Grace's 5 year pictures

These were Grace's 5 year pictures from Kiddie Kandids - I just took pictures of them so they didn't turn out really nice, but they are my favorite pictures of Grace since she was a baby. The girl was so good with her, she was sassy and funny and Grace totally loved her. I wasn't going to buy any, and just get the free picture they offered for the birthday, so of course there were several that were so stinking cute! My little pill.

All about baby

You know how some ultrasounds look like a perfect baby from really early on? The first ultrasound pictures look like bugs, and then the rest are blurry. I've had several different doctor's, so I have just come to the conclusion that my kids don't like being photographed, they wiggle, hide behind their hands and don't like to play along. And, I'm simply not surprised!

These were taken at 26 weeks and I'm 29 weeks right now. I know, I'm slow on getting this little guy on my blog. The day before I had these taken I had a regular checkup and baby was sleeping. He was tucked up tight again with his hands over his face, the doctor could see his legs and bottom really well and she said, "So I know we said it was boy last time, but I'm not seeing anything. I'm not saying it isn't a boy, I just don't see anything there today." Really? It's because we went through baby totes and I pulled out all the little baby boy clothes. I'm sure of it.

She also wanted me to have another target ultrasound with a tech because the first one they couldn't see his face, or his brain stem and something else. When I made the appointment they had just had a cancellation so I was able to get in the next day.

Baby boy was wide awake and busy! It was the first time I was able to see that for sure he was a he. And the proof showed up in several pictures.

The tech said "Oh look, he's sucking his thumb, no wait that's his foot!" He was sucking on his toe - just like Grace did. You can see his little boy part poking up at the bottom of the picture, I'm not sure how he got his leg up there, but it is definitely a foot.

This is a 3d of his face, he's got his eyes open and his arm up by his head. You can see his lips and his little nose. Personally I'm not a huge fan of the 3d, I think they are creepy!

Here's some more proof of his manhood. One day I'm sure he'll thank me for posting these.

And one more 3d of the profile of his face. I think we've almost got a name for the little guy, Mike's going to cave I just know it! Now for a middle name... Can't wait to see this little little one in 11ish weeks!

Just for the record sake - I'm bigger now than I was when I delivered Max, I only know this because I had two pair of maternity pants with the cord's you can tighten and I had to make them bigger last week.

My favorite levi skirt (non-maternity, but pre 25lbs weight loss) has met it's match, it was nice while it lasted but this past week was so tight sitting down I wanted to explode.

For the most part this pregnancy has went by quickly, it may be because I'm not sure where were going to stash the little guy when he gets here, only having 2 bedrooms upstairs isn't proving to be the best set up. Grace is scared of the downstairs and I may end up having to buy bunk beds and have all 3 upstairs for a while.

Health wise everything has gone pretty smoothly - in November I was sick and had to have breathing treatments and lost my voice for about 6 weeks. Most of the time I had no voice I felt fine. This past week I had really bad back pain, other than my tail bone, and after 6 days I finally went to the doctor. I had a kidney infection - I felt better once on drugs, but by the afternoons my back started hurting again. My house went to pot as all I wanted to do was lay on the couch and take baths. All is better now, thankfully!

I pretty much have to pee every time I stand up, and am up 3-4 times a night using the bathroom. I'm convinced this is preparing me for long nights after baby comes.

I finally can eat hamburger again this past month, but still prefer super cooked (dry) chicken. I miss turkey sandwiches from Subway.

Excited to buy a newcar seat and bedding!

Baby was measuring a little small, Grace always did too so I'm not worried. Can't wait for May!

Grace's Birthday

I have not been able to add pictures to my blog since I had to get a new computer, I keep getting an error message, anyone know why? Today I tried adding them one at a time - and I could do that, but if I tried any more than 2 I'd get the error message again, so it was a slow process, but I really needed to get Grace's birthday posted (it was over a month ago...) Shameful sheepish look.

Grace turned 5 on January 18th, I've said before I don't care about my birthday's, but this one for Grace got me a little panic - y. She'll be going to school next year, how did this happen? (Yes you can tell she's my first, and that's just fine by me!)

We had a birthday party for Grace in the evening, she waited patiently all day. She HAD to pick her special outfit, which consisted of a plain long sleeve white shirt, her new levi's and a long white coat. Not what I would have picked, but she's got her own opinions! And I can't forget the shiny bright red sparkly shoes, they make the whole outfit!
Grace posing on the fireplace with her gifts.

I love this picture, she has no idea what was in it, but the smile is so sweet.

Daisy and Max helping.

Grace's Aunt Caitlin gave her 3 pairs of costume glasses, Grace loved them, she wears a pair every single day!

Grace wanted a horse birthday party - and she thought that we wouldn't want to eat hay or grass, so she wanted a carrot cake with grass on top. OK- I appreciate not having to eat a hay cake, and the grass was just green sprinkly things from the baking isle.

Grace got a puppy dog that walks and barks from Grandma Kate, an outfit and a new jacket from me and Mike, art supplies from the Hymas's, a DVD player and coat and a couple outfits from her Tyler Grandparents, and other stuff that I can't remember - she had a great birthday!

I also got to spotlight Grace in preschool for her birthday - here were the answers to the questions in her spotlight.

Favorite food - Mac'n'cheese and broccoli

Favorite TV show - Anything with puppies

Favorite Movie - Scooby Doo

Favorite Book - Green Egg's and Ham

Favorite Toy - Puppies, My little Ponies (she also loves littlest Pet Shop)

Favorite Song - I love to see the Temple

Favorite Scripture Story (I added this one, because she wanted it for the Favorite Book question.) - The Book of Mormon

Favorite Color - Black

Pets? - Diva the Sharpei

Favorite things to do with Mom and Dad - go to the zoo, get ice cream.

In January the preschool set a goal that the older kids learned their phone number of the next month, Grace learned it in one day and passed it off the next day. Her teachers Mrs. Palmer and Ms. Tia were so impressed! They told me the next goal was to learn her address and I said she already knows that - after that they are working on tieing shoes, and that's going to be a tough one. Grace doesn't even own a pair of tie shoes, so we went out and got some this weekend to start learning. I have no idea how to teach her...lol.

Grace is putting sounds together and reading small words. She can write all the capital letters, but has a hard time writing the lower case letters, she has the ability to do it, but doesn't like to.

Grace is smart, and funny. She says things that make me laugh all the time. I'm so glad I get to be her mom!

Christmas Day

Christmas morning my kids got up later than usual, I waited for the for almost 2 hours, I was so excited!

Grace got her purple, pink and white big girl bike, and obviously she's so happy!Max got a bike too, although he hasn't enjoyed it very much.

He loved the Star Wars candy canes that Santa left- man he did a good job this year ;)

Grace got the big Princess Celestia my little pony that she's wanted for a while.

Max got tons of Star Wars stuff, including the Millenial Falcon and the camel thing, and several figures.

Grace got an Ipod, and a Strawberry Shortcake doll, a barbie and several other My Little Ponies.

We went to Mike's moms for breakfast - where Grandpa Todd helped Grace ride her bike. Ruth's neighborhood is really hilly so it was hard, but she loved it.

Then we headed up to my moms house for lunch and presents with my family. It's crazy and we all squish into a little living room, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

My brother Jordan, Cassie's fiance Josh and Cassie.

Mike, Nicole, Patch, bracken, Grace and Emery-

Ryan teasing Emery-

Grace and the figit, the "noisy" gift Grandma gave this year, they are pretty cute, after the sound ;)

Grandma gave Max a blue light sabor and it came with a Jedi training DVD, he loved it!

After my moms we went back to Mike's moms, I didn't take a single picture. Way to go me! Grace got a Barbie wig, some cute clothes and a really nice blanket, I want to steal it! Max got new Star Wars bedding, some clothes and we all got Lagoon season passes for next year! I'm so excited to use them!

We had a great Christmas, always a bit sad when it's over, but we packed a lot into the month before hand, hopefully balanced the Savior and the commercial part and spent a great deal of time with family.

Christmas Eve

I have got to finish Christmas posts, one more left after this one!

Mike's family's annual Christmas Eve Party at the gym. Aunt Liz and Max leading a Christmas carol-

Grace listening intently-

All the littler kids anxiously awaiting the sound of bells. They think they hear something -

Yep - he's here!

Santa talking to the kids, telling them that this year he'd like four cookies and if we have any chocolate pretzels, he really likes those, and carrots for the reindeer.

Grace got so excited, she ran over and asked if we could leave him some of our pretzels.

Max telling Santa he'd like a lego Luke Skywalker, the one and only thing the boy asked for for months.

Max showing off his candy cane- cute boy. Grace telling Santa she wants a big girl bike.

Grace's Great Grandma gave her play dough, she was excited (mom doesn't buy that stuff), and she's loved it!

Grace thought Aunt Caitlin needed a helper to see Santa.Max loved his dinosaur!

And Grace took this last picture, after she got everything Santa wanted, 4 cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, milk and carrots. I wonder how Santa liked drinking out of a pink sippy cup.

Just a little funny, we let the dog out after this, and she licked all the frosting off the cookies...don't worry we got Santa some new ones.

Hogle Zoo & Temple Square #2

With our zoo membership we got one free entry to see zoo lights, well we packed so much into December it seemed we only had one free night, so on December 23rd, the coldest night in December we headed up Hogle Zoo.

I could pretty much some up the night by saying IT WAS COLD.

The person taking our picture couldn't figure out how to use my flash, and I've never tried to use it on purpose, so by her third attempt I felt stupid and just said thanks. So here's our family picture - just slightly dark.

Me and my sweet boy, he did have a hat on but didn't wear it on the carousel.

Mike and Grace. On the 21st my brother in law flew in to Salt Lake and we went with the to temple square. We ate at Crown Burger first, which everyone else loves but it's not my favorite. Then went to Temple square, the JSM lot was full so we parked under the mall - it took us awhile to figure out how to get up to the surface.... and when we got there it was wall to wall people. I made Max hold my hand and he sat and screamed "You're breaking my knuckles!" I have never seen it so busy.

Shaun and Emery - love the hat!

My mom with Grace and Adi.

And Max - I think we'll stick with the first week in December from now on - way less people!