Chase's favorite pasttime

Chase has a favorite activity these days. It is taking everything he can get his hands on off the shelves in our kitchen. He's pretty quick at it too. Multiple times a day I restock the shelves just so he can tear them apart. Why do we even buy him toys?

Who would have thought that tupperware could be this fun?

And yay- those top teeth finally came through! Our little gumdrop has teeth now!

Island Thanksgiving

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving this year! Our friend Jessica organized a fun potluck Thanksgiving dinner for a bunch of families in our branch. We had it on this lovely deck on campus that is right on the ocean, every one brought dishes, I brought pie and rolls. We had a few turkeys, lots of stuffing and potatoes. It was all delicious! We ate as the sun set over the beautiful, peaceful Caribbean Sea. It was fabulous!

Our life here is stressful and crazy. Ben is constantly stressed with school work. Medical school is so difficult. Living in a 3rd world country is difficult. Chase has been difficult all week (those darn top teeth are just pushing against his little gums and haven't broken through yet). I'm lonely and stressed a lot of the time. Today was a good reminder to just take a little time to be thankful for what we do have. I'm thankful for my main man Ben and my sweet little son, for the gospel that brings us so much peace, happiness and direction, for our health and a home to live in, for wonderful supportive families back in the states, and tonight especially for our new friends here on the island.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful

This year I am feeling especially grateful for my little family. When I was growing up I had all these ideas of what I wanted my life to be and what I thought I'd major in. That changed quite a bit over the years until I eventually landed on nursing which was great for me. The one thing that I always wanted and never changed was just to be married and have a baby. These two guys have made that dream come true and I am thankful every day to have them in my life.

Here are some of my favorites of the family pictures we had taken last summer down on the beach. Just looking at them makes me smile.

Just sit back, relax and enjoy your meal. . .

His little foot up there totally cracks me up! This kid knows how to take it easy!

10 Months

I can hardly believe that this tiny little baby. . .

is now this cute little guy!

Above: 6 weeks

Below: 10 months

Those are a whole bunch of pictures I snapped of him while we were in Utah last week and during the journey getting there and back. This little boy really is the sweetest little thing and Ben and I just love him. At 10 months he:

• Weighs 17.5 lbs (5th percentile- WAHOO! He's up to the 5th percentile!) and is 28 inches long (40th percentile- also a big jump for him from the 5th at 6 months)
• Will eat almost anything we put in front of him. His favorite foods are bananas, broccoli, black bean soup, tortillas, bread, scrambled eggs and puffs.
• Really discovered cookies while we were in Utah. My mom made pumpkin cookies and he knew that he wanted some and insisted on getting a bite whenever anyone near him started eating a cookie. When my mom put a plate of cookies on the table one night after dinner his eyes got really big, he leaned for the plate and stared at it intently until my dad took pity on him and gave him some. Needless to say, Chase has a sweet tooth.
• Pulls himself up on everything and is cruising
• Loves to pull everything off the kitchen shelves
• Will give high fives and wave good-bye
• Loves to crawl through "tunnels" (ie- the space under the bar stools, between pieces of furniture, etc.)
• Now plays a game where he crawls away from me really fast while I say, "I'm going to get you!" and he giggles the whole time. Half the time he stops and lets me catch him while he just smiles up at me. It melts my heart every time.

UTAH!

Chase and I took a little break from our island life and headed to Utah for a week! The plane ride there was an adventure! It took us about 30 hours, including a 1 hour taxi ride, flight to San Juan Peurto Rico, staying over night in San Juan (cute Chase in the hotel's crib pictured below) then flying to Dallas and finally to Salt Lake! My baby who used to only sleep in someone's arms has recently decided it's not for him, making this a crazy flight, but we made it! I was so happy to see my Mom and Dad at the airport! Poor Chase was so exhausted (and stuffed with all the food I kept giving him to keep him happy) that he was a little hesitant at first. He quickly warmed up to everyone and I think he loved every minute of our time in Utah! He was adored by his loving uncle and aunt and spoiled by his grandparents! I loved having time with family and enjoying all the little luxuries being back in the states had to offer, carpet, milk, our comfortable bed, driving the car, grocery shopping, etc. We packed in our week there with lots of time with family, a doctor appointment for Chase, haircut for me, a few dinners and lunches at Fatboys, eating lots of my mom's amazing cooking, Chase laughing his head off with Will, getting in girl time with my sister Heidi, making cookies, watching a Davis High football game, visiting with friends I've missed dearly, having a little family party with my mom's side, and just enjoying the beautiful fall in Utah!

Those are just a few of the 100 pictures I took while we were there. We really had such a wonderful time, and although I'm already missing my family, I am so glad to be back in Dominica with my main man! I missed Ben a lot while we were gone, I think Chase did too. Even though life in Dominica is hard sometimes, I'm glad I get to be here with my two best guys!

Halloween

We celebrated Chase's first Halloween this year in UTAH! Chase and I just got back today from a fabulous week in Utah! Chase was a darling little pumpkin. He wore the costume my mom made for Heidi to wear when she was a baby.

He took a ride on the lawn mower with my dad. These two totally bonded while we were there.

We took Chase trick or treating to two houses, just to show him off to a few friends. He looked so darling and mostly tolerated his costume really well.

Halloween is so much more fun now that I have a baby! I'm excited for all the fun Halloween's to come!