Halloween Decorations

Thanks to the lovely ladies at  Graphics Fairy,  Stories of A to Z,  and House of Smiths, 
I was able to create my own Halloween space. OCT 31st and all that comes before, has always been my favorite time of year. Pumpkin Patches, apple cider doughnuts, getting all dressed up, and CANDY makes this holiday the best. 

The blocks were made out of some wood that we had cut at Lowe's, some black acrylic paint (.30) at Michael's, and the stencils were handmade (took forever!) by printing out the letters, tracing them with an x-acto knife and sheet protectors. It was a bit of a process, but it was super fun. Everything else was super easy- and definitely added a bit of "spook" to our living room :)  

This is the entrance to our "BAT CAVE" as we so lovingly call it :)  (Lately it might be better known as an ICE CHEST, but you get the pic) 


These little projects have been keeping me busy and have been getting us into the HALLOWEEN spirit :) Happy Halloween all. I'll post our costume pics a little later!

Parker, things, and LIFE in general

YAY!! Pictures of Parker! :) We love our little man. He is soooo sweet and cuddly and boy does he smell good :) This picture was after 19 hours of labor (amazing!) and 9 months of being preggers.... (ick!) So we both were so excited to see him, hold him, kiss him etc. Even still today I love getting him dressed each morning, giving him a bath at night, reading to him- anything. He is my own little doll, and he is just so fun to have around.

Here he is- after MOM had taken WAYYY too many pics :) (and I still do!)

Oh gosh I could just take pictures of him all day. And thats what I did for the first few weeks-- Now he stays awake a little bit longer- but this was during the time when he would stay awake for ten or so minutes-- just long enough to get a diaper change and get dressed before he was off to never never land :) Now he is up to about 45 minutes of awake time, so I have a few pictures of him being super cute :)

I LOVEEEE this picture. When I rested him there on the boppy- he looked nothing like this. This was apparently a far superior postion. He is also breathing pretty heavily in this picture, so I was able to get some footage of him with his hand on his hip, and it bopping up and down- way too adoreable for me!

This was a highlight of my life. So we went up to campus to buy our textbooks-- the last day before class started--whoops!--- and baby parker was less than 2 weeks old.  We needed to feed, so I fed him in the ladies room.  As I was changing him- I realized he had pooed all the way through his outfit, and I didn't have any other clothes for him (Im still a newbie at this!) Anyways-- I was about to leave the bathroom when I passed the mirror and saw that- yup! My little guy had peed right through his diaper while I was feeding him. (LAME cheap diapers!) Well, with no clothes for Parker, and no clothes for me-- we walked home. Him (nakie!) and me- WET! :) Oh, how I love the number of times Parker and I change throughout the day. When will I learn to start wearing my rain gear all day?!

PARKER'S BLESSING! It was amazing. Parker looked soo handsome, and Jedediah did a marvelous job blessing our son. We were so blessed to have so many of our family there- I was so surprised so many people could make it. There almost weren't enough seats! This picture is with my mother dearest and my younger sister, Alyssa. My mom stayed for a week to help with Parker, and Alyssa was there before, during, and after Parker- thanks sis! With their help, as well as many others, I can say I survived the first few weeks (man I am not looking forward to that again- I guess I will never be a new mom again, whew!)

Jed's parents, Eric and Kathy, were also able to make it out. It was so nice to have Parker's grandparents there with us! Hopefully we can make it to Seattle or they can visit us, because Parker misses them already. Grandparents are great all around- they spoil them, love them, and almost always bring them back :)

These last three pictures always bring tears to my eyes. (Okay, so the hormones are still a rollar coaster!) but even still- I love my son. I mean, obviously I knew I would love him, but its INCREDIBLE how I love him. That probably sounds kind of strange- but I am really surprised that I am able to love anything so quickly and so fully. When he's sleeping I miss him. When I have to go to class, I miss him. I just always want to be right there with him. I feel like every single aspect of my life changed now that I have added "mother" to the list. My priorities have all shifted down so that Parker can find a place at the top.


Motherhood is everything. I finally feel like everything I was taught in young womens and by my family has made full circle. I was meant to be a mother. It really is a divine calling. A woman's place is in the home. 

I still don't know what I am doing for school. I am taking 8 credits right now. I don't know exactly what Jed is doing for work or school next year.  Nor do I know what to do for Parker most of the time.

But I do know, and have always known, that I am a daughter of God, and I don't take that lightly.  The Lord knew that I needed Parker right now. He was meant to come into our family at this not-so-ideal time.  I have been prepared from the beginning for this purpose, and I so grateful for those who have taught me how to be a mother. Jed is an amazing father. Fatherhood is a weird thing. I still don't have it all figured out- but Jedediah surely does. He has been so caring and understanding- as always- these last 6 weeks. Whenever he's home (which isn't very often) he takes care of Parker. Jed changed all the diapers while we were in the hospital (then Alyssa took over.) Jed got up with me everytime I fed Parker. Now I only wake him up when I need him- but he is alway so willing to do anything I ask. Jed is the best father I've ever known, as well as the best husband.

WOW. Well this got long, very quickly. I was going to say a bunch of other things, but I should end now. Maybe some other time I will give the birth story- but for now, keep us in your prayers-- we can take all we can get. :) xoxo

Kyle Andrews "You Always Make Me Smile" Official Video-- Yeah, we were there. The GREEN TEAM.

Pregnancy Post

I feel like as soon as I'm not pregnant anymore, and after all the initial baby craziness (plus a few months) maybe I'll look back and enjoy my pregnancy. Because even now I can recall a (very) short time when I enjoyed it.  But as I sit here, in outfit number 2 for today (already sweated through #1) I cant even fathom doing this again. I am trying to pull together a list of things I liked about my pregnancy- because the list of things I DIDNT like would be long, really long, and everybody who reads this has probably heard me complain at least once (sorry!).  So with literally nothing in mind right now, here goes.

-I got to eat without counting calories.
The few extra pounds on my face will tell you I did this.

-Baby clothes shopping.
My new favorite thing to shop for. 

-Feeling him kick.
Each time I felt him, I felt like he did it just to let me know he was okay.

-Ultrasounds
I wish we could do these more often. At first he looked like... a blob of something- and then a few short months later, he was a full fledged baby. Amazing!

-Baby showers
I love getting together with people I love, and I love getting presents for Parker.

-Letting Jed feel him kick
He always gets stage fright when Jed is trying to feel him. Jed says that in the morning when Im still sleeping he can feel him kick and move. (my heart melted when he told me that)

-Organizing his baby clothes
Lets just say I have done this way WAY too many times! 

-Talking to Parker
pretty much about everything Im doing, things I am thinking about. I just like talking to him. I really hope he is used to my laugh by now. :)

-Swimming
I almost dont even feel pregnant. I think that counts!?!

-Jed rubbing my feet
He has pretty much gone pro at foot rubbing. Such a good guy.

WOW. I am honestly super impressed with myself. I didn't think I could come up with 5 things to think positively about. All things considered, I think I will love holding my little boy more than anything. I cannot WAIT! :)

Now for the pictures. Excuse my swollen face, sweatiness, and overall pregnant grossness. I am not one of those girls that feels sexy when she's pregnant. Definitely not!

Jed and I at Olive Garden (Alyssa is taking our picture). We get so spoiled. I watch our friends 1 yr old daughter for a few hours, and they give us a gift card to the Olive Garden. YUMMY!

Friends from my ward throwing me a baby shower! Thanks Sarah! It was a blast! Nice to have Alyssa  there as well.

There he is. This is me, at 38 weeks-- Aug 12th.  I honestly didn't think I could get this big. At least my huge club feet aren't in the picture (thanks Alyssa) they are huge!

This is Jed and I at Bear Lake for his family's reunion. It was a lot of fun, warm!!, but lots of fun. Look at the water! I had never seen water that color before-- gorgeous! p.s. Jed has gotten a tiny belly too. I loveeee it!

Motherhood:-An-Eternal-Partnership

As the weeks (days!) come down to the big event. Easily one of the
biggest in my life so far, I am touched by the power of motherhood.
What a divine calling it is. As I struggle to balance being a mother, a wife,
a student, a daughter, a sister, a friend and all other roles I hold in my life,
I am confident that it can be done.

Thank you, all the women in my life, for being such a great example to me.
Thank you for showing me that it IS possible. Thank you for encouraging me
with words of love and support, and for helping me see my own potential.
To all the mothers and women- know that the Lord loves you. And is mindful
of your righteous desires. Keep up the good work.

Below is a link of a video that is certain to brighten any day, and make
that list of to-dos seem possible. Oh- and its by Elder Holland. :)

Motherhood:-An-Eternal-Partnership

Just Pictures

I had to hold the camera super, super still... and these are maybe a 1/4 or what I wanted to upload, but here's some for now.

This was in April when we found out we were having a boy. I knew, Jed knew, we just had to let the Dr's see. Oh goodness he's so darn cute. P.s. I didn't even cry. I was super surprised.

This was at Jed's friend Jacob's wedding. Jed was the best man. Don't we look hot. :) Took me forever to find a dress to wear... and I really can't stand that dress. Oh to find cute (CHEAP) clothes whilest pregnant.

There she is! My lil' sister getting her diploma.  It was really, really weird to see her all growed up like that. Oh, and did I mention how weird it was being back (only 2 years after my own graduation) with a hubby and a baby..... that was slightly weird.

My nephew, Jax and myself. Loved being back in Illinois. Loved seeing the fam, and this little guy even let me hold him. Just a few times. He is too darn cute!

My two besties. The cutie on the left is Heidi and the hot one on the right is Jennifer. These are the girls that I spent my high school years with. Boy did we cause trouble. Love them both so much and miss them already! p.s. between the three of us, we're pretty much unstoppable.

 There's the 3 of us (the Three Sisters) with our picture proudly displayed on a HUGE wall of other pics at our favorite restaurant, the Three Sisters.  To my knowledge we are the only pic that aren't biologically sisters.

**** Well I had tons more pictures to post. I didn't get  to post any of my family or the awesome baby shower they threw. Maybe sometime soon. 

Hypnobirthing

Looking forward to the Parker's birth date (c. August 24th) it is sooooo soon. I have no idea how I am ever going to get everything done. Tomorrow I am going shopping for fabric to make his bedding with (that should be interesting!) Then we still have a BUNCH of shopping to do as well as much needed psychological  preparation. But one thing we have started, that I am way stoked about!!!, is our birthing class.

For me the biggest thing about this baby, is to have a relatively good birthing experience. I love children- look at what I am studying- and though I need a lot of work in the mom department- children are the greatest things in the whole world to me. But the thought of doing this whole baby thing again, at the moment, is not sounding too good. (All about adoption)  So I REALLY need this to be a good experience so I will look back and say- yeah, I would do that again (if only for my children).

Hence- the need and desire for a birthing class. I really wanted to find one that fit my needs, as well as encouraged a natural birth (I knew I would need all the encouragement I could get). After talking to my midwife about different classes offered here in Utah county, I decided to look into hypnobirthing. I had never heard of it before, nor did I have any idea what it was about. But after a few days, more discussions with my midwife, talking to Jed, and looking at this incredible website www.hypnobirthing.com  I had made my decision. At first finding a class that worked with our schedule, finally finding one and then the instructor needed to cancel due to family issues etc., we finally started our class.

It is a five week- 2 1/2 hour- course that teaches hypnobirthing. We had a great experience last night. We were taught all about what it is, taught why it works, and even started doing hypnosis in class. It was way cool. Not cool. That's not the right word-- it made sense. We talked about our conscious and subconscious minds, and how strong our minds are and can be if we help train ourselves to use that potential. At first I read hypnosis and thought- okay, well my midwife is a wonderful, trained medical professional- and she said that she has personally seen this type of birthing work wonders for each patient willing to put in the effort--- so I continued thinking, hypnosis... like swing a watch in front of your eyes, wake up an hour later and have no idea what happened-- lame, I want to be fully awake and alert during my birth. But after all the research I have done, the class, and I started reading the book about it, it is anything but a crock. It really is mind over matter, and letting our bodies do what they were created to do.

I cant wait to keep learning about this class, and I am actually (sort of... in a way) looking forward to the birth now. I love love LOVE how much Jed is involved. It is exactly what I wanted. I'll keep you posted on more about our class, as well as hopefully soon update with pictures. (Our camera cord is shredded). Much Love from here in the valley <3