The Sams, Hollie & Malerie

Malerie's blessing

2010-10-31T18:09:00.000-07:00

Oh, the saga of the blessing. Mal will be 5 months on Tuesday & we just barely blessed her on the 17th of October. She was born in June, but we were on vacation in July. In August, we just couldn't get all our projects done in time. September was Labor Day & half the family was out of town. So, October it was. We got announcements out & I cleaned every nook & cranny in my house. The Friday before the blessing comes & we all get really sick. Thankfully, our sweet bishop let us do it the very next week since my cute niece is being blessed in November. I ended up with food poisoning a few days before the 17th, but thankfully I was better by the actual blessing. Sheesh. It was a difficult road getting there, but all worth it in the end. The minute Sam started walking up to the front of the chapel, I started crying. The blessing was so beautiful. He blessed her that she would come to know the Savior & that He would be an important part of her life. I just felt the spirit so strongly & was overcome with gratitude for all that my Heavenly Father has blessed me with. I know that He is constantly watching over my little family & I am so grateful that we can be together forever. Before Mal was born, I'd had a prompting about what a joy she would be to me. And she has been. Pure joy.

Oi.

2010-10-12T09:13:00.000-07:00

What a week. Last week started out great. We were supposed to bless Mallie on Sunday, so I was just cleaning & doing the bajillion projects on I had on my list before the blessing. Wednesday night, Hollie started getting really sick. By Friday, she had generously passed it on to Mal & me. Mal's 4 month check up also happened to be on Friday, so we headed in to the doctor to check her out. Her cough was really raspy & had us worried. The doctor said it wasn't RSV yet, but could turn into it. All things considered, we decided to post-pone the blessing to the following Sunday. I was really disappointed, but know it was the best decision. We're all starting to feel much better & now we will be able to really enjoy Mal's special day.

During Mal's check up, we of course got her updated stats. She's 9 lbs 3 oz & 22 1/4 long. She's not even close to the charts for weight & just grazing the bottom for height. They think she's just not getting enough calories & we haven't known because she's such a happy, content baby. I'll feed her & she'll be content for 3-4 hours, so I had no idea she wasn't getting enough. She's already rolling over (much to my dismay), and just so happy & healthy. She doesn't look sickly or underweight. Anyway, they want her to put on some weight, so they're having me take 12 pills a day to help increase my milk supply. I really hope it works. If she hasn't gained by her next weight check in 2 weeks, they'll make me supplement. I really enjoy nursing & am not ready to give it up. We'll see how it goes.

And because I can't post without a picture, here's one of my little sickies watching a movie together.

Two months?

2010-08-05T12:04:00.001-07:00

Where does the time go? It seems like we were just bringing her home from the hospital, and at the same time, it's hard to recall life without her. She has brought nothing but pure joy into our home. I could just sit & hold her all day. She's so soft & snuggly. She loves the blanket right up by her face & Mommy's finger in her hand. I don't know how I could love her any more.

We took her in for her 2 month check up yesterday. She was 8 lbs 13 oz & 21 1/4 inches long. So, she's around the 5th percentile for height & weight. We also, after much debate, decided to have her tongue clipped. The little string that connects her tongue to the bottom of her mouth went all the way to the end of her tongue, so she couldn't stick it out any further than her bottom lip. Also, she loves her binky, but had a hard time keeping it in & her tongue would "snake" or "fork" when she tried to stick it out . We decided it was best to just have it done & avoid any potential speech impediments later on. I didn't like seeing surgical scissors in my baby's mouth, but it didn't seem to hurt her too badly. It only bled for a second & then she curled right up to me & let me rock her back to sleep.

Also, sisters much? I think Mal is just a little bit older than Hollie was when these were taken, but they still look so much alike. Sometimes I look down & I'm not sure who I'm holding.

Snowbird 2010

2010-07-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

Although I can't believe my baby is 6 weeks old, the past month & a half has been a little piece of heaven on earth. Malerie is just the sweetest little angel baby. We all adore her. We got back on Saturday from our week at Snowbird & I told Sam that I missed Mal while we were up there because I had to share her with everyone. :O) We had so much fun, though. So relaxing & peaceful. It's the best week of the year.

Malerie Joy

2010-06-07T09:10:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe that our little Mal is finally here & in our arms. She was born on June 2nd @ 11:10 am. She was 7lbs 12 oz, 20 inches long and has the most adorable head of dark hair. She's just perfect & we're all completely in love with her. Delivery didn't exactly go as smoothly as we'd hoped, though. We had terribly new nurses (that took an hour to get my IV in) and the epidural went the wrong way (I'll be posting the whole birth story later, complete with our list of things you never want to hear at the hospital). Mallie has pretty severe jaundice & spent almost the entire hospital stay under the lights. She was doing better by Friday, so they sent us home. Within 24 hours of being home, her biliruben count had doubled so they ordered her to be placed under the lights again. At least they're letting us use one of the at-home bilibeds. We've been taking her in for daily labs, and her results yesterday were really good. We take her in again today & are hoping they'll let us take her off her "special bed" (as Hollie calls it).

Malerie has her big sister wrapped around her teeny tiny finger. On Saturday, before they put Mal back under the lights, Hollie spent 4 hours holding her "sissy." She gets her diapers, rubs her head when she cries & could not be more loving with her. I can't get enough of watching them together. We're all just smitten.

Easter

2010-04-06T14:56:00.000-07:00

Third trimester!

2010-03-11T09:52:00.001-08:00

The third trimester starts today! Only 84 days to go! I was doing a quick belly shot last week & Hol decided to get in on the action. She just loves her baby sister! She said to my tummy today, "Malerie, are you having a good day in there?" We can't wait to finally meet her!

Making cookies

2010-02-10T18:52:00.000-08:00

We spent all afternoon together in the kitchen today making Valentine's cookies. We pulled out our matching aprons (that my darling sister-in-law made for Hol & I for Christmas) & kneaded, rolled, cookie-cut & giggled for hours. So grateful to have this little person as one of my very best friends in the world.

Meet Maleri Joy

2010-01-08T16:24:00.001-08:00

Holidays

2010-01-07T05:13:00.000-08:00

What a month!?! I think you could say we had a busy December. It all started with little miss turning 3 on the 16th. She loves her scooter, as you can see.

Then, we moved straight into my baby brother's wedding on the 22nd. It was freezing & snowing at the temple, so I left the camera in the bag. I wish I had a shot of Hollie staring in awe at Aubry's dress when they first came out. She just couldn't believe her eyes. The reception was a blast & I managed to take some pictures there, though. They had an awesome dj & the dance floor was packed the whole time. So much fun. Hollie's favorite dance partner? Definitely CJ. When we got home, I asked her if she liked dancing with C & she replied, "Yeah! He's just my size!"

I am officially in.love. with Hollie's mini-bouquet. And the bride's? To die for. My sis-in-law has mad flower skills. Aubry left her bouquet sitting on a table at one point & this is Hollie bringing it back to her. Apparently she thought Aubry needed them at all times.

Three days later, Christmas was here. When Hol came down the stairs, she bolted for the presents, grabbed the first one she saw & hugged it profusely. Unfortunately, just hours later, she came down with pink eye, ear infections & strep. The next day? She gave it to Mommy. So, we spent New Years on the couch. I'm just barely starting to feel better. It was ok, though. I think we needed a little down time. Sadly, Christmas cards didn't get sent & neighbor gifts didn't get made, but we did what we could. We're hoping for a calmer, healthier new year.

December 16, 2006

2009-12-16T00:45:00.001-08:00

I just couldn't sleep without telling Hollie how much I love her. At this very minute, three years ago, I was folding your teeny newborn clothes, putting finishing touches on your new room, packing for the hospital...and waiting for my entire world to change. It's hard to remember the person I was before you came to us, because you've changed me so completely. From the minute I saw you, you completely stole my heart. You have filled the walls of our home with so much life & joy. Last night, you let me rock you to sleep. And today, I heard you mutter a sleepy, "I want my mommy" as you woke up from your nap. Thank you for the thousands of moments like these that overwhelm me with gratitude for being your mother.

What's new...

2009-12-10T10:58:00.000-08:00

It feels like I have not blogged in ages. We're doing great, just a little busy. So, here's an update. I'm 15 weeks today, have most of my pre-preggo energy back & I haven't thrown up in almost 2 weeks. A month ago, that would have seemed miraculous. There is ONE beautiful baby incubating in my uterus (contrary to some illegitimate facebook rumors) & we can't wait for January 7th when we find out what color to paint the nursery. Boy Sam is also doing great, just trying to ride out the swell of my many mood swings. I couldn't ask for better than him. And Hollie? She's Hollie. Crazy, adventurous, passionate, energetic, loving, curious Hollie. She'll be 3 in less than a week & I just love the little person she's grown into.

On Sunday before church, I pulled out the camera to do a profile belly shot before I really start showing & snapped a few of the Hols, too. How can you not love that face? Except, of course, when she's dumping liquid dish soap on the carpet. It's a little more difficult then.

Cinderella

2009-11-04T10:02:00.000-08:00

Hollie thought Halloween was the greatest day of her life. At every door, she would knock & say "I need to trick or treat!" We couldn't convince her that full sentences were unnecessary.

June 3, 2010

2009-10-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

Boulder 09

2009-10-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

As promised, I've finally started going through my hundreds of shots from our summer escapades. Here's the first of many to come: camping at Boulder with Sam's fam. Hollie would live there if we'd let her. She hiked, fished & 4-wheeled with the best of us.

Missing

2009-09-13T12:35:00.000-07:00

Can it really have been since the beginning of July that I've posted? Where have the Hoffmans been, you ask? In a word...Gone. We had Snowbird, camping at Boulder mountain, camping at Ophir, Trek, then the cabin in Heber all in a row. Literally, in a row. We had 1 weekend at home in 6 weeks. We spent over a month being gone with only enough time in between to unpack, repack & head out the door again. I can't tell you how happy I am that fall is right around the corner. I'm really hoping for some semblance of normalcy. I have hundreds of pictures waiting to be edited & posted. I'm just trying to muster the strength to dig into them. For now, I had to share a few from Hollie's play date with some of her BFFs, Lexi & Livvy (or Wex & Wivvy, if you ask Hollie who they are). Hopefully I'll be back soon with more from our summer adventures.

Toothless

2009-07-03T16:15:00.000-07:00

It all started with Hollie getting a cold - coughing, stuffy nose, etc. So, we took her in to the doctor & they thought it might be swine flu. Joyous. Thankfully they ran the tests & it came back negative (whew!). Just an ear infection/cold that can easily be remedied by antibiotics. Not too bad. Well, at 10:00 pm last night we were trying to administer her medicine (which is not pleasant - wailing & gnashing of teeth are involved). As Sam sat her on our solid surface countertop, she lunged to get away & her face hit the top of the counter. Screaming ensued & I thought it was just a bumped lip or something. Oh, if only. Half of her top right tooth is now lost to the unknown abyss. We looked, but couldn't ever find it. And of course this happened late at night, and at the beginning of a holiday weekend when almost all dentists are closed. For the love.

So, we of course called our family dentist (who's in California), who referred us to someone, who referred us to someone else. I was not having much luck. In the end, Sam was inspired to tell the whole ordeal to a random co-worker this morning. Miraculously, her three-year-old had done the same thing & they had an amazing dentist fix it. So, I called Mr. Amazing Dentist & they were not only open but could see her first thing this morning.

I knew the exam was not going to go particularly smoothly as Hollie has a somewhat difficult time sitting still. It actually wasn't too bad, although Sam & I had to pin her body down while Mr. Amazing Dentist (who's real name is Dr. Quayle) held her head. He was actually impressed. He said, "She's surprisingly strong for her petite little frame." Tell me about it.

Anyway, Dr. Quayle determined that the chip only went into the 2nd layer of the tooth & there isn't any nerve damage. Yeah! Which means that he can just fill in the missing piece without removing the whole tooth or putting in a crown. The bad news is Dr. Quayle is out of town until the 13th of July. We're leaving for Snowbird tomorrow, so Hollie gets to be the toothless wonder for the whole trip. At least it will be memorable.

As you can imagine, it has been a long couple of days. We are so grateful, though, and know that Heavenly Father was watching over us. It really could have been so much worse. The doctor even said after he works his magic you'll barely be able to tell that anything happened. All I can say is that it's a good thing we have a week of vacation coming up. All three of us desperately need it.

Disney 09

2009-06-08T13:03:00.000-07:00

I can't even tell you what a blast we had at Disney this year. It was the perfect trip - nice weather & no lines. What more can you ask for? Other than the stupid Princess Walk (don't even ask), the longest line we waited in was maybe 30 minutes. Can you guess which rides Miss-Obsessed-With-Animals would like the best? Yeah, Tiki Room & Jungle Cruise. Oh, and Small World. She's been singing the song (or one line from the song) since we got back. We can hardly wait to go again.

Meeting Ariel? Funniest moment ever. As you can see, Hollie really wanted to kiss Ariel on the lips.

Cali Adventure

2009-06-08T12:54:00.002-07:00

Oh, we love the Cali Adventure. Hol had the time of her life running through the fountains in Bugs Land. I could seriously kick myself for not getting video of her squee-ing. It was one of my favorite moments of the week.

This very well may be my favorite shot from the whole trip. That's just so Hollie & her Dampa.

...and even more Disney

2009-06-08T12:54:00.001-07:00

So....

2009-05-11T12:49:00.000-07:00

...we've been doing lots of this lately. Can't get enough of the sunshine. And we're sure to get our fill of it this week in the Happiest Place on Earth. See you all in a week!

Easter Sunday.

2009-04-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was bliss. We had my cousin's homecoming at 9:00, then spent the rest of the day egg-hunting & playing with my family. It was perfect. Couldn't have asked for better.

Doozy.

2009-04-06T14:17:00.000-07:00

Broken back+Bronchitis/Pneumonia*Laryngitis=My week. For real. It started on Monday with me completely throwing my back out. Somehow I threw the top half to the right & the bottom half to the left. Not sure how. Followed up on Wednesday by me running a fever/chills/sorethroat/deathly cough. The Doc says it's either bronchitis or pnuemonia (they're treating it as bronchitis so they won't have to run xrays. If I don't respond to the bronch meds, then they can assume it's pneumonia. Since yesterday I thought I was going to die, I think the xray would have been easier. But with some antibiotics, you get a lot worse before getting better, and today I'm feeling somewhat human. So, maybe they're working). And as an extra bonus, I was lucky enough to catch laryngitis to top it off. So, if you call & the sick bullfrog answers the phone, don't worry. It's just me. On the upside, I did catch Hollie on Dada's chest after a scary dream. Something about how the shadows were playing on her beautiful face made me run & get my camera at 3 am. So worth it. Here's hoping this week will be better than last.

New love

2009-03-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

This is Hollie's new favorite thing to do after tubs. Wrap her neckid (besides the diaper) self in a bwink (blankie) & play. First in her room. Then in mine. Oh, I love her and all her quirks.

Paths

2009-03-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

If I were to take a magic wand to my life, there isn't much I would change. There are things on my want list (bigger house, nicer yard, more money to travel with), but at the core, I am happy with my life. I struggle - we all struggle - but I am infinitely grateful for what I have been given. That may seem like a strange thing to proclaim to the blogging world. But my existence was recently belittled, so it's been on my mind lately. We all have our own lists of things that we need in order to be happy. I feel like I have my list. I'm in a good place & on the track I need to be on. My list may be different than yours, but that's how it should be.

Months ago, I remember being challenged in Sacrament meeting to take a deep look within ourselves (Jared, was that you?). I must have heard it subconsciously amidst the battle for reverence with a 2 year old, but it stuck with me & I've found some areas that are in much-need of renovation. I want to be a better mother, friend & daughter of God. I think that being at peace with ourselves, following our Savior & knowing that we are walking the path that Heavenly Father has set for us are the things that bring happiness to our lives.

And for me, this little face brings happiness, too. I hope that we all have our own brand of happy juice.

Remember Halloween?

2009-02-19T17:14:00.000-08:00

I had the yummiest bumble bee ever!

Vacate.

2009-02-11T15:08:00.001-08:00

Remember last year when I got this for my birthday? Well, this year I got this...

So, my parents & youngest brother booked this cruise to the bahamas months ago. Sam & I couldn't afford for both of us to go (Dear Economy, I hate you. xoxo, Me), plus we couldn't leave Hollie with someone else for 9 days. I had resigned to my fate & was all prepared to seeth with jealousy the whole time they were gone, but when the week of the cruise rolled around, I was seriously dying to go. By this time, however, the whole ship was completely booked except for 1 (literally, only 1) slot. So, what does the hubbs say? "You should go with your parents & brother. I'll take the week off of work & stay home with Hollie. It can be my birthday present to you." Seriously? Seriously. Best hubbs ever. So, I booked a last-minute flight, left Hollie, Sam & my camera at home (btw, thanks Dad for bringing yours), and headed south for a week under the caribbean sun. It was uh-mazing! Really. Truly. Loved every single minute.

2009-02-11T15:07:00.001-08:00

Emotions.

2009-01-04T17:30:00.002-08:00

I can't believe the whole Christmas season has come & gone. I'm leaving my tree up for a while in defiance of the calendar. I'm not quite ready to let it go. I love this time of year. I love it even more now that I have my own Christmas baby. It was an amazing time of year to bring new life into this world. Unfortunately, this year, we had to watch a loved one leave it.

On the 26th of December, Samuel's cousin's husband was killed in a tragic gun accident. Jason was only 27 years old and was an exemplary young man. He loved this gospel & loved his Savior. I have no doubt in my mind that this was Heavenly Father's plan. It has been very emotional for the whole family, nonetheless. I am so grateful for the reminder it has been, however. Jason's life has inspired me. I want to live better. I want to be better. And I want to draw closer to my Savior. With all that, and Jesse coming home on the 20th, I didn't even get neighbor gifts out or send Christmas cards (Dear friends & family, We still love you. XOXO, Us). We have found some time to be home & just be together. I am so grateful for the joy there is to be found in every single day. I hope you all found joy this Christmas season.

Snow bunnies

2008-12-30T11:53:00.000-08:00

It would have been a crime not to go out & play in the 4-foot snow drifts that we had in our backyard. We ran, jumped, snow-angeled, and pretty much had the time of our lives together in the snow.

Christmas Morning

2008-12-29T12:48:00.000-08:00

Enough said.

Christmas Day

2008-12-29T12:32:00.000-08:00

Did I mention Lil' Jesse is home? I didn't? Well, Lil' Jesse is home. It seems like forever ago that we were dropping him off at the MTC. It's so good to have him back. So good to just hang out on Christmas Day with the whole fam. Loved it. Loved it all.

Merry Christmas blogging world

2008-12-24T11:59:00.001-08:00

What do you do...

2008-12-18T12:23:00.000-08:00

...when you're 2 & it's your birthday? Why, jump on Mommie's bed, of course!

Mine.

2008-12-16T20:06:00.000-08:00

Two years ago today, I was looking at your beautiful face for the very first time. And I still can't believe you're mine.

Whack!

2008-11-30T15:32:00.000-08:00

As parents, we all have parenting pet peeves. Nose-picking, whining, spitting, etc. Among mine are screaming, taking toys away...and hitting. Oh, I can't tell you how much it annoys me when my kid hits. Which means I'm pretty much constantly annoyed lately, as that is her new preferred method of expressing frustration. Please, please tell me I'm not the only one whose child has gone through a hitting phase. Please? And if you would be so kind as to tell me how in the frick did you get them to stop.

Close to the spirit

2008-11-18T13:11:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have times when your heart feels so soft & the slightest tickle from the Holy Ghost makes the rivers run down your cheeks? When the tears aren't because of a trial you're facing or anything in particular, but simply because your heart is close to the spirit? I love those times. Those are the times when I feel closest to my Savior. Sunday was one of those days. Hollie was amazing through all of Sacrament. We didn't have to take her out once. I don't think that has happened in many, many months. With so much time on my hands, not wandering the halls or frantically whispering "shush" every 30 seconds, I actually got to listen to the talks. I found myself in tears as one of our sweet high council members talked of enjoying each moment & finding joy in the journey. I was uplifted & my heart was touched.

That was nothing compared to the emotional overflow that would occur in our Sunbeam class later that day, however. It was the Boy's turn to teach & the lesson was on the scriptures. Sam was telling the story of Christ coming to the Americas & asked the class if they remembered what happened to the Jesus when he died. When Noah began telling the class about the nails in our Savior's hands, the most profound silence came over our group of 4 year olds. I know that they could all feel the spirit as strongly as I did. It was almost palpable in our little classroom. I could not ebb the flow for the remainder of class. They ran freely.

Apparently today is one of those days, too. It began like any other day. I got up, got ready, edited, posted a session, then decided to read some blogs. I first read the inspiring story of my friend Lindsay & her little Andrew. So moving. I was in tears by the 3rd paragraph. Afterwards, I figured I was already bawling, so I might as well see how Stephanie Waite is doing. I don't know her. We've never met. But she is the strongest woman I've ever seen or heard of. I can't adequately tell her story. But she has strengthened my testimony. She does every time I read her blog.

I have many more things to post (you'll die when you see Hollie in her Halloween costume), but today I had to express my gratitude. For my Savior. For His gospel. For my Sam. And for her.

Clinique.

2008-11-09T21:26:00.000-08:00

I really tried to be mad when I found the little twinkie like this. I tried to conjure images of all the money she wasted in my Clinique make-up, but I came up dry. All I could do was laugh...and grab my camera. Indian war paint it up, little one, because you're only a toddler once.

Play

2008-11-09T21:09:00.000-08:00

The Boy wasn't feeling so hot today (don't worry, Les. He didn't ruin his record). His uber fantastic birthday dinner at Ruby River last night apparently didn't sit so well. Anyhoo, when the boy feels yucky, the girls play airplane for hours in the living room. We spent a majority of our evening like this. It was bliss.

P.S. Please excuse the super ugly "dark spot" on most of the shots. My new monster lens gets in the way of my itty bitty body flash (and I was too lazy to put on my big one :O).

P.S.S. Hollie says thanks, Annie, for letting her borrow your sweats! She desperately needs new ones for Christmas. Hope you don't mind.

Moments

2008-10-28T14:18:00.000-07:00

I just love these 2 little girls. I love the moments they share. I love how much they adore one another. And hope it never changes.

Pumpkins.

2008-10-25T07:52:00.000-07:00

This shot was so not planned. It just so happened that these 4 children were sitting happily in the wheelbarrel smiling & being the little darlings that they (sometimes) are. At any rate, we had a good time picking pumpkins.

Hollie-isms

2008-10-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

Exhibit A: An innocent-looking Hollie

Exhibit B: A partially open window

Exhibit C: The view looking down from said window.

Apparently, when Hollie discovered the cracked window, it occurred to her to go get Mommy's utensils from the kitchen & throw them one by one out the window. The funny part is we didn't find her pile of treasures until the next day when Sam was working in the yard & deduced what she'd done.

Oh, how I love her! I love the way her little mind works. The other day I was awakened by the sound of her sweet voice, bellowing as loudly as it could from her crib. "Snoopy!! Help me, Snoopy! Snoopy, help me!" What she thought the dog was going to do for her, I don't know, but it sure gave me a good laugh!

Twitterpated

2008-10-11T03:48:00.001-07:00

We froze our little patooties off at the Riverton High football game last night watching Sam's brother play. Hollie, miraculously, was all schnuggled up & fast asleep on Grandma's lap. Which left Sam & I a few stolen moments together. As we were wrapped up in a blanket, huddled as close as is appropriate at a public venue, he leans in & kisses me. It was one of those moments when the world just stops. I know it shouldn't still do that after near 7 years, but it did. I'm still infatuated with my own husband. He still makes me giddy. Thought I'd share.

Urban outfitters

2008-09-28T07:36:00.000-07:00

Been dying for these. Shopped around, but in the end went out & did them myself. So, this is my interpretation of us. So grateful for the hubbs & our munch. So grateful they're mine.

Us.

2008-08-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

We were supposed to go camping with my fam all weekend, but had to settle for a few measly hours on Saturday afternoon. Boo. Why, you ask? This wretched cold that is plaguing both of us Sams. We left Saturday afternoon feeling ok, and came home feeling a little less than ok. We decided to stay home from church on Sunday & not infect all of our darling Sunbeams (thanks, Ange for filling in!). Thankfully, the Holls is doing super.

That's all for now. I'm going to bed.

Beauty

2008-08-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

Not much to report, it just felt like it had been a long time since I had posted and I missed it. These are some shots I took months ago & totally forgot about. Nothing exciting. Just Hollie going through my lotion/jewelry cabinet. Just an everyday moment. But so her.

The Bird

2008-08-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

Finally, stuff from The Bird. We only got back over a month ago. Better late than never, I guess. Anyway, as you can see, we had the time of our lives. I can't even tell you how much Snowbird means to me. It's honestly the best week of the year.

Snowbird Slide

2008-08-11T10:05:00.001-07:00

Year 3000

2008-08-06T16:00:00.000-07:00

"S.O.S.", "That's just the way we roll", "Play my music", "Just friends". I know them all. It's so sad & it's all because of you, Jen Lamb. After our chat Friday night, I was curious. Before then, the names Kevin, Joe, & Nick meant virtually nothing. Since then, I've been listening to them non-stop. Hollie & I have been rawking out to JB & it's all your fault.

Speaking of Friday night...

2008-08-06T15:47:00.000-07:00

...I stole all of these GNO pictures from Renee's blog. We had a ball giggling our heads off & counting down the minutes to midnight. I just wish we could have come in a limo with red carpet or something. Yeah, that would have been pretty sweet. ;o)

The Boulder

2008-07-31T12:06:00.000-07:00

We went with some of Sam's family down to Boulder mountain over the 24th for some camping, fishing & 4-wheeling. I was a little apprehensive to see how Hollie would do, but my fears were completely unfounded. She absolutely had a ball! It was so fun to watch her play in the dirt & explore a whole new world.

Hollie & Kelden both loved having a little playmate (even though they missed you, Jackson, Annie & Will!). They're only 4 months apart, so there were some non-sharing moments, but they played great together for the most part.

Here fishy, fishy...

2008-07-31T11:55:00.002-07:00

In case you didn't know, Hollie is obsessed with animals. Obsessed. The only thing is, all animals are named Snoopy (after our dog). Hollie LOVED all the fishy "Soopies" up at Boulder. This first shot is of her trying to give one of them a kiss. *Mmmuaaahh* The second is of her playing with her friend the squirmy little worm (I know, Cassie, you're probably dying!). She thought they were awesome! Thankfully, she did not try to kiss the worm. Yuck!

Boulder slide

2008-07-31T11:55:00.001-07:00

Cherry Hills

2008-07-18T11:24:00.000-07:00

I am finally trying to post all of the summer craziness that we've had this year. I will hopefully have them all up before we go on our next 2 trips. Sheesh! This summer has been nuts! Anyway, my Dad's family has their reunion every year at the Cherry Hills campground. This year, Sam & I decided to stay the night with my 2 brothers & their families. Hollie thought our tent was the coolest thing ever! We all had a ball playing in the water park & just being together.

Tag

2008-07-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

I was tagged a couple weeks ago by the fabulous Cassie (also known as wife to Tim & mother to Alyssa). Anyway, here goes...

8 Things I Love/Am Passionate about:
Hollie
Sam
My religion
Photography
My home
Family
Snowbird
Friends

8 Things I Want To Do Before I Die:
Go skydiving
Go scuba diving
Swim with dolphins
Go to Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio
Travel, travel, travel - Egypt, Italy, Hawaii, New York & another cruise to the Bahamas
Move to Daybreak (we've been in love w/DB since the first phase & it keeps getting better & better)
Be in the temple with all of my children
Go on a mission with Sam

8 Phrases or Words I Say Often:
Can I have a kiss?
I don't think so, Dave.
Oohhh, I love you!
Seriously?
Hollie Paige! (in a stern, reprimanding voice)
What the crap, man!
How's my princess?
Coolio (Scrubs fans, you should know this one)

8 Books I've Read & Enjoyed:
Les Miserable
Anything Stephenie Meyer - Twilight series & The Host
Watchers
Odd Thomas (and sequels)
Ender's Game (and sequels)
Pride & Prejudice
The Book of Mormon
Goose Girl
Uglies
Christy
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
All of Hollie's books, but especially Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon & The Thingumajig Book of Manners
I think that was way more than 8. Oh, well. I like to read, what can I say.

I also had to add books that I detest -
Jane Eyre & Little Dorrit (Miss Cassie Stanfield Campbell, if you're reading this, I know you feel my pain, too.)

8 Things I've Learned or Remembered This Past Year:
There is nothing more wonderful or challenging than raising children
I have a deep passion for photography. I can't imagine my life without the joy of capturing beautiful moments.
It is possible to do 15 things at one time.
I am in love with vampires.
My heart can literally melt with just one smile from a little blue-eyed doll.
Picking up the same room 8 times a day can nearly drive you to drinking.
LOST is the greatest tv series, ever!
Life goes by too fast. If you blink, you'll miss it.

8 People I Want To Tag:
Erin
Mom
Tammy
Mandy
Jen R.
Shannon
Cassie C.
Tiffany

Cherish.

2008-07-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

I have very vivid memories from my childhood of my mother kneeling by the living room couch. Now I know why she was there. She was praying for us. I know because this morning I felt the call of my own living room couch. As I was speaking with my Heavenly Father, I felt this tiny body climb up on the couch & put her face right by mine. When she saw that I was crying, she patted my cheek & gave me a kiss. Oh, how I love her. I only hope & pray that I can be all that she deserves. I know that having a toddler will be nothing compared to the school years. Then those will be nothing to having a teenager. Then, when she's grown, I know that I will wish to have every single moment back. So, for now, I'm going to do my best, learn all I can, and rely on my Savior. Because I know I won't be able to have those little arms around my neck forever and I don't want to miss a single minute.

I love you my little peanut. Thank you for being mine.

P.S. To my amazing friends & family, thank you all for your kind words, wise advice, and most of all inspiring examples. I appreciate every last one of you.

Untitled.

2008-07-13T19:16:00.001-07:00

We just got back from our trip yesterday. It was wonderful & relaxing & everything I had hoped for. I took tons of pictures & can't wait to post them all. We really had an amazing time. Unfortunately, that's not what this post is about. This post is a cry for help. I realized something while I was gone - I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing as a mother.

I just don't know what to do with Hollie. She screams when I put her in the car. She screams when I pull her out. She screams when I change her diaper. She screams when I wipe her face. She screams when I won't let her play in the toilet. She just screams. Literally, every time I guide or direct her behavior. Every. Time. I know I must not be meeting her needs, but I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I just don't know how to help her.

I really think this transition into toddlerhood is going to kill me. Hollie was an easy baby. Really easy. I never felt sleep-deprived or overwhelmed. Never. Not once. I had this sweet little angel & every moment was cherished. It seems like overnight, however, she has turned into a monster that I want to beat on a daily basis. I hate to admit that. I hate it. I feel so helpless. Especially because she communicates 6-8 months ahead of her age. She's using full sentences, for pete's sake! She shouldn't be screaming. She knows how to tell me what she wants, but chooses not to. She's smart & stubborn & ridiculously independent. Which, apparently, is a wicked combination.

So, my plea to the blogging world is please help me. How do I get her to stop screaming? Any ideas? Books? Any anything?

P.S. Here is a little preview from the Bird. She looks like a little darling here, doesn't she? Don't be fooled. Thankfully these moments do still come, few and far between although they may be.

Uglies?

2008-07-03T11:05:00.000-07:00

I need help from my lovely friends. Has anyone read the Uglies series? I really want to read it while I'm up at Snowbird. Is it good? Worth buying? Let me know!

No way!

2008-07-02T13:30:00.001-07:00

I decided to take this quiz & answer completely honestly (you know, not trying to manipulate the results or anything). I was so excited when this came up! For those who don't know, Ariel is my absolute favorite Disney princess & Little Mermaid is my long-standing favorite movie of all time. Anyway, I had to share. :O)

You Are Ariel!

Headstrong and fiesty. You have a mind of your own that's full of romantic dreams about the world around you. Exploring exotic places is your ultimate dream, and although you can be a little naive you'll realize that there is something to be gained from your family's wisdom.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Zoom, zoom

2008-07-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

It has been a crazy whirl-wind summer! I can't even believe it's July! July, really? Between sessions, work, lagoon, wheeler farm & cherry hill, I have had zero time to blog. And now we're getting ready to go on our next adventure...Snowbird! We leave on Saturday & I can hardly contain myself! I fully intend to lay by the pool 8 hours a day, read, hike, scrapbook with Tammy, play games, take Hollie to the park, & not worry about one dang thing. I was this-close to lugging my computer along. This close. But I know I would spend the whole week editing, or feeling guilty about not editing. So, it's staying home! It gives me slight panic attacks to think about not being on my computer for a whole week, but it will be a much-needed break.

I would love to post all of the summer goodness from the above-stated activities, but I must get to work. So, for now, here are a few from Hollie's first day in Nursery (can you believe she's 18 months!?). Which, she loved, by the way. Not a single look back. Zero tears. Didn't even notice we were gone. I'm told it's better than hysterical fits, but I'm not convinced. ;O) I will admit, however, our darling sunbeam class goes much smoother without the 1-year-old addition. And Hollie is much happier now in her own class. Her teacher says she's doing great, other than the fact that she is a climber. Sorry, Brother Brochinsky. We're working on that. I can't stop myself from peeking in there every 5 minutes, though. I love watching her interact. She's growing up way too fast, but I love watching the process.

This is Hollie doing the actions to "I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee..." She was really excited to learn a new song.

Prayers

2008-05-28T20:18:00.000-07:00

We've been working on saying prayers with Hollie. For a majority of the time, our attempts are vastly unsuccessful. On rare occasion, however, our prayers go something like this...

"Hollie, let's say prayers," & she immediately folds her arms.

Me: Dear Heavenly Father
Hollie: Jabber, jabber, Habaaba Faazada, pause
Me: Thank thee for this day
Hollie: Jabber, jabber, jabber, day, pause
Me: Thank the for mama & dada
Hollie: Jabber, jabber, mama, dada, pause
Me: Thank thee for Jesus
Hollie: Jabber, jabber, Jesus, pause

No lie. Every single pull-your-hair-out parenting moment is worth it for times like these. I have never known greater joy than watching my sweet one year old talk to her Heavenly Father.

Swift.

2008-05-26T11:30:00.000-07:00

Sheesh! Do you ever wish life would just slow down? I feel like I am always running to catch up, or even just catch my breath. I think the last thing we needed was a houseful of sickies. Unfortunately, that's exactly what we got. Hollie started us out on Friday, Sam followed on Saturday, & I picked up the rear right before church on Sunday. Yuck! I'm actually already feeling tons better & may even venture out for a few errands today. Poor Hollie is still having diaper pyrotechnics, though.

This last little bit I've had to put in a million data entry hours, which has made me ridiculously behind on editing my past 4 sessions or so. Which also means that I really shouldn't be sitting here blogging. I have missed it, though. So, here are some randoms from the past few weeks.

Don't know what's up with this face, or the little jig below. She's a goof.

Weird, weird kid.

2008-05-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

Remember when I told the world that my daughter has an outie? Well, it is no longer just an accessory to her outfits. Hollie has discovered that she has built-in entertainment. You know how some kids twirl their hair or bite their fingernails. My kid plays with her belly button. Weird. Notice the hand placement in all of these...

New tradition...

2008-05-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

These. On Mothers Day.

Tricksy

2008-05-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

I really think that Hollie was born part monkey. She climbs on top of the table, scales book shelves & sits on top of Daddy's computer desk. This was one of the first times she accomplished the latter. She definitely keeps me on my toes.

Practically perfect in every way

2008-05-12T00:25:00.000-07:00

Today has been the perfect Mother's Day. It truly has. We had a wonderful time spending time with both of our families & talking to Elder Jesse (even though he called right in the middle of church). The day couldn't have been better.

This is what I got for Mother's Day (well, actually it's a much-needed piece of equipment, but we're calling it my Mother's Day present), but it's back ordered. So, when Sam apologized this morning for not having a gift for me, I said, "It's ok. You gave me my Hollie." There is nothing better than being her mother. There really is nothing better than the way her smile lights up all the corners of my heart. I adore her. With every facet of my being, I adore her. Thank you for being mine.

This is actually what I wanted to do on Mother's Day. I've had this vision in my head for months & I finally wanted to take a stab at it. Unfortunately, this is what Hollie thought of my plan...

At least she didn't scream the whole time.

Most interesting thing I said this week. . .

2008-05-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

”No! You may not play in your own pee!”

Saying these kinds of things seems absurd before you have children. After, it’s just a daily occurrence. This particular command was issued when a naked pre-bath Hollie decided to piddle on the bathroom floor & then proceed to splash in her self-made puddle. Oh, the joys.

Lots more to post, but alas no time to do it. Hopefully soon.

Bump

2008-05-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

Hollie has a newfound obsession with hats. The other day she found one of her hats, but she put it on right over her eyes. She walked around the house bumping into things because she couldn't see. She thought it was awesome! What a weird kid?! When it finally fell off, she put it on with the strap right between her eyes. Oh, what would I do without her?! She makes me laugh every single day. I love you, Punkie Pewter Pie!

Park City, baby!

2008-04-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I won a free night's stay at a new resort in Park City. So, the hubby & I ran away together this past weekend. We had such a blast! I loved being able to spend time with just him. But, oh, did I miss my Hollie. It was my first night away from her & I think I did really well. I only thought of her every 30 seconds or so. :o)

Neglected.

2008-04-15T21:50:00.001-07:00

I am deep in editing purgatory. Therefore, this is what my poor daughter has looked like for the past 5 (count them, 5) days. Hair disheveled, no pants, & remnants of the past 3 meals on her shirt. Please nominate me for Mother of the Year.

Amazingly enough, she has been all but a little angel. So patient with Mommy as she climbs her way out, one image at a time.

What does Snoopy say?

2008-04-15T21:46:00.001-07:00

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Cheerio.

2008-04-12T06:55:00.001-07:00

Oh, the Cheerios. Hollie loves her some Cheerios. I think I was actually trying to bribe her with them so I could get the "Favorite Jeans" shots, and ended up with a bunch of these. It looks so funny to me, though, because the dang box is almost as big as she is!

Favorite Jeans

2008-04-09T23:40:00.001-07:00

I love these. Love them so much I wanted to capture them forever.

You see that little bump in the middle of her belly? Yeah, that's her outie. My daughter has a total, 100% outie belly button.

Time & Eternity

2008-04-02T09:34:00.001-07:00

Exactly 6 years ago from this very moment, I was kneeling across the alter from the man who had completely stolen my heart. Happy Anniversary, love!

Easter Goodness

2008-03-30T19:18:00.001-07:00

The Hunt

2008-03-30T18:49:00.001-07:00

The Easter Egg hunt is a BIG deal in my family. Growing up with all brothers, you can imagine how...um....physical an easter egg hunt can get. There were no rules. Anything was fair, up to & including pushing eachother down the stairs. This brutality continued until grandchildren were born. Since then the violence has mostly ceased. Mostly.

We spent the rest of the afternoon at my parents house eating dinner & going through our baskets. My mom also made cupcakes for dessert. It took Hollie about 30 seconds to discover them in the kitchen. She wasn't quite tall enough to grab one, so she just stood there licking frosting off her little fingers.

I just love our Easter traditions. Love them now even more as I watch Hollie fall in love with them, too.

Easter morning

2008-03-30T18:35:00.001-07:00

What an Easter! The sun was shining & everything was just perfect. I loved watching the wonder & excitement on Hollie's face with every Easter egg she found. I think this is her new favorite holiday.

Expressions

2008-03-20T08:58:00.001-07:00

There is nothing more expressive than a child. I love capturing each expression that brightens Hollie's face. From the laughter...

To the tears...

And everything in between...

I love each and every one of your beautiful faces.

For the Cass-ster

2008-03-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

About 5 years ago, Tim was diagnosed with Kidney Failure. We were surprised, but not shocked because 2 of his siblings also have kidney failure and have had to have transplants.

Over the last 5-ish years, Tim has been seeing a nephrologist regularly every 3-6 months as requested by his doctor. They've monitored his B.U.N. and creatinine levels closely and determined late last summer that transplant time was getting close. We then met with a transplant coordinator, social worker, financial coordinator and surgeon. 13 vials of blood were drawn and labs ran. The goal for Tim during this time was to have him ready for transplantation before it became necessary for him to go on dialysis. This included, for us, finding a living donor.

We've talked to many people about donating their kidney to Tim. Not asking anyone specifically, but just throwing it out there so people know what's going on and if it's something they would be willing to do, we'd be willing to take them up on it. So many have said it's something they would think about, and we appreciate SO MUCH that they would even consider it.

At Tim's appointment today, his doctor had his name put on the waiting list for a kidney. Within the next week or so, we'll have the results of his blood work to know if he'll need to start dialysis. (His last labs read that he was at 12% kidney function, dialysis usually starts around 10% funcion.) As he has been feeling pretty good, we're hoping dialysis will be put off for a few more months.

This is where you come in.

Have you seen the billboard on the highway that says something like "Donate a kidney/car to the kidney foundation"? Well, if you've been thinking "hmm... I have this spare car lying around, but I also have a spare kidney.... what to do... what to do..." We'd like to encourage the kidney donation. :)

Here's what you do.

Call Cathy at 801-507-8311 or 801-507-3380.
Cathy is Tim's transplant coordinator. She'll schedule a time for you to get a work up done to see if you're a match for Tim.

What you need to know.

Tim's blood type is A+, however, if you are A+ OR A- you can still be a match. If the sub-grouping is necessary, it will be determined later on.

Recovery time for the donor is 4-6 weeks on average. You would be in the hospital for 5-7 days. You can't drive for 2 weeks or lift anything over 20 lbs for 3 weeks.

Either our insurance or Medicare covers both the donor surgery and the recipient surgery, so there is no out of pocket cost for you.

That's it. So now if you're thinking "I only have one kidney... I'm diabetic... I'm the wrong blood type... I hate hospitals... I'm terrified of needles... Tim? Who's Tim?" I have one more teensy weensy favor to ask to help us out. For all you bloggers out there. Link us! Copy this and post it to your blog, put a link, copy and email to friends and family, whatever. But please help us spread the word and find some new guts for my hubby.

If you do decide to be tested, please e-mail me at tim_and_cas@yahoo.com so we can follow up with the coordinator.

Whew! If ya got through all that, THANK YOU!

You can keep tabs on us and the kidney updates by visiting our blog. www.thedaysofcassie.blogspot.com

Thanks Everyone!

Cassie and Tim

Hey there.

2008-03-09T17:08:00.000-07:00

Man, where does the time go? It seems like I just barely posted & that was weeks ago now. Sheesh! Life is good here, though. Just busy. We had my nephew's baby blessing today & Erin's (Sam's brother's wife's) mom hired me to do a mini session with all of her grandkids. It was so fun to just shoot portraits & candids. Working with kids is always so chaotic, but I love how the lens just freezes each & every moment.

Anyway, I've had a few other sessions in the past couple weeks & I've been having a blast with photoshop. After being anti-action for so long, I've finally found 2 that I absolutely love. I always give them my own kick, but they're a great jumping off point. This black & white one is my new best friend. So, I've been playing with my camera a lot lately. Here are a couple of randoms from this week...

Draw.

2008-03-09T16:35:00.001-07:00

So, you know those times when your kids shock & amaze you? Yeah, we had one of those the other day. I was upstairs showering, and I came down to find this...

Apparently, she had picked up a pencil & just started drawing. The weirdest part was that she was holding it perfectly! I have never taught her how to do this. This is literally the first time she has colored. We've tried in the past but all she did was eat the crayons. It's just amazing how much they watch & take in. I love you, my funny little girl!

Cousins

2008-03-09T15:56:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, we had a play date with all of Hollie's cousins on my side of the family. The kids just play so cute together, plus Jen, Tammy & I had a great time visiting. Tammy had the fabulous idea to get a shot of all of the grandkids standing in a line. Of course, my kid was the stinker who didn't want to participate. Hence, her either running away or CJ hanging on to her in most of the shots. It's fun to see each of their personalities, though. Here are their ages (I think I got them right) ... Ollie - 5, Ike - 28 mos, CJ - 19 mos, Hollie - 14 mos, Abram - 9 mos. Yeah, there were 4 kids born within about 18 months of eachother. They must have been plotting together up in heaven.

Miss me?

2008-02-16T21:46:00.000-08:00

How do you let an entire month pass you by without blogging? Or really even notice that an entire month has, in fact, passed you by? I thought that all of my loyal (or maybe not so loyal anymore) readers deserved an update.

It seems like Hollie has transformed over night. She does something new every day, from howling like Snoopy (which is hil-ar-ious!) to bringing me a da-ba-ba (bottle) when she's hungry. I mentioned a diaper earlier tonight, & she went & found me one. I sometimes forget that she understands everything we say. It seems like yesterday she was my baby. Today she is this crazy toddler that knows exactly what she wants & when she wants it. I see so much of myself in her already. Although, apparently her obsession with unloading every cupboard in the house came from her Daddy. Thanks for that, Sweets. As much as it makes me sad to see her grow up & away, I absolutely love watching the process.

Boy Sam is still as patient, happy & loving as ever. He just received a yearly award for Employee Engagement at work. He'd never toot his own horn, so I'll toot it for him. Way to go, babe! I just adore him. I couldn't ask for anyone better.

And me? I'm just caught up in living. Trying to savor the good moments & learn from the bad. They're mostly good, though. I needed a change, so I chopped my hair. It feels so good. We'll see if I regress back to the flip. It's an addiction I can't seem to break. ;o) But for now, I'm loving the change.

Tonight I pulled out my camera & just played. I had 2 sessions today, but I guess I didn't get enough time behind my lens. It's been such a long time since I've just played with my camera. Just for fun. Just because. I loved every minute. I've never really captured "me". So, these "selfers" are my attempt.

Happy birthday to me...

2008-02-16T21:39:00.000-08:00

See what I got...

Only mine's white & a 2007. And yes, it really does have a beverage cooler in the glove box. How cool is that?! At 25, after many, many years of waiting, I finally have a new car.

Baby Will

2008-02-16T19:49:00.001-08:00

Our new nephew, sweet baby Will was born on Feb. 6th, almost a month early. He's so tiny, but healthy & strong. What an amazing experience it was to witness his birth. The spirit is so strong as they leave the loving arms of their Heavenly Father and begin their journey on this earth. I'm so grateful to have been a part of this beginning for him.

Oreo

2008-01-22T20:16:00.001-08:00

It's been a while, so I thought I'd give you an update. I'm doing much better this week. I have to say thank you to all of my amazing friends & family, though. Your words buoyed me up & gave me strength. I am so grateful for each of you. So, thank you!

Nothing new to report, other than Daddy introduced Hollie to Mr. Oreo this week. As you can see, the Oreo isn't just milk's favorite cookie. It's Hollie's, too.

You are the music in me...

2008-01-22T20:10:00.001-08:00

Is "1" too young to be a High School Musical fan? Apparently not because Hollie LOVES it! It's the only movie she will watch for more than half a second. Whenever the songs come on, she drops everything she's doing to shake her groove thing. It's hilarious! Anyway, she was being really ornery today, so I put HSM2 on for her. She watched for a few minutes then curled up right by the tv & fell asleep. Oh, I just love her! Everything about her!

Finding joy

2008-01-14T19:27:00.001-08:00

According to the American Heritage Dictionary, “Inadequate” is defined as “Not adequate to fulfill a need or meet a requirement; insufficient.” Am I the only one who feels this way? – who feels “insufficient” at times?

As of late, I have been frequently letting myself get sucked into a giant inadequacy spiral. I compare myself to every other photographer on the web, and in the end I never want to pick up my camera again. I don’t even know what I expect of myself, all I know is that I’m not measuring up. I have several newborn sessions coming up (which are not easy to practice for with a one year old, by the way :o) and I feel so insufficient. People have often told me that they admire my confidence, and I always wonder what they mean. I know who I am and I have the drive to pursue my dreams, but more days that I care to admit, I just feel guilty & frustrated. The guilt because I feel like I should be better, and the frustration because I’m honestly trying. This used to bring me so much joy, but I just can’t seem to find it anymore. So, this was my attempt to find joy; to take pictures simply because I love it. Not comparing myself to anyone else. Just being me, taking pictures of the light of my life. This is how I see her through my lens. No flower, no outfit. Just her. And me. This is us. For more of her, go here.

Santa

2008-01-13T15:28:00.001-08:00

Ok, ok, Cassie. As she so kindly pointed out, it has been a while since I have posted (love you, Cass!). ;o) I have other stuff, but it's a little personal & I'm not quite ready to post it yet. So, you get more Christmas stuff that I didn't get a chance to put up before.

Santa pictures at the mall is a total tradition in my family. Until my siblings & I had children, we (the adults) would have to be in the pictures. It's very nice to pass the torch on to the wee little ones. Love the randomness in the group shot. Every kid is looking at something different. Love it!

White Christmas

2008-01-01T23:24:00.001-08:00

This had to have been my favorite Christmas morning ever. Hollie was so much fun. I could watch her & her facial expressions all day. After her birthday, she had the whole present drill down. She loved ripping the wrapping paper. This first shot is one of my favorites. She's looking through the bars at her presents. Love her innocence.

Does anyone else think it's kind of funny that Tickle Me Elmo is almost as big as Hollie?

Elder Jesse

2008-01-01T23:16:00.001-08:00

I must admit one of my favorite parts of this Christmas was talking to Lil' Jesse on the phone. We all went over to my parents in the afternoon & had to share a short 40 minutes with him. It seems like he's been gone forever, and yet I can't believe he'll be home in 11 months. After we finally had to hang up the phone, we exchanged gifts & just enjoyed each other's company. It was one of the most relaxing Christmas' I've had. We loved every minute.

Twas the night before Christmas

2008-01-01T22:07:00.000-08:00

We had 2 parties on Christmas Eve. Santa came to the first one at Sam's parents house. Hollie was very intrigued by the bearded man. Kelden & Annie were terrified, however. He is kinda weird lookin'.

Then, we had goofies with my Mom's side of the family. It's my favorite Christmas tradition. This year, we had the kids act out the nativity. Well, more like sit & look cute in their costumes.

Every year my Mom gives us all Christmas jammies. I love how cute all the kids look in their matching jams.

Tutu.

2008-01-01T22:00:00.001-08:00

So in love with this tutu. So. In. Love.

Birthday Baby

2007-12-23T19:58:00.001-08:00

Finally, some pictures from the Hollie Bug's birthday. Opening presents was a very long ordeal. She was way more interested in what Sup was doing than pulling tissue out of a bag. It was so fun to watch her, though.

It's my party...

2007-12-23T19:22:00.001-08:00

We had both mine & Sam's families over for Hollie's birthday party. She loved having everyone over. She was so excited for all of her presents. She loved them all.

Hollie LOVED her cupcake. After downing the first, I gave her a second. Then, bad uncle Andrew gave her a third! About half way through #3 she would just let it fall out of her mouth.

We just wore her right out. She was trying to go upstairs to see Dada, but she couldn't even make past the kitchen. She just crashed right there.

Gratitude.

2007-12-23T18:07:00.000-08:00

Feeling very grateful today. I've been having a bit of a rough go. Don't want to get into the details, but I guess I could say I've felt like I was in a hole. A big giant sucky hole. Trying to dig myself out, but for every shovelful I get out, someone throws 4 more back in. Not feeling that way now, even though nothing changed but my heart. As I was praying this morning, I realized that I was tired of hearing my own complaints. That's pretty sad when you get tired of hearing your own issues. It was then that I decided that I wasn't going to say or think anything negative for the rest of the day. And the most miraculous thing happened - instead of feeling overwhelmed, I'm feeling grateful. Grateful for the chance to work alongside my hubby in the kitchen. Just plain grateful for him. Grateful for my Hollie. Grateful for my Savior & his birth. Grateful that I know He lives. Grateful for my grandma. We had a fancy turkey dinner tonight with just the three of us. I loved using a combination of my Grandma's china & the china she gave us for our wedding. Kind of missing her, as I always do around Christmas. But also feeling grateful that she is such a big part of who I am. So, like I said, feeling very grateful today. I have too many blessings to even count, but it feels good to try.

"Little Peanut"

2007-12-18T11:41:00.000-08:00

That's what the nurse called Hollie at her 1 year check up yesterday. She weighs 17 lbs 0 oz, and is 28 3/4 inches long. That puts her below the 5th percentile for her weight & around the 50th for her height. So, she's grown a whoppin' 14 ounces in the past 3 months. My tiny little thing! No wonder she's still wearing a lot of her 3-6 month clothes. It saves me money, I guess. It takes her forever to grow out of anything! We will have to wait at least 4-5 months before we can turn her around, though. Which is ok, since she's still just in her infant seat & anything bigger is NOT going to fit in the 'stang. Dr. Goodwin said everything else looked great, especially her verbal skills. She has 6 words in her vocab now - mama, dada, baba (bottle), grandpa (I finally heard it yesterday!), baby, and by far her favorite - Sup (she sometimes adds the "y" to the end now. It kind of sounds like "sup-ie"). She's not fully walking yet, but is trying really hard. I just love to watch her discover her world. As much as I loved the newborn stage, I wouldn't trade this Christmas & last for anything.

I still haven't had time to go through all of the birthday pics. Hopefully soon! But here are a few random shots I got this morning.

For you, little one.

2007-12-17T00:07:00.001-08:00

It's so hard for me to believe that one year ago, at this very moment, I was sitting in a hospital bed holding the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. Hollie, your birth is the single most wonderful & sacred experience of my life. I never knew I could love someone so much. As I sit here typing this, with tears rolling down my face, I am still in awe. This morning I woke to two bright blue eyes, just inches from mine. You were staring at me, waiting for me to wake up. It was just one of the thousands of moments that we have shared, and I will cherish them all forever. I love you with all of my heart.

I have so many pictures to post from your special day, but it's late & mama's tired. So for now, here's one of my favorite quotes. It perfectly describes the way I feel about you.

Before you were conceived, I wanted you;
Before you were born, I loved you;
Before you were here an hour, I would die for you;
That is the miracle of love.

~Maureen Hawkins

'Tis the season

2007-12-15T18:32:00.001-08:00

In love.

2007-12-11T23:39:00.001-08:00

I wanted to get some "wintry" looking shots to send out for Hollie's birthday party invites. Here's the one I chose & some more of my favorites. I can't tell you how much I love this hat. Probably too much.