She's 3!

My little girl turned 3. I have weird mixed feelings about it too. I am happy, because I loved 2, and I think 3 is going to be so much fun. I am happy because my little buddy is getting older and is healthy and growing well. On the other hand... I am so sad! I do not know where the past three years went! I have been with her every single day of her life and I have so many memories of her, but I feel like I've already forgotten so many more! (Thank goodness I now have a blog to record stuff!) I don't want her to grow up, but I am so proud of who she is becoming, so I guess I will suck it up and let her do what she's gonna do anyway. (Very big of me, I know.)

Anyway, I wanted to record a few of my fave memories and pictures of her from the past 3 years.
So, here they are.

1. It was sad for me, but it was probably the first time I realized how much I already loved her...
She was little when she was born, (5lbs 11oz) and fairly jaundiced. I knew NOTHING about jaundice, (including how common it is) and so when I got the call from the doctor when she was about five days old, telling me that she needed to go back to the hospital and get light treatments, I burst into tears. (which is totally not that ordinary for me!)
For the next three days I carefully took her out of the isolette, fed her and stuck her back in. The whole time my heart was broken because I was so worried about her, and I already missed holding her. Obviously she was fine. I was overreacting. Taught me something though- I already needed her and loved her more than I could have prepared myself for.


2.No specific memory sticks out in my mind, but all the bonding that we have done in the past three years. (Even when it was just a snuggle!)

3. Our first camping trip. Not a great time, but definitely memorable. Its funny now. Only took 3 years. I did love showing her Apgar though, because it is such a special family thing for us.


4. When she startes sitting up and really responding to us. I loved telling her I loved her knowing that in all likelihood she understood me.
5. One of the most rewarding things for me about having Grace is watching my Mom with her. They have had such a close bond since she was born and since I have always been so close to her as well, it is so great to see them together.
6. Her Blessing. She did so good, and Ben did so good, and it was amazing.
7. Holidays. Having a child really reminds you how much you loved them as a kid.
(Easter)



(Birthdays)

(Christmas)

8.Family Pics. Sometimes she is such a ham. And I love it!

9. Meeting her sister. Seeing her with Kaia makes me so happy. She is so protective, so loving and I am really proud of the sister that she is.
10. Getting sealed. She cried her face off. (Didn't like that I couldn't hold her and a stranger brought her into the sealing room,) yet it was still such a powerful day for us. What a great feeling to know that she is ours forever and ever. I couldn't possibly be more grateful.

I love this girl more and more every single day. She is my buddy and I am really excited to make new memories with her as she gets older. (Even if I get a little sad that she's growing up.)

Times are A-Changin'!

Anticipation... its in the air!
I am hugely looking forward to a few things coming up.
First of all- Spring. There are few things better than the time in which the snow is finally gone, the grass is starting to get green and the leaves start budding. I cannot think of a better time for a fresh start, and this is when I really feel like making changes, or tackling new things. (And old things... spring cleaning anyone!)
So, with spring, comes the next thing that is changing for us.
We are moving in a month.
To Calgary.
The thing that I am finding weird about it is... I am excited. I hate Calgary. It is just too darn big for me, and there is just too much traffic. People don't know each other like they do here. However, I am looking forward to our move despite these things. Maybe its because I am so excited to do all these fun new things with the girls this time around. I am also so excited for Grace and Sophie to experience new things together, and grow even closer.
The biggest thing I am looking forward to though, is Brit's wedding. It is weird at times for me to think that my little sister is getting married, I mean, she's just little! (I am sure she'd love being called that being as she is turning 23 this year.) Irregardless of this though, I am really pumped! Watching her go through planning a wedding definitely makes me thankful to my Mom who pretty much did Ben's and my wedding on her own. (Sorry Mom!)

(This feels like it was a million years ago... In a good way!)
Its going to be so beautiful and soooo fun. I am super excited!
So, these are the things that are happening with us in the next few weeks and months. Times are changing, and I am optimistic about them. There is just something uplifting about this time in our life and I love it!

25 Years Young

I have been meaning to do this for the past week now, and just haven't seemed to find the time. Now however, I am biting the bullet and finally posting a new blog! It is kind of self- indulgent however, so bare with me.
In lieu of Facebook, I am going to sort of steal the little "note" idea that is going around. I want to relate it toward the past year of my life though. It was my birthday last week and I kind of got thinking about what I had learned, how I had grown and what had really changed between year 24 to year 25. So, here is a list of things that I discovered in the past year...

• 2 is better than 1! The biggest thing that changed for me was the birth of Kaia. I was concerned what a new addition would do to our family, but that proved to be fruitless worry! How could we be a family without our happy girl?

• People can leave our lives much quicker than we think. Losing my uncle was one of the toughest things our family has ever endured. I still think of him every single day and I use his absence as a reminder to appreciate everyone I have and love.

• My friends are so important to my life and sanity. I don't think I would be the person I am if I didn't have the influences of the girls around me! Kel is my long lost sister. Sometimes we are so much alike it is scary! Only she is the better version of me, and I am constantly inspired to improve upon myself in every way after being with her. I love her to death and would do anything for her! Tash is the girl everyone else wishes she could be. She is always so perfectly put together and self posessed, (even when in sweats!) This is not to mention the fact that the girl's taste in everything from clothes to decor is impeccable! I have stolen many style tips from her, and will continue doing so. Much more importantly though- there is not a selfless bone in her body, and she would do anything for anyone at the drop of a hat. Without complaint. Marisa- she is the girl who you go to when you need someone you can count on. She will tell you the truth no matter what, and honestly, it is a true friend who can be that person for you. She just gets me and when I have needed her I have always known she is there. From being a bridesmaid for me five years ago, to being a best friend today, we have been through some tough times in each other's lives, but through it all we've had each other's backs and that is something that truly is invaluable to me. Then there is my sis. Brit and I have had some times. Growing up they weren't so good. (Sorry Brizz!) Now, all we can do is laugh at how far we've come! We live three steps away from each other, and we talk at least three times a day. Mom really was right, we did become each other's best friend.

• My husband and girls are (and should be!) my main focus. Everything else works itself out. By this I mean, if I have happiness at home, if Ben and I are still lovin' each other as we should, and talking as we should, than my girls are happy. If the girls are happy and the parents are happy, we can take on anything and anyone that comes our way. Bottom line is we have each other, and thats all we need. (Sounds trite, but it is true!)

I don't feel older, I don't feel wiser, and I know that I am still discovering who I am, and who I can become, but I also know that I am learning things here and there and thats what life is about. And mine is definitely a great one!

Blowing out the B-day Candles!!

















Brit and I

















My Babe and Our Girls






































I don't quite know what is up with his smile,
but it made me laugh, so here it is.

















The Chicks

















Me and My
Parents

Missed Moments? Not anymore!

Last night we were sitting here watching Grace dance (for the millionth time..) and I realized that I hadn't watched any of the videos we have taken over the past seven months. (We bought the camera right before Kaia was born.) Anyway, so we proceeded to watch them before bed. A ton of things struck me as we watched and laughed at our videos. So, here are my observations...

• Our kids grow up so darn fast! Just the way Grace has changed since August blew my mind! How did I miss that?!
• How much their looks change! I need to be more diligent about taking pictures b/c Kaia does NOT look the same- at all.
• How cute their little ideas and thoughts are. Where do they come up with some of the stuff they say? For example, at one point in a video I asked Grace where Daddy was working, she said, "Manitoba", (right) We were making him a birthday cake, so I asked her to put the marshmallows into the bowl, she told me they were "smarchpallows" (yeah, kinda right...) then I asked her how excited she was for Daddy to come home and have his cake. Her answer? "Three." K, well of course! That makes perfect sense.
  
• Kids dancing techniques have got to be the funniest thing out there. If any of you have been at my house, then you will undoubtedly know exactly what I am talking about. Grace puts a dance show on every chance she gets, and I've gotta say, the kids creative!
• Baby's laughter is the sweetest sound-ever. We started recording Kai's laughter as soon as it started. And, being the doting parents we are, we then proceeded to film her every time she got going each month after. I dare anyone to refrain from joining in when a baby gets going. We sure can't!
• Britney Spears "Circus" and "Womanizer" songs are the soundtrack to our life. (Apparently they are the "best dancing songs"... who knew?
  
• How sad you get when only six months have passed and you realize that your parents, grandparents, ect were right. They do grow up too fast, and they do change in the blink of an eye!

I have now decided that, although I thought I tried to appreciate all the little moments, I need to try harder. My little girls are growing up faster than I want, and although I made Grace promise not to get older than 3, I kinda have a feeling she is going to break that vow.
So, while I didn't make any New Year's Resolutions, I am going to make a "Mommy Resolution" ... I am going to sit back and try to (wholeheartedly!!) take in my family. The other stuff isn't going anywhere, and I could miss out on memories if I don't!

Does it seem to anyone else like babies all of a sudden get all grown up- really fast!? It seems like just last month Kai was so little and couldn't do anything but sleep, eat and sleep some more. Now she HAS to be standing all the time, she is sitting up, and we've started feeding her baby food. With Grace time seemed to kind of crawl, and I think thats because I was waiting (with bated breath!) for every milestone. They have snuck up and by on us with Kai, and all of a sudden she is six months old and no longer my little baby! I am so excited for Grace to have her little sister be able to run and play with her, but it is coming a lot faster than I expected!















Grace was reading to Kai the other night while I ran downstairs, I came back up to find her telling her- "Its okay baby, I'm here. Mommy will be right back. Don't worry."

We have gotten to spend a lot more time with the Pankhursts, (as I have previously mentioned) and it is so much fun to watch Grace and Sophie play together! They are so cute, because for the first ten minutes Grace pretends that she doesn't want to play, and then, lo and behold, up she gets and has so much fun! (We already have some GREAT blackmail videos!)
I can't wait for Kelsey and Spencer's baby to get here and get big enough for Kai to make memories with!
Here are some pictures of the girls entertaining us...

(They were playing Ring A-Round the Rosie)














Playing with Grace's Barbie House... (I don't
know where Grace's pants are!)














Coloring... Sophie is just seeing if its ok to smile














Ummmm, I think they were "dancing" here














I know its fuzzy, but its so cute! They were
doing their Ballet!














So, not only is Kaia growing up, but Grace all of a sudden has decided that she should be a big girl too! This is not a big deal for those who have outgoing children, but I was just so proud... We got a new nursery leader in our ward this week. I was really worried, b/c Sister Byam is just so loved by Grace... (and everyone!) Anyway, I found out on Tuesday, and so all week we were jazzing Grace up, and getting her prepared to be in the Big Kid nursery. I took her in, expecting the worst, feeling so bad for the poor new sister who has to deal with the wrath my child is undoubtedly about to unveil, and... nothing! She leans toward Sister Swendsen, turns to me and says "Bye". Talk about the shock of my life! Kelsey (who was dropping Soph off) looked about as shocked as I felt! What a relief!!!!!!

Grace on her way to Big Kid Nursery!




























My goofy girl

My "Job"

I was watching my girls today and I realized (as I often tend to do) how lucky I truly am. I love my girls so much! I love watching Kaia laugh her head off at Grace's dancing. I love watching Grace put on her millionth dance show, I even love listening to Grace sing a long to "Minty Christmas". (For those of you who are wondering what exactly this is- its the My Little Pony Christmas dvd that we seem to watch about, oh every single day!)
My girls are why I am here! They are the best thing I have ever done. I sort of never gave much thought to what I wanted to be "when I grew up", and while I still haven't quite accomplished the whole growing up thing, I do know what I want to be- a mom.

New Year!!

Time To Unwind...

Christmas came and went, and I am going to be honest... I am glad. Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays, but it is kind of a relief when things calm down. We had a great Christmas, we got to see all of our family, and friends, and were totally spoiled! Now that it is over and done with though, I actually feel like we get to spend some quality time with everyone. (And that is so nice!)

Christmas Eve at my Grandparents'

The Barbie House Santa brought Grace

Kai and I Christmas Morning

Ben and I on Christmas Day

Christmas Dinner with my Family

Boxing Day with Ben's Family
(Wyatt is only 11 days older than Kai!)

Kai was completely tuckered out!

And so was Grace!

So now that we are slowing down a bit, we have had the opportunity to do a few things and try a few things.We got to go out with our buddies Spencer and Kelsey for a grown up dinner, (albeit Kai was there, but she slept the whole time!) We are so thankful to have them in our life. They are such great friends and we can't wait to spend the summer with them in Calgary. (Not to mention the fact that Grace and Sophie are starting to re-gain their BEST friendship!)

The Pankhursts... So cute!

We have also started Kaia on rice cereal, and so far it seems to be going well. Grace tries to help her, that doesn't go quite as well. We also have Kaia sleeping through the night in her crib now, and I have to say, it feels like the biggest accomplishment thus far in my parenting career! (We got ten hours straight last night and I feel like a million bucks!)

Anyway, here are a few pictures from the past two weeks, I hope everyone is enjoying the new year, we sure are!

Kaia in the Bumbo

Our poor teething baby...

Grace reading to Soph...