FINALLY! A BiG PhAt PoSt!

I know the rumors have been flying, but I must put them to rest...I HAVE NOT FALLEN OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH!

Now that that is taken care of, may I just say that finding time to blog has not been on the top of my list. So much has happened and we've been very busy! Annalyn is getting so big!

Speaking of Annalyn: She is

4 months old on the 1st of August

Somewhere around 16 pounds

(Her 4 month appointment is soon and then we'll know an exact weight)

She still must be in the 95th or so percentile because she's taller and bigger than most babies in our ward and most of them are older than her! She's currently wearing 6 month clothes most of the time. Some 3-6 month clothes still fit but only certain ones.

Here are some recent pics from month #3 of Annalyn's awesome life!

She's as happy and content as she looks in all these pictures! She's decided that her car seat isn't the worst thing in the world ;-) She loves going to the pool and taking her baths. She's started giggling - her first one was about 1 1/2 weeks ago. She's currently rolling onto her side from laying on her back ALL THE TIME! It looks like I won't have as long as I thought without her being mobile. We'll see though - you never know! And starting three days ago she's figuring out how to sit up by herself. Most of the time she just leans forward in a sitting position and rests over her cubby little belly! It works quite well until she pushes herself with her feet and falls over backwards.

Now here's my exciting news! Many of you never saw me immediately before Annalyn was born. Well, here are a couple pictures of me very pregnant. The first was the night before we went into the hospital. The one in the red dress was when I was 7 months pregnant. Wow - looking back - I feel so much better these days!! What we women go through for our children - it's a good thing they are worth it!

Now... da da da da dum... After 3 1/2 months I am almost back to my pre-pregnancy size! Only almost, but hey, anything is better than where I was! I'm feeling so much better! 3 months and 40 pounds lighter, I feel like a supermodel or something ... almost... :-)

Now for recent events: Travis and I went on a 10 day summer vacation to Idaho during the 4th of July! Ah, good ol' Idaho - it was soooo good to be back! We're loving Texas, but especially the weather in Idaho was like Heaven. Not to mention we got to see so many friends and family!

Annalyn's 1st Airplane ride! Just for the record, she was not this happy the whole time - in fact - this smile only lasted as long as it took to take the picture. Annalyn doesn't sleep very well on planes we learned, but overall the whole endeavor was a success!

Hello Family!! Thanks for welcoming Annalyn into the family so warmly! She loved getting to meet y'all!

Annalyn's Great Grandparents!

Annalyn's Other Great Grandparents!

Family breakfast at Great-Grandma and Grandpa Rawson's house in Pocatello Idaho!

Here's Annalyn with cousin Aaron watching Aunt Erica and Cousin Brooklyn's clogging performance! She loved the music and was quiet during all the dances! Maybe she'll be a dancer when she gets older!

Here are some pics of Travis and Dave's 4th of July Bonfire!

Sherise and Annlyn with Jessica and Justin - it was colder than Annalyn was used to!

Since we live in Texas and have been constantly in 100 degree heat for the last month, we had no sweatshirt for Annalyn to go out on the cool Idaho evenings. So here's what we found - our little tomboy! Love the little boy clothes!

4th of July Rexburg Parade!

Brooklyn, Josh, & Annalyn! Happy 4th of July!

Sherise and Aaron!

The Idaho Falls Fireworks were amazing!

After a wonderful 4th of July weekend we were off to Yellowstone National Park and Jackson Hole, Wyoming with most of Sherise's family! Jed even came up from Florida!

Hiking in Yellowstone! Good thing Annalyn loves her front pack!

Gotta get a pic in front of the elk horn arch! From left to right: Dad, Mom, Hannah, Annalyn, Sherise, Travis, Jed, Kari! Top row: Adam, Annie, Shaina!

My little ray of sunshine!

Daddy's Girl Always!

Lunch on the tailgate of Hank! (Hank is my dad's awesome diesel pick-up)

The girls: Mom, Sherise, Annalyn, Hannah, Kari, Annie, & Shaina

Dream away the day - isn't that the life.

Beautiful Idaho!

We did the Alpine Slide in Jackson Hole!! Loved it! It was my 1st time!

Above the falls overlooking Yellowstone Canyon!

Family picture - Annalyn 3 1/2 months old!

Mineral Pools of Yellowstone!

Sherise and Annalyn in front of Old Faithful!

Annalyn loving the pool at the hotel!

Travis and I got to go for a helicopter ride in Twin Falls with Trav's dad! Thanks to grandma for watching Annalyn so we could go! Look at this amazing view of Shoshone Falls! Wow! I like helicopters better than airplanes - it was awesome!

Our last couple days in Idaho were spent in Boise for Trav's family reunion! It was great to see everyone and Annalyn got to meet the whole family!

Annalyn and Justin participating in activities at the family reunion!

Annalyn and I were on the yellow team for reunion activities! Our team got 2nd place! Annalyn slept for most of it though.