Week of Firsts

Calvin looking good after his new haircut.

When you have a baby, it seems that everything is always a first. This week, we have been having our share of them! Calvin got his first haircut on January 2, just in time to look good for the new year. He no longer resembles an orphan child without a mother or father. :) The other first for him this week is a brand new little white thing poking through his bottom gums. You guessed it, his first tooth!! I took him in on Monday for his 9 month checkup. As I was telling the pediatrician about all of his developments, I mentioned to her that he hadn't cut any teeth yet. But then while she was doing his check up she was feeling around in his mouth and walah! "Mom, there's a tooth here," she said. I couldn't believe it! Sure enough, there it was and a second one already starting to poke through as well. Calvin's been keeping them a secret! Which is good, I'd rather that than to have his howling cries alert me to what it going on. Hopefully the rest of them are this easy! We are yet to get a picture of his new little tooth, the little boy is stubborn about showing it to us. :)

As for Jake and I, we've had a few firsts of our own. Jake just started his pediatrics rotation yesterday. So far, it hasn't been the best experience, the doctor he is working with is not too sure what to do with a student. She is brand new to this area and is trying to get used to everything herself. He spends alot of time trying to keep out of the way. Last night, they had to admit a 2 month old baby into the hospital for RSV. The poor mother and grandma were there looking terrified as nurses and doctors scurried around hooking the baby up to tubes. So Jake, being the compassionate soul he is, took it upon himself to calm their fears. He explained to them that the baby was actually doing pretty good and everything would be fine. They seemed much more at ease after he talked with them. So, at least he found some way to be of use to somebody. But you better believe that as soon as Jake got home, he was stripping down to shower and wash his clothes. There is no way we want Calvin going through that!

For myself, this past Sunday was my first Sunday in my new calling in the Primary presidency. I haven't had to do too much yet, mainly help keep the kids in check. We only ended up having one hour of primary, because the Bishop dismissed church an hour early so the Relief Society room could get air conditioning. (In January?!) So, I'm getting my feet wet a little at a time for now.

Here's a short video of Daddy giving Calvin his first haircut.

Family Time is the Best Time

We had such a great time visiting family in Utah. Here are some more fun pictures from our time together. Love you all! Christmas morning

Getting all bundled up to see the lights on Temple Square.

Aunt Kimmy and Calvin (what a perfect picture!)

Eric, Miles, Ethan and Aimee. Cute family!!

Mommy and Daddy to be!

Krys, John and Oakley (must be about bedtime)

Calvin petting the puppy.

Calvin (modeling Owen's new Bumbo chair) with Kim, Oakley and Krystal.

Kim and Kandace with Ethan, Miles and Calvin. (Ethan's showing Calvin that a rocking horse is nothing to be afraid of.)

Calvin giving Oakley kisses. xoxo

Four Steffen girls all together again!

Grandma Powell and Calvin having way too much fun at bathtime! :)

Daddy and Calvin warming up by the fire after sledding.

Uncle Vince and Calvin playing.

Vince, Megan and Calvin hanging out together

All together! Families are the best!

Calvin's First Christmas

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas too!

Powell Family Christmas

We just returned from a beautiful snowy Christmas holiday in Utah. It was so fun to visit family and celebrate Calvin's 1st Christmas together! The day before Christmas Eve, Mom Powell took Megan and I up to Salt Lake to have a girl's outing. We watched the Nutcracker Ballet, which was stunning! Afterwards, the boys met up with us for dinner and a little outing to see the lights on Temple Square. Even though it was cold, the snow falling and all the lights glowing made it a beautiful evening!

On Christmas Eve day, Grandma and Grandpa got to enjoy some little one-on-one time with Calvin so Jake and I could go on a movie date with Vince, Megan and Mitchel. We watched Avatar in 3-D. It was such a great movie, definitely a must-see! Later that evening, we gathered together for the Annual Powell Family Christmas Eve dinner. (No oyster stew unfortunately :)And after eating till we could eat no more, we played a challenging game of Christmas jeopardy. The Jordan Powell family won!! Woo-hoo! (Way to go, Dad, pulling out that '1965' answer!) Then before we tucked Calvin into his bed to wait for Santa to come, we had him open his first Christmas present...Christmas Eve jammies. Just the start of our new little family tradition! But Calvin wasn't the only one to open pajamas on Christmas Eve, Mom Powell got some for the whole family!

Hooray for Christmas Eve pajamas! (Calvin is taking the picture. Heehee, just kidding! He was in bed.)

Christmas morning was a little more special for us this year, it being Calvin's 1st. I think we were more excited on his behalf than he was! We ended up accidentally waking him up while talking outside his bedroom door trying to decide if we should wake him up. Problem solved. :) So we took him upstairs to see what Santa had left in his stocking. And what a surprise he had waiting for him! A rocking horse! This horse even made noises and moved his head and tail. It might have been a little too realistic for Calvin, who was very hesitant to ride it much less go near it! He had the same reaction to T-Bone when we first arrived, but by the time we left, it was difficult to keep Calvin away from him! T-Bone ended up trying to avoid Calvin instead. :)
After opening gifts and a waffle breakfast courtesy of Vincent and Megan, we all bundled up and headed outside to go sledding. Another first for Calvin, life is just more fun with a baby around!

Sledding on Christmas Day

Daddy teaching Calvin how to drive

Cowboy Calvin atop his trusty steed

Calvin checking out what Santa left for him in his stocking

Christmas Eve


Chilly winter evening on Temple Square


Santa Calvin


"Go, Grandpa, go!"

All in all, we had a great time being together with family. We would eat lots of yummy food, do some P90X and then eat some more! :) Jake continues to hold his title as "Emperor of Catan" after beating the rest of us soundly...not once, but twice...at Settlers of Catan. But we were able to get back at him playing 'Ticket to Ride' and 'Yahtzee'. Vacations are the best, especially when you're with family!