Christmas treated us well

I think I was on the nice list this year because I was spoiled :)

So was Taryn. Christmas eve I slept a wink and finally got up at a quarter to six to get my own self ready and take many glances at the pile of presents gleaming in the low light of the Christmas tree.

So so magical...

Robbie and I had stayed up til one setting up Taryn's new baby doll set of necessities. I thought with baby sister coming, she would love to take care of her own. More like her own 4. For each piece of the set, there is a baby making good use of it.

When I finally convinced Robbie of waking her up at 7:15, she knew right away who had come by when I said...Guess who came!!

"Santa Claus! He so nice mommy, he bring toys!" Thank you ho ho..."

Actually she really could care less about St. Nick. Every time he was around this season she got the shakes and wanted to go in "the other room." But then again, when he's not visibly seen, she thinks he's alright.

I got a camera (It's turning into a tradition, by the time Christmas rolls around mine is out of service...I guess I just make good use of it all year long) For Robbie's sake, let's hope this one lasts a bit longer.

I also received many other goodies from my list of wants. I surprised Robbie with a new coat. Why does that man have to have such long arms!! At my parents house we were surprised with a kitchen aid mixer! Yay, I've been wanting one for quite some time. Taryn got her wish of Princess Barbies. I think that was the first gift she opened there, after that she wasn't interested in much else.

Grandma go-go gave her a mini vanity to help keep her beautified. Another successful gift.

Then there have been the dress ups... oh man, she would LIVE in the shoes, crowns, skirts, anything that is princess-like. She was spoiled with the shoes (she usually makes anyone with heels take them off so she can dance around in them) I guess they all decided it was time she had her own.

So the last few days have looked like this...


such the girly girl.

Overall Christmas was wonderful. In many ways it felt the same, yet in the back of our minds we all felt the emptiness of my Dad sitting in the corner enjoying the sight of his children getting too much. Always the one with the garbage sack to collect the unwanted wrapping paper. He and my brother are always the same with the way they open gifts. They wait. They are handed ones with their names, yet they don't fret to open them in a hurry. Then they each have a big pile of un-opened presents at the end.

Silly boys.

Like my mom said on her facebook status the day after Christmas...

check.

some kind of normal

After some much needed blog stlalking, I decided mine needed an update.

The normal kind...

So here's some mommy blog pics and the usual stuff us moms post... in a nutshell.

Halloween did happen.

It included a neighborhood trunk or treat. My first one eva. I didn't know how decked out everyone treated their trunks, so I guess I went obverboard? Oh well, I got lots of compliments!


p.s. - all pics are from my iphone, not too sharp, but is better than nothing!

We did the pumpkin patch thing....






My high school buds did our traditional halloween partay get-togetha.

Don't know why I decided to stick my prego gut out, I wasn't really even showing yet...weird.


I was a witch and Robbie was a nerd.

Taryn was an extremely cute witch for Halloween. I even made some of her costume (only the parts that needed a hot glue gun and tying) I loved her costume and I think the trunk or treat we went to at Dan's grocery store was the one and only time she wore the entire ensemble.
I had to tell her she was a "princess witch" to get that to work. Even then I got lucky.


This picture was right in the middle of all these Halloween ones. I can't not post it. The last home game I went to for Oly football. My Dad was holding Taryn while I tried to get a cute shot of her in her new hat and gloves I had just bought for that evening.
I want those big hairy calloused hands back...

I can see him perfectly through this picture, it makes my heart hurt.

Ok...I was going to stick to normal. But it's hard... I don't feel normal.

Let's see what happened next. Oh ya, November happened and it felt like everyday was 10 days, but at the same time looking back it's all a blur.

Then we did Thanksgiving and though I feel blessed with love, peace, the gospel, the atonement and so many other "eternal perspective" things. I also feel sadness and would give every "earthly" blessing to have my Dad back here as my Dad, the man who can never be replaced.

So.... now we are onto December. I really do LOVE Christmas time. I am celebrating, and so is my family. I decorated the house and made it cheery and bright. I added a few more things to make me smile. Amy Grant sings in the background and makes me think of Christmas's past.

Month by month, Week by week, Day by day... hour by hour I know the Savior will lead me through and continue to bear this burden that sometimes overwhelms me.


This month I will think of Him fondly, with new eyes, and celebrate His birth.

heaven sent

It's hard to even know what to say as time keeps moving on day by day.

I'm still overwhelmed with the spirit and the comfort it keeps bringing me. My Dad's funeral was amazing. Perfect and amazing. The speakers spoke with the spirit, their words have touched me deeply and I will be forever changed. There was an ocean of people who came to learn more of my Dad and what he brought to this earth. They left knowing him.

As each new day begins, I hear the words that our dear friend Jim Lindsley spoke to my family through his talk on Monday.
He asked us, "What would your Dad want you to do now? We have life ahead of us, LIVE IT!"

So as hard and as different things may be, that's what I keep telling myself. Live it.

We have fond and happy memories to hold onto, as well as new and exciting ones to make. One that keeps me smiling is the arrival of our new baby...GIRL! Yes, baby girl :) What an amazing experience that will be. Straight from heaven, a piece of my Dad I'm sure will be sent with her.

Thanks for giving me strength and hope baby girl.
I love you.

breathing

It amazes me to think of our bodies and how intricate and fragile they really are. As I am growing this baby inside of my belly, I try not to focus on how many things have to be done in order for him (or her) to come into this world healthy and whole.

Healthy and Whole....these words have an entirely new meaning to me.

My Dad is in the ICU, he has been there since Friday morning. I have never had a trial like this before and I am touched by how many angels are near me and my family as we pray constantly for my Dad to keep fighting.

My Dad is the description of strong. He never gives up, I have full faith in him that he will recover and stay here with his family. My Dad loves us so very much, he does everything for us. He is a healthy man and unfortunately had a bad mix of pneumonia mixed with swine flu.

That combo is bad...bad bad bad.

Yesterday was awful. I know yesterday was when my Dad was losing in his game against the swine. The doctors had to do their jobs and tell my Mom hard things. We cried and cried and cried... but then we prayed and prayed and prayed. Heavenly Father has heard our prayers and has talked to us through the scriptures. I know this. I know he is helping my Dad fight back.

Today I woke up with the most calming and overwhelming love. I didn't even waver the thought that things would get worse. Worse is not an option. Lisa (my sister) felt the same way, we know our Dad. He rocks, he won't let something like the stupid swine flu make him take his exit. Last night his nurse turned on some classic rock, which knowing my Dad, gave him a boost. Led Zeppelin can change things ;)

Today has been filled with good news, but by no means has let us out of the woods. These woods are thick and deep, but my Dad is good at finding his way out of anywhere. He's going to find the best way out and make sure he doesn't get lost.



I know it.

han - fri - ry?

I felt like a ravenous beast tonight as I ripped into my much anticipated bag of Chinese food. The poor guy who delivered it was tipped with a lot of quarters.

I was out of cash and I had already paid the very non-english speaking lady over the phone.

Like every other pregnant woman I have my cravings, but tonight salty noodles (that were not the ten cent kind) was all I could think about.

I had already been out on errands all evening with Taryn and since delivery was free I figured I'd hurry home and make the call. Well like I said earlier, the lady on the other end wasn't very fluent with the #1 language in this country.

She repeated the order, it sounded right enough (chow mein was said....that was good enough for me) I'm pretty sure I made it clear delivery to ME was my request, then she asked for a phone number.

"Ok, ready in 10 minutes." she replied.

"Great! Thanks!"

So I rushed Taryn into the tub, and then realized I had no cash..."hmmm, I better call back and figure that one out."

"Ming's Garden."

"Hi, I just called in an order and realized I didn't give you my address as well as a card number. I have no cash so do I need to pay over the phone?"

"Uh, ya ready in 10 minutes. You pay with card."

"I know, can I pay over the phone because I can't give your delivery man cash. Does he have a way of taking cards?"

"ya, you ok. We do that. 10 minutes?"

"Ok, uh, thanks."

25 minutes pass by...I'm freaking starving, going into nauseous hunger mode, and now annoyed that I didn't make it extremely clear I wanted D-E-L-I-V-E-R-Y!
Call again...

"Ming's Garden."

"Ya it's me, the girl that called 30 minutes ago. I'm still waiting for that food you said would be here in 10 minutes. Are they coming or what's the hold up?"

"Your food ready. Pick up."

"No, I wanted it delivered.... your website says you deliver for free, I live right up the street." (Now I'm thinking, I wish I would have put Taryn in the car and made the trip over and picked it all up myself!)

"Oh, you want delivery? Ok, what you address?"

"So NOW can I pay over the phone???"

"Ya, you give me numbers." - that part was fun. Do you usually give them your zip code in the middle of the card number and expiration date? Weird. "Ok, I deliver fo you."

minutes later.... knock knock knock

YAY! Finally...FOOD!

I sign my receipt, give the man a load of quarters, and thank him for his kind service.

Next time Ming, I'll make a stop on my way home.

Thank you...come again...ching!

a change of heart

For the past month or so when I go in to get Taryn out of her crib in the morning, or from a nap, she is looking across the room to one of her many shelves.

She always points in the same direction and says the same thing,

"Skaaaeee mommy!" --- translation: scary mommy.

I'd ask her what was scary and she'd point again saying, "right dare..." (right there)

So after a few times, I held her up and made her really pick out what was so "Skaaaeee!" She touched and then flinched away from the metal heart box I had added some pink touches to when decorating her room.

I couldn't figure it out. What was so scary about a heart shaped box? Then as I looked at it with little kid eyes it struck me....

can you see it?

Ya, I guess that is a scary face!

Finally one day I decided it was time. No more scary faces in my babies room!

So we took care of it...

Now she's the one with a very happy face.

missionary packages

whoa whoa whoa hold the phone.... 2 posts in one day?

I know, not really like me lately, but this had to be shared...asap!!

This past Saturday I was working at the salon doing one of my favorite neighbor's hair and she tells me about this Men's Wearhouse commercial she saw and swore Robbie was in it. I told her it could have been his brother because he, of course, looks similar to Robbie and has done some modeling. Plus it's something random he would go for...

Anyway...flash forward to tonight. I'm watching my DVR'd SYTYCD and as I'm clicking the 30 second skip ahead button it happens to land on this for a brief 2 seconds



Uh hello... isn't that my husband!?!

So I backup and actually watch the commercial and then totally freak out and yell for Robbie to watch it. Normally he disagrees with me on his
other
lookalikes,
but this one is a dead ringer!!

I found the commercial on youtube... have a look for yourself.



I think he's been doing some male modeling behind my back...

merman! MERMAN!!!

"NASTICS!"

Taryn has been going to a weekly gymnastics class and she sure loves it!
Every Monday morning when I'm getting her ready she runs around the house yelling, "NASTICS!" and if you ask her what she has learned there, she'll be more than happy to show off her perfected somersault.


She's also learned how to hang from the bar and put her toes up on it, as well as her tummy to flip over.




It's been a great way for her to learn about waiting her turn and sharing with others.


Here she is walking on the beam with Ms. Wendy


and at the end of the beam they get to jump into "the pit."

At the end of class they do a mini obstacle course. They climb through a tunnel, hop along circles, walk along a rope, roll down a hill, and all sorts of other fun things.
I can't believe how big she is and all the new things she is learning everyday. I sure love this gal and know she'll be great at anything she tries!

Yet Again...

This perfect descriptive and witty writer sums up my exact emotions...

If only I could have come up with this post first... then again I would not have known how to put those thoughts into words.

So go ahead and see for yourself what it is I'm talking about.

Go cjane Go

btw, we are pretty much soul sista's because our due dates are exactly the same.

...whoa

It's Potty Time!

This summer it was my goal to get Taryn out of diapers and onto the potty.

ya, about that....

let's just say we're not quite there yet.

I know it's a process, but I think I'm finally ready to commit! We've bought the mini potty, watched the potty show,, and have tried bribing with treats.

Now she thinks if she just sits on the potty a treat will be given.
Uh-uh chica...you gotta show me the money!

So we're going with a new tactic.

Here's the game plan...

- follow a potty chart.


- Taryn gets to put a princess sticker on each time she goes.


- for every 5th time she goes she gets a "prize."



- of course she'll be rewarded the times in between with a colorful tic-tac. Thanks to my aunt's advice...


- then when the process is finally complete, we'll go buy a new princess movie!


The plan seems a bit easier said than done, but it's worth a shot.

Wish us luck!

early morning rise

Ya know when you wake up in the middle of the night and have a million thoughts running through your mind and you CAN'T turn them off?

Well that was what happened to me this morning...actually it started about 2 hours ago.

It doesn't even have to be stressful thoughts...just something to keep your tired mind occupied.

Like, blogging ideas....they can make a girl go crazy!

So, maybe if I get my thoughts off my chest my mind will become bored and decide sleeping is a good idea, at least for another hour or so.

RAMBLING THOUGHTS>>>
BEWARE! BEWARE!!!

- How and when I should start getting our "computer room" ready to be Taryn's new room. I have ideas of the style I want it to be...
vintage child like.
simple pictures like these.
It has even more shelves than her room now...what to do with them?

- I want to copy cjane and make an original piece of art like this.
that means a stop at D.I. to find the resources
a stop at Roberts for some more mod podge and paint
oh and find some funky wallpaper...somewhere.

- I still have my 4th of July door hanger on.... ya, maybe time to get that down. Can I hang up my Halloween wreath I made last year and L.O.V.E??? Is it too early to deck the halls with Halloween galore?

- Where can I find a good quality, non-grandma looking, large 8x10 rug for one half of our long living room? No matter how often we get the carpet cleaned, I still feel like it's blah. I need something new in there.
With that thought...maybe a coffee table would be a good idea to have on the other half with the couches, another D.I. item to look for.

- Why didn't I take advantage of garage sales this summer? I only went to one and found the coolest most perfect chair that fits perfectly in the corner of my kitchen...for $5.

-Make Robbie clean out garage A.S.A.P! - Our driveway is starting to look like a car lot.
I need room to store way too many books from soon to be Taryn's new room.
Maybe Robbie won't notice if I D.I. 80% of these books?

- Clean all closet areas and all random drawers that have become a non-organized make me cringe mess! I do not handle non-organized well.

- Paint our bedroom...has been prepped to paint for over a year now and has NEVER happened!
Then I can hang my cjane artwork there :)

-Why am I thinking all about revamping my house? I guess it may be the lack of creative thinking/doing for a long time now... it's time to get back in the mode! Something to take my mind off of feeling yucko pregnant and get me ready for this baby!

Ok - I hope I don't read this later today and decide I'm losing my mind. Time to go back to bed!

This is just the beginning

Pregnancy has not been my best friend. I'm not one of those women who love every moment of growing a baby inside their belly...nope, not me.
Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful I'm pregnant. For months I felt the disappointment as the realization struck... not this time. Nothing is more frustrating than the waiting and wondering "when?" game.

Now that I am in this pregnant body, I am thinking...what was the rush? Oh yeah, I had forgotten this first trimester phase that I went through 3 years ago.

BLAH, YUCK, PLEASE NO THROWING UP TODAY PHASE.

Robbie swears it has been worse this time around, but the memories have come flooding back. The toilet bowl never looked so familiar.

Another familiarity is this little friend...

ya know, can't button up the pants anymore so loosen it up with a hair elastic. genius.

Things definitely progress a lot faster with baby #2. Time has already flown by with a two year old to keep my attention! Luckily I've been having more good days than bad with the nausea. I sure hope I'm not jinxing myself!

Now I have to give out a warning to any other fellow nauseous, tired, hormonal, pregnant women...

Dog parks are NOT your friend.

This past Saturday evening Robbie had the idea of getting out of the house and taking Lexi to our neighborhood dog park. Now, neither of us had ever actually been there, so we didn't know what to expect, with the exception of dogs running around of course.

Well well well, they might want to reconsider the name for this so called "park."
It ain't no park.

I came prepared for a park with my large blanket and over sized umbrella in hand. Wearing my flip flops and sunglasses. Taryn being the girly girl she is wanted to wear her newest pair of shoes that went perfect with her cute new sunday dress. Of course I had planned for her to wear the next day.

As we began our journey along the dog park trail I wondered silently, "hmm, when does this gravely downhill dirt road end and the big beautiful lush park appear?"
The trail kept going and going and I began complaining out loud and thinking, "big downhill trail will eventually turn into big UPHILL trail on the way back."

We finally made it to the bottom only to realize their is no grassy area with swings and slides. Just pools of water and dirt for dogs of any kind to soak themselves in and then come shake off right next to you. (which they totally did)

I did happen to find the one and only bench. I plopped my blanket on it and sat down to watch everyone else in their hiking boots, camel backs, and grungy clothes. Then a big hairy soaking wet muddy dog thought that bench looked quite inviting and jumped on up besides me...
Yay, this is SO FUN!

Right after that moment I heard some familiar voices. Some neighbor friends! One of the families happens to have the same dog as us (and the mom, Amy, is totally my kind of gal.) The other friend is one of my best ward buddies, Carrie! They had all their kiddos with them as well, but of course they were dressed to fit the part. "Ok," I thought, "if they come here, I can totally do this." I explained my original idea of the park to them and they laughed saying they both made the same mistake the first time they came. Amy had even worn heels the first time!

The husbands decided to keep on walking and we all followed, I told the ladies about my pregnancy and they said, "well why the heck are you here! This is like the bottom of the list of places you want to come to when your feeling nauseous and tired!"

"I know, I know!" I explained, but I didn't want to be a party pooper.

Speaking of pooper...there was a lot of that going on.

We walked and walked and luckily their conversations kept my mind off of feeling sick and made the experience worthwhile. Taryn was loving the other kids around and held hands and ran along with them, all the while getting her shoes more muddy and non-sunday ready in the process. (which Zout made all better as soon as we were home.) Overall, she was having a ton of fun until she realized dinner time had come and gone and she was starving! The other moms were prepared and had a few cracker snacks for their wee ones. When Taryn realized snacks were close by, she turned into beggar child and would not stop screaming for crackers.

We still had quite a ways to go back which ya know ended with the climb uphill. The moms were feeling sorry for me and even offered to kick their own out of their strollers to push me up the final climb. I almost gave in... but made a personal goal of finishing the climb all by my preggers self.

All in all, it turned out to be a somewhat enjoyable evening...until that is we made a quick stop at McDonalds to ease Taryns starvation and the smell made me dry heave all the way home.

So, note to self: stay away from dog related places until pregnancy passes and I'm back to normal active self.

This Ain't No April Fools Joke.

remember that one?

If not...refresh your memory
here...
and here.

If you're still lost, check out Taryn's shirt




That's right! #2 will be making it's arrival this upcoming spring!

I like the spring babes...coming to this world as the world blossoms.

a cheerleader and a football player

This year at Olympus High School, it's bound to be a memorable one. My brother Taylor is a junior and is on the football and baseball team. Then there is my youngest sister Amy who is a sophomore and one of the cutest cheerleaders alive. Last night was one of the best games I have been to in a long long time!

Olympus vs. Skyline
Rivals since time began.

Let's just say we showed them who's who and now we're in possesion of the infamous "rock."
Ahhh it feels good!
Watching Taylor on the defensive line looking like an animal about to tackle it's prey was pretty awesome. My brother ROCKS! And my family was all in attendance to support.
It's what we love to do!




we're #1 fans


the crowd running to the field to praise the players

We won 28 - 14

GO TITANS!!!

Then there is another cheerleader in training.
If she had her way, she'd be in their little line the entire game.







this was the green/grey game where the younger girls got to dance and cheer with the real cheerleaders. Unfortunately they have to be over 3 years old, so Taryn didn't make the cut.
Pretty sure she was way more into it then a few of those 3 year olds.


Next year babe, next year.

As for this year, it's Taylor and Amy's glory days.
So proud!!!

I wanna be where the people are...

Ariel is our girl right now.

Taryn has a demanding list of "needs" she goes through each morning, every snuggle moment, each car ride, or just when she realizes one is missing.

They come in any given order...

- binki
-juice
- doggy

and now - Ewiew (Ariel)




There's something captivating about that little mermaid...she's really got it all goin' on,
if you haven't noticed.
The hair, the smile, the skinny body, the awesome shells, and not to mention...that voice!

Tonight Tar and I made a quick run to the grocery store for some dinner items and while I kept wondering down the cereal isle, taryn came to a quick stop as she saw a box of fruit snacks with a grand picture of you know who on it. Lucky for me that box was on sale so I thought "ahh, what the heck, I would have loved that back in the day!"

She treasured that box the entire (2 minute) drive home and after opening her a package, she really took her time examining those little fruit snacks, no rushing it this time. We've got princesses on our hands here.

Luckily I had the feeling of testing out my camera today to see if it would magically work...and guess what...IT DID! So next time we watch "Ewiew" I will have to do a little video of Taryn's version of "part of your world" or maybe "kiss the girl" - They're all pretty good ;)

mawage is what bwings us togefa today.

it did bring us all together once again to celebrate a close friend sealing the deal!

(did ya get that pun!)


Lucky for me I helped the bride (my good friend Allison) get all dolled up by doing her hair. I absolutely love weddings, especially when I get to attend the sealing in the temple and watch the bride and groom become an eternal family as well as take in the beautiful words and covenants.

This time I thought about how many people there are in this world that don't have the gospel and the wonderful feelings and blessings the temple brings.
Peace, hope, gratitude, and so many more that I felt that day.

Makes me want to be a better
missionary.

I was also excited to help Allison afterwords in the brides room to get into her amazing dress and make that veil stay put. I don't think I've ever seen a more exciting and glowing bride!
It was such a fun day!

Again, I am borrowing pictures from my friend Lisa
(hope you don't mind!)


waiting in the hot sun for pictures...






the poses we do at every wedding...

#1 - showing off our best assests


#2 charlie angels - can you tell who the creative one is? hmmmm


feeding cake the nice way.


the girls in their black and pink


I can't believe I've been friends with these girls since junior high...
It seems like just yesterday!


taking off for the night and heading on to Hawaii!

CONGRATS MR. AND MRS. MEADOW'S!!!