Being Erika's Mom

Being Erika's Mom: 

I love being Erika's mother it is the best job I've ever had. Erika is a fun and loving baby! She looks just like her dad but has an out going personality like me. :) Were ever she goes she makes new friends with her cute smile and talkative girl she is. 

Erika wasn't easy to get here in a couple of ways first of all it took a few years to get pregnant and the second is I was in labor with her for 3 days. To have her here was such a blessing. And that is what she has been a delight. She was an adventure to get her here and I try to enjoy ever second I spend with her. She is such a happy little girl. She smiled for the first time in the hospital and here and there until she could smile any time. She loves to be talked to and she loves to be in the center of attention. If I'm in the kitchen she wants to be there and I tell her what I'm doing and she seems to enjoy it. Jake does the same thing with her when he is working on a project she's right there watching and he explains what he is doing.

Some funny things she has done:

1. Pulled her hair at 1 month and made herself cry

    I found this to be very funny.

2. We put her life jacket on her in the tub and she just floats  in the tub with a smile on her face.

3. Finding her shadow on the wall

4. Finding her hands and talking to them

5. When she eats oatmeal and drinking water in a sippy cup

6. Will not drink from a bottle

7. Went shopping the other day for her and she about jumped out of my arms for the clothes. I know she knew the clothes were for her. She doesn't normal getting excited to go grocery shopping.

8. Watching her play with the Christmas tree. She pulls the branch down and it hits her face and moves her head and she repeats. 

9. When she was learning to roll she would only roll from back to tummy. She would cry b/c she was on her tummy and wanted to be on her back. I put the wrong video up and I can't delete it. I have never put a video on before and there is now 3 of the same thing. haha 

10. She can almost touch her nose with her tongue  

Erika has done more but this is things that come to mind right now.

We have taken her:

Boating

Hiking

Biking

She has enjoyed it. Each time for each she get so excited she just talks then she'll stop talking and just enjoy what is around her. 

I love to watch Erika explore then suck on anything she can. It makes me laugh. When she is going to sleep she is kicking as fast as she can and moving her hands just as fast while talking with excitement. She really just makes me laugh a lot.

She loves her dad

Jake had a four day weekend over Thanksgiving and Him and Erika bonded so much. 

Boat

We bought a boat in September. We took it to Willard Bay to see how it worked, we took Erika with us. While we were out a storm rolled in, so we headed back to the dock as we were heading back we hit some big waves. I was holding Erika, and was talking to her when we hit the waves and i'm not kidding she had this big smile on her face and was laughing as we went up and back down. It didn't last long ut she liked it. After some long nights Jake and Phil fixed the boat and we went out about a month later to test the boat again. Jake decided he was going to try water skiing while filming Jake you can hear Erika laughing with enjoyment. It was supper cute. When I find my camera i'll post the boat, and Erika talking/laughing.

More Erika

So, Erika is pretty much this she looks just like Jake but social like me (Jake is becoming more social, and very pround of him). She loves to be talked to and she can beheld pretty much anyone unless Jake doesn't like you she knows and won't go to them. She's a smart little girl and I'm only telling you what I've seen.  I'm just doing pictures that our on my tablet b/c I still can't find my camera.

Welcome Erika

After being in labor for 3 days and my water breaking on day 2 we finally got to meet the baby brewing inside of me for the last 9 months. We didn't find out what we were having we wanted to be surprise. It was funny as soon as they said it was a girl Jake said "what do you do with a girl" it was funny, he was ok we thought it was a boy. So, on July 11 Erika was here safe and healthy, she weighed 7lbs 11oz, 21 inches. Here are the pictures to tell the rest of the story.

So many new things

We since March there has been a lot of new things in our family. I guess I'll start back in May.

Jake and I went to Bear Lake for the weekend. Yes, that means I was 7 months pregnant. We took my in-laws pop up trailer. We had some interesting things happen to us while driving up and while at our stay at the KOA.
1. When driving up Logan Canyon we show a naked man enjoying nature (little to much for me.)
2. We were setting up camp when we show a lady walking her dog, I know nothing weird about that but the next morning she was no joke pushing her dog in a dog stroller. Jake, asked her about the dog stroller, we were both interested why a dog stroller. She answered the question and was very happy to talk about it. (To long ago can't remember the question? I think it was where she got a dog stroller)
3. Since I was 7 months pregnant I had to go to the restroom in the middle of the night. Jake, was a sweet protective husband and walked me to the restroom in the middle of the night. We were walking back to our camp when there was a older man, his son and there dog by our camp site. We asked can we help you? They were looking for their dogs bm in the dark without a flashlight. Jake, who LOVES flashlights had one in his hand and the guy said as he reached for the flashlight Jake, said no you may not take my flashlight. He help look for the bm for a minute then we just left. It was weird. I was glad that Jake was with me b/c I it would have scared me if I was by myself.
4. We rode our mopeds around which isn't uncommon for us but I guess it looks funny when you see a pregnant lady riding a moped. Jake, use to work at Camp Hunt so he took me up a dirt road that they use to go rock climbing at. On our way up a gentlemen who lives on the corner of the road said that our bikes wouldn't make it up the hill. Well, Jake and I both new that we were going to be just fine. The hill that he was talking about was nothing. hehe
That was our fun camping trip to Bear Lake.

I'll have to post pictures later I can't find my camera.

Spring

Well, I am a fan of pictures but I guess I can add words it doesn't always have to be with a picture.
MARCH:
My Dad's birthday
My parents took Jake and I out to lunch which is always fun.
Had another ultra sound. I am amazed at how the baby is growing. Have some pretty cool 3d or 4d pictures.
Baby shower for little Nathan E.
Jake and I have started painting the living room but can't decide if we like the trim so it's still not finished. hehehe
For birthdays for the adults in the Gold Family we are spending about 4 hours at their house and working on projects that they pick. We had our first bday and project party. It was for my brother-in-law Jason. We had fun cleaning up gutters and some other things that I didn't help with b/c it was more of a chore for the big boys.
Went to a mission farewell with Darci Drake Neville. One of the girls we coached Mari Johnson is going to Italy to serve a mission. It was great to see her and other girls we coached. She's going to do a great job on her mission!
Randy and Emily Thompson celebrated their 21 anniversary. I love having Emily in the family she is awesome!
Went to the Mormon Tabernacle Orchestra with Scott and Kahri. It was in the Tabernacle, we sat upstairs and it was a little warm. About 10 minutes into the first piece I watch a girl go over to the usher and say something and then the usher walked over to I would guess the girls mom who was holding the neck of an older ladie. Well, it wasn't long after that there was a smell of vomit. I sat there as long as I could but that wasn't long, I couldn't handle the heat and the smell. Jake and I went outside to get some fresh air. Well, just for your information they don't let you back into the tabernacle when the doors are shut but they will let you back in at intermission. Outside was very nice and cool. Anyway they did have it being aired in the north visitors center so we went and watched it there until intermission. Jake did really good until the last piece and he was gone. But I am so proud that he lasted that long. :)
March Madness!!!!!
Blake Hillard wedding reception
Madelyn Dickson 2nd bday. She's pretty much a cutey!
Starting our birthing class
Kayd has been serving his mission for 9 months
Aaron has been serving 3 months
March has been busy and fun.

New Roommate

Jake and I are getting a new roommate in July. I have already been able to spend more time with the coming roommate than Jake, but trust me we're both excited for the new roommate.
This is a front shot you can see head to toes and little arms.

We like to call him "Lloyd" of course this is just the pre baby birth name. Don't know what were having, and as of right now we are not going to find out until it arrives.
I think this is so cool you can see his hand. It looks like he is sucking his thumb but I have no idea what he is doing.