Random happenings . . .

Okay, so here's the photos I promised. Just random documentation of the stuff we've been up to as of late.

The yearly trek to temple square to see the Christmas lights. Aiva loved it! She hasn't quit talking about going to "see the temple" since.

We bought Aiva her own kid-sized snow shovel so she could go outside to help Dad in the driveway this year.

Carrying her shovel over her shoulder like Daddy. Too cute!

We've put the crib back up to the baby height, and I've put up the bumper and mobile. Aiva of course wanted to jump right in. She looks so big (sniffle). I can't believe there's going to be a new baby in there soon.

And . . . a pregnant shot of me, putting up our Christmas tree. Ready to pop, as you can tell. :)

Pregnancy update . . .

I am so excited, I have to post! I went to my doctor's appointment today and got checked for the first time and I am 75% effaced and am dialated to almost a 3!!! HOORAY!!! You mommas out there know how great it is to hear that kind of news. With Aiva I was dialated a half centimeter for 3 weeks without progress. He told me I could come any time, and if the baby doesn't come in the next 2 weeks, he'll induce me the weekend of the 19th. YEAH!!!! My due date is the 30th, and I've been hoping and praying that she would come before Christmas. Who wants to have their birthday in those doldrums right after Christmas when everyone is broke and exhausted and doesn't feel like celebrating any more??? So I am beyond excited to hear that I will be done in 2 weeks tops! (Although my doc's not sure I'll last that long.)

Oh, some additional good news, almost as great as the first: it's looking like this little girl will be more average-sized than Aiva's 9 lbs. OH, that is GOOD NEWS for my girl parts. Yes, indeed! Ripping and tearing are not our favorite things to do. Graphic, sorry, but when you have a 9-pounder, it's not pretty.

Anyway, I'm absolutely euphoric about my good news, I had to share. (Overshare. Again, sorry.) I really need to post some pictures. We've been having lots of Christmas fun the last few days, plus I really should post a pregnant photo. I'll get around to it soon, I'm sure . . .

Introducing Andria Grace . . .

This week has been a week of blessings, miracles, and trials for my family. On Tuesday, October 27th my sweet little sister gave birth to a beautiful baby girl! She is currently in a situation where she is not able to give her baby girl the life she wishes she could, and she courageously chose to place her daughter with a family that can give her all that and more. She chose an absolutely amazing family for her baby, and our family has been blessed with the opportunity to get to know Kim and Shane personally. We love them, and we know that little Andi will have all of the love that we would have been able to give her, and more. This is quite personal, but it has been such a meaningful, difficult, yet also beautiful time in our lives that I wanted to share this experience. I have a younger sister who is also adopted, and consequently we all have strong positive feelings about adoption. It really is all about love. There is no greater love than that for your child, and no greater sacrifice, in my opinion, than the sacrifice that my sister has made for her baby girl.

Paige and little Andi Grace

This is my sister and Kim, Andi's adoptive mother. Love you, Kim!

My first meeting with my niece

The next day. Isn't she gorgeous?!

We had the privilege of having Andi at home for a day after they were discharged from the hospital. While it made it harder to say goodbye, we have some beautiful memories with Andi, and we were able to take lots of photos of her.

Aiva instantly fell in love with her little cousin. She wanted to help feed her and showered her with kisses.

We set up a bunch of props in the living room and had a little photo shoot with Andi and my sister Paige.



My mom with her second granddaughter. We told Andi over and over that she is the most loved baby in the whole world. So many, many people love her and just want what is best for her.

These next few are of our photo shoot with Paige and Andi.

to Paige: I love you so much, and I am so proud of you, and my love and prayers are always with you!

to Kim and Shane: We love you and your family so much, and we are so grateful to have such a special and cherished relationship with you! We know that Andria Grace was so meant to be your daughter, and are so touched to have been a witness to your finding each other.

to Andi Grace: We love you, baby girl! Lots of hugs and kisses always sent your way. Be happy, and smile lots. You are the best-loved baby on earth!

Happy Halloween!

Our little black cat, and trick-or-treating! Our favorite time of year!

Aiva and her cousin Ty

Hope everyone had a fun, safe Halloween!

Pregnant mom with too much energy . . .

With a new baby coming soon, it's been time to move Aiva to a "big girl room." So with my new-found energy of my second trimester (which is fading fast as I'm now 30 weeks), I set to work planning and preparing the room. I painted her walls, refinished old furniture, sewed a quilt, bought some fun things at garage sales, dug up old treasures, and crafted a lot. Fun, fun, fun! I have LOVED it all! It has been so fun to find cheap ways to decorate a room. It's still not finished, but it's coming together, and I wanted to share some photos of the semi-finished product, and some of the fun crafts and projects I've been working on, as well as some of the garage-sale finds that I'm most proud of. I've been going for a vintage, girly feel. Enjoy!

First off, the furniture I found at a garage sale. The dresser and matching night-stand for $50. Ugly as sin, but in my head I had big, beautiful plans for fixing that. My sweet Mike parked outside for a week while I took over the garage with sanding, priming and painting.

The headboard. Found at a furniture consignment shop online. $45. We haven't got the frame set up yet, as Aiva is still falling out of bed occasionally. But, sweet success, at least she's sleeping in it!

My pride and joy. Mirror found at a garage sale for $3. That's right, folks, $3!!! A good coat of spray-paint, and it looks fit for a princess!



Another thing I'm very proud of. Red straw hat found at the DI for $1. I bought the feathers and flowers and made this fun dress-up hat. Total cost was $6. I have 3 other hats I also got at the DI, waiting to be prettied up. Gotta love a fancy dress-up hat.

The dresser: finished product! I still want to replace a few of the knobs with some fun, funky ones, but for now, I love it! The set of books on the top are old Reader's Digest books with every old fairy tale and classic story you can imagine (Huck Finn, Oliver Twist, Jungle Book, Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, etc.). I got the set at a garage sale for 50 cents each! It's hard to tell from the photo, but the walls are a very, very light pink.

That's all the pics I have for now, although there's several other things I've added since I took these photos. Maybe I'll have to do an update when I'm closer to done. Anyway, hope you liked it! I love it, and so does Aiva! She calls it her "pink room." :)

I love Autumn!

I had a post last year on this, and I'm sure there will be one next year. I love everything Autumn! Everything. I love the cooler weather, wearing hats, long sleeves and jackets. Cuddling up in cozy blankets. The smells of leaves, spices, and pies. The feeling of new beginnings. And oh, the colors! Also, I always feel like I should be starting school. You know, back when it was fun, and you got to buy new crayons and #2 pencils? Of course, Halloween. And who doesn't love "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"? Anyway, I found a bunch of gorgeous photographs that make me want to curl up in a blanket and drink cider. Hope you have just as much fun looking at them as I did looking for them. Happy Fall!

First off, yummy, yummy pumpkin pie! I'm drooling!

Relief Society General Conference

I just wanted to share a special experience that I've been privileged to have these last several weeks. My stake was one of several in Davis County to be chosen to contribute to yesterday's Relief Society General Conference. Each ward was asked to provide three women who were willing to sing with the choir that would perform for the conference. I was asked if I wanted to participate (duh!). So every week for the last month and a half I've been going to choir practices. It has been such a spiritually uplifting experience for me. To be surrounded by lovely voices, singing with hundreds of other women all lifting their voices praising God was so amazing. Our conductor Sister Jolley was incredible. It was such a memorable experience that I will remember for the rest of my life, and I am so grateful! I have to admit that we had a difficult time hearing the talks up in the choir loft with all the echos, so I'll have to listen to the talks over again, but what I caught was wonderful. I especially loved Sister Thompson's talk. The best part was when President Monson was leaving, he turned to look up at us, waved, and shook his hands above his head in a cheer for us. It was so sweet of him! Isn't he such an amazing, wonderful man? At the end, they let us take photos in the choir loft with our cell phones, which was a pleasant suprise!

I am so thankful to my Father in Heaven for this opportunity! I will remember this experience forever!