Are we Dutch? Or are we Danish?

Thunderstorms aside, Michele and I took advantage of the only two hours on Saturday in which there was not torrential downpours. We ended up getting a little bit wet towards the end, but Kellyn remained dry and content as ever. Saturday was Dutch Day at the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival which meant lots of food and merchandise vendors on hand ( not to mention world class accordion players and not a single one playing Grandpa Cook's favorite, Beer Barrel Polka). As soon as we entered the vendor area, a crazy Dutch woman came up to me and started blabbering to us in Dutch. I tried telling her that I don't speak Hollandese but she was convinced I was from the land of tulips, windmills, wooden shoes, and dikes ( I love stereotyping and no I am not using a vulgar word). Finally she asked where I hailed from and I told her I was a descendant of King Gorm of Denmark himself. She told me to prove it and I did the haka for her which she believed to be a viking war dance and everything was settled. As a side note, its amazing how similar Michele found Dutch hot chocolate to be to Starbucks hot chocolate.


Michele and Kellyn off the beaten path ( which was okay unlike some of the visitors who were doing tulip angels)



Lunch time- best part of the day




Michele and Kellyn going over the worlds largest man made waterfall ( largest because no one had tried to build a large one before)



Kellyn in front of worlds largest man made waterfall (Michele excused herself from walking down the hill because of high heels)



Dad and daughter planning out flowers for a future wedding which dad will never allow to take place



Looks oddly similar to the Russian palaces in St. Petersburg




Who says Utah is a desert? Maybe they meant dessert.



Ducks in a pond quack a happy song. I wonder what Canadian geese and goslings quack. These geese were actually from the Bow River in Canada and said that my dad needs to bike harder to get in shape for the Whistler trip.

Michele enjoying some fine views and some fine Dutch hot chocolate.

La Risa

They say laughter is the best medicine. Since there are no direct head-to-head studies comparing laughter to Lipitor or Viagra, legally I can't say which is better or worse, but baby laughter sure does a parent good!
I love watching the puppy dance!




I'm bored of the puppy dancing. Show me the boobies!




Four generations. Michele's mom and grandma were kind enough to come to Utah while I was in NYC.

Our money train has come...

Maybe it's just me, but I'm always looking for quick ways to earn a buck. What better way than to exploit your child in modeling. I think we might be able to sell the following photos for a buck to grandparents. I guess all we need is a few million kids and we'll be set for life.

The photos were done by our neighbor Emmie Coggins and her webpage is photographybyemmie.blogspot.com ( Kellyn currently has some photos featured on her blog). If you want some great photos your kid, give her a ring. And if anybody wants copies of Kellyn photos from this page , let me know, give me a buck ( or one share of Pfizer stock as its about the same value right now), and I'll hook you up ( We might even be having a sale with all photos $1 off).




Well worth a dollar.




Crying because daddy isn't there!




I always wanted my child to follow my footsteps and play football at BYU. Let's pray that it isn't Kellyn!






I think breast milk has the same effect on Kellyn as turkey does on me.

Viva Las Vegas....and Southern Utah

One of the duties of my job is to travel to St. George once a month and check to make sure doctors are doing what they are supposed to be doing ( writing lots of prescriptions for Pfizer drugs). I don't mind as Pfizer allows me to take my family down with me and we can have a mini-vacation. I do have to mention that in the three years I have worked for Pfizer, this past week was the first time Michele actually accompanied me on such a voyage ( something about a career of her own in Salt Lake City). The concierge at the hotel was thus suprised to see my traveling party go from one to three in a matter of a couple of months ( I haven't been down to St. George in a couple of months due to Pfizer's awesome paternity leave policy which finally came to an end because Michele was sick of me hanging around the house even though I still contest I was doing nothing but helping). Fortunately I was able to see all of my doctors fairly quickly and we were able to take in some of the sights, sounds... and smells of southern Utah and Las Vegas.

Michele always wondered what I did for work so I thought I would show her. Now I think she is confused as ever.


To put an end to all speculation, babies still have bowel movements in national parks and require changing while on vacation.


Take your daughter to work day. I can't complain about my job.

Growing up, we would always moan when we would watch family slides ( affectionately known as Pictures on the Wall) as there would inevitably be dozens if not hundreds of "rock" pictures. I think my dad was on to something. Now I have something to bore Kellyn with in a few years.




Nothing like a family portrait in Las Vegas. ( taken by a friendly southern couple who were convinced we were on our honeymoon)



Michele in Italy...wait, thats just faux Italy at The Venetian

Chillin with my pal Nicholas Cage. Michele was weired out that he didn't move and kept staring straight ahead. I tried to tell her that he hasn't been in any good movies for a long time and was just trying to make a buck or two as a street performer in Vegas.


I could be in France or Vegas, but probably Vegas. We probably wouldn't have gotten the 18 comments on our stroller had we been in France.


But the sign does say that Michele is in Paris...




-James, why aren't we staying at the Bellagio? -Michele, I think it might raise some red flags on my corporate amex.




Thankfully, this was the extent of the lewdness we saw at Vegas. What is it with Italians and naked statues?



Ending things off on the right note by drinking our worries away.

Meet the Doctor: Round 2

Approximately six weeks ago, the first person Kellyn saw was Dr. Bryan Watabe. In the hooplah of everything, we forgot to get a picture of baby Kellyn and the good doctor. Kellyn told us the other night she would like to have one for memories sake, so we did nothing but remedy that situation. You can see how excited she was to meet him for the second time.

Kellyn also attended the full block of church meetings for the first time today. Three hours is a long time for anybody, but even more so for a baby. But in addition to being the cutest baby in attendance, she was also the most well-behaved. I always get dirty looks when I fall asleep, but Kellyn got nothing but praises as she dozed through most of it, only letting off an occasional grunt to pass some turbulent air ( another thing I am sure I would get dirty looks for doing at church).




I remember you...




Kellyn dressed up for church


Photo of Kellyn and Grandma Lattimer belonging to an older post

Meet the Grandparents

We figured we would go ahead and jumpstart the inevitable rite of passage for any baby and have both sets of grandparents come to Utah to meet the newest addition to our family. Kellyn seemed oblivious as she does to anyone that can't offer her milk. She only acknowledges me as I get to feed her a bottle every now and then. Lots of good times were had by both sides of the family and Kellyn says she might like to meet them again even if they can't provide sustenence.

.Who has more hair? ( Grandpa Wheeler)

Come on Mike, lets have another! ( Grandma Wheeler)

The Ohio roots ( Grandma and Grandpa Lattimer)

Grandpa in training( 30 years from now!)

Happy Parents!

Wheeler Grandkids


Kitters playing with her favorite Christmas present!

Maybe if I dress like a bear they won't eat me!

Training Kellyn for Sunday afternoons.

Where we going dad?

No Paternity Test Needed

The following photos (thanks Grandma W) should put to rest any doubts that I couldn't be the father. Not that there were doubts to begin with. Thankfully she has some of Michele's beautiful features as well. As I sit here at midnight watching Michele feed baby Kellyn, I couldn't be happier!




Baby James 26 years ago





Kellyn 26 hours ago (notice any similarities?)



Michele assures me that it is completely natural for babies not to be able to crawl at 5 days



I guess we could have a future in baby modeling

Either she is really small or I am really big ( maybe its both)