Clements Family Updates

Time !!! Where Does it Go?

2009-09-16T22:28:00.003-06:00

I realize that I have been away from the world of blogging for quite some time now... I am reminded by my loving mother often... I apologize to those of you who actually read this, but most of all to myself... So many things have happened in the last 6 months that I wont get to share in the same way as if it were fresh. I have decided to just continue from today and perhaps in the future add what happened in the past... Fair enough?

I particularly chose today to start again because I was reminded what an amazing daughter I have been blessed with! I will catch you up on her as well...

This morning we were going about our usual routine... me trying to entertain Miridyan in my room, so I could just lay on my bed and attempt to wake up. I decided to get up and eat my breakfast in the rocking chair that is next to my nightstand. Miridyan and Emmitt were fascinated by something inbetween the two, so I set my cereal bowl down and leaned forward to make sure it wasn't something with more than 2 legs. As I did this, the chair tipped forward. I tried to catch myself so that the chair wouldn't topple on Miridyan or Emmitt. As I did this, however, my feet didn't catch right and I ended up twisting my ankle and my knee and jetted to the side, barely clearing the two. My head rammed into the metal bed frame and I just laid there. I couldn't move my left leg and I just started crying due to the pain. Miridyan was able to get out from under my leg. She kept saying "Ok... Ok... Ok" which she does whenever she falls or gets hurt. When she noticed that I was crying she came over to me and looked me straight in the eye and said "Don't Cry"! I was in such pain that I tried so hard to tell her I was ok, but I couldn't. She then went and got her bowl of dry cereal and began to put pieces in my mouth. At this point I couldn't help but smile and tell her thank you. She cured me! Is this what I do to her when she is crying? Give her food and tell her not to cry? Perhaps I need to pay more attention to my own actions ! As I remained sitting on the floor she started doing her little "step on bugs" dance and twirling in a circle.

She is my little Angel who came to my rescue!
Now I am thinking that I better get on the "how to dial 9-1-1 lesson" just in case!

Now... Let me catch you up on Miridyan !!! As of today she is 19 1/2 months old ! At her 18 month old check-up her stats were:

Weight: 24 lbs
(45%)
Height: 30 inches
(9%)

So, she is a bit on the shorter side, but healthy as can be !!! And I am not even sure how, because she is a terrible eater and unbelievably picky (My mom says she is not surprised) I guess I was a bit on the picky side as well when it came to food.

Miridyan is so full of life! There is never a dull when she is around! Whether she is throwing an impressive tantrum that you just have to smile at or singing one of the many songs that she has learned, you can't help but love HER! Her current song list includes Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, about every 6th letter in the ABC song, multiple songs from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and her (well our) new favorite Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye !!!

She loves counting (1-20) and building. She also loves to play mommy to her baby Ella and a few others around the house. Climbing is yet another favorite past time. Not sure how she learned to pull out the bottom drawer in order to get her on top of counters, but she does it remarkably well!

Miridyan is friendly to almost everyone she can see. We can't go anywhere without her saying Hi to everyone in sight. And if they don't respond back to her, she just gets louder. Restaurants are the best because close proximity makes her hard to ignore... She has been a little chatter box from day 1, so talking at 12 months wasn't a big surprise! She picks up on everything that anyone says and repeats it almost perfectly!
She is a little JabberJay (for those of you who have read the Hunger Games).

These pictures were taken a few weeks ago by the one and only... ME
(just in case you were wondering ;)

Sleep Over !!!

2009-02-08T16:56:00.000-07:00

So last night we went to the Hinder concert and asked my parents to watch the girls. They were thrilled to be able to spend the entire night with the two of them. In fact... they even kept them over night. When I asked them how things went they just laughed. I guess Miridyan ended up in bed with them and my dad kept asking "can we put her back in the crib now?" She is definitely a flopper and takes up a lot of space.

They still love bath time. And as you can see, while we were watching bands with mohawks, the girls were sporting their very own !!!

The Hinder Concert

2009-02-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

Amazingly enough, Hinder came to St George, and we made sure we were there !!! We had a BLAST !!! In fact... my sister and I were both complaining about what a work out we got from dancing and jumping. The older you get the less it takes to make your body sore!

The concert was awesome! It was so fun to be able to sing as loud as we could and not have anyone be able to hear us. Although, I recorded a few songs on my cell phone and somehow you can totally hear my sister and I singing..well... ok... mostly me... guess I won't be sharing those recordings with anyone).

I had a blast with my sister !!! I wish we would have done more things like this growing up !!!

Donny talked the floor monitor into letting him take the kids onto the floor so they could get closer to the stage. The kids had so much fun !!! I was glad that they were able to go.

Morgan and I stood up the ENTIRE time !!! I am just glad that we were on the front row of our section because as you can see here... our section was full of deadbeats !!! You can see how much fun Cody was having !!!

The opening band for Hinder was Theory of a Deadman. However, there was a band who played before them called The Veer Union. They were awesome !!! We had to go out and get our picture with them! They definitely made quite a few new fans after this show !!!

Happy Birthday Miridyan !!!

2009-01-21T23:21:00.001-07:00

An entire year has flown by !!! My daughter turns 1 today !!! She is such a joy to have in our lives. I know that I am a better person because of her, I just hope that other's feel the same. Miridyan has the sweetest personality ever and she is learning new things every day. We are amazed by her every second.

Miridyan's birthday party was a big success. I seriously can't thank my family enough for showing her so much love and attention. Paityn was right there to show her how to unwrap her presents. She did it last week so she is a pro now !!!

Miridyan was so excited with all of her gifts. She made sure to spend some quality time with each of them.

But... not too much time... because as soon as she was done I am almost positive she knew there was cake waiting to be devoured.!!!

Did I tell you that we had a sweet tooth on our hands, or what !!! I was dead serious !!! Miridyan just kept eating !!! She was in heaven !!!
Note to self... remember to tell the bakery
NO RED FROSTING !!! please ;)

Emmitt was so patient, waiting for her to drop anything edible. She actually kept the floor pretty clean... but you obviously can see where it all went !

January Birthdays !!!

2009-01-17T22:54:00.000-07:00

January is kind of a busy month for our family. Actually it all boils down to one week. {aityn's birthday is the 15th, mine is the 19th, and Miridyan's is the 21st. I keep saying that in the future we are just going to take a week vacation at this time and celebrate them all! My mom keep telling us that we are not allowed to have any more kids in January... we all ran out of money! Anyhow... this particular outing was to celebrate all of our birthday at once because my grandparents came down for the event. My aunt Nikki and Troy, and Tjaden came as well. I am so blessed to have such an amazing and supportive family. I seriously couldn't have it any better! We had dinner at Pirate Island Pizza. Can you believe I am 21 years old !!! Ha Ha

After dinner we went back to my mom's house to open up gifts and to watch the girls eat cake... again !!!

Aunt Nikki got the girls the cutest little hats!!! They both look absolutely adorable in them !!!

Each of the girls got a cake with their picture on them. To be hinest, I don't even think they noticed ! All they saw was... FROSTING !!!

Clean up !!!

2009-01-17T22:12:00.000-07:00

I wish I could say... good thing this only happens once a year, however... I would be lying !!!

For the record this makes cake #2 for the girls!

Happy Birthday Paityn !!!

2009-01-15T22:40:00.000-07:00

I remember, like it was yesterday, the day that I finally became an Aunt !!! What an amazing feeling !!! Paityn has such a great personality and makes me smile every time I see her. I am so greatful that I have been able to watch her grow up.
I LOVE YOU PAITYN !!!

As Paityn tried out her cake, Miridyan just kept saying Mmmmm after each bite. So, after Paityn had had enough, I let Miridyan sit in the high chair.

I am afraid to say that we have a sweet tooth on our hands. She couldn't get enough !!!

Pictures Pictures Pictures !!!

2009-01-04T23:34:00.001-07:00

We do our best to capture Paityn and Miridyan on film. Not an easy task for sure.
But.. here are a few to share !

Happy Holidays !!!

2008-12-27T21:08:00.000-07:00

Christmas is by far one of my favorite times of year! I look forward to seeing my family and being able to buy and give gifts to others. I love the lights and all the decorations that get put up. This year was just that much better !!! Being able to watch my very own daughter enjoy the moments of the holiday. She didn't quite understand the whole concept of presents, but entertained us all with her amazing personality. I can't wait to see what the future holidays have in store for us.

We celebrate Christmas Eve at my Grandma Perry's house. Santa Claus comes and gives everyone a gift and then sings songs with the kids while all the adults take a million pictures. Our Santa is just that... our very own !!! I haven't the slightest idea who he is, but I do know that he has come to my grandparents house as Santa for aver 30 years !!! He has literally watched all of us grow. I am so thankful to have Santa as part of my Christmas.

Afterwards we go and have lunch at my Grandma Lukes' house. Unfortunately this year we couldn't spend a lot of time there due to me having to work. It is always a pleasure to be able to spend time with my grandparents, even if it was for just a few minutes.

Miridyan and Paityn are always interested in what the other is doing. I know I have said it a million times, but they truly are best of friends.

Christmas in St George

2008-12-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

So... after we are finished with all the family visits up in Salt Lake, we all drive back to St George to celebrate OUR family Christmas. I had to work until 6 pm which is never fun, but I do what I have to do. We finally all gathered at my parents house later that evening. We had a lovely dinner (Thank you Mom) and then it was time...

The Christmas tree was jam packed with gifts. My mom usually designates herself as the one who hands them all out.

Miridyan was pretty worn out from all the holiday visits and the 4 hour drive home. But more presents were enough to keep her attention.

Donny was spoiled, as he is every year. He got just what he wanted... an I-Phone !!! I plan on not seeing him again for a few weeks while he learns all the funcions. ;)

We were so blessed to have Kyle as part of our family this year. He is such a pleasant young man. We our proud to call him ours.

We also were privileged in having Travis join us. We miss him so much and are so happy when he comes to visit. We ask him every time if we can just keep him.
Travis... you are welcome any time !!!

Yummy Macaroni !!!

2008-12-15T17:52:00.003-07:00

Miridyan's first taste of Macaroni and Cheese !!!

She loved it !!!

Something else that she loves... hooking her toes on everything!
This is something that she has done since day 1.
There was even a time where we got her to hold her bottle with her toes instead of her hands.

Santa Claus

2008-12-06T22:02:00.000-07:00

This was the second time that the girls met Santa Claus. Miridyan did surprisingly well. Paityn, on the other hand, was not loving him one bit.

I laugh every time I see this one !!!
It almost looks like Santa tooted and the girls are trying to escape.

They let Kyle, Travis, Morgan and me get in for the last couple of shots.
Thank You Santa !!!

Granny Great

2008-12-05T17:19:00.000-07:00

My Great Grandma is truly an amazing lady !!! She will be 98 years old this coming February. Her sense of humor and wit hasn't changed one bit. She currently lives with my grandma and grandpa Perry who takes such great care of her. I know that she misses her own house and feels as though she is a burden, but I love that I get to see her more often because she is there. This weekend we had to go up to Salt Lake for one of my foster son's doctor appointments. I was able to take off a couple days of work so I stayed as long as could. I have the greatest relatives in the world. I just wish I could see them more often.
Miridyan loves to visit with Granny Great. I am so grateful that she has been able to watch Miridyan grow. Granny always sings Patty-cake with here and Miridyan claps right along. This time she was very interested in Granny's walker.

She even tried to help.
Granny Great thought this would help her practice her walking skills too!

When I went downstairs, I became concerned when all I heard was silence. As I went into my grandma's art studio, I saw that she had put my boys to work. All I could do was smile !!! They were sitting quietly, painting Christmas ornaments that my grandma had given him. It was actually quite nice to see a different, quiet side to them.

Meet the Band... The Inner View

2008-12-01T23:05:00.004-07:00

Well... If you didn't know, Donny is in a band. I believe at this point in time they are calling themselves the Inner View (they have gone through a few name changes). Anyhow... Donny is the lead singer and also plays the piano/keyboard. Brandon is the lead guitarist as well as the back up singer and actually the lead singer/songwriter for a few songs, Race plays the base guitar, and Dave (my dad) is the drummer. They do a variety of music both covers and originals. I think that they are pretty dang good, even if I am related to half the band! Look for them in the near future ;) Feel free to give an honest opinion (just keep in mind that the recording is off of my phone).

Preparing for the Holidays !!!

2008-11-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love this time of year!!! And the fact that we get to celebrate it with our foster kids makes it that much more memorable. This year we even had the pleasure of having Travis, one of our old foster sons, come and help us decorate as well. It is so nice to be able to remain friends with our kids. We love each and every one of them and hope that we can create as many memories for them as they do for us.

Kyle pretends that he doesn't like to be photographed, so I have to be sneaky. He has been a joy to have in our home. We are excited to see what his future holds for him.

Travis had so much fun decorating the tree.
Because of his size, he got to decorate the top of the tree.

Miridyan had a blast getting into all of the ornaments and decorations.
She wanted to help everyone with everything.

Grandparents are the BEST !!!

2008-11-27T22:56:00.000-07:00

With Christmas just around the corner, my parents are going crazy buying things for the girls. The only problem... my mom can't seem to wait until December 25th to give them things. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining one bit. These are all things that Miridyan needs, including pajamas, hats and gloves, Christmas books, toys, etc. Miridyan loves every bit of it. Thank you Gram and Gramps!!! We all love you... and your over-flowing heart!

I am thankful for...

2008-11-27T22:45:00.001-07:00

There are a million things that I am thankful for in my life. My family, my children (foster kids included), my job, my health, etc. I really don't have much to complain about in life, as far as the major things go, that is. Lately there is something, rather someone, that I can't give enough thanks... my brother Kennon... aka Uncle Ken. Donny was out of town for three weeks, so on the days that I worked it was him who came over to watch Miridyan (minus the days that he sent his fiance over - thanks Maggie!!! ). Keep in mind that I have to be at work at 6 AM. There were even a few days when my sister needed him to watch Paityn as well. So... Ken would come to my house at 5:45 am, wait until Miridyan woke up, fed and dressed her, loaded her up in the car and drove over to my sister's house to watch both girls. There were times he was exhausted! Lucky for him the girls were exhausted at the same time.

Kennon, I can't thank you enough for being such an great brother and an even better uncle!
The girls are so blessed to have you in their lives.
Thank you again, and again, and again or all that you do.

Happy Thanksgiving !!!

Happy Birthday Morgan !!!

2008-11-04T22:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Happy Birthday to YOU !!!

I am so blessed to have you for a sister. I know we didn't get along that great growing up, but times have changed... thankfully! You have been such a great friend to me and an amazing Aunt for Miridyan. We all love you very much !!!

Catching up !!!

2008-11-03T22:55:00.000-07:00

Today Josh and Michele Mitchell had a little get together for some of our old dance friends. It was so fun to be able to see everyone again after so many years. I hope that this can be a frequent occurrence. Only next time, it would be nice to see others that were missing. Dancing was a huge part of my life for over 20 years so some of these people are like family to me.

In this picture we have Nicole, Brad, Robby, Myself, Mike, Patrick, Josh, and Michele
In this picture we have the above stated guys plus Adam (Nicole's husband), Chris, and Paul (Lindsey's husband)
And here is a picture of the girls: Me, Mindy (Patrick's wife), Michele, Nicole, Heather, Lindsey, and Jen (Mike's wife)

This was mine and Miridyan's first little road trip with just the two of us. She did amazing as far as the car ride went. What an angel. We tried to get as many visits in as possible. We stayed at my Grandma Perry's house which is always a treat. I love spending time with them. My cousin Tjaden has me addicted to Yahtzee now. I need to go out and purchase the game so I can practice up and whoop him next time I am up there. You better watch out Tjad !!! We were also able to spend some quality time at my grandma and grandpa Lukes' house. Miridyan adored them. She just kept pointing and smiling.
We love our grandparents !!!
Some others we got to see included Brandi and her kids, Ashleigh, Alex & Emily, Rick and Julie and their kids, and Nikki and Troy

Halloween 2008

2008-10-31T22:07:00.001-06:00

We have had a very busy couple of days leading up to Halloween itself. Trying to get pictures of the girls in their costumes, going to plays at the kids school, birthdays, and cleaning the house for visitors is all worth it in the end.

This year both Miridyan and Paityn were little skunks !!! We actually found these costumes last November, I believe, at The Children's Place for 99 cents ! Can you believe it? We couldn't resist. We didn't love them at first, but after actually seeing them in them, we fell in love with them instantly. I am already debating on what to dress her up as next year. I love Halloween !!!

I have yet to introduce our newest foster son, Travis ! He is an amazing kid and we are so blessed to have him as part of our family at this time. Of course I will have to post pictures of the real him. Donny did his make-up and everything. It's definitely hard to tell what he really looks like from this picture. Miridyan wasn't scared of him at all. She actually laughed at him at one point. In fact, when I put a skeleton close to her face and say "BOO", she leans over and gives it a kiss. Guess she won't be too picky when it comes to dating ;)

Miridyan and I went to Travis' school to watch him in a play. It was so fun to go and watch him play so many different roles. I never would have thought that he would be interested in theater. We also went to our old foster daughter's play earlier that morning. She happens to go to the same school and called to invite me personally to come and watch her. Way to go Travis and Tara !!! You both did a remarkable job.

I was surprised with a visit from a dear friend of mine from New York, Jeff Lange. He had just finished up a project in California and was driving back to the East Coast. I am so glad that he was able to stop and say hello. It had actually been 7 years since I had seen him. I met him on a train from Connecticut to New York. I had a ton of luggage due to me deciding to move to the city. He was kind enough to help me carry my DVD player that was in this huge box. I can't thank you enough Jeff !!! I hope to be able to see you again soon.

And last but not least... HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENNON !!! My little brother turned 21 years old this year, on the 28th to be exact. I still can't believe how grown up he is. He is such a wonderful uncle to Miridyan. She smiles so big every time she sees him. And she absolutely loves to play with his beard.

I CAN SEE !!!

2008-10-21T21:57:00.000-06:00

I finally did it !!! I had LASIK !!! I am so pleased with the results. I had it done at the Zion Eye center here in St George. Everyone was so good to me... and not just because my mom happens to work there. In fact, my mom actually got to come back and watch the procedure (so prouud of her for handling it so well) and afterwards, Dr Cohen turned to my mom and said " hey, I think I met one of your daughters the other day" (referring to the pre-screening done about two weeks ago). My mom just looked at him and said "oh, you mean that one" as she pointed to me. That is when one of the techs asked why no one told any of them that I was her daughter. It was comforting to know that I was treated so great, regardless. Thank you to all the staff there at Zion Eye !!!

9 Months Old !!!

2008-10-21T21:40:00.000-06:00

I can't believe that my little girl is 9 months old already. She is truly the best baby ever. She smiles at everyone, and has just started to scrunch her nose with each one. She also loves to point at people if they are not paying attention to her. We were at Lowe's and the employee was trying to explain something to me and she kept pointing at him, which made it difficult for him to focus on what he was saying. It was actually quite funny! She is definitely a people pleaser on top of an attention getter. At her 9 month old doctor appointment Miridyan weighed 19 pounds 13 ounces and was 27 inches long. Her head circumference was enough to put her in the 94th percentile !!! She must get that from her dad for sure ;)

I am so blessed to be the mother of such a beautiful daughter. I am so excited to see how she turns out as she grows.

I LOVE YOU SWEETHEART !!!

Miridyan's Nursery

2008-10-02T22:17:00.005-06:00

I want to thank my dear cousin, Brandi, for turning Miridyan's dream nursery (my dream, that is) into reality. It turned out better than I ever imagined. I should have posted these pictures a long time ago (I think she actually painted it back in April) however, I wanted it to look perfect before I took them. I will be so sad to leave this room behind when we move.

The theme of the nursery came from the book The Twelve Gifts of Birth. I absolutely love this book and can't wait to teach Miridyan these wonderful life lessons.

Brandi, I can't thank you enough for doing such a wonderful job. I am blessed to have you as a cousin, as you are blessed with such an amazing talent. Let me apologize now for when we do move. Just know that your work will be admired by all those who see it, including the next family that lives here.

Fun with the Family !!!

2008-09-14T22:44:00.000-06:00

After dinner tonight we played the game Wackee Six. It is actually a really fun game. The best part about it is that everyone plays at the same time, so it keeps everyone's attention. Even my dad was into it. I was surprised when he was the one to say "just one more game". It's also pretty interesting to see who becomes competitive.

My mom didn't get to play the card game, but she did get to spend some quality time with Miridyan, who absolutely adores her! By the way... didn't I read somewhere that you are not supposed to introduce your child to the television until they are like 2 years old? I guess Grandmas can get away with whatever they want. Love you mom !!!

Music Music Music

2008-09-13T22:21:00.000-06:00

Well... the time has finally arrived !!! Miridyan is on the move ! She has been attempting to get where she wants for quite some time. It is amazing at how these little minds put everything together. Tonight she crawled right over to Grandpa's drum set (well, scooted on her hands and belly). She absolutely loves to sit and watch him play, just this time she wanted to try and play herself. Right now it's cute, but I am awaiting the day when something gets broken. (Hey dad... guess you will have to invest in a second set of drums, one that the girls can play with!)

We took the girls to their very first concert. It was the Honkey Tonk Tail Gate Party, which featured Mark Wills, Trent Willmon, Buddy Jewell, and Ray Scott. It was a pretty mellow concert. Miridyan and Paityn played on the blanket and watched the people around us. They were perfect the entire time.

Paityn was caught a little off guard here. I am not sure what emotion she is displaying in this picture, but we love it !!!

A new season is coming !!!

2008-09-01T19:13:00.002-06:00

There aren't too many stores here in St George that specialize in children's clothing so we LOVE the Children's Place in the outlets. Ever since having Miridyan, shopping has become a weekly event. They just have the cutest little girl clothes... it's not my fault !!!

Ahh !!!

2008-09-01T18:58:00.003-06:00

So... Miridyan's new thing is whenever she see something to her liking, she drops her jaw as if she is saying "Ahh". She is quite the little crowd pleaser. Donny's niece tried to get her to put her hands on her cheeks as she did it, but she wasn't having it.

Best Friends !!!

2008-08-30T19:04:00.004-06:00

Paityn and Miridyan were destined to come to Earth at the same time. They absolutely love each other already. Here they were both able to pull themselves up in Paityn's crib.

When one needs a bath, the other just can't resist play time in the tub. Our only challenge is making sure one doesn't hit or kick the other while splashing !!!

Besides loving each other, they love Grandma just as much. I am not sure what I would do without her. Paityn and Miridyan have no idea how blessed they are to have this wonderful woman as their very own Grandma.

A Beautiful Day !!!

2008-08-27T18:43:00.001-06:00

Today we got to be a part of Donny's best friend Patrick's wedding. Donny was one of his groomsmen. So... to start out the day we headed to the Salt Lake Temple where Patrick was to be sealed to his lovely fiance Maria. It was a beautiful day for a wedding.

Miridyan and I walked the Temple grounds while the ceremony took place. It was absolutely beautiful, as always. Miridyan loved all of the colorful flower beds and the water fountain. If she had her swimming suit on I am sure she would have jumped right in.

The reception was held at The Gardens at Thanksgiving Point. If you have never been there to walk the grounds, I highly recommend it. I had no idea it was so amazingly beautiful. Miridyan and I walked around while the wedding party took pictures. The reception itself was held right in front of the waterfalls. We were all in awe !!!
Congratulations Patrick & Maria !!!

Kind of funny... I guess !!!

2008-08-25T11:25:00.003-06:00

Alright... so I love Bumbo seats. Miridyan does pretty well sitting in ours... now. When we first got it, I would sit her in it to feed her baby food and she would fall asleep every time. Well, recently I have been sitting her in it at one end of the shower while I take my shower. She loves to play in the water, so it works out really well for both of us. Anyhow... today was another story. She actually pooped in the bumbo chair while in the shower with me. I can change a dirty diaper, I have cleaned multiple bedspreads/sheets after she has peed on them, I don't even mind cleaning up spit-up, however... there is something wrong with having to clean up poop in places where it shouldn't be in the first place (that is the number one reason as to why I would never make a good nurse). Don't worry though... it is all good now. This was just one of those things that I figured should be documented for the future, for me and for Miridyan.

Are you ready to laugh ???

2008-08-24T19:13:00.002-06:00

So I found this spoof video on another blog page. I just had to post it !!! It is one of the funniest things I have seen in a while. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Let me know what you think.

Fun in the Sun

2008-08-23T21:45:00.002-06:00

Well... I haven't had too much to post on the last little while up until this last week. It's like we are bored for a while and then we find a ton of things to do. I am not complaining though... I do not mind doing nothing every now and then. It's nice to sit around and relax, occasionally go out to lunch with friends and family, be stress free... almost (I will take whatever I can get).

We went to the Main Street Park one night. Usually we will let the girls sit in the stream of water, but for some reason Miridyan wasn't content there. So, we took them over to the fountains where they sat and played with the water. There just so happened to be on that was not as powerful as the rest, which was perfect for them. It was quite entertaining for us as well. Miridyan kept leaning over to get the water and would put her face directly in it. She would catch her breath and then smile and laugh. Paityn and Miridyan love to watch each other. Hopefully they will learn only the good habits from one another.

Morgan and I with our girls. By this point we weren't too worried about getting a little wet ourselves.

Last weekend my good friend Lark came down to stay with us. It was so much fun to catch up with her. She was fabulous with Miridyan, which was a bonus. And... Miridyan absolutely adored her as well. I told Donny that if we ever got a nanny for our children, I would like her to be like Lark. One day... one day !!! I love St George, but when it comes to finding things to do to keep a guest entertained... it wasn't that easy. We went shopping at the outlets, out to dinner and lunch (a few times), got pedicures, and went to a baseball game. I truly had a great time and hope that she did as well. I hope that she will come down again soon. It's not too often that I get to spend time with friends. (The picture below is of Lark in the relaxation room, just before we got our pedicures).

About a week ago our stake had a blood drive. I was so excited to be able to donate, I even talked my mom into going with me. When we got there we both went through the pre-testing to make sure our levels were up to par. Well... I was rejected do to a low hematacrit (iron level). I was bummed, but my mom on the other hand... PERFECT !!! So... here she is, giving back. She did great !!! Atleast I got some cookies and juice for being there.

If you're Pretty ......

2008-08-03T16:24:00.000-06:00

When we were at the airport a few weeks ago, we had to wait for our stroller as we got off of the plane. As we stood there we began talking with the lady behind us, who was waiting as well. As she stood holding her little girl, the proud grandma said "If you're pretty raise your hand", and without hesitation, the little girl threw her hand up straight in the air and smiled. We loved it so much, that we decided to steal it !!! So... this is Miridyan just being pretty !!!

Fast Asleep

2008-07-30T16:10:00.004-06:00

I had to post this picture!!! The other day Miridyan was playing with this butterfly and almost instantly fell asleep on it. It is one of those pull toys where you pull one end and it plays a lullaby. I thought that she was just way tired and just happened to knock out on it. The next day, however, it was time for her nap and I decided to try it again. So I pulled the end and placed it right by her head... she was yet again, asleep withing a minute or so. I LOVE THIS TOY !!! It has worked every time. So... either she needed a pillow or she needed a nap buddy !!!

Girls outing in Vegas !!!

2008-07-24T23:31:00.002-06:00

This was the girls first time to a Planet Hollywood !!! Hopefully there will be plenty more for them to visit in the future. I remember that every time I traveled with the dance studio or my family, it was always fun to either go to a Planet Hollywood or to a Hard Rock Cafe. So we thought we could start this tradition for the girls (which means that we will have to take a lot of vacations in the years to come !!! ). The reason for this particular trip was I had to take an exam for my job. This exam was to up my licensure to a higher status... I PASSED !!! My job doesn't change, but my pay will increase (no complaints here). So, instead of just driving down and taking the exam, I decided it would be fun for my sister and I to get a way for the night. It started out a little rough... being put into a smoking room... but quickly having our room changed made it all better. I took the exam the next morning and then we went to Ceasar's Palace for lunch.

Miridyan loved all of the water fountains. I think if she were able, she would have jumped in for a swim !!! Paityn was in awe of all the lights.

The girls found their very own little pink Golf Cart. It is a must have since their dads and grandparents are all golfers. They have already put in their request to Grandma and Grandpa.

Puppy for a day !

2008-07-22T23:30:00.001-06:00

Isn't he absolutely adorable !!! We named him Dodger. A girl that works with my dad was looking for someone to give the puppy to... the second we saw him we said YES !!! Well... the first night was the longest night we have ever had. We have never been up all night before, even with Miridyan. We tried everything to get him to just relax and sleep. We even let him up on our bed (which he ended up peeing on). We had little tiny poops all over our house. Not a good thing when you have a baby who will soon be crawling. Also, he was teething, and his favorite thing to chew on was Miridyan's feet... and she was not having that. We decided to give the little guy one more chance. The next night was much better, but we came to the conclusion that this wasn't the best time to have a puppy in our home. We ended up giving him back. It was pretty hard to let him go, but our baby is way more important.

6 months old !!!

2008-07-21T23:04:00.001-06:00

I can't believe that my little girl is 6 months old !!! It's just crazy how fast they grow and how fast time goes by. I took her to the Dr today. My angel weighs 16 pounds 9 ounces and is 26 inches tall. She recovered much quicker after her shots this time which was nice.

Some of her likes at this time are... drinking from a sippy cup, eating all baby foods, bouncing either while standing or sitting (Grandpa calls her little hopper), chewing her tongue (Grandpa calls this bubble gum because it looks as though she is chewing a big ol piece of it), she loves mommy to sing You are my Sunshine to her, and loves when her daddy tickles her. I am not sure if I mentioned this in a previous post but Miridyan has her 2 bottom teeth !!! They came through almost a month ago (June 27th & 28th to be exact). The Dr said it was a little early but not abnormal. She will be eating my food before we know it.

She is still one of the happiest babies ever. Although... we are starting to see a little bit of a temper at times. Hopefully it is just from teething.

Softly Spoken ;)

2008-07-20T23:22:00.003-06:00

This first video is of Grandma stealing Miridyan's binki, and Miridyan asking ever so nicely to get it back.

This one is just to show you what happens almost every time we put her down for a nap or to bed at night. We are not sure if she is telling herself a story or saying her prayers. It is so cute to listen to her though.

Swimming & Ice Cream !!!

2008-07-15T23:00:00.002-06:00

This was Miridyan and Paityn's first time in water, other than the bathtub. They both loved it! Miridyan was a little hesitant when we put her on her tummy, but came around within seconds. The water features at this park are perfect for all ages. I highly recommend it to anyone with kids. It is the new park off of Main Street. Their is a splash pad as well as a little stream of water. I am sure we will be visiting frequently.

I finally gave in !!! I let Miridyan taste a popsicle and she loved it.

The $6 balloon

2008-07-14T18:47:00.005-06:00

When we went to dinner at my parents house the other night, upon walking through the door, we were greeted with a couple of big mylar balloons with fish inside of them (not real fish, of course). My sister grabbed one and walked it over to Miridyan and said "Look what Grandpa bought for you".

Later that evening as I was talking to my mom, she told me that while they were at the store she saw the balloons that my dad had picked out for the girls and said ...

"Have you ever spent $6 on a balloon before?"

And without hesitation my dad replied...

"I've never had grandkids before."

Just one more reason to add to the list as to why Miridyan has one of the greatest Grandpas in the world. You are doing a remarkable job, dad.

Every Day

2008-07-13T12:17:00.015-06:00

Alright... so the other day I turned on CMT so that I could listen to music while I did dishes. You know how there are some songs that you sing along with all the time, but you never really think about what the words are? I love Rascall Flatts... more and more. Their music video Every Day came on and it really caught my attention. This is truly an amazing song. One of those songs that literally leaves you in thought. I cried while listening to the lyrics because I thought about all the people in my life who have been there for me. So many people. It is so easy for us to take "them" for granted. I want to say thank you to all of my friends and family who will forever be in my heart and in my life. Thank you for taking time out of your life to help enrich mine. When I think about the struggles I have been faced with in my life, I have to personally thank two of my best friends, Ashliegh & my mom, for being there for me during the worst of it. Ash, you have know idea how much you mean to me. I can't thank you enough. And mom... I can't tell you how much of a blessing you are in my life. I hope that the loved ones in my life have atleast on person who saves them every day. Here are the words to Rascal Flatts' song Every Day ...

You could've bowed out gracefully

But you didn't

You knew enough to know

To leave well enough alone

But you wouldn't

I drive myself crazy

Tryin' to stay out of my own way

The messes that I make

But my secrets are so safe

The only one who gets me

Yeah, you get me

It's amazing to me

CHORUS

How every day

Every day, every day

You save my life

I come around all broken down and

crowded out

And you're comfort

Sometimes the place I go

Is so deep and dark and desperate

I don't know, I don't know

Repeat Chorus

Sometimes I swear, I don't know if

I'm comin' or goin'

But you always say something

without even knowin'

That I'm hangin' on to your words

With all of my might and it's alright

Yeah, I'm alright for one more night-

every day

Every day, every day, every day

Every day, every day

You save me, you save me, oh, oh, oh

Every dayEvery, every, every day-

Every day you save my life

Here is a link to watch their music video !!!

http://www.cmt.com/videos/rascal-flatts/225517/every-day.jhtml

Is it dark in here?

2008-07-10T23:48:00.004-06:00

I put Miridyan down for a nap this afternoon, which she is really good about. I went into my room and turned on the monitor. Some times it takes her a bit to remember that she truly was tired and fussy. So... at this point she is babbling happily, kicking off her blanket, doing 360's in her crib. I would go in every now and then to readjust her blanket and turn on her mobile. After about 15 minutes there was complete silence. Success !!! (not that this hasn't happened before, she really is good about taking naps) When I went into check on her and make sure that she hadn't tangled herself all up in the blanket, this is how I found her. I had to laugh because she has done this so many times before and didn't like it at all. I have been trying to decide on the best way to create darkness in her room (without covering the windows in foil). Perhaps she is on to something !!! I just need to buy her a little eye mask !!! Why didn't I think of that in the first place? She truly was out when this picture was taken (and I did take it off of her eyes when I was finished).

What a blessing

2008-07-06T21:00:00.001-06:00

Today Miridyan and Paityn were both blessed. Donny was privileged to be able to bless both of them. We were all so thankful that so many of our family members were able to witness this special moment. Donny did an amazing job. I am very proud of him. Thank you to those of you who drove long distances to come and join us. Grandma and Grandpa Perry, Grandma Jarrad, Tjaden, Uncle Mel & Aunt Vanessa Sevy, cousin Sariah and Cody... Thank You !!! Also a special thanks to Cathy and Ted, Auntie Jan, Uncle Morgan & Aunt Michelle, and Marshall. We are so blessed to have such wonderful support. Our lives wouldn't be the same without you. Also, I wish you could see their dresses in person... they are so beautiful. They were hand made by their Great Grandma Perry. Miridyan's dress is made out of the left-over material that was used to make the flower girl dresses at my wedding. Grandma... You are the best !!!

Miridyan, Donny, me, Grandma, & Grandpa

Miridyan with Auntie Jan

Morgan, Cody, & Paityn

Donny with Paityn

Happy Birthday Dad !!!

2008-07-05T22:45:00.001-06:00

Well... today was my dad's turn to take his trip OVER THE HILL !!! What a guy !!! Lucky for him though, my mom was already there (he makes sure everyone is aware of that). Again, we were glad to have our relatives down from Salt Lake to celebrate this momentous time. Grandma & Grandpa Perry, Grandma Jarrad, and Tjaden... thank you for everything. We love being able to spend as much time with you as possible. We love you DAD !!!
Miridyan helping Grandpa open up his present.

Miridyan & Paityn

I told Tjaden to smell the frosting... and he obviously fell for it ;)

Happy 4th of July !!!

2008-07-04T23:56:00.000-06:00

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. Everyone always seems so relaxed and calm... I love it. This was the first time Miridyan & Paityn got to see fireworks. They surprisingly loved them.

Grandpa Perry enjoying his down time... not enjoying the heat as much.

We are so grateful that our grandparents came down to celebrate with us. We love them so much. This is Grandma Perry watching the fireworks.

We were also blessed with the presence of my Great Grandma Jarrad. It was a pleasure to have her spend the weekend with us. She is still as witty as ever. We love you Grandma !!!

Seattle !!!

2008-07-03T22:45:00.001-06:00

Congratulations Lindsey & Mike !!!

2008-07-02T22:13:00.009-06:00

So... we just got back from a very memorable trip to Seattle, WA. Our agenda was pretty much full every day. The number one reason as to why we traveled here was to attend my cousin's wedding. Let me just tell you how remarkable her wedding was. I have never seen someone so organized. She pretty much planned the entire event herself, including a 1970's theme rehearsal dinner. It was awesome !!! Although, I must say... it was pretty difficult to find a 70's outfit that really stood out. It's blows me away to see us wearing the same clothing our parents wore on a daily basis, as if it's "normal" !!! Anyhow... the wedding was perfect. Lindsey was a gorgeous bride, and I still can't believe that she did her own hair, as well as all of her bridesmaids' hair (she is a phenomenal hair dresser). Donny and I were asked to be the photographers which we were more than pleased to do. Lindsey and Mike were great to work with. Thank you to both of them... We love you guys !!!

The wedding took place at a beautiful lodge just outside of Seattle. It was truly amazing!

The picture on the left is Lindsey's hair, and the one on the right was one of my favorites (all were great).

Nothing beats a child's laughter

2008-06-22T22:26:00.002-06:00

We can always count on Miridyan to entertain us. This was taken just after we finished dinner at my parents house. My mom started to share chips with the dogs... and this was the result. Miridyan loves to watch the dogs, especially when they are focused on food. We tell people all the time how much she laughs, but of course not when they see her. So... this one is for the ladies at Zion Eye.

Sign of the future ???

2008-06-21T22:28:00.001-06:00

Paityn came to lunch with the cutest little cowgirl hat on. We wanted to see what Miridyan would look like in it, so we took it off of Paityn and innocently placed it on top of Miridyan's head. Paityn didn't like that at all, and wanted it back for herself !!! Could this be a sign of what's to come ??? We all hope not !!! We love you Paityn !!!

50th Birthday !!!

2008-06-18T22:07:00.000-06:00

Today was my mom's 50th birthday !!! I must say that she has aged beautifully. To celebrate, we had a pasta bar for dinner and a delicious black cake (thanks to our personal baker, Cody) for desert. Everything went pretty smooth, even though half of the party guests were our foster kids and their friends. Even Drake and Travis stopped by to wish her Happy Birthday (we still miss them tons). My mom enjoyed herself, despite the fact that she had laser eye surgery that very morning. What a woman. I love you mom.

Happy Father's Day !!!

2008-06-15T22:09:00.001-06:00

Let me just start by saying that Donny is truly an amazing father. I have not only been blessed with a loving husband, but someone who loves and adores our daughter with his whole heart. What more could a mother want for her child. This Father's Day was not exactly Donny's first. Last year not only was I pregnant but we also had 4 foster kids living in our home. I hope and pray that the kids that get to temporarily be a part of our family realize how blessed they are to have Donny in their lives. He is the one who makes sure that these kids live life to the fullest. Playing air soft guns, playstation, volleyball, swimming, movies, laser tag, ect, are just a few of the things that Donny will do with our foster kids. I can't wait for our own daughter to be old enough to participate in all the fun activities and to see how blessed she is to have him as her very own. We love you !!!

This year we had three girls staying with us temporarily. Nicole, Angela, and Chelsey... thank you for helping make this Father's Day a memorable one!!! You three are all amazing young ladies. We are so glad we have the opportunity to get to know you.

I definitely cannot leave out the one person who has helped make me who I am today... my very own Dad. I can't tell you enough just how much I love this guy. Not only is he the greatest dad in the world, but he treats all of the kids that come in our home as if they were his own grandchildren, and that means the world to me. I know that he is proud of each of his three children, and for that I say... It's all because of you !!! I want my dad to be proud of me because I am more than proud to have him as my father. Dad... you are the most loving, caring, supportive, and sweetest guy ever... and lucky for me... I get to call you Dad.

Garage Sale

2008-06-07T22:00:00.001-06:00

These pictures were taken at the end of our garage sale that we had. As we were cleaning up the unsold items, my mom packed up this little bag that was the perfect size for carrying a baby!!! Unfortunately for Paityn (my niece) I was the one holding her when this thought crossed my mind. So... here it is... a thought put into action. As you can see... it was the perfect size !!! I love you Paityn !!!

Cousins for life !!!

2008-06-02T13:31:00.002-06:00

Miridyan and Paityn were born only 6 days apart. They have know idea how lucky they are to be able to grow up with one another. We are just hoping that they become the best of friends.

Time goes on

2008-06-01T16:03:00.004-06:00

Well, I haven't posted too many updates on Miridyan lately, so I thought I would dedicate this one just for her. At her last doctor appointment, May 19th, she weighed 14 pounds and was 25 inches long. Oh, and she still doesn't like the shots. Go figure! That very night we fed her rice cereal for the first time. It was great. She would just let it sit on her tongueas she would just stare at us. As Donny, Drake, and I began laughing at her, she would get a huge smile on her face and out came the cereal. She is a real entertainer!!! Eventually she got the hang of it, even though she would pull a face after every spoonful. She rolled over for the first time on Thursday May 29th. I was so excited that I was able to witness this milestone. Again, I can't wait to see what she does next. Some of the things she like right now are: grabbing onto her toes, laughing hysterically at the dogs, laughing at mom shaking a plastic bag in front of her, taking baths, watching baby Einstein, and laughing at daddy barking like a dog. She doesn't like the sound of people sneezing, however. When she hears it she gets a blank look on her face for a couple of seconds, then comes the pouty lip, and out comes the cry. It is the cutest yet saddest thing to see. I have a feeling that she is going to be our little sensitive girl. Guess we better prepare ourselves now. We love you sweetheart !!!

We miss you Drake !!!

2008-05-30T22:00:00.007-06:00

Today, yet again, we lost another one of our boys. Drake is an amazing young man. We knew that this day was coming, we just didn't want to accept it. It's so hard because on one hand you want to do everything you can with them before they go, but then you don't because that just means that you are preparing to say goodbye. Neither Donny nor myself are good with goodbyes when it comes to times like this. We have witnessed a great transformation right before our eyes. A young punk who initially talked his way out of going to school in the mornings. Failing classes here and there. Spending all his time playing video games or sleeping. An unmotivated kid who thought he was depressed. Throughout our time with him, we have seen huge improvements in school, including a full schedule, more smiles and laughs then we could ever hope for, and memories that will be forever in our hearts. Drake is a big ol teddy bear at heart. He is kind, loving, funny (despite his odd sense of humor), talented, and knows what he likes. The best part of the whole thing is that we got to claim him as our own. We are so proud of you Drake! You have come so far. You have amazing potential in life. We look forward to attending your graduation in 2010. And remember, don't forget us when you make it big (he always told me that he will be rich one day). We love you !!!

3 Years and still counting !!!

2008-05-28T22:00:00.004-06:00

Today is our 3 year anniversary !!! I know there were days in the past that I wondered if we would ever make it this far. But now, all I see is many years to come. The day started out just like any other day. I woke up around 5 am to allow me to get ready and be to work by 6am. Donny slept in a little longer until Miridyan woke up. Towards the end of my 12 hour shift I got a call from the lady in dispatch asking if I could come down to her desk. I have to admit... I was a little nervous at first. For some reason I was born with a guilty conscience. Anyhow, as I approached the desk I saw a beautiful vase filled with a stunning arrangement of flowers. There were three flowers of each type. The three tallest were Dutch Iris', one of our flowers we had at our wedding. When I got home later that evening, Donny told me that we had to be somewhere by 7:15 pm, so I needed to hurry change my clothes. For dinner, he took me to The Painted Pony. As we walked in, the lady looked at him as if she had seen him before. She then made the statement " We made a little change, but I think you will be happy with it". I knew he had something up his sleave. They had set up a table in a very intimate corner with a beautiful view outside. And on the table was a single red rose. It was like something you would see in a movie. The food was amazing as well. Half way through our meal, our waitress brought over a gift bag. It was a lovely poem in a frame. I have to admit... my husband is a romantic. The night reminded me of when we first started dating. And you know how that all changes after the wedding! It was perfect. Now... just so you don't think that I didn't buy him anything... my idea for this year was for us to buy a Wii. My thinking was that it would give us something fun to do together and as a family. I stuck to the plan, however, as you can see, he didn't. I love him for that! Thank you for the perfect evening Donny. I love you very much !!!

We miss you Travis !!!

2008-05-24T13:15:00.006-06:00

Just a few pictures of our Travis !!!San Diego

Travis & Donny

Travis

Our family at a Christmas Party

Today was a very difficult day for both Donny and myself. Some of you may not know this, but we have been foster parents for almost 2 years now. We have had a total of 8 kids in our home. We started out with girls, but quickly realized that they were a little too much for us. We have never seen so much drama in our lives. Don't get me wrong... we love each and every one of them. In fact, there are a few that we still keep in touch with. Boys just seemed to mesh with our family a little better. For the past 15 months we have had to young gentlemen as part of our family. Drake is now 16 years old and Travis is 14. They also happen to be brothers. Let me just tell you that these these two amazing kids came into our home as just that... kids. We have been blessed with the opportunity to see them grow into young men. I can't even begin to tell you just how much they mean to us. They are our sons.
Today is the day that Travis gets to go home for a trial. This means that he is still in the states custody, but he will be living with his biological mom. Is it bad to say that I hope and pray that this "trial" fails? This kid has become one of us. He even dresses and cuts his hair like Donny. I have loved watching the transformation he has gone through. I know I will have to just trust Heavenly Father more than ever at this moment. Travis not only means the world to us, but the rest of my family as well. It is like we have lost a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, and a cousin. I know that we will get to continue to talk to him and have him over, it just won't be the same.
Travis... we miss you already!!! Thank you for all the amazing memories you helped our family make. You will remain in our hearts and our prayers no matter what. And please remember that you are always welcome in our home. We love you !!!

Amazing !!!

2008-05-21T14:56:00.002-06:00

I just wanted to share an amazing story with you. It isn't my story, but it has truly had an impact on me. If you look on my friend list there is a link called Bring The Rain. It is a must read. This woman has been blessed with the ability to write, and to touch every soul in a unique way. I realize that we all have trials in our lives, but we need to keep in mind that they are all for our own good. One day we will see that this "trial" was actually a blessing. This particular story has helped me remember that we can make it through anything. All we need is Faith.

Back to work ;(

2008-04-24T13:13:00.003-06:00

So... now that Miridyan is 3 months old, it is time for me to go back to work. Actually I went back last week. Luckily I only work 3 days a week, but they are 12 hour shifts. I miss her so much while I am away. I think I am just afraid that I am going to miss out. Kind of like how she decided to laugh while I was at the grocery store. I am blessed, however, to have family around to watch her. I am not a fan of day care at all, and hope to never have to resort to it. Anyhow... I am surviving at work after all. It is kind of nice to interract with adults again. I work with a lot of amazing people, and didn't realize until now, just how much I missed them.

Just a few Pictures

2008-04-22T22:53:00.008-06:00

Miridyan is such a good baby !!!

Milestone !!!

2008-04-18T22:26:00.000-06:00

Well... today Miridyan shared her first laugh with us. Aunt Morgan was shaking her head in front of Miridyan which caused her to just crack up. It was great !!! I have been waiting for this moment for quite some time. She would always come so close... and then just cough. I can't wait to see what she surprises us with next.

Gift from Uncle Ken

2008-04-11T22:42:00.000-06:00

Uncle Kennon gave Miridyan this lovely outfit today. He was so excited to give it to her. We put it on right away. I am not sure I have ever see camo and lace look so cute. I think she pulled it off quite well, don't you? I am just not sure how often you will see her wearing it (if you can even see her that is! LOL!!!) Anyhow... we love him and all his gifts. And we can't wait until he moves back down here. This picture was taken right before she let us know that she had enough of the camo.

Discovering the TV

2008-03-31T22:37:00.000-06:00

Miridyan and I sat down to watch Dancing with the Stars tonight and boy did she love it. She amazes me every day.

I'm back !!!

2008-03-30T00:00:00.001-06:00

This is our birth announcement

These pictures were taken on Easter 2008

First let me apologize for waiting so long to post anything new. I actually didn't think that anyone was really looking at it. I always hoped that I was wrong. So... please forgive me. Let me now fill in the blanks.
To begin I feel the most important thing that has happened in my life is that I gave birth to my long awaited daughter, who is absolutely perfect, on January 21st at 3:11 pm. Her name is Miridyan Jilleen. She weighed 7 lbs 5 oz and was 19 inches long. At her 2 month appointment she weighed 10 lbs and was 23 inches. I am amazed every day how much she grows. She is now starting to show her personality, which I am afraid to say that she can be quite bossy. And she definitely knows what she wants. I hope that as she grows, her patience will grow as well. Donny and I could not be more proud of the angel we created. We have been quite busy these last few months. Miridyan has already been on her first airplane ride to Arizona, first long drive to Slat Lake, and even to Las Vegas. She is such a good baby. We have truly been blessed.
As for me... I am doing fabulous. I love being a mother. I can't wait to wake up every morning to her smiling face and her never ending stretches. She hasn't really laughed yet, but we know it will happen any day now. She gets so close, and then she coughs. She is a squealer, however. And boy is it high pitched. I think that she is going to be a singer like her daddy for sure. In fact, she loves when I sing to her, even though I am not very good. She is also getting better at holding her head up, and she has discovered the television. The other night I sat her on the couch and as she watched Dancing with the Stars with me her eye brows would raise every once in a while and she would smile. Oh yes, she also loves the water. She gets mad when I take her out of the bath. When she is in the water she is in heaven for sure. I will have to get pictures on here for you to see. Anyhow... I could go on and on, but I will save some for the next post. I promise it wont be months.

Update !!!

2008-01-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

Alright, so here is a quick update... I am now dilated to a 3, which is definitely progress. I was up all night having contractions, so I stayed home from work thinking that we would be meeting our angel for the first time. Obviously it hasn't happened at this time. I guess there is still plenty of time left in the day. We are more than ready to bring her home and love her. Anyhow... we hope that everyone is doing great! (This picture was taken at 37 weeks and 6 days)

Merry Christmas !!!

2007-12-24T15:19:00.000-07:00

I am now 35 weeks and 2 days into this wonderful pregnancy !!! I am feeling fabulous !!! Donny and I went in last Saturday to have a 3D ultrasound done, and to our frustration, she did not want to be seen. She kept her hands in front of her face nearly the entire time. We tried everything to get her to move. There was one moment where we were able to see her nose and one eye. That was the highlight of the appointment. We decided that she is determined to make a grand entrance into our lives. So fitting, isn't it !!! She is moving around as much as she can. I start my weekly Dr appointments this week. I will keep you posted throughout the next few weeks. As soon as the holidays are over, we are ready to get serious about bringing home our little angel. I am still waiting for the "nesting phase" to hit me. I feel like we have so much to do. Well... Merry Christmas to everyone !!!

Hello There !!!

2007-11-06T14:06:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a little over a month now, so once again I thought I would give an update. Things are going well here in St George. I had another ultrasound last Friday and to our knowledge, everything looked great, including our beautiful little girl. We start our birthing classes tonight which is exciting. Donny isn't too sure about the whole idea, but I hope that he finds it informative. This picture was taken at 28 weeks and 2 days !!! Can you believe it !!! As far as our foster kids go... we had our girl moved to another home a couple of weeks ago, which we have felt has made an improvement in our home. We still have her two brothers and we also got a new boy about two weeks ago. He is also 15 years old. It has been a pleasure having him be part of our family. As soon as I download the pictures from Halloween I will post a couple. It was a fun night !!! Our boys are overall good kids, but are struggling in some areas, as we all are I am sure. I can't believe the holidays are approaching. I am just not sure I am ready yet. Oh, Donny tried out for the Kurt Bestor talent search a few weeks ago. We haven't heard anything yet, but he did awesome as usual. He has been asked to perform at the Dickens Festival this year. We are all so proud of him. That's about it in our lives at the moment. Keep in touch with us, please. We love to hear from all of you !!!

Guess what we're having ???

2007-09-30T17:49:00.000-06:00

I realize that it has been a while since I have written anything on this here blog page.... but here I am. Well... as of today I am exactly 23 weeks into my pregnancy and am loving it for the most part. As I said in the last blog, we went and had our ultrasound done and everything looked well. The only thing they said was that my cervix is measuring shorter than normal. That could mean many things at this point, one being my labor could be short and easy, the other meaning that I could go into pre-mature labor due to early dilation. We will just take it day to day though and do what we can. I have an amazing doctor so I am not worried. And Donny is surviving as best as he can. We are both very new to this whole pregnancy thing so every day brings up new questions and moods (if you know what I mean ladies). By the way, if you have any advice for Daddy-to-be as far as dealing with me, please feel free to teach him a thing or two. Oh yes... I forgot the best part... we are going to be the proud parents of a little girl. We are truly thrilled and can't wait to see what talents she has been blessed with. If you know Donny at all you know that our daughter will have atleast one of his his many talents. Anyhow, I hope life is treating you all especially well. We love you all !!!

Boy or Girl ??? Start guessing !!!

2007-08-11T07:06:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone !!! I realize that it has been a while since I have posted anythign on here, however, right now there is really nothing new to tell you. I had a doctor appt yesterday and all went well. I have finally gained 2 pounds. If you haven't seen me since I have been pregnant just know that there really isn't a difference yet. My Dr told me that I probably wouldn't show for another 4-6 weeks. He said that I need to enjoy being skinny while I can. But, when you think of a pregnant woman you think of a belly, and I don't have one to show yet. Well, my next post will reveal the gender of the baby. My ultrasound is scheduled for August 28th. I can't wait to find out what we will be having. So... feel free to make your guesses now !!!

1st Ultrasound

2007-06-30T19:26:00.000-06:00

Well... all went well with the ultrasound yesterday. Hearing the heartbeat and seeing this tiny human inside of you is the most amazing feeling (the nausea is another story). According to measurements our due date actually moved up 3 whole days. So now the target date is January 27th, which still seems like forever away. The heartbeat was a rapid 178 bpm. Can you believe that something that small can work so hard? Anyhow, we can't wait to hear back from someone. We miss all of you and hope to see you very soon !!! We wish you all an amazing 4th of July !!!

Welcome !!!

2007-06-27T11:45:00.000-06:00

I hope that everyone enjoys this as much as we do !!! It just gets so hard to call everyone we love when we want to. Life just tends to get in the way. This will be our way of keeping everyone updated on whats happening in our lives. As of right now... the only noteworthy news is that WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!! Our due date is January 30th, 2008, which seems so far away. Our first ultra sound is actually this Friday. So now you will be able to take this amazing journey with us! We love you all !!!