Baby's First Christmas!!

Christmas Pictures

Mary gave Ryanna the cutest little dolly that is like her "mini me" - The doll came with a little bath set and Ryanna loves it!

We left for Montana on Thursday the 20th in the afternoon. The roads were awful from Heber to Ogden but we made it and stayed in Pocatello that night. The rest of the drive was clear. Grandma Scoffield couldn't wait to give Ryanna the snow suit and clothes she bought Rya for Christmas. I love the pink fuzz around her head - so cute!

It didn't take long for Ryanna to get used to all the attention that surrounded her. Now that we are home she is finding life a tad boring...

Whenever we visit Montana we try to visit the Clark family who are like my other family. Brian also loves to visit them because they have dogs to play with...and he likes them too of course. Well it shocks me how much Ryanna loves dogs! She was right there with Dad playing with the puppies...I guess I am outnumbered. Oh dear.

One of Ryanna's favorite things at Grandma's house was the snowglobe and nativity that lights up. In fact, these items were used to entice Ryanna to crawl across the living room floor.

While Dad was passed out on the floor Ryanna had a blast playing with her new toys. She enjoyed having Aunt Kayla by her side while we visited - they have a special bond I think. She especially loved the karoke sing along toy that Uncle Jim gave her. The whole ride home we were singing "The tower of power is very...TALL!"

New clothes from Mommy and Daddy! Adorable to say the least.

Well, this gives you an idea of the size of the new ottoman that Brian bought us for our anniversary. It is GIGANTIC! About 4 feet by 4 feet and basically turns our couch into a full size bed. Ryanna loves to play on it with Mom and Dad. It is a great addition to our home. Also you can see our family pictures hanging on the wall. The new addition is the sign Grandma Scoffield (Elna) made us that says "Families are Forever" - we are grateful that that is true!

"I'm cute and I know it"

Supposedly...

Cash Advance Loans

I'm not sure constant commentary on the life of a baby counts as a college reading level....what does that tell us about a college education?

Army Girl (and ps we changed the comments so anyone can leave one)

Last Tuesday Ryanna was being "observed" by a high school psychology class taught by my neighbor. She was playing on the floor with another baby girl who was about 2 months younger than her. The other baby had a special way of army crawling or "commando" crawling across the classroom. After watching her for a few minutes Ryanna decided she could do it to! When I picked her up all the kids were so excited about it but I didn't really believe them....but lo and behold she has been doing it every day now.
Anyway, I started recording this video because she was making a clicking noise with her tongue. During the process she noticed that Mommy was eating a candy cane and she wanted some. So there is some clicking sounds as well as some of her starting her commando crawling - although this is not the best demonstration of what she can do.


Obviously in the first video she started in the middle of the living room. Well this one shows her making the final foot or two to Mom by the couch....and what she was really coming to get.

New antics

A few weeks ago Ryanna started doing this Elmer Fudd laugh in response to when we talk to her like Chipmunks saying "HI RYANNA!" We have used this voice since she was born when the animals on her mobile or any of her stuffed animals would talk to her via Mom or Dad in crazy voice. It finally dawned on us that it was basically a "fake" laugh. Apparantly, she wants to please us with her usual rounds of laughter but no longer finds it as hilarious. She is so sweet to feed our egos. :)


Ryanna's interest in all things Christmas led Mom to setting her in front of the stockings to entertain herself while Mom got stuff done. The other day she determined it was time to rip down the stockings and recover her stuffed animals. I doubted her but in the end she got them all down in a fit of determintation.


Almost everyday we spend time playing in Ryanna's room and sometimes I'll strip her down to her diaper because her room stays warm and she likes it. In the last week she has become curious about all the little parts of her room - i.e. she tries to role under her bed and sometimes succeeds, she also finds the handles on her dresser to be fascinating, etc.

First off this video is obviously side ways - my bad. Alright, Ryanna still has shown little interest in crawling but that hasn't kept her from getting around. She just started scooting around on her bum and proves to be quite a pro. She has scooted like this for a while but had little control. Now she can get across a room by scootin' on her bum - hilarious! Also, we've been reading books to Ryanna since she was about 5 months old and so she has quite a relationship with her books. Most of the time I can just give her a book to play with and she is entertained forever. When she is on our lap she insists on turning the pages (most the time)and sometimes even babbles like she is reading...or so it sounds. And yes she has her favorite stories and some she refuses to hear one more time.

When you live in Utah's "Dino Land" it makes sense that the centerpiece of the town would be a 40 foot statue of a T-Rex dressed in the latest holiday decor. Naturally, for Thanksgiving he would be eating a gargantuous drumstick of a prehistoric jumbo bird....Currently, T-Rex is wearing a santa hat and his little stick arms are balancing stacks of presents. Odd place....

Okay I love this picture for at least 2 reasons: 1. Ryanna is wearing a crazy cute "I Love Santa Clause" outfit with snowflake PJ pants....ahhhhhh, 2. Ryanna looks like a free style rapper. She should be right next to Eminem "I got my yummy in my tummy yo"

Tights make any little girl even cuter!!!!

Santa Baby

I should have turned the light on so it wasn't so dark. Anyway, Ryanna wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!!!!

Christmas lights

Ryanna's obsession with the lights has intensified. She would point and basically yell at the lights on the window in an obvious request to touch them. Finally, I caved and now it is among her favorite daily activities. Don't worry though - I closely supervise. :)

It's beginning to look like Christmas!

If you are thinking "what a sad wittle twee" I must ask you to consider one thing: The 'tree' we have used the past 4 years is about 8 inches tall and was purchased on clearance at shopko for $1.00. This 3 foot tree purchased at Walmart this year is a huge step up for us! Love it!







Kristin says, "Don't desecrate my pie!"

Brian responds, "I ate a bunch of turkey already. I'll leave you some."


He didn't quite get my point...




.

The day after Thanksgiving is Vernal's Holly Days. We went downtown and had a great time watching the parade of lights, sipping free hot chocolate, and singing holiday karaoke...or watching it and singing along. Ryanna loved ALL of it and didn't even seem to mind the cold although her nose was redder than Rudolphs!



Santa's little helper LOVES the christmas tree and lights on the window. The first thing we do in the morning is walk downstairs and plug in the tree, then cuddle on the couch and point from one to the other while Mommy says, "LIGHTS!"




Our neighbor Mary LOVES Ryanna. She bought her this "Baby's First Christmas 2007" stocking during her after Thanksgiving marathon shopping. We love it and Ryanna laughs when I bring her up to the stockings and she sees her stuffed animals peaking out.

Growing up!

Remember Maddi Baker? She was my neighbor when we lived in Provo. Well her family lives in Maine now but we are still friends of course. This is us when I was about 3 months and she was about 5 months.
Here we are with our Daddies. I was sad because this was the day before they moved away.
Look how much Maddi has grown! This is at her first birthday. Her mom made her a ladybug cake all for herself. COOL!

We're basically not babies anymore. Check out Maddi's sweet moves.

Thanksgiving Fun

Dad can appreciate the comfort of thumbsucking.


















Aunt Karina, cousins Jeremy, Sam, Lauren, and Brescia were very entertaining visitors!! We had so much fun and never had a dull moment.

Thanksgiving at Uncle Daves was perfect! There were so many new toys and new friends! Here I'm just chilling with cousin Kira, Uncle Carl, and cousin Cynthia.

a real blog?

Obviously this blog has been dedicated to sharing our baby with anyone who enjoys chubby baby legs and smiles. After some discussion, Brian and I decided we could make this more than just a "baby baldwin" blog. After all she is becoming a toddler and sometimes even Brian and I have something to share other than our crazy cute baby. So consider this a family blog but don't worry it won't be much of a change - 99% pictures and videos of Ryanna and the occasional post to update the world on what Brian and I have been up to. So as a way to catch anyone up who may be lost I will now steal a portion of a recent email I sent my college roomies.

So here is our update. For any who had forgotten or never knew Brian works at the radio station on the morning show among other things and then teaches at the Jr. High from 11-3. The Jr High job is a rip off though because he isn't paid as a certified teacher. He is an "assistant" but it was a way to get his foot in the door.

3 months ago Brian's coworker was saying her daughter needed a reading tutor so he told her I could probably do it. We started the beginning of October and it has been wonderful! She is a 3rd grader who is convinced I am a genius when I point out things like "because you already know how to spell the words news and paper then you know how to spell newspaper." We meet twice a week for an hour each time. She got her first 100% on her spelling test and has done great every week.

About 5-6 weeks ago I heard that the newspaper needed writers. Actually it was during Saturday afternoon conference and Brian and I were talking about finances and I felt like maybe I could help...I wasn't sure how though. Then Brian mentioned how a guy in our ward covers the sports for the paper and how short staffed they were. I went in on Monday, submitted my first article on Friday and was hired the following Monday. I just work from home, email my articles to the editor, and send them a bill for my hours. I couldn't have a more flexible/easy job. I don't make a ton but everything makes a difference. Not to mention the people I have met and the fun it has been. I am currently working on a feature for Thanksgiving that should be on our website next week under the Expressions tab. www.vernal.com

Our big news today is Brian was offered a great job at the school district. He will be the CEPP Director. I don't know what CEPP stands for yet (Community Employement Placement Program)...but basically there is a program in the school district for the special needs students teaching them job skills and setting up jobs for them in the community. Brian will oversee the program, etc. That's all I know for now but we are soooo excited because he will make a lot more money and get great benefits - AND the radio station will work with his schedule so he'll still have that income.

We are feeling very blessed to say the least. Everything has worked out since we moved here and we feel at home! Something we never really felt in Provo as a married couple. Our greatest blessing of all is Ryanna. I have so much fun with her everyday and so does Brian. I am obsessed with taking pictures and videos. Just look at the blog-sheesh. I hope it's not like it was in my family - a million pics of the oldest and by the third.....zero. I think it is easier now than it was back then with digital cameras and all.

ANYWAY, I am making up for all the emails I haven't written in the last few months. I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What are you all doing for the holidays? We are spending Thanksgiving at Brian's brother's home in Layton and going to Montana for Christmas. HOORAY!

Videos :)

Miss Popular

I'm not sure I know him...but I like him.
I need to go to sleep Uncle Nimmy. It's too late to be cute.
This jug makes great sounds when I bang it.
I love waking up from a nap and seeing my Daddy.
This is my friend Lydia MacKay. She can make me laugh like crazy!
So I have enough hair for a mohawk...calm down Mom!
Oh boy Oh boy Oh boy!!! Can I have it Mom....PLEASE!!!!
Why are you hyperventilating Mom? I don't see what the problem is...
I like how Great Grandma Scoffield holds me and talks to me. Nobody adores a chubby baby like a Grandma. :)

Fall in Vernal

I love my Mommy and Daddy!
My very own cage......COOL!
Smarties are TART!!!!
All in a day's work.

How do I get back down??

Not funny Mom.
This is Ian. His daddy and my mommy are cousins.
I brush my teeth after my bath. I'm pretty much all grown up.

I love spending time with the neighborhood kids. Marin and Meagan are my favorites.

Not too soft...not too hard....kinda crunchy...and perfectly edible! My idea of the perfect bed.

Happy Halloween!