life is better with some buttars

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Deep in the Heart of Texas...In May.

Grandma Buttars has been in town the last 2 weeks and we stayed very busy! We spent time at the pool, shopped till we couldn't shop anymore (hard to believe, I know), and when Nate was available we were able to sight-see a bit. We visited the historic Ft. Worth Main Street and stockyards the other day. Supposedly they have an actual cattle drive every day right down main street. We didn't catch it, but did see some other rather cool stuff...
(just a few more weeks Bekka and you will be in heaven)

This goofy guy walks around with this longhorn steer on a halter letting any old yahoo jump on and take pictures. (yes, climb on)

Just call us a couple of yahoos.

We also stopped by Arlington where the Texas Rangers' field is and also where the snazzy new Cowboy Stadium resides.

We had so much fun with Grandma and are so glad you were able to come spend time with us. I believe Navi was really beginning to think that being so spoiled and held non stop is indeed how life is. :) We're grateful for all your help, and it was especially nice to have someone else to hang out with while Nate was gone all day. Thanks again, we love you!

And here are about 1 million and 42 pictures of Navi. Mostly it's for all the aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and any other unmentioned family at home. However, if you are none of those and would still like to comment, feel free. ;)

We sent the Elder this picture in his birthday email. Happy 20th! (holy cow)

Yes Ash, another photo on the carpet with no blanket...don't judge me. :)

Hard day at the pool for Miss Navi

The ever-so-hard to catch on camera smile. But so worth it when I do!

So cute!

And last but not least... an attempt to capture some of her "talking". She turns out to be a bit camera shy because anytime I try and film the cute cooing, she suddenly stops. This has been the best video yet..which really isn't too much talking at all. Someday we'll catch it.

Friday, May 15, 2009

One Month!?!

I can't believe it's already been one month since Navi joined our family. She is such a good baby and is teaching us lots. :) Here are some recent pictures since we've been in Texas.

(She also wants to say hi to all the family members back home...sorry if you get sick of the text pictures we send. G&G Buttars - tell us when you get your new texting phones so we can send you some pictures) :)

I saw a cool idea in my blogging rounds the other day. A mom had taken a picture of her baby at different stages with the same stuffed animal. It was interesting to see how much the baby had grown, but for some reason sitting next to the same animal made the differences stand out even more. So I thought we'd give it a try...

Navi on her one month birthday:

And this picture better indicates how her one month birthday was spent. Unfortunately she wasn't to happy that day. I'm still not sure why, but I'm thinking it was a bad tummy ache. She is doing much better today.

(She is also already fitting into most of her 3 month clothes! Holy cow!)

Happy 1 month Navi! We love you!!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

God Bless Texas

HOWDY YA'LL !!

My friend Dani asked if everything really is bigger in Texas...
So far I've only made it to Walmart, and wasn't too impressed, but I'll keep looking.

Anyways, we're finally here in the great state of Texas! What a whirlwind the last week has been. Here's a quick recap:

May 2 - Nate Graduated (!!)

May 3 -We blessed Navi

Nate gave a very special blessing and so many of our family and friends were there to support us. The day was definitely a good one.

May 4 - We left for TEXAS

The GPS told us the quickest route was through Wyoming, down to Colorado, half way through Kansas, and then cut down through Oklahoma.
But seeing as how the first year we left, we had a flat tire in Wyoming and last year the freeway was closed off due to a massive blizzard...we decided avoiding the boring place all together wouldn't be such a bad idea. SO, we opted to drive an extra couple hours down to Moab and over through Grand Junction, CO, then down through New Mexico. I was a little excited because I'd never been to New Mexico. (It would be something new) However, I was greatly disapointed and will just say there is a reason they call it New MEXICO.

I wasn't able to snap as many road trip photos as I would have liked (all the "welcome to" state signs) but that was partly due to my back seat location with Navi and mounds of baby stuff. Also because when I asked Nate to warn me when we were getting close to the Texas line, he replied with, "Uh, I'm pretty sure we already passed it." Gee thanks.

Navi was a super traveler. (No blow-outs and only 1 throwing up dilemma) She slept the majority of the trip; just waking to eat, change diaper, etc. Although, by the last 3 or 4 hours she really let us know she had had ENOUGH of her car seat. Who could blame her? I can't complain, this was my view the whole ride:

And lastly - I just wanted to throw in this stinking cute picture with cousin Brex. He wanted to hold Navi one last time before we left. I can't believe how big he getting! His 6th birthday is next week!! When I first started dating Nate, Brex was only 2 years old but carried on full conversations. (He was born a week after Nate had left for his mission so they didn't "meet" until Nate got home)

My favorite memory of Brexton is the very first time I went to his house with Nate. I don't think I had even officially met Nate's sister or brother-in-law, and much to my surprise Brex swings open the door to say, "What's up Nate? Where's Kristen?"
FYI - Kristen was Nate's girlfriend before and during the mission. I think Brex's mom was a little embarassed but I laughed so hard!

Too bad I'm a slacker and didn't get more pictures with all the other cousins and family members. Navi will have changed so much when we get back.

Nate's back in the selling mode and already has one so far. He had to use our car the past couple days so Navi and I have just been hanging out in the nice air conditioned apartment. (our car thermometer thing read 90 degrees the other day) Grandma Marianne is coming to visit in a week and we've already got the mall scoped out...

At the moment I can't think of a cheesy Texan salutation, but
ya'll come back real soon, ya hear?
HA. This might be a long summer...

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

LOVE THEM

So little Miss Navi had her own mini photo shoot the other day. Our friend Eileen took some awesome pictures for her birth announcements, but I can't wait until then to share. To quote Randy Jackson on tonight's American Idol - "I sound like a broken record, BUT..."

We think she's pretty cute!

PREPARE FOR PICTURE OVERLOAD - I'm allowed to do this...it's my first child.

One of my favorites for sure!

This was my blessing outfit - right down to the bow, socks, and shoes!

Nate's grandma made the white blanket she is laying on in all of these.

In other Buttars news:

- Nate graduates Saturday!! Hallelujah! And I'm OH SO PROUD of him. At least one of us has some academic aspiration. (if that even makes any sense)

- As you saw from the pictures, we're blessing Navi on Sunday. It might seem a little soon but it's because...

- We leave for good old Ft. Worth, Texas on Monday. Yep, another summer adventure is already staring us in the face. By this time each year I'm usually ready to skip town (besides missing family and friends) and spend the summer in a new state. Although this time around I'm a bit nervous to include a baby in all the chaos. I am happy, however, that I'll have a hangout buddy to spend some of the long summer days with while Nate is out selling.

This will be his last summer selling security systems for APX and when we get back this fall he'll start his "grown up" job with Beneficial Financial where he'll be selling Life Insurance and "doing" -for lack of a better word- some financial planning stuff. So if any of you feel the need to run out and get life insurance...hold off until September! :) Better yet, if you would like a steal of a deal on a security system and by steal I mean you just pay 40 bucks a month for the monitoring and you get the equipment for free. OR if you know anyone of the older generation who might feel more secure with a medical pendant (those necklaces they wear when the fall or need help) get ahold of us before the summer ends!
How's that for salesmen's wife?

We're going to be very busy this coming week but we also realize it's a good busy. We are very blessed to have so many positive things going on. I need to remember to step back and be grateful more often.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

One Week!

I'm just another one of those new moms learning how fast time really does go by when they aren't in your stomach anymore. I can't believe we've had her a week already!

Navi's 3rd test for bilirubin. (spell?)
Early morning appointment after little sleep + a screaming baby after being pricked in the foot = Nate's face :)

First time in her swing

Clutching the binky for dear life after one of those awful sponge baths.

One week old and looking a little drowsy.

The stories are true - now that we have her we don't know what we'd do without her!

Friday, April 17, 2009

3 Years

Three years ago from today my Mom passed away.

April has always been a tough month for my family. My Grandpa died in April 19 years ago. My Great-Grandma died in April 15 years ago and then of course, my Mom. Her birthday is also April 2, so for the last few years my family hasn't exactly looked forward to this month.

But last August when I found out I would be having a baby in the first week of April, I couldn't help but be a little emotional. I knew without a doubt it was more than coincidence. Then in November we found out we were having a girl. There weren't any questions she would be named after my Mom!

I'm very grateful for the arrival of our beautiful, healthy baby girl. Because of her, my family has experienced new and happy feelings towards the month. I know the veil is still so thin and my Mom is keeping close watch on Navi Sandra, and therefore me and my family as well.

I love them both so much!