07.11.10 ~ Camping with the Jorgensens ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...