So...12 Days of Christmas Past::2005

First Daughter::Christmas Eve 2005::Orem, UT

 

Christmas 2005 was our first Christmas alone, in our own apartment in Orem, UT, just the three of us.  It was different, much more quiet, but wonderful.  It was the beginning of creating many of our own family traditions.

 

1::Christmas jammies - both Husband & I had this tradition in our families growing up, but this was the first year that we bought them for our own little family and for our own sweet daughter.

 

2::Christmas bear - this tradition kind of created itself and it started this Christmas with First Daughter.  First Daughter's nickname has always been "Bear," so I was so excited to get her a Christmas bear for her first Christmas.  Husband's family had a tradition that they each had a Christmas character (Husband's was Santa) and they had a stuffed animal/pillow with that character and then got ornaments that went along with it.  Getting the Christmas bear was my attempt to keep that tradition continuing, but it ended up just turning into Christmas bears for all the kids on their first Christmas.  The bears have the year embroidered on their paw so we can always remember when their first Christmas was.

 

3::Baum's Christmas trees - we bought our Christmas tree that year at Baum's, a local tree lot that was recommended to us by a friend.  We bought our tree there every year since.  (Actually, this was our first year not getting our tree there - it was kinda strange - especially since I am definitely a creature of habit/tradition).

 

4::Christmas book - we get a family Christmas book every year.

 

5::Christmas movie - we also get a Christmas movie.

 

6::Christmas card - this was our first official Christmas card.  Well...I think we sent out Christmas cards that first year after we got married...but this was our first take-a-family-picture-for-a-Christmas-card experience.  It made us feel like real grownups :)

 

Having a baby made Christmas morning a little different.  First Daughter had no anticipation waiting to see what Santa left her, and she was a champion sleeper, so we didn't get up until after 9 or so (which was normal for her).  We had a wonderfully relaxing morning opening the few presents that we had.

 

Family memories are the best, and the first memories of our sweet little family feel magical.

 

 

 

So...you may also like::

::Monday Memories 001::Christmas Edition

::So...12 Days of Christmas Past::2004

::So...12 Days of Christmas Past::2003

 

Thanks for stopping by!

So...We've Been Busy!

Remember when I actually used to write on this blog?

Ya, me too...

 

Well it's been a busy few weeks over here.

I'll start with my trip to BOSTON. 

Yes!  Boston!

 

Son #2 and I hopped on a plane and headed to my hometown for my mom's 60th birthday.  The best part about it - she didn't know we were coming!

 

We showed up at my parents' house while they were out to dinner.  We put Son #2 in a high chair in front of the front door so when they walked in, this is what they saw.

It was awesome.

We all jumped out at yelled "surprise!"

She was so surprised and so excited.

Son #2 cried a lot - poor guy didn't know what was coming.

Mom with all her grandkids that were there

Son was such a champ throughout the whole trip and on the plane.  It was really nice to have some one-on-one time with the little guy.  He's such a mama's boy so he especially loved it.  He even got to sleep in bed with me the whole trip!  He would grab onto my arm and snuggle me in the middle of the night.  So sweet.

We came home on Daylight Savings Sunday and needless to say, the adjustment was a little rough.

We also got new windows last week!
Wahoo!
I am so very beyond excited about this.

We had two birthdays this week.
Third Daughter turned five.  We celebrated with a disco party, princess cake, and a trip to the dollar store (her request).  She got a new bike, tea set, and clothes from grandma.  She was very happy!

Second Daughter turned seven.
She had strawberry cupcakes with vanilla swirly frosting.  We celebrated with lots of Minecraft (her choice), friend time, and hot tubbing at night as a family.  She also got a new bike, new shoes, paints, and clothes from grandma.  She also got a picture frame from her best friend with a picture of them in it.  She loves it!

In other news -
We've been loving the warm sunny weather

 

and First Daughter has discovered a photo booth app on my phone :)

 

The leprechauns visited our house this morning for St. Patrick's Day but we didn't get any photos to prove it.  Just imagine lots of gold coins, Reese's peanut butter cups (they're gold too), Werther's, and green clothes.  Oh, and Lucky Charms. 

 

It was a breakfast of champions.

The kids loved it.

And the leprechauns turned our milk green too.
Naughty leprechauns...

Corned beef for dinner tonight.
I've never cooked it, and I've never eaten it.
This should be interesting.



So...you may also like::
::So...What We Did on St. Paddy's
::So...It's Me Lucky Day
::So...Valentine's Treat

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday Memories 069::If You're Happy And You Know It

Third Daughter, 8 months old, November 2009

 

Videos like this make me so happy.  And a little teary.

I am so incredibly thankful to be mama to this sweet little girl.

And so thankful to have moments like this captured on film.

 

 

 

So...you may also like::

::So...First Words son #1 sings twinkle.

::So..Second Daughter Sings you must watch this.  so precious.

::So...Right Now... a glimpse of third daughter.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday Memories 065::3 Months

So...you may also like::
::Monday Memories 037::The Last Days
::Monday Memories 057::We Love To See The Temple
::Monday Memories 012::Baby Baxter

Thanks for stopping by!

So...Getting to Know Brother

 

 

One of the things I love about being in the hospital after having a baby is the quiet time I have alone with baby.  But I absolutely love when the rest of the family gets to come, meet baby, and visit me.  It was very sweet watching all four of these kids meet their baby brother.  Even Son#1 wanted to hold and snuggle his brother.  It made my heart so happy.

There is no shortage of baby love going on over here.  Everyone is eager to hold, burp, kiss, and hug Son#2.  He is so loved and fits right in.  We are loving him to death.



So...you may also like::
::So...Let Me Introduce
::So...Summer::Weeks Ten + Eleven
::So...Full Hands

Thanks for stopping by!

So...Let Me Introduce

Son #2

8 lb. 11 oz., 19 inches long

Born: Tuesday, July 30th @ 6:45 pm

 

The delivery was long and slow, but once he decided it was time he came pretty quickly.

Besides being all tangled in his umbilical cord and being born with a bruised and swollen face, everything went smoothly.  The nurses were worried about his oxygen levels and my bleeding for a few hours, but everything was well and good by bedtime.  We both just needed him snuggled in my arms and then things were just fine.   

 

There were many emotions in that moment Son #2 was born.  We felt complete.  This little boy has been nudging us to bring him into our family and it felt wonderful to finally have him here.

 

So in love.  So full.  So thankful.  So blessed.

 

 

 

 

So...you may also like::

::So...Introducing

::So...One Sweet Moment

::So...Son's Mix

 

Thanks for stopping by!

So...I Can Hardly Stand It

Oh! I love this baby so much I can hardly stand it.

I nursed Son for the last time the other night. 
We've been weening for a couple weeks and had gone days without nursing at all, but my body still didn't feel completely empty and it was making me a little nervous and physically uncomfortable. 

So late Friday night, I crept into Son's room and gently lifted him from his crib.  I sat in the Big Blue Chair like I have hundreds of times before, and cuddled my baby close.  I slowly brought him to me, encouraging him to latch on one more time.  He awoke in a daze and was confused by what was going on.  He hadn't nursed in days, but based on his reaction it could have been years.  Eventually he remembered what to do and he snuggled in close while he nursed.  For the last time.

It was a bitter sweet moment.  I rubbed his blond fuzzy head and held his warm squishy thighs.  His tiny hand and fingers reached up to my face, grabbed onto my shirt, and found their way wrapped around my index finger.  I brushed my thumb across the back of him hand while I held on.  My heart was full as my hand passed over his head, back, legs, and arms.  I wanted to remember every little thing about the feeling of feeding and snuggling my baby boy.  Doing what only I could do for him.  What I was made to do for him.

These precious moments come and go so quickly.
And I'm not sure I'm ready when they go.
But I am grateful for the tender memories.
I am grateful to have had that one last moment with Son - and that I knew it was the last - so I could soak it in and etch it in my mind and heart forever.

It is such an incredible gift to be mama to this sweet baby.
I love everything about him and every moment I have with him. 
I don't ever want to regret having not snuggled him a little closer, kissed him a little more, or held him a little longer.
He is so very scrumptious.
He is so very precious.

And I love him so much I can hardly stand it.

So...Ticklish

While Husband gave the girlies baths tonight, I lied in my bed, snuggling Baby Boy. 
Oh how I love snuggling my babies.

His post-nursing, glossy eyes stared up at me as I traced the curves of his face with my index finger.  His eyes went back and forth, taking turns focusing on each one of my eyes.  His baby blues reach right into my heart. 

He held the thumb of that same hand in his fist cradled close to his chin, along with his other tiny hand.  My finger glided across his warm cheek, around his drooping eyes, along the crevices of his double chin, up the sleeve of his shirt, and into his chubby armpit.  His body squirmed and his mouth widened before he let out an involuntary guttural laugh.

My baby boy is ticklish, and I found his weak spot. 

I let my finger sway in and out of that arm hole, brushing gently against his body, hoping to repeat that sweet new baby laugh.  And each time he delivered.  I'm telling you, a baby's laugh is so good for the soul.

Now he's wrapped up tightly in his baby burrito, sucking away at his pacifier in his crib.  Hopefully I don't hear from him until morning.

I love my babies more that I can handle.

The girlies returned to their fort tonight.  We're giving them one more night before they'll need to clean it up.

I'm feeling extra sleepy tonight, but am looking forward to spending time with my new book, The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother , before hitting the pillow.  I am so captivated by this book.  Hopefully I can keep my heavy eyes awake long enough to read a little.  Or a lot... 


P.S.  I totally said "ticklished" until I met Husband.  I never knew I was saying it incorrectly until he pointed it out.  And to this day I always feel a little weird saying "ticklish."  It just doesn't sound right.

I'm totally a creature of habit, and I don't handle change very well...

So...One Sweet Moment

While rocking Son in our Big Blue Chair this afternoon after church, my eye followed a single ray of sunlight from the crack between the curtain all the way to the speckled carpet on the floor.  I felt the overwhelming perfection of that one sweet moment.  

The house was still and quiet and rocking with my son felt as if we were in slow motion.  I could hear the distance laughs and shouts from the Daughters playing "Rocks-Paper-Scissors (and Lava)" outside on the trampoline and the squeaks, grunts, and swallows from my sweet babe in my arms.  I looked down at his plump cheeks and his glass-blue eyes.  While I held my arms strong around his squishy, irresistible body the words came to my mind -
This is my Son.
I have a Son.
What an incredible blessing.The gratitude I felt for my son, my three sweet daughters, and my loving husband was strong, tangible, as if I could grab it and hold on.  I filled my heart with silent prayers of gratitude, and then held my kiss on Son's cheek a little bit longer before wrapping him up and laying him in his crib.  The moment was perfect.  A sweet, tender gift from Heavenly Father reminding me of His love.

   

There really are not enough adverbs and adjectives to emphasize and express the love and gratitude I felt in that moment.

I am so incredibly grateful.

So...One Month

Yesterday Son turned one month old.
It's like I blinked and the month has past.
Tomorrow I'll probably wake up and he'll be one year.

I better get all the cuddles + kisses in that I can.
I mean, it's not that hard. Look at that face!



So...you may also like:
::So...Introducing
::So...Mothers' Day Favorites
::Monday Memories 029::New Mom

Thanks for stopping by!

So...Introducing

Son

born January 26th
5:02 pm
9 lb. 13 oz.
21 inches

I am so in love with this little man.
I can hardly believe that he is almost one month old.
It makes me a little sad that time is going by so fast.
Please stop growing!!!

But I am extremely glad to not be enduring this anymore:


but to be enjoying this:


I am one happy mama.
And so very blessed.




So...you may also like:
::So...I'm back...kind of
::So...Tired
::So...Yum

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday Memories 020: Third Daughter

March, 2009I became a mother to three.
Girls.

Third Daughter's birth was a scheduled induction. We were trying to avoid her sharing a birthday with Second Daughter. We wanted to make sure she was born before my mom flew in from Boston a few days later. On top of that, I wanted to make sure my doctor was the one to deliver her. After all, he had delivered the other two. When doc presented the option to induce, I took it.

I dropped First and Second Daughter off at my cousin's house the night before the induction. I cried the whole way home.

I kept thinking about how everything was going to be different the next time I saw them. Again, I worried how our relationships would change. All I wanted was to spend my last moments as a mother of two snuggled up and rocking in the big blue chair, whispering in their ears how much I loved them. I wanted to make sure they knew that nothing - not even a brand new, adorably irresistible baby - would change that.

We arrived at the hospital at 6:00 am. I immediately was given an epidural and started on pitocin. I assumed the delivery would be fast. I had been induced with my first {14 hours} and my second came so fast {3 1/2 hours - no induction}. I figured the third time around would be even faster. I was wrong.

At 5:00 pm I was still sitting and waiting. Husband and I were so bored all day. Like I said, we thought it would be fast. We didn't plan anything to pass the time. This was not smart.

At 5:30 pm, the nurse came to check on me. I still was only 5 cm dilated. No less than a minute after she left I felt things change drastically. It was then I remember how fast things progressed toward the end of my first birth {also an induction}. I knew she was coming fast. I paged the nurse who said she was sure we had some time. I assured her we didn't.

At 5:40 pm, the doctor arrived. Five minutes and two pushed later, Third Daughter was born. It was just as much a miracle as the First and Second. And I was just as emotional.

There is no way to describe how it feels to bring a child into the world. There is no way to express the amount of love - for the child, for my husband, for & from Heavenly Father - that is felt in that moment right after birth. There is no way to explain how everything happens so fast, and yet time stands still, when that baby is placed in your arms. There just is no way.

The only word that comes to mind is JOY.
Becoming a mother - whether for the first, second, or third time - is pure joy.

I absolutely love being a mother to three girls. I feel extremely blessed. All three of my daughters are gifts.

Third Daughter has always been my angel baby. I couldn't have asked for a better third child. She fit right into our family like she always has been here. I'm pretty sure she has.

She is full of so much personality. She is tender hearted. She is loving and snuggly. She loves it when we are all together as a family - especially for a family hug. She brings so much happiness and joy into my life. I love her to pieces.

I can hardly believe that my third baby girl will be two this week. I just want her to stay like this forever.



So...you may also like:
::Monday Memories 010::Second Birth second daughter's birth story.
::So...Another One new mother.
::So...I'm Back...Kind Of does it get any better?

Thanks for stopping by!