O Christmas tree...O Christmas tree

This is our 1st Christmas tree, we didn't get our own the tree before we left for Hawaii. We weren't even in Hawaii for Christmas so we didn't get one there either, I don't even know where you buy them there, probably $100 a pop too, lol seriously. We got a good deal, you better believe it, Rite Aid. One day maybe we will go in the mountains and chop our own but not this year. We are going to decorate it tonight! I can't wait I found a cute little ornament for Lydia, it even looks like her, I'll put a picture up of it soon. We are almost done christmas shopping for family, I've really enjoyed shopping. Surprising huh? I love it! I know it's only the 5 but it seems like December is already going by to fast.. :( I will just have to soak it all in as much as possible!

They are tooooooo cute, Lydia is a mini Levi.

C.S Lewis

my Savior
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." - C. S. Lewis

I loved this quote and thought I'd share, I found it here

Recently

Lydia is starting to move around, she scoots herself backwards. She doesn't really understand how to put her knees underneath her yet.

I am totally the mom that mostly posts about her baby, what can I say, guilty as charged. What else would I write about? Nothing much is going on. We saw a movie last weekend, that was fun. We saw the blindside, definitely recommend it. We are getting our Christmas tree this weekend, I'm excited, this is our first Christmas with our own tree, yay!

I'm on the hunt for Lydia's 1st Christmas ornament...target and hallmark failed me.

This is the only picture I have with my new hair cute, my sister cut about 3 or so inches off. I was so sick of it being so long.

I don't know how babies sleep like this lol

Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed potatoes, Pie !!

I am SO thankful for....

• Healthy Family, especially healthy little Lydia
• Gospel
• Hardworking husband
• Electricity/technology (staying in touch w/friends & family)
  
• Shelter and food
• Hardworking husband
• Having great relationships with family.
• Naps
• Here are just a few, my list would last forever
  

I am excited for thanksgiving! Lydia's first one, I'll have to remember to take pictures. I love the holidays!!! Best wishes to you and yours!!

The good, the bad and the worried

Life is a funny thing, it has it's good moments and it's bad. Lately it seems like there is a lot of sadness I see people have to deal with. I usually deal with it alright but every once in a while it really gets to me, it's really hard. I'm not necessarily talking about people close to me. People or situations that are hard to deal with, strangers, friends or acquaintances who are struggling. It's really hard for me to see people having a hard time, I don't always know what to say either, I just want to fix it. I feel useless. I know that I can't do that because that's how we all learn individually and that's critical. When I hear about people struggling or being seriously sick, it effects a lot of people and it really hits home to me. Now that I have my own little family it's very heart wrenching to hear about death, divorce, and sickness, etc. I know watching my children grow up will be even more difficult when they start dealing with trials...ooo I don't even want to go there.


Now that I have Lydia I worry more, which is normal but it can be overwhelming. I don't worry like crazy over everything, every once in a while I'll think about the future and then I am afraid something bad will happen and it scares me. It's hard to face the world when you know so much could go wrong. I worry about me, Levi or family getting sick or coming down with something really serious. How I would handle that, I don't know. No one close to me has died, it's kind of weird that I've never experience that. A long with the trials there is so much happiness, I know that I need to not let the sad things get to me, even though they can weigh me down at times. I just want to live a long healthy, life with my family that's all I want, and I hope that for my family too.


Does anyone else ever feel so overwhelmed by what goes on around them? I just had to get that off my chest, I know it wasn't the happiest post but it helps to get it out.

Update

A lot has been going on the past couple months, I barely know where to start!

Change of plans, Levi has decided to go back to school.....big shocker I know!! He swore off school for the rest of his life after the last 21 credit term. After job shadowing, and a lot of thinking and praying Levi has decided to go back to school and become a nurse anesthetist. In case you don't know what that is wikipedia explains

"A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, or CRNA, (AE) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) who has acquired graduate level education and who specializes in the administration of anesthesia."

Graduate level....which means we have a lot more schooling ahead of us, like 6-7 years. Raise your hand...whose Jealous?! When Levi first broke the news to me that he wanted to go back to school my jaw dropped, I couldn't believe he was telling me this. I am 100% ok with it. I am even excited, it will be a long road but he is going to love it. It will also provide stability for the rest of our lives and provide a wonderful future for our family. He is starting school in January and hopefully will start LPN school by next fall. He just needs to finish the prereqs before then. At first I couldn't imagine him becoming anything close to a nurse but now I can, he will be great!

Another change Levi was called to be Young mens president in our ward. Levi is going to be SO busy. I am really excited for him and the boys need him right now, he will serve so well in young mens.

We've struggled a lot for the past couple months and figuring out what Levi is going to do and how we will get through it has been really comforting. Levi has taken a CNA course and will take the state test soon. Since Levi is going back to school we needed a job for inbetween and if the job worked with schooling that would be a bonus. We were having a hard time finding a job for Levi and not sure where he'd be working but he needed a job asap. On Friday after having a really emotional week Levi had 4 job opportunities. He went to an interview this morning and he starts work tomorrow at a dr's office, this Dr is #2 in Washington and can eventually give him a letter of recommendation into nursing school which would say a lot coming from her. Trusting in the lord is something we've really learned lately, we are in the right direction and heavenly father is providing for us. It's amazing. Last night for family home evening Levi shared a talk with me by Jeffrey R. Holland "For Times of Trouble." I encourage everyone to read this talk, especially when your feeling burdened by trials. His talks and testimony always hit to your core and he is so powerful. I was so touched by the entire talk here is a little preview he talks about Noah, Moses and Joseph Smith about their trials, then talks about President Kimball.


"President Kimball has had few days in the last 30 years which were not filled with pain or discomfort or disease. Is it wrong to wonder if President Kimball has in some sense become what he is not only in spite of the physical burdens but also in part because of them? Can you take courage from your shared sacrifice with that giant of a man who has defied disease and death, has defied the forces of darkness and cried, when there was hardly strength to walk, “Oh, Lord, I am yet strong. Give me one more mountain” (see Josh. 14:11–12).

Our trials are what make us who we are. In some crazy way I am grateful for every trial even though sometimes I don't know how we get through it we always do. Without the lord on our side I don't think we would. That talk is now one of my faves and means a lot to both of us now.
Ill end my novel now, I was due for an update it's been a long time.

Haley Graduated!

My sister Haley graduated cosmetology school! My mom, Levi, Lydia and I went to her graduation yesterday it was nice. She knows so much and is very talented. I have given her a lot of practice since I have "SOOOOO much hair," that's what she always says it takes her forever to cut my hair. I'm the only person she takes forever on...lucky me :) Afterwards we went to dinner and a fancy Italian place, Thanks dad! Wish you were there. Speaking of my dad, he is moving home for good soon!!!!! I can't wait! It's been a long 4 years .

This is a funny picture, I look over at Lydia and shes gnawing away on the little fishy on her exersaucer. I grabbed the camera and snapped a picture she has a funny look on her face.. "You caught me momma"

She is so fun!

She's a Lydi bug for halloween !

She was tired to begin with and then by the time we got home she was out cold...

This was earlier this month at the grandkid party put on by great grandma Pestinger

Lifting Burdens

Lifting Burdens

I love this video, watch it, you will not regret it. I love this gospel so much :)

Aniversario de dos años

2 years ago we wed in the Seattle temple

1 Year ago we found out I was pregooo

Now there is 3 of usThis last weekend grandma babysat for us and we went out on a date to celebrate our 2 years! It doesn't seem like that long, I think that's a good thing. We had a lot of fun Saturday, we went out to dinner to California pizza kitchen and then to Jet City Improv. I had never been, it's up by UW and it's put on by young adults. It's kinda like the show whose line is it anyways, it was much funnier than I thought it was going to be. It was nice to go on a date and leave Lydia with family, as much as we missed her it was nice just the 2 of us. I love Levi so much, he is so great and the best dad. I am looking forward to many many years with him and our family growing.

Precious !

I love babies in cute itty bitty tights ! So cute!!!

I don't think she could get any more cute! Love her so much!

Tomorrow is our 2 year anniversary!! Woo hoo!

Update on the Buggggy

Lydia had for 4 month check up! This little girl was off the charts last month...and I mean her percentages were a little crazy. I told her she needed to start growing and hey she listened she went through a huge growth spurt which explains why she was such a good sleeper. Now that she made me happy and grew a little she isn't sleeping so well. She hasn't been napping much the last couple days so right now she is actually sleeping, has been for the past 4 hours. She is making up for all the naps she missed yesterday. Ok so here are her stats!

She's in the 75% for weight 14.5 lbs
75% for length 24.5 in

She was pretty psyched her daddy was able to come with

She was a little self-conscious about her rolls so this was the last picture I took :)


These next few pictures are pretty funny, Lydia is recognizing her bottle and expressing that a lot more now, it's kinda cute...but then again kinda not because it's a bottle and she was too stubborn and difficult to nurse so I've been pumping now. I still think she loves me more than her bottle but these pictures may convince you otherwise.

She gives her bottle a hug first...

Then turns on it in a flash...

no she doesn't hug her bottle before every feeding...but she is trying to feed herself. I like feeding her her bottle so it makes me kinda sad but she is one determined girl !


These pictures were from lastnight we put her in some new jammies and We told her to strike a pose and this is what she did ..

Combination of blue steel and Beyonce..she poked her little bum out as the picture was taken. I wanted to get the cute ruffles on her tushy in the picture and pulled that on me.

ADORABLE!

Harvesting!

Here are our beets! I was shocked how big they grew

Potatoes !
Baby reds...some not so baby.

It was fun having a garden, we learned and know what to do differently but it turned out overall pretty well. Next summer I won't have a newborn so that in itself I will be much more helpful !

"Do theeee Puyallup"

My sister, Lydia and I went to the Puyallup state fair, it was a lot of fun. We strolled Lydia around, she slept, we ate funnel cake and hot dogs, she blew a bubble beard o yeah and pooped not only her diaper but her pants. It was fantastic all but the pooping part. Lydia has some great aunts, Haley spoils this little girl. The moment I go to grandmas Haley snatches her right out of grandmas hands, it's pretty comical to see my moms face. It will be fun when my another baby arrives in February Haley will be in baby bliss! Me too! I FINALLY will be an aunt..... and I've been waiting...very patiently. The moment I found out I was going to be an aunt I cried...tears of joy mind you. I can't wait to cuddle my little neice! My brother informed me the weekend of Lydias blessing. We were talking and he said...how do you feel about being an aunt? I said, I'm not an aunt, I am a mom.... and he repeated himself how do you feel about being an aunt? I freaked, the tears fell, I am so excited for my brother and sister in-law. Yes I am excited to be an aunt but more importantly I am excited for them to enjoy the blessings of having a child and all the happiness and joy that comes with creating a family. I love Lydia and I love love love being her mom and spending practically every minute of the day with her.

Well I didn't plan on going into that but I did, tender tangeant . On with the fair. lol

My sister said one day she wants to run a bee farm, I'm with her, that sounds fun. We can make honey jam like off of the secret life of bees. Good book. Good movie.

Couldn't resist, the hole for heads is much too big, seriously it reuins the whole piece.

Haley and I owned the funnel cake, I don't think we could eat it fast enough.

My goodness....she is tooooooooooooooooooo cute!

For Tatum

This 1st picture is for fun, she is starting to sit up, she's so over rolling over, as in she won't do it. All she wants to do is practice sitting up.

Tatum! This outfit is adorable, thank you, Lydia loves it and so do I. I just had to throw some pictures up so you could see!

Canning

A couple weeks ago.. (every post starts with those words it seems like) I helped Denise and Carolyn can peaches and pears, it was really fun. I love learning new things and I like canning! They both grew up with crazy canning moms, good crazy, they may not think good since they were always helping with the canning. I do remember some great homemade blackberry jam my mom would make and she also did applesauce. I'm looking forward to doing it again in the future. Gardening and canning were what we did for our provident living adventures this summer.