Ahhh, relaxation...

We just returned from Scottsdale, AZ where we went on Geoffery's annual work retreat trip. I have a couple of things to describe it:

-No kids
-shopping
-85 degree weather
-pools
-more shopping
-GOOD food
-more GOOD food
-more shopping
-oh and a massage

Did I mention the massage? It was WONDERFUL! I've gotten massages before, but maybe because I'm pregnant it was extra wonderful. It was really what I needed during our 10 months of winter. I feel replinished, revived, back from the doom and gloom of our horrible winters. I maybe able to survive the next 2 to 3 months before we see spring here. Hopefully.

Oh and did I mention that it was all company paid for, all of it! I don't think I paid for even one meal while we were down there! EVEN BETTER! However this freed up some money for some serious shopping. And let me tell you, it's a good thing I don't live near a good mall or we would be bankrupt. I did our semi-annual clothes shopping for the family. We are now all ready for spring and summer waredrobes. Now if the weather would cooperate, we would be ready to walk down the run-way. I guess we'll just have to be patient.

Grant was a champ with his Nana. Because we lived with them for 4 months last year, there wasn't much of a transition period. None. He's finally to the point where I explained to him way early that we would be leaving and he would stay with his Nana, and he was MORE than okay with it. In fact, right before we left he just came up to me and said "Bye Mom" and gave me a kiss and hug and went on to play. I don't think he missed us too much.

Well I have no pictures to document this trip. I realized I forgot it on the way to the airport, but I took a picture off the internet so you could see where we stayed. Anyway, I will post soon with pictures from Grants birthday party which will be on Saturday. And maybe as I promised before I will give you a belly shot (but none with a bare belly, I'm not that curagious:)

We're having a...

GIRL!!!




We just found out that we're having a little girl in July and we are sooo excited! I think we're just trying to take it all in, as we have been in total boy mode for the last two years. Her name, right now, will be Madelyn Brooke and we'll call her Maddy. We had this name picked out when we were coming up with girl names when I had Grant. Everything at the doctors looks good except that she's measuring a week small. However they say this isn't a big deal, she's probably just going to be a small baby. Grant was huge, so this will be new for me for sure. He was 8lbs when he was born:) We are just soo excited!

Stay tuned to Valentines pictures and maybe even a belly shot!

Grants 23 mth update...

So today I decided it was time to take some pictures of Grant. I hadn't in a while and i just felt like time was passing me by. My baby is growing up! Weep, weep:( But he is learning sooo much and I just wanted to write down some of the things he is doing now. I know this may be boring for some, but this is our family journal.

Grant is all of the sudden talking like crazy. He can communicate pretty much whatever he wants even if it is just using one word or pointing. He is starting to understand things better and I can say things to him and he always understands what I say to him. He now thinks that when Geoffery and I have a conversation that he is definately part of it. Geoffery and I spend a lot of time spelling things out. I tell ya, their smarter than you think:)

Grant also is obessed with several things and we spend our days talking and playing with the following: Monkeys (or he calls them ohh,ahh monkey noises), trains (or choo, choos), cars, Football (but its really basketball), tractors, and snowmen. We talk about these things at least 10 times a day each especially if they're on TV.

Also he is really into TV these days. Before it was just background noise and he didn't pay that much attention. But now it has become where he becomes commatose starring at it. So needless to say we try to turn it off throughout the day so that we get some playtime. His favorite show is Calliou, I have no idea why. I think he likes the idea of being Calliou's age.

He still is sleeping in his crib through the night:) He takes a 2 to 2 and 1/2 hour nap during the day. He loves to eat oatmeal, eggs, turkey, cheese, grapes, peas, green beans, chocalate milk, chicken, bananas and LOVES yogert. He is soo much fun at this age and with that comes a LOT of independence, but I wouldn't change him for the world. We have a lot of fun during the day together and he follows me around like a little dog. He LOVES to cuddle with me and watch a show on TV and we do that almost everyday. He is such a little sweetheart and has a really sweet side to him. I love you Grant!

Sleep Deprieved and lovin it...

Okay so I know its been FOREVER since I last blogged and I have a reason for it. Well it's not really a good excuse, but at least I'm being honest. I've been, well how do you say it... TIRED. I guess I've forgotten, but man being pregnant sucks all the energy out of you, literally. I even have to take naps during the day and I'm NOT a nap person. But with that being said, I've also forgotten how having a newborn and waking up every 1, 2, or 3 hours makes you, well... EXTREMELY TIRED.

So my sister emailed me this picture of me at Grants baby blessing. It was taken of me almost two years ago and I had NO IDEA someone was taking a picture of me. Abby laughed soo hard she had to send it to me and when I saw it I laughed just as hard and then I wanted to cry because I remember how I felt that day. It was probably one of the most stressful days I can remember for a number of reasons. One, being it was the first time I have ever "hosted" a get together at my house with food, guests, decor, etc. Second, family and friends were in town and staying at our house which requires hosting and being "nice." Third, I was sleeping an average of 4 hours a night. And fourth, it was an emotional day filled with 9am church, a beautiful blessing, and a newborn being contaminated going to a church full of sick people (or though that's how I pictured it then:).

Anyway this picture contains all of that emotion that I was feeling on that day. It makes me laugh. It makes me realize not only how much Grant has grown and developed into this wonderful toddler, but also how much I have grown as a person. I have changed from a scared new mom to be, to a (little) more confident mom and person. I was soo nervous I wasn't doing everything "right" and I knew I was doing something "wrong." Wow it's amazing how children change us sooo quickly. I can't imagine my life without Grant. He has taught me sooo much. So now enjoy this very embarrassing picture and don't judge me too harshly:)

Somes News & Updates...

So we have some news and some updates. First of all...

We're expecting baby #2! We're due July 10th! We had our first doctor's appointment and we got a strong heartbeat and I'm about 2 months along. We are soooo excited and can't wait!

Second of all...

Our house is being completed this weekend and all we'll have to next week are inspections, close on it, and move in! Yeah!!! We are soo excited that it is finally done and we are really happy with it. Bad news is that we get to move in on Wednesday or Thursday and then go to Logan for Garrett's wedding (where I'm the photographer as well as a bridesmaid:) So we get to enjoy our new home right before Christmas so it will be a STRESSFUL, but fun, next week and a half.

Some updates on Grant. He is doing well and enjoying Christmas time. He loves snowmen and those dancing Hallmark things you know you can get every year that are REALLY annoying. He likes to play them about 10 times a day:) He is growing like a weed and starting to talk more. He is starting to understand Santa and Christmas and it's a LOT of fun to see Christmas through his eyes. We'll have LOTS of pictures I'm sure after Christmas.

So these next couple of weeks will be quiet busy for us. And I thought I could post our Christmas card I made that I know will not be going out this year due to pregnancy nausea, moving into our house, and a wedding. So I hope you enjoy and sorry I couldn't get those out this year. But I hope everyone has a VERY Merry Christmas!

Christmas Time!!

So I have been SOOO picky when it comes to finding Christmas stockings that I like. I haven't found ANY, ANYWHERE that I like. Well I just found them on Etsy the other day and I REALLY want them. Their more expensive than I want to pay, so I don't know if I'll get them or not, but I had to share with you guys how cute they are. Also how easy would these be to make yourself with similar fabric. Abby you up to sewing me some stockings (along with curtains and pillows for my house:)?

Halloween Events...

So as you can tell we dressed little Grant up as a pirate. We had a LOT of fun. Our ward/stake had a trunk-or-treat and we went and decorated our car for the event. Grant had a LOT of fun walking around getting candy. He wanted to hold Nana's hand and Geoffery took pictures while Ashley, Geoffery's sister, video taped. No he's not spoiled at all:) He didn't quite get it at first, but then he got really excited about it and only grabbed one piece of candy and put it straight in his bag. It was soooo cute. He took it sooo seriously. He also like handing out the candy. He takes instructions really good and he likes to feel like he is helping.

After the trunk-or-treat we decided that we didn't want to go door to door. Maybe next year when he can eat some of the candy. Okay so does it make me a bad mom that I only gave him like 2 pieces of candy? He doesn't know the difference and he doesn't need all that candy?! But next year he will know that there is candy so we'll spoil him REAL good then:0) Anyway, we ended up going out to eat that night with Geoffery's sister and husband who have a little boy Grant's age. Grant went in his costume and they had a blast pouring water all over the floor and eating each others food. They really get along like best friends. Its really cute to watch. So thats what we did. If you notice in our car decor you will see two pumpkins that we, okay really Geoffery, carved (I got too frustrated during the process, It's a LOT of work). I hope everyone had a great halloween as well!