Seaside, OR

We took off the day after Christmas for our 2nd annual mini vacation with Uncle Drew. Instead of exchanging presents at Christmas last year we decided to stay at one of our timeshares. We didn't drive each other too crazy last year so we decided to do it again even with a baby :) While I was pregnant Andrew did ask me if we were going to be bring the baby along or leave her with my parents :) We spent 4 days at Seaside and loved it! We had weather in the 60's, beautiful sunsets and good company. I can't wait until next year!

7 weeks old - First time laying in the sand :)

Ecola State Park

Christmas Adventures!

Graciana's 1st Christmas was a wild and crazy 2 days! A lot of family, presents and love :) Christmas Eve was spent at Malinda's parents house where we celebrated in traditional fashion with Santa coming to visit! Christmas morning we spent a few hours with Malinda's parents and brother and then made our way down to Cam's parents house where family from Minnesota and Seward were visiting. Now we are off to the beach for a few days...

Christmas morning with Uncle Drew, G-Pa and Lola

Some of Graciana's crazy cousins!

4 generations: Grandpa Ken, Great Grandma Verva and Dad

Some of the Kristenson Clan: Konnor, Ken, Ellen, Jan, Kevin, Jodi, Kole and Grandma K

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas from our house to yours! We had a little fun with Graciana this morning. It was going to just be her under the tree but she was being SO good for the camera that we all decided to join in.
She is definitely the best present we have gotten in a long time :)

Uncle Drew joining in!

With G-Pa and Lola

1 Month Old

One month has flown in our household. For those that don't know we have been staying at Malinda's parent's house. We are VERY thankful for all the extra hands and help. Uncle Drew said that it's felt like it has been at least 6 months (as we all laughed). We can't imagine our life without her (except for when we think about the sleep we use to get at night).

With her Uncle Drew

With G-Pa and Lola

Taking a much needed nap.

5 Days Old

We had Graciana's 5 day old pictures taken last week. We think they turned out pretty good! Here are just a few...

Kerra did an amazing job. Thank you! http://www.kerratibeauphotography.com/

The Proud GrandParents

Lola Janet and Grandpa Dennis visiting Graciana at the hospital.
Grandpa Ken

Grandma Ellen

One Sweet Day

First bath!

First family picture :)

Daddy's becoming quite the photographer!

One sweet day in November Graciana Janelle was born. November 7, 2009 was a joyful occasion in the Besett-Kristenson household. She joined our family at 7:25AM, weighed 5lbs 12ozs and was 18.5inches long. Mom and Dad are so happy that she is here with us even though she came out a few weeks early. She had many visitors come and see her at the hospital. The first visitor was Auntie Resa, followed by Lola and Grandpa Dennis, Uncle Drew, Chris, Angie and Lori, Uncle Char and Auntie Tina and cousins Tiana and Jayden, Denise and Erik and Uncle Nick and Aunt Dee.

Pumpkin Patch

It's not too often that we get down to Washington in the fall time so we decided to take advantage of visiting the pumpkin patch in the Kent Valley.

Malinda and Tiana in the Corn Maze.

Tiana trying to find the perfect pumpkin.

Visiting the Black Cat and Moon.

6 Weeks and Counting...

So we have 6 more weeks to go...I left Nome this morning, heading to Kent. Cam will follow in a couple of more weeks.

So as I was preparing to leave everyone was asking me do you have everything you need for the baby? Well what does a new baby and parents need? When we were down in Seattle for a visit in August I took Cam to Babies R Us and boy did he get overwhelmed! Do you really need all that "stuff"? I have gone to rummage sales in Nome or run into people that have just had kids and they tell me, "We have this for sale my baby is no longer using it. Do you want to buy it?"

So I ask what do we need as new parents? I know that we will need a car seat...they won't let you leave the hopsital in WA without one. I have a bassinett in Nome and in WA so we are set there for at least a couple of months until we decide/find a crib that we like. I only want essential things...I am determined that our house will not become over run with plastic :)

Nome Showers

Last Friday my coworkers threw me a work shower...it was a wonderful luncheon and I got to see co-workers that I don't get to see everyday since I work in another office across town.
Then on Sunday a couple of my friends threw me a surprise baby shower that completly took me by surprise. They even planned it at our house and Cam did a great job of cleaning and keeping it a secret...I had a rummage sale all day and the house was a disaster from me going through all of our stuff to sell over the week. It was wonderful to hang out with my girlfriends and see them all before I leave. I will be leaving for Seattle on Thursday and won't be back to Nome until January. Below are some of the pictures from Sunday.

My friend Becca did a beautiful job with the homemade carrot cupcakes and willow center piece that is now sitting on our desk!

Hahnah and Riley and helping me open presents.
Couldn't ask for a better group of friends!

Party Like it's 1999

We made a quick visit to Kent for my 10 year high school reunion this past weekend. It was great to catch up with old friends. Some of them I haven' t seen in 10 years. Others I have seen on and off over the years or we have chatted by email. It was definitely an interesting experience. There was the "high school jock" that was totally wasted and the "quiet shy girl" who randomly met a guy and started making out with him. I am glad that I went even though I was hesitant about going. It was better than expected and I can't wait to see what everyone is up to at the 20 year!

Heading out for the Evening

With Denise and Chrissy

With Kari and Alex

Some of my oldest friends. Emily, Jennie, Katie, Noelani and Ailey.
I have known Noelani and Ailey since our first day of Kindergarten and Emily, Jennie and Katie since 7th grade.

24 Weeks

We had our 24 week appointment during a quick visit to Kent. Baby girl is looking healthy. She has become very active in the last couple of weeks and I can already tell her sleeping and awake habits.

17 weeks

I am in Seattle for a quick visit on my way back to Nome. I was in North Carolina for a conference and decided to make Seattle a pit stop on the way back. I met with my Doctor here and everything is looking good. The due date is still November 28. We went to the Mariners game last night and it brought me back to my childhood of watching Junior at the Kingdome. He came up with the Mariners behind 1-3. The crowd went crazy when he went to the on deck circle. He got up to bat, cameras started flashing, first pitch and he hit a home run to tie the game! He still has that beautiful swing that I remember as a kid. Going to have all of my family over today at my parents house to visit before I head back to Nome tomorrow.

Memorial Day

We left Seward early Monday morning after staying an additional night. It was sure great to spend time with Cam's Aunt and we ended Sunday evening with a bon fire, good conversation and smore making.

After leaving Seward we started the 2 hour drive north. What do you want to do for the day? was the question we asked our selves. Let's go see another glacier. We stopped in Girdwood. Not much there but looked like some awesome biking trails during the summer.

We continued north to Wasilla because I had heard about the Matanuska Glacier. We then veered towards Palmer and we 2 hours later we made it. What a magnificent glacier!! We didn't quite know where we were going and I wasn't too sure of the long dirt road down the hill....but we made it and the lady warned us to stay on the trail. Well we got off the trail and walked right into the middle of the glacier. We weren't the only ones and boy it was beautiful. The blue hues, the glacier waterfall and the glacier pond (cam said the water wasn't too bad).

We sure had a great extended weekend before Cam's busy work season starts and I start traveling in the month of June for work. We hope everyone had a great start to the first weekend of summer!