Our Christmas Miracle

SHE WALKS!!!!!!!!!! Many of you know, we have been waiting for this day for soooooo long!! Ever since September when she started standing up all by herself, we thought, "any day now she'll be walking." BUT NO!! She would stand, but she would NOT walk. I guess she was just mastering balance before she decided to take off. Anyway, it all happened on Christmas Eve. She waited for her Daddy to get home from work so he could see her first steps too. She walked from one side of our living room to the other, right into my arms. About 12 feet and she never fell. We are two proud parents!! She is 17 1/2 months old. What a great Christmas present she gave us. The look on her face was priceless. We could tell she knew she was doing something great. And now it's been a week, and she NEVER falls. She is such a good little walker. And in other Rebecca news....I am a big fan of this website, starfall.com Anyone with little kids should know about it. It goes through the alphabet and teaches kids the sounds each letter makes, sings songs, etc. Really cute. I've been doing it with Rebecca for months, every day. She could look at this website all day. I can't believe how still and attentive she is. And she throws a fit when I say it's time to be done and do something else. She repeats the sounds the letters make and has many things memorized like what picture comes next. We are constantly amazed at how much she knows and remembers. Today she pointed to the letter B and said "B." Then again at the letter R, and O and X. It's so fun to watch my baby learn things, she is SO SMART!!
Today while I was making lunch, Rebecca unloaded all her diaper wipes one by one and put them on my rocking chair. Oh boy. So when I found that little mess, I picked her up, set her on my lap, and said, "Rebecca, what is this mess?" She looked at me so solemn and said, "wipes." I just had to hug her and laugh. I didn't expect her to answer me...I didn't know she knew that word!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

WOW, December was a busy month, and I can't believe it is already over and we have started a new year. Happy 2009 to everyone!!! Dec. was a fun month, I will put some Christmas pictures on here soon, so our parents can see...this was the first year since we've been married that we didn't spend Christmas day in Utah with my family. We missed you, Mom and Dad!!

New year's eve was fun, I took Rebecca outside to play in the snow. She was so cute in her little snowsuit and hat and gloves and boots. She was excited to go outside, we haven't really gone anywhere in a while-we've been sick and it's so cold. Anyway, we got out there and little Rebecca could just stand on top of the snow. Needless to say, it was not the best day to play in the snow. I'll have to try it again another day and not wait so long after it snows!

She loved the boots (which are a few sizes too big for her, she doesn't care!) and had to wear them all night. Funny baby! We decorated to surprise Daddy when he came home from work. We blew on our noisemakers and threw confetti. It was a fun night!

Then on New year's day, Seth's parents came up to spend the day with us. We had a great time! Seth's mom made these curtains for Rebecca's room. They are the perfect finishing touch, and I love them! She quilted around all the flowers and it is so cute. Seth and his dad put up the blinds on two of our windows, and everything looks so good. I just love to go in there and look at her room, it's so nice to have it completely finished!

I'm excited for this new year, to set new goals and try a little harder. Seth starts school on Jan. 7, and we are excited/nervous to see how life will be for the next while.

Thankful

I wanted to write down the top 10 things I am thankful for this year. I have been so blessed over the past year, and it's hard to narrow it down to what I am most thankful for. But, here we go:

1-The two people in the picture above. There is no one I'd rather spend time with than Seth and Rebecca. I'm so grateful for my fun-loving, hard working husband and our beautiful daughter. Seth makes it possible for me to be a stay at home mother/homemaker, which I feel is a full-time (and then some) job! I love it though, I feel like I am living a dream right now. I love taking care of my home and family.

2-Rebecca is my angel. It's hard to explain, but she makes me want to be a better person, more than anyone else in my life ever has. And when I'm in a difficult or new situation, she gives me confidence just because she is there with me. I don't know how I ever survived without her!

3-Where would I be without the gospel of Jesus Christ? I don't want to think about that! I love my Savior and will be forever grateful that I was raised in His true church, I never had to search for it. I feel that I have always had a testimony, it just grows all the time. The gospel gives me peace in my life, direction and purpose, and happiness that lasts.

4-The most recent house Seth built is still not sold, but an investor has taken over payments and found renters for us since June, and it is such a relief and amazing blessing that we ran into this investor and have the peace of having that bill taken care of each month. Let's hope he can sell it next year! It will be nice to move on from that.

5-We have been healthy this year, no major sicknesses or accidents. I am grateful for our strong bodies and minds, and for the opportunity to learn and grow in this life.

6-We had our first successful garden this summer, and it was so fun! I never knew how fulfilling it is to grow things, and to see the "fruits of our labors" in this way. I loved going out there to grab something to use in the dinner I was making. I am so grateful for good food!

7-With the economy getting worse all the time, I am so, so grateful that Seth has a good job. We know many people who have been affected by layoffs, or lack of business, and who are hurting financially. We've had our struggles with this too, but we have always been ok and had all the things we need. I'm learning to be happy with less and to make things last longer and I think that is a good thing.

8-I am grateful for good friends. I don't have any family close by, and it's nice to know I have people here who are like family, who would do anything for me.

9-It has been amazing to me this year, how my Heavenly Father knows exactly what I need and He sends people into my life to help me. When I'm sad, a friend calls and lifts me up. When I need something, people are inspired to share with me. It's been a lesson to me this year, to receive with a heart full of gratitude. It's easy to be on the giving end, and it has been humbling to receive so many nice things from so many unexpected places. That's how I know God is aware of my little family and our needs. I'm grateful for people who listen to the spirit and are willing to give. It has taught me to look for opportunities to serve and to pay attention to who might need me each day.

10-I'm grateful for my home, to live in a wonderful city, for this beautiful Earth, and for my life in general. My life is so good. I'm grateful for a loving and forgiving Heavenly Father, for each new day, the opportunity to start fresh and be a little better.

Your new Avon Lady!

That's right...I started selling Avon a week ago! And I am so excited to say that it is going really well so far! I've had a great response, and just wanted to let everyone know that I've started this new business and if you'd like a catalog to look through, I'd be happy to drop one by your house.
I've been thinking for months about starting some kind of business, but nothing felt completely right. I want to do something to help my little family out financially while Seth is in school the next few years. I don't claim to be a beauty expert, but I like Avon because it is affordable for people, and a lot of the stuff they sell are things people buy all the time in WalMart, like makeup, deodorant, jewelry, gifts, etc. FYI: They have lots of fun stuff for holiday gifts right now!!! And I can save people time and money and a trip to the store, since I deliver their orders to them. So it's a good deal for me and for my customers. I love it that I can bring Rebecca with me, also. It would break my heart to leave her and go work somewhere.
So wish me luck as I start this new little business! If you know anyone who likes Avon, I'd be really happy to get some referrals. And I'd be happy to be YOUR Avon lady too! Those of you who have bought from me, I really appreciate your business and support.

Fall Pictures

Well, we finally finished Rebecca's room!! I love it, and I'm so happy to have a place for all of her STUFF!! Whew! I feel like we have at least doubled the amount of stuff we own since having Rebecca. But now we have a place to put it all! And it looks so good.

This is my carousel from when I was 9 or 10. I was so excited the year I got it for Christmas, and then I got to spend the next few years collecting the horses/animals to put in it. It turns and plays the song from "Carousel" and the horses go up and down. It was fun for me to get it out of its box downstairs and clean off all the dust (that took a while!) and put it together for my little girl. When I gave it to her, she was so happy. It was really cute.
Rebecca's favorite hangout lately....AAARRGGHHH!!!! And why does she always go for the knives?!?!? These next few pics are from our weekend at the Bancroft Farmhouse a few weeks ago. I found Rebecca upstairs babbling away to all these dolls.

I took Rebecca for a ride on the RHINO!! So Fun!! Can you tell she LOVES IT?

And of course the swings. I had to pry her little fingers away when it was time to go in. She thought it was the end of the world!

My mom used to take pictures of us kids every fall. I will carry on this lovely tradition...fall is such a beautiful time of year! Rebecca loves to crunch around in the leaves. Here are my favorite shots I got of her.

We walk at the park and lately Rebecca has to push the stroller. Which is good...maybe it will help her finally learn how to walk. Maybe. Anyway she pushes it along, smiling and waving at everyone who passes us, and looking so proud of herself the rest of the time. She is so funny. And then she throws a little fit if I try to make her ride in the stroller, and she slides herself right out of it if I don't strap her in quick enough. My little baby is getting so independent! I just love her, she is the highlight of my every day.

Halloween!

What a fun time we had in October! So many fun things to do. I'm so glad the weather has been so beautiful this fall, we've been able to play outside a lot, which Rebecca loves. Here we are at the local pumpkin patch. My friend and I picked the right time to go, we had the place to ourselves, and it was soooo cute! They had rows of pumpkins, corn stalks, hot chocolate and cookies, this cute barn, and a straw-bale maze. It was really fun! I tied Halloween ribbon in Rebecca's pigtails, but you can't really tell. Too bad. It was a battle keeping them in her hair all day!

We finally got around to carving our lovely pumpkin on Oct. 30 Rebecca looked like she wondered what in the world I was doing the whole time. She can say "pumpkin" really well now! We saw so many last month, it's no wonder! I dressed her up in her fairy pajamas and let her wear the fairy wings from Grandma K. She loved them, and the wand. What a cute little fairy I have. She's so funny, I tell her to smile lately, and she does this cheesy smile, every time.

Our ward did a Trunk-or-Treat. We did games and dinner first, and a lot of people came, and it was a good time! Here is Rebecca planting a big smooch on her little friend the skunk!

Here we are, the fireman and firewoman with our Dalmation. I like to dress up. What a fun day...we saw so many neat costumes!

Fabulous Fall

Here are a few pictures from the past month. Fall is officially here, and I am loving it! The weather has been just beautiful and Rebecca and I have been spending lots of time outside. Here is my new favorite picture of her. And these next two pics are just for my mom. Thanks for the cute outfit! Too bad it's too cold to wear anymore :(

Rebecca loves the swings. I take her to the park most day and it is so cute to hear her laugh and make "wheeeee" sounds.

Rebecca at 14 months old.

And, the messes continue. Seth and I are finally finishing Rebecca's room. We got the new window put in and are working on the sheetrock. Rebecca got into the mud and decided to see how it tastes. YUCK!! She sure looks happy though!

THANK YOU to my wonderful parents for coming up to watch Rebecca while I helped the kids do their parts in the Primary Program. I must say, I am really glad the program is over! The practices were a bit stressful, but the kids pulled through in the end and did a great job. I was really pleased with it. Children have the spirit with them so strongly and I always look forward to the primary program. I've just never been involved with it like this before. It sure is easier to just sit in the audience and enjoy! I really do appreciate my parents coming up to support me though. They are fabulous!!!

So, Rebecca will be 15 months old this coming Sunday. I practice with her many times a day, but she has NO confidence when it comes to walking. She does great as long as I'm holding her hands. She is a SMART baby though, I'm not worried. She's a late walker, I guess, but it will come! Here we are practicing in the back yard.

Here we are walking and playing at the park with Samuel, Rebecca's best buddy. They are SO cute together. They always get so excited to see each other.

I would like to join Clancy in acknowledging the fabulousness in my life this Friday!
1-Seth has been so sweet and helpful to me this week. I love him so much.
2-Rebecca had a fever this week of 104.5 Then she had a scary rash all over her face and body for 3 days. Who knows what it all meant, but it is gone now. She also ate next to nothing for 5 days. She is back to normal and I'm so grateful. Having a sick baby is so hard.
3-I've been thinking of how I could save some extra money each month because I really feel we need to have some food storage. I was sad because I didn't see how I could do it without it taking a year or more before I got a decent amout of food storage. But, I thought small steps are better than nothing. So I started. Then a few days ago, Seth's parents gave us A TON of food storage. We are set for a while. What a blessing and an answer to my prayers. THANK YOU Mom and Dad Wistisen, we appreciate this soooo much!!
4-It's going to snow this weekend and I have a nice warm cozy house to stay in.
5-We are finally working on Rebecca's room! I love a good project. Our entire house has been a project, let me tell you. But it's been a while since we did anything major. This weekend we plan to take down wallpaper, get the trim up, and get primer on the walls. I'm so excited to finally have my little girl's room look more girly! And Seth gets off at noon today so we can get going on it! HOORAY FOR THE WEEKEND!!!


Rebecca loves these toy necklaces, she's always wearing a few of them, it's funny.

Rebecca would love for us to read to her all day long. She is getting so smart. She points to everything, and knows what the moon is, the fence, spoon, bib, trees, ball, lots of others. I love to read with her and am glad she loves books so much.

Now that the weather is getting cooler, I know Rebecca will miss BUS RIDES!!! She loves her little bus and even buzzes her lips as she rides. I just laugh. She is so dang cute!!!