Happy Birthday Autumn!

On August 1st, our baby girl turned ONE! I can't believe it. At Autumn's 12 month well baby check up, she weighed 25 lbs (she was 23 lbs at her 9 month doctor visit) and 33 inches tall. She has 7 teeth; 4 on bottom, 3 on top. The top 3 teeth all came in a week before her birthday, which made for a LONG week. She is crawling now (started at the end of 9 months) and is standing up while holding things. She can crawl up and down stairs when Mom makes her. She cries the entire time while climbing. (Lucky, for me she is scared of death of the stairs and stays as far away from them as she can get!) Most nights, she sleeps through the entire night!!! Her personality has just bloosomed and brings her parents a lot of joy. She gives the cutest smiles and fake laughs (dad taught her). She will also give approval by patting people on the back. Autumn loves music like her daddy. She dances to music and waves her hands mimicing the chorister at church.

It's Present Time!

Yeah! Yummy Cake!

Autumn, feeding Brandon her cake!

How to Get Out of a Ticket

Within the first 2 hours after arriving at Fort Irwin, Brandon got pulled over by the military police. Military police are notorious for pulling anybody and everybody over for any minor traffic violations and writing a ticket. (It is believed by some that the military police have nothing better to do; then give out tickets.) This is the conversation that transpired between Brandon and the military policeman:

Policeman: "Sir, do you know why I pulled you over?"
Brandon: (frustrated) "Well Sir. Since I only got here a few hours ago and don't know where I am going. It could have been that I was speeding, did not make a complete stop, swerved out of my lane, or did not use my blinker."
Policeman: (caught of guard) "Umm, well actually Sir it was because you were talking on your cell phone. This is a "hands free" post so you are not allowed to talk on your cell and drive at the same time. Well, because you just got here, I will let it slide for today."

Home is Where The Army Sends Us!

After 10 days, a church history tour, and seeing both families we arrived at Fort Irwin. Fort Irwin was described to us as "the lone and dreary world" and a "desolate valley". This is the order in which things welcomed our family as we approached our "new home":

After you exit off of I-15, there is a sign that says "Fort Irwin 31 miles". These are the bare dessert mountains that greet you the ENTIRE 31 miles!

The Official "Welcome" Sign

How often do you come across this street sign?!?!

Our new CITY of PARADISE

THINGS ARE LOOKING PROMISING, RIGHT?

ABSOLUTELY!

There is a song that reads, "When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings; name them one by one, And it will surprise  you what the Lord has done. Count your blessings; Name them one by one" So here are the top 10 blessings for being at Fort Irwin:

1. The most important thing of all:

We are together as a family! Remember, the army wanted to send Brandon to Korea for 1 year by himself.

2. We got a wonderful new place to make home.

Before arriving, Brandon was told that the waiting list for military housing at Fort Irwin was 1-3 month wait. Within 2 hours of arriving to Fort Irwin, Brandon and I were standing nervously in the military housing office to hear how long the wait list actually would be for us. The answer: "Here are a list of 8 houses that are available TODAY. Come by tomorrow and tell us which house you would like." Needless to say, we were ecstatic! The next day, we signed the papers and had our stuff unload with the help of 6 church members!!!!
Some great facts about our new place: 1700 square foot duplex, built in 2005 and all the wonderful perks that our New York townhouse DID NOT have include: central air conditioning, garbage disposal, 2 car garage, fenced backyard, 2 storage rooms!!!!

3. Fort Irwin has a LDS branch on post.

4. There are many parks, paths, and a community pool.

5. Family is all within a days drive :)

6. There are 2 temples within a 2 1/2 hour drive.

7. Disneyland, Sea World, and Six Flags are with a 3 hour drive.

8. We will save a lot of money in gas and food!

9. Brandon comes home everyday for lunch.

10. Did I mention that we are together as a family :)

Northern Utah

After 750 mile drive on day 6, we were ALL very happy to arrive in northern Utah. Autumn was especially happy because she no longer had to be strapped in her car seat. I have to say that Autumn held up across country MUCH, MUCH better than I thought she would. We stayed in Layton, Utah (at Brandon's parents house) for 2 1/2 days and then continued south towards Californa. While in Layton, I took Meghan Ramirez to Temple Square in Salt Lake City to finish our church tour and then sent her home on a plane back to New York. Megan we will miss you!  Brandon's mother's side (The Glovers) also had birthday party for his grandpa, Byron James Glover, who turned 80 on July 9. It was nice to see all of the extended family that came to the party! It is amazing how different people look after a few years of not seeing them.

Meghan Ramirez, Sister Missionary from Cambodia, and Me in front of the Christus at Temple Square

Cousins

Autumn Dahl (11 months old) with Alton Dahl (17 months old)

Day 5 of Our Cross Country Trip

Day 5:

Liberty Jail

Independence Missouri

At 24 lbs, Autumn (11 months) might be too heavy for Brandon to lift!

Winter Quarters (Omaha, Nebraska)

This statue represents all the parents that had to bury a child along the pioneer trail. :(

Carthage Jail and Nauvoo

Day 3: July 5, 2010

After driving through Ohio, Indiana, and most of Illinois we arrived at Carthage Jail hungry, tired, and most of us still in our pajamas!

(Left to Right): Autumn, Me, Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Meghan Ramirez and Sarah Dahl

Below: The rain also arrived with us! Autumn enjoying the rain drops!

Day 4: July 6, 2010

Nauvoo city here we come! Brandon and I started the day with doing an endowment session through the Nauvoo Temple. This was the highlight of the trip for Brandon and I. The Nauvoo Temple is gorgous on the outside, amazing on the inside, and the celestial room magnificant. After the temple, we picked up the rest of the crew and returned back to the city. We stopped at as many little sites (stores, houses, etc.) in Nauvoo that time allowed for the day. Meghan left the city (as we dragged her away from the city) deciding that she was going to get married in the Nauvoo temple someday. I hope her dream comes true.

Nauvoo Temple

Sarah, Brandon, Autumn, Me, and Meghan

This is a common pose I have seen Brandon do over the years for pictures. I'm not sure what he is doing but being 30 years old does not stop him yet!

Starting the Move to California

When Brandon applied for the optometry residency, we were both fully aware that we would only be in New York for 1 year. Well, that year came and went (FAST) and now it is time for our family to move once again. The United States Army decided that we were moving to Fort Irwin, California. When Brandon's fellow servicemen heard that we were being stationed at Fort Irwin, the common response was, "I'm sorry." Regardless of other people's responses, our family is excited to start a new adventure. That new adventure started with the drive cross country from New York to California! Since the army was paying for the driving expenses, Brandon and I decided to take a family vacation along the way and see all the LDS church history sites! We said goodbye to our home in Cornwall, NY on July 3, 2010 with 2 cars, 1 baby, 2 dogs, and 2 guests (Brandon's sister, Sarah Dahl and family friend, Meghan Ramirez). The first day we spent in Palymara so that Sarah and Meghan could enjoy the sites there.

The second day, July 4, 2010 we stopped in Kirtland, Ohio. First we stopped at the Newel K Whitney Store and visitor center. This was probably my favorite site along the way (other than the Nauvoo temple)! It had been at least 15 years since I was last here and it had change a lot. From the visitor center, the tour takes you to the Newel K Whitney Store, the Whitney home, and then to a saw mill and ashery. The saw mill and ashery are replicas of what Newel K Whitney would have owned.  It was very interesting and insightful!

One Tired Little Autumn!

Our family in front of the ashery

OF COURSE, I had to take more family photos by the saw mill and ashery because of the hundreds of beautiful wild sunflower! And OF COURSE, Brandon, Sarah, and Meghan had to roll their eyes at me.

(Left to Right): Sarah Dahl, Autumn and Brandon

After a nice picnic luch, we head over to see and tour the Kirtland Temple!

Happy Birthday Brandon!

Brandon turned 30 this year!!!!!!! He has been afraid of turning 30 ever since I met him. He feels that 30 is OLD! To try to make his birthday special this year, I tried to think of something meaningful for him. My solution: he has the BEST wife ever!!!! I arranged for two of his optometry friends to fly up for the weekend and surprise him. (The weekend before we moved: June 24-27, 2010). And surprised he was! Him and his friends had a blast. It was a XBOX and World Cup Soccer watching weekend. Happy Birthday Brandon. I sure love you!

(Left to Right): Nathan Tuttle, Ben Scoresby, Brandon Dahl

Playing lots and lots and lots of XBOX!!!!

"The USA shoots and they score" USA vs Ghana

Suprise!

Autumn began crawling at the end of 9 months old in May. As a mother, I am learning that mobility in an infant can be suprising at times. Here are 2 examples:

What Mom? I'm just sitting on the dishwasher door and playing with a knife.

Autumn-10 months old

Is this where the dogs sleep?

(July 2010-11 months old)

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

June 18, 2010:

Brandon and I decided that we better make another trip to the Big Apple because there were things to do and places to see before we moved away. Today we took a city tour by a double decker bus and then went out to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Autumn enjoying the city by bus!

I love our camera.

Brandon, Autumn and Statue of Liberty

A view of lower Manhattan from Liberty Island.

I am sooo cute and I KNOW it!

Ellis Island