Happy New Year!

It's 9:30pm on New Years eve and I'm planning on writing this and then going to bed. Wow how things have changed in only a couple years. My social habits may have changed dramatically, but I think I feel the same way about the start of a new year as I always have. It's exciting to think of a fresh start, new goals, and new surprises. It is nice that it is snowing outside too, that way when I wake up everything will look brand new. {but then I'll have to go shovel :) }

BJt is definately the motivated member of the family. Every year he sits me down to set some new goals... I dread it everytime he brings it up, but am realizing that living life day to day without things to look forward to, or things to improve upon would become completely monotonous. We set goals in three catagories... Spiritual, Physical and Personal. This year we will be sure to post them somewhere where we can reflect regularily.

My favorite goal of the year is under the personal category. We as a family are going to try and help someone secretly... or hopefully more than one person. We have been reading the conference talks lately and there was one recently we read by Elder D. Todd Christofferson called "Come to Zion" definately a good one! There is one section about caring for the poor with a little story that made me cry... if you are interested in reading it let me know and I'll email you a copy... I am just reminded constantly of how truly blessed I am, and there will definately be something that I find this year that will enable me to share even a little bit of that with someone else. By doing that, I think in my own little way I'll be showing gratitude to the one that has given it all to me.

We had such a great Christmas this year... It was fun to watch WW open the gifts and want to play with each one right away. We have such wonderful families that we were able to spend time with... I am feeling VERY blessed this year.

JF reading the Grinch that Stole Christmas to most of the kids.

WW waiting patiently for Grandma Fixsen to set up his basketball hoop.

Christmas morning at Grandma and Grandpa Mabey's... BJ has to work Christmas day this year so WW and I spend the day at my parents. We are happy BJ will be home next year!

WW got this great gift from my sister for Christmas. He just loves to draw and use the chalk board... only trouble is that he's a little confused and is writing on walls too... He'll learn quick... no damage as long as he's using washable writing utensils.

My family... from left to right

Me, BJ, WW, Kevin (my brother), Chris (Brother in law), Kim (sister), Jude (Nephew), Dave (uncle), Meagan (Cousin), Willi (Aunt), Mom, Dad.

Happy New Year!!! Hope it is a good one!!

Sleep...

We went visiting teaching today and HF-my companion/sister-in-law mentioned how you will never get a good nights sleep again after having kids. I have to say that I have to agree with her. The last few weeks- since I've been pregnant I think- I've been rocking WW to sleep and singing him songs and then laying him down in his crib for the night. Most of the time he will sleep right through... but the last few nights he has gotten up around 2am and wants to be rocked some more, or to cuddle and I just can't get him back to sleep. As soon as I'm positive he is really out, I try to lay him in the crib and he's wide awake again. So last night I had had enough, so let him cry it out to tire him out some... but that didn't work. So then I stayed in his room and held his hand through the crib bars... he just layed there staring at me, and as soon as I made it through the door of his room he would notice me missing and cry again. We ended up sleeping together in the single spare bed in our office.

I remember when WW was only 7 or 8 months old and I thought I had messed up at a parent, but figured I knew what it was I needed to change... so I was trying to convince Brett to let me start again with a new baby. Obviously I'd still keep WW, and try to improve on the habits we had developed in him... but I was so sure I'd be a better, more experienced mother with the next one... no sleep issues, and I'd be WAY better at the whole meal/food thing. Now that the next one is coming... I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will remember how to avoid the "mistakes" I've made with WW- (every mom is more lenient with their first baby right???? )

p.s. I am seriously having the most CRAZY dreams lately... did that happen to anyone else while pregnant?

This is the most peaceful picture I think. Sleeping while eating... he put his hand up there to support his head all by himself. What a sweet boy!

It's been a while.

I'm feeling disappointed in myself for being such a terrible blogger. The funny thing is that I like to read about what everyone else has been up to on their blogs, and am sad when others have not updated. I'm also jealous of everyone who has kept such a wonderful record for themselves and their families. I am reminded everyday how incredibly fast our little one grows, and would not want to forget one moment of our life together. Therefore, my new years resolution is to be better at this, but I don't want to wait till January 1st. Who knows what might happen in the meantime. Let alone what I have already missed. I'll catch that up soon...

But for today, just as an experiment... I will make an announcement and then I'll know for sure if anyone follows this. Even though I write it for myself, I'm interested who my audience is...

Brett and I are excited to announce that we are expecting another little baby to join our family in the first week of July!!! We are thrilled!!!

This is our most recent family photo... taken at Thanksgiving this year!