Christmas 2008!!

Yeah, I'm a little slow posting these...I guess my excuse is having a baby six days before Christmas...

My wonderful parents came down from Idaho and spent over a week with us. They were here from Christmas Eve to New Year's day and totally spoiled us! They took us out to dinner, gave us wonderful Christmas presents (we LOVE the double stroller and our 72 hour kits!), watched our kids so we could go to the temple, kept Caysja occupied so she wouldn't be bored, and so much more. Seriously, they helped us transition from one to two kids so smoothly! We miss you so much--come back soon!

Grandpa reading "The Night Before Christmas" to Caysja on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Dinner

I really didn't think I'd have a Christmas baby, but a friend gave me this outfit just in case and I thought he looked so cute in it! He got the hat in the hospital and it had a little Christmas tree on it. (This is how he pretty much spent the whole day--asleep--what else is new?!)

My kids--(it's still kind of weird to say that)

Caysja seriously adores Crew and she would literally maul him to death if she were left in the same room without anyone watching! She wants to hold him, and kiss him and hug him constantly! She'll say, "I wanna hol him peese". I love it.

Can you see any resemblance?

Christmas morning (hence the hair that's totally not done). Caysja really got "into" Christmas this year and it was so fun! She left cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas Eve, as well as a note and she was so excited to have him come. She got lots of nice toys including this fun play tent from Grandma and Grandpa. Thank you, mom and dad!

This was her gift from Santa--and her favorite toy, by far! She had so much fun putting her baby in the high chair, swing, pajck 'n play, etc.

I found this perfect little onesie for Crew that said, "Who needs Santa, I've got Grandparents!" My dad loved holding Crew. He doesn't have any boys, so he was extra proud of his first grandson.

Caysja and my mom were inseparable the whole week! My sweet mom played "babies" with Caysja every minute of the day. She also took her on walks to feed the ducks, gave her baths, went shopping and just generally had a blast with her. Thanks, Mom!

My mom and I got to play a flute duet in church the Sunday after Christmas and my dad accompanied us on the piano. It was so fun to play with my mom again. She is so talented. I got out the little piccolo I have for Caysja (the old "junker" one I got for free) and the three of us "played" our flutes together! (Do you like how Caysja is holding it the wrong direction?)

Santa's little helper! I bought this dress for her when I was pregnant with her (a long time ago) from this store that was going out of business and I've been waiting all this time for her to wear it--it was almost too little!

I just love my little Crewser!

First day at church! He slept through the whole thing of course.

Our Little Man is Here!!!!

Little did I know when I wrote that last post that I would have a baby in only 2 more days! Crew Caleb Roberts was born Friday Dec. 19th, (one week early exactly) at 12:04 pm. He weighed 7 lbs. 12oz. and is 21 inches long. He is sooooo handsome and has lots of really dark hair! I started having contractions about 1 am and we got to the hospital at about 3:45 am. and I was already at a "5". I was at a "10" by 10 am, but then we waited a while so my Dr. could be there. Caleb got to deliver him and that was really special. So far he is a SUPER baby and hardly ever cries! I wish I could say that my itching is all gone, but apparently it is going to take a few weeks to go away completely. Labor and delivery went so well this time around. Plus I only tore enough for one stitch! Caysja loves her baby brother and is proving to be a BIG help so far. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers in our behalf. Merry Christmas! We're officially ready now!

Caysja and Crew exchanged presents at the hospital.

Look at that Big Sister smile!!

Can you believe all that dark hair?

Dr. Branaman and Caleb about to deliver Crew.

These were taken 5 days before he was born. Caysja was tryin' out the car seat for baby brother!

Giving my belly kisses!

...and hugs!

These were taken a week before he was born at the flutasia Christmas concert I played in at the Mesa temple grounds. The lights on the Mesa Temple are gorgeous!

Thanks to Britni for these gorgeous flowers she brought to my flute concert! And thanks also, for watching Caysja for us in the middle of the night, Britni!! We owe you one!

Only 9 more days to go!

YIPPEE!! As of today I only have 9 more days to go! I can't believe I'm down to that already. The only problem is that I still think I'll go late so I probably have more like 14 or more days to go...(Last Dr. appt. I was dialated to a "2-3" and still 75% effaced.) Oh well. I'll try not to think about that. Maybe I need to go on a hike or something to get this baby out of here!

Actually yesterday I almost went in and had them induce me. I've developed a slight complication lately. It's called ICP and stands for Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy and it's a problem of the liver that occurs in the 3rd trimester of 1% of pregnancies. They're actually not 100% sure that's what I have, but since the blood tests needed to diagnose me take nearly 10 days to get back, I might have delivered by then anyway. I have the main symptom--I itch ALL OVER! Let me tell you, it is miserable! Have any of you ever heard of this? Any advice for me? There is a medication they can give you, but my Dr. said she'd rather not give it to me since I'm almost done anyway. The best cure for it is just to have your baby! But, I'd rather not be induced. (Caleb's still in school til Mon. and my parents can't come til Wed.) The question is, how many days of this can I stand? It wakes me up multiple times at night and I have a hard time going to sleep too. I think I've actually had it for over a month now, but I just thought it was the change in climate/air between here and Idaho when I went home for T-giving break. I thought I had dry skin. Then it got worse and I knew it had to be something else. I have tried cortizone lotion, Aveeno, benedryl, hot baths with epsom salt, etc. and nothing has made any difference so far. Help!!

Cerreta Candy Co.

For Playgroup a few weeks ago, we took a tour of the Cerreta Candy Co. here in Glendale. It was very interesting. The smell inside the store was heavenly! They showed us how they make the most delicious chocolate--and then we got free samples too!

Here we are about to eat the mint chocolate ones--my personal favorite!

This was pretty cute. They let all the little kids make some "scrambled eggs and bacon" out of pretzels, white chocolate, and yellow m'n'ms.

Leilani, Tilly and Caysja standing at the front of the store with the piles and piles of chocolate (in every flavor you could ever want) behind them. (I must admit it was pretty hard to keep them from just going over and helping themselves!)

Both of these were made completely out of chocolate or some kind of candy.

This Santa Claus was made completely out of popcorn! It was awesome!

Come one, Come all...

...to my Flutasia Christmas Concert tonight at the Glendale Public Library!

I play in this flute quartet and our concert tonight starts at 7:00pm. It is open to the public and FREE, so please come if you can! I'm so grateful for the chance to play with the three very talented ladies I perform with. We have a great time. It's the perfect way for me to keep up my skills. The music we are performing is all beautiful Christmas selections! If you can't make it tonight, but still want to come, we are also playing a free concert at the Mesa temple grounds this Saturday at 7:00pm. Plus, then you can see the Mesa temple lights--they are incredible!! Hope to see you tonight!

More T-giving 2008

Here are the pictures to go along with my earlier recap...(sorry, to be so late posting these). I realized as I was going through the pictures I took while I was home, that we did a lot of things but unfortunately I don't have pictures for very many of them. (I'll blame that on Caleb since he had our camera for nearly a week while he was in Moab riding motorcycles with his brothers.)

I have so much to be thankful for. The list could go on and on. I am so blessed to live in this free country, to have the Gospel in my life, to be sealed for all eternity to my best friend, to have my beautiful little girl (and soon to be little boy), great friends, food to eat, a roof over my head, my Savior Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice for all mankind,,,just to name a few.

My sweet sisters-in-law, Kynda and Marisa, were so kind to throw a joint baby shower for myself and Caleb's cousin's wife, Jen, (who's also having a boy in Jan.). Thank you--It was so fun!

My wonderful mom gave me this darling baby boy blessing outfit! I can't wait for him to wear it.

My good friend, Heather, and her mom, both made me blankets complete with burp cloths! They are both so talented.

My mother-in-law sewed Jen and I each one of these blankets in honor of our husband's LOVE of motorcycles. (Lorna, I still can't believe you found such perfect material!)
My mother-in-law, Lorna, and I

My sister brought her new three month old Golden Retriever puppy home and he was so cute! Unfortunately he liked to chew on Caysja and she was pretty scared of him. "Grandpa, save me!"

Aunt Chalise and Caysja. They share the same B-day exactly 20 years apart!

Thanksiving Dinner with my whole family! (Yep, I just have one sister and that's it.) It was so delicious! But better than the food was just being with everyone I love.

Later that night, my mom, Caysja, and I went for a walk around the Greenbelt to feed the ducks. It got dark fast, as you can tell but it sure was a beautiful day!

Caysja loves my parents! She would ask them about 20 times a day to take her to go see our cats outside. Let's just say she's a little spoiled being the only grandchild and all...

Out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants in IF--Peurto Vallarta. YUM!

My cute friend Heather is super crafty and always coming up with the best ideas. While I was home she helped me make this hair bow hanger as well as the 5 ribbon flower clips. Thanks, Heather! I LOVE it! I really needed something to hang all of Caysja's hair things on. Now I just need to find a picture to go in the frame...

Here it is with all of her hair bows on it. They just barely fit!

In other news... I went to the Dr. today and I only have 17 more days to GO!!! Yippee! This has been a really long pregnancy. I'm actually dilated nearly to a 2 and 75% effaced, so my Dr. seems to think I may not make it to my due date. I'll be VERY shocked if that happens though. I can't wait to be DONE being pregnant, but at the same time I'm not ready for this little guy to come yet! There's still so much I need to do. I would really like Christmas to be over and done with before he comes, but we shall see...

CONGRATS to my two good friends, Alissa and Kristy, who just had their babies! (Alissa had Camden a little over three weeks ago, and Kristy had Noah on Sunday.) It's been so fun to be pregnant with the two of them! Now I'm the only one left...

Thanksgiving Recap...

Sorry to all those of you who read my blog. I know I've been so slow at posting lately! We had a WONDERFUL two weeks home in Idaho Falls with both of our families for Thanksgiving. We really needed it. And no, I didn't have my baby on the 14 hour drive to or from, thank heavens! I only have 23 more days to go though, and I can't wait! I am measuring a little small, so I'm prepared to go late like I did with Caysja. We can't wait to meet our little man!

Some of the highlights from our trip home:

• Attended our neice's 2nd B-day party
• SHOPPING at all my favorite stores they don't have here in AZ (including "Black Friday")!
  
• Saw "Twilight" with my sis-in-laws (not too impressed...)
• Saw the movie "Fireproof"--it was really good!
• Went to Michael McClain's "The Forgotten Carols" with my mom
• Attended the Idaho Falls temple
• Met my little sis's Golden Retriever puppy dog, Bentley, for the first time (he thought Caysja was a big chew toy!)
  
• Took Caysja to see Santa Claus at the mall (she didn't like that too well)
• Made a cute craft with my good friend, Heather (pictures to come soon...)
• Caleb went motorcycle riding in Moab with his brothers for 5 days, (popped his shoulder out of joint, but at least no emergency room visits this year)
  
• My sister-in-laws threw me a family baby shower
• Caught up with two of my good friends from college, Melinda and Emily
  
• Attended Caleb's oldest brother's 40th b-day party
• Caysja got to see all 5 sets of her grandparents/great-grandparents still living
  
• Thanksgiving Dinner at my parent's house with all my family there
  

We had a FABULOUS time! Thanks to everyone for feeding us, baby-sitting Caysja, letting us stay with you, etc. We miss you lots already. Luckily the "kitty grandma and grandpa" are coming to stay with us in just three weeks!

P.S. I promise to post pictures of all that we did soon...as soon as I catch up on all my laundry...