Hard work does pay off in the end

I'm super proud of my sweet hubby.  He worked 7 LONG YEARS in school, studied many hours to pass his test to become a Utah licensed PE, studied even MORE hours to take the gruesome CA Pe and pass and continues to work every day as hard as he can.  He is setting such a good example to Jaycee and Hadley that hard work does pay off and what it means to be a hard worker. 

Today at work he got a promotion w/raise and is now a "Project Manager Engineer"  So now he'll be overseeing projects and all the other things that come with it.  He also will be the ONLY structural engineer in their Oregon office.

I'm so excited for him and for the chance we have to work for this company and the advances he gets.  There is so much growth and learning here.  I didn't write this to brag or anything, just want to tell him how proud we are of him and his hard work.  He deserves a little recognition.

It's been really nice this past two weeks to get some snow.  It now feels like January.  We've had some super cold days where it barely hit 5 degrees out side by noon!  We stay inside most days in fact.  I feel bad for sweet Jaycee.  On Saturday it actually reached 29 so we thought it was okay to go play for a little bit.  Our neighbor Brekyn was out playing with his dad so Jaycee insisted she go play with him.  He just turned 4 in August so he's a little older.  We had such a fun time in the yard and in their yard sledding down the hill and watching them laugh.  I really wanted a pic but didn't know how they would feel about me taking a pic of their son.  It's just cute to see how excited she gets to play with him but he's not home much so when he's out playing we make sure to join in on the fun. 

Yesterday we headed to Bangor to go to Sams and to pick up my pictures.  Sadly the photo place was closed so I have to go back again, but I'll just wait until I can use my bucks for Old Navy.  I love after season shopping on clearance racks and helps when I can use free money too.   So sorry but the pictures will be sent out a week later.  As we were heading out I thought I'd snap a recent pic of Hadi.  I just love this little girl.  She sure loves to be held and loves her sis.  I'm so excited for when she starts to smile.  We try everyday but not yet.  Last night I fed her about 9:30 and she usually takes about 25-40 minutes to feed and burp.  I was shocked when I woke up this morning at 6:30 to feed her.  She had slept all the way from about 11:30-6:30!  That's amazing not to mention going that long without food. And what's better is night feedings are the best because...well let's just say I make plenty of milk....so it's really easy to fill her belly fast.  She only fed for 20 minutes and back to sleep we went.  I'm just loving nursing her and the ease of it all.  She also only has about 10 NB diapers left and ready to advance to size one.  I can't believe how fast time goes. 

 When I was taking the pic of Hadley, Jaycee insisted on being in it so I told her I'd take one with her too.  She loves to take pics and pose and smile.  She's such a good sister.  She just adores Hadley and ALWAYS wants to help.  Anytime she needs a diaper change and I go up to her room, Jaycee is sure to follow to help. I think her favorite thing is to lay on the couch with Hadi and then she ask to cover them so they are nice and warm.  So I put a blanket on.  Then she'll ask to put a show on for them.  It's too cute.  Jaycee is quite the little girl with a huge personality.  I'm gonna start writing things down that she says cuz it's too funny.

Ah a picture of my favorite people.  I don't know if I smile and thank them or cringe at their sight?!  Officially it's only been 5 weeks so I'm still taking it a little easy with my work out but decided to get started.  I learned after my 30 minute work out that my ab strength is absolutely gone.  I could hardly do lunges at their pace and don't even think about doing a normal push up.  Made me realize today how doing their work outs really were making me stronger.  I did learn another thing today: it feels good to get going again and sweat.  I truly believe in exercising and it can build your endorphines.  And plus it's always nice to get me-time if not for only 30 minutes.  I guess let the new year come and get these baby pounds shed.  I'm hoping for a goal of when Hadi turns 1 to be close to my pre-baby weight. I can do it!  Gotta love the cycle of having children.  ha ha.  So worth it!

4 Weeks

Yesterday Hadley was officially 4 weeks.  Where the crap does time go?!  I swear it was just yesterday that we were taking her home.  I also had to put some of her newborn outfits and jammies away because they don't fit :(  She's not really chubby but she's so long.  At her 2 week appointment she had already grown 3/4 inch! 
Please slow down time because I want her to stay small.  But then again speed time up so we can move and she can meet everyone.  

Updates & Pics

Just updating a little with the fam here in Maine.  Things are going super well.  It was an adjustment when everyone left.  Jaycee had to catch up on sleep for a few days, as did all of us.  We mostly just relaxed in the house playing with new toys and cleaning up for the holidays.  Our surround sound did get a fuse that busted so we took a trip to Waterville to get a new fuse and we were so glad it worked.  I was nervous our system went out.  We also have been looking up homes a lot in Oregon.  We contacted our real estate agent we're using...Thanks Mom for your help....and he's sending us some links too.  It's been really fun but then kinda of stressful because we found out with a FHA loan we have to come up with 3.5% down.  So that's about $7500 to come up with in cash.  We did put our 4 wheeler up for sale to try to get half of that, and still waiting for the phone call that gets it sold.  We're pretty sad to sell it but know it's worth the sacrifice to get a house.  We fly out around Feb 21 to Oregon to look at homes and for Craig to go to a conference.  We're pretty excited.  We played a lot of Just Dance 3 this week.  I love the exercise and to see my family dance away.  It makes me laugh.  We ended the week with getting Haddi & Jaycee's pictures done up in Bangor.  I get really bummed there's not many options for portrait studios especially because they never spend the time to get lots of poses, but for the price I can't complain.  While up there we also ran a few extra errands, ate Quizno for lunch and I got to spend my gift card at Old Navy.  When we got home we were exhausted and relaxed watching football while Craig finished preparing a talk for sacrament, his lesson for primary, and I had to plan sharing time.  Wow!  The Parkers ran the show on Sunday. ha ha. 

Oh and we can't forget about my birthday!  I turned 27!  I kinda feel old.  ha ha.  It was a great day!  I woke up to Jaycee yelling for her dad.  She's is obsessed with spending time with him.  Then she yelled "Amanda, come in my room."  It was funny that she knows our names.  She came in and told me it was my birthday and daddy had a birthday downstairs.  So we got up and he had bought a donut for breakfast with a little note for both of us.  It was really cute.  He told me later he wanted to buy an Amp to go with it, but not such a good idea for that much caffeine and nursing.  (We did that with Jaycee-bad, bad idea)  Jaycee and I hung out in the day and enjoyed being home together.  At lunch Craig wasn't feeling so hot and I felt bad that he'd have to come home and make me a special birthday dinner so I told him for my birthday to order pizza.  I didn't have to convince him.  We love pizza.  Then I got my presents-I got a new camera and a g/c for Old Navy and Jaycee got me a picture frame.  I also got a card and g/c from my in-laws (thank you!) and a card with a g/c from my parents (thank you!)  I felt very spoiled.  We ended the night playing Just Dance again, because I love it, and having birthday cake.  Jaycee loved that part.  It was a successful birthday and once again my hubby made it a special day.  So here are pics from the week & birthday and also pics from the studio.  Enjoy :)

Hadley's umbillican cord FINALLY fell off so she now gets to take baths.  Here's her first bath

Jaycee was so excited that she could take a bath with her sissy.  I have a feeling they're gonna be best friends.

Jaycee and Haddi hangin out on the couch.  Jaycee loves, loves, loves to hold her and watch shows with her.

Just a random pic of my birthday night-Craig was making me laugh so hard

Playing Just Dance.  Jaycee loves playing too.  It's pretty cute

Bust a move Craig!  He was prob embarrased I took this but I had to test out my new camera

Blowing out the candles.  

So happy!

My beautiful, beautiful girls!  I couldn't be more proud! 

Visit from the parentals

We were so blessed to have a wonderful addition to the family for Christmas.  We also were blessed to see my parents the day after.  They were in the area for 10 days and spent the first 5 with Dathan's family then came up on Monday to our house.  I was so excited!  There's just something fun about family coming to visit and having sleep overs in our home.  Craig had the day off for Christmas so we went to Wal-Mart to grab a few things for New Years Eve and to pick up my parents present.  We cleaned up the house and then they got here about 8.  I was impressed that they didn't even need directions on how to get here.  It was such a good feeling to hug them both because it had been a year since I'd seen them.  We opened presents with them and caught up with each other.  My mom made Haddi the cutest rag quilt!  I need to take a pic.  It quickly became my favorite.  They also gave her some clothes that I'm excited when she'll wear them.  Jaycee got makeup, nail polish, bag of candy and doll clothes.  She had so much fun putting her nail polish on.  I ended up staying up til 2:30 that morning talking and feeding.  I was so tired the next day!  For the next few days we would watch tv and relax at home.  I felt really bad with just hangin out in the house, but it was so cold outside and with Hadley being only 2 weeks old I didn't want her out and about.  One of the days Craig took a half day and we took my mom to Portland to the lighthouses and the coast.  We got there right in time.  It was so, so cold though!  I stayed in the car feeding Hadley while they all walked around.

After there we took them to the mall to walk around and see the area of Portland.  It was too cold to walk outside where the old shops of Portland were.  I had to feed again right after browsing the mall and went over to Applebees for dinner.  It was fun to eat and talk and enjoy getting out for the night.  We had a quick drive home and Hadley was so patient to wait 30 minutes to finish driving home to eat.  I hope they enjoyed getting out and about.

Jaycee was so in love with her pa-pa.  She was so curious where he would be at all times.  She wanted to sit next to him and be by his side non-stop.  I thought it was tender, and I'm sure he liked it too!  We were watching a movie one night and she got her blankie to cuddle next to pa-pa.

Mom had made a lot of comments about Dathan and Kel coming up for New Years so I took that as she wanted them to come.  So I text Kel and they came up.  It was a full house!  Our house is probably 1400 square feet consisting of our bedroom which is pretty big, Jaycee's good size room, Hadley's tiny room-all those are upstairs; then downstairs just one bathroom, a small family room big enough for our massive couch and TV, a dining room, kitchen, and a front room that stores all our desk and piano stuff.  We had 6 adults and 5 kids all crammed in and actually it wasn't too bad.  Dathan and Kel brought their bed and slept in the front room.  Kami slept in Haddi's crib.  Mom in Jaycee's room with Haylie.  Dad slept down on the couch with Brayden and our family in our room.  I was impressed!  We had such a fun time!  They came up on Friday and we made chili potatoes for dinner and talked and visited.  We watched a comedian movie and then most of us headed to bed.  For New Years Eve we talked, played games and more games all day long!  Dad was such a good sport and even learned a strategic game of Peurto Rico and played with us.  Mom had fun watching movies with the girls.  Bray mostly played video games.  We had yummy bean dip, little smokies, veggies & dip, pineapple, and the kids had chicken.  We snacked and played and talked the whole day away.  I can't believe how quick the day went.  Jaycee didn't last until midnight.  She was having a rough day and was super tired so we actually put her to bed.  After the ball dropped most of us went to bed.  I couldn't stay up that late especially with having to do 2 feedings in the night.  I would be so tired and onory.

Craig being a good daddy to his little girl

Playing the Just Dance game that I got.  So. Much. Fun!  And a good workout too!

Jaycee loves to dance!  She had so much fun dancing with mom & Bray

Gathered around the table playing games.  Smile :D

Haddi May in her cute dress from Grandma Parker

Happy New Years smooch!  Love ya!

The next morning mom & dad had to get up and leave around 10 to get to the airport on time and fly back home.  We all woke up and sat around the table and then dad offered a prayer before they left.  I feel bad for asking him to do it because I knew he was going to be emotional.  We gave our hugs and off they left.  I held it in really good.  Right after they left I had to feed Haddi and I went on the couch with just Craig and I sobbed.  I didn't think it would effect me that bad with them leaving.  Dad was such a sweet guy!  He never once complained and we just had such a good time with him.  It was like he was different somehow.  I've never had the best relationship with him because we tend to butt heads, but this trip was so different.  We got along and he was so so sweet to me and especially to Jaycee.  It made me so sad because I've been short with him a lot.  I really am happy he came out and made me feel comfortable and loved.  Thank you Dad!
Mom was super fun as usual.  All the kids loved being with her and she always knows how to make a party happen.  I feel bad I couldn't get her out of the house enough, but I promise to do better next time when I don't have a newborn.  We love you Mom!
Dathan & Kel stayed until about 7 and we got to spend New Years Day with them.  We just love hanging out and playing games.  They make it easy to have a good time. 

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years like we did!  Here's 2012!

Christmas 2011

What a fun Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we had!  For Christmas Eve we got to Skype with Craig's family.  It was so much fun.  They have their whole family party that night at my in-laws home.  I was a little jealous because they always had the best food (shrimp, chik-fil-a nuggets, chili's egg rolls, cool whip balls, rolls, etc)  I tried to immitate by having chicken strips, mozz sticks, fruit and cool whip balls.  We got all our presents together from the family and let Jaycee go first to open her presents.  She had so much fun opening her presents and we had so much fun watching all our other nieces and nephews open theirs.  I'm so grateful for Skype and technology because it felt like we were right there with them.  We ended our night with tucking Jaycee into bed about 11 and reading her "Twas the night before Christmas"  She was so excited that Santa was coming and even left him a plate of goodies and milk. 

 

Jaycee playing with her fruit.  That was the coolest present and she loves to cut her fruit and cook it.  Thanks Dana!

Talking on Skype with the family.  We sure missed everyone!

 

This pic makes me laugh.  Jordann posted it on f/b.  She told us to smile.  I didn't know she was taking a pic.  haha.  Way to remember Christmas Eve 2011.

 Christmas Day has finally come!  Craig and I woke up about 830 and we should've gone back to sleep but we were starving!  We got up and made biscuits & gravy (our family favorite) and waited for Jaycee to wake up.  Finally about 945 I went up to wake her up.  She came downstairs and was so happy Santa brought her a kitchen!  We gathered around the tree and opened up our presents.  We got spoiled.  Jaycee was so funny.  She would open a gift and want to play with it and didn't want to open the other ones.  I think we could've just bought her one thing and she would've been just fine.  The funniest thing is her favorite thing....TASHA!  Jaycee is OBSESSED with Backyardigans!  

 

  If you aren't familiar with it; there are 5 backyard friends: Tasha, Uniqua, Austin, Pablo & Tyrone.  They meet in the backyard and pretend to be things and sing.  Jaycee has quite the imagination because of this show.  She likes to pretend shes a super hero, she tries to "save the day" and MANY other things.  It makes Craig and I laugh.  Well at the last minute, I felt bad that she loves this show so much but didn't get anything for Christmas with them.  So I bought a little beenie baby Tasha and put in her stocking.  She carries it everywhere!  If I would've known I would've given her more of those and not other things.  Owell.  

Hadley got some nice gifts too; mostly clothes, but that's what she needed for the cold winter weather.  Craig got Lions things and Santa brought him a nice metal tool box.  He was pretty excited about that.  I got some clothes, games, another piece for my nativity and other things.  I think it turned out pretty good.  We played with all our things then just hung out for the day.  Jaycee had so much fun playing with her things.  For dinner I wanted to have a nice Christmas dinner, but because of pregnancy I can't eat ham too well.  So instead we had pork loin, sweet potatoes with apples, rolls, red jello with cherries and corn.  It was delicious!  We ended our night watching some football (which we don't need to be reminded of) and crashed!  What a great day! 

Jaycee's new kitchen.  She loves to cook dinner for us. 

She wanted me to take a pic of her with Tasha.  Silly girl

Opening her new baby doll that Santa brought. 

Santa brought our family The Office Clue.  Can't wait to play it.

Jaycee helping me open a present from daddy.  It was Ticket to Ride!  One of my favorite games.

I was so excited.  Craig kept that as a good secret.

Jaycee playing with her water colors

That's supposed to be thumbs up for a tasty dinner!

My perfect little Christmas baby.  Hadley wearing her new Christmas dress from Aunt Dalynne.  Thanks D