The month of December

This month went by so so so fast! I know I keep saying that but holy moly life just seems to keep going faster and faster! It's kind of sad! But it's being enjoyed so it's okay.

I set a random goal for myself to try videoing our activities every day in December until Christmas. (Vlogmas is what it's technically called) and I uploaded the videos to YouTube. I did pretty good! I only missed a couple days of the month and learned that it was more of a stress than anything. I think I'll look back at the videos and be grateful to have them but it was a little bit of work to put them together every day and it was even hard to get myself to video some days!! It was easier when there was something to actually do or look forward to, but if it was a normal/boring-ish day I didn't have the motivation to video! So who knows if I'll choose to do it again next year.. guess we'll see! But I do like putting together creative videos more, so maybe I'll just stick to that. Who knows!

Anyways, the month of December was fun! We drove around to see the Christmas lights, drank hot chocolate and watched Polar Express, obviously watched Christmas movies every day (our favorites being Elf, the Santa Clause, Rudolph, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and the Grinch), did lots of painting and Christmas crafts, decorated a ginger bread house, wrapped presents, listened to lots of Christmas music, made and decorated sugar cookies, delivered Christmas gifts, and read Christmas books daily. I also made an orange garland this year to put on our tree, (hard than it looked but definitely worth it because it's adorable), made an ornament of Nollie's hand print but it didn't work out very well haha, and we even opened some gifts to each other before we traveled home for Christmas.

It was good and fun and I love doing all the Christmas things! I will forever look forward to doing them every year and making memories with my children. As they continue to grow each year they just become more fun and seeing the magic in their eyes (Lila's at least haha Nollie is a little too young obviously), is so amazing! 

I will tell you what though, I love the "LOVE" that Christmas time brings and plants in everyone's hearts. One of my favorite things this year was a simple note, text, or snapchat from friends and family who simply just wanted to tell me they loved me. :) It filled my heart!

This was a December/Christmas to remember though because I had more in common with Mary (Jesus' mother) than I thought. I came across a couple different articles/quotes about her and little baby Jesus that really touched me! I've had so many feelings and emotions this season with a newborn in my arms. I can't help but think of Mary and how she may have felt. What beautiful words and a reminder from Elder Holland about this time of year and the true meaning of Christmas:

"I was a student at BYU just finishing my first year of graduate work when our first child, a son, was born. We were very poor, though not so poor as Joseph and Mary. Nevertheless, when I realized that our own night of nights was coming, I believe I would have done any honorable thing in this world, and mortgaged any future I had, to make sure my wife had the clean sheets, the sterile utensils, the attentive nurses, and the skilled doctors who brought forth our firstborn son.

I compare those feelings (which I have had with each succeeding child) with what Joseph must have felt as he moved through the streets of a city not his own, with not a friend or kinsman in sight, nor anyone willing to extend a helping hand. In these very last and most painful hours of her “confinement,” Mary had ridden or walked approximately 100 miles from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea. Surely Joseph must have wept at her silent courage.

I wonder what emotions Joseph might have had as he cleared away the dung and debris. I wonder if he felt the sting of tears as he hurriedly tried to find the cleanest straw and hold the animals back. I wonder if he wondered: “Could there be a more unhealthy, a more disease-ridden, a more despicable circumstance in which a child could be born? Should the mother of the Son of God be asked to enter the valley of the shadow of death in such a foul and unfamiliar place as this? Is it right He should be born here?” But I am certain Joseph did not mutter and Mary did not wail. They knew a great deal and did the best they could.

I’ve thought of Mary, too, this most favored mortal woman in the history of the world, who as a mere child received an angel who uttered to her those words that would change the course not only of her own life but also that of all human history: “Hail, thou virgin, who art highly favoured of the Lord. The Lord is with thee; for thou art chosen and blessed among women.”

It is here I stumble, here that I grasp for the feelings a mother has when she knows she has conceived a living soul, feels life quicken and grow within her womb, and carries a child to delivery. At such times fathers stand aside and watch, but mothers feel and never forget.

With only Joseph’s inexperienced assistance, she herself brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in the little clothes she had knowingly brought on her journey, and perhaps laid him on a pillow of hay. Shepherds would soon arrive and later, wise men from the East. Later yet the memory of that night would bring Santa Claus and Frosty and Rudolph—and all would be welcome. But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby—that’s how Christmas began."

Thank you Nollie for coming when you did so I could hold you in my arms this Christmas season. And thank you Lila for being adorable, loving, and fun as always. You're both my sunshines! 2018 is going to be a fun year!

**We spent New Year's Eve at Mike and Laura's for "Nacho mama's party!" We took over my favorite "twix bars" that my mom makes every season. Unfortunately the caramel didn't set up (or probably wasn't cooked quite long enough), but at least they tasted good! It was fun to get out of the house and to spend time with them. I swear I say this every time, but they are just like our family! We feel at home when we get to spend time with them.

We ate some yummy nachos, played a couple games, and headed home around 9:30. We spent the rest of the night all snuggled up on our bed! We drank a little bit of sparkling cider, toasted to the new year, and fell asleep watching Monster's Inc. It was a lovely end to 2018. I love my little family and I'm so excited for the new year!

Love,

Kate

Nollie is 1 month old!

Nollie turned 1 month old on her dad's 27th birthday! She is now around 8 lbs (I'm guessing) and almost 21 inches long. She wears size 1 diapers and NB clothing is definitely starting to get too tight! 

She loves her sister Lila and smiles when she hears her voice. It's absolutely amazing to see them interact together. I can't even describe it but it makes my heart so full and happy!!!

Nollie definitely knows her own name. She seemed to know it from the beginning! She'll turn her head towards you if you're talking to her and she has a really strong neck already!

She hates being undressed or uncovered. And Nollie is a cuddle bug! She loves being held, actually likes snuggling on our chests (on her belly) and especially loves to sleep next to mom. 

She is seriously an angel baby!! She's happy and content almost ALL the time! The only time she gets upset is if she has a bubble, oh and she grunts out of frustration when she poops sometimes, haha! 

She's the perfect addition to our family and we love her so much!!! I just can't say it enough!! She's so dang cute!

Love,

Kate

Christmas Weekend

On Friday, December 22nd we packed up (the whole house + Christmas gifts) in our car and headed to Cedar. We celebrated Drew's birthday that evening with his family with the traditional sushi dinner and steak. Mark unfortunately couldn't come because he wasn't feeling well so it felt a little different this year because he wasn't there. But it was still yummy and fun anyways!

The next day was Saturday. We celebrated Christmas this day with his family! We waited until the evening so Katie could be done with work and so Mark and Cally could come over. We ate a delicious dinner. Roast and turkey, fancy potatoes made by Bill, and green bean casserole. After we ate, we sat around the family room and exchanged Christmas gifts. We gave Mark and Cally accessories for their new GoPro. We got Katie a gift card to Walmart, and we got Bill a gift card to Home Depot. We got Linda an Amazon Echo and together we gave Bill and Linda a painting of the new Cedar City Temple that I made for them! We received a big frying pan from Katie, movie theater gift card from Mark & Cally, plus a new game we need to learn how to play. They all also spoiled Lila and Nollie with wooden puzzles, a plush kitty, and other things. (Thanks guys!)

Bill and Linda got Drew clothes and accessories for working out (and to use towards his goal of completing a triathlon in April), and they got me some pretty throw pillows for my couch and a gift card to Christensens. They also made me some shelves for Nollie's room!

They got Lila a little red trike, some clothes, a little doll family, a small red purse, and Bill got her a proof silver dollar from 2016-- the years he was born. That was special!

They got Nollie some books, a keepsake box, and Bill got her a coin set from all the coins made in 2017-- the year Nollie was born. That was special too!

We enjoyed some pie after we were done opening presents. It was a fun evening!!

The next day was Christmas Eve. We got all packed up and made our way to Richfield. The roads were clear and the weather was good the entire weekend. We were lucky! We spent the afternoon visiting and hanging out. We eventually went to Grandma Carol's to visit for a minute before heading to Grandma Micki's for the annual Christmas party at her home. Nollie got to meet her Great Grandma Carol and Great Grandpa June for the first time! Grandma Carol loved holding her and said she looks just like how her babies did! And the hair too! (She said this about Lila when she was a baby too! Just minus the hair, hahaa)

Nollie got to meet her Great Grandma Micki and Great Grandpa Doug too! Grandma Micki held her for a long time. So long that Nollie actually smelled like her for the rest of the night, ha!

The Christmas party was fun. We ate yummy food, visited with family, opened gifts, and also surprised the grandparents with a special project we had all were a part of-- a video compilation of each family member reciting a part of "The Living Christ." We showed them the video and they both got really emotional while watching it. So did everyone else too! My aunt Katie and her husband Bri put the video together and also added a picture of Aunt Keri at the end as a tribute to her. It marked her 30th year since she passed away on Christmas Eve :( So that was really emotional too. But the grandparents loved it and it turned out to be an amazing gift for them!!

After the party we went home, opened Christmas jammies, got dressed in them, took some pictures, and then went to bed!

The next morning was Christmas! Lila woke up first right around 7:30 am. We woke everyone else up too and got ready to head down stairs to see what Santa brought! Lila was so cute when she saw that Santa had brought her a dollhouse! Plus the dollhouse had actual photos of our family on the walls! Santa is so creative!!

It was such a magical and fun morning seeing her excitement on top of our own! We took our time opening gifts, playing with toys, and being visited by family. We exchanged gifts-- We gave Konner jelly beans and a dispenser for them, and we gave Kambry a thread wallet and lanyard. They were both so happy about their gifts ha! I was proud! I got a shirt and bath bomb from Kambry, and Drew got a jazz shirt from Kinsley. We all pitched in and got our mom a new coat and some perfume, my dad a shirt, and a gun cleaning kit, and together we got them an amazon Echo. Turns out they got one from Santa too so now they have two! And actually they got us one as well so we have two now also!! haha

Lila got some fun toys-- a shopping cart and fake food she can cut through. She loved it! She also got some clothes, socks, and some new kicks! Nollie got some clothes too. It was a successful Christmas!

We eventually got ready and went to Grandma Carol's for Christmas brunch. It was DELICIOUS as always!!! I always love eating crepes with the traditional strawberry goodness and whip cream on top with a cup of egg nog and a cup of wassail to wash it down. YUM!

Lila was cute while we were there and wanted to watch the other little girls (Ryklin, Anna, and Braylee) play. But she was really shy too so she insisted that someone always be with her like me or Kambry. It was funny.

We spent the afternoon opening more gifts back home, visiting with more family, taking naps, and eating lots of treats. (Did I mention how perfectly perfect Grandma Carol's Christmas candy is?! Oh my gosh it's to die for!! I have already eaten my entire plate of rocky roads that I brought home, ha! Three days later. Woops!)

I got to visit with my friend Tiana for a little bit which was fun! Then my mom made a yummy Christmas dinner-- ham and corn casserole. Unfortunately she had been feeling sick all weekend so she didn't do much besides keep her distance from all of us but especially me and the kids. Nollie is only 5 weeks and if she got sick it would be scary! But it was really sad that she wasn't feeling well and wasn't her perky self :( Hopefully next year she'll feel better!! But despite her not feeling well, I'm just glad she was able to be there. Because after all is said and done, it's not what you do or where you are, but WHO YOU'RE WITH that matters, and being together made me happy!

We ended the evening with Tim Tam Slams, played our new game Mustache Smash, and finished by playing Life which Drew and I had received from Santa!

It was a great Christmas. Lila was so fun to watch, and I nursed Nollie most of the time. It was just a wonderful time being with family! We came back home to St. George the next day with happy hearts, and our car full to the brim!

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Kate

The first week of Nollie's life

We got to bring Nollie home just a little over 24 hours after she was born. We only stayed one night in the hospital and got discharged around 9:30 pm the next night! It was late to get home, but we were so happy to be out of the hospital! 

We had the best nurses at the hospital though and I felt so loved and taken care of while we were there. It was a good experience! Lindsey came to the hospital first thing the next morning to snap a few more pictures of Nollie. Then my mom and Kambry and Lila came over and spent most the day with us! We were visted by Suzanna and her boy Luke, Shalli and her husband and baby Edie, Laura, the Timmons family (Kambry's inlaws), and also Tyler's aunt Kari. We enjoyed ordering and eating the hospital food, and we loved showing Nollie off to everyone!

The first night home was kind of hard. Poor Nollie girl was so hungry and I knew my milk hadn't come in yet.. we actually ended up giving her some formula! She ate 1 whole ounce and then slept for 7 hours straight after that! I'm so glad my mom was there to help and support me. I was a little bit of a mess that first night. But things quickly got better from there!

Nollie was born on Monday night, we got to go home Tuesday night, and Wednesday we prepped for Thanksgiving by getting all the food ready all day long! (My mom is a superwoman, I don't know how she does it, but she's incredible!!) Even after staying up with me almost all night (that's how it felt anyways) she was up early and had browned sausage, cooked bacon, baked corn bread, and had the sweet potatoes cooking! We made apple pie, chocolate pie, pear custard pie, and coconut cream pie. Kinsley helped with the chocolate pie and that turned out to be my favorite this year :) With apple and pumpkin coming in second. Pie is my favorite!! We also made rolls from scratch thanks to Staci for sharing her amazing recipe with me! They turned out so yummy! It was a fun day prepping everything but definitely exhausting :) And surprisingly I felt pretty good considering I had just had a baby! What a blessing! Oh and I forgot to say that my dad, Kinsley, and Konner came back to St. George today. They had to leave for two days to attend school and other activities. We were happy to be all together for Thanksgiving but definitely missed having Kam and Ty with us! (They went to Idaho with his fam this year!)

The next day was Thanksgiving! We celebrated by eating pie for breakfast! Yum and so fun!! Then Mark and Cally stopped by to meet Nollie. Cally is due in February and they were so excited and happy to meet little Nollie! Bill and Linda finally arrived, and then Cally and Mark left to have Thanksgiving with her family. We set up the table in our small living space (it was a tight squeeze), and we enjoyed Thanskgiving together just the 10 of us (including Lila and Nollie). We missed Katie because she had to stay home to work. Oh, and my milk came in this day so Nollie was a happy baby! Only took 2.5 days this time! Pretty sure it took 5 days for my milk to come in with Lila. So thank goodness for that!

It was such a good afternoon! Nollie decided she was hungry right as we all started to eat so I didn't get to eat for a little while, but I didn't even care. I was so happy to just sit there and enjoy everyone's company. I was so happy to have everyone in my home, to have Nollie here safe and sound and so healthy, and gratitude just filled my heart!

I can't remember much after that.. I think some of my family went black Friday shopping later that evening. And then they went shopping some more the next day on the actual Black Friday. Unfortunately my family had to leave that day too, so we were really sad about that. We also decided to send Lila up to Gma Linda's for the weekend so Drew and I could have the weekend to rest (if that was even possible due to a newborn haha). But my parents drove Lila up to Cedar and dropped her off. It was one of the hardest things letting her go!!! But it was definitely a good thing. She had SO MUCH FUN!! And it was a nice little break for us as well.

Before we knew it Linda brought Lila back to us and Linda stayed for a night with us. She helped us with Lila. Luckily Lila finally sleeps through the night and has such a good schedule that the transition with a new baby has been easy!

Tuesday came (one week after having Nollie), and Drew and I took Lila to the movies while Linda stayed home with Nollie! We went to see Coco and we all loved it!! It was a fun little date and we loved spending the time with Lila. We had missed her over the weekend! She enjoyed eating the popcorn and Junior mints and sipping on some sprite. She's definitely our girl!! 

Lila has been the sweetest to Nollie. She hardly bothers her, and every so often I find her stroking Nollie's hair/head saying "my nawnee, so cute," (My nollie... so cute!) They are the sweetest together!

It was a wonderful first week with Nollie. She's a doll. She's a great eater, a great pooper, sleeps as good as a newborn can possibly sleep, and has the sweetest spirit!! We feel so blessed to have her here in our home!

Love,

Kate