Jen's Baby Shower

I got to throw a good friend in my ward a baby shower. Jen and David got chosen by a birth mom to be parents to a baby girl! The shower I threw was for our ward members and 50 of the 80 people invited came! It was so much fun and I had a lot of help from all the lovely ladies in my ward. We just held it at my house, but it turned out so fun. It was low key. Just lots of treat and ice cream sundaes. It was so wonderful to see how many supportive people we have in our ward. I hope Jen felt loved because she is!

 

 

These are wonderful ladies I have had the opportunity to work with in the Young Women's. Ruth (the shortest one :)) just happened to be in town from Boston! We got to hang out some and I loved seeing her!

Now they just got back from picking up their baby girl a couple weeks ago. We are SO happy for them because they have been waiting for this time for years! They are going to be such great parents! It's a great reminder to NEVER EVER take for granted the opportunity to be a parent! We are very, very blessed!

Strawberry Days Carnival with the Bleak's

In Pleasant Grove there is a huge celebration in June called "Strawberry Days". They have tons of activities, parades, rodeo, pet shows, baby contests, carnivals, and on and on. I was really hoping to do lots and get really involved this year. However, my girls were sick for most of it and Cade was out of town for the first part of the week. But one night we took the girls to the carnival and met up with Nathan and Steph and the boys. It was so fun spending time with them! And Emma especially misses her cousins. She loves seeing them and it was fun to see how excited they get on rides! Their favorite had to be the car rides...or maybe for Emma the dragon she got to ride in? It's a toss up :). It was fun to have a night out with them!

John Vizzard's Wedding

 

Clear back in March, Cade flew down to Arizona to be a best man at one of his mission companions wedding. John Vizzard and Cade have always been great friends since their mission but John's protests of Utah don't bring him up here too often :). For the past several years he was working and going to school in Arizona so we get to see him most holiday's that we are down there. John met Marisel in their singles ward there in the valley and they got married the first of March. Since we had just gotten back from Taft's blessing the end of February, I did not go down again for the wedding. Marisel is from Panama and a gorgeous girl. I go to meet her this last 4th of July and it was fun getting to know her! We are so happy for them. John has always been such a great friend to Cade and we are happy he found Marisel!

Therapy and throw-up!

Well, Tuesday was one of my least favorite days in a long time. I was looking forward to taking Emma into the Orem Pediatric Rehab Center so we can try to get her eating under control and get some answers to our questions about why she won't or doesn't want to eat. She saw a speech therapist that deals with eating/feeding issues. While we were meeting with the therapist, Emma was NOT cooperating because she wasn't feeling very good so it was very frustrating to not be able to concentrate on everything we need help with. The therapist helped me with a few things and sent me home with a big packet to look over (which has actually been very helpful after looking over it and a lot of things we are going to try and help her the best we can). But I left there frustrated and had to come home to a house that was not in working order- we got our carpets cleaned the same time I was gone at the therapist so everything we owned was stored in the kitchen. Well, it's hard enough taking care of sick kids, but taking care of sick kids in a house that is not functional- extremely hard!

So I tried putting the girls down for their naps and Emma coughed and coughed for 3 straight hours- literally not a single minute that I didn't hear a cough. So she didn't end up getting a nap in at all. After Reese woke up, I thought I would take the girls for a drive so maybe Emma could sleep in the car (and I could get out of the house for a break). We drove around in Orem looking at houses just for fun when Emma started having a coughing attack (like she had all day long). However, this coughing attack turned into throwing up all over herself and the car seat!!! Multiple times. I tried to pull over the car and reach back and catch it, but I was too late.  AHHH!!!! I thought "oh great, now I have to get her in the bath!" So I drove home and as soon as I turned into the driveway, Emma fell asleep...

I got the girls inside and put Reese in the pack 'n play so I could bathe Emma. Reese screamed at the top of her lungs for over 20 minutes. But I had to take care of Emma. Only two hands. Not always enough for two babies.

 Needless to say, I got a movie and ice cream so Cade and I could enjoy the evening after the girls went down for bed.

One of those days that you can laugh about......later :).

A Father's Day Tribute

I thought it was appropriate to post this video and tell my wonderful husband how amazing he is! Thank you for putting up with screaming, crying girls in this house :). You bring logic and humor to our family and I am grateful for all you do for us! Thank you for being an incredible husband and father. We all love you very much!!!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good: Reese slept for 11 hours last night!!! First time sleeping through the night!!! Reese has learned to sit up by herself and she stands by our stairs and can walk along them. Crazy! She's 6 months! The Bad: Emma absolutely refuses to potty train. No candy, toys or other incentives entice her to have the desire :(. The Ugly: still have to change twice the poopy diapers...ahhh...definitely ugly!!!

Reese's 6 month pictures

I can't believe Reese turned 6 months on Tuesday! She had her 6 month check-up and she hardly gained any weight since the 5 month check-up. What's with that?? Well, I can't stress TOO much. I'll just keep doing the best I can and just pray that my girls are healthy :).

I didn't want to take Reese into a place and pay lots of money for pictures this time because we want to get family pictures soon. So I asked my Dad if I could just borrow his camera and play around with it. It's hard getting the right lighting, position, and getting her to look and cooperate! It was tough, but fun too :). And for my first time ever using a camera like this, I didn't think they turned out that bad.

Here's my little Reesie-Roo: