Introducing... SOLIDS!

Since Kharisma has hit the six month mark it's that time. Solids. I've been excited about it for a long time, I don't know why, I guess I'm just wierd like that, but I've been planning it for quite some time. Probably before she was even born. Well, after a few weeks of it here are my thoughts: I'll keep nursing until she can feed and clean-up herself.

No, I'm kidding. But seriously, that's how I feel. I've nursed her exclusively so I haven't even had to deal with washing bottles but now... well, just look at the picture. Peas everywhere. I've gone through more kitchen rags then ever before. I'm not really complaining, it is fun to watch her at this stage but it's a lot more work.

I can't even tell how much she likes the food. She's had baby rice cereal, avacado, and peas. I'm making her food so next it will be green beans and carrots.

She's very independent and just wants to do it herself so that adds to the mess. Also, her recent discovery of blowing "raspberries" doesn't seem to help either. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks she'll catch on to the whole eating thing but for now I'll continue cleaning the entire kitchen after every meal. (Okay, not the entire kitchen gets messy.)

On a whole new subject...

First Christmas! Kharisma sat on Santa Clause's lap the other day, he visited our ward Christmas party. She sure eyed that beard of his, I'm sure it looked tasty to her. She didn't really react too much... right now she'll still go to strangers, we'll see what next year brings.

MERRY CHRISTMAS KHARISMA!

What's in a name?

Kharisma Sky Dixon

The word charisma (Greek "kharisma," meaning "gift," "of/from/favored by God/the divine") refers to a trait found in persons whose personalities are characterized by a personal charm and magnetism (attractiveness), along with innate and powerfully sophisticated abilities of interpersonal communication and persuasion. One who is charismatic is said to be capable of using their personal being, rather than just speech or logic alone, to interface with other human beings in a personal and direct manner, and effectively communicate an argument or concept to them.

Our BABY story...

As some might know, I was baby hungry from the get-go, but I knew we needed to wait. So we waited as long as I could (three years--pretty good in my opinion) and after much planning--we needed her born after Ben graduated but before we moved--we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl on June 10, 2009. She is perfect.

After a near-perfect pregnancy and even more perfect delivery I feel like I could have at least five more (the nurses suggested twenty) but Ben doesn't quite feel the same way. We'll see. We've always talked about eventually adopting a few kids too if we are ever financially comfortable enough to. There are so many kids out there in need of a loving home so I hope someday we can.

I want to write a little about Kharisma's birth, especially since I haven't even written about it in my journal. I know my labor experience is the type that makes others want to hate me but I promise I'm not trying to rub it in the face of those who had a more difficult time. This is mostly for me to remember and reflect on... especially when the next one is opposite (although I hope not).

Kharisma's due date was June 15th. Of course, like I'm sure everyone who is pregnant for the first time has experienced, I got tons of people saying, "Oh, the first one is always early," and just as many with, "Oh, the first one is always late," to what I would respond, "Yep, that's what I hear." So, I didn't know what to expect and that was honestly the hardest part of being pregnant, although I did read What to Expect When You're Expecting, oh the irony.

Wednesday, June 10th arrived and I awoke at about 6 AM with slight cramping in my abdomen. I didn't think much of it and stayed in bed until about 7. I was scheduled to work at 7:30, work was only five minutes away so that was my normal time of getting up. I started getting ready for work but the cramps started to get a little more intense. My doctor had told me that contraction pain would be bad enough that I wouldn't be able to walk. I was still walking but I decided I'd call the hospital and see what they said. Ben talked to a nurse and she advised me to go back to bed and drink some water, rest, and see if the contractions would spread out. They were already two to three minutes apart. I then called my work and said I didn't think I'd be in that day, but if I felt better I'd come. That was the first time in about seven years of working that I had called in sick. I went back to bed but the pain just continued to increase in intensity so I called the nurse back and told her I was coming in.

During the ten minute car ride to the hospital I began to doubt my ability to handle a drug-free labor like I had dreamed of and started crying. Ben, who was very calm and supportive the entire time, told me I was strong and would support whatever I wanted to do.

We got to the hospital at about 8:45 and, hobbling across the parking lot, finally found our way to labor and delivery check-in. They showed me to my room and hooked me up to all the monitoring equipment. Then came the waiting game. I had to wait for my doctor to check on me. When he arrived we found out I was already dilated to 6 cm. I was suppose to tell them my pain level on a scale of 1-10, I said a 4. They wanted to know at which level would I ask for pain killers and I said at a 8... thank goodness I never reached that point.

A nurse came in to give me some breathing pointers since we never had time to take a class and she ended up staying the whole time. She was amazing. She had the most soothing voice and she just talked me through all the contractions, telling me how good I was doing, rubbing my back in between contractions, and even taking pictures after. (I had been so worried about being sent home we didn't even bring our stuff in out of the car.) Little Kharisma dropped so fast the nurses had to make me stop pushing because my doctor wasn't there (he had left for awhile). Luckily he slipped his gloves on just in time, 10:54 AM. Ben was able to cut the cord before they put her on my chest. No words can describe the utter relief felt after that baby was out. I did it. No drugs. I felt like I could've ran a marathon. As soon as I could speak, the first thing I said was, "Well, that wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be!" The doctor laughed and told me what an amazing job I had done. What an intense experience.

The second my baby was in my arms I knew our lives had changed forever. She was so small and precious, I never wanted to put her down. She was so beautiful, even fresh from the womb. Ben and I love her so much. It's hard to explain the love for a child but just thinking about it makes me cry. I'd do anything for her. I thank my Heavenly Father every day that He sent her to us. She is such a gift.

Kharisma Sky

Our story continued...

We've spent from June 2006 to August 2009 living in Logan, Utah. We bought a little white house on the west side of town, among the Historic District, and spent the entire time fixing it up. Every single room of the house needed help. It was built in 1902 and was probably last updated sometime in the 70's, judging by the wallpaper and carpet. We did everything, tore down wallpaper, replastered the walls, painted, ripped up carpet, new floors, new countertops, re-wired the entire place, replaced all light fixtures, added new outlets, added on a laundry room... and that's the just the inside. We also tore off the roof and put up a new one, painted the outside and the yard had quite a make-over. These are before and during the work pictures. I can't find any of the after pictures.

We worked our little guts out on this house. Most of the work inside was done while I was pregnant so I was doing everything I was told not to i.e. climbing ladders, painting, tiling, tearing up carpet... just days before delivering I was still up on a ladder painting. But we got it done. Just when we had it exactly the way we wanted it... we sold it.

We loved our house but from day one we knew we wouldn't be there forever. It was a great opportunity and we learned a lot. I could probably host my own home improvment show now. If I had endless money and time I'd love to spend my life fixing up old houses. After our experience with this house though I've told Ben that the next house we buy will be new... too much stress is involved trying to live in a house and remodel it at the same time... and have a baby.

So for the first three years it was just Ben--going to school at USU, Me--working full time and going to school full time (most of the time), and the Devil's spawn. I mean, our cat.

Ping-Pong-- Ben so kindly adopted from the vet clinic he was working at. Don't be fooled, this picture of her may seem cute and adorable but she truly is some sort of devil cat. She's not so cute anymore and loves to hide under my bed when I'm folding clothes and attack my toes.

Honeymoon Delight

Next came the honeymoon...

Due to both of our parents kindly letting us use condo shares, we were able to take a two-week-long honeymoon... wow. The first week was spent in Lake Tahoe which was beautiful, I'm pretty sure I could live there.

Our journey then led us to Sin City--Las Vegas where we stayed at the Ritz at Lake Las Vegas (a man-made lake in the middle of the desert just for this hotel, complete with beach) where we stayed one night. Our friend and former roommate had a sister working there and that was our wedding present from their family, there was no way we could afford to stay there otherwise. I, unfortunately, got sick from walking the hot, stinky, smokey streets of Vegas (like always, I hate Vegas) but it was still a fun experience. We also got to go see Celine Dion's show. Ben still won't admit it but I know he loved it.

A little more on the hotel... we got there in our pajama pants and basketball shorts because we had been driving all day and later found out that there was a dress code, levis and t-shirts weren't even allowed in the lobby! They also handed us moist cold cloths on glass plates that were to be used on our neck/face to "cool us down". Yeah... we felt a bit white-trash to say the least. But everyone was really nice to us.

We then went to the airport and flew to Hawaii! Don't get too excited though, we went to Molokai. What? Never heard of it? We hadn't either. When we landed in the field at the "airport" we had to hitch-hike to our resort and then to the nearest town for food that night. Don't get me wrong, it was beautiful and very secluded but basically we did all there was to do in about three days... minus the donkey ride down the vertical cliffs to the leper colony (it was booked for months). It was fun but I doubt I'd ever go back to that island.

Here are a few more pictures for your viewing pleasure...

Our LOVE Story

In the beginning....

}Let's go back in time{

Year: 2005

Month: August

Place: Utah State University

I, fresh out of high school.

Ben, fresh out of the military.

Did I ever imagine I'd marry a soldier boy? Heck no.

Did Ben ever imagine he'd marry someone so ridiculously cool? I think not.

So, how did it all go down? Well, keep on reading.

Ben and I both lived in the same apartment building at USU but we really didn't see each other those first few weeks of school. His roommate/best friend however was in one of my classes and we sat next to each other and shared fruit snacks. I eventually started following him home after class... partly to hang out with the guys, partly to get food out of them i.e. quesadillas, Totinos Pizza.

This is what Ben looked like when I first met him:

Homeless Man

He grew this because his plan was to not get married until after Vet school, which would have been 8 years, so the beard was to deter the ladies. Ironically, that's what attracted me to him. I saw him and thought to myself... "Hmm... what an interesting fellow, I should get to know him."

He found out I like-liked him...

Ben had been sort of dating a girl he met at USU but things didn't work out and she broke up with him. When I found out, Ben was in Las Vegas with a few of his friends. I thought he was so distraught about the break up that he ran off to Vegas to gamble his money and drink his sorrows away. However, I later found out that there was a car show down there and the trip and been planned for quite some time. Before I found out though, I was talking to his roommate and told him that I was worried about Ben. His friend of course told Ben this and that translated to "she so wants me"

First kiss: October 24th

(I usually don't remember these kinds of things but Ben did because he then asked my dad if he could marry me December 24th)

First Date: (yes, it came after the first kiss)

We went to the Olive Garden and then ice skating

The Proposal

January 1, 2006

That night we went to Ben's apartment where he had prepared a beautiful candle light dinner. After we ate he said he had a book for me. It was called "100 Reasons Why I Love You"... cheesy, but cute. He read it to me and then shrugged his shoulders and said

"Well, do you want to watch a movie?" Being a bit confused I replied,

"Uh, I guess."

He started walking out of the room then stopped,

"Oh, I forgot something. Look at the back page of the book."

Smiling, I turned to the back and there, in a hole carved in the cardboard cover was a ring.

He was a bit disappointed that I didn't cry... it wasn't a surprise, I knew it was coming.

After a six month engagement we were married in the Logan, Utah LDS Temple on

June 3, 2006

Aaawwww....

now you know

Where to begin.....??

After about a month or two of having a blog I decided I better do something with it. I love to write, I just have so many other little things/projects I need to do that I have neglected my blog and now am overwhelmed of where to begin. The plan is to do a short review of our lives (Ben&I) thus far. The days to follow will include such postings...