8 weeks old

So we have been trying to get Alaina on a sleeping schedule since she was born. Tonight I actually just layed her in her crib and she was out cold in about 3o seconds. That never happens and quite honestly I don't expect it to happen on a consistent basis, but I am grateful. Tim is with the Teacher's Quorum tonight, so what do I do with some time to myself? I catch up on my blog reading and I must say that it is so fun to see what my closest friends are doing with their lives. Thanks for posting and you have inspired me to update more. Hey, I am getting better. I wish I had more to update, but my life on the outside seems pretty routine. I am having so much fun being a new mom.

Candid Moment

So we were getting ready to go to the grocery store and Alaina was being smiley and happy. I thought, "ooh, maybe if I hurry and grab the camera we can get a picture of this". It worked!! I was pretty excited.

Alaina's Blessing

Here's a family photo after Alaina's blessing.

Merry Christmas!

Because Alaina is just a few weeks old we decided it would be better if we didn't travel yet, so Christmas was at our house this year. We missed being with our family and friends in Salt Lake City, but loved a chance to make our own traditions and spend time together as a family. We also feel so lucky to have a great ward family. In the afternoon we felt really lucky to spend part of Christmas with one of our favorite families in the ward and then a baptism that evening. I can't think of a better day to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a better way to remember why we celebrate Christmas.

We let Alaina open a couple of presents.

The excitement was too overwhelming. Maybe she will be able to handle it more when she is older:).

Tim loves to cook and one of our favorite dishes is his mom's eggs benedict. Since we were on our own this year, he decided he wanted to try it. It was delicious and I was very impressed.

Welcome Alaina!

It finally happened. We had our baby girl, Alaina on November 22 at 6:52pm weighing in at 8 lbs 6 oz and measuring 22 inches long. She already has her dad's height. She has brown hair, blue eyes, long skinny fingers, long legs and long feet and toes. We love her a lot and the first week and a half have consisted of trying to get her to sleep at night and not just during the day, making sure she gets enough to eat and enjoying all the funny things she does. We have taken a lot of pictures, but she moves so quickly so it's not very often we get a good one! We are working on that.

The world is not coming to an end...

Just take a deep breath! No, the world is not coming to an end! I just updated my blog:). Sorry it's been so long, but here's what we've been doing over the past year.

Tim has been working hard and studying for CPA exams which he finally finished in July. I was so grateful because I had a feeling his life wouldn't get any less busy so it was either now or try to study with more "on his plate". Sure enough he has taken on projects at work that allow him less leisure time. He has also been called as the 14 and 15 year old scout leader, which has taken more time, but he loves it.

As excited as I am for him, it was sad to see him leave his Primary calling where we both have LOVED teaching the 6 & 7 year olds in our ward. Every week we learn something from them and they say something we just have to write down because it is so funny.

I finished working full time in September to get ready for our baby girl who is due mid-November. Overall I have had a pretty easy pregnancy and shouldn't complain as much as I do. There is so much preparation and I think we are as close to being ready for her as we can be. We are really very excited about becoming parents!

Here are some of the highlights of the last year. I don't mean for it to be a "travel (b)log", but that is when we take pictures!

Our latest excitement is Tim's debut on YouTube. Just type in "watch my friend eat a McDonald's big mac". He actually did this for the Primary talent show for our church and a friend did some editing for it. Check it out! (For some reason I am unable to post the link.)

Deanna's parents came to visit!

(In case you are wondering, I am about 31 weeks pregnant.)

Tim's parents came to visit!

Two of Deanna's high school friends, Brooke and Alison came to visit! This is the "gum wall" right outside Pike Place Market, where you can dispose of your chewed gum. Sick huh?
(28 weeks)

Niagara Falls

Tim & Deanna in front of the log home on the Smith Farm where Joseph Smith lived in New York. In April, Tim and I were bumped off a flight and received $400 each in flight vouchers. Since Tim served his mission in the Rochester, New York area we had always talked about visiting those sites later on in the future, but we couldn't pass up this opportunity. It was such a great trip to do together. Our testimonies of the Restoration were strengthened and we really loved spending the time revisiting the places where Tim lived for 2 years.

Rachel and Brian came to visit during one of the worst heat waves this area has seen in the last one hundred years. It doesn't get that hot here, so not many people have air conditioning. We went swimming in one of the local lakes just to try and stay cool.

We have had the chance to see a few Mariners games!

Poor Tim. He was out of the office working with a client when he went to move a table and split his pants. To make matters more awkward he did this in the middle of the day so he couldn't go home to change. Luckily he had a jacket that he could tie around his waist, but it looked funny because that look went out a long time ago:).

Taxco

My brother served his mission in Mexico so we went to see some of the places where he served with my family.

Standing outside the entrance to some ruins.

We took some pictures and I thought I would post them.

We came home one night to find this on our door frame. From a distance I thought it was a big bug, but as we got closer I realized it was a small frog about an inch long.

We went to enjoy the beautiful fall weather at the Japanese Gardens near The University of Washington. The picture is a little fuzzy, but you get the idea.

Being that it was such a clear day, we were able to see Mt. Ranier from the freeway. Keep in mind that this mountain is over two hours away and we could still see it.