Easter Weekend

We had a wonderful Easter weekend. It started Thursday evening with a visit to the Lake Jackson Easter Egg Hunt. I was a little nervous as I drove in with the massive amount of cars and people. Thankfully, they had different areas for each age range. There was an area for non-walkers so Ashton fit right in. She enjoyed people watching as she sat on the grass with her bunny ears on. Her picture even ended up in the newspaper the next day.

People watching like normal.

The "Easter Bunny" was just the Chick-Fil-A cow dressed up. I was disappointed.

They got our town wrong but I was still so excited to have her picture in the newspaper! We went to the gas station and bought one as soon as we found out.

This is Ashton's Easter dress from Grandma Wilcox. Ashton loved trying to eat the flowers on it.

 Friday morning, we left for Austin to visit family. We had a wonderful weekend there, full of good food and lots of smiles and laughter. Ashton enjoyed seeing her cousins again. I see a great friendship forming between Ashton and her cousin, Ollie who is 9 months older. It's fun to see Ashton with other babies. In our ward, she is the only baby right now. At the ward we visited, there are tons of babies so it was neat to see Ashton interact with them and try to be possessive about her toys.

Easter egg cake

 The way back from Austin was long. Traffic was bad so the four hour drive became a five hour drive. Ashton did pretty well, which surprised me. All in all, I would say Ashton's first Easter was quite a success.

Proud Moment

I love when something turns out better than you thought it would. Here's my moment this week when that happened.

Since we bought our house, I've wanted to make some wreaths for our front door. Our Christmas wreath currently is a pathetic green wreath with nothing on it. It's been that way for a few years. This year, I am getting wreaths done. It's my goal.

So I made a spring wreath. I found the idea on Pinterest.

Finished product

Made by hot glueing gumballs to a styrofoam wreath

Lots of gumballs and lots of hot glue. Then I spray painted it and added the finishing touches

 

I probably wouldn't recommend this wreath to others. While I like how it looks, it is pretty heavy. Also, in case you're wondering, gumballs are pricier than I wanted. And I bought some, thinking that would be enough. But it wasn't. So I had to buy more, which made me upset about it. But once I started, I had to finish. Spray painting it was trickier because of all the surfaces and crevices to get. However, I think it looks pretty and makes me think of spring even though the weather is not very spring-y right now.

7 Months Old

Weight: About 19 pounds

Height: About 28.5 inches

Clothing Size: 6-9 months for shirts/onesies and still 3-6 month for pants. I have short legs and a long torso.

Special Outings: I had lots of special outings this past month! We went to Wisconsin and had lots of excursions there. It was a blast! Mom, Dad, and I also went on a picnic at a park near our house.

Firsts: First time eating solids. This went over pretty well except I don't like carrots. I love applesauce, sweet potatoes, and squash. Rice cereal is okay. Also, I really like feeding myself. I help Mom hold the spoon and then squish the food into my mouth. My first injury has occurred. Somehow, I scratched my ear and it started bleeding. I'm strong and survived the experience. Also, I can get up on all fours now but then don't know what to do.

Likes: Eating paper to the point that I bite off a corner and almost choke on it in the middle of Wal-mart (I sure scared Mom and the nice Wal-mart lady who saw Mom doing the blind sweep several times), eating yummy foods, rolling around on the floor, trying to crawl, looking at mirrors, sucking on my water bottle, being tickled and laughing, Daddy coming home, my nightly baths, walks around the neighborhood, eating grass, playing with Mom's hair

Dislikes: Parents trying to take matters in their own hands and rush me into doing something a certain way, sitting on my own, no swaddle, rolling onto my tummy, weed whackers and lawn mowers

Any big changes: NO SWADDLE! Finally, we sleep without being wrapped up. I managed to roll over while completely wrapped up so we went cold turkey. I wake up twice a night now instead of once a night and naps involve more tears than normal. Other than that, I'm doing okay. Mom, on the other hand, is pretty tired.

Biggest Lessons Learned: Children are a blessing from God. I knew this before but this past month has been so joyful in our home. Ashton is very happy as long as she's fed and she sleeps enough. Her smiles make us smile and laugh so much. We're grateful for the blessing God has given our family.

Monthly Pictures:

Common expression after I try to feed her.

Hanging with Dad

I found this thing on sale at a consignment store so finally got her one. It took her a while to warm up to it but now she loves it. And I love that I can switch loads of laundry or put dishes away.

Self-portrait attempt

Scratch on her ear

Loves her water bottle

Playing outside one evening

Trying to eat grass

She'll bring her knees up but then drop her head so crawling is tricky. She scoots around for now.

Having a blast at our picnic

Monthly Video: This is normally what meals look like. She's always apprehensive about taking solids. Once you get her going, then she'll enjoy it.

What the next month should bring: Celebrating Easter, meeting the Easter bunny, and visiting family in Austin again

Becoming a cheesehead

As many of you know, we took a trip to Wisconsin last week. Joseph was able to take lots of time off to come with us, which was even better! Ashton met lots of family, flew on several planes, and adjusted well to all the changes. It was a wonderful trip filled with lots of hugs and kisses.

The way there went pretty well. The first flight out of Houston was a little troubling since they boarded us and then made us wait for 30 minutes with no air conditioning. Ashton got fussy but a nice lady sitting in front of us held her and that fixed it. After that, she did pretty well with the flying. We landed and Grandpa and Grandma were waiting anxiously for us. We went to their house and had dinner. Ashton met her great aunt Lynn and great uncle Bill. Later Trescha and Charlie came to meet her.

Entertainment in the airport

Sunday, we drove over to Door County to celebrate my brother's wedding. We hung out at the resort and went swimming that night. Ashton did pretty good in the pool except it was a little cold. She met more family too.

Loved playing with Aunt Trescha

Grandma and Ashton

Monday was the wedding and Ashton became fussy during it so she didn't see much of it. But we celebrated later. We even had my sister stay with Ashton while she slept in the hotel room so Joseph and I could dance together!

We matched. I made a matching skirt for the wedding. Ashton wasn

't too impressed with matching.

Partying away at the reception

Tuesday, we left and stopped in Green Bay to see Lambeau Field. We went on a tour and went to lunch at Curly's Pub. It was a lot of fun and Ashton surprised me by falling asleep in her stroller during lunch.

Aunt Suki and Uncle Brandon

True Cheeseheads

The rest of the week was filled with meeting Great-Grandma Ashton and relaxing in Wausau. She played with Molly, my parent's dog and enjoyed that. We also gave her a tasting of applesauce. Ashton liked it. But she didn't sleep any better. During the whole trip, Ashton woke up at least twice a night, sometimes three or four times. We got home yesterday and she only woke up once a night, thank goodness! Overall, Ashton adjusted well to sleeping in different places and being held by lots of new people. It was a great trip and we can't wait to go back.

6 Months Old

Weight: About 18 pounds

Height: About 28 inches

Clothing Size: 6-9 month

Special Outings: Nothing special happened this last month

Firsts: First time rolling tummy to back. Dad got to see me do this first. First taste of solids. Mom offered me a carrot stick to suck on and I didn't like that. But then she offered me an apple slice and I licked it for a long time. I hope applesauce is the first food she offers me next month.

Likes:Eating paper, waking up to Daddy, riding on Daddy's shoulders, the fact that it's lighter longer at night so we can take long walks, trying to eat my toys, drinking out of my sippy cup and Mom's water bottles, and playing with dogs.

Dislikes: Rolling over onto my tummy, Mom trying to wean the swaddle, the entire teething process, and getting my arm stuck in my crib rails.

Any big changes: I finally decided that it's okay to smile at strangers. Now I am a little social bumblebee. I give big smiles to anyone who talks to me. I also like being tickled and am working on my belly laugh.

Biggest Lessons Learned: No two days are ever alike. There's always something that catches me by surprise.

Monthly Pictures:

Enjoying her sippy cup. I think she really just likes the spout to suck on.

I was adventurous one day and decided to do a craft. Ashton didn't understand how to make a handprint. Practice makes perfect!

Doing pushups

Loves to stand. We wonder if she'll skip crawling and instead walk as she hates her tummy time.

Eating a match holder that I found at a garage sale.

One of her new favorite things to do with Daddy.

Monthly Video:You'll have to turn your head as I don't know how to turn videos.

What the next month should bring: Going to Wisconsin in two days, swimming for the first time, meeting LOTS of family, going to my first wedding, and FINALLY starting solids!

I'd Do It All Over Again

Last Saturday, we went to a concert at church. April Meservy has family in our ward and came to Texas to sing. It was a great time and Ashton even let us listen to the music for the most part. She sang this song that talks about her grandparents marriage. The song is called, "I'd Do It All Over Again" and it made me think this weekend about what I would do all over again and what I would not.

What I Would Do Over Again.
1. Join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This was a difficult decision for me almost six years ago but I made the right choice.

2. Marry Joseph in the temple. Even though we've had rough times since we got married, there is no one else I would rather be with.

3. Transfer to Brigham Young University. This was another tough decision for me to make. Thankfully, I was able to recognize the promptings of the Spirit and know where I was supposed to go. I know I would have gained a good education at Utah State and been blessed there. But I knew BYU was where God wanted me.

4. Start our family. Ashton is a blessing to our home. The spirit she brings is irreplaceable. There are long days and much longer nights but I would do it all over again (and probably will with future children).

5. Work at camp in high school. I worked at a YMCA Camp for five summers throughout high school and my first summer break in college. Working at camp helped me realize how much I loved working with children and in the recreation field.

All my camp pictures that have me in them includes campers. So I don't know who this is but just imagine it's me

What I Would Not Do Over Again
1. Wait until my senior year in high school to participate in sports. I ran cross country and wish I would have gotten involved earlier in sports.

2. Worked so much in high school. One summer, I worked three jobs and volunteered part time at camp. I was very busy and often did not take the time to enjoy being a teenager. Now, it was great to be able to graduate debt free because of all that work but I wish I could have done more social things. And my mom told me that a thousand times, which doesn't make it any easier.

3. Major in recreational therapy. This is still up for debate. I loved my major but wish I would have chosen a major that had more career opportunities outside Utah. I am pretty restricted as far as employment, especially in our area. While I don't want to work in the near future, we most likely will need to move closer to a big city when I do. My grandfather was an accountant and I always think about him and wish I would have done accounting like him.

4. Rely on my friends more than my family. This is something I hope to teach Ashton. Family is always there; friends will come and go.

5. Lease a car. In high school, I bought my first car and about 6 months later, hit a deer. This damaged the car and a few months later, it died. There weren't many good used cars available to purchase so I was able to lease a car. While I was able to afford it, I wish I would have waited until a used car was available to buy. I could have used the money in other ways.

6. Being hesitant to share my struggle with depression and anxiety. I struggled off and on with this throughout high school and then a lot in college. Since having Ashton, I've dealt with it some more. I find that the more I am open and willing to talk about it, the better I feel and the easier it gets.