WOOHOO!

Josh and I have two things (among many) to Woohoo about....


(1) We finally got our housing set for California! What a relief. We are moving in a month and we just got a call that there will be an opening for us at the apartment complex we were crossing our fingers for. We've been on the waiting list since July and I didn't know if it would work out for us. We had found a few other places as back up on Craig's List, but they were more expensive and we hadn't actually seen any of them in person. As it got closer and closer to our moving date I was getting a little worried that we still didn't have housing worked out. But now it's all taken care of! We'll be in Huntington Beach, about a 15-20 commute from Josh's work...and about a 10 minute walk from the Pacific coast. It's over three times the rent that we're paying here in Provo, but it's actually a lot cheaper than the other places we were looking at so we feel really lucky. I am so grateful we have this all set!


(2) We have the cutest daughter in the world. We went to a Tueller gathering last night and Brynlee showed off her new outfit. You gotta love the shrug sweater! Ninety nine percent of the time she's in a sleeper, so it's so fun to dress her up in a little outfit! I love this little girl so much. I have never been happier! Josh and I are soo lucky to have such a sweet little daughter!!!

Brynlee Update

I love this little girl! She loves to be held upright or propped up so she can look around the room.

Bryn hasn't been to church yet, but she's got a cute little Sunday dress ready for her when she makes her big debut! This is the first time she tried it on and I was dying! She looks so much more girly and feminine when she's in a dress!


Brynlee loves her baths now. We cover her with warm washcloths and she just lays back and relaxes. It's a nice change from the little sponge baths we had to give her until her umbillical cord fell off. She hated those baths and would get so sad.

I love watching her face when she sleeps! She makes so many sweet/silly/strange facial expressions.

Brynlee's three week mark fell on my 22nd birthday. It was a wonderful day! My best birthday by far! I am so grateful to be a mom and to have such a sweet little daughter!

Art On Display

Twelve of the larger paintings from my BFA Final Exhibit are on display at

Maestro's Gelato Cafe

22 W. Center Street in Provo

If the paintings aren't enough of an incentive, you can go for the sake of getting really delicious European-style gelato ice cream!

Also, if you have any wealthy friends who are interested in buying art (at a decent price, I might add), feel free to let them know my paintings are for sale! :) I sold my largest painting this morning and it felt so good. The woman said "I'm sure it must be difficult to part with this painting!" Not at all. In my head I was just thinking "Woohoo! $500 towards hospital bills!"

Babe Update

We're convinced that Brynlee is the cutest baby in the whole world! (I'm sure that's how every parent feels about their children.) Here are some recent pictures of her....

Brynlee hasn't made any public appearances besides doctor's appointments and visits to her grandparents. But when she has gone out we bundle her up in this thick suit. It's a little large on her (okay, it drowns her!), but it is so cozy and warm!

You can probably tell from the pictures that she looks a little yellow. She has been borderline of jaundice, but it's going down. We've been taking her in regularly to get tested and her count is getting progressively lower. We haven't had to do the jaundice lights or any other treatment, and it doesn't look like we'll need to. She's regulating it on her own.

This was one of the first nights being home at about 3:00 am. Josh was helping me to burp Brynlee after she ate and this is what resulted! We were both so tired and worn out that when this little accident happened we just started laughing so hard! Welcome to parenthood!

Proud Dads! Josh and his twin Joe. Brynlee is the first grandchild in my family, but she's the 19th on the Hawkins side.

We don't have room in our little apartment for Brynlee's full size crib, so we're borrowing a cute little crib from my Aunt Margaret. It is just the perfect size!



She loves sleeping with her arms up! It is so funny. We have to swaddle her really tight to keep them down.
Stay tuned for more pictures and updates of this cute little babe!

She's Here!!!

Baby Brynlee was born on December 30th at 7:37 pm. Her delivery went smoothly and she is perfectly healthy. She was 7 lbs. 11 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long. Josh and I couldn't be happier!!! She is just beautiful! We love her so much!

My first time holding cute little Bryn!

The proud Father! Josh has been so amazing these last few days! I absolutely love watching him hold her. He is the best husband... and father!