My Girl

In case you didn't know... We have a new{ish} addition to our family! 

Her name is Reese. She is really pretty and happy and we love her a lot!

Here is her birth story.

Sidenote: I had {our now 2 1/2 year old} Oliver 3 weeks early, so throughout all of my pregnancy with Reese I just planned on having her early. This stressed me out because we had a family reunion and were moving within those weeks that I thought she was coming. 

Once I hit 37 weeks I was on edge 24/7! It's all I could think about...

was that a contraction? why can't I remember what a contraction feels like?

where will we all be sleeping when she comes? 

should I be lifting these boxes? I should lift more boxes.

I want her to come, but am I really ready for 2 kids?? 

I was going crazy...for reals.

Early on in the pregnancy my dr asked me if I would want to be induced. 

I quickly said no, because there's no way I was going to reach my due date!

{BTW- I was dilated to a 1 at 34 weeks, then a 3 at 37 weeks}

Well what do you know, my due date came and I was DONE being a crazy lady.

I had a dr appointment that day and asked when I could be induced. 

Much to my surprise she said, "today!" Didn't expect that. 

She told me to hurry home and grab my bag and get Oli situated and head to the hospital within 2 hours. 

Suddenly I wasn't so sure I was ready to share my love with another little feller just yet!

Last picture as a family of 3

My inlaws and sister in law took care of my little dude for the time I was in the hospital. It was so nice knowing he was in loving hands, 

I would've been a {bigger} stress case otherwise. 

My one and only belly picture

We got checked in around 2, I put my gown on, then we got to hang out for a while.

{I had to have penicilin in my system for 4 hours before getting anything going}

3 hours in, my nurse said we could break my water to start the process. She gave me the option of having my epidural first, and I was like HECK YEAH! 

Painless labor is pretty cool. 

Epidural...check

Broken water...check

Bachelorette Men Tell All on the tv...check {lucky Jon}

Within the hour after my water was broken, I was feeling lots of pressure with each contraction. 

It wasn't painful pressure, but I could definitely feel that Reese was getting ready to make her entrance! 

I clicked on the epidural-juice button a couple times in anticipation of pain, but it never came!

I was quickly dilated to a 10, things were moving really fast. 

My dr showed up, I pushed twice, felt everything {minus pain, again}

 then we heard the most piercing baby cry. 

This girl wanted her presence to be known! 

Welcome to the world, Reese Nicole! 

7lbs, 21 inches

Sweet in every way

I didn't tear as bad this time, and my recovery felt so much better. Lucky!!

I was often scared I wouldn't have anymore room in my heart for more kids...

Oliver took up all of the space! 

The amazing thing? My heart instantly grew bigger the day Reese was born.

Reese has been the best little baby. I recently started calling her "Flow" because she honestly just goes with the flow. As long as you aren't completely ignorning her, she is happy as can be. Even when her big bro is smothering her with "hugs and kisses". 

{his hugs= laying on top of her with all of his body weight...not so gentle but she just goes with it, grinning from ear to ear}

She is a great eater, semi-good sleeper, and nothing short of beautiful. 

I am so grateful to have a loving Heavenly Father that trusts me with these sweet babies. 

Being a mom of two under 2 has it's challenges, but I am quickly reminded what a blessing it is. 

Have you heard?

Have you heard the news? 

We are having a baby! Due the beginning of July.

Jon and I are really excited and anxious, but we still have quite a ways to go. 

On being prego so far...

The first trimester was pretty much horrible. 

I was lucky to not be a barf-face at all times, but I constantly felt like I had just gone on an incredible roller coaster at an amusement park, and felt like I could be a barf-face at any moment. 

Almost on the exact day I entered the second trimester I felt a lot of relief. 

I am still incredibly tired and Mrs. Grumpy Pants, but I can actually get through the work day now.

I will definitely be taking advantage of the next couple months and working as much as possible until the queeziness returns. 

As far as a baby belly goes...I just look really bloated. Yayyy..!

Luckily my pants still fit, but it is probably time to start investing in some comfortable mommy bottoms. 

When the Dr told me I wouldn't show until week 20 I was a little bummed and didn't really believe her.

Let's just hope in the next four weeks I start to look pregnant and not just chubby in the mid-section! 

We are in week 16, the babe is about the size of an avocado.
We will find out the gender in about a month! 

I can't wait to see our little Feller on screen, maybe it will feel more legit ;) 

What are your guesses... BOY or GIRL? 

Empire State of Mind

I've been home from New York for a month now, and decided I guess it's time to post about it :)

My sweet Mother in law planned a once in a lifetime girls trip to New York in November. 

How cool is that?

I'd never been before and have always dreamt of going, so to say I was excited to go is quite an understatement! 

It was so great to spend 5 days with the Feller Females, they are always lots of fun and are wonderful examples to me. 

When we flew in it was really really snowy. It was sad to walk the streets because we saw quite a few homeless people shivering and trying to keep huddled in a ball to stay warm. 

That was the only day that it was snowing, other then that it was just a bit chilly. 

Luckily we all had our coats. 

While we were there we went shopping on canal street and got some great deals, went to the 9/11 memorial, ate yummy Italian food, and saw the Broadway show "Nice work if you can get it" which starred Matthew Broderick! I'm sad I didn't take any pictures while we were there, other than the not-so-flattering ones of me and two sistas. You wouldn't want to see them anyway :)

We saw a couple movies {which is one of my favorite things to do..}, ate SO much, shopped on 5th avenue, and visited Saint Patrick's Cathedral.

The Cathedral was really beautiful.

We saw the Christmas Spectacular at the Radio City Music Hall. I've heard of the Rockettes before, but never knew how amazing they are! If you can youtube some of their dancing, do it... it's so impressive. 

The show was a lot of fun, and had a great message about Christmas. 

We saw Newsies! This was one of my favorite movies as a kid, so seeing it LIVE was awesome. 

I may or may not be following some of the dancers on Instagram now ;)

There were at least 2 dancers from So You Think You Can Dance in the show, which was fun to watch! 

We visited the Empire State Building, I can't believe how high up we were. 

I couldn't get Alycia Keys song out of my head... Concrete jungle where dreams are made of! 

We did a bit more shopping and walking around the city. On Sunday we went to church at the temple then packed up to head home. 

By the end of the trip I felt happy that I don't live in a big city full of cigarette smoke, but I'm so glad I was able to walk those streets and really experience the kindness of New Yorkers first hand. 

I loved riding the Subways and having NO idea where I was. We were lucky to have one sister who has been there multiple times and kind of knew the system! 

I just have to say how grateful I am for such wonderful in-laws. 

I am truly blessed in the family department! 

Thank you for making my first girls trip in the family one to remember! 

Well...

Hey. Hello. Hi. Hola. Howdy. Holler. Wassup.

 We had our grand opening on Saturday. Let me just tell ya, it was CRAZY. 

I was honestly shocked at how messy people were! 

What is it about "free yogurt and toppings" that makes people go psycho? 

The floor was trashed, the toppings were getting mixed, and people were grumpy. 

Managing a froyo joint...it's a hard life. 

JK I love it, I'm just happy that day is ova.

My Feller might be able to visit this weekend.

 I'm pretty upset that it's only Monday because that means I still have 4 days. 

I'm usually a ppp {pretty-patient-person} but not when it comes to getting my husband back. 

He needs to get here NOW!  

Or at least before I turn all free-froyo-psycho on ya'll. 

Did anyone else watch the Bachelorette?  

I did. Well I watched 3 of the last 4 episodes, but that was enough to make me fall for Jef.

Good thing the beautiful Emily chose him! 

My next goal in life is to make Jon dress like the Utahn stallion without making it too obvious. 

That boy has got some serious style!  

And  I know his hair is fantastic, but I guess I won't push it too far. Jon, you can keep your mane.

I went to my Grandpa's 80th birthday tonight.

It was like a little family reunion, I quite enjoyed seeing some of my cousins that I haven't seen in 11 years. Yes 11. I know it's ridiculous. 

Anyway, my grandpa is one gooood looking eighty year old! I surely hope I got his great genes, he doesn't look a day over 65 to me.  

I have so many fun memories with my grandpa. We used to live just across the creek from him and grandma so I was over there playing with my cousins ALL THE TIME. {My poor grandma, she probably hoped to be done raising kids at that point! We were little terrors.}

Just some of my favorite memories:

Playing giddy-up on grandpa's lap

Gramps helping me with math. I have loved math ever since he gave me some knowledge. 

Walking over each Sunday for church and {amazing} dinner

TONS of sleepovers 

Halloween parties, the haunted forest

Trips to Carl's Jr for the star nuggets

Riding the ATV's

 Looking through old photo albums

Putting on dances and plays with the cousins, I can't believe our grandparent's actually sat through all of them!

Ginger-ale and crackers when I was sick

Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat

Grandpa sharing his Dr Pepper with me because I somehow convinced him it helped me fall asleep :)

Telling them they weren't "old geezers" until they turned 80. {I think I'll change that to 90 now}

..and so many more. I definitely miss being a kid and Grandma and Grandpa's house, 

I'm so blessed to have had them as examples of hard work, love and faith. 

Happy birthday Gramps! 

I hope everyone is taking advantage of family time, especially after what has happened in Colorado this past week. 

I cannot stop thinking about it.

It makes me so grateful for each day I have to live with so many wonderful people in my life. 

Here's to hoping I stop taking things for granted.

ps. If you want to make a child's WORLD, do the spider on a swing with them.

You won't regret it.

 

For Granted

Tonight I got to spend time with my sis who is moving to Missouri next week.

We had a good time at dinner and just sitting and talking. 

I'm realizing that we've taken for granted the time we could've spent together 

{in between our full time lives, haha} and I'm so sad about it!

Heidi, good luck in Kirksville!

 Let's hope I'll be able to get out there sometime before Ty is done with med school ;)

Once Upon a Time

We celebrated my mom's 50th birthday! It was a lot of fun getting together with family for the day.
Mom and I met my gma at City Creek and had lunch at the Nordstrom Cafe.
My advice? DON'T go there on the weekend. Unless you are okay with tons of people that don't walk very fast.
Later that evening mom and her kids {minus Tia} had dinner at Cucina Toscana {I think that's what it's called..}
It was nothing short of delicious! And to top it off, my gpa from Washington flew in to surprise the birthday girl :)
I'm so grateful for you, mom! Thanks for being the one who calls me more than anyone else, even though I'm horrible at answering the phone. Thanks for loving me unconditionally and always reminding me how lucky I am. Thanks for helping me still feel like a kid at times. Thanks for being at events that were important to me while I was growing up. Thanks for always believing in me. And thanks for buying kfc in St George 5 years ago and sharing it with my feller {haha}
You.da.best.

Ps. if you haven't seen the show Once Upon a Time on abc...you're most definitely missing out.

Since our anniversary is during a super crazy time of our lives this year,
we're celebrating early!
We just reserved a night/day at anniversary inn.
Cool? Gross?
Fun!
We chose Juliet's Balcony Suite.
After that we'll be busy packing, packing, cleaning, packing...
Know anyone in Logan looking for a great apartment to rent?
Hit me up!

In other news...
On Friday we headed up to Idaho for Heidi and Ty's graduation.
They both received their Bachelor's degrees and got to walk together!

We're so happy we could be there! We don't have much time
before they're off to Med school.
Did everyone have a hOppy easter?
I am so grateful for this holiday and it's true meaning.
I know that Christ lives and so will we. We are in eternity.
I'm thankful for my life that was saved by Him.
If you have 7 1/2 minutes to spare, watch this

I have the next two days off of work...
May they be productive!!!

Heavenly

Two weekends ago we were lucky enough to go to the Salt Lake Temple
to witness our dear friends, the Lister's be sealed as a family.
 It was seriously such an amazing experience! 

I love the temple. 

Being there gave me a stronger desire to do my best in all things,
for my family. 

Thank you Brooke and Brady for having us there! We love you guys!

Later that evening Jon and I joined my fam for some
good ol' fashioned bowling!

Have you been to Fat Cats? Helloooo delicious pizza! 

 Little munchkin Ave

 Mamacita

 My Honey drinking rootbeer

She'll go pro. Just watch.

 Yeah Boi! Strike

 We love bowlinggg

 Mom and Ty

 My sis is a beauty

Cute Holts!

We have lots of memories of bowling when we were younger,

so this was a great night!

I just need a little bit more practice, then I'll be back to my

8-year-old-striking-days 

:) 

Our Vacation

We stayed at an all inclusive resort in Cancun.
All you can eat, drink, swim, sun-bathe, play, etc.
Awesome, right? Yes.

This is our hotel room. 

King size bed. Couch. Tv. Mini-Fridge. Ocean View.

Need I say more?

Our walk to and from our room was an adventure in itself!

 Are you a reptile lover?

We all spent a lot of time on the beach.

Reading, talking, napping, playing catch and volleyball.

 I'd be okay with a beach as a back yard...

We ate.

and ate.

and ate.

The resort had lots of different restaurants.

Mexican. American. Japanese. Italian. a cafe. Seafood. 

and a buffet that was always switching it up!

The ice cream was one of my personal favorites. 

I probably had 17 cones. at least.

Italian

Japanese

Japanese. again. {our favorite}

Some of us took some really awesome action shots...

See for yourself :) :

 We are weird.

and SO fun to be around!

;)

 Jon and Dave got in a little fight...

 Jon's smile after the punch...haha!

A few of us got pretty sick, if you know what I mean. 

Let's just say I had to go to the bathroom about every 15 minutes. 

We couldn't figure out how we got it...

because we had eaten totally different things that morning.

and I thought I was being careful!

2 weeks later, I was back to normal! :)

We were able to go to church in the city.

It was a cool experience not understanding anything anyone was saying

other than "hermanos y hermanas"

But the spirit was totally there, I loved it.

 On our way to la iglesia

On the fourth day of our trip we took an excursion to 

Chichen Itza and Ik Balam

We went with the group, Mormon Encounters.

Our tour guide, Carlos, was so awesome!

He was able to tie each site back to the Book of Mormon. SO cool.

The day we went was when the nastiness hit me the hardest,

so I had quite a hard time paying much attention to what Carlos was saying.

But I did take some pictures ;)

 Cichen Itza

Balam

In between the two places, we visited an awesome

Cenote

It was so beautiful! And oh-so refreshing!

 

We all got to be cliff jumpers for a minute

If you ever go to Cancun and want to go on an awesome tour, 

check out Mormon Encounters. 

Carlos was so great! He really knew his stuff.

 Thanks, Carlos!

I thoroughly enjoyed being on vaca 

with the one I love most :)

 A HUMONGOUS thank you

to Jack and Margo for making this amazing trip possible!

We had so much fun spending time with everyone,

this was such an unforgettable experience.

We love you guys!

 That's one good lookin' group!