California Lovin'

I will spare you the details of our two long trips in the car going to and from California. Instead, I'll tell you about the good times. We left the Saturday before Christmas to go to Los Gatos and Steve's parent's house. We were able to relax, learn how to make the best carmels on earth, visit with friends and family, and go for nice walks in the warm weather.

On the 21st, we went to the annual Bennion (Steve's mom's family) Christmas Pageant. Tyler was a sheperd and Hannah was the baby Jesus. Can you tell Tyler was ready to go home and sleep?

A few days later we went to Carmel and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Tyler was in heaven. He would have stayed ALL day if we let him. Thank you to Finding Nemo for educating my child. He saw the jelly fish and said, "Takin' on the jellies!" It really is a wonderful place that totally engages the kids. Tyler couldn't wait to dive his hands into the water to feel the star fish and sea weed.


Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were very relaxing. How bad could it be to stay in my pj's for the majority of the day and eat good food? Tyler enjoyed opening the presents, but his favorite cost less than $2. Go figure!

We really did have a wonderful time. Thank you to the Pulleys for feeding us, doing the laundry, visiting, and making this a special Christmas! While it is nice to be home, we'll gladly have the 50 degree weather of California, as opposed to the snow storm that welcomed us back to Utah!

Darlings

I cannot believe my sweet Hannah is two months old. She has changed so much in the last month. She is smiling all the time now. Tyler thinks Hannah is okay to stay since she smiles at him now. She is 11 lbs 9 oz (70% for weight) and 24 1/2 inches long (98%). She is healthy and growing strong. I just love her (especially in her Christmas dress!)

We are in California for the next week with Steve's family. Everything is so green and beautiful here. Tyler keeps telling me we are in the forest or jungle. With 60 degree weather, we almost are in the jungle compared to Utah. I just had to include Tyler's "tough guy" picture on his big wheel. Both kids are just growing up so fast!

I've smiled a lot this week

This week has been a pretty good week. Steve is almost done with finals. I was productive at home, running errands, filling out Christmas cards, working out, etc. But there were three things about this week that particularly made me smile.

1. While getting Tyler ready to go play in the snow (yet again) he looked at me and said with a straight face, "Mom, you are my best girl." It melted my heart!

2. Wrapping Christmas presents and placing them under the tree. There is just something about seeing beautifully wrapped things under the twinkling lights. It makes me want to wrap up in a warm blanket and turn off all the lights but the tree.

3. Getting my hair cut. I usually wait to spend Christmas money on getting it done. This year I decided I wanted to look good for Christmas. Why wait?


I'd love to hear what made you smile this week!

The only reason I like snow

The only reason I like snow is so that I can hear my silly boy (seen below dancing at the Festival of Trees) say "I can't get up" or "I can't move" while I put on his snow stuff. Anyone who has seen the movie A Christmas Story knows why that is funny!

Ever since Halloween Tyler has basically lived in his snow boots. If I ever tell him to go get his shoes on so we can go, he comes down wearing his boots. Well, even though I really don't like the snow, I'm actually quite happy that Tyler can finally put his favorite shoes to use. He stayed outside for almost an hour this morning, and would have stayed longer but I didn't want him to freeze. He assured me he'd go back out after lunch. I'll gladly take the snow since it makes my little boy so happy!

My kind of weekend

First off, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. It was great just to lounge around with family, eat good food, play Rock Band, watch movies (I think I'm Team Jacob now!) and the list goes on.

The highlight of the weekend was blessing Hannah on Sunday. Of course I think she always looks cute, but she truly looked like an angel in her white blessing dress. Hannah had all of her grandparents there and a lot of her cousins. Thank you everyone who came. Family is what life is all about!


And to finish a wonderful Sunday, we decorated our house for Christmas. Hannah slept through it all, but Tyler sure had fun! We would hand him an ornament tell him to put it on the tree. He would walk around the three saying "hmmmm," then place the ornament on the tree and say "that is the perfect spot!" After it was all decorated he said "it's beautiful!" Good job on the tree buddy.


And this is usually how Hannah wakes up in the morning. She wasn't asleep, but wasn't quite awake either. Her smile makes me smile!

Time flies...

Time flies when you are changing 15 diapers a day! Hannah is one month old today. It goes by so fast. This last month has gone surprisingly well. When I was pregnant with Hannah, I mentally prepared myself for the first few weeks to be horrible. I'm not a negative person, but I would rather be pleasantly surprised than blindsided. I have been pleasantly surprised. It was easier going from one to two kids than it was from zero to one. I know what I am doing this time around, so the stress is sort of off. I also have had a lot more energy after her birth than I did with Tyler.

Hannah as a baby is about as good as they come. Sure she fusses and cries, she is a baby, but she is a great eater and consistently sleeps 6-8 hours at night. I can't complain! Here are some pictures of her over the last two weeks or so. So many silly faces!



I started a tradition with Tyler that I'm going to do with Hannah. Every month on their 'month' birthday, I take a picture next to the same object to mark their growth. With Tyler we used a blue teddy bear. To keep with tradition, I'm going to use a furry bear for Hannah. Looking at that picture of Tyler, I cannot believe he was ever as small as that blue teddy bear. I sure love when they are little like this and give such good snuggles.


Happy one month Hannah! I love you. I can't wait to see what the next month brings with you!

My list

My sister-in-law inspired me to create my own list of things I am thankful for. I truly have so much to be grateful for. Of course this list cannot possibly include everything, but it is a start.

1. First and foremost, I'm thankful for my three loves. They are my life.

2. Health. My own and my family's.
3. Supportive extended family.
4. The Book of Mormon. I've delved into the past few months and it has made all the difference.
5. Always having clothes to wear.
6. Always having food to eat.
7. Always having a warm bed to sleep in.
8. Cheesecake. Enough said.
9. Volleyball. It is fun, good exercise, and it is how I met my honey.
10. Music. I love so many kinds of music and each for a different reason. I love that music can energize you for a workout, help you feel the Spirit, or just make you want to sing along at the top of your lungs.
11. The six hour Pride and Prejudice. Colin Firth makes me smile.
12. Good books.
13. Banana Republic and H&M clothes.
14. Hot showers.
15. Friends over the years.
16. Meals I don't have to make.
17. Lotion. I love that it feels like I'm giving my skin a drink of water.
18. Supplemental Insurance.
19. Getting mail. It makes me feel like people know I exist.
20. Laughing so hard I cry!

It is only the beginning of my list. It was a good reminder to me to look for the positive in my life. I hope this helps you think of all the things, both big and small, that you are thankful for.

Tyler-isms

My boy makes me laugh. A few days ago we were all sitting on our bed and Tyler said, "I'm a lion." Steve asked him what animal Hannah was. He said she was a bat. Okay. Then he said "Mom, you're a rolly pulley (what we call potato bugs)." My thought was "I know I have some baby weight to lose, but a 2 1/2 year old can tell. That's sad." Tyler then said Steve was a duck. Silly boy!

That same night, Tyler created his first imaginary friend, named Jonathan. We told him it was time for Jonathan to go to bed, so he truly walked his friend into his room, gave him a high five, a thumbs up, and said goodnight to him. Steve and I were trying so hard not to laugh too loud and ruin the moment. Such an imagination!

Also, Tyler can talk very well for his age. He can say words like smoke detector and deciduous without skipping a beat. He cannot, however, say breakfast. No matter how hard we try to get him to say it right, it always comes out 'breaksticks." Proof that little ones are still just that, little and learning.

He is the friendliest kid you'll meet. The other day we were out walking to the playground and we passed a man coming out of his house. Tyler yells "Hi, what's your name." The man responded and asked Tyler what his name was. Tyler told him enthusiastically and the man said "cool." What did Tyler say? "Yeah, it is cool!"

Tyler is my favorite little man.

Oh, and just to compare, here is Tyler and Hannah at around two weeks. I know I'm biased, but pictures don't do Hannah's cuteness justice.

From doorsteps to doctors

This was one of the best Halloween's yet. Tyler LOVED every aspect of it this year. From carving pumpkins with Steve to saying "I'm a Tyler robot", he couldn't get enough of the festivities. He would say 'trick-or-treat' in a robot voice at each doorstep, then say thank you so sweetly. As a parent, I don't think it gets any better! The day after Halloween, he told me that once it gets dark again, he can go out to get more treats.

Hannah slept for most of the Halloween fun, but that is just the way I like it! She had her two week check-up today, and is perfectly healthy. Such a blessing. She was 8 lbs. 5 oz. when she was born and 21 inches long. As of this morning she is already 8 lbs. 14 oz. and has grown another half inch! She has done one six hour stretch at night, but mostly does four or five hours. Another blessing! We put her in her own room last night and she did great. Tyler is wanting to help bounce her (sometimes I have to prevent him from giving her whiplash) and give her a pacifier. These two little people are such a gift!

I love when they smile in their sleep! What are they dreaming about?

Around the house

Well, my mother-in-law left today. Sad day. Very sad day! She occupied Tyler, kept the house clean and made all the meals. Now the real work begins. The past week and a half has gone surprisingly well. Tyler was able to be a helper going to the store with Grandma and doing the dishes almost every night. I feel bad though, he's sort of been house bound with us. He has had to become creative with his toys, and now uses the Boppy and says, "Hey, I'm a flower!"

Hannah is a great little one. She has already done several four hour stretches at night! I'll take it. She was able to meet all of her grandparents and her great grandmother all within ten days.

Our first family picture. It is sort of sad it took us ten days to get this. Oh, well!