and boy am I glad she did. It is such a refreshing view on dieting/losing weight. I have struggled with my weight pretty much since I got married and I had finally had enough! This book has helped me so much already in only a few days. I have a new view on what "healthy" means and why I need to eat healthier.

Here are a few things I love about this book and a raw food lifestyle:

1) Natalia helps you understand your body and how hard it has to work to digest, especially when the food is junk.

2) She helps you understand what foods digest best together and what times of the day you should and shouldn't eat certain foods.

3) I FINALLY understand why cows milk is NOT good for humans. Yep, that's right. I grew up with this notion in my head but never really understood it. Now I do and it's so simple.

4) Even though Natalia lives a totally raw and vegan lifestyle she DOE NOT recommend that for everyone and actually says in the book many times that many people shouldn't live that way.

5) She gives you a structured way to eat that still allows for you to mess up once and a while but jump right back on the next day.

6) The food recipes she suggests are good!!

7) I have a new found respect and fondness for salads... not drenched in ranch dressing.

8) She gives you a very simple test to determine where you should start in the raw food sphere and simple meal plans for a week to get you started. She also has a lot of very good recipes that will keep you busy for a few weeks.
9) I feel great! I have more energy even though I have been getting less sleep due to a cranky teething baby(more on that later).

I FINALLY feel like I have a way of eating that I can stick to (for more than just a couple weeks) and lose the weight I want to. I am so excited about this and have been devoting A LOT of my time to it. So I'm hoping and pretty confident it will pay off. I have already lost a few pounds in the three days I have been doing it.
So PLEASE go pick up this book. Even if you are the perfect weight and have no desire to live a raw food lifestyle there is still something to learn from this book.

A hard working, Arabian Nights, Bumbo playing, cute kind of kid

2011-05-13T22:34:00.001-07:00

These are just a few of the things that Afton does on your average day:

1) Works with Mom: Afton comes to work with me once a week and does amazingly well in the car... but sometimes she needs a break. So I get her out of her car seat and lay her on the seat next to me and we play for a few minutes. She is always very excited to be out of her car seat, as you can tell from the below pictures...

2) Plays with dad. This particular playing session included some diaper time and transforming into an Arabian...yep, Chad is silly and he is turning his daughter into a ham already.

3) She plays in her bumbo and is very talented with her chain. She can hook it on her foot all by herself. It's the getting it off she has a problem with ;-)

4) And lastly she sits and looks pretty. Can I just say one more time how beautiful my daughter is? I am one proud mama!

A Cabin kind of weekend

2011-05-13T22:33:00.002-07:00

I am so thankful to have a cabin to retreat to when life gets a little crazy and we get tired of the city.
There is nothing better than spending a weekend with your family, watching movies and enjoying the beautiful scenery our world has to offer.

Not to mention getting a few hours to go out and snowmobile with Chad. Thanks to my dad who is always willing to watch our little one.

I love the mountains!

Tummy Time With Oliver

2011-05-13T22:33:00.001-07:00

Whenever Afton has her tummy time, Oliver is not far away.
Afton is not the biggest fan of tummy time. She is very strong and loves to stand but for some reason despises being on her stomach. So she will last a few minutes and be happy...

...and then she starts to get mad...
...and proceeds to bang her head into Oliver.

So Oliver reciprocates the gesture.

Finally Afton gets so mad I must pick her up and poor Oliver is left to play by himself.

But don't worry, Oliver always loves a good open space to roll around and pretend-dig.

But alas his alone time is too much for him and he goes looking for Afton again...

Books consume me...(My bookshelf Edition #3)

2011-05-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

I swear sometimes I feel like books consume my life. I have a book about how to parent and what my diet should be like. A fun fictional book and a long tale of epic bravery and travel. A serious, real-life book. A book turned into a movie that I want to read BEFORE I see the movie. A classic book that I have to read, because, well, it's a classic. A book for a book club. A recommended book. And that book I picked up at Costco because it looked good. Or that book that's been sitting on my shelf for a few months and I really need to read because it's annoying me that I haven't yet. Don't forget the two new books I picked up at Barnes and Nobles today because I really liked another book by that author so this one must be good right? And then there is the daily scripture reading we are all striving towards...right?

AHHHHH!!!!

If I didn't love reading so much it would drive me completely insane... But alas, I love to read. So a book in every category, color and topic is completely necessary. Because, really, can you ever have too many books? I think not.

I'm pretty sure I am going to call my book problem an addiction. Just like my mom is addicted to buying fabric and my husband power tools I have fallen to a book addiction of all things. But I can't say I hate my addiction or that I ever want it to go away because I don't.
I love the rush I get when I think about all the wonderful lovely books I have waiting on my shelf for me. I love a quite Friday night in reading a book that I can't put down. Or the sad feeling when you ended a book that you loved. Or the excited feeling when a new book comes out you've been waiting months to read.

Who couldn't love all these feelings.
What I am trying to say is, if you aren't a reader, you need to be.
It is fulfilling unlike anything else can be. It can make you happy, sad and angry all in a few hundred pages. You can learn and grow.
And if you are a reader, join the club and enjoy the ride.
It's a good one.

Lately I have read:

1) Hate List by Jennifer Brown- I went a little out of the box on this one. The main idea of the story is the healing of one girl after her boyfriend goes on a shooting rampage at their school. The girl had no idea he was going to do it, but still gets most of the repercussions because her boyfriend shoots himself. I liked it because the dialogue and main character is raw. The author didn't try to sugarcoat it at all. The dad and mom in the book are far from perfect and easy to hate. And the main character still loves her boyfriend even after what he did. It is a surprisingly refreshing point of view. (Not that I read these types of books all the time.) But is just made me think about high school and bullying and how we can ignore problems right under our nose when they don't directly affect us.)
I would give it three stars. There is some swearing so I wouldn't recommend it to anyone very young.

2) Son of Eden- Tales of the Guardian by Brianna Merrill- This was a recommendation by someone else and I just downloaded the nook application on my iphone and have been looking for a cheap book to try out. This was only 99 cents to download so I did. It was worth the 99 cents but it wouldn't have been worth buying. I actually really liked reading by my phone but there is still something about reading an actual book...back to the book. It was just ok. Story line was interesting although a little overdone now a days. But the writing just wasn't developed enough. It was very short for my taste, about 200 pages. And I just couldn't get into the story in that short amount of time.
So sadly, only two stars for Son of Eden.

3)Babywise II by Ezzo and Bucknam- The first babywise helped me a lot. This one, not so much. I didn't really get anything new from it. So maybe that means I'm a super mom and my instinct is enough? I hope so. But maybe this book just didn't have enough content for me.

4) Pawn of Prophecy- Book I of The Belgariad Series by David Eddings- Currently reading this right now. Over half way done. I really like the story. My step-dad recommended it to me. I had a hard time getting past the prologue but the actual story is much different than the prologue so once I picked it up again it went much faster. It feels a little like Lord of the Rings. It is fantasy but not so far out there fantasy that the non-fantasy readers wouldn't like it. It is also very easy to relate to the characters.

Next up:
Jellicoe Road
Before I fall
The Uglies
Animal, Vegtable, Miracle
Water for Elephants
Eragon
Ender's Shadow
The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Count of Monte Cristo

Now if you would please help me stop buying more books, because as you can see I have quite enough to last me through the end of the year...

A book for Nichole

2011-04-24T22:44:00.001-07:00

I've been working on a little care package for my sister and her two kids for the last few weeks.
And this is what I came up with:

Interchangeable headbands for Brielle:

PJ's and homemade shoes for Beckham:

And a book for Nichole's birthday...

Chad's cousin made a book like this for her sister and I loved it so much I took a stab at it myself.
It turned out a lot better than I thought it would and took a lot longer than I thought it would.
But I am so proud of it I had to share!
I dearly miss my sister. It is hard living so far away from each other and since I couldn't be with her on her birthday I wanted to give her something that would let her know just how much I love her!
I love you Nichole. You are the best older sister I could have asked for...I could go on and on but the book pretty much sums it up.
Love you and miss you every day.

Oh and remember that time...

A thief in the night

2011-04-24T22:14:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and think you hear someone in the house?
Maybe you swore you heard the door open or someone bang something in the kitchen...
Well earlier this week Chad and I had this experience.
It was about 10:30 pm. We had only been asleep for about 15 or 20 minutes.
We were the only ones in the house.
I tear myself from a deep slumber because I hear a weird ripping noise coming from the kitchen which is right outside our room.
I wake chad up...Do you hear that? What is that? Did Jake come home? Is he in the kitchen making something?
Chad replies still half asleep. Yeah that's Jake....
Are you sure....
No I don't think that's Jake...
Chad gets out of bed once we realize Something besides Jake is mere feet from our room where our baby is slumbering.
At this point I'm thinking there is an intruder. It has to be... What else could it be?
I'm shaking and scared for Chad.
He is such a man. He wanders out of our room in his garments with no weapon, not even a baseball bat (side note: we will now be keeping a baseball bat by our bed after this experience).
He stands outside our door listening for what seems like forever. Probably only about 10 seconds.
The noise stops.
Chad tells me after wards he is thinking at this point that someone is crouching down in the kitchen waiting to spring on him.
When suddenly this guy walks out of the kitchen...

A big, bad dachshund named Oliver.

Terrifying really.

I mean look how terrified that chickens are of him. They are fleeing in terror.

Who wouldn't be afraid of this guy?

Turns out the ripping noise was Oliver getting into the trash.
Don't you just love dogs?

A weekend of family

2011-04-24T22:02:00.000-07:00

This weekend was loooooong....

Maybe because I had a sick husband and a cranky baby...or wait was it a cranky husband and a sick baby?
Sinus infections and teething= Cranky husband and baby! And I only mean that with love Chad)

But even when we are sick and cranky we still manage to have fun!

Afton wearing dad's hat...

Afton and dad being silly...as usual.
Chevy's for my dad's 58th birthday.
Cody & Uncle Dave

Micki & the Birthday boy with his birthday sombrero

Afton & Aunt Debbie

Everyone: We are dysfunctional when it comes to taking pictures.

I just can't get over the sombrero. It's worth going to Chevy's just for that.

And Afton's first Easter:

Cody & Ariana playing Wii.

Don't know what this face was for:

It didn't turn out to be the perfect Easter that I imagined due to a failed attempt at making Afton's Easter dress and no church due to sickness but that's ok. Being with family and having fun made up for the failed parts. And I am determined to make the dress if it kills me!

Recipe of the week

2011-04-14T21:40:00.001-07:00

I love to cook, especially now that I actually have a little time and energy to do it! It took me a good two months to get back into the habit of cooking dinner after Afton was born. I have been trying to cook a little healthier and add in as many vegetables as possible. So here is my recipe of the week. It's a family favorite and will probably be cooked in our home for a VERY long time. Neither Chad or I liked meatloaf very much but this recipe changed our minds. Ground turkey makes it a little lighter than ground beef and the spinach keeps it moist.

I got this recipe from the Cook Yourself Thin Cookbook. This is definitely a cookbook you should go out and buy. There are a lot of really good recipes in here.

Mini Turkey Meatloaf with roasted root vegetables

Serves 4
Calories per serving, meatloaves: 227
Calories per serving, roasted root veggies: 121

For the meatloaves
1 slice whole-wheat bread
1/2 cup skim milk
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
5-ounce bag baby spinach leaves
1 1/4 pounds ground turkey
2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

For the glaze
3 tablespoons ketchup
2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce

For the roasted root veggies
3 large carrots, cut on the bias
2 Yukon Gold potatoes, cut on the bias
1/4 cup asparagus (about 4 stalks)
1 teaspoon chopped parsley
1 teaspoon chopped chives
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Arrange oven racks to accommodate two dishes being cooked simultaneously.

2. Grind the bread in a food processor until fine crumbs form. Transfer to a large bowl, and pour milk over crumbs.

3. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden, about 5 minutes. Add spinach, and stir until just wilted, about 30 seconds. Transfer to bowl with soaked crumbs. Add the turkey, cheese, egg, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Combine the mixture with your hands until well mixed; it will be quite wet.

4. Pack 1 cup of the mixture into a 1-cup dry measuring cup. Invert the cup onto a rimmed baking sheet, gently shaking the cup to release the mixture. Gently pat the mound to smooth its shape. Repeat three times with remaining mixture. Bake mini meatloaves until cooked through and golden, about 40 minutes.

5. While the meatloaves are cooking, make the glaze: In a small bowl combine the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Brush over meatloaves.

6. To make the roasted root vegetables: On a baking sheet, toss all the vegetables in the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Add to the oven along with the meatloaves and roast for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring midway through baking. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with fresh herbs.

Note: I add zucchini to the veggies and they are to die for! Zucchini is my new favorite vegetable. I don't know why I went to long without it...

My bookshelf- Edition #2

2011-04-14T18:32:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking(hoping) to continue this post every few weeks. Depending on the books, I usually will go through a few books a week. Meaning I will usually have 3 or 4 books to review for you at a time.

1) The Girl With the Dragon TattooTo be completely honest a book has to be really badly written, boring to the point of death or have just too much a) violence, b) swearing, or c) explicit sexuality for me to hate it. This was one of those books. It was not badly written but it really wasn't written in the kind of way that keeps me hooked either. A little too simple for me. Not enough phrases that make you stop and say "wow, that was a beautiful sentence." It also wasn't boring to the point of death, but was slow in some places. I really didn't get into the book until about 150 pages in. What made me cross over to "hate" rather than just unimpressed was the amount of swearing, sex and violence.
As a latter-day saint I have been taught to turn off the T.V. or radio or put down a book when it has something inappropriate in it. This has been instilled in my mind since a very young age. There were so many times when reading this book that I ALMOST did that. I am slamming my hand into my forehead for even finishing the book, but I have this thing where I just can't leave a book unfinished. It eats at me to the point where I am laying in bed at night thinking what is going to happen in the book I didn't finish. Ok, maybe I am being a little melodramatic, but you get the point right?
And on a side note: I STILL haven't finished My Cousin Rebecca. Guess that book is the exception to the I-have-to-finish-a-book rule...
So back to the dragon tattoo fiasco. The book had a heavy feel to it. It focused a lot on sexual violence against women in Sweden and thus had a lot of not-so-nice sexual scenes that were sometimes very explicit. The other half of the book takes on a mystery feel which is the only thing that kept me reading. Because, come on...who can not find out what happens once that mystery is stuck in your head?
The main word I would use to describe this book is heavy...and depressing...and blunt to the point of being annoying. Oh and did I mention that the "mystery" part of the book ended up being about a serial killer? What a nice light way to end the book huh?
So overall I would give this book 1/2 of a star. If there hadn't been so much swearing I might have given it one more star. But swearing makes me mad, especially in books. So dang it Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, you get half a star. That's it.

And I would NOT recommend this book to anyone. Hows that for a review?

On to something happier...like forbidden love...

2)DeliriumIt took me a few visits to Borders (who are going out of business and selling everything but the actual building at half off) and a thumbs up from Busy Bee Lauren to convince me to get this book.
The cover was very intriguing and called to me from the shelf when I saw it. I also got it for 60% off, score! But in the end the beautiful message and the well written story are what makes this one of my new favorite books.
The Book is about a future in which love is referred to as a disease called Amor Deliria Nervosa. In the book, when you turn 18 you get an operation in which they "cure" you so that you won't catch the delirium.
What I loved most was the way the author made you think about simple things such as music or dancing in a completely different way. These things, as well as love, are outlawed, so young kids must sneak out to have parties and enjoy these things that we take for granted. Ultimately, this book made me remember when I fell in love for the first and only time. The book talks about ways to know you have the disease, symptoms if you will.

Phase One:
Preoccupation; difficulty focusing
dry mouth
perspiration, sweaty palms
fits of dizziness and disorientation
reduced mental awareness; racing thoughts; impaired reasoning skills

Phase Two:
periods of euphoria; hysterical laughter and heightened energy
periods of despair; lethargy
changes in appetite; rapid weight loss or weight gain
fixation; loss of other interests
compromised reading skills; distortion of reality
disruption of sleep patterns; insomnia or constant fatigue
obsessive thoughts and actions
paranoia; insecurity

Phase Three(critical):
difficulty breathing
pain in the chest, throat, or stomach
difficulty swallowing; refusal to eat
complete breakdown of rational faculties; erratic behavior; violent thoughts and fantasies; hallucinations and delusions

Phase Four(Fatal):
emotional or physical paralysis (partial or total)
death

The whole book was full of clever insights such as the above "symptoms" of love. Each chapter has a little poem or scripture or saying adapted to fit the idea that love is a disease. To me, the cleverness of the book and the unique perspective is what made it so enjoyable.
It also had one of those jaw dropping kind of endings that I definitely wasn't expecting. And while it wasn't a happily-ever-after kind of ending, it was an ending I can appreciate because it was different and it wasn't what you were expecting.

So much unlike the Dragon Tattoo, I give this book 5 stars and recommend it to everyone and anyone that can read. PLEASE go out and buy a copy, you won't regret it, I promise.

3) City of Bones (Mortal Instruments Series)This is the book that I am currently reading; however I have read it before so I am fully qualified to give you a review. I read this series about a year ago when there were only 3 books out and loved it. It definitely won't be for everyone, let me just say that first.
It is about shadowhunters or those who hunt and kill demons. While that might seem dark and depressing it really isn't. The books have a more youthful feel to them which lightens the darkness of the demons in the story.
The author also has a knack for weaving humor into the story line. There is a sarcastic banter between the two main characters that keeps it light and entertaining throughout. The main female character is strong willed and has a mind of her own which is very refreshing.
I started reading the series again because the fourth book just came out and I have a weird thing where I can't just read the fourth book without reading the first three again. So i will read all three so that I can FINALLY read the fourth one.
Anyways, this is a light read but a story that I really enjoy, even for the second time.
I give this 4 1/2 stars and recommend to those who enjoy a light fantasy.

I am thinking of changing things up a little and hopefully reading some different kinds of books after I finish the Mortal Instruments.

Here's what's on the menu:
*Favorite Wife (a BIG maybe)- I added it to my phone list of books to read for some reason but I am VERY skeptical of books about polygamy but this one sounded pretty good.
*Glenn Beck's Common Sense- My father-in-law had this book on his shelf and I have been meaning to pick up a Glenn Beck book.
*Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale
*The Secret by Rhonda Byrne- I keep seeing this and have always wanted to pick it up, plus it was recommended to me by someone just the other day.
*The 5 Love Languages by Gary D. Chapam- This will probably be my next book. I was told it is a really good book.
*The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey- Who couldn't use a little extra advice on money?

Let me know if you have read any of these? Also I am ALWAYS open to suggestions on new books!

4 months

2011-04-10T20:19:00.001-07:00

Dear Afton,

Can you believe you are four months old? Because I can't.

I love spending every day with you.
You are a very happy baby and seldom cry unless you are tired or hungry or need your diaper changed...
and who blames you?
I cry about those things sometimes too...
although I don't use diapers, so maybe just the first two :-)

You are very strong now and are getting close to rolling over and sitting up. You love to stand up with the help of mom or dad of course.
You also like to do what I call baby crunches. You lift your head and your feet at the same time so it looks like you are doing a crunch.
I am pretty sure you are teething so you still like to chew on your hands and pretty much anything else you can get your hands in. IE: my hair, my hands, your blankets, etc.

You also still love to talk and smile. You are always smiling.
You laughed for the first time this week! Mommy tickled your chubby little chin and you thought it was hilarious. And you are starting to look at specific things and grab them. You have even put your own binky in your mouth once. (It might have been by mistake though, not too sure)

Mommy feels so lucky to be able to stay home with you every day. You are already my best friend and we have so much fun together. I even get to bring you to work with me one day a week. I feel extremely blessed to never have to leave you... my heart can't handle being away from you for too long.

It seems like you learn something new every day and you are always looking at everything around you with big eyes. Lucky for me and dad you are still sleeping through the night and are taking pretty good naps now too.

Afton we love you so much and couldn't imagine our life without you. We thank Heavenly Father every day for allowing us to be your parents and raise you. You are such a special little girl and are adored by so many people already.

Thanks for all the laughs and love you bring to our home!

Love,
Mom and Dad

And for your viewing pleasure...Afton and her mowhawk.

Putt-Putt on a Friday

2011-04-05T23:08:00.000-07:00

We recently went to Fun Works for a little Friday night Putt-putt golf with our old neighbors the Lee's.
I forgot how horrible I am at putt-putt but how incredibly fun it is the worse you get. Definitely worth $15 for a fun night with friends.

(Michelle and Afton)
(Brian)

(Carter)

Not so happy at first...

but binky came to the rescue and saved the night.

You can't tell in the picture but Michelle is 6 months pregnant. They are having a second little boy in July.
Me and the hubby.

Monterey in March

2011-04-05T23:00:00.000-07:00

Chad's Aunt, Uncle and cousins drove down from Idaho a few weeks ago to visit.
We had a FULL house. There were 14 people sleeping in the house and 16-17 hanging around.
It was crazy but fun.

(John, Molly and Diane)

(Diane, Shauni, Michelle and Emily)

(Becka and Dalton)

We drove to Monterey for a few days while they were here.
(Second cousins?....I think...)

Chad hijacked the camera like he usually does at least once a trip to take a silly picture....

This wasn't in Monterey but I was laughing so hard when I took this on my phone because it reminded me so much of the above picture. Like father like daughter?

Mommy and Afton looking at fish at

Chad and I outside the aquarium on one of the only sunny days we had.

Posing for a quick family pic at the tide pools.

Later that night on the beach...

Monterey is always one of our favorite places to go. Always beautiful and so much to do!

The busy life of a four month old

2011-04-04T22:51:00.000-07:00

Afton stays very busy. Sometimes I wonder how she has time to give me any attention.
She spends time sitting in her bouncer. One of her favorite past times.

She also loves to sleep. (Thank goodness). She loves to fall asleep in people's arms...like this:

And she loves to be silly with daddy...they kind of have the same face...this wasn't planned. I think that means that she will be a mini-chad when she grows up. Two hams in the family...great...

She always manages to fit in some hand chewing time throughout the day.

She is learning how to sit and roll-over. She practices everyday.

She drools a lot...

She managed to fit me in to her schedule this day...We spent some time outside one night in the lovely spring weather.

She models her headbands and poses for the camera often. This is more of a "mom" request than an Afton activity of choice.

And lastly, she is just plain cute all day long!

I mean, look at her!

Who ever knew 4 month olds could be so busy?

Emily's 23rd

2011-04-03T23:15:00.000-07:00

Chad's sister Emily turned 23 this weekend and we all went to BJ's to celebrate...
Emily and Bobby

Their food is good, really good. Especially the pizza. Too bad we didn't order any. We just a bummed a piece from someone else. But next time pizza will be on the menu.

Katie, Michelle, Tony and Afton

Dinner out is always fun with the Bringhursts. Add some good food to that and it's bound to be a memorable night. Plus Afton loves being the center of attention, which she was. What can I say, I have a cute baby!

This is what I know

2011-04-03T21:52:00.001-07:00

I have so much to blog about...okay, I have so many blog posts to do about Afton...but I need to do something else first.

I need to tell you what I know...
This is my favorite time of year, late March/early April. For many reasons. Spring is usually here in California (sorry to my Utah family who cannot say the same. Wish you were here enjoying our weather instead of snow) and it's beautiful. Green, sun, warm. Gardens are being planted and everyone is venturing outside to take walks and fly kites and throw frisbees. Oliver is always happier when he can lay outside in the sun and get his tan on.
And then there is Easter, the most wonderful holiday. Who doesn't love a holiday to celebrate Christ and his resurrection? There really isn't a more beautiful thing. And the dyed and eggs and candy aren't bad either.
And then there is General Conference. Two days where we can gather with our families, friends and church congregations to listen to our prophet and apostles and get instruction on how to live our lives a little better and be a little happier. I always feel a sense of pride to know that there are millions of people around the world doing the same thing at the same time: listening to wonderful men and women share their inspiration from Heavenly Father.
As I sat on the couch in my in-laws living room today during the Sunday morning session I realized how blessed I am. I looked over at my husband watching the T.V. as well and then at my daughter sitting in her aunts lap smiling and cooing. Then I saw the trees outside and the beautiful sunny day and I got emotional. Call it postpartum hormones (does that count after 4 months?) or just me being emotional, but either way I was crying tears of happiness, be it only a few.
I am lucky. I live in America. I am free to worship how I please and I do that by being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I chose to follow my Savior Jesus Christ and my loving Heavenly Father.
I am not always on the right track and sometimes I have to remind myself who I am and what I stand for but that's OK. It's days like today when I really remember what this life is about. It's days like to day when I am really thankful for such a loving wonderful family. I am blessed with a husband who loves me and tells me so daily. Who tells be I am beautiful even when I don't feel like it. I am also blessed with a wonderful daughter who has already taught me so much in her four months of life. I also have wonderful parents and siblings and was lucky enough to marry into another wonderful family.
So this is what I know...
I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and each one of his children.
Jesus Christ is my savior. He died for me and for you and was resurrected and lives.
Joseph Smith is a prophet who restored Christ's church on the earth today.
The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. It tells of his life just like the Bible and can give us daily instruction.
I will be with my family forever because of the ordinances of the temple.
That is what I know and know you know.

I hope you had a wonderful general conference weekend and think about what you know...

And please check this out. It's where I got the idea for the title of my post. It is beautiful and simple and will make you smile or cry, whichever you prefer :-)

P.S. This is what Afton did during her first conference...The Prophets voices do have a certain lull to them. Can't say I blame her. Let's be honest, who hasn't fallen asleep during a few conference talks in their time.

My bookshelf

2011-03-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE to read. It's definitely my favorite pastime and I ALWAYS have a book in my purse...thus why I must carry a ginormous purse with me at all times (lately a ginormous diaper bag).

I must admit I love fiction the most. Don't get me wrong, that's not all I read, but it's what I love the most. There is something about delving into a fictional story with fictional characters. You can disappear from your own life for a little while, i.e. bills, fussy babies and long days. I love my life, but who doesn't need a break once and a while? And while I'm being honest, my baby really isn't fussy very often...so I can't complain on that count. But the bills never end and the days are most certainly long.
So I like to curl up with a good book whenever I can. To give you an idea of how much I read: I have already read 15 books this year and am working on two more. Some are light reads, others are a little more dense which is why I am currently working on two. I started reading My Cousin Rachel a while ago, before Afton was born, and still haven't finished it... I CANNOT not finish a book. It isn't in me... I just have to finish it or it bugs me. But I really liked the authors other, more commonly know book, Rebecca, that I read for my high school English class, so I picked this one up too. So I will finish it sometime... I like it, I do, it has a Jane Eyre/Pride and Prejudice feel with a murder mystery sort of twist but it is a little slower so that's why I keep putting it down and going back to it.

The other book I am currently reading, just started it yesterday, is The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I like it so far because of the journalistic background of the book. Makes me remember why I got my degree in journalism. But I am really not very far into so I can't say whether I will be returning it to Costco or not :-) They take anything back...

I also thought I would do a little recommending to those of you out there looking for something to read. I read a lot of what Barnes and Nobles calls Young Adult fiction. They are usually light, easy reads. Some adventure, science fiction maybe. It's what has been interesting me lately. But there are a few other books I have read this year that don't fall in that category to choose from. Oh and I love series if you couldn't already tell. I just love getting to know the characters for longer than a few hundred pages. By the end of it they are more like friends than book characters. Maybe I'm crazy?

1) Harry Potter series(7 books total)
I hadn't read this series all the way through in a long time and I thought it was time again. I loved them as always. Please read them if you haven't. Read them again if you already have.
2) Matched-I would recommend this to anyone. It took me a few days to finish and was a really easy read. It is about a perfect society where arranged marriages are the norm. The main character, Cassia, is given her match but also falls in love with someone else. The second book Crossed comes out November 1st.
3) I am Number Four-
The movie just came out a month ago and while it was good, it has nothing on the books. The book is about aliens, which I know might seem a little too weird and sci-fi to some, but it's really not far-out-there alien. It's more handsome, likable alien. Get it? It is anther light read but very good!The next book in the series is The Power of 6 and it comes out August 23rd. Can't wait.
4) The Road-
Depressing, but powerful. But depressing. Seriously, get ready to cry during this one. The writing is really unique though and beautiful. It's a post-apocalyptic kind of story and does not have a happy ending. I would still recommend it, but it will definitely be a one-time kind of book for me.
5) Fallen & Torment-
These seem at first to be another Twilight series but they are very different. It's a love story but a little darker. It is one of those series that doesn't answer all of your questions, even by the end of the second book, so if that bothers you then you wouldn't like these. I really enjoyed the characters and the character development. The third book in the series, Passion comes out June 14th.
6) The Help-
Hands down the book I would recommend first out of this list. It is very different from anything else I have read lately. It is set in Jackson, Mississippi in the middle of the Civil Rights movement. The book is written from three different points of view. Two black women and one white women. It is refreshingly different and is surprisingly funny, entertaining and a little mysterious. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. You will not regret it. It is a little slow in the beginning but picks up by the second half.
7) The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials-
I just finished these and my head is spinning. It is such a unique story and there are a lot of new terms and phrases. There is so much information to process that you will not be bored. I promise. This is another post-apocalyptic type of book. I would say it is aimed for a younger crown but I really enjoyed it. It is cleverly written and gives you just enough info and holds back just enough. The third book, The Death Cure, comes out October 11th.

More firsts...

2011-03-16T18:19:00.000-07:00

Obviously with a new baby there are a lot of firsts... so here are a few more "firsts" for Afton...
1) First official yogurt trip...get used to those Afton because your mom loves Yogurt Mill ;-)
My friend Kelly was nice enough to grace us with her presence for the outing.

2) First trip to Sushi Garden. Sushi Garden is a Bringhurst family favorite. I'm not really into Sushi but their appetizers and teriyaki is very good. Afton had fun sitting in her carseat and watching everyone else eat!

3) First homemade hairband. Yes, I jumped on the bandwagon and tried my hand at hairbow making. And...confession time... I liked it...and I am pretty good at it so I think I will keep on doing it. Plus Afton looks pretty dang cute in them if I do say so myself.

4) First trip to the cabin and seeing snow. The snow thing she could really care less about, being as she is only 3 months old. But she LOVED the cabin. She loved being held all the time by my dad and she loved snuggling in her jackets and blankets to keep warm.

Below is her on the couch. I just thought she looked even smaller than usual... if that's possible!
Hanging with Grandpa, making silly faces. This is her "Mom, what did you do that for?" face.

Mommy and Afton. Thank goodness for self-timers or I don't think I would ever be in any pictures with Afton.

Daddy and Afton.

This was also the first time Afton got to try out her spiffy boots (another hand-me-down from her cousin brielle. Although I don't think they've ever been worn, so does that count as a hand-me-down? Let's just call them a gift.)

Afton fell asleep while Chad was holding her like this. It was super funny. She was OUT.

Then she fell asleep in a similar position with my dad. And if you notice Oliver is trying to bite my dads hand and play. He feels a little left out sometimes...

Then Afton had a blowout during her nap and got some of the said blowout material on my dads shirt...I'm trying to not put gross images in your head and I am also not trying to talk about my little girls (poop) on my blog for her to later read and get mad at me. So that's my way of saying it without saying it...get my drift?
Outfit #2 for Afton and my dad after the mess is cleaned up. Ha ha It just wouldn't be a day with Afton without cleaning up a diaper mess right?

Family picture outside the cabin...yes Oliver is included. After all he is our first(non-born) child.

We all were a little tired on the car ride home, including Afton... a few minutes after this picture she was asleep.

And Oliver's favorite pastime in the car... getting his nose prints on the glass and accidentally rolling down the window!

What I've learned so far...

2011-03-04T11:26:00.000-08:00

I don't pretend to be a pro at the whole motherhood thing after only 3 months. But I do feel I have learned a thing or two about how to be a good mother.
So here goes...
1) Be patient. Even if your baby is screaming in your ear just coo and talk to them. A lot of the time this will calm Afton down very quickly. I know that she likes the sound of my voice and my smile. So even when she is feeling bad, my happy face will most likely make her feel better.
2) Schedule, smchedule...I really don't think it's completely necessary to have a strict schedule for a newborn. I read babywise and while I liked some of the ideas, I wasn't a fan of the whole book. We just could never get on board with the "cry-it-out" method. I don't think its mean or cruel really but it just wasn't working for Afton or Chad and I. And she really doesn't have a set feeding schedule either. Like she doesn't always eat at 7 am for her first feeding. Sometimes, but not always. And sometimes she likes to go 2 hours during the day between feeding and sometimes 3 or 4. So I let her decide when she's hungry and we do our best to fit everything in around that. And I am not putting her down to bed by 8 every night. I would much rather put her to bed at 9:30 or 10 when we go to bed. That way she will sleep 7-9 hours and wake up when we wake up in the morning. Makes sense to me! I have found that if I just trust my instincts, that is the best.
3) Let others help... Sometimes I like to be superwoman and do everything myself, but I've found out, it's ok to let others help. Especially since we moved in with Chad's parents has this been true. I can actually cook dinner because I usually have someone who can hold her if her bouncer just isn't making her happy and I am up to my elbows in raw chicken. We also have amazing parents who watch her so that Chad and I can go out on dates.
4) Dad's are just as important as mom's...Chad is an amazing dad. I know there are a lot of background dads out there. You know...the ones who think babies should be left to the mothers. That's insane. It definitely takes more than one person to raise a baby. That's why I am so lucky to have Chad. He is always willing to rock her to sleep when she is cranks or give her a bath or just dance with her. She loves daddy's beatboxing and silly dance moves...In case you haven't met my husband he is VERY silly. And I have a feeling Afton will take after him in that respect. And I will admit that I have to remember that Chad is a parent too sometimes. I get so used to being with her all day and doing thing's a certain way that sometimes I am not always open to
new ideas. Sorry about that Chad...
5) Relax! I am trying to not be an uptight parent. The instinct to be so kicks in when someone wakes Afton from her nap for being too loud or when someone doesn't hold her the right way or when...etc... Get the picture? It's easy to stress when you have a new baby. It's easy to be more annoyed than happy. I am trying (hopefully successfully) to NOT be like that. I am pretty sure it's working. It's so much better to just enjoy being a mom than to worry about HOW you are being a mom.
6) Take time for yourself...and you will be a much happier parent. While I love being home with Afton everyday it is nice to have some alone time once and a while or go on a date with my husband. I feel that it is sooo important to make time for those things or you just go crazy.
7) Breastfeeding is natural and wonderful... The first few weeks, was rough (maybe even the first 6-8 weeks) but now its better. I look foreword to the time when I get to feed Afton. It's the one thing only I can do. It's our time to just be near each other and enjoy the quiet time. When I away for a feeding and someone is giving her a bottle, I hate it. I miss her and I know that she misses me. She really doesn't care for the whole bottle thing and I like it that way :-)
8) People are very friendly when they know you are carting around a newborn. People in stores love to smile at the stroller and wonder what's under the blanket. Many actually ask to see Afton. I almost always have someone offer to open the door for me when I have her with me. And many people love to tell you that their wife/daughter/sister etc just had a baby. Weirest comment? A lady in khols the other day told us about her grandson that had webbed toes. TMI khols lady, TMI. But despite the oddballs it's refreshing to have people be so friendly. Yesterday while running errand downtown, 2 men opened up two different doors for me at the same time. We all laughed and smiled. It was funny.

There are definitely a lot of other things I have learned but my brain can't recover them right now. Plus I am thinking that Afton has been napping for an hour and might wake up very soon so I better end this while I can.
I love being a mom!

12 weeks down, many more to go!

2011-03-02T19:17:00.000-08:00

Dear Afton-

You are 12 weeks old today! I feel like just yesterday you came to us. I can honestly say it has been the happiest 12 weeks of our lives. We love you more everyday.
You are getting so strong. You have a lot of strength in your legs and you like to stand a lot(with mom and dads help of course).
You have also has found your hands this week. You just love to stare at your tiny fists and you also like to suck on them too.
You have started sleeping through the night pretty consistently. Last night you broke your own goal and slept 9 1/2 hours! Mom and dad are definitely happy about this accomplishment. I must say that it is nice to sleep so long and be refreshed in the morning. So thank you for that!
You are such a happy baby and you are really starting to get your own personality. You smile all the time and talk to us often.
You love your bouncer and looking at the animals move. You also love when daddy dances with you. That's your favorite.
We can't tell you enough Afton how much we love and adore you. Thank you for being our daughter and being so wonderful! We love you.

Mom & Dad

A month of Afton

2011-03-01T21:53:00.000-08:00

It's been a month since I blogged and I just have too much to post about, so here is a recap of February. Yes, it is all Afton. Our life doesn't really consist of much else lately... or at least not much that matters as much as her!

Showing off her outfit for a wedding reception...she is a very stylish baby if I do say so myself! (8 weeks)Ha!

I just loved this picture of my two favorite people.

Sitting with Aunt Kate watching the Superbowl...actually I am secretly going to teach her to hate the Superbowl like I do. So much for the secret part. See she is so bored she is yawning.

Mom, I just woke up, please get the camera out of my face...
(9 weeks old)

Visiting Grandma Tracy and showing her how she can hold herself up.

Getting tired of holding her head up...it's getting very heavy!

Taking a nap with daddy and Oliver...

Playing while Oliver naps.

I have started helping my dad with some office work and Afton goes with me. Here she is helping me work...ok, so maybe she doesn't really help, but she sure looks cute anyways!

Smile!

Here she is trying out her pack n play for the first time. It will be her crib for the next 6 months. We moved in with Chad's parents to save some money for when Chad goes back to school in the fall.
Mid binkie spit...her favorite past time.
(10 Weeks)
Getting a bath in the kitchen sink.

(11 weeks)

Conehead...this might only mean something to me. When we were little my mom and dad would put soap on our heads in the shape of a cone and call us "coneheads" after the characters on the T.V. show "Coneheads."

"I'm ready for my closeup mom!"

And lastly I got her to model two new outfits from Costco...
(12 weeks)

I want to eat her she is so cute! Look at that double chin...

She has recently discovered her hands and loves to chew on them all day long...

She also likes to kick her socks off all day long! Boy will I be glad when summer hits and I can let her go barefoot all the time...

Hopefully now that we are settled in the posts will be much for frequent and much smaller. Although I can never seem to narrow down the pictures I want to post of Afton. So they will definitely be more frequent and we will work on smaller :-)