My Best Friend’s Baby

So my friend Rachel (the one I threw the shower for in Sept) had her baby boy this weekend and I was lucky enough to be there for his birth! It was the first birth I had seen in real life and it was one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced!

Emmitt Cooper Maxwell

Born October 31, 2009 6:44pm. 5 pounds 14 ounces, 18 ½ inches long

Rachi and I after the birth...isn't her Halloween costume so cute?!

Little Emmitt in the NICU

Isn't he the cutest little thing?!? He's gone from spud to stud!

So here's a short version of the day... Rachel invited me to her birth because we are natural birth friends! She wasn't due until November 30th but there were a few complications so her doctor thought it best to induce labor and get little Em out of there. At about 12:30p on saturday they broke Rachi's water and started her on the pet. Around 3:30p Rach was dilated to a four and her contractions were so excruciating that she had to get the epidural. At about 5:30p she started pushing and by 6:44p we welcomed her little angel to the world! It was amazing!! Since Emmitt was so early we didn't really get to hold him that much because he had a bunch of testing to do in the NICU but we did get to spend lots of time with Rach including McDonald's dinner and reenacting the funny things she yelled at the doctor during labor :D Rachel has to stay in the hospital until later tonight and Baby Emmitt is in the NICU until Sunday but he is getting stronger and stronger everyday! We are so excited to play with Em and Brandon is especially looking forward to girls night so that he and Emmitt can watch football games together. We love you so much!

Witchcraft Weekend

Not so much witch but definitely craft!

I spent the majority of this weekend crafting. Here's a sneak peek!

I had to read the entire Kenmore Sewing Machine User Guide first but...my very first pillows!

I didn't use pillow forms so they might look a little lumpy, I like to think it gives them personality :)

it's kind of blurry but those are the awesome damask buttons that Brandon found

some fresh and fruity pictures that I made for the kitchen

this was in our last place but I just barely got around to hanging them

now I know this isn't a craft but Brandon surprised me with these boots and I thought they were way too cute not to share!!!

and last but certainly not least!! In-N-Out Orem opening November 1st, WE CANNOT WAIT!

Birthdays!!

This week was my little sister Amber's birthday.

She is one of the sweetest, most genuine, creative, intelligent, spunky girls I know!

And on Thursday she turned 12!

Happy Birthday AM BAM!!! We love you so much and are so proud of all of your accomplishments. Wish we could have celebrated with you...maybe next year ;)

This week was also my birthday! On Wednesday I turned 21!! I'm a big kid now :)

The morning started off with me going through the many fb messages, texts, voice mails of my siblings and friends trying to be the 'first' to say happy birthday! Then I went to work and we had a little birthday bash. My co-workers decorated my desk and we celebrated with cake and ice cream!

After work Brandon and I went to dinner at the California Pizza Kitchen and then we walked over to the mall to pick out my birthday present. Oddly enough I was in a weird mood and could not find anything I was in love with...then right as we were leaving Brandon found this awesome skirt...

Cute huh? After a little shopping we went home to open my gifts!

I got this beautiful graduation plaque from my parents. I have no idea how they got that picture but isn't it awesome?!

I also got clothes from Victoria's Secret!

(I got this bathing suit in black)

Steve & Shelly also sent me a package with a huge jar of candy that is already a third gone because I take everywhere with me :) They also got me this sweater and a little tank to go under it...

and this perfume from VS that I am IN LOVE with!

After we opened presents I went into the bedroom to put some stuff away and I found this wonderful surprise!!! I have wanted this bedding FOREVER...see Brandon took me shopping at the mall to make me think he didn't get me anything when really he had already come home and set up this wonderful surprise <3

We also got Season 2 of Prison Break!! I already had the 1st season and I begged Brandon to watch it with me and now he's hooked! We finished the 1st season in about a week and we've already made a good dent in the 2nd season :)

I also got a bunch of cards and gift cards from Great Grandma Carol, Grandma and Grandpa, Hermana Anderson, Auntie Nani, Uncle Dave, Jaymi, Sara & Lila. What a happy birthday!!! Thank you to everyone for your birthday wishes and gifts. I love you lots!!

Moving on moving on from town to town...

Not really town to town, just 1.91 miles away (according to mapquest).

So you may have heard that Brandon and I have moved! It's kind of a funny story and we're both a little shocked that it happened but it happened!

So here's the story....

We had been talking about moving for the last few months but we never really

acted on it. Friday morning as we were driving to work we thought we might call our landlord and see if we could look at some apartments. He told us that he had two places just like ours and one that was newly renovated. We asked if we could look at the newly renovated one after work around 7:00p. Our landlord said "Sure! But I'm showing the apartment to another couple at 3:30p." Brandon jumped right in and said he'd meet at 12:30p. Brandon walked in the apartment and told him we wanted it so we signed the contract, got the keys, rented a Uhal, and started moving right after work! Our old apartment was emptied by 2:00p on Saturday and our new apartment was completely set up by 5:00p on Sunday. We even watched both sessions of conference! It all happened so fast but we absolutely love our new place!

Here are some pictures...they don't really do our home justice but it will have to do. All we have left to do is hang the mirror in our bedroom and the pictures in the living room and kitchen.

the living room

brandon's favorite spot in the house

our living room (with a box of pictures waiting to be hung)

the bedroom (with our huge mirror waiting to be hung)

renee's favorite spot in the house

the potty

the kitchen

Home sweet home! What do you think?

Now that you've seen our new place you'll have to go back and compare what our old place was like =/

September Updates!

So it has been over a month since I've posted...sad!

A lot has happened in the month of September so I'll just touch on the highlights.

I started my new job at Career Step toward the end of August. It is such a great job and I work with some really great people. I've been there for just over a month now and I am loving it!

Brandon's birthday was on the 16th of September. He turned 25! I threw him a surprise party with the help of one of his best friends, Brian Lunt...I couldn't have done it without him!

The day was kind of stressful, trying to sneak around and buy stuff for the party and make cupcakes without him knowing! After work, I blindfolded him and took him to Shoga Sushi, our favorite sushi bars in Utah. We walked in and Brandon started heading for the bar when he noticed that I was trailing off to the side, when he turned around there was a table full of his closest friends! He was so surprised :) After dinner everyone came to our place for cake and ice cream. It was a success!

Toward the end of September I threw a baby shower for one of my best friends, Rachel and her little spud Emmit. It was SO much fun planning, organizing and throwing the shower. I wish I could be a professional party planner! Here are some pictures from their day...

some of the girls that came to the shower

Making babies out of play-doh

the diaper cake I made

pin the baby on the mommy

And last but not least.....WE'VE MOVED! Kind of a crazy story....look for a post to come :)

Graduation and Anniversary celebrations!

This past weekend was my BYU graduation and our one year anniversary!

For graduation my family, grandparents, and Brandon's parents came up for the weekend. We had such a blast!

Our families got in late Thursday night and my brother and sisters slept over at our place so the fun lasted all through the night!

On Friday we all went to my graduation, which only lasted about an hour thank goodness!

Waiting for my name to be called...Almost there!

This is right after I gave one of my leis to the Dean of FHSS

The Class of 2009!!! WAHOOO!!

The coolest kids on earth!

My amazing parents!

My loving & supportive husband!

The graduate

So long BYU...it's been fun!

A personal congratulations from Cosmo the Cougar

After the ceremony & pictures, we visited my old office and only TWO people were in! So we said a quick hello and it was off to Salt Lake for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory!

Diane & Melba of the MSS office :)

Mmmm we LOVE Cheesecake

Brandon trying to get out of another picture

Group shot at Cheesecake

...My graduation gifts...

Tanzanite & Diamond necklace from Gma & Gpa. Gold "Lehuanani" Necklace from Mom & Dad. Orchid lei from Auntie Nani & Ginger Lei from Mom & Dad!

Diamond bracelet from Steve & Shelly

After lunch, Grandma & Grandpa headed back to the airport and the rest of us went to Cabela's, the mall, Red Box, and then home to relaaaax!

On Saturday we did a little shopping in Provo and then headed out to Gardner Village for...more shopping!After Gardener Village, we went to Mo Bettah Steak for lunch with Mom's cousin and family. After lunch we drove back to Provo and I went swimming with my sibs at the hotel and then we had dinner at Sizzler for the first time, according to my parents it is much different than it was when they were teenagers.

On our way to the Sizzler!

Watching Amber do...something?

After dinner we went back to the apartment and fell asleep to a movie...

Sunday came way too soon and it was back to CA for the family :( I miss them already!!!