Week Twelve

Nathan and his friend Rhett after playing in the snow for over an hour. I was a little too slow pulling the camera out. Nathan had just gotten hurt when I came out to get their picture. I'll have to publish a picture of Nathan sledding down his mountain in the front of our house. It is huge. Ryan has been plowing our circle and pilling it up in front of our house.
Here is Natalie in her bouncer happily watching Nathan and I make cookies for Santa.
Natalie with Ryan's sisters Alli and Emily on Christmas Eve.
Nathan and Natalie on Christmas Eve.
Nathan eating his dinner while watching Tom and Jerry. One of his favorite things to do at Nana and Papa's.
This is Natalie Christmas morning. I was running the video camera most of the morning so I didn't get too many pictures.

Merry Christmas! We sure had a great one. We started off opening presents from Santa. Around ten we headed to Ryan's parent's house for breakfast and to open gifts. We had about 8 inches of snow but they didn't get anything at Ryan's parent's house, in fact it was raining so what snow they had was melting quickly. Nathan got a sled and was determined to use it. He mostly just got wet. I got this Mac Book I am using right now. I love it. Maybe I'll post more often now. We'll see. Like I said earlier Ryan's mom got a Wii for Christmas so we spent a lot of the afternoon playing with that. 

Ryan had to go plow in the late afternoon. Then that evening family came over for dinner. It was fun to see everyone. As we got ready to leave we realized several inches of snow had fallen. Thank goodness for all-wheel drive. We had no problem getting home. At which time Ryan went and plowed some more. It has been a busy past couple weeks for Ryan and his workers. Where is he as I type? Out plowing. I just watched the weather and there is supposed to be a break. Maybe he won't have to plow on our anniversary. He did last year. Either way I'm sure will be fine. I don't have too much planned anyway. That's only because Ryan prefers it that way. Not spending money. So imagine my surprise that he bought me this computer. I was so excited I cleaned out the storage room so I could clean out the guest room and thus clean out my office. I am finally able to walk into and actually work in that room.

Week Eleven

So I was trying to take of picture of Nathan and Natalie in their Christmas outfits. I was having a hard time getting Natalie to look cute and Nathan was just being silly. So finally I got Natalie at least with her head up and was trying to get Nathan to quit putting his hand in the air and just smile. He wouldn't so I smacked his hand and the picture above is the result. Maybe I'll try photoshop for a good one of both.

Earlier this day Roland and Lizzy blessed Isabel. We all went to their house after for some yummy food. When most had left Roland pulled out the Wii and showed us what we had to look forward to. Ryan's dad got his mom one for Christmas. While helping Nathan on the long jump Ryan split his suit paints. It was a sad day. He just got that suit for his last birthday and it was expensive.

Natalie continues to be a good baby. She still eats every three hours during the day and then goes 6-8 hours at night. Usually eating between 8 and 10 at night and then 4 to 5 in the morning then going back to sleep until 8 or 9. During the day she is content to be in her bouncer or swing so I can get a few things done. I really thought Nathan was a good baby but Natalie is so much better.

You may be wondering how long I am planning to publish weekly posts (even if I publish them all at once at the end of the month). Well, I'm hoping to for the first year of Natalie's life. I did a scrapbook for Nathan by week for the first year so this will help as I do Natalie's. We'll see.

Week Ten

I love this picture of Natalie. I didn't take too many pictures this week. That may have been because I took Nathan and Natalie to get their pictures taken. I wanted it to be a surprise for my mother-in law so I didn't have anyone come with me. I think next time I will just have their pictures taken in one outfit. I wanted both a formal and informal Christmas picture and since I hadn't been in before with Natalie I wanted to get some pictures of her in her blessing dress. They both did surprisingly well. Natalie wasn't very smiley and I didn't get a great one of both of them together but... it could have been worse.

Ryan's mom watched both of them on Wednesday so I could do my Christmas shopping. She watched them all day I just came back once to feed Natalie and was gone like 6 hours. I got it all done and am feeling so much better about Christmas. I went to my work party this week and Ryan's grandparents watched Nathan. I took Natalie with me. She is such an angel. It was fun to see friends from work. I feel so lucky to have had this time off from work.

Ryan has been plowing so much. I have a feeling this is going to be a very snowy winter. I was able to sing in our stake's choir. We did several songs from the Messiah. Ryan had to plow the night we performed. Thankfully his parents came and took care of Nathan and Natalie while I sang.  Nathan was a stinker. Alli thought he was acting out because he wasn't getting enough attention so she and Emily came over Monday and took Nathan to McDonald's. He is so lucky to have a great extended family. Well, so am I for that matter. 

Natalie still has a cold of sorts. I run her humidifier every night and have to suction her nose at least once every day. She is a good sport except for the suctioning out part. She screams during that but then is perfectly content. I wonder if she will one day realize the benefit and not scream. Probably not.

Two Months Old

Here's Natalie and Isabel. They are only two weeks apart in age. I'm glad we live close and they will be able to be good friends.
From this picture you may think we're celebrating Nathan's birthday but no, Nathan is just "helping Charlotte blow out her candles. We had our monthly family home evening with my brother's living in the valley and their families. Charlotte turned two on Saturday so Lizzy brought this yummy cake. 
Charlotte is such a cute little girl.  Two years old and a good big sister.
Nathan made this candy house in preschool this past week. I can't imagine that day at school. I'm sure his teacher is happy to be done with that project. Nathan really likes preschool. I hope I can help him enjoy going to school as long as possible. If only children could realize how lucky they are to go to school, if only they took complete advantage of that time, I know I didn't.

Week Eight

Here is Natalie with her aunt Alli Thanksgiving day. We spent the afternoon and evening with Ryan's family. We ate yummy food and enjoyed spending time together.

Nathan had quite the meal. Grandma made special stuffing and gravy and I made two wheat-free pies. He wasn't the only non-wheat eater at this Thanksgiving and I think it worked out well for everyone. This is what Natalie did while the rest of us ate our Thanksgiving meal.

The following day I woke up early with Natalie and then headed to Wal-Mart. I got some of what I wanted but didn't make it quite in time for some of the things. It was an experience though. I had a good time with the people in line and ended up finding some deals waiting in line. I was done by 6:30 and went to Kohls which had been open since 4:00. I walked in and saw the line to check out, it was wrapped all the way around the store. I didn't even look for any deals no way I was waiting in that line to check out. So I returned and packed to go to WY. We caravaned with Roland and Lizzy. My parents spent Thanksgiving in Idaho Falls with my dad's dad who is in the hospital. So they arrived about the same time we did. Both Tommy and Dan played basketball in the alumni tournament. Natalie and I watched their games on Friday night. Saturday we went and cut down our Christmas tree. Roland, Lizzy and Charlotte got theirs and Christy and Jon picked out one for my parents. It is such a fun tradition. Nathan loves being part of it. We left Natalie at home with Grandma. We are getting faster at finding and cutting down our trees. One thing we usually do at my parents is play games. We played a few. We watched far less football than usual. Natalie did pretty well considering she had a yucky cold and cough. Sunday we were able listen to my dad's Sunday school lesson. Then we were lucky enough to hear my grandpa talk about his days playing basketball. What an amazing thing to be able to listen to him tell in his words. I had heard some of the stories second hand but this was really neat. Then we had to return to Utah. Both Nathan and Natalie did great in the car.


Here is Nathan playing in the kitchen with his cousin Charlotte.

And Natalie looking cute as ever.

Here is what a game at the Scherbel's looks like.

Nathan helping his dad measure the tree.

Nathan enjoyed hiking through the snow the most.

Lizzy and Charlotte looking so cute in their winter gear.

Natalie has started smiling a lot. It is so cute. It is only hard to get a picture because she is asleep so much.


Monday we caught the MOMs movie with Heather and the twins. Nathan and Jake couldn't resist the water even though it is getting pretty cold. It was December 1st after all.

We went to Fashion Place to see Santa like we always do. Nathan introduced Natalie to him and told him the things he wants for Christmas. Nathan wasn't too sure he wanted to sit on his lap at first but warmed up and we did get a couple good pictures.

This is a busy time of year but I am glad we have been blessed so abundantly. We have so much to be thankful for. I hope I can convey that to Nathan. Tonight his prayers were filled with blessings that Santa would make it to our house safely. After I tried to remind him of why we celebrate Christmas. (Incidentally that was what our FHE was on this week.) He can answer the question correctly but I don't think it has sunk in. I will sure keep trying. I have such a hard time with the commercialism of Christmas and yet I wouldn't want to ruin the magic of it for my children. I hope we will live such that it sinks in.

Week Seven

Natalie 7 weeks old. I love her hair. This picture shows it sticking up like it just always does.

I took Nathan and Natalie up to WY to visit my parents. Natalie and I went with my parent's to Jackson Hole. We attended the Jackson Hole Corporation meeting held at the Wart Hotel. This is a picture of my parent's with Natalie on the way to the car. It was a beautiful day.

My mom's parents recently built a home in behind theirs. I am glad because now we get to visit them each time we visit my parents. This is my grandma and grandpa holding Natalie. It was so much fun to visit with them. I hadn't yet seen their home finished. It is so nice. They look so happy and it was fun visiting with them.

These are sketches of my grandparents back when they were dating. I'll have to get the specifics from my grandma again the year and place.


I thought this was a sweet picture of my grandpa holding Natalie.

Here we have four generations on my mom's side.
This is really how Natalie spent most of the visit at my grandparent's.

And this is what Nathan was up to during most of our visit.
Well, this is our family picture before the big game. Nathan and Natalie stayed with friends while we went to the game. This first half wasn't too painful to watch but the second half. I had my money on Max being bribed to through the game. He just couldn't get anything to work in his favor once he threw his first interception. He just lost it and the rest was painful to watch. So I am planning our anniversary this year. Any suggestions?

Here is Natalie in the cute outfit the Homer's gave her and one pair of Mary Jane socks Ryan's aunt and uncle gave her. So cute.

Week Six

Emily and Jason went to Disneyland and this is the cute onesie they brought back for Natalie.

Grandma had some time to kill and chose to spend it holding Natalie. She is just so irresistible. I love to watch her face as she sleeps.

Natalie has grown very found of her bouncer and spends a good amount of time sleeping there during the day. You see I gave in on the Binky. I really debated the better good. You see with Nathan we really tried to get him to take one and he wouldn't there were times in the beginning I really wished he would take one. Like at church and in restaurants. Also I thought it would be nice for my mother-in law while she was watching him to be able to give it to him to calm him. But and this is a major but, I never had to get up in the middle of the night to put it back in his mouth when it fell out. I didn't have to keep track of just the right one. And I didn't have to take it away when he was too old. So with Natalie I was thinking well if she really needs it we could try it out but was kind of hoping she wouldn't. Natalie has been a dream child. She sleeps so much and got herself to know day from night from the start. She is a great eater and rarely fusses. And yet there have been a few times I caved. Now while she doesn't need it it is a quick fix to the fussing. She doesn't sleep with it at night because I don't want to as I mentioned get up in the middle of the night to find it but we are using it. Enough said. I'll let you know how the taking it away goes when the time comes.

I don't know what I really need to say about this picture. Nathan is, at this point in his life, committed to cheer for the Utes. So I'm starting earlier with Natalie and hoping she will join me as a Cougar fan.

One Month Old

I wanted to get a cute picture of Nathan and Natalie, and while I didn't get the perfect one these were all pretty cute. Nathan is such a great big brother to his sister. He is always so sweet with her. It is funny to hear him repeating phrases I have used. Like "Hello sweetheart." and "You are such a cute baby." Alli asked him if he held her a lot and his response was "No you guys are always holding her."

This has been a fun month. It seems like it went way fast. Natalie has worked into a nice routine for eating and sleeping. She now eats every three hours during the day and wakes up once in the night to eat between 2 and 3 AM. She is definitely growing because many of her newborn outfits no longer fit her.

Nathan and his friend Adam enjoying a bowl of Kix.

Nathan playing games on my ipod touch.

Nathan playing with Chevron cars at grandma's house.

Natalie trying to open her eyes while hanging out in her bouncer.

Papa holding Natalie. One of the few times her eyes are open and also one of the few times she is keeping the binky in her mouth.