Feeling Nostalgic

It was one year ago this very day I decided I was done being pregnant and our Little Miss would in fact join us for Christmas. I was going to make her! After a very agonizing 16 hours of induced labor I had made no progress! This was my first lesson is parenting. So we decided to go home and wait for the contractions to either slow down or intensify and send us back in. It was a long 2 weeks of waiting with contraction that would not go away! By golly we are so trilled she is here this year and more fun than we could ever imagine!

I am feeling very nostalgic thinking of last Christmas. There is something special about waiting for your baby to come during the Christmas season. It is a connection I will cherish for years to come as we remember the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

go here to check out some more great pictures

Have a very Merry Christmas

Remembering the View

I love spending time together as a family. I hope I never take this for granted. I love watching Miss Vieve playing with Daddy then crawling over to me and then back to Brent. Her smiles and precious laughter is infectious. These are the moments I want to remember. The simplicity of playing on the floor as a small family of three and just enjoying an afternoon. It is a rare occasion with Brent's full schedule of work and school.

 One Saturday Morning we went down the road and hiked Table Rock. It was really more of an advanced nature walk but there is nothing wrong with that. It offers a great view of the valley.

Cousins

My sister Jen came into town for Thanksgiving and we had a fun day with the kids at the park. Megan was the photographer as usual. She got some great shots of all the kids. We sure missed Gavin and Linnaea, it's not the same with out those two cuties.

Look at those cheeks!

Cutest Cousins around

this kid loves to swing

 

 

 

Some thoughts

November, fancy seeing you again so soon!  How is it almost Thanksgiving? This time last year I was in full-blown nesting mode. We were preparing for Genivieve to make her grand entrance within a month, so we thought.  We had just bought our van and had so much to be grateful for.

Lately my thought have mostly been focused on Brent and how grateful he is mine, now and always. The playground jingle "first is the worst, second's the best" keep lopping my mind. I am grateful for this second year of marriage and the happiness, laughter, peace and friendship it has brought with it.

I love my husband more now than ever. I'm so glad I married him, even though looking back we really had no idea what we were getting into. My thanksgiving goes to personal revelation, knowing that my Father in Heaven has a plan for me. A better plan than I could ever try to assemble on my own. I am glad I was taught and learned how to listen to the promptings. It was nice to be reminded of this in church today.

I love talking about what we are grateful for this Thanksgiving holiday. It makes my heart swell to see just how much my family has been blessed. Now on with the bounties of food I am going to consume this week! Ahhh comfort food.

Family Pictures

We had our family pictures taken this morning. Here is a preview. I can't wait to get them up on the wall. Its nice to have pictures of all three of us, it doesn't happen very often!

10 months old

Fall fun

I ran across a Groupon for a pumpkin patch near our home. Best Groupon ever! Included in admission there was a FREE petting zoo, pony rides, hay ride, tractor/barrel "train" ride, mini hay maze and a pumpkin patch. It was so fun! Genivieve didn't know what to think, just soaked it all in. All of the other children would scream when placed on the pony, she just looked around and started to pet the cute pony. She really loved everything, so much we could not get her attention!  But once we did she wouldn't smile. So babbled the whole way home, making the cutest noises. What a fun day of fall memories.

finally a family picture!

first pony ride

i was too afraid to touch the chicken. so Brent did!

she loves the petting zoo

cute sleepy pig

money well spent

she loved that pumpkin, we HAD to buy it!

these two are a hoot together

October so far

We have been busy enjoying the cooler weather, meaning out of the triple digits. The little Miss is starting to eat table food, while it started slowly she is really starting to like it. We have been liking breakfast at Denny's. Gotta love biscuits and gravy for $2!

first hike

First time easting pancakes and eggs, no butter or syrup for her.

we love lunch dates with Daddy and Schlotzsky's pickles!

teaching G how lo hold a crayon

Our little piggy for Halloween

Growing Up

This past weekend Brent spent 4 days hiking and that left us girls home for some (more) female bonding. I was excited to watch movies, sleep in and just hang. Well this weekend was a teething nightmare and we are both lucky to be alive! But when our little girl saw her Daddy for just a few minutes on Monday afternoon she was back on schedule and totally "normal" again. Thank heavens, because I was about to keel over from sheer exhaustion. 

Today came with a full nights sleep, first time in 5 days and a happy baby. The little miss started to play peek-a-boo with me. I know these pictures are blurry but you can see her personality in them. I love my sweet baby, glad she returned! :)

9 Months

Our baby is 9-months-old as of yesterday. We both just can't believe it. She is such a sweetheart, we are so blessed.
In the last months so many things have happened. A list of just a few...

• went from army crawling to crawling on her knees. 
• loves to say "mama" and "dada"
• still loves to eat baby oatmeal and prunes. 
• loves to eat pickles
• she loves to play in water, both the pool and the bathtub
• she can pick food up with her pointer finger and thumb
• loves anything electronic. 
• consistently sleeps 12 hours at night.
• still wears 3-6 month clothes and some 9 months
• wearing size 3 diapers
• at 9 months you weigh 16 pounds 9oz (25%) and 29 inches long (still 90%)
• We put your first hair clip in your hair. 

Sweet baby, you bring such joy to our home. We love you more with each day. We enjoy watching you grow into such a sweet little lady, but don't grow too fast!

Proud Mommy Moment

As a rule of thumb when it is quiet during playtime I tend to worry. When that silence came today, I glanced over and saw the Little Miss looking through a book, enjoying every last item on each page then turning to a new one.

Some of my fondest childhood memories were of my mother reading books to me, one after the other all through the day. I am thrilled to be raising a reader.

Can you tell her Dad picked out the book?

this is an older picture, I just love it.

I cherish the moments when she climbs on my lap and I get to read to my daughter, but watching her enjoy a book on her own makes me feel like I am doing something right. These simple moments bring warmth to my heart. What a proud mommy moment.

moving on up!

I know I'm behind but we have been so busy. How did that happen? We are still moving but mostly (90%) moved into our adorable place!  I seriously love it here. Even though we just moved a bit down the road it has made a world of difference. It is a bigger place, two bedroom (insert hallelujah chorus here)! We are loving all the storage, the great view, the sweet neighbors, the saltwater pool, the lush grass and I could keep going for hours! Basically this girl is so happy, it's a nice change. For someone who spends all my time at home its about time I like it!

Pictures of all the cute decoration will be coming. It's a good thing I got on Pinterest before the move. I had wall color, and all sorts of ideas handy to decorate and boy we have been busy! I love that Lowe's is just down the road, or maybe that's too close!

G loves to play when Dad's hair and he loves the scalp message. Don't you love her bed head?

Reading books and snuggling Dad. Saturday's are pretty great around here.

I was sick one Sunday and I woke up to this. Heavenly!

Proof she is not swaddles anymore! It was a good seven months. Why must they grow up? WHY?

Dad, I think your face would look good like this!

Genivieve turned  8 Months Old on the third. She is a sweet and super happy little thing. She is 17.5 pounds. In size 3 diapers. sleeping 13hrs at night and take two, 2hr naps a day! She captures everyone's attention and draws a crowd and compliments everywhere we go. It's nice that other people think our baby is cute, but I am so terrified of her getting sick it mostly makes me very nervous. New mother syndrome at its worst, i know.

Feeling Grateful

I am feeling very blessed these days. The Lord has heard our prayes and poured out blessings, so many blessings. For that, I am full of gratitude.

We have a new place to call home. A two bedroom place, in our ward, for an amazing deal! Now that is a triple threat I am happy, no ECSTATIC to have found! I am jumping for joy and driving Brent crazy will all of my moving and redecorating energy. Lucky guy.

School is going well, classes look good for both of us. Hooray for education. May it end one day, with a fancy diploma.

I have yet again another calling in the ward. This time in Primary. YIKES! I was terrified. I was so happy and content in the Young Women's program. That's when they get you right? I survived the first Sunday, it was grand. In fact, I got a 100 Grand candy bar from one of the kids. Chocolate will win me every time!

I saw this quote and just sat and thought. Yes, my life is so rich and full of many things and the gratitude helps me really see.

Our days

Life is hard and I guess we should expect to have trials and unpleasant events happen, but I am thankful for the good days. Today is one of those. Just me and my Little Miss enjoying our days together. With all these kids back in school I am thankful that I still get my baby to myself for a long while! These last seven months have gone by all to quickly. WHY? I miss my newborn, but at least she gets cuter every day.

It has been a challenging month. I will not be sad to see August end, except that will make my baby eight months old. Blast. For that reason alone, lets freeze time. Oh that sweet Genivieve, I love her more than she will ever know. Well, maybe she will know when she gets that blessed chance to become a mommy, yes, then she will know just how much I love her!

Yet another semester starts Monday. Goodbye until Christmas Brent, at least we will see you for a few days for Thanksgiving! What a man, working full-time and taking 17 credits while making the Presidents list! Like I said, what a man!

Here's to September, let it be a good one. With a move in sight, I can already hear the two bedroom place calling my name!

July

WE have been enjoying time together. Brent has finished up his summer semester. We are just so proud of him. He worked all day in this Arizona heat and spent all evening study Calculus. Did I mention he came out enjoying himself and he Aced the course. Way to go Babe!

Now that we get him in the evening for a month we are cure enjoying it!  Here are some picture of with Genivieve. We really should get in some of the pictures, so she knows what we look like.

She loves to eat rice cereal and love to knock the spoon out of Mom's hand.

That's our Peanut!

Loves to stand and play

She is the most social baby. Here with her Best Friend Miss A.

We are happy and healthy and counting our many blessing. Life is not perfect but our little family brings us so much joy and we should just forget about the unhappy stuff. Hope everyone is enjoyning summer. Next post, I will get a picture of all three of us.