Our Little Abby

On February 26 at 8:22am, Abigail was born. She is healthy and beautiful. We are very grateful for these often-overlooked and underappreciated blessings! She is eating well and growing. Abby seems to be adjusting to life on the outside, and is showing more of her personality each day.


"Abigail" is a name we decided on a long time ago. It has profound meaning for Erin and I. She is mentioned in 1 Samuel, Chapter 25, and also described at length in a book called The Peacegiver.



Kaden loves his little sister. He doesn't mind sharing his toys, blanket, or whatever he has with her. He likes to kiss her head and cuddle up to her. He says "aww" when he gets close to her to show his affection for her.



(Thank you for your patience with the time in between posts)

HALLOWEEN 2007

Who are you calling a cow pal?! Oh . . . me. I'm not sure how I feel about this costume? Do the spots make me look fat?Alright! I'm a cow!! I think I really like this costume now! Check it out . . .

I have cow horns . . .
And, see . . . I even have a cow tail!
Hey, I've been busy passing out candy to all the other kids in their costumes. I need a break! Plus, I'm a little upset they get candy and I don't. Not that I'm complaining about the bottle . . .
Well, that's my first Halloween! It was a lot of fun. I'm not sure what I'll be next year - so if I look worried, that's why.

Anyway, have a wonderful day!

Happy Birthday Mom and Dad!

Dad had his 30th birthday recently. We had cake - I like cake, but especially like the "frosting" everyone puts on the cake. Dad sure had a lot of candles to blow out.
Mom had her birthday soon after! We had a real nice time with family. Mom's cake was round and had a hole in the middle - it looked like a big donut!!!We really like birthdays! It is a fun time with family and friends, and a chance to open presents. My birthday came later - pictures will soon be posted.

LAKE POWELL!!!

Finally on the water. These kayaks are great for Lake Powell. We took Kaden out for his first spin - we chased each other, splashed and enjoyed the waves tossed our way by passing boats. Kaden really liked to help paddle along!


Mom and Kaden went out on the big tube behind the boat. This is a must at the Lake, and he really enjoyed being out there. Much more tube fun to come from this little guy!


After the tube, Mom and Kaden took it easy in the boat! Incidentally, you can tell that the lake is always cooking up a storm for the evening by looking at the sky behind them.


Sunglasses are absolutely required at the lake! The sun is bright, but on the water it is doubled since it reflects off the water. These are Kaden's sunglasses - it took him a bit to settle into them, but he eventually did.


The best part of Lake Powell is a renewed sense of what's really important in life - family. We're so grateful to Grandma and Grandpa who make this blessing possible for us, and we look forward to many, many more Lake Powell adventures over the years.

Finally, below, is a picture of Glen Canyon Dam. It is massive! You take the Dam tour, and talk to Dam tour guides about all the Dam facts. You could visit the Dam gift shop and buy a Dam souvenir or Dam bag of popcorn. Oh, if you need to make a pit stop, there are Dam restrooms too.


Lake Powell trip 2007 was an amazing time - it always is! We've included a few of our favorite moments from the trip. We know that the only way to really feel Lake Powell is to be there yourself, but we hope these pictures help bring a little warmth and fun to your day.

First Time Camping

All, this post was actually supposed to come before the "Finally" post. However, it didn't. It is presented to you now without commercial interruption. Thank you for your patience.

I loved camping in the mountains!! It was so nice just to relax. This is me relaxing on Mom's lap.

This is the life - family, the mountains, and these noisy things called "quads". My aunts and uncles, and my mom really had fun on them!

I also learned about this - it is a motorcycle. It's noisy too, but mom had fun!!! Seems like it would be a lot of fun - can't wait 'til I can ride it for real!

Here's my mom riding the quad! She looks the part too. Fearless!!

So, that was our camping trip in the mountains of Arizona. We had a lot of fun together. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for putting it together, and for letting me sleep in the motorhome! Love you all.

ARIZONA . . . finally! (6/26/07)

Well, we are finally in Arizona! Here are few pictures of Mommy and me in the pool. We love you all wherever you are!

This is the "crab"! I like it a lot as you can tell by the next picture!! :)

I love you crab!

I really like the pool - it's nice to splash and get used to being in the water so when I'm bigger I can go to classes with Mommy and really learn to swim . . . for now, I just do the bicycle as Mommy moves me around the pool!

More splashing!!!!!!!

I even go under the water! Mommy counts to 3, and then blows a puff of air in my face. I take a breath, and under I go!!!

This is me coming back up!!

Ta Da!!!

Alright, enough for now! Stay cool - I'll just be here in the pool thinking of you trying to send a little bit of Arizona your way~!


We love you!

It's EASTER?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

It's EASTER!!!!!???!!! Really!?!?!?!? I love Easter!! . . . wait, what . . ? What's Easter again?
Really? Rice cereal? That's a present? Says who? So what am I supposed to say? What do you say to someone who gives you, as a 'gift' mind you, rice cereal?

"Oh my gosh! Is that what I think it is? Is it . . . Is it Rice Cereal!!!?? [insert watery eyes here]. I really am speechless (no, really! I just make sounds - ask dad). Thank you for the Rice Cereal. Oh, and the other wonderful gifts too - I was just so excited about the Rice Cereal - alright!! A Mother Goose book - she's cool (just keep that on the down-low, I've got a rep to protect ok?)"

See everyone in a couple of weeks!!! I wish Dad would just hurry up already and graduate . . . come on Dad!! Love you all! Bye for now.

~ Love, Kaden

5 Months - Time Flies


Well, finally a moment to update the post. Here's our little man quite content after stuffing his face. We've moved to formula almost exclusively at this point - lots of reasons - but it suits him just fine (as the face indicates!)


He's very much like his parents - very very very talkative - brrrb, grrrrrrrrb, blaaaah, etc. He's smiling and giggling and smurking and playing with his red elephant. He like the swing, and the playmat, and when dad holds him up in the air like superman.


This is his submission to GQ Gerber! So cute!! This is picture is saved as my desktop on my computer. So when I'm using it in class everyone just gasps with "Oh, how cute!"'s, etc.


The Boppy - I'm convinced - was given to the human race by extraterrestrials as its uses are absolutely limitless. I wouldn't be surprised if it made my toast in the morning one of these days. It did so well helping Kaden keep positioned for his pictures!!!! He managed the hand to his chin - like a pro!


Kaden loves to laugh! We love to laugh with him!


Kaden really enjoys being photographed - definitely a plus for parents with a digital camera and video camera!


In March, when Kaden got back, Mom and Dad took him in for a regular visit to the Doctor's office since he got really sick the day of his blessing, and again on the plane ride home. He hadn't lost any weight from his last weigh in, but he hadn't gained any either - not good when your that little. So, he went on a strict eat-every-two-hours schedule for a week, and ate as much as he wanted - Mommy's milk and then as much formula as he'd take in. He gained 17 oz in that one week!!!! Then 9 oz more the next week. Since then he's bulked up considerably over what he weighed when we were in AZ. It is also very clear, that the majority of his "gas pains" were actually hunger pains!! :( What a stupid, stupid thing to miss - his parents are really sad and frustrated they didn't clue in. We were just so focused on treating what we thought were gas pains, we didn't even consider he wasn't eating enough. He would nurse forever so we thought when he finished he was full - he was tired, not full. Just a very frustrating experience. You'd never know it though looking at him. Chubby everywhere now!


It snowed here around Easter. Try finding your eggs in this!! Now I get the plastic egg option . . . hard boilded has nothin' on frozen eggs!!!!

We love you all, and long to be back with you. I graduate from law school on May 12, and we have plans to be back for good in Arizona the week of the 14th, and of the 21st. Till then!

Love - Mike, Erin, and Kaden

I'm Lame

This is an interim post to say I will post "for real" soon. I've been swamped, and this has been moved from the backburner to a quiet place far from the stovetop. Thanks for you patience.

My First Christmas

Hey there! Merry Christmas! We decided to take our family Christmas picture in front of the tree in our pajamas! I can't wait to open the presents...

Enjoy the rest of our Christmas Day pictures!!

Ha Ha Ha, nice. Dress me up like Santa. Go ahead. But remember what goes around comes around - one day I'll be dressing you!
Ok, this is plain ridiculous! Get me out of this thing!!
Who are you telling to lay off the eggnog!?! I'm fine...chrerry mismas...to you!
Mom and silk pajamas! Hot!

Mom wanted me to show off my five little fingers!
And, here's this picture of my ability to grab, hold, and hang on tight!
I guess that's all for now! More pictures will be coming as time goes on. I am so grateful for all my blessings, and especially grateful for My First Christmas! We should really do this again!

More pictures and fun adventurous tales to come! See you later!