On pins and Needles

So new little Pack is due January 24th HOWEVER I am dilated to 3 1/2 cm already! So WHO KNOWS. I think that is for sure the hardest thing. We really now have NO clue when she will get here. Kaylee came at 36 wks and 5 days and I am 36 wks and 2 days. So.........We'll keep you posted!

A Very Merry Christmas Indeed

I must say as I sit down to write this post that I am completely exhausted! Although the day did not start off super early, 8:00 am does come pretty quickly when you don't sleep. But even with the sleepless, super pregnant, stuffy nose kind of sleepless night I experienced I was so excited to have Christmas with Kaylee. She was pretty clueless to what was about to happen, but Shane and I were like little kids just so excited to watch her open her presents. I set up everything the night before, just like my parents use to, with her presents from Santa and her stocking all together! It was so cute.


We had to wait for Shane's Brother and his wife due to some weather issues so we were watching Kaylee like a hawk making sure she didn't wander off into the present room! Well of course a few minutes before they got there we all slacked and the next thing we hear is a high pitch squeal of excitement. We rush in and she is pushing around the little princess baby stroller we had got her. Honestly she would have been just fine with that present alone, however that was certainly no the case this year. Sean and Alexa soon arrived and the festivities began.We all soon realized we had gone INSANE as far as Kaylee was concerned and it was hard to keep her focused as we would open one present and all she wanted to do was play with it and we are telling her "no wait Kay there's MORE." It was pretty funny and the poor little girl was pretty popped at the end of it all. Needless to say she SCORED big time! I think she got every Mermaid thing you can imagine.

It was a great morning and we were lucky enough to spend the day with family, good food and entertainment. It was so fun to watch little Kaylee enjoy her first real Christmas, apart from last year when she was more interested in eating the paper! We were all sad to be away from our Shepherd family, but felt their love.

What a wonderful Holiday to be together and focus on the joy of others. I still can't believe Christmas is over. It went by so quickly this year, but I hope the Christmas Spirit will continue into the winter months ahead. We love you all and hope everyone had a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

PS I had to add this because it was so funny. Kaylee loved to play with my mother-in-laws nativity and this is how we found it one night! hahaha

Kaylee's version of the Nativity!

WHITE Christmas

So it really hasn't snowed at all this winter, but Mother Nature is sure making up for lost time. I woke up to go to a doctor's appointment and saw this!

AND it just keeps on dumping on us! So bring on the White Christmas!!! YEA!!!

My Sister is getting HITCHED!!

Yes I used the word hitched...must be because of that darn mermaid movie that plays all day :)
Anywho Katie is engaged!!!! YEAH! We are all SO excited. She is getting married to the wonderful Michael Harmon of Wyoming that she met while on tour with BYU Folk Dancers in Poland. (He was serving a mission there and she only just thought he was cute, there was no funny business folks. He was a missionary so she just viewed from afar) Well then thanks to the powers that be (and FACEBOOK) they started talking when he came home, hung out once and the rest as they say is history!
They are the cutest couple and we are thrilled to get Mikey as a new Brother! (Yes even Shane the great likes him, which is saying A LOT if you know Shane :) Kaylee is practically obsessed with Mikey, or in her words "Muckey." Whenever she is on the phone its with "Muckey" and she loves when Katie and Mikey are together. She just stares and cheeses (little goof ball!)

Mikey proposed December 10th...I'll post a video soon of them telling how he did it! Oh and the ring is GORGEOUS. The happy couple are looking to get married sometime in March.
Shane and I, Kaylee too, are SO happy for them and wish them all the best.

I love you Penguin! I am SO happy for you!

Christmas is almost here!!!

Is it just me that is freaking out that Christmas Eve is in a week! Time has flown by. I guess it just hasn't really felt like Christmas time to me this year. We made Gingerbread houses and the house has been in all its Christmas wonder since November so why the weird mood. Maybe its because I haven't been listening to Amy Grant like we always do, or that I've been stuck inside watching "mer-mee" all day :), OR that we won't be going home to Sac this year at all WAHHH!!! Whatever it is I am sad the Holidays are upon us and I don't feel as jolly as I have in years past.

I was put in as my church's choir director recently and just finished our Christmas Program this past Sunday. It was very lovely and my choir did a fantastic job. I was so proud. We really focused though on the reason for the Christmas season and how we can keep Christ in Christmas this year. Its easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of this time, but to really focus on the spirit of the holidays...giving, service, love...that might be why it hasn't felt like Christmas to me. I've been so focused on the glitz and glamor aspect that I've forgotten the important stuff!

Well I guess I still have a week to get out of this funk and make this a Christmas to remember. Maybe this year instead of stressing over how to get everyone and their dog a present with no money we'll focus on how we can serve and really enjoy the true meaning of the holiday.

Progress?!?

I'm thinking she doesn't totally get it yet......we're working on it!

(For those concerned don't worry this has never been used.
The brushes are ok, I repeat the brushes are ok)

PROOF

I do not consider myself a bad parent although I do let my child watch Little Mermaid up to three times in one day....what can I do? She smiles so big at me and says "Peeasse mom, mer-mee." I'm a softie. So here is the Queen of the world in her "Mermaid trance" as we call it. Enjoy!

Kaylee's Obsession

So lately Kaylee has been in Love with "mer-mee." I put it on a while back just to see if she would be interested....bad idea. I think we've watched it literally 30 times since. WOW! Its funny the things you notice too. Kaylee was scared of the shark and when Ursula came on she kept saying, "Nice, Nice" in a worried voice. It was really cute. She also apparently hates when its raining. She gets all concerned and says "rain-neen."
So Parents beware the movies you put on to entertain your child. You might end up having to watch them 800 times :)

Thanks Be Given

We were fortunate enough to come home to Sacramento for the Thanksgiving holiday. Shane has started a new job which unfortunately didn't allow him to come with us, BUT being the bomb husband he is he let Kaylee and I come anyways. What a nice guy. Sadly I think people here are starting to doubt I even have a husband. So let the record show I do!! I promise :)

So even though we missed Shane very much, Kay and I had a great Thanksgiving. My family and I headed down to the bay area and spent the turkey day with my Aunt and her family and my grandparents. It was a great day full of naps, WAY GOOD food and a reflection of the things that are important in our lives. Every year we try to go around the table and say what we are thankful for. This year was especially wonderful to be around loved ones and truly express our gratitude for all we have. I have decided to publicly share mine.

I am Truly Thankful for...

My Hubby. He is a great guy who takes good care of us! He works super hard and still has time to be a terrific dad and husband. We love you Shane-y poo!


My Bab(ies). YES that is plural!!! Crazy! Although Pack number 2 is not here yet I still have a love for her. Of course for now Kaylee is number one and I don't know what we would do without her. She has stolen our hearts and fills each day with such excitement and joy! We probably would get more love from our families if Kaylee wasn't around, but Shane and I are totally fine being complete second to our little girl!

My Savior.
In the past years I have come to really understand the importance of the gospel in my life. It isn't just something I do, but truly has become something I strive to become. I love knowing that if I do my part that I can live with my family forever. Its an amazing thing.

My Family. Shane and I are very blessed to have wonderful family. We have certainly had our ups and downs along the way, but feel so lucky to have such a great group of people to call our own.

My Friends. I don't know what anyone would ever do without good friends. I think Shane and I both would agree we have been blessed in this area of our lives as well. We have great friends both past and present who have enriched our lives and made the days even better. Thanks you guys!

My Health.
I have one beautiful little girl and another on the way. I have a healthy body and mind. Its something I think we take for granted sometimes the little things we can do, but it is a blessing.

My Freedoms.
The world is indeed a scary place, but how lucky are we to live in a country where we are free to choose. I know I take it for granted especially when you watch the news and get overwhelmed by evil and terrible things, but it could be so much worse. Sadly its taken a few good movies to really wake me up to what really happens outside the US.

ECT.
I could probably go on forever if you really sat down and thought about everything, but I won't. Hopefully this coming year we will be able to really look at our lives with more gratitude. To see what we have been given versus what we lack.