Harriet Jillian turns 3

photos lately!

the holidays

The holidays in 2014 were a slight blur. Everything was great and festive and fun. I felt the Christmas spirit and enjoyed time w my family. But it was so busy! Any and all routines were thrown out the window and we are still paying for that, in February! This year, I've made a goal to edit a little more and make more of a priority to keep even just a little normalcy for my kids' sake, and my sanity too. It's hard when you love to party and you don't want to say no to anything. But the kids will also be another year older, so it might be a little easier.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years 2014...

cheerleader and ninja

Christmas all over

We had another little Christmas with the smiths after they got here. On our "Christmas Eve," we spent time baking a little, wrapping presents, shopping for treats and last minute gifts, and listening to and singing Christmas songs. Collin and his dad said they even were telling people Merry Christmas!! Man, it FELT like Christmas again!!!! Hehe. The next morning we got up and ate a delicious breakfast and opened gifts. There were many family heirlooms passed down, as well as things for Freddie and Hattie from Collins childhood, which was very special. Thank you, lulu and pops!

We played boggle and Collin won! (Grrrr)

Christmas Eve 2013

It's been a week since the birth of our little Hattie girl. We fall more in love w her every day. Freddie loves loves loves "baby Hattie," and gets super hyper around her. He's learning to be gentle. He wants to hold her all the time. He comforts her. Freddie asks me to sing him the Baby Mine song all the time. Yesterday we were driving in the car and Hattie had started crying a little. Out of nowhere he held her hand and sang, "Baby mine don't you cry; lay your heart close to my heart, never a tear, baby a mine." Um. Collin and I definitely got all teared up. And then Fred tried to poke her eyeballs: "THEY're ON!!"

The jealousy has been minimal. It's crazy how much my love has grown for Fred too. He melts my heart. 

What a week! We were in the hospital for 3 days! It was exhausting!!!!!!! We were so so happy to get back home and be in our own comfy bed, with the kitties and Frederick. Collin has been taking great care of us. 

Anyway, Christmas Eve!!!! It was an interesting one this year. We were behind on Christmas stuff of course, so Collin and Freddie were out shopping all day. Hattie and I stayed home in bed, and I was a little bummed to be missing out, but it was good to rest up and spend alone time with my new little honey. 

We opened some gifts from a friend!

I have to say....

I LOVE having a daughter! Hattie is the sweetest, darlingest, most amazing baby girl I've ever known. I just hold her in my arms and stare and listen as she sleeps, jostles, coos, breathes, dreams, and makes the cutest peeping noises.

Andddddd I LOVE not being pregnant! Sorry to my dear dear pregnant friends! As you know, there's a light at the end of the tunnel, but I'm loving not to having that giant belly!!! I can turn around/twist! Be comfortable in the car! Take a shower and reach everything! Take a super super hot shower! Lay on my back! Clean out the cat litter (I know that doesn't sound awesome, but I like having it clean all day and not having to wait for CS to be home etc. 

Yesterday we all went to the doctor-

Hattie had her first pediatrician check up and first vaccine and is perfect. 

I had a follow up about my blood pressure w my dr (same as Hattie's) and it's high again so I'm going to be on medication---not the heavy crazy magnesium, thank goodness, but some other stuff that doesn't effect breastfeeding and the side effects are small. Ill take it for a month, then hopefully everything will going back to normal and I'll get off it. 

And poor sweet Freddie hurt his foot and had to go to the ER for x-rays. He was limping and screaming--scary and very unusual for him. But there were no breaks so he pretty much just has to take ibuprofen and let it heal. Bummer at Christmas time. 

Merry Christmas Eve!!!!!! We definitely have had a very different year this year. We are behind on everything, but have a good excuse! Today we are just going to lay low! Make a cmas treat, watch a few movies, go to the park to enjoy sun, fresh air, and blankets in the grass. Tonight we will hang out w the money's at our place. 

Nursing--is going well. It's painful to have my milk come in, uncomfortable to be constantly leaking and smelling like milk bleh. I'm also enjoying it right away this time and know everything will regulate soon. It's a little tricky to figure out when to let Freddie nurse. Honestly, he's so easily distracted from it that he could probably do it much less, but I've been so engorged that sometimes I beg him to nurse to just empty a little. Phew. 

Fred holding Hattie. She was super thrilled. He loooooooves her. 

Barely fits in NB clothes.

Santa Claus is coming coming

We've been asking Freddie for months, "Freddie, is mommy going to have a baby??" He finally got wise and today answered, "nope." 

Haha! I promise Fred! He or she is coming soon! 

We are all doing well. If you wonder how I'm feeling and what I'm thinking, read this article:

http://www.mothering.com/community/a/the-last-days-of-pregnancy-a-place-of-in-between

And here are some photos of my love a doves. 

Mesa Christmas temple lights with my two best friends

I love being on the temple grounds with my family. Frederick and Collin and I loved the beautiful lights. They get better and better every year.

Wrapped in red

Graphic!

Broby loves baby too!

Everybody's happy in California

Getting back after the Holidays. We spent Christmas in Monterey, CA, with my husband's sister, her husband, and Collin's mother and father. The house was cozy, the jam sessions relaxing and the games competitive. We did so much and these were my favorites:

-went to a wonderful service at church in Kendra's ward
-celebrated Christmas Eve and Christmas and attended a beautiful Catholic mass.
-visited the Monterey Aquarium (this was Fred's favorite!!!!!)
-went on a drive up the coast and saw multi-million dollar homes and unleaded gas for $5.99/gallon!
-went to the pier and walked through romantic gardens and saw boats and water
-had hot dogs and s'mores (with crackers instead of Graham's) on the beautiful beach
-saw the movie, Les Mis, and loved it and haven't talked talking about it and crying and being inspired by it (a whole other blog post coming)
-got away for a romantic breakfast with Collin and Fred and eavesdropped on all the hilarious conversations and happened upon the cutest and coolest thrift shop
-visited the oldest functioning church in California
I understand why their area was voted most romantic.

Frederick loved everything we did out doors. He did so well with flying. He's just a really happy guy.

Fisherman's Wharf, monterey

Saw cute historic buildings, sea lions, tried clam chowder from every restaurant on the pier (which got gross after a while), had a v white chocolate macadamia nut caramel apple, and breathed in that fresh seafood air. Frederick loved the sights, people, and falling asleep in the carrier on my back.




















 

The Monterey Aquarium

Best time ever tonight at the aquarium in monterey! Feed was obsessed with running from gigantic tank to gigantic tank, seeing, waving to, and even talking with the fish. It was totally beautiful and romantic in there. The lighting was wonderful. <br>
After seeing all the awesome fish and sharks, touching and holding tons of different kinds of seaweed, star fish, and even feeling a slimy cute mantra ray, we walked around the board walk type downtown, enjoyed the breeze and ocean air, and ate a Napoleon pastry (best thing I've ever had EVER,) rated drinking chocolate at Ghiradelli, then had some delicious french fries to balance it all out. The streets and shops remind me of Galway, Ireland.
Super fun family outing!

Merry Christmas Eve!

I love my family. I love my Savior.

Lights!

Look at the beautiful Mesa LDS Temple lights! Go see them! Main Street and Mesa Drive in Mesa! It's free! Freddie loves them and points and says (in a very astonished voice), "bah!!!!!! Ohh!!!!!!"






Merry Christmas.