Many Faces of Maggie

Maggie wanted to show the different faces that she can make.

Visiting Family - Maggie's 1st Overnight

Group picture with Aunt Jennifer, Cousins Abigail and Rachel
Conversions between aunt and niece.
Saying bye to Aunt Jennifer
Enthralled by the petroglyphs at the Parawan Gap.
Sharing a story
Because of strong wind, Rachel has to hold her hat on her head with two hands.

Playing Acting Surprised

Maggie wanted us to show her playing Acting Surprised, one of her new favorite games.

Life at Home

Life at home is good. We have a comfortable apartment and Maggie and I enjoy spending the day together. Maggie's likes include sucking on her fists, looking at wall hangings and window blinds, and playing games with Mom like "Pat-a-Cake" and "Singing a Song Is Fun to Do." We also like to read stories and dance around the house.

When Maggie is busy sleeping or eating I occupy myself with mystery books and shows. I never used to watch much TV, but I must admit I was becoming quite the detective show junkie. At least for a while...that phase is somewhat waning now, but for a couple of weeks I was watching Law & Order, Matlock, and Perry Mason daily. (Mike and I are actually on a first-name basis with Perry and his associates.) We also purchased two seasons of Monk. Now I have toned it down a bit but have read quite a few Agatha Christie mysteries lately and enjoyed coming across a Sherlock Holmes show yesterday. I wonder if later in life Maggie will find she has a strange preference for old mystery shows...

We both love it when Mike gets home. Maggie is already a daddy's girl. She loves her dad and looks intently into his face everytime he holds her. She loves when he takes her outside and when he gives her her bedtime bath.

The past couple days, Maggie and I have made the trek to the library. It's nice now that Maggie has a more predictable schedule, though she has had a very sweet and accommodating disposition from the first. I find I am able to get a little more done than in those first weeks. I have recently started running again and am feeling very good (except for my first run after the baby when I decided I was feeling so good I should sprint an extra block and just as I was turning for home I slid on some gravel and scraped up my knee and elbow...aaah, back to my clumsy self). Mike and I have also been doing some swimming at the local pool. Maggie is so patient, we take her and take turns watching her sit or sleep in her carrier by the side of the pool.

And without furthur ado, more pictures...

The whole family out for a picnic before taking Cat to the airport (WE MISS HER!!)



Me and Maggie in our matching Sunday dresses

Maggie smiles!

Our Summer Thusfar

Well, I've finally gotten to a computer with internet access to update. As Mike said, we are now trying to take full advantage of the wonders on the information age...including blogging.

The summer is flying. I can hardly believe that little Maggie is two months old today and Mike and I have been married for just over a year-and-a-half! It has been a busy couple of months. Both of our mothers came out right after the baby was born. My sister Catherine also came out in mid-June and visited us. She and my sister-in-law Kathy were a big help in watching Maggie as I finished up my first year of teaching. I put in grades, did report cards, and taught (or at least supervised) the last three days of the school year (it's a year round school). Cat even came and helped me at school on my last day, which was awfully nice. Then Kathy, Ryan, and Tasi (my nephews) brought Maggie up to the school, helped me pack up my room and I was done. I was sad to see my second graders go but am very much enjoying the laid-back lifestyle of being the full-time mother of one. It might not be quite as laid back if I thought a little less and did more about housework and if Maggie was a more difficult baby, but hey, I have an understanding husband and an easy baby (for now...). Why not take advantage of the situation?

Maggie with her Grandmommy Wanlass

Maggie with her Grandma Gotfredson

Yes, Maggie is a treasure. She has been a very sweet little baby since day one and Mike and I both feel incredibly blessed to have her in our lives. Recent accomplishments include but are not limited to smiling, cooing, and sleeping through the night (ten until sixish, give or take an hour). Two thumbs way, way up for the last. (She never woke up more than twice, but these days I take all the sleep I can get. I think I am lazier than I used to be.) Maggie also did well at her two month doctor's appointment. She hit the big ten pound mark, so will now be in the two-digits for quite a while, was on-target for milestones, and only cried a little when given booster shots.

Maggie with her Aunt Cat

Maggie just being her sweet self

As a family, our summer activities so far have consisted of a rodeo, a couple of town day fairs, a parade, the aforementioned visits, several family barbeques, several ice cream trips (mmmm!), the Manti Pageant (which we highly recommend), and a fourth of July fireworks show. Maggie is already becoming a well-traveled little baby. Our most recent adventure was a trip to Seven Peaks, a nearby water park. Mike and I felt like we ought to go sometime since we used to live just south of it. We had two free passes, one from my school and one we won from Julie and Nate's BBQ drawing. Last Saturday, with Cat (Catherine) still in town we decided that it was time to go, so we picked up a discount pass from Costco and the three of us with baby in tow made a day of it. We rotated baby duty and had quite a nice time!

Our Seven Peaks Expedition

Welcome

Feeling a tremendous void in our lives, we have looked to the internet for fulfillment. Our family--Mike, Sarah, and Margaret (Maggie)-decided to create a blog to take advantage of all of the associated joys that were only a post away.