Pics

Enjoying the sunshine at a summer wedding

Mom and Blaze in stripes

Dad helped Blaze build his first pillow fort

Hi Mom!

Happy Summer!

Summer "officially" begins today. We're ready.

Are you?

Summer Vacation - Second Part

We didn't pick the warmest weekend to take our trip, which meant less beach/pool time than we had thought. Instead, we spent an entire morning exploring the USS Midway, a decomissioned Aircraft Carrier that is now a museum. Way Cool.
It was a huge ship. I guess it had to be since, you know, it carried airplanes along with thousands of people.

Blaze and I got in trouble and had to spend time in the Brig.

Mike said these pictures are for his brothers. Whatever.

Chopper

Machine Gun

Maverick is cleared for take off.

Summer Vacation - First Part

For our  first family vacation we decided to go to beautiful San Diego. Blaze of course experienced many firsts of his life during this trip, some went better than others.

First airplane ride: Success! He was happy the whole time and his flirting with the airline staff got us moved to the front of the check in line.

First time on a boat: Success! He loved watching the water and feeling the breeze on his face.

First time on a beach: Success! He could not get enough of that sand-between-the-toes feeling.

First time touching the ocean: Success? I think he liked the water but didn't like how cold it was.

First baseball game: Fail. Unfortunately, the cannons, fireworks, and cheering from the crowd when runs were scored were too much for Blaze. This was the happiest got during the 8 innings we saw.

First pool hang out: Success! Ahh, easy living in So.Cal.

Growing

I like to think that I'm at a point in my life where I can be ok with admitting when I am wrong about something. I need to make one of those admissions now. See, way back when, I would read the blogs of friends of mine who were new moms and while I enjoyed all the pictures of their little ones and stories about super-major-diaper-blowouts I would also think to myself "C'mon! This is the 21st century, there has got to be more going on in your life than your kids! Share some of that once in awhile too!"

And now I see I was wrong.

As a new mom, my energy focus is like this:

99 %  - on my baby
1% - on everyhing else including my husband, my hobbies, my neighbors, my church calling, and making sure I get around to brushing my teeth at least twice a day.

I'm sure eventually I will be able to still give Blaze everything he needs and find more time to do the grown up things I once did (and witty blogs I once wrote). But until then, here are more pictures of our stinkin' cute kid doing some of his new favorite things.

Sitting! Those chubby thighs provide a solid base to keep him steady!

Toes!

Holding his own bottle.

Sleeping! He has to have a blanket and prefers to pull it all the way over his head and face. At least with an afgan there are enough little holes that I don't spend all of nap time paranoid. I still check on him often though.

Media

Blaze is too young to watch any tv or participate in media in anyway, but that's not say that it has not been an influence in his life already.

For example, the song that his mom sings to him when he is fussy or sleepy

And the song that she sings to him when he needs a diaper change;

the clothes that he wears;

And how his dad puts him down for naps on the weekends.

 

Top Pics

Blaze loves hanging out with Mike when he comes home from work.

Fun in the tub

All clean!

Tuckered out and ready for bed.

Also, we found the perfect game day ball for SuperBowl LXVI

But the NFL said it was too leaky.

Introductions

Blaze has met a lot of new people lately. Here are some pictures of just a few of those introductions. So far he has been adored by all. And why wouldn't he be? Have you seen how cute he is?



Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Dodge and 2nd cousin Karen.



Aunt Annie

Cousin Leah - she loves to hold him!

2nd cousin Ty - he was disappointed that Blaze couldn't play catch with him yet and even more disappointed that his mom didn't let him throw the ball at the baby anyway.

Baby Burgoyne

The newest Burgoyne is here! Welcome Blaze!

I know, I'm like 2 weeks late in posting this. I even had a great creative idea of how I was going to tell the whole story of the labor and delivery complete with sports analogies like false start and delay of game penalties that were declined on account of cuteness.

BUT after 2 weeks of very little sleep I just don't have the energy for creativity right now. So I started writing a very boring recount of the events and my computer shut down deleting it. I definitely don't have the energy to rewrite it. If you really want the details, call me.

Besides, I know what everyone really wants: Pictures! So here you go.

We think he's just about perfect.

Hula Hoops to hold up my socks

This post is mostly for my family, who has always had an odd appreciation for fat jokes. Over the past few months, I feel like the jokes have taken on a whole new level of reality for me.

This mamma is so fat.... when using a public restroom she gets trapped between the toilet and the stall door.

This mamma is so fat.... she parks in the driveway because the garage isn't big enough for both the car and her at the same time.

This mamma is so fat...she can't ever get past the shoulders in "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" actions but is REALLY good at "Once there was a Snowman", except that she can't get up again after she has "melted".

This mamma is so fat...when she drops something on the floor it's a 3 stage process for picking it back up again.

This mamma is so fat...that wearing her favorite winter boots requires a 10 minute yoga routine to get them on and the help of a second party to get them off again.

Enjoy Groves Family! At least my shadow doesn't weigh 42 pounds...yet.

HALLOWEEN!!

This Halloween we decided to really take advantage of the opportunities we had including:

• The opportunity to create food that was just delicious to eat as it was cool to look at.
• The opportunity to waste spend time together watching tv while we made our costumes by hand.
• The opportunity to utilize the extra "accessory" we had in our costume design.

I like to think that we accomplished all of that and more.

Scary Dinner 2011

View all

Get your own

P.S. I'm told the slide show isn't showing for everyone, though I can't figure out why. So here is a link to the pics https://picasaweb.google.com/shaina.burgoyne/Halloween2011?authuser=0&feat=directlink. Hopefully that works.

What October Showers Bring

October was a busy month, with a lot of things happening. November is going to be just a lot of waiting. But at least I have time to post some pictures.

There's nothing to make a family feel loved than having 3 different baby showers thrown in their honor. People are the best!

The first was a family shower. The highlights included:

A totally awesome diaper cake by Aunt Becca:

Soon-to-be Grandma Groves getting a head start on the spoiling:

Handmade gifts by incredible friends:

And finally a depiction of what a combination of Mike's and Shaina's features will look like by the soon-to-be Aunts Elise and Carynn. For the child's sake, I hope they are very wrong.

The next party was thrown by my co-workers. They all chipped in to get a crib:

My favorite part of the party was the food: beef jerky, trail mix, and crystal light, trying to accommodate the high protein/low carb diet I'm supposed to be on.

Also, some friends in the neighborhood threw a little get together. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures from that but it was great.

Again, my favorite part was the food, mostly because one of my friends owns The Chocolate (in Orem and West Jordan) so there were amazing pumpkin cookies and brownies, trying to accommodate my need to throw the diet out the window once in awhile.

Yea for showers! And especially for wonderful people who are a part of our life!

How you doin??

What better place is there for a guy to pick up chicks than at a wedding right? Everyone is looking their best, you're surrounded by good food, music and dancing, and that whole "romantic atmosphere".

If things are going well and she's related to the wedding party, you might even get a chance to meet her folks.
Of course, you better be prepared to discuss your ambitions and future prospects if you want to impress the mother.

What if things don't work out? No problem. There's always an equally cute (and older!) cousin near by to try your charms on.

Please Use No. 2 Pencils Only

School is back in session for most everyone now. To celebrate, we are going to have a pop quiz. Since most of  my "leisure" reading these days is centered around pregnancy and babies, that will be the topic for today's test.

#1. On average, how many diapers does a baby go through in 1 year?

#2. When does the 3rd trimester "officially" begin?

#3. Please rate the following "pregnancy moments" I've had from least to most funny:
                     A. (At 3 months): "I thought you were pregnant, the guys and I were talking about things we noticed were different about you."
                     B. "You're not due until December and you're already that big? At least you're not getting fat in your face."
                     C. 5 months pregnant, I walk into the State Liquor store and pick up a $700 order of booze.  
                     D. "Cool name. Makes me think of a stoner or WWE wrestler."

#4. T/F Waiting at the doctor's office for 45+ minutes so you can have a 5 minute check up is acceptable.

#5. T/F It's ok to buy chocolate milk every single day with your lunch, and then blame it on a craving so the cashier doesn't judge you.

Bonus Question:
In one to two paragraphs, please describe how much Mike and Shaina have no clue what they have gotten themselves into.

Pencils down. Everyone grade your own.

1. 2,300. With that much practice Mike's going to be an expert after 1 year!
2. Got me. Everything I read says something different depending on if you're counting months, weeks, or days; when you start counting; and if it's a leap year or not. I say it starts whenever the heartburn and swollen feet become commonplace.
3. No right answer. But C was for an event at work for those of you already questioning my competency as a mother.
4. I say False, but appearantly it's standard in the medical field.
5. TRUE. Of course.

Re-Learning

One day on a crazy whim I decided I wanted to get my Master's degree and enrolled in an online Master of Human Resource Development program.

Now that I am 2 class into it, and wondering what in the world I was thinking, I am able to reflect on what it means to be a college student all over again.

It's still rewarding to finish a class, test, or paper and feel like you've really accomplished something. It's still exciting to learn new things and feel like you understand a concept on a different level now.

It's a lot easier to be a full-time student while working part-time than it is to be working full-time and only be a part-time student. I don't know why, but it is.

Staying up until 2:30 am to finish a research paper that is due still stinks. Especially when you can't afford to sleep in the next day because you have to go work. Especially when it means that Father's Day for your husband is lame because you're too tired to even make him a plate of eggs.

Even in virtual classrooms there is going to be that one really annoying person.

Text books are always boring.

Having the company you work for reimburse your tuition and books is a lot nicer than a student loan, plus the temporary charges are good for rewards points on your credit card.

I suppose it hasn't been so bad of an experience so far. But I'm thinking the next time I feel impulsive, I'll just stick with an hour or two at the mall and a some new shoes.

Birthdays and Birth Days

Today is a celebration day!

Happy Birthday to me! Ok, you might be thinking it's a bit presumptuous to post about myself on my birthday, and maybe it is. But you only turn to 29 once! Unless you're my mom, she's done it a dozen times now.

Happy Birthday to my father-in-law! What a good guy he is. Every year he sends me an e-card on "our" birthday that I always look forward to. This year it had dancing hamsters in sombreros. Very nice.

And....

Happy Birth Day count down! 6 months from today is the due date of the next addition to the Burgoyne Family Tree, brought to you by Mike and Shaina.

Family: It's about time!

Woodshop 101

I don't mean to brag, ok I do, but Mike is the coolest uncle to our nieces and nephews. Not only is he really good at playing

but recently he spent a Saturday teaching our nephew all about power tools and even helped him build a box.

They had such a good time that Mike lent Eli a book of simple wood projects with the assignment to pick one or two projects that they can work on this summer. Eli had a hard time narrowing it down to just one project. If you look closely, almost every page is marked as a "favorite".