WE LOVE COUSINS!!

So, our little guy is now five months old! I didn't think a kid could get cuter every day, but he does! He is so fun and is growing up so fast. I need to enjoy him while he's still little! I am definitely loving that he isn't mobile yet. It is nice to set him down and he will stay there. He doesn't roll over, crawl, scoot, walk, climb, run, jump or slide (Mr. Monkey was holding on tight to Garrett!) What he is working on lately is sitting up. He does pretty well when there is something to lean against...(but don't we all?) We have always been close by when we sit him up, but it is sure funny to watch him face plant and not be able to get up by himself! Okay, funny is not the word! :)

So, something special that Garrett got to do recently was to meet some of his cousins! He has been waiting to meet them for a long time! Colin's oldest brother and his wife live in Oregon. They have two kids: Ty (almost 4) and Mara (almost 2)! They are a lot of fun and we are so sad that they live so far away and can't see them more often! Lucky for us, Colin's other brother John got married and it gave us the great opportunity to meet his cousins as we gathered for this event! Ty was so cute with Garrett. He loved to watch him, read to him, help change his diaper, and try and play with him! Mara's favorite things to do with Garrett were to pull on his ears or "pet" his bald head! Her daddy sure enjoyed that bald shiny head too and couldn't stop rubbing it himself!!! One funny thing to watch was Mara when Erica was holding Garrett. She sure didn't like that her mom had another baby in her arms! She would get pouty lips and whimper "mama" as tears welled up in her eyes! As she warmed up to him and if Garrett wasn't in Erica's arms, she would give him a kiss! It was sure fun seeing Nate, Erica, Ty and Mara! WE miss you, but WE look forward to seeing you again soon at the family reunion! Here are some cute photos of their times together!



Ty was so funny every time he got close to Garrett! He would put their heads together and say "Hey you!" It was so cute! I asked Ty what Garrett's name was and he would just continue to say, "HEY YOU" and giggle!

Garrett always had a smile when Ty was by him!

Little Mara wasn't the first to be fascinated by Garrett's bald head! She loved to touch it!

Cute Mara giving Garrett kisses! She didn't mind hanging out with him when her mom wasn't around! :)

The three Lewis cousins! Sooooo cute! Notice that Garrett is the only one smiling! :)

Garrett's Firsts!

We have had a busy couple of weeks. I have now been officially retired for 2 weeks! It feels great! It still doesn't seem real....I just feel like I am off track! It will probably really hit in a month when everyone is going back to get ready for the new school year to start and I am at home still in my pajamas hanging out with Garrett! YEAH!

So, we have had some big things happen with our little guy. Besides being 5 months old (time flies when you're having fun!), here are a few of Garrett's first experiences:

Garrett's first camping trip!!

WE were sooo excited to go camping with Garrett! We just went up Little Cottonwood Canyon and found a great spot for our family! It started to rain when we got there, but quickly cleared up! It was cool, but we had a great time despite the lack of sleep that we got! It was hard with that little boy, but it definitely won't stop us from going again!

Garrett's first time in a tent!

I got a new tent for mother's day! It is SOOOO nice and big and can fit all of our stuff with room left over! My favorite part is that we can stand up in it! That makes it a lot easier to move around in!

Garrett's first fire!

He wouldn't take his eyes off of it! I just hope he doesn't grow up to be a pyro!

Garrett's first hike!

He sure loves being outside and seeing everything around him!

Garrett's first time sleeping "with us!"

We had the hardest time trying to get this kid to sleep! He cried the entire night and finally settled down a little bit when we put him in our sleeping bag!

"I love you even if you didn't sleep last night!"

Garrett's first time throwing rocks in a river!

Every boy loves throwing rocks in the river! Garrett was absolutely amazed at the raging river that we hiked by! We thought we would shoot a quick video of a dad and his boy throwing rocks in the river!



Garrett's first plane ride!

Garrett did so good on his first plane ride to California! We were lucky to get to go with Colin on his first official "business trip!" It was sure a lot harder traveling with kids (more luggage, staying on his schedule etc.), but it was fun to be somewhere different than home!

Garrett's first "tourist spot."

Garrett and I were brave and drove into town one day to take a tour. He rode on his first bus as we toured Muir Woods and Salsalito just outside of San Francisco. He did great on the bus and everyone there was so helpful and nice to help me while I was playing "single-mom!"

Garrett's first MLB game!

We went to an Oakland A's game! Unfortunately Mom and baby didn't get to watch much because the loud crowd was just a little too much for Garrett! Instead, we walked around the stadium until Garrett decided to stop screaming! Colin was still excited that he got to be there with him!

Garrett's first visit to the Tropical Rain Forest!

Just kidding! This was in the commons area of our hotel!

Garrett's first time seeing the ocean!

This was the view from our hotel room! It was gorgeous! We were right on the shore of the San Francisco Bay and Garrett and I walked the trails around everyday!

Garrett's first time to the temple!

John and Tracie got married in the Sacramento Temple! What a beautiful day and a beautiful place to get married! I think Garrett is singing, "I Love to see the Temple!"

Garrett's first wedding!

Colin's little brother John got married on June 14th! We had a fun time being in California and meeting lots of family! It was joked about that the wedding guests weren't there to see the bride and groom, but to meet little Garrett! What a cutie!

Garrett's first swing ride!

Good thing he had Mr. Monkey to sit with him. I think Garrett is telling him not to be scared and to hold on tight!

Garrett's first owie!

We went on a walk with Maggie and her leash slipped down underneath the shade of the stroller when she was sniffing something behind us and the cord burned Garrett on the face! I felt so bad, but am thankful because it could have been much worse! Good thing for neosporin that I have put on it every 10 minutes!


Garrett's first TOOTH!!!

If you look REALLY closely, you can see the tiny white coming up in his gums! His bottom right tooth is slowly appearing! I can't believe he is getting teeth already! He is growing up toooooo fast! He hasn't been too cranky that I have noticed. I know that it will just get worse as the rest of them start coming in! I pray that he gets his daddy's teeth because I sure don't like mine! :)

Family Photos!

If you know me, you know how much I love to take pictures. I always have the camera with me! I have especially enjoyed these last five months taking photos of little Garrett! I have been DREAMING about the day that I would have a family photo taken of Colin and I and our baby! We have had several taken since Garrett has been born, but that little stinker hasn't smiled or Colin or I have something wrong with us! We did have a wedding of Colin's brother this last week and got some pictures from that, but I wanted something casual and outside that looked a little different than the traditional family pictures that you always see.

I am so excited about these pictures that we had taken last week! I have a friend from highschool and college that takes pictures. She has recently turned her "hobby" into a business! I have been looking at her photography blog for months now, just loving and admiring all the cute photos that she has taken.


Well, the day has come....I got brave and called Melissa to take our pictures! She did an amazing job! These are just a few of the pictures that she took that she set up on her photography blog !!! I can't wait to see the rest! Check them out and let me know what you think! I hope you enjoy them and we'll definitely have to share the others when we get them. If you like them, I encourage you to set up an appointment yourself! It is worth it!

Four months old!

I can't believe that our little fella is now almost 5 months old! He is getting so big and growing up so fast! Colin and I went to his 4 month check-up last week. The doctor said he looks like, "a million bucks!" We really like our pediatrician. After we left I was talking to Colin about how good he made us feel. He helped us feel like we were doing a good job as parents. WE tried to tell him that it was because Garrett is such a good baby and he said that we deserved some of the credit too. Dr. Wirkus said there are three things to raising kids: good genes, good parenting, and good luck! He said, fortunately for us, we have all three going for us! We really do feel lucky to have such a great kid. He definitely has his moments (the long night because he wasn't feeling well after his shots), but overall we couldn't be more grateful to have Garrett in our family. He is a dream! We are looking forward to a fun filled summer with lots of great memories and first experiences with having a son. Here are some fun photos of the last few weeks! We hope you enjoy them!




"Do I have anything on my face? I think I need a tissue mom!"
His sneeze literally scared the SNOT out of him!

A picture with Great Grandma Anderson at Great Grandpa Anderson's grave!

Garrett's learning early from a great teacher! (Disclaimer: Garrett was only like this for a few minutes! Notice the hat with the covers over the ears!!!)

Garrett LOVES walks with his daddy...even when it is FREEZING outside! Is it summer yet?!

We love baseball season! Go SOX...2007 World Series Champs!

Utah State HEY, AGGIES all the WAY!

Go BIG BLUE!!!

Someone has found their toes!

It is so fun to watch Garrett as he enjoys
"playing" and listening to books!

What better place to drool than Daddy's head and face!

It looks like he is foaming at the mouth!

Garrett got to visit where his mom went to school! Go Griffins!

Daddy and his boy enjoying the Lacrosse game together!

He's one hungry boy! Those sandwiches look bigger than him, but he has passed them up at a big 26 inches long!

Garrett is one happy baby!

Our tiny family at the Thanksgiving Point Gardens!

Colin and Garrett: like father, like son!

Only ONE more week!

I am proud to announce that I have made it back to teaching now for 7 weeks and only ONE MORE WEEK TO GO!!! I am way excited! It has definitely been hard leaving Garrett everyday to go to work. It's even harder to come home and have the energy to be a mom! I so look up to so many moms that work outside of the home! It is tough! Our families and friends have taken time out of their busy schedules to help us out to watch Garrett! We can't say enough thanks to how you have helped us! I am glad that I don't have to continue to work and can soon stay home with Garrett.

I can't believe that I am only one week away from retiring! That is sooo crazy to think about! This is my fourth year teaching and it is going to be strange not to go back. I can honestly say that I am going to miss it. There are many things that I will miss and many that I won't. Take today for example: I had a boy in my class have a COMPLETE meltdown! I am not just talking about a few tears, but full on screaming, head banging, almost digging eyes out type of meltdown. This all started when some boys were teasing him about a bug being on his shirt. Yes, at one point there was a bug on his shirt, but they didn't let it go and thought it was funny to keep tormenting this boy until he was beyond hysterical! NOT FUN!! His only solution to calming himself down was to suspend this boy! I wish I had the power sometimes to do that! Needless to say, I had to try and deal with that for almost 45 minutes while my class "hung-out" and waited for me to come back to the class. On the FLIP side of today: I had three great moms come in and present me with a treasure chest full of presents and treats for "Teacher Appreciation Week!" The best being $25 gift certificates for dinner and a movie! That was sooo nice of them! It makes all the hard work worth it when you have the support of great parents. I also got a card from a student yesterday that said, "too bad you're retiring this year. I think that kids next year would really like you!" That pulled at the heart for a minute knowing that there will be no next year! Despite all the ups and downs, the stress, the long days, the after hours work, the meetings, the conferences with parents, the not so fun emails and phone calls home to parents, recess duty and bus duty....the list could go on, I WILL MISS BEING A TEACHER!

Thanks to all the friends I have made over the last four years, the principals I have worked with, and the fabulous students that I have had the priviledge of teaching! I have grown and learned so much and if there is anything I have learned, it is how to be a better parent for my own kids! My teaching career is not ending, it is just beginning! I can now be my son's life-long teacher!I miss you too, Garrett!

Mother's Day 2008

I can't believe I just celebrated my first Mother's Day! I remember last year at this time wondering if I would every be a mom! Just a few short weeks later, we found out we were pregnant! Colin has always been sweet and gotten me a card and a gift in the past on mother's day just to show he cares and to say that he was excited for me to be a mom some day! Well, this year was special that I have a son to celebrate with! I woke up and got breakfast in bed and then opened a few gifts! My favorite being a new tent! I am so excited to camping this summer with Colin and Garrett. Our first tent that we have used for almost six years now isn't big enough for our whole family, so we had to have an upgrade! Yay! I can't wait, we are already planning our first trip in a couple of weekends! I love camping! Then we attended church where all the priesthood filled in for the women's callings. ALL the women in the ward got " a day off " which was nice. Unfortunately, I have a teaching calling for the fourth Sunday in Relief Society, so Colin didn't have to teach. Even better though that he got to coordinate the whole day for everyone in the ward! Great job sweetie! I know the women appreciated it! We then went to my family's house to have dinner which my little sister made and then to Colin's parents for dessert! Let's just say that we couldn't pass up strawberry shortcake at my house before we went to the Lewis's and also had strawberry shortcake! Lucky for me, that's my FAVORITE!! That is way too yummy to pass up having a second time! Colin says all the time, if I were what I ate, I'd be a strawberry! Last, but not least, I had to get a picture with my son. Garrett was being so wiggley! He would hardly hold still. He loved giving kisses on my mouth and cheek. I never thought I would enjoy slobbery kisses as much as I do! What a cutie! Thanks to Colin for making me feel special on my first Mother's Day. I look forward to the many more ahead!

A poem for his mommy
by Garrett
(okay....Daddy helped a little! )

I like to hear your sweet, soft voice.
I love your shining smile.
I like it when you read to me,
I've liked it for awhile.
It really makes me happy,
When you feed me everyday.
I try to keep it all inside of me,
But spit up, I just may.
Thanks for all you do for me,
My diapers, clothes, and baths.
I try to say my thank yous
With my smiles, giggles, and laughs.
I'm glad that you're my mommy,
No one else would do.
But most of all I want to say,
How much I love you!

Love

Your Son,

Garrett

The big race

We participated in the Race for the Cure on Saturday downtown at the Gateway! It was sure a fun thing to do as a family. This was my second year doing it and Colin and Garrett's first. We raced in honor of my dear friend Kristy's mom who passed away almost three years ago of breast cancer. Even though I haven't directly been affected by someone in my family having cancer, it was such a special thing to be a part of. There is just something about 17,000 people supporting the same cause that is inspiring. I participated last year in a diabetes walk and want to do the same thing this year. Hopefully one day they will find a cure for cancer and diabetes, but until then, let's RACE!!!

Garrett and I waiting for Trax! He enjoyed his first ride on trax. He slept the whole way there!



Colin and Garrett trying to squeeze their way through to the starting line. It only took us about 1o minutes to get there!

Just after we were 1/2 way done, Garrett decided he didn't want to ride in the stroller anymore! Thank heaven we had our bjorn that we could still carry him in!


WE made it to the finish where we met up with Kristy!
We are excited for our next race in September!