Halloween

Trick or Treat!

This year was M's first year trick or treating. We taught her to say Trick or Treat, bought her a princess costume, got her all ready to go. Then, two days before All Hallows Eve, she was struck by the stomach flu! Oh, let me tell you, it was awful. If you got that super nasty stomach bug that was roaming, you know. She was mostly better by Halloween night but still not in the best of spirits. M helped me pass out candy to trick or treaters until daddy got home. She loved taking the candy from the bowl and putting it in their sacks and would say "trick or treat" after they left. When it came time to put on her costume and go out herself, she majorly wigged out. I had to force her costume on her.

Then Daddy got home. And threw up. M had passed her stomach flu onto her dad. He sucked it up long enough to go down one street with us. M enjoyed going to the door but wouldn't say trick or treat or thank you. About the time Husband had to head home to bed, his sister, dad and dad's fiancee showed up to trick or treat with us (M's the only little kid in the family so everyone wanted to participate). M started saying "thank you" when given candy and at the last house on the street, she actually said "Trick or Treat!"

When we got home, Grandma and Great-Grandma and some more aunts and uncles came to see the girls in their costumes. Unfortunately, by this time Daddy was in bed and Mom was starting to feel sick too. When everyone left and the girls went to bed, mommy did too. That's when the misery began. The next 18 hours were just disgusting. I won't bother you with details. The worst part, however, was watching my four month throw up, unable to eat anything at all, and cry because she didn't know what was going on and because she felt so awful. Ugh. M spent the next couple of days at her Grandma's house to lessen the load at home and to make sure she didn't get it again.

Anywho, not the funnest Halloween but makes me excited for next year when I'm sure M will be enthusiastic and we (fingers crossed!) won't be sick.

L.C. the kitty cat.

"I ate too much candy!"
(Ok- I really don't think she was going to throw
up in this picture. I think she was just crying.)

Hogle Zoo

In October, my mom and I took the girls to Utah's Hogle Zoo. I'd been wanting to take them for ages, sure that M would love all the animals, but had to wait until Lil' Loaf Cake was old enough and until the weather was cool enough. So, over fall break, we went.

M loved it. She knew several of the animals by name already so it was really fun to watch her point them out. Her favorite animals at the zoo were the giraffes. After visiting them, we had to take a break so L.C. could have a lunch break. M made Grandma take her back to see the giraffes. I think she was amazed at how big they were. She also loved all the monkeys, the baby elephant and the rhinos.

I didn't know there was such a cool playground at the Hogle Zoo. After visiting all the animals and riding the train (another fav!) we got to play for a little while on the playground.

You can't tell but M is sitting on top of a rhinoceros statue. 

Riding the giraffe on the merry-go-round.
She told us she wanted to ride it but then was very
scared at first. She calmed down eventually.

This peacock walked right up to the stroller!

M loved riding on the train.

Inside the giant tortoise shell on the playground.

"I'm goin to Boise, Idaho!!!"

Last month we (my mom, sister, my girls and I) took a girls trip to Boise to visit family. I was pretty intimidated by the idea of driving five hours in the car with both girls, especially a new born, but the trip actually went as smoothly as could be expected. We got to spend quite a bit of time with my aunt, who recently had her gallbladder removed and was recovering from surgery, and my grandmother, who I find myself seeing less and less frequently, which makes me sad.

On the last night of our stay we went out to Meridian to my uncle's place. My mom's family lived there when she was little and he's lived there my entire life. This place has change a lot in my lifetime but I have very fond memories of some summer days spent jumping off the roof onto the trampoline and riding horses. I was excited to take Little Miss M to see the horses and chickens because she's been super into animals lately. She loved chasing the chickens around and holding the eggs (until she threw one) and she loved the horses from afar but was terrified when it came time to ride one. We had a great time out at Uncle Brett's and I can't wait to take her again!

My cute, pregnant cousin Megan

My mountain man uncle, Brett

Megan's daughter Kaitlyn

Grandma's Little Helper

Linking to Summer Snapshots on The Starfish Blog.

Meet Lil' Loaf Cake

Our lil' loaf cake is keeping us on our heels, making us remember what it is like to have a baby. At one month she has no eating or sleeping schedule what so ever, just eating whenever she feels like it (one day she ate eight times in less than five hours) and taking little cat naps. Fortunately, she sleeps very well at night, lately all the way through, letting mommy get some much needed rest. She even went on her first visit to Boise this week (more to come on the trip later) and did wonderfully in the car. See how much she's grown in just the last few weeks!

Taken June 25th

Taken July 16th

Finally

The title of the post refers to two things, which I will mention in reverse chronological order.

First: how long it has taken me to write this post.

Second, and the purpose of said overdue post: Our little girl is finally here!

Sophie was born on June 20th, after 41 weeks of labor. This baby wasn't in any sort of hurry! She was far too comfortable where she was and had to be coaxed out of there. My doctor broke my water at 11:20 am and Sophie was born a short 3 hours later at 2:22 pm. She weighed 8 pounds 4 ounces and measured 20 inches long, a half pound heavier and an inch longer than her sister when she was born! The last 3 1/2 weeks have been even busier than I had expected, thus the long wait for a blog post (sorry!) but here are the pictures I know you've all been waiting for!

Leaving for the hospital

Waiting (and waiting... and waiting...) to be induced

Just had my water broke

Flipping her first bird

Meeting big sister for the first time

We're home!