goodbye old friend...

Our roomba was more than a pet, but less than a child.  It scared some people, and amazed others.  It just couldn't cut it in this apartment with old matted down carpet so it was time to part ways.  I'll miss you, but probably enjoy the clean crawl-able carpet for Beckett provided by a new vacuum more.

car sleeper

Some interesting ways Beckett slept in his car seat the other day...

He is so cute!  I love him so much!

the babbler

This last month we have been restricting Beckett's pacifier time to bedtime, extreme grumpy situations, and to be quiet at church only.  I think that the natural side effect of this move has been Beckett babbling all the time.  The last few weeks he has started trying to copy a lot of things we say.  His first was "hi" and then "uh oh". He is also pretty good at keys, kick, daddy, go, and flower.  By far, my favorite that he says is "gook" for book when he is over by the bookshelf wanting us to read to him.  He is getting so big!  I can't believe he will turn one next month!

3 years

Yesterday was our three year anniversary.  Looking back, these years have flown by.  It's crazy that we have known each other for 7 and 1/2 years!

I decided that rather than do the typical post of why I love him, or how we met/fell in love, etc. I would instead do a post about how he influenced my life before we were dating.

The morning he was to go into the MTC in Provo, my friend Jeremy had all his friends at college in the area come to breakfast with him and his mom.  I was starting my second year of college, and was having a rough week filled with typical boy troubles among other things.  After the breakfast everyone left, and for some reason I was the last person with him and Lori out to the parking lot.  He walked me over to my car and could sense something was bothering me.  I tried to say goodbye, but he asked what was up.  I briefly explained my situation, and he told me not to waste my time.  He said that I should just stop worrying about guys who did/didn't want to date me altogether and just think about going on a mission.  I laughed it off (mostly because I was shy and never felt like I would/should go on a mission), said thanks for the advice, and we said our goodbyes.

A year later I was 20, and starting my third year of college.  I had a lot of friends on missions who I wrote pretty regularly, and I liked sharing things I learned in my religion classes with them.  After hearing all their great insight, I decided I wanted to take "Sharing the Gospel", which is BYU's pre-mission class (still with no intention of serving a mission myself).  Each week I would email three missionaries in particular (one being Jeremy) about what I was learning in my class.  I had a change of heart and although I wasn't sure if a mission was for me, I felt that I should start taking the necessary steps to go on one.  The same week I felt this way, all three missionaries had said in their letters that I should go on a mission because I would be good at it.

Long story short, I turned in my papers and got a mission call.  The Lord turned out to have other plans for me in the end.  However, my future husband played a large role in helping me feel confident enough to prepare for such a huge step in my life.  I am so grateful for the service that he gave in his mission, and continues to give in his church callings.  He's one amazing guy, and a great influence in my past and present.  I love you Jeremy!

cuh

Happy birthday to you sister!  I miss you terribly but am excited for your adventures in Seattle/Bellevue.  I hope you are doing something fun, new, and exciting in the city for your birthday!  You are the bestest friend I could ever have, not to mention the bestest sister.  Happy birthday!!

Haircut

In an effort to stop strangers from asking me how old my little girl is, we have opted to cut Beckett's scraggly hairs that hang over his ears.  It doesn't seem like that much of a difference, but I haven't been told my daughter has beautiful eyes since.  Thanks Lindsay!

Cookies, flowers, and parks

Dad gave him some oreos and he was happy!

Lovin' nature.

Seconds after the previous shot...the girls flock to him.

Climbing the jungle gym.