Happy 2009!

Wow - January is almost over and I couldn't let this month pass me by without at least contributing one post to our blog! This has been a month of monumental achievements for the little one and we are in absolute awe of how fast she is growing (it sounds like such a cliche to say, "they grow up soooo fast", but it is so true!) Chloe took her first steps this week and she has really found her voice. She says mama, dada and nana (using those three words for just about everything) and likes to sing while rocking her body back and forth. Her first "steps" were really just one step each time, but it still blows our mind that she is nearly walking...

The hubby and I enjoyed a dreamy holiday season and are looking forward to a phenomenal 2009. We are looking forward to a cycling trip to St. George next week and Aaron has managed to carve out a few days to check out the Tour of California with some of his pals (Lance Armstrong has come out of retirement and is riding again so needless to say it should be a fun race to watch). Chloe and I have been keeping busy with playdates, little gym, trips to the library and any other adventures mommy can conjure up for us during this not-so-great weather. I am kicking off a new business venture this year and am excited to share some details in future posts...

My beloved husband has always been a fan of New Years Resolutions (he actually writes his goals or resolutions down and focuses on them throughout the year...) I never have been a big fan of resolutions myself, but then, I'd never seen anyone approach them quite like Aaron so I thought I'd take a stab and making some of my own resolutions this year. They aren't really blog-appropriate (a bit more personal in nature) but they all sort of fall into the theme of self-improvement. I think it is healthy to look at yourself with a critical eye and identify areas of your life (or attitude or approach to things) that warrant hard work and improvement. I am happy to say that I've learned a lot about myself during the process. In summary: I am now sort of a "fan" of New Years resolutions...

Other happenings: we got a board game for Christmas - Connect Four - remember that!!?? Aaron and I love it (I am really quite impressed with his skills). Mike (aka Uncle Moo) is off to Argentina and Brazil on February 12th for 4 months - we will miss him terribly but we are so excited to hear about his adventures in paradiso... Aaron and I saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and LOVED it. We've committed to a romantic date night once a week and enjoyed ice skating at the Gallivan this week - neither of us fell and it was a total blast (sort of a workout too believe it or not). Oh yeah, and we have a new President and we feel like the entire country is experiencing some kind of religious fervor in the wake of his inauguration...It scares me a bit. There seems to be a lack of critical analysis on such a massive level and I feel like emotions have trumped rational thinking as it relates the role of government in this great country. 2009 will definitely be interesting from that perspective. I've been reading all sorts of "low-brow" books (thrillers and the like) and I've really enjoyed it - I especially love an author named Greg Iles (I've read everything he has written in the last few months - fun stuff).

Life is great. 2009 is going to be amazing... It just gets better and better.

Double Four Photo Tag!

The rules are: Go to your pictures. Select your fourth folder. Then select the fourth picture. Post and explain.



OK - so I've been challenged by my hubby's cousin-in-law (?) (adorable mom and wife extraordinaire Candy!) to play this game. So here is the 4th picture from my 4th folder (the dreaded "Accident Folder"):

It is appropriate that I am posting this picture during a month that reminds us all how much we have for which to be thankful. My husband has given me the incredible gift of staying home to raise our daughter. While preparing for the momentous transition from our previous "DINK" (dual income no kid) status to relying 100% on daddy for our material needs we sold one of our cars and Aaron purchased us a SWEET old 1990 Jeep Grand Cherokee (pictured above).

A sturdy truck that was paid for in cash plus equipped with 4-wheel drive seemed like one of the most sensible and adult-like decisions we had made all year and Aaron and I both felt great that I would have this truck available in case I ever needed to leave the house during bad weather while I was pregnant (in my previous life I worked out of my home calling on clients throughout Utah...)

Long story short, I surprised Aaron with a trip to Phoenix to watch a road bike race over Valentine's Day earlier this year. My boss had decided to make a last-minute trip into town so I was unable to join him in Phoenix, but I encouraged him to go anyway since I knew how much he wanted to see the race and his whole family was going... After much protesting on his part ("oh honey, what if you go into labor?? etc."), he agreed to leave me home alone while 7 months pregnant if I PROMISED to drive the old red jeep if it snowed. Well, for those of you that remember February 13th of this year, you'll know that not only did it snow, but the weather closed roads from Provo to Ogden. Ironically, I ended up driving my boss around in his rental car that night and we made it to Provo and back to SLC without incident. I woke up to a gorgeous Valentine's Day - it was bright and sunny and the snow was starting to get slushy. Because our area wasn't yet plowed, I kept my promise and pulled out the jeep for the day.

I rolled down the windows to clear the side mirror and enjoy the cool sunny air. I hit slush in the slow lane of the freeway while going around 25 miles an hour and hit the freeway barrier. As the jeep started to roll, I did what only felt natural - I stuck my left arm out to protect my little baby. It is strange, nobody in their right mind would think that a mom's arm could stop a rolling car, but that doesn't mean we wouldn't all still try.

Angels were watching out for me that day and I'll never ever forget how lucky I am. Our baby's heartbeat never even went above normal and after twelve hours being monitored in labor & delivery even my doctor had to admit that it was just a normal day of floating in mommy's tummy as far as our little one was concerned...she had no idea mommy had rolled her jeep on the I-15 during morning rush hour. Chloe's life (and mine for that matter) was further protected that day by the absence of airbags in that old jeep. It had never occurred to us at the time, but the jeep was too old to be equipped with airbags (a safety feature which is very dangerous to pregnant mommies). My broken arm has long since healed but it now has a permanent divot that reminds me of how much I have to be thankful for every single day of my life. Aaron flew right home and never did have a chance to see the race, so we took that as a lesson to never spend another Valentine's Day apart...

The jeep has now become Aaron's little project as he is rebuilding it with his own bare hands. It has a shiny new coat of paint now and reminds me of a Legoland firetruck. I would drive with him anywhere in that old thing.

TAG Mary Rino - you are it! Post a picture and share...

Happy Halloween

Chloe's first Halloween was a blast. We had more fun just dressing her up and taking pictures than doing much of anything else. We visited Nana Gundi and Grammy Jan and Auntie Angie and baby Haven so Chloe could impress everyone with her angel wings (which we later found out we had put on upside down...) Aaron and I enjoyed ourselves reminiscing about the trick-or-treating adventures we had enjoyed as children...so much has changed! We loved going door to door in our neighborhood but it doesn't seem like a lot of folks feel safe having their children do that anymore. More and more people are going to organized events in parking lots, malls, and inside buildings instead of visiting the neighbors to see how peoples' porches are decorated and who answers the door in costume and who has the most creative treats (we both loved getting the mini-wonderbread loaves as children). It makes me a bit sad to see how much has changed. I am hopeful that we find a neighborhood with real "neighbors" where our children can still go door to door safely. Holidays are becoming so organized, structured, and "managed" just like everything else. Our kids are going to end up trick-or-treating in "artificial" neighborhoods set up at the local malls or churches (it reminds me of Catherine the Great and the fake villages set up to deceive visitors as to the true state of Russian poverty and sickness...so sad).

On a much lighter note, despite my pleading that Aaron put on some green tights and play Peter Pan, we elected to go with something even less inspired: Salt & Pepper (neither of us wanted to pull out the white pants, so we both threw on jeans - but we did wear laminated signs and hats!)

And, Chloe is starting to use a couple of her signs ("boo-boo" or milk and possibly the sign for "fan"). She definitely understands "change diaper" and milk; but she plays with her hands so much it is probably too easy for me to see something and say "a-ha - she is definitely communicating with her signs!" It has been a fun adventure for our family to learn some signs and Aaron's absolute favorite (and most-used) is: mama is crazy (a made-up sign, but one that is very easy to understand;)

As election day approaches, here is one of the thoughts that is at the forefront of our mind: The country that will give you everything is the same country that can take it all away. Whatever you do this coming week, my hope is that people get informed and then vote. Things are changing in this country more than people realize. We are raising our kids in a historic time. What will America, democracy and a free society mean by the time our children can vote? Where does the line between government and the private sector really end and who is better equipped to decide what is best for my money and my family - me or politicians?

Enjoy the rest of this beautiful weekend!

It is starting to rain and that is a great time to get cozy with the family...

New addition to the family!

Welcome to the World sweet Haven Virginia! Aaron's sister Angie gave birth to a beautiful & healthy baby girl on Friday after 19 hours of labor. Aaron and I (and Chloe) were at the hospital for most of it and the experience reminded me that there is no miracle in the world that compares to the birth of a child. 7 lbs 1oz and 20 inches of pure love.

Chloe stayed up until 3 AM the night that Angie labored at St. Mark's after her water had broke. The staff looked at me like I was nuts, but what could I say? My daughter has a relatively consistent bedtime each night and is quite a good sleeper, but she KNEW that something exciting was happening and refused to pass out until we left. The next morning she stayed up from 6 AM until the moment Haven was born and then slept for the rest of the day. Little ones are so much more perceptive than I ever realized... She amazes me with her awareness every single day. As my Aunt Ruth says, "she is an Old Soul Michelle". When I look into Chloe's eyes I know that we have always known one another. And when I whisper secrets into her ears she looks at me with such awareness and perception that it takes my breath away. WOW.

Mama Angie, daddy Brad and baby Haven are doing well and Chloe has spent two days over at her cousin's house getting to know her. She was used to jumping on her Auntie Angie's pregnant tummy and now she has to be a bit careful as Angie recovers from her delivery. Chloe gazes at Haven with a great deal of intensity and we are pretty sure she would start sucking on her ears and cheeks if given the opportunity. I feel so blessed to have a growing family and can't wait for these two little ones to grow up together. Coming back to Utah was a tough decision for me, but I now know that I have spent my whole life preparing for the life I now live. Words can't describe the happiness and peace I feel when I go to sleep at night with my husband and daughter, and how I feel when I wake up with them by my side.

Here is Uncle Zack holding Chloe as she reaches out to her new cousin Haven for the first time.

We did it!

We actually created our very first blog. Chloe and I are so excited to record some of our family's activities and events (and hopes and dreams) online for the world to see! (or atleast for our family and close friends to see on occasion).

We've kept up to date on a couple of our friends' blogs and I frequently find myself inspired to start my own. Little Chloe Soleil is quickly approaching her six-month birthday (gasp!) so this seems like a great time to start recording life in a more digital way. I can't imagine ever totally abandoning my handwritten journals, but I am definitely more skilled on the keyboard than I am with a pen so this method takes less time (and, sadly, it is much more legible because my handwriting is atrocious).

Exciting news of the week - Chloe's BFF was born on Friday! Chloe stayed awake until her little cousin Haven Virginia made her grand entrance into the world. We took Chloe to see the paragliders last night and she loved it. She particularly enjoys playing with individual pieces of grass in between her delicate little fingers. Here is a picture of Chloe at the park watching the paragliders soar.