Easter and other happenings

We had a really nice Easter this year. Dan’s mom hosts an Easter egg hunt each year for all the grandkids.  It was Gwen’s first time, and since she is too little to actually hunt for the eggs, she got a cute new outfit, a stuffed bunny and $5.  She also got spoiled with attention from grandma, all the aunts, uncles, and cousins.  It was fun to see all the kids rushing around the yard looking for their eggs.  Dan’s mom  has been doing this for a long time.  In fact, when Dan was a teenager, his mom used to make him wear a bunny costume and hop around the back yard hiding the eggs for his nieces and nephews.  Ahh, what I would give to see that!! 
Easter Sunday was really nice.  We went back to church for the first time since Gwen was born, and she slept right through sacrament!  Hopefully she’ll keep it up.  It was really nice to be back in church and hear the talks about the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful for His sacrifice for me, and that he did rise again.
Easter is so much fun when you have a little girl that you can buy a dress for.  She looked so pretty in her yellow dress. 

The day after Easter me, my mom and my sister and 2 nephews decided to go on a road trip to Colorado to visit my other sister and her kids.  She had just been out a couple of weeks before, but was anxious to see the babies again (my sister Natalie had a little boy just 5 weeks after Gwen was born).  My mom had spring break, and so we decided to make the 8 hour drive.  The kids really did great.  The way home was a bit rough as they were tired from driving so much, and getting so much attention with their cousins.  We stopped for lunch and let them out of their seats.  Gwen was so happy to be out.  She just laid on the seat and kicked her legs.  The restaurant was so slow getting our food, which was annoying because we were hungry, but nice because the babes got to play a little longer.  We ended up spending about 1 1/2 hours at the restaurant.  It was a needed break.Sometimes in the car, Gwen wiggles her head a lot and it makes her headband fall over her eyes.  This time we just assumed she was using it as eye covers so it would be darker and she could sleep better. :)  She was sound asleep.

While we were in Colorado, we decided that it would be fun to take the kids to the zoo one day.  So we did.  It was kinda crazy.  The kids got tired and cranky walking around, but I think they enjoyed it.  Gwen didn’t really care too much about the zoo though.  She was sick of being in her chair and wanted to get out, she just cared about being held.  But she did pose for a couple photos, with the giraffes, and also with a bear.  I wanted to get Gwen Bear, with a real bear. :)Next up?  Gwen is 2 whole months old!!! On April 16th, she turned 2 months.  She is getting so big, and I love watching her grow and learn.
At 2 months, she LOVES:
* Having her head held back so her neck is stretched out.  She will fall asleep almost every time like that.  (photos 1 & 2)
*Her hands (photo 3) she is always munching on them, and it is adorable.
*Her bouncy/vibrating seat (photo 4)
*Laying in her crib looking at her mobile & colorful bumper pads with Chloe (photo 5)…ok funny story.  Gwen was in her crib looking at her mobile and bumper pads, and Chloe was so worried about her because she could see her, but could hear her kicking and talking.  So she was standing up, trying to see in to check on her.  She kept running to me and then running back to her crib.  It was so cute, so I put her in there with her and she just sat there watching over her making sure she was ok.  When I tried to get her out she slunk her head and tail down and got a really sad look on her face, so I just left her in there and she loved it.  She loves Gwen and is always protecting her.  When she’s napping, I can’t get Chloe to come down by me.  She lays right outside Gwen’s door until she wakes up.  Its really cute.
*Her music gym.  She loves laying under it and seeing the lights and hearing the music.  She can’t reach the dangly things yet, but she kicks and waves her arms like she’s trying. (photo 6)
And here are a few more photos, just because she is so dang cute, I can’t help myself. In the 2nd photo, with Dan, he is actually asleep holding her.  This is one of the things that is is most proud of…that he can fall asleep with his head up.  And here’s the proof.
She has been smiling since about 6 weeks, but she is starting to smile more and more now, and I love it. She can recognize things that make her smile and is starting to do responsive smiles. Her smile lights up her whole face and it makes my whole day.  Also, as you can tell from the last photo, she is still an escape artist.  I don’t know how, but she manages to wiggle out of her swaddle blankets too.  That girl…

But this right here is what makes it all worth it.
I literally go coo-coo trying to get her to smile.  And when she does, it almost always brings tears to my eyes.  I just love her so much and seeing her happy is the best thing ever.