Christmas and 9 months!

Another Christmas has come and gone.

We had so much fun this year with Brielle.

We were so grateful to all those that gave us gifts this year and helped our family out.

We are so extremely blessed.

Brielle got some blocks and loved them! I'd say that was her favorite present.

She wasn't quite sure what to do with all the presents we kept handing her. Haha funny baby.

Here are some more of the babes on her first Christmas morning!

Speaking of the babes...

She is 9 months old now!!!

WOW.

Where does time go?

I love this age so much.
It is so fun to see Brielle learning and growing and just exploring her world.

I love watching her little brain work.

Yes, it gets tiring, and yes she gets into EVERYTHING....

but how long does this little time last?

I'll blink and she'll be 5.

Then 10.

Then 20!

Ah! I want to enjoy every day with her and every little phase of life.

I hope I can remind myself to enjoy it, even on the hard days.

Her 9 month appointment was a couple days ago and she did so well with her shots.

John came with us (which was a first, because he is usually at school or working)

I was glad he was there cause I get really nervous about her shots and my tummy gets all anxious and I feel like throwing up, so I was glad he was there for support. I know I'm silly! She appreciated him being there too because after her shots she held on tightly to him and he calmed her right down. What a good daddy:)

Anyway, here are the stats:

She weighs: 16 lbs 5 oz (15th %)

Height: 26 1/2 inches (25th %)

She is just a teeny girl still. She is so adorable.
She is starting to get so frustrated with things she can't do.
I can't help but laugh at her sometimes cause she is so dramatic.
Just like her mommy, I guess.

SuperMom. My Idol.

Ok

So....

I have the coolest, bestest, most wonderful mom ever!

I'll expound...

This last week our house turned into the sick ward

It all started Tuesday when John texted me saying he was coming home from work early

I picked him up and he had a temperature of 103.4.

YIKES!

So we got him in some comfy clothes, gave him some tylenol, and lots to drink

and waited for the fever to die down....

Wednesday morning, I had a physical because I had been feeling really dizzy

and thought it would be good to get checked out...

Turns out I'm super healthy which is GREAT!

I was starting to kind of feel a sore throat though but I thought it was just a little cold...

Meanwhile, John is still sick at home. Missing another day of work:(

Thursday...John is still sick.

He had gotten up to take his last final and while brushing his teeth started vomiting.

Yummy, right?

So, trying to be a good wife I went in the bathroom to make sure he was ok...

But, I couldn't stay long cause I get sick seeing sickness....ugh...

No more talking about THAT!

So John went to take his final...

Poor guy...he had a hard time concentrating on his test cause he was concentrating harder on not getting sick all over everything:(

That night I start feeling really bad. I checked my temperature and mine was at 102. Ugh...

I made it through the night...barely...

Friday morning....I am basically positive I have strep throat. GROSS!

So I make an appointment for the doctor and in the meantime call my wonderful mommy...

I tell her what I think is going on.

(Why is it when you are sick you can't just go have your mom hold  you like when you were little?)

Anyway my mom tells me not to worry and to get some meds.

I was worried about Brielle getting it and then my mom proceeded to tell me that kids don't really get strep throat until they are at least a year...but to make sure I keep an eye on her cause it could manifest itself as an ear infection instead.

Later at the doctor...

He tells me I have the most severe case of strep throat he's seen in a while.

YUCK.

So, then he tells me not to worry about Brielle cause she most likely won't get strep since she isn't that old, but to watch out cause she may get an ear infection.

Haha.

So...

That's why I say I have the coolest, awesomest, most wonderful mom!

She is a pro at this mothering business.

I call her with ANY question I ever have about mothering, or wifeing..;)

She always knows the right answer and I trust her more than anyone.

I hope I'm gonna be as awesome as her by the time I've been a mom for 30 years:)

Thanks, Mom!

You rock my socks!

Love you.

Oh Christmas tree!

Last night we had a lot of fun!

We decided to start a tradition where each year we do some kind of art work thing that displays how

the kids are growing...(as we have more)

like with hand prints or what not...

So I have seen this before and then

I was reminded of it again when I looked at pintrest.

It's a hand print Christmas tree.

We decided to do John's hand prints at the bottom,

Then mine,

Then Brielles...

Well Brielle's didn't turn out quite the way I had pictured it.

She went a little crazy on the canvas...

At first I was my little uptight self and got a little sad because it didn't turn out

AT ALL like I had planned...

But I'm so in love with it now because it just shows her funny personality.

It's seriously perfect and I looked at it today and just laughed.

Here it is..

In all it's glory.

(Sorry the lighting is bad)

 Kids seriously make everything SO MUCH more fun.

Even if they only are 8 months old :)

Conforming??

So...I did it....

I joined Pinterest.

Why?

Well, first of all I was just curious as to what the crap this thing was that EVERYONE

and their mom is talking about.

I'm not gonna lie..I spent some time on there last night and I don't really understand it all.

It doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to me yet, but I think I'm doing it right and it is fun.

I like seeing all the stuff on there.

Anyway, I'll have to sit down with someone that knows what's going on so they can show me the ropes.

Another thing I did that I swore NEVER to do...

(My sister will HATE me for this and I hope she doesn't read my blog cause I'm not telling her)

I bought my first pair of skinny jeans.

YIKES!

I've always kind of had a weird thing against them.

I think they are rather silly actually but I found some online

(Thank you for the tip, Jennie)

for way cheap and I thought...what the heck?

It's worth a shot right?

I mean, not to sound like a brat, but I have skinny legs...

I could probably pull those off...

And I don't feel like I look good in ANYTHING else lately..

SO maybe this is my answer..?

Anyway....

I will try them for ONE day and if I hate them....

They are going away forever and I'll have to find something else to boost my self-esteem.

*Sigh*

The life of a woman.

We have such decisions to make.

None of them are easy.

It's Monday, Monday, Monday....

Wouldn't it be nice, sometimes, if your only worries were  tyring to figure how to roll back over onto your back?

Brielle is trying pretty hard to crawl but she can't get up on her legs very well yet.

I'm not that anxious to get her crawling though.

I like that I don't have to chase her around everywhere!

Some new things Brielle has been doing lately....

-She says "dada" all day long. It's her favorite sound to make. I love hearing her little voice.

-She feeds herself! As most of you probably saw my video on facebook ;)

-She is starting to notice tiny things on the floor and putting them in her mouth. I need to keep my vacuuming up!

-She is starting to take a bottle better.. She'll only really drink like 2 oz. but sometimes she refuses nursing so I don't know. I think she may be getting confused. It'd be nice if she decided what she wanted;)

-For the past week she has basically boycotted baby food and only wants what I eat.

-She noticed snow for the first time and did nothing but stare at it. Funny little peanut.

Anyway we are all decorated for Christmas and are excited to have our first Christmas together with our little darling girl. It's going to be a small Christmas but I have to keep telling myself that Brielle won't remember she only got one present for her first Christmas right?...

Ok, she's getting two...I exaggerate ;)

Anyway I love this time of year. I am glad I have my wonderful family and I know this year, especially, we will be able to focus on what is really important on Christmas.

Have a great day!

Web MD

SO, I'm pretty sure I'm becoming paranoid....

I used to be really easy going when it came to getting sick and what not...

but now every time something feels weird in my body I start to freak out!

I look online on Web MD at the symptoms I'm having (dizzy, constant headache, back pains...etc...)

and according to how I feel today 

I have a brain tumor 

and my kidneys are shutting down.

YIKES!

Sometimes the internet is just wonderful but right now I am thinking not so much.

This is why I could never be a doctor.

Also why I should NEVER watch House.

(Although I haven't watched the last two seasons)

Anyway...I'm sure I'm fine but I do need to get checked out or something cause I've been just feeling weird.

I hope there isn't anything wrong and maybe it's just from a lack of sleep.

8  months of crappy sleep could VERY well have something to do with it.

I need a vacation where I can sleep in for as long as I want.

I never knew I could love my sleep so much...

Who am I kidding?

I knew that would be the hardest thing, for me, about having a baby.

She is getting better lately but I'm still not functioning very well.

I feel like a zombie most days.

GAH! I need to stop complaining about it and be thankful for the sleep that I do get...

That's my brilliant mother's advice to me.

Anyway....

I'm going to raid DI today. Not that I can get anything but I sometimes just like to check it out...

Also it's nice to get out of a house you are in for most of your life.

I need a good, cheap, hobby.

8 months already?

I know this is a poem for a two year old but I love it and I think it applies to any age...

Hold him a little longer

Rock him a little more

Read him another story

(You've only told him four.)

Let him sleep on your shoulder

Rejoice in his happy smile

He is only two and a half

 For such a little while

These 8 months have gone by so slow to me at times (at 3 in the morning when I'm half awake)

 but in reality

when I think back on it, they have flown by.

I feel like it was yesterday when my water broke and I went to the hospital

to have Brielle.

I will be forever grateful that I had such a lovely, beautiful, healthy baby.

I love her and I'm glad she's mine :)

Love you, Brielley Rae!

Happy 8 months!



Thanksgiving!

Well Everyone!

The turkey turned out DELICIOUS!

We called the professional, Jeannette Humphries, and she told us all the secrets to a yummy turkey!

We brined it with all sorts of yumminess.

Then we stuffed veggies and oranges inside whilst it was cooking.

Oh my yummy!

I love turkey and Thanksgiving.

This is a pic of it being carved. I didn't get one when it was just all done sadly.

Dan carved the turkey and did a wonderful job:)

Anyway, dinner was so wonderful and delicous!

Here are just a few pics of our great Thanksgiving!

YUM!!!!!

Family Pics!

Jennie took our family pics and I LOVE THEM!

I mean I always look at pics of myself and wish I had a different outfit on...

but the pictures are great! Here are some of my faves!

Children of the Promise

This is the book series I've been reading for a while and I LOVE IT!!!!

If you haven't read it....READ IT!

It's about an LDS family during World War II and they have 6 kids and several get sent off to the war 

and it's basically just about how they get through their trials and what not. 

Anyway I love it and I am going to miss the characters when I finish this last one

"As Long As I Have You"

So Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I am a little excited/nervous because

my sister and I are in charge of the TURKEY!

I hope it turns out yummy.

I have a lot of faith in Rachel to make it good so I shouldn't worry.

We also get to go to John's grandma's 90th b-day party on Saturday.

Can you imagine? 90 years?

I want to live to be 100. 

I don't know why really, I just always have.

Hope everyone has a GREAT Thanksgiving!

I have a lot to be Thankful for and I'm glad we can celebrate our holiday with good friends and family:) 

My pretty little red-head

So it's been a while but things have been busy and we don't have internet.

Quick update:

Brielle was a cute bumblebee for Halloween and John was....

The Joker.

Dun Dun Dun!

I'm surprised Brielle wasn't just FREAKING out at John.

She just stared at John and tried to figure it out.

Let's see....what else has been happening...?

Oh! Brielle finally slept through the night!

I feel so great today. Well better than I have felt.

She went to bed at 10 and then woke up at 1 and then slept til 9.

It was a super great night, and I gave her lots of kisses when she woke up today.

Here is the adorable peanut.

Speaking of the adorable peanut...here are a few updates on her...

-She has discovered the "dada" sound. She has been saying "baba" and "mama" for a while

-She has started diving for her toys...perhaps crawling will follow? ;)

-She LOVES her daddy. That's nothing new

-She notices when we leave her alone in a room. She hates it.

-She LOVES other babies and kids when they are over.

-Started clapping! So fun!

-Likes to feel faces. It's kind of weird. haha

-SHe will just observe people she doesn't know. It makes me laugh

Anyway we are excited for Thanksgiving! I love this time of year.

My sister is coming for Thanksgiving and that makes me happy.

Anyway Happy sunday!

p.s. I wrote a post about mother's a few down and it was a draft for a long time but I finally published it so go ahead and scroll down if you'd like to read.

 

Fall:)

Fall is here.

I love fall but I HATE winter.

I used to LOVE the cold weather and snow but living in Rexburg and Logan has made me hate snow.

I'm just done with it.

But, I will still have to live with it for a little longer.

Anyway, like I was saying I LOVE fall.

I love driving by and looking at all the pretty colors and everything.

They have some fun things in Logan for the fall. We went on the pumpkin walk with my mother-in-law. It was fun. It's basically just people that make scenes with pumpkins. We didn't get the greatest pics but here are a few...

 We had to bundle Brielle up BIG time :)

She HATES her coat but it's adorable on her!

Brielle is 7 months old now which blows my mind. She is just a doll and getting REALLY fun and crazy.

 Doesn't she look like that one muppet? haha She makes me laugh

 Granny bought Brielle a Batman shirt and I LOVE it on her. So cute!!

 Granny also got Brielle a high chair for FREE! Awesome! Thanks, Carol!

 Love her!

Anyway Life is good. Happy Sunday!

Brielley Rae...She rules the family now

 Everything goes in her mouth:)

Cute blue eyed beauty. Thanks for those gorgeous eyes, daddy! 

 She LOVES to play with diapers. (I never let her, those are precious!)

 Every time Brielle sees her daddy she kicks her feet and gives him the BIGGEST smile. It's my favorite thing, and I think John's too;)

 Cute Uncle Dan

That's my update for you today :)

We love our baby!!!

Mom's :)

I had a good experience not too long ago that made me think of motherhood... One night Brielle wouldn't sleep and was just sad so She cried for a while when I laid her down so I went and picked her up

and she just sat on my lap and snuggled.

I sang her some songs and the whole time I was singing she sat very still.

It's not normal for Brielle to sit still so this was a very special little snuggle time and I wasn't about to ruin it.

Each time I would start singing she would look up at me with those cute tired baby eyes

and give me a little smile and then caress my face :)

I have discovered that THAT is one of the best things in the world. Just some quality one on one time with your baby, and to finally get the feeling that they love you back.

So I'd like to say a little thank you to my mom (even though she doesn't read my blog).

I finally know a little of how she feels for me and I feel blessed to be loved by someone so much.

She brings warmth and light to the darkest of rooms.

She has this absolute LOVE for people and I've always admired that about her.

I wouldn't be the mother I am without her example.

I always wish that EVERYONE could know my mom because those who don't know her are REALLY missing out. She is just ravishing and delightful! 

She's the best lady ever!

I love you, mom 

and I miss you every day.

I also wanted to add a little bit for my Mother-in-law.

Wow! What a wonderfully, beautiful, woman!

I love her!

She has taught me so much and she doesn't even realize it.

I owe a lot to her for giving me such an amazing husband.

I am so happy I have a good relationship with her:)

She has had experiences in her life that I don't think I'll ever have to go through.

I don't think I could.

She is so strong, whether she thinks she is or not.

I love you, Carol!

So even though this is a random post and it's not like it's mothers day or anything but I just wanted to give a little shout out.
 When I have a rough day being a mom I love this part of Jeffrey R. Holland's talk
"Because she is a Mother"


In speaking of mothers generally, I especially wish to praise and encourage young mothers. The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work. The young years are often those when either husband or wife—or both—may still be in school or in those earliest and leanest stages of developing the husband’s breadwinning capacities. Finances fluctuate daily between low and nonexistent. The apartment is usually decorated in one of two smart designs—Deseret Industries provincial or early Mother Hubbard. The car, if there is one, runs on smooth tires and an empty tank. But with night feedings and night teethings, often the greatest challenge of all for a young mother is simply fatigue. Through these years, mothers go longer on less sleep and give more to others with less personal renewal for themselves than any other group I know at any other time in life. It is not surprising when the shadows under their eyes sometimes vaguely resemble the state of Rhode Island

Do the best you can through these years, but whatever else you do, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours and for which heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones. Husbands—especially husbands—as well as Church leaders and friends in every direction, be helpful and sensitive and wise. Remember, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”⁶

Mothers, we acknowledge and esteem your faith in every footstep. Please know that it is worth it then, now, and forever. And if, for whatever reason, you are making this courageous effort alone, without your husband at your side, then our prayers will be all the greater for you, and our determination to lend a helping hand even more resolute.

I know it's a bit long but I love it.

To all the mother's I know...

I love you.

Joker visits and Doctor's appointments

Can you guess who this is dressed as the Joker?!

 If you guessed John, then you'd be right. What a crazy head he is sometimes!!!

He was asked to march around in the Homecoming Parade for USU with the business school last Saturday.

He had a ton of fun and loved beating up Batman, who also made an appearance:)

His costume is freakishly legit and makes me kind of weirded out when he puts it on.

This is our Ode to Heath Ledger I guess;)

Anyway, we are here watching the Kunz girls for a few days and so far I have had some way funny conversations with my 3 yr. old niece, Lily. :) 

I need to write them down so I can tell her mom when she gets back from her little trip to Vegas;)

Brielle had her 6 month check up today. She is a little sad because of her shots she had to get but non-the-less a very good trooper. I didn't even cry this time!

She weighs 14 lbs 8 oz (25%)

24 1/2 inches long (10%)

Still pretty little, I think:)

I love her. She is a doll.

I stole these pics from Jennie's albums (Don't be mad, Jennie! I know you haven't worked your magic on them yet but I still LOVE them). She was a little younger here. It's crazy how much her face has changed already

Love her!!!