Happy Valentine's Day!

I just love Valentine's Day! It's a holiday full of eye candy! The red and pink, the glittered decor, yummy candy and chocolates....I love just strolling the aisles at the grocery store looking at all the fun packaging! But I look forward to it more and more every year because my hubby spends a lot of time creating a new Valentine every year, and writes hilarious and very sweet poems inside! He's done it every year since we were engaged, and it's become my fave thing to pull out our Valentines each year and read all of his past poems. This year he made a Hershey's kiss Valentine and the poem might've been his best work yet!

It's also a very exciting holiday because last year on Valentine's Day I found out I was pregnant! It was so fun- I stayed up all night writing Johnny a poem to tell him the big news! So now that's a really special one that I love reading along with all of Johnny's poems to me. John suggested we name her Gretel Valentine because it has such fun meaning to us...we were very close to using that for her middle name.

Our collection of poems...

Also, I had SO much fun two weeks ago! I got to go home for a very quick visit! My darling girlfriend Betsy got married!! I was so happy to be there- it was a fabulous day and the reception was tons of fun. She looked so stunning; I really would've been sad had I missed her big day...thanks dad, for flying me home for just a couple of days!

It was Gretel's first flight, and I was so relieved that she slept well both to and from Salt Lake. Everyone that saw her in the airport kept commenting on what huge eyes she had, and how alert she was! My parents picked me up from the airport, and my mom started crying as soon as she saw Gretel. I feel so bad that they don't get to see her more often-every day I think she's at such a fun age and wish my fam could see her more; but at least I got to play show-and-tell with her just before she turned 4 months!

Bets the Bride!!

We kept saying, "Daddy's little girls" in an obnoxious voice- then my dad joined in and it was even more hilarious!

I'm so glad my parents have so much energy-the grandbabies have a blast with them!

Hailey's cute boys Hudson and Oliver were very sweet to Gretel-they are such loves; they'd give me hugs and kisses whenever I asked!

So Saturday was extremely busy-we tried to pack as much into that day as possible since I was leaving the next day. We did some lunching, shopping, and I gave my mom and Hab pedicures. But the best part of all? I "got my hair did" as Missy Elliot (and mostly Hab and I) would say. So much better than touching up my partline roots myself, which is what I did a couple of months ago just to get me by!

Thanks to my sweet sis for doing a major rearrange of her schedule to fit me in, plus taking that Saturday off since it was our only time to play!!!

So here we are picking out some very fun Valentine spoils at Dear Lizzie. I had to get a pic of us introducing Gretel to our mecca!

What a fabulously fun weekend, fam! Can't wait to see you next time!

P.S. I have to clarify something from the last post. Gretel was NOT with me during my last encounter with the big bad dog. Thankfully, she was safe at home with Johnny!

My Bearded Baby in the Baby Bjorn!!!

Dreams really do come true! (I'm sorry, Gretel, that you weren't the first to use the Baby Bjorn...you're already so good at sharing!) It has truly been my greatest dream ever since the first day we got Gwennie to have her tucked in a little front-pack just like my baby kangaroo! I even remember asking to borrow Hailey's the day after we'd brought Gwen home, because I wanted to hold her all the time, and thought I could do my makeup and other stuff with her in it.

So a couple of months ago, the groomer told me it looked like Gwen had an ear infection. So I took her to the vet that same day (poor little lamb-she had a rough day) and they found that both ears were infected, one a little worse than the other. So, we've had to give her eardrops twice a day. The first two days of this were the worst! She wasn't even acting the same-very agitated, and she couldn't get comfy to fall asleep, because I think it hurt her to lay her head down. So, she would tilt her head up, and try to hold it there, and after a while, her eyes would start to shut, but she was getting no sleep! Even at night (she sleeps in our bed) she'd hop around trying to get comfortable, but couldn't. The next day, she just wanted to be held by either me or Johnny, so I decided to bust out the Bjorn! I was elated to find that she loved it! I stuffed it with a little blankie so she'd stay curled up, and it was perfect! I cleaned bathrooms, changed sheets, and other housework while Gretel napped and thankfully Gwennie got a little nap too. She was very content! Her sick day was my moment of glee!

So, that was then; (her ears are all better) and this is now: Our Brush With Death!! It just happened this morning and it was terrifying! We were out for a walk, when this pitbull ran up to us. No leash or tags, and the trail we were walking along was filled with people saying they've seen him roaming around without an owner in sight since yesterday. I soon realized this was our second encounter with this exact same dog. Thankfully, he seemed more calm (and a little skinnier-poor thing is probably hungry) than last time. This is what happened a month and a half ago: He ran up to me, and I didn't know how to get rid of him. As he jumped all over me, I was desperately looking for the owner. I didn't have my cell with me, but Johnny was at class anyway. So I was relieved when a car pulled up beside me to help. I had Gretel in the stroller, and Gwen cowering at my feet, yelping with fright. The woman in the car said she'd drive around the block to look for the possible owner. She came back with no luck, and could see that with with every step I took the dog would jump on me so hard that I couldn't move. I tried putting Gwen in the bottom of my stroller, but she was too resistant. So the woman in the car took Gwen and followed me home.


This is what happened today. The dog was acting fine and Gwen was scared but doing well, but just as we were getting closer to home, the dog got more excited. He really is a friendly dog that just wants to play, but he became a lot more scary when he ignored my desperate commands of "down" and "sit" and just kept jumping on us. He was calmer when Gwen was on the ground, but I think he stepped on her, so I scooped her up, and it got worse. 3 people were trying to help get him off me, but had no luck. One girl called Johnny for me, and he drove to pick me. While I waited for him (it took 1 minute because we were very close to my house) there was this other family watching as they were taking piles of laundry and stuff out to their car. When the dog noticed them and ran in their direction, they all screamed, dropped their stuff, ran in the house and slammed the door just in time! So he came back to me, and was practically pants-ing me with each jump. I was trying to hold up my pants, hold Gwen out of his reach and his nails had ripped 3 holes in my clothes. I was so dang mad! I looked so disheveled when i got home - think Edward Rooney from Ferris Bueller. Pretty hilarious now but sooo scary at the time. Sorry there are no pics of my bedraggled self- our camera wasn't charged! The experience reminded me of one of my favorite quotes. "Have you ever had your face gnawed on by a wolf? Its no joy ride..."
- Big Bad Wolf (Fairy Tale Theater)





Here is a cute pic of Gretel instead....I took this a while ago after I'd styled her hair in devil wings!

Holiday Visitors!!

My Mom and sisters (Erin and Caitland) and niece (Ellie) and Gwennie's brother Gus came out the week before Christmas and kept Chelsea company while I got ready for finals.











I'm not sure what the girly group did with that week. I spent most of the time in a hotel room learning how to apply the rule against perpituities.

So that was a little shout out to my fam. Now on to the reason why people even check this blog.

New Pics!!!

Happy New Year!

On New Year's Eve, some friends of ours, Zack and Katie, invited us over to play games with them. We played a snowboarding game on the Wii Fit, and had a Sequence marathon. (my fave game) We always do girls against boys, and this time we beat the boys time after time! A few months ago, they taught us how to play Mahjong which is also a great game! We are so lucky to have such nice, fun friends to hang out with!

Gretel was tired and having a hard time falling asleep amidst the party atmosphere. So she was a little fussy, and I'm so glad I captured her sad face, because she hasn't really made this face before! Also, she is very funny when she's mad or frustrated because she makes lots of high-pitched squealing noises. What a little piglet...I love to say to her, "little pig, little pig, let me come in-not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!" She also loves to blow spit bubbles lately and coo and talk to me through her binky. What a fun age this is!

"FRA-GI-LE... must be Italian!"

Gretel's First Christmas!!!

My beloved leg lamp is still one of my fave things! I got it for Christmas about 5 years ago from my parents and I just love it....so does our little Christmas Elf!

Thanks, Mimi for sending such a festive hair accessory early-she's been wearing her glittering poinsettia headband to all her little Christmas parties!

We stayed in "Sac Town" for Christmas this year, and although we really missed our families, we had a fun and relaxing time spending the holiday here.

On Christmas Eve, a very fun family in our ward, the Gillespies, invited us over for dinner. It was so delish, and after dinner they always do a Nativity with their little kids; Gretel was baby Jesus which was very cute. They have a little girl that's just a month older than Gretel, who played a sheep, and their other daughter was Mary. Their two boys did various roles-they are such a darling family. We really had a great time!

On Christmas morning, Johnny woke me up and wanted us all to go and open presents-he's such a little boy! I call him my "manchild." I love Christmas, but he gets even more excited than I do. He's been memorizing "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and lately he's been talking about how he can't wait to dress up as Santa for future family parties because he says, "Santa is the jolliest man in the whole world." I have a very cute hubby!

We had a lot of fun opening our gifts to each other. But it felt so strange to us to open what our families got us without them-we really miss everyone!

Gretel was spoiled by her very sweet and generous grandparents (as were we!) Our parents are very good to us. She got some way fun books, toys, fab clothes, movies, and a little swing.

She's happy in her swing as long as her little mobile above her is moving. Since this particular swing doesn't have a mobile that moves on its own, Johnny and I were constantly jiggling it for her. Then, I had a brilliant idea-I tied some string from the mobile to the sides of the swing, so as she rocks back and forth, it makes her little friends above her move, too! She loves watching them now!

A couple of weeks ago, I took Gretel on a little shopping spree with me so we could get her first Christmas ornament! I saw in Anthropologie's catalog that they had these "milkmaid" ornaments! It was meant to be, because that's what Johnny calls her. So here she is-one little milkmaid posing with another!

Gretel Gumdrops Was Blessed!

We blessed the little cupcake on November 30, and it was a great day! She looked so precious in her little gown...I felt so nervous for Johnny that morning. He didn't feel nervous, but I just kept thinking that I'm so happy I'm not a boy, because this would be so terrifying! But he did a wonderful job! My parents, Teal, and John's parents all came to town for the blessing, and it was great to see everyone.

I know Thanksgiving is old news now, but here is what we did. My fam arrived Wednesday night, so it made Thanksgiving really memorable to have them there! We cooked in my little kitchen Thanksgiving Day- We had a blast, hanging out and playing with the Wii Fit!

Johnny's parents arrived on Friday. We went to the movies... all but Johnny (he stayed home to study for finals, so that was sad) We thought it would be fun for the guys to see the new James Bond and the girls could see Twilight!! That's right, Gretel Girlfriend went to her first movie-what a great chick flick to start her off! She woke up partway through, and was loving it. Her eyes were open so wide-she looked fascinated! She must have a little crush on Edward, too!

It was so nice to see our families-thanks everyone for traveling to see us... or I guess to see Gretel, really! Now that we have a baby it's fun to have more visits from you all!

A few more pics we took that weekend....

Johnny bathing her; I love how she's looking up at him. What a little lamb!

My mom giving her a bath; she says all the time, "Gretel really loves me-she thinks I'm all that!"

Gretel has been very smiley and she coos a lot!! Her little voice is so fun to hear!

Fall Post - Things We've Done Since October

Gretel's First Halloween!



For Halloween Gretel was such a fashionista wearing her preemie (still baggy)onesie and her festive black tutu!
Gwen looks a little humiliated in her "Happy Hallowiener" costume!



Gretel's First Spa Mani/Pedi



It was so fun clipping and filing her tiny little nails! Her hands are so miniature and cute-Her nails are so thin and fragile, I had to bust out the hot pink buffer to use it as a file, because it's much more gentle and she had some rough edges from the clippers. I just loved her first appointment with me! I think she likes me taking care of her and making her feel like a lady! I put her right to sleep...so relaxed just like a true woman at the spa!




...those were a couple of our fave highlights of last month.

Now here are some choice pics of our little "milkmaid!" Johnny named her this, and it's become my favorite nickname!






She loves her "bling" binky-thanks, Betsy!

Thanks to Auntie Hab for the fab headband! (it feels like real rose petals!)



Tummy time! She's always had the strongest neck, and has been able to hold it up since day 1...


Our little "Mad-Hatter" - she gets mad every time we put this hat on her...



She's a natural at impersonations - this is her Dr. Evil from Austin Powers - she wanted to shave her head bald for the full effect but mommy wouldn't let her.



Our Posh Princess is ready to be chauffeured around town



She Loves bath time - maybe she just likes hanging out in the buff like her old man.




Sweet dreams Gretel Emeline