She Did It!

Here's the most exciting thing at the Payne home this evening...

Just this afternoon I was asked if Afton was chuckling yet.  And I was just a little sad that I had to report that although she'll let out an occasional "ha," she hadn't really laughed yet.  Ask and ye shall receive?

We've Graduated...

Before

After

Blessing Week

So, honestly, the thing that kept me from posting about this week for so long was all the pictures.  There were too many and my computer kept freezing when I would try to arrange them in order and cut out the extras.  So I just gave up.  A few times.  So if you just give up part way through looking through all these pictures, I won't fault you for it.  But I can't say I'll understand, because pictures of Afton seem to be my favorite things to look at as of late.

The fun all started when Grandma and Grandpa Payne arrived.

Photography courtesy of Grandma Payne.
I use the word "photography" instead of just "picture" to emphasize the quality of her work.

Photography courtesy of Grandma Payne

The first day, we went on a trip to Arlington Cemetery.  Afton experienced her first ride in a stroller.  She's still a little small in comparison. :)

She also experienced her first rainstorm, which was fairly traumatizing for the both of us.  She stayed dry, but she was hungry.  It was pouring and the nearest shelter was about a mile away.  We moved as fast as we could, Afton screaming the whole way.  She didn't even blink.  She just stared at me and let me know that she had trusted me and I was betraying her trust by not fixing the problem.  Talk about a heart-string puller.  However, she quickly forgave me when she got her full belly.

With Grandma and Grandpa Payne at the cemetery.

We also made a quick stop at the Lincoln Memorial to visit one of Grandma Payne's heroes.  It's on her bucket list to take all of her kids here before she dies.  One more kid checked off that list.  Maybe she'll change her goal to include grandkids too.  She's got a head start with one.

The next day we went out to Annapolis to see the town and the U.S. Naval Academy.  Right after we got out of the car, these ladies swarmed us haha.

Afton also got her first bottle from Grandma Payne.  To mom, b-o-t-t-l-e spells a little bit of freedom.  It's nice to be able to give her some saved milk in a bottle when we go in public instead of trying to win the battle against the unconquerable cover and public decency.

Later that week, the Pages showed up.  This is my dad and my brother Dallin meeting Afton for the first time.

 Some bonding moments with Grandpa Page.  She may have spent more time with him than anyone that whole week, haha.

Afton loves it outside.

Afton really enjoyed Uncle Dallin too.

He even got her to make the closest sound to a laugh we'd heard yet

You can't come visit us in DC without paying a visit to Rita's.  We paid several.

We also visited the beautiful LDS temple and Visitor's Center.

Some other pictures...

Aunt Jayna sent this for Afton

Playing cards

 In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shortly after a baby is born, they are given a name and a blessing in church one Sunday.  It could be comparable to a "Christening" in other faiths.  Usually the father gives the blessing if he holds the priesthood power necessary to do so.  Other priesthood holders are usually invited to stand in as well.  So Ty gave Afton her blessing, while his dad, my dad, Ty's cousin Levi, Ty's friend Max, and our bishop stood in.  It was a wonderful blessing.  I'm excited to see it fulfilled throughout Afton's life as she was blessed with many wonderful things in her future.

Here's some pictures of Afton on her blessing day (May 27th, 2012.... which also happened to be mine and Ty's first wedding anniversary.  What a way to celebrate!) :

After Church... she was passed out.  And kind of hard to pose for pictures.

Everyone that came! (Except Ty's mom who was taking the picture)
My mom, Dallin, my dad, Ty, Afton, me, Ty's dad, Emily, Addie, Levi, and Andy

The Grandmas!

 I think Afton speaks for all of us about how we felt at the end of such a fun week...

Fourth of July

Yes, I know.  I have several other things I should post about first.  But again, I wanted to post about our Independence Day while it's still fresh.  Blessing week and other things will come, I promise.

Our 4th was awesome.  We started with a ward breakfast and flag ceremony.  Then we came home upon which I took two naps and so did Afton.  And Ty had to work on some homework.  Then we went down to Bolling Air Force Base and took Afton for her first swimming adventure.  She LOVED it.

Haha, her hair :)

She didn't smile the entire 30 minutes or so she was in the water.  But if there's one thing I know about Afton, it's that she is SERIOUS about her play time.  No smile is a good sign--she's playing hard.  But afterwards when I got her all wrapped up in her towel, she showed me how she really felt about the whole thing.

Unfortunately, this was the best shot I could get of her many smiles.

After her successful adventure in the water, Afton was feeling pretty grown up.  So grown up in fact, that she decided to do THIS for the first time...

Ty luckily came back out of the locker room in time to snap some pictures and see it for himself.  She has yet to repeat.  Part of me is sad because that was pretty darn cool.  But part of me is glad because if she starts sitting up before she's 3 months old, how long until she's crawling, then walking, then running, then.... then.... I no longer have a baby?

After swimming, we went to a park along the river where the Hudson and Anacostia Rivers meet, just across the water from downtown DC.  We had a little picnic and watched the national fireworks.  Afton actually did a pretty good job watching the fireworks... she DOES like lights.  However the Washington DC Airport was also across the river from us, and those lights were pretty tempting for her to watch too.

Cute outfit courtesy of Uncle Abe and Aunt Grace

Afton's head in the bottom middle, mine and Ty's feet above that, some
fireworks above that, and the Washington Monument just to the right of that.

 What a great day.  I don't know how many times I said to Ty last night, "That was a FUN day."  Afton was a little angel all day long (except for the car ride home).  It was SO fun to be together as a family and to see Afton enjoying herself so much.  I'm not quite sure life can get much better than that.