Talmage is here

Talmage Joseph was born Dec. 4th at 10:30 am (on the dot).  He born was 8 lbs 1 oz and 20 1/2 inches long and with lots of dark hair too. 
He seems to be such a content boy and really likes cuddles!  He makes lots of funny grunting noises and enjoys his pacifier.  At this point he can sleep through Danica's loud playing and seems to like her voice.
He was the perfect early Christmas present.

Here are some pictures at the hospital and then at 1 week old.  (I can't believe he'll already be 2 weeks on Sunday... time flies!)

 

 

 

 

Proud Big Sister!!

Proud Parents!!

~~~

Below is Talmage at a week old. 

The hospital gave us a giant stocking to put him in and take a picture,
so I thought... why not?

 Danica actually took this picture. 

  But, before I could get things all situated, Talmage decided he was done.

In case you were wondering...

Nope, I haven't had this baby yet.  I guess that's all fine and dandy since I haven't reached my due date.  I'm (mentally) ssssuuuper ready to have him though (except for the fact that my doctor isn't in town right now).

Even though I've been having a million Braxton Hicks contractions, as of last Monday, there had been no ripening.... or whatever the term is.  I go in again on Monday, so I'm hoping to hear different then. 

I've been way uncomfortable with really achy hips.  In the last few days I've been getting really light headed too.  I don't remember that happening as often with Danica as it has this time around.  Then again, I'm a lot bigger this time around too.

And they say when you're pregnant the baby sucks away your brain cells... well this baby is either going to be SUPER smart or I really am this dumb....yikes. (Ok, maybe no comments about that.)

My due date is Dec 1st, so like 4 more days to go!  We can't wait to meet little Talmage Joseph (oh yeah, that's his name... I don't think I ever mentioned his name on here)

Speaking of Christmas...

Right now I feel like complaining a little bit about something that's been on my mind recently... and since it's my blog I can :)

It's been bugging me lately, all the reactions I've overheard or read about people starting to celebrate Christmas.  Everyone has their opinions and I hear about it every year actually.

Here's my opinion.... Don't worry about what others are doing. 

As for me, I usually tell myself to wait until after Thanksgiving, like I hear a lot of people agree one should do, and what my parents had us do when we were younger, but every year I start listening to Christmas music sometime in November.  I love the feelings I get that come with the spirit of Christmas.  I love drawing nearer to my Savior and being reminded of Christ's life.  I feel like once Christmas is over the feelings somehow seem to fade quickly, but I think if I celebrate a little earlier those feelings will last a little longer.


I still celebrate Thanksgiving during the month of November.  In fact, you may have noticed that on my sidebar is a list of things I'm thankful for and I've been writing a new one each day.  Also, I usually spend the week of Thanksgiving celebrating a little more by thinking about why we celebrate, watching the TV version of Trains, Planes, and Automobiles, and eating LOTS of food. :)  I love that Thanksgiving is probably one of the least commercialized (big) holidays we celebrate; that most of us celebrate by being thankful and with family.

I can understand frustrations about seeing holiday decorations up really early in the stores, though.  I happen to find it exciting and annoying at the same time.  But what someone does inside their home is a different story to me.  I say, if they want to enjoy the season longer, just let them... even if they happen to decide to not remember Thanksgiving the same way you might.  At the same time, those who are enjoying the season earlier should be considerate of those who are not.

I guess it's a little silly for me on one hand to be annoyed and complain about this and then on the other hand tell people to deal with their annoyances and not complain to other people... but yeah.  I guess my hope is that we can all be more understanding of both points of view and eliminate the complaints.

Merry Christmas to me

I wanted to share with you this site I came across.  I've heard mixed reviews about it, but decided to give it a try.

It's Shiekh Shoes and they sell discounted shoes.

I just ordered some pairs last week and the total came to $65 (this was after using a 15% off coupon and free shipping by typing in "loyalty" at checkout).  These shoes should be coming in the next little bit, but they will stay in the box and go under our tree... as I will be getting them for Christmas.

These are the shoes I got... some are not what I may normally see myself picking out, but now I'm pretty excited to get them.

They have lots of cute shoes, in my opinion. 
If you feel like checking them out, click here... SHIEKH SHOES 

All our Halloween fun

This year was all about celebrating things for the first time!

We went to Cornbelly's this year for the first time and happened to meet up with my sister Anna there.  It was actually pretty fun and we'll have to go again when Dani's a little older and the weather is still a little warmer.  It was FREEZING by the time we left.

 I forgot to bring my camera, but luckily my sister used her phone to snap some pics.

They had some tire swings shaped like different animals and things and a tractor ride.

We celebrated Halloween on Saturday, the 29, and Monday the 31st.

Saturday we went to our ward's trunk or treat.  It was the first one we've been to and we were pretty excited.  We decorated our car with things we had already in our house.  It was fun to have my sister and her family join us as well.

 

 we added dry ice to the cauldron on the right 

                              

                                      my sister's kids

Tinkerbell and a bum

I dressed up as Juno.

Saturday evening we went to our friends, the Gilberts, for a Halloween party! 
It was a lot of fun, there was yummy food and Tyler won the Best Costume award!

On Halloween, we went to Tyler's work were they have an annual Halloween trick-or-treating for the employees' children.  Danica loved it!.  Dani and I dressed up like Tinkerbell and Juno again.
 

Tyler works in the Tax Department with all women
so he and his co workers dressed up as a polygamist family.

On Monday we passed out candy for the first time ever.  Dani actually went out trick-or-treating and we had lots of trick-or-treaters!

Tyler passing out the candy

Here were some of the things we had going on around our house leading up to Halloween

I didn't take a picture of it, but I traced Dani's hands and feet

and made spiders and ghosts like this and hung them on the wall and ceiling.

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We also made some mummy English muffin pizzas

We made some new decorations this year.  When I say we, I mean Tyler. 

I got the idea, but Tyler definitely executed and made it great!

When buying these birdhouses, I wasn't sure how the idea would turn out or if I could convince Tyler they might look cool, but we both really ended up liking them.

Our snake wreath

I have to share...

I bought a bunch of hair clips/accessories for Danica for way cheap and just got them in the mail yesterday.
I got all of this for just $27 including shipping. (pics below) 
I recommend checking out this site if you have any girls, nieces, or enjoy things like this for yourself.
(Perfect for Christmas presents too)
The website is

http://www.haloheaven.com/closeouts.html

That's a link to their closeout section, but they have tons of other categories on the left

This worked when I checked out... not sure if it's still going on, but if you buy more than $20, shipping is free and use the code SPOOKY at checkout for an additional 15% off.

A dozen assorted dragonfly hair clips                                A dozen assorted carnations

tutus

brimmed infant beanies

A dozen assorted lilies

Crocheted toddler beanies

Large peonies

2 dozen assorted mini roses

 

A dozen assorted butterfly clips

I plan on taking off the backs of the flowers and making a back out of felt with a couple slits in it (like a pig nose) so that I can make it into a hair clip, broach, or slip it onto a headband or necklace... making it more versatile so I can use them too.
I'll probably take the peonies apart too and make each of them into 1 large flower and 1 smaller flower.

Silk Plum Giveway

Silk Plum is having a giveaway and I'd really like to win... check out her cute shop!
HERE

Winners - Win It Forward

Here are the winners from the Win It Forward post!
*Shannon
*Katie
*Brittany

If you guys are up for the challenge still, let me know.  I'll figure out what I'll be creating for you in the near future.

Oh, and the plan is to take a picture of my prego belly today... but then again, I've been saying that for weeks.

Win It Forward

I feel like I've done this before (remind me if I have), but after seeing this on a friends blog I thought it sounded fun.

My friend is doing this for me, so now I am going to pass on my good fortune. As she (my gift giver Liz) stated that this good fortune included some of her favorite things, they are mine too and include: handmade goods, creativity, and gift-giving.

Here are the tagging instructions: The first 3 people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done by February 2012 {this is because I'm a busy and an expecting mom, you understand ;) }
4. You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something unusual.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 3 people who do the same on your blog. OR, since I know there are some people who read my blog who don't have a blog of their own, you can win if you are willing to make something for three random people. The first 3 people to leave a comment telling me they will win it forward get a fabulous homemade gift by me! Oh, and if you have a blog, be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it.

Bragging Rights

This post is all about Danica...


Danica has been saying the funniest things lately and doing things to make us very proud!  She does the funniest things everyday and we're realizing we need to record these things more.


Lately...


☼  Today in Dani's bath she was playing with a plastic twisty straw and waved it at me.  This was our conversation:
D- Transform!  Transform!  Transform!
M- What did you transform me into?
D- A pumpkin!  This is my new wand.
M- Oh yeah?
D- (no response to that, but talking about the straw still) These are my scissors. I cut (she proceeds to "cut" the side of the tub).  Oh no!!  Need new ones... these ones are toooo sharp!


☼We got a jigsaw puzzle for Dani this weekend... one that has the numbers 1-20.  It was a little tough because the pieces are cut going through the numbers... not around each number, but today she did the 20 piece puzzle all by herself!


☼A conversation between Tyler and Danica:
T- Hey, Dani, what should I have to eat?
D- A HOTDOG!
T- No, I don't want a hotdog.  I'm going to have Rice-a-Roni.
D- Ooooh yes!  I LOVE Rice Ponies!


☼The other day Dani and I woke up and the first thing she wanted to do was fold some crocheted potholders.  She just kept saying, "That so pretty!!"
I have yet to show her how fun it is to fold the all the laundry!

☼A request from Dani -
"I need marshmallows!  Please, please, please?  I need marshmallows in my hand in the family room... pleeeeaaase?"
How could I resist?
When we sat on the couch Dani sat as close as she possibly could to me and said, "I like you, mommy"


☼Today I took Dani trick-or-treating around our house.  She had a little bucket and would knock on every door... our front door, back door, bathroom door, pantry door, and refrigerator door.  I would open the door and Dani would say, "Trick or treat!"  I'd hand her a treat (a small toy of hers), she'd say, "Thank you!" and then walk to the next door.


☼We've been working on good manners for a while now, or as Dani tells me she has "good madders."  She's really good at saying please and thank you and covering her mouth when she sneezes or coughs, but I love it and it makes for a very proud mommy when I see her using good manners with someone other than Tyler and me... without us asking.


☼  Dani is a huge cuddle bug.  My mom used to call me her "hug-a-bunch" and Dani's the same way.  When ever someone is coming over to visit she asks if she can give them a big hug and a big kiss.  Everyday she tells me she's going to do this to Tyler when he gets home from work, but for some reason she says she wants to give him a big hug and kiss on his legs... and she does.


☼  Dani is such a happy and easygoing girl.  She's very caring and is always telling us we're so beautiful and asking if we're happy.

☼  Last week Dani had a babysitter, my friend Nancy, whom she calls Fancy (as in Fancy Nancy).  When Nancy was saying goodbye she picked up Dani for a hug.  Dani put her hands on Nancy's cheeks, squeezed them and said, "You're so cute!  You're so cute!"


☼  Danica gets so excited to sing Happy Birthday to us.  She wraps up one of her toys in a blanket and has me open it.  On my birthday I had Dani sing Happy Birthday to me on my phone.  Ever since then she's been singing Happy Birthday like this, "Happy Birthday, to you.  Happy Birthday, to you. Happy Birthday, Mommy.  Happy Birthday, Mommy's phone!  Hahahaha"

I would like to win this...

Jame is having a giveaway on her blog for the pattern for this purse. I really want to win!
Enter here, if you'd like to win too... or if you want to win and give me the pattern! :)
http://www.readjame.com/

Yay for Fall and craziness!

HAPPY FALL!

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I get so excited this time of year!!

I love the season and approaching holidays

Oh, and I had more crazy dreams.  I'll spare you all the details... let's just say it involved my old seminary class resolving a long time feud with that cast of Jersery Shore (though, never seeing the show, I have no clue what they look like) and then Gandolf the White approving.
Oh... and having our baby (who was perfectly healthy) at 30 weeks and then laughing at every little thing nonstop.

I think my nighttime craziness is rubbing off on Tyler.  Last night, as I was rolling over, I noticed Tyler stick his hand straight in the air, snap his fingers, and then he rolled over too.  Haha, I can't stop laughing about it.  Even though it woke him up, he has no clue why he snapped. 

So, that crazy dream...

Don't know if you care about my crazy dreams, but I wanted to record it, cause I thought it was funny.

(let's see if I can remember it all)

Well, it started off with my aunt and uncle receiving day passes to Disneyland from my parents, as some sort of thank you.  My aunt and uncle took the tickets, but, for some reason, when they got there the tickets didn't work so they decided to sneak onto a boat going to Salt Lake City instead.  (I want to know what boat goes from Anaheim to SLC!)  When they got to Salt Lake, they decided to work on Temple square as monasteries (no idea why they were called that), which were doctors that dressed up like birds  (think Disney's Robin Hood... when he dresses up like a bird) and stood on 3 legged stilts.  They got paid $3 an hour. 

Then the scene changed and I was at my elementary school field with a bunch of other people surrounding this weird clown guy.  The clown would say a riddle and once he finished until the time someone answered correctly, we all became zombie-like.  Then the person who answered correctly could leave. 
Well, the time came when I knew the answer to a riddle first. 
The clown asked, "Who is the most feeble?" 
Aha!  I answered, "babies, blondes, mothers, and wives of doctors!"  (????)
And I was right, so I got to go home.

I started heading home and my friend Sarah asked for a ride home too.  The whole time I was driving Sarah home, her baby sister, Krista, (who is now like 10 or something) was sitting on my steering wheel.  Krista was see through, so I could drive, but it was super distracting and there was a ton of traffic.  I kept getting honked at and Krista kept wiping Spaghettios all over my face. 

Then I woke up.

Dani, Dani, Dani the Explorer!

Dani's been on a Dora the Explorer kick lately.

I thought that maybe she had been watching it too much when Dani started quoting the show and pretending she's going to places like the Big, Tall Mountain.

image

Then, I was pretty sure after she started holding out her hand (like Dora and Boots above) and saying "Dani, no swiping, Dani no swiping, Dani no swiping!..... ahh man!"

Tyler and I even have a song from Dora stuck in our head all the time. 
♪ ♫"...arriba, up.  abajo, down..."♪ ♫
(It's from an episode Danica calls, "Just Boots")

And now I'm convinced after calling Dani "Dora" today!!  Granted, they had just been calling Dora's name on the tv a moment before.  But yikes. 

Umm, I think it's time to say adios to Dora.

I've figured out what we're getting Dani for Christmas!....

A big, nice, expensive present for US!

One that will come in a big box with lots of packing inside.
...cause that's what makes her happy.

28 weeks! 84 days... 12 weeks!!

That just popped into my head and made me a little nervous (and I promise it actually makes sense... unlike a lot of things I think (oh I should share a crazy dream I had a little while ago, sometime). ). 

I looked at the little ticker on the right and realized I'm 28 weeks pregnant tomorrow (and I still haven't taken any belly pics)!  Then I saw I'd have 84 days left... well that number didn't look so bad.  Then I thought, wait... 28 weeks?  That means I have 12 weeks left!!

That's a little scary.  12 weeks does not seem long at all especially when I think how fast these next seasons go! 
It always seems to speed by with all the holidays, fun weather changes (I can say "fun" now because I'm not experiencing the snow yet), crafts to make, and making sure Danica enjoys the spirit of it all.

Yikes.  Another baby..... another kid. 

I often wonder how my mom had 6 kids (and did daycare) and stayed sane and cool through it all.  I know moms do it all the time and I should be able to too.  But yeah.

I was just thinking that maybe part of the reason having a second child seems so daunting (besides actually having to juggle take care of two kids) is I think about all the things we had to teach Dani in these two years of her life and it makes me glad she's at the stage she is now.  I feel the pressure of having to "start all over" with another kid.  But at the same time I think about how much we really enjoyed all those big and small moments Danica learned something new.

It'll be tough, but it'll be worth it. 
And there will be different enjoyable moments when I see our kids learning and interacting together.


I just told Tyler I should take a picture of my growing belly.  He laughed and said, "You've probably said that once a week for the last 5 weeks."  Oops.  I guess I'd better get on that!

Ippy Cider

(that's Dani's version of the Itsy Bitsy Spider)

I've got pictures of our place, but first I want to say...

Thank you so much for all the sweet comments for my birthday!  I'm glad I have friends and family like you.  I had no idea my wonderful husband did that and all of it made my day(s)  :)

Anyway... much awaited (for some of you) are the pictures of our new home.  Forever ago, Tyler actually took pictures of our empty place and he did a really good job (so there are a ton!). 

Maybe someday you'll see it all put together... but hey, we don't even have it all put together yet!  We weren't digging our last decor and decided to start all over here, but that takes money, so our walls are still bare.

Anyway, I finally took a moment to put all the pictures together
...and here they are (the pics were being all funky)...

                            walking in our front door                             turn left and you see a little bathroom

             

          our front door and bathroom door

 a peekaboo window into our kitchen

the kitchen

       the backdoor... we use this more than our front door
                (sometimes it feels like out front door)

 

                  

                    looking at our (actual) front door from the kitchen
... the peekaboo window on the right is our stairwell into our basement

                                                                                                          let's go into the basement

 once you're downstairs you see a door and it leads to our laundry room/ bathroom

 a view of the unfinished laundry room from the unfinished bathroom, the unfinished bathroom

 
the basement room
the hallway is where we just were (so that wall is shared with the laundry room)

 more views of the basement (and Harry Potter's old room)

 let's go back upstairs

follow that walkway and we'll go upstairs again

 view down from the top of the stairs

 nursery & nursery looking at door and closet

 hallway- looking at our linen closet, dani's room just to the left of that, the bathroom at the right, the nursery (out of view) to your left, and the hallway to the master at your right

 upstairs bathroom

 Danica's room

 same view of our hallway, with the linen closet open,  the hallway to the master

 the master

my closet....it's a walk-in!
... I think it would normally be a master bath, but right now I'm enjoying the closet space

 Tyler's closet