Life is funny....

You know, life is funny. It's not ever what I expect it to be but it somehow ends up better than I could have imagined. I feel so blessed to have a knowledge and belief in my life that leads and guides the decisions I make in my life. I feel like God has directed my life in a way that could not be better and one that I never would have been able to see.

Life is such a beautiful gift.

Christmas

Every year around Christmas (well any Holiday really) I would feel a little badly about our lack of children. We wanted a baby so badly and it seemed that the Holidays would just bring out that longing so much more.

This year we got to live that dream for the first time. I have to tell you, it was AMAZING!

Xander loved his first Christmas outfit from his Nana. Thanks Nana!

We got to run up to Utah for the day to be with my family for Christmas. Here is a picture of Christmas morning. Jon, my little brother, is holding Xander and the adorable Sami is with them. She is SUPER excited for Christmas morning.

Father and son in front of our Christmas stockings.

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope your Holiday was merry and bright!

Xander Loves....

His Fingers, he chews on them constantly

His Voice, he is always talking and singing

Naked Time, he loves hanging out in his diaper

His Papa, they are best buddies!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

We were able ti spend the day before my birthday in an adorable little town called Jullian, CA. It was literally a Christmas Town. Everything was adorable and decorated for the season.

Town Hall!!!

In "Mom's" where we had some amazing apple pie

Victor, Michelle and Dorian met us up there. Here are the guys in the manger scene

I loved this little guy!!!

Thanks for a wonderful birthday!!!!

Adam's Next Project

Adam just got done with his first semester and the next day he started into rehearsal for this lovely show. It is being directed by Jeff Calhoun with music and lyrics by Paul Gordon.

Adam is meeting so many amazing people and having some pretty incredible opportunities down here.

If you are going to be in San Diego between mid Jan-beginning of March you MUST see this!

Merry Christmas!!!!

We went to Balboa Park and got to take some family photos.

So fun to have a little one around for the holidays. Xander LOVES to look at lights. He gets mesmerized.

Xander loves his Daddy! They are best buddies.

I'm pretty fond of him myself!

Hope your are all having a magical holiday season!

Xander and Santa

So on Peggy and Amber's last day here, we went and saw Santa. He was not that jolly, but it might have been a long day.

A few days later we met up with Victor and Dorian at Coronado Island. The cupcakes and hot chocolate were delicious!

Then we stood in line and Dorian and Xander got to meet Santa!!! They had a blast and so did Victor and I.

Xander's Blessing

This is my beautiful little boy. He is getting so big I can hardly believe it!

The weekend after Thanksgiving was Xander's blessing day. Isn't he cute?

Grandma and Grandpa Daveline drove down from Vegas to be there and my mom and dad, sister Beth and her husband Brian all drove down from Utah.

Grandma and Grandpa Daveline

Aunt Amber

Xander with his lovely Nana

Look at my gorgeous little sister! She is a News Producer and she is AMAZING! Brian is her very talented (sports)anchor husband. They are an amazing couple and I love them!

Mom and Dad with Xander. Normally Dad does not have the giant beard but he's growing it out for a show.

Adam did an amazing job with the blessing. I am so lucky to have such amazing family!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving ya'll!!!

We did the Alton Brown brine and our bird turned out beautifully!!!!

Fall off the bird turkey. AMAZING!

Hope your Thanksgivings were delightful!

Peggy, Amber, Victor and Michelle

Peggy and Amber flew out for Thanksgiving. We were so happy they came. It's such a long flight and so much travel but we were so grateful they came!

One of my favorite pictures of Peggy and Xan.

Amber and Peggy at the San Diego Zoo.

Also, Victor and Michelle moved back to San Diego! Hooray for friends!!! Glad to have them here!

Adam's MFA

With the birth of Xander, I haven't put much up in the way of why we came out here to San Diego, Adam's Grad Program. They are such an amazing group of people. Talented, kind, accepting and all around great people.

Adam and his classmates just put on "Winter's Tale". Adam played multiple roles but his main role was Shepherd. He was hilarious! I was so proud of him. He also got a wonderful review.

Congrats to everyone in the MFA! You were all amazing!!!

It's the little things

I love being a mom. LOVE IT! I had someone ask me what I did all day and I wanted to laugh. I don't think anyone realizes how much work a baby is till they have one. The hours I spend talking, holding, singing, reading, feeding and rocking this boy are innumerable. And I am so grateful for it. I am so blessed to be able to be at home with him.

Look how cute his room is. Mostly because I have very crafty friends who know how to make lots of cute things!

Daddy and Xander love playing guitar and singing to each other!

Happy Halloween!

May the force be with you! We decided to be a Star Wars Family for Halloween.

Adam the Jedi with Xander the Chewbacca

Mommy and Xan

Wishing you all a Happy Halloween!!!!

UTAH!

One of the best things about moving to San Diego is that I am only a days drive to my parents house in Utah. After living across the country from them for the past 5 years, it's nice to be a lot closer.

My mom had surgery and Adam started in on rehearsals PLUS school so Xander and I headed up to Utah for 2 1/2 weeks to help, see family and friends and get some help in return.

Xander cracks me up. He has so many faces and is so expressive. I am so lucky to be able to have this one on one time with him. It's wonderful!

Here he is enjoying some time with my gorgeous sister Amy, her husband Brock and his cousin Sami. Aren't they a glorious family? I certainly think so!

While we were in Utah my sister-in-law, Jen, flew in for her nieces wedding. She brought Tommy along since she is still his meal ticket. While she went to the wedding, Mom, Dad, Xander and I took pictures of the two little cousins together. Yes, I got them matching outfits. I think they look adorable!

I had to include this one because Tommy looks like he is punching Xander in the face. Xander hit Tommy all day because he doesn't quite have the motor skills down, but I thought this little bit of payback was priceless!

Pain, Pleasure and Peggy

So I am not sure why, but I have no photos of Peggy. I think by the time she got down here I was deep in Newborn fog. Peggy was so wonderful and came down for a whole week to help us out. She helped with housework, early morning Xander time and company for me. It was so wonderful having her here, I was in tears when she left. Plus, Xan the Man missed his Nana!

Here is a picture of us trying to get Xander in the Boppy a bit too early. He's still a lump, a cute lump, but a lump.

This was the worst. This is what they tie your child onto when they circumcise them. I made Adam go in with Xander and he said it was horrible. The hospital that we delivered at wouldn't do the circumcision there. They had a rule that you had to wait until your son was 2 weeks old before they would do the procedure. Poor little guy. I could hear him screaming down the hall. Lesson learned: All circumcisions should be done in the hospital soon after birth. By the time they are two weeks old, they are too alert.

And here is the pure bliss. Once his circumcision had healed, he got his first bath. Xander LOVES baths. He just melts and smiles and coos in the water. We may have a future swimmer on our hands!

Xander's first visitors

We've been lucky enough to have a few visitors

Kori came first. She was on her way to Anaheim to run a Disney Marathon but flew into San Diego to see us, deliver a car seat (THANK YOU KORI!!!) and see Xander. Unfortunately, she came at a time when the XMan was Screaming his head off. She was so sweet and looked amazing. Love you Miss Kori!

Next cam Uncle Keith and Uncle Brian. Keith trained in with us at "Finding Nemo-The Musical". He was my Marlin and we just loved being together. He and Brian came down for a little vacation to San Diego and they stopped by to say hi to the new little man.

Keith holding a newborn for, I think, the first time. He was so sweet with this little guy!

Here's Brian, the pro, holding Xander for the first time.

We are truly blessed to have such amazing friends who will sacrifice to be a part of our lives. Thank you guys!