Visiting Santa

On our way to Utah for the holiday break we ran into Santa at the airport (in both Milwaukee and Denver). I wasn't sure about handing my baby to a stranger, but it was Santa and she needed to tell him what was on her Christmas list so I relented. I think she must have whispered that she wanted lots of cardboard boxes, wrapping paper, and ribbon because those were her favorite things on Christmas and she was a happy camper!

Baby Vader

So Grandma informed me that Halloween was a long time ago so I needed to update the blog. It seems like we have done a lot lately and so I would have a lot to blog, but I haven't taken pictures of anything. I looked on my camera for something I could post and and there was nothing so I'm recommitting to take more pictures. In the meantime I snapped a picture of Dev tonight before I put her to bed. As of last night she came down with a really bad cold (that she got from Colby who probably got it from the hospital...probably not the last time that happens.) We've been calling her Baby Vader because she is so congested and has the Darth Vader breathing. She has been a little frustrated, but is still so sweet! She turned 7 months this week! I can't believe how fast the time is passing. We love our sweet Dev!

Cute as a bug

Halloween was super fun this year with a little one to dress up. We enjoyed time with friends, carved our pumpkin, and went to the Halloween party at Colb's school. All of the offices decorate and the kids go trick-or-treating to each room. Dev loved playing with the noisy packages although she didn't get to eat any of the candy this year.

We love our little ladybug!

Quick update

I will post Halloween pics soon, but in the meantime here is an updated Devri picture. She is growing up so fast!

Feeling Fallish

I love fall! It is a perfect time of year in Milwaukee. It cools down enough that you don't have to have the air on all the time and melt when you walk out the front door, but the chilling cold of winter hasn't quite arrived. We have tons of trees so the fall foliage is amazing! Last weekend the weather was beautiful so we enjoyed some fall festivities outside with some friends. Last year a bunch of people at work had told me one of the best places to go and see the leaves changing was Holy Hill. We didn't make it last fall because I was traveling for work most of the season, but we finally made the trip. It is a church with an observation tower you can climb and get a view of the surrounding landscape. We also ventured to a cornmaze and spent the afternoon traipsing through cornstalks and answering questions about the Greenbay Packers (who by the way are still undefeated this year). We eventually found out way out without losing anyone. Now on to the pictures!

Holy Hill

On the way up with Gessels and Brunsons

View from the top

Me and Dev enjoying the fall weather

Our sweet Dev

Family Photo at the cornmaze (This was at the end. Can you tell Dev is ready to be done?)

Taking it in

Group photo at the cornmaze with Cieslaks and Gessels (minus Stacie who is taking the picture)

Yum!

Dev will be five months tomorrow! We started her on rice cereal recently. She really likes it, but is still trying to figure out eating from a spoon. I think she ends up with more on the outside than the inside.

Before:

After:

Medical School Anxiety

It was the first day of my 3rd year of medical school. I was starting my surgical rotation along with a 4th-year medical student. The resident came into the room to discuss the procedure with us.
"This will be a very relaxed surgery and it will give us plenty of time to teach Mr. Duncan some of the basics of surgery."
I am thinking, "This will be great, a nice laid-back surgery for my first day!"
Just then a nurse rushes in.
"Doc, we have a car-crash victim, a 5-year-old boy, who is in very bad shape and you are the only team available. We need you now!"
The resident turns to the 4th-year student and says, "You help Mr. Duncan scrub in, I will get started. Hurry!"
I wash, get my gown, cap, gloves, booties, etc. all ready to go and just as we are rushing to get to the operating room I look down to see my Skullcandy earbuds drooping down the front of me. The 4th year screams, "You can't go into the operating room like that! Your gown isn't sterile anymore! Hurry, we have to get you changed!"
We rush to change my gown but only manage to contaminate her gear as we tried to untangle the headphones to remove them.
She frustratedly yells, "You have to get this right or you are going to be the one that kills that kid!"
I feel completely horrible and sick to my stomach as I try to get things right. That's when I wake up. Luckily it was just a dream. And luckily I am only in my 2nd year of medical school.

Momma's Helper

Colb and I have been super busy with school and work this week. Dev has been a trooper! This was how she took her morning nap today while Colb was at class and I worked. (Don't mind me in my very unattractive plaid pants sporting the unshowered morning look).

Also, here are a few updated photos of our growing girl! Isn't she kissable?

Oh Bill!

Nicole has been begging me to put this story up on the blog because she laughed so hard when I told it to her.

I was sitting in class one morning and my phone buzzes. So naturally I think, "That is probably Nicole texting me to check in." I discretely whip out my phone and check the message. It is not Nicole but rather a number whose contact information is not in my phone. I have to preface this by saying that I recently got a new phone because my other phone went crazy and I haven't re-entered a lot of my contacts yet. So I see this 801 number and figure it is probably someone I know. I open the message and this is what it says,

"Hi Laura.
I have to work the day shift today. Can I get a rain check? I'm really sorry.
Hugs Baby.
Bill........"

I almost bust up laughing right in the middle of lecture! So a few minutes later the lecturer takes a 5 minute break and of course I pull out my phone to show my friends. I really don't know at this point what the accepted protocol is. Do I politely tell him it is the wrong number? Or do I just ignore the text altogether? I decide against both of those options and begin typing.

"Oh Bill, you romantic..."

I glance at Sean who immediately adds, "Stallion".

"Oh Bill, you romantic stallion! This is the wrong number!"

The text I receive in response simply says, "oops."

Here's to you, Bill!

Spitting Image

Since Devri was born I don't think we've had anyone say that she looks like me. Most people's first comment is she looks just like Colby. I completely agree! I found a picture of Colb when he was a baby and they look quite alike. What do you think?

Spitting image?

Devri

Colby
And me...just for fun, but not a spitting image
Colb started school again last week, so our summer is coming to an end. Here are a few pics from the weekend. Dev is spending a lot of time laughing these days! It is so funny! She is growing up so fast!

3 Whole Years!

It has been three whole years since we were married! As I am sitting here writing this I keep thinking to myself, "Has it really been 3 years?" It is hard to believe that it has been that long. Sometimes it is also hard to believe that I am married to my best friend, the most beautiful girl in the world! She is the most amazing woman and now mother as well! Nicole is actually in Utah right now visiting our families and I am in Milwaukee finishing up my research before classes start in a week. I knew that it would be hard to be away from her and Devri, but it is harder than I thought! I miss them, especially on this day and want them to know how much I love and appreciate them! I love you two!

August 15th, 2008

August 15th, 2009

August 15th(-ish), 2010
Happy Anniversary!

Smiles, Slobbers, and Strawberries

So our blog has turned into a baby blog all about Devri. We have had a busy summer and done a lot in the last few months, but Devri is definitely our favorite activity! Today she is three months old! Thankfully she still loves to cuddle, but she is also turning into a busy body. She much prefers being held up and looking around and everything she can grab goes straight to the mouth. She still looks a lot like her daddy and saves some of her special smiles for him. Thankfully she has some of those for me too! I couldn't stop laughing the other day when she looked up at me and smiled exactly like Colby. I have yet to catch that smile on camera, but she's a spitting image. :)


Wisconsin is known for its MANY festivals. We've made it to a few and ventured to the Strawberry Festival a couple weeks ago with our friends the Brunsons . It wouldn't be a festival without some deep-fried something, so of course we tried the deep-fried strawberry cheesecake. Yum! Dev was a trooper in the frontpack, and Colb was a trooper carrying the frontpack. I laughed at this picture of Scott and Colb in front of the "man cave". See picture here on the Brunson's blog. True manliness!

12 Weeks

Devri is 12 weeks old! I don't know where the time went. I took her into the pediatrician for her 2 month check-up a couple weeks ago and she was in the 95 percentile for height, 70 percentile for weight, and 98 percentile for head circumference. Colb and I do practically anything for her smiles and coos (including but not limited to baby talk, silly faces, and even breaking out our dance moves). She is so sweet and we are very thankful to have her in our family! Love you Dev!

An Interview With Devri

Our Photo Shoot

The other day Dev and I got home from the doctor and she looked so cute while she slept that I decided we would have a little photo shoot. When Colb saw the pictures he said he felt bad for her getting moved so much in her sleep, but she was so out that she didn't even know what was happening.

She is two months old and definitely not looking like a newborn anymore. She is very alert and gives us lots of smiles. She has been trying out her voice a lot as well and makes some extra cute noises (just ask her mom)!

We're Back!

We're back from Utah! Actually we've been back a couple weeks, but since the baby and housework have been the priorities I'm just getting around to a post now. We had a great time in Utah and the trip went by way too fast as usual. Devri and I left Colby in Milwaukee to finish finals and flew to Utah on May 25. Yes, I was slightly crazy to take my new baby to a germy airport and fly by myself. She was only 3 weeks and 2 days (I started rounding up to a month when people asked), but I kept her covered, used LOTS of hand sanitizer, and she was an angel baby!

One diaper malfunction, a security pat-down, a layover in Vegas (yes Vegas is on the way to SLC from Milwaukee), and three dropped pacifiers later, we arrived safely to Utah.

Colb joined us the next week. It was so much fun to introduce all of our family to Devri. Being the first grandchild on both sides, she was definitely miss popular with the grandparents, aunts, and uncles. We almost had to set a timer to take turns holding her. Katie said to someone, "if you hear about a baby being ripped in two this week, you'll know it's the Duncan-Hales baby." She is a lucky baby and very loved!

While we were home we were also able to attend so many fun and neat family events. We went to Mitch and Slater's high school graduation, went through the temple with Mitch and my cousin Kamille, went to Kamille's sealing and reception, blessed Devri, and celebrated Colb's birthday. All of it was wonderful and reminded me what a blessing families are.

We were also able to bless Devri in our Roosevelt home ward where both of our families live and where Colby and I grew up. I couldn't believe that our brothers are old enough to stand in the circle and it was really special to have them participate. We are so thankful to be surrounded by such wonderful and supportive family! I've watched many baby blessings throughout my life and it was a little surreal to witness the blessing of my own child. Also, still a little crazy to me that my child is also Colby Duncan's child...that fourth grade boy I used to square dance with. I'm so thankful to be living my dreams and that they are both mine for eternity!


Thanks family and friends for a wonderful trip! Of course I wish we had taken more pictures, but below are a few from our travels.