*Blessing Day

Today was a very special day for our little family. Today was the day that we blessed Madison. It was incredible. We chose to have her blessing this weekend because my brother Aaron and his family were coming up for Thanksgiving. It was really important to both Brice and I to have my brother and his family here as well.

Brice was a bit on the nervous side to give this blessing. I would have been too!!! Aaron was really great when he told Brice that he would be right by his side and whisper in his ear if he said something wrong. Stage fright can make you forget LOTS of things. It was such an awesome experience to listen to Brice as he used his Priesthood to bless our beautiful daughter. For so many years I have waited for this to happen to me. It was all a little surreal as I sat there listening to the things the Lord would have him say.

What a special day! We had so many friends and family there to support us and our little family. After church we had a little open house here at our house. How grateful I am to all my family.

Madison's dress was BEAUTIFUL!!! My sister Alicia made it for us and it turned out gorgeous!! Here is a picture of it! Thanks sis, it turned out absolutely fabulous!!!

*Black Friday

For the first time I went shopping the day after Thanksgiving. I went with my sister and sister-in-law. I am NOT a shopper. I went to get ideas (from those who are shoppers) and for the social aspect! We didn't do the crazy 4 am thing. Infact we didn't even get out of the car until after the doors were open. We went to Tai Pan. It was fun to be with the girls.

We spent so much time at Tai Pan that we didn't go to any other store. We meet up with Aaron and their kids, and Brice and Madi, and went to breakfast. Alicia could have gone onto other stores and eaten an early lunch. However Kristen and I were both hungry. Plus I had told Brice I would be back in time to go to breakfast with him. Brice LOVES going out to breakfast!

After breakfast Brice and I went to RC Willey's. We have been eyeing the new LG front loader washing machines. Today we bought them!! I am so excited. The washing machine I have belonged to Nate. The one that I bought over 10 years ago is sitting off to the side of it, it needs to have it's belt replaced. So I am excited to have brand new ones. I guess I really am a grown up. One of these days I'm going to get a grown up bed too!! One day, uh honey? I love my new washer and dryer!!

*First Thanksgiving

I can't believe the time has past. Could it really be Thanksgiving already! Aaron and Kristen arrived Tuesday night. We went up to visit with them at Mom's. Payden LOVED on Madi! Kristen was getting her loves in too! It was nice to see them, I'm so glad they are here.

We went to Thanksgiving at my family's this year. We got to Alicia's shortly after 2. Dinner was around 3pm. Aaron, Kristen and the kids were already there. As I walked up to the door the kids came running to the door like they normally do. Payden came with them so excited to see Madison. She said "OH!! Madison is soo cute!" I could hardly get in the door. All the cousins were so excited to see their newest little cousin!

They all were sad to see that Madison was asleep when we got there. Brice and I went in to say hello to everyone. All of the kids were so impatient for Madi to wake up, I went over to her car seat to check on her. As I lifted the blanket that I had over the car seat to check on her, her eyes fluttered. Payden saw this and said "OH!! She's waking up!" as she pushed her little finger into Madi's eye!!! I then decided it would be safer for her to finish her nap in my arms!! :) When she did wake up she was such a hit! Everyone was wanting to hold her. Here are some pictures of our day:

This is the only picture of Carson I could get. He kept telling me "you can take a picture of me tomorrow!!!"

Kristen loving on my little baby girl!

Payden and Madi

Kaleb and Madi

My cute little Payden, getting so big! She turned 4 last week! It really was a nice day! So nice to have all our family together!

Yesterday I had a meeting with my boss. I have been planning on going back to work the whole of my pregnancy. However I have also been praying for a solutions...I don't want to have to work, I just want to stay home with my baby! We don't have the financial means for me to be able to stay home, but it is what I want.

I am due a raise at work. I had my one year anniversary with BCJ in August, but was told I wouldn't get my raise until I got back from my maternity leave. I have been telling myself that my raise would cover the cost of daycare, therefore making working okay. Today in my meeting with my boss I was informed that I wouldn't be getting a raise. I was also told that there would be no Christmas bonus' this year.

In an instant I knew what I had to do. I knew what I needed to do all along, but I just didn't/don't have the faith to follow through. However I told my boss right there that I thought I would not be returning to work. Being a mom is what I have always wanted to do and I can't put money above her well being.

My mom has offered to watch Madi a couple of days a week, however she can't do it 5 days a week. She has a job, and I don't want her to give it up. However I don't want to put Madison in daycare for the other 3 days. So....I quit today. I don't know what we are going to do, however I feel that it is what I need to do and so I am going to follow what I know is right for me and my baby. I told my boss that I would work the month of December so that I'm not leaving him high and dry, but then I will be done working for BCJ. Mom and Melinda will be watching Madison during this month for me, so I wont have to use daycare! Yea!

Earlier this month I called the eye doctors that I used to work for. I called the office manager Debbie and asked her if they ever had need of another transcriptionist (all of their transcriptionist work from home) to please keep me in mind. Debbie told me that they could use me and so I will be starting that next month. I won't make as much as I did with BCJ, but at least I will get to be with Madi and still earn a little bit of money. Otherwise I am just going to have faith that things will work out for us!!!

*Take two!

For the second week in a row, I have drug my sweet cousin Melinda out into the cold to snap some family pictures. This morning we even had frost!! Poor little Madison. Last week we met to do some, I did her family and then she did us. However by the time we got to us the light was really bright and we just didn't get all the shots that I wanted. So I called Melinda and begged her to met us again! She is so sweet! We got some great shots! I found a really neat frame that says: "FAMILY: The love of a family is Life's greatest blessing". I can't wait to put all my great pictures in it and hang it on my wall. Here are a few of my favorites.

To see the rest of them, you will just have to come to my house. As Brice and I were looking through them he said to me "why didn't you tell me to smile?" To which I replied "Well, we were having pictures, I thought that would be a given!" Brice doesn't love having pictures taken, I guess I should just be glad he was there! Thanks Melinda, for playing two weeks in a row! Let's do it again soon!!!

*Honey Do's for me and you!!!

Today I went to get my hair done. Brice's list of things to do was growing by the minute!!! He had to move everything out of the "crap room". When I got home he had everything out of the soon to be guest room. Brice had gone back to Home Depot, we went last night after dinner to get all the stuff we needed to put the bathroom together. To bad I forgot to pick up the paint after they mixed it! We got home and Brice said "where's the paint!!" WHOOPS!!

Anyway, my mom had called this morning with a mechanical problem. Brice dropped everything that he was doing and went up to rescue her. He took Sadie with him so she could hang out with her sister. It was kinda nice not to have her under foot wanting to be pet every few minutes. Madison was not being to cooperative with letting me get to painting. Every time I would get her to sleep and put her in her bed, she would shortly wake up and want to be held by me.

We took a break to go and pick up the pooch, hoping the car ride would put Madi to sleep for a good while. We got the dog, got some take out and headed back home. I finally got to the bathroom. It didn't take to long, I did manage to drop the can of paint, luckily it was in the tub so the clean-up was fairly easy. I think it turned out really cute. We just need to hang the shower curtain and the little shelf we have, but it's done. Didn't plan on doing it this weekend, but now it's another project finished. I didn't get a before picture, but here's the almost done picture. We just need to hang the shelf and the shower curtain.

Brice also decided that he didn't have enough on his plate. He decided that we needed to replace our microwave with one that went over our stove. When he pulled the hood down he found yet again another example of what great workmanship went into building this house. Instead of cutting the sheet rock and putting in an outlet box, the builders just punched a hole (literally) in the sheet rock and pulled the wire through.

Brice the little perfectionist that he is, had to then put in an outlet box and do it the correct way before he could hang the microwave. It turned out to be more of a project then he intended!

However, it does look really great. I'm glad to have this project done as well. It will give me a lot more counter space (once I clean off the top of the old microwave and move it off the counter. What a busy weekend it's been!! No wonder we are both tired and sore!! It looks great babe! You did a great job!

*Projects!!!

We are blessing Madison on Sunday the 30th, afterwards we are having a little open house here. There is nothing like inviting a ton of people over to your house to spur you on to finishing all the little projects you keep procrastinating!

Before I got married I had a guest room and an office upstairs. Once I got pregnant we changed the guest room into the nursery. Well by the time we got the nursery together I was right in the middle of being pregnant and not having a ton of energy. So we took everything from the guest room (minus the bed) and shoved it into the office (otherwise referred to as the "crap" room). I have just kept the door closed on this room, because I don't want to deal with it!!! :)

Well I know that people will want to come and see the nursery when they are here for the open house so I didn't want to have to keep the door closed and warn them not to open the door for fear the room would fall out on them!!! So I told Brice that this weekend we had to get the guest room put together. This was more work for me then Brice. Seeing as I had a TON of crap to sort though. We are moving our office downstairs into our crazy little unfinished room off our family room. One day soon we will get this room finished. Anyway here is a before picture. Hopefully it will be a guest room soon!!!

Mom came over today to go to Park City with me. It was very nice to have her company, but it was also great once we got home. She held Madison while I was working in my "crap" room. I don't know who was more comfortable...Mom or Madison. They both look pretty comfy to me!

When Brice got home I told him that he had a lot of "honey do's" to do tomorrow. I was talking to him while working feverishly getting things thrown away, filed away and packed away. We were going to dinner so I was trying to finish before going. I finished what I was doing and walked into the hall to find Brice in the bathroom. He had taken off the mirror, light fixture. I said "What are you doing?" We talked about painting the bathroom to match Madi's room, with yellow walls and bead board. Brice said "We have got to get this bathroom done too." I paniced a little thinking of all the things I need to get done in the next week. I guess I'll be spending tomorrow painting!!! Help!!!

Anyway... thanks mom for holding Madi. It was nice to be able to get something done!

*The Giant Laundary Basket

So I spent all this time finding the perfect crib. I drug Brice to more then one store, multiple times. Well...Madison has only slept in it twice so far. We found it is just to big for her and she doesn't stay asleep. Brice suggested we put her in her swing that is snug and she doesn't have a lot of room to get lost in. So since about night number 3 at home she has slept in her swing, and she loves it. She sleeps really well in it, about 5 hours a night.

The other day I had a lot of laundary to do. My sister had given me a bunch of hand-me-down's that I had gone through and washed, plus a lot of other stuff. So I just kept empting the laundary basket of clean clothes into Madi's crib. Brice walked into Madi's room and was quite shocked to see the crib so full. He then called it my giant laundary basket and said he was glad to see the crib was getting some use!! :) Hey...who has time to fold laundary? I'd rather be holding my baby!!!

*Family Pictures

Today we went and met my cousins Jessie and Melinda, and their little boy Owen to do some family pictures. Melinda and I had talked and decided that we would take turns taking each others family pictures. We met at Memory Grove early this morning. We decided to do theirs first since Madi was asleep and Owen was awake and happy at the minute. You never know how long these little kids attention span is good for! Little Owen is so cute, such a cute little family. Here are some of their pictures....

Anyway, we got some great shots of them. It then came time for us. By this time the sun was really high in the sky and it was bright. Our pictures didn't turn out quite a good because of the lighting. Here are a few of ours though that I really like....

I might have to grab Melinda to take a few more. It was really fun to be with them though. I love my family... I have such a great one! Once we finished taking pictures I handed Madi over to Melinda to hold. Melinda and Jesse are waiting a bit longer to have another baby, but Melinda was aching to hold her! Owen was really cute with Madi, he even decided she was worthy of a kiss. What a doll!

Thanks Melinda for playing with us today!!! You are so great and I love you so very much. I am so glad that we have become friends!!! Let's get together again soon!

*Forever Strong

Today Brice and I went and saw the movie "Forever Strong". It is about the Highland Rugby team and the man that coached them for many years. It has been a long time since I've been to a movie where I walked out and thought "that was a great movie!", but this was definately worth the price of the ticket. It's amazing what a positive influence will do for someone. If every person in this world had a Larry Gelwix in their life, this world would be an incredible place to live! I would highly recommend this movie to everyone!

*Being a Mom!

Today was a great day. The only real things I accomplished today were taking Sadie for a walk, making dinner and being a Mom. I got to hold my daughter all day. She only sleeps and is happy when I am holding her. In fact when she falls asleep and I put her in her bed, it only takes her a few minutes to realize that I am no longer holding her. Nothing gets done, but I do get to hold her and that is just magical.
What an incredible experience to get to be a mother! Just to get to watch her grow, breath, live! How lucky I am to have this experience. One day I hope to get on a schedule! To get done more then just taking a shower and putting on clean underwear! :) Until then, I will just enjoy every minute that I get to hold my little princess!

*History is made today!

Today history was made in this country! Today was election day. I love that I live in a country where we are allowed to have a say in how this country is ran, and who will be the leader of the country. I love that it is a right that we have. To bad there aren't more people who feel need to vote their opinion. Election day in itself is historic, the fact that we have elected a new President, but another reason this day is historic is because the 44th President of the United States is an African American. President Elect Barack Obama. No matter if you voted for this man or not, he is about to lead this country for the next 4 years at least. I think American will head in a new direction, I can only hope it will be in the direction this country needs to go.

During his acceptance speech he said something that I thought was very profound. He said something to the effect of; "To those of you who's trust I have not gained, I will be your president too." I think of how far this country has come in the last 40 years. 40 years ago this never would have happened. It was amazing to me the amount of people who were there in Chicago to be there when he accepted the Presidency. He had 338 electrial votes compared to McCains 150. It obviously says to me that the country has spoken, wanting this man and what he stands for.

*One Month

I can't believe how fast the time has gone. My baby is a month old already! Is she not the cutest thing? I love her hair. I tried to use a little bit of gel to keep the curl and help it to lay down...yea didn't work! It just spiked right back up as soon as it was dry.

Today Madi had her one month check at the pediatrician. She weighed 9 lbs., 7 oz. and is now 22 in. long! She is just growing like a weed. She had her second Heb B shot today. She did really well. She only cried for a few seconds. Of course after all she has been through in her short little life, what is a quick poke in the thigh. Next month she will have to have several shots and I am sure that won't be fun, but the kid does great!

She is more awake these days. Especially at 4am when she gets up to eat. She just thinks it's time to be awake. I would appreciate if she would go back to sleep at this point, but it takes a while for me to get her to feel the same way. She has such a cute smile. I am totally in love!

I was watching "Jon & Kate + 8" today. I am so glad that I just have one! :) I love just getting to love on her. To hold her, bath her, take her places with me. She is my little buddy. Poor Sadie... she is so jealous! She just watches me holding Madi! I feel so bad, and I try to give her loves every time that someone else is holding Madi, but it's still really hard on her to share. Hopefully she will still loves me, but I know this is hard on her!