Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy Birthday to a wonderful husband and father!

From being a super supportive and loving husband during my pregnancy and labor, to being a cute and loving dad, Steve has been such a fantastic partner in this adventure of parenthood. Many times over the last year I have been so thankful for his unique ability to support me, love me, and adore our daughter.

Whether it was helping me to feel gorgeous as my pregnant belly grew and grew, or never tiring of the excitement of feeling Gracie kick inside of me, Steve was the perfect husband for me during my pregnancy, bar none. I always say I loved being pregnant (except for the 2 weeks of horrible morning sickness) and he is a huge reason why.

 

Grace looked SO MUCH like Steve right when she was born...esp. her wild hair!

The LONG night of labor and the following days in the hospital after Grace was born were also moments where Steve's love and support were amazing to me. It is hard to know exactly how to handle a woman who is in painful labor and adjusting to being a new mom, but Steve seemed to be a natural.  He was so helpful with Grace from the very beginning--swaddling her, changing her diaper, getting me ice cream-- that many of the nurses commented about how lucky I was (that's what you get for marrying a nurse, I guess =)...I had to agree.

 Daddy and Gracie take a much needed nap in the hospital

Lastly, Steve has been such a sweet and loving father to Grace. He adores his girl and wants so desperately to be a good father to her. I love to see her smile at him (see below) and I love it when he wakes up after a hard graveyard shift and says down the stairs, "hello family." 

A big Sunday smile for Dad

It has been especially nice to see more of Steve these past few weeks when he has had a few days off work with no school. Grace and I love to go on walks with Daddy...even in the cold.

All bundled up

 

Sweetheart, happy birthday. I love you and Grace loves you. Thank you for all your sacrifices that allow me to stay home with our baby and for all the love you give both of us. What a difference a year makes. Here's to a great first year of fatherhood. Aja Aja Highting! Sarang hae!

 

Autumn Adventures

Whenever I take Grace out of the house I ask her, "do you want to go on an adventure with Mommy?" This seems appropriate since every time we venture out of our little enclave it feels like we are embarking on a trip to the unknown. And while going to the store with a baby can certainly seem exciting, this week Grace and I made it a little further a-field. Thanks to Mom (Grandma Nan) for being the catalyst for these mini trips and the brave soul willing to go in the car with Grace (who usually cries, but proved wonderfully behaved on both of these occasions. Yeah for Grace!)

Grandma Nan and Grace at Silver Lake

Mommy and Grace

What a beautiful scene...and just minutes from our house!

On the way back down Big Cottonwood Canyon

 Bridal veil Falls,  Provo Canyon

We also went with Grandma Nan to Provo to visit Jenny at BYU! We had a great lunch at the MOA (to help Jenny use her dining money on her card...ah the freshman dining cards!) and then walked around the museum's new exhibits (a FANTASTIC Victorian art exhibit on loan from London, and an inspirational exhibit called "Intimations of Divinity"). We then headed home via the Alpine Loop.  It was grand to be with Jenny and Mom and quite nostalgic to be back at "the BY." (I am glad, however, that I was walking around campus with a baby AFTER graduating and not before =)