Jorgensen Journal

12.26.11 ~ Playing in the Snow ...

2012-01-27T11:06:00.004-07:00

These pictures speak for themselves ...

12.25.11 ~ Merry Christmas! ...

2012-01-27T10:38:00.007-07:00

Santa came last night ...

Connor loved spending Christmas with his aunties ... Kristen, Aislinn, and Hanah ...

Dad and Connor got to build legos together all Christmas morning ...

I think Dad had more fun then Connor did ...

Connor was overwhelmed by all the gifts - from Santa, from Mom and Dad, and from Grandma and Grandpa Jorgensen ...

He didn't know what to play with first, so he mostly just "hoarded" his toys as he played ...

Merry Christmas! It was so fun to spend a week with family in Colorado ...

12.24.11 ~ Decorating the Christmas Tree ...

2012-01-27T10:21:00.004-07:00

We were fortunate enough to travel to Colorado for Christmas this year. We got to Nate's family's house on Christmas Eve morning, and Grandma Jorgensen (Cindi) was so sweet to let us decorate our own little Christmas tree in the basement. Connor loved decorating the tree, and we all got excited for Santa to come that night ...

12.19.11 ~ Visiting Santa ...

2011-12-21T21:18:00.007-07:00

Of course, living in New York, I just had to take Connor to go see the infamous Santa at Macy's on 34th street. I went on a weekday morning, so we didn't wait in line long at all - probably only 25 minutes at the most. It was a wonderful outing, and I enjoyed it just as much as Connor did ...

The Macy's store on 34th ... across the street from Herald Square ...

Connor absolutely loved watching the window displays out in front of Macy's. His favorite window was the "dancing mommies" ... that is what he called the fantasmical figurines in the windows. We even had to go back after seeing Santa so that he could have another look - that's how much he loved it ... Connor could have watched their displays forever ...

His face as he watched the "dancing mommies" in the Macy's window displays ...

Waiting in line to see Santa was so amazing. It starts out entering on a "train," where the children take a "ride" to the North Pole Village. We then "arrived" to the North Pole and walked through such beautiful decorations - toys, snow, reindeer, Santa's sleigh, Christmas trees, and even toy trains - Connor absolutely LOVED it ...

And the final thing to see at the end of the line ... SANTA! ...

Connor was super shy, and after we left, he kept yelling with excitement, "Santa! Dino-Train! Presents!" ... I think he is excited for Santa to come and bring him some toys for Christmas! I know I can't wait to see his face Christmas morning ...

12.14.11 ~ Christmas Card 2011 ...

2011-12-21T20:30:00.005-07:00

This past year has been a whirlwind of change and new adventures. Nate started working as an auditor for PWC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) last June in New York City. We have left "spacious" Colorado and now live at the top of the Manhattan Island, in a neighborhood called Inwood. Although we have missed friends and family back in Colorado/Utah, we have found good friends here and have adapted well to the many changes that come with living in this big city (i.e. no car, the humidity, loud noises from the street, a tiny apartment, etc). It was definitely an adjustment! Nate has loved his job and to be working in the city - right in the midst of mid-town Manhattan - near Grand Central and Bryant Park. As for myself and Connor, it is easy to stay busy with so much to do in the city. I have also loved seeing the many sights - Central Park being a favorite of mine. I'm also thankful to be living so close to the Hudson River and other parks surrounding it - our walks are absolutely breathtaking with all the foliage. Connor is a "New Yorker" at heart. It was like he was born to live here. He is now two years old and loves to be as independent as possible - walking on the sidewalks and not wanting to hold my hand, sitting in his own seat on the subway, and even thinking he can push the buttons on the elevator himself. He definitely knows how to get around the city - just as well as I do. We have so much to be grateful for and are truly blessed this Holiday Season.

From New York, we wish you all a

"Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"

~ The Jorgensens ~

12.06.11 ~ Christmas Time in New York ...

2011-12-21T19:48:00.008-07:00

Although we haven't had any snow other than one fluke storm back in October, it still definitely feels like Christmas time here in New York. My sister-in-law, Kristen, came to visit for a couple of days and I had so much fun showing her some of the sights - especially during this time of year ...

Something I've loved seeing around the city is ... Christmas trees! They sell trees on almost every block - right on the sidewalks. I love walking through a bundle of trees and smelling the pine. I grew up always having a "real Christmas tree," so it brings back memories of home ...

Connor and me in front of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree ...

There were some fun Christmas decorations out by the Rockefeller center - huge Christmas lights - Connor loved it all ...

Kristen and me ... we were expecting cold weather, but instead got mid-60s, rainy, and very humid! ... That didn't stop us from having fun though! ...

One of my favorites ... the HUGE ornaments in the fountain ...

This was Connor's favorite, of course .... Choo! Choo! ...

The Rockefeller Building - so pretty against the dark gray sky ...

For a brief moment, I felt like I was at Temple Square in Utah ... or at the Botanical Gardens in Colorado ... I love the "twinkle lights," as Connor would call them ...

Kristen was so sweet and bought Connor a "Sock Monkey" hat. He looks absolutely adorable in it ... "thanks, Auntie Kristen!" ...

Connor can't wait for Christmas ... and neither can I ... walking around in New York City during Christmas time is magical, and it gets me so excited for this wonderful Holiday!

11.24.11 ~ Thanksgiving Day ...

2011-12-21T18:57:00.006-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving! ... We enjoyed our day with first, heading off to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade that runs along Central Park West all the way down to Macy's on 34th street. It wasn't too cold, but very crowded. Connor loved seeing all the balloons though (that's about all we could see from where we were standing) ...

After the parade, we then headed over to my friend's sister's house that afternoon for a Thanksgiving feast! It was absolutely delicious and we had such a fun time as a family and with friends ...

The view from her apartment ... absolutely gorgeous ... you can see Central Park down below and the skyline of buildings is a nice touch ...

We then took a walk in Central Park in-between eating our meal and giving some time for our tummies to settle before we ate pie for dessert ...

Me and my friend, Ann Marie - she lives in D.C. - it was so fun to get together and catch up!

Connor was obsessed with sticks the whole time we went on our walk. He loved to find a stick, mull it around in the leaves, drop it or throw it, and then find another stick five steps later ...

Our Thanksgiving couldn't have been more perfect! We have so much to be thankful for!

10.31.11 ~ October Fun ...

2011-11-04T08:02:00.008-06:00

October was filled with many fun Fall and Halloween activities. We didn't even accomplish half of the things I wanted to do and explore in New York, but October was still very busy ...

Going to the pumpkin patch at Lawrence Farms (Newburgh, NY) ...

Connor loved picking out his pumpkins ...

Taking in the pretty colored leaves on the drive home ... we rented a car for the day and it was well worth it ...

We also stopped in Sleepy Hollow - a cute little town that I wouldn't mind moving to ...

It was all decked out with the "Headless Horseman" everywhere ...

We also went to "Boo at the Zoo" at the Bronx Zoo another day. Connor got to dress up in his cow costume and he had so much fun running around, climbing in and out of things, and looking at some of the animals ...

He also showed the most interest in a stick he found. He had to stop and play in the dirt with it every five seconds ...

Another weekend we went to "The Blaze," which is a really cool event they put on every year in Tarrytown (by Sleepy Hollow). They carve thousands of pumpkins and make cool sculptures and and jack-o-lanterns out of them all. Connor was very excited to go and to especially ride the train ...

One of my favorites was seeing all the pumpkins with cool designs in them - it reminded me of "henna art" ...

These pumpkins were put together to make a dinosaur ...

Connor loved looking at the jack-o-lanterns and Nate loved showing Connor all the cool designs ...

Another weekend we had our ward Halloween party. It was also the first day we had snow in New York. This picture shows the beginnings of the snow, on our way to the church building, and by the time we left the party, there was snow and slush EVERYWHERE ... It made it not very fun at all to walk home in ...

Mommy Cow and Baby Calf ...

Connor had fun with his friends and here he is sharing his treats with his fellow farm animal friend ...

On Halloween night, we ventured out to 69th street, where they block off the street and decorate their buildings and throw a big trick-or-treating frenzy. Connor especially loved it because he got to go on the subway. Here he is waiting for the train ...

"I'm happy 'cause I got treats in my pumpkin bucket AND I'm riding the train..."

But by the end of the night, Connor was ready to be done with trick-or-treating. "I'm tired!" ...
Thanks October, for giving us so many fun-filled things to do as a family!

09.20.11 ~ Fire! Fire! ...

2011-09-20T14:30:00.003-06:00

So, awhile back Connor really got into any show that had "Fireman Sam" in it. He fell in love with fire trucks and anything having to do with them - especially now that we live in New York and you hear a fire truck almost every five minutes ...

Last Christmas, Connor also got a toy fire truck from his great-grandma Hayes, which he literally has to have up on the table every morning while he eats his breakfast. Can I just say ... obsessed ... maybe? ...
He also calls the fireman that comes with the truck, "fireneenat," which stands for "Fireman Sam."

Connor drinks from a water bottle every day that has a fire truck on it. Whenever he wants to quench his thirst, this is what I hear ... "eeeee-oooooo-eeeeee-ooooo" ... don't really know how to "spell out" a fire truck siren, but yeah, that's what he does ....

So today, when I was at Payless Shoe Stores, getting Connor some new shoes, I came across these "one-of-a-kind" firemen boots. It was raining quite heavily today, so I thought, "these might actually come in handy." So I bought them, thinking that the boots would both serve a purpose and make my little boy very happy ... as you can see ...

So I just was planning on buying the boots at Payless, but when I went to Target afterwards, and saw THIS (see below) in the costume section, I just couldn't resist. Now Connor's got the whole ensemble to be his very own "Fireman Sam" and he is happy as could be. He had a major tantrum when I made him take his boots off for his nap. Right now, he's a fireman through and through, and I think I can justify the purchase by saying he's got a great rain slicker, hat and boots now for Fall! ...

09.08.11 ~ Happy Birthday Connor! ...

2011-09-11T18:19:00.011-06:00

Today was Connor's birthday and we got to celebrate as a family. We took the subway train to Central Park and took Connor to Victorian Gardens - a little amusement park for kids right in the midst of Central Park ...

The scenic view alone was well worth the trip ...

Connor loved going on all the rides - they were made specifically for his age group and he had a blast. I, on the other hand, got a little sick and dizzy from all the spinning and twirling - I think every single ride went in some kind of circle ...

Connor's favorite ride was the one where he could drive the truck with his very own steering wheel. He went on it seven times! It was also a very valuable lesson to learn how to wait your turn and wait in line every time he wanted to go on it again ...

Connor also got to experience Cotton Candy for the first time. This was his first bite, and as you can see, he was a little taken aback from the texture of the feathery and light treat ...

This was his second bite ... he opened his mouth even wider so as to not feel the ticklish sensation of the candy. I think he really liked it once it dissolved a bit in the mouth though, because he kept asking for more ...

Later that day, we then celebrated with singing "Happy Birthday" to him and opening presents. Don't judge me for not making a cake. We went with cheap and simple, since I knew for SURE that he wouldn't eat it anyway. He doesn't really like cake at this point in time, so I wasn't going to go through the effort of making a cake if no one was going to eat it! We still got the same outcome - an adorable picture of my now-2-yr.-old-son with two candles in the picture ...

Here is the footage of him blowing out his candles if you care to see it. He has always been a little "tentative" of the whole birthday shin-dig ... the singing, the fire, the blowing, the clapping, etc. So if you can't tell when you watch the clip, yes ... he's a little scared ...

Then it was time for the presents, and this was definitely Connor's favorite when we had him run in the room and see what gifts were waiting for him ...

Thanks to Grandmas and Grandpas, Connor also got a few more gifts in the mix ...

I know Connor can't wait to take this baby outside for a spin! He is all set ...

I loved it this time around, because I didn't have to help Connor open his presents at all! He took is lovely time doing it, but at least he can do it all on his own. Rip ... pause ... look ... rip ... rip ...

And twenty minutes later ... :) ... a police car that makes the police car sounds! Just what I wanted ... and what Mommy wanted? Not really, but hey, I think I can put up with the annoying sounds as long as the kid is happy ...

Another fun toy Connor got for his birthday ... and you can see that his helmet is on. He wore that helmet for the duration of the rest of the night. I'm glad he likes it because he looks absolutely adorable wearing it ...

Reading Thomas the Train books that Grandma Jorgensen sent us ... Thanks Grandma!

And another bike picture just because he won't get off the thing. He loves this bike so much ... He has wanted one of his own for awhile now ...

Happy Birthday Connor! Mom and Dad love you so much and we are so happy to have you in our lives! You are a pure joy ... and now our "pure 2 yr. old joy!"

09.03.11 ~ A Day at the US Open ...

2011-09-11T15:17:00.011-06:00

So now that I am living in New York, I couldn't pass up the chance to attend the US Open tennis tournament that goes on in Flushing Meadows, NY, every Fall. I was able to go for one day, on a Saturday, while Nate stayed home with Connor. I loved every second of it and had such a blast - even all by myself. It was a dream come true to be able to sit and watch these amazing tennis players play at a grand slam event.

I was able to leave around 7am from my house, hop on the subway, and then arrive with no hassle at all at the grounds around 8:30am. Here is a picture of getting off the subway ... all I had to do was walk down this boardwalk and get in line to get into the grounds ...

Am I really here? ...

Yes I am! ... Walking into the grounds ... the outside view of Arthur Ashe Stadium ...

I got in line so early that I was able to get a third-row seat at the Grandstand Stadium. I was so close to the players and the match - it was absolutely amazing. I was so close that I actually almost got hit by a ball that Fernando Verdasco hit out - I had to duck, and FAST! I later noticed this sign down in front ...

My favorite match I watched that day was when Schiavone won against Scheepers in a tight 3-set match. I've always been a fan of hers - she is Italian through and through and wears her emotions on her sleeve. So fun to watch ...

Thanks USTA ... 'til next year, US Open! I'll be back!!!

08.25.11 ~ Trains, Trains, and More Trains ...

2011-08-29T06:34:00.005-06:00

Slowly, Connor has collected more and more trains the last few months. His Grandma Jorgensen has loved "spoiling" him with trains from the "Thomas the Train" sets, and Connor can't get enough of it. He has to play with them every day ...

"Thanks Grandma! You help me have fun every day and that makes Mom happy too!" - Connor

08.09.11 ~ What Connor Loves About Utah ...

2011-08-29T06:01:00.006-06:00

We just got back from a three-week stay in Utah and here's what Connor will miss most ...

Playing with cousins - especially his cousin, Bridger ...

Going on walks with Grandma, Mom, and Aunt Cami ...

Playing in the sprinklers and jumping on the trampoline ...

Playing at the pool ...

Eating yummy food and delicious treats with cousins ...

Driving the ski-boat and being out on the lake ...

Going to Hogle Zoo with cousins and seeing all the animals ...

"'Til next time, Utah. Wuv you..." - Connor

06.21.11 ~ Lovin' Summer ...

2011-06-21T08:06:00.005-06:00

Although the transition from living in Colorado and now living in New York has been stressful the last couple of months, we have still found some time to enjoy summer. I don't think Connor has been been deprived of anything as far as having fun in the summer days go ...

Playin' at Grandma Jorgensen's pool before moving out to New York ...

Eating ice cream on Grandma Jorgensen's front porch - the ice cream truck came by and Grandma just had to buy him something! Connor's very thankful ...

Now that we are in New York, we try to go on walks every morning and Connor loves being in the "BOB" stroller. This is in beautiful Inwood Hills Park, I have many more places to explore while living here ...

And last the best of all the game ... PLAYING AT THE PARK. Nothing can beat that ... good thing there are a lot of great parks around here! And they all have water fountains that the kids can run through when it gets really hot ...

I think Connor loves summer, don't you?

05.08.11 ~ What do think he's doing? ...

2011-05-09T12:47:00.005-06:00

It's quite obvious, isn't it? If not, take a look at your face the next time you watch TV. I just had to take a picture of this - it completely portrays what TV does to all of us - I can just see the brain cells dying off, one by one. :)

04.30.11 ~ My Magic Birthday ...

2011-05-09T12:31:00.005-06:00

What is my "magic birthday," you ask? It is turning 30 on the 30th! :) And what a magic birthday it was ...

We first stopped by my MIL's (mother-in-law) to drop off Connor for the weekend. Before Nate wisked me away for the next couple of days, we ate cake and ice cream to celebrate as a family. Cindi, my MIL, bought this beautiful cake and it was quite delicious too ...

Connor wanted to be in on all the action and was mesmerized by me blowing out the candles. He was also decked out for the occasion with his "beads." :) He is quite stylish ...

Then, without giving any hints, we drove for the next couple of hours through the mountains and stopped in Vail to eat at this wonderful, AMAZING restaurant called Dish. All I can say is, again, AMAZING ... one of the top restaurants I've ever eaten at. We absolutely loved it.

The inside and outside both didn't look too fancy, but the food was as gourmet as it gets. We chose to have the chef cook 6 different samples of what was on the menu (very popular choice there), and it was such a great food experience. We walked in a little hesitant, and walked out loving the place. I hope I will be able to go back there again some day ...

After my magical dinner, it was on to this magical hotel where we stayed the next two nights ...

Although it snowed the majority of the time we were there, I loved being able to spend time with my hubby after being gone from him for so long. And the atmosphere was so magical. Vail will always be a special place to remember ...

Thanks to all those that made my 30th such a magical day and weekend!

04.28.11 ~ The Best-Dressed Kid Ever ...

2011-04-28T16:36:00.003-06:00

I know one day Connor will forever wonder why a mom would ever let her child go out in public looking like this ...

It's because those legs are just too darn cute ... besides, the socks matched the ensemble ...

"Thanks a lot, Mom" ...
I love my little Connor.

04.24.11 ~ Happy Easter ...

2011-04-28T16:07:00.006-06:00

The night before Easter was busy as can be ...

Dying eggs at Grandma's house with lots of cousins, and decorating Easter sugar cookies ...

I was smart and came up with the idea to have Connor "dye" his eggs in water. It worked out wonderfully ...

"I'm so proud of my egg!" ...

Aubrie and I came up with some cool-lookin' eggs ... at least I didn't dye my fingers in the process ...

************

Then came Easter Sunday morning, and the Easter Bunny came with lots of candy to share with everyone. Connor started to get the idea of collecting the candy and putting it in the bowl instead of his mouth ...

Sometimes he liked to hoard a little bit ... always had to have a couple of pieces in his hands ...

Grandpa Colton was helpful in trying to get Connor and his cousin, Bridger, to collect the candy that the Easter Bunny brought ...

Towards the end, Connor got so good at getting the candy that he started to even find the ones that were a little bit tougher to find ... sometimes that Easter Bunny can hide them in tricky places! ...

Connor with Mom's old Easter basket ... made out of a milk carton ... he was a little scared of them at first, but then became close friends with all the baskets ...

Candy, candy, candy ... and now that it's collected, it's time to organize and divide it up for all to eat! In our family, we always have to be "even-steven" ...

Happy Easter! ... I'm already excited for next year when Connor will be a little bit older and it probably won't be "pulling teeth" the whole time to get him to collect the candy and put it in the bowl ...

04.01.11 ~ My Quiet Book ...

2011-04-18T16:39:00.005-06:00

So my stay in Utah has gone by pretty quickly. It is probably because for the last month and a half my sister and I have been working on making an ABC Quiet Book for our children. It took me a little over a month, and the project is finally complete! I seriously was working on this thing from morning to night ... sometimes even dreaming about it. It was a lot of fun to make (thanks to my sister's help) and I am excited for Connor to be able to play with it when he is a little bit older ...

My sister and I working on our quiet books ...

The finished product - my niece was having a fun time playing with it ...

Next to having a child, I think it's up there as being the biggest accomplishment I've ever acheived start to finish! :)

03.15.11 ~ Tennis in Indian Wells ...

2011-04-18T15:12:00.010-06:00

My mom and dad surprised me at Christmas with one of the best gifts I could ever receive. They took me to Indian Wells, California, where we got to watch all the professional tennis players play in a tennis tournament (the BNP Paribas Tournament - they call it the "fifth major"). It was AMAZING. One of the best trips of my life. I got to see all the greats and my favorite player of all time - Roger Federer. This trip was basically sitting in the sun for thirteen hours each day, and I loved every minute of it. I got to see the players so up close - front row for most of the twenty-plus matches I saw. It was a trip to remember and I loved going with my mom, dad, and grandpa.

My grandpa, mom, and dad ...

All sticky and sweaty from the day ... me and my mom ...

Roger Federer ... the most amazing tennis player in my book ... I got to watch him play in a doubles match from the front row ...

I took over 8 gb of pictures and video, but it would take too long to post all the players I watched both practice and play in matches. Thank you so much Mom and Dad! And thanks to my sister for watching Connor while I was away for five days! It was such a nice break from taking care of him 24/7 while Nate is away in New York.

02.28.11 ~ Connor's 18 Month Pictures ...

2011-04-18T14:43:00.008-06:00

Connor is getting so big and growing into a personality of his very own. He is very active and loves anything that involves a ball ... such a boy. He has become quite the handful, but is a joy all the same. He is no longer my little baby, but a toddler and I just can't believe it! Time has gone by too fast. Here are some pictures taken of him at almost 18 months old ...

Here is a video of Connor playing tennis, or at least "serving the ball." He has become quite the fan of tennis and basketball ...

We love you Connor!

02.21.11 ~ First Experience with Snow ...

2011-02-24T09:09:00.004-07:00

I've been so excited to try out Connor's "hand-me-down" snowsuit, and it finally fits him! It was a nice, sunny day, with new snow on the ground - so it was the perfect day to let Connor go at it for the first time. He loved walking in the snow - but did not like falling in the snow. He got his face and hands pretty cold from falling a lot, but finally got the hang of it. Here's a few highlights from his morning ...

Connor all bundled up - ready to go outside in the snow! ... What first came to my mind when I saw him dressed like this was the movie, "A Christmas Story." ...

He finally was able to walk in the snow without falling every three or four steps ...

Happy "snow day" Connor! He had a blast, and I'm sure we'll be out doing this again soon ...

02.14.11 ~ Valentine's Day ...

2011-02-16T21:17:00.003-07:00

With Nate being in New York over Valentine's Day, and myself being in Utah, we had to get a little creative. I decided to make "homemade Valentine cards" and send them to Nate with pictures of us from when we were dating, with a love quote in each one. I had so much fun making the cards with my mother-in-law, that I ended up making 14 cards! So I sent one in the mail each day up until Valentine's Day. It was super cheesy, but isn't that what Valentine's Day is all about? :)

One of my favorite homemade card "fronts" ...

There they all are - all 14 of them ...

Nate sent me BEAUTIFUL roses with a sweet note attached on Valentine's Day ... they were gorgeous and made my day ...

"To love and be loved is like feeling the sun on both sides" ... Happy Valentine's Day Sweetie!

01.01.11 ~ Happy New Year! ...

2011-01-24T22:00:00.012-07:00

I was fortunate enough to spend New Year's in New York this year! ... One of the benefits of having your husband working in New York for the next few months. Nate resides in an apartment just a few blocks away from Times Square - right in the middle of Manhattan. I got to spend four wonderful days with my husband and ONLY my husband. :) Connor stayed in Utah with Grandma Colton, which was so nice. I got to see A LOT of New York, I got to eat a lot of great food, and I got to see the wonderful musical, Wicked! It was an amazing trip, and New York was an awesome place to visit and walk around in.

Nate and I in Times Square on New Year's Eve ...

It was beautiful walking around with all the Christmas lights and decorations still up ...

We just had to get the funky "2011" glasses as we waited for the ball to drop in Times Square ...

More cool Christmas decorations ...

The musical, Wicked, was AMAZING! ...

Walking around in Bryant Park ...

Walking around in Little Italy and Chinatown ...

New York is amazing at night!

I now know firsthand why you love New York Nate! :) Thanks for the wonderful trip Sweetie!

12.25.10 ~ Christmas Morning ...

2011-01-24T21:04:00.009-07:00

This year, we spent a wonderful Christmas vacation with extended family at Nate's grandma's cabin, in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. This cabin was absolutely magical ... secluded away from everything, no internet, low cell phone service, one TV, etc. I loved spending time with family, playing card games, making crafts, decorating the Christmas tree, reading, and sitting by the fire as it snowed outside. Like I said ... magical. Here are a few pictures from the trip ...

Connor loved sitting and climbing on Nana Hayes' rocking chair ...

This Christmas tree was made with lots of homemade crafts and lots of love ...

Grandpa and Grandma Jorgensen ...

Nate's sisters ... Aislinn, Kristen, and Hanah - Connor loves his aunties ...

Connor loved his gifts from Santa, Mom and Dad, and other extended family members! He kind of got the whole idea of "unwrapping gifts," with a little help from us ...

It was wonderful that Nate could be there too. He was able to fly in from New York for a few days and I'm glad he got to spend Christmas with us and his extended family...

Merry Christmas!

12.15.10 ~ "Mr. Santa" ...

2010-12-15T17:46:00.004-07:00

I just had to post these pictures ... I took them this morning while Connor was still in his Christmas pj's and he was playing with his "Santa hat" ...

He's also learned what "Santa says," which is "ho, ho, ho" ... so adorable! Connor can't wait for Christmas! :)

12.12.10 ~ Merry Christmas!

2010-12-12T09:23:00.002-07:00

We are getting in that Holiday Spirit ... Jorgensen style!

Merry Christmas!

12.07.10 ~ He's Gone ...

2010-12-07T07:45:00.003-07:00

Well, it's official. My husband is now gone for the next four months. I have the airport picture to prove it. I dropped him off early this morning and am missing him already. He flies to Philadelphia where he starts orientation, and then heads on to New York, where he will be living and working until March 31st. I'm glad I'll get to see him for Christmas though, and that the company will be flying me out to visit him a couple times as well. Hopefully, the time will go by super fast ...

I love you, Sweetie.

12.03.10 ~ Christmas Lights ...

2010-12-06T09:18:00.003-07:00

Tonight we got invited to go see the Christmas lights that were put up at the Botannical Gardens in downtown Denver. We were so happy that our friends invited us, because they got us in for free (and it is usually pretty expensive). :) Connor was mesmerized by the lights as we walked around, and the weather was also very nice so he was able to run around a bit and explore. It was a great time, and I'm thinking we'll have to make this a tradition every Christmas now ...

This all got me so excited for Christmas!

11.25.10 ~ Happy Thanksgiving! ...

2010-12-03T16:24:00.008-07:00

We spent this year's Thanksgiving with my side of the family (the Colton side) at our condo in St. George, UT. Although not all of us could make it, Connor did get to see quite a few of his cousins, and it was nice to hang out with some of my siblings. The road trip couldn't have gone better (even though we did have to cut the trip short because of predictions of a huge snowstorm coming), and Connor was great in the car. He is really such a good traveler - let's hope it stays that way. Here are some highlights from the trip ...

Connor playing with his cousins ...

Thanksgiving dinner ... we had it all ... so yummy ...

Grandpa Colton watched the three baby boys while we all went and saw the movie "Tangled" ...

We played a lot of games ... one of my favorite things to do with my family ...

The boys went shootin' a couple times on the trip ...

The Jorgensen Family ... Happy Thanksgiving! ...

11.08.10 ~ Trip to D.C. ...

2010-11-08T16:27:00.002-07:00

I went to Washington D.C. to see a good college girlfriend of mine get hitched this past weekend. It was so fun to spend time with my "BDB girls" from our good 'ole college days at BYU. We had a blast and although the trip was short, we had so much fun. Ann Marie has found the love of her life, and I couldn't be happier for her ...

The "BDB" ...

At the D.C. Temple ... a BEAUTIFUL Fall day ... absolutely gorgeous ...

The newly married couple - Ann & Josh ...

"BDB for Life!" ... at the wedding luncheon ...

Congratulations Ann Marie! You made a beautiful bride! ...

10.30.10 ~ Carving Pumpkins with Family ...

2010-10-31T21:05:00.007-06:00

After our Trunk-or-Treat with our ward, we headed over to the Jorgensen household to carve pumpkins. Since Nate carved one of our pumpkins with friends, I got to carve our other pumpkin. I think I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself ...

Another Skull ...

Aislinn and her boyfriend Kevin carved along with me this year ...

Hope everyone has a great Halloween this year - as much as we all did in our family! It was wonderful - Connor loved walking around and holding all the candy, but hasn't yet figured out how to open it up, which was perfect. Happy Halloween! ...

10.30.10 ~ "Trunk-or-Treat!" ...

2010-10-31T19:57:00.005-06:00

This was our first experience with doing the "trunk-or-treat" in our ward. Connor, I thought, was old enough to walk around on his own and collect candy, but as you can see from the video below, he definitely has a mind of his own and it was hard for me to "chorale" him in (no pun intended). :) Anyway, it was still fun, even though Connor was more interested in car tires than trunk-or-treating for candy ...

So I was a cow, Connor was a calf, and Nate was a bag of Jorgensen fertilizer. We were a huge hit ...

10.25.10 ~ A Halloween Tradition ...

2010-10-31T19:23:00.013-06:00

It's now the third year where we've had some friends over to our place and serve a "fall dinner," carve pumpkins, and decorate Halloween cookies. And once again, it was a blast ...

For dinner, I served beef stew, a salad, and biscuits ...

The Packards ...

The Browns ...

Connor in his Halloween outfit ...

Carving pumpkins ...

Decorating Halloween sugar cookies ...

Nate's finished pumpkin project ... he carved a skull ... spooky ...

The carved pumpkins - ready for Halloween!

10.22.10 ~ Halloween Parties ...

2010-10-31T18:22:00.005-06:00

So Nate and I went to a couple of Halloween parties, where Connor was not invited (adults only). We had a "family themed" costume planned for our trunk-or-treat, but Nate and I needed to come up with something to wear (and fast) for just us as a couple. So we came up with this ...

It's fast and cheap! We had a lot of fun!

10.16.10 ~ The Pumpkin Patch ...

2010-10-19T14:53:00.004-06:00

It is becoming quite the tradition that every Fall us Jorgensens go over to Nick's and enjoy the Halloween and Fall festivities put on at this garden center. This year, they had a train ride, a tractor ride, pumpkins everywhere, a hay maze, and a children's play center filled with kernels of corn. We spent two hours there, and I think Connor had the most fun of all ...

Connor on top of the pumpkin patch ...

Connor and I on the train ride for kids ... he was completely mesmerized and loved it ...

Here's our little Jorgensen family ...

Connor in the corn pile for kids ... it took a lot of coaxing when it was time for him to leave his little, heavenly, play place ...

Nate and Connor going on the tractor ride ...

Grandma and Grandpa Jorgensen (Cindi & Paul) ...

Auntie Aislinn and her boyfriend, Kevin ...

Connor with his "serious face" on ... he has this face whenever he is really into something and I can't get his attention in any way - he is too focused on observing or figuring out whatever it is that's catching his eye ... in this picture, it's the purple bridge children could walk over and cross from one corn pile to another ...

"I love Nick's, and can't wait for next year!" ~ Connor ...

10.14.10 ~ Connor's First Haircut ...

2010-10-19T14:47:00.004-06:00

When your child's hair starts to grow over his ears and long enough to curl in the back, it's time for a haircut. I took him to a fun place where they cut kids' hair and Connor LOVED it. He actually cried when we had to leave. He wanted to play in his "car" forever. Here's a few moments of him getting his first haircut ...

Don't worry Connor, you'll get to drive one day ... just be patient.

10.13.10 ~ Trip to the Zoo ...

2010-10-19T14:34:00.005-06:00

This was Connor and I's first trip to the Denver Zoo. It was a "free zoo day" and we had so much fun - I got to spend time with my friends Shannon and Stephanie, and Connor got to spend time with his friends Miles and Calin. Connor noticed the "big" animals, like the giraffe, the elephant, and gorilla. He has also learned what a "lion says" and what a "monkey says." We can't wait to go back again! ...

Connor and Mom in front of the giraffes ... he kept trying to turn around while taking the picture because he wanted to watch them eat their food ...

The three boys ... (L to R) ... Calin, Miles, and Connor ...

I got a cool picture of the elephants kissing! ...

Stephanie and Shannon, with their little ones ...

Connor liked the tigers and I enjoyed watching the baby cubs ...

It was a fun, beautiful, day at the zoo! Thanks Shannon for getting us all to go, and I know our little boys enjoyed it too ...

10.11.10 ~ Another Cute Halloween Craft ...

2010-10-11T16:45:00.003-06:00

This was something I came up all on my own, and I was so proud of my efforts, I had to share it on my blog as well. It's my "Happy Halloween" Banner, because I thought my fireplace needed a little something ...

I guess this year, I just have the "halloween bug" or something. :)

10.11.10 ~ Mom Visiting Colorado ...

2010-10-11T16:09:00.006-06:00

Mom (Grandma Colton) came to visit us this past week and we all had so much fun! We ate some very yummy, healthy, meals every night together ...
We went hiking at the Red Rocks Park and also the Red Rocks Amphitheater ...

We took Connor on a couple of walks, which of course, he always loves ...
Mom and I played a TON of tennis together ...
And we spent an afternoon at the Aurora Reservoir ...

Thanks Mom for being the best mom ever and for coming out to visit us! We love you!

"I love you Grandma!"

09.30.10 ~ Cute Halloween Craft ...

2010-09-30T19:37:00.003-06:00

So a few ladies in my ward (including myself) got together a couple nights ago and we had a "craft night." I was so proud of my hard labor and accomplishment, that I decided to show my finished product to those that read my blog ...

It's a "Halloween Countdown" and you change the blocks on top based on how many days are left until Halloween. It was such a cute idea, and I'm happy with how mine turned out. It is things like this that get me super excited for Halloween!

09.28.10 ~ Connor's Favorite Things ...

2010-09-30T19:25:00.006-06:00

Right now, Connor is in a phase where we frequently find him with a golf ball in his mouth, and him toting around any toy that has a string or some kind of cord attached to it - not to play with, but just to walk around with it wherever he goes. This was also my "money shot" because Connor is trying to escape out the front door. He loves going outside, and Nate and I frequently find him trying to escape. Thank goodness for the bolt above the handle that keeps the door locked ...

Connor also has a fun game Nate and I like to play with him lately ... check out the video below and see for yourself ...

09.10.10 ~ Playing at the Park ...

2010-09-11T22:49:00.004-06:00

We are so fortunate to have had a brand new park built right behind our home. It literally takes 2 minutes (or less) to walk over and enjoy the park and its beautiful surroundings. Connor, I think, is the one that is the most excited. He loves walking around on the nice, sponge-like material, going on the swings, climbing on the jungle gym, and watching the other kids play. Here are a few photos and video of him playing at the park recently ...

Now we just need to keep our fingers crossed that the weather stays nice for awhile before it starts to get too cold! It is such a great park!

09.08.10 ~ Connor's 1 Yr. Birthday ...

2010-09-11T21:28:00.011-06:00

Happy Birthday Connor! I can't believe you are already 1 yr. old! Time is going by too quickly ... my little baby boy is growing up. We had a fun family get-together at the Jorgensen household - Grandma Jorgensen fed us all dinner and then it was time to celebrate with a little party!

Cindi (my mom-in-law) had the place all decked out with birthday decorations. It was so cute, and Connor loved walking through the streamers ...

Connor was not too fond of his cupcake ... you'll have to watch the video to see for yourself ...

This face says it all ... "get me outta here!" ...

It was then time to open presents ... Connor needed a bit of help unwrapping his presents - especially after he opened his first present and was so distracted with just wanting to play with it ...

As you can tell from his face, I think his favorite present was the bow I bought to put on top of his present! He liked it and played with it for awhile ...

He enjoyed tearing up the wrapping paper too ... I think this was a good lesson in helping him get ready for Christmas ...

Connor playing with his new toys ...

Happy Birthday Sweetie Boy! We love you and wish you all the best to come in this next year of your life!

09.07.10 ~ Colorado State Fair ...

2010-09-11T21:10:00.006-06:00

Today for Labor Day, we got to meet up with the Jorgensen family and go to the State Fair in Pueblo, Colorado. It was well worth the two-hour drive to get there, and we hope to go again when Connor is old enough to go on more rides and pet the animals ...

Connor was somewhat disinterested in all the animals we saw, but this goat definitely got his attention ...

Like they say ... "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence..."

We wasted quite a few tokens on trying to get those dang rings to land on top of the Coke bottles ... it was impossible ... but we had fun ...

Connor and Auntie Kristen (Nate's sister) ... She was nice to get him out of his stroller and tote him around for a bit ... it was a hot day so I'm sure he enjoyed it ...

Nate and Connor on the Ferris Wheel - the only ride we took him on ...

I tried Funnel Cake for the first time today. Wow was that stuff amazing ...

Connor and I on the Ferris Wheel - he loved it so much! ... Especially looking out over everything when we were at the top ...

The clan that came (minus Paul and Cindi) - can't see Connor in the stroller, but he's there ...
Thanks to the Jorgensen Family and friends for making it such a fun first-time experience for Connor and I!

08.28.10 ~ Connor is Walking ...

2010-09-01T15:36:00.006-06:00

Here is some footage of Connor walking. Right now, he is walking-crawling ... he'll walk around a little bit when he feels like it, and then he'll crawl the rest of the time. We are so excited for him to have accomplished such a huge task!

08.21.10 ~ Seeing Elder Colton Off ...

2010-09-01T15:11:00.003-06:00

Nate, Connor, and I were all fortunate enough to go to Utah once again ... but for a very special occasion. We got to see Zac, now Elder Colton, off on his mission to Calgary, Canada. He is my youngest brother and we are so proud of him! He'll make a great missionary. Here's a few pictures showing this momentous occasion ...

Zac on his farewell day. He gave such a great talk on hope and his testimony was so strong ...

We took family pictures with Zac after going to his "setting apart" as a missionary. It was very spiritual, emotional, and so wonderful to share that moment with the family ...

Some of the Colton Family that attended Zac's "setting apart" ...

Dropping off now Elder Colton at the MTC in Provo. We had to take pictures across the street because the new rule is that you have to just drop your missionary off at the curb. Elder Colton was completely ready to go and very few tears were even shed - he was so excited ...

Connor will miss you, Uncle Zac! You'll be lookin' at a whole different kid when you get home in two years! ...

08.08.10 ~ Connor at 11 Months Old ...

2010-08-09T10:07:00.006-06:00

Connor is now 11 months old and I can't believe it ... he is such a sweet boy and we just love him so much ...

Connor loves to be outside, but doesn't like wearing his sun hat, as you can see ...

Connor prefers the sidewalk over the grass right now, so he will always crawl around on the cement - making sure to keep his knees up so they don't get scratched ...

Connor loves to be tickled - we do this tickling game every night in his crib before he goes to sleep. He loves it ...

Connor is also standing on his own when he feels like it. I bet he'll be walking in no time ...

Connor in his new carseat ... he is now big enough to face forward and he absolutely loves it ...

Lately, Connor has found his nose holes ... his finger frequently gets placed there and he loves to make noises while holding his finger in his nose because of the vibration feeling he gets on his nose ... try it ... I can see why Connor likes doing it ... :)

Connor still loves going on walks! We try to go every day and he is such a pleasant little traveler ...

Happy 11 months Connor! We love you!

08.06.10 ~ Family Visiting Colorado ...

2010-08-09T09:26:00.004-06:00

My sister, Cami, and her husband, Taylor, and their little baby, Bridger, came to visit us in Colorado this past week. My sister, Aubrie, also tagged along, which was very fun to see her before she heads off to Utah State University in the Fall. Here are a few highlights from spending our week together ...

Taylor and Bridger ... we went on walks to the park just behind our complex when the weather was cooler in the early evening ... so fun ...

Cami and Bridger in downtown Denver ...

Aubrie and I downtown in Denver on 16th Street Mall ... We had dinner at "Mad Greens" and then took the babies home while Nate, Taylor, and Cami went to the Rockies game ...

Aubrie and I went on a walk around the temple grounds. It was so beautiful that I just had to take a picture of her in front of all the flowers ...

Aubrie, Cami, and I went to the pool in our complex almost every day. The weather was wonderful and Connor really enjoyed going to the pool so often ...

Cami and Taylor ... on the way up Pike's Peak ...

Connor (almost 11 months) and Bridger (almost 3 months) ...

Nate, Cami, and Taylor at the Rockies Baseball Game ... Aubrie and I stayed home to watch Connor and Bridger ...

Visiting Pike's Peak - at the summit ... We found out when we got there that baby Bridger could not go because he was not 4 months old yet (the air gets very thin at the top of the mountain), so I decided to stay behind with Connor and Bridger. I heard it was quite the adventure though - they went through huge hailstorms to get to the top and could hardly see in places as they drove through thick clouds ...
Thanks for coming to visit! It was a blast to spend some time with some of the Colton clan!

07.11.10 ~ Camping with the Jorgensens ...

2010-07-15T13:12:00.005-06:00

Nate, Connor, and I all went camping the last few days with the Jorgensen Family up in the Colorado mountains. It is a campsite we have been to before (Kelsey Campground), but we went there again because we love it so much. It's not too far away from Denver (hour and a half drive) so people that needed to drive back and forth could do so. The site is absolutely beautiful and we all had so much fun ... especially after the rain went away and brought the beautiful sunshine for the weekend! Connor also turned 10 months old while on this trip. He is growing up so quickly ... stop Connor! You need to be my baby forever ...

Connor was such a "happy camper" ...

Nate listening to his audiobook and chillin' in our tent ...

Connor in his "camping hat" ... aren't those big, blue eyes just precious? ...

Playing our favorite camping game - Mexican Dominoes ...

Connor loves Grandpa Jorgensen ...

Chillin' around the campfire ... Aislinn and her boyfriend, Kevin ...

On our last day camping, we decided to go drive up Pike's Peak because it wasn't too far away from where we were camping. It was a "whole day" thing, and we all thoroughly enjoyed doing it. The drive was beautiful and we felt so high up once we got to the summit of Pike's Peak. It was an adventure and well worth going and seeing what Pike's Peak is all about!

We were taking pictures as we stopped on the way up Pike's Peak, and we decided to put Connor in the perfect spot for a moment ... it was his little "resting stump" ...

On the way up Pike's Peak - had to stop and take this beautiful picture of the "rainbow clouds" ...

At the top of Pike's Peak ... we made it! ...

Grandpa Jorgensen, Aislinn (Nate's sister), and Connor at the top of Pike's Peak. It got very cold very quickly up there! It even started snowing ...

The view of some of Colorado from the top of Pike's Peak ...

07.03.10 ~ Lake Powell with the Coltons ...

2010-07-15T12:18:00.007-06:00

This past week, Connor and I went to Lake Powell with the Colton Family. This was Connor's first of hopefully many times going there. I was worried about how he'd handle the heat and "camping conditions," but he was an absolute natural! Connor loved being outside, loved the water, loved being on the boat, etc. Everyone had a blast and were entertained by how adorable he is. It was so much fun to spend time with the family and Lake Powell will always be my "second home." So many memories ...

Bobbing in the water with Connor ...

Connor on the ski-boat ...

My brother, Zac, and our family dog, Rudy ...

Connor in the water - had to always make sure he kept his binkie in his mouth so that he wouldn't sip up the lake water. It worked nicely that way ...

Riding on the boat, watching the morning skiers ...

Connor LOVED the water! ... He could have sat and played in it forever ... It was a great way to keep him cooled off from the heat ...

Grandpa Colton is so tired ... Lake Powell always takes a lot out of you ...

Looks like Lake Powell took a lot out of Connor as well ...

Beautiful morning at Lake Powell ...

Connor says, "I LOVE Lake Powell!"

06.20.10 ~ My Lesson on the Atonement ...

2010-06-22T09:24:00.008-06:00

I taught in Relief Society today and the lesson was on the Atonement (Chapter 12 in the Gospel Principles manual). I was overwhelmed with having to teach such a heavy and important lesson, but it went wonderfully. I was able to teach all the doctrine that I needed to, as well as get some discussion in on what kind of blessings the Atonement brings into our lives. The Spirit was felt very strongly in the room and I ended the lesson with this video I made. I wanted to share it with those that read my blog ... I hope we can all draw upon the blessings of the Atonement more ...

When making this video, I chose most images of Christ that showed an "embrace." Tad R. Callister, author of "The Infinite Atonement," said that an embrace is not only a figurative symbol of the Atonement, but a literal, physical symbol of the Atonement. I love the imagery of it and how it shows that we can be reconciled with our Heavenly Father because of what Jesus Christ did for us ... literally "at one" with Him ...

(you have to click on the screen AFTER you push play, and it will take you to the youtube.com site so you can see the whole screen - for some reason, it's cut off on my blog)

06.13.10 ~ 2nd Trip to Utah ...

2010-06-22T08:58:00.006-06:00

After just seeing my family in May, I was fortunate enough to be able to go out to Utah and see them all again! This time, Nate came with me - his good friend, Karl, got married in the Salt Lake Temple and we were invited to attend the session and reception afterwards. But before we went to the wedding, we took a fun trip to St. George with our friends, the Browns, and my sister Cami and bro-in-law joined us as well (with their new little baby, Bridger). So we ended up being in Utah for two weeks, and it was joyous. I didn't pull out my camera as much as I wanted to - Connor got sick while in St. George with a cold/earache, so I was consumed with taking care of him for part of the trip, as well as being involved in watching the French Open for tennis on TV. Here's a few pics from the trip ...

Swimming at "Las Palmas" in St. George ...

Visiting Zion's National Park for the first time ...

Family gathered together at the Colton house on the Sunday before Nate and I headed back to Colorado ... here are the three most recent additions to the family - three boy cousins born right in a row ... Brady (born second), Connor (born first), and Bridger (born third) ...

06.08.10 ~ Connor at Nine Months Old ...

2010-06-22T08:15:00.004-06:00

So a lot of people that have been around Connor lately have asked how much he weighs (he's quite the adorable chunk). Well, I have the results ... he had is nine month check-up and he weighs in at a woppin' 23 lbs and 11 ounces (which bumps him up into the 90th percentile)! He measured at 28 inches in heigth (50th percentile). So yes, he's a chub ... and I think most of that weight is located on his thighs (so squeezable). :)

Connor is getting so active and into EVERYTHING lately. He seems to be the most curious into anything that isn't a baby toy ... my computer, any cord he can find, drawers, outlets (child-proofed, of course), the Ensign, all my decor (a lot of which I had to put away), and toilets (yuck!). I have to keep the floors and everything super clean because he loves to find the tiniest pieces of whatever is on the floor and put it in his mouth. He is crawling around like crazy and gets where he wants to go super fast. He is also pulling himself up onto the couches, tables, his crib, my legs ... he'll be walking in no time. Scary! Connor LOVES to be outside - he's getting more used to the grass now and will just sit on a blanket in the shade forever. It's really nice. Connor loves exploring new tastes and foods - whenever Nate or I eat, he mimics us and chomps up and down with his mouth, just wanting to try whatever we're eating. He's also getting very vocal. Nate and I think he sounds like a monkey - his sudden outbursts that always get louder and louder. He's definitely learning how to express himself and communicate!

Connor just seems to be so interested and active in all that goes on around him. I can't get enough of his smiles and giggles ... always so happy. His two top teeth are going to pop through any day now - I see the faint tips underneath his gums ... it's exciting! It's funny what gets you excited as you become a mom. :) Happy nine months Connor ... we love you!

05.26.10 ~ Tornado Season ...

2010-05-26T20:30:00.004-06:00

I think the only thing I love about tornado season is ...

... it brings with it some awesome cloud formations!

05.24.10 ~ Cute Videos of Connor ...

2010-05-24T19:08:00.002-06:00

I have recently taken some cute video footage of Connor, and thought I'd share them with the rest of you. I take cute footage of him all the time, but whatever ...

Connor's first time in the swing ...

Connor with some of his cousins ...

Connor's first time experiencing grass ...

Connor loves his ball ...

05.23.10 ~ Trip to Utah ...

2010-05-24T15:49:00.007-06:00

Connor and I just got back from visiting family in Utah for the past two weeks. It would have been the perfect trip if we both had not gotten really sick with a cold. I was sick for the majority of the trip, and Connor got sick towards the tail end of it. We are both doing a lot better now, but it was hard to be so sick when wanting to be with family and have a good time. We'll be back again soon for a friend's wedding though, so it's nice to know I will hopefully get a better trip in Utah coming up.

Here's a few highlights from the trip ...

Connor getting to spend time with cousins ...

Connor crawling ... he loved crawling after Rudy, the family dog ...

Connor in a swing for the first time ...

Watching soccer games ... and loving the water bottle ...

Getting to see my sister, Cami, and Taylor's baby, Bridger Weight ... He was born during my stay in Utah ...

I got to get Glitter Toes! These are so fun ...

Connor got to be as messy as ever, and Mommy didn't care ...

05.08.10 ~ Connor at Eight Months Old ...

2010-05-24T15:26:00.007-06:00

My baby is growing up too fast! Here are some studio shots of Connor that were taken close to eight months old. I gave them to his grandmas for Mother's Day. He is absolutely adorable. He is starting to babble and find his voice, so to say. He is crawling now - he crawls on his knees and still "army crawls" as well. He is full of smiles and loves to be tickled and "thrown around" by his Daddy. Sometimes he will wave "bye-bye" and also give open-mouthed kisses - which are always slobbery and sweet. We just love him so much ...

04.29.10 ~ Connor Crawling Forward ...

2010-05-04T21:49:00.004-06:00

So Connor has decided to crawl forward for the last couple weeks or so. He is currently doing the "army crawl" and is crawling all over our home. He is especially motivated when I put something shiny in his path - like an ice-cream scooper ...

04.28.10 ~ Connor Sleeping Lately ...

2010-05-04T21:10:00.005-06:00

So I just had to post these pictures that I recently took of Connor. He has frequently been sleeping like this and has quite the obsession of peeking over his bumper pads and also trying to untie them and pull the pads off the crib ... He is becoming so curious and active - it's so fun to see ...

04.26.10 ~ Connor's Crazy Quirk ...

2010-04-26T10:54:00.004-06:00

I was getting ready to go sing at a performance my ward was putting on, and I heard Connor starting to cry every time I did this one particular warm-up exercise. Nate and I just had to get it on tape because we think it's hilarious that he cries every time I do this one warm-up exercise ... even if he's happy and playing with Daddy. It's hilarious ...

And I promise that Connor loves songs that I sing to him! He just isn't a fan of the mi-me-ma-mo-mu's I guess ...

04.11.10 ~ Nate's Mistake ...

2010-04-14T04:16:00.005-06:00

Notice anything wrong in this picture? ...

So on Sunday morning while Nate was getting ready for church, he was trimming his eyebrows, when all of a sudden his clippers contraption went psycho on him. I guess the blades fell on it mid-through his grooming. As a result, he's now got one and a half eyebrows left. I sure adore my husband though - we had a good laugh from it all and he has been quite the trooper with dealing with this unfortunate mishap. What a guy ...

04.10.10 ~ Connor's First Nuggets Game ...

2010-04-13T20:35:00.005-06:00

So we attempted to take Connor to experience a NBA basketball game. It started out okay, until in the beginning of the second quarter the "bird man" on the Denver Nuggets team made a dunk and the crowd went WILD. He just started bawling, and from then on, every time the crowd cheered, he cried. So Connor and I spent the rest of the game out by the concessions, watching the game on TV where it was a lot more quieter and more of Connor's style. We'll have to take him back to a game when he's older though - when his precious eardrums can handle the noise. He looked just so darn cute! He sure got a TON of compliments out in the hallway - everyone that walked by practically had to stop and smile or just vocalize how adorable he was...

"Uh, I'm not so sure about this Mom..."

04.08.10 ~ Connor at 7 Months Old ...

2010-04-13T18:52:00.011-06:00

So Connor is now 7 months old and is ready to conquer the world! He is so solid and strong, happy, and even occasionally "grunts" like a man! He is very active now, and Nate and I get very tired when it comes to holding him. He is constantly turning, twisting, turning sideways, arching, etc. He sits up on his own and is starting to crawl ... backwards. It's hilarious. See for yourself ...

We now find Connor usually on his stomach when he's sleeping or just playing in his crib. He loves to be on his tummy ...

Here's a video of Connor playing with his toys - he loves pulling the toys out of the toy box all on his own now. He sits up so well ...

He always has to "feel" everything with his mouth, so most pictures I take he's got something in it ...

Now that Connor has two teeth on the bottom of his mouth, I thought I'd upgrade to a baby toothbrush and some Orajel toothpaste. He sure loves brushing his teeth ...

He loves bath time - even more so now that he is learning how to splash in the water ...

Can't leave him alone on the couch anymore ... he rolls and scoots all over the place ...

... very active baby ... We love you Connor!

04.06.10 ~ Spring ...

2010-04-13T14:59:00.003-06:00

Spring is slowly inching in, and I try to take advantage of any warm Spring day that I can (you never know with Colorado weather). Taking Connor on walks has been one of my favorite things to do now that I'm a mom. We even splurged quite a bit early and got Connor a BOB Revolution jogging stroller for his birthday. That way, I can enjoy walking and running with him this summer and on all our trips we have planned. Connor loves the stroller too, as you can see ...

04.04.10 ~ Easter Celebrations ...

2010-04-12T19:04:00.020-06:00

We started out by dying our Easter eggs a few days before Sunday. Nate and I went over to dye eggs with the rest of the Jorgensen family ...

Connor even got to join in the fun ... from afar ... the "bumbo" chair came in very handy that night ...

Nate and I decorating our eggs ...

Connor had so much fun with Auntie Kristen and Auntie Aislinn ...

Connor loves to stay up past bedtime to dye Easter eggs! ...

********************************************************

On Easter Sunday, we watched morning conference at home, and then headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Jorgensen's to celebrate with the rest of the Jorgensen family. We ate dinner, did an Easter egg hunt, and then watched afternoon conference together. It was a lovely Spring day and General Conference was absolutely amazing. I felt so uplifted ...

My mother-in-law always makes such wonderful meals and makes it very festive with her beautiful decor ... dinner was mmm mmm good ...

After we ate our fabulous Easter dinner in-between morning and afternoon conference, we went outside to find some eggs ...

So the Jorgensen tradition - now that we are all older (except for Connor) - is go huntin' for some Easter eggs filled with dollar bills in them. So I had Nate carry Connor around and collect our eggs - we found a woppin' 21 dollars total! ...

My little Easter bunny ...

Getting ready to go egg-hunting ... As you can see, Connor is definitely excited ...

Aislinn and Nate goin' at it - trying to get as many Easter eggs as they can ...

Auntie Hanah and Connor ...

Connor counting his money after Daddy found his Easter eggs ...

Connor with his Easter basket ...

Thanks Grandma Jorgensen for the Easter treats!

Happy Easter to everyone!

04.03.10 ~ Dog-Sitting ...

2010-04-12T18:56:00.005-06:00

I have really enjoyed dog-sitting lately. I watched two different dogs, back to back, and it was such a joy to have a little dog around to play with. Nate and Connor both loved playing with them as well. Every time I would ask Connor, "what does a doggy say?" and I would go "ruff! ruff!" - Connor would light up with a huge smile. It was such a blast ... makes me want a dog of our own ... definitely one day.

Buddy - so obedient and playful - awesome dog!

Cinder - cutest, cuddliest dog ever!

03.08.10 ~ Happy Half-Birthday Connor ...

2010-03-10T17:04:00.007-07:00

Happy "half-birthday" Connor! He is 6 months old and is cuter than ever. He went to the doctor today and got his shots, etc. Connor weighed in at 18 lbs, 2.5 ounces, which puts him still in the 50th percentile for weight. He also measured at 27 inches in length, which put him in the 75th percentile height. Maybe he'll be tall like his daddy! Let's hope so. He is such a joy and other than the really stinky poop and toots, and the spitting up, there couldn't be anything better in this world. He is so interactive and still just a bunch of smiles all the time. Connor's getting very active and doesn't like to be still in your lap anymore either - always wanting to look around and see what's going on around him. My favorite is when he grabs at my face and tries to eat my nose. He's just so adorable and Nate and I couldn't be happier. Happy 6 months Connor!

We've been trying to get Connor to sit up on his own, but he has a tendency to lean forward and grab at his toes ...

He is just so cute and chubby right now - here's a "modest nakey baby" photo ...

Connor has started to eat baby food ... and he loves it! He opens his mouth right on cue and everything. He is so ready for it. So far, he has enjoyed every kind of vegetable I have put in his mouth - peas, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables ... the list goes on and on. I'm so happy I have a kid that loves the pukey-looking green stuff! ...

02.26.10 ~ Connor All Bundled Up ...

2010-02-28T22:33:00.004-07:00

Grandma Jorgensen bought Connor this "snow-suit" and we got to use it for the first time tonight. I was going over to a friend's house close by that night, and instead of driving, I decided to walk over - carrying Connor. I just had to take a couple pictures of him because he looks so adorable in it. I definitely was reminded of that particular scene in the movie, "A Christmas Story." Connor could hardly move but was very warm! ...

Thanks Grandma Jorgensen for giving Connor the opportunity to look so darn cute! :)

02.22.10 ~ Valentine Surprise ...

2010-02-28T22:13:00.007-07:00

Since Nate and I were apart for Valentine's Day (I was in Utah with family), I came home to an absolutely wonderful surprise. Not only was our home clean, but there were also 2 bouquets of beautiful flowers, and a bottle of my favorite perfume on my nightstand. It was so nice and thoughtful - I've got a great hubby ...

Thank you Sweetie ... I love you Nate. Happy (late) Valentine's Day. :)

02.21.10 ~ Visiting in Utah ...

2010-02-28T21:54:00.009-07:00

I was able to go to Utah for two and half weeks with Connor and spend our time with the Colton family. I watched my sister's kids for part of it, and it was nice to be around the family for a good amount of time. We missed Nate while we were away, but he is so busy with work right now (as an auditor), that we wouldn't have seen much of him anyway if we were in Colorado. Here's a few pics that I took while I was in Utah ...

Connor loves to go on walks, which we did plenty of while in Utah when it was nice weather outside ...

Rudy, the dog, loved to be with Connor - just chillin' by him whenever he was on the ground. He probably wanted all the "baby attention" we were all giving Connor ...

Connor fell asleep in the toy saucer at Grandma Colton's ... probably exhausted from all the fun he was having! ...

Connor with his cousin, Taylor ... so adorable ...

Connor with his other boy cousins (so far) - Ian and Colton ...

02.08.10 ~ Connor at 5 Months Old ...

2010-02-28T21:31:00.007-07:00

Connor is my "little chunk." He's getting so big and is, as always, so happy! He loves to roll over, loves to grab at his feet, and put any kind of everything in his mouth. "Happy 5 Months Old" Connor! We love you to pieces ...

Connor started to roll over a little after he turned 4 months old. Here is some footage of that - he currently only knows how to roll over from his left side, and only from his back to his tummy ...

01.09.10 ~ Nate's Surprise Party ...

2010-01-13T13:19:00.011-07:00

Nate is turning 30 on January 12th, so I thought this year would be a good one to throw him a surprise birthday party. It is stressful planning a surprise party - making sure people are there to yell "surprise," making sure Nate doesn't find out, and making sure 18 people can fit in our tiny condo. :) But everything went smoothly, and Nate was floored. He has never had a surprise party, and he said he almost had a heart attack when he walked in the door. Well, I have the footage to prove it, along with some pictures of that night's celebration ...

Nate doesn't like cake too much, so I got 6 different flavored pies from Village Inn instead ... surprisingly, we didn't have much left over which I was happy about. Everyone loves pie ...

The theme for the party was to bring gifts that made Nate feel like a kid again. He thought turning 30 was so old, but we reminded him with "kid gifts" just how young he still is ...

Happy 30th Birthday Nate! You are still a kid at heart in my book!

01.08.10 ~ Connor at 4 Months Old ...

2010-01-13T12:49:00.008-07:00

Connor is 4 months old today! Time is going by so quickly and I can't believe how much bigger he is. He had his 4 month check-up (more shots as well) and weighed in at 15 1/2 lbs., and measured at 24.8 inches in length. Connor's doctor said that he is still in the 50th percentile, which I still can't quite believe because he seems so big to me. He coos all the time now, and especially loves to talk jibberish as long as he has his fingers in his mouth (still can't get enough of his own fingers). It's really fun to be woken up in the morning from hearing him coo and squeal through the monitor. He is always so happy and responsive to what's going on around him. It's been the best 4 months ever! Now we just need to get him to roll over! We're working on it ...

01.03.10 ~ Connor's First Laughing ...

2010-01-12T23:34:00.001-07:00

I was so fortunate that my camera was right by my side when Connor decided to laugh for the first time. I was playing peek-a-boo with him and he just started to laugh uncontrollably. So adorable ...

12.28.09 ~ Jorgensen Christmas Card 2009

2010-01-12T20:01:00.003-07:00

An update from the Jorgensens …
This past year has been filled with many miracles and blessings. My pregnancy and delivery all went very smoothly and I know the Lord was watching out for us. Connor Nathan Jorgensen was born on September 8th at 12:40 AM, and weighed in at 7 lbs, 6.4 ounces – 21 inches in length. He has been such a bundle of joy to have in our home ever since. Nate and I have truly enjoyed being parents so far and we love seeing him develop, grow, and start interacting with us more.

So I am now a “stay-at-home mom,” which is what I’ve always wanted. I feel so fulfilled in life to be able to stay at home and take care of our son during the day, every day. Nate is working at an auditing firm called Spicer Jeffries (located just outside of downtown Denver) and it literally was a miracle from the Lord that Nate got this job the very day I decided to not go back to work at Edward Jones Investments. It was scary to think that we wouldn’t have any income coming in with Nate being unemployed and me not wanting to go back to work after my maternity leave … but an hour after I had made the decision to not go back to work, Nate got the call for a job offer. And it turns out that this position he is in has been such a blessing for our family – he travels less, gets paid a little more, and it is located much closer to home.

The Lord works in mysterious ways and we know for a fact that He has a plan for all of us. He will bless us and watch out for us in our time of need. We are so thankful and feel so truly blessed this holiday season!

With Love and Gratitude in our Hearts - Nathan, Amber, & Connor

12.25.09 ~ Christmas in Utah ...

2010-01-12T19:00:00.017-07:00

Nate and I spent Christmas this year in Utah with my family - the Coltons. Now that I don't have to go back to work, I was able to stay in Utah for two weeks, and Nate came out for the first week. I got to go down to St. George with my family the second week and celebrate New Year's there. It was sad to not be with Nate on New Year's Eve, but I was just so excited to be able to spend time with my family and not have to worry about using up too many vacation days or having to go back to work. That is a perk of being a stay-at-home mom. So Connor and I enjoyed a nice long vacation in Utah. Here are some of the highlights from the whole trip ...

Some adorable pictures of Connor during our stay in Utah ...

Christmas Eve Dinner ... It's a tradition to eat Arby's by candlelight ... and always a must that we have plenty of cherry 7up ...

After dinner it is a tradition to make Gingerbread Houses ... we split the family up into two teams and see who can make the better gingerbread house. This was one of the teams. Us Coltons are so competitive ...

Connor and Dad ...

Connor and Mom ...

Lining up in the hallway on Christmas morning ... getting ready to go see what Santa brought us ... a tradition we have always done in the Colton family ... and Dad always says "It looks like Santa didn't come this year" after coming from the family room. Of course, we never believed him ...

Connor after opening his present, with my help, of course ...

Playing games on Christmas day - one of my favorites ... Settlers ...

The COMPLETE Colton family was there Christmas Eve, which hasn't happened in a long time ... so special ... it's amazing to see how big our family is getting, and with Aly and Cami both pregnant it is going to get even bigger very soon!

Merry Christmas to all and have a Happy New Year!

12.20.09 ~ Christmas Exchange with the Jorgensen Family ...

2010-01-12T18:49:00.004-07:00

Since this year Nate and I would be spending Christmas in Utah with my family, we did a "mini" celebration over at the Jorgensens beforehand. We had a scrumptious meal and then exchanged presents ...

The COMPLETE Jorgensen family! It was so wonderful to have all of us together for a Christmas celebration.

12.17.09 ~ Christmas Video ...

2009-12-17T10:09:00.002-07:00

I was preparing my primary lesson for Sunday, and came across this video. It brought me to tears and I wanted to share it with those that might not have seen it yet. It's so beautiful ...

Do You Have Room For the Savior?

12.08.09 ~ Connor at 3 Months Old ...

2009-12-09T10:20:00.006-07:00

Connor is so fun to interact with now that he is starting to show more of his adorable personality. He's my little snorter, slobberer, and smiler. Like I've said many times before, he is such a joy and is such a good baby! I can't believe he is already 3 months old! ...

Connor is REALLY smiling in this one ...

Just Chillin ...

He loves to stick his tongue out now-a-days ...

11.30.09 ~ Christmas is in the Air ...

2009-11-30T11:55:00.003-07:00

I was able to get all the Christmas decorations up over the weekend and now I am on to getting my Christmas cards done so I can get those sent out in the mail soon. Christmas will be over and done with before you know it, so I'm going to try to listen to as much Christmas music as I can and watch as many Christmas movies as I can before it all ends in the blink of an eye! I'm noticing that everything goes by much faster in life when you have a child ...

Here is an "Elf Yourself" video my mom-in-law made me. I had to post it because I think it is hilarious, and it'll definitely get you in the Christmas mood ...

11.26.09 ~ Happy Thanksgiving! ...

2009-11-30T11:11:00.015-07:00

This year, we spent Thanksgiving with the Jorgensen family! Cindi made such an amazing Thanksgiving Dinner and it was such a wonderful day spent with family. All of us Jorgensens were there together, so it was nice to feel complete. Here are some of the pictures that captured some great memories of the day ...

I had to put this picture in ... Connor loves to scowl every now and then, and this picture captured his "scowl face" quite nicely. Don't worry, he smiles a lot too ... so adorable ...

Thanksgiving Dinner ... Kristen putting all the food out on the beautifully set table. Cindi, my mother-in-law, did such a nice job with the Thanksgiving decor ...

Paul, my father-in-law, carving the amazingly perfectly cooked turkey ... mmmm ...

Connor's Thanksgiving Dinner ... mmmm ... some dang good milk from Mommy ...

The "J2" family ... as my mom-in-law would call us ... the "Jorgensen 2" Fam enjoying our meal ...

Nate's sisters ... Hanah, Aislinn, and Kristen ... all here and it is so wonderful ... they are the best sis-in-laws a girl could ever ask for ... and they are such great aunties to Connor too ...

After we ate, Nate and I got to make a wish and break the wishbone on the turkey ... Nate won ...

This is our "wasted and too full to do anything else" faces ... we were both so full ...

I am so thankful and blessed in my life! Couldn't be happier! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

11.20.09 ~ Connor is Quite the Sucker! ...

2009-11-22T00:01:00.002-07:00

Connor has just discovered his hands in the last few days. See for yourself ...

He is such a good baby. Isn't he just so adorable?

11.12.09 ~ Who Does Connor Look Like? ...

2009-11-12T13:05:00.006-07:00

Well, after looking at the pictures below, it is obvious that Connor looks a lot more like Nate than his mommy. It was fun to look at pictures of Nate and I as babies, and see what features Connor has from the both of us. I think he has my head shape and chubby cheeks, but he's got Nate's face. I don't know, see for yourself and let me know what you think ...

Connor as a newborn ...

Nate as a newborn ...

Amber as a newborn ...

11.08.09 ~ Connor at 2 Months Old ...

2009-11-12T12:14:00.005-07:00

Connor is such a joy and it is so fun to see him grow and develop! He recently weighed in at 11.5 lbs. and was measured at 22.5 inches in length. He is in the 50th percentile for both weight and height, so that was good news to hear. He smiles so much now and is starting to coo more and more. He is getting stronger and stronger - being able to hold his head up on his own, gaining more control of his legs and arms, etc. Connor sleeps almost up to 7 hours some nights ... such a good baby! He hardly ever cries and is generally so happy and alert when he is awake. He is starting to reach out for toys too - I hope he will be able to grasp them all on his own soon!

11.3.09 ~ Connor's 2 Month Shots ...

2009-11-12T12:02:00.005-07:00

Connor had his two month check-up today ... which means ... SHOTS! I was so worried about how this appointment would go, but I must say that Connor was very brave. It might have also been the fact that I fed him a bottle while the doctor poked him multiple times in the legs. He would only cry for a second and then continue to suck on his bottle. Mommy is so smart.

Connor's "Shrek" Band-Aids ...

Connor was a bit fussy afterwards, and he did get a minor fever for a couple days afterwards, but all in all, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be ... he's even cute when he's fussy ...

Now I have his 4 month shots to look forward to! Eeeks!

10.30.09 ~ Carving Pumpkins with Friends ...

2009-11-02T15:49:00.012-07:00

Nate and I had a fun night with some of our friends the night before Halloween. We carved pumpkins, frosted sugar cookies, and had taco soup for dinner ...

The Browns ...

The Packards ...

Our friends' finished pumpkins ...

"The boys" carving their pumpkins ...

Nate didn't finish carving his pumpkin until after our friends had left, so here's his finished product ...

I just frosted sugar cookies while taking care of Connor. Here's my fabulous plate of cookies ...

We had such a blast! Thanks to the Browns and the Packards for making such a memorable and fun evening of Halloween festivities!

10.29.09 ~ Connor's "Halloween" Outfits ...

2009-11-02T15:25:00.007-07:00

Here's some pictures of Connor in some of his festive Fall Halloween outfits ...

Connor's my "little monster" ...

Connor's a "little pumpkin" ...

Connor's "spooky" outfit ...

10.27.09 ~ Carving Pumpkins with the Extended Jorgensen Family ...

2009-10-28T21:00:00.015-06:00

Auntie Aislinn (Nate's Sister) - carving an intricate skull face ...

Auntie Kristen (Nate's Sister), carving away ...

Even Jani, their cat, wanted to be involved with the carving festivities! I guess he really likes newspaper, so he just came up on the table and chilled there while we carved out our pumpkins ...

I carved out a "girly" pumpkin face ...

Here's a look at all the pumpkins we carved ... and it was snowing that night - the beginnings of a HUGE snowstorm we had here in Colorado ...

Connor didn't do much carving this year - he mostly just chilled and watched ... ha, ha, ha ... he's so adorable - I know I keep saying that, but it's because it is true ... he's such a cutie ...

10.26.09 ~ Halloween Costume this Year ...

2009-10-28T20:38:00.007-06:00

Nate and I had a couple of Halloween parties to go to over the last weekend, so we decided to come up with a pretty original costume that the whole family could wear and enjoy ... Check us Jorgensens out ...

The Jorgensen Chefs ... Ready to cook up some Lobster ...

Connor fell asleep in his pot - he must have really liked the warm water he was cooking in ... he, he, he ...

Connor in his full lobster get-up ... I found the lobster costume in the pet isle at Target - it was made for a dog to wear but it fit just right on Connor! ...

Connor sure makes an adorable lobster, eh? He is so cute - we could just "eat him up!" ... Literally!

10.24.09 ~ Going to Nick's Pumpkin Patch ...

2009-10-28T20:22:00.006-06:00

This Saturday we went to Nick's to go and pick pumpkins to carve. We went with the extended Jorgensen family - Cindi, Paul, Kristen, and Aislinn. It was wonderful to feel like a kid again and to find some really great pumpkins. I love Fall and the Halloween season ...

The Jorgensen Family ... a bunch of ghouls ...

Mommy and Connor - My "Little Pumpkin" ...

Daddy and Connor ... picking out pumpkins ...

Aislinn (Nate's sister), Nate, and I ...

10.21.09 ~ Connor Loves Baby Einstein ...

2009-10-23T23:09:00.003-06:00

Today I tried out a Baby Einstein video on Connor for the first time. He really seemed to enjoy it and it was so fun to watch him smile and coo to the music and images. Sometimes he seemed absolutely mesmerized - his eyes wide open, just staring and focused on the movie...

10.19.09 ~ New and Improved Baby Room ...

2009-10-22T12:16:00.012-06:00

So it took a while, but I finally got the baby room all put together and looking decent. Remember the old pictures of the room? See my previous post dated back on 05.13.09, titled "Messy Baby Room!"

Well, here is the new and improved baby room, and I think Connor likes it. Now that he has grown out of the bassonet, he sleeps in his crib and does a great job with sleeping - no problems in that department so far. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it stays that way!

10.16.09 ~ It's an Absolute Miracle ...

2009-10-22T11:21:00.002-06:00

After we spent a week in Salt Lake, we drove back home and I was dreading the fact that I would soon have to decide whether or not I’d return to work while Nate was unemployed. He had an interview set up for the next day we got back to Colorado, but we weren’t expecting to hear back from them soon. Usually when Nate had interviewed in the past, it was a one-week or two-week deal before finding out whether or not he got the job. That is part of the miracle … Anyway, so he has the interview, and he thinks it went really well … and then the next day, I told my boss that I would have a decision by then to let him know whether I’d be coming back to work or not. So I went in to Edward Jones and spoke with my boss about it, and still, even up to that point, I was totally undecided as to what I’m going to do … and as I was discussing several options of what I could do to continue working while Nate is unemployed, and still be happy, I had this huge impression to just go with my heart – and that was to stay home with Connor. I told my boss with tears in my eyes that I just couldn’t leave him, even for part of the day, and that I felt in my heart that I needed to be home with him. My boss took it okay – he didn’t want me to leave (which is a compliment) – and we set some things in place to give my two-week-notice.

So as I’m driving back from that ordeal, I am so happy that I decided to do what’s best for me to be truly happy and for our family’s well-being, but at the same time, I’m completely scared about what will happen in the future with Nate being out of a job. I came home and told Nate about what happened, and he felt the same way – he was happy that I will be happy, but scared that we won’t have a steady stream of income anymore.

And this is where the miracle happens … I like to think of it as a “tender mercy” from the Lord … an hour later after I came home that day and told Nate I would no longer be working at Edward Jones, Nate gets a phone call. He gets offered a job to work at Spicer Jeffries as an auditor! And turns out, the location is closer to our home, he won’t be traveling nearly as much as his last job, and he is getting paid a bit more in his salary than the previous job! After Nate got off the phone, we looked at each other, just completely shocked, with huge smiles on our face. I started to cry, and we hugged and kissed, and just took in that wonderful moment. I still can’t believe the timing … how could this not have been a blessing from the Lord? It was so amazing that it increased my belief in this gospel and increased my faith in the Lord ten fold – right on the spot! After almost 5 months of Nate being unemployed, he ends up getting a job right on the same day I decide to be a stay-at-home mom and my maternity leave ends in the next couple of days. For me personally, I felt like I had been blessed immediately for making the right decision to stay home – even though it was the harder decision to make at the time. The Lord does work in mysterious ways, but this experience reaffirmed to me that the Lord does answer our prayers! My prayer was answered. Never have I wanted anything more than to be a mom and to be able to take care of my family and home 24/7. And now God gave me that opportunity and Nate and I both KNOW that this was a direct blessing from Him.

So after the shock wore off a bit, Nate and I knelt down and said a prayer of gratitude together. My mom reminded me of the fact that we so quickly ask Heavenly Father for answers and for help … but we often times forget to give a prayer of gratitude once we have received those answers or help! I, of course, cried like a baby through the whole prayer – just completely overwhelmed with what had just happened and I felt the Spirit so strongly. I know this gospel is true and I know that God exists! I know that He loves each and every one of us individually – He knows our needs and wants, and He knows what is right for us. This all happened on His timetable, and looking back, it was such a great blessing for Nate to be able to spend so much time with Connor when he was born. I was able to receive so much help having Nate home with me those first 5 ½ weeks of Connor’s life, and we have also been blessed in the fact that we have been humbled, and we have grown closer as husband and wife because of going through this hardship together. God has a plan for us and I was reminded through all of this that we just need to have faith in Him – to never doubt and to never fear, but move forward with faith in knowing that everything will be okay if we do what we are supposed to do to be happy in life. I love this gospel and am just so grateful. I am so grateful that I am now a mom, and that Nate is a dad (he is such a sweet father to Connor) … Connor was our “miracle baby,” and now he has brought more joy into our lives than we ever could have imagined! A friend of mine reminded me when she said, “babies bring blessings,” and how true that is! We are so blessed to have him in our life!

10.11.09 ~ Connor's Blessing Day ...

2009-10-22T10:48:00.011-06:00

Nate and I made the quick decision to go on a road trip and visit my family in Salt Lake! We realized that we could easily just travel with Connor since Nate was out of job at the time, and I on maternity leave. So a week later, after general conference, we ended up in Salt Lake for a few days. I absolutely LOVED seeing my family. My mom was thrilled to be able to see Connor again, and I enjoyed being surrounded by a big family all the time – so many people to chat with, and kids running around like crazy – it’s music to my ears. ☺

At Aubrie's Oly High Soccer Game ...

Nate hanging out with some of our nieces ...

The other reason we decided to go to Salt Lake was the fact that Nate was nice enough to let us bless him there so my family could be involved. The Sunday we were there was also my brother Jeff’s homecoming, so it was a very special day. Nate did a great job blessing Connor (I’m so glad I’m the mom and not the dad) – I'd be so nervous. The blessing was given so beautifully, and I started balling right away. I loved being able to have my brothers (and bro-in-law), uncle(s), and my dad in the circle. I could feel the Priesthood power so strongly. It was very special and Connor was quiet through the whole blessing as well. He is a very good baby overall and hardly ever cries to begin with, so I wasn’t expecting too much to come out of him at the time. Connor was also wrapped in both Paul and Cindi's (Nate's parents) blessing blankets that they were blessed in when they were babies. It was a very special way to have the Jorgensen side of the family involved while being in Salt Lake. Thank you Cindi.

Connor in his blessing outfit ... his hands got lost in the sleeves ...

Grandpa and Grandma Colton holding their 13th grandchild ...

And of course, later on when we are celebrating at home with friends and family, he poops in his blessing outfit and leaks all over the side of it! Isn’t that always the case? Baby leaks poop on outfit and has baby acne on his/her blessing day? ☺ It was a very precious, memorable day …

10.08.09 ~ Connor at 1 Month Old ...

2009-10-07T03:19:00.008-06:00

Connor is now roughly over 10 lbs! He is growing quickly, and Nate and I are both excited for more interaction from the little guy. He actually responds with a tiny smile at rare moments like in the picture below ... probably just gas, but it's still cute ...

This is Connor's "contemplating" picture ... or most likely his "pooping face" ... the great thing about newborns is they give a lot of cute faces. I sometimes find it hard to put the camera down because his face changes so often and I find all of his "faces" absolutely adorable ...

09.30.09 ~ Connor Loves Bath Time ...

2009-10-06T23:39:00.004-06:00

... And I must admit, I love it too ... He is so adorable when taking a bath and he really seems to like it. I love how good he smells afterwards ... all "baby lotioned" up and all clean ...

My mom did the filming while visiting in Colorado ...

He doesn't like the "aftermath" of a bath so much though ... so cold after getting out of the warm water ...

09.29.09 ~ Connor at 3 Weeks Old ...

2009-10-06T21:26:00.005-06:00

Connor turned 3 weeks old today ... and he is in the "baby acne" and "dry skin" phase - his little pimples and flaky skin layer is all coming at once right now, but we still love the guy. He is absolutely adorable and has been such a joy to have in our home ...

Connor loves to sleep on his daddy's tummy ... it is one of his favorite spots to be in life right now ...