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In August I flew back to the US for three weeks for the wedding of my little sister, Ellen. The only thing that could get me back to Arizona in the Summer is the weddings of my siblings or closest friends. I was not excited about returning to that heat! Ellen wanted to get married before the Fall semester of her husband's schooling, so August it was! Seeing her get married and really just the whole day of activity was truly one of the best experiences of my life. I was a little hesitant to go only because of having to travel with a 2 month old and a two year old, but it was well worth it! Now I am back home in Copenhagen with pictures to document the trip!


Ellen and Matthijs

The beautiful bride

I had so much fun doing wedding things with Ellen! We went shopping for lingerie, her luncheon dress, wedding shoes, gloves and generally just did all the bridal shopping. I just loved it! I did Ellen's makeup and hair for the wedding and it was just so fun to bond with her in the ultimate girl's activities. Ellen looked so beautiful and I am so excited for her and her new husband, Matthijs!


Olivia had so much fun playing with Greg and Emily's kids- Zuzu and Linkin (pictured)
She also had so much fun with Marie's kids and Carl's kids. It was so fun to see her with her cousins and it made me sad that she will have so little interaction with them.




Olivia had the biggest crush on Grandpa. All she wanted to do was see him and talk to him and play with him. Here is she a little scared on the lawnmower.


Graham

Olivia eats some Dairy Queen

Weird car seat stare down

Well, there is really so much to write about this trip but I have been home for over two months now and I just don't feel like dragging it out! Maybe I will on future posts. On to other things! So long Arizona! I can't say when we will meet again!

Camo Babies

Yesterday I put Graham's camoflauge shirt on. Olivia has a onesie that is camouflage that she has grown out of that I still let her wear as a shirt, tucked in you so can't see the snaps. It works great! I thought about sewing it into a shirt but want Graham to be able to wear it once he is bigger. When Olivia saw Graham with his camo on, she said- "Olia wear that shirt!" So she went into her room to put on her camo shirt. Once I saw them all matchy matchy I had to take some pictures. Matthew came in to take a few and asked- "Since when are we dressing our kids in matching clothes?" and then he asked "and why are they wearing camouflage?". I was kind of thinking the same thing as the photo shoot played out but I couldn't help myself!

-Oh, final thought- Matthew and I want to try and see if we can get Olivia to do that huge smile for every picture taken of her until she is at least 16. Do you think we can do it?

We're Like This All the Time

I had the best day yesterday! I went out by myself for an hour and a half or so and went shopping! Matthew watched the kids for me. Graham is just about 6 weeks old. I have not been out by myself since before he was born and probably longer. It was great! I rode my bike to H&M and bought a few things. It was raining pretty steadily and I must say it felt great! On the way there it was just barely sprinkling so I had a dry shopping experience, but on the way home I got soaked. I loved every minute of it! I love riding the bike! Matthew said it best when he said that is makes everything seem whimsical. I think I smiled the whole ride home in the rain. Also, I am not going to lie, I hummed this song the entire time. I am not ashamed! I am sure I looked ridiculous riding my bike soaking wet with the biggest, dumbest grin on my face. What a fun, new combination of awesome things- shopping, raining and bike riding. If only I played tennis in there somewhere it would have been a perfect day.

Me riding in our complex, about to park my bike


Next item of business, Matthew has been growing out his beard for the sole purpose of torturing me, despite what he says. He has been growing it for about 3 weeks. So yesterday he decided to make his move. While I was sleeping he sneaked into the bathroom and shaved this atrocity. Behold the worst Matthew has ever looked:

Apparently, Ambrose Burnside, the man who is responsible for the modern day sideburns, was Matthew's inspiration. Awesome.

Ambrose Burnside

Graham Patrick Kaare Cox

Someday maybe this kid can grow such luxurious facial hair and he and his father can both torture me. That actually sounds pretty awesome if I am being honest!

Friends

Graham is just about two weeks old. One of my greatest concerns about him joining our family was how Olivia would react to him. So far, it has been wonderful! Matthew and I really focused on trying not to change our routine too much the first week and to spend a lot of quality one on one time with Olivia. For the first week, I spent a lot of time breastfeeding, but when I wasn't, Matthew had Graham so that Olivia saw that we were still going to cuddle on the couch when she woke up and read books at her leisure and play outside and all the things we try and do everyday. Towards the end of the first week I started integrating Graham into the routine slowly. Olivia took it very well. She thinks Graham is the cutest, sweetest baby. She loves to check for dirt between his toes as she does her own toes, obsessively. She likes how he grips her finger and the "penguin noises" he makes. Olivia is always helpful as she will bring me diapers or pick out Graham's clothes or bring Graham some imaginary treat. Anytime he cries she tells me he is crying and will try and give him one of her stuffed animals, usually her favorite Winnie the Pooh ones. She is just so sweet and has shown no sign of jealousy- so far. It makes me so happy!

I try not to ooh and awe over Graham too much when Olivia is around but as soon as she goes to bed he is all mine! He is such a cuddly little baby and really likes to be held right up again the chest. He sleeps and eats constantly. When Olivia was just born she slept the first day but after that it was game on to get her to go to sleep. There was so much rocking and walking and singing to get her to stay asleep. Graham sleeps for hours at a time, wakes up to eat, then goes back to sleep for hours and hours. As you see, I don't have one picture here of him with his eyes open!

His hair is looking more and more red. When he does wake up, if he is not fed immediately, he freaks out. He screams in anger. Olivia slowly started boiling over after a few minutes if you didn't give her enough attention at that age. Graham the Red, his Viking nickname, is like a powder keg when it comes to eating.

I think Graham and Olivia look similar as babies, minus the hair color. Here is each baby in their first week of life in the same onesie and same pose:

Olivia


Graham

More pictures:



Him

Her

Friends


I am pretty excited about this relationship too but I will save that for another day!

Dad Times Two

We had our baby on June 1st! His name is Graham. He has very blond hair that has some red in it. His eyelashes and eyebrows are white. He was 8 pounds, 9 ounces when born. Today is Father's Day in Denmark. I tried to make Matthew breakfast in bed but Graham started crying to nurse while the bacon and pancakes were on the stove so Matthew had take over and basically make his own breakfast! Lame! He appreciated my efforts though, I think.

Happy Father's Day, Matthew, to the best husband, dad and friend!

Tea Party

Olivia loves feeding, diapering, wiping, putting to sleep and waking up her "babies". She spends hours doing this and it is so fun to watch! She often shuts her bedroom door so I can't watch but sometimes she humors me! It is my favorite thing!

København Brandvæsen

The Copenhagen Fire Stations hold open houses with fire demonstration for kids for 5 or 6 Saturdays in the Summer. My Danish friend, Lene, told us about it and so we headed down there this morning. The open house started with the firemen lighting a barrel on fire and putting it out with different methods. That lasted about a half hour. Then the kids were free to wander from fire truck to ambulance to the fire hose and get some hands on experience with all the equipment. They gave out fire safety vests and a fire helmet- which Olivia loved! It was such a fun time! We love Copenhagen!!

Matthew wanted these fire suits so badly!

Video below: Olivia on fire hose- I was having technical difficulties with the camera and didn't get her holding the hose for very long!