Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Halloween Pictures...Even Though It's December






I'm FINALLY getting around to posting Violet's Halloween pictures that I took with her cousin Makaylee. For this little photo shoot we dressed them up in their costumes and the darling coats their Great-Great Aunt Linda bought for them, and set them on some bales of hay next to their Grandpa Newton's barn. Makaylee was a little somber during the "shoot" because her Mama wasn't their, but Violet cheesed it up as usual! These too already love each other and are fun to watch grow up together.

Now I've got the Halloween blog posting out of the way, I'll start thinking now about the next one so the Newton Family Blog isn't so uneventful!

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Vi's 6th Month Pics -- Finally!






Well, Violet is 7 1/2 months now, but here are some of her 6 month pictures. Violet is still an amazingly easy-going and happy baby. She loves to eat, but still isn't a big fan of formula (hence the 1st percentile for weight). Violet's favorite food is oatmeal. She can down 2 cups of it in about 2 minutes. If you don't hold the bowl right under her chin and continually shovel it into her mouth, she gets really upset because there isn't oatmeal sliding down her throat!

One of the things I love the most is when she copies the growly sound I make when I play "Momma Monster." It makes me laugh so hard! Her favorite thing to do is sit on my vanity while I get ready in the morning and watch me do my hair, brush my teeth, and put on my makeup. She plays with my brushes and kisses herself in the mirror. Also, she LOVES to be scared -- the more startled you make her the harder she giggles. In just the past week she finally has gained an interest in her dog, Pita, and likes it when Pita licks her hand. Violet has entered the phase where she is into everything she shouldn't be. Her newest thing is to army-drag herself across the room to the airvents and stick her head directly over it and let the cold air take her breath away.

Bret and I feel like the proudest parents ever and are SO in love with this little girl!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Hating on Laptops

Ugh. I'm having serious laptop issues. Laptops are an incredible invention that I can't seem to live without. However, once I've had one for about 4 years, and of course my warranty has expired, the technical issues begin and literally drive me crazy. Everyone says that Dell's are the best, so I continue buying them, but honestly I've had nothing but trouble. I've tried everything with my current one to save it for the past two weeks. Finally, I broke down and called Dell Technical Support today. I hate doing that because I get so frustrated when they are telling me to do stuff I don't understand in an accent I don't understand. Anyways, after holding for ten minutes, I finally got some guy from India who sounded like he was going to be able to help me. I was breathing a sigh of relief when my P.O.S. iPhone 4 dropped the call. Ughhhhh, some more! So the guys must have had my number and tried to call me back, but when I went to answer I got the "Call Failed" message.

I'm not giving up, but I am considering hurling this piece of junk out the window of my car while driving. Yes, I've done this before, but it was with my Palm.... another story for another time.

In short, and unlike Kip, I don't love technology - at least not right now. If you are wondering why I haven't posted Violet's six month pictures, or why I'm not making any posts at all, just know the CRAPTOP is still a work-in-progress.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Violet's First Trip to Lake Powell










Violet and I spent a week in Lake Powell over the Fourth of July on my family's houseboat - Livin' the Dream. Bret joined us for the last few days and we had a lot of fun introducing Violet to boating. Here are a bunch of pictures from the trip that are proof of what a good time it was.

Friday, May 07, 2010

Violet's Blessing Dress Pictures




I want to share these darling pictures of Violet in her blessing dress...and nothing at all! The owners of Barrus Photography are in our Ward and always do a wonderful job and are great to work with. I can't believe how quick this little one is growing up. She is smiling, laughing, and loves to be read to. Books are the one thing that guarantee to make her calm and happy in the evenings - she stares at the pictures, listens to the words, and kicks her legs for more when you finish reading!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

I'm a Bingham Miner!

Last Saturday I took my Young Women to the Road Home in Salt Lake to serve breakfast to the homeless. It was really fun and an amazing experience. Afterwards, we stood around talking to some of the regular volunteers. One of the older volunteers asked me, "So do you all go to Bingham?" While my Young Women didn't pick up on the fact that he thought I was one of them, I realized it right away (this happens pretty often!) So I just said, "yup, we do."

I wonder how long it would take before I look like the YW President and not one of the girls. Until I'm 30? 35? Hopefully I get released before then!

Saturday, April 03, 2010

Easter Memories


Because I now have a daughter, I've been thinking a lot about my memories from my own childhood. Just the other day I was at Taipan and saw they had a cage full of tiny baby chicks. This sparked a memory I had of my Dad. It was just before Easter and I was about 14 years old when he came to me and said that he wanted to take me to get a surprise. Because my Dad is a big jokester, I wasn't sure what to expect. I followed him to the car, but despite my questions he wouldn't tell me where we were going or what we were doing. A little while later we pulled into the IFA in Draper. I was seriously at a loss, and thought he needed to get something there for the yard and just wanted company on the drive. Again, I followed him as he walked inside and went straight to crates full of tiny peeping chicks. I remember he didn't really say much, he just started looking at them and told me to pick out three. I don't recall him or I talking about what we would do with the chicks once they were grown, we were both just thinking about what was happening right then and there - my Dad was getting me a fun present, something totally random and irrational, a present that was something he and I shared a love for -- animals.

I remember I was kind of scared to hold the chicks. They were wiggly, their nails were scratchy, and I could feel every bone in their fragile, little bodies. I picked out two yellow ones and one reddish colored one and took them home in a cardboard box. When we got home, my Mom just laughed and helped me learn how to hold them. We set up a little nest for them in the warm furnace room under a lamp. I don't remember what I named all of them, I just remember that I named one “Nugget” and people thought it was so mean! I doubt them were very playful pets, but I can remember taking them out in the backyard and they would follow me, hopping and fluttering. When I laid down on the grass they would huddle next to me, trying to get warm. One day I found an egg in their cardboard nest and we knew the fun was over. My Dad called up my uncle who lives in rural Utah and he agreed to add my three chicks to his little farm. They were fun little toys for a while, but I was ready for them to get on with their lives without me!

It’s funny how memories like this one of my Dad stand out so strongly in my mind. I had a good relationship with my Dad growing up, but this memory makes me realize how important it is for Bret to have one-on-one time with his baby chick, Violet, so they can have fun together and build their own special relationship.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Newton Family Pictures






My amazing friend Julie Burton took our first family pictures when Violet was just about two weeks old. Here is a couple of our favorites, along with her birth announcement.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Burrito Baby Blue Eyes



This is the image I see when I get up at 3:30 in the morning to feed Violet. She is wrapped up tight in her "SwaddleMe" and it is the funniest, cutest thing ever. When she is awake, these are the gorgeous blue eyes I see. Look at those baby blues! I swear, she is all Bret.

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Meet Violet Newton




I've intended to post the exciting news of the birth of our baby girl, Violet, since the day she entered into this world. However, as I've learned and most of you already know, a baby is WAY time-consuming and I'm just getting to this now!

Violet was born on January 20th at 12:10 am. She weighed 6 pounds and 3 ounces and was 19 inches long. She has a sweet personality and is a very good baby. Sometimes she will go a whole day or two before I hear her really cry. Her daddy is completely smitten with her and she has him wrapped around her each of her tiny fingers, and toes too. We think she looks a lot like him, but occasionally see some of me in her too.

So far the most rewarding experience was last night when Bret woke me asking for help putting the baby to sleep after his turn feeding her. As soon as he placed her in my arms, she closed her eyes and fell asleep. It was like she just needed her mommy and when she recognized my voice and face she was immediately comforted.

We are currently hibernating at home to avoid catching anything this winter, but we are excited to have her meet all of our friends soon.