Sun Valley 2012

 Every summer for the past 27 years of my life, I've gone on vacation to Sun Valley with all of my cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents. Some of my very fondest memories are of summers spent in Sun Valley, and memories made there with the people I love most. When I got married, I couldn't wait for Mike to fall in love with Sun Valley too! After three years of participating in the Sun Valley festivities, I think it's safe to say Mike loves our annual Sun Valley vacation just as much as I do.

This was James' first year at Sun Valley, and he was a champ! We carted him around EVERYWHERE with us, and he was an absolute angel. I don't think he got a normal nap all week long, but he happily slept wherever, whenever. Such a perfect, flexible little guy.

 We crammed a TON into just five days. Some of our favorite activities from the week included: The Child Family 2012 Olympic games, the annual putt putt golf tournament (I took 2nd place in the women's division!), the annual cookout and Child Family song (James made the song this year!), the annual cherry spitting contest, synchronized swimming noodle team dancing competition, bongo ball and a home run derby, staying up until 2am playing games with cousins, eating at our favorite delicious restaurants, visiting the Sun Valley candy shop, swimming, bowling, biking down Mt. Baldy and golfing (Mike and the boys), girl's cousin lunch, going to the hot pots, lunch with my grandparents, etc. It was absolutely AMAZING. I LOVE my family so much. Can't wait until next year!!

Summer Lovin

  The past two months have been absolutely incredible! Mike and I are LOVING sweet baby James and the amazing spirit he has brought into our home. James is known as "the perfect baby" and "angel baby" by all of my extended family members because he is such a DREAM. He came to this earth with such a calm, happy, and sweet disposition. Thanks to his easy going, happy temperament, this transition to parenthood has gone incredibly smooth for both Mike and I.

 For a while my dad was worried something was wrong with him because he hadn't ever heard him cry (rest assured, he does know how to cry, but only when he's hungry, and it's a cute cry at that). That's how incredible he is! He can sleep whenever, wherever, and is just thriving! We feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to be parents to this amazing little soul. He has made our lives so much better!

I cannot believe how quickly James is growing! This past week he hit his 2 month mark! He is such a strong baby, and every milestone is so exciting for us. I have literally taken thousands of pictures of him already. He was holding up his head when he was two days old, rolled for the first time at four weeks old, started sleeping 6-7 hour stretches at two weeks, and started smiling at five weeks. Lately he is becoming so interactive. He recognizes voices and people, and loves smiling at his mama, daddy, and his grandma Alison. This morning he laughed for the first time and I thought my heart was going to burst.

 We have been having so much fun just savoring every moment this summer. I'm LOVING being a stay at home mom, and with Mike's flexible work schedule, we've been able to spend so much time together as a family. James took his first trip at one month old when we went to Idaho Falls to visit Mike's parents, and we've stayed up in Heber at my parent's house several times already this summer. The poor baby has almost spent more nights away from home than he has in his actual crib, but he is so flexible, adaptable, and happy wherever he is.

 Here are some photos from the summer so far.....

 

James' Safari Nursery

From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I started daydreaming about nurseries. I knew in my heart that a baby boy was going to be joining our family, and so once I got the confirmation of the ultra sound, Mike and I got to work. We were so excited!

 I wanted to create a magical place for our baby boy to grow up in, but I also didn't want to break the bank. After a lot of brainstorming I decided to go with a safari theme. We had so much fun putting everything together (with the help of my fabulous interior designer friend Teresa). Everything in the nursery was carefully selected. I wanted the items decorating James' nursery to be special and meaningful.

 Some of the meaningful heirlooms and items included in the nursery design are:
 - The vintage cedar chest that my grandfather gave my grandmother before their wedding over 50 years ago. - My grandfather's old fishing net.
 - A box of Chocolates Mike got on his mission that says, "Cleveland... a sweet place to be" (Mike and I both served our missions in Cleveland, which is why James' middle name is Cleveland).
 - A photo of the Kirtland temple (again, important because it was such a huge part of our mission and I served at the historic Kirtland church sites as a missionary)
 - Masks, drums, wooden animals, cloths, and other African treasures my grandparents got when they lived in Ghana.
 - A chest of drawers that was purchased for $20 on the side of the road in Africa (Pottery Barn has one just like it)
 - National Geographic magazines my grandparents have been collecting for years and years - A huge turtle my grandfather got somewhere in Asia long ago
- A globe that Mike and I purchased in Sun Valley, ID (a very important place to our family)
 - A huge giraffe that Grandma Alison gave James
- A photo of Christ from his Grandma Carol

 My grandparents were kind enough to offer to let us use so many of their african treasures, and we were given so many gifts, that the only things we had to buy were the crib, the rug, and some of the photos on the wall. I absolutely LOVE how it all turned out. Every time I walk in I have to smile. It's my favorite room in the house. But most importantly, I LOVE the little babe that lives there.

 Here are some photos (thanks to the incredible Jen Herem)......