Relocating

It's true... After 8 cumulative years, one wedding, two graduations, and a baby, we are officially leaving Utah. So the company Jade works for is changing the way they're run, and instead of having one corporate office in Provo, with lots of smaller offices around the country who report to the corporate office, they're turning it into a franchise-type company, where each area will be wholly self-sufficient. They offered all the upper-management the chance to buy a franchise, and Jade was given first pick, so he chose the area that's been the top-market every year, which coincidentally is Portland! So the company is initiating the change after the summer term is over, which means we'll be packing up and moving to Oregon at the end of August. We're not sure how permanent this move will be, because it all depends on how well the business works out. We're keeping our house here, mostly because we would lose a ton of money if we sold it now, but also "just in case" things don't work out in Portland. This isn't the business Jade wants to be in for the rest of his life, so he hopes to just get it running super well so it can basically run itself, and he can just take a backseat and do what he really wants to do: sell insurance. So we could be in Portland anywhere from 5 months to a couple years. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I'm not exactly the biggest fan of Utah. I don't hate it here, and I'm not unhappy here, but it's just not where I want to live long-term, it was more of my get-the-degree-and-get-out-of-there place, and I did not want to be here any longer than that. Despite those feelings, this move is going to be really bittersweet for me. I actually can't believe I'm saying this, and Jade will probably give me grief about it for years to come, but there's a lot I'm going to miss about Utah. Here's my list: Jerai, Phil, Boyd and Remy (Tink is going to miss her best friend SO much, and Peyton is really disappointed because she and Boyd had been planning on living really close and being best friends). I can't articulate how sad I am that we're not going to be living in the same zip-code as the Moultons anymore. It's been great the past few months, and I wish you guys were moving with us! Stephanie Holt, my resident best friend and best hairdresser. That girl was my sanity while I was in Utah, and I'm so glad her and Jade went on that non-date shooting date and became friends, so that when I met Jade, I became best friends with her. Steph, I'm going to miss you like crazy. This just means you're going to have to visit home more often since Seattle and Portland are so close!! The guys from Stampede and their wives. You all have been such fun friends. I'm glad most of you are staying with Stampede, so we'll always be connected. All my friends from A and F. Thanks for making my pregnancy so much fun. I could not have asked for a better pre-baby job, and I'm so glad I got to know you all. You better stay in touch. Our friends from Sleepy Ridge. Who knew we would actually have some really cool people in our ward! I was so skeptical about Utahns before I moved into this ward (sorry to be so judgmental, but it's the truth. I was a cynic). Living right on the golf course. It's been great playing all the golf and night-golf we wanted, and Tinky had the best backyard ever. We're really going to miss that. Knowing the best place for a wax, a massage, a manicure, a pedicure, a chocolate-banana milkshake, Mexican Food, Italian Food, Brazilian Food, and Steak. Knowing how to navigate my way around. I'm going to be absolutely clueless in Portland, and I'm not going to know where anything is. Utah-only places: Trendy Tots Boutique, Rod Works, Burger Supreme, Tucanos (there's one in Colorado, too, but that doesn't help me), Pita Pit, Prime Steak, Steak Out, the little Italian hole-in-the-wall in Provo, and Joe Vera's. BYU football games. It's been so fun being a BYU groupie, following the team and watching our friends play so well. We'll still be watching every game, but it's not the same! My entourage: Dr. Judd, the best OB/GYN ever, Dr. Wynn, who is the top pediatrician in Utah and we're so glad he accepted us as patients even though he has a closed practice, Dr. Robinson, who was a great dentist and rescued me from a really bad dentist, Jessica and Debbi, the best nurses of all time, and Orem Community Hospital- I couldn't have asked for a better place to deliver my baby, and I might just have to come back to Utah to deliver any and all subsequent children. Coaching cheerleading. The temperature in June, July, and August. Portland isn't as hot in the summer as Utah, and I'm going to miss hot summers. Utah has been pretty good to us the past few years, and thank goodness we both moved here! Thanks to everyone who made it bearable. I'm actually going to miss a lot about Utah, but I'm so excited to move to Portland (I call it a "real city") and I can't wait to live so close to family. This is going to be a big adventure for us. Wish us luck!!

What a blessing!

She can never resist making her stink face

I can hardly believe she's old enough, but Sunday was Peyton's blessing day! It was an amazing experience to hear my husband bless my daughter. It was so surreal. Jade gave such a sweet blessing, and I was able to record it and transcribe it, so now Peyton will have a copy of her blessing forever. What an incredible daddy/daughter bonding moment. We were so lucky that almost all of our family were able to come into town to be there. All we were missing from our immediate family was JaNea and Nipper and the boys (plus the triplets-to-be!). I cannot express in words how amazing that experience was, but it brings me to (happy) tears to think about it. It was a truly phenomenal day, and I'm so grateful that (almost) all the people I love were there to celebrate.

Happy Friday

It's been such a great week so far! My mom and the kids came up Monday, and we've been having so much fun. It's been wonderful having my mom back again. I wish she wouldn't ever leave. I'm just glad I'm able to see them so often- I know not everyone is lucky enough to get their mommy for 3 of the first 4 1/2 weeks of their baby's life. We went to Lagoon yesterday. For everyone who has never had the privilege of living in Utah, Lagoon is a cross between Disneyland and Universal Studios, only not as clean as Disneyland and not as big as Universal Studios. Besides all the men in tank tops, it was actually really fun, and we had such a good time. Peyton was really good, but I think overstimulated because she barely slept at all, and she was really cranky when we left the park. Also, her newborn pictures are finally done. Amazing!

A week in review

Our girls on the 4th of July We've been busy the past week! On Wednesday, Peyton took her first road trip, up to Idaho for Jade's work. We also had another first- her first time on a golf course! We stopped in Pocatello on our way to Rexburg and played a round with my best friend Megan and her soon-to-be husband (2 weeks!) Ryan. We just put her car seat in the golf cart and she slept away. I'm pretty sure it was against a rule, but it was a public golf course, so no one said anything to us. Another first- Peyton's first professional athletic event. When we got back from Idaho, we went to the Minor League baseball game and watched the Orem Owls get stomped on by some other team. Peyton basically slept the entire time... Apparently baseball isn't her thing. For the 4th of July, Jade planned (in typical Jade fashion) an over the top scheme for us to watch the huge fireworks show at Stadium of Fire. Friday morning he drove his truck, with the 4 wheeler and bike, to the top of Squaw Peak, one of the mountains with a view of all Provo, parked his truck at the top, hid the 4 wheeler about halfway down the mountain, then he rode his bike home. When it was time for the show, the place was packed. They weren't even letting people drive past the halfway point up the mountain. So we 4-wheeled up to his truck that was backed into the best parking spot, where we could see everything. Jade put a mattress in the bed of the truck and blankets and pillows and we watched little fireworks that people were setting off in the Valley, as well as the 15 minute Stadium of Fire fireworks show. It was incredible, and we had the best seat in the house. My thoughtful guy even made a dutch oven dinner for us to eat after the show was over. Peyton was an angel, and she didn't even notice the fireworks. Being with my husband and baby was the best way to celebrate the 4th. We're so grateful to live in this beautiful country and enjoy so many freedoms. And, we really hope America doesn't ruin it by electing that Obama man. The past few days were the first Peyton has been really fussy, and I am exhausted! Now I know what they mean when they say sleep-deprived. I'm hoping it's just a phase and she'll go back to normal sometime soon, because this is not the baby I'm used to. I just wish my momma would come back and rescue me! Lastly, Jade had the championship softball tournament the past two days. Since it was double elimination and they were in the loser's bracket, on Monday they had a series of games, and if they won, they kept playing, if they lost, it was the end of the season. They ended up winning every game, so they had to play 4 games in a row! The last team they beat was the first place team, and they hadn't lost, so since it was a double elimination tournament, they played that team again last night. It was a great game, the guys played really well, but we lost by 3 runs. Jade played so well though, and even has a battle wound from sliding into home wearing just gym shorts. At least he scored the run! 2nd place is nothing to be ashamed of!

At the golf course

At the baseball game

Look at how she's sleeping- she wriggled out of her swaddling so she could have her hands by her face. We think she looks like a doll. A lady at the store came up to me last week and said "I've been watching you for awhile because I thought you were walking around with a doll- I can't believe that's a real baby. She's beautiful." Sweet and funny!

Mt. Hood

After the hike

On Friday, Jade had to make a quick day-trip to Portland for work, so he decided to extend the trip by 20 hours and spend some time with his favorite guys in the world- his dad and brothers. The past 2 years they've been trying to arrange a trip to climb Mt. Hood, but both years they weren't able to do it for one reason or another, so Jade was way excited when he found out they were finally going to be able to do it this year. Everything went well during the hike, thank goodness, and the boys had a blast. I'm so glad he was able to do it, now maybe it's out of his system and he won't need to do it again (I know it's fun for him, but it's so dangerous- lots of people die climbing Mt. Hood every year). Anyway, I'm so glad they were safe and had a good time. Jade loves every minute he spends with them, and I always wish they could spend more time together. Also, can you believe his dad is 61? I don't know anyone close to that age that is in as good of shape as him... wait to show those young guys! Climbing to the summit

That's the shadow of Mt. Hood, with the Pacific ocean in the background. GORGEOUS

In other news, I think I found something Peyton loves almost as much as the sunshine- her Peanut Shell. I wrote about it before, but she really can't get enough of it! I am now convinced that she loves it because it reminds her of the womb. I've been doing a lot of reading (of course), and they say the first few months of life are really like the "fourth trimester", and that for all intents and purposes, newborns are still fetuses. So that's my theory. Anyway, she loves the sling, and I love carrying her around so close to me. Plus, she looks darling in it. We had her 2 week checkup yesterday. She's regained all her birth weight, plus 4 ounces, so she's now 6lb 4 oz, which puts her in the 5th percentile for weight. She grew 3/4 of an inch, which makes her 19 3/4 inch long, and in the 28th percentile for height. The doctor said she looks perfect (like he needs to tell me that!) :)
Loving my Peanut Shell

Stink face- the face she makes when she's annoyed at us

That actually is how long she is, that's not just a bunch of fabric at the bottom