Thanksgiving Festivities

We stayed in Provo for Thanksgiving this year and celebrated with Caitlin and Brandon Young, our good friends that live down the way. Caitlin and I planned the menu about two weeks out and then the Monday before we headed to the store with our lists and recipes. It was really fun getting it all together with her. The outcome was absolutely beautiful. Jon was the hero for the day for cooking a beautiful bird. We were both busy all day either keeping Chase happy or baking in the kitchen, it was no easy task.

The thing Jon and I were most grateful for this year, other than each other, is our sweet baby. He has been the greatest blessing to each of us and we love him more than we ever thought possible. So very many things to be thankful for this year.

My dear friend Maggie was in town and it was so fun to introduce her to Chase. She and I have been friends since 2006 so she has seen me through it all. I love her dearly and am so glad I got to see her. My only complaint is that we don't live in the same city.

Chase's first little hike.

All four of us (yes, even Aspen) piled into our little civic and drove up the canyon to go on a Hike almost exactly a month after he was born. We bundled Chase up and Jon carried him in the Bijorn. He was snugly warm as we walked around Big Springs up Provo Canyon. It was a beautiful crisp day, which made it very fun to get out in the fresh air. It was much different from the last time we went up there because I was 8 months pregnant, super hot and not very comfy. It was so fun to be doing what Jon and I have always dreamed about for our little family. This will be the first of many outings for our family.

Our first outing

This was the day of Chase and I's first outing to the mall together. Thankfully I had my dear friend Caitlin to help. Chase was really good, he slept most of the time. We then made a stop at Caitlin's mom's house to introduce her to Chase. This is a pumpkin her dad grew in her back yard. Either the pumpkin is really big or Chase is really small... both are very true.

Photo Shoot

We're so lucky to have this little guy, he is such a cutie!

These are pictures that my mom shot on her camera, our good friends Jake and Emilie actually came over to do the photo shoot and I will post their pictures in another post,

they are awesome pictures!

While Grammy was here...

While Grammy was here, she worked on many projects on the sewing machine, cuddled and loved on Chase and was my saving grace. It's a surprise we survived without here after she left, I'm here to say we survived:).

Grammy Arrives

Life got so much easier once my mom came. She helped us get on our feet, I don't know what I would have done without her. She made me laugh, which was the medicine I needed.

She made us dinner every night, she held Chase when he was fussy and we didn't know what to do, she took Aspen out on multiple walks every day, she got me out of the house... she was our angel! Words cannot thank her for what she did for us, I cried all day after she left.

First Week Home

So we survived the first week home without my mom there. Can't say it was an easy week, but now with that four weeks behind us ,it's easier to talk about. Anyone who has not had a baby, the recovery is not so fun, in fact, I would say having the baby was easier. If you want more details about that, ask me in person... not appropriate blog material:).

If you can't tell from the picture, I was tired... real tired.

It's crazy how fast he has changes! He already looks so different and if he stays asleep for a bit longer I'll be able to post more pictures today, we'll see.