Our First Anniversary . . . the strawberry cream soda anniversary.

Gavin and I celebrated our first anniversary on Monday, October 8th, 2012. We told each other that we wouldn't buy each other any gifts this year. We did give each other cards and Gavin bought me the most beautiful red roses. I made Gavin dinner and we enjoyed a very quiet evening. Even Peter took the cue and made himself scarce for the evening.

Red roses and a chimp on my anniversary card. Gavin's card is in the bowl.

I forgot to take a picture of dinner. Here is what's left. 

Peter sleeping like the perfect little angel that he is.

Later that week on Saturday, October 13th, 2012, Gavin, Peter and I went out to eat at The Old Spaghetti Factory, located in downtown Phoenix. A year and a couple days ago, Gavin and I went to The Old Spaghetti Factory in San Diego on our honeymoon. Here are some pictures then and now.

Then: San Diego 2011

Now: Phoenix 2012

Isn't he handsome!

I'm so in love.

Peter always orders mama, but this time got baby formula. Needless to say he didn't tip well. 

Strawberry Creme Sodas . . . mmmm yum!

We went to Mary Coyle's after dinner, but our big day of visiting the park and then the evening festivities taxed our sweet little Peter and so we had to pack up early with our ice cream to go. Still yummy, but Peter was not a happy camper. 

The first year in our eternity together could not have been better celebrated. I am so lucky to have received all the blessings I have this last year. Heavenly Father truly loves me to give me such an amazing family of my very own.

Sahuaro Ranch Park . . . where the ball got rolling

It was July 13th, 2011. I'm almost positive that was the date. Gavin and I met up at Sahuaro Ranch Park in Glendale, Arizona. It's where we held hands for the first time. It's when Gavin told me he loved me. I remember we walked in the lanes and over to the playground and sat on a bench. To me, the last two weeks leading up to this moment were very dramatic. It was like a monsoon storm, with lightning, thunder and torrential rain beating down so hard that the streets flooded and winds blew down trees onto power lines and neighborhoods were without power. . . I told you it was dramatic . . . or maybe I'm dramatic. Anyways, jumping back to that July evening last year, the storm was finally abating and the sky was much more calm. (By the way the storm is just a simile or a metaphor. The weather was perfectly hot and humid and the sky was clear blue). That day was the day Gavin and I finally became more than just casual friends. That's where the ball got rolling. In just three short, but seemingly endless months later, Gavin and I got married in the Mesa, Arizona Temple, on October 8th, 2011.

We took our engagements photos at Sahuaro Ranch Park and used one of the photos for our wedding announcement. Here are some of the photos, including our wedding announcement, that Gavin's sister, Jessi created. Much thanks goes to Franki, Gavin's mom, and Jessi for the great engagement photos.

Jump forward a year and three months into the future, October 13th 2012, Gavin and I took Peter, our wonderful little boy, to Sahuaro Ranch Park. It was so fun walking around the historic buildings, rose gardens, orchards, grape vines, and corn field. Saguaro Ranch Park has old farm equipment and some of the buildings are furnished with antique furniture from the time it was established in the 1880's. Thank you Dandi for letting us borrow the baby carrier!

My two favorite guys!

They are so cute.

Baby's first peacock....

He is totally fascinated ..... with something that's not the peacock. 

Smelling the roses ....

Grapes!!!!

Peter playing in the corn fields.

Rooster,

Pheasants.

Me on the tractor.

Gavin cranking the engine with Peter.

Peter wiped out.

Mama peacock with baby peacock.

Daddy Gavin with Baby Peter.

Monkeying around on the playground.

Above: This contraption was so fun. If you speak into the ball you hear it at the other end. It was so fun to hear Peter grunt and coo on the other end.

Here is the bench Gavin and I sat at that fateful July evening a year and three months ago. Gavin  was so sweet  and told me how much I meant to him there.

We had so much fun Saturday. It was a perfect way to celebrate our first anniversary of being married. I love my wonderful husband and my beautiful son. I am so grateful to have them both in my life. I couldn't be happier.

Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater

So, I'm not starting from the beginning of this fairy tale, but I'll start where I stand and then take a look over my shoulder until I piece together the story in its entirety. It's a good story, a magnificent marvel of mischievous plotting speckled with fortuitous and blessed events and of course full of action adventure and love. 

Our most recent and most blessed event occurred when Peter Michael Ely was born August 4, 2012. He weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz., 21.5 inches long. He arrived on his due date! I guess that's rare. He also entered this world with a lot of drama which I'll describe another day.

Peter is now 9 weeks old, This week on October 4th, he was officially two months old. It is quite amazing how quickly time has flown by. He had his two month appointment at the doctor this last Wednesday, October 3rd. He got four vaccinations. Poor Peter! I groaned inside to see him cry as he got each shot and vaccine. He weighed in at 13.15 lbs. and measured 24 inches long with a head circumference of 41.5 cm. It was fun to learn that Peter is in the 93rd percentile in height, 89th percentile in weight and 99th percentile in head circumference. Translated: BIG BABY, but not fat. Dr. Kennedy said so. 

Gavin and I are so happy and feel so blessed to have Peter. He is our beautiful baby boy! He smiles, coos, kicks and grabs, especially my hair, but more recently and more impressively, though perhaps accidentally, grabbed his chain link baby toy Thursday this week . . . first with one hand and then with the other. 

He started kicking, or perhaps it was the first time we noticed him kicking, on Monday, October 1st. Gavin was taking care of him and trying to entertain him when he first saw him purposefully manipulating the chain link with his cute little feet! Gavin showed me later that evening. It was so fun seeing him kick the toy and concentrating while pursing his little lips.

We call him Pete, Petey, and Gavin's favorite, Pedro. He is our "pumpkin eater", our "little Peter cottontail", my "baby cakes", and my little man. He is our wonderful son. We love him so much!