Surprise!

So just pretend like I have had the energy to put together an awesome announcement photo like this one. And that I am really tall.

Haha, at least my Paint skills are still killer :)

We are expecting baby #2 in early September!

Im about 11 weeks along and have been feeling awful the whole time. I wasn't sick with Tate at all, so maybe its a boy :) Tatum is pretty sure its a girl and is very excited to tell everyone "Im going to be a Big Sister!!" 

Tate Reads: We're Going on a Bear Hunt from Dani Brandt on Vimeo.

First Ballet Class

These videos are to cute for words. Watching her do ballet, in her little leotard and slightly too big shoes because they dont make a small enough size, was possibly the happiest morning of my life. Im so excited to take her every week in 2012!!









 She only asks to go to ballet class about 12 times a day now :)

Snokards

So it only took me a year to finish Greg's stocking 

(well it was in my sewing box from jan-nov this year)

The goal last year was to do one for each of us, same pattern just different fabric for each person.

Today Tate and I went to Target and picked out some for ourselves.

She insisted on getting the tiny one :)

5 Years

Greg and I celebrated our anniversary on the 9th of this month, it's so crazy that we have been married for five years! Half a decade! A year longer then highschool is. (For some reason I always measure things by the length of highschool)

In those five years we have accomplished alot. One beautiful daughter, two graduations, 3 moves, and alot of learning about love and family.

I'm so grateful that i found a man as hardworking, kind, and sexy ;) as Greg. And so grateful that we were able to be married in the temple, sealed together for all eternity. It gives me so much peace knowing we will be able to spend eternity together as a team. Whatever challenges we face, we are together. Whatever happiness we find, we can share it with each other.

I hope he knows how much I love him and how appreciative I am for everything he does for me. He is an amazing husband and a rockin' dad.


How we celebrated:

Had to get a pic of this sweet mullet

O Christmas Tree

We decided to get  a real tree this year, the first real tree I've ever had. We got  permit to go out and cut one down ourselves, and I was so excited!

We recruited Greg's brother Tyler and my sister Sierra, and started the journey out to Vernon to find our tree.

Long story short, it took much longer then we anticipated to drive out there,

it was about 25 degrees outside, which was also not anticipated.

Greg carried Tatum kangaroo style for most of the hunt,

fell onto a cactus as a result of  unsteady balance with Miss kangaroo going down a hill,

and had to take off his pants in the 25 degree weather to pull the thorns out.

The trees were far and few between,

and so were their branches.

a close up, ouch!

Finally we found one

 It's small, not very green, and doesn't have much of a smell to it,

but its our very own.

And now we have a pretty funny (hindsight) memory to look back on!

All decorated, and Tate showing her new sock monkey ornament

Well, we are well on our way to having a "big kid" on our hands.

we've been bottle free for a few months now, and last week i decided the binkie had to go. one night, i think it was tuesday, i put her to bed without it. i got her a sippy cup to hold and told her she was a big girl and binkies were for babies. she has asked for it a few times with minimal whining, but as long as i say "you're a big girl remember" she is fine. she has been harder to put down for bed the last month, so i figured if i was already dealing with a little crying and mom... mom...... moooom.... MOM!-ing, i might as well get the bink out of there and over with.

next week, or maybe the week after i will be attempting

dun dun dunnnnnn...

potty training! ah!

i went and got a few books from the library since i have no idea what i am doing. one turned out to be a how to teach your infant to use the potty book- not helpful. the next is potty training in one day. i'm reading this one through and i think i'll do it. basically you have to dedicate a few hours of one on one complete uninterrupted attention, demonstration with a doll, and treats and praise for a good job. it sounds like a fine method, we'll see if it will really work in a day though.

i am excited to let her pick our some big girl panties!!

our Halloween was a success

even though i really wanted to choose Tate's costume myself, something cool, not a fairy that 5 million other little girls were sure to be, but she was persistent.

and she was the most adorable Tinkerbell out of all 5 million, so thats something.

we stopped by the library for their trick or treating so we could meet up with Greg on his "lunch break". what's up with not closing early on Halloween t-mobile?

Peter, Tiger Lily and Tinkerbell

 Greg was also going to be the crocodile, but since he was working all night, and hadn't been able to go to any of the other dress up events we went to this year i didn't make his costume. i don't think he was to disappointed.

then we went around the neighborhood with our friends the Cuevas and got more candy then any two year old should ever have.

also the adorable Bartlett girls got to join us. their lucky parents are on a cruise this week. how fun for them!

above we have: Queen Riley, Iris the monkey, Tate as Tinkerbell, Superman Noah, a Tanya flower, and Ivan the ninja. we love our friends <3

Wordless Wednesday

We're So Glad for Aunties

Baby Wearing

The past few weeks we have been babysitting my good friends little boy 3 days a week. He is just 2 months old, and such an easy baby! (At least in our 5 hour increments). Tate LOVES having him around too. She is really gentle with him, and has a great time finding things for him to look at, or helping him with his binkie. Our only struggle is keeping her from pushing him while he is in the swing. It's a nice thought Tate, but we don't want him to get whiplash :)

I've also been getting more use our of my baby slings since he's been around. I didn't use them as much as I wanted to with Tatum, I always forgot I had them. She was just carried around in her car seat. No fun! But having 2 kids around I've realized my next baby will probably spend every day in a wrap. It so convenient to have them close, and still be able to do everything that involves keeping up with a toddler.

And doesn't Tatum look cute wearing her baby doll? She is going to make a great big sister one day.