Cabin Fever

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Jaci and I are still having a great time in Arizona, but we're heading down to Louisiana very soon. While we've been here, we have gone to our cabin in Pine, Arizona with Nana and Bopy twice. Jaci loves being there and especially going on quad rides with Bopy. They went on at least 4 a day. When they were finished with the ride she always had to carry both helmets into the house! On Labor Day, Bopy, my uncle Todd and I went on a hike down from the rim in Pine and had a great time. They day was absolutely perfect; it was cloudy and cool and...perfect! We love going to the cabin, it is so relaxing and much cooler than Gilbert.

Jaci is getting so big. She just jabbers and jabbers (we think it's Chinese) and every once in a while she actually says a word we can understand. She has started mimicking some words that I say. She now says "Mommy, baby" or "Mommy, me me me" when she wants me to pick her up and hold her. She also says "bye, ball, kick, 'Pops', 'Bopy', and someitmes she says some phrases that have to do with something we are talking about. She is just so smart and understands everything anyone says, which makes it really frustrating when she ignores me.

As far as Bill is concerned...he is still alive. He survived his first hurricane with no more damage than a power outage. He got the whole week off school and took time to visit some of his family down there.

She has absolutely loved being here with so much family so close. She is going to go crazy when we're down south and she's stuck with just me all day. We are so grateful to my parents for letting us crash with them for so long! Now we just hope we can find a place to live down there!

Arizona "Visit"

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Hello again. Well, so far, Bill has survived his first week of law school. He is down in Louisiana living at his uncle's house until we find a place to live. I'm just procrastinating the time when we have to move to Louisiana. In the meantime, Jaci and I are staying in Arizona at my parent's house. They love having her here. They said she was absolutely perfect when she was down here without me, but since I've shown up, she's become a little more...moody. She still loves it here though. We went up to the cabin with Nana and Bopy a couple weekends ago and she was Bopy's girl. He took her on quad rides and wagon rides. She could have ridden the quad forever, she never wanted to get off. We're just biding our time and I'm trying to do a lot of research on the internet to try to find a place to rent in Baton Rouge. It's getting frustrating. Anyway, Jaci is still growing like crazy and she doesn't miss a thing. We were at church yesterday and she saw the chorister leading the hymn and Jaci started waving her arm like she did. She is so smart. She loves being here with "mommy, Ketsie (Kelcie), Pop papa, Boppa, Noni, Nana, and Kakey (Berkley)". She and Berkley decided they want to play Wii Fit like everyone else and they both want to learn to play the piano. Most of the time they get along pretty good now. We miss Utah and I still keep thinking of it as home and that we're going back, but...no. A whole new adventure awaits us in the South.

LSU, Here we come!

Okay, first off, I'm sorry I haven't posted anything about our amazing cruise through Europe, but things have been a little hectic. If you want to read about it, visit Rusty and Caryn's website here

Now for the news...it's official...we're moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Bill was accepted to LSU law school and he's ecstatic! He's always dreamed of going to LSU and now he finally gets the chance. So, this week I'm extremely busy trying to get everything packed because we leave on Saturday. It shouldn't be too hard since I sent Jaci down to Arizona with my aunt Steph (thanks again!) to spend time with my family down there so I could pack in peace. It's a little difficult when she wants to "help" me pack. She puts random things in drawers and boxes and takes other things out. For instance, we've been packing for over a week and thanks to her I can't find my camera (still) and one shoe. I miss her though, I keep thinking I hear her everywhere. Anyway, we've got a big few weeks ahead of us. We have no idea where we're going to live and school starts in about a week and a half. If I can ever find my camera, I'll get a few pictures on here, but for now this will have to do! We've had a great time living in Utah and we're going to miss everyone, especially Bill's parents. You guys are great and thanks for all your help with everything!

Lake Powell

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I know I'm a little behind since we got home from Lake Powell over a week ago, but I was a slacker and didn't take any pictures so I had to get them from Kelcie and Caryn. Thanks guys! Anyway, we had so much fun up there. We always have a great time just relaxing and playing on the water. Jaci loved getting to go swimming and she liked getting to ride in the boat. She and I even got to go jet skiing together and she fell asleep!!! We went and stayed on my dad's houseboat with my parents, Kelcie, Ryan, Rusty's family, and Bill's parents. Jaci is a smart little firecracker and figured out how to undo the latches on the little gates on the boat. She even tried to teach Berkley and so we had to tie latches up so they couldn't do that. We couldn't find anything to do it with, so Caryn used straws. Pretty crafty! We had a great time tubing, wakeboarding and relaxing. As always, my favorite parts are the sunset cruises. Thanks Daddy! No place has sunsets like Lake Powell. Jaci and I drove home with my parents to Arizona so Jaci could go to the doctor before our big cruise through Europe. Bill comes to join us in a couple of days and then off to Venice! We are so excited! However, Jaci and Berkley are getting to act too much like siblings. Last night we put them together in the pack and play and they wresled. Well, Berkley wrestled and Jaci just kept trying to give him kisses. She doesn't take much crap from him anymore though. If he pushes her, she just pushes him right back! We have so much fun down here around family!

Jaci can walk!

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It finally happened! She finally got up the courage to take the steps on her own. She was doing one or two at a time for weeks, but this past week my mom was here and she up and started walking. She now walks all the time. She can't stand up by herself yet, but if she pulls herself up against something and is already standing up, she just goes off walking. I can't believe how big my baby is getting. It is so crazy. She is good at letting you know what she wants too. She has gotten good at pointing at things and she is a DRAMA QUEEN. If she doesn't get her way or what she wants she'll throw a fit. It's actually really funny to watch. She'll lay down and roll around and kick her legs. She's a nut! Well, we're getting excited for our trips this summer. We head to Lake Powell next weekend and then only a couple weeks after that we go to Europe! I'm getting so excited. Of course, that means I have to get packing! I have to get the house packed and get Jaci and I packed for the trips. Bill is really excited that as of today there are only 3 more days of school and then he's finally graduated!!! Yay!

Little Red Wagon

Jaci got all dressed up for her birthday party on Friday. We had a lot of fun with friends and family up here in Utah. Jaci got a lot of fun presents from everyone, including: Eeyore & Pooh stuffed animals, a dolly dressed like a lady bug, a coin collection, lots of cute clothes, a precious moments figurine, a hawaiian girl swimming suit, a blow up pool, chocolate, a book, and her favorite of all...a wagon! I put all the presents people brought to her party in the wagon and when it was time for presents I rolled the whole thing out. She got so excited when she saw the wagon. She started pulling the presents out of it and trying to climb in. She got to sit in it and open the rest of her presents. All she wants to do is sit in it and go for rides. She will almost sleep in it even! We walked Bill to school the other day with it and she turned over and curled up like she was going to sleep. It was so cute! Thanks everyone for making it a great 1st birthday!

Happy Birthday Jaci!

I can't believe that Jaci is a year old today. It doesn't seem possible that it has been a year since our precious little girl was born. She is the light of my life and makes every day worth it, even the hard ones when she's cranky. All she has to do is smile at me or randomly come give me a hug to brighten my day. I can't put in to words how much she means to me. This past year has definitely had its difficult moments, but it has had its amazing moments also. Here are just a few of the many reasons I love her!

1. Her smiles!
2. Her hugs and when she just comes and cuddles up on my lap!
3. The way she says "mum mum" or "mmmm" when she takes a bite of macaroni and cheese.
4. The way she always wants to be with mommy and wants to just sit on my lap to watch Baby Einstein.
5. The way she follows me around like a baby duck!
6. Her laugh!
7. The way she sleeps all night!
8. How she likes to "help" me cook!
9. How much she loves shakes!
10. How dang cute she is!

I just love her so much! I never could have imagined that I could love anyone as much as I love her! Her daddy wants me to not forget that he loves her too especially when she gets really excited when she sees him after he comes home from school or work. She is so happy most of the time and we are so blessed to have her in our lives!