O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

My inlaws have come to Utah to visit us for Thanksgiving every year we have lived up here. Each year they have purchased a Christmas tree for us the day after Thanksgiving. This year we took Ashley with us, and she wanted to be a big helper and push the Christmas Tree on the cart to the car by herself. In many of these pictures it looks like Chris is helping her, but she is pushing it by herself

Madison Olivia Brown is finally here!

Well, again, I am only two weeks late, but we had our beautiful baby girl, Madison Olivia Brown. She entered the world on November 26, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. at St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT. She was 7 lbs 9 oz and was 19 1/4 inches long. The details below are more for me, so in the future when I look back and read my blog, and remember this experience, I won't forget the smallest details.

My original due date was December 14th, then it was moved after my ultrasound to December 6th. The doctor decided to induce me on December 1st since my labor seems to go so quickly and they were afraid I could have the baby at home. On Tuesday, November 25th, I went to my final doctors appointment. Because I was dialated to a five, my doctor said I would probably be having the baby that evening, otherwise he wanted to induce me the next morning.

The next morning Chris and I arrived at the hospital at 7:30 a.m. and checked in. They hooked me up to the I.V. and the machines. They told me I was already having contractions three minutes apart, but I couldn't feel them. That is why my doctor was so concerned and wanted to induce me with this pregnancy. Within the hour, they started me on the petocin, and a few minutes later, they gave me the epidural. Since the contractions after an hour or two were still about two to three minutes apart, Dr. Watts decided to break my water. Within the next two hours Madison had arrived. It was actually a nice, almost pain free labor, which was completely opposite from my first labor.

When Chris first brought Ashley to the hospital, she was really reluctant to come sit with me in the hospital bed and to meet her baby sister. After a half hour or so, she wanted to help feed her, change her diaper, and hold her. She has been great with her ever since.

Since the next day was Thanksgiving and Chris' parents were coming into town, I decided to come home the next day instead of staying for 48 hours. Since my doctor gave me permission to do so, I was home on the evening of Thanksgiving, enjoying the comforts of my own home. It was so nice to have Chris home for a few days, and especially nice of Chris' parents to make the last minute drive up to Utah to help us out. I have the best inlaws in the world!!

Potty Training

Ashley will probably be so mad at me in a few years for posting these pictures, but they were too cute not to post. We have been working a bit on potty training, and she has been doing pretty well for how young she is. Her little potty has a song that plays once she goes potty. She was so excited to hear it for the first time.

Halloween

Yes, I continue to be really behind on my posts. Halloween was much more fun this year, because Ashley was old enough to understand the holiday and actually trick or treat. Daycare has a Halloween parade, so Chris and I dropped her off together so we could see all of the kids in their costumes. We had to get a picture of her with her teacher Miss Ada. She loves her so much. Normally a few people at work dress up, and since I was 8 months pregnant, I couldn't find any costumes that would fit me, so I wore a wig and witch hat.

Halloween night we took Ashley to the ward trunk or treat party. It took a few minutes to catch on to the idea that you say trick or treat, and they give you candy. Once she understood, she was a pro! She got a whole bucket of candy by the time the trunk or treat was over. After the party, we spent the remainder of the evening at my friend Kathy's house, who cooked us yummy chili. Ashley had a blast playing with Kathy's grandkids.

Ashley and Daddy


Ashley and Mommy


Ashley and Miss Ada


Kathy, Melanie, and Monica





Ashley at the Trunk or Treat

Ashley Turns 2

I'm only a month late posting her birthday pictures! One of Ashley's favorite shows is Dora the Explorer, so I decided we would have a DOra party for her. We started out at a Sugarhouse BBQ for dinner, and then we took Ashley to the Boo Yard Barn which is at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, UT. They had a petting zoo and fun Halloween games for the kids to play. Ashley loves animals and her favorite part was going around to each pen to pet and feed them. After leaving Barn Yard Boo, we headed home so we could have cake and ice cream and so she could open her presents. Ashley got a new baby doll and stroller, and an Elmo Live. That night before going to bed, she had to make sure that Elmo and her new baby were in bed with her, because she wouldn't go to sleep without them! Happy Birthday Ashley.

Happy Birthday to My Husband and My Daughter

Last week both Chris and Ashley celebrated their birthdays. I can't imagine not having these two people in my life. Chris is not only my best friend, but the most wonderful husband and father I could ever ask for. He is a wonderful example to me of patience and love.

I can't believe Ashley is already two years old. She is learning so much and so quickly. She is such an independant little girl and wants to do everything on her own now.

Chris and Ashley, I love you.

I Love Fall

A few Sundays ago, we decided to put our new camera to use and head up Little Cottonwood Canyon to take some pictures of the changing leaves. Chris and I both took a turn trying out the different camera functions. We found a stream nearby and Ashley wanted to get into the cold water! She then decided she wanted to play peek-a-boo behind a tree with us. She is getting so big.



I love this picture of Chris and Ashley.




Peek A Boo

Halloween Party

Our friends Karla and John invited to their house for an early Halloween Party. All of the kids wore their costumes and enjoyed decorating cupcakes and carving pumpkins. Ashley was one of the youngest children at the party, so she just ate her cupcake instead of wanting to decorate it, and painted her pumpkin instead of carving it like the older kids. Ashley only kept her spider costume on the first few minutes!

My 28th Birthday

I celebrated my 28th birthday this month. Normally my birthday feels like just another day of the year. I normally work on my birthday, however this year my husband talked me into taking the day off. Chris and I dropped Ashley off at daycare for a few hours that morning, and I took Chris to work in Park City. I spent the morning shopping at the outlet stores and then met Chris for lunch at Flippin' Burgers in Park City. It was so yummy! I then headed back home to Salt Lake to pick up Ashley so we could hang out. It was such a fantastic birthday. It was so relaxing and I got to spend the day with both Chris and Ashley.

Chris also got me the most wonderful birthday gift. The new Canon G10.
I have always wanted a nice camera. Not a professional super expensive camera that has tons of buttons and options, but a nice camera. The camera we currently have been using is 5 or 6 years old and is huge and bulky. I am so excited to read through the manual to find out all of the cool options this camera has.

Chris and his Harley.....

Let me just start by saying that Chris loves his Harley Davidson. He is so excited for snow to come so he can snowboard, but is sad as well because that means no more motorcycle riding for a few months. He recently took a long bike ride with about 15 or so friends who share his love of motorcycles.

Fall Has Arrived

A few weeks ago we had our first snow storm in Utah. On Sunday afternoon we decided to go for a drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon. We drove to Brighton and let Ashley get out and hike for a bit. This was the first time she has played with snow. She had a blast. There wasn't much yet, but she could tell it was really cold on her hands and thought it was strange that it was so cold. Sorry the pictures are so blurry. We took them with our phone.