Christmas 2012

CHRISTMAS 2012

This year, we decided to stay home and do our own Christmas. With finances and time away from job tight, we knew we couldn't travel to neither one of our families. It was sad not being with our family, but we had a great, simple Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, we just hung out at home and watched a movie. We also opened my grandmothers gifts that she sent out to us. She always wraps our presents in blue wrapping paper, and we are always allowed to open her gifts on Christmas Eve. 

I also do the pajama tradition on Christmas Eve. So we opened those too.

On Christmas morning we got up let Knowley open her gifts first (she got tired of it after about 3 of them) and then we opened our gifts. This year Brad and I decided not to get each other gifts, but that was okay since we got many other gifts from our parents and from those we draw names with, within our families. 

Christmas Day Dinner we had our friends Nick and Melanie & baby Logan over. We did a bunch of finger foods like we do at my house on Christmas Eve. It was delicious (I ate on that food for a week)! It was so great to come together as friends and celebrate Christmas. To start are own traditions as a little family.

I need to upload my other Christmas pictures from my other camera. 

I hope everyone had a Jolly Merry Christmas! 

K with Santa at the Ward Christmas Party

Brad on Dec. 23 Christmas Sunday

Dec. 23 Christmas Sunday

Dec. 23 Christmas Sunday

Our tree this Christmas

November thus far!

It has been such a wonderful month on November thus far! 

The weather hasn't been to bad YET! We did have a crazy snow storm on the 10th (the day of my brothers wedding) but since then it has been in the 50's! I will take that. Yes, I live in Utah, yes, I should LOVE the snow...truthfully I don't really like it that much! I would be okay without it. As a kid, I loved it of course, it was so fun to go sledding and build snowmen, but now it is just dangerous and scary because I usually have to drive in it! Everyone drives like crazies here.

Recently we got new family photos taken. Below is Miss Knowley at age 16 months 2 days! I can't believe how big she is getting. She is the sweetest little thing! 

Right now she LOVES:

-To play with her baby

-Feed her baby with a bottle

-Get tickled

-Eat spaghetti

-Eat chocolate

-Watch Doc McStuffins and Mickey Mouse

-Take a bath

-Give kisses with the sound "mwah"

-To see her daddy walk in after he gets home from work/school

-To sit on mommas lap

-Color

-Feed herself (with a spoon/fork)

The words she is saying:

- Bye Bye (with wave)

- Hi

-Thank you

- Da da

- Momma

- One, two, three (yes she can count!)

- Mwah!

- Bubble (that is a new one today)

- This (with a point)

This girl loves to sing, and loves to dance! She is getting pretty good at dancing! So cute when they just bend their knees and go up and down! She is such a joy to be around. She now only nurses morning and night, and will drink milk now! So we are starting to definitely make progress. Hopefully by January we will be done! Each day gets better with the whole eating thing.

Below is also a sneak peek of our family picture! I am so blessed with a beautiful family! I have so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving week! I can't wait till December when Brad graduates and then onto the next adventure of our life (which is still somewhat unkown!) I am ready though for whatever lies ahead. Stay tuned to read about that! 

November 6, 2012

Knowley Lately....

Knowley is changing so so much lately! 

I am almost mad at myself for not posting on here more often, because I know that I am going to forget all of this stuff!

Just yesterday we were praying before dinner, Knowley has recently learned how to fold her arms. When we were done praying I said "amen", Knowley right after said "amen"! I could not believe it, she really is growing and learning SO much right now! She is 14.5 months, and too smart. She can say mama, two, bye bye, blow kisses, wave bye bye, fold her arms, say amen, eats food (finally), and loves to watch Doc Mcstuffins and Mickey Mouse. For her first birthday we bought her a little chair, she sits in that little chair and just loves to watch those shows. I probably let her watch to much t.v. but with me still working part time from home, it helps her stay entertained while I work. She does play very well by herself though. Also, she LOVES people. She will go to almost anyone, and if she see's the kids playing outside she points to them and starts talking, I just know she wants to go play with them! 

We just started weaning yesterday. I am down to 2-3 feedings a day. Before she was still nursing all the time, I know what you are thinking...she is 14.5 months!? Well, this little one loves nursing and it has taken her forever to learn how to eat food, she still won't really drink milk, and won't and never has had a bottle or a pacifier (she would never take to them). Let's just say she has made life a lot more difficult than expected, but hey, I know there are parents with lots more struggles than their kid not eating food. It doesn't help that I am attached to nursing just as much as she is. I never thought I would get so attached to it, I hate it but I love it. It would be nice to wear whatever I want and not having to worry about if it is lose enough or not to pull up for nursing, etc. But anyways, we are working on weaning...slowly but surely. I want some me time before the next baby comes around...Not hinting anything by the way! Just saying!

I love this stage...seriously. They change and are learning so much every single day.

Today before nap time, I laid knowley in her bed and before I left the room she waved bye bye, and blew me kisses, on her own....what a heart breaker.

I LOVE you so much Knowley. I am so grateful to be a mother. No words can describe the happiness it has brought to my life. I thank Heavenly Father every day for this beautiful life he has blessed me with. I hope more to come....

First Half Marathon!

I DID IT! 

First Half Marathon---------Complete!

What an amazing experience! Before I ran this race I said I just wanted to do one, and I would be good. Well, I want to do more. It truly is kind of addicting! So fun too! It really pushed me to my limits, but how rewarding it was to cross that finish line. 

My goal was to run 13.1 miles in under 2 hours 15 minutes....

Well as you see here I definitely beat that!

Knowley with my medal! (July 28, 2012)

SO PROUD!

I am really looking forward to the next half marathon! Not sure when that will be, still deciding on the perfect race. 

ALL the hard work paid off! After all the hours of running and time being spent away from my family to work on myself was SO WORTH IT! Us women need to remember ourselves when we are raising our children, our health is just as important as theirs. It is not easy, but we can do it! I continue to run 3 days a week and also try to throw in a couple swims too if I can! You will feel SO much better if you love yourself, for me, I needed to lose that baby weight to feel good about me. Which I did + more! 

I think I can say I am a "RUNNER" now. 

I mean look at me with my fancy GPS watch??

Half Marathon....NEXT WEEK!

Half marathon is NEXT SATURDAY! July 28, 2012!

Am I ready?........

Have I put in the miles....hours?........

YES and NO!

I have been training now for 5 months! I have done so great till the last 3 weeks. With vacation and not having a hubby home to babysit, it makes working out VERY difficult. I am still running 3 times a week but not putting in as many miles as I should at this point. I have done the best I can with the given circumstances. The race is next saturday, if I am not ready now. I never will be. I am pretty sure my body will be dying and my heart, but mentally I think I can push through those 13.1 miles....

Throughout the training I have lost 14lbs! SCORE! I weigh less now than I did even before I got pregnant. I am back into a size 6! Yeah, I know, it is crazy! I am so happy and I have not really changed my diet a ton, just do not eat as much, and I try to eat healthier snack and ALWAYS eat breakfast. Oh and only drink water! My body has been good to me and has responded so well to running. I am grateful for a healthy body!

WELL..........here we go!

Happy Birthday Knowley!

KNOWLEY IS ONE!

I have to keep saying that because it still seems surreal! Where did the time go? I still feel like she is this little baby just born yesterday, but in all reality she is the beautiful little GIRL, not a baby. She has such a cute, sweet spirit. We were able to go to TN to celebrate Knowley's birthday while daddy is away doing Army training. He will be gone a full month by the time he gets home. I am so sad Brad was not able to be there for her birthday, but it is okay! We got lots of pictures and took video too. The theme of Knowley's birthday was 4th of July with a rubber duck twists :) It turned out really cute! It is really neat that she gets to celebrate her birthday on July 4th. What she is doing now?

-Somewhat eating (still working on it)

-Walking everywhere!

-Laughing

-Singing

-Talking A LOT (She can only say momma, dada, uh-oh)

-Playing with toys

-High-fiving!

-Giving Kisses

-Getting into everything, drawers, closets, etc.

-Shaking her head yes and no (doesn't get the full concept though)

and so much more...

I know she will be 2 before I am ready...trying to take EVERY MOMENT IN!

Smiling for her one year pictures!

Hey, I am ONE!

The decorations to Knowley's birthday party! July 4, 2012

Her cute 1 year outfit! 

Mommy helping blow out the candle!

Mommy and Knowley!

My new beginning...

HALF MARATHON TRAINING

Yes. I have decided to train for a half marathon, I am really nervous about doing it, but really excited too!

Date: JULY 28th, 2012

I have been training for 5 weeks now and so far I am doing great! (I think!) This will seriously be one of the hardest things I have ever done. Let me tell you running is not that easy...it's hard on the body for sure! I dread the runs 3 days a week, but after I complete each run I feel so accomplished! I will be doing a 10K next monday to kind of see where I am, and how I feel.

I am just really excited to do something for myself! Also, it's rewarding putting in hard work and getting good results! I am also competitive (its in my blood! haha) So I am excited to do some races again like the old days in high school!

I have never been a long distance runner, so this is definitely different for me. I ended up buying a GPS watch to help me with my pace, heart rate, etc. I LOVE IT! I do not think I would be able to train without it! Well I will let you all know how this training goes....!

What 9 months!?

Okay, So, its been about 3 months since I have posted anything on here! WAHH! So sorry! Life has been crazzy!

Knowley will be 9 MONTHS TOMORROW!

As of today:

She has 2 bottom teeth and the top left tooth in.

She crawls.

Stands.

Stands and walks a little bit holding on to couch.

Smiles.

Laughs.

Cries.

Tries to sleep in her crib at night.

Still wakes up every couple of hours.

Nurses full time.

Does not eat food-STILL.

Sits up.

Eats people's toes and anything in site (except food)

Waves hello!

Says Mama.

ALL IN ALL, she seems to be a pretty happy baby, and I'd say a pretty darn cute one.

I can't believe how fast time has flown by, I swear after they are 3 months old time goes by in a blink of an eye! SO sad. I miss my little baby that would cuddle with me :(

But so far every stage has been a blast! It's so fun right now to see her explore and learn new things everyday and ah! I don't know its just so fun!

I can't believe the BIG ONE is just around the corner...

Here are some pictures of my sweet baby at 8 months 3 weeks till today.

P.S. BEING A MOM IS THE MOST WONDERFUL THING EVER!!!

Knowley is 6 Months!

Obviously I need to update more...

Knowley is now 6 months old as of January 4, 2012!

SO CRAZY

It's true what they say, TIME FLIES!

It is so fun to see her changing and growing. She smiles SO much now, where before she was always crying. She still is needy and still is nursing full time, but at least she smiles 50% more during the day then she used too. All those smiles just make my heart MELT. I love it. She is sooooo cute!

You can really tell she is starting to understand more and more. She has learned how to cough and it is too funny. She will cough and smile and the same time. Sometimes I can't really tell if she is fake coughing or really coughing.

Also, Knowley has blowouts like CRAZY! Not sure if this is normal for a little 6 month old...but literally everyday she has a blow out at least once up to three times! Needless to say I am learning how to get stains out of clothes really well. DAWN soap: Surprsingly GREAT for stains and also the Shout Stain Spray on top of that.

Knowley has been sitting up by herself since she was 5.5 months old and she is really strong. She doesn't fall over ever anymore, but she is trying to go forward now and ends up in the crawling position (usually with one arm stuck under her belly) and she just cries because she does not know what to do. She does NOT like belly time--at all.

We love our sweet little....

Knowley Madison

and we can't wait to see her grow more and more everyday!

4 month check-up!

Today was Knowley's 4 month check-up! (I dread these check-ups!) I hate that she has to get shots when she goes, but I love to see how much she has progressed since the last visit. As of today Knowley is 14.6 lbs (70% tile) and 27 in in height (100% tile)! In the last 2 months she has gained three pounds and grown three inches! Yes, We have a tall one! So far she has done okay, but this afternoon the poor girl was throwing up over and over....stupid shots! Oh well, hopefully at her 6 month appointment she will not have all the throwing up.

I can't believe how much she is grown, she really is growing so fast. Tonight we are going to try rice cereal for the first time! We will see how this goes ;)

Here is our sweet 4 month old!

Daddy and Knowley!

Mommy and Knowley!