30 weeks and counting....

So lack of pictures on the blog lately, are due to a lost camera :( Reagan had a dance recital on December 3rd at the Festival of Trees. It was a crazy day and I was carrying loads of stuff amidst shuffling her back and forth between Mike and I. I had some really cute pictures on there of her and her buddies afterwards too so I'm sick about it. Makes me mad at myself and kind of mad that whomever found it wasn't honest enough to turn it in. I guess I'd like to think people were still caring enough to see this cute little girl on camera and know her parents wanted it back.

Anyway....we've had a fun month. Fun Christmas crafts, activities, parties, etc. None captured on film! We did buy another small digital so now watch out pictures....

Pregnancy update: We (or I) have 10 weeks left. I had another ultrasound this past week to check placenta placement. All looks great, it's moved, and Junior (for lack of any name) is growing like a weed. Reagan still insists his name is Foofy (not even sure how you would spell it, just know we have a few months to convince her that's not a great name for a boy, a dog maybe, but a boy, no). She measured him about a week ahead and he is weighing in at 3 1/2 pounds. We got a new computer and I can't figure out our "scanning" on the printer so I can't get pictures to upload either!! Looks like he has lots of "fuzz" on his head (which anyone who saw Reagan would remember the mass amounts of hair and if you attribute the old wives tale of heartburn, it would definately apply in both pregnancies). His lips were nice and "kissable" according to the sonographer. I thought they looked unusually large - or the weirdness of a 3D :O) We are so excited for him to arrive (not too soon of course)!!

Excellent Book!!

If you haven't read this book it's a must read. I probably wouldn't have ever just picked it up to "read", but I was lacking books to read, and usually have to read every night. Probably one of the best books I have read in a very long time. However, before that I read Three Cups of Tea about Greg Mortensen building schools in Pakistan and this too, was excellent. A great few weeks of reading makes me very happy :)

A perfect day

Big, fluffy white snowflakes are falling. It's a Sunday and the quiet outside is wonderful! I've got comfy p.j.'s on at 11 a.m., cup of Chai Tea by my side, the house is super cozy, clean, and smells like cloves and cinnamon...thanks to Scentsy. Christmas tree lights are on and holiday music is in the background...my house is otherwise quiet with Mike at work and Reagan at her cousins. They will be here soon and the silence will turn to chaos. So I'll enjoy it for a minute. I'm thoroughly enjoying the holiday season this year. My shopping is 99% done and 2 weeks to go!! It was simple this year, which I loved. Anticipation from Santa is felt everywhere and Reagan's elf has visited her "nearly" every day. The days he didn't she can tell you why! I saw swimsuits in Target yesterday...yes, and WHY?? Can't we just enjoy a holiday without anticipating something else? There will be no swimsuit buying for me anytime soon....I'll relish in the holiday spirit, the magic of winter, and each day with my excited child. How bout for you?

Do you think....

one day, the man of her dreams will say the thing he loves most about her is not her eyes, her smile, her nose, but.....her cheeks :O)

A season of Thanks

The wonderful thing about November is the season of thankfulness. It gives way to the season of giving. Two months of feeling humbled, blessed and grateful. Grateful we live in this free country. That we aren't told what to wear, where to go, how to live, etc. Even with the hardships that the nation faces, the political mess we have or may be in according to some, and the financial crisis so many are facing, we are free, and we are blessed. I'm grateful for so many things in my life. Health, stability, love, friendship, family, etc. Last week Mike and I volunteered with others from his work at the Food Bank. Absolutely amazing at the food that was in that warehouse. It made me sort of ashamed that we don't do more donating! We packaged boxes that were going to elderly who didn't have a "food pantry" and I thought, as great as all this stuff looks going in to the boxes, I'm so grateful I don't rely on this.
Now, I look forward to a season of giving. Sometimes, it's hard to remember that when life revolves around retail. Long hours create time away from home and sometimes a needed break-for everyone involved. We often lose track of what it's really about. It's hard to teach kids the true meaning when we live in a world of "I want". "Material" things aside, it's a season of being with family, celebrating birth, life, and once again being grateful for all we have. Hope you all had a wonderful season of being thankful!!



Who better to fix a 2 year olds hair....than a 3 year old :) This is what we found...when they couldn't be found

Occasionally....

I do get ambitious. Today, the weather was crisp but the sun was shining. I thought I would get maybe an hour of exercise so I attempted to rake leaves. Three piles later I was done :) However, her smile says it all.

Cinderella is proof that a pair of shoes really can change your life!

Mommy daughter date to Disney's Princesses on Ice. Hundreds of little princesses running around, two fabulous hours, ONE excited little girl! We had great seats and she was so excited. We went last year but this one was focused on the princesses and mostly Cinderella (which currently is her favorite) so definitely more exciting for little girls (and mommies alike).






One tired little girl but....

still got ahold of the souvenir

Halloween Fun

Thank goodness it's over :) Reagan had a fun Halloween. All dressed up in her Cinderella costume with Prince Charming (daddy) by her side. Grandma Judy, Aunt Sara and Mike took the kids out this year for a short jaunt. It was a warm day but got cold fast. They didn't care if they had 4 or 100 pieces of candy. Fun had by all. There's a ton, sorry.

She's cute, right!

The castle for the princess

I'm supposed to be her Fairy Godmother :)

It wouldn't be complete w/out this scene.....

Love Kennedy dippin' in Rea's bucket


Ahhh.....

I tried to get a good picture of Cooper's Transformer costume. Sara made this...amazing!

Pumpkin Prep

It's been absolutely gorgeous the past several days. I wish I felt well enough to enjoy most of them. Dang winter pregnancy and all the gunk that comes with it is making me miserable (physically but I do still love my baby!) I've been sick again with whatever-it-is-I-keep getting. I feel like a hypochondriac going to Instacare week after week. Heaven knows I usually only go to a dr once a year and that's about it. I'm breaking my record. However, I felt well enough today to enjoy some sunshine in the yard with Rea. Mike has great make-things-out-of-nothing skills (let's call it hereditary). This swing is loved.

Cute Pic

This is Rea, her Papa, and cousin Savana. My dad loves to take kids for rides on his "mower". The kids....love it :)

3rd times a charm

It was cold and dark outside as we carry our half-awake 3 year old into the surgical center at Alta View Hospital. A day I myself have dreaded. It made my belly hurt. Today was the day for Rea to get some tubes in...again...and again....I'm thinking, third times a charm (hopefully)...and I also know what to expect since we've had 2 long, tiring, very emotional days like this in the past. We've been seeing the ENT every few months for some pressure issues she's had in her ears. She hasn't had a single ear infection since her last tubes in March of 08 and heaven knows she can hear well enough! We've adjusted to swimming under water, no paranoia as we wash her hair, etc. However, it was suggested that she was losing hearing in the one ear because of the negative pressure. So I consented and began to dread.

Long story short....it wasn't that bad. There were a few minutes of hysteria and it was still a really long few hours but now, hopefully, she is on the mend. I have to say that our experience at Alta was MUCH better than that at Jordan Valley. The nurses were great, she got a cute purple bear to take everywhere with her, and our anesthesiologist Dr. Blood (YEP, that was his name!) was so great. We checked in, changed into the fabulous-o gown (which is way cuter than the big size ones), and waited for the "giggle juice". This was a new experience as neither time before did she get this. It was great. Well sort of...sort of weird. I was "giggling" so hard I was crying because she was completely zoned out. Her voice turned into this sweet angel voice, she was saying things that were hilarious, and could barely focus on the book Mike was reading her. When Dr. Blood arrived he was so good with her. She asked what his name was and he said "Todd" then whispered "no need to scare her right". They went in search for lost kittens which apparently are seen in the building after a dose of the giggle juice. Thirty minutes later she was in recovery and it was over...well sort of. Her ENT said the one ear drum was totally collapsed so we were glad we decided to do it now rather than wait.

She didn't think it was a pretty dress

Peek-a-Boo

Giggle Juice taking effect



The other great of the day was an adventure to Chuck-E-Cheese. We were sort of using it as a bribe even though her "earning" this trip comes with another milestone...for a week, she has been going to sleep by herself at night. After the ritual 3 or 4 books read by dad, the lamp is left on and she enters dreamland. Dad's in heaven. No holding hands, rubbing the back, sitting there for an hour coaxing her to sleep (mom doesn't have to do all this of course, Rea knows she means business). It's been heaven. Thank heavens for Chuck-E-Cheese and manipulation of innocent minds. Probably not a night we should have ventured out but it gave her something to talk about as she was coming out of the grogginess of the surgery...."Can we go to Chuck-E-Cheese now Dad?" Good news is we all survived.

Yum, frozen pizza and Rootbeer

Her fav game

Watching the "band" play (she looks worn out!)

When you let your child run the mixer.....

I laughed...she cried :(

It's a......

Baby Leg


It's officially a boy! I spared you the "private parts" picture which was very obvious. We are all so excited to be adding to our family. Reagan told us "I knew it was a brother". She's been so cute lately always wanting to hug him (my belly) and kisses it numerous times a day. I got so tired of replying when she was asking when he was "ripping out of my belly" that we have told her after Christmas and lots of snow! I'm feeling great and the best news is we were apparently 18 days off somewhere in the time table!! Not sure how that happens but both the sonographer and the doctor said I was almost 21 weeks so that puts my new due date at March 1st...even better :)

Easter Trip

I had the opportunity to travel back east (Boston, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut) with my mom, sisters Aroha and Heather. Thanks to all the men in our lives who made this possible. Mike only had to keep track, feed, transfer, and care for one child. My sisters each have 5 kids so for a very long week on their husbands part I'm sure, there kids were well taken care of, although they missed their mamas.
This is the first time I have been back during foliage season. My camera does it no justice because it was absolutely beautiful. (And then I dropped it in a puddle of rain so the quality wasn't the best and I had to use an old school disposable camera for most of the time). We started out in Boston and spent a day walking around the city. Taking the Freedom Trail tour which is a simple historical events of the nation. Pretty interesting. Sights included a cemetery that houses Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancock, etc. The oldest park in the U.S. Boston Common, the site of the apparent Boston Massacre and the town hall where the declaration of Independence was read.
We then met my mom who had already been there for a week visiting with nursing school friends (50 year reunion for them!). We drove up to New Hampshire and stayed a few days visiting there. I have already been back there a few times but it never ceases to amaze me. The country back east is completely different than the west and you have no idea how until you actually visit and not just see pictures. You never see towns-only trees, and maybe an occasional church steeple peeking through. It's also very odd driving there because you can't just exit the freeway, go under an overpass and get back on the same freeway...it's a drive through town or manipulating back roads. We found that out fast and didn't perfect it by the time we were done! Mom got to see some family and we got to see all her childhood haunts. It's also fun that you can drive for a day and be in 4 or 5 states. We also went to Salem, Massachusets, town of the witch hunts. A little odd, and sort of creepy! The last day we spent in Maine. It was a fun, memorable trip and thanks again to my sisters for going and Mom for letting us tag along.

Boston: These were real people...creepy

Quincy Hall (lots of shops and eating)

The deck


Portland Head Lighthouse - still working. You can tell the day we were there was rainy. They had the fog horn blowing and everything. Pretty cool.

Water damaged camera :)

This is the house where the Salem Witch Trials judge lived. Painted black I'm sure for affect (or effect?)

A covered bridge..these are still all over New England. Pretty cool. Only one car passes through at a time.

The girls