I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!

That is all...  but to emphasize the excitement here is a picture at our evening after Mother's Day dinner.  We have decided to make this a tradition since my last three Mother's Days haven't gone exactly as planned.

This is Us.

Spencer 24, Ashley 18

So these pictures were taken of us shortly before we met.  We had no knowledge of the other's existence, yet...  Spencer was losing hope of ever finding someone, and I was getting ready to serve a mission.  I was living in Austin, TX going to the University of Texas and working as a massage therapist.  I met Spencer in late June, he was home from BYU for the summer, but I had a boyfriend at the time so nothing happened with us then...  Well, that boyfriend and I broke up shortly thereafter, and Spencer asked me out on our first date three days later.

The Sunday after we got engaged.

I remember the night he asked me out.  I had come home early from somewhere and was going to skip Institute (a bible study class) and just go to bed early.  I woke up at 7 pm on the dot and could NOT get back to sleep.  Since Institute had already started I decided to just go and sit in the back, I don't know what possessed me to give up my battle with trying to get back to sleep, I like to think Alice and Norah had something to do with it....  Well, the Bishop so happened to be there that night so I approached him about wanting to go on a mission, and he was able to start getting the paperwork ready that night.  Well, after Institute let out I started talking to a group of my friends and Spencer was among them...  they all invited us to Pluckers and I didn't have to try very hard to get Spencer to go...  remember I was officially single at the time so flirting was part of the game....  Spencer was not a night person by any means...  but he came, and I knew he came because I asked him.  I even conveniently didn't understand the directions to Pluckers so he ended up taking me.  I thought he was cute, but he went to BYU and would be gone in less than two months so I thought it was harmless.  Anyway, that night he asked me on a date.  It was either him or the Singles activity, so I picked him.  That night I went in to talk to my roommate Tressa about my day, the impossible early bedtime, my mission, and Spencer.  I made a resolve to not go on any other dates after the one with Spencer since I was going to put full focus on my mission.  One more date, I thought to myself, then no more boys.  How real that came to be... just not exactly how I'd planned...

The Monday after we got engaged.

Spencer and I had a marvelous first date.  I ended the night by showing him my mission papers just in case he got the courage to push any further dates.  The fact that we had held hands, though, didn't help that much...  Then came the worst 5 days of our lives.  Saturday came and he texted me and I took all day to respond...  Sunday came and I had a run in with the ex boyfriend and was a wreck so I never texted or called Spencer back after our last correspondence, but at that point the ball was in my court...  I was supposed to call him when I had time.  I didn't want him to be a rebound, I already really liked him...  I couldn't get him out of my head.  Then finally Wednesday came, I was on my way home from my new job stopped at 15th and I35, and I was still lamenting over the things my ex had told me he really didn't like about me....  my randomness, my ditziness, how I can sometimes be two conversations behind, how I don't always get jokes, etc.  And then the strongest feeling came over me and the thought, "But Spencer already loves those things about me."  I was overwhelmed.  I had to call him.  I went home told my roommate that I needed to call him and she had just seen him the night before and told me he seemed uninterested, or at least he thought I was, so he was going to move on.  I couldn't take that...  so I called him, I apologized, and we talked.... a lot... I had plans that night, but I cut them a little short.  He was sick so I saw him early the next afternoon...  And then the next day, and the next and just about every day until he went back to school.

The cover to our wedding announcement! 

The week after we started talking again I knew I was in for it.  He was so funny and respectful, nice and sweet, he laughed at my quirks and adored me, and I absolutely adored him. Still do.  We kissed on Aug. 1st and that was the beginning of our steady relationship.  That weekend he met my family as my friend and they all like him right off the bat...  the words marriage prospect even left my mom's mouth, and my dad liked how honorable he seemed to be.  Funny side note, we were holding hands in my parent's ward that Sunday and the Sunday School teacher caught us off guard and basically told him to put a ring on my finger ASAP...  haha, my mom laughed when the story got back to her, and that teacher was not surprised when I showed up a couple months later with just that!

Yes, you read that right...  a couple months...

The last weekend he was in town before he had to leave for school, I was in San Antonio and he was in Austin.  I knew if I had asked him to come he would have, but I wanted to see if I could handle myself.  haha.  I fell in love with him that weekend.  That was when I knew he really was that one person I would spend the rest of eternity with.  I even told my bishop that.  My bishop even told me I shouldn't turn down a proposal if it came, he had known Spencer over the years and deemed him a very honorable young man.

Wedding Day!!  12-27-2007

Well, Spencer left on August 30th, and I couldn't take it...  so we made plans for him to come the first weekend in October.

We talked all the time, and we found skype such a reliable tool!  I was still preparing for a mission since I was not going to stay behind for a boyfriend.  Sooo...  that fateful weekend arrived and Spencer not only asked my dad if he could take my hand, he asked me to be his wife.  I said yes of course! We were married just two and a half months later.  Looking back, I know we jumped into things, but I wouldn't change it for the world!  So many blessing have come from our marriage, and it is only getting better.  I guess you could say we are crazy, but at least it is about each other!

And they lived happily ever after

Life... What an Adventure

A friend of mine posted something on her blog today that got me thinking.  A lot....  I don't think that was her intention, but as we are in similar boats as far as how quickly we jumped into married and mommy life...  I couldn't stop dreaming of the day I am just a little bit older...  Alice and Norah will be older and not as dependent upon every single moment of my day, and while I will have a couple more kids by that point, I will have the baby part down a little better.  We will be able to go camping, to the zoo, swimming, and yes while I will probably be taking care of a baby or two, two or three kids will be able to enjoy these fun festivities.  I was dreaming of what they will be like, what kinds of things they will like.  Will Alice climb trees as much as she climbs furniture, will Norah be a busy body or mellow, will they like the same things or be complete opposites???

All this thinking got me caught up in a whirlwind.  I was at Wal-Mart and as I was leaving this clean-shaven, late-30's, well-dressed gentleman came up and asked me if he could earn a dollar by cleaning my window.  I only had a twenty on me.  A twenty that turned up in the washer, a twenty dollar bill that neither Spencer or I remembered to whom it belonged or what it was intended for.  Cash is a rarity in our house.  I told him that if he had change that would be fine, but I kept the knowledge of what amount I had to myself.  He simply said that he didn't have much, pulled out 2-3 dollars and said that he was just trying earn money for his kids.  I almost cried right in front of him.  He quickly said that he was sorry to have bothered me and not to worry about it.  I told him I would come back with change, but he said not to.  No sooner than I had finished putting Norah in the car had he made it to the other side of the parking lot.  This man was not messing around.  I drove around watching how earnestly he worked.  I was on my way home, a huge weight on my shoulders and the Spirit reminding me that this was the reason I found that $20, and with this image of him working for every dollar like it was a hundred.  I am almost always skeptical of the sincerity behind someone who asks for money, but this man was trying to work for it.

So I am driving home with this weight and I turn around and start heading back, fighting with my inner self...  questioning myself, I'm doing the right thing, right?  But I just kept going.  I drove through the parking lot and I couldn't find him, so I said a little prayer that if he was being sincere I would find him right then, and no sooner than I start coming up the next aisle and there he is!  So I park and wait for him to finish talking to these two ladies, and I see one of them give him more than a dollar and he gives her the rest back and now I am wondering....  So I get out and start talking to him...  I am not just going to hand over a twenty dollar bill.

Turns out that he just recently went through a divorce after a temple marriage, 17.5 yrs and 6 kids.  He had previously been laid off from a job he had had for a long time and never finished school, he was in the process of finishing school but then the divorce happened, and he kept thinking he would find a job.  When I showed him the 20 dollar bill he almost cried.  I told him I knew he didn't have the change so to just take it.  He offered to come to my house to clean all my windows, but I declined... I am not that crazy.  Talking to him calmed all my nerves and I knew he was who he said he was.  He gave some advice upon parting...  To never take a day for granted and to always honor my temple covenants and to alway stay close to my husband and make sure our marriage is strong and that we always communicate. One thing I didn't mention, was that he did clean all my car windows, he wouldn't take the money otherwise.

So back to my dreaming...  I decided that dreaming for more than a split second is a bit excessive.  It doesn't matter NOW what Alice and Norah, and however many other kids I will have, will be like...  (Don't get me wrong, I will still dream and wonder what they will be like, but I need to keep things in perspective.) So I got back into my car and looked at my babies and thought of my wonderful husband and decided to make the most of every moment... and although that only lasted until about 7:45 pm today (thank goodness Spencer got home just then!), I will try to make it to the 8 o'clock bedtime tomorrow, and every day after that, until I succeed at figuring out how to keep my cool ALL the time ...  I guess no matter what, though, I will always have to battle the every day adventure called life...

Someday

Someday I will get in shape.  Someday I will be a good mom that doesn't get worked up, stressed or overwhelmed.  Someday we will be out of debt. Someday I will be able to think outside my bubble and help someone in need. Someday I will be proactive and anxiously engaged in good. Someday I will be able to say I study my scriptures and pray every single day.  Someday I won't be obsessed with Facebook!

"There is a danger in the word someday when what it means is “not this day.” “Someday I will repent.” “Someday I will forgive him.” “Someday I will speak to my friend about the Church.” “Someday I will start to pay tithing.” “Someday I will return to the temple.” “Someday …”" - President Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and now The First Presidency - This Day, Apr. 2007, Ensign May 2007

I think about this rather frequently these days...  How to better improve my quality of life.  With all the trials we have had over the past couple months, it is hard to keep everything else in check, and a bit overwhelming to 'strive for perfection!'  But then I read the words and testimonies of the Apostles and Prophets the Lord has placed on the earth for us to turn to during these very times in our lives.

I have a testimony that these men are chosen by our Heavenly Father to be our trusted guides along the strait and narrow path toward our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and everlasting salvation and eternal life.

Although, this doesn't really make anything "easier," it does make it "lighter."  Now, if only I could remember these things BEFORE I freak out at my family...  that would be wise.  It's always gotta be something...

A Life Full of Learning, Failures, Successes, and a Lot of Laughs in Between!

If you had asked me my thoughts on wifehood and motherhood a few days ago I may have simply responded with uncontrollable sobs and a few words and phrases muttered in between, like "hard,""I need a break,""too much," or "tiring."

Last Friday night I reached a breaking point, I sat at the top of the stairs crying and contemplating why I had become such a bad caretaker.  As I listened to my daughter crying because she was just spanked on her leg due to her incessant need to get out of bed every ten seconds for an hour before finally giving up and going to sleep (which had been going on for a month), as I listened to my poor husband coughing and moaning with the worst sickness I have ever seen him undergo, as I thought of the mess the house had become because I simply couldn't do it all, I remembered that our Heavenly Father will never give us more trial and tribulation than we can bare.

Through our trials come great blessings.  So why can't I be cheerful while I wait for the blessings?!  Why is it that one of my weakness is to become overwhelmed with life's trials when my house is a mess?  Tuesday was my sick day, I was resting and sitting all day so I wouldn't be near as sick as the rest of my family had been, I couldn't afford to even rest that one day, let alone two or three... so rest I did.  Spencer got home that night and was trying to help me with the girls and I was bouncing one of them on my lap and tickling them...  Spencer had the other one and was just letting them sit there.  He asked, "Is this what you do all day?" I quickly responded, "What? Be lazy?"  He was surprised by that comment, "Uuh, no this isn't lazy! This is busy!" Haha, I guess keeping babies happy can be busy, but I responded again, "I feel like if I had been busy all day, I would have a clean house to show for it!" Then Spencer, as sweet as he is, said something like "A clean house should NOT measure how busy you have or haven't been."  Why can't it be that simple?!  Well, it can.

I am such a horrible wife and mother when my house is a mess and especially when the dishes are undone.  Others would argue that I am being hard on myself, or that I am grossly over-exaggerating, but my heart is not with my family when this temporal establishment could suit swine better than human beings.

So what have I learned through all of this??  Stop STRESSING!  Being a good wife and mother is not measured by how clean the house is.  No one is going to come over when you are a walking incubus of viral plague anyway, and if they do, they know what to expect!  I know when I finally realized that the condition of my house didn't have to interfere with my mood I felt less overwhelmed by the task at hand.  I know I am not going to let my house go forever, but even more so I can't let my family go in the slightest if  I am going to keep the Spirit in my home.

Growing up I remember my mom would also get short and frustrated that our house wasn't spotless, and then I became the same way.  She learned over the years to let some things go, and I must do the same.  I am way too obsessive about my house, and not enough about my family.  The Lord would not have us create a House of Order without the Spirit in it.  It would not make sense.  So then, this is my challenge, trial, and ultimately my blessing.  To look past the mess when it interferes with my family's well being, to love them, care for them, and to avoid my breaking point at all costs.

Being a a wife and a mother has taught me a great deal about prioritizing and planning ahead for unseen trials.  It has taught me how to love unconditionally, compassion, and the importance of keeping the Lord close to everything I do and say.  Had I been relying on the Lord when the stress kept piling on, my daughter wouldn't have suffered through yelling and a spanking that she didn't deserve.  She is almost two, and then she will be three and then sixteen.....  I have to be ok with this, and if I am not, I need to ask and plea with the Lord to make me be ok with it!

I am still learning, I just need to learn quickly, because apparently, much to my dismay, my family can't function without me!

Back to Work

Spencer had knee surgery on Tuesday.  All went better than one could have hoped.  We thought he was going to be off his leg for 4 weeks and then in a brace for three months, but since the tear in is meniscus was irreparable they cut out the tear and Spencer was walking the next day.  He did have to keep his leg up for 48 hours, but at least he didn't have to mess with crutches every time he needed to go to the bathroom!

Spencer is amazing, I am just so happy to be his wife.  I watch how much joy being a husband and a father bring him, and it makes me want to be a better wife and mother.  We really have too much fun together!  He is my best friend.

Alice and Norah are so cute!  They are becoming such cute sisters!  Alice knows how to get into the crib, and although we do not condone this behavior, it was cute to see them asleep side by side the other night.  Alice had gone into the crib to comfort Norah and they fell asleep in there together.

Alice is talking more and more clearly.  I love it! She is beginning to test her boundaries yet AGAIN!  She has been in a grown up bed for months now and hasn't usually made things difficult.  She has also been able to open doors for quite some time and this as only posed an issue on occasion...  but for the last week she has been getting out of bed every night, nonstop, for over an hour!  Ok, maybe only two of the nights was it over and hour, but STILL!!  Anyway, so last night she only got out of bed three times, and tonight I am hoping it's none.  I mean, we made progress with the naps, she hasn't gotten out of bed two whole days in a row during her nap time.

Norah.... Norah, Norah, Norah....  is still NOT crawling!  But she entertains herself pretty well, so I am consigned to think she is too content to have the desire to crawl yet.  She wiggles all around a three foot circle though!  She is pretty happy most of the time!  And she has 5 almost 6 teeth!  She is already a little bit of a picky eater....  I just hope it doesn't progress into what Alice is, as far as pickiness.

I am losing weight gradually, about 1 lb a week, which is in accordance with the breastfeeding and weight loss guidelines I found at www.mypyramid.gov.  Except I lost 10 pounds right after Christmas...  but we had just moved into our new house and it has stairs and we have two babies... :)  My clothes are fitting better and my tummy is getting smaller!  I am so excited about this change!  I just have 15 more pounds to go and after 5-10 I will be confident in my swimsuit...  I am already where I was when I got married, so I am happy with that little success!  I have officially lost all pre-pregnancy weight, but I still don't fit into my clothes as well as I used to!  I hate jeans...  they make life difficult. So I am 137 and my healthy range is below 129, so naturally I want to be 120...  so that is really 17 pounds, but 15 makes it sound less daunting and more manageable.

In more recent news, I am sad to say that I lost a good friend, we worked together 6 years ago, and I was a bridesmaid at her wedding. She was no longer married when she died and had a 1 yr old baby. She was a San Antonio City Cop and was answering a call when struck head on by a drunk driver who was driving the wrong way with no headlights.  Both were killed.  I am so sad.  I was supposed to meet up with her when I was in town and it never happened.  I will always regret that.

I will post pictures later.  Over and out.

I should be sleepin'.....

The last few months have really flown by!!  Now that things are almost settled I figure I should get back in the routine of blogging.  I don't keep a journal very well, it is more sporadic than this!

Spencer is LOVING his job!  He is currently working on a game for the iPad, and it is down to crunch time so he is putting in extra time at work so he can get it done as close to on time as possible!  He is so great!  I just have to throw in here that I really appreciate him and all he does for us.  He jumps right into his Fatherly duties the second he walks into the door!  Alice absolutely LOVES it when he gets home, she screams "DADDY" and runs into his arms.  Although, yesterday she was squatting like him and holding her arms out the way he does and saying "YAY" like Spencer does when she runs into his arms...  I think she was trying to get him to run into her arms...  It is so fun to see him interact with her!  It is nice that he gets to come home for lunch, it is much needed interaction, even if it is for a short time.  He is now the Scout Master in our Ward (LDS congregation), and he is enjoying being with the Deacons (12-13 yr old boys) on Sundays and Tuesday nights.  He recently went on an overnight campout with a few other people from our ward, leaders and boys, it was called the Klondike I think, but they got to camp out in the snow!  I didn't realize how safe he made me feel until I was all alone in the house that night!  But he enjoyed it!

Alice is growing up so fast!  She is the smartest little kid I know!  She has such a good memory and she talks ALL the time!  She is becoming so clear in what she is saying!  She is putting little fragmented sentences together like, "Mommy up please,""More Juice please,""More Food please,""Read a book,""Watch a movie,""Daddy's working,""Norah's awake/asleep," etc.  She repeats almost everything I say and remembers most of it, especially if I am showing her what I am saying at the same time.  The other day, before my mom left, she was playing with her mouse and mouse pad and my mom was explaining that it went on the side of the laptop table, so, since my mom was showing her how to put them on the side, she now calls a mouse and a mousepad "on the side," haha  it is too cute!

Norah is growing too, she is sooo heavy!  She hit a HUGE growth spurt!  She grew at least 3 inches in one month!  She was scooting before and a little more coordinated, but she has to re-coordinate herself now that she has grown and is a little disoriented.  She is so cute!  She is eating baby food now, and loving it!  She loves it so much that she now watches everything that goes into my mouth with such longing.  I can practically see her mouth watering for whatever I am eating.  She is very alert and is catching on to alot, and she likes to take steps when you are holding her in the standing position.  I can't get her to sit up since she straightens her body out so tightly you can barely get her to bend at the waist.  But at least she squirms and rolls a little.  But I can't wait til she is moving!  I have to say, I am not one of those parents that likes it when their kids are stationary, mainly because mine are so high maintenance that they need my complete attention when they are on the floor or they will scream until I come to them...  And sometimes they scream for a while...  it's not good for the nerves I daresay.

Alice and Norah are so cute together, they are very aware of each other and Alice loves to give Norah kisses and hugs.  She likes to spend some of Norah's tummy time with her on her blanket showing her toys and then taking them away... haha.  Norah doesn't like that part but she loves the company!  They both sleep generally well through the night, Norah gives us 10.5-11 hr nights and Alice is up to 12-13 hrs...  Although Norah gives me 2-3 naps during the day and Alice is down to one really long nap a day.

As for me....  I have started selling Usborne Books to help with the student loans, but I am not able to really kick it off til Spencer's game is done.  I am nervous about it because I am not pushy and am unsure of how much money I will actually make for the amount of time it will take away from my family.  I am starting to feel better about just giving massages from home and possibly receiving tips, since I am not allowed to charge due to the fact that I don't have a Utah massage license.  I am currently exercising regularly and can really feel the difference, I have already lost 11 pounds since the start of the year!  I feel great and my endurance levels are increasing everyday!  Spencer even notices the difference, and if you know Spencer, he doesn't always notice little details like that, so it was a huge compliment!

We all love our new house and ward, and we know we were led here!  The other day Spencer and I were talking about how when we were in Texas the only real good thing that happened for our family was that Norah was born and everything else had failure or misfortune written all over it....  When we found our house we learned that it had been vacant for quite some time, more than a year, and the job Spencer currently has was actually available from the time he graduated...  I asked Spencer, "Do you think this house and your job were waiting for us to find them?"  He replied, "Yes, actually, I do."  I felt a confirmation right then, that even though we may not have listened to our initial promptings to stay in Utah, we were still blessed in the end for having finally heeded the promptings....  now, had we heeded the promptings in the first place, maybe a few fights and a few more misunderstandings could have been avoided, but in the end, it all worked out!

We are having such a blast!!

 Fashionista!!  Trying on Tracy's boots :)

 Look at those big blue eyes!!

 Loves from Alice

Daddy with his little girls!

Mommy and Alice

 Tired from all the scooting!  Look at those eyes!

So happy!!  Such a pretty smile!

Update! Pictures to come...

And we are back in Utah!!!

Shortly before Norah was born, Spencer lost all stability in the contract jobs he had while in Texas...  So he was actively applying to every job there was, but there just wasn't a market for entry-level programmers in San Antonio or Austin.

So the story is long, but the short of it is Heavenly Father is looking out for our family because, just when we had begun to panic about the fact that we couldn't get anything stable, this job arose in Utah!  So after alot of prayerful and thoughtful consideration we know this is where we need to be.  In fact, we feel so good about settling in Utah that we are buying a house!!!!

Yes, you read me, a house!  I can't wait!  Let's pray everything continues to run smoothly so that we can close in time to move in before we go home for Christmas!!  My advice to first time homebuyers would be to read EVERYTHING and make sure you understand it, and don't let your agent try to talk you into a house.  You have to LOVE that house!  Who cares if your agent gets tired of showing you houses, it's their job!  Just like a spouse, the perfect house for you is out there waiting for you to find it! In our case, we were driving around one Saturday and peeked in the windows, and now I can't believe this is happening, when I looked in I so hoped it would be in our price range because it was so great!  Exactly what I pictured our first home looking like :)

In other, more interesting news, Alice is talking soooo much these days!!  I love it!  She is such a sweet little girl and such a helper!  She shows her compassionate side all the time.  She always runs to Norah when she cries, and the other day Norah was beside herself in hysterics and Alice gave Norah her favorite blanket.  Now Alice's blanket used to be Spencer's but once she felt how soft and comforting and warm it was it became her "kanket" as she calls it.  I can't tell you how amazing it was to witness such a kind act from Alice, that she would offer the most comforting thing she had to her little sister when she was distraught and in need of comfort.

Norah is such a talker!!  She loves talking and babbling.  I love hearing it!!  When she gets up in the morning she is so happy!  She will just look up at me and babble away and it just warms me up in the morning :)  She loves Alice, she recognizes her and will watch her and talk to her, it is so cute!  I can never get Norah to laugh, but she will coo and babble like there's no tomorrow.  She is getting so big too!  She is already in 6 month clothes and she is only 4 months old, and at the rate she is growing she will catch up to Alice by the time she's one!  She is so tall!  And her hair is a lighter brown and her eyes are blue :) Total contrast.  She looks NOTHING like me....  not yet anyway.

Spencer and I are having a blast watching our girls grow :)  I am just trying to maintain my sanity at the same time...  that's a challenge these days!  I am having a blast teaching Alice and Norah new things everyday.  It is so fun :)  All in all, we are doing great!

Spencer's First iPhone/iPad App

Well, I (Spencer) have never written a blog post before but here goes. I released my first app on the app store! It's called 'Research Logger' and it's an indispensable utility for keeping your genealogy research notes.


When doing genealogy research it is helpful to keep track of the research that you have done. That way you don't end up repeating research. Research Logger is an app built for the very purpose of keeping track of the research that you have done. With this app you will no longer have to carry around a bulky notebook containing your research notes/log. Instead, with this app, all your research notes can be in one place that is easy to carry around. Maybe you are doing family research in the library and you need to go to the microfilm reader to look for your ancestor(s). With this app you can leave all your materials at the desk you are set up at and take your convenient iPhone/iPad with you. Or, what if you are researching in a book and you come across a family name or something you don't want to forget; if you have this app you would just have to pull your iPhone/iPad out of your pocket and log it down in the app; you could log it with a picture! No more having to walk back to your desk to get your cumbersome research notes.

Features:
-separate log entries for each ancestor
-search by phrase, all, or any key words over your log entries to quickly find what you are looking for
-a todo list
-record audio in your notes
-insert pictures

So anyway, you should download it and give me some good feedback on the app store. I am only charging $.99.

Spencer Graduated, we moved to Texas, and had a baby!!

Spencer Graduated!! yay!!!  This is the weekend we moved to Texas... talk about crazy!  We couldn't get Alice to look at the camera... she was trying to get his tassle!  I think I cried when he walked across the stage, I blame the pregnancy.  The Garners came and so did his dad, it was a joyous occasion!  

Alice's birthday was Apr. 29th, she LOVES chocolate cake... see below.

See what I mean??

We took her to the San Antonio Zoo for her birthday, my mom and Kayla joined us, and Alice seemed to like the birds most...

She really wanted the African Wild Dog to come closer.  She kept woofing... haha it was too cute!!

She was pooped before we got to the petting zoo.  Where some kid scared a goat which ran into the goat she was about to touch which then ran into Alice...  Needless to say, Alice didn't like the goats so much after that. :(

For Mother's Day Spencer printed this picture and framed it with a set of Alice's handprints.  It was wonderful :)  I felt like a real mom :)

We went to the valley to visit Abuelita and Tia Pepper where Alice learned to say "'lita" for Abuelita, and Spencer depopcorned and patched their entire 20x20 living room ceiling.  Talk about hard work.  Alice and I wanted to go to the beach, but it didn't work out, so I brought the beach to us in a three ringed pool.  The great thing about kids, they don't care where they  get wet as much as we picky adults do!

Alice learned how to drink out of a straw on this trip too...  oh boy.

One of Tia Pepper's knick knacks, Alice loved it!

Group Picture!  Tia Pepper is holding Alice.

Pepper, Alice, and Abuelita

Gangsta!  Haha, she loves wearing hats and stealing/eating cell phones.

First family photo in a loooong time!

Spencer and Alice, me, Kerri, Dad, Kayla, Mom, Jared, Jessi, Mark and Esper

Our cute little Family!!  Soon to be bigger little family...

Celebrating Corrine's birthday at Texas Land and Cattle.  Yum!

Lauren, Steph, Corrine, Alice, me, George and Spencer

Eating a PB&J sandwich all by herself....  that was fun to clean up :)

Here are a few updates:

- Spencer is doing contract work and has a couple of applications on the iphone/ipad app store! I will talk about the one he made himself in the next blog entry.

- He is doing this contract work while he looks for a permanent job and/or gets into graduate school.  We hope for both!  Jobs are hard to come by these days.

- Alice is talking more and more, and we are finally starting to understand her!!

- She LOVES spending time with her grandparents!  Especially "Papa," my dad, mainly because he spoils her and gives her chips... haha, and he lets her stay up late!  You would think he is like that because he is a grandpa, but his daughters could coerce him just as easily!  I love my dad!  She loves Corrine, Spencer's mom, and George, and she especially loves their walks!  The take her out every evening just about!  And her other "Papa," Spencer's dad, she just loves!  She loves it when he plays his guitar and sings to her, she just dances and dances!!  It is so cute!  She loves cuddling with my mom and stealing water out of her nifty water bottle.  And then there are the uncles and aunts!  Haha, she loves them all!  Steven is still her favorite I think because he has spent alot of time with her, but Kerri is starting to take the cake on the that one!  Haha... overall she doesn't have a favorite yet, although aunt Stephy is in the running for that one...  She just loves spending time with her family!  It is great to be close to everyone!

- I completed a completely insane 6 week Kinesiology class at UT and almost made it out with an A, but I guess I will settly for the B+...  It was a fun class, and everyone thought I was going to pop if I did anything to strenuous...  At least I got out of jump roping!

- I am not going to school this fall so I can spend time with my beautiful girls, and we decided to just focus on getting Spencer through graduate school before I finish...  that way if a job takes us elsewhere I can still transfer without losing credits.

- Overall, our lives are adjusting, and we are loving every minute of it!

- And for the most recent news......  We are pleased to anounce:

NORAH REBEKAH HALL

July 30th, 2010 12:17 pm

7 lbs 1 oz 19.75 in

Well, in most recent news we just had a new blessing added to our lives, Norah Rebekah was born on July 30th, 2010 at 12:17 pm. And boy is it a funny story.  I went in to be induced since I had been 4 cm dilated and 70% effaced for over a week and the pain in my pelvis was just too much to handle and the doctor didn't want me taking too much tylenol...  and at this point I was almost 40 wks and I wanted my baby out, but the doctor had a surgery scheduled for my due date and the hospital was available on the 30th (the day after my dr's appt in which we decided to induce), so I took it!  We get to the hospital before the sun came up and they got me all set up.  The doctor came in to give to OK to induce and they started the inducing stuff at about 8 am ish...  By 9:30 I was 6 cm dilated, but the baby was off to the side so we think this inhibited water breakage and downward movement of baby.  At 11:15 ish the Dr came in and broke my water to speed things along, since my delivery with Alice went rather promptly upon my water being broken.  She gave me one last chance to get the epidural before my water was broken, but I declined.  I could still get it after that, but I wanted to stick it out.  Oh boy....  were those contractions sharp!  I started to handle them really well, I learned that quiet and sitting up right helped alot! Spencer was a great help!  He helped me cope through the whole thing.  We learned that I don't like being coached WHILE the contraction is going.  Well, after about 45 minutes the pain has intensified ten fold, and I decide that if it is going to get worse I want the epidural.  So the nurse gets stuff ready - I really liked her, she was encouraging me to go pain med free, and not pushing anything on me - and we are waiting for the anesthesiologist.  So he gets to my paperwork at a little after 12 and the nurse comes in and lets me know he is on his way.  At this point I can barely breathe or think or do anything but scream and say "Tell him to hurry."  So mid contraction the nurse sees how much pain I am in and asks "Do you want me to check you?" I say yes, and barely do I spread my legs that she says, "Woa, the baby's right there, about an inch from coming out."  So I am crowning... hence the dramatic increase of pain.  She she says, "We can wait for the epidural or you can push"  I say "push" and she calls for the doctor.  Spencer remembers the rest of the story better...  I remember trying really hard not to push, but Spencer says I was pushing because the baby was coming out.  The nurse is getting her gloves on and picks up the intercom phone to yell for the doctor to get in there NOW...  Meanwhile my doctor was on her way to check on me when she passed the Labor and Delivery desk and heard my nurse yelling for her to come...  So my doctor sprints for it.  Spencer is getting ready to jump in and catch the baby, and then the doctor comes running in slips her gloves on faster than the speed of light, turns, and catches the baby.  haha...  well, maybe it took a minute, but the baby's head was coming out when she got there.  Anyway, it only took one push, but boy was I tired!

See what I mean?!  I look exhausted!! But I felt great!  I felt empowered that I made it, and I got back on my feet right away!  I will probably do this again, to tell you the truth.  I loved the epidural, but I also loved having this baby without anything but Spencer to help me through it.

Funny side note.  My mom didn't get there til right before they broke my water, and she left the room because she wasn't sure if she should be there or not (it all happened so fast we didn't have time to discuss it), but she was only gone five minutes total it seemed like...  She said that when the doctor ran to the room she lost her badge, but my mom picked it up for her...  haha.

The day she was born :)

First Family Picture :)

Alice's Scrunchy Face :)

Alice kissing her new sister

Going in for another kiss

Alice trying to show Norah one of her favorite toys :)

Our lives have been pretty eventful!  Alice seems to be taking this pretty well, although, I can tell she misses our undivided attention.  She is concerned whenever she hears her sister cry, and HAS to be right there! haha.  But we are adjusting!  I love my little family!!!

Tucano's

We finally did it!  Spencer took me to Tucano's for lunch today.  Boy, let me tell you!  That was some of the best meat I've ever done tasted!  I am so sleepy.  Even Alice enjoyed it!  She ate alot of grilled pineapple, which I never realized was so much better than just regular pineapple...  I could have eaten the whole skewer.  Oh and the top sirloin and brisket were delectable!  Alice tried a little bbq chicken, brisket, and sirloin, and we gave her fruit and veggies from the salad bar and took a jar of baby food.  Spencer and I are fans of the mango cod, it was just breaded cod with a mango sauce on the breading.  We are STUFFED!  I am going to take a nap...  Alice is already down for the count!

Green means to bring on the meat and pineapple!

Alice is enjoying her meal

 

Spencer is stuffed

I am stuffed (even though I ate more grilled pineapple after this)

 Alice is beyond stuffed

Red means STOP!

  

And when you tip this thing on its side, that means you want your check (and might need to be rolled out to your car...).