Jake 37 & 38 Weeks

Weekly doctor appointments have arrived. Things are getting close, and I am so anxious. I can always think of things that need to be done before Jake arrives but I am getting pretty uncomfortable so I am going to just put the list of things aside and say "please arrive little guy".

At 37 weeks I am dilated to a 1. It's progress but my pain is making me disappointed. I want to be further! I wanted change but knew there would be zero progress when I went in this week for my 38 week appointment. I was right!

At 38 weeks I am measuring 41 weeks. I have so much fluid the doctor was unable to tell if Jake was head down. We had an ultrasound and saw a little baby surrounded by what seemed like gallons of water. I was happy to see Jake is small but all this fluid is really making things hard!

Overall I try not to complain. I love being pregnant and bringing my children into this world. Children are such a blessing and I will never think otherwise. Yes motherhood is hard but it's all I have ever wanted in life! I love my children and husband so much :) with that being sad, Jake please enter the world soon!

Andie 1 Year 9 Months

21 months, a year and 9 months old. I keep telling everyone my daughter is almost 2 when they ask for her age. Each time I hear that roll out of my mouth I am in shock. How is my Andie already almost 2? Andie was just born, a little 5 pounder, yesterday it seems. Andie this past month has...

1. Andie is learning to have more of a conversation with all her many words she knows. She loves that Dad and I are understanding her more, and don't give up until we have learned what she wants. Andie is putting more and more words together instead of just one word at a time. A funny one we hear often when she is annoyed with her cousin Nicholas is "Go away". It makes me laugh each time I hear it!

2. Andie loves the new home. She loves the space to run around. She loves her room with all her toys. She loves all the baby things piling up getting ready for her little brothers arrival. She loves her chair by the fireplace. She loves she can get into all the cupboards. She loves the stairs she climbs to go "Bye". Its safe to say she loves our new home.

3. Andie loves walking in the snow! It's warming up so the snow has disappeared but whenever Andie sees snow she just has to walk in it. It's so cute watching Andie struggle to climb up any piles and little bit of ice she can find. Next winter will be so fun with my little girl!

4. Andie loves babies. She has never seen one in real life up close BUT between movies and her dolls she loves them! She has started to play with her dolls and make them cry like a baby. It confuses me every time because I think she is crying. Andie probably thinks it's funny I come running into her room every time, with out a doubt when she is making her doll cry :)

5. Andie has learned to whistle like Grandpa Redd, or should I say "attempts" too. My dad will put his fingers in his mouth and whistle so loudly. Andie now will put her fingers by the edge of her lips and make a noise with her mouth pretending she whistled. I love that Andie can pick things up so quickly, her little brain is constantly at work.

6. Andie got a new pink winter coat and loves it. It's sad I finally get her a big winter coat and then it warms up. Andie still loves her coat and would wear it all the time if we let her ;)

7. Andie loves to clean. Andie has always been a good helper in watching us put toys away and helping us the best she can. With us cleaning our old apartment we used a lot of Lysol wipes. Andie has now learned to wipe down anything and everything. Andie will find any wipes and start wiping off anything in site. Our walls, couches, chairs and clothes get little bit cleaner as she races around cleaning everything!

8. Andie loves Pinterest, she must take after her mother. Her favorite thing to do is to grab Moms phone, open Pinterest and scroll and scroll. Every now and again she shows me a pin, laughs then moves on. I have found some weird pins and likes that she has made me do. Good thing we can go in and edit!

I love my Andie and all she is learning. Being a mother to her is such a special privilege I will never take for granted. I love my Andie and all her spunky personality that comes along with her. It's almost been 2 years with my girl but it's been in reality a life time. I can't imagine how life was without our Andie there to bring us joy!

The Curious Savage

My little sister was in another play. Between all 3 of some of my younger siblings, I have been to a grand total of...ALOT of plays!

Emmalee did so good in her part as Miss Wilhelmina. She is quite the little actress! I love going to her plays and watching her get bigger and bigger roles.

Congrats little sister, you have impressed me once again with your talent :)

Taylor Lynn 2nd Birthday

Taylor Lynn my beautiful niece.

I miss you completely, and think of you daily.

I am comforted knowing your running around healthy in heaven, with no pain.

It's been 9 months since we have seen your smiling face.

I can't wait for the day I get to see you again and tell you how much I love you.

Your brother is getting excited about your new sibling, he misses you deeply and hopefully your new sibling will help him feel more closer to you.

Your Mom and Dad miss you and love you forever.

The world is different without you by our sides to watch you grow.

Thanks for being our guardian angel watching over and protecting us in our lives.

Your turning 2 years old and I know your eating cake in heaven.

We all remember the day you were born being so small but yet so strong.

We all knew you were special with every moment we spent with you.

You lived life to the fullest and showed us all to be brave.

You were our rock when we watched you go through all your trials here on earth.

You taught us so many lessons that will last our whole life, what an impression you left.

We love you Taylor Lynn and wish you a Happy Birthday.

Your Aunt, Laurel.

Valentines Day 2014

With everything going on this February I told Zach that we don't need to do anything special this year for Valentines Day, besides we should be doing acts of love every day not just 1 day a year. Preparing for our new baby and moving into a new place, while still cleaning the old one, we don't have time to breath this month. Even Andie is feeling the overload!

Andie made her Valentines Day cards for all of my family members, she is so cute handing them out to all of those she loves. She loves coloring so of course each card had it's own special scribbles and sticky marks from eating a sucker while making her cards.

Andie got a couple of treats from loved ones as well. Her new nursery teacher brought her over a bag filled with goodies. She got a super man sucker from her cousin Nicholas and I got her some bracelets that she loves. Andie also got some new shirts and picked out some cute pajamas for her little brother! Andie is amazing at picking out cute clothes already :)

I had two special events I had to make today. First I got to go to the temple for my little brothers Endowments. How amazing our opportunity to enter into the house of The Lord is. I love to go there and be with all of my family members. It's been awhile since the last time I was able to go. It's hard to find time these days while we are so busy with a young family, school and work. I need to improve.

I also had my 35 week doctor appointment today. I have been having so many aches and pains towards the end of this pregnancy. It's been hard on me these last few weeks and I still have 5 more to go! I hate complaining so I try not to in public but Zach gets all my sob stories. He says I sound like Lucky off of 101 Dalmatians when he says "I'm tired, and I'm hungry. And my tail's froze. And my nose is froze. And my ears are froze. And my toes are froze." See I complain people!

Jake is measuring 2 weeks ahead at 37 weeks. I am suppose to expect a big baby not a 5 pounder this time ;) Heartbeat is strong but still hard to find every appointment. The doctor is amazed at my weight gain, which is still a few pounds below my prepregnancy weight. I am in orders to pack my bags for the hospital, Scary! I go back at 37 weeks at the end of the month. I delivered Andie at 37 weeks so we will see what happens.

Once Zachary got off work we went as a family and ate at LaFrontera (love that place). When we finally arrived home after a long busy day we ate some cookies, fixed our doorbell and went to bed. I call that a perfect Valentines Day. How can it not be when your surrounded by all your loved ones?

Andie 1 Year 8 Months

Andie is 20 months old (1 year 8 months) and before we know it we will be celebrating her second birthday. She is growing up so fast and I honestly couldn't of asked for a more perfect little girl :) Andie at 20 months....

1. Andie loves all things girly. She is in to nail polish and will have Daddy and I both paint her fingernails and toenails whenever she can get her hands on any polish. Necklaces, bracelets, rings, headbands, purses, hair elastics, Dads ties, shoes and skirts/dresses are her favorite! My girl is so girly :)

2. Andie has moved for her 3rd time and finally has her own room (until Jake arrives). Andie has been in Zachary's and my room since she was born which I have loved having her right there so I can sleep without worry BUT Andie is loving her room!

3. Andie has always loved fruit, but this month she has discovered oranges. She loves oranges! In one sitting she ate not 1 or 2 but 5 oranges. Andie is loving her oranges, fruit doesn't last long in our house!

4. Andie loves to dance. She has always had a love for dancing to music or any good beat. She has started to grab on Mom and Dads hands and dance with us. She loves spinning and dancing around everywhere.

5. Andie has discovered a corner. No we don't send her to a corner, she goes on her own and it's the saddest site. If she is mad, sad, or just plain wants to hide in general she will go to a corner or in a cupboard. It's so sad seeing her sit in the corner and Zach and I grab her out immediately. I never want my little girl to feel sad or hurt.

6. Andie sings a few different songs. Her 3 favorite is "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid, "Up and Down" on Winnie the Pooh and "Let it Go" on Frozen. I love watching my Andie sing to her favorite songs.

7. Andie has learned how to count to 3. Listening to my daughters vocabulary get bigger and big everyday is amazing. Andie is so smart and talks so much!

8. Andie loves books. Andie will sit and look through her princess and Disney books over and over again. Her cousin Khlcee gave Andie a princess book on New Years Eve. Andie has not put that book down since she has received it. Andie loves her book, princesses and music all in one.

9. Andie is loving movies just like her parents. It's our family hobby :) Her newest obsession is Winnie the Pooh, along with The Little Mermaid of course. She loves the "Up and Down" song and says "Pooh" all the time. My siblings were a little confused what "Pooh" meant but we have it all figured out now ;)

I love being Andies Mom and having the special privilege of raising such a fun loving little girl. Andie brings so much joy to me daily I don't even have words to express how much I love her. Andie is my fun loving girl and always will be!

Mark Twain

Mark Twain Apartments was our 5th home. We lived here for a year and enjoyed it to the fullest. The only downside we had was no washer and dryer in the apartment and the fire alarm being right over the stove (we solved that with a fan we turned on every time we used the stove).

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