road trip, got sick, new toy, new trick

Just so you know... this is kind of a wordy little post, but if you read the whole thing, there is an exciting little tidbit at the bottom.  And NO, it's not that I am pregnant, and no, it won't be that for a long time thank you very much. But I hope you like it anyways!

The last couple weeks have been pretty eventful for us.  We decided to take a last minute trip down to Arizona, for one thing!  Wesley has been wanting to get me down to Phoenix ever since we got married to show me around his old mission stomping grounds.  I knew it was only a matter of time before we would make a trip once my dear sister Jessica relocated last fall.  Truth be told, if Wesley could settle down anywhere in the continental US, Arizona would be his top choice.  We had so much fun, and felt so comfortable in nate and jess's cute apartment.  It rained for half the visit, but we didn't really care--it was just nice to get out of the subzero utah snow.  It was my first time visiting the area (other than the grand canyon when I was little), and I've gotta say, I actually really liked it down there! I do think I would need to come back in a few months to get a realistic feel for the place.  That's when it becomes unbearably hot and miserable.  Still, the winters might just be a fair trade in my opinion!  

So anyway! We drove down on a Friday afternoon, and after a 10 hour drive, got there around midnight--Jake did fantastic in the car, we couldn't have been happier.  The trip was wonderful up until the day before we left when Jake caught a terrible cold, and we were up all night with our poor jakey and a 102 temperature.  We felt so bad for the little guy, but he was such a trooper!  Those couple of days really showed us what we were made of because we naturally got sick too, and then had to do the long drive home with our miserable baby, and our even more miserable selves.   We had booked a room in Vegas to cut the trip home into two days.  We were glad to stop and rest, but I wouldn't say that walking around the hotel in our jammies with a crying baby until 2 a.m. is my idea of a vacation.  BUT! we survived and are now home and recuperating.  So, that was our trip to Arizona.  We didn't take very many pictures, sorry! but here are a couple.

Jake was so excited to see his Aunt and Uncle! Pretty soon he'll have a little cousin to play with when we get together!!!

 My favorite thing about Glendale? In-N-Out!!!!

(we went twice...totally worth it.)

  

Two more random things:

We went to ToysRus on Valentines Day to pick out a present for Jake.  (Since we were all sick peas in a pod, we told Jake he could be our valentine too.) We ended up picking out the most random thing, which Jake actually loves! We turned his playpen into a ballpit.  So really it was a present for me because anything that keeps Jake entertained in his playpen is a winner in my opinion!

And the Grand Finale announcement.....drumroll please...

Yesterday, February 16th, Jake officially took his first steps!!!!!!!!!!  Wes and I were mostly ignoring him and watching Jack Bauer kicking butt on 24, and Jake was walking along the edge of the couch, around our legs.  As if he did it all the time, Jake nonchalantly took two steps all on his own!  He did it again a few minutes later.  He has yet to walk when I call him (he gets too excited and crawling is faster!)  I will keep you posted on his progress.  Speaking of progress, Jake is still sleeping through the night-- 8+ hours all by himself! hooray!  I can't believe my little baby is already learning to walk!  Time flies huh?