4 Months and Counting.

Crew turned 4 months last week! I promise this kiddo smiles...the camera just mesmerizes him.

I can't believe that it really has been 1/4 of a year since he was born--when you say it like that, it sounds like a short amount of time, but I feel like I have had him forever! In fact, my life before him here seems like a blur. 4 months has been way better than 3 months which in turn was way better than 2 months etc...So, time is definitely the greatest healer. He has been the greatest challenge in my life to date, but seeing him grow and mature is definitely worth the sacrifice. Crew is smiling all the time now--in fact, I can get him to give a hearty laugh once in a while. He constantly "talks" to himself and is becoming more and more of a social baby. He is becoming more interested in the many things his hands can grab, but still loves his plain ol hands for entertainment. I have to physically wash his hands in the sink with baby soap because they smell like rotten milk all the time!

*Picture Break*

His new ball that he can actually grab on to!

Crew is still sleeping awesome...except for last night when he woke his mom up at 3am for a midnight snack! USUALLY he sleeps around 8 hrs, I hope it still stays true! He is becoming more attached to me--I think he finally knows who the heck I am! He sobbed the other day when someone he didn't know held him. He still hates to be burped because he thinks he will never get his bottle back again! He is definitely NOT a "cuddler" (just like his mom), but still must be swaddled to sleep....boy I hope he breaks out of that habit soon. He doesn't have very consistent naps during the day. Do any of you know if babies take a while to settle down into naps, or is is just my son??? He also doesn't need his Prevacid anymore! Wahoo! Either he never had acid refulx or he just outgrew it :-)

*Picture Break*

So far he doesn't enjoy his rice cereal...maybe we'll give it one more month.

All of Crew's soft little baby hair has fallen out and has been replaced with....nothing! Poor kid is a baldy...never did his last name fit him quite so well.

Here are his 4 month stats:

Head Circumference: 15.75 in (6.26 %)

Weight: 12.99 lb (15.05%)

Height: 24.25 in (26.34%)

Here are some more pictures of the little fella. We love you Crew!

Nursing Pinning Ceremony

Thursday, April 29th was the UVU Nursing Pinning Ceremony. This is where I got pinned as an official nurse! If only that was the only thing that was required to be certified as a nurse...still have the NCLEX to worry about. The night was great! I loved seeing all my nursing buddies cross the stage and get their pins. I have absolutely LOVED my nursing program here at UVU. I have loved the people, teachers, just the whole experience in general...It was so nice during the stressful times to have people who knew exactly what I was going through! Gotta love nurses! We are cool.

Waiting to go on stage. Why do I still look flippin pregnant? grrr...

Getting "pinned" by one of the nursing instructors, Mina Wayman.

Recessional. I am holding a Florence Nightingale lamp that I guess is tradition. Before the recessional, we all recited the Florence Nightingale Pledge...pledging to be a good nurse, help patients, etc...

It's hard to see, but this is the pin.

We had our personal bios in the printed program.

Jess and I enlisted Laura to help with Crew so Jess could take some pictures. She was SO good with him. I am so thankful she was able to help us out!

Some of my nursing friends. Ashlei Bluth, Lacy, Kym Heslington (holding Crew--check out his bald spot), and Megan Asay.

Megan Asay and her daughter,Elle, and me and Crew. We both had babies during nursing school. crazy, eh? Megan had her daughter during the craziest semester EVER and still rocked it in the grade dept--she's my hero.

Can't forget my besties Amy and Michelle

Most of us.

I LOVE this group! Can't wait until next semester...yeah right.

What a Weekend!

What a whirlwind of a weekend! My family came down from Idaho (and Whitney and Andrew from Texas) to help us celebrate:

1. My graduation from BYU

2. Crew's baby blessing

BYU GRADUATION

I can't believe that I am finally done with BYU! It seems unreal. BYU has played such a significant part in my life for the past 8 years! (Yes, it's been that long since I was a freshman haha). I still remember the first time I came to the campus. I thought it was so huge and that I was never going to know where to go. Ask me now, however, and I can pretty much tell you where all the bathrooms are located! I have met some of my best friends while attending BYU and have learned so many priceless life lessons. I received my bachelors of science in home and family living. Even though I won't use this major professionally (that's where nursing comes in), I have learned so many skills that will benefit my family and that will allow me to be an advocate for the family structure in this crazy world.

Getting ready to go to the graduation Commencement in the Marriot Center Thursday, April 22nd.

My two handsome boys came to support me.

It was so fun to be able to graduate with my two former roomies Emily and Christine!

Crew's graduation present to his mom was smelly, slimy spit up :-)

D. Todd Christofferson was the keynote speaker.

Look at all those grads!

Friday, April 23rd was the individual college convocation: School of Family Life. This day I received my diploma and actually "walked".

Mom and Dad

My sibs: Tommy, Whitney, and Olivia.

These two wonderful women are two of my very best friends that I luckily got to meet while working in the BYU Bookstore.

I am a graduate :-)

*I also need to make sure and thank the Baldwin crew for coming to support me as well...they were smart and bolted before all the cameras came out!

CREW'S BLESSING

Our precious little boy was blessed by his dad, Jess, on Sunday, April 25, 2010 in the BYU 248th ward. Our sacrament started so early (8:30am) , but we all seemed to make it there in time! Thank you to all of our family and friends who made an effort to be there for us and also for all of your help (you know who you are)! The blessing was just so perfect, and Crew was so good in the circle! I love my little boy so much! Here are some pictures that Crew's Aunt Whitney took of him on his blessing day.

This is the best picture we could get of Payton and Crew together. Like everyone else, Payton can't get enough of Crew's squishy cheeks.

We love our boy!

One more pic of Crew for good measure...just cause he's cute.

NURSING UPDATE

Ok people, I am DONE with nursing school...well at least the portion that is required to be able to license. Next things on my list: find a job; pass NCLEX.

My lil Newsies boy

Ok, this hat was given to him by his grammy, but it looks hilarious in him!

This hat is much better.

Easter Bunny

Here are some pictures of Crew with the Easter Bunny. These pics didn't turn out as well as the prints that we bought...too bad I don't have a scanner.