Tag I'm it.

I am inviting myself to do this tag from Jill because I have never done one before and I too want to be involved in this cyber playground game...

10 years ago: I was 15, a sophomore at Timpview High School. I had braces and still hadn't gotten my womanly physique. I was on the swim team and student government and helped run a kid's camp during the summer.

5 years ago: I was 20, at BYUH, majoring in Elementary Education. I was doing my student teaching at Sunset Beach Elementary in a first grade classroom. Even though I love school I was excited to be finishing up. I lived in the blue roof house with amazing roomates; Jill, Jacque, Whitney, and Nicole! Oh how I miss the beach and the sunshine and the keiki's.

5 months ago: I was 8 months pregnant and working as a Special Ed Aide in Provo. Kurt and I had just moved in to our new condo and I was supposed to be getting things organized and ready for baby. It's still not very organized but oh well, I've been a little tired. I was using the bathroom at least four times each night, getting kicked in the ribs (by baby girl, not Kurt) using vapor rub and breathe right strips to achieve respiration and carrying a full size bottle of tums in my purse.

5 things on my to do list today
1. Shower
2. Eat
3, Feed the baby
4. Go to Grandma Julies
5. Go to a B-day party for Grandma Cheryl and Uncle John
(Not very ambitious I know, but it's Sunday and I've been sick, so this is it...)

5 snacks I enjoy
1. Lite Bologna (2 slices at a time)
2. Cheeseball and crackers
3. Hot Cheetos
4. Raw Mushrooms
5. Peach Mango Applesauce

5 things I would do if I were suddenly a Billionaire
1. Pay my 10%
2. Eliminate all debt
3. Buy a car with a clicker to unlock the doors (fancy!)
4. Hire a wet nurse for Felicity (just kidding)
5. Buy a house in Hawaii and fly the friendly skies

5 of my bad habits
1. Being too bossy/demanding
2. Losing my temper
3. Procrastinating a shower
4. Not rinsing cereal dishes
5. Not refilling the water pitcher

5 places I have lived
1. Provo, Utah
2. Orderville, Utah (Worked at a ranch for the summer)
3. Laie, Hawaii
4. Salt Lake City, Utah
5. Orem ,Utah

5 jobs I have had
1. Cashier at Gart Sports
2. Pizza Delivery Girl at Pier 49 Pizza
3. Made Breakfast at the "caf" at BYUH (starting at 4:45 am)
4. Swimming Instructor
5. First Grade Teacher/Math Specialist

5 things people don't know about me
1. I have had 5 surgeries (knee x3, hip/wrist, tonsils)
2. I shave my knuckles and toes (and arms and legs occasionally)
3. I can make a great Pecan Pie (I discovered this last Thanksgiving)
4. I used to write poetry and songs as a kid (my mom loved it)
5. OK some people know this, but I shaved my head when I was 15

I'm the baby. Gotta love me!

Life is sweet like pancake syrup

Life is sweet sometimes, isn't it?

Things have been going pretty well around here. The sun has been shining and the Lord has been looking out for our little family. We feel so blessed for all that we have. When I was pregnant I kept telling Kurt, "You know it's not going to be easy when this baby comes." He got really sick of me saying that. "I get it", he said. But I don't think either of us knew how taxing a newborn can be. No snooze button on that piercing noise that wakes you multiple times in the middle of the night. No instructions for when she wails and won't eat. No one else to stay up scrubbing yuckies out of miniature little clothes. It has been hard and I know it will continue to be. Bottom line...We love her. Even when she wears on your last nerve and spits up all over you as you are trying to get out the door.

Felicity seems to be growing up and being a little more predictable. She doesn't like to be awake for more than an hour and half. I know which little whine means, "Wrap me up tight and get me to sleep!" She is still gaining weight although she is kind of a finicky eater. She is sleeping in her crib more than all other vibrating, swinging devices combined. She has even made it to a destination without screaming the whole way in the car. And for the big news (knock on wood)-she slept through the night for the last two nights! Nine hours of uninterrupted bliss! Good job little lady.

So-with Felicity's new maturity I have been going out more. She enjoys walks in her stroller and she even went to the mall yesterday! A couple of days ago while we were running a couple errands I got really hungry for some pancakes and since Kurt wasn't home to make them for me (I CAN make them, but he makes them better) I decided to go to Denny's for some pancakes and meat products. I love breakfast food. So Felicity and I went to Denny's. They forgot to tell our waitress about us so no one took our order for a long time, but when the food came it was delicious! I was holding Felicity and eating because she was a little fussy (I don't even think I spilled on her) and a nice older gentleman sitting across from us commented on my multi-tasking talents. He seemed sweet and said good-bye when he left. Then the waiter came and told me that our ticket was taken care of. That kind old man paid for our mid-day breakfast run. I admit I got a little teary eyed at Denny's. People can be so sweet. Life can be so sweet. Pancakes can be so sweet.

I am feeling so grateful today for all of our blessings. Kurt and I have jobs (I work at Target a couple of nights a week), a warm place to live, food on the table, families close by that love us, a washer and dryer, a delightfully comfy bed (9 hours!) and a beautiful daughter! Wow. We are so lucky. Especially to have pancakes. They are yummy.

Happy Easter!

We didn't get a picture of Felicity until right before we changed her into her pj's so she is looking a little worn down... We had a great Easter though and were lucky enough to spend time with our families who spoiled us with gifts and chocolate! Felicity got some great clothes and books from her two grandmas and lots of treats that her momma will take care of for her. Poor baby, only has one thing on the menu for now. Here are some other blessing day pictures too.

Three months!

Hat and shoes...and slobber

Nice boobie creases

On the move...

No, she has not been drinking. She just needs a nap.

Hello Ted the turtle. Nice to meet you

Baby girl is 3 months old today! So, including her time in the womb she has been around for one year! Ok-I know that's not how we count age, but that's how long she has been part of our lives. She is growing up and smiles all of the time and is starting to laugh. It is more of a long grunt but it is the beginning of a laugh! She was laughing with her aunt Christie last night during peek a boo. During her photo shoot today she was so wiggly-I can only imagine how hard it's going to be to take pictures in the future! We look forward to it though Felicity!

Aaachoo!

Two pictures before and one picture during a big sneeze! This is Felicity's cute 3-6 month outfit that Kurt picked out before Felicity was born. Pretty good taste Dad. She is getting so big, she is almost too tall for it! We might stick to the pink and/or a bow because yesterday at the store two people thought Felicity was a boy. OK, so I don't blame them too much, it is kind of hard to tell with babies and she was wearing green for St. Patty's day and her cute bow had fallen out. At least they stopped to comment on how cute she (he) was!

As most of you know Felicity is somewhat of a little stinker but she slept for 7 1/2 hours last night! Wow baby-that is the most sleep momma has had in 3 months! We are a little more rested these days and we have been for few walks in the stroller enjoying the sunshine!

the perpetrator

+

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Trouble

Snacking

I spend so much time feeding Felicity that inevitably I end up using that time to get some nourishment myself. I don't know why but I have been making a mental list of food items I have spilled on my newborn baby girl (in no particular order).

1. Rice (found in one of her neck rolls)
2. Oreo crumbs (on more than one occasion)
3. BBQ sauce
4. Spaghetti (had to scrub her pj's and the boppy)
5. Chocolate cake
6. Chef Boyardee ravioli
7. Soup (don't worry it wasn't too hot)

As you can see I am a real health nut and far from clumsy. If you have SEEN me spill anything else on her, please let me know and I will add it to the list!

rise and shine

free at last

Give her a little time, and she'll find a way to get her arm out of that tight wrap.

blessed day

Same Age Cousin

Is "same age cousin" a phrase to you? It is something I grew up saying because I am lucky enough to have an incredible friendship with my "same age cousin" Coco. In fact all 3 of my siblings have same age cousins from the wonderful Thornton family (Even though Blake and Michelle are different genders they are still close friends). Coco (Nichole) and I are 2 months, 2 weeks and 2 days apart and we have had so much fun together. We loved to see each other each year and we would sneak and hide in the other persons car as they prepared to drive home (between CA and UT). We were always found out within a few blocks but it was fun anyway. We loved to play together as kids, bug our older sisters, write letters and think of crazy things to do like putting food coloring in the hot tub. We went to EFY together for 3 years and we have kept in close contact since then. Once when I came home from BYUH Coco had blown up lots of pictures of us growing up together and decorated my room with memories. She came to my wedding and I was lucky enough to attend hers about a year ago. Time flies and we have grown up (sort of) but I am still so grateful for a cousin who I consider to be one of my best friends!

All of this musing is because Coco and her great husband Daniel were here this last weekend to visit and to meet Felicity! I was so glad that they could come up (and not just because Coco gave me a fun new haircut) and that we could visit and hang out. Love you crazy cousin.