A Packed Month Of May! BABY FOOD, Uncle Justin Coming Home, Hanging With The Hugie's, Thumb Sucking, And Much More!

Melanie just started eating Baby Food! It has been so fun watching her try it. We started off with veggies. She seems to be getting the hang of it. So far she really enjoys sweet potatoes and sweet peas! Peas seem to be the favorite so far... YUCK!

Dallan's brother Justin came home for the summer from Dixie State. His birthday was on the 18th of May and he wanted to go bowling. It was pretty fun! I hadn't gone bowling in forever! 

Just us being silly. Dallan, Justin, Lacy (Justin's fiancé), and me posing for a picture while we are waiting for our turns to bowl.

Of course I have to sneak in a picture of Melanie and Abby! These friends love each other. 

One night after Dallan came home from work, we got a surprise text from our good friends the Hugie's. They had extra tickets to a Salt Lake Bees game and asked if we would go with them. Of course we went! Nothing better than a sporting event with great friends! We had a blast! 

It was Melanie's first baseball game and she did really well, but towards the end she was exhausted. She ended up falling asleep before the seventh inning stretch. 

Melanie and JJ with their Daddies. 

Dallan took this picture of him and our baby girl.

Our friend Madi took this great picture. The way Melanie has the hood over her face made me think of Yoda from Star Wars. Hahaha! 

At the end of the game, The Bees' mascot came up and we got a picture with him!

Baby Girl has a new favorite thing to do! She loves to JUMP! Dallan and I got her this "Jenny Jump Up." It's the the girlie version of a "Johnny Jump Up." It just hooks up to the door frame, you stick the baby in, and just let them go nuts! Babies love it! It keeps her occupied for a while, it's great!  

I bought her these bow headbands before she was born. When she was born, they didn't fit her! They were too big! Now that she's older, they fit perfectly!

One day Melanie found Abby's paw and started sucking on it. Gross! 

Dallan stuck her toy monkey on her head and it stayed on there for a good twenty minutes! Hahaha! 

I love having dinner as a family. 

This was one of the BEST pastas I think I have ever made! I made it up! There's meatballs and diced tomatoes in it! YUM!

These are the latest headbands I made for Melanie.

This girl sure has become quite the thumb sucker! She always has that cute thumb in her little mouth.

One morning I thought I would surprise Dallan by sending him this picture with a sweet message in it. I think it made his day!

This Memorial Weekend, Melanie experienced her first cabin trip! She did GREAT! She slept through the night like an angel. She absolutely LOVED being outside! She would whine if we were indoors because she wanted to be out looking at the trees and wildlife. 

Ok this is weird. For some reason since Melanie has been born, for everyone's birthday she's gotten a birthday gift as well. Hahaha!

For example, Dallan's dad's birthday was in March. For his birthday Melanie got a University of Utah cheerleading outfit. 

I NEED to get her a BYU one....

May was a blast! June... Bring it on! 

April Showers Bring May Flowers AND... More Melanie "First Times," Trip to California, Best Friend's Wedding, Skype With Ricky, and My First Mother's Day!

Alright, this is going to be a fun post. I've been SUPER excited about it. Just ask Dallan....

So much has happened this month, it's been crazy... but totally worth it! Melanie has had many "First Times" that have been fun for us to watch. We took an awesome trip to California to visit my family and to be apart of my best friend's wedding. I experienced my first official Mother's Day. We got to talk to Ricky on Skype and Melanie and him got to see each other for the first time. 

Phew..... *wipe the brow*

Ok! Let's get this post started! On your mark, get set, GO!

Let's start this post by celebrating Melanie turning 4 months! Woo Hoo! Our little Squish is getting so big. This 9 pound, 20 inch newborn is now a 17 pound, 25 inch 4 month old! 

Yes, she's on the heavier side. Lol! Melanie had her 4 month checkup the other day and she is as healthy as can be. She is in the high 80 percentile for her weight ( shocker there...) and in the high 60's for both her head circumference and her length. 

Our peanut is growing so fast. I can't believe 4 months went by already. We love her so much! Melanie has been such a joy and a blessing in our lives.

Before we went to California my good friend Madi and I took our kiddos out for a lunch date at the mall. This handsome little man is the same one that gave Melanie her first kiss! It's so fun to watch them interact and play with one another. We had a fun date filled with Chinese food, shopping, and Slurpees! 

Dallan and I love hanging out with the Hugie's, they're pretty AWESOME!  

The Hugie's let us borrow their "bumbo" (I know, baby things have the stupidest names). Anyways, we took it on the trip to California with us and it pretty much was wonderful to have! 

For those of you who don't know what the heck a bumbo is, it basically is just a seat thing that helps your baby sit up on their own.

 Melanie is too little to sit up by herself so the bumbo helps her.... As shown in the picture below. 

Thanks Hugie's!!! It was a lifesaver on the trip! 

The first day we were on our trip, we got to hang out with my Aunt (Jaimee), Uncle (Brian), and their three kids (my cousins; Brianna, James, and Sophie). 

These three kids are hilarious! They are so much fun to be around and they loved taking turns holding and playing with Melanie. I remember one night, I took all of Melanie's clothes off and just left the diaper on her. Each one of these guys, Brianna, James, and Sophie took turns passing Melanie around to give her a good squeeze to feel her squish. Hahaha! 

Brianna holding Melanie. Look at that big smile!

We went to my Aunt Jaimee and Uncle Brian's house for dinner and had fun with their kids in the backyard dancing to "Thrift Shop." James had Dallan play that song a million times. Hahaha! I think it's safe to say he likes that song. 

This little girl found her feet and learned how to grab them and suck on her toes. Nasty, if you ask me... but it's cute when she does it. 

Hahaha!

OF COURSE we HAD to stop at Jack in the Box for an Ultimate Cheeseburger and some Tacos. 

Most people think that Jack in the Box is just some fast food restaurant that is like any other one. 

NO IT'S NOT!

I'm convinced there is Jack in the Box in Heaven. 

 Ok this picture is kind of blurry, but oh well. We visited the Train Museum out in Old Town Sacramento. I remember going there on field trips when I was a little kid in Elementary School. It was fun to go back and see the huge trains and the historical facts about them. Melanie seemed to have a good time too. She really liked to look at them and see them move!

Melanie and Daddy

 Melanie and Mommy

This picture makes me smile. The expression on her face is as if she is saying, "Whooooooa!"

Family picture in front of the train! 

We were able to take an evening and spend it swimming! This was Melanie's first time in a pool. She absolutely LOVED the water. In her mind, it was just like a giant bath tub! It was so fun seeing the Little Squish in her cute bathing suit and having fun in the water. 

She is definitely a water baby!

We went with my Uncle Matt and his little girl to San Francisco (which is like an hour and a half from where we were staying).

 For me, it was SO nice to see the ocean again. That was one of the things I was bummed about when we moved to Utah.... It's nowhere near the ocean. I remember when we moved here to Utah and people asked me about what I missed about California, I would say the beach and the fresh salty air. Usually people would respond, "Well ya know, we have the Great Salt Lake here and it gives off a salty smell."

UHHH..... No offense people, but the Great Salt Lake is NOTHING like an ocean and it freaking smells like butt, NOT salt. Just sayin'.

Please excuse my glowing white legs. 

(You may need to put on some sunglasses before scrolling down to see this next picture)

Please excuse Dallan's chicken legs. Lol!

San Francisco wouldn't be San Fracisco without some of the steepest streets and claustrophobic neighborhoods.

There's this place near Pier 39 where these seals like to hang out. 

If I were a shark, I'd hang out here too. 

Of course, if you're in San Fran, you have to visit the Ghirardelli Factory!

CHOCOLATE!!!

Then to complete our visit to San Francisco, we caught a nice view of the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Did I mention I love the beach?

Every time we go to San Francisco, on our way back to Sacramento we always drive through Napa Valley. There are vineyards everywhere! 

The last day we were in California, Dallan and I were able to see my best friend Ella get married to another good friend of mine, Andrew. They have been waiting for their wedding day for a long time! They are perfect for each other! 

I'm so glad we were able to go and be there for them on their special day! 

Congratulations Andrew and Ella!!! I love you guys! 

This picture is missing my Mom, but here are three out of the four generations. 

So awesome!

Dallan and I made sure we got home on Saturday so that we could be home on Sunday, which was Mother's Day!  

We got to talk to my brother Ricky who is currently on a LDS mission in Montana. He and Melanie got to see each other for the first time! That was such a cool and sweet thing to witness. So many smiles! 

We love you Elder Wadman! 

For it being my first Mother's Day, it sure was a good one! I'm glad I was able to spend it with my sweet husband and baby girl. 

I hope I am as good of a Mom to Melanie as my Mom is to me. My Mom is a great example and I appreciate all that she has done and continues to do for me. I love you Mom! I hope you had a great Mother's Day! 

Like I said, this month has been crazy so far, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!