Gone Country

Last week we had a HUGE adventure! Our little family flew to Nashville for the week. I had meetings scheduled, and there was literally no way that I could attend my meetings in Nashville without bringing Chloe. Fortunately, Brandon was willing to haul us both half way across the country. Lucky guy.

I was tied up in meetings for the majority of the time, and Brandon was stuck in the hotel room tending a somewhat grumpy baby. I cannot express how grateful I am for Brandon. He is the very best dad and a really wonderful husband. There is no way that I could perform the responsibilities of my job without his help....lots of his help.

On Thursday night we were chauffeured in a LIMO to Opryland. The Opryland Hotel is just enormous, and it was decked out for Christmas. We walked through the hotel, and Chloe looked at all of the lights. She ended up being a little tourist attraction herself....so many people stopped to comment on our little bug and her headband. It was kind of funny. Perhaps the most wonderful part of the Opryland complex is the GIGANTIC OUTLET MALL! I could have spend days, hours, months shopping there. We tackled a little Christmas shopping. It was fun evening.

While we were in Nashville, we celebrated our 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!! I simply cannot believe that we have been married for five years. I am so lucky to be married to Brandon. What a wonderful road we have traveled together so far. It has been so fun to watch him as a dad; little Chloe just adores him. He is such a genuine, loving person, and even though he loves golf, xbox, fantasy everything, his friends, and ebay almost as much as he loves me, I wouldn't trade him for the world.

I was SUPER nervous about flying with Chloe. I could just imagine a myriad of disasters unfolding throughout the four hour flight. Luckily, she was an absolute angel. We couldn't believe what a good little baby she was throughout the whole trip. She is such a smiley, cute little miss. Even when we woke her up at 3:30am to catch our flight home, she was delightful. We just love her!

We survived our first major travels as a family...hopefully our next trip will be for pleasure instead of business.

Grateful Hearts

Better late than never, right? We spent Thanksgiving in St. George with my family. It was wonderful! We have so very much to be grateful for this year...little Chloe, our families, our jobs, and just a multitude of blessings. Prior to enjoying a fabulous Thanksgiving Feast, Brandon played a round of golf with my dad, and Chloe and I visited a very fun park.

While we were in St. George we were able to spend "Black Friday" watching Eric play baseball in Mesquite. I can't believe he is a Senior this year! I think Brandon is looking forward to not attending any Snow Canyon sporting events soon :)! We love to watch Eric play; he is so very talented.

Chloe is such a good little girl in the car. She sleeps most of the time, and we read books, sing songs, and watch the John Mayer video on Brandon's blackberry the rest of the time. Thank heavens for John Mayer!

The week after Thanksgiving, Eric's Madrigal Choir sang at Temple Square. We braved the FREEZING cold to go listen to them sing. Chloe loved the concert; she slept through the whole thing. She was NOT a fan of the cold...she must take after her mom :)!

Little Bug

Chloe is getting big so very fast! We visited the pediatrician on Monday for her FOUR MONTH check. Her stats are below:

Weight: 13 pounds 3 ounces (50%)
Height: 25 inches (75 - 90%)
Head: 42.5 centimeters (75%)

Here are her two month stats:

Weight: 9 pounds (10 - 15%)
Height: 21.5 inches (75%)
Head: ...for some reason I don't have this measurement...

AND her two weeks stats:

Weight: 6 pounds 15 ounces (10%)
Height: 20.5 inches (75%)
Head: 36 centimeters (25 -50%)

Chloe has finally started growing. She started eating rice cereal a few weeks ago, and she LOVES it! Her favorite fruits and veggies are apples, pears, and sweet potatoes. I had been feeding her cereal when she was sitting in her bumbo chair, but she started to squirm around too much so I moved her into her high chair. Chloe gets a little anxious when I don't get the cereal to her mouth fast enough, and she starts eating the tray on her high chair. She is such a funny little girl...she must have Brandon's personality. We just laugh at our tiny baby sitting in her huge high chair.

Chloe rolled over several weeks ago. Now, she is a rolling machine. As soon as she is on her tummy, she flips to her back. She loves to play with her feet, and she has started taking off her socks. Chloe has turned into a little chatterbox. She used to just coo so sweetly, but now she just yells at us all of the time :)! She has FINALLY started to nap during the day. I put her in her swing around 9:30 and 3:00, crank it up as fast as it will go, blast the awesome music that her swing plays, and she's asleep in about five minutes. Her swing is turning out to be a great investment.

We went to St. George last weekend for Brandon to play in a golf tournament...I'm always game for a trip to St. George :)! It was nice to visit with my family. My mom, Liz and I took a few trips to Christensen's and did a bit of sewing.

I've started putting up all of my Christmas decor...Brandon's gonna kill me. I insisted that we have a tree upstairs, downstairs and in Chloe's room. What was I thinking...gotta love the holidays :)!

Tr!cK oR TrEat!!

Happy Halloween!!!

XOXO - Brandon, Emily & Chloe (our little Pumpkin Princess :)! )

Tiny Miss Chloe

Our little Chloe is already THREE MONTHS old! I simply cannot believe it. She is so much fun! I love watching her little personality developing. She is a little chatter box, especially after a bath or during a diaper change. Chloe looks just like her daddy. We recently went to a wedding reception where I was asked why she looks so much like her dad even though I had do to all the work to get her here :)! She is getting so very big. We went to visit her new friend, Breckyn, and we were amazed at how huge Chloe looked. Chloe is a very good sleeper at night; she hits the sack around 9:00-10:00pm and has been waking up around 8:00am. Her new bedtime gives Brandon and I a chance to listen to the awesome spanish radio station that our baby monitor picks up :)! I returned to work. (YUCK!) It actually hasn't been too bad. I really love my job, and it has been so comforting to know that I am leaving Chloe with her dad, who loves her almost as much as I do ;)! Chloe is a very good girl while her dad is watching her; she just sleeps the whole time. It is amazing how she has become our whole life. We just love her so very much!

Here are a few pictures of our little bug - I can never catch her smiling!

Chloe and Brandon hard at work in Brandon's office. This is how I found them one day after work! Brandon had just re-dressed Chloe after a terrible diaper. When I returned home after my first day back, they both met me in the garage :)!

Chloe's serious face

Chloe and her tiny friend, Breckyn

Just lounging on Mom and Dad's bed

Chloe always sleeps with her hands clenched in fists above her head.