River's Log -- Star Date : Day 4 (33 Weeks)

No more "party hat" for River, they've taken out his IV!!

Woot! Woot!

(the heart stickers hold on his killer shades while he receives photo-therapy for jaundice, which is normal for premie babies.)

Skyler's one proud Papa.

I love Kangaroo Care. It helps me to feel close to River and come to the realization that he's really here. My belly my be empty now, but my arms and heart are full. 

We really can't get over how small he is. It's hard to believe how you can love something so small SO MUCH.

"I WILL"

- the Beatles -

Who knows how long I've loved you
You know I love you still
Will I wait a lonely lifetime
If you want me to, I will.

For if I ever saw you
I didn't catch your name
But it never really mattered
I will always feel the same.

Love you forever and forever
Love you with all my heart
Love you whenever we're together
Love you when we're apart.

And when at last I find you
Your song will fill the air
Sing it loud so I can hear you
Make it easy to be near you
For the things you do endear you to me
Oh, you know, I will
I will.

To listen to this pretty song click HERE

River's Log -- Star date : Day 1 (32 weeks 4 days)

Day 1, we got to go as a family and see and hold our new little dude in the NICU. He's such a cutie and I loved finally feeling him in my arms. 

River never had to be on oxygen, which kicks butt. Thank goodness we were able to get him two steroid shots which helped his lungs developed. Everyone is so impressed with how well River's doing and we feel so so blessed. 

I was just coming off of Magnesium sulfate, so i was pretty out of it and super swollen (I think I look like Ma Gorg from Fraggle Rock. )

River needed to have an IV, and he was a little difficult to get one going, so the best place was on the top of his head. So we loving referred to it as his "party hat". 

River holding on to Sky's finger.

River was born with tons of fuzzy blonde-white hair. He's our little toe-head. His head looks like a fuzzy peach and I absolutely love it.  

 I was pretty beat up after all was said and done. They were drawing blood every hour and my arms started looking like I was a major user and I had multiple IVs going. 

River's Log -- Star Date: Birth (32 weeks 3 days)

Our Biggest Adventure arrived via c-section at  3:09 am October 24.

We're excited for you to meet our miracle baby 

River  Christian  Briggs

3 lbs 4 oz   16 inches

River was born at 32 weeks and 3 days. His is a story of miracles from the beginning, and at his birth we felt the power of generations come together to get him here safely. 

Yes, it's a dramatic story . . . and I hope to share it one day, but for now just know that Heavenly Father sent his angels to attend us. Heavenly angels, a team of angel nurses and doctors, whom we love and appreciate, and my Angel Mom, Margo, to whom we are forever indebted.

Here's some cute video Sky made of River shortly after he was born. :)

          To our son,

Always Believe in  a God of Miracles River, because You are One of His.

Retro-Adventure : Monterey Bay Aquarium

So here's the first of many Retro-Adventures (post of Adventures gone by, but that still rock in their awesomeness). 

Last year while Skyler was going through his uber training for work, he was in California for almost a whole month, so I flew out for a weekend visit and we explored the coast of Northern Cali.

First stop, the Monterey Bay Aquarium. SPECTACULAR! It was huge and the exhibits were awesome. We loved every minute there and spent the entire day watching the marine life swim under water. 

Did you know that it was my childhood dream to become a Marine Biologist? That is, until I watched the movie jaws. After that I couldn't get into a swimming pool or any body of water with out the fear or what lurked beneath until I was like 16. I love Oceans, but deep swimming still freaks me out a bit. 

Skyler has a deep love of sea turtles. I think they are his favorite animals. He's told me that if he ever strikes it rich he's going to open a sea turtle sanctuary just so he can swim with them whenever he wants. 

5 years flies by when your having Fun

Yesterday Sky and I celebrated 5 years of being happily married to each other.  Time flies by so fast when your having a blast! 

I'm so lucky to have found the person that was truly meant for me, in every way. I frequently find myself overwhelmed with gratitude to God that He has blessed me with such an amazing blessing. And I try to make sure Sky knows how much i love him everyday, just like he makes sure to make me laugh and smile everyday. 

Skyler is my Constant, my Rock, my North Star in shifting Skies.

He's the one I want by my side as we make this journey through life -- together.

I am truly blessed to have found this love. 

Happy Anniversary Sweetheart!!

Looking forward to our future adventures together! 

**photo credit to my sister-in-law Cari, who snapped this for me while I was taking My Family Pictures at our awesome Stevenson Family Reunion in Idaho Last week! Thanks Cari. You did a great job!**

Tuesday marked 4 years of Martial Bliss

We've been married 4 years!! Woohoo! 

I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful and fun husband. He's so cute when he wakes up in the morning with his hair going in every direction. I can always tell how he slept just by looking at him. 

July was a busy busy busy month of moving, weddings, and also a family reunion in Idaho, but on our way back from the Cabin, we spent to night in Casper Wyoming and Celebrated our anniversary right with a steak dinner during a torrential down pour. :) {i had to look up the spelling for "torrential" but now it makes sense how to spell it}

I love thinking about the fun adventures we've had together during the span of our marriage and it makes me excited for what lies in our future.

I love you Sky. You're the bestest friend and adventure buddy I've ever had!

xoxo

{the pictures are from one of our visits to the Rocky Mountain National Park, that's literally up the street from where we live,. It's only a short drive up a beautiful and curvy canyon}

So, I said there were a lot of changes coming and this is the biggest. 

We're moving to Colorado in the beginning of July. 

Sky has a wonderful job and part of it is moving to the Rockies. So we're packing our bags and jumpin' east over the mountains to see what adventures a wait us there.

We're sad to say good bye to our beautiful families, friends, and home here in Utah. 

We love it here so much, and so this is a little bitter sweet, but God seems to has some other plans for us. 

With my sweet Skyler by my side, I know this is going to be a BIG and Fun adventure! 

What's great, is Colorado isn't that Far away, which means 

 I'll will continue providing photography for all my wonderful clients that I love here in Utah.

I've added a new "Travel Section" to the Top of the Blog so you can see when I'll be in Utah and when we can schedule your next family or portrait session. 

I will make special trips for weddings so please contact me about your wedding date by phone 801.635.6371 or email lindseybriggs@live.com

I just think of it as expanding the business into Colorado. 

I've been feeling a special kinship with John Denver lately, I lovingly refer to him as Johnny- D. 

"All my bags are packed,
I'm ready to go,
I'm standing here,
Outside your door,
I hate to wake you up to say Good Bye.
But the dawn is breakin', It's early morn`,
The taxi's waiting, blowin' his horn.
Already I'm so lonesome I could die."

-Leaving on a Jetplane