Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013 was certainly all about Miss Reagan (shocking, I know)! 

We started the season off with our annual family picture with Santa. It's always a big event but I'm sure you can imagine how much more work it was when you throw a baby into the mix. We didn't forget about Jack, he just got left in the car... We could barely manage 2 giant dogs and a baby. I don't think Jack minded though. 

 

 I love Reagan's face in this one and that Norris had to be the center of attention!

Reagan and I attempted some pictures by the tree.

 

Supervised by Baby the mastiff of course.

 On Christmas Eve we were able to video chat with Sister West (Ryan's sister) in Uruguay! It wasn't easy since a big ice storm came through a few days before and knocked out our internet so we first tried to go the church to Skype but were locked out so resorted to using the hospital lobby :) Kind of weird but it worked and it was great to see Vanessa and introduce her to Reagan!

 The many beautiful faces of Reagan in one of her bazillion Christmas outfits!

 Christmas morning came and Reagan found herself among a couch full of gifts with her name on them! And only one was from her mom and dad! Her extended family sure spoiled her!

 I love how she just adores her daddy :)

 

My mom made Reagan's darling stocking which matches mine from when I was born and the one she made for Ryan when we got married.

 

 Ready to open presents!

 

She is staring at the cute Little People Nativity Set her grandparents sent. 

I can't wait to see her with it next year!

 

This one is from mom and dad.

 

 We thought this would be a fun way to document her growth each Christmas.

Couldn't forget the other babies!

 

We spent the rest of our day relaxing and making a big Christmas dinner which I'm glad we did. It was nice to sit down and enjoy a nice meal together on this special Christmas. We are so grateful to our Heavenly Father for Reagan and that she arrived safe and is growing and happy. There is nothing more we could have asked for this year!

Thanksgiving in Utah

Just before Thanksgiving we took Reagan on her first trip back to Utah. We were anxious about the flights but she did awesome and slept nearly the whole way.

 

Reagan got to meet her Grandpa Robert at the airport. He was smitten :)

The next day she met Great Grandma Bonnie 

 

and her West aunts, uncles, and cousins at A's 1st birthday party. We're sure they're gonna be BFF's :)

The next day was an epic day for my family. Not only was it Thanksgiving, it was the day my brother Tyler returned from his mission in Alabama! So fun to have that airport experience! 

Well done Elder Allan!

 

 

 

On top of that we got to go home to a yummy Thanksgiving dinner

 

 and celebrate my sister and I turning 30! 

 

Reagan got to meet her Uncle Timmy and her cute cousins.

 

She had no lack of snuggle time with her growing fan club around!

 

We blessed Reagan during this trip. She looked beautiful! 

(See the previous post for more about her blessing)

 

We went with Katie when she got her ears pieced. She was so brave!

Got to spend a lot of fun time with Ryan's family including a trip to Logan, lunch with the kids, yummy breakfast at Kneaders, and Ryan even threw me a surprise birthday pizza party where Reagan got to meet Santa.

 

 

The trip went by so quick as usual and it was one of the busiest we've taken but so good to see everyone and introduce them to Reagan! See you in the summer everyone!

Reagan's Blessing

 

We blessed our sweet baby Reagan in my parent's ward (Mountain Shadows 4th Ward) on
December 1, 2013. 

I was blessed in my grandparents ward in Springville and I always dreamed of blessing my first baby there as well but unfortunately both grandparents have passed away so it seemed fitting to bless Reagan in her grandparents ward. 

She was blessed by her Daddy and had both Grandpas, Uncle Tyler, Uncle Jeremy, Uncle Fritz, Uncle Jason, Great Uncle Mark, Bishop Benson and President Perkins joining him.
Reagan, your blessing was short and sweet and you only cried a little. Your dad blessed you that your body and mind would be healthy and grow and develop normally. That as the oldest you would be a good example to your younger siblings. And that you will reach out in love and service to those in need.

Getting this girl ready was no easy task!

Step 1: wake the sleeping baby (every bone in my body said not to and she seemed to agree)

Step 2: the onesie

Step 3: put on the much too large tights and shoes (she was thrilled)

Step 4: the slip (which apparently was pretty awful)

Step 5: the dress

 

Step 6: fluff and buff

 

The finished product!

We felt very blessed and grateful to have so many loving family members there for Reagan's special day!

Grandparents

Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins

 

 After the blessing we had a brunch back at Grammy and Grandpa's house.

 It was a great day and we are glad we could share it with our family! 

A few "outtakes" from the day include Reagan pooping through her dress (thankfully after the blessing and luncheon) and the drama surrounding Ryan's tie. Long story short, I asked him to bring his pink tie from our wedding. When we got to Utah he noticed it was stained so he took it to the dry cleaners. Well after 2 cleanings it looked worse and faded. I was not happy! He had brought a backup tie so he wore that but we figured out after the blessing that the original tie wasn't even our wedding tie! It was still in the closet at home :)

A few weeks after her blessing we took Reagan to have some professional pictures done in her dress.

So proud to be her mommy!