Little Family Va-cay....

So once again I have let my blog get away from me.  So much has changed since I last posted at the end of....what? May?!! Crazy.  At first I didn't write because things were so crazy, then it was because I was so emotionally exhausted I was afraid I would write things I didn't really mean, then it became "It's been so long, I dont' know where to begin".  So maybe someday I'll go back and cover what the last few months have brought to our lives but for now I'm going to keep it short and simple and just post about our family weekend get-away to Victoria two weeks ago. 

Okay I guess I need to back up a little and just say we moved to Washington.  So getting to Vancouver Island is a little easier for us now.  Just a short drive and a ferry later we can leave the country.

So two weeks ago, Jared happened to get a schedule that gave him a three day weekend. We thought we would take advantage and getaway from all the chaos of starting a new job, trying to unpack and organize our new home, and trying to fit in.  We decided Victoria, BC would be a great weekend trip. I'm so glad we decided to go.  I'm pretty sure I fell in love with Victoria and would love to go back!

We left Thursday night and spent the night in Port Angeles, WA.  Friday morning we went to a GREAT bagel place for breakfast and then hopped on the ferry.  Friday was spend touring the city and Parliament buildings. We wandered downtown, China-town, the Inner Harbor, and saw all sorts of great things.  Saturday was mostly spent eating the best waffles ever and touring Butchart Gardens (which is a must if you go to Victoria).  Sunday we went to church in the morning and then hopped back on the noon ferry to come home.  It was short but we had so much fun! Baby B (who is getting so big) loved being out and about so much and was such a trooper spending so much time in his stroller.  And Jared and I had such a great time just forgetting about responsibilities at home for a few days.  I hope we can get back to Victoria soon. 

And if you have made it this far in the reading....you are now rewarded with pictures of our trip :)

 The Ferry:

 

Parliament Buildings:

The Soda Shoppe:

 

 Bradley took a really good bonk on the head but was so brave:

Butchart Gardens:

 

The first pose is for my sisters the second one for us:

 

 

 Back in Victoria:

The Parliament Buildings are lit up every night and are so fun to see when you turn the corner of a street and there they are!

 

Well that's the story for now...maybe someday I'll recap the last four months of our lives.

Firsts

So Baby B is now over four months old...wait, WHAT?! When did that happen?!  So I thought I would finally get around to posting some of the firsts he went through and we went through as parents.

First time we got to hold him:

First bath in the hospital:

First webcam experience:

First time in his own bed:

First bath at home:

First real bath at home:

(this isn't actually his first bath at home...but it's the more modest one)

Our first date without Baby B:

(It was really hard for me to leave him but I'm proud of myself.  We went to see "To Kill a Mockingbird" in a small theater downtown and it was awesome!  Thanks Grandma Connie and Grandpa Bill for babysitting!!)

First time to our favorite taco place:

First time to church:

First time to go to work with Daddy:

(Jared has lectures on Wed. mornings so he took Baby B to give me a morning off)

First time holding his head up during tummy time (without crying):

First stroller ride:

AND

First Giggles:

Thank you Baby B for letting us test everything out on you.  Your smiles and giggles make the crying and sad times TOTALLY worth it. 

More From the Video Files

I know it seems that every post is about our baby. I am so sorry. But he is the most exciting thing happening in our lives at the moment and he does take up A LOT of our time (in a good way). I swear I didn't start a blog to brag about our baby, but since all of our family lives out of state, this is the easiest way to share pictures and videos with them. So I apologize but I don't apologize for making so much of this blog about Baby B. I keep hearing from siblings that MORE is always good :) So without further ado, here are some more videos from the Baby B files:

This video is back from February 19 (so he's just a month old), Baby B received several Valentine's Day cards from family and we taped them to the wall above his changing station and he loved to look at them. (Still does.)

This video is from March 31, and I love how energetic my child is (bordering on spastic) as he kicks.  You can't see his legs (which I completely regret not filming), but you can imagine how fast they are going by the waving of the arms.

Blessing Day

In many churches baptism happens at infancy, but in our church we believe that children are to be baptized at age 8 or older so they can decide and understand the commitment they are making.  But we do have babies blessed by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder.  I am fortunate enough to be married to a wonderful man who honors the priesthood that he holds and is worthy to use it. 

“Every member of the church of Christ having children is to bring them unto the elders before the church, who are to lay their hands upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, and bless them in his name” (D&C 20:70).  A baby blessing contains the baby's name and then a blessing as the Spirit directs to the person who is offering the blessing.  It was such a humbling and joyous moment in this new mommy's life to see my husband perform this ordinance for our new son a month ago, on March 25.

Most often family and/or close friends who are also Melchizedek Priesthood holders are asked to participate as well.  We are truly blessed to have some incredible friends here in Wisconsin that are like family to us. We were fortunate enough that they were all able to attend.  (We missed our family, but with the distance it wasn't feasible for them to come.)  Baby B was so good and slept peacefully through the blessing.  Though I am told, when all the men gathered in a circle to hold him, he did his classic stretch and settle in.  (I'll have to capture this in picture or video sometime)  The blessing was beautiful and full of wonderful promises for our little boy. 

Here are some pictures from that day:

Our dear former bishop (left) and hometeacher (right)

Us with one of  our dearest friends who came to show her support.

Our friends who helped bless Baby B (minus our hometeacher pictured previously) We are so blessed to know these wonderful friends.