Wow

It has been a ridiculously long time since I last wrote anything.  Since I am sitting here, alone and in the quiet while Ashley has a play date with her Aunt Desi and Tate and Cole, unable to do anything due to the unbelievable pain in my neck (literally...I have done something to my neck and am having trouble moving), I thought I would do an update.
Since my last post, we went to Vegas with family and friends for the SCI convention, went to Big Sky for a ski weekend, Ashley and I took a trip to Houston to meet Blair and hang out with the Texas contingent of our lives, we've camped on most weekends in Idaho with our little outdoorsy girl who doesn't want to come home, winter skipped spring and turned directly into summer and fire season...and, the best news of all, I became pregnant and we found out on June 21 that we will be having the very first grandson on either side.  We are blessed, happy, and life is good.

Junior...20 weeks, 4 days, Due on or around October 30, 2012

Wisdom's famous, folks!

Golf in America Cow Pasture Open Golf Channel

More than two months...

It has officially been forever since I've posted.  Not sure why, but I think it's mostly because I have even less time to myself than ever!  So much has happened since Ashley walked...her amazing birthday party, her baptism, her second Christmas, her first trip to Crested Butte...she's found a new favorite thing (swimming!)

Dada's awesome cake

Enjoying her whipped cream filled cupcake

With Big Mama and Bobby

Sideways shot with Gramma and Granpa

This is only a small sampling from her party...she had so many friends there!  Gramma and Granpa White, Big Mama and Bobby, Uncle Matthew, the Raymonds, the Wick-Diaz's, the Krist's, the Stevenson's, The Enrooth's, Great Aunt Kay and Great Uncle Jerry...I don't know if I can even remember them all! 
We worked so hard on her cake! Aunt Desi helped me bake the cookies (thank goodness or they wouldn't have been all the same thickness!), and we were so proud of her very own Christmas tree!

The following day we went to Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Butte and celebrated Ashley's baptism.  Lori Stevenson and Aunt Emily are her godmothers, and Uncle Matthew is her godfather.  It was a really neat service, especially when he anointed her with the holy water and I had to hold on for the life of me when she tried to dive into the bowl.  Then she did her best to grab the flame on her candle...it was a workout just hanging on!

 Ok, now on to Christmas. 
Ashley got her very first 4-wheeler from Santa, and it's been amazing watching her progress with it as a measuring stick...when we first sat her on it, she couldn't touch the ground.  Now, she can climb onto it on her own, push it around with her feet, and steer it.  It was by far her best present!  She, of course, received many other gifts from her grandparents and aunts and uncles!  She's so blessed...next year I'm thinking of adopting a family with the rest of our friends in town...


This was the best Christmas present of them all...the arrival of Kooper Lillian Stevenson to Ashley's godmama Lori and our good friend Jimmer...we couldn't be happier for them!



Kooper with her Mama and her Aunt Mandi and Aunt Katey...1 day old!

On the 28th Jonathan and I flew down to Crested Butte with Ashley to see her Big Mama and Bobby and Mommy's "home"...(I've always thought of Crested Butte as my home, even though I was mostly in Houston!).  Jonathan and I got some skiing in and a couple of nights out on the town, it was really sweet of my folks to let us do so!  (ahem...they kicked us out of the house so they could hang out with Ashley alone).  Jonathan flew back on the 3rd, and Ashley and I stayed for a few more days.  Ashley's favorite was the Discovery Center, where she got to go "grocery shopping", play with other kids, be a pirate, dig in the construction pit...it was such a neat place.  My question is...why do people say that kids get spoiled by their grandparents?  I always feel like it's me that gets spoiled when we're with her grandparents.  They love to feed her, bathe her, put her to bed...I'm never really sure what to do with myself!

We got some skiing in with Bobby too!

Lots of walks in the Bob!

Mommy and Daddy out and about

There was so little snow that Ashley didn't get to sled, she got to ride in the wagon!



Big Mama was all dressed up for a theme party with her friends...Ashley wasn't too sure who she was!

 Since we've been home it's just been a whirlwind.  I've been busy with work, and Jonathan's been working long days to save up some time for our trip to Vegas next week.  I've been working on my ankle quite a bit, I feel lucky to have access to the exercise equipment at the Forest service.  It's still weak, but it's getting there!  We've also been spending lots of time with Aunt Lori and Kooper, which has been so nice.  I'm going to be so sad when Lori goes back to work!  Next week will be my first extended trip away from Ashley, and we are so lucky that she gets to spend time with the Raymond family.  She loves Tate and Cole, and of course Desi and Jason, too! 

Ok, I think that's it for now!  I'll let you know how my trip away goes soon!

I still can't get over this!

Ashley's Almost One!

Lately

I haven't been writing too much lately, mostly because I'm too busy chasing a small walking whirlwind around the house...Ashley walking is still intermittent (I guess it IS only the second full day...), and she's MUCH faster as a "scooter" and crawler, but I love looking over at her and seeing her just standing there, drinking her bottle or reaching for Jill (who lets her grab), or Ella (who stays just out of reach at all times...).

Plans for her first birthday are in the works...we'll have it at Gramma and Granpa White's house in Wise River, and have invited mostly family and a few friends.  My folks will be here, as will Jonathan's.  Unfortunately, her Godmama Emily, Jonathan's sister, won't be able to come due to finals starting the final Monday...
And it's possible that her other Godmom Lori Stevenson won't be in attendance either, as she may or may not be giving birth to her first baby (little girl Kooper) right around that time.  I suppose that's an excuse...
But, her Godfather Matthew, Jonathan's brother, will be there with bells on I'm sure, along with his gal Dallas and Kelly, Nikki, and Tye...their three great kids. 
Jonathan and I are making her cake and we've ordered supplies and are getting ready to get it done...should be an interesting feat! 
My mom will be here to help with the rest of the food, and it should go off without a hitch.  I know first birthday's are for the parents, but I know Miss A will have fun, too, since she LOVES being around people!



A lil family photo



She will be expecting a second dose of that whipped cream stuff at her birthday, I'm sure...
Thanksgiving Day

Sunday the 11th we'll be baptising Ashley at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Butte, MT.  It's where her Daddy was baptised, though at the time the church had not been built so his was in the rectory.  They are super nice folks there, I can't wait!  Gramma Sheila got Ashley a beautiful dress, bib, and hat, and Gramma Malla got her matching shoes...she'll look gorgeous!

Otherwise, Ashley's been inducted to the White Family Hunting Club (not an actual organization, just one that I've made up of course...but it's quite accurate).  She's been "hunting" three times already, and she's not even a year old!  We went with Matthew, Dallas, and the kids, as well as with her Granpa Martin, and today, just the three of us.  Unfortunately, the elk gods were not smiling on this sector of the White family this year, as we didn't end up with an elk....it's the experience, right?

"Hunting for elk"
from the comforts of the cabin of course...

Ashley's first Turkey Day!
With two of her godparents, Aunt Emily and Uncle Matthew

My girl

Thanksgiving 2011

It's official in our minds:  on the day after Thanksgiving, while Jonathan and I laid on the floor of our house playing with her, Ashley took three steps on her own! 


Our sweet girl in her birthday outfit



We are pretty sure this should be used for an ad or something...

photo by Kristina Larson, click on it to view her website!

It was pretty neat!  She walked from me to her dada, and as far as I'm concerned, she's a walker!

Thanksgiving was a very nice day as well...we always go around the table and say what we're thankful for, and Jonathan almost got tears when he said he was thankful for Ashley and me. 
Today we made povitica and Mamie's fruitcake as a memorial to her...with Kay, Keely, Kelly, Emily, Dallas, and me.  I'm not a huge fan of either, but they sure smelled great!

November 5, 2011

I can't belive Ashley's first Halloween has come and gone!


Our little kitty cat

 She had a great time, even if Mommy was limping from her ridiculously sprained ankle and Daddy wasn't able to be there.  We'll get her all nice and dressed up again when he gets home tomorrow!

She is basically walking on her own.  Today she was walking along, dragging her walker behind her like it was nothing, but she HAS to hold onto something.  For now.  I think she'll be walking before Mommy can walk normally again!

She has SIX teeth!
And...she is trying very hard to use a spoon and feed herself.  So far, it's mayhem, but practice makes perfect!

Getting revved up for her baptism on December 11.  I can't wait for her party either, it should be fun! 

Trying on her baptism gown, with her jammies underneath since we still have a month to go!  It fits for now!