WAY TO GO Joe!!

Well over the past couple weeks Joe has had a lot of great things happening for him. The first was that he was voted or picked to be the AGC (Association of General Contractors) club president for school. This is something that Joe really wanted and is very excited about. The second is that Joe was offered an internship with Layton Construction. We were giving up hope for an internship for the summer. He had an interview last week and received and offer on Monday. He is not sure where he will go yet. He was told the possibilities would include Utah, AZ, or CA. I kind of hope it is Utah because it would be a lot easier on us and we wouldn't have to move. Since the internship is paid, I will get to stay home with Gabe which I am VERY excited about! The only bad thing about me not working is we lose our insurance. It's going to be hard to give up paying only 28 bucks a month for full coverage for my whole family. Anywho... I am very excited and proud of Joe! He's worked so hard!

I made this cake for Joe the day he found out he got to be the president of the AGC club.

Daddy and Gabe

4 1/2 months

Well Gabe had his four month check up last week. It went very well considering he had to get a few more shots. He didn't really cry when he got the shots, he just wimpered for a few seconds. That made me greatful. Last time he was not happy he got them. Anyways... The doctor said he looked perfect and was very healthy. At 4.5 months his growth stats:

weight-14 lb 8 oz -->28%

height- 25.75 in-->66%

head- 17 in--> 63%

Needless to say Joe was not happy when I told him this. He says that I am starving our little guy because he dropped from the 63 % to 28% in his weight. For some reason he must want Gabe to be A LOT bigger. I reassured him the doctor said he looked great. That did not ease him at all. He has insisted on feeding Gabe more.

The only down side of the doctor's visit was that he told me to wait till 6 months to start feeding him solid foods. (due to food allergies) We had just started feeding him cereal a few days before. It was quite the experience. Gabe hated it at first and would gag. After a few minutes he started to enjoy it and loved it every time I gave it to him. Any who he doesn't seem to be missing it. It will be interesting to see if he has the same reaction when we start him on it again.

Update

It has been about a month since I have posted anything so I thought that I would give a brief update of what is going on in our lives. As you can see from the previous post we blessed Gabe on the 1st of the month. We were able to spend time with my parents, my brother Josh, Brad and Laura and our new nephew Carter. I was really nice.
The second week in February Joe went to Reno with his school for a construction competition. He really enjoyed it and got a lot of contacts for internships. He is already starting to prepare for next years competition. I have been working and training for my half marathon. Work as been going well and kept me busy. I am a little sad that my skiing session with the patients is done. I hope that I will be able to keep up with it or at least be able to do it more often. I told Joe that I wanted to buy some ski equipment. He said you can buy ski equipment when I can get a gun. I replied with, "That is not even remotely the same!" The conversation went something like this-
Joe: Ski's are just as dangerous.
Me: Whatever!
Joe: Do you know how many people die from skiing accidents every year?
Me: Do you know how many people die from guns!
Joe: They are about even (kinda with smile)
Me: Yeah.... Whatever (laughing)
Anywho....He has been wanting a gun for a long time. I am not really fond of them. I told him maybe when we get out on our own one day. I don't know what it is with guys and guns! As for my running I am about half way there...up to 6 miles. Only 7 more to go and 9 weeks to do it.

The week Joe went to Reno I was able to stay at home with Gabe. I loved very minute of it.
Gabe now is 16 weeks. Is growing fast and is smiling and laughing more and more. He is a joy to have around and keeps Joe and I laughing. He has started to sleep through the night which is great so I am not tired for work the next day. Joe is staying at home with Gabe during the day and staying busy with school at night.
Here are some photos over the past month:

He didn't notice it at first. After a while he kept trying to look at it.

We have been putting him in the jumpin johnny more. He is enjoying it.

Santa's Helper

Went to go get him after is nap. This is how I found him.

Gabe loves the bumbo. He sits in it ALL the time. He even sits in it at the dinner table with us.

Blessing

My brother Brad and his wife had their baby on the 22 of January. My parents and my brother Josh came out to visit. Since they were in town, we finally decided to go ahead and bless Gabe. It was good to be able to have them here. We had quite a few family members and friends at the blessing. Thanks so much for all of you who came. Here are some pictures of him in is blessing outfit. I realize he looks rather large in his blessing outfit but we wanted my parents to be there so that is why we waited.

Gabe and his Uncle Josh

This picture makes me smile every time I see it!

Gabe with my parents

Gabe with Joe's parents

4 generation picture

Gabe just continues to smile more and more. It's so fun to play with him and watch him by himself, especially when he giggles. You will probably notice all these pictures are taken from the side, that is because once he sees the camera he doesn't smile any more. I think he starts to focus more on the camera.

FUN!

Although I would rather be at home with Gabe, I am now back at work. Joe is taking care of him and doing a great job! So after a long, hard first week back, yesterday started of my week just great! I got to go SKIING! We took some of the patients from the hospital. It was so much fun. Even better... I got paid to do it:)

It was really neat to watch the patients and learn things they have never had a chance to do. They each had their own instructors and some of them picked up on it really quickly and did very well. We took the patients skiing through a program taught through the National Ability Center. (They provide outdoor sports and other recreational activities for those with disabilities.) If you would like, you should look at their website and see all the things they do and provide. (http://www.discovernac.org/) Anyways...are great!!! It is amazing at what they are able to do for people with disabilities. While I was there I was able to see a guy who was paralyzed and a guy who had only 1 leg ski. They both were awesome! My boss told me also they they taught a guy who was blind. He would follow the instructor down the slope and listen to him as he would go down like when to turn and such.

I am so glad that I was able to go. I hadn't been skiing since I was in the fourth grade. I calculated it up. It has been about 15 years. Luckily, I was able to pick it up pretty good. I only fell twice! After a few hours I became a pro! Check it out for yourself...

Christmas Vacation plus more...

Early in December we had a few of our friends over for a gingerbread house contest. It was fun to spend time with friends. Joe looks forward to this every year! I don't even really get to do any of the building.. more just the decorating. Although I think the decorating from last years house was a lot better. I don't think we really know who won. I bet if you asked Joe he will say it was him:) After we finished the houses Joe was already planning for next year!
So we all had the chance to go to TN this year for Christmas. It was nice to spend to be able to be with my family for on Christmas day. It has been a while since we have been able to do that. We were able to see all but two of my siblings. Also, my siblings were able to meet Gabe for the first time. I had a great time down there. I got to play Frisbee golf with my brothers and spend a day at the spa with my mom and sister. It was so NICE! It had been a while since I had gotten a massage. That was one of my gifts that Joe gave me for Christmas. We just got back to Utah. We are spending the last few holidays with his family and then are off to work and school:(

We put Gabe in the bouncer for the first time. He had a fun time in there. Can't you tell. He fell asleep and stayed there for about half an hour.

Gabe in his Christmas pajamas.

Our gingerbread house

A picture of all who did the gingerbread houses.