Apples

This little guy loves apples. I was trying to feed him apple sauce while I ate my own apple and he was really unhappy about that. Therefore, he took over my snack. Then finished his.

Merry Christmas

These are my attempts at artistic photos of our beautiful Christmas tree. It makes me so happy every day.

One day I was in Hobby Lobby and started tearing up because I really really wanted one and I'm pregnant so I cry over silly things. But alas, we had no room in our apartment for a tree what with a business and a baby and just living. And I knew we had no room.

I came home and was telling Danny about how silly I was being at the store, crying while looking at Christmas trees. And he agreed I was silly. And then that wonderful husband of mine left later in the week to get some groceries for me and came home with a tiny 4.5 foot fake tree. Just the perfect size to fit on top of our filing cabinet, hence out of the way of everything. And making me happy every day.

Children

As members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are blessed to have the knowledge that Christ has established prophets and apostles on the Earth for us today. The first weekend of every April and October is reserved for a worldwide General Conference where these special witnesses of the Lord give talks that are broadcast to every continent. Then, the next month, their words are distributed to members in written form in a church magazine called the Ensign. I am so grateful for the wise and inspired counsel that is given to us from these conferences that applies so directly to our day and the specific challenges we face.

This morning I was reading one of my favorite talk's from this last October's General Conference. It is by Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles titled Children. As we are preparing for the birth of our second child in just a few months it was encouraging to me to listen to and read his words, and I would like to share some of them with you.

"Many voices in the world today marginalize the importance of having children or suggest delaying or limiting children in a family. My daughters recently referred me to a blog written by a Christian mother (not of our faith) with five children. She commented, '[Growing] up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood...Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out and night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get.' She then adds: "Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because they are cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.'"

"Across the wold, this is a time of economic instability and financial uncertainty. In April general conference, President Thomas S. Monson said: 'If you are concerned about providing financially for a wife and family, may I assure you that there is no shame in a couple having to scrimp and save. It is generally during these challenging times that you will grow closer together as your learn to sacrifice and to make difficult decisions.'"

Elder Andersen then gives many examples from the scriptures of faithful couples bearing children during times of hardship, ending with the most supreme example of all: In the most beloved story of a baby's birth, there was no decorated nursery or designer crib - only a manger for the Savior of the world."

When people are shocked to discover we are already expecting our next child when Oliver is so young, it's wonderful to know that we are doing as we are commanded to multiply and replenish the earth. We have prayed about our little family and are so excited to know that the Lord is willing to bless us with at least this one more little baby - and we hope to have more. I love this gospel and the beautiful principles it teaches, especially about families.

Bump

This pregnancy is going fast! Halfway to baby already! We found on on this past Wednesday that we are having a girl and we are so excited. Sorry that all of my pictures are in nasty work out clothes. That's just usually when Danny and I go "Whoa! You (I) look pregnant! Let's take a picture!"

14 weeks(ish)

(Almost) 20 weeks

In other news, this little guy took his first unassisted steps today! And then refused to do so again, but still! Look out world - he here comes!

Happy Halloween

I need training on how to get my pictures in the right order without deleting them all.

So...before I was ever pregnant with Oliver, Danny and I had a discussion about Halloween costumes and how fun it would be to dress up like Christmas when we had a little guy and I was pregnant. Danny would be the tree, our child would be the star on top and ride on Dad's shoulders, and I would be the present as I would be carrying our unborn child.

Fast forward to this year, and we had the perfect circumstances for this family costume. And no one knew I was pregnant yet, so it was a baby announcement to our ward as well.

Montana

In August we went with my whole family on a little trip to Montana and Glacier National Park. My parents had some friends in their ward who rented their cabin to us and we had a great time. Glacier was beautiful!

Poor Ollie guy had a rough trip. He got a window slammed on his little fingers during the boat tour we took, he got sunburnt, and got his first earache all while we were there. But he was a trooper, and other than those minor mishaps we had so much fun just being together, playing games, hiking, swimming, kayaking, camp firing, and eating eating eating.

Cannon Beach

We had a great trip to Cannon Beach, Oregon back in July with Danny's family. It was so much fun and I just found the pictures on our old camera so I thought I would post some really quick.