Tagged....

Here you go, Chels!

My 3 Joys: My family, the gospel, the beach, peanut butter/chocolate (So what if I put 4!?)

My 3 Fears: mice/rats, Sienna stops breathing in her sleep, something happening to Dan

My 3 Current Obsessions: Sleep, Sienna, redbox video rentals

3 Surprising Facts: I can eat peanut butter straight from the jar, I've had glasses since I was 5 years old, I LOVE live sporting events

I tag: katie, jennifer, kim, steph, Michele, kristin, ally

Silent Auction (for a great cause!)

I don't actually know this family personally, but I have read their story on a couple of different friends blogs and just keep thinking about them. Christian and Stephanie Nielson were in a tragic plane accident over a week ago. They survived, but were severely injured and burned and are in critical condition. They have four beautiful children who are being cared for by extended family.

Here is their story....http://www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/ or http://www.nierecovery.com/

There is a silent auction going on via many different blogs and websites. There are a ton of really great things that are being auctioned off (many items from fabulous etsy shops)--from photography, jewelry, quilts, clothing, aprons, meals, crafts, and lots more. I hope that you can all take a few minutes to browse. I'm sure that you will find something that you will want to bid on.

All the proceeds from the auction will go towards Stephanie and Christian's recovery, which is expected to take months and cost well into the millions.

Here are the links to auctions currently going on:

http://www.designmom.com/

http://www.adailyscoop.blogspot.com/

If you are unable to donate financially, then please remember this family in your prayers.

Favorite Quote

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around and shouting that he has been robbed. The fact of the matter is that most putts don't drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey...delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally

by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.

The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."

-Gordon B. Hinckley

Sienna Newborn Pics (by Emily Van Dyke)

My good friend Emily Van Dyke is a fabulous photographer and offered to do some newborn pictures of Sienna. She did our engagement pictures and my bridal pictures as well and does such an amazing job. I think these pictures of Sienna turned out so great! When I have more time I'll share the fun adventures we had actually getting these shots (while we tried to keep Sienna awake or asleep and entertaining Emily's little girl Alivia), but for now here are some of my favorites! You can check out more of Emily's work and get pricing from her website at evandykephotography.blogspot.com

Hangin' with the Hoaglands

We are so glad that our good friends Sarah, Jon & Avery (and baby girl!) Hoagland are back in town. They brought us Cafe Rio for dinner one night and hung out. We are excited that they live here in Utah where we will be able to see more of them!

All tuckered out...

Our new world...

Visits from friends and family

I thought I'd post pictures of some of the friends and family who came to see us in the hospital. We were grateful for the visits and all the goods (Gandolfo's, Cafe Rio, magazines, newspapers, cookies, baby gifts, the cranberry spritzer and more!) Thanks for all the love and support!

We had a fun surprise visit from some of our good friends from Huntington Beach. The Arnold family was in town for a wedding, so we were lucky enough to have them come to the hospital to see us. Miss you guys! Here is Alex & Sophie holding Sienna.
Me, Sienna & Kristin

Uncle Brad
Uncle Rob (who had a cold and couldn't hold her so we staged this photo!)
The Eric Dixon Clan (I didn't get pics of everyone, but here is Sienna's cousin Taylor and her Aunt Liz)
Grandpa Hanson (who happened to be in the same hospital the day after she was born having surgery on his foot and came up to meet Sienna right after the surgery)
Aunt Kate & cousins Carter & Cassidy

Grandpa Dixon
Great Aunt Carol Pearson
Grandma Hanson
Aunt Nelly
Grandma Dixon

Stella Bagozzi (Oh, and Chels & Cory too)

Sleeping beauty

So I totally understand all you moms who post a zillion pictures of your kids. Every picture I've taken of Sienna is "the cutest picture ever". I just can't get enough of her! I took her to her pediatrician today for her newborn check and she is doing great! Here's just a few pics I took today of her sleeping. I kinda like her. ;)

Introducing Sienna Marie Dixon!

On August 12th, 2008 at 9: 19 p.m. Sienna (with two "n's"--I won!) Marie Dixon finally made her grand entrance into the world! She is a beautiful 8 lb 1 oz (19 inches) baby girl. We are already so in love with her! We might be a little biased, but we think she's pretty stinkin' cute. (Especially for a newborn). So, here is the story. Tuesday morning my water broke at around 4 a.m. so we headed to the hospital. I started having contractions pretty consistently once I got to the hospital, which progressed quickly, especially once they started the pitocin. I had an epidural a few hours later, but then was really slow to dilate. At 6 p.m. (14 hours after my water had broken) I was only dilated to a 4 and my doctor said that if I wasn't at a 6 by 8:00 p.m. then we were probably going to have to do a c-section. I was comfortable for most of the day (thanks to the epidural, which I loved!) and we just hung out, waiting for things to get moving. Dr. Smith came back to check me at 8:30 p.m. (thinking that she was getting ready to do a c-section) and I was dilated to a 10! We got the room ready and I pushed for about 35 minutes (with a little tearing and an episiotomy--good times!) and out came this beautiful 8 lb 1 oz baby girl with tons of dark hair. She got in a fight with my pelvic bone and has a little shiner on her left eye, but other than that, she is just perfect! It was just me and Dan in the delivery room and it was really neat experience. He was such a great coach. He is already so whooped over this little girl. It's fun to see him as a dad. We are so grateful that everything went well and, most of all, that we have a healthy baby. So far she has been really good--happy, mellow and content. We feel very blessed for all the love and support from friends and family and are excited to start this new journey as a family. We can't wait for you all to meet little Sienna. Here's a few pics from the big day.

Here we go...

Still waiting...

Here she is!!!

World's Greatest Dad!

The proud Grandma's!

We did it!

Here she is all cleaned up (and still a little swollen).

Check out those chubby cheeks!!!

Some of the Hanson clan

Sienna Marie sportin the mohawk.

We just can't get enough of this.