Six years

I cannot believe Steven and I have been married for six years today! I am so amazed that he still loves me after all this time. I love Steven and I cannot imagine life without him. He is so inspiring. He is the only person I know who sets goals and actually accomplishes them. He doesn't let anything or anyone hold him back.
 I always encouraged him to do what will make him happy. I always believe you need to do what makes you happy. So he became a police officer. I am so proud of him for passing the academy with high marks and getting a job at the State Hospital.
He never gives up on me or our marriage. He has helped me through my mental illness and doesn't make me feel guilty or bad about it. I love him so much.
Thank you for six wonderful years! I love you and I always will!

Oliver update

Just so I can look back and see this. I am 31 weeks now 129lbs. (ten pounds heavier than with Illianna) I am measuring at 34 weeks. I have horrible back pain and can't sleep. So I asked my midwife (Jennifer Cook) for sleep medicine  so hopefully tonight will be better. I have an induction date of April 9th 2013 at the Utah Valley Regional hospital which is where Steven was born.

Oliver is gonna be a bigger baby than Illianna was. I have an ultra sound on Feb 27 to measure him and make sure he is growing correctly. I am really proud of myself because I started prenatal yoga and will start a 4 week Lamaze class next week. I hope this delivery goes smoothly and better than my first. I really hope I can go into labor naturally but I am glad I have an end date. 

Illianna's Three!

We had a good little family party for Illianna's third birthday. Steven's dad drove us to my parents house where parents and Kim were waiting for us. We had pizza and Illianna got to eat peanut butter on a spoon and chocolate milk. (her favorite food)
 Kim made Illi a Tangled birthday cake and she was SSSOOO excited! She wanted to pick at it and eat tangled so bad! It was so pretty! 

It was a yummy chocolate cake with chocolate chip frosting in the middle. We then got to open presents from mom and dad. We got her a stacking block train and a double baby doll stroller. Pa-Pa Mark got her a giant Minnie Mouse! And my parents got her a super cute out fit. As well as a outfit for Oliver. It was a great night! Thank you family for making Illianna feel special on her special day.

For a side note the  next morning I asked Illianna if she had a good Birthday and she told me for five minutes that she got to eat tangled cake. It was so cute! Also Grandpa learned how to put the train back together so he can do it when Illi can't figure it out. :)

Job and a move

Steven finally found a job! He is a campus police officer at the Utah State Hospital. He loves it so far. He got offered the job on January 3rd. He was told to be there on the 7th. So he went to his live with his dad for the week while I quit my job at Dixie State College so that me and Illianna could  be home and pack.

He worked 12 hour days. And then came back that Friday evening to load up the truck and have us move. It was so bitter sweet to leave St. George.

I had one last meeting Karrie who is Illianna's speech therapist and one last meeting with Marnie who is from the Learning Center for Families. It was really sad to have to say bye to them. I also had one last doctor appointment with Doctor Cain and got to say goodbye to the main nurse Mary. They all have been such a big part of my family for so long that it is hard to not be able to see them again.

I am proud of myself for being able to pack everything up in a week. I donated three boxes of food to Dixie Care and Share. I took a lot of stuff to the DI. And I recycled three years of soda cans we had saved in the garage. We had 34 pounds of cans and got a whole 17 dollars. (I am never doing that again)

Now we are moved into our little two bedroom apartment in Orem. It is not as big as our St. George apartment but it was the cheapest we could find. I am grateful we were able to move in right away instead of having to live with family for a while. It has a dishwasher and washer and dryer which were my only requirements. So that is important.

Steven has been working as a police officer at the Utah State Hospital. He is loving it so far. He works 12 hour shift two or three times a week.  Followed by 8 hour shifts till he hits 40 hours. The change of daddy at work and momma at home as been hard on Illianna but she is finally adjusting. She cries when he leaves still but I am sure she will get over that too.

Now I have found a midwife (Jennifer Cook) and am just waiting for this little boy to make an appearance.

2013

Wow, it's a new year! So many things to look forward to this year. So many more things to be grateful for. Last year was rough. Steven and I had some hard patches but we are going to be married six years! Our sweet daughter will turn three! And we will become a family of four.
I am looking forward to the new year and all the new and excited things it has to hold.

Christmas

We had a great Christmas! I was a little annoyed that I had to stay a extra week (Dec. 17-21) to watch Illianna while Steven tested and interviewed for Ogden City but it was nice.

The day finally arrived and I woke up every two hours. I will blame the baby instead of Christmas excitement. Finally at 9am I told Steven I wasn't sleeping anymore and that Illianna need to get up now. So he went down stairs to play Joy to the World (his family tradition) and I rubbed Illi's back till she groaned at me to go away. I told her Santa came. And she just looked at me and in her little voice said, "oh sa-sa" and got up. She then ran down stairs with grandma waiting and we had to direct her into living room.
I am mostly gonna write what everyone got so I remember. I am so eternally grateful for everything my family received.

We set up her baby doll in the stroller and she happily pushed it around. We then opened up Harlow gifts. We gave my mom a children's nativity set so Illianna, Gracie, Dutch and Oliver and who ever else joins the group can play with it without getting in trouble.

Steven got a shutter fly book of just him and Illianna that I made. He got four blu-rays that he bought on black Friday. I also got him the Lord of the Ring book and a lego police department set. My dad got him Ohio State: napkins, tissue box, notebook, shirt, pom-pom and poster.

Illianna got spoiled from her loving grandparents, and aunts, thank you everyone!!! She got tangled bowl and cup, tangled shirt and pants and a Minnie Mouse toy smoothy maker from pa-pa.
She got bath paints, coloring book, bingo game, chutes and ladders from my parents.
We got her a lion king puzzle, duplo set,  pixar book and the baby and stroller.
Loving aunts got her PJ's that she wears and her baby doll can wear, candy land, peanut butter, a necklace,

I got a mixing bowl set, boots, snake heels, deep fryer and of course we got so many wonderful things for Oliver. I am just so grateful for everyone who has so my family such kindness.

Merry Christmas!

TLC Graduation

Illianna's first year of actually liking Santa. She told him everything she wanted this year. (not that he understood) but he was very nice. She acted so shy around him it was adorable!

Illianna was part of the graduation from TLC (The Learning Center for Families) although she is not technically out of the program till she is three in February they put her with this graduating group anyway. She had to much fun! She did so good and got her diploma. I am so amazed how big my baby girl is getting!  

I LOVED this picture!!! I can just see her pulling this annoyed face when she is 18 and graduating high school. She is just so sweet!